https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=Xray+Kilo+Charlie+Deltaexplain xkcd - User contributions [en]2026-04-14T22:21:48ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2118:_Normal_Distribution&diff=2760682118: Normal Distribution2022-05-23T18:33:33Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2118<br />
| date = March 1, 2019<br />
| title = Normal Distribution<br />
| image = normal_distribution.png<br />
| titletext = It's the NORMAL distribution, not the TANGENT distribution.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
[[File:Standard_deviation_diagram.svg|thumb|{{w|Normal distribution}}s and the intervals of the standard deviation are a topic commonly seen in introductory statistics. Randall's chart is similar, but his lines are perpendicular.]]<br />
In statistics, a {{w|Probability distribution|distribution}} is a representation that can be understood in terms of how much of a sample is expected to fall into either discrete bins or between particular ranges of values. For example, if you wanted to represent an age distribution using bins of ten years (0-9, 10-19, etc.), you could produce a bar chart, one bar for each bin, where the height of each bar represents a count of the portion of the sample matching that bin. To turn that bar chart into a distribution, you'd get infinitely many people (technically: a number N which tends to infinity), put them into age bins that are infinitely narrow (technically: bins whose size is O(1/sqrt(N))), and then divide each bin count by the total count so that the whole thing added up to 1. It is common to ask how much of the distribution lies between two vertical lines; that would correspond to asking what percent of people are expected to fall between two ages.<br />
<br />
Many statistical samplings resemble a pattern called a "{{w|normal distribution}}". A theoretically perfect normal distribution would have an infinite sample size and infinitely small bins. That would produce a bar chart matching the shape of the curve in the comic.<br />
<br />
The area between two vertical lines of the distribution represents the probability that a randomly selected X-value is between the X-values of the lines. Randall instead finds the area between two ''horizontal'' lines, which is mathematically meaningless, because the Y-axis of a probability distribution is typically taken to represent {{w|absolute magnitude|magnitude}} as a fraction of unity. In the age-distribution analogy above, two points with the same X-value could be understood to represent two people with the same age; but two points with the same Y-value cannot easily be understood in terms of the analogy. The items "represented" by the magnitude at any given horizontal position are indistinguishable, unordered, and interchangeable; the fact that two items happen to fall at the same position on the Y-axis doesn't mean they have anything in common.<br />
<br />
In short, Randall has invented a new probability distribution, which the title text humorously implies should be called the ''tangent distribution''. This distribution is defined as follows: consider the area between the curve in the comic and the horizontal axis, and consider a random point (X, Y) uniformly distributed in that region. Then X has the normal distribution and Y has the tangent distribution. Areas between vertical lines in the comic give probabilities concerning X, and areas between horizontal lines in the comic give probabilities concerning Y. The comic correctly indicates that if we let ''R'' be the interval of Y values that is 52.682% of the range of Y centered at the midpoint of the range, then any randomly selected Y value has probability 1/2 of falling inside interval ''R''.<br />
<br />
This distribution has never been discussed before, and has no known application. Moreover, the distribution of Y is not symmetric: while 50% of Y values fall inside interval ''R'', 41% fall below ''R'' and only 9% fall above ''R''. So the single piece of information in the comic is not a good way to describe this distribution! We do use such intervals for the normal distribution because the normal distribution is symmetric, and the center of symmetry is the mean, median, and mode. (However, it would be just about as ridiculous to observe that 50% of the X values in a standard normal distribution fall between the vertical lines X=-0.2 and X=1.41.)<br />
<br />
The title text refers to the notion of {{w|Normal (geometry)|normals}} and {{w|tangent}}s in geometry. Given a 2D curve or 3D surface, a line which points perpendicularly outward from a point on the curve or surface (making a 90-degree angle with the curve) is said to be ''normal'' to the curve, while a line which just grazes the curve, being exactly parallel to the curve at the point of contact, is said to be ''tangent'' to the curve at that point. The joke is that this geometrical notion of ''normal'' is completely unrelated to the statistical ''normal distribution''. Randall observes that if you take a geometric normal and rotate it 90 degrees, you produce a tangent; thus, if you take the ''normal'' distribution and rotate it by 90 degrees, you must get something called the "''tangent'' distribution." Saying this to a statistician would only annoy the statistician further.<br />
<br />
This is annoying to a statistician not only because the terms ''normal'' and ''tangent'' come from differential geometry and have no established meaning in probability theory. Even the word ''perpendicular'' has no established meaning in probability theory. Of course, the x and y coordinates in the comic are perpendicular (orthogonal) coordinates, but X and Y are not "perpendicular" or "orthogonal" random variables. Even if we give "perpendicular" or "orthogonal" a probabilistic meaning, and the most obvious such meaning is either {{w|Independence (probability theory)|independent}}, which even uses a symbol related to the geometric symbol for perpendicularity, or {{w|Uncorrelatedness (probability theory)|uncorrelated}}, which makes X and Y orthogonal vectors in the Hilbert space of random variables that are square integrable with respect to Lebesgue measure, X and Y are not perpendicular in either of these senses.<br />
<br />
So the more probability and statistics you know, the more annoying this comic becomes. It is not just about confusing novices.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[A bell curve of a normal distribution, with the area between two horizontal lines shaded.]<br />
<br />
:[The center of the chart is marked between the two lines:]<br />
:Midpoint<br />
<br />
:[The distance between the lines is marked to the right of the midpoint, with the label:]<br />
:52.7%<br />
<br />
:[A label on the outside of the graph, describing the distance between the two lines:]<br />
:"Remember, 50% of the distribution falls between these two lines!"<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the panel:]<br />
:How to annoy a statistician<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Charts]]<br />
[[Category:Statistics]]<br />
[[Category:Puns]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=List_of_all_comics_(2001-2500)&diff=276069List of all comics (2001-2500)2022-05-23T18:33:33Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>This is the list of comics from '''2001 to 2500'''.<br />
:For the first 500 comics, see [[List of all comics (1-500)]].<br />
:For comics 501-1000, see [[List of all comics (501-1000)]].<br />
:For comics 1001-1500, see [[List of all comics (1001-1500)]].<br />
:For comics 1501-2000, see [[List of all comics (1501-2000)]].<br />
:For comics 2501 to{{LATESTCOMIC}}, see [[List of all comics]].<br />
:The whole list is available at [[List of all comics (full)]].<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable plainlinks table-padding"<br />
|-<br />
!xkcd<br />
!Title<br />
!Talk<br />
!Image<br />
!Date<onlyinclude><br />
{{comicsrow|2500|2021-08-09|Global Temperature Over My Lifetime|global temperature over my lifetime.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2499|2021-08-06|Abandonment Function|abandonment function.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2498|2021-08-05|Forest Walk|forest walk.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2497|2021-08-02|Logic Gates|logic gates.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2496|2021-07-30|Mine Captcha|mine captcha.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2495|2021-07-29|Universal Seat Belt|universal seat belt.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2494|2021-07-27|Flawed Data|flawed data.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2493|2021-07-24|Dual USB-C|dual usb c.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2492|2021-07-22|Commonly Mispronounced Equations|commonly mispronounced equations.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2491|2021-07-20|Immune Factory|immune factory.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2490|2021-07-16|Pre-Pandemic Ketchup|pre pandemic ketchup.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2489|2021-07-15|Bad Map Projection: The Greenland Special|bad map projection the greenland special.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2488|2021-07-13|Board Game Argument: Legacy|board game argument legacy.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2487|2021-07-10|Danger Mnemonic|danger mnemonic.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2486|2021-07-08|Board Game Party Schedule|board game party schedule.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2485|2021-07-05|Nightmare Code|nightmare code.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2484|2021-07-03|H-alpha|h alpha.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2483|2021-07-01|Linked List Interview Problem|linked list interview problem.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2482|2021-06-29|Indoor Socializing|indoor socializing.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2481|2021-06-26|1991 and 2021|1991 and 2021.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2480|2021-06-23|No, The Other One|no the other one.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2479|2021-06-21|Houseguests|houseguests.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2478|2021-06-18|Alien Visitors 2|alien visitors 2.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2477|2021-06-17|Alien Visitors|alien visitors.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2476|2021-06-15|Base Rate|base rate.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2475|2021-06-11|Health Drink|health_drink.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2474|2021-06-10|First Time Since Early 2020|first time since early 2020.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2473|2021-06-08|Product Launch|product launch.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2472|2021-06-05|Fuzzy Blob|fuzzy blob.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2471|2021-06-02|Hippo Attacks|hippo attacks.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2470|2021-06-01|Next Slide Please|next slide please.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2469|2021-05-29|Astronomy Status Board|astronomy status board.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2468|2021-05-26|Inheritance|inheritance.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2467|2021-05-24|Wikipedia Caltrops|wikipedia caltrops.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2466|2021-05-22|In Your Classroom|in your classroom.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2465|2021-05-19|Dimensional Chess|dimensional chess.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2464|2021-05-17|Muller's Ratchet|mullers ratchet.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2463|2021-05-15|Astrophotography|astrophotography.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2462|2021-05-13|NASA Award|nasa award.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2461|2021-05-10|90's Kid Space Program|90s kid space program.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2460|2021-05-07|Vaccinated|vaccinated.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2459|2021-05-06|March 2020|march 2020.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2458|2021-05-04|Bubble Wrap|bubble wrap.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2457|2021-04-30|After the Pandemic|after the pandemic.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2456|2021-04-28|Types of Scientific Paper|types of scientific paper.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2455|2021-04-27|Virus Consulting|virus consulting.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2454|2021-04-23|Fully Vaccinated|fully vaccinated.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2453|2021-04-22|Excel Lambda|excel lambda.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2452|2021-04-20|Aviation Firsts|aviation firsts.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2451|2021-04-17|AI Methodology|ai methodology.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2450|2021-04-15|Post Vaccine Social Scheduling|post vaccine social scheduling.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2449|2021-04-13|ISS Vaccine|iss vaccine.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2448|2021-04-10|Eradication|eradication.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2447|2021-04-08|Hammer Incident|hammer incident.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2446|2021-04-06|Spike Proteins|spike proteins.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2445|2021-04-02|Checkbox|checkbox.gif}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2444|2021-03-31|Ingenuity|ingenuity.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2443|2021-03-30|Immune Response|immune response.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2442|2021-03-26|Mask Opinions|mask opinions.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2441|2021-03-24|IMDb Vaccines|imdb vaccines.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2440|2021-03-23|Epistemic Uncertainty|epistemic uncertainty.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2439|2021-03-19|Solar System Cartogram|solar system cartogram.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2438|2021-03-17|Siri|siri.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2437|2021-03-15|Post-Vaccine Party|post vaccine party.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2436|2021-03-12|Circles|circles.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2435|2021-03-11|Geothmetic Meandian|geothmetic meandian.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2434|2021-03-09|Vaccine Guidance|vaccine guidance.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2433|2021-03-06|Mars Rovers|mars rovers.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2432|2021-03-04|Manage Your Preferences|manage your preferences.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2431|2021-03-02|Leap Year 2021|leap year 2021.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2430|2021-02-26|Post-Pandemic Hat|post pandemic hat.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2429|2021-02-25|Exposure Models|exposure models.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2428|2021-02-22|Mars Landing Video|mars landing video.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2427|2021-02-19|Perseverance Microphones|perseverance microphones.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2426|2021-02-18|Animal Songs|animal songs.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2425|2021-02-15|mRNA Vaccine|mrna vaccine.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2424|2021-02-13|Normal Conversation|normal conversation.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2423|2021-02-11|Project Orion|project orion.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2422|2021-02-09|Vaccine Ordering|vaccine ordering.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2421|2021-02-05|Tower of Babel|tower of babel.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2420|2021-02-04|Appliances|appliances.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2419|2021-02-01|Hug Count|hug count.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2418|2021-01-29|Metacarcinization|metacarcinization.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2417|2021-01-27|1/1,000th Scale World|1 1000th scale world.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2416|2021-01-26|Trash Compactor Party|trash compactor party.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2415|2021-01-23|Allow Captcha|allow captcha.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2414|2021-01-20|Solar System Compression Artifacts|solar system compression artifacts.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2413|2021-01-19|Pulsar Analogy|pulsar analogy.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2412|2021-01-15|1/100,000th Scale World|1 100000th scale world.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2411|2021-01-14|1/10,000th Scale World|1 10000th scale world.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2410|2021-01-12|Apple Growers|apple growers.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2409|2021-01-09|Steepen the Curve|steepen the curve.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2408|2021-01-06|Egg Strategies|egg strategies.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2407|2021-01-04|Depth and Breadth|depth and breadth.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2406|2021-01-01|Viral Vector Immunity|viral vector immunity.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2405|2020-12-31|Flash Gatsby|flash gatsby.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2404|2020-12-29|First Thing|first thing.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2403|2020-12-25|Wrapping Paper|wrapping paper.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2402|2020-12-23|Into My Veins|into my veins.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2401|2020-12-22|Conjunction|conjunction.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2400|2020-12-19|Statistics|statistics.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2399|2020-12-16|2020 Election Map|2020 election map.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2398|2020-12-15|Vaccine Tracker|vaccine tracker.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2397|2020-12-12|I Just Don't Trust Them|i just dont trust them.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2396|2020-12-10|Wonder Woman 1984|wonder woman 1984.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2395|2020-12-08|Covid Precaution Level|covid precaution level.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2394|2020-12-05|Contiguous 41 States|contiguous 41 states.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2393|2020-12-03|Presidential Middle Names|presidential middle names.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2392|2020-11-30|Cyber Cafe|cyber cafe.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2391|2020-11-27|Life Before the Pandemic|life before the pandemic.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2390|2020-11-26|Linguists|linguists.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2389|2020-11-23|Unread|unread.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2388|2020-11-20|Viral Quiz Identity Theft|viral quiz identity theft.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2387|2020-11-19|Blair Witch|blair witch.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2386|2020-11-17|Ten Years|ten years.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2385|2020-11-14|Final Exam|final exam.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2384|2020-11-12|Set in the Present|set in the present.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2383|2020-11-10|Electoral Precedent 2020|electoral precedent 2020.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2382|2020-11-07|Ballot Tracker Tracker|ballot tracker tracker.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2381|2020-11-04|The True Name of the Bear|the true name of the bear.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2380|2020-11-02|Election Impact Score Sheet|election impact score sheet.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2379|2020-10-31|Probability Comparisons|probability comparisons.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2378|2020-10-29|Fall Back|fall back.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2377|2020-10-26|xkcd Phone 12|xkcd phone 12.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2376|2020-10-24|Curbside|curbside.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2375|2020-10-22|Worst Ladder|worst ladder.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2374|2020-10-20|10,000 Hours|10000 hours.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2373|2020-10-17|Chemist Eggs|chemist eggs.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2372|2020-10-14|Dialect Quiz|dialect quiz.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2371|2020-10-13|Election Screen Time|election screen time.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2370|2020-10-09|Prediction|prediction.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2369|2020-10-07|All-in-One|all in one.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2368|2020-10-05|Bigger Problem|bigger problem.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2367|2020-10-02|Masks|masks.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2366|2020-10-01|Amelia's Farm Fresh Cookies|amelias farm fresh cookies.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2365|2020-09-29|Messaging Systems|messaging systems.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2364|2020-09-26|Parity Conservation|parity conservation.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2363|2020-09-24|Message Boards|message boards.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2362|2020-09-22|Volcano Dinosaur|volcano dinosaur.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2361|2020-09-19|Voting|voting.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2360|2020-09-16|Common Star Types|common star types.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2359|2020-09-14|Evidence of Alien Life|evidence of alien life.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2358|2020-09-11|Gravitational Wave Pulsars|gravitational wave pulsars.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2357|2020-09-10|Polls vs the Street|polls vs the street.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2356|2020-09-08|Constellation Monstrosity|constellation monstrosity.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2355|2020-09-04|University COVID Model|university covid model.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2354|2020-09-03|Stellar Evolution|stellar evolution.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2353|2020-08-31|Hurricane Hunters|hurricane hunters.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2352|2020-08-29|Synonym Date|synonym date.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2351|2020-08-27|Standard Model Changes|standard model changes.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2350|2020-08-24|Deer Turrets|deer turrets.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2349|2020-08-21|Rabbit Introduction|rabbit introduction.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2348|2020-08-19|Boat Puzzle|boat puzzle.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2347|2020-08-17|Dependency|dependency.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2346|2020-08-14|COVID Risk Comfort Zone|covid risk comfort zone.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2345|2020-08-12|Wish on a Shooting Star|wish on a shooting star.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2344|2020-08-10|26-Second Pulse|26 second pulse.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2343|2020-08-07|Mathematical Symbol Fight|mathematical symbol fight.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2342|2020-08-05|Exposure Notification|exposure notification.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2341|2020-08-03|Scientist Tech Help|scientist tech help.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2340|2020-07-31|Cosmologist Genres|cosmologist genres.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2339|2020-07-29|Pods vs Bubbles|pods vs bubbles.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2338|2020-07-27|Faraday Tour|faraday tour.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2337|2020-07-24|Asterisk Corrections|asterisk corrections.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2336|2020-07-22|Campfire Habitable Zone|campfire habitable zone.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2335|2020-07-20|Photo Deposit|photo deposit.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2334|2020-07-17|Slide Trombone|slide trombone.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2333|2020-07-15|COVID Risk Chart|covid risk chart.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2332|2020-07-13|Cursed Chair|cursed chair.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2331|2020-07-10|Hamster Ball 2|hamster ball 2.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2330|2020-07-08|Acceptable Risk|acceptable risk.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2329|2020-07-06|Universal Rating Scale|universal rating scale.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2328|2020-07-03|Space Basketball|space basketball.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2327|2020-07-01|Oily House Index|oily house index.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2326|2020-06-29|Five Word Jargon|five word jargon.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2325|2020-06-26|Endorheic Basin|endorheic basin.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2324|2020-06-24|Old Days 2|old days 2.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2323|2020-06-22|Modeling Study|modeling study.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2322|2020-06-19|ISO Paper Size Golden Spiral|iso paper size golden spiral.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2321|2020-06-17|Low-Background Metal|low background metal.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2320|2020-06-15|Millennium Problems|millennium problems.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2319|2020-06-12|Large Number Formats|large number formats.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2318|2020-06-10|Dynamic Entropy|dynamic entropy.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2317|2020-06-08|Pinouts|pinouts.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2316|2020-06-05|Hair Growth Rate|hair growth rate.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2315|2020-06-03|Eventual Consistency|eventual consistency.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2314|2020-06-01|Carcinization|carcinization.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2313|2020-05-29|Wrong Times Table|wrong times table.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2312|2020-05-27|mbmbam|mbmbam.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2311|2020-05-25|Confidence Interval|confidence interval.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2310|2020-05-22|Great Attractor|great attractor.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2309|2020-05-20|X|x.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2308|2020-05-18|Mount St. Helens|mount st helens.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2307|2020-05-15|Alive Or Not|alive or not.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2306|2020-05-13|Common Cold|common cold.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2305|2020-05-11|Coronavirus Polling|coronavirus polling.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2304|2020-05-08|Preprint|preprint.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2303|2020-05-06|Error Types|error types.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2302|2020-05-04|2020 Google Trends|2020 google trends.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2301|2020-05-01|Turtle Sandwich Standard Model|turtle sandwich standard model.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2300|2020-04-30|Everyone's an Epidemiologist|everyones an epidemiologist.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2299|2020-04-27|Coronavirus Genome 2|coronavirus genome 2.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2298|2020-04-24|Coronavirus Genome|coronavirus genome.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2297|2020-04-22|Use or Discard By|use or discard by.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2296|2020-04-20|Sourdough Starter|sourdough starter.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2295|2020-04-17|Garbage Math|garbage math.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2294|2020-04-15|Coronavirus Charts|coronavirus charts.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2293|2020-04-13|RIP John Conway|rip john conway.gif}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2292|2020-04-10|Thermometer|thermometer.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2291|2020-04-08|New Sports System|new sports system.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2290|2020-04-06|Homemade Masks|homemade masks.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2289|2020-04-04|Scenario Four|sequence-four.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2288|2020-04-03|Collector's Edition|collectors edition.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2287|2020-03-31|Pathogen Resistance|pathogen resistance.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2286|2020-03-27|6-Foot Zone|6 foot zone.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2285|2020-03-25|Recurring Nightmare|recurring nightmare.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2284|2020-03-23|Sabotage|sabotage.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2283|2020-03-20|Exa-Exabyte|exa exabyte.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2282|2020-03-18|Coronavirus Worries|coronavirus worries.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2281|2020-03-16|Coronavirus Research|coronavirus research.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2280|2020-03-13|2010 and 2020|2010 and 2020.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2279|2020-03-11|Symptoms|symptoms.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2278|2020-03-09|Scientific Briefing|scientific briefing.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2277|2020-03-06|Business Greetings|business greetings.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2276|2020-03-04|Self-Isolate|self isolate.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2275|2020-03-02|Coronavirus Name|coronavirus name.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2274|2020-02-28|Stargazing 3|stargazing 3.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2273|2020-02-26|Truck Proximity|truck proximity.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2272|2020-02-24|Ringtone Timeline|ringtone timeline.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2271|2020-02-21|Grandpa Jason and Grandpa Chad|grandpa jason and grandpa chad.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2270|2020-02-19|Picking Bad Stocks|picking bad stocks.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2269|2020-02-17|Phylogenetic Tree|phylogenetic tree.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2268|2020-02-14|Further Research is Needed|further research is needed.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2267|2020-02-12|Blockchain|blockchain.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2266|2020-02-11|Leap Smearing|leap smearing.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2265|2020-02-07|Tax AI|tax ai.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2264|2020-02-05|Satellite|satellite.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2263|2020-02-03|Cicadas|cicadas.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2262|2020-01-31|Parker Solar Probe|parker solar probe.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2261|2020-01-29|Worst Thing That Could Happen|worst thing that could happen.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2260|2020-01-27|Reaction Maps|reaction maps.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2259|2020-01-24|Networking Problems|networking problems.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2258|2020-01-22|Solar System Changes|solar system changes.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2257|2020-01-20|Unsubscribe Message|unsubscribe message.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2256|2020-01-17|Bad Map Projection: South America|bad map projection south america.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2255|2020-01-15|Tattoo Ideas|tattoo ideas.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2254|2020-01-13|JPEG2000|jpeg2000.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2253|2020-01-10|Star Wars Voyager 1|star wars voyager 1.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2252|2020-01-08|Parenthetical Names|parenthetical names.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2251|2020-01-05|Alignment Chart Alignment Chart|alignment chart alignment chart.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2250|2020-01-03|OK/okay/ok|ok okay ok.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2249|2020-01-01|I Love the 20s|i love the 20s.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2248|2019-12-30|New Year's Eve|new years eve.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2247|2019-12-27|Weird Hill|weird hill.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2246|2019-12-25|Christmas Presents|christmas presents.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2245|2019-12-23|Edible Arrangements|edible arrangements.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2244|2019-12-20|Thumbtacks And String|thumbtacks and string.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2243|2019-12-18|Star Wars Spoiler Generator|star wars spoiler generator.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2242|2019-12-16|Ground vs Air|ground vs air.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2241|2019-12-13|Brussels Sprouts Mandela Effect|brussels sprouts mandela effect.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2240|2019-12-11|Timeline of the Universe|timeline of the universe.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2239|2019-12-09|Data Error|data error.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2238|2019-12-06|Flu Shot|flu shot.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2237|2019-12-04|AI Hiring Algorithm|ai hiring algorithm.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2236|2019-12-02|Is it Christmas?|is it christmas.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2235|2019-11-29|Group Chat Rules|group chat rules.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2234|2019-11-27|How To Deliver Christmas Presents|how to deliver christmas presents.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2233|2019-11-26|Aurora Meaning|aurora meaning.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2232|2019-11-22|Hotel Room Party|hotel room party.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2231|2019-11-20|the Time Before And After Land|the time before and after land.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2230|2019-11-18|Versus Bracket|versus bracket.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2229|2019-11-15|Rey and Kylo|rey and kylo.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2228|2019-11-14|Machine Learning Captcha|machine learning captcha.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2227|2019-11-11|Transit of Mercury|transit of mercury.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2226|2019-11-09|Recombination And Reionization|recombination and reionization.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2225|2019-11-06|Voting Referendum|voting referendum.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2224|2019-11-05|Software Updates|software updates.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2223|2019-11-01|Screen Time|screen time.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2222|2019-10-30|Terminator: Dark Fate|terminator dark fate.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2221|2019-10-29|Emulation|emulation.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2220|2019-10-25|Imagine Going Back in Time|imagine going back in time.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2219|2019-10-23|Earthquake Early Warnings|earthquake early warnings.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2218|2019-10-21|Wardrobe|wardrobe.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2217|2019-10-19|53 Cards|53 cards.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2216|2019-10-17|Percent Milkfat|percent milkfat.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2215|2019-10-15|Faculty:Student Ratio|faculty student ratio.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2214|2019-10-11|Chemistry Nobel|chemistry nobel.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2213|2019-10-09|How Old|how old.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2212|2019-10-07|Cell Phone Functions|cell phone functions.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2211|2019-10-04|Hours Before Departure|hours before departure.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2210|2019-10-02|College Athletes|college athletes.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2209|2019-09-30|Fresh Pears|fresh pears.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2208|2019-09-27|Drone Fishing|drone fishing.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2207|2019-09-25|Math Work|math work.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2206|2019-09-23|Mavis Beacon|mavis beacon.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2205|2019-09-20|Types of Approximation|types of approximation.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2204|2019-09-18|Ksp 2|ksp 2.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2203|2019-09-16|Prescience|prescience.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2202|2019-09-13|Earth-Like Exoplanet|earth like exoplanet.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2201|2019-09-11|Foucault Pendulum|foucault pendulum.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2200|2019-09-11|Unreachable State|unreachable state.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2199|2019-09-06|Cryptic Wifi Networks|cryptic wifi networks.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2198|2019-09-03|Throw|throw.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2197|2019-09-02|Game Show|game show.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2196|2019-08-30|Nice To E-Meet You|nice to e-meet you.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2195|2019-08-28|Dockless Roombas|dockless roombas.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2194|2019-08-26|How to Send a File|how to send a file.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2193|2019-08-23|Well-Ordering Principle|well ordering principle.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2192|2019-08-21|Review|review.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2191|2019-08-19|Conference Question|conference question.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2190|2019-08-16|Serena Versus the Drones|serena versus the drones.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2189|2019-08-14|Old Game Worlds|old game worlds.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2188|2019-08-12|E Scooters|e scooters.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2187|2019-08-09|Geologic Time|geologic time.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2186|2019-08-07|Dark Matter|dark matter.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2185|2019-08-05|Cumulonimbus|cumulonimbus.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2185|2019-08-05|Disappearing Sunday Update|disappearing sunday update.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2184|2019-08-02|Unpopular Opinions|unpopular opinions.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2183|2019-07-31|Icon Swap|icon swap.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2182|2019-07-29|When I'm Back at a Keyboard|when im back at a keyboard.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2181|2019-07-26|Inbox|inbox.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2180|2019-07-24|Spreadsheets|spreadsheets.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2179|2019-07-23|NWS Warnings|nws warnings.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2178|2019-07-19|Expiration Date High Score|expiration date high score.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2177|2019-07-17|Gastroenterology|gastroenterology.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2176|2019-07-15|How Hacking Works|how hacking works.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2175|2019-07-12|Flag Interpretation|flag interpretation.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2174|2019-07-10|First News Memory|first news memory.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2173|2019-07-08|Trained a Neural Net|trained a neural net.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2172|2019-07-05|Lunar Cycles|lunar cycles.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2171|2019-07-03|Shadow Biosphere|shadow biosphere.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2170|2019-07-01|Coordinate Precision|coordinate precision.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2169|2019-06-28|Predictive Models|predictive models.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2168|2019-06-26|Reading in the Original|reading in the original.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2167|2019-06-24|Motivated Reasoning Olympics|motivated reasoning olympics.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2166|2019-06-21|Stack|stack.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2165|2019-06-19|Millennials|millennials.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2164|2019-06-17|Glacier|glacier.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2163|2019-06-14|Chernobyl|chernobyl.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2162|2019-06-12|Literary Opinions|literary opinions.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2161|2019-06-10|An Apple a Day|an apple a day.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2160|2019-06-07|Ken Burns Theory|ken burns theory.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2159|2019-06-05|Comments|comments.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2158|2019-06-03|Qualifiers|qualifiers.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2157|2019-05-31|Diploma Legal Notes|diploma legal notes.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2156|2019-05-29|Ufo|ufo.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2155|2019-05-27|Swimming|swimming.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2154|2019-05-24|Motivation|motivation.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2153|2019-05-22|Effects of High Altitude|effects of high altitude.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2152|2019-05-20|Westerns|westerns.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2151|2019-05-17|A/B|a b.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2150|2019-05-15|XKeyboarCD|xkeyboarcd.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2149|2019-05-13|Alternate Histories|alternate histories.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2148|2019-05-10|Cubesat Launch|cubesat launch.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2147|2019-05-08|Appendicitis|appendicitis.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2146|2019-05-06|Waiting for the But|waiting for the but.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2145|2019-05-03|Heists And Escapes|heists and escapes.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2144|2019-05-01|Adjusting a Chair|adjusting a chair.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2143|2019-04-29|Disk Usage|disk usage.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2142|2019-04-26|Dangerous Fields|dangerous fields.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2141|2019-04-24|UI vs UX|ui vs ux.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2140|2019-04-22|Reinvent the Wheel|reinvent the wheel.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2139|2019-04-19|Email Settings|email settings.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2138|2019-04-17|Wanna See the Code?|wanna see the code.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2137|2019-04-15|Text Entry|text entry.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2136|2019-04-12|Election Commentary|election commentary.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2135|2019-04-10|M87 Black Hole Size Comparison|m87 black hole size comparison.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2134|2019-04-08|Too Much Talking|too much talking.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2133|2019-04-05|EHT Black Hole Picture|eht black hole picture.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2132|2019-04-03|Percentage Styles|percentage styles.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2131|2019-04-01|Emojidome|industry nicknames.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2130|2019-03-29|Industry Nicknames|industry nicknames.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2129|2019-03-27|1921 Fact Checker|1921 fact checker.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2128|2019-03-25|New Robot|new robot.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2127|2019-03-22|Panama Canal|panama canal.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2126|2019-03-20|Google Trends Maps|google trends maps.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2125|2019-03-18|Luna 2|luna 2.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2124|2019-03-15|Space Mission Hearing|space mission hearing.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2123|2019-03-13|Meta Collecting|meta collecting.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2122|2019-03-11|Size Venn Diagram|size venn diagram.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2121|2019-03-08|Light Pollution|light pollution.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2120|2019-03-06|Brain Hemispheres|brain hemispheres.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2119|2019-03-04|Video Orientation|video orientation.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2118|2019-03-01|Normal Distribution|normal distribution.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2117|2019-02-27|Differentiation and Integration|differentiation and integration.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2116|2019-02-25|.NORM Normal File Format|norm normal file format.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2115|2019-02-22|Plutonium|plutonium.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2114|2019-02-20|Launch Conditions|launch conditions.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2113|2019-02-18|Physics Suppression|physics suppression.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2112|2019-02-15|Night Shift|night shift.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2111|2019-02-13|Opportunity Rover|opportunity rover.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2110|2019-02-11|Error Bars|error bars.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2109|2019-02-08|Invisible Formatting|invisible formatting.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2108|2019-02-06|Carbonated Beverage Language Map|carbonated beverage language map.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2107|2019-02-04|Launch Risk|launch risk.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2106|2019-02-01|Sharing Options|sharing options.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2105|2019-01-30|Modern OSI Model|modern osi model.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2104|2019-01-28|Biff Tannen|biff tannen.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2103|2019-01-25|Midcontinent Rift System|midcontinent rift system.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2102|2019-01-23|Internet Archive|internet archive.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2101|2019-01-21|Technical Analysis|technical analysis.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2100|2019-01-18|Models of the Atom|models of the atom.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2099|2019-01-16|Missal of Silos|missal of silos.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2098|2019-01-14|Magnetic Pole|magnetic pole.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2097|2019-01-11|Thor Tools|thor tools.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2096|2019-01-09|Mattresses|mattresses.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2095|2019-01-07|Marsiforming|marsiforming.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2094|2019-01-04|Short Selling|short selling.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2093|2019-01-02|Reminders|reminders.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2092|2018-12-31|Consensus New Year|consensus new year.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2091|2018-12-28|Million, Billion, Trillion|million billion trillion.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2090|2018-12-26|Feathered Dinosaur Venn Diagram|feathered dinosaur venn diagram.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2089|2018-12-24|Christmas Eve Eve|christmas eve eve.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2088|2018-12-21|Schwarzschild's Cat|schwarzschilds cat.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2087|2018-12-19|Rocket Launch|rocket launch.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2086|2018-12-17|History Department|history department.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2085|2018-12-14|arXiv|arxiv.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2084|2018-12-12|FDR|fdr.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2083|2018-12-10|Laptop Issues|laptop issues.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2082|2018-12-07|Mercator Projection|mercator projection.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2081|2018-12-05|Middle Latitudes|middle latitudes.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2080|2018-12-03|Cohort and Age Effects|cohort and age effects.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2079|2018-11-30|Alpha Centauri|alpha centauri.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2078|2018-11-28|Popper|popper.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2077|2018-11-26|Heist|heist.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2076|2018-11-23|Horror Movies 2|horror movies 2.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2075|2018-11-21|Update Your Address|update your address.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2074|2018-11-19|Airplanes and Spaceships|airplanes and spaceships.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2073|2018-11-16|Kilogram|kilogram.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2072|2018-11-14|Evaluating Tech Things|evaluating tech things.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2071|2018-11-12|Indirect Detection|indirect detection.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2070|2018-11-09|Trig Identities|trig identities.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2069|2018-11-07|Wishlist|wishlist.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2068|2018-11-05|Election Night|election night.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2067|2018-11-02|Challengers|challengers.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2066|2018-10-31|Ballot Selfies|ballot selfies.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2065|2018-10-29|Who Sends the First Text?|who sends the first text.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2064|2018-10-26|I'm a Car|im a car.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2063|2018-10-24|Carnot Cycle|carnot cycle.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2062|2018-10-22|Barnard's Star|barnards star.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2061|2018-10-19|Tectonics Game|tectonics game.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2060|2018-10-17|Hygrometer|hygrometer.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2059|2018-10-15|Modified Bayes' Theorem|modified bayes theorem.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2058|2018-10-12|Rock Wall|rock wall.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2057|2018-10-10|Internal Monologues|internal monologues.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2056|2018-10-08|Horror Movies|horror movies.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2055|2018-10-05|Bluetooth|bluetooth.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2054|2018-10-03|Data Pipeline|data pipeline.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2053|2018-10-01|Incoming Calls|incoming calls.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2052|2018-09-28|Stanislav Petrov Day|stanislav petrov day.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2051|2018-09-26|Bad Opinions|bad opinions.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2050|2018-09-24|6/6 Time|6 6 time.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2049|2018-09-21|Unfulfilling Toys|unfulfilling toys.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2048|2018-09-19|Curve-Fitting|curve fitting.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2047|2018-09-17|Beverages|beverages.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2046|2018-09-14|Trum-|trum.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2045|2018-09-12|Social Media Announcement|social media announcement.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2044|2018-09-10|Sandboxing Cycle|sandboxing cycle.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2043|2018-09-07|Boathouses and Houseboats|boathouses and houseboats.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2042|2018-09-05|Rolle's Theorem|rolles theorem.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2041|2018-09-03|Frontiers|frontiers.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2040|2018-08-31|Sibling-in-Law|sibling in law.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2039|2018-08-29|Begging the Question|begging the question.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2038|2018-08-27|Hazard Symbol|hazard symbol.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2037|2018-08-24|Supreme Court Bracket|supreme court bracket.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2036|2018-08-22|Edgelord|edgelord.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2035|2018-08-20|Dark Matter Candidates|dark matter candidates.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2034|2018-08-17|Equations|equations.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2033|2018-08-15|Repair or Replace|repair or replace.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2032|2018-08-13|Word Puzzles|word puzzles.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2031|2018-08-10|Pie Charts|pie charts.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2030|2018-08-08|Voting Software|voting software.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2029|2018-08-06|Disaster Movie|disaster movie.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2028|2018-08-03|Complex Numbers|complex numbers.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2027|2018-08-01|Lightning Distance|lightning distance.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2026|2018-07-30|Heat Index|heat index.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2025|2018-07-27|Peer Review|peer review.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2024|2018-07-25|Light Hacks|light hacks.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2023|2018-07-23|Y-Axis|y axis.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2022|2018-07-20|Sports Champions|sports champions.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2021|2018-07-18|Software Development|software development.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2020|2018-07-16|Negative Results|negative results.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2019|2018-07-13|An Apple for a Dollar|an apple for a dollar.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2018|2018-07-11|Wall Art|wall art.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2017|2018-07-09|Stargazing 2|stargazing 2.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2016|2018-07-06|OEIS Submissions|oeis submissions.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2015|2018-07-04|New Phone Thread|new phone thread.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2014|2018-07-02|JWST Delays|jwst delays.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2013|2018-06-29|Rock|rock.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2012|2018-06-27|Thorough Analysis|thorough analysis.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2011|2018-06-25|Newton's Trajectories|newtons trajectories.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2010|2018-06-22|Update Notes|update notes.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2009|2018-06-20|Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram|hertzsprung russell diagram.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2008|2018-06-18|Irony Definition|irony definition.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2007|2018-06-15|Brookhaven RHIC|brookhaven rhic.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2006|2018-06-13|Customer Rewards|customer rewards.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2005|2018-06-11|Attention Span|attention span.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2004|2018-06-08|Sun and Earth|sun and earth.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2003|2018-06-06|Presidential Succession|presidential succession.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2002|2018-06-04|LeBron James and Stephen Curry|lebron james and stephen curry.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2001|2018-06-01|Clickbait-Corrected p-Value|clickbait corrected p value.png}}</onlyinclude><br />
|}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics| 2001]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1461:_Payloads&diff=2760641461: Payloads2022-05-23T18:33:31Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1461<br />
| date = December 17, 2014<br />
| title = Payloads<br />
| image = payloads.png<br />
| titletext = With a space elevator, a backyard full of solar panels could launch about 500 horses per year, and a large power plant could launch 10 horses per minute.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
A larger version of the image can be found [http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/payloads_large.png here].<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This comic is an infographic representing the launch mass of various spacecraft and artificial satellites, and the {{w|Low Earth orbit|low Earth orbit}} payload capacity of various space launch vehicles. Rather than using standard units of mass such as kilograms or pounds, Randall has assigned values based on the mass of a horse. Based on cross checking researched masses and payloads with the number of horses depicted, it appears that one horse unit is defined as 450&nbsp;kg (with an average of 432.82&nbsp;kg), or perhaps 1000&nbsp;lb. In cases where the mass is less than one horse, an alternative measure of dogs has been used, where one dog appears to be roughly 40&nbsp;kg (with an average of 48.05&nbsp;kg, or perhaps 100&nbsp;lb.). In the case of {{w|Vanguard 1}}, even a dog is too large a measure, so instead the unit squirrel is used to represent its 1.47&nbsp;kg (3.5&nbsp;lb.?) mass.<br />
<br />
The overall comic may be an allusion to {{w|horsepower}}, a similar-sounding but completely different concept. Horsepower is a measurement of {{w|power (physics)|power}} ({{w|work (physics)|work}} per unit time). Another commonly referenced unit for power is the {{w|watt}}. 1&nbsp;horsepower is meant to be approximately the amount of power a horse can deliver. In contrast, Randall uses the horse to measure {{w|mass}} (of particular spacecraft, and of the maximum payload launch vehicles can carry).<br />
<br />
The top pane of the comic (black background) shows the mass of various spacecraft, while the bottom (white background) shows the payload capacity (to low Earth orbit) of launch vehicles. Along the bottom of the image is a timeline, relating to the launch date of the entries.<br />
<br />
There are also several joke insertions:<br />
*T-Rex - A dinosaur, but fairly unlikely to be found orbiting Earth.<br />
*Pegasus - An actual {{w|Pegasus (rocket)|launch vehicle}}, but also the name of a {{w|Pegasus|mythical flying stallion}}. The payload is given as "one Pegasus", which comes out to be slightly less than "one horse".<br />
*Atlas-Centaur - Again, an actual {{w|Atlas-Centaur|launch vehicle}}, but also a reference to the half-human half-horse creatures of Greek mythology. The payload is given in "centaurs", which come out to be slightly more than "horses".<br />
*1981 {{w|Oldsmobile}} - Not a launch vehicle, but in fact a car. The payload is given as 4 horses, which may relate to the carrying capacity (by weight) of the Oldsmobile, not the ability of an Oldsmobile to launch that payload into low Earth orbit. While there are no known examples of an Oldsmobile reaching low Earth orbit, {{w|The Blues Brothers (film)|''The Blues Brothers''}} movie shows an Oldsmobile performing a very, very long flight, and this might be the reason why Randall chose this specific car.<br />
<br />
The Pegasus, 1981 Oldsmobile, and Stratolaunch spacecraft are depicted horizontally, because these vehicles launch from a horizontal starting position and use forward momentum to facilitate their launch.<br />
<br />
An unlabelled launch vehicle is shown below the H-IIA near 2002. From the payload and date it is believed to represent the {{w|Delta IV#Delta IV Medium|Delta IV M}}. Whether its lack of labelling is intended or a mistake is unknown.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to a favourite subject of Randall's - The {{w|space elevator}}. A space elevator is a (currently theoretical) mechanism for travelling into space, consisting of a very long (>35,000&nbsp;km) cable and counterweight connected to the Earth at the equator. The cable rotates at the same rate as the earth, and thus appears stationary when viewed from earth. It is then possible to climb the cable into space, and even use it as a slingshot to launch vehicles.<br />
<br />
In the title text, the amount of power required to lift a horse into space has been investigated, with the launch capacity of a backyard solar array and large power station compared. The orbit to launch horses is not precised, though; from the space elevator, the only circular orbit easily achievable is geostationary orbit, and getting into Low Earth Orbit is only slightly easier than without the elevator. Assuming the lowest stable orbit (that is, above the atmosphere), required power output of the solar array is about 315-350&nbsp;kW and the power station at 3.3-3.7&nbsp;GW.<br />
<br />
===Tables===<br />
The tables below contain data relating to each entry on the comic image.<br />
<br />
*Name - Should be as shown in the comic<br />
*Launch date - Date of first flight<br />
*Mass/payload (horses) - Value as given in comic<br />
*Mass/payload (kg) - Independently researched value<br />
<br />
Where the researched launch date or mass/payload don't seem to match the comic, they should be identified with <sup>?</sup><br />
<br />
{| <br />
|- style="vertical-align:top;"<br />
|<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable"<br />
!colspan="4"|Spacecraft mass<br />
|-<br />
!Spacecraft<br />
!Launch date <sup>''{{w|ISO 8601}}''</sup><br />
!Mass (horses)<br />
!Mass (kg)<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Sputnik 1|Sputnik}}<sup>[http://www.astronautix.com/craft/sputnik1.htm]</sup><br />
|1957-10-04<br />
|2 Dogs<br />
|83.6<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Vanguard 1}}<sup>[http://www.astronautix.com/craft/vanuard1.htm]</sup><br />
|1958-03-17<br />
|Squirrel<br />
|1.47<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Pioneer 5}}<sup>[http://www.astronautix.com/craft/pioneer5.htm]</sup><br />
|1960-03-11<br />
|Large Dog<br />
|43<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Venera 1}}<sup>[http://www.astronautix.com/craft/venra1va.htm]</sup><br />
|1961-02-12<br />
|1<br />
|643.5<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Mariner 2}}<sup>[http://www.astronautix.com/craft/marner12.htm]</sup><br />
|1962-08-27<br />
|3 Dogs<br />
|202.8<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Apollo Command/Service Module|Apollo}}<sup>[http://www.astronautix.com/craft/apolocsm.htm]</sup><br />
|1964-05-28<br />
|67<br />
|30,329<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Venera 7}}<sup>[http://www.astronautix.com/craft/ven3vv70.htm]</sup><br />
|1970-08-17<br />
|3<br />
|1,180<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Pioneer 10}}<sup>[http://www.astronautix.com/craft/pior1011.htm]</sup><br />
|1972-03-03<br />
|7 Dogs<br />
|258.8<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Skylab}}<sup>[http://www.astronautix.com/craft/skylab.htm]</sup><br />
|1973-05-14<br />
|171<br />
|77,088<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Venera 9}}<sup>[http://www.astronautix.com/craft/venra4v1.htm]</sup><br />
|1975-06-08<br />
|11<br />
|4,936<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Voyager 2}}<sup>[http://www.astronautix.com/craft/voyager.htm]</sup><br />
|1977-08-20<br />
|2<br />
|800<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Space Shuttle|Shuttle (Total)}}<sup>[http://www.braeunig.us/space/specs/orbiter.htm]</sup><br />
|1981-04-12<br />
|206<br />
|104,328<sup>?</sup><br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Space Shuttle|Shuttle (Payload)}}<br />
|1981-04-12<br />
|54<br />
|24,400<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Mir}}<br />
|1986-02-20<br />
|288<br />
|129,700<br />
|-<br />
|T-Rex<br />
|N/A<br />
|15<br />
|6,800<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Hubble}}<sup>[http://www.astronautix.com/craft/hst.htm]</sup><br />
|1990-04-24<br />
|25<br />
|11,110<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Compton Gamma Ray Observatory}}<sup>[http://www.astronautix.com/craft/gro.htm]</sup><br />
|1991-04-05<br />
|38<br />
|17,000<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Corona (satellite)|Keyhole 3}}†<br />
|1961<br />
|40<br />
|1150<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|International Space Station}}<br />
|1998<br />
|932<br />
|450,000<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Cassini-Huygens|Cassini}}<br />
|1997-10-15<br />
|11<br />
|5,300<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Huygens (spacecraft)|Huygens Lander}}<br />
|1997-10-15<br />
|1<br />
|319<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Rosetta (spacecraft)|Rosetta}}<br />
|2004-03-02<br />
|6<br />
|2,900<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Opportunity (rover)|Opportunity}}<br />
|2003-07-07<br />
|5 Dogs<br />
|185<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Dawn (spacecraft)|Dawn}}<sup>[http://www.astronautix.com/craft/dawn.htm]</sup><br />
|2007-09-27<br />
|3<br />
|1,240<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|TerreStar-1|Terrastar}}*<br />
|2009-07-01<br />
|15<br />
|6,910<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Dragon (spacecraft)|Dragon}}<sup>[http://www.astronautix.com/craft/dragon.htm]</sup><br />
|2010-06-04<br />
|17<br />
|8,000<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Tiangong-1}}<br />
|2011-09-29<br />
|19<br />
|8,506<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Curiosity (rover)|Curiosity}}<br />
|2011-11-26<br />
|2<br />
|900<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|KH-7 Gambit|Keyhole 7}}†<br />
|1963-07-12<br />
|40<br />
|2000<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Orion (spacecraft)|Orion (Capsule)}}<br />
|2014-12-05<br />
|20<br />
|8,913<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|James Webb Space Telescope|James Webb Telescope}}<br />
|2018-08 (Projected)<br />
|14<br />
|6,200<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Orion (spacecraft)|Orion}}<br />
|2014-12-05<br />
|20<br />
|8,913<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Orion Service Module}}<br />
|2017 (Projected)<br />
|25<br />
|12,000<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Deep Space Habitat|Orion Deep Space Habitat}}<br />
|2021 (Projected)<br />
|65<br />
|28,750 & 45,573<br />
|}<br />
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Terrastar is believed to be a misspelling of {{w|TerreStar-1|TerreStar}}, based on its mass and launch date.<br />
<br />
<nowiki>†</nowiki>Keyhole 3 and 7 seem to be errors; Keyhole 3 satellites were launched between 1961 and 1962 and Keyhole 7 between 1963 and 1967.<br><br />
The dates and masses in the comic more closely correspond to the {{w|KH-11 Kennan|Keyhole 11}}.<br />
|<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable"<br />
!colspan="4"|Launch vehicle capacity<br />
|-<br />
!Spacecraft<br />
!Launch date <sup>''{{w|ISO 8601}}''</sup><br />
!Payload (horses)<br />
!Payload (kg)<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Sputnik (rocket)|Sputnik Launcher}}<sup>[http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/spuk71ps.htm]</sup><br />
|1957-10-04<br />
|1<br />
|500<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Thor-Able|Thor}}<br />
|1958-04-24<br />
|3 Dogs<br />
|120<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Mercury-Atlas}}<br />
|1960-07-29<br />
|3<br />
|1,360<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Saturn I}}<br />
|1961-10-27<br />
|20<br />
|9,070<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Proton-K}}<sup>[http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/protonk.htm]</sup><br />
|1967-03-10<sup>?</sup> <br />
|44<br />
|19,760<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Atlas-Centaur}}<sup>[http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/atlntaur.htm]</sup><br />
|1962-05-08<br />
|8 Centaurs<br />
|3,630<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Titan IIIA}}<br />
|1964-09-01<br />
|7<br />
|3,100<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Saturn IB}}<br />
|1966-02-26<br />
|45<br />
|21,000<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Soyuz (rocket)|Soyuz}}<br />
|1966-11-28<br />
|14<br />
|6,450<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Saturn V}}<br />
|1967-11-09<br />
|262<br />
|118,000<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Black Arrow}}<br />
|1969-06-27<br />
|4 Dogs<br />
|135<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|N1 (rocket)|N1}}<br />
|1969-02-21<br />
|211<br />
|90,000<sup>?</sup><br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Long March 1}}<br />
|1969-11-16<br />
|2<br />
|300*<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|N-I (rocket)|N-I}}<br />
|1975-09-09<br />
|4<br />
|1,200<sup>?</sup><br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Delta 0100|Delta 0900}}<br />
|1972-07-23<br />
|3<br />
|1,300<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Ariane 1}}<br />
|1979-12-24<br />
|3<br />
|1,400<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Satellite Launch Vehicle|SLV}}<br />
|1979-08-10<br />
|1 Dog<br />
|40<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|N-II (rocket)|N-II}}<br />
|1981-02-11<br />
|4<br />
|2,000<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Oldsmobile#1970s-1980s|1981 Oldsmobile}}<br />
|1981<br />
|4<br />
|N/A (Model dependent)<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|ASLV}}<br />
|1987-03-24<br />
|4 Dogs<br />
|150<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Long March 4A}}<br />
|1988-09-06<br />
|9<br />
|4,000<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Ariane 4}}<br />
|1988-06-15<br />
|16<br />
|5,000-7,600<sup>?</sup><br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Shavit}}<br />
|1988-09-19<br />
|6 Dogs<br />
|350-800<sup>?</sup><br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Energia}}<br />
|1987-05-15<br />
|218<br />
|100,000*<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Pegasus (rocket)|Pegasus}}<br />
|1990-04-05<br />
|1 Pegasus<br />
|443<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Atlas I}}<sup>[http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/atlasi.htm]</sup><br />
|1990-07-25<br />
|13<br />
|3,630<sup>?</sup><br />
|-<br />
|{{w|PSLV}}<br />
|1993-09-20<br />
|8<br />
|3250<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|J-I}}<sup>[http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/j1.htm]</sup><br />
|1996-02-11<br />
|2<br />
|850<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Long March 3B}}<br />
|1996-02-14<br />
|27<br />
|12,000<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|H-IIA}}<br />
|2001-08-29<br />
|22<br />
|10,000<br />
|-<br />
|(unlabelled) {{w|Delta IV#Delta IV Medium|Delta IV M}}<sup>?</sup>*<br />
|2002-09-20<br />
|21<br />
|4200-6882<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Delta IV Heavy|Delta IV-H}}<sup>[http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/delheavy.htm]</sup><br />
|2004-12-21<br />
|64<br />
|28,790<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Falcon 1}}<br />
|2006-03-24<br />
|1<br />
|670 (Proposed)<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Ariane 5#Variants|Ariane 5ES}}<sup>[http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/arine5es.htm]</sup><br />
|2008-03-09<br />
|47<br />
|21,000<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|H-IIB}}<br />
|2009-09-10<br />
|37<br />
|19,000<sup>?</sup><br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Unha}}<br />
|2009-04-05<br />
|2 Dogs<br />
|100<sup>[http://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/legacy/assets/documents/nwgs/Wright-Analysis-of-NK-launcher-3-18-09.pdf]</sup><br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Atlas V|Atlas V 541}}<br />
|2011-11-26<br />
|38<br />
|17,443<sup>[http://www.lockheedmartin.com/data/assets/ssc/cls/AVUG_Rev11_March2010.pdf]</sup><br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Falcon 9}}<br />
|2013-09-29<br />
|29<br />
|13,150<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Antares (rocket)|Antares}}<br />
|2013-04-21<br />
|14<br />
|6,120<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Stratolaunch carrier aircraft|Stratolaunch}}<br />
|2016 (Projected)<br />
|14<br />
|6,100<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Falcon Heavy}}<br />
|2018-02-06<br />
|118<br />
|53,000<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Space Launch System|SLS Block 1}}<br />
|2018-11 (Projected)<br />
|156<br />
|70,000<sup>[http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/664158main_sls_fs_master.pdf]</sup><br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Space Launch System|SLS Block 1B}}<br />
|2021 (Projected)<br />
|217<br />
|100,000<sup>?</sup><br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Space Launch System|SLS Block 2}}<br />
| 2030's (Projected)<br />
|289<br />
|130,000<sup>[http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/664158main_sls_fs_master.pdf]</sup><br />
|}<br />
<br />
*The unlabelled launch vehicle is believed to be the Delta IV M, based on its payload and date.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[This comic is a wide drawing, with a larger drawing that can be reached by clicking the small picture on xkcd. In the smaller picture shown on xkcd only the text that is not red can be read. The transcript below is thus for the large drawing. It is divided into three horizontal sections. The first section is black and shows spacecrafts, the second is white and shows launch vehicles, and the third is black again showing a timeline ranging from 1950 to the future. The vehicles are shown by the proper number of horses, and when that weight is less than one full horse also in the weight of other smaller animals.]<br />
<br />
:[The black section:]<br />
:<big><big>Spacecraft mass</big></big><br />
:<big>Measured in horses</big><br />
<br />
:<font color="red">Sputnik -- <1 horse (2 dogs )</font><br />
:<font color="red">Vanguard 1 -- <1 horse (Squirrel )</font><br />
:<font color="red">Pioneer 5 -- <1 horse (Large dog)</font><br />
:<font color="red">Mariner 2 (United States) -- <1 horse (3 dogs )</font><br />
:<font color="red">Venera 1 (USSR) -- 1 horse</font><br />
:<font color="red">Apollo -- 67 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Venera 7 -- 3 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Pioneer 10 -- <1 horse (7 dogs)</font><br />
:<font color="red">Skylab -- 171 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Venera 9 -- 11 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Voyager 2 -- 2 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Shuttle (Total) -- 206 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Shuttle Payload -- 54 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Mir -- 288 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">T-Rex -- 15 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Hubble -- 25 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Compton Gamma Ray Observatory -- 38 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Keyhole 3 -- Spy satellite</font><br />
:<font color="red">International Space Station -- 932 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Cassini -- 11 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Huygens lander -- 1 horse</font><br />
:<font color="red">Rosetta -- 6 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Opportunity -- <1 horse (5 dogs)</font><br />
:<font color="red">Dawn -- 3 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Terrastar -- 15 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Dragon -- 17 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Tiangong-1 -- 19 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Curiosity -- 2 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Keyhole 7 -- 40 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Orion (capsule) -- 20 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">James Webb Telescope -- 14 horses</font><br />
:[20 horses:]<br />
:<font color="red">Orion</font><br />
:[25 horses:]<br />
:<font color="red">Orion Service Module</font><br />
:[65 horses:]<br />
:<font color="red">Orion Deep-Space Habitat</font><br />
<br />
:[The white section:]<br />
:<big><big>Launch vehicle capacity</big></big><br />
:(Payloads to low earth orbit)<br />
:<big>Measured in horses</big><br />
<br />
:<font color="red">Sputnik Launcher -- 1 horse</font><br />
:<font color="red">Thor -- <1 horse (3 dogs)</font><br />
:<font color="red">Mercury-Atlas -- 3 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Saturn I -- 20 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Proton-K -- 44 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Atlas-Centaur -- 8 centaurs</font><br />
:<font color="red">Titan IIIA -- 7 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Saturn IB -- 45 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Soyuz -- 14 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Saturn V -- 262 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Black Arrow -- <1 horse (4 dogs)</font><br />
:<font color="red">N1 -- 211 horse -- Exploded on Launch pad</font><br />
:<font color="red">Long March 1 -- 2 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">N-I (Japan) -- 4 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Delta 0900 -- 3 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Ariane 1 -- 3 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">SLV (India) -- <1 horse (1 dog)</font><br />
:<font color="red">N-II -- 4 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">1981 Oldsmobile -- 4 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">ASLV -- <1 horse (4 dogs)</font><br />
:<font color="red">Long March 4A -- 9 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Ariane 4 -- 16 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Shavit (Israel) -- <1 horse (6 dogs)</font><br />
:<font color="red">Energia -- 218 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Pegasus -- 1 Pegasus</font><br />
:<font color="red">Atlas I -- 13 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">PSLV -- 8 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">J-I -- 2 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Long March 3B -- 27 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">H-IIA -- 22 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Delta IV-H -- 64 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Falcon 1 -- 1 horse</font><br />
:<font color="red">Ariane 5ES -- 47 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">H-IIB -- 37 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Unha (North Korea) -- <1 horse (2 dogs)</font><br />
:<font color="red">Atlas V 541 -- 38 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Falcon 9 -- 29 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Antares -- 14 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Stratolaunch -- 14 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">Falcon Heavy -- 118 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">SLS Block 1 -- 156 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">SLS Block 1B -- 217 horses</font><br />
:<font color="red">SLS Block 2 -- 289 horses</font><br />
<br />
:[The timeline:]<br />
:1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, Future<br />
<br />
A larger transcript with image descriptions can be found here: [[1461: Payloads/Transcript|Full transcript]]<br />
<br />
==Trivia==<br />
*Later after the initial release of this comic Randall added a link to this page. It's viewable in the HTML-source or here: [https://xkcd.com/1461/info.0.json https://xkcd.com/1461/info.0.json]. The text is: ''"This comic is an infographic. A very good transcription is available in complete form here: http:\n\nwww.explainxkcd.com\nwiki\nindex.php\n1461"''. At the time this was added here was no written transcript but a complete explain section.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Large drawings]]<br />
[[Category:Charts]]<br />
[[Category:Timelines]]<br />
[[Category:Animals]]<br />
[[Category:Squirrels]]<br />
[[Category:Space]]<br />
[[Category:Space probes]]<br />
[[Category:Telescopes]]<br />
[[Category:Mars rovers]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Hairy&diff=276065Hairy2022-05-23T18:33:31Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox character<br />
| image = Hairy.png<br />
| imagesize = 150px<br />
| caption = Hairy<br />
| first_appearance = [[61: Stacey's Dad]]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Hairy''' is a [[stick figure]] character in [[xkcd]]. The name is unofficial, used by [[explain xkcd|xkcd explainers]] to describe male characters with hair and no other distinguishing features.<br />
<br />
Hairy is not a single character, but a categorization of various one-time characters. One Hairy, a learning pickup artist, has appeared in two comics ([[1027: Pickup Artist]] and [[1178: Pickup Artists]]).<br />
<br />
When Hairy appears with [[Cueball]] or [[Black Hat]], he generally comes off as worse (as in [[1210: I'm So Random]], or as a pickup artist). Hairy can also appear just to add some variation in a group ([[1261: Shake That]]), or as a kid ([[973: MTV Generation]], [[1176: Those Not Present]]).<br />
<br />
There is a very early comic ([[16: Monty Python -- Enough]]) where a hairy guy delivers the joke. There is no reason to believe this is the same Hairy that [[Randall]] invented later.<br />
<br />
Hairy's name may be "Mike" as that name is used by Cueball in [[2232: Hotel Room Party]] when addressing a group that included him.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
*[[:Category:Comics featuring Hairy|Comics featuring Hairy]]<br />
<br />
{{navbox-characters}}</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2436:_Circles&diff=2760662436: Circles2022-05-23T18:33:31Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2436<br />
| date = March 12, 2021<br />
| title = Circles<br />
| image = circles.png<br />
| titletext = ( MSTE ( AR ) CD )<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
The comic depicts five overlapping circles, themselves encircled by circles of various sizes which enclose two, four, or all five of the smaller overlapping circles, as in an {{w|Euler diagram}}. Several well-known logos consist of overlapping circles, and the larger circles reference these logos. These are: {{w|Mastercard}}, which consists of two side-by-side overlapping circles (technically, disks, since they're filled in); {{w|Audi}}, which is four side-by-side overlapping circles, and the {{w|Olympic rings}}, which are five topologically linked rings in a "W" shaped pattern.<br />
<br />
<gallery><br />
Mastercard 2019 logo.svg|Mastercard logo<br />
Audi-Logo 2016.svg|Audi logo<br />
Olympic rings without rims.svg|Olympic rings<br />
</gallery><br />
<br />
To indicate that the Mastercard logo comprises two overlapping circles, the diagram draws a larger circle around the first two circles, inscribed with a label. Other than its size and the label, this new circle is identical to the five smaller circles.<br />
<br />
Similarly, to indicate that the Audi logo comprises four overlapping circles, the diagram again provides a larger circle, this time encompassing the first four smaller circles, inscribed with a label. The "Audi" circle completely encloses the "Mastercard" circle, indicating that the four circles of the "Audi" logo include the two circles of the "Mastercard" logo.<br />
<br />
Finally, an even larger circle, enclosing all of the other circles, indicates that the Olympic Rings use all five original circles.<br />
<br />
The comic was released only about four months before the postponed {{w|2020 Summer Olympics}} was scheduled to start on 23 July 2021. It was {{w|2020_Summer_Olympics#Postponement_to_2021|postponed}} because of the {{w|COVID-19 pandemic}}, which has spawned a [[:Category:COVID-19|series]] of comics on xkcd.<br />
<br />
The title text is a textual representation of the Mastercard name as a Venn diagram containing the letters in the words "master" and "card" — A and R are shared by both, while MSTE and CD are unique to their respective elements.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Five small circles, looped together in the style of the Olympics logo is drawn in the center. On the left, a larger circle surrounds two of the prior ones, incidentally overlapping a third circle. A larger circle surrounds four of the small circles, thus also the previous mentioned circle, cutting over the last of the five circles. Finally a very large circle fully contains all the other circles. The three larger circles have labels, with the small ones label above, and with a small clarifying line from the label towards the top of this circle. The middle sized circle has the label standing on a break in the circle at it's bottom, and the largest circle has the label just beneath it. From smallest to largest of the circles the labels are:]<br />
:Mastercard<br />
:Audi<br />
:Olympics<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Euler diagrams]]<br />
[[Category:Sport]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1000:_1000_Comics/1000_characters&diff=2760671000: 1000 Comics/1000 characters2022-05-23T18:33:31Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{incomplete|Most explanations from 647 to 1000 are missing. Address all red text.}}<br />
{{notice|'''This is a work in progress''' I have been working on a table listing all figures in the comic [[1000: 1000 Comics]] after having added pictures like those on this page: [[1000: 1000 Comics/Numbered images]]. I have now finished the first 646 characters, three legs into the 2nd zero, just missing the left part, but still nothing from the third zero. The table has been updated to include room for all 1000 characters, so it will be possible to easily continue with the explanation of each of the remaining figure. I'm not sure I will be able to continue with this work at the moment... So please feel free to improve. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 14:44, 13 August 2016 (UTC)}}<br />
{{notice|'''Update:''' I have completed the descriptions for characters 647-1000; however, for many of the characters, verification and/or alternate explanations might be necessary. I will continue to work on this page, but I think we've hit a big ''milestone'' in being able to remove the 'incomplete' tag! [[User:BlackHat|BlackHat]] ([[User talk:BlackHat|talk]]) 19:50, 25 October 2020 (UTC)}}<br />
<br />
<big>'''[[#Table of 1000 characters|Go To Table]]'''</big><br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
Below is a brief explanation of the system used to sort the following table:<br />
<br />
*There will eventually be a numbered list of the 1000 small drawings/characters from [[1000: 1000 Comics]].<br />
**See the numbering system here [[1000: 1000 Comics/Numbered images]].<br />
***There will also be links to relevant part of the pictures from the table, see below.<br />
**Relevant categories for comics, characters and items should be added to the main page.<br />
*This is a sortable table of (eventually) all 1000 characters. <br />
**In this way it is possible to find all Ponytails or White Hats quickly, all comics with straightforward references, transcripts, objects or animals.<br />
* ''<font color="red">A red text:</font>'' has been used to indicate where something is not explained-<br />
**This could be where a character is suspected to be from an earlier comic, where some object is unclear, where the text of a transcript is unreadable etc.<br />
**Please help trying to improve the explanation by going through these red items.<br />
**All those entries that are not yet explained will begin with “<font color="red">A Red Text:</font>” to make it easy to sort those.<br />
**Only problem is that they do not come to the top, but they will be sorted at the bottom of the list if either all those without red text or after all those with no text at all...<br />
<br />
The columns explained:<br />
#The first column gives the number from the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c7/1000_Comics_-_The_entire_comic_with_numbers.png numbered image].<br />
#However, given that this is a big image, and not easily over-viewed, then after the number there is a link to an image of the relevant section from the [[1000:_1000_Comics/Numbered_images#Explanation|thirteen sections]] the whole image has been divided into.<br />
##This section link for the first and last character in each section will be written in bold to make it clear when this occurs. It will also be mentioned in the explanation.<br />
##The “one” is one section, but the three “zeros” have been divided in top (T), right (R), bottom (B) and left (L), so for instance the second zero bottom will be labeled: Zero 2 B.<br />
#The third column is a description of the character (or picture if there is more to it than a simply character).<br />
##It always begins with the name of a known character, or if an unknown the sex if that is clear.<br />
###For known characters, a link will be given on the name, but only the first time a character appears.<br />
##After that it continues with a full description of the character and any other object, animal or specialty correlated with this number on the list.<br />
##The description always include if the figure is standing (most are) or are in some other position (sitting, lying, dancing, flying etc.) and also if they are standing alone or together with other characters, animals or objects and if they look left or right (or straight, but then nothing is noted).<br />
###Standing alone means there are no obvious interactions with other characters or animals.<br />
###Left/right direction indicate the direction the face is turned or the direction the head points, in case they are lying down.<br />
###The direction Cueball is looking is not always clear. But if there is any indication of the direction it will be noted. <br />
#Explanation if there is anything to explain.<br />
## If the character is just standing alone and is one of the well-known there will be no explanation.<br />
##A number after a characters mentioned in either explanation or description refers to the number in the table/image; instead of writing Ponytail no. 20 it just says Ponytail 20.<br />
#References to any comic or category, or anything else obvious, but not given in any comic.<br />
##Comic references where the name of the comic is written in bold are for references where there is (almost) no doubt it is a direct reference to that particular comic. <br />
##When not bold it can be debated but has been deemed reasonable to include here instead of only in the description.<br />
#Transcript for the few characters/images where anything is written. <br />
##It can often be hard to read, but sometimes the image helps with a good guess.<br />
#Animals are often included along with the characters, but never alone. Here they can be listed for easy reference.<br />
#Objects are often included along with the characters, but never alone. Here they can be listed for easy reference.<br />
<br />
==Table of 1000 characters==<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" <br />
|- <br />
! # <br />
! Section <br />
! Character description <br />
! Explanation <br />
! References <br />
! Transcript <br />
! Animals <br />
! Objects <br />
|- <br />
| 1 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One]''' || [[Cueball]] standing alone || The very '''first character in one''' is of course the standard everyman Cueball, and no matter how one would count, this character would be the first encountered! || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 2 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || [[Megan]] standing turned right hand up towards Cueball 3 || Megan and Cueball 3 interact, she lifts her hand and he points at her. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 3 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing left pointing with an arm at Megan 2 || Megan 2 and Cueball interact, she lifts her hand and he points at her. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 4 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Woman with black hair wide standing right looking at Cueball 7 || The hairdo is much wider at the shoulder than Megan’s so it cannot be her or any other known characters. She may be looking down at Cueball 7. See also 171 and 325. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 5 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Megan standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 6 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right leaning || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 7 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone left looking up at the woman 4 || He may be looking up at the woman 4. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 8 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || [[Hairy]] standing alone left || The hair is not as thick as normal for Hairy, spikier. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 9 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone left behind a lectern with a microphone heading a hand up to his mouth || Cueball is addressing some audience not shown. This is a typical setting for the public speaking comics, although there seems to be no situation where there is a microphone on the lectern when Cueball speaks. || Category: [[:Category:Public speaking|Public speaking]] || || || [[1661: Podium|Lectern]] <br />
|-<br />
| 10 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 11 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Megan prone right drifting up as shown with three lines || Megan seems to be floating up into the air. Could be that Cueball 12 and 13 are looking after her? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 12 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right looking up || He may be looking up at Megan 11 floating together with Cueball 13? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 13 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone left looking up || He may be looking up at Megan 11 floating together with Cueball 12? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 14 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Character with a black half sphere on the head left looking down || <font color="red">A Red Text: What is on the head?</font> This may be either a military or other kind of helmet, or a special hairdo, and could be both male and female? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 15 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Megan standing right towards Guy 16 her head down with a white heart floating in front of her || Megan seems to be in love with the spectacled guy 16 to her right, but he seems not to notice her. This may explain why her head is bent down. || || Megan: ♥ || || <br />
|-<br />
| 16 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Guy with glasses (round) and no hair standing right away from Megan 15 and her heart || Like Cueball with round glasses. Megan 15 to his left may have a crush on him with the heart in front of her and her head down because he seems not to notice her. See also 42 where he has square glasses. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 17 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right leaning || He may be looking at Ponytail 18 spinning in her office chair. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 18 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || [[Ponytail]] sitting right arms out. She is spinning around in an office chair as shown with several circling lines || Ponytail is having fun spinning around in her office chair so fast she yells out loud. Maybe Cueball 17 is looking at her, maybe he gave her a push? Could be that he is the one spinning in the referenced comic where the friction of office chair is correlated to how much work is being done. Too little friction an deveryone just spins in stead of doing any work. The next to sit in a chair is Cueball 340 (not counting the wheelchair in 49). Ponytail is also the first to sit on the ground in 185. || Comic: '''[[815: Mu]]''' || Ponytail: ''Wheeee'' || || Office chair <br />
|-<br />
| 19 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 20 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Ponytail standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 21 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone making wavy arms and holding something in his hand towards left || <font color="red">A Red Text: What his he holding. What is the name for what he is doing with his arms? Is there a reference to a comic? Update: Named the dance and described the object. Looked for a reference to a previous comic, couldn't find anything but I'm not convinced I didn't miss something. </font> Cueball seems to be doing a variant of the wave dance move, although his version would be impossible to do in real life since it would require more joints than humans have. He is holding an object towards the left. || || || || Cueball is holding an object that resembles a short dagger, with a wide crossbar and triangular blade.<br />
|-<br />
| 22 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 23 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Megan standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 24 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Megan standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 25 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone left || Maybe Cueball 30 waves at him. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 26 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Guy with hat, white dome shaped standing alone right || This version of White Hat is the one from Idiocracy. It is used more than once in this comic, so here he will not be listed as White Hat. See also 324. || Comic: [[603: Idiocracy]] || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 27 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing right towards short haired woman 28 || Cueball looking at woman 27. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 28 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Woman with short black hair like Megan on the head but stop above neck standing left towards Cueball 27 || The woman looking at Cueball 28 has much shorter hair than Megan. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 29 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Woman with hair bun white standing alone right || This is not Hairbun as she has dark hair. This white hair bun woman is used more than once (see already in 43). || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 30 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right waving with the arm to the right || He may be waving upwards towards Cueball 25. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 31 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Guy with hat locomotive shaped and no hair standing right || <font color="red">A Red Text: Any references to comics?</font> Could be that this guy was a model train [[878: Model Rail|enthusiast]]? Seems like this hat is related to the hat on 65. || || || || Locomotive hat <br />
|-<br />
| 32 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball&nbsp;standing&nbsp;alone&nbsp;right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 33 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || [[Mrs. Roberts]] standing alone left with an oven-mitt on her hand to the left that holds a bun tray from the oven and in her other hand she holds down her laptop || Mrs. Roberts trademark image, almost as the one from her character page and directly a link to {{w|Leet}} (1337). || Comic: '''[[341: 1337: Part 1]]''' || || || Laptop, oven mittens, baking plate <br />
|-<br />
| 34 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 35 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Guy with sunglasses and no hair standing left || The sunglasses are drawn so small that it is hard to see the left glass. Could be a headband… See other guys like this at 261, 349 and 638 and Hairbun 568 with sunglasses. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 36 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Ponytail standing left hands out towards a woolly sheep with spiral horns facing her while baaing || Could be that it was a ram that charged at her but maybe she just reach out to pat the sheep as there are no speed lines to indicate movement. Could also be Mary after her little lamb got bigger. The reference to the Sheep comic may be dubious but this is the only sheep in this comic and he has a comic with that name... || Comic: [[35: Sheep]] || Sheep: Baaa || {{w|Sheep}} || <br />
|-<br />
| 37 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Megan standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 38 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Woman with hair bun black, large and on top of her head with what appears to be two hairpins stuck into it standing alone right || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it hairpins in a hair bun? Any reference to characters drawn previously</font> Even though this Megan like character has a hair bun it is much too different from Hairbun's to be her. See also similar women 38 and 427 with hairpins in hair bun. || || || || Hairpins? <br />
|-<br />
| 39 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Ponytail standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 40 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Hairy standing alone right || First standard version of Hairy in the comic. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 41 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 42 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Guy with glasses (square) and no hair standing right || Like Cueball with square glasses. See also 16 where he has round glasses. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 43 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Woman with hair bun white standing alone right || This is not Hairbun as she has dark hair. This white hair bun woman is used more than once (see first appearance at 29). || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 44 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 45 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Megan standing alone left arms up and out || Megan holds her arms out like to embrace someone, but she seems to be standing alone. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 46 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Guy with glasses (round) and no hair standing left || Like Cueball with round glasses. See also 42 where he has square glasses. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 47 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Megan standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 48 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 49 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Stephen Hawking with dark hair and dark glasses sitting in his wheelchair with a computer screen in front of him alone right looking down || The image here is the last in the comic bearing the name, {{w|Stephen Hawking}}, as the title -he is downcast after the events in the comic and thus is looking down. || Comic: '''[[799: Stephen Hawking]]''' || || || Wheel chair with computer screen <br />
|-<br />
| 50 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing right towards Megan 51 || Cueball looking at Megan 51 || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 51 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Megan standing left towards Cueball 50 || Megan looking at Cueball 50. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 52 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Megan standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 53 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Megan standing alone left longer hair || This Megan has somewhat longer hair, but not Danish length… || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 54 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 55 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right leaning while pointing left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 56 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right with both arms up || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 57 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing left with a turtle to his right talking to him. Seems short || There is also a turtle in [[636: Brontosaurus]]. Later a stack of turtles was used in [[1416: Pixels]]. It could also be a {{w|tortoise}} as the one drawn only 37 comics later in [[1037:_Umwelt#Black_Hat|Black Hat's version]] of [[1037:_Umwelt]]. This Cueball here looks short, maybe he is a kid? || Comic: [[889: Turtles]] || Turtle: Hey. || {{w|Turtle}} || <br />
|-<br />
| 58 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Megan standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 59 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 60 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 61 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || [[Beret Guy]] standing right looking up at the woodpecker flying away with a drill it holds in its claws in the wire || A direct reference to the comic Woodpecker where Beret Guy gives a woodpecker an electric drill as a birthday present. The bird flies away with it as depicted here, although first after Beret Guy has left. || Comic: '''[[614: Woodpecker]]''' || || {{w|Woodpecker}} || <br />
|-<br />
| 62 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Megan standing right towards Cueball 63 and character 64 with her hands in front of her mouth || <font color="red">A Red Text: The sex of 64 is unclear and makes this triangle 62-64 hard to analyze</font> Seems like this Megan (with more loose hair than normal) is shocked to see Cueball 63 and the person 64 holding hands. Maybe she was in love with one of them and is shocked to see them together as a happy couple. Or if it is supposed to be two men she could at the same time be shocked that they are openly gay... || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 63 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing right holding hands with the person 64 || <font color="red">A Red Text: The sex of 64 is unclear and makes this triangle 62-64 hard to analyze</font> Cueball holding hand with the person in 64 who could be a girl in which case Megan in 62 could be jealous, or it could be a guy in which case this could be a gay scene and that cold shock Megan (as well). || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 64 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Character with short black hair with spikes in the front standing left holding hands with Cueball 63 || <font color="red">A Red Text: The sex of 64 is unclear and makes this triangle 62-64 hard to analyze</font> Cueball 63 is holding hand with this person who could be a girl in which case Megan in 62 could be jealous, or it could be a guy in which case this could be a gay scene and that cold shock Megan (as well). || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 65 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Guy with a hat city-sky-line shaped and no hair standing alone right || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is the hat a city sky line or something else? Any references to comics?</font> Seems like this hat is related to the locomotive hat on 31. || || || || City sky line hat <br />
|-<br />
| 66 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Woman with hair bun white hair black bun standing alone left. Her hair is short and white. The hair bun sits on top of her head it looks black but could be caused by two hairpins stuck into the bun || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it hairpins in a hair bun? Could also look like it is an antenna on her head. If so it may even be a man with an antenna cap? Any reference to characters drawn previously?</font>As the hair is white, it is not Hairbun plus there are hairpins. See also similar women 38 and 427 with hairpins in hair bun. || || || || Hairpins? <br />
|-<br />
| 67 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 68 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Ponytail standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 69 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Soldier with helmet with camouflage pattern and machine gun barrel upwards standing alone left || A soldier with arms ready like in the referenced comic, but with a different helmet. || Comic: [[984: Space Launch System]] || || || Machine gun <br />
|-<br />
| 70 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 71 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Hairy standing alone very tall || This version of Hairy has more curly hair than normally and he seems to be a head higher than the Cueballs around him. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 72 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right one arm bent at the elbow || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 73 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Guy with beard, full, and black hair standing alone left || First guy with a beard! Could be Joseph (father of Jesus) from the referenced comic. Another guy 470 also has as beard but not quite like Joseph || Comics: [[992: Mnemonics]] || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 74 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone left with both arms up, seems short || This Cueball here looks short, maybe he is a kid? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 75 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Guy with hair only around the neck standing alone left seems tall || This could be Donald Knuth from [[342: 1337: Part 2]] or George from [[587: Crime Scene]]. The hair is the same. See similar guys at 269, 406, 516 and 608. See also Guy 411 with similar hair but different appearence. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 76 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Character with short black hair standing alone right || Could be either sex, hair too short to be Megan, like the next Megan 77. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 77 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Megan standing alone left || As this is clearly Megan the person 76 is clearly not Megan. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 78 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 79 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Ponytail standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 80 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 81 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || [[Science Girl]] standing alone right || It is size wise clearly a girl with hairdo like Science Girl. But so far the only known instance of Science Girl looking like this comes after this comic. But she was already in [[585: Outreach]]. Her first known appearance looking more like this was in [[1058: Old-Timers]] less than half a year later. But this exact feature was first used in [[1352: Cosmologist on a Tire Swing]]. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 82 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Woman with long hair white standing alone right || The first woman with long blonde hair in the comic. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 83 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 84 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 85 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Megan running alone left arms out hair hanging loose and curly behind her || The first running character. There has been a floating and a spinning character, but the rest seems to be standing still. She is not clearly running towards any other character. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 86 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Hairy standing alone left with flat hair || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 87 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right pointing one arm right and down || The posture is almost identical with Cueball 89. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 88 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 89 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing right pointing right at Cueball 90 || He points at and maybe accusing Cueball 90 of something since Cueball 90 has his arms crossed in front of his chest and looks away and down like he is insulted or angry, This Cueball posture is almost identical with Cueball 87. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 90 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing right arms crossed in front of his chest looking down away from Cueball 89 who points at him || Maybe Cueball 89 who points at this Cueball is accusing him of something since this one has his arms crossed in front of his chest and looks away and down from the other like he is insulted or angry. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 91 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 92 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Guy with helmet white with a strap under his chin no hair standing alone left, seems short || Could be the Cueball with a bicycle helmet for skating from the referenced comic. This does not look like a soldier compared with 69. But could also be a soldier’s helmet as it looks like the one in [[984: Space Launch System]]. It could be a kid. || Comic: [[579: The Race: Part 3]] || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 93 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 94 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Megan standing alone left with less dark hair || Megan’s hair is not quite so black as usual here. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 95 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Hairy standing alone left with very large hair || Hairy's hair is maybe a little too wild to be the regular Hairy… || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 96 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Hairy standing alone right with a bath towel around his waist || Hairy has just gotten out of the shower, preparing for a date. || Comic: '''[[761: DFS]]''' || || || {{w|Bath towel}} <br />
|-<br />
| 97 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone left, seems short || This Cueball here looks short, maybe he is a kid? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 98 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Megan standing alone right || As this is clearly Megan the person 99 is clearly not Megan. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 99 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Character with short black hair standing alone right || Could be either sex, hair too short to be Megan, like Megan 98 before. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 100 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone left || Of course number 100 would also be a Cueball… || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 101 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Megan sliding on a snow board alone right hair standing out behind her || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> As there are no wheels it cannot be a skateboard. The way she stands also does not fit with ski. Could be a surfboard, but where’s the surf… || || || || Snowboard <br />
|-<br />
| 102 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 103 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right seems short || This Cueball here looks short, maybe he is a kid? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 104 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right, very tall || A very large version of Cueball. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 105 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball lying down on his back alone left resting his head on his arms behind him || The first character that lies down on the ground. See also lying Cueball 597, the second to lie down like this. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 106 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 107 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Hairy standing alone right flat hair || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 108 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Hairy standing alone right large hair || Almost an Afro hairstyle on this Hairy || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 109 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Megan standing alone left wind blowing her hair back right || Seems like she is facing a strong wind from the left. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 110 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right holding an item towards right looking like a short golf club || <font color="red">A Red Text: What is Cueball holding and is this a reference to a comic?</font> Cueball holds an item with a stick and a head. It looks like a golf club but seems too short. It also has the shape of a pipe but then it is too big. || || || || <font color="red">A Red Text: Short golf club?</font> <br />
|-<br />
| 111 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Character with black hair and strange appearance floating above Hairbun 112 || <font color="red">A Red Text: What is this? Reference for comic?</font> A strange appearance floats above Hairbun 112 (maybe interacting with her and the woman 113 whom Hairbun may be interacting with?) It could be a person lying down leaning on arms looking straight out. So only the arms and torso and head can be seen. Could be either sex. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 112 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || [[Hairbun]] standing right maybe interacting with character 111 above her and with woman 113 to her right || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is she interacting with 111 and 113 and if so is there a reference to a comic?</font> The first instance of a woman with hair bun without pins. This is thus the first that can be described as Hairbun, but it is not the typical hair do for her. She may be interacting with the strange character 111 above her as well as with the freezing cloaked woman 113 || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 113 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Woman with black hair like Megan standing left in a long black cloak indicated to freeze or shake with nine wiggly lines around her || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is she interacting with 112 and 113 and if so is there a reference to a comic? Freezing or shaking?</font> This woman who could be a Megan freezing in spite of her clock may be interacting with Hairbun 112, and if she is interacting with character 111 then also with that person. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 114 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Megan standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 115 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone left || First of 6 Cueballs in a row. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 116 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 117 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 118 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 119 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 120 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone left || Last of 6 Cueballs in a row. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 121 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Woman with hair bun white standing alone right || White hair so not Hairbun. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 122 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 123 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Megan standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 124 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Ponytail standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 125 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Guy with hat white that looks a little like a knit cap, but seems to go too high above his head no hair standing alone left looking up || If this was a knit cap it would be closer to his head, so it seems like this white hat has a band around the rim and it quite tall over the head. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 126 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 127 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Man with very spiky hair dragging a large sword behind him. || This is a drawing of [http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Cloud_Strife Cloud] from Final Fantasy VII, dragging his Buster Sword behind him. In the game, Cloud carries the large sword with ease, but in real the life the weight would be staggering, requiring him to drag it.<br> Alternative explanation: It is Jesus with thorn crown dragging a strange cross || || Object drawn: Scraape || || Sword <br />
|-<br />
| 128 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 129 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 130 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Megan standing right leaning towards Woman with white hair bun 131 || Seems like Megan is facing and interacting with the woman with hair bun 131 as she leans towards her and is already close by. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 131 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One] || Woman with hair bun white standing left with Megan 130 leaning towards her || White hair so not Hairbun. Seems like Megan 130 lean over to her. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 132 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1000_Comics_-_The_one_in_thousand_with_numbers.png One]''' || Cueball standing alone right || This is the '''last character in one''', of course it is a Cueball. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 133 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T]''' || Cueball standing right towards Science Girl 134 holding a kite flying above her head || This is the '''first character in the first zero''' - of course also a Cueball. Kites have been a recurring theme in xkcd but this comic [[235: Kite]] was the first and the kite looks the same. Wether the kite is flown also for Science Girl 134 is unclear.|| Category: [[:Category:Kites|Kites]] || || || Kite <br />
|-<br />
| 134 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Science Girl Standing left under Cueball 133 kite, drawn with two hair buns || Seems like she is part of the kite flying Cueball 133. Size wise clearly a girl with hairdo like Science Girl with two hair buns like in [[1058: Old-Timers]]. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 135 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Megan standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 136 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 137 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 138 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone left holding his hand out with a small round bomb with a lit fuse || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> Seems Cueball is holding a lit bomb ready to throw it (but not at anyone in particular in this comic). Seems like there is no situation where this happens in xkcd? A similar bomb is shown in [[968: Everything]] but Cueball is not carrying it and it is not lit. Cueball throws a smoke-bomb in [[486: I am Not a Ninja]] but it does not have a fuse or look like this. || || || || Bomb with lit fuse <br />
|-<br />
| 139 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Megan flying right with arms spread out swooping downwards at Hairy 140 with great speed indicated with two speed lines after her hands || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> It is not certain that Megan is aiming at Hairy 140, but she aims at his position. Megan flying was shown in [[438: Internet Argument]] but she was not swooping down with great speed like here. Maybe she has imported antigravity from [[353: Python]]. Later Megan also flew without speed in [1416:_Pixels#Clouds|the clouds]] deep down in [[1416: Pixels]] and a similar [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flying-fig.png flying Megan] could "[[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1663_garden_Blitz_Girls_UFO_taking_Megan_garden.png grow]] in [[1663: Garden]]. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 140 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Hairy standing right with flying Megan 139 coming right at him. Very thin hair. || This version of Hairy has very little hair, but it is clearly not a bald Cueball. It is not certain that flying Megan 138 is aiming at Hairy but she aims at his position. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 141 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Character with short black hair standing alone left || Could be either sex, hair too short to be Megan but too long to be Hairy. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 142 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone leaning left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 143 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Hairbun standing alone left with hair falling down from the bun || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 144 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 145 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Character with short white hair standing alone right, seems short || Could be either sex, and maybe it is a child. See similar kid in 446 and similar adult in 174. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 146 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone arms raised up || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 147 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 148 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone right looking up || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 149 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 150 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing right looking at Cueball 151 with an exclamation mark and a white heart over his head || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> Does this Cueball have a crush on Cueball 151. Could be the second gay related event already… It cannot be stated for sure that they are looking at each other. || || Cueball: !♥ || || <br />
|-<br />
| 151 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing left looking at Cueball 150 || Maybe Cueball 150 has a crush on this Cueball. It cannot be stated for sure that they are looking at each other. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 152 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Guy with knit cap with long top and pom-pom at the end, glasses, a cane and a west (or other clothing) standing alone left || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it another character from a previous comic?</font> This could be a black and white version of Wally or Waldo (in the US) from the {{w|Where's Waldo}} books. Randall included the color version in [[980: Money]] (though without glasses, but with eyes which Randall never draws in regular comics, so maybe glasses was added since Waldo should not be drawn without?) Then there would also be a Where's Waldo in this 1000 comic released only 20 comics later. || || || || Cane <br />
|-<br />
| 153 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone right, seems short || Maybe a child? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 154 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 155 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone right holding a briefcase by its handle in one hand || Cueball is holding a briefcase in the handle. This could be related to the referenced comic where he arrives home to find Black Hat trying to cover up a murder. || Comic: [[542: Cover-Up]] || || || Briefcase <br />
|-<br />
| 156 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Ponytail standing right with curly hair at her forehead. Seems to be looking at other woman with ponytail 157 || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> The curly hair at her forehead in unusual for Ponytail. She seems to be looking at another curly haired woman 157 with a dark ponytail. Maybe they belong together (in a comic?) || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 157 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Woman with a ponytail dark and curly hair at her forehead standing left looking at Ponytail 156 || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> She seems to be looking at Ponytail 156 also drawn with curly hair at her forehead which is unusual for Ponytail. Maybe they belong together (in a comic?) || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 158 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing right hands up to his mouth shouting as indicated with three lines in front of his mouth. Maybe he shouts as spinning Megan 159 || This Cueball seems to be shouting at Megan 159 maybe to stop her from spinning. This is not part of the comic that her spinning is related to. So maybe they are not connected. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 159 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Megan is spinning fast around herself as indicated with three circles around her body below her outstretched arms. She faces left towards Cueball 158 || This is a direct reference to the Angular Momentum comic but in that comic there was no shouting Cueball, but maybe he tries to make her stop before she throws up (see title text). Later the same spinning Megan was used in [[442: xkcd Loves the Discovery Channel]], but that was a call back to the other comic. See also Cueball 541 spinning. || Comic: '''[[162: Angular Momentum]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 160 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || [[Danish]] standing alone right || Danish can usually not be distinguished without her personality, but with this very long hair, much longer than Megan’s usually is, it is reasonable to assume it could be her. She looks quite a lot like the version of Danish in [[1014: Car Problems]] released a few weeks after this comic. Most of the comics she appears in were before 1000. See also Danish 373. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 161 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 162 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Ponytail standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 163 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Megan standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 164 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Megan standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 165 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 166 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 167 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Guy with glasses (square) and no hair standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 168 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone right, seems short || Maybe a child? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 169 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 170 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 171 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Woman with black hair wide standing right looking at Cueball 172 || This is the second version of this woman with wider hair than Megan, and also this time she seems to be looking at a Cueball, this time 172. See also 4 and 325. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 172 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing left looking at woman 172 || Second time a Cueball seems to be looking at a woman 172 with wider hair than Megan. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 173 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 174 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Character with short white hair standing alone right || Could be either sex, but as opposed to the similar 145 it cannot be a child. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 175 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 176 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 177 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Guy with glasses (round) standing alone left with both arms out || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 178 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 179 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Hairbun standing alone right with very dark hair bun || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 180 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Ponytail standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 181 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Megan standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 182 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Hairbun standing alone left with looser hair || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 183 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Megan standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 184 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball dancing alone right one leg lifted up and bend at the knee body bend forward, both arms out and two lines both in front of the knee and behind his back to indicate the dancing || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> Cueball seems to be enjoying a little dance alone. It would fit very well if he had been in front of Megan 286. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 185 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Ponytail sitting on the ground alone right leaning back on one hand, while the other hand seems to be lifted to her face like she is speaking on a phone. One leg is almost straight the other lifted up || Ponytail is the first person to sit on the ground, which she also does in 458 and 510. Previously Ponytail 18 was also seen sitting on a spinning office chair. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 186 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Hairbun standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 187 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Aragorn with beard (full) and hair is standing alone right with his broken sword lifted up in one arm || {{w|Aragorn}} from the {{w|Lord of the Rings}} was depicted like this in the referenced comic. Towards the end of LOTR the broken sword Narsil is reforged and handed to Aragorn. || Comic: '''[[370: Redwall]]''' || || || Broken sword <br />
|-<br />
| 188 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Megan standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 189 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Hairy standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 190 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 191 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 192 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Guy with glasses (round) standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 193 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Hairbun standing alone right with very dark hair bun || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 194 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone leaning left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 195 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Science Girl standing alone right with bun and hair down her back || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 196 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Hairy standing alone right, seems short || May be a kid like Science Girl 195 to his left || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 197 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone left, seems short || May be a kid, making it three in a row with 195 and 196 as well. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 198 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Hairy standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 199 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing left together with Cueball giant 200 || Together with giant Cueball 200 they look like the pair in panel four of the referenced comic. || Comic: '''[[68: Five Thirty]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 200 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball giant twice normal height standing left with Cueball 199 || Together with the normal sized Cueball 199 they look like the pair in panel four of the referenced comic. || Comic: '''[[68: Five Thirty]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 201 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Megan standing alone left, seems short || May be a kid. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 202 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 203 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing right looking at Cueball machine 204 || Seems like he is looking at Cueball machine 204 who encompasses him and Cueball 205 with his outstretched arms. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 204 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball torso with outstretched arms fused together with a platform standing on its three spider-like legs which looks mechanical. He seems to encompass Cueball 2023 and 205 on either side of him || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> Seems like someone made an experiment with Cueball putting his torso on top of some platform that is supported by (at least) three sharp ended legs. He is now part man part machine, but not like a typical cyborg... Seems like he holds his arms out to the two Cueballs on either side of him 203 and 205, maybe they are his servants or creators? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 205 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Cueball standing left looking at Cueball machine 204 || Seems like he is looking at Cueball machine 204 who encompasses him and Cueball 203 with his outstretched arms. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 206 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T] || Hairy standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 207 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b7/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 1 T]''' || Cueball standing alone right || This is the '''last character in the first zero top''', of course it is a Cueball. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 208 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R]''' || Cueball standing alone right || This is the '''first character in the first zero right''' - of course also a Cueball. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 209 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Woman with long hair white but maybe also a hair bun standing alone left || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> The way the hair comes down to her shoulders make her look different from any normal characters. She also seems to have some kind of hair bun, which does not fit with the hair. The color seems to be white, but with features on her forehead. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 210 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Hairy standing right towards Megan 211 with a white heart floating between them || A couple in love as indicated with the heart between Hairy and Megan 211. See also similar Cueball/Megan couple 590-591. || || Hairy/Megan: ♥ || || <br />
|-<br />
| 211 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Megan standing left towards Hairy 210 with a white heart floating between them || A couple in love as indicated with the heart between Megan and Hairy 210. See also similar Cueball/Megan couple 590-591. || || Hairy/Megan: ♥ || || <br />
|-<br />
| 212 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Megan standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 213 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 214 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Ponytail standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 215 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Woman with two hair buns on either side of her head standing || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 216 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 217 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing right looking at Megan 218 with her sign || Seems like he is reading Megan’s 217 sign. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 218 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Megan standing left showing a sign she is holding on a stick in one hand to Cueball 217 and Cueball 219 || Megan is the first to be listed of the ten characters that hold up small signs showing binary numbers, which form the shape of a heart if connected. As this heart begins at 0, and her sign is 2 (binary 10), she is the third of the ten, forming the left of the upper left part of the heart. As she is drawn it seems like both Cueball 217 and 219 looks at her sign. || [[1000: 1000 Comics#Connect the Dots|Connect the dots]] 2 || Sign: 10 || || Sign on a stick <br />
|-<br />
| 219 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing left looking at Megan 218 with her sign || Seems like he is reading Megan’s 217 sign. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 220 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Woman with dark hair that seems to fall behind her, maybe like a ponytail She holds up a sign above her head with both hands. || This woman’s hair does not look like Megan’s, as it seems to fall only to her left side as if it has been collected in a ponytail. She is the second to be listed of the ten characters that hold up signs showing binary numbers, which form the shape of a heart if connected. As this heart begins at 0, and her sign is 1 (binary 1), she is the second of the ten, forming the right of the upper left part of the heart. || [[1000: 1000 Comics#Connect the Dots|Connect the dots]] 1 || Sign: 1 || || Sign <br />
|-<br />
| 221 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball falling sideways alone right having bounced on the visible grassy ground twice, as indicated with three curved lines, and he is now positioned head down, arms out and legs flailing up in to the letters A of the sound he makes while tumbling further right || This Cueball represents ''The Man Who Fell Sideways'' from the referenced comic. The gravity pulls him wrongly along the ground thus he always falls, and only meet people when bumping into them, maybe the white haired character 222 is in for a surprise, but it doesn't seem like they are connected. || Comic: '''[[417: The Man Who Fell Sideways ]]''' || Cueball: Aaaaaaaaa || || <br />
|-<br />
| 222 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Character with short white hair standing alone right holding up a sign above the head with both hands || Could be either sex. This is the third to be listed of the ten characters that hold up signs showing binary numbers, which form the shape of a heart if connected. As this heart begins at 0, and his/her sign is 3 (binary 11), this is the fourth of the ten, forming the outer part of the upper left part of the heart. || [[1000: 1000 Comics#Connect the Dots|Connect the dots]] 3 || Sign: 11 || || Sign <br />
|-<br />
| 223 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Ponytail standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 224 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Megan standing alone left, seems short || Maybe she is kid. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 225 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Ponytail is standing alone right looking into a large telescope standing on a platform that almost coincides with the helmet of the guy 230 below, but seems to not have any connection || In the referenced comic Ponytail looks into a much larger observatory like telescope to discover the Sun is dying. Seems like a mistake that this drawing overlaps with Guy 230 below. Actually hard to say if the platform is on his head or below the telescope as it seems the legs of the telescope goes below this platform instead of resting on it. || Comic: [[673: The Sun]] || || || Telescope <br />
|-<br />
| 226 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Megan standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 227 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 228 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 229 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Megan standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 230 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Guy with helmet white with a strap under his chin no hair standing alone right with what appears to be roller skates on his feet. Seems to be unstable as the movement lines indicate his feet are about to move apart. Is drawn so close to Ponytail 225 that the base of her telescope coincides with his helmet || This guy wears roller skates, something never drawn in xkcd so far. Looks like the Cueball with a bicycle helmet for skating from [[579: The Race: Part 3]]. It also looks like the soldier’s helmet in [[984: Space Launch System]]. Seems like a mistake that this drawing overlaps with Ponytail 225 above. Actually hard to say if the platform is on his head or below the telescope as it seems the legs of the telescope goes below this platform instead of resting on it. Could be some kind of device attached to the helmet. || || || || Roller skates <br />
|-<br />
| 231 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing alone right holding a sign level with his torso, one hand coming from above and one from below to hold it || This Cueball is the fourth to be listed of the ten characters that hold up signs showing binary numbers, which form the shape of a heart if connected. As this heart begins at 0, and his sign is 4 (binary 100), he is the fifth of the ten, forming the lower left of the upper left part of the heart. || [[1000: 1000 Comics#Connect the Dots|Connect the dots]] 4 || Sign: 100 || || Sign <br />
|-<br />
| 232 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Guy with black hair going up in two spikes on each side of his head standing alone right || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> This hairdo is very special and not at all like Hairy's. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 233 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Woman with long curly white hair standing right towards Cueball 234. Seems to have something attached to both arms, that is disconnected from her hair that stops clearly above these items || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic? What does she wear on her arms?</font> || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 234 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing left towards curly haired woman 233 || Seems like he is looking at woman 233 with curly hair. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 235 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Megan standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 236 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Guy with Afro hairdo giant size standing alone right || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> A very large hair on top of this guy compared to 248, close by, and also 565. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 237 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 238 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 239 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 240 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing right with a giant snail with a coiled shell with its head out displaying the two eyes tentacles. Its rear side is hidden behind Cueball. The snail seems to be moving right away from Cueball || Cueball and his giant pet snail. The only snail drawn in xkcd so far seems to be a sea snail at the bottom of the seas to the right in [[731: Desert Island]]. || || || {{w|Land snail|Snail}} || <br />
|-<br />
| 241 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 242 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 243 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing alone right, larger than normal || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 244 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 245 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 246 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Ponytail standing right towards Cueball 247 || Seem like she faces Cueball 247. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 247 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing left towards Ponytail 246 || Seems like he faces Ponytail 246. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 248 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Guy with Afro hairdo normal size standing alone right || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> A more normal Afro hair than on 236, like 565. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 249 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing alone left, seems short || Maybe a child? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 250 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Megan standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 251 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Mephistopheles standing alone right with horns, tail with arrow and a trident held before him in one hand || The devil {{w|Mephistopheles}} has been used twice, but only in the referenced comic also with {{w|trident}}. He was first used in [[501: Faust 2.0] without trident. || Comic: '''[[533: Laptop Hell]]''' || || || Trident <br />
|-<br />
| 252 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing right towards Cueball 253 || Seems to be looking at Cueball 253 || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 253 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing left towards Cueball 252 || Seems to be looking at Cueball 252 || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 254 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Woman with white hair but not a simple hairstyle standing right almost touching the sword tip of Richard Stallman 255 || The woman is not looking like any regular figures. But In the [[:Category:1337|1337 series]] Stallman 255 was helping [[Elaine Roberts]], daughter of the hacker [[Mrs. Roberts]]. This woman could be meant to represent Elaine, but the hair is not drawn in the same way as in the comic, although both are white haired, so maybe it is just a coincidence that the sword tip almost touches her? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 255 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || [[:Category:Comics featuring Richard Stallman|Richard Stallman]] with beard and wild hair stands with two katana swords pointing right and left, the latter almost touching Woman 254 || {{w|Richard Stallman}} is a recurring character in xkcd, and he is always depicted with two {{w|katana swords}}. This depiction of Stallman is taken almost directly from the referenced comic in the Leet/[[:Category:1337|1337 series]]. He was first shown, also with swords, in [[225: Open Source]]. In the 1337 series he was helping [[Elaine Roberts]], daughter of the hacker [[Mrs. Roberts]]. The woman 254 could be meant to represent Elaine, but the hair is not drawn in the same way as in the comic, although both are white haired, so maybe it is just a coincidence that the sword tip almost touches her? || Comic: '''[[345: 1337: Part 5]]''' || || || Katana swords, two <br />
|-<br />
| 256 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Hairy standing alone right, seems short || This really looks like a child. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 257 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Megan standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 258 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 259 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 260 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Guy with spiky hair standing alone left || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> The hairdo is much different than Hairy’s. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 261 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Guy with sunglasses and very thin black hair standing alone left || First time seen in 35. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 262 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 263 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Ponytail standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 264 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 265 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Hairy standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 266 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 267 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Megan standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 268 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 269 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Guy with hair only around the neck standing alone left || This could be Donald Knuth from [[342: 1337: Part 2]] or George from [[587: Crime Scene]]. The hair is the same. The first Guy with hair like this was 75. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 270 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Character with short black hair standing alone right || Could be either sex, hair too short to be Megan. Also the hair on top of the head is higher than usual for a Megan. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 271 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Guy with hat a peaked cap and a stick in one hand, and appears to only have one arm, the other ending in a black square next to his shoulder || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> At first it may appear to be a police officer with {{w|peaked cap}} and a {{w|baton}}, but it seems weird he only has one arm. Could of course be a drawing mistake, and after drawing a shoulder pad Randall may have forgotten to draw the arm. In that case it is a policeman. But if he only has one arm and some weapon in his hand, it could also be a pirate with a special peaked pirate cap. Black peaked caps has been drawn on police officers both in [[587: Crime Scene]] and [[617: Understocked]]. Also after this comic in [[1018: Good Cop, Dadaist Cop]], [[1105: License Plate]] and [[1251: Anti-Glass]] || || || || Stick/baton <br />
|-<br />
| 272 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Guy with spiky hair standing alone left, seems short || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> Looks like a kid with crazy hair. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 273 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Character with black hair in a high dome on top of the head standing alone left || Could be either sex, hair too short to be Megan. Also the hair on top of the head is higher than usual for a Megan. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 274 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Megan standing alone right shaking a round object with black strings up and down as indicated with two lines above and below || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic? What is it she is shaking</font> It could look like a Medusa head (or normal head) she is shaking. Do not look like a ball. || || || || <font color="red">A Red Text: Round object with black strings</font> <br />
|-<br />
| 275 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 276 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Cueball swinging left on a rope as indicated with three lines behind his back while he is looking back over his shoulder at Megan 277 || Cueball has learned {{w|regexes}}, and is using them heroically. || Comic: '''[[208: Regular Expressions]]''' || || || {{w|Rope}} <br />
|-<br />
| 277 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R] || Megan standing left looking at Cueball 276 swinging by her || Megan was drawn differently in early comics. This could be her in comic [[208: Regular Expressions]], with Cueball 276. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 278 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 1 R]''' || Megan standing alone left || This is the '''last character in the first zero right''', finally a Megan not a Cueball. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 279 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B]''' || Megan standing alone right || This is the '''first character in the first zero bottom''', which is also a Megan not a Cueball. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 280 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 281 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 282 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Hairbun standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 283 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Boy with hair like hairy, standing alone right || Obviously a child, a boy with hair. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 284 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 285 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 286 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Megan dancing alone left one arm up and one arm held out, one leg held up and bent completely at the knee, three double lines indicating movement of arms and legs || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> Megan seems to be enjoying a little dance alone. It would fit very well if she had been in front of Cueball 184. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 287 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Hairbun standing alone left, seems she has some hair hanging down her back || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 288 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Character with short white hair standing alone right || Could be either sex, see also similar characters at 174 and 222. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 289 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 290 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing right in a very tight embrace arms with around, legs between each others and kissing Cueball 291 with a white heart over their heads || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a characters from a previous comic?</font> Obviously two Cueball's kissing in such a tight embrace is a gay reference. There are several of these throughout this comic. This could be the two Cueball's from [[65: Banter]] a little later… || || Cueballs: ♥ || || <br />
|-<br />
| 291 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing left in a very tight embrace arms with around, legs between each others and kissing Cueball 290 with a white heart over their heads || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a characters from a previous comic?</font> Obviously two Cueball's kissing in such a tight embrace is a gay reference. There are several of these throughout this comic. This could be the two Cueball's from [[65: Banter]] a little later… || || Cueballs: ♥ || || <br />
|-<br />
| 292 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone left || He could be looking at the gay Cueballs couple 290-291, but seems offset from them. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 293 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || [[Blondie]] with very long white hair standing alone right || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> This may be the longest white hair on any woman drawn in xkcd. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 294 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Hairy standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 295 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 296 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Boy with a hat, a fez, standing alone right || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> Obviously a child, a boy with a {{w|fez}} with the characteristic shape and with a tassel attached to the top. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 297 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Hairbun standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 298 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball hanging in the air a little above the ground alone left arms stretched out, legs bend a little at the knee, shadow beneath him on the ground || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> Cueball could have just jumped and pulled his legs up, but is seems like he is floating in the air keeping his arms out for balance. He may later be the one falling down in 576. Possible reference to comic [[118: 50 Ways]] ("...to learn to hover"). || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 299 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Hairbun standing alone left with lots of hair also coming down her back || There is a clear hair bun but the hair down her back is more than usual for Hairbun || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 300 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 301 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Guy in an open lab coat with wild long hair and glasses standing alone left with both arms raised up || This may very well be meant to represent {{w|Emmett_Brown|Dr. Emmett L. Brown}} from {{w|Back to the Future (franchise)|Back to the Future}}, since a kid was dressed up looking like this, and in the same pose, in the referenced comic. Given that this does not look like a kid it could not be the kid, but rather the real person. Seems like he has not been drawn in any comic though. || Comic [[656: October 30th]] || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 302 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing with bend knees and arms out alone left bending his back backwards right but keeping his head above his feet || Could look like he was dancing but both feet are on the ground and there are no movement lines like say dancing Megan 286. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 303 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 304 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone right || Could be involved with Cueball 305 but this is not clear. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 305 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball running alone left with arms up like he is happy that he has just spotted a black rectangular shape on the ground in front of him || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a situation from a previous comic? What is the object on the ground and why is he happy to see it. Anything to do with Cueball 304 standing there?</font> This running Cueball seems to be happy that for the object he finds on the ground. Could be his wallet lying open on the ground. Could also be some kind of sport, where he runs toward this object to kick it. In that case maybe he is playing with Cueball 304? || || || || Black rectangular object <br />
|-<br />
| 306 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 307 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone right looking up || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 308 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone right, seems short || This Cueball here looks short, maybe he is a kid? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 309 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 310 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 311 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 312 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Ponytail standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 313 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing right leaning slightly toward Megan 314 || Looks like he is with Megan 314 || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 314 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Megan standing left leaning slightly toward Cueball 313 || Looks like she is with Cueball 313 || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 315 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball inside a hamster ball is rolling right down a steep slope alone. He is at this moment face down, head to the right a little lower than his feet and arms out. The drawing is smaller than the others, so he is not a kid, just further away. The slope is also drawn and it continues with two more lines to indicate that it is long behind Megan 316 and stops in front of the feet of Cueball 317, without they are involved. Behind the hamster ball there are two lines to indicate the rolling motion. Above the Hamster ball is a word that is not easily readable || <font color="red">A Red Text: What is the word above the hamster ball?</font> Hamster ball is a recurring theme in xkcd, see the referenced category, and was first featured in [[152: Hamster Ball]], but this scene with Cueball rolling down a hill is not from any comic. The only scene with something falling down (a stair) in a hamster ball was a robot in [[413: New Pet]]. However, much later in [[1608: Hoverboard]], there was a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/53/1608_0987x1075y_Hamsterball_bowling.png scene with a girl] running downhill inside a hamster ball. || Category: [[:Category:Hamster Ball|Hamster Ball]] || <font color="red">A Red Text: Cueball: Tho??a</font> || || Hamster ball <br />
|-<br />
| 316 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Megan standing alone right, seems tall || This Megan seems taller than the surrounding figures, the Cueball 317 next to her, seems short, maybe he is her child? Behind her is part of the slope from the hamster ball Cueball 315, but she is not part of that scene. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 317 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone right, seems short || This Cueball seems short, maybe he is a kid, or it is just because Megan 316 is extra tall. Maybe she represents his mother. Just left of his feet is part of the slope from the hamster ball Cueball 315, but he is not part of that scene. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 318 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Megan standing alone right || This Megan is obviously shorter than Megan 316, but does not seem like a child. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 319 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 320 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Character with something black on the head, seems short || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> The character looks short, maybe it is a kid? The black shape on the head seems a little like a flat hat, and the black along the back of the head could be a strip holding it in place. It could also just be short black hair, but then not clear what sex the character has. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 321 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Megan standing right towards Cueball kid 322, she also seems short || This Megan here looks short, maybe she is a kid? But then the boy looking like Cueball 322 to her left, much shorter than her, is definitely also a kid. Maybe her little brother. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 322 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Boy looking like Cueball standing right, may be together with Megan 321 || This kid looking like Cueball is certainly too short to be Cueball. He is standing near Megan 321 who, although clearly taller, is short compared to most characters, so maybe she is also a child and could be his older sister? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 323 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone left, seems tall || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 324 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Guy with hat, white dome shaped with wide brim standing alone left || This version of White Hat is the one from Idiocracy. It is used more than once in this comic, so here he will not be listed as White Hat. The hat seems to have a wider brim than 26. || Comic: [[603: Idiocracy]] || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 325 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Woman with black hair wide standing alone right || This is the third version of this woman with wider hair than Megan. See also 4 and 171. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 326 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 327 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 328 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || [[White Hat]] standing alone right || This is the first standard version of White Hat in this comic. The previous two with white hat was the shape from [[603: Idiocracy]], see 324. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 329 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone left, with a face that almost has a heart shape, rather than round || Seems like this face has been drawn sloppily, not like those with clearly different shapes later. Although the shape here almost resembles a heart. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 330 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball wearing a mask with a long nose and a strip around his neck standing alone right || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> Seems like there is no comic with a guy in a mask like this with a long nose. Could be a {{w|Guy Fawkes mask}} which was referenced shortly before this comic in [[960: Subliminal]], but not on a Cueball. A guy wearing a mask is seen nine comics before this in [[991: Phantom Menace]], but it is not that kind of mask here. || || || || Mask wit long nose <br />
|-<br />
| 331 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 332 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Ponytail standing alone right || Her head is turned to the ponytail is partly hidden behind her head. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 333 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 334 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Guy with hat black bowler standing alone right || There have been two guys with black bowler hats in [[344: 1337: Part 4]] and [[344: 1337: Part 5]], but they looked somewhat different more high and slim, so not quite like this guy. Similar difference between this guy and Black Hat as White Hat and the [[603: Idiocracy]] guy. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 335 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone left looking down at his hand which holds something small and slim like a smartphone || Could be Cueball from the referenced comic, where he holds a smartphone looking at it like this Cueball. See also Cueball 523, maybe also holding a smartphone. || Comic: [[864: Flying Cars]] || || || Smartphone <br />
|-<br />
| 336 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone right, seems short || This Cueball here looks short, maybe he is a kid? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 337 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Megan standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 338 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Character with short curly standing alone left || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> Could be either sex with this short curly hair. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 339 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Character with short white hair standing alone right || Could be either sex, see also similar characters at 174, 222 and 288. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 340 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball sitting alone left leaning back in an armchair legs straight in front of him || There are several comics with Cueball sitting in an armchair but in the references comic Cueball is seen sitting in a very similar position having been watching {{w|The Matrix}}. Previously only Ponytail 18 has been seen sitting in a chair (an office chair). || Comic: [[566: Matrix Revisited]] || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 341 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Hairy standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 342 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone right || He could be looking at two Cueballs with present 343-344. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 343 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing right towards Cueball 344 who is holding up a present || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is this a scene from a previous comic?</font> Seems like he receives a present from Cueball 344. Maybe Cueball 342 is also in on this party? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 344 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing left towards Cueball 343 holding a wrapped present up in one hand || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is this a scene from a previous comic? Is it a present?</font> Seems like he offers the present he holds up to Cueball 343. Maybe Cueball 342 is also in on this party? The drawing of the present is not very clear, and it doesn't look like the wrapping goes down below the box. || || || || Box looking like a wrapped present <br />
|-<br />
| 345 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Ponytail standing alone left, seems short || The Ponytail here looks short, maybe she is a kid? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 346 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Woman with white hair and pigtails standing alone || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> There have been two girls with pigtails in xkcd, the first was a parody not in the style of xkcd in [[142: Parody Week: Megatokyo]], and the other is a girl in [[573: Parental Trolling]], with dark hair. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 347 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 348 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 349 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B] || Guy with sunglasses standing alone left || First time seen in 35. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 350 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 1 B]''' || Cueball standing alone left || This is the '''last character in the first zero bottom''', again it is a Cueball. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 351 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L]''' || Cueball standing alone leaning right || This is the '''first character in the first zero left''', again it is a Cueball. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 352 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Megan standing alone left || <font color="red">A Red Text: Explanation missing</font> || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 353 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Woman with hair bun white standing alone right || This is not Hairbun as she has dark hair. This white hair bun woman is used more than once (see already in 43 and above here 420). Maybe the next character 354 is also this woman or maybe a guy with knit cap? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 354 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Character with either hair bun white or it could be a knit cap with a pom-pom on top standing alone left || Could be either sex, depending if it is a woman with hair bun (which would make it two next to each other with 353) or a guy with knit cap. {{w|Knit cap|Knit caps}} has been [[1350:_Lorenz#Knit_Cap_Girl|used several times]] in xkcd but only after this comic. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 355 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || [[:Category:Comics featuring Cory Doctorow|Cory Doctorow]] in his cape and googles are flying swooping head first downwards and left alone with his cape out behind him and two speed lines along the edges of his cape || This is the typical representation of Cory Doctorow, who is featured twice in this section of this first zero (see 398 as well). Cory Doctorow has been shown in several comics and this flying version is from the referenced comic. Normally his cape is drawn in red, but there is no color in this comic. || Comic: '''[[442: xkcd Loves the Discovery Channel]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 356 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Megan standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 357 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 358 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 359 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Hairbun standing alone right || She is standing above and left of the woman with white hair bun 353 who is near another character 354 perhaps with bun (or knit cap with pom-pom), but it is a close cluster of characters with buns or poms. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 360 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 361 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Megan standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 362 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 363 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Hairy standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 364 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone leaning right, seems short || This Cueball here looks short, maybe he is a kid? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 365 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Hairy standing alone left || Hairy’s hair is spiky || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 366 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 367 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Hairy standing alone left || Hairy’s hair is messy || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 368 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Megan standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 369 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Megan standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 370 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Guy wearing some kind of black head gear standing alone seems like the top of the head can be seen in the middle, so it could just be a head band. || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic? What is it on his head?</font> A guy is wearing something on his head. Is it a hat, is it hair is it a hairband. Given that some of the head seems to be visible at the top maybe that. Could also be two large horns a little like Mephistopheles 251, but not at all like him. Could also be a crown with two peaks on either side, which the head gear may look to have, and that would be able to go low enough to show the top of the head. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 371 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 372 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Woman with long black hair generally much larger in all directions than Megan’s || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> This woman’s hair is so much more thick and long than Megan’s usually is, and not at all like the depiction of Danish either like 373 || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 373 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Danish standing alone left || Danish can usually not be distinguished without her personality, but with this very long hair, much longer than Megan’s usually is, it is reasonable to assume it could be her. She looks quite a lot like the version of Danish in [[1014: Car Problems]] released a few weeks after this comic. Most of the comics she appears in were before 1000. Very much different from the other longer than Megan haired woman in 372. See Danish 160 || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 374 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Hairy standing alone right || Hairy’s hair stands up || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 375 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball sitting right on the ground straight back supported with on one hand behind him, while the other hand resting on the knee of one leg which is lifted up and bend at the knee getting close to his head. Maybe he rests his chin on his arm on the knee. The other leg is almost straight out but bends a little at the knee. Maybe Megan 376 is looking down on him. || This Cueball is the second person to sit on the ground. Previously Ponytail 185 also sat on the ground, and later Cueball 439 and Cueball as Rob 602 will sit on the ground as well. Cueball 340 sat in an armchair. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 376 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Megan standing left maybe looking down on sitting Cueball 375 || Megan maybe looking at sitting Cueball 375, but it is not clear. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 377 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone left || This is the first of nine Cueballs in a row from 377-385. However, not all of them are placed together due to the numbering system. Particularly this Cueball is two rows below the full row from 379-383. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 378 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 379 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone right || Cueballs 379-383 constitutes a full line across the right part of the first zero only with Cueball. They are part of the nine Cueballs in a row. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 380 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 381 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 382 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone left, seems tall || This Cueball is taller than the others in this group of nine. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 383 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone right || Cueballs 379-383 constitutes a full line across the right part of the first zero only with Cueball. They are part of the nine Cueballs in a row. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 384 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone left, seems short || This Cueball here looks short, maybe he is a kid? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 385 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone right || This is the last of nine Cueballs in a row, but given the numbering system not all of them are close together. But he is the top of a group of five Cueballs close together. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 386 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Megan standing right is holding a hand out to a sitting squirrel, it looks big she looks short || This Megan here looks short, maybe she is a kid? She seems to reach out to maybe pad the squirrel which is drawn almost exactly as in [[776: Still No Sleep]] but here it is with Cueball. Squirrels are a recurring theme as shown in the reference. || Category: [[:Category:Squirrels|Squirrels]] || || Squirrel || <br />
|-<br />
| 387 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Megan standing alone left, seems short || This Megan together with Megan 386 may both be kids. Maybe she looks on Megan 386 and her squirrel?. Those two girls and the guy 391 are more or less surrounded by a ring of nine Cueballs, with even more of them close by. One of the most Cueball-lized areas so far. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 388 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 389 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Character with short loose hair standing alone || Could be either sex, not really hair like a Hairy. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 390 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone, seems short || This Cueball here looks short, maybe he is a kid? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 391 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Guy with black knit cap standing alone right || This looks very much like a guy with knit cap. {{w|Knit cap|Knit caps}} has been [[1350:_Lorenz#Knit_Cap_Girl|used several times]] in xkcd but only after this comic. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 392 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball dancing alone left one leg slightly lifted and crossing over the other leg on the ground body bend slightly both arms out and one is higher up and three times two lines at his arms and behind his back indicate the dancing || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> Cueball seems to be enjoying a quiet little dance alone. As he did in 184 but more vigorously. Megan 186 is also dancing. Seeing this Cueball "hanging" above the two characters next to him 391 and 393 is could look like he was floating up in the air. But the lines do not indicate this and there is no shadow below him as for floating Cueball 298. Possibly from comic [[118: 50 Ways]] ("...to learn to hover"). || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 393 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 394 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone left arms out || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 395 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Ponytail standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 396 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Ponytail standing alone right, seems short || This Ponytail here looks short, maybe she is a kid? It would be the second Ponytail in a row after 395. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 397 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Hairy standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 398 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cory Doctorow in his cape and googles standing left, left arm lifted up || This is the typical representation of Cory Doctorow, who is featured once before in this section of this first zero (see 355 as well). Cory Doctorow has been shown in several comics and this version is probably from the first depiction of him in the referenced comic , which is actually not of him but of a guy trying to look like him, Normally his cape is drawn in red, but there is no color in this comic. || Comic: '''[[239: Blagofaire]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 399 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 400 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 401 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 402 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 403 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 404 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Boy looking like Cueball standing right, seems like he is holding a snake in its tale shaking it by the tail so it flows out from his arm snaking in the air || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a snake and does it refer to a previous comic?</font> This boy child (much shorter than regular Cueballs) seems to be holding a snake, but it is not clear if it is a snake or represents some weird long arm on the kid? See similar boy with branch 475. || || || <font color="red">A Red Text: Snake?</font> || <br />
|-<br />
| 405 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Megan standing alone right, may be looking toward the guy 406 || There is some distance but she is facing the next guy 406. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 406 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Guy with hair only around the neck standing alone left, maybe looking at Megan 405 || This could be Donald Knuth from [[342: 1337: Part 2]] or George from [[587: Crime Scene]]. The hair is the same. The first Guy with hair like this was 75. See also 411 just above him, which does not really look like this guy but same style of hair. He may be looking at Megan 405 even though there is some distance between them. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 407 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 408 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 409 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Megan standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 410 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 411 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Guy with hair only around the neck standing alone right, head is very thin || This does not really look like the other guy 406 with hair like this just below him. The head shape is weird like it has been squeezed together. The first Guy with hair like this was 75 but he did not quite look like this guy. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 412 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Guy with hair short white and spiky standing alone left || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> Seems a special type of hair, that has not been seen before in this comic. Not looking like similar described 491. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 413 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Megan standing alone right, may be looking toward the Cueball 414 || Could be looking at Cueball 414. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 414 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone left, may be looking toward the Megan 413 || Could be looking at Megan 413. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 415 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 416 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Guy with glasses (square) and hair black standing alone right || Most of those with glasses so far have been bold as Cueballs, but this one has hair. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 417 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 418 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 419 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Megan standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 420 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Woman with hair bun white standing alone right || This is not Hairbun as she has dark hair. This white hair bun woman is used more than once (see already in 43, and below here in 353) || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 421 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 422 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Hairbun standing alone left || Hairbun with her dark hair looks in the direction of the white haired woman with hair bun 420. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 423 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L] || Ninja dressed in black with black cloth around his head so only a small part of the face is visible and a broad and curved sword in hand standing alone right || There have been several references to {{w|ninjas}} before this comic. But in neither of these does they look much like this one with this particular curved sword. First time with ninjas was in [[225: Open Source]] and there is also one in the first comic of [[820: Five-Minute Comics: Part 2]]. Cueball has also noted that [[486: I am Not a Ninja]]. || || || || Ninja sword <br />
|-<br />
| 424 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1000_Comics_-_The_first_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 1 L]''' || Cueball standing alone || This is the '''last character in the first zero''', again it is a Cueball. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 425 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T]''' || Cueball standing alone right || This is the '''first character in the second zero''' - of course also a Cueball. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 426 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 427 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Woman with hair bun black, large and on top of her head with what appears to be two hairpins stuck into it standing alone right looking down arms out || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it hairpins in a hair bun? Any reference to characters drawn previously</font> Even though she has a hair bun it is much too different from Hairbun's to be her and with the pins in. See also similar women 38 and 66 with hairpins in hair bun. || || || || Hairpins? <br />
|-<br />
| 428 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 429 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone right, seems short || This Cueball here looks short, maybe he is a kid? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 430 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone left balancing (or dancing) on one leg with the other lifted up and bend by the knee arms out || <font color="red">A Red Text: Could it be that he is about to kick the squirrel above the smoke of Cueball 439?</font> Seems like this Cueball is balancing on one leg, but could also be that he is dancing. However, a few others that clearly danced had lines to indicate movement, which is not the case here. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 431 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 432 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 433 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Character with short dark hair standing alone left || Could be either sex. See also 586. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 434 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 435 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone right arms out, seems short || This Cueball here looks short, maybe he is a kid? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 436 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone left pushing with both arms, one leg lifted behind him, on the hilt of a sword that is just protruding out of a large stone. The stone has a jagged edge to the left, and is a bit lower where the sword is pushed in. Sound effect and lines to show the pushing is drawn over Cueballs hands || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> This is clearly a reference to the sword in the stone ({{w|Excalibur}}). The legend says that whoever pulls on the {{w|hilt}} of that sword, to get it out of the stone will be the king of England. However, either Cueball is desperate not to get that honor, or he is the one that is about to place it there making it hard to get out. There seem to be now direct reference fro before this comic, but much later a comic titles exactly [[1521: Sword in the Stone]], references a situation where a person getting the sword declines the honor after reading about England. Read the explanation for that comic on more about the sword. There are however what appears to be the hilt a sword sticking out of a stone in right pile in the second panel of [[968: Everything]]. Maybe it is this stone Cueball has prepared for Megan in that comic. || Other: {{w|Excalibur#Excalibur_and_the_Sword_in_the_Stone| Sword in the Stone}} || Sound: ''Puhs push'' || || Hilt of a sword sticking out of a large stone <br />
|-<br />
| 437 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone right arms out on top of a balance board looking like a skateboard with only one large wheel in the middle. Four times two movement lines on either side of Cueball and the wheel shows he is balancing and not moving || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> Cueball is using a {{w|balance board}} (and not a one wheeled skateboard) and is managing to hold the balance even though movement lines indicate that he shifts left and right on the board. There have been many comics with skateboards or electrical skateboards, but seems like there are none with a balance board. || || || || Blance board <br />
|-<br />
| 438 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Boy with hair like hairy, standing alone left || Obviously a child, a boy with hair. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 439 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball sitting on the ground right straight back supported with on one hand behind him, while the other hand resting on the knees which are lifted up is holding the pipe he is smoking. The smoke rises straight but then seems to hit a shelve above it on top of which sits something that looks like a squirrel, but could also be licking flames. Maybe together with Cueball 440 || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic? What is happening here? Does the smoke support a shelve with a squirrel or is it flames above the smoke? Do Cueball try to smoke out the squirrel? Do this belong with the Cueball 440 or is the squirrel a part of Cueball 430 trying to kick it?</font> This is a very difficult situation to decipher. Best guess at the moment is that Cueball is tired of the squirrel sitting above him and is trying to smoke it out. [[:Category:Squirrels|Squirrels]] are a recurring theme and in [[382: Trebuchet]] a trap to get rid of squirrels are mentioned, although more effective than smoke in getting rid of them. It is unclear if there is any relation with Cueball 440 with his plant but they are closer together than most other characters, but maybe that is just the smoke and the plant's fault and not the two figures? This is the second Cueball sitting on the ground, the first being 375. || || || <font color="red">A Red Text: Squirrel?</font> || Pipe with smoke and a shelfe above it (with flames or squirrel?) <br />
|-<br />
| 440 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing right with a potted plant behind him. It is a thin stem with a few leafs. At the top it reaches Cueballs shoulders and bends towards him. He stands close to Cueball 439 || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic? Has he any relation to the Cueball 439? Is it a potted plant?</font> Looks like Cueball is standing with his plant looking away from Cueball 439. It is unclear if there is any relation with Cueball 439 with his pipe and smoke but they are closer together than most other characters, but maybe that is just the smoke and the plant's fault and not the two figures? There is a potted plant in the office in [[393: Ultimate Game]]. Later a more similar potted plant next to a kid looking away (like Cueball here) was [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3e/1608_1033x1095y_The_rotary.png seen in the rotary] inside the Destroyer in [[1608: Hoverboard]]. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 441 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Woman with lots of spikes in her hair on the back of her head standing alone left || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic? What is it with her hair. Is it hair or is something sitting on her head, not a hat?</font> This Megan style woman has a weird hair style or something with spikes has attached itself to her head? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 442 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball with antenna on his head standing right towards Cueball three arms 443 || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic? What is it on his head? Maybe it should not be listed as Cueball if it is hair or a hat?</font> This Cueball seems to have a small antenna on his head. Could also be a single hair? Maybe this freak belongs together with the three armed Cueball 443? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 443 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone left all three arms out, hands on the two arms to the left. Maybe together with Cueball 442 || This is the Cueball clock with three arms from panel five in the referenced comic. He even has the same position and hands on two (though not all three) arms. He may be together with the other freak Cueball 442 with antenna on his head? || Comic: '''[[68: Five Thirty]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 444 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Woman with hair long and loose standing alone right with a scarf around her neck hanging down her back. She holds her arms up to keep it over her throat as she makes a sound like she is freezing || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> This woman is not Megan. Her hair is different and looks weird over her head. Maybe it should look like some kind of hat? She obviously freezes with the sound and the scarf. Although this is not Megan, Megan is seen here with a scarf: [[726: Seat Selection]]. Possibly from comic [[511: Sleet]]. || || Woman with scarf: ''Brrr'' || || Scarf <br />
|-<br />
| 445 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 446 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Character with short white hair standing alone left, seems short || Could be either sex, and maybe it is a child. See similar kid in 145 and similar adult in 174. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 447 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Woman with hair short black and with a bump in the neck standing alone left, seems short || This woman here looks short, maybe she is a kid? Her hair is short compared to Megan and there is a small hair bun like bump in the neck, but it does not really look like a hair bun and not at all like Hairbun. See also similar woman 481. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 448 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Guy with hair or some kind of hat standing alone || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a cap or hair on his head? It would change the direction he looks!</font> This guy seems to have either some thin hair or maybe some hat, like a cap? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 449 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 450 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 451 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Hairy standing alone right, with thin hair || This Hairy has very thin hair. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 452 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone right looking down || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 453 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Megan standing alone left with hair flowing behind her || Seems like Megan is facing wind into her face which blows her hair out behind her, giving her a different look from normal Megan. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 454 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || <font color="red">A Red Text: Guy with thick hair is either standing with some sword hanging up his back, or it is part of the chair he is sitting in. His hands are toward what appears to be a bird bath with a duck in it</font> || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic? Hopefully it is because it is impossible to see what happens here. What is the thing in front of him? Is he standing with sword or sitting in a chair?</font> It looks like a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e8/1663_garden_Cueball_talks_to_deer_duck_in_birdbath.png duck in a birth bath] in front of this person who either have a sword or sits in a chair? Seems small too, but would be even smaller if sitting on a chair. || || || <font color="red">A Red Text: Duck?</font> || <font color="red">A Red Text: Bird Bath?</font> <br />
|-<br />
| 455 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 456 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone right holding the remote control for a radio controlled toy helicopter flying up as indicated with two lines above and below || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> Cueball is playing with his radio-controlled helicopter. One of those was also shown later in [[1110: Click and Drag]] where Beret Guy [http://imgs.xkcd.com/clickdrag/1n1e.png chases it with a butterfly net]. || || || || Remote controlled helicopter and remote <br />
|-<br />
| 457 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Boy with party hat with a strap under the chin. Around him lies confetti on the ground || This is one of the kids from the Malaria party in the referenced comic. The hat and the items on the ground are taken directly from the comic. || Comic: '''[[51: Malaria]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 458 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Ponytail sitting on the ground alone right leaning back on one hand, while the other hand rest on her bend knees || This is the second Ponytail to sit straight on the ground, the first being 185. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 459 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball is floating alone above a pentagram with lit candles at its points || Cueball has summoned himself from a parallel universe in a ritual using a pentagram (5-pointed star) and burning candles. || Comic: '''[[105: Parallel Universe]]''' || || || {{w|Pentagram}}, {{w|candles}}<br />
|-<br />
| 460 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Character with dark hair, maybe down the back, maybe short standing alone right || Could be either sex. The hair on the head does not look like Megan, and it is difficult to determine if the hair stops above or below the shoulders. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 461 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Boy with hair short black standing alone right arms up holding something in the arm to the left, maybe a ball || <font color="red">A Red Text: What is in his hand</font> Clearly this is a kid holding some object, could be a ball he is about to pass? || || || <font color="red">A Red Text: Ball?</font> || <br />
|-<br />
| 462 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Woman with black ponytail standing alone left || This is not Ponytail as she has white hair. There is a similar woman in [[882: Significant]]. Later a girl looking very much like this was [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d0/Garden_Stilt_walker.png seen on stilts] in [[1663: Garden]]. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 463 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 464 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Guy with hat black beret and black beard only on his chin standing alone right smoking a pipe, smoke coming out and drifting up beginning with a round black cloud and then above two white clouds || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic? Is he supposed to look French?</font> There are some smoking pipe in xkcd (see for instance [[923: Strunk and White]]) but none with smoke like this and no only looking anything like this black beret guy. || || || || Pipe with smoke <br />
|-<br />
| 465 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Guy with hat black but much larger than Black Hats although similar shape, but soft in the middle standing alone right. A large wing is hanging out from the hat on the left side || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> This winged hat seems to be related to the locomotive hat. There seems to be only one wing, and with the white ends it seems like it is feathers, although there is some bat wing over the drawing. Maybe a joke on the phrase ''{{w|A feather in your cap}}'' but no with an entire wing instead? || || || || Wing on hat <br />
|-<br />
| 466 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 467 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone left with a large head and a camera or a mask held in front of his face with both hands || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is this from a previous comic? Is it a big camera he is holding or a mask?</font> Unclear what Cueball is holding in front of his head. The head seems rather large, maybe a drawing mistake due to the camera or mask he is holding up to his head? || || || || <font color="red">A Red Text: Camrea or mask?</font> <br />
|-<br />
| 468 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Megan standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 469 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 470 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Guy with beard, full, and black hair standing alone right || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> Does not look like guy with beard 73. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 471 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Guy with pumpkin face with slits for eyes and a curvy mouth standing alone right || This is one of the pumpkin men from the referenced comics 6th panel. || Comic: '''[[68: Five Thirty]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 472 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 473 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone right || There may be indication of thin hair, but could be a sloppy end to the circle of the head || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 474 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone right while bending in the knees leaning over them back bend arms stretched out for balance || Could be that he is preparing to jump? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 475 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Boy looking like Cueball standing right seems like he is holding a branch in one end so it hangs out in the air to the right. At the end there is a split in two parts. || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a branch or a snake like in 404 and does it refer to a previous comic?</font> This boy child (much shorter than regular Cueballs) seems to be holding a branch out, but it is not clear how he holds this or if it is a branch? See similar boy with snake 404. || || || || <font color="red">A Red Text: Branch?</font> <br />
|-<br />
| 476 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 477 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Megan standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 478 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Ponytail standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 479 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 480 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball running alone right towards something that gives off smoke with a sound. Seems like he is holding a bow and maybe he has just shot an arrow at the smoking object, the arrow missing hitting the ground with a sound || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic? Quite unclear what happens here?</font> Best guess is that something is being aimed at by Cueball's bow and arrow but he misses the target (he burns his shot) and the target burns releasing smoke while hissing. || || Smoking object: Ssss <br> Arrow: Thump || || Bow, arrow and smoking object <br />
|-<br />
| 481 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Woman with hair short black and with a bump in the neck standing alone left, seems short || This woman here looks short, maybe she is a kid? Her hair is short compared to Megan and there is a small hair bun like bump in the neck, but it does not really look like a hair bun and not at all like Hairbun. See also similar woman 447. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 482 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 483 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing right speaking to a butterfly that flies in front of him with two times two lines around the wings away from Cueball and one two times one line close to Cueball || This is a direct reference to the referenced comic where real programmers use butterflies and it turns out e-macs has a command that does this which begins with C-x as Cueball says, and then continues to give this sentence: ''C-x M-c M-butterfly.'' || Comic: '''[[378: Real Programmers]]''' || Cueball: C-x || Butterfly || <br />
|-<br />
| 484 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Megan standing alone right, rather long hair || This Megan does not look like Danish. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 485 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 486 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone right || His face shape is a little squeezed at the top, so his head is not close to being round. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 487 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Blondie standing alone left || It is not a ponytail but long hair going down her back. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 488 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Hairy standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 489 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Ponytail standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 490 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Boy looking like Cueball standing alone || Clearly a kid much smaller than Cueball normally is. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 491 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Guy with hair short white and spiky standing alone left || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> Seems a special type of hair, that has not been seen before in this comic. Not looking like similar described 412. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 492 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Megan standing right looking slightly down at Cueball with Boombox 493 || This is the named Megan from the referenced comic, hair even drawn a little different like in that comic. She listens to Cueball 492's music from his Boombox. || Comic: '''[[159: Boombox]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 493 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing left holding a playing boombox high up over his head in both hands, playing music for Megan 492 || This is Cueball with the boombox playing for Megan 492 from the referenced comic. The music playing is a reference to the title text, as it is not ''Ice Ice Baby''. || Comic: '''[[159: Boombox]]''' || Boombox: Under presssure || || Boombox <br />
|-<br />
| 494 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || WOPR (War Operation Plan Response) supercomputer, a box with a lid and a black line below this (looking like a Xerox machine) with its name written in front of the panel talking to Boy 495 || This is the sentient {{w|AI}} in the form of the WOPR (War Operation Plan Response) computer from the movie {{w|WarGames}} talking with a boy 495. The boy should then represent David played by {{w| Matthew Broderick}} (see also boy 495). It wants to play a game and in the movie this almost results in nuclear war where the only winning move is not to play. A similar AI has been featured in [[601: Game Theory]] where it analyzed love like the WOPR analyzed nuclear war. It determines that you always lose in love even if you say no to playing! This is the only one of the 1000 characters that has no human shape what so ever- But that it's an independent intelligence cannot be doubted, and hence it must be seen as one of the 1000 characters. || Movie: {{w|WarGames}} || WOPR: Would you like to play a game?<br>Boy 495: No.<br>On WOPR: WOPR || || WOPR (although not seen as an object here) <br />
|-<br />
| 495 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Boy looking like Cueball standing left talking with the WOPR 494 || If this is the boy from the movie {{w|WarGames}} talking with the WOPR (War Operation Plan Response) computer, then his name is David Lightman and he was played by {{w|Matthew Broderick}}. In the movie WOPR asks David he would like to play a game and they end of playing a game of Global Thermonuclear War which almost leads to this in real life. Either this is after so David is cleverer or it is another clever boy, because he simply declines the offer of the WOPR. He could also have played tic-tac-toe but then no one would win, but also no one would lose as shown here [[832: Tic-Tac-Toe]]. If he dared he could have played the strip version of Global Thermonuclear War as mentioned in the title text of [[696: Strip Games]]. || Movie: {{w|WarGames}} || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 496 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone right looking up while throwing two objects into the air, one a round shape the other a snake shape || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is this a scene from a previous comic? What is it he throws?</font> Cueball is throwing something into the air, not clear what or why. || || || || <font color="red">A Red Text: Two objects thrown up?</font> <br />
|-<br />
| 497 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Woman with black hair and safety glasses standing alone right leaning back while holding an Erlenmeyer flask (a conical laboratory flask) up in the air in one outstretched hand || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is this a scene from a previous comic?</font> Cueball is seen holding a similar flask up in [[520: Cuttlefish]]. || || || || Erlenmeyer flask <br />
|-<br />
| 498 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Boy looking like Cueball standing alone right || Clearly a kid much smaller than Cueball normally is. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 499 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Science Girl with Ponytail standing alone right arms held out from her body || This is the early version of Science Girl from [[585: Outreach]]. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 500 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Boy with hair like Hairy || Clearly a kid much smaller than Cueball normally is. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 501 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Girl with hair like Danish || Clearly a kid much smaller than the adult Danish. There is a whole group of kids here, see the previous three and 490 as well. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 502 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone looking right while holding a gun out in his arm to the left (where there is no one nearby) || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is this a scene from a previous comic?</font> Cueball also holds a gun like this, but looking the same direction and pointing it on another Cueball in [[68: Five Thirty]].|| || || || Gun <br />
|-<br />
| 503 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone left looking down at a large gravestone on a big base. There are three patches of grass around the stone || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is this a scene from a previous comic?</font> Gravestones has been used several times, also with this shape but not with Cueball standing in front of it. See [[584: Unsatisfied]], [[599: Apocalypse]] and [[736: Cemetery]]. || || || || Gravestone with grass around it <br />
|-<br />
| 504 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || Cueball standing alone right holding a trumpet up to his mouth with both hands blowing a flower out of the other end of the instrument || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is this a scene from a previous comic? Is it a trumpet or is it a large opening for a gun shooting the flower out?</font> Seems like the items Cueball holds in front of him send a flower out, either when he blows into it, or fires it. Depending on if this is a trumpet or a gun? || || || || <font color="red">A Red Text: Trumpet or gun with flower?</font> <br />
|-<br />
| 505 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T] || [[Black Hat]] standing alone left || This is the first time Black Hat appears, here with a little wider hat than usual. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 506 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 2 T]''' || Hairy running alone left with his arms up || This is the '''last character in the second zero top''', this time not a Cueball but a running Hairy. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 507 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R]''' || Cueball standing alone left with a head that seems more egg shaped, with the tip up || This is the '''first character in the second zero right''' - again a Cueball, but one of those with a peculiar shaped head. Here the head is more egg shaped. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 508 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Astronaut in a spacesuit standing alone left || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> A spacesuit, which there seems to be no one of in the first 1000 comics? || || || || Spacesuit <br />
|-<br />
| 509 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Megan standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 510 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Ponytail sitting on the ground alone right leaning back on one hand, while the other hand is resting on her knee which is lifted up, the other leg also bend but less. Seems like the ground is rough beneath her, and both one arm and one leg seems to rest on small rocks || This is the third Ponytail to sit straight on the ground, the first being 185. || || || || Rocks on rough ground <br />
|-<br />
| 511 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Skeleton walking right towards Cueball 512 with his sword and Megan 514. The bones are clearly not joined together, the black eye sockets almost protruding from the skull. It has its arms held out || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> Seems like Cueball 512 is facing this skeleton with his sword in a valiant attempt to defend Megan 514 who’s looking on the skeleton. The idea of being able to fight a skeleton is mentioned in the title text of [[1587: Food Rule]]. It could be a coincidence as they are not very close. There seems to be no skeletons drawn in the first 1000 comics? Even though this is not a living creature (but an undead) it is obviously counted as one of the 1000 characters. || || || || Skeleton (although not seen as an object here) <br />
|-<br />
| 512 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball standing left brandishing a sword behind him to the right as he faces the skeleton 511 walking towards him with its arms out. Maybe he protects Megan 514 || It could look like Cueball is waiting to take a swing with his sword at the skeleton 511 walking his way with its arms out, a valiant attempt to defend Megan 514 looking on the scene. The idea of being able to fight a skeleton is mentioned in the title text of [[1587: Food Rule]]. It could be a coincidence as they are not very close. Seems like Cueball only holds a sword in [[68: Five Thirty]], but it doesn't really look like that sword. || || || || Sword <br />
|-<br />
| 513 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Woman with hair long and white standing alone right arms out. Seems like some sort of very long ponytail hangs down below her waist || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic? What's with the hair down the back?</font> The "ponytail" down to below her waist seems strangely shaped, very thin and uneven. Could also be some sort of scarf, as there is a large black area around the neck, which could also just be hair? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 514 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Megan standing left looking up at skeleton 511, being protected by sword Cueball 512 || Megan seems to be part of the skeleton 511 vs. Cueball 512 scene. Maybe Cueball is defending her from the walking skeleton with his sword. It could be a coincidence as they are not very close. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 515 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball is abducted by an alien spacecraft looking like the typical flying saucer. It is sucking him up in a tractor-beam while he hangs suspended arms out and one leg bend || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is this a scene from a previous comic?</font> This is a reference of a typical alien abduction where a {{w|flying saucer}} uses a {{w|tractor beam}} to suck a human (Cueball) up into the space craft for further investigation and [https://vimeo.com/107376483insertion of anal probes] etc. Or just for practice - see [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkYcK3z5Go4 Lifted]. Seems like there are no flying saucers in the first 1000 comics? Could be that Cueball 522 sees this scene and reacts by taking his hand to his mouth? The spaceship is not seen as an individual character, as it is not alive or conscious (like the AI in the WORP 494). || Other: {{w|Alien abduction}} || || || Flying saucer using tractor beam <br />
|-<br />
| 516 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Guy with hair only around the neck standing right maybe towards science Girl 519 || This could be Donald Knuth from [[342: 1337: Part 2]] or George from [[587: Crime Scene]]. The hair is the same. The first Guy with hair like this was 75. Although the appearance of the girl 519 he may be facing is that of Science Girl, there are some similarities with her and [[Elaine Roberts]] as she appears together with Donald Knuth in the mentioned comic... || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 517 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Ponytail standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 518 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 519 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Science Girl with bun and ponytail, standard appearance, standing left maybe towards Guy 516 || Although this is the standard appearance of Science Girl she may be facing Guy 516 which may be Donald Knuth from [[342: 1337: Part 2]] . In that comic [[Elaine Roberts]] is as a young girl drawn with ponytail (white though) so there are some similarities between a scene in that comic. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 520 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Boy looking like Cueball with arms out standing right towards Cueball 521 || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is this a scene from a previous comic?</font> Clearly a kid much smaller than Cueball normally is. Seems like he is explaining something to Cueball 521 who scratches his head for that reason. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 521 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball standing left scratching his head with a small black cloud(?) over his head as he tries to understand what the boy 520 is showing him || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is this a scene from a previous comic?</font> Cueball is reacting to the boy showing him something, scratching his head. The black cloud over his head may indicate that he doesn't comprehend what the boy wishes to show him or that he does but is dismayed. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 522 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball standing right looking up, hand to his mouth, maybe because he sees the alien abduction of Cueball 515 above him? || Could look like he was reacting to the alien abduction scene 515 as he looks that way and has his hand to his mouth. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 523 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball standing alone right looking at something he holds in his hand lifted up in front of his face something small and slim like a smartphone || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a smartphone in his hand or something else?</font> Could be that Cueball holds a smartphone, but it is not clear. Cueball in [[864: Flying Cars]] also holds a smartphone but not in the same position as this Cueball. That was more the case for Cueball 335. || || || || <font color="red">A Red Text: Smartphone?</font> <br />
|-<br />
| 524 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Old man with a white hat (looking a bit like a beret, but could also a sailor cap seen from the front) and a cane standing alone left || This is not an old version of Beret Guy but the old version of Cueball from the referenced comic, as he would look if he turned and stared straight out of the panel. The cap at on his sailor hat would then look like the middle part of the hat does here, which makes it look like Beret Guy’s beret. The cane and the wrinkles that match those from the comic, is helping prove this. || Comic: '''[[572: Together]]''' || || || Cane <br />
|-<br />
| 525 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 526 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Hairy standing alone left with high hair and long face || A little strange head and hair shape, but still Hairy like. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 527 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball standing left talking to the ants in the ant hill by his feet || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is this a scene from a previous comic?</font> Cueball is thankful to the ants. There have been many mentions of ants in xkcd, but not seem to fit this picture. See for instance the later comic [[1610: Fire Ants]], but also the much referenced comic [[68: Five Thirty]] has an ant in the last panel. A [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d2/1608_1078x1095y_Ant_Queen_in_Destroyer.png giant ant queen] was inside the Destroyer in [[1608: Hoverboard]]. || || Cueball: Thanks ants || Ants || Ant hill <br />
|-<br />
| 528 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 529 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Megan standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 530 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Ponytail standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 531 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Guy with black hair and a bald patch on the top of his head standing alone right || Seems like there is no hair on the top of the head. Could be a drawing mistake but else it is either a bald patch, or it is supposed to be some head gear going around his head? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 532 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 533 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Hairy standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 534 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 535 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 536 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Hairy standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 537 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball standing right towards boy 538 holding a large axe in both hands with the head towards the boy || This Cueball interacts with the boy 538, which again is a reference to the boy being an {{w|troll (internet)|internet troll}} that was slain in the referenced comic. Although there it was not as a real life {{w|troll}}, and not by an axe. See more on 538. || Comic: '''[[591: Troll Slayer]]''' || || || Axe <br />
|-<br />
| 538 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Boy with hair and lots of pimples standing left facing the axe wielding Cueball 537 || This is the pimpled boy that {{w|troll (internet)|trolls}} {{w|Stephenie Meyer}} in the referenced comic. She then slays him using her {{w|Twilight (novel series)|Twilight novels}} as her weapon of choice. Given that it is the boy who is the troll slain, it makes sense here to put this little boy in front of a Cueball 537 with an axe big enough to slay real {{w|trolls}}. || Comic: '''[[591: Troll Slayer]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 539 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Hairy standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 540 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Megan standing alone right hair blowing out behind her || Seems like this Megan has the wind in her face her hair billowing out behind her. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 541 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball spinning around on one leg facing right alone doing a pirouette with arms held together over his head one leg up and bend close to his body and three circle lines left and right of his body and around the leg that supports him || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is this a scene from a previous comic?</font> Cueball is performing a {{w|Turn_(dance_and_gymnastics)#Pirouette|pirouette}}. It is not similar to the scene in [[162: Angular Momentum]] referenced by spinning Megan 159. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 542 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 543 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 544 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Girl sleeping drawn in silhouette alone with her head to the left snoring as indicated with a sound || This drawing can be a little confusing since the end of it, is very close to guy 545's face and could even be seen as smoke coming from him. But the snoring sound gives it away as the [[7#Trivia|very first drawing]] Randall released on the [[:Category:First_day_on_LiveJournal|very first day]] of releasing comics on [[LiveJournal]] from [[:Category:Comics posted on livejournal|before]] he began posting on xkcd.com (where it then got number 7 for some reason?) So of course it should be included in this comic. Given that she is not even closely related to the stick figures constituting the rest of the 1000 characters she had to be drawn like this in silhouette to make her blend in. But it would be easy to misinterpret the drawing, but the three ''zzz'' helps a lot. Those were not included in the original drawing. The comic that later received the number 1 spot on xkcd is also here as Barrel Boy 643 at the bottom in the same side of this zero. || Comic: '''[[7: Girl sleeping (Sketch -- 11th grade Spanish class)]]''' || Girl: Zzz || || <br />
|-<br />
| 545 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Guy with hat black, high and round standing alone left || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> This is clearly not Black Hat (as the next character 546) as the hat is not square but rounded and higher. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 546 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Black Hat standing alone, with a more massive hat than usual || Although this must be described as Black Hat, as opposed to the guy 545 before this with a rounded black hat, the hat seems more massive broader and higher than the usual style of Black Hat. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 547 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball hanging alone left in one arm from the string of a white balloon rising up. That he is up in the air is indicated with a shadow on the "ground" beneath him || There seems to be no direct reference to a comic with such a Cueball, although a Cueball like kid is lifted in a balloon string, but not by the balloon, in [[121: Balloon]]. It more resembles the opening frame in [[1110: Click and Drag]], but that was first released more than eight months later (and the balloon there was black). || || || || Balloon on a string <br />
|-<br />
| 548 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Megan standing right towards Cueball 549 on stilts || It is not clear if she is with Cueball 548, but they are very close and she looks straight at him. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 549 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball walking on stilts towards left while looking right. The stilts are broader at the ground. He may be together with Megan 548 || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is this a scene from a previous comic?</font> It seems like Megan 548 is looking at him, but it is unclear if they belong together. There also seems to be no comic with Cueball walking on stilts like this, but in [[482: Height]] there is a Cueball walking on the world’s tallest stilts. Much later two game comics showed persons on stilts, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/89/1608_1038x1095y_Hamsterball_and_stilts_room.png inside] the Destroyer in [[1608: Hoverboard]] and as a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0c/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow_First_thing_stilts.png grown item] in [[1663: Garden]]. || || || || Stilts <br />
|-<br />
| 550 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Guy with hat black peaked cap standing alone right || Looks like one of the often occurring police officers usually drawn with a black peaked cap, a police cap. Mostly these caps are though also drawn with a white emblem, but that might have been too small here. See for instance [[617: Understocked]]. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 551 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball standing right towards woman 552 || Seems like he is facing woman 552. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 552 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Woman with white hair long and loose, could be Blondie but might be in a ponytail, standing left towards Cueball 551 || It could be both Blondie and Ponytail, but at first it looks like long white hair that hangs loose down her back. She seems to be facing Cueball 552. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 553 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Woman with white hair in a bun with a ponytail below it standing alone left || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> This is not a standard hairstyle in xkcd. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 554 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 555 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 556 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Megan driving left on a Segway alone, three lines behind her indicates her motion and speed also clear as her hair flows somewhat back || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is this a scene from a previous comic?</font> Megan drives a {{w|Segway PT}}. There seems to be no comics where this happens, but Segway is referenced both in the description of people who likes the {{w|Dymaxion map|Dymaxion projection}} in [[977: Map Projections]] as well as in the title text of [[296: Tony Hawk]]. || || || || Segway PT} <br />
|-<br />
| 557 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Guy with hat baseball cap standing with Cueball 558 both looking right || There are not many wearing baseball caps in xkcd. There was on in the background of [[954: Chin-Up Bar]]. One was shown long after in [[1221: Nomenclature]], it could almost be those two from that comic that this guy and Cueball 557 should represent, but the other guy is also wearing a hat in the comic. Also it cannot be a reference as it is a later comic. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 558 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball standing with Guy 557 both looking right || Seems like he may be watching something together with baseball cap guy 557. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 559 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball standing alone arms up || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 560 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball standing alone right holding an octopus out in one arm || This is the biologist from the referenced comic. || Comic: '''[[435: Purity]]''' || || Octopus || <br />
|-<br />
| 561 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 562 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball driving left on an electric skateboard having the radio control remote in his hand. Behind him are three lines next to the antenna of the control (and there are no wires) so this is either indication of speed or radio waves. The skateboard is driving slightly downwards and Cueball stand still on the middle. The two next "girls" 563-564 are running after him || This is a clear reference to the referenced comic. The [:[Category:Electric skateboard|electric skateboard]] here (a recurring theme in xkcd) seems to have radio control, as there is no wire to the board as in the comic. But the two "girls" 563-564 running after him is two of the three chicks in the comic that cheered Cueball when he got to his destination. || Comic: '''[[139: I Have Owned Two Electric Skateboards]]''' || || || Electric Skateboard <br />
|-<br />
| 563 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Ponytail running left after Cueball 562 and his skateboard || Ponytail is running, together with Megan 564, after Cueball 562 because he is so cool with his electric skateboard, a clear reference to the comic where both "girls" also admire Cueball on his gadget. || Comic: '''[[139: I Have Owned Two Electric Skateboards]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 564 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Megan running left after Cueball 562 and his skateboard || Megan is running, together with Ponytail 563, after Cueball 562 because he is so cool with his electric skateboard, a clear reference to the comic where both "girls" also admire Cueball on his gadget. || Comic: '''[[139: I Have Owned Two Electric Skateboards]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 565 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Guy with Afro hairdo normal size standing alone right || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> A more normal Afro hair than on 236, like 248. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 566 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Megan standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 567 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 568 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R] || Hairbun with sunglasses standing alone left || This is how {{w|Trinity (The Matrix)|Trinity}} from {{w|The Matrix)} is drawn in the referenced comic. First guy with sunglasses see 35. || Comic: [[566: Matrix Revisited]] || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 569 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fe/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 2 R]''' || Cueball standing alone right || This is the '''last character in the second zero right''', and again a Cueball. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 570 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B]''' || Guy with extremely spiky hair standing alone right || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> This is the '''first character in the second zero bottom''', for once an unnamed character. This hair reminds of some kind of {{w|Punk fashion}}. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 571 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing right towards Cueball 572 || Seems like he is looking at Cueball 572. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 572 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing left towards Cueball 571 || Seems like he is looking at Cueball 571. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 573 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 574 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing alone right holding one arm slightly out right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 575 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing alone left arms a little of balance bending in one leg || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 576 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball falling headfirst down alone left while flailing with his arms and legs as indicated with two lines on either side, and four lines above him indicate the speed of the fall || <font color="red">A Red Text: Explanation missing</font> || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 577 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 578 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Guy with hair in a Mohawk standing alone right || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> This guy seems to sport a {{w|Mohawk hairstyle|Mohawk}}. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 579 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Hairy standing alone left || This Hairy has flat hair. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 580 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Girl with long black hair standing alone right holding her arms up || Clearly a girl much shorter than the adults around her. Hari style could be like Megan’s, but it's hard to see for the raised arms || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 581 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing alone doing the arm wave || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is this a scene from a previous comic?</font> Cueball is doing the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CPtOe3GVwk arm wave], hip-hop style… || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 582 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Ponytail standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 583 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 584 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 585 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Science Girl with small bun at the base of her neck and hair hanging down behind it standing alone right holding up a model rocket in one hand || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is this a scene from a previous comic?</font> There seems to be no comics where anyone holds up such a rocket. It is the standard version of a rocket that can be used for space launch. || || || || Model rocket <br />
|-<br />
| 586 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Character with short dark hair standing alone right || Could be either sex, see also similar characters at 433. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 587 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 588 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Woman with a ponytail dark standing right looking at Genie 589 || Seems like this woman has just rubbed the lamp of the Genie 589 and is now ready to make a wish. A similar {{w|genie}} was drawn in the referenced comic, although together with Cueball. Genies have been mentioned several times in xkcd, see more in the referenced comic. See also woman 157 with dark ponytail. || Comic: '''[[152: Hamster Ball]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 589 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Genie rising smoke like out of an oil lamp standing on the ground facing left towards Woman 588. The genies body materializes out of the smoke getting more solid from the waist up. It has its arms held into its sides. On its head it has a turban. || It seems that woman 588 has just rubbed the lamp from where the Genie protrudes and it now ready to fulfill her wishes. A similar {{w|genie}} was drawn in the referenced comic, although together with Cueball. Genies have been mentioned several times in xkcd, see more in the referenced comic. In the referenced comic Cueball wishes for a hamster ball, and gets one. See Cueball 618 inside his hamster ball just below and left of here. || Comic: '''[[152: Hamster Ball]]''' || || || Oil lamp <br />
|-<br />
| 590 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing right towards Megan 591 with a white heart floating between them || A couple in love as indicated with the heart between Cueball and Megan 591. See also similar Hairy/Megan couple 210-211. || || Cueball/Megan: ♥ || || <br />
|-<br />
| 591 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Megan standing left towards Cueball with a white heart floating between them || A couple in love as indicated with the heart between Megan and Cueball 590. See also similar Hairy/Megan couple 210-211. || || Cueball/Megan: ♥ || || <br />
|-<br />
| 592 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing right towards Ponytail 593 || Seems like Cueball faces Ponytail 593. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 593 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Ponytail standing left towards Cueball 592 || Seems like Ponytail faces Cueball 592. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 594 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball running right towards Cueball 595 holding a long stick in both hands over his head. Towards the end of the stick there is a broader part of the stick, but at the very end it is again as thin as the rest of the stick || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is this a scene from a previous comic?</font> Cueball seems to be in the process of attacking Cueball 595 with some kind of weapon. But it neither seems like a spear or an axe with the protrusion on the stick he is wielding neither looking like an axe head or it at the tip like on a spear? || || || || Stick with protrusion at one end <br />
|-<br />
| 595 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing left towards charging Cueball 594 || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is this a scene from a previous comic?</font> Seems like Cueball 594 is in the process of attacking this Cueball with some kind of weapon. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 596 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Hairy standing alone left with very thin hair || This Hairy has thin but not flat hair || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 597 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball lying down on his back alone left resting on one arm behind him, the other arm down along his body one leg bent a lot the other only slightly at the knees || The second character that lies down on the ground. See the first Cueball 105 to do so. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 598 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 599 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Hairy standing alone right || He may be looking at Hamster Ball Cueball 618 - as all other in front of him in this general area looks at it. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 600 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing alone right || He may be looking at Hamster Ball Cueball 618 - as all other around him in this general area looks at it. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 601 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing alone right || He may be looking at Hamster Ball Cueball 618 - as all other around him in this general area looks at it. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 602 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || [[Rob]] sitting alone right legs curled up to his body arms holding tight around them || This is [[Rob]] from the referenced comic after his nephew has scared him with his fact of life. This is the third Cueball-like character sitting on the ground, the first being 375. || Comic: '''[[647: Scary]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 603 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Megan with her hair falling backwards alone right. She seems to have lost the balance, having only one leg on the ground the other up in the air and bendy leaning far behind the leg on the ground. The arms seem to be flailing up and down so fast that three arms are drawn on either side. The hair is also standing up || This is Megan from the referenced comic after the LSD she has been given makes her believe that there are spiders all over her. The three arms on either side because of her flailing arms make this connection clear. || Comic: '''[[790: Control]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 604 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing alone right eating an ice cream cone || Seems like Cueball never eats an ice cream cone in the first 1000 comic but his daughter Science Girl does so next to him in [[585: Outreach]]. || || || || Ice cream cone <br />
|-<br />
| 605 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Hairbun standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 606 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing right facing a finger gun assault by Hairy 607 || Seems he is being finger gun attacked by Hairy 607. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 607 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Hairy standing left brandishing two finger guns, one pointed at Cueball 606 the other held up in the air || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is this a scene from a previous comic?</font> Hairy has shaped both his hands into finger guns (which is thus one of the rare occasion where hands are shown). He seems to be pointing one of the hand guns towards Cueball 606. || Other: {{w|Finger gun}} || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 608 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Guy with hair only around the neck standing alone left something black under one hand || This could be Donald Knuth from [[342: 1337: Part 2]] or George from [[587: Crime Scene]]. The hair is the same. See Guy 75, the first with this type of hair. The black dot under his hand seems to be a drawing mistake? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 609 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 610 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Megan standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 611 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 612 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing right towards Ponytail 611 brandishing a lightsaber pointed up towards her || Seems like Cueball threatens Ponytail 613 with his {{w|lightsaber}}. This is a general reference to the {{w|Star Wars}} universe which is a recurrent topic on xkcd. Lightsabers are often referenced and drawn, but there is not really a particular scene that looks like this. Most closely comes the look of the lightsaber in the 6th comic from [[Five-Minute Comics: Part 4]] which was published by mistake. Also in one of the intentionally published comics in that series, [[820: Five-Minute Comics: Part 2]], are there lightsabers. Just three weeks prior to this comic a toy lightsaber was held by Cueball in [[991: Phantom Menace]]. Later a comic named after the weapon was published in [[1433: Lightsaber]] and they were displayed more than once in [[1608: Hoverboard]], both [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bc/1608_1012x1078y_Bridge_on_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png with Ponytail] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/20/1608_1006x1095y_Pinata_and_Cueball_with_lightsaber_at_top_of_hull.png with a kid] looking like Cueball. || Category: [[:Category:Star Wars|Star Wars]] || || || Lightsaber <br />
|-<br />
| 613 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Ponytail standing left towards Cueball 612 and his lightsaber || Seems like she is being threatened by Cueball 612 and his lightsaber. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 614 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball driving a motorcycle alone right doing a wheelie, two movement lines at the back wheel showing the progress || This is the {{w|Linux}} using Cueball from the referenced comic doing his {{w|wheelie}} stunt from the comic. || Comic: '''[[272: Linux User at Best Buy]]''' || || || Motorcycle <br />
|-<br />
| 615 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Megan standing right towards Cueball 616 pointing at him as he walks away || Seems like this Megan might be accusing Cueball 616 of something and he just walks away from her. Could also be that she points at Hamster Ball Cueball 618 - as all those behind her in this general area looks at it. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 616 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball walking right away from pointing Megan 615 || Seems like he is walking away from Megan 615 who points after him like she is accusing him of something. Could also just be that after being alerted to it by Megan pointing it out he walks towards at Hamster Ball Cueball 618 - as all other behind him in this general area looks at it. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 617 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Ponytail standing right touching Cueball 618's hamster ball || Ponytail is either pushing, holding back or holding on to the hamster ball. See interpretations and details at Cueball 618. || Category: [[:Category:Hamster Ball|Hamster Ball]] || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 618 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing right inside a large hamster ball waving his arm to the left up and down indicated with two lines above and below. He also waves his other arm forward right indicated with two small lines. The hamster ball is surrounded by characters 617-621 interacting with the ball || This is by far the most complex scene in the entire comic. Hamster balls is a recurring theme in xkcd, see the referenced category, and was first featured in [[152: Hamster Ball]], where a genie delivers such a ball to Cueball as it is his one and only wish. That genie can be seen in 589. But this scene has some similarities also with [[211: Hamster Ball Heist]] where a rock-star (not Cueball) is being pushed around inside a hamster ball by several people like here, (but against his will, so it is not a direct reference that comic either). The four characters around this ball, Ponytail 617 left, Woman with black hair 619 on top, Megan 620 floating right and Cueball 621 lying to the right, are all interacting with it. There may be several other characters that "see" this scene, like Megan 615 that might point at this (rather than Cueball 616, who might walk towards it). And on the other side Megan 622 may also be looking on as does Cueball 623. Similarly Cueball 600 and 601 also looks that way as does Hairy 599 but he is quite far away, but all in that direction look towards the ball. It is hard to say exactly what happens with the ball, as it seems to stand still (no movement lines). But this can hardly be the case as Ponytail 617 seems to push (could be holding on), the woman 619 on top of the ball seems to walk left forcing the ball right, and Cueball 621 seems to have been knocked over by the ball. Megan 620 is the mystery as she seems to float/fly near the hamster ball. Of course if Ponytail tries to hold it, and Cueball inside is showing to stop and they have just hit Cueball 621 the hamster ball may just have stopped at this very moment. Another possible interpretation, where the ball is moving right, is that the three women respectively tries to get up, is on top and has been on top. So Ponytail will hold on to the ball, being dragged up as the ball moves, while the woman on top moves the ball and eventually she will, like Megan has just done, fall down the right side, this would mean that Megan is now falling towards Cueball. He could also just have fallen off like this, but as he holds on to his face it seems more like he has been hit in the face by the moving ball and knocked back on the ground. || Category: [[:Category:Hamster Ball|Hamster Ball]] || || || Hamster ball <br />
|-<br />
| 619 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Woman with hair black and large on top of her head walking left on top of Cueball 618's hamster ball while looking down while holding her arms back, the right arm mainly hidden behind her "high" hair, only the hand can be seen to the right of the hair || This woman may have a hair bun, but it is hard to tell and she does not at all look like Hairbun. She seems to be walking left on the hamster ball which would be meaningful if it moved right, and she might thus stay on top, maybe even helping with moving the ball that way. See interpretations and details at Cueball 618. || Category: [[:Category:Hamster Ball|Hamster Ball]] || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 620 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Megan falling, floating or flying face towards left looking down along the side of Cueball 6187's hamster ball. One leg bent at the knee || Megan is either one of those that flies come the see what the fuss is about, or rather she has just been on top of the hamster ball like woman 619 and has just fallen off on the way down to hit Cueball 621. See interpretations and details at Cueball 618. || Category: [[:Category:Hamster Ball|Hamster Ball]] || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 621 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball lying on his back towards right face towards left supporting himself on one arm behind him and holding the other hand to his face looking up at Cueball 618's hamster ball looming over him. One leg is stretched the other bend at right angle at the knee || Cueball seems to have been knocked over by the hamster ball although it is unclear if it rolls. If so he seems to have taken a hit in the face seeing as he holds a hand up to it. He may also have fallen off from on top of the ball. See interpretations and details at Cueball 618. || Category: [[:Category:Hamster Ball|Hamster Ball]] || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 622 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Megan standing left looking at Cueball 618's hamster ball || This Megan has looser hair on her head than normally. It seems like she is looking at the hamster ball scene at Cueball 618. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 623 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing left looking at Cueball 618's hamster ball || Cueball seems to be looking at the hamster ball scene at Cueball 618. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 624 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Guy with hat with two tassels or horns and a full beard standing alone right || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic? And what kind of hat is this? In relation to the locomotive hat it could also be a hat showing a ship with two chimneys sinking...?</font> A guy with a strange hat that either has two tassels or two horns. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 625 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 626 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Guy with hair only around the neck standing alone right - hair seems to be quite thick || Although the hair is of the same type as Guy 75 he does not really look like him as the hair seems much thicker and further out from the neck. Had it not been because of the stance makes it clear that he faces right, then it could even look like some kind of googles... || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 627 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Woman with long hair like Megan but thinner standing alone left or maybe looking at all the black hats on Black Hat 641 below her || This woman’s hair has a white section in front, so although similar hair as Megan, it does not seem to be quite like her. She may be looking down at the black hats of Black Hat 641. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 628 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Ponytail standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 629 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Guy with a long cloak below his Cueball like head standing right looking at Cueball throwing boomerang || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is it a character from a previous comic?</font> There seems to be some resemblance to a Jedi Knight like Obi-Wan Kenobi, the thought could be lead this direction with the lightsaber at Cueball 612 just above to the right. He may represent a coach for the boomerang throwing Cueball 630 next to him, who has been shown before to not be very good with boomerangs. Acting as a mentor for Luke Skywalkers lightsaber training was Kenobi’s task in Star Wars. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 630 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball throwing a boomerang to the right so it rotates as indicated by a curling line. Two other lines show how he has swung his arm. Seems like the guy in cloak 629 is looking on || Cueball has been shown to be quite hopeless in throwing boomerangs as has been shown in the referenced comic and its sequel, and boomerangs are a [[:Category:Boomerangs|recurring theme]] in xkcd. In this situation it seems like the cloaked guy 629 is supervising his throw. Maybe he is a mentor, looking a little like a Jedi knight form Star Wars, see interpretation at 629. || Comic: '''[[445: I Am Not Good with Boomerangs]]''' || || || Boomerang <br />
|-<br />
| 631 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing alone right looking up || This Cueball is particularly not looking in the direction of Cueball 618 and his hamster ball to his right. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 632 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing alone left || This Cueball looks away from the nearby hamster ball at Cueball 618. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 633 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || {{w|Lucy van Pelt|Lucy}}, from Peanuts drawn like Megan, standing right towards Charlie Brown 634 offering him an American football || This is a reference to the comic strip ''{{w|Peanuts}},'' and the running gag where Lucy (drawn here as Megan) would hold the {{w|American football}} for lovable loser Charlie Brown, with his single hair on his head, thus drawn like Cueball with one hair in 634. He 'd come running at it full speed, only to have Lucy pull the football away at the last moment and send Charlie Brown crashing to the ground. This repeating scene was referenced in the title text of [[423: Finish Line]] || Carton: {{w|Peanuts}} || || || American football <br />
|-<br />
| 634 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || {{w|Charlie Brown}}, from Peanuts drawn like Cueball with a single hair, standing left towards Lucy 633 offering him an American football || This Cueball's single hair together with the ball offered by Lucy 633 makes it clear that this is the Charlie Brown. See more in 633 || Carton: {{w|Peanuts}} || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 635 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Megan standing towards right, right up against a very thin sheet of material that Ponytail 636 holds up between them || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is this a scene from a previous comic?</font> Seems like Megan’s forehead touches the thin sheet of material Ponytail 636 holds up between them. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 636 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Ponytail standing towards left holding a very thin sheet of material up in both hands between her and Megan 635 who stands flush up against this. She speaks an almost unreadable line || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is this a scene from a previous comic? What is it she holds up, and what does she say</font> Ponytail holds some very thin sheet of material up between her and Megan 636. || || <font color="red">A Red Text:Ponytail: Rach????</font> || || <font color="red">A Red Text:Thin sheet of material?</font> <br />
|-<br />
| 637 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball with a square head standing alone right || This Cueball is drawn with a perfectly square face. This is related to the Cueball with a triangular face || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 638 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Guy with sunglasses and no hair standing right || First guy with sunglasses see 35. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 639 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing right towards Black Hat 641 with many hats || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 640 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing right towards Black Hat 641 with many hats, seems short || This Cueball here looks short, maybe he is a kid? Could also be a Black Hat that has just lost his hat to Black Hat 641 who seems to be stealing Black Hats. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 641 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Black Hat standing left towards Cueball 639 and 640 with no less than seven black hats balancing on top of his head and each other. Maybe woman 627 is looking down at his hats || This is a continuation of the scene from the referenced comic, where Black Hat meets another Black Hat but one with two hats. Solo Black Hat then retraces his steps away from this dangerous double Black Hat as if he just realized that his hat might soon be the third on top of the two other black hats. There is also another double Black Hat in this comic, but this one has already acquired five more than that so there are six ore hats than a normal Black Hat, seven in total. This may explain why there are so many Cueballs and so few Black Hats in this comic, since at least five, maybe six have lost their hat to this guy (and if six, then also seven with the other two hat guy). The two Cueball's looking at him 639-640 may have been Black Hat's a moment ago, when this one only had five hats... || Comic: '''[[455: Hats]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 642 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 643 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 2 B]''' || [[:Category:Barrel|Barrel Boy]] sitting in his barrel on the ocean with the horizon behind him || This is the '''last character in the second zero bottom'''. This drawing is of the Barrel Boy from comic no. 1 on xkcd, the first in the [[:Category:Barrel|Barrels series]]. Originally it was the [[1#Trivia|fifth drawing]] Randall released on the [[:Category:First_day_on_LiveJournal|very first day]] of releasing comics on [[LiveJournal]] from [[:Category:Comics posted on livejournal|before]] he began posting on xkcd.com (where it then was moved to number 1, for good reason, as it is a perfect little story of the unpredictability of life and also constitutes a series. So of course he should be included in this comic. Given that he is not even closely related to the stick figures constituting the rest of the 1000 characters he had to be drawn like this without his eyes. The very first comic to be released, now [[7|number 7]], is also here as sleepy girl 544 further up in the same side of this zero. || Comic: '''[[1: Barrel - Part 1]]''' || || || Barrel in an ocean <br />
|-<br />
| 644 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L]''' || Cueball standing right towards Hairy 645 || This is the '''first character in the second zero left''', again it is a Cueball. He seems to be facing Hairy 645 || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 645 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Hairy standing left towards Cueball 644 || This Hairy has thick hair and seems to be facing Cueball 644. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 646 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Megan standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 647 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || A person with long hair, possibly Leibniz, standing left towards Megan 646 || Hair is intermediate between Newton's and Leibniz's; however, given the extra intentional lines in the character's hair, it is likely Leibniz. || Comic: '''[[626: Newton and Leibniz]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 648 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball standing center || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 649 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball standing left towards Cueball 648 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 650 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Ponytail standing left towards Zero #1 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 651 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Character with grey hair? standing right towards Cueball 652 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 652 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball stands facing #651 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 653 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] ||Ponytail is standing right holding up a hairy guy with spots, 654, with her ray gun || This is Joanna from the referenced comic that are ready to ban the poor guy 654 from the internet, under penalty of melting his computer with her "{{w|Electromagnetic pulse|EMP}} cannon". || Comic '''[[322: Pix Plz]]''' || || || Ray gun for melting computers<br />
|-<br />
| 654 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Boy with spiky hair and pimples standing left toward Ponytail 653, with arms raised above his head || Possibly the internet troll from [[591: Troll Slayer]] (see also #538), as this would be the type of person that Ponytail 653 (AKA "Joanna") would ban from the Internet. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 655 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball standing alone, both hands holding a pole to the left with a sign on it || This Cueball is the fifth to be listed of the ten characters that hold up signs showing binary numbers, which form the shape of a heart if connected. As this heart begins at 0, and his sign is 5 (binary 101), he is the sixth of the ten, forming the bottom point of the heart. || [[1000: 1000 Comics#Connect the Dots|Connect the dots]] 5 || Sign: 101 || || Sign on a pole <br />
|-<br />
| 656 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Character with hair darker than Megan stands alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 657 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Megan kissing Blondie 658 || || || Girl: smooch || || <br />
|-<br />
| 658 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Blondie being kissed by Megan 657 || || || Girl: smooch || || <br />
|-<br />
| 659 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Hairy with shorter hair that reaches further down his head stands right towards Science Girl 660 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 660 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Science Girl stands left towards Hairy 659 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 661 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball with an eagle on his shoulder || Type of bird unsure, although they look like the eagles from [[1608: Hoverboard]]. || || Bird: caw || Eagle || <br />
|-<br />
| 662 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball looking towards Cueball 663 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 663 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball with arms outstretched to Cueball 669 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 664 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball with a hand above his eyes, looking at #665 (or beyond) || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 665 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Character with grey hair or cap stands alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 666 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball looking towards Cueball 667 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 667 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Girl with completely dark hair looking towards Cueball 666 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 668 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball stands alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 669 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball stands facing Cueball 668 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 670 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Unusually messy Hairy stands alone || Resembles Hairy from [[1350: Lorenz]]? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 671 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Black Hat standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 672 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball with a jetpack || || || || || {{w|Jet pack}}<br />
|-<br />
| 673 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Reporter Tom at the 4chan /b/ board || || Comic: '''[[495: Secretary: Part 2]]''' || || || {{w|Helmet}}<br />
|-<br />
| 674 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Ponytail standing right towards Cueball 675 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 675 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball facing right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 676 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Megan looking at Cueball 669 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 677 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball holding something || <font color="red">A Red Text: Could this maybe be boombox Cueball from [[159: Boombox]]? Aside from it being a lantern or something, that seems like the best bet.</font> || || || || ???<br />
|-<br />
| 678 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Megan standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 679 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball facing right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 680 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball looking right at Cueball 681 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 681 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball with abnormally large head looks left at Cueball 680 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 682 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Girl with black hairbun looks right at Hairy 683 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 683 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Hairy looking left at #682 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 684 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball holding some object behind his back, standing alone || <font color="red">A Red Text: Could refer to the trope of stealing/messing with Dyson spheres?</font> Accordion? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 685 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Guy with spiky hair standing alone, holding a sign in front of himself with his hands on the sides of it || This character is the sixth to be listed of the ten characters that hold up signs showing binary numbers, which form the shape of a heart if connected. As this heart begins at 0, and his sign is 6 (binary 110), he is the seventh of the ten, forming the lower right of the upper right part of the heart. || [[1000: 1000 Comics#Connect the Dots|Connect the dots]] 6 || Sign: 110 || || Sign <br />
|-<br />
| 686 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || A young Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 687 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball standing right towards #688 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 688 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || A young character with a strange haircut looks at Cueball 687 || The scene between this and the previous character seems to involve a common theme among parents and teenagers, in which the teenager has a "phase" (indicated here by the peculiar hair) while the parent disapproves. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 689 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || A character with a cap faces left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 690 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball with earbuds stands alone || Earbuds are later referenced in [[1899: Ears]]. || || || || {{w|Headphones}}<br />
|-<br />
| 691 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || A young Megan faces left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 692 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Hairy with a bowl cut stands right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 693 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball stands alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 694 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Character with distinctive hair faces right || <font color="red">A Red Text: Is this a previous character? He doesn't match Captain Reynolds, but he's the only character that looks close as far as I can tell. Especially since River Tam is 696.</font> || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 695 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball carrying a hobo bag || || || || || {{w|Hobo bag}}<br />
|-<br />
| 696 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || River Tam/Summer Glau stands left || || Comic: '''[[579: The Race: Part 3]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 697 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball with arms outstretched towards Megan 691 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 698 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball stands alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 699 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball standing alone, holding a sign above his head with both hands || This Cueball is the seventh to be listed of the ten characters that hold up signs showing binary numbers, which form the shape of a heart if connected. As this heart begins at 0, and his sign is 0 (binary 0), he is the first of the ten, forming the central point at the cleft of the heart. || [[1000: 1000 Comics#Connect the Dots|Connect the dots]] 0 || Sign: 0 || || Sign <br />
|-<br />
| 700 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Megan stands right towards Cueball 705 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 701 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Megan looks down at Cueball 698 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 702 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball standing alone, holding a sign above his head with both hands || This Cueball is the eighth to be listed of the ten characters that hold up signs showing binary numbers, which form the shape of a heart if connected. As this heart begins at 0, and his sign is 7 (binary 111), he is the eighth of the ten, forming the outer part of the upper right part of the heart. || [[1000: 1000 Comics#Connect the Dots|Connect the dots]] 7 || Sign: 111 || || Sign <br />
|-<br />
| 703 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball stands alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 704 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball stands right towards Megan 700 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 705 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball stands left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 706 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Blond Hairbun stands left facing Cueball 705 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 707 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || || Hairy wearing a labcoat, as a doctor? Possibly Nathan Fillion/Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds from [[:Category:The Race|The Race]]. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 708 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball stands alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 709 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball stands facing right towards Cueball 710 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 710 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball standing alone, holding a sign in front of himself, with both hands on the top of it || This Cueball is the ninth to be listed of the ten characters that hold up signs showing binary numbers, which form the shape of a heart if connected. As this heart begins at 0, and his sign is 9 (binary 1001), he is the tenth of the ten, forming the left of the upper right part of the heart. || [[1000: 1000 Comics#Connect the Dots|Connect the dots]] 9 || Sign: 1001 || || Sign <br />
|-<br />
| 711 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Megan looks down at Hairbun 706 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 712 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball standing alone, holding a sign to the right, with one hand on the top of it, and the other hand on the side of it || This Cueball is the tenth to be listed of the ten characters that hold up signs showing binary numbers, which form the shape of a heart if connected. As this heart begins at 0, and his sign is 8 (binary 1000), he is the ninth of the ten, forming the right of the upper right part of the heart. || [[1000: 1000 Comics#Connect the Dots|Connect the dots]] 8 || Sign: 1000 || || Sign <br />
|-<br />
| 713 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L] || Cueball stands left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 714 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1000_Comics_-_The_second_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 2 L]''' || Cueball with a parrot on his arm || This is the '''last character in the second zero'''. || || || Parrot || <br />
|-<br />
| 715 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T]''' || Cueball on a unicycle. || <font color="red">A Red Text: Explanation missing.</font> This is the '''first character in the third zero'''. || || || || {{w|Unicycle}} <br />
|-<br />
| 716 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Ponytail with a baseball bat. || <font color="red">A Red Text: Explanation missing.</font> Bat? || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 717 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 718 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball wearing a party hat || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 719 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Another blond Hairbun, looking towards Cueball 722 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 720 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || A gorgon ||<br />
Medusa, with multiple snakes hungry for mice? || || Snake 1: Mouse? Snake 2: Mouse? Snake 3: Mouse? || || <br />
|-<br />
| 721 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Megan standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 722 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball running with a laptop || || || || || Laptop<br />
|-<br />
| 723 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball bouncing a soccerball off his knee || Soccer ball/association football ball? || || || || Soccer ball<br />
|-<br />
| 724 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Ponytail smoking a black pipe, looking at Cueball 715 || || || || || {{w|Smoking pipe}}<br />
|-<br />
| 725 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || A character in a white baseball hat stands right || The hat is similar to the one from [[30: Donner]], but white instead of black || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 726 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball standing alone || <font color="red">A Red Text: Explanation missing</font> || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 727 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Hairy looking left at Cueball 726 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 728 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Hairy with spiky hair like Hairy 685 looks right at Cueball 729 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 729 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball standing alone left || <font color="red">A Red Text: Explanation missing</font> || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 730 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Science Girl looking at Cueball 731's experiment || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 731 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball performing a Coke and mentos experiment, getting splashed in the face || Comic: '''[[346: Diet Coke+Mentos]]''' || Cueball: "Hi" Soda bottle: "Fwooosh" || || || Soda<br />
|-<br />
| 732 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Megan in a black belt carrying a sai in each hand, charging left towards Cueball 731 || A black belt is a symbol of prowess throughout a variety of fighting styles; karate seems most likely here, as Megan also has ''sai''s, weapons associated with karate. || || || || {{w|Sai (weapon)}}<br />
|-<br />
| 733 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball roasting marshmallows over a campfire via swords || Cueball seems to have forgone the typical stick or skewer to roast his marshmallows in favor of swords. Likely related to Megan 732 in some way. || || || || Marshmallows, swords, campfire<br />
|-<br />
| 734 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 735 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball with a pistol and a flag (?) || In races, the firing of a pistol into the air and/or waving a flag starts a race; thus, this Cueball is likely primed to initiate a competition. || || || || Gun, flag<br />
|-<br />
| 736 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball crouching slightly to the right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 737 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 738 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 739 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Ponytail standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 740 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball standing alone left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 741 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Ponytail looking at Cueball 740 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 742 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 743 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Blondie standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 744 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball appears to be wearing a black headband or black bandana || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 745 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || A character with incomplete hair looks at Cueball 744 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 746 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Blondie looking down at Cueball 765|| || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 747 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 748 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 749 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || A character that is perhaps Jayne Cobb stands left || || Comic: '''[[9: Serenity is coming out tomorrow]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 750 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Hairy interacting with Cueball 751 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 751 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball interacting with Hairy 750 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 752 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || A character with curly hair kicking a soccer ball || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 753 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Black Hat with a fan mounted on his hat || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 754 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 755 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || A young character wearing a jester's hat || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 756 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 757 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Hairy standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 758 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Hairy looking slightly down, maybe at Cueball 760 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 759 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Hairy looking at #744 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 760 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball interacting with Megan 761 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 761 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Megan interacting with Cueball 760 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 762 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball standing right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 763 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball looking at Cueball 764 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 764 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball curled into the fetal position, balancing himself on extended arms || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 765 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || A triangular-headed Cueball with a pickaxe || || || || || {{w|Pickaxe}}<br />
|-<br />
| 766 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Megan with outstretched arms, standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 767 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 768 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball standing left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 769 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball looking at Cueball 770 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 770 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball shouting "Kitty!" at a cat || <font color="red">A Red Text: Explanation missing</font> This is probably a reference to [[231: Cat Proximity]] || || Cueball: kitty! || {{w|Cat}} || <br />
|-<br />
| 771 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Megan standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 772 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball holding an Erlenmeyer flask || || || Flask: Help || || {{w|Erlenmeyer flask}}<br />
|-<br />
| 773 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball looking down at Megan 774 || || || Cueball: ♥ || || Heart<br />
|-<br />
| 774 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Megan flying downwards || A reference to [[445: I Am Not Good With Boomerangs]] || Comic: '''[[445: I Am Not Good With Boomerangs]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 775 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball wears a mask around his eyes, presumably to preserve his identity || While this mask has not explicitly been drawn in xkcd, it calls to mind either Westley's from {{w|The Princess Bride (film)}}, a recurring theme. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 776 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball holding hands with Cueball 777 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 777 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball holding hands with Cueball 776 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 778 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || A character with some sort of headwear looking at Megan 779 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 779 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Megan looking at #778 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 780 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || A Ponytail suffering from trochee fixation || 'Ron Paul' is actually not a trochee but a spondee || Comic: '''[[856: Trochee Fixation]]''' || Ponytail: Altavista Ron Paul! || || <br />
|-<br />
| 781 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Megan standing left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 782 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Megan looking to the left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 783 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Blond Hairbun standing left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 784 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 785 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || A character with a knit cap looking at Cueball 786 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 786 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball, still fleeing his locust pursuers || || Comic: '''[[797: debian-main]]''' || Person: AAAAA || {{w|Locust}} || <br />
|-<br />
| 787 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 788 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball looking at Megan 774 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 789 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 790 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Wayne Coyne, without a hamster ball || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 791 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Megan looking at the Pope 793 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 792 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Hairy with a bit more hair than usual || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 793 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || {{w|Pope}} standing alone right || Pope from [[459: Holy Ghost]]. Note that the hat appears to be worn sideways. || || || || Pope's hat ({{w|Mitre}})<br />
|-<br />
| 794 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball looking at Hairy 795 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 795 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Hairy looking at Cueball 794 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 796 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 797 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 798 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball standing left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 799 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 800 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Dark-haired character looks right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 801 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Hairy with a large bowl cut looking right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 802 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Megan looking right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 803 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Cueball looking left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 804 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T] || Danish looking at 803 || While judicion is practiced about the difference between Megan's/Danish's hair, this is almost certainly Danish. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 805 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Top_with_numbers.png Zero 3 T]''' || Cueball standing right || This is the '''last character in the third zero top''', another Cueball. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 806 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R]''' || Cueball standing left || This is the '''first character in the third zero right''', again Cueball. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 807 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Megan interacting with Hairy 808 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 808 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Hairy interacting with Megan 807 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 809 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 810 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Megan standing right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 811 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 812 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball appears to be looking slightly down at Megan 816 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 813 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball wearing boxing gloves || || || || || Boxing gloves<br />
|-<br />
| 814 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 815 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Ponytail standing right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 816 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Megan standing left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 817 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Hairbun that appears to use a sword as a hairpin || || Later referenced in [[1856: Existence Proof]] || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 818 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball interacting with Hairy 819 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 819 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Hairy interacting with Cueball 818 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 820 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Shorter Cueball standing right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 821 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball looking at #822 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 822 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || A character in cat-like headwear sits in a cardboard box || <font color="red">A Red Text: Can anyone tell what the words on the box say?</font> || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 823 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball looking at #822 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 824 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Megan stands alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 825 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Ponytail looking at Cueball 831 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 826 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball holding a laptop || He appears to be holding the laptop similarly to Black Hat in [[925: Cell Phones]]. || Comic: '''[[925: Cell Phones]]''' || || || {{w|Laptop computer}}<br />
|-<br />
| 827 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball pointing at Cueball 828 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 828 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball looking at Cueball 827 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 829 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball standing left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 830 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 831 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 832 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball looking at Hairy 833 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 833 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Hairy standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 834 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball looking at Megan 835 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 835 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Megan hovering || This Megan bears much more of a resemblance to the actual comic than the Megan from the second zero || Comic: '''[[445: I Am Not Good With Boomerangs]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 836 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Ponytail looking right towards Hairy 837 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 837 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Hairy looking at Ponytail 836 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 838 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || A character in a knit cap looks left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 839 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 840 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || A Hairy with incredibly spiky hair || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 841 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Probably a stick-figure incarnation of 12-year-old Julia Stiles || || Comic: '''[[130: Julia Stiles]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 842 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Megan looking straight ahead || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 843 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball standing right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 844 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball standing right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 845 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 846 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball standing right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 847 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || A Dallas Cowboys football player || || '''[[What If?]]''' Richter 15 || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 848 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball looking at football player 847 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 849 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Science Girl standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 850 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball standing with his arms extended outwards || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 851 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball looking at Megan 855 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 852 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball looking at Cueball 856 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 853 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || {{w|Bill Gates}} standing alone || He doesn't have a sword out-- clearly {{w|Richard Stallman}} isn't nearby. || Comic: '''[[521: 2008 Christmas Special]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 854 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Megan looking at Bill Gates 853 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 855 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Megan standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 856 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball looking at Cueball 852 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 857 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball looking at Cueball 856 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 858 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball wearing a crown || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 859 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Hairy looking at Megan 860 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 860 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Megan 860 looking at Ponytail 862 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 861 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || A Cueball that appears to be wearing {{w|Cory Doctorow}}'s goggles, or else Cory Doctorow without his xkcd trademark cape || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 862 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Ponytail looking at Ponytail 864 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 863 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || A man with 80's-style hair and a mullet looks at Ponytail 864 || <font color="red">A Red Text: Any resemblance to a real person?</font> || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 864 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Ponytail looking at Ponytail 862 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 865 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R] || Cueball looking at #863 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 866 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Right_with_numbers.png Zero 3 R]''' || Cueball standing alone || This is the '''last character in the third zero right''', another Cueball. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 867 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B]''' || Ponytail ice skating || This is the '''first character in the third zero bottom''', a Ponytail this time. || || || || {{w|Ice skates}}<br />
|-<br />
| 868 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball leaning his arm on a plasma globe || || || || || {{w|Plasma globe}}<br />
|-<br />
| 869 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball looking at a plasma globe || || || || || {{w|Plasma globe}}<br />
|-<br />
| 870 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Wally looks left || The striped knit cap resembles Wally's from {{w|Where's Wally?}}. This was previously referenced in [[980: Money]]. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 871 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Small Cueball looks left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 872 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball looking at Wally 870 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 873 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Character with messy hair looks at Cueball 874 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 874 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball looks at Cueball 875 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 875 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball looking at Cueball 876 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 876 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball stroking his chin, looking at Cueball 877 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 877 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball looking at Cueball 876 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 878 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball playing with a toy car || || || Cueball: Zoom! || || <br />
|-<br />
| 879 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball looking at Cueball 880 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 880 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball standing alone right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 881 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball looking at Cueball 882 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 882 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 883 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Character with bangs || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 884 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Two Black Hats || The original multiple-hat stacking, humorously extrapolated by Seven Black Hats 641 in this comic || Comic '''[[455: Hats]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 885 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 886 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Hairy with larger hair looks at Megan 887 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 887 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Megan looks at Hairy 886 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 888 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Hairy standing right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 889 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball looking at Megan 890 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 890 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Megan looking at Cueball 891 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 891 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball standing right, arm outstretched toward Megan 892 || Cueball from the 2nd last frame of comic [[442: xkcd Loves the Discovery Channel]], where Megan is also doing the M.C. Hammer slide. || Comic: '''[[442: xkcd Loves the Discovery Channel]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 892 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Megan M.C. Hammer-sliding right, away from Cueball 891 || || Comic: '''[[108: M.C. Hammer Slide]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 893 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Character with white hair || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 894 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball in a graduation cap and gown || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 895 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball's Lisp ancestor, no longer carrying parentheses || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 896 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball looking at Ponytail 911 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 897 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Hairy playing with a gyroscope || || Comic: '''[[332: Gyroscopes]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 898 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 899 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Megan looking at Hairbun 900 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 900 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Hairbun looking at Megan 899 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 901 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball looking up at Hairy 883 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 902 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Blond girl with pigtails stands right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 903 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Ponytail looks at #902 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 904 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 905 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball looking at Hairy 906 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 906 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || A Hairy that appears to have a mohawk, standing right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 907 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Hairy looking left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 908 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball looking at Hairy 907 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 909 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 910 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Hairy standing right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 911 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Ponytail standing right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 912 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball crouching, as if about to jump || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 913 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Hairy looking at Cueball 912 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 914 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Ponytail juggling four balls || || Reference to '''[[942: Juggling]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 915 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball being asked out/ proposed to by Megan 916 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 916 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Megan asking out/proposing to Cueball 915 || || || Megan: ♥? || || Heart<br />
|-<br />
| 917 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Blond Hairbun standing right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 918 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball interacting with Ponytail 919 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 919 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Ponytail interacting with Cueball 918 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 920 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball failing to wind up a yo-yo || || || Yo-yo: Thopa thopa thopa || || <br />
|-<br />
| 921 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Megan standing left of Cueball 923 and child 922, looking down at child || Note Megan's and Cueball's positions are swapped. || Comic: [[674: Natural Parenting]] || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 922 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Child standing between Megan 921 and Cueball 923, with arms raised || || Comic: [[674: Natural Parenting]] || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 923 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball standing right of Megan 921 and child 922, looking down at child || Note Megan's and Cueball's positions are swapped. || Comic: [[674: Natural Parenting]] || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 924 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Megan looking at Cueball 923 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 925 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball looking at Gandalf 932 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 926 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Megan looking at Cueball 925 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 927 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball in a helicopter hat || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 928 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Gnome Ann standing alone || This is anachronistic, as Gnome Ann's comic was released over 700 comics after this was published. Perhaps her character had been in the making for a while... || Comic: '''[[1704: Gnome Ann]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 929 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball looking at Hairy 913 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 930 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball standing left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 931 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball looking at Cueball 925 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 932 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Gandalf standing left || || Comic: '''[[760: Moria]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 933 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B] || Cueball with a large cut/stitch along his left cheek || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 934 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Bottom_with_numbers.png Zero 3 B]''' || Cueball looking at Gnome Ann 928 || This is the '''last character in the third zero bottom''', another Cueball. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 935 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L]''' || Megan holding Cueball 936's hand || This is the '''first character in the third zero left'''. || Comic: '''[[943: Empirical]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 936 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball in a bow tie holding Megan 935's hand || || Comic: '''[[943: Empirical]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 937 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball looking up at Hairy 945 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 938 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball looking at the plasma globe || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 939 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball looking right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 940 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Death's boss looking at Cueball 939 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 941 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Ponytail looking left at the ground || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 942 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball looking at dark-haired Ponytail 944 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 943 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball holding a balloon || While Cueball appears to be adult-sized here, the reference comic clearly indicates that he is a child. || Comic: '''[[121: Balloon]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 944 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || A dark-haired Ponytail, who appears to have caught Cueball 943's balloon in a cobweb || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 945 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Hairy with rather messily-drawn hair || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 946 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball looking at Hairy 945 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 947 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || An ornately-dressed character stands alone || Perhaps Inigo Montoya from ''The Princess Bride'' || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 948 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball looking at Cueball 949 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 949 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball looking at Cueball 948 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 950 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Hairbun standing right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 951 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball looking at Ponytail 953 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 952 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 953 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Ponytail standing left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 954 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Ponytail standing right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 955 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Donald Knuth standing left || || Comic: '''[[342: 1337: Part 2]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 956 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Megan charging headfirst at Cueball 957 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 957 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball holding his arms out to preemptively hold Megan 956 back || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 958 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball spinning a hula hoop || || || || || {{w|Hula hoop}}<br />
|-<br />
| 959 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Character with big dark hair standing right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 960 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Megan standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 961 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball holding a baseball in a pitcher's glove || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 962 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Megan standing left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 963 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Character with sideburns standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 964 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Ponytail knocked down by Cueball 966's staff, her sai knocked away || || || || || {{w|Sai}}<br />
|-<br />
| 965 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball tumbling through the air in this four-person battle || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 966 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball with a staff, knocking down Ponytail 964 and about to face Cueball 967 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 967 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball swinging a cutlass at Cueball 966 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 968 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Danish standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 969 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball looking at Megan 970 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 970 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Megan extending a tape measure || || Comic: '''[[284: Tape Measure]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 971 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Another Cueball with a distinctively triangular head || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 972 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball looking at character #979 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 973 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball stroking his chin, looking at Cueball 974 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 974 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball looking upwards || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 975 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Morpheus from {{w|The Matrix}} standing alone || || Comic: '''[[566: Matrix Revisited]]''' || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 976 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Character with wild blond hair || <font color="red">A Red Text: Based on a real person?</font> || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 977 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball looking at Megan 978 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 978 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Megan looking at Cueball 977 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 979 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Incredibly long-haired Megan-like character|| || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 980 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Megan looking at character #979 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 981 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball looking at Megan 980 || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 982 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Two Berets Guy|| Given the strange powers of Beret Guy (see eponymous category page) and the [[455: Hats|relationship between Black Hat and Double Black Hat]], Two Berets Guy may be more powerful and even more optimistic and aloof. His playfully outstretched arms indicate the second part. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 983 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball surrounded by three bats/birds. || [[1004: Batman|just four comics]] after this one is a Batman-themed comic, and the animals surround him in a similar manner; it is more likely that they are bats. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 984 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Ponytail stands right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 985 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball playing with a yo-yo || He seems to be doing considerably better than Cueball 920. || || || || {{w|Yo-yo}}<br />
|-<br />
| 986 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Character with hairbun and ponytail stands left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 987 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Abalding character stands right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 988 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Megan stands left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 989 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Character with afro stands left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 990 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball stands center || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 991 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball sledding down a slope || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 992 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Science Girl standing alone || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 993 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball stands right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 994 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball stands right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 995 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Megan Playing guitar || This character has the same stance as in [[70: Guitar Hero]] but the same hair as the singer in the background. '''Cannot''' be [[Elaine Roberts]] due to wrong hair colour. || || || || {{w|Guitar}}<br />
|-<br />
| 996 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Policeman stands left || The next example of such a trapezoidal hat is [[1018: Good Cop, Dadaist Cop|eighteen comics later]], and isn't used in What If? until November. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 997 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Cueball stnds right || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 998 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Character in black beanie stands right || Since they're looking directly at Medusa's head, they may be turned to stone. || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 999 || [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L] || Medusa stands left || || || || || <br />
|-<br />
| 1000 || '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/1000_Comics_-_The_third_zero_in_thousand_Left_with_numbers.png Zero 3 L]''' || Character in curved top hat ||Identical to the time-traveller from [[2068: Election Night]]; the character must have been in the works for a long time (or, given the character's nature as a time-traveller, this may have been intended). This is the '''last character in the third zero'''. || || || || <br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
<br />
[Large number 1000 occupies most of comic. The number is made out of 1000 different characters]<br />
<br><br />
<br><br />
Megan: "''WOOOO!''"<br />
<br><br />
Cueball: "Wow- Just 24 to go until a big round-number milestone!"<br />
<br><br />
<br><br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:1000}}<br />
[[Category:Comic subpages]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=775:_Savannah_Ancestry&diff=276061775: Savannah Ancestry2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 775<br />
| date = August 4, 2010<br />
| title = Savannah Ancestry<br />
| image = savannah_ancestry.png<br />
| titletext = She's a perfectly nice lady from a beautiful city, and there's no reason to be mean just because she thinks a quarterback is a river in Egypt.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
Savannah ancestry usually means our ancestors in the {{w|Human evolution|African savanna}}, millions of years ago.<br />
<br />
Evo-psych means {{w|evolutionary psychology}}.<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]] is apparently trying to teach [[Megan]] something mathematical, feels frustrated at his lack of success, blames that lack of success entirely on his student, and appears to use evolutionary psychology, specifically a popular trope/myth about women being bad at abstract thinking, as an excuse. Evolutionary excuses in this context are trying to lay blame somewhere other than either participant, and so can be seen as comforting, but of course they falsely place all women in an inferior position to all men, at least when it comes to "abstract math". She naturally objects to the excuse, rightly calls it bullshit sexism, and, depending on how you interpret it, may indicate this isn't the first time she's heard him say something similar.<br />
<br />
But the twist is that he turns out not to be talking about her lower-case savannah ancestors, the ones in the African savannah of eons ago, but rather of her very recent "Savannah ancestors", better called parents, who live in the city of {{w|Savannah, Georgia|Savannah, Georgia, USA}}. They apparently know each other well. The implication is now much more personal: that her mother didn't prepare her. Of course, Randall uses only upper case everywhere, so he has avoided giving the reader a clue about the misdirect-joke he is working toward.<br />
<br />
Teasing people about their mothers in the USA, specifically about their mothers' stupidity or fatness, is a common enough theme in popular culture that there is a series of jokes that start with the words "Yo mama" that exemplify the genre. There is also an extremely common theme that the South's education system is failing; the comic combines the two.<br />
<br />
The title text is apparently Megan starting to defend her mother, but then lapsing into a Yo Mama joke without the introducing words, showing that her mother is stupid enough to think that a quarterback (one of the positions played in American football) would be a river in Egypt. This is a conflation of the Yo Mama joke "Yo mama so stupid she thinks a quarterback is a refund!" and the common pun, "Denial (sounds like "The Nile") is not just a river in Egypt".<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball and Megan are at a blackboard with equations and graphs on it.]<br />
:Cueball: Look, I'm doing my best, but the fact is your savannah ancestors just didn't prepare you for doing abstract math.<br />
:Megan: See, that's just the kind of bullshit sexism that discredits evo-psych. Your "evolutionary histories" always seem tuned to produce 1950's gender roles.<br />
:Cueball: Evolutionary? What? I meant Savannah, ''Georgia.''<br />
:Megan: ...Hey! Let's leave my mom out of this.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Math]]<br />
[[Category:Your Mom]]<br />
[[Category:Puns]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=926:_Time_Vulture&diff=276062926: Time Vulture2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 926<br />
| date = July 18, 2011<br />
| title = Time Vulture<br />
| image = time vulture.png<br />
| titletext = In a way, all vultures are Time Vultures; some just have more patience than others.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This comic is about the ''time vulture'' (hence the title), a fictional creature made up by [[Randall]]. [[Cueball]] notices that his Cueball-like friend is followed by a time vulture, making the exclamation '' Dude, you've got a time vulture.''<br />
<br />
The primary food source for {{w|Vulture|vultures}} is carrion, or rotting meat. A time vulture, as explained by Cueball, is a type of vulture that can live for {{w|Millennium|millennia}}, spending very little energy and it can even slow down its internal clocks so time speeds past, a kind of forward time travel, to the point where its prey dies. In this way, it can thus always wait long enough for the prey to die of natural causes no matter how long it takes, as seen from the prey's point of view. So in principle they kill their prey by using aging, as Cueball explains, although in fact, like any vulture, they just find prey that has already (almost) died, as from their point of view every living thing is just about to die. But as with other vultures, they do not participate in the actual killing. Time vultures thus just need to locate and find any one living creature (of a reasonable size), then it becomes it’s prey as it then just waits until it dies, spending hardly any energy while it waits. Real {{w|List of soaring birds|soaring}} vultures can also stay afloat for considerable time spans without actually using any energy as they just {{w|Lift (soaring)|float}} on {{w|thermals}}.<br />
<br />
Thus the time vulture will now keep soaring over Cueball’s friends head for the rest of his life, or until they travel on an airplane (airplanes typically cruise at an altitude too high for a vulture to fly over them, although it is of course possible that the vulture could board the plane as well), and then when he dies (whenever and of whichever cause), it will descend and feast on his carcass. This should in principle not make any difference to the friend, since most people in principle already lives with the knowledge, that they will eventually die{{Citation needed}} and their body will end up being destroyed in one way or the other. Typically it will not be caused by vultures, but for instance by the fire of the {{w|Crematory}} or by the {{w|decomposition}} caused by small animals and germs in the earth we are buried in. <br />
<br />
However, it is not very nice to be reminded of this every living second of the rest of your life thus the consternation of the friend and his question and statement; ''But what if the prey doesn't die?'' and ''I'm not about to die...'' <br />
<br />
At first, the question doesn’t make sense since there are no known examples of terrestrial animals (including humans) that are large enough to matter as prey for a vulture and can survive through the several millennia that a time vulture can wait. The few {{w|List_of_longest-living_organisms|species that can live that long}} and grow at least as large as vulture prey, such as the 2,384 acre (965 hectare) "Humongous Fungus", an individual of the fungal species ''{{w|Armillaria solidipes}}'' in the {{w|Malheur National Forest}}, thought to be between 2,000 and 8,500 years old<ref>http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/03/030327074535.htm Humongous Fungus A New Kind Of Individual</ref><ref>http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=strange-but-true-largest-organism-is-fungus Strange but True: The Largest Organism on Earth Is a Fungus</ref>, and a {{w|Great Basin bristlecone pine}} (''Pinus longaeva'') measured by {{w|dendrochronology|ring count}} to be over 5000 years old.<ref>http://www.rmtrr.org/oldlist.htm</ref>, are stationary, such as fungi and plants, or aquatic, such as coral and sponges. Thus, the moving land species large enough to be attractive as prey will always die within the lifespan of the vulture (as Cueball tries to explain).<br />
<br />
However, the question actually does make sense, because the prey does not have to outlive the vulture to avoid being eaten by the vulture; it simply has to live long enough to get to an airport, get through security screening, and board a flight that goes either too fast or too high for the vulture to follow. Therefore, the vulture would get to eat the prey only if the prey died on the way to the airport, while standing outdoors in line for security screening, or while walking from the terminal to the airplane (if passengers board outdoors instead of using a {{w|jet bridge|passenger boarding bridge (Jetway)}}). It is possible that the prey might not die this soon, unless security screening lines exceed the maximum human lifespan of approximately 120 years.<br />
<br />
And because the time vulture can slow down its internal clock, in its point of view, everyone who ever says "But, I'm not about to die", would say so right before they die; actually anything a person ever says after the time vulture has locked on to that person, happens just before they die as seen from the vulture's point of view. In humans' point of view, it could be many years after the statement was made, but for the time vulture, a human lifespan only lasts a mere moment. <br />
<br />
Of course, since a human can travel a considerable distance in this time, even around the world, the human would be traveling at an extremely high velocity from the vulture's perspective, so the vulture would be unable to keep up and the human would escape. In a more extreme fashion, since the vulture’s perception of time is significantly slowed, it would be more simple to buy a rifle and kill the Time Vulture.<br />
<br />
It is thus really more of a philosophical comic about the fact that we all have death waiting for us, you could say it soars above our head and just wait for it to happen. And in relation to the {{w|deep time}} of the geology of the Earth or the expansion of the universe, the time it takes for people to live their lives is hardly worth mentioning...<br />
<br />
In the title text it is stated that all real life vultures are actually a kind of time vultures, as real life vultures also sometimes spot a dying animal, not quite dead yet, and then wait for this prey to die. But time vultures are able to wait for millennia for their prey to die, whereas regular vultures do not have that kind of time, before they need to feed or land, thus the comment that some vultures have more patience than others.<br />
<br />
Real vultures and their preying habits was referenced in [[1746: Making Friends]], directly in the title text.<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball is watching a large black bird, with apparently fractal wings, which hovers above his Cueball-like friend who walks towards Cueball and now turns to look at the bird over his shoulder.]<br />
:Cueball: Dude, you've got a Time Vulture.<br />
:Friend: Holy crap! What is it?<br />
<br />
:[Zoom-in on Cueball who now looks at his friend who are now standing close to Cueball looking up at the bird off-panel.]<br />
:Cueball: They're predators that use aging to kill prey.<br />
:Friend: Huh? What do you mean?<br />
<br />
:[The panel zooms in on the Cueball's face. The friends reply comes from off-panel.]<br />
:Cueball: They live for millennia and use little energy. They can slow down their internal clocks so time speeds past. To hunt, they lock on to some prey, and when it stops moving, they eat it.<br />
:Friend (off-panel): But what if the prey doesn't die?<br />
<br />
:[Zoom out to Cueball and his friend that now look at each other.]<br />
:Cueball: I don't think you quite understand.<br />
:Friend: I mean, ''I'm'' not '''about''' to die...<br />
:Cueball: From the vulture's viewpoint, everyone says that moments before they do.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]<br />
[[Category:Time]]<br />
[[Category:Animals]]<br />
[[Category:Philosophy]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1653:_United_States_Map&diff=2760631653: United States Map2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1653<br />
| date = March 9, 2016<br />
| title = United States Map<br />
| image = united_states_map.png<br />
| titletext = It would be pretty unfair to give to someone a blank version of this map as a 'how many states can you name?' quiz. (If you include Alaska and Hawaii, you should swap the Aleutian Islands with the Hawaiian ones.)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
The comic is a map with the (rough) outline of the {{w|Contiguous United States|mainland}} of the {{w|United States of America}}. At first it looks like the real map, but actually all the states have been shuffled around in it. It seems that [[Randall]] took all of the states (minus {{w|Alaska}} and {{w|Hawaii}}, the two states that are not part of this map and are only mentioned in the title text, see below), and then reassembled them in the style of a jigsaw puzzle, with the end result being a map with a similar outline to the original [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/National-atlas-blank-state-outlines.png unaltered mainland state map]. They can thus be reassembled into the real map as can be seen [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/88/1653-rearranged.png here] (see also the [[#Trivia|trivia section]]).<br />
<br />
Previously Randall has played with the shapes of the United States in [[1079: United Shapes]]. In that map he did two separate drawings for {{w|Michigan}} with a mitten in the {{w|Lower Peninsula of Michigan|lower part}} and an eagle in the {{w|Upper Peninsula of Michigan|upper part}}. Once again in this version he has split Michigan in two, the lower main part, the mitten just labeled ''Michigan'', is on the west coast on part of {{w|California|California's}} location, but the upper part is located on the east coast over {{w|New York|New York's}} location and has been labeled ''MI (upper)''. So even without Hawaii and Alaska, there are 49 "states" in this map, consisting of 47 states plus the two halves of Michigan. In the [[#Table|table]] below all 49 states in the map has been listed to indicate where the puzzle pieces have been moved to.<br />
<br />
It seems at a first glance that the names have been written on the states as they would appear in a normal map, and that they have all then been rotated with the rotation of the states. But this is not the case for all states. For instance it seems like {{w|Utah}} has hardly been moved at all, and with the name written normally this may be intentionally to deceive the readers. Because Utah has been turned upside down, and according to how for instance {{w|Texas}}, clearly turned upside down, has its name written upside down as well, Utah should thus also have been written like that.<br />
<br />
It seems likely that this could be a trick by Randall, to see if anyone spots that Utah has actually been moved. But it could of course be a mistake, as seems more likely with {{w|Montana}} where the same "error" has occurred, but since this state has been moved far from its real position there would be no sport in doing so (see the [[#Trivia|trivia section]]). Of course there is the possibility that "Utah" was on purpose and Montana by mistake. With 47 of 49 ending up rotated as expected on the map and only two exactly upside down, there can be no doubt that it was on purpose that the names in general have been written according to the states rotation. Note that for instance the state California has been rotated, but in a way so the text is written normally. But due to the direction of the state, it is normal to write the name tilted down along the state, which just coincidentally ends up being rotated normal in the position it has in the comic.<br />
<br />
California has thus only been pushed down the length of the west border of the US (and thus rotated accordingly) so the top part still overlaps with the bottom part California, but also covers the bottom part of {{w|Arizona}} and {{w|New Mexico}}. Other states that likewise haven't been moved a lot include {{w|Maine}} which has only been rolled left (i.e. turned upside down) to just outside its normal position. {{w|Colorado}} has been moved up a state to where {{w|Wyoming}} usually is, and Wyoming has then just been shifted right, still covering part of its original position. But both have been turned 90 degrees, whichever way would be impossible to say for these rectangular states, but the text, if you dare believe in that, seems to indicate they have been turned counter clockwise. {{w|Wisconsin}} has only been shifted down below its usual position but then turned upside down.<br />
<br />
The title text mentions how it would be unfair to use a [http://i.imgur.com/Mvi8j9s.jpg blank version] of this shuffled-up map as a quiz for knowledge of U.S. geography (the link is to such a map created by a user of this site); most people recognize states primarily by their relative locations, not their shape (and especially not their shape after being rotated). It also suggests a corresponding mean trick to play if you include Alaska and Hawaii, which are not present in the comic itself, namely to interchange the volcanic island of Hawaii (consisting of 8 main islands and hundreds of smaller ones) with those of the {{w|Aleutian Islands}}, also a chain of volcanic islands (14 large and 55 small) that partly belongs to the US and partly to Russia. The island extends from the {{w|Alaska Peninsula}}. It would thus be possible to even make it difficult to correctly name these last two states, even though it would be obvious to begin with that it must be the two not belonging to the mainland.<br />
<br />
==Table==<br />
*This table lists all states in the order of the transcript. But it can be sorted alphabetically.<br />
*Its purpose is twofold:<br />
**To list the rotation of the state compared to the real orientation of the state in the real world map<br />
**To list which state/states the states, in this comics map, have been moved over/inside.<br />
**Finally it a note can be made for interesting swaps.<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable"<br />
|-<br />
! State<br />
! Rotation<br />
! Moved to<br />
! Note<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Ohio}} || Upside down || Washington ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia}} || Upside down || Oregon ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Lower Peninsula of Michigan|Michigan (lower part)}} (as {{w|Michigan}})|| Upside down || Northern California|| Michigan is the only state split in two, as it is also split in two peninsulas in real life. In real life these two parts lie very close on the shores of the {{w|Great Lakes region|Great Lakes}}, and not as here, with one on each coast of the US. But at least they still both lie on a shore.<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Maryland}} (as MD) || Upside down || Central California (Southern Bay Area) ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|California}} || Rotated counter clockwise || Southern California, Southern Arizona, Southern New Mexico ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Kansas}} || Upside down || Eastern Washington, Northern Idaho, Western Montana ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Pennsylvania}} || Rotated clockwise || Eastern Oregon, Idaho ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Oklahoma}} || Rotated clockwise || Idaho, Montana ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|New Mexico}} ||None || Nevada, Northern California ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Nebraska}} || Upside down || Northern New Mexico, Northern Arizona||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|South Dakota}} || None || Montana ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Colorado}} || Rotated clockwise || Western Wyoming ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Wyoming}} || Rotated counter clockwise || Eastern Wyoming || Stays mostly in place.<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Utah}} || Upside down || Utah, Northern Arizona || The text has been written upside down on the state, so in a correct map using this state the text would be upside down. Only other state this has happened with is Montana. Stays mostly in place.<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Alabama}} || None || Western Colorado ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Massachusetts}} (as MA) || Rotated counter clockwise || Central New Mexico ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Virginia}} || Rotated counter clockwise || Western New Mexico ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Arizona}} || Rotated counter clockwise || North Dakota ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Washington (state)|Washington}} || Rotated counter clockwise || Western Iowa, Eastern South Dakota, Eastern Nebraska ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Montana}} || Rotated counter clockwise || Colorado, New Mexico and Texas || The text has been written upside down on the state, so in a correct map using this state the text would be upside down. Only other state this has happened with is Utah.<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|New York}} || None || Westernmost tip of Texas || Missing Long Island.<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Minnesota}} || Upside down || Minnesota || Stays mostly in place. <br />
Horribly deformed, especially on the eastern border.<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Texas}} || Upside down || Missouri, Arkansas, Western Kansas, Iowa, Southern Illinois ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Connecticut}} (as CT) || Rotated clockwise || Texas and New Mexico border ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Mississippi}} (as Missi-ssippi) || Rotated clockwise || Texas and Oklahoma border ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Nevada}} || None || South Western Texas ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Idaho}} || Rotated clockwise || Eastern Texas, Southern Louisiana ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|South Carolina}} || Rotated counter clockwise || Southernmost Texas ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Missouri}} || Upside down || Eastern Minnesota, Northern Wisconsin, Michigan's upper peninsula, Lake Superior ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Wisconsin}} || Upside down || Illinois || Very deformed, loses its Western indentation<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Kentucky }} || Rotated clockwise || Western Wisconsin, Western Illinois ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|North Dakota}} || Rotated clockwise || Mississippi ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Florida}} || Rotated counter clockwise || Southern Michigan, Northern Ohio ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|North Carolina}} || Rotated clockwise || Southern Michigan, Eastern Indiana ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Indiana}} || None || Alabama ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Rhode Island}} (as RI ) || Unclear rotation, perhaps counter clockwise || Louisiana (New Orleans area) ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Oregon}} || Rotated clockwise || Ohio, West Virginia ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Iowa}} || None || Western North Carolina, South Carolina ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Tennessee}} || Upside down || Northern Florida (Panhandle), Southern Alabama, Southern Georgia ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Illinois}} || None || Florida ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Maine}} || Upside down || Northern New York, Vermont ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|New Hampshire}} (as NH) || None || Western Pennsylvania ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Lower Peninsula of Michigan|Michigan (upper part)}} (as MI (upper))|| Rotated 45 degree counter clockwise || Pennsylvania and New York|| Michigan is the only state split in two, as it is also split in two peninsulas in real life. In real life these two parts lie very close on the shores of the {{w|Great Lakes region|Great Lakes}}, and not as here, with one at each coast of the US. But at least they still both lie on a shore.<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Arkansas}} || None || Eastern Maryland, Eastern Virginia ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|New Jersey}} (as NJ)|| None || Eastern South Carolina ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Louisiana}} || Rotated counter clockwise || Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|West Virginia}} || Rotated 45 degree clockwise || Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Delaware}} (as DE) || Rotated counter clockwise || New York (Long Island) ||<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Vermont}} (as VT) || Upside down || Either New Jersey or Delaware (unclear) ||<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[A white map with an outline that closely resembles that of the mainland of the United States of America with gray all around the black border. But on closer inspection most of the states do not look right. The 48 mainland states are all there, however, with their name or abbreviations written on them as a label in gray text. But they have all been shuffled around and then reassembled as a jigsaw puzzle in the same shape as USA. The name labels for most of the states have been rotated, often to follow the new rotation of the state in the map. So some are written upside down or have been rotated 90 degrees clockwise or counter clockwise or even somewhere in between. One state, Michigan, has even been split up in two so there are 49 instead of 48 labels. For the states that have been named only with state abbreviations the full name is written in brackets behind the transcript of the abbreviation. Here below all the states are listed approximately in columns going from the top left and down and then moving right to the next column across the map. Any rotation of the text from normal is noted in brackets behind the name.]<br />
:Ohio [Upside down]<br />
:Georgia [Upside down]<br />
:Michigan [Upside down – but only bottom part]<br />
:MD [Upside down - Maryland]<br />
:California [Text not rotated, but state is rotated counter-clockwise]<br />
:Kansas [Upside down]<br />
:Pennsylvania [Rotated clockwise]<br />
:Oklahoma [Rotated clockwise]<br />
:New Mexico<br />
:Nebraska [Upside down]<br />
:South Dakota<br />
:Colorado [Rotated counter clockwise]<br />
:Wyoming [Rotated counter clockwise]<br />
:Utah [Text normal, but state is upside down, i.e. the text is upside down in the state]<br />
:Alabama<br />
:MA [Rotated counter clockwise – Massachusetts]<br />
:Virginia [Rotated counter clockwise]<br />
:Arizona [Rotated counter clockwise]<br />
:Washington [Rotated counter clockwise]<br />
:Montana [Rotated clockwise - but the state is rotated counter clockwise, i.e. the text is upside down in the state]<br />
:New York<br />
:Minnesota [Upside down]<br />
:Texas [Upside down]<br />
:CT [Rotated clockwise –Connecticut]<br />
:Missi- <br />
::ssippi [Rotated clockwise - text split with hyphen]<br />
:Nevada<br />
:Idaho [Rotated clockwise]<br />
:South Carolina [Rotated counter clockwise, by more than 90 degrees, but the state is rotated exactly 90 degrees]<br />
:Missouri [Upside down]<br />
:Wisconsin [Upside down]<br />
:Kentucky [Rotated clockwise]<br />
:North Dakota [Rotated clockwise]<br />
:Florida [Rotated counter clockwise, by more than 90 degrees, but the state is rotated exactly 90 degrees]<br />
:North Carolina [Rotated clockwise]<br />
:Indiana<br />
:RI [Label below in the ocean –Rhode Island]<br />
:Oregon [Rotated clockwise]<br />
:Iowa<br />
:Tennessee [Upside down]<br />
:Illinois<br />
:Maine [Upside down]<br />
:NH [New Hampshire]<br />
:MI (upper) [Rotated 45 degree counter clockwise – Michigan but only upper part]<br />
:Arkansas<br />
:NJ [New Jersey]<br />
:Louisiana [Rotated 45 degree counter clockwise - but the state is rotated exactly 90 degrees]<br />
:West Virginia [Rotated 45 degree clockwise]<br />
:DE [Rotated counter clockwise – label to the right in the ocean – Delaware]<br />
:VT [Upside down –Vermont]<br />
<br />
==Trivia==<br />
*Here the pieces have been shifted around:<br />
[[File:1653-rearranged.png]]<br />
*And this [http://i.imgur.com/dsLPc4s.png opposite map] shows to what extend the states fit in Randall's layout when using the real borders.<br />
*Using two A3 printouts of both the [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/National-atlas-blank-state-outlines.png real map] from Wikipedia and this comic, is approximately the same scale it was possible to reassemble US putting the states in their correct place.<br />
**The result displayed surprisingly accurate drawings of the states, although it is clear that on the borders between states that are not drawn by a ruler, they cannot be correct for both states in all cases.<br />
**From this map it becomes clear that not only Utah but also Montana has the text written upside down according to the correct position of the state.<br />
[[File:1653_United_States_Map_49_piece_jigsaw_solved.jpg]]<br />
*This comic may be an input to the way the {{w|voting districts}} in the US are so random that you can not guess where your vote will count.<br />
**In this video ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90RajY2nrgk Electoral College Ruins Democracy]'' (by {{w|Adam Ruins Everything}} from November 2015), a map of the US is split up, much like this comic has done.<br />
***In this case though the states do not move to a new location, but rather move apart to show the size of the state depending on how much your vote would count.<br />
***The video is about how the {{w|Electoral College (United States)|Electoral College}} is assembled in order to elect the President and Vice President of the United States.<br />
**At the time of this comics release (2016-03-09) the {{w|United States presidential primary}} elections to determine the candidates for the {{w|United States presidential election, 2016}} was in full progress and not at all determined yet.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:US maps]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=848:_3D&diff=276031848: 3D2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 848<br />
| date = January 17, 2011<br />
| title = 3D<br />
| image = 3d.png<br />
| titletext = The LINACs in the glasses frames can barely manage one MeV. You should've gone to the screening at CERN.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{w|String theory}} hypothesizes that there are many more than 3 {{w|dimension|dimensions}}, it's just that we can't see the rest because they're "rolled up." A common metaphor is an ant on a tightrope — it has two degrees of freedom, one along the rope and one around it, but from far away we can only see one.<br />
<br />
So [[Black Hat]] released his 2D movie about string theory in "3D", and claimed that the third dimension was there — just too small to see.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to a {{w|linear particle accelerator}}, or "LINAC", which is used to create high-energy particles. Incidentally, the glasses give their particles one mega-electronvolt (symbol {{w|MeV}}) of energy, which is not particularly high for a particle accelerator. The title text suggests that such moviegoers should try the accelerators at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, {{w|CERN}}, since they are widely known for producing the highest energies in the millions of MeV, and thus have the best chance of unraveling the small dimensions of string theory.<br />
<br />
On the [http://xk3d.xkcd.com/848/ xk3d prank site] created along with [[880: Headache]], the 3D on this comic is not visible.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[People are lined up to see a movie.]<br />
:Premiering Tonight:<br />
:String Theory:<br />
:An Exposé<br />
:Presented In 3D!<br />
<br />
:[The people are in a dark theater, fiddling with their glasses.]<br />
:''???''<br />
<br />
:[The people angrily approach black hat, who's sitting at a desk.]<br />
:Megan: Your movie was a ripoff.<br />
:Cueball: It wasn't 3D at all!<br />
:Black Hat: Was too.<br />
:Black Hat: It's just that the third dimension is tightly rolled up and too small to observe at normal energies.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with inverted brightness]]<br />
[[Category:Physics]]<br />
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=780:_Sample&diff=276032780: Sample2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 780<br />
| date = August 16, 2010<br />
| title = Sample<br />
| image = sample.png<br />
| titletext = There are two or three songs out there with beeps in the chorus that sound exactly like the clock radio alarm I had in high school, and hearing it makes me think my life since junior year has been a dream I'm about to wake up from.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This strip suggests that even a band with the most brilliant and catchy music would soon become the most hated band in the world if it included sound effects of car horns, cell phones, or alarm clocks in its songs. Listeners would most likely mistake the sound effects for the real thing, which could cause havoc.<br />
<br />
For comparison, "{{w|Indiana Wants Me}}", a 1970 hit single by {{w|R. Dean Taylor}}, had the sound of police sirens removed from later pressings because drivers were reportedly mistaking the sound effects for actual police cars and pulling over.<br />
<br />
This can also be a reference to an unusual anti-piracy method, where P2P and Torrent networks are seeded with altered copies of songs that contain obnoxious sounds at random points.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to the common sensation of having sounds from the real-world incorporated into a dream, especially as one is waking up. This gives a (false) sensation that is the reverse of the dream described in [[557: Students]]. It implies that the author has been dreaming his entire life since his junior year of high school, which is obviously not true.{{Citation needed}}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Caption above the panel:]<br />
:<big>How to become the most</big><br />
:<big>hat<u>ed band in the wo</u>rld:</big><br />
:Record an album that's nothing but brilliant, catchy instant classics guaranteed popularity and airtime,<br />
:[Cueball is at the steering wheel of a car.]<br />
:Music: So far from hooome but I can't sto— ''HONK''<br />
:Cueball: AUGH! WHAT?<br />
:[Caption below the panel:]<br />
:with a sample of a car horn, cell phone, or alarm clock inserted randomly in each song.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Music]]<br />
[[Category:Phones]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=219:_Blanket_Fort&diff=276034219: Blanket Fort2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 219<br />
| date = February 5, 2007<br />
| title = Blanket Fort<br />
| image = blanket_fort.png<br />
| titletext = Also, we have a fort out in the woods where we stashed that hooker's body.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
In an apparent continuation of comic [[150: Grownups]], [[Megan]] is showing off a {{w|blanket fort}} to her friend [[Ponytail]]. Ponytail answers that Megan's childishness stems from a fear of growing up. <br />
<br />
Megan responds that she's fine with growing up. She sees her behavior as a mature realization that some of the things she enjoyed as a child are still enjoyable. When pressed for evidence that she has in any way become an "adult," it is revealed that her boyfriend is inside the blanket fort. He has not spoken because he fears to be found by them when "not exactly dressed," thus implying that "adult" activities had been going on in the fort.<br />
<br />
The title text provides another example of this: They built a fort in the woods, another type of fort that a kid would love to have, but then used it to hide a body. This implies that they killed someone, which is not usually something associated with children.{{Citation needed}} A hooker is also more formally known as a {{w|prostitute}}, which is also not usually something associated with children.{{Citation needed}}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Megan and Ponytail are talking with each other. There is a fort made of cushions and blankets on the left.]<br />
:Megan: Like my fort? It uses every blanket and cushion in the apartment.<br />
<br />
:Ponytail: Okay, no offense, but this is like that ball pit you made -- Cute, but don't you worry you're clinging to childhood games because you're afraid of change?<br />
<br />
:Megan: No. I'm happy to grow up. But I won't pretend fun things aren't still fun out of fear of looking silly.<br />
:Ponytail: But you're 24 and building blanket forts. How have you changed? What's adult about that?<br />
<br />
:Megan: Well, there's my boyfriend curled up in the back.<br />
:Ponytail: ...Ah.<br />
:Boyfriend [from inside the fort]: Excuse my shyness. I'm not exactly dressed.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Sex]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1322:_Winter&diff=2760351322: Winter2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1322<br />
| date = January 27, 2014<br />
| title = Winter<br />
| image = winter.png<br />
| titletext = Stay warm, little flappers, and find lots of plant eggs!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
[[Beret Guy]] and [[Cueball]] are walking. Beret Guy is making several remarks about the situation. The air is cold, the puddles have frozen, he has mittens, the sunlight is warm, and the birds are chirping in the trees. When making these observations, however, he does not use the conventional terms. Instead he uses word compounds, similar to "[[1133: Up Goer Five|Up Goer Five]]". When Cueball brings up Beret Guy's odd vocabulary, he retorts by declaring that the name does not matter, as long as the things themselves are what they should be. This is the same concept that is communicated in the line from the Shakespearean play, "Romeo and Juliet": "What's in a name? That which we call {{w|a rose by any other name would smell as sweet}}." The concept is similar to that discussed by Richard Feynman as [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px_4TxC2mXU the difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something.]<br />
<br />
In the title text Beret Guy continues to use playful language and offers affectionate encouragement: "stay warm, little flappers", demonstrating that his intentions are kind, not obfuscatory. Additionally, it is an indirect salutation from [[Randall Munroe]] to the readers, acknowledging the remarkably cold temperatures North America was experiencing at the time.<br />
<br />
=====Dictionary=====<br />
<br />
*The sky is cold: it's a clear, cold day<br />
*floor water: puddle<br />
*too hard to drink: frozen<br />
*handcoats: mittens or gloves<br />
*spacelight: sun<br />
*flappy planes: birds<br />
*beeping: chirping<br />
*stick towers: trees<br />
*little flappers: baby birds<br />
*plant eggs: seeds, berries<br />
<br />
Strange synonyms are also found in [[919: Tween Bromance]] and [[2352: Synonym Date]].<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball and Beret Guy, Cueball in a winter hat and Beret Guy in a beret, are walking through snow and across a patch of ice.]<br />
:Beret Guy: The sky is cold and the floor water is too hard to drink.<br />
<br />
:[Beret Guy looks upwards.]<br />
:Beret Guy: But I have my handcoats and the spacelight is warm.<br />
<br />
:[Beret Guy and Cueball continue on through woods; there are musical notes coming from the trees.]<br />
<br />
:Beret Guy: Listen—the flappy planes are beeping in the stick towers.<br />
<br />
:[Cueball pauses.]<br />
:Cueball: Those are all the wrong words for those things.<br />
:[Beret Guy replies from off panel.]<br />
:Beret Guy: Maybe—but the things themselves are all right. So who cares?<br />
<br />
:[Cueball continues walking, with sunlight and musical notes above.]<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Language]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=873:_FPS_Mod&diff=276036873: FPS Mod2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 873<br />
| date = March 16, 2011<br />
| title = FPS Mod<br />
| image = fps mod.png<br />
| titletext = Wait, that second one is a woman? ...wait, if that bothers me, then why doesn't... man, this game is no fun anymore.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
FPS stands for {{w|First-person shooter|First Person Shooter}}, which is a type of video game (like ''{{w|Halo (series)|Halo}}'' or ''{{w|Duke Nukem}}'') in which you are looking at the world from the first person perspective of the character you are controlling. [[Randall]] notes in the caption that no one liked his FPS mod (short for "modification" of the FPS game), and in the title text it is clear that [[Cueball]] who played this modified version no longer enjoys the game.<br />
<br />
FPS games are controversial for their (supposed) quality of encouraging violence such as killing (especially other human beings). One point of the controversy is that, while virtual enemies are just pixels on a screen, real enemies have actual lives, emotions, and the like. In the games, there is a disconnect between the act of killing and its emotional cost, thus leading to the controversy that FPS games encourage wanton killing (or violence in general) to solve problems instead of considering the other party. Randall makes reference to this by adding a mod that gives biographical snippets of the enemy you shoot in the game, thus giving Cueball the perspective of the enemy he just shot, and causing emotional consequence and remorse by removing the disconnection between pixel and life.<br />
<br />
The comic can also be a reference towards making games more realistic. Giving the enemies a life above being mere targets definitely makes the game more realistic, but such a game may not be that enjoyable. This has been explored previously in [[772: Frogger]].<br />
<br />
Having lots of unread e-mails was mentioned in [[2389: Unread]]. The third comment ("take care of the plants back at base") may be referring that many FPS videogames have some sort of base that you must defend or start the game in. These games do not usually feature any way to take care of plants.{{Citation needed}}<br />
<br />
The title text talks about how gender is portrayed in games. For some people it is more emotionally affecting to kill a woman, as women are considered biologically "weaker" than men by many societies, and societal norms state that men must protect them. Gender equality is a highly debated topic with many different viewpoints, where one's conscious reasoned views may sometimes stand at odds to subconscious feelings. When a player becomes aware that killing women bothers one more than killing men, it exposes an inconsistency in the player's own logic, one that's very uncomfortable to confront.<br />
<br />
In the 1993 post-apocalyptic novel'' {{w|The Fifth Sacred Thing}}'', the eco-pacifist residents of San Francisco defeat an invading army using a similar tactic. Rather than engage in armed defense, the family and friends of each dead San Franciscan speak directly to the soldiers who killed them, saying, "My wife was the mother of five children, and I loved her dearly," or "My cousin liked baseball." Eventually the soldiers suffer psychological breakdowns and defect ''en masse'', rather as Cueball seems to do in the title text.<br />
<br />
Amusingly, the 2014 game ''{{w|Watch Dogs}}'' does something quite similar to this; the in-game "Profiler" provides a brief summary of a targeted enemy, and if the enemy does not have a gameplay-relevant feature (i.e. "Can call for backup"), it will mention their hobbies or interests. <br />
<br />
Like most other games in the ''{{w|Sniper Elite}}'' series, the 2017 Third Person Shooter ''{{w|Sniper Elite 4}}'' allows the player to track and see brief overviews of any visible enemy by "Tagging" them with binoculars. However, ''Sniper Elite 4'' has the distinction of also being very similar to Randall's mod in that it displays [//sniperelite.fandom.com/wiki/Sniper_Elite_4_Allied_Intelligence short character bios] in the "Allied Intelligence" section of the overviews when Tagging in the campaign mode. They range from the mundane (year of conscription, former occupation) to the dark (Sapper Oswald Sander's brutal murder of a cowering fifteen year old makes even his fellow soldiers suspect him) to the comedic (Ewald Amsel regularly steals chocolate from his best friend Wolfram Wasser; Wolfram Wasser wonders who's stealing his supply of chocolates and has sworn to kill them). <br />
<br />
The 2012 Third Person Shooter ''{{w|Spec Ops: The Line}}'' also has a section where one of the antagonists will chide you with radio message when you kill one of the enemy soldiers, often with short sympathetic descriptions of the enemy you just killed (although he'll sometimes admit he didn't actually know or like that particular person). As this game is a deconstruction of the military-style shooting games of its time and their portrayal of violence, evoking a negative emotional response in the player when killing these enemies is very much intentional.<br />
<br />
The game ''{{w|Borderlands 2}}'' directly references this comic with the Morningstar, a unique aftermarket talking Hyperion sniper rifle which berates the user in a nagging, whiny voice any time they reload, kill an enemy, swap weapons, or score a critical hit. The weapon is obtained from the mission Hyperion Contract 873 (a reference to this comic being comic number 873) and is referred to as "the Hyperion ex-K seedy experimental weapon" upon completion of the mission.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball is sitting in a chair in front of his TV holding a gamepad while playing a video game. Every time he shoots the sound is written inside a ring of small curved lines to indicate the noise. Text on the screen is noted after each round of blasts with a zigzag line from the screen and between each entry.]<br />
:''Blam''<br />
:Game: He once built a treehouse.<br />
:''Blam''<br />
:Game: She has 110 unread emails that she was hoping to get to tonight.<br />
:''Blam blam''<br />
:Game: He was the only one who took care of the plants back at base.<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the panel:]<br />
:No one liked my FPS mod that gives you three-second snippets from the bios of people you shoot.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Video games]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2:_Petit_Trees_(sketch)&diff=2760372: Petit Trees (sketch)2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2021:_Software_Development&diff=2760382021: Software Development2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2021<br />
| date = July 18, 2018<br />
| title = Software Development<br />
| image = software_development.png<br />
| titletext = Update: It turns out the cannon has a motorized base, and can make holes just fine using the barrel itself as a battering ram. But due to design constraints it won't work without a projectile loaded in, so we still need those drills.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
Software development is often characterized by [[1513: Code Quality|graceless]] [[1695: Code Quality 2|solutions]] to rudimentary problems. [[Cueball]] has built an elegant drill (function) that can adjust torque and speed as necessary automatically to fulfill his requirement of 500 holes in the wall. [[Hairy]], in a categorically inelegant solution, loads 500 drills into a cannon and shoots them at the wall. This solution, in reality, would entail too many ludicrous safety problems to execute, but in software, the implications are only [[1833: Code Quality 3|really bad code]].<br />
<br />
The casual disregard for the software itself is reminiscent of the idea of [https://devops.stackexchange.com/questions/653/what-is-the-definition-of-cattle-not-pets cattle not pets] when deploying to servers.<br />
<br />
This resembles assigning two different software teams to resolve different parts of a problem and of making the independent tools collaborate to form a fluid solution. The so-called "drill team" is given the task of making the part of the system that makes a hole in the wall. The cannon team was given the task of making the part of the system that aims what the drill team produces at the designated place on the wall and subsequently drills the hole. The drill team assumed that the aiming device would merely position their portion on the wall allowing it to make the hole, but the cannon team could not make assumptions about how the drill team would generate holes - they needed to make something that could use whatever the drill team produced to make the holes, thus making a cannon, so they could ensure their success.<br />
<br />
The title text is a joke about how often in software the best solution to a problem is general rather than specific. See for example developers using Ruby on Rails (a full web framework with support for emails, templating, and web sockets) for a simple API-only service. They only need a very small part of rails (the hole drilling part), but end up with the whole framework anyway due to design limitations.<br />
<br />
Another explanation of the title text is that software development is also often characterized by complexity and unintentional interdependence between different modules of code. It is an unending source of frustration for coders that a seemingly minor change to code can cause major changes to how the program works, including changes seemingly unrelated to the specific code that changed. A similar problem is when a line of code that “should be” unnecessary (according to the rules of the programming language) ends up being essential because the program will not work if the code is cleaned up and the line removed. A final factor is that coders often write a particular function once in the first module, and then call back to that function when necessary in subsequent modules rather than rewriting the function over and over again. In that case, the first module cannot be eliminated, even if it is no longer necessary, because then all of the calls to the original function would be null, and the rest of the modules could not work. This can happen not just within programs but across them, as much software on the internet relies on large collections of program modules in public or open source software databases. When a module goes missing it can have wide ranging effects, as seen in {{w|Npm (software)#Notable breakages|March of 2016.}}<br />
<br />
In the context of the comic, it could be that the code for the cannon was written to check if it is “loaded” before it does anything, so the drill code is still needed to get the cannon to move on its motorized base and make the holes. Or the code for the drill defines an obscure variable that is used by other code for the cannon or its base, so “removing” the drill code would cause the cannon to “crash” and not operate.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball and Hairy are standing together and Hairy holds a power tool in his hands.]<br />
:Cueball: We need to make 500 holes in that wall, so I've built this automatic drill. It uses elegant precision gears to continually adjust its torque and speed as needed.<br />
:Hairy: Great, it's the perfect weight! We'll load 500 of them into the cannon we made and shoot them at the wall.<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the frame:]<br />
:How software development works<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]<br />
[[Category:Programming]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2446:_Spike_Proteins&diff=2760392446: Spike Proteins2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2446<br />
| date = April 5, 2021<br />
| title = Spike Proteins<br />
| image = spike_proteins.png<br />
| titletext = Ugh, it's stuck to my laptop. It must have bound to the ACER-2 receptor.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This is another comic in the [[:Category:COVID-19|COVID-19 series]] related to the {{w|COVID-19 pandemic}}.<br />
<br />
This is also another comic about the current [[:Category:COVID-19 vaccine|vaccine against COVID-19]]. A vaccine is designed to provoke an immune response from the body of the recipient, which "trains" the immune system to attack actual viruses (or bacteria). For COVID-19, the {{w|spike protein}}, necessary for the virus to bind a receptor on human cells and invade them, is the key protein for an immune response. Almost all vaccines approved for human use pre-COVID actually contain either inactivated pathogen (e.g., flu vaccine), live but safe pathogen variants (e.g., measles), or some protein from the pathogen that the immune system can respond to (e.g., pertussis). The four COVID-19 vaccines approved in the United States or the European Union as of the date of this comic, however, are all a relatively new type of vaccine that instead cause human cells to temporarily produce spike proteins, which the immune system then "learns" to attack. The Oxford-AstraZeneca and {{w|Johnson & Johnson}}’s {{w|Janssen Vaccines|Janssen}} vaccine use a technique first approved for the July 2020 Ebola vaccine, in which a genetically modified {{w|adenovirus}} is used to deliver DNA to the nuclei of the vaccine recipients' cells, which convert the DNA to {{w|Messenger RNA}} (mRNA). The recipients' cells then use the mRNA as instructions to produce spike proteins. The {{w|Pfizer}} {{w|BioNTech}} and {{w|Moderna}} vaccines are of an even newer type: m{{w|RNA vaccine}}s, which directly inject the mRNA into the body for the cells to use, and never have to enter the cell nuclei.<br />
<br />
[[Beret Guy]], in his [[:Category:Strange powers of Beret Guy|usual fashion]], misunderstands how reality works, then reality alters to fit his view of it. <br />
<br />
After receiving the vaccine, as he informs [[Cueball]] and [[Megan]], he claims he will now go away to make spike proteins. For him, this literally means that he (not his cells) will build them, by unexplained means. When he returns he is carrying his constructed protein, which is [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7224694/ roughly 8 orders of magnitude] larger than the normal version, and also appears to be dripping. He then drops it on the desk, where a laptop is being used. Cueball part-closes his screen to try to prevent the mass from landing on it - though he's only partially successful.<br />
<br />
When a normal living body is coerced into making a spike protein, they are microscopic particles that distribute internally around the body to provoke an immune response. Beret Guy's macroscopic version provokes an understandable response of both disgust and confusion from both Cueball and Megan, who choose to ask why it is so wet. Proteins are [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2271157/ highly hydrated molecules] where water — through the moderation of its presence and absence in specific locations — plays a central role in shaping the structure and function of the protein (although it is not clear how Beret Guy knows that the spike protein should be hydrated since this is his first try). Though, of the many questions that might have been asked, it is not an entirely unreasonable snap reaction.<br />
<br />
Beret Guy remains typically oblivious to the fuss he causes. His enthusiastic intention, apparently, is to leave his first proud creation there as he departs to construct further examples. They will likely be no less unwelcome.<br />
<br />
Anything damp and squidgy (as ''this'' creation seems to be) would not be welcome around a laptop, for a number of reasons, and Beret Guy seems to have made a particularly messy contact with the part of the case where most such devices are likely to have clusters of heat vents or unruggedised ports/connections that may not react well to the ingress of liquids.<br />
<br />
The title text is a pun on Acer, ACER2, and ACE2. {{w|Acer Inc.|Acer}} is a brand of computers including laptops. The {{w|Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2|ACE2 receptor}}, is an [https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-ace2-receptor-how-is-it-connected-to-coronavirus-and-why-might-it-be-key-to-treating-covid-19-the-experts-explain-136928 entry point on a cell] to which the SARS-COV-2 virus attaches during the process of entering the cell. {{w|ACER2}} is a real enzyme in humans which, although unrelated to ACE2 or SARS-COV-2, may also help bind the pun together.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball is sitting in an office chair at a desk with an open laptop in front of him. Megan stands behind him looking over his shoulder. Beret Guy is in front of the desk, walking away and looking back at the two while holding a hand to his shoulder, where he got the vaccine shot.]<br />
:Beret Guy: Got the vaccine!<br />
:Megan: Congrats!<br />
:Beret Guy: Time to go make spike proteins.<br />
<br />
:[Cueball continues to work on his laptop while Megan is looking on.]<br />
<br />
:[In a frameless, narrow panel, Beret Guy walks back carrying a large object in his arms that looks like a spike protein. But it is about half as long as he is tall, fluffy and dripping wet, flexing slightly along its length, with the Y-shaped head pointed forwards, away from Beret Guy]<br />
:Beret Guy: OK! <br />
:Beret Guy: Here's my first try.<br />
<br />
:[Beret Guy drops the spike protein onto Cueball's desk with the Y-shaped end on the desk up against the back of Cueball's laptop. The movement is shown with several lines and a sound follows when it hits the desk. The head of it takes up the entire desk area not covered by the laptop, while the tail overhangs the desk. Cueball is grabbing the lid and base of his laptop with both hands, pulling it partially closed and away from the spike protein, and Megan reflexively leans away.]<br />
:Spike Protein: Plop<br />
<br />
:[Beret Guy turns to leave, with an outstretched finger pointing skyward. The overhanging part of the spike protein has sagged, and it is dripping some wet material over both the floor and desk. Cueball is sitting with his hands on the partially closed laptop, Megan stands normally again.]<br />
:Beret Guy: ''More!''<br />
:Cueball: Ewww.<br />
:Megan: Why is it so ''wet??''<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:COVID-19]]<br />
[[Category:COVID-19 vaccine]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Strange powers of Beret Guy]]<br />
[[Category:Puns]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1219:_Reports&diff=2760401219: Reports2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1219<br />
| date = May 31, 2013<br />
| title = Reports<br />
| image = reports.png<br />
| titletext = If that fails, just multiply every number by a thousand. 'The 2nd St speed limit should be set at 25,000 mph, which would likely have prevented 1,000 of the intersection's 3,000 serious accidents last month.'<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
The quoted text of the report could (and indeed probably ''would'', given the apparent contents) be stereotypically read out loud by the author, or internally by the reader, in an essentially monotonal manner, as exhibited by any number of popularised film and TV characters such as 'Arthur Pewtey' from the {{w|Marriage Guidance Counsellor|Monty Python sketch}}<!-- Wanted to also add a US equivalent, please do so if you have one in mind. Wasn't there somebody like this in 'Clerks'? -->. But this comic asks us to imagine it instead voiced in the voice of an upset (soon-to-be-'ex-'?) spouse<!-- Examples abound... Link to one or more? -->, presumably berating the project leader on various real or imagined infractions, and it works just as well. The jagged nature of the speech bubble indicates that the report has typed out on the computer's screen, but also helps to re-enforce the nagging internal voice.<br />
<br />
The title text joke relates to an alternative plan, namely to proportionally exaggerate everything you read. What would have been one serious accident that would have been prevented in the previous month had the speed limit been 25&nbsp;mph, out of the three that actually occurred under the current limit, now becomes one ''thousand'' people saved! And ''all'' those lives would have been saved by reducing the speed limit to a 'mere' 25,000 miles per hour. Of course, around 2000 accidents would ''not'' have been prevented because people ''still'' try to mess with vehicles that are moving at hypersonic velocities.<br />
<br />
Note that the title text is inconsistent; if ''every'' number were to be multiplied by a thousand, then the speed limit would apply to 2000th Street. Somewhat surprisingly, there do exist streets of this name, mainly in Illinois. Although unlikely, the street may be 0.002th street, giving us 2 when multiplied per the title text. Though in this case 2nd St is a proper noun and thus should not be modified.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:How to make boring technical reports more fun to read:<br />
:Imagine they were written and sent in, unsolicited, by the estranged spouse of the head of the project.<br />
:[Cueball is crouching alone over his computer in an empty room, typing on a laptop. He is surrounded by papers and books, apparently related to whatever project is working on. The laptop has a message on it, the text of which is displayed above the computer.]<br />
:Computer: Six guard rails have erratic reflector placement, and one even lacks reflectors entirely, despite rule G31.02(b) clearly mandating consistent usage.<br />
:Cueball: ...Sharon!<br />
<br />
==Trivia==<br />
Originally the title text proposed a speed limit of 2,500 miles per hour, which would mean the original message is about a ridiculously low speed limit of 2.5 mph. This was later corrected.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2386:_Ten_Years&diff=2760412386: Ten Years2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2386<br />
| date = November 16, 2020<br />
| title = Ten Years<br />
| image = ten_years.png<br />
| titletext = The ten-year cancerversary is traditionally the Cursed Artifact Granting Immortality anniversary.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
[[Randall]]'s then-fiancée, now wife was diagnosed with cancer in late 2010. This is a matter he has discussed in the comic [[:Category:Cancer|multiple times before]], with Randall being depicted as Cueball and his wife as Megan. It has been 10 years since her diagnosis and treatments.<br />
<br />
This comic is a continuation of [[1141: Two Years]] and [[1928: Seven Years]], which are shown in the first 16 panels, slightly grayed out.<br />
<br />
The first of the new panels shows Randall and his wife at a "Rabbit Rescue", interacting with buns ([[:Category:Buns|a recurring theme]] of xkcd). The purpose of such events is to get rescued (often surrendered or seized) rabbits or other animals used to interacting with each other and with unfamiliar humans under controlled circumstances, to help them be more suitable as pets and hopefully entice visitors to adopt them. Randall facetiously asks his wife if she thinks the rabbits have socialized enough, even though he and his wife are there for the sake of their own enjoyment (and she indicates that she would like to spend more time patting a bunny on its head).<br />
<br />
In the next panel, Randall is pushing his wife in a handcart, which is presumably stolen. (As evidenced by the off-panel person asking if anybody has seen the handcart.)<br />
<br />
The third new panel shows Randall and his wife exploring a mountain. They appear to have found something interesting, due to Megan pointing her finger towards something off-panel. It appears to be a reference to a similar climbing scene from [[1190: Time]].<br />
<br />
The fourth panel shows Randall and his wife sitting on the edge of a pier, looking at the night sky. This is a typical romantic nighttime activity. The panel is distinguished because there was considerably more effort put into the drawing of this panel than of the other panels, by virtue of it being nighttime. Thus, the reflection of the starlight on their faces is the center of attention in the drawing.<br />
<br />
The final new panels show Randall and his wife sitting on a hill, talking about how they couldn't believe that Megan would make it to 10 years cancer-free, which according to [[881: Probability]] wasn't all that certain (77% probability -- [[2379: Probability Comparisons|the probability of picking an M&M out of a bag at random and getting one that isn't blue]]). Randall's wife voices a concern that she had seemingly been carrying for a while, that she was a burden to Randall, and explains that she couldn't understand why he would marry her, except as a show of grace. Randall firmly rejects this notion, stating that it was no mere gesture, but that it was important to him that they enjoy "whatever time we could have".<br />
<br />
Finally, and as with the first comic in the series, the comic takes a light-hearted turn: because the table does not include values for probability of survival more than ten years after treatment, Randall's wife jokingly concludes that she is now immortal, perhaps thanks to a cursed artifact. Many anniversaries are traditionally marked by giving gifts, such as the {{w|silver jubilee}} after twenty-five years of marriage (or of a monarch's reign, or an employee's seniority within a company, or anything else). The tenth anniversary is traditionally associated with a tin gift (tin being a much more precious metal [https://www.bartleby.com/95/22.html in 1922] than it is today), but maybe Randall bought it at [[2376: Curbside|a cursed shop]].<br />
<br />
The title-text expands on this final joke, as it suggests that there is an official name for this giving of cursed artifacts once the ten-year mark has passed. Also, it seems as though Randall has finally found [[1141: Two Years| a less-gross name]] for this anniversary than "biopsy-versary".<br />
<br />
Cursed artifacts that cannot die were recently mentioned in [[2332: Cursed Chair]].<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:'''From [[1141: Two Years]]'''<br />
:[Randall (drawn as Cueball) and Randall's fiancée (drawn as Megan) sit on a bed, Randall's fiancée is talking on the phone. The person she is talking to, a doctor holding a clipboard, is shown inset.]<br />
:Randall's fiancée: Oh god.<br />
<br />
:[Randall and Randall's fiancée sit together while Randall's fiancée, now bald, is receiving chemotherapy. They are both on their laptops.]<br />
:IV pump: ... Beeep ... Beeep ... Beeep ...<br />
<br />
:[Randall and Randall's fiancée (who is wearing a knit cap) are paddling a kayak against a scenic mountain backdrop.]<br />
<br />
:[Randall and Randall's fiancée sit at a table, staring at a cell phone. There is a clock on the wall. Her head is stubbly.]<br />
:Randall's fiancée: How long can it take to read a scan!?<br />
<br />
:[Randall and Randall's fiancée are back at the hospital again, Randall's fiancée receiving chemo. They are playing Scrabble.]<br />
:Randall: "Zarg" isn't a word.<br />
:Randall's fiancée: But ''caaaancer.''<br />
:Randall: ...Ok, fine.<br />
<br />
:[Randall and Randall's fiancée (wearing a knit cap) are listening to a Cueball-like friend. A large thought bubble is above their heads and it obscures the friends talk. The text below, split in three is the only part there can be no doubt about:]<br />
:Friend: So next year you should come visit us up in the mounta<br />
::a<br />
::and<br />
:Randall and Randall's fiancée (thinking): '''"Next year"'''<br />
<br />
:[Randall and Randall's fiancée are getting married, with a heart above their heads. Randall's wife's hair is growing back.]<br />
<br />
:[Randall and Randall's wife (wearing a knit cap) stand on a beach, watching a whale jump out of water.]<br />
:''Fwoosh''<br />
<br />
<br />
:'''From [[1928: Seven Years]]'''<br />
<br />
:[Randall and Randall's wife (with her hair noticeably longer) are walking through a forest.]<br />
<br />
:[Randall's wife is sitting down, not in the forest anymore.]<br />
:Randall's wife: My toe hurts and I found a report of a case in which toe pain was an early sign of cancer spreading.<br />
:Randall: Wait—didn’t you stub your toe yesterday?<br />
:Randall's wife: Yes, but what if this is unrelated?<br />
<br />
:[Randall and his wife are going spelunking. The guide is gesturing deeper into the cave while Randall and his wife are climbing down.]<br />
<br />
:[Randall's wife stands on a rock above an alligator in a swamp, photographing the alligator. Randall is on a balcony behind safety railings.]<br />
:Randall: When they estimated your survival odds, I think they made some optimistic assumptions about your hobbies.<br />
<br />
:[Randall's wife sits on an examination bed, listening to a doctor holding a clipboard.]<br />
:Doctor: This is probably nothing. <br />
:Doctor: But given your history, we should do a full scan. <br />
:Doctor: We'll call with the results in a few days. Try not to worry about it until then!<br />
<br />
:[Randall and his wife stand above a deep pond full of fish and other objects. Randall's wife is piloting a wired underwater camera with lights.]<br />
<br />
:[Randall and his wife are standing next to each other. Randall's wife has shoulder-length hair covering most of her face.]<br />
:Randall's wife: Hard to believe—six years ago, I was bald. But today, after a long struggle, I finally look like the little girl from ''The Ring''.<br />
:Randall: That's, uhh... good?<br />
:Randall's wife: ''Hissssss''<br />
<br />
:[A line of six people, including Randall and his wife, stand and watch the solar eclipse.]<br />
<br />
'''New to [[2386: Ten Years]]''':<br />
:[Randall and his wife are sitting in a room with five bunnies sitting around and on them. The Poster on the wall reads: Rabbit rescue.]<br />
:Randall: Do you think they're socialized enough?<br />
:Randall's wife: This one might need one more head pat. <br />
<br />
:[Randall is running and pushing his wife on a hand cart.]<br />
:Someone off-panel: Has anyone seen the hand cart?<br />
:Randall's wife: Wheee!<br />
<br />
:[Randall and his wife walks up hill with snowy mountains near by and in the background. his wife is gesturing to something ahead of them.]<br />
<br />
:[A large dark panel, to the right of the previous three, to the left in two rows. Randall and his wife sits, leaning back on their hands looking up, at the end of a pier going into a lake. The end is broader and they sit to each side of the middle of he pier. It is night and behind the lake there is a forest of pine trees. Above the three is a clear starlit night sky with hundreds of stars and the band of the Milky Way clearly visible. The trees and some of the stars are reflected in the water of the lake, distorted by the movements of the water.]<br />
<br />
:[Randall is sitting on a grassy field, a bit higher than his wife who lies on her back looking up.]<br />
:Randall: You did it.<br />
:Randall: Ten years.<br />
:Randall's wife: It doesn't seem real.<br />
<br />
:[Zoom in on Randall's wife, who is not longer lying down.]<br />
:Randall's wife: When they showed me my 10-year survival chart, I really didn't believe I would make it here.<br />
:Randall's wife: I don't understand why you married me when it looked so bad.<br />
:Randall's wife: But it was very sweet.<br />
<br />
:[In a frame-less panel Randall is standing in front of his wife, who is sitting on the ground, arm leaning on her bent knees.]<br />
:Randall: You make it sound like an act of grace, and not something I desperately wanted to do and was worried I wouldn't get to.<br />
:Randall: You're the coolest person I've ever met. I just wanted whatever time we could have.<br />
<br />
:[Same setting but seen from a distance and in silhouette. Randall's wife has lifted her fist towards the sky, and it seems like Randall has turned away from her looking up.]<br />
:Randall's wife: Well, good news, my hideous and inexplicable existence continues unabated! Take that, Biology!<br />
:Randall's wife: You failed to kill me and now I can never die!<br />
:Randall: Is... that how it works?<br />
:Randall's wife: It was in the fine print on the chart.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:X Years]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Randall Munroe]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]<br />
[[Category:Doctor Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]<br />
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]<br />
[[Category:Cancer]]<br />
[[Category:Romance]]<br />
[[Category:Animals]]<br />
[[Category:Total Solar Eclipse 2017]]<br />
[[Category:Buns]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with inverted brightness]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cursed items]] <!-- The decadal commemorative item/'reward', as described in the title text --></div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2373:_Chemist_Eggs&diff=2760422373: Chemist Eggs2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2373<br />
| date = October 16, 2020<br />
| title = Chemist Eggs<br />
| image = chemist_eggs.png<br />
| titletext = Chemists actually find it simpler to define a general odor of rotten eggs as a baseline, and the LACK of rotten eggs as a distinct smell.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
In this comic, [[Ponytail]] explains to [[Cueball]] that if he smells sulfides then the chemistry experiment on which they're working has failed. Ponytail then clarifies that sulfides smell like rotten eggs. The main and most distinct chemical rotten eggs emit is {{w|hydrogen sulfide}}, hence most people who smell them will link the chemical with "rotten egg smell".<br />
<br />
Cueball replies, however, that he doesn't actually know what rotten eggs smell like, and it's odd that everyone uses that as a comparison. This is a result of changing times &mdash; decades ago, when the 'rotten eggs' descriptor became commonplace in chemistry education at high schools and universities, rotten eggs were indeed common enough that cooks avoided adding eggs directly to other ingredients, lest the rotten egg, not detected until after it was too late, force the cook to discard everything and start over. Vastly improved farming, shipping, and marketing practices have made the rotten egg vanishingly rare, at least at supermarkets in the USA. Moreover, much greater recognition of the health hazards of hydrogen sulfide means that, due to various occupational safety precautions, opportunities for sniffing the gas have become scarce, and usually engender swift reactions such as building evacuation. <br />
<br />
Thus, the comparison has outlived the circumstances that spawned it, and chemistry teachers parrot a line they learned as students, which is no longer relevant to the students' experience. Cueball then takes the disconnect between the trope and his experience and pushes it for all it's worth. This could be taken as symbolic of people who spot such discordances and blow them out of proportion to troll others, in which case, Cueball has most definitely succeeded, based on how Ponytail reacts &mdash; she is clenching her fists in anger as she leaves the conversation, presumably to avoid further irritation. (Perhaps she smells eggs often from the people in [[382: Trebuchet]]!)<br />
<br />
Some of [[Cueball]]'s questions suggest that chemists use eggs in place of other items. For example, the superstitious may react to a {{w|spilling salt|spilling of salt}} by picking it up and throwing it over their left shoulder, ostensibly as an attempt to blind the Devil. Another relates to the upcoming night before Halloween event called "{{w|Mischief Night}}", where kids are known to {{w|Egging|throw eggs}} at houses. Cueball asks Ponytail how she will know if this has happened, as he thinks she keeps an unusually large number of eggs in her house.<br />
<br />
Even though rotten eggs (and hydrogen sulfide in general) are much less common nowadays, many fuel gases are mixed with odorant compounds to signal that a leak is happening; even if the user might be unfamiliar with "rotten eggs" specifically, a large amount of unpleasant odor still works as an alarm that something bad is happening. People who use natural gas or propane stoves should be familiar with the similarly rotten smell of {{w|methanethiol}}, {{w|ethanethiol}}, and/or {{w|tert-butylthiol}} (the "-SH" thiol group is a common feature of many pungent odors, including garlic and skunk spray). Some {{w|Mineral springs|mineral springs}} and other natural water sources also contain sulfides and have a strong sulfide odor and flavor; they are sometimes referred to as "sulfur springs".<br />
<br />
The title text makes a joke about how often chemists use the comparison, saying that they use a rotten egg smell as the baseline and that a lack of the smell is a distinct one. Given the health hazards of hydrogen sulfide and the regulations now enforced in recognition of those hazards, the chemistry teacher probably doesn't often experience the smell either. Since hydrogen sulfide deadens the sense of smell, taking this smell as a 'baseline' is improbable and potentially dangerous, and it's unfortunate that the title text makes this suggestion.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball and Ponytail face a table with something like a lab stirrer or heater on it, supporting a flat-bottomed and -topped container from which bubbles are rising.]<br />
:Cueball: How will I know if the reaction fails?<br />
:Ponytail: You'll smell the sulfides.<br />
:Cueball: What do those smell like?<br />
:Ponytail: Sulfurous. Rotten eggs.<br />
<br />
:[A new panel, the table is gone. Cueball is now facing Ponytail.]<br />
:Cueball: Chemists always compare sulfur to rotten eggs.<br />
:Cueball: But why would I know that smell?<br />
:Ponytail: I dunno, It's a common thing!<br />
<br />
:[Ponytail puts her hand out.]<br />
:Cueball: Is it? My kitchen is messy, but there aren't eggs lying around rotting.<br />
:Ponytail: You must have smelled one at ''some'' point.<br />
<br />
:[Ponytail is now walking right off-panel, away from Cueball. She is clenching her hands and is evidently annoyed]<br />
:Cueball: Are all chemists' houses full of random raw eggs? Do you toss them over your shoulder for good luck?<br />
:Ponytail: '''''My house is not full of eggs!'''''<br />
:Cueball: What do you consider a normal amount of eggs in a house?<br />
:Cueball: If kids egg your house this Halloween, how will you know??<br />
<br />
== Trivia ==<br />
The quantity of eggs eaten per person in the U.S was estimated at 289.5 in 2019.<ref>https://www.statista.com/statistics/183678/per-capita-consumption-of-eggs-in-the-us-since-2000/#:~:text=In%202019%2C%20consumption%20of%20eggs,by%20the%20total%20U.S.%20population</ref><br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Chemistry]]<br />
[[Category:Food]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2468:_Inheritance&diff=2760432468: Inheritance2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2468<br />
| date = May 26, 2021<br />
| title = Inheritance<br />
| image = inheritance.png<br />
| titletext = People ask me whether I feel any moral qualms about the source of the points, but if he hadn't introduced factory farming to Agricola, someone else would have.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This comic is in reference to {{w|Strategy game|strategy board games}}, which often score players on some type of point system based on a variety of possible achievements. The joke in this comic is that Cueball has a massive sum of points that were not scored in the current game but rather handed down from his grandfather. Board games do not normally include an inheritance from previous sessions{{Citation needed}}, in contrast to real life where some people become wealthy by inheriting vast sums of money from ancestors. Such inheritances tend to lead to 'successes' in life for those who have done little, if anything, to earn their wealth. Cueball offers to distribute a trifling fraction of his points to the other players, teasing them, but he will still have an insurmountable advantage. Despite his 'generosity', no one wants to play a game that they have no chance of winning. The value of his score, 10,019, seems to indicate that he "earned" 19 points during the course of the game (less than his competitors) and then added 10,000 from his 'inheritance'.<br />
<br />
Some board games do include a "legacy" mechanic where players who have played the game previously (and thus benefit from meta knowledge) can be granted additional items or challenges to keep the game interesting for them, but not usually to the point of breaking the game's balance. As well, gifting these achievements to anyone else is seen as absurd.<br />
<br />
The comic may be a reference to {{w|Category:Economic simulation board games<br />
|economic simulation board games}} like {{w|Monopoly (game)|''Monopoly''}}, which was created as a critique to capitalism; in this case, no one can win the game against people who start out with a large amount of accumulated wealth. See also the '[https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/a-small-loan-of-a-million-dollars Small Loan of a Million Dollars]' trope of a profile in which the author or subject discusses the simple tricks they used to retire early or buy a house, often involving a [https://twitter.com/macaulaybalkan/status/1398805590030241792 hurried admission] of financial assistance from a family member.<br />
<br />
The title text asks Cueball if he has any moral qualms over the source of these points, then indicates his grandfather's fortune was made through {{w|factory farming}} in the farm-themed board game {{w|Agricola_(board_game)|''Agricola''}}. Factory farming is a broad term for applying mass-production techniques to agriculture, treating both plants and animals as commodities to be processed as efficiently as possible. These techniques are condemned, at least in some circles, as being cruel to livestock, in addition to having serious environmental and land-use implications, among other criticisms. The implication is that Cueball's grandfather somehow managed to introduce an immoral and/or socially harmful mechanic into a board game, greatly enriching himself and his heirs. This echoes another concern about inherited wealth: that the source of the money may have been unethical, but the heirs still get to enjoy the advantages, without considering themselves accountable for the harm. Cueball brushes off this criticism with the claim that the change was inevitable, which is a common response to analogous real-life concerns. <br />
<br />
It could also be a reference to inheritance in programming, where a class truly inherits everything from its 'ancestors'. Similarly, it could be a reference to evolution in biology; in evolution, an individual with beneficial traits is more likely to survive to have offspring, and the offspring accumulate the beneficial traits (“points”) of their “ancestors”, making them more likely to survive and “win”. The game Agricola was previously mentioned in [[696: Strip Games]] and [[778: Scheduling]].<br />
<br />
This comic possibly alludes to a 100 percent inheritance tax, as such one is effectively employed between each round of a board game - no points are carried over between rounds. In extension, Randall's position might be that only a 100 percent inheritance tax can ensure that everybody begins the "game" - namely his or her life - in a fair manner, and with the same possibilities. Though in practice this too would be unfair, as those who get more points in the game will still give their extra points to the people they want to see succeed along with them, they would just have to make sure they do it while still playing the game.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
<br />
:[Ponytail, White Hat, Megan, and Cueball are playing a board game. There are drinks on the table. Ponytail is writing something]<br />
<br />
:Ponytail: Let's see...I got 31, you have 28, 35 for you, and-<br />
:Cueball: -I've got 10,019.<br />
:Ponytail: *Sigh*<br />
:Cueball: Hey, add another 20 to everyone, on me!<br />
:White Hat: ''I hate this''. <br />
<br />
:[Caption beneath the panel:]<br />
:No one wants to play board games with me ever since I inherited 4,000,000 victory points from my grandfather.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Board games]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1775:_Things_You_Learn&diff=2760441775: Things You Learn2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1775<br />
| date = December 21, 2016<br />
| title = Things You Learn<br />
| image = things_you_learn.png<br />
| titletext = Guess who has two thumbs and spent the night in an ER after trying to rescue a kitten that ran under his car at a stoplight and climbed up into the engine compartment? And, thanks to antibiotics, will continue having two thumbs? THIS GUY. (P.S. kitten is safe!)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This graph shows various items of information plotted by two criteria: a horizontal "How Bad Is It If You Don't Know [THING]" axis and a vertical "How Easy It Is To Grow Up Without Learning [THING]" axis. Specifically, the vertical axis measures roughly how likely the average person is to remain ignorant of a particular item. The horizontal axis measures the likelihood and severity of bad consequences arising from such ignorance.<br />
<br />
The title text describes an encounter Randall had where a cat climbed into the engine compartment of his car. It probably serves as an explanation for the seemingly out of place point on the graph about how serious cat bites are. The "two thumbs" is a reference to a well known type of jokes among English speakers. One of the most frequent forms is one person interrupting another mid-speech and asking "what has two thumbs and doesn't give a f*ck? THIS GUY!", before pointing to themselves with their thumbs. The idea is that you only direct the attention to your thumbs so that they can point back to you, though mentioning the thumbs was not actually required except as a topic change. Randall plays on an inversion of this joke as he (presumably) was bitten on the thumb might have {{w|Amputation|lost a thumb}} or perhaps not have been able to make it at all without the intervention of the ER people. So here the "who has two thumbs", is not a deceiving distraction out of a boring conversation, and the thumbs are actually the focus of the phrase.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable"<br />
! Ignorance is Bad !! Ignorance is Easy !! Information !! Comments<br />
|-<br />
| not bad || (very, very) easy || 100 digits of {{w|pi}} || Most people know pi to only a few digits (3.14 or 3.1415). The latter is accurate to almost one part in half a million, which is close enough for almost any practical purpose.<br />
|-<br />
| not bad || (very) easy || Lyrics to "{{w|We Didn't Start the Fire}}" || "We Didn't Start the Fire" is a 1989 hit song by Billy Joel. Its lyrics include brief, rapid-fire allusions to more than 100 headline events between 1949, the year of Joel's birth, and 1989. While the chorus is memorable, the verses of the song are just a list of people, events and random things from popular culture. The average person is somewhat more likely to know the lyrics to Billy Joel's 1989 hit song than 100 digits of pi, but not knowing them doesn't really have any serious consequences. This song was again the pun in the title text of [[1794: Fire]], which was a follow up to comic #4 in [[821: Five-Minute Comics: Part 3]].<br />
|-<br />
| (very) bad || (very) easy || That cat bites are really serious and if bitten you need to wash the bite and call a doctor immediately || Most people assume that a cat bite is just a minor injury. In fact, it carries a fairly high risk of infection, which can be dangerous if not treated (by cleaning the bite to reduce the risk, and having a doctor examine the bite victim and apply additional treatments such as antibiotics if needed). At the same time, cat bites are quite rare, as cats default to their claws rather than their teeth when they need to attack something (not that cat claws are bacteria-free zones either, quite the opposite), so most people simply don't have to deal with many cat bites.<br />
|-<br />
| (very, very) bad || (very) easy || The red flags for an abusive relationship || It is fairly easy for someone to fall into a pattern of accepting abuse (particularly if the abuser is skilled at emotional manipulation) without realizing it, and the consequences can be mentally and physically devastating.<br />
|-<br />
| (very, very) bad || easy || The {{w|Stroke#Signs_and_symptoms|signs of a stroke}} || The symptoms of a {{w|stroke}} are somewhat variable, including facial drooping, arm weakness and slurred speech, depending on what areas of the brain are affected, and can be mistaken for other conditions. Identifying a stroke quickly and seeking treatment can make the difference between life and death, or between full recovery and permanent impairment.<br />
|-<br />
| bad || easy || Cough into your elbow, not your hand || Covering a cough with the inside of your elbow helps prevent spreading airborne germs and is generally recommended by medical organisations. Coughing into your hand deposits them onto your hand, where they are much more likely to be spread to another person (via handshake, food preparation, shared objects, etc)<br />
|-<br />
| not (too) bad || hard || How to ride a bike || Most children, especially in the United States[http://www.peopleforbikes.org/statistics/category/participation-statistics#youth], learn to ride a bike at a fairly young age. While this is a useful skill to know for both entertainment and transportation, it would generally not be terrible to not learn this skill, particularly if other forms of transportation are readily available.<br />
|-<br />
| not bad (at all) || hard || How to escape movie {{w|quicksand}} || Quicksand in movies is a common trope, and while its physics often differ from real quicksand, escaping from it is commonly done using similar methods (e.g., not struggling, which increases the quicksand's viscosity). Knowing how to escape from quicksand is important if you sink into it, which is a situation most people are very unlikely to encounter in real life. It is much more likely for characters in movies and TV shows, especially in the 1960s, to encounter and become mired in quicksand than for a real individual to do so as real quicksand is a rare occurrence in most climates on Earth.<br />
|-<br />
| not bad (at all) || (very) hard || Lyrics to "{{w|The Twelve Days of Christmas (song)|12 Days of Christmas}}" || Hearing the same Christmas songs over and over each year makes it hard not to learn the lyrics over time. However, the consequences of not doing so are minimal; at most, ignorance of popular culture may leave your friends [[1769|a bit surprised and dismayed]]. Note that this only refers to learning the lyrics of the "Twelve Days of Christmas," not learning all the lyrics. Most people do not know many of the combination once one gets substantially past five. It is very hard to avoid learning some of the lyrics (especially One and Five), but easy to not know many of the later random ones (such as Eight or Eleven).<br />
|-<br />
| not bad (at all) || (very, very) hard || {{w|Theme music|TV theme songs}} || Most children in developed countries grow up watching at least some television. Many of these television shows play the same theme song before the show starts, and many of these have catchy lyrics. Therefore, by repetition, most children will learn at least one of these growing up, and often many.<br />
|-<br />
| bad || hard || That you have to empty the dryer lint trap || A {{w|clothes dryer}} resembles a washing machine, using hot air to heat clothes so that the water evaporates more quickly.<br />
<br />
The dryer's air exhaust and air filter get gradually covered with {{w|lint (material)|lint}} (a kind of dust composed mainly of fiber) and must be cleaned regularly. Failing to remove the lint can cause the dryer to stop working effectively, introduce lint back onto your clothes, or (in extreme cases) start a fire.<br />
|-<br />
| (very) bad || (very) hard || {{w|Stop, drop and roll}} || This is a technique to extinguish a fire on one's own clothing, and is frequently taught to children for safety. Not knowing it (or forgetting it in a panic when the situation arises) can result in severe burns that could have been avoided by following the recommendation.<br />
|-<br />
| (very) bad || (very) hard || That you have to pay taxes || Most residents of most countries are legally obligated to pay taxes to their government. Penalties for not doing so often include large fines, and possibly prison sentences. Fortunately, it is something that children hear about quite a bit so it is very difficult to grow up without learning that it must be done. In [[1971: Personal Data]], [[White Hat]] somehow didn't know about taxes.<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Rankings==<br />
<br />
100% not bad: not bad at all . . . 100%>not-badness≥50%: not bad . . . 50%>not-badness≥0%: not too bad<br />
<br />
100% very bad: very, very bad . . . 100%>very badness≥50%: very bad . . . 50%>very badness>0%: bad<br />
<br />
100% hard: very, very hard . . . 100%>hardness≥50%: very hard . . . 50%>hardness>0%: hard<br />
<br />
100% easy: very, very easy . . . 100%>easiness≥50%: very easy . . . 50%>easiness≥0%: easy<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[A simple X and Y graph, with the X labeled "how bad it is if you don't know {thing}" and ranging from "not bad" to "very bad", and Y labeled "how easy it is to grow up without learning {thing}" and ranging from "easy" to "hard" from top to bottom.] <br />
<br />
:[Points on graph from top to bottom on the left side of the Y-axis:]<br />
<br />
:100 digits of pi<br />
:Lyrics to ''We Didn't Start the Fire''<br />
:How to ride a bike<br />
:How to escape movie quicksand<br />
:Lyrics to ''12 Days of Christmas''<br />
:TV theme songs<br />
<br />
:[Points on graph from top to bottom on the right side of the Y-axis:]<br />
<br />
:That cat bites are really serious and if bitten you should wash the bite and call a doctor immediately<br />
:Red flags for an abusive relationship<br />
:Signs for a stroke<br />
:Cough into your elbow, not your hand<br />
:That you have to empty the dryer lint trap<br />
:Stop, drop, and roll<br />
:That you have to pay taxes<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Charts]]<br />
[[Category:Scatter plots]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1556:_The_Sky&diff=2760451556: The Sky2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1556<br />
| date = July 27, 2015<br />
| title = The Sky<br />
| image = the_sky.png<br />
| titletext = The other half has some cool shipwrecks, rocks, and snakes, but if you move those out of the way, it also has more sky.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
In this comic [[Cueball]] and [[Megan]] admire a majestic {{w|sky}} on a beautiful day. <br />
<br />
This is one of the few comics where the scenery is drawn entirely in color, adding to the feeling of awe and natural wonder. The lighting on the {{w|clouds}} and the night sky in the upper corner suggest that this is either at sunset or sunrise, with the {{w|sun}} at the horizon outside the left part of the image. The picture is drawn to show the ever changing beauty of the many different stages of the sky rather than to be 100% realistic, as it would not be possible to see stars as clearly as shown, if the sun is still illuminating the clouds in front of them. When the sun {{w|Sunset|sets}} or {{w|Sunrise|rises}} the light produces many different colors which can often be breathtaking to witness. The pouch shaped cloud formations are called {{w|mammatus clouds}} and are usually associated with nearing of bad weather.<br />
<br />
The comic, however, already start in a small panel, with uniform sky colored light blue background, above the large drawing described above. In this image Cueball says to Megan that he likes the sky and Megan agrees. Megan first elaborates on her feelings in the large image where the zoom out is so large that they have both become small and insignificant characters in the bottom left corner, dwarfed by the sky and cloudscape, with the ground a broad dark band beneath them.<br />
<br />
Megan makes a statement about the sky: ''It's one of my favorite halves''. She thus indicates that she has more than one favorite halves. As there are only two halves this thus implies that Megan likes both halves, i.e. she likes everything. Her statement is thus a {{w|Tautology_(logic)|tautology}} because it implies that the other half is also a favorite and there are no other segments that would not be among her favorites. There are several xkcd comics about tautology, e.g. [[703: Honor Societies]], [[870: Advertising]] and [[1310: Goldbach Conjectures]]. <br />
<br />
In [[1368: One Of The]] ''one of'' is also used in a similar way as there is really no other that that one in that comic, whereas here there are no other that has not be included. A very similar sentence is also used in the title text of [[1524: Dimensions]] where the sentence, ''I would say time is definitely one of my top three favorite dimensions''. This also makes very little sense as there are four dimensions with time, and the other three are indistinguishable as they are just three randomly chosen but orthogonal directions in space. <br />
<br />
Taken at face value, given that the image depicts half open sky and half clouds, the other half could be taken to mean the clouds covering half of the sky. Or it could be the sky and the dark Earth, the other half beneath their feet. That it is the latter becomes evident in the title text.<br />
<br />
In the title text Megan continues her comment as she states that her other favorite half has some cool objects in it. <br />
She then lists three types of objects: <br />
*{{w|Shipwrecks}}<br />
*{{w|Rocks}} <br />
*{{w|Snakes}}<br />
From this it is thus clear that it is not the clouds vs. the sky she's referring to but rather the sky vs. something down on Earth. Weather the clouds are considered part of the sky or just blocking the sky could be something Megan and Cueball would disagree about. See below.<br />
<br />
Based on these three items the other half could either be the entire {{w|Earth}}, just the {{w|Continent|solid ground}} or only the {{w|oceans}}. All three mentioned objects can be found both on land and in the oceans. Shipwrecks may be associate with oceans, but they are also often stranded on the shore. Snakes are mainly associated with land, but there are {{w|Hydrophiinae|several snakes}} that live in the ocean. But the last part of the title text takes both the ground and the sea out of the equation, as it states that if those three objects where moved out of the way the other half would also have more sky. As Earth is round (and made from rock, most of them melted in the {{w|outer core}}) then if you "moved all those rocks out of the way" you would see the sky below on the other side. <br />
<br />
This leads to the realization that the two halves are indeed the Sky and the Earth (or {{w|Heaven}} and Earth). The title text is thus a subversion as it may be switching the readers focus of what the other half may be, as seen from only the large image (clouds, stars or the ground). <br />
<br />
Beyond the blue sky above there is just the dark {{w|night sky}} of {{w|outer space}}. If it where not for the Earth the blue sky would not exists as it is formed by the air following the gravity and curvature of the earth. So if you would moved the entire Earth out of the way you would also move the blue sky with it and you would only see a similar dark night sky, with lots of stars like those in the top left corner. Of course if it was not the entire Earth, but just those rocks directly beneath Megan that was moved, then in principle she would be able to see the blue sky on the other side of Earth, But as she is saying ''moved all those away'', it indicates that Megan really means the entire Earth.<br />
<br />
This last part of the title text thus shows that Megan may be thinking rather of the night sky, and given that there are also stars visible in the top right corner, she could have assumed Cueball also referred to the sky like this rather than the majestic display of clouds and colors. Of course that would be weird, but that's where the comedy occurs because that was unexpected, and it would be typical Megan and/or [[Randall]]. <br />
<br />
If Megan is also interested in astronomy then she would prefer a dark cloudless sky with stars. And by focusing on the fact that if the Earth was removed there would only be dark sky (empty space) around her on all sides, this may be one of her other often seen strange preferences. (Those are often used by one of the characters in Randall's comics). It is well know from xkcd that Randall really [[:Category:Astronomy|loves astronomy]] and looking at the night sky. So seen from this perspective, there would still be plenty of sky even if the Earth where removed completely. However, there would not be any clouds or nice colors or any humans or other lifeforms around to admire those astronomical objects. <br />
<br />
The title text also indicates that although the other half also is one of Megan's favorites, it is mainly the shipwrecks (the oceans) and the snakes (life forms) that she considers when thinking of this half. The rest is just rocks (the Earth). Taking into account how many different things that are on "that other half", why did Randall then choose to mention those two? Only he will know, but maybe indeed to focus on the oceans and their life forms or any life.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball and Megan are standing looking upward with in a small frame a light blue background.]<br />
:Cueball: I like the sky.<br />
:Megan: Yeah.<br />
<br />
:[Zooms out to show a blue evening sky, the sun must be setting to the left and a streak of yellow and orange clouds goes from top left to bottom right. The sky/clouds get darker further to the right and several stars are visible behind the clouds on the indigo blue sky in the top right corner. There are also some gray clouds low over the horizon. Cueball and Megan standing to the far left Below them and the sky from the horizon and down there is a thick a black slab taking up about a sixth of the frame height.]<br />
:Megan: It's one of my favorite halves.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Animals]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1183:_Rose_Petals&diff=2760461183: Rose Petals2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>↑{{comic<br />
| number = 1183<br />
| date = March 8, 2013<br />
| title = Rose Petals<br />
| image = rose petals.png<br />
| titletext = Joke's on you--the Roomba and I had a LOVELY evening.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This comic strip is playing with romantic movies and gestures used in them. In such movies, one often used romantic gesture is {{tvtropes|FlowersOfRomance|spreading rose petals in the house or apartment}}, making a way towards the bedroom in which a romantic interest/lover is waiting surrounded by roses for a love-making session. The joke is that these petals don't lead from the front door to the bedroom and [[Cueball]]'s lover, but in the opposite direction instead from the bedroom out onto the street. It appears that someone has set up a box of rose petals and an electric fan atop a {{w|Roomba}} (an autonomous robotic vacuum cleaner) as a method of automatically creating such a trail. The title text suggests that despite the other party's intentions of setting this up as a joke to trick Cueball, Cueball ended up having a lovely time with the Roomba.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball enters a living room, to see a line of red rose petals on the floor.]<br />
:[Cueball follows the line of rose petals.]<br />
:[Cueball observes that the line of rose petals leads out the front door, down the driveway, and along the sidewalk.]<br />
:[The rose petals leads up to a table fan behind what appears to be an inverted mailbox filled with rose petals with its back removed. Both are sitting on a Roomba which is motoring down the sidewalk. The fan is on, and is blowing the rose petals out the slit in the front of the mailbox. The contraption is making a sound and the Roomba has its brand written on it]<br />
:Whirrrrrr<br />
:Roomba<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Romance]]<br />
[[Category:Roomba]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1324:_Weather&diff=2760471324: Weather2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1324<br />
| date = January 31, 2014<br />
| title = Weather<br />
| image = weather.png<br />
| titletext = At least if you're really into, like, Turkish archaeology, store clerks aren't like 'hey, how 'bout those Derinkuyu underground cities!' when they're trying to be polite.<br />
}}<br />
==Explanation==<br />
Social norm accepts casual small-talk as an ice breaker for interaction — usually it is always safe to talk about the weather without hitting any disagreements as there are rarely any personal viewpoints about the weather — in contrast small-talk is never about political subjects or similar where chances are that there are strong personal viewpoints.<br />
<br />
In this strip [[Cueball]] is described a "weather geek", enjoying subjects such as {{w|meteorology}} and {{w|weather forecasting}}. When [[Hairy]] makes a comment about the weather, Cueball launches into a detailed technical discussion, not realizing Hairy is simply trying to engage in small-talk. Only weather geeks would have this problem, but this topic is a common opening for a conversation in casual small-talk. Cueball switches to small-talk once he realizes that Hairy is confused and didn't expect this level of technical information.<br />
<br />
As to the jargon:<br />
*{{w|Jet stream|Jet streams}} are strong air currents high in the atmosphere which have a big influence on the weather. <br />
*18z is 18:00 {{w|Coordinated Universal Time|UTC}} (6&nbsp;PM in London, 10&nbsp;AM in California). See {{w|ISO 8601}} at Wikipedia. The letter "Z" is used as 'Zulu' in the {{w|NATO phonetic alphabet}}, meaning just UTC.<br />
*GFS is the {{w|Global Forecast System}} (also known as NCEP-GFS). It is a computer model used by the {{w|National Weather Service}} to predict the weather up to 16 days in advance. The model is run 4 times a day and the output is distinguished by the UTC hour it was started (18z in this case).<br />
*Part of the prediction is the {{w|atmospheric pressure}} expressed in {{w|Bar (unit)|millibars}} (or mb). 960&nbsp;mb is very low pressure, which is usually associated with seriously bad weather (record low pressure for Minnesota was 963&nbsp;mb till 1998).<br />
*"Think it'll verify?": A forecast "verifies" when an analysis of observations at the forecast time are found to match the forecast. Cueball is asking if Hairy thinks the prediction of a 960&nbsp;mb low will be shown to have been correct.<br />
<br />
The title text clarifies the problem weather nuts like Cueball here have: Unlike other geeky pursuits (like, say, the {{w|Derinkuyu Underground City|Derinkuyu Underground Cities}}, [[1368: One Of The|one of the]] most well-known {{w|History of Turkey|archaeological sites in Turkey}}) weather is a fairly common small talk subject. As a result, weather geeks have to be constantly vigilant so as not to launch into technical monologues.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball and Hairy are talking.]<br />
:Hairy: So, how 'bout this weather?<br />
:Cueball: I ''know,'' right? The whole jet stream layer is ''nuts!''<br />
:Hairy: Um, sure...<br />
:Cueball: The 18z GFS forecasts 960mb by Tuesday. Think it'll verify?<br />
:Hairy: What?<br />
:Cueball: ...Right. Sorry. Uh, yeah! Weather sure has been crazy.<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the panel:]<br />
:Weather geeks have it tough.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]<br />
[[Category:Social interactions]]<br />
[[Category:Weather]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2311:_Confidence_Interval&diff=2760482311: Confidence Interval2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2311<br />
| date = May 25, 2020<br />
| title = Confidence Interval<br />
| image = confidence_interval.png<br />
| titletext = The worst part is that's the millisigma interval.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This is another one of [[Randall|Randall's]] [[:Category:Tips|Tips]], this time a [[:Category:Science tip|Science Tip]]. This is the second time that a category of tips (with the first being "[[:Category:Protip|Protip]]") has been re-used.<br />
<br />
Graphs of continuous functions' predicted values often show {{w|confidence interval}}s, a region (either shaded or marked with dotted lines, the latter used here) that indicates the {{w|observational error|margin of error}} for the prediction at any point. The joke in this comic is that the estimate has so much uncertainty that the confidence interval extends off the top and bottom of the chart, which in a real report would usually prevent it from being printed and require a re-scaled chart to show it (if not declined altogether, as data with such wide variance might be deemed useless). This may be a tip as if it's outside the printable area, it won't be seen by anyone who reads it, and thus they won't realize how bad your model is, though this is more of a tip in how to trick people into falsely thinking you've shown a good result with your work than it is a tip in presenting an actual legitimate useful scientific result.<br />
<br />
In the title text, a millisigma would be an error of +/- 1/1000th of a {{w|standard deviation}}. Statistical error and uncertainty is typically measured by {{w|standard deviation}}, which is written in formulas with the Greek letter {{w|sigma}}, and is also frequently referred to by the word "sigma." Measurements of sample means, one of the most common experimentally determined variables, will tend to follow a {{w|normal distribution}}, such that 68 percent of members of the population will fall within one sigma (plus or minus) of the mean value, 95 percent within two sigma, and 99.7 percent within three sigma. Any of these intervals may be usefully reported as the confidence interval, so long as it's made clear to the reader, but two- or three-sigma are sufficient for most applications. However, this graph shows data of such poor quality (or such poorly-chosen {{w|y-axis|''y''-axis}} bounds) that even the millisigma confidence interval (0.08% of the population -- not often used in science, but occasionally found in e.g. [https://researchservices.pitt.edu/sites/default/files/flexAnalysis%20User%20Manual.pdf molecular analysis tools]) does not fit on the graph. Variations in the curve that are small compared to the {{w|error bar}} typically can't be distinguished from errors. Therefore, the shape of the curve - and the entire graph in this example - is meaningless.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[A graph is shown in the middle of the panel. There is a square frame around it. The graph has two unlabeled axes with ticks along both axes. The axes end in arrows. A solid line graph is shown. It begins around the middle of the Y axis, goes up and flattens twice before falling down towards the right. Far above and just below the frame around the graph are two gray dotted lines. They do not follow the same path as the solid line inside the frame, but do follow the same general trend. Below the graph, but inside the frame, is a caption:]<br />
:Fig. 2: Predicted Curve<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the panel:]<br />
:Science tip: If your model is bad enough, the confidence intervals will fall outside the printable area.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Line graphs]]<br />
[[Category:Science tip]]<br />
[[Category:Statistics]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2304:_Preprint&diff=2760492304: Preprint2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2304<br />
| date = May 8, 2020<br />
| title = Preprint<br />
| image = preprint.png<br />
| titletext = DOWNSIDES: Adobe people may periodically email your newsroom to ask you to call it an 'Adobe® PDF document,' but they'll reverse course once they learn how sarcastically you can pronounce the registered trademark symbol.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This comic is about how media reports non-{{w|peer-review}}ed research papers. The newscaster depicted is attempting to report breaking news based on information in a study; however, the study in question has not been formally published. This leads to uncertainty on the part of either the newscaster, [[Blondie]], or her scriptwriters as they try to determine how to refer to this study, represented here by alternative introduction lines being scribbled out.<br />
<br />
[[Randall]] suggests that, instead of explaining that the paper was in {{w|preprint}}, or unpublished or submitted to a preprint server and not peer-reviewed, the newscaster could simply say it was a {{w|PDF}}. PDF (Portable Document Format) is a file format for documents developed by Adobe to be used independent of application software, hardware and operating systems.<br />
Randall proceeds to lists several benefits of using "PDF": <br />
* The use of terms such as "preprint" makes statement about its publication status, which might be based on inaccurate information or even be in the process of changing as the news goes out; in contrast, proclaiming it to be a PDF document is an unambiguously factual statement. Additionally, "preprint" and "peer review" and related terminology are not familiar to most people, who are not academics.<br />
* Referring to the PDF document directly also prevents individuals from making assumptions that the one responsible knows and has verified what they're doing - or, in contrast, that the information is automatically false based on the grounds that it hasn't yet been officially published.<br />
* The comic finishes with a jab at PDF itself, proclaiming that no ordinary person would ''voluntarily'' choose a PDF file as their medium of communication. Ordinary people use the default file format of whatever word processor or text editor they use, but PDF files are not very convenient to edit, so they're generally only used for final versions of documents that are ready to print or distribute, following a dedicated export or conversion process.<br />
** This is similar to Randall's declaration in the comic [[1301: File Extensions]] that ".pdf" is the second-most-trustworthy file extension. As it happens, he says that the ''most'' trustworthy file extension is ".tex", so perhaps the news anchor could specify that the PDF was "compiled from {{w|LaTeX}}" (if this is true) to imply additional legitimacy.<br />
<br />
The title text makes fun of what is incorrectly believed to be the official name of PDF; it is now an open international standard (ISO 32000-1), and the only PDF files that are "Adobe Acrobat files" or "Adobe PDF" files are those created using Adobe Systems' software. Further, Adobe does not use the ® designation in conjunction with PDF. (See [https://www.adobe.com/content/dam/cc/en/legal/documents/Adobe_Trademark_Guidelines_11012014.pdf Adobe Trademark Guidelines, 1 Nov. 2014]) Adobe trademark guidelines were also made fun of [https://what-if.xkcd.com/108/ here].<br />
<br />
Since so many applications can create and even edit PDF files, implying a connection with Adobe every time someone talks about one is preposterous, and one could sarcastically pronounce the registered trademark symbol to show contempt for the fact that it is a registered trademark.<br />
<br />
This comic was possibly produced in response to the preprint study [https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.14.20062463v2 "COVID-19 Antibody Seroprevalence in Santa Clara County, California"], Bendavid et al, which was posted online in mid-April 2020 before peer review. The authors of the paper went on a media blitz immediately after posting it, appearing on major cable news networks and writing editorials in major publications, claiming that their results show that COVID-19 is not nearly as bad as thought and that most people are already immune to it. Other scientists have pointed out that, if the very high false-positive rate of the test used and the sample bias of their methodology (testing only people who self-report as sick) are properly considered in the analysis, the data collected is such poor quality as to be meaningless, with properly applied error bars on the number of actual cases in the general population extending below 0. Nonetheless, many less-scientifically-literate politicians, media figures, and protest groups continue to use the much-criticized study as proof that COVID-19 should not be considered an emergency, and that quarantine measures should be cancelled. As of May 11 2020, the study has still not passed peer review, nor undergone any revisions since the first posting.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Blondie as a newscaster is sitting at a desk. To the right is a screen with text, the bottom word is a thin line making the letters white. Just above her head is what she says as her opening line for her news story. But above this text, is more text which have been grayed out and scribbled over. This are three other alternative opening lines which she did not use, indicating revisions to her script.]<br />
:Blondie [gray and scribbled out]: According to a new preprint…<br />
:Blondie [gray and scribbled out]: …An unpublished study…<br />
:Blondie [gray and scribbled out]: According to a new paper uploaded to a preprint server but which has not undergone peer review…<br />
:Blondie: According to a new PDF…<br />
<br />
:Inset graphic: Breaking ''news''<br />
<br />
:[Beneath the panel is a long caption consisting of an underlined headline with three bulleted points beneath it:]<br />
::<u>Benefits of just saying "a PDF":</u><br />
:* Avoids implications about publication status<br />
:* Immediately raises questions about author(s)<br />
:* Still implies "this document was probably prepared by a professional, because no normal human trying to communicate in 2020 would choose this ridiculous format."<br />
<br />
==Trivia==<br />
*This comic made Blondie the character that has most often presented a [[:Category:News anchor|news anchor]], as this became her ninth appearance in this role.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Blondie]]<br />
[[Category:News anchor]]<br />
[[Category:Research Papers]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1398:_Snake_Facts&diff=2760501398: Snake Facts2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1398<br />
| date = July 23, 2014<br />
| title = Snake Facts<br />
| image = snake facts.png<br />
| titletext = Biologically speaking, what we call a 'snake' is actually a human digestive tract which has escaped from its host.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This is the first comic using [[:Category:Facts|Facts]] in the title, but only the second to use a fact that is not a [[:Category:Fun fact|Fun fact]].<br />
<br />
The comic lists a few ''{{w|Lie|factoids}}'' about snakes, ranging from the mildly informative to the strictly {{w|tongue-in-cheek}}.<br />
<br />
The first factoid references the hypothesis that {{w|snake venom}} {{w|Evolution of snake venom|was an evolutionary development of}} {{w|saliva}} that, over time, gradually became more toxic as snakes with saliva that was able to assist in subduing their prey possessed an evolutionary advantage. It then posits that the evolutionary branch that developed into venomous snakes began with a snake whose mutation gave him a mouth that was 'slightly more gross than usual', probably in reference to {{w|bad breath}}.<br />
<br />
Additionally, the comic illustration accompanying the second factoid colors in a '{{w|habitat}} range' on a map of South America that is snake-shaped, implying that when it states 'The longest snake is found in {{w|Brazil}}, {{w|Peru}}, and {{w|Chile}}' that this snake is so long that it literally stretches from Brazil, across part of Peru, into Chile, and that the 'habitat' shaded on the map is, in fact, this mammoth snake's {{w|silhouette}}. The age, length and location of the snake are so exaggerated that they are obviously untrue, but may be a reference to the {{w|green anaconda}}, one of the world's largest snakes, which inhabits this region.<br />
<br />
The final factoid is entirely tongue-in-cheek. Many factoids come in the form "If you laid all the X end to end, Y would occur" (e.g. "If you laid all the veins and arteries in the human body end-to-end, they would stretch 60,000 miles"). The Y portion of the factoid is supposed to be surprising; therefore, it is ironic that the factoid in the comic, "If you laid all the bones in a snake end to end, you would have a snake.", is obvious and not at all exciting. Clearly, you would not have an entire snake, literally, but you would have a skeleton that was recognizably that of a snake and could reasonably be referred to as 'a snake'. A common example that pokes fun at this format is, "If you laid every elephant from end to end between the Earth and the Moon, then you'd have a lot of dead elephants."<br />
<br />
The title text presents the amusing idea that 'snakes' as we know them are not, in fact, a suborder of reptiles but are instead human {{w|digestive tract}}s that, rather than being a system of organs, are creatures capable of escaping from their 'host' human and living independently. The idea seems to follow from the superficial resemblance between snakes and the human digestive tract as long, roughly tubular collections of animal matter, which can process the food entering the top end, and get rid of the waste through the other end.<br />
<br />
[[Randall]] had previously posted an [[Media:snake facts old.png|incorrect map]], that included the snake's habitat in {{w|Bolivia}} instead of Peru.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:'''Snake Facts:'''<br />
:Snake venom evolved from saliva, which means that it all started with a snake whose mouth was sliiiightly more gross than usual.<br />
:[Picture of a snake below the text above.]<br />
:Snake: Hi guys!<br />
:Off-panel voice: Eww, it's Frank.<br />
:[Map of South America with gray shade in the form of a snake. Text to the left of it.]<br />
:The world's longest snake is found in Brazil, Peru, and Chile. It is believed to be over 60 years old.<br />
:[Picture of a snake skeleton between the first and the second of the lines below.]<br />
:If you laid all the bones in a snake end-to-end,<br />
:you would have a snake<br />
<br />
==Trivia==<br />
Given the habitat listed for the second factoid, it is likely the comic is referring to the Green Anaconda ''({{w|Eunectes murinus}})''.<br />
*The Green Anaconda's habitat range includes Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, the island of Trinidad, and Paraguay.<br />
*The Green Anaconda is one of the longest snakes in the world reaching more than 6.6 m long.<br />
*Anacondas generally do not live beyond 20 years in captivity, and likely less in the wild.<br />
*Since anacondas are reported to continue growing throughout their lives, a 60 year old specimen would likely be the longest snake in the world.<br />
*The Reticulated Python ''({{w|Python reticulatus}})'' is recognized as the longest, but not heaviest, snake and grow to more than 6.95 m.<br />
*The Reticulated Python's habitat is in Southeast Asia.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Facts]]<br />
[[Category:Animals]]<br />
[[Category:Biology]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=277:_Long_Light&diff=276051277: Long Light2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 277<br />
| date = June 15, 2007<br />
| title = Long Light<br />
| image = long_light.png<br />
| titletext = You can look at practically any part of anything manmade around you and think "some engineer was frustrated while designing this." It's a little human connection.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This strip depicts a common experience to most people - becoming frustrated with a device, system, or rule that appears to be badly made or have no purpose other than to frustrate the user (in this case, a traffic light that seems unreasonably, inexplicably long). One temptation we might have in these cases is to blame the designer of the system. Here, the designer appears and testifies to the amount of effort that went into the design, considering many factors. He challenges [[Cueball]] to come up with a better solution, the implication being that without a similar amount of training and effort, any naive solution would have flaws the designer would be happy to point out. This demonstrates to Cueball ''and'' the reader that just because they were unlucky enough to encounter something in a way that was inconvenient for no obvious reason, doesn't mean there is no reason at all.<br />
<br />
Of course, all of this has occurred after the designer leapt out of nowhere onto the hood of the car, so he may not be entirely stable. This is elaborated upon in the final panel, where the designer finally admits that red light won't change until Tuesday, but since this comic was published on a Friday, the timing scheme really was absurd after all. It is also possible that the designer has intentionally changed the light specifically to make Cueball wait for a couple of days, or to stop himself from being flung off of the hood of the car.<br />
<br />
The title text returns to the original point, reminding us that designers work hard and often encounter complex problems in doing their jobs. Their frustration may also be in part from the knowledge that future users will blame them for unavoidable problems and undervalue their work. With a little empathy, we can find a human connection to these problems, rather than let them drive us crazy.<br />
<br />
Randall returns to the theme of the unseen contributions of engineers in [[1741: Work]].<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball in a car, sitting at a red light.]<br />
:Cueball: This light always takes forever. I'd like to smack the idiot who designed this intersection.<br />
:[An engineer steps up onto the hood of Cueball's car.]<br />
:Engineer: Hi.<br />
:Cueball: Who the hell are you?<br />
:Engineer: I designed this intersection.<br />
:Engineer [arms spread outward]: You're right - I should have just made the light shorter! Never mind the hours of simulation and testing I did. Never mind that this intersection interacts with it's neighbors in a complicated way and it took me a week to work out timing sequences that avoided total jams.<br />
:Engineer: Clearly, I'm a crappy engineer and you have a better solution. Go on, show me your proposed timings.<br />
:Cueball: Get the hell off my hood before I start driving and fling you into traffic.<br />
:Engineer: You can't. Light's red.<br />
:Cueball: Well, when will it change?<br />
:Engineer: Tuesday.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]<br />
[[Category:Traffic light]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Engineering]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1822:_Existential_Bug_Reports&diff=2760521822: Existential Bug Reports2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1822<br />
| date = April 10, 2017<br />
| title = Existential Bug Reports<br />
| image = existential_bug_reports.png<br />
| titletext = ISSUE: If we wait long enough, eventually the Earth will be consumed by the Sun. WORKAROUND: None.<br />
}}<br />
==Explanation==<br />
[[Megan]] is sitting at her desk, writing an error report. Her description of the issue is fairly standard, albeit somewhat vague: A recent software update has broken the support for hardware she needs for her job. Most likely, she is saying that her OS is now reporting a piece of hardware is no longer supported. This is self-evidently problematic for her, as described in her error report. <br />
<br />
The humor in this strip comes from her own suggested {{w|workaround}} (a short-term method of working despite the problem), which is absurd as she proposes simply waiting for the {{w|Sun}} to consume the {{w|Earth}} when it turns into a {{w|red giant}} towards the end of its lifetime approximately {{w|Sun#After_core_hydrogen_exhaustion|5 billion years}} from now.<br />
<br />
While this would eliminate the issue, as both the hardware and software as well as Megan and her job would all cease to exist, this would not be helpful to Megan as it does not address the underlying problem of her being unable to work in the present. 5 billion years is also far in excess of the lifespan of humans{{Citation needed}} and operating systems alike. Lastly, as it does not allow Megan to actually continue her work, it's not strictly speaking a workaround. <br />
<br />
In the title text, [[Randall]] asks for a workaround from Megan's "workaround". He writes it down as another bug report, as though it were a software problem. The answer is that there is '''none'''. Randall in his crisis see no way to prevent Earth from being consumed by the Sun. However, one possible workaround could be evacuation of the Solar System, as if humanity still exists by the time the Earth's destruction occurs, we will likely have highly advanced technology. Maybe at that time it would even be [https://qntm.org/moving possible to move the Earth], first further out to prevent both the engulfment and also the earlier evaporation of the oceans and later it could then be moved back in when the sun turns into a {{w|white dwarf}}.<br />
<br />
Megan has previously expressed such existential problems in [[220: Philosophy]], where Randall presented a solution for it. Similar she was depressed in [[1111: Premiere]], where it was the boiling away of the oceans, mentioned above, that was her concern.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Megan is sitting in an office chair at her desk typing on her laptop. Above her are two light-gray frames with text. Above each frame is a bold header:]<br />
:'''Issue:''' <br />
:Recent update broke support for hardware I need for my job.<br />
<br />
:'''Workaround:''' <br />
:If we wait long enough, the Earth will eventually be consumed by the Sun.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Philosophy]]<br />
[[Category:Computers]]<br />
[[Category:Astronomy]]<br />
[[Category:Time]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=70:_Guitar_Hero&diff=27605370: Guitar Hero2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 70<br />
| date = March 1, 2006<br />
| title = Guitar Hero<br />
| image = guitar hero.jpg<br />
| titletext = And then do it again in a moment now that they're out of Star Power.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
''{{w|Guitar Hero}}'' is a series of video games (originally a single game) distributed by {{w|Activision}}. In the game, players simulate playing the guitar on famous guitar songs using a plastic guitar-shaped controller with five color-coded buttons on the neck representing guitar frets and a rocker bar on the body simulating a strumming motion. The game now includes other instruments such as drums and vocals, although not at the time this comic was published.<br />
<br />
While the player plays the game, an animated band is shown on the upper half of the screen, and an extended guitar neck is shown vertically on the bottom half of the screen with horizontal frets, often called the "note highway." As the song progresses, coloured markers or "gems" indicating notes travel down the screen in time with the music; the note colours and positions match the five fret keys on the guitar controller. Once the notes reach the bottom, the player must play the indicated notes by holding down the correct fret buttons and hitting the strumming bar in order to score points. The image in the comic is similar to what is shown when playing ''Guitar Hero''.<br />
<br />
In this comic, [[Randall Munroe|Randall]] suggests that, were he in a real rock band, he would perform a mellow song, but intentionally put a complicated guitar solo in, not for musical value, but solely to antagonize ''Guitar Hero'' players with an impossible solo. As the comic suggests, a random flailing would likely make for a very difficult passage to play in ''Guitar Hero''. This is highlighted by the previous statement that the song would otherwise be mellow, lulling the player into a false sense that the song was easy to play and relaxing. Even worse for Guitar Hero players, if there was anyone who is good enough to play the solo, they would still have no fun playing the song if it is otherwise very mellow.<br />
<br />
Probably, the "impossible solo" proposed here would turn useless, as there are some songs where the artist actually flails the guitar, and the developers translated that in gameplay as a bonus where the players can freely spam their controller/guitar for extra points.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to a mechanic in Guitar Hero called "Star Power." Normally, when a player misses too many notes in a short time, their character is booed off the stage, and they have to restart. Using Star Power temporarily boosts the score from each note, so the player can clear a difficult section of the song even if they haven't hit most of the notes. So, when faced with Randall's impossible guitar solo, most players will immediately use Star Power to survive it. However, it takes time to build up Star Power, and it all gets expended at once, so if the song has a second stretch of wild flailing, the player won't be able to escape and will fail. (Also note that in ''{{w|Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock}}'' and many other titles of the series, a full meter of Star Power lasts for eight measures, so as long as the song is mildly fast (80BPM would more than suffice for a 4/4 or 12/8 time signature), 30 seconds would be enough already.)<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[On a stage, Megan is in the background as a singer holding a microphone. In the center is Hairy with an electric guitar. The catwalk has bumps to resemble the tracks of Guitar Hero.]<br />
:[Caption above the stage]: <br />
:When I'm in a rock band, I'm gonna do a cool, mellow song. Then in the middle I'll stop, announce "this part is just to be an asshole to people playing Guitar Hero," and then flail wildly on the strings for 30 seconds.<br />
<br />
==Trivia==<br />
*Randall's idea seems to have come true coincidentally a year after this comic was made in the ''Guitar Hero'' sequel ''Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s.'' The song ''Because it's Midnite'' is considered very easy except for a 13-second guitar solo containing over 170 notes.<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Music]]<br />
[[Category:Video games]]<br />
[[Category:Rhythm Games]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Guitar Hero]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with lowercase text]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=467:_X_Girls_Y_Cups&diff=276054467: X Girls Y Cups2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 467<br />
| date = August 25, 2008<br />
| title = X Girls Y Cups<br />
| image = x girls y cups.png<br />
| titletext = Also no results: 1girl10000cups, 2girls(5+3i)cups, 65536girls65536cups, or 3frenchhens2turtledoves1cup.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
The comic refers to ''{{w|Hungry Bitches}}'', a 2007 {{w|scat fetishism|scat-fetish}} pornographic film. The one-minute preview, unofficially nicknamed "2 Girls 1 Cup," is a {{w|viral video}} that became a well-known {{w|internet meme}}. It is therefore not surprising that only the input combination of x=2 and y=1 generates a significant number of search results, being 257 times as frequent as the runner-up, "1 Girl 1 Cup."<br />
<br />
This table is an example of a rudimentary {{w|heat map}}. The cells in the table with zero hits are white. From 1 to 9 they are yellow, and above that they are orange - except the maximum, which is red. As the second largest count is below 10,000 (7503) and the maximum almost two million, it is impossible to say if the red color is reserved for the maximum or for any number above a given value, say from ten thousand or up to above a million hits.<br />
<br />
The title text suggests other combinations like 1 girl to 10,000 cups (very large number of cups to one girl), 2 girls to (5+3i) cups (a {{w|complex number}}), 65536 girls to 65536 cups (2<sup>16</sup>, the first {{w|Integer (computer science)|integer}} that can't be represented as a two-byte unsigned integer), and finally 3 French hens and 2 turtle doves to 1 cup. All are phrases with apparently no search results. <br />
<br />
The last phrase is a reference to the song ''{{w|The Twelve Days of Christmas (song)|The Twelve Days of Christmas}}''. After the publication of this comic, the phrase has been cross-posted at various sites in order to generate search results and prove the statement in the title text wrong. The same has happened to other entries, as it often happens shortly after [[Randall]] posts something regarding Google searches.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:Google results for "<x> girls <y> cups"<br />
:[There is a table with eight columns and eight rows. The cells are colored depending on the value in the cell: cells with the value 0 are clear/white, cells with values 1-9 are yellow, cells with values 10 and above are orange, and the cell with the highest value is red.]<br />
:[Above the tabel is the label for the columns:] <br />
:Cups <br />
:[To the left the label for the rows:]<br />
:Girls<br />
:[0 girls 0 cups has value 3; 0 girls 1 cup has 375; 0 girls 2 cups has 9; 1 girl 0 cups has 7; 1 girl 1 cup has 7503; 1 girl 2 cups has 2007; 1 girl 3 cups has 10; 1 girl 4 cups has 5; 1 girl 5 cups has 3; 1 girl 6 cups has 6; 1 girl 7 cups has 2; 2 girls 0 cups has 9; 2 girls 1 cup has 1,929,000; 2 girls 2 cups has 247; 2 girls 3 cups has 7; 2 girls 4 cups has 14; 2 girls 5 cups has 13; 2 girls 6 cups has 2; 2 girls 7 cups has 1; 3 girls 0 cups has 7; 3 girls 1 cup has 6335; 3 girls 2 cups has 394; 3 girls 3 cups has 34; 3 girls 4 cups has 3; 3 girls 5 cups has 2; 3 girls 6 cups has 6; 4 girls 0 cups has 3; 4 girls 1 cup has 3513; 4 girls 2 cups has 34; 4 girls 4 cups has 63; 5 girls 0 cups has 1; 5 girls 1 cup has 9; 5 girls 2 cups has 5; 5 girls 3 cups has 3; 5 girls 6 cups has 3; 6 girls 0 cups has 3; 6 girls 1 cup has 1461; 6 girls 2 cups has 1; 6 girls 3 cups has 1; 6 girls 4 cups has 1; 7 girls 0 cups has 2; 7 girls 1 cup has 19; 7 girls 2 cups has 4; 7 girls 3 cups has 2; and the rest have 0.]<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Sex]]<br />
[[Category:Internet]]<br />
[[Category:Charts]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Google Search]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1647:_Diacritics&diff=2760551647: Diacritics2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1647<br />
| date = February 24, 2016<br />
| title = Diacritics<br />
| image = diacritics.png<br />
| titletext = Using diacritics correctly is not my forté.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
A {{w|diacritic}} (or a diacritical mark) is a {{w|glyph}} added to a letter. The main use of diacritical marks in the {{w|latin script}} is to change the sound-values of the letters to which they are added, typically {{w|vowels}}.<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]] is writing an e-mail (maybe for a job application) and notes in the mail that he attaches his {{w|résumé}}, or {{w|curriculum vitae}}. The word ''résumé'' uses two ''e''s with an {{w|acute accent}} so they look like this: é.<br />
<br />
While diacritics can be common in several languages, English is an example of a language that rarely ever has any at all. This occurs to such an extent that words and expressions borrowed from other languages (such as "résumé" or "piñata") are frequently written in English with the diacritics omitted, as in "resume" or "pinata". As Cueball/[[Randall]] is a native English speaker, it is thus natural that he often forgets (or just doesn't bother) to add these diacritics, hence the title of the comic. When he occasionally remembers them, for instance when he types a word where he knows they should be included, like résumé, he then makes up for all those he must have forgotten since last time he thought of it, and thus adds a whole bunch at once. This reason is somewhat nonsensical.<br />
<br />
Randall may be poking fun at people who use {{w|Zalgo text|Zalgo}}, a form of spam where people continuously spam diacritics in chat messages. For example:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
T̯̙̻̼̠͕̙̬̬̜̼̊ͥͦͬͤ̇̎̆̌ͭ͢͠͡o̡̲̩̟̲̬̰̪̜̝͙̺̦̙͍̳ͬͯͯ͋͒̍ͨ̓̇́̚̚̕ ̸̢̬̘̦͕̯̱̜̲̼̤ͬͧͤͨǐ̷̷̯̼̝̹̫ͪ̀̋̿̄̓n̿͂ͩ͂ͮ̔̆͏͎͍͕̜͎̺̯͈̼̩̣̥̬͡͞ͅͅv̴̨̙̼̤̼͙͖̫̖̺̹̠̹̦́͌͑̓̆̂ͯ̑̈̏ͭo̢̫̲̙̺̬̤̲̳ͨ̐ͦ̽͛ͮ͛́͂ͣ͂ͮ͆͑̍̀ͯ̕͟k̵̨̫̙̤͙̹̫͚͈̪͇͓͈̫̬̥͕̱͎̜̉̔ͬͭͦ̓͐ͫ̋̋ͥ̋̀̕͟è̢̛͑͋͐̀̏ͣ̏ͬ̒̌͌́̚͘͝͏̟̞͇̘̤̼̮̤͍͚̫̤͚̰ ̶̧̮̗̣̫͇̦͎̮̤̗͙̗̳͎̺͆̉̈ͭ̽̈́̌̽ͥ̾͑̀̚̚͘͟ͅͅt̸͓͉̩́̓̓ͮ̇̈̆ͣ̀ͪͬ͑̅ͣ̍h̸̡̧ͧ͑̐̂ͥ̄̃̂̄́͋ͨ͑̓̆͋̚͏̸̟̣̤̺͔̘̞̦̖͖̣̺̱̜͔̗̫̰ͅȇ̡͇͎͎̩̮̟̖̖̤̦̜͍̱̇ͨ̃̈́̄̑ͦͭ̚͞ͅ ̛̼̤̟̩̦̻̤̙̥̬̠̩̙̙̱͚͕ͫ͐̏ͥ̄ͧͧͭ̔̆͐̋͘h̶̵̜̤͓̹̰ͣ̄͗́́i̝͕̘̗͉͚̰͓̮͕̣͒̂̒ͨ̽ͫ̎ͪͦ́̕͝ͅv̧̙̞̣̳͍̟̖͚̻̝͈ͧ͊ͫ͋ͩͫ̍͋̏̽ͤ̀͝͞ͅẻ̢͓̣̰͔̟͎̥̻̤̲̟̣̜̄̈́̌͛̌̄͢͞ͅ-̨̡͆̓̌̎̉̑҉͚̝̗m̨̛͎̬͉̯̽ͥͫ̇ͦ̒̿̎́͒́̚͡͠ỉ̧̡͖͙̙͕͔̲ͩ́ͣ͐ͧ͑̊̾̒͑̅͗̊́̎̚n̠̮̜̝̜̤̰̻̘͖̦͚̼ͫ̄͐͗ͣ́͢͜d̡̛̳͕̬̫̯̩͕̰̖̟̲͕͙ͭ̅̓ͥ͛ͨ͒ͯ͌̚ͅͅ ̟̜̳̫͕̺͎̺̲̗̋̐̀͛͑̅̅͛̾̈́̀̚͞͠r̸̯̥͚̟̰͉͎͓̖͉͂̎̅̐ͫͧ͛ͯ͜ë́̎͂̆ͥͩ͟͏̰̤̳͓̩͉̲̣̠͍͔̗̦̬̱̯p̽ͧ͒͗ͣ̿̆̄̑͏̘̜̥̠̜̥̘̲̮̹̤̪̦͕͇͓͞r̴͓̼̺̰̹͙͉̦͚̞̤͕̭̦̈́ͫ̔̂̓̆̒͗͛̿̑̉̿̓ͤ̏̇̀̚͘͘͢é̴̢̛̖̗̖̤ͧ̽͑ͨ̒̌̍ͭ̑̋̃̒ͫ̀͡ş̶͉͚̠̠͇͓̬̙͚̖̝͓͕̤̟́̂̏ͧͩ͌͑͐ͣ͌͌̄̾̿ȩ̢͈̗̝͍ͨ̒͗ͭ̔̈͆ͫ̔ͨ̈́́̊ͣ̃̎̀͝͝n̸̟͔̺̠̺̓̑̏͐ͩͬ̏̈́̌͒́̏ͥ̌̍͊ͧ̀̚͜͞͞tͮ̾͒̇̐ͩ͆̓ͣ҉̢̤͖̩͕̬̮͚͙̖͕̬̘̙͘͠ͅĩ̡̬̙̙̯̩͋̋̄n̡̡̊̐͌ͣ̍̒̽ͩͫ͌ͦ̚͝͏̳̻̞͓̗̹̪̜̘̰̠̟͈̮̲̳̜g̵̎̓́̃ͮ̍̏̈̄ͧ̈́̐̔̏ͤͭͨ҉̛̘̰̘̟̬̝̰̜̗̼ͅͅ ̸̦̞͓̟͉̫͔̦̰̝͈̩̳̞̼̮̩̬͕̿ͩ͗̂̌̐ͭ͟͞c̳̻͚̻̩̻͉̯̄̏͑̋͆̎͐ͬ͑͌́͢h̵͔͈͍͇̪̯͇̞͖͇̜͉̪̪̤̙ͧͣ̓̐̓ͤ͋͒ͥ͑̆͒̓͋̑́͞ǎ̡̮̤̤̬͚̝͙̞͎̇ͧ͆͊ͅo̴̲̺͓̖͖͉̜̟̗̮̳͉̻͉̫̯̫̍̋̿̒͌̃̂͊̏̈̏̿ͧ́ͬ̌ͥ̇̓̀͢͜s̵̵̘̹̜̝̘̺̙̻̠̱͚̤͓͚̠͙̝͕͆̿̽ͥ̃͠͡.̔̈́ͤͣͪ̅̎̄̽ͩͪ͛̓̂̂̑͒҉̤͍͔̲̣̜͕̺͕͇̖͓̺̦̺́̀͢<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Which reads (without the diacritics) as 'To invoke the hive mind representing chaos.'<br />
<br />
The first diacritic is a macron over the ''i'' in "find". In English, this modifies a vowel to be "long". The second diacritic is the normal acute accent for the e in résumé, to make it an é which does belong in ''résumé''. However, the third diacritic he uses is an {{w|Umlaut (linguistics)|umlaut}} on the u making it into ü, which is not part of the word. ''Ü'' typically represents the {{w|close front rounded vowel}} /y/, pronounced similar to the <ee> in "See" but with rounded lips. Ü can be found in languages such as {{w|German language|German}} and {{w|Turkish language|Turkish}}; however, in French ''ü'' is not used in this way since the diacritic-less ''u'' already represents this sound. German has a word spelt as ''Resümee'', but the meaning is not the same but rather conclusions or abstracts.<br />
<br />
Cueball then goes all in on the last e which, like the first e, is supposed to have an acute accent. This e has a {{w|cedilla}} (as in ȩ), a {{w|Ring (diacritic)|ring}} (as in e̊), three acute accents, and is topped off by a {{w|breve}} (as in ĕ). In total, six diacritics are used on this e alone.<br />
<br />
Some languages—notably Vietnamese—{{w|Vietnamese alphabet|can use more than one diacritic per letter}}, but usually only two (for example, ṏ). This is because in Vietnamese diacritics can serve two functions: the aforementioned modifying sound values as well as to indicate {{w|Tone (linguistics)|tone}}. Using multiple diacritics in the comic's fashion makes little sense though it is reminiscent of (the aforementioned) [http://stackoverflow.com/q/6579844/256431 Zalgo text].<br />
<br />
There are also three acute accents over the last period. Diacritics over punctuation is not something that is ever used.<br />
<br />
So for a word that is supposed to have two diacritics, Cueball uses eight, plus three for the period.<br />
<br />
In the title text "not my forté" is supposed to mean that it is not one of Randall's strength or talent. However, to obtain this meaning {{Wiktionary|forte}} should not have an acute diacritic over the e, thus proving Randall's point that it is not his forte to use diacritics. This is a form of {{w|hyperforeignism}}, where people spell loan words or use pronunciations that they believe is more faithful to the language it comes from instead of the "English" one, even though the "English" one is actually more correct. Due to its similarity with other words from French such as café, some people believe that forte is also spelled with a diacritic on the ending E (also note that the word was independently borrowed twice: from French as "a strength" and from Italian as a musical term. Neither usage requires diacritics).<br />
<br />
The title text may be a reference to the ''[[what if|what if?]]'' released a week before this comic, {{what if|145|Fire from moonlight}}, in which note 9 reads, "My résumé says étendue is my forté" (with the same error on "forte"). It is possible that noticing his mistake was the inspiration for this comic. Also {{Wiktionary|étendue}} can be written without the accent as {{Wiktionary|etendue#English|etendue}} and the meaning is only written on this page in the Wiktionary. It means property of the light in an optical system which makes sense in the context of the note. However, it means something different in French where it either refers to size or range as a noun or as a verb is the past participle of {{Wiktionary|étendre#French|étendre}} meaning stretch or spread. The most correct way of writing the sentence he tried to write would only have involved the accent on résumé: "My résumé says etendue is my forte." Thus again making it clear that Randall has it right when he writes: "Using diacritics correctly is not my forté."<br />
<br />
If there actually has been someone who corrected Randall's mistake in the what if?, then there could be an extra pun hidden in the title. Those who criticized Randall's use of accents, would thus become dia''critics''!<br />
<br />
Comic [[1209: Encoding]] also references an absurd use of diacritics, and later a possible movie called ''Combining Diacritical Marks'' was mentioned in [[1857: Emoji Movie]], a direct reference to this comic.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball sitting in front of his lap top typing. The text above him is the one he is typing. The last word résumé has too many diacritics. The u has an umlaut (as in ü) and the last é has no less than six diacritics; a cedilla below (as in ȩ), a ring above (as in e̊ ), then three acute accents above the ring (as in é), and finally they are topped off by a breve (as in ĕ). In addition, ''find'' is spelled ''fīnd'' with a macron over the ''i''. Also, the last full stop has three accents "´" above it:]<br />
<br />
:Cueball (typing): Attached please fīnd my résümȩ̊́́́̆.́́́<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the panel:]<br />
:I usually leave out diacritics when I type, so I make up for it by occasionally adding a whole bunch at once.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Language]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2245:_Edible_Arrangements&diff=2760562245: Edible Arrangements2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2245<br />
| date = December 23, 2019<br />
| title = Edible Arrangements<br />
| image = edible_arrangements.png<br />
| titletext = Any arrangement is an edible arrangement if you're hungry enough.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This is the first of two comics in a row about presents, and it is also the last comic released before {{w|Christmas Day}}. This is the first [[:Category:Christmas|Christmas comic]] of 2019, with [[2246: Christmas Presents]] being the second Christmas comic, released on Christmas Day.<br />
<br />
{{w|Edible Arrangements}} is a company that sells fruit, and other edible items that have been cut and arranged to look like flower bouquets. They can be ordered and sent to a given recipient for a variety of purposes. Flower arrangements are typically not eaten, as showy flowers are so economically inefficient to mass produce that modern culture has forgotten they are edible.{{fact}}<br />
<br />
In the first panel, [[Cueball]] seems to find the concept incongruous, and wonders how it came about. [[Megan]] points out the easy answer: picking out a gift for someone can be difficult, but a tasteful meal is always welcome so long as it's something the recipient can eat safely.<br />
<br />
Shortly afterwards, Megan uses the same incongruity of eating a floral arrangement to make puns. '''Vore of the Roses''' is a play on the '''War of the Roses''', either the {{w|Wars of the Roses|English civil war}} or the 1989 [[imdb:tt0098621|movie]] of the same name. 'Vore' is a word part referring to eating, as in carnivore (meat eater), herbivore (plant eater), voracious (hungry or eating a lot), etc. It's also used on the internet to refer to the Vore fetish, in which one gets sexually excited about the idea of eating or being eaten by someone (not in the metaphorical sense of oral sex, but actually consuming someone whole).<br />
<br />
Cueball is probably in pain because of the bad pun (or perhaps because he doesn't like the idea of food items desiring to be eaten) and says he will cancel the edible arrangement that he had bought for Megan. She tries to convince him otherwise by providing alternative names, which are evidently not any more to his liking, since he has left Megan before she's finished with her suggestions. <br />
<br />
Mouth Blossoms, Juicy Bouquet, and Oral Floral are all combinations referencing the eating of a floral arrangement. In theory, these combinations could be good names for a band, [[1025: Tumblr|or possibly a tumblr blog.]]<br />
<br />
The title text also makes reference to the fact that many flowers that are often found in floral arrangements, such as roses, violets, tulips, daisies, lavender and many more, are items that a human can eat. Such flowers are safe to consume but usually unappetizing; Randall makes the point that if a person is sufficiently hungry and thus doesn't care how appetizing their meal is, any floral arrangement can be eaten. Since he doesn't use flower in the title text, he actually says that if you are hungry enough anything can be eaten. The title text may also be an allusion to a Mitch Hedberg joke: "Any book is a children's book if the kid can read!"<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball and Megan are sitting on opposite sides of a leafless tree. They are silhouetted.]<br />
:Cueball: I don't get how Edible Arrangements is a thing.<br />
<br />
:[Zoomed in on Cueball and Megan leaning against the tree]<br />
:Megan: That's easy &mdash; picking out presents is hard and fruit is delicious.<br />
:Cueball: Yeah, true.<br />
<br />
:[Megan gestures with an open hand]<br />
:Megan: But my question is, why did they call it "Edible Arrangements" and not "Vore of the Roses"?<br />
<br />
:[Pan to just Megan. Megan turns to face Cueball]<br />
:Cueball: Just for that, I'm going to cancel the one I got you.<br />
:Megan: Nooo! I want my Mouth Blossoms! <br />
:Megan: My Juicy Bouquet! My Oral Floral! <br />
:Megan: Hey, come back!<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Christmas]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Food]]<br />
[[Category:Sex]]<br />
[[Category:Furries]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1107:_Sports_Cheat_Sheet&diff=2760571107: Sports Cheat Sheet2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1107<br />
| date = September 12, 2012<br />
| title = Sports Cheat Sheet<br />
| image = sports_cheat_sheet.png<br />
| titletext = I would subscribe to a Twitter feed that supplied you with one reasonable sports opinion per day, like "The Red Sox can't make the playoffs (championship games), but in last night's game their win seriously damaged the chances of the Yankees (longstanding rival team)."<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
[[Randall]] presents a "cheat sheet" which is a handy reference guide for something that is generally expected to be memorized or known by someone familiar with the knowledge domain. Cheat sheets are commonly used in mathematical applications to list important formulas or for measurement conversions; but they may also be used in other applications.<br />
<br />
This cheat sheet allows Randall to figure out what sport other people are arguing over on the basis of the time of year and where the argument is occurring. The chart is based on the annual seasons (periods when the top professional and college leagues play) of each sport.<br />
<br />
In the United States, the chart is divided among {{w|baseball}}, {{w|basketball}} and {{w|American football}}. Hockey is not shown, suggesting that he may not consider hockey a sport to compare with the three listed, he does not encounter arguments about hockey (of the four major professional sports leagues in North America, the {{w|NHL}} is significantly behind the others in terms of attention as its appeal is traditionally limited by geography to Canada and the northern United States), or that he perhaps does not need a chart to determine when the argument is about hockey (they may be obvious for countless reasons, including the physicality of typical hockey confrontations). Also, golf is not shown as well implying Randall may not think it's an important sport. The chart suggests that football is the most popular of the three sports, or at least more popular to argue about (of the four major professional sports leagues in North America, the {{w|NFL}} generally has the most attention).<br />
<br />
The {{w|NFL}} football regular season generally runs from September to December with playoffs in January and early February. Overlapping this period of time, NCAA college football is also occurring, from September to December, with their bowl games in December and January. Almost all of this period, sports arguments are likely to be about football. The {{w|NBA}} basketball regular season runs from late October to mid-April with playoffs in April and into June. {{w|NCAA}} college basketball starts in November but peaks in March with the NCAA Basketball Tournament ([[1819: Sweet 16|March Madness]]). According to the chart, the arguments about basketball don't begin until the football season is over. They continue through the end of April, but start again at the end of May during the playoff finals. The {{w|MLB}} baseball regular season runs from April through September with playoffs in late September and October. When the baseball season begins, arguments shift from the ongoing basketball season to the new baseball season. As mentioned, the NBA Finals create some basketball arguments again for a few weeks. Similarly, the start of the NFL season in September makes it more likely arguments then will be about football. Baseball takes over briefly during the playoffs in October.<br />
<br />
One of the punchlines is that outside the US, all sports arguments are about {{w|association football}} (soccer) all year round. The two types of football are noted on the chart by an icon showing the ball used in each sport.<br />
<br />
The title text continues on the theme of this chart being for someone who doesn't know anything about sports. Randall imagines a {{w|Twitter}} feed where you receive a salient sports opinion each day, presumably so that you could repeat the opinion to your friends and appear knowledgeable about sports. As the feed is for those uninformed about sports, there are clarifications of important terms in brackets.<br />
<br />
The suggested Twitter message mentioned in the title text is accurate for the date of the comic. On September 11, 2012 the baseball team {{w|Boston Red Sox}} played the {{w|New York Yankees}} and won, 4 runs to 3. The Red Sox were already mathematically eliminated from the playoffs (meaning they needed to win more games than remained in the season to qualify). The Yankees were at the top of the standings, but were in a close race for the playoffs with the {{w|Baltimore Orioles}} (both teams had a win-loss record of 79 wins to 62 losses, with 21 games each remaining to play). To be guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, the Yankees had to win more of their remaining games than the Orioles. Losing to the Red Sox made this task harder. (For those wondering, both the Yankees and the Orioles made to the playoffs, but neither made it to the championship round, the World Series.)<br />
<br />
Traditionally, the Red Sox and the Yankees have a {{w|Yankees–Red Sox rivalry|long-standing rivalry}}, especially among fans. Many Red Sox fans consider a loss by the Yankees nearly as good as a win by the Red Sox (and the Red Sox beating the Yankees the best of both worlds). If the Red Sox can't win the World Series, then at least they can help prevent the Yankees from winning it.<br />
<br />
This strip is one of several in which Randall attempts to trivialize sports (see for instance [[904: Sports]], [[1480: Super Bowl]], [[1507: Metaball]] and [[1859: Sports Knowledge]]).<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[A three-column table. Months are arrayed down the first column, the second and third columns show sports, with the divisions in partial months rather than lined up with the ends of months. American football and association football (i.e. soccer) are differentiated by small icons in brackets depicting the respective balls used.]<br />
<br />
:'''Which sport are they arguing about?'''<br />
:-My cheat sheet-<br />
<br />
:[The second column, reproduced using approximate dates.]<br />
:US:<br />
:Football [ovoid ball drawn in brackets]: January 1 - February 10<br />
:Basketball: February 10 - April 20<br />
:Baseball: April 20 - May 25<br />
:Basketball: May 25 - June 15<br />
:Baseball: June 15 - August 20<br />
:Football [ovoid]: August 20 - October 5<br />
:Baseball: October 5 - October 20<br />
:Football [ovoid]: October 20 - December 31<br />
<br />
:[The third column, reproduced using approximate dates.]<br />
:non-US:<br />
:Football [truncated icosahedron, 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons]: January 1 - December 31<br />
<br />
==Trivia==<br />
The idea of a website that supplies sports talking points to non-fans was previously used in a 2008 episode of the sitcom ''{{w|The IT Crowd}}'', which might be where Randall got the idea. There, the site (Bluffball) focused on UK football, and offered the lines "Did you see that ludicrous display last night?", "What was {{w|Arsene Wenger|Wenger}} thinking sending {{w|Theo Walcott|Walcott}} on that early?" and "The trouble with {{w|Arsenal FC|Arsenal}} is they always try and walk it in."<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Charts]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:American football]]<br />
[[Category:Basketball]]<br />
[[Category:Baseball]]<br />
[[Category:Soccer]]<br />
[[Category:Sport]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2351:_Standard_Model_Changes&diff=2760582351: Standard Model Changes2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2351<br />
| date = August 26, 2020<br />
| title = Standard Model Changes<br />
| image = standard_model_changes.png<br />
| titletext = Bugs are spin 1/2 particles, unless it's particularly windy.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
In this comic strip, Randall is proposing some changes to the {{w|Standard Model}} of particle physics. The currently accepted particle table has 17 slots: 12 fermions (first 3 columns of the table - six quarks [top two rows] and six leptons [bottom two rows]) and five bosons (last two columns of the table - four gauge bosons [left hand column] and one scalar boson [right hand column]). <br />
<br />
[[File:1024px-Standard Model of Elementary Particles.svg.png|500px]]<br />
<br />
<br />
This comic consists of a normal version of the particle table to which Randall has made substantial alternations and additions, which are drawn in red over the black and white table.<br />
<br />
While the Standard Model's predictions are very well supported by experiments, the physics community has identified several flaws in it (e.g. it lacks any particles to convey gravity), and so lots of research is committed to searching for "{{w|Physics beyond the Standard Model}}". Some of Randall's changes are sort of intended to fill some of those gaps, but for the most part they are nonsensical (although not quite as much as the [[2301: Turtle Sandwich Standard Model|Turtle Sandwich Standard Model]] or [[1621: Fixion|Fixion]]).<br />
<br />
=== Quarks ===<br />
<br />
Randall's proposed changes to the quarks are relatively restrained -- he proposes only that the "strange" and "charm" names should be moved to bosons, while the strange quark should be renamed the "right quark" and the charm quark should be renamed the "left quark", so that all quarks will have "ordinary" directional names.<br />
<br />
In reality, the original quark model proposed by Murray Gell-Mann included only three quarks, with the "strange" quark so named because the particles that contained them were ''strangely'' long-lived relative to their masses. The "charm" quark was so named when it was proposed because it brought a "charming" symmetry to the weak interaction, which we now understand is because it completes the second generation of quarks, along with the strange quark. When a third generation of quarks was proposed, they were called top and bottom by analogy to the up and down quarks (which are so named because of the {{w|isospin}} they carry), though the names 'truth' and 'beauty' were briefly in competition, and colliders working with B quarks are sometimes even now called "{{w|B-factory|Beauty Factories}}".<br />
<br />
Randall likely applied "left" to "strange" and "right" to "charm" simply due to the placement of the particles in the table: In the American English vernacular, the phrase "left and right" is more common than "right and left", in the same way that "top and bottom" is more common than "bottom and top", and "up and down" is more common than "down and up". So he placed "left" above "right" to match the ordering of the other quark generations.<br />
<br />
=== Leptons ===<br />
While Randall leaves two leptons, the electron and the muon, untouched, he has opted to discard the tau lepton entirely. Each of these three leptons has an associated neutrino; Randall has decided to discard all but the electron neutrino, as he has decided that three are too many neutrino types. He has also replaced the standard symbol for the neutrino, the Greek letter ν (nu), with a capital N, in order to avoid confusion between ν and v, the two letters appearing similar, though this might further be confused with nucleon (particle physicists commonly use N to denote "proton or neutron", and excited states of nucleons are given the symbol N, followed by the mass in parenthesis<ref>https://pdglive.lbl.gov/ParticleGroup.action?init=0&node=BXXX005</ref>) or possibly even with the symbol for Nitrogen (the atomic nucleus with 7 protons and a similar number of neutrons, encountered more in radiology/chemistry as an N, <sub>7</sub>N, <sup>14</sup>N, N<sup>+</sup>, N<sub>2</sub> and other variations).<br />
<br />
In place of one of the neutrinos, Randall has introduced a new elementary particle that supposedly explains the existence of dark matter. The nature of dark matter is one of the most famous mysteries in physics: galaxies seem to have much higher gravity than their detectable matter would account for, yet this mysterious form of matter does not seem to interact with other matter in any other detectable way. Neutrinos are known for rarely interacting with other matter, due to their lack of charge, which could justify Randall's decision, but even the little interaction that neutrinos have with the weak force rules them out as candidates for dark matter. Hypothetical {{w|sterile neutrino}}s could be the source of dark matter, and also for the small but nonzero masses of the familiar neutrinos, but no such particles have yet been identified. Together with the arrow, the only one in the comic that points at the particle's ''box'' rather than the symbol, the triumphant exclamation "We found it!" probably means that the new "dark matter" entry in the table ''is'' the dark matter particle.<br />
<br />
=== Bosons ===<br />
<br />
Randall proposes several new names for existing particles. First, that the {{w|W and Z bosons}} should be renamed to the charm and strange bosons, respectively (taking the names from the quarks), and second, that the {{w|Higgs boson}} should be named the {{w|Vin Diesel}} boson, as he considers {{w|Peter Higgs}}'s name to be too boring to be given to a particle. The Higgs boson is known in the popular press (to the chagrin of many physicists, including Higgs) as "{{w|The God Particle (book)|The God Particle}}", which is certainly a flashy name, but which itself was changed by the editors of the book of the same name from its authors' originally-intended title: The ''Goddamn'' Particle.<br />
<br />
Randall inserts the graviton, a purely theoretical particle, noting that its inclusion is "probably fine". While the graviton has never been observed, it is occasionally included in diagrams of the standard model to show its hypothetical place, which likely convinced Randall to do the same. Here it is shown below the Higgs boson, implying to be a scalar boson, though it is theoretically a 2nd-order tensor boson (with a spin of 2) and is usually given its own column.<br />
<br />
Randall also proposes that a false decoy "Magic" particle should be added to the Standard Model, to trip up promoters of {{w|quantum mysticism}}. Presumably, anyone who invokes this particle to support their claims will expose themselves as a fraud, much as cartographers will print {{w|trap street}}s on their maps to catch plagiarism.<br />
<br />
Finally, Randall adds "Cool bugs" as a fundamental particle, with an explanation of "Very small bugs are fundamental particles now".<br />
<br />
The title text builds on the "Cool bugs" entry, joking about what spin bugs would have if they were a fundamental particle.<br />
<br />
==Table==<br />
The title text references {{w|Spin (physics)|quantum spin number}}, a property of particles in physics that bears similarities to actual spinning. Although the cool bugs particle is put in the {{w|scalar boson}} group with spin 0, Randall states that it instead has spin 1/2, like a fermion. It is thus not clear whether cool bugs obey the {{w|Pauli exclusion principle}} or not. Unique among elemental particles, cool bugs are affected by wind, which can change their spin.<br />
<br />
Changes highlighted in <span style="color:#e31f22">red</span>.<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
! Particle !! Symbol !! Actual particle !! Actual symbol !! Explanation<br />
|-<br />
| Up quark || u || {{w|Up quark}} || u || No change.<br />
|-<br />
| <span style="color:#e31f22">Left</span> quark || <span style="color:#e31f22">l</span> || {{w|Charm quark}} || c || Randall is continuing the pattern of naming quarks after directions. This wouldn't work well with [[474: Turn-On]] unfortunately. The charm quark was named due to bringing a "charming symmetry" to the weak interaction, completing the second generation of quarks.<br />
|-<br />
| Top quark || t || {{w|Top quark}} || t || No change.<br />
|-<br />
| Gluon || g || {{w|Gluon}} || g || No change.<br />
|-<br />
| <span style="color:#e31f22">Vin Diesel</span> boson || <span style="color:#e31f22">V</span> || {{w|Higgs boson}} || H || {{w|Peter Higgs}} is a British theoretical physicist who predicted the existence of scalar bosons, particles with spin 0. Randall suggests that the Higgs boson needs a flashier name and proposes to rechristen it the "Vin Diesel boson", named after American actor {{w|Vin Diesel|Mark Sinclair}}, who has nothing to do with physics.{{Citation needed}}<br />
|-<br />
| Down quark || d || {{w|Down quark}} || d || No change.<br />
|-<br />
| <span style="color:#e31f22">Right</span> quark || <span style="color:#e31f22">r</span> || {{w|Strange quark}} || s || Randall is suggesting this name to match the charm (now left) quark. Particles containing this quark were considered "strangely long-lived". <br />
|-<br />
| Bottom quark || b || {{w|Bottom quark}} || b || No change.<br />
|-<br />
| Photon || γ || {{w|Photon}} || γ || No change.<br />
|-<br />
| <span style="color:#e31f22">Graviton</span> || <span style="color:#e31f22">G</span> || {{w|Graviton}} (Hypothetical) || G || The graviton is a hypothetical particle which mediates the force of {{w|gravity}}. Randall is taking a very breezy point of view, stating that it would probably be fine to include it, even though its existence has not been confirmed yet. It is not recommended to act this way, though many do.{{Citation needed}}<br />
|-<br />
| Electron || e || {{w|Electron}} || e || No change.<br />
|-<br />
| Muon || µ || {{w|Muon}} || µ || No change.<br />
|-<br />
| <span style="color:#e31f22">(no one needs Tau leptons)</span> || (none) || {{w|Tau (particle)|Tau lepton}} || τ || The tau lepton is a lepton with average lifetime much shorter than the electron or the muon. Randall apparently considers this particle redundant and states "No one needs tau leptons".<br />
|-<br />
| <span style="color:#e31f22">Strange</span> boson || <span style="color:#e31f22">S</span> || {{w|Z boson}} || Z || The Z boson is one of two particles (three, counting the W boson's different charges) that mediate the {{w|weak force}}, named for having '''z'''ero charge. Randall suggests the strange quark's name would be better suited for this particle.<br />
|-<br />
| <span style="color:#e31f22">Magic</span> || <span style="color:#e31f22">M</span> || (none) || (none) || Randall suggests a "magic" particle as a decoy to trip up {{rw|quantum_woo|quantum woo}} promoters in order to expose them as the frauds they are.<br />
|-<br />
| Electron neutrino || <span style="color:#e31f22">N</span><sub>e</sub> || {{w|Electron neutrino}} || ν<sub>e</sub> || Randall is annoyed by the similarity of the Greek lowercase nu (ν) and the lowercase V (v). Interestingly Randall leaves the "electron" part of its name and the subscript E of its symbol, even though he has eliminated the other neutrinos.<br />
|-<br />
| <span style="color:#e31f22">(too many neutrinos)</span> || (none) || {{w|Muon neutrino}} || ν<sub>µ</sub> || Randall thinks one neutrino is enough, and to be honest, who can argue with him?<br />
|-<br />
| <span style="color:#e31f22">Dark Matter</span> || D || {{w|Tau neutrino}} || ν<sub>τ</sub> || {{w|Dark matter}} is thought to make up most of the universe's matter. Randall claims to have found it; replacing the tau neutrino with it. This could easily be the most abundant particle in the universe.<br />
|-<br />
| <span style="color:#e31f22">Charm</span> boson || <span style="color:#e31f22">C</span> || {{w|W boson}} || W || The other mediator of the '''w'''eak force. Randall is suggesting that it would suit the charm name more than the charm quark.<br />
|-<br />
| <span style="color:#e31f22">Cool bugs</span> || 🐞 || (none) || (none) || Randall has decreed that extremely small bugs are fundamental particles. Bugs in reality are several orders of magnitude larger than any of the other known particles.{{Citation needed}} They would not make a good elementary particle{{Citation needed}} for a number of extremely obvious reasons{{Citation needed}} and would make physics pretty frightening to some people.{{Citation needed}} Randall uses the insect emoji as the symbol of the cool bugs particle.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[A chart of the Standard Model of particle physics with red marks all over the chart.]<br /><br />
:Changes I would make to the Standard Model<br />
<br />
:[In reading order:]<br/><br />
:u up, connected to the down quark below.<br /><br />
:c charm, connected to the strange quark below, in faded gray with a red l left written over it. Above is a red note with an arrow pointing to the :charm quark. The note reads,<br /><br />
:Consistent quark names (use "strange" and "charm" for bosons)<br /><br />
:t top, connected to the bottom quark below.<br /><br />
:g gluon<br /><br />
:H Higgs, in faded gray with a red V Vin Diesel writted over it. To the right is a red note with an arrow pointing to the Higgs boson, which reads,<br /><br />
:With all respect to Peter H, the Higgs boson needs a flashier name<br /><br />
<br />
:d down, connected to the up quark above.<br /><br />
:s strange, connected to the charm quark above, in faded gray with a red r right written over it.<br /><br />
:b bottom, connected to the top quark above.<br /><br />
:γ photon<br /><br />
:G graviton, in red with a red border. To the right is a red note with an arrow pointing to the graviton, which reads,<br /><br />
:Let's just include it, it's probably fine<br /><br />
<br />
:e electron, connected to the electron neutrino below.<br /><br />
:µ muon, connected in faded gray to the muon neutrino below, with red rounded corners cutting it off.<br /><br />
:τ tau, connected to the tau neutrino below, in faded gray with a red scribble over it. On the tau lepton is a red note which reads,<br /><br />
:No one needs tau leptons<br /><br />
:Z Z boson, with the Z symbol and the Z in the name in faded gray. The symbol has a red s written over it and the Z in the name is scribbled out in :red. The word strange is written in red between the symbol and the name.<br /><br />
:M magic, in red with a red border. To the right is a red note with an arrow pointing to the magic particle, which reads,<br /><br />
:Decoy particle for people making nonsense claims about "quantum" philosophy stuff<br /><br />
<br />
:v e electron neutrino, with the e as a subscript of the v, connected to the electron above. The v is in faded gray and a red N with a circle around it is written on it. Below is a red note with an arrow pointing to the electron neutrino, which reads,<br /><br />
:Fix neutrino symbol so I stop mixing up ν and v<br /><br />
:v μ muon neutrino, with the µ as a subscript of the v, connected to the muon above, in faded gray with a red scribble over it. On the muon neutrino is a red note which reads,<br /><br />
:Too many neutrinos<br /><br />
:v τ tau neutrino, with the τ as a subscript of the v, connected to the tau lepton above, in faded gray. Written over it is a D dark matter in red with a red border. Below the tau neutrino is a red note with an arrow pointing to it, which reads,<br /><br />
:We found it!<br /><br />
:W W boson, with the W symbol and the W in the name in faded gray. The symbol has a red c written over it and the W in the name is scribbled out in red. The word charm is written in red between the symbol and the name.<br /><br />
:🐞 cool bugs, in red with a red border. To the right is a red note with an arrow pointing to cool bugs, which reads,<br /><br />
:Very small bugs are fundamental particles now<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Physics]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2473:_Product_Launch&diff=2760592473: Product Launch2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2473<br />
| date = June 7, 2021<br />
| title = Product Launch<br />
| image = product_launch.png<br />
| titletext = "Okay, that was weird, but the product reveal was normal. I think the danger is pas--" "One more thing." "Oh no."<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
Three people are discussing the upcoming public announcement of their company's new product, apparently an electronic device shown on the pedestal between them. Hairy mentions that smart devices can make people uncomfortable. Common reasons include:<br />
<br />
* It is impossible for consumers to know what the device is really doing (since it is a "black box" with inaccessible software).<br />
* The device could stop working in the future due to poor quality or software problems;<br />
* The device could be used to spy on its owner or others, including ones who did not consent to this by purchasing the device.<br />
* The device could represent a security or even safety risk by allowing hackers or other groups access to the network or any systems that the device controls.<br />
* The device could significantly alter the life of the user via digital addiction.<br />
<br />
To allay these concerns, the device should be presented as non-threatening. Cueball asks to confirm the '''non''', implying that this was not clear to him before. In fact, it even appears he thought he was being asked to put together a ''threatening'' presentation, but does not explain.<br />
<br />
Later, Cueball presents the device on-stage, with statements that have been styled to sound positive but carry double meanings. The subtlety of the changes in tone could make them harder to discuss for many.<br />
<br />
* He confirms that the product can "change the world for good or evil" (most would merely claim that their new product is good, or will change the world).<br />
* The "plaintive cries of [the company's] customers"; those cries may be because of the company's actions rather than customer demands for a new product.<br />
* The company wants to "give [customers] what they deserve," a phrase often associated with judgments that are as likely to punish as to reward.<br />
* Instead of being merely uncovered, the product is being exposed to the atmosphere (implying a chemical or physical reaction) and is to affect customers within five city blocks (nearly 1 km). This is further than common smart devices (using wireless technologies such as WiFi or Bluetooth) would reach. Worse, this event is supposed to be surprising, unlike, for example, the sudden availability of a new long-distance radio network.<br />
* When someone in the audience decides to leave in the middle of the presentation, Cueball reassures them that a "staggering" large number of people will survive; this is usually considered true of non-military fair-trade product launches,{{fact}} but this is also not a reassuring way to phrase that fact. Plus, there is no assertion that the "staggering" number is in fact 100%, which is the survival rate for most product launches.{{fact}}<br />
<br />
In the title text, someone is saying that the actual reveal was uneventful. Cueball interrupts, implying that there is one last feature to demonstrate, at which point the first speaker assumes the worst (that the product's most threatening aspect was saved for last).<br />
<br />
Besides the main joke of a product that is likely so unsafe as to be illegal, the comic could also be poking fun at the desire of tech companies to make their products sound important, which can undermine the message of benign safety.<br />
<br />
This comic was released on the day of Apple's 2021 WWDC (Worldwide Developer Conference) keynote, at which the company traditionally announces new features and products. "One more thing" is a tagline famously associated with Steve Jobs' product announcements and something of an Apple tradition.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
<br />
:[Hairy and Ponytail are standing to the left of a wrapped object. Cueball is standing on the right.]<br />
:Hairy: The press is here for the product launch!<br />
:Hairy: Remember, people are wary of smart devices, so we want to strike a non-threatening tone.<br />
<br />
:[Pan over to just Cueball; Hairy and Ponytail are off of the left side of the panel.]<br />
:Cueball: Hang on, did you say '''''non'''''-threatening?<br />
:Hairy: Yes. Why-<br />
:Cueball: Nothing. It's probably fine.<br />
<br />
:[Caption: Soon...]<br />
:[Cueball is standing on a platform next to the previously seen wrapped object.]<br />
:Cueball: They say technology can change the world, for good or for evil. Our new product will show how true that is.<br />
:Cueball: We hear the plaintive cries of our customers. We want to give them what they deserve.<br />
<br />
:[Zoom in on Cueball, who has his hand up in a gesture.]<br />
:Cueball: Now, let us expose our product to the atmosphere for the first time, surprising and delighting customers within a five-block radius.<br />
:(Voice off-panel): I'm leaving.<br />
:Cueball: No, don't worry! A staggering number of people will survive!<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]<br />
[[Category:Artificial Intelligence]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2264:_Satellite&diff=2760602264: Satellite2022-05-23T18:33:30Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2264<br />
| date = February 5, 2020<br />
| title = Satellite<br />
| image = satellite.png<br />
| titletext = If you're going to let it burn up, make sure it happens over the deep end of the bathtub and not any populated parts of the house!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This comic humorously compares the relationship between humans and {{w|satellites}} to the relationship between humans and {{w|pet}}s. "He followed me home, can we keep him?" is a stock phrase said by children pleading with their parents to keep a "found" animal as a pet. The stock response is to admonish the child to look after the pet's needs, especially the less fun ones, like cleaning up after the pet. In this comic, [[Science Girl]] wishes to adopt an "abandoned" satellite, but rather than being asked to clean up after the satellite's waste, she is lectured by her parents on how to properly discard it once it stops working. This would be like saying "you have to promise to bury the dog in the backyard when it dies, not leave its corpse to decompose in the dining room like the last one," which is not how most pet-adoption conversations go.{{Citation needed}}<br />
<br />
A {{w|graveyard orbit}} is an orbit far away from operational satellites. Graveyard orbits are used when a satellite is far enough away from the Earth that de-orbiting it into Earth's atmosphere is too expensive to be practical. The most widely-used graveyard orbit is approximately 300 km above {{w|geostationary orbit}}; a satellite at the end of its life will briefly accelerate to move further away from Earth, so Science Girl's parents refer to "boosting" the satellite into a graveyard orbit.<br />
<br />
{{w|Kessler syndrome}} is a proposed scenario in which satellite collision(s) produce many pieces of orbiting space junk, which then hit other satellites and create even more pieces of junk, which hit more satellites, and so on. In this scenario Earth becomes surrounded by so much man-made debris that the risk of a collision makes space activities difficult. Apparently Science Girl has recreated this scenario before in her parents' home, requiring extensive cleanup of the dining room and making it unusable for weeks. Kessler syndrome was the premise of the movie ''{{w|Gravity_(2013_film)|Gravity}}'', where the collision of two satellites produces pieces of shrapnel that go on to tear apart other satellites including the {{w|International Space Station}} and a {{w|Space Shuttle}}. A variation of Kessler syndrome was the focus of the first part of the {{w|Neal Stephenson}} novel ''{{w|Seveneves}}'', where cascading collisions of fragments of the moon led to natural and artificial debris field around the Earth.<br />
<br />
The title text is more advice from Science Girl's parents. They tell her that if she is going to let her satellite reenter the atmosphere and burn up, she should do it above the deep end of the bathtub. This echoes how satellites in orbit can be purposefully de-orbited, and are usually planned so that any debris that isn't fully destroyed lands in the ocean and does not pose a safety risk. When it is possible, satellites are generally directed towards the South Pacific Ocean Uninhabited Area, commonly known as the "{{w|spacecraft graveyard}}", to land over a thousand miles away from any populated landmass.<br />
<br />
Abandoned satellites were in the news recently, as two defunct satellites [https://www.space.com/no-satellite-crash-of-space-junk-iras-ggse-4.html had a near miss] on January 29, 2020, the week before this comic strip was published. This is becoming more of an issue, especially in Low Earth Orbit, as more and more satellites are built, and old satellites go defunct.<br />
<br />
Humans orbited by satellites were previously featured in [[1300: Galilean Moons]]; here, of course, the satellites were natural satellites, i.e. moons.<br />
<br />
An alternative reading is that the characters are actually planet-sized creatures around which the discarded debris of primitive lifeforms, carelessly sent into space, orbits. Saturn happens to have a density less than that of water, so it could conceivably float in a suitably-sized bathtub.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Science Girl is facing Cueball and Megan. A small satellite orbits her, indicated by a tilted circle around her at about neck height. The satellite is between her and her parents.]<br />
:Science Girl: Hey, look, I found a satellite! Can I keep it? Please?<br />
:Cueball: Sweetie, no.<br />
:Megan: Put it back where you found it.<br />
<br />
:[Zoom in on Science Girl who looks straight out of the panel, the satellite is passing by her ear with the circle going behind her. The satellite is detailed in this zoom in. There is a central main part of the satellite, almost square, with a small protrusion at the "top" and two small lines (antennae) at the "bottom." Two solar panels extend on either side, each longer than the central part.]<br />
:Science Girl: But I think it was abandoned!<br />
:Science Girl: And it's so cute!<br />
:Science Girl: Please?<br />
:Science Girl: ''Pleeeease?''<br />
<br />
:[Back to all three again, Science Girl has her arms raised above her head. The satellite is beneath her head.]<br />
:Megan: Fine. But you have to promise to boost it to a graveyard orbit when it stops working. Don't just leave it drifting around.<br />
:Science Girl: Yaaaay!<br />
<br />
:[Same setting as in the first panel, so Science Girl has lowered her arms.]<br />
:Cueball: We're serious. I am '''''not''''' cleaning up after Kessler syndrome again.<br />
:Megan: We couldn't use the dining room for ''weeks!''<br />
:Science Girl: I promise, I promise.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Science Girl]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Space probes]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=LiveJournal&diff=276030LiveJournal2022-05-23T18:33:29Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1224:_Council_of_300&diff=2760181224: Council of 3002022-05-23T18:33:28Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2323:_Modeling_Study&diff=2760192323: Modeling Study2022-05-23T18:33:28Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2323<br />
| date = June 22, 2020<br />
| title = Modeling Study<br />
| image = modeling_study.png<br />
| titletext = You've got questions, we've got assumptions.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
In this comic, a humorous comparison is drawn between two common types of scientific studies: {{w|empirical research}}, where an experiment is designed to test a scientific theory, and {{w|mathematical modeling}}, where mathematical formulations are produced to predict how physical systems behave under given circumstances. In empirical studies, hard questions about the limitations of existing theory tend to be addressed in the abstract, which is the brief summary of the paper that is presented at the beginning of most scientific articles. In modeling studies, assumptions based on existing theory are built into the model, and any problems associated with these assumptions tend to be discussed in the methods section, which outlines the design of an experiment in the case of an empirical study, or how the model was designed and the reasoning behind the choices made in the case of a modeling study. In the empirical study, the proverbial "big red problem box" is stated up-front where everyone who finds the paper will read it, while in the modeling study, it's buried in the middle of the paper, where it's less likely to be read.<br />
<br />
The caption opens like a typical statement in favor of modeling studies, "A mathematical model is a powerful tool for taking hard problems," but while a researcher who works with models might go on to say "...and breaking them down," or "...and studying them in ways that would be impractical for empirical studies," Randall concludes that they can't actually make hard problems any easier. His title text, "You've got questions, we've got assumptions," plays on the slogan of the now-defunct electronics chain Radio Shack of "You've got questions, we've got answers" by pointing out that any answers provided are built on assumptions by the modelers. In other words, {{w|garbage in, garbage out}}.<br />
<br />
Randall doesn't call this a [[:Category:Tips|"tip"]], but it does fit in with his [[:Category:Science tip|science tip]] in [[2311: Confidence Interval]], namely, that "If your model is bad enough, the confidence intervals will fall outside the printable area." Much as that tip suggests that a model's results can be made to look more impressive by hiding the error bounds outside the printed area of a graph, this comic strip suggests that acknowledgments of problems can be moved to less-trafficked parts of the paper by switching from empirical to modeling studies.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
<br />
:[There are two columns.]<br />
<br />
:[The column on the left is a piece of paper labeled "Empirical Study". The paper consists of the sections "Abstract", "Introduction", "Methods", "Results", and "Discussion". Each section consists of several horizontal lines meant to represent blocks of text. All sections except "Abstract" have gray, dulled text, while "Abstract" has fully black text to separate it from the other sections. In the middle of the "Abstract" section, there is a large red rectangle. Inside this rectangle is the word "Problem" in large red letters.]<br />
<br />
:[The column on the right is a piece of paper labeled "Modeling Study". It consists of the same sections with the same highlighting, but the large red rectangle with the word "Problem" is in the "Methods" section instead of the "Abstract" section. Because of this, it is dulled to match the rest of the "Methods" section.]<br />
<br />
:[There is a curvy black arrow pointing from the red box in the paper on the left to the red box in the paper on the right.]<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the panel:]<br />
:A mathematical model is a powerful tool for taking hard problems and moving them to the methods section.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Science]]<br />
[[Category:Math]]<br />
[[Category:Research Papers]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1367:_Installing&diff=2760201367: Installing2022-05-23T18:33:28Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1367<br />
| date = May 12, 2014<br />
| title = Installing<br />
| image = installing.png<br />
| titletext = But still, my scheme for creating and saving user config files and data locally to preserve them across reinstalls might be useful for--wait, that's cookies.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This comic refers to the kind of "inventions" which seem new from the point of view of a {{w|smartphone}} (handheld {{w|computer}}) user, but have already been around for a long time on desktop or {{w|laptop}}/notebook computers.<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]] has a clever idea to skip the installing of applications on mobile phones: he would host the applications online instead, and provide links to the servers. The apps wouldn't stay on the phone all the time; instead the phone would download each app again every time the user wanted to run it.<br />
<br />
However, web pages and {{w|web application}}s already work like this. Clicking a link will make the browser download a web page and render {{w|HTML|HTML code}} and {{w|JavaScript}} that it links to.<br />
<br />
The page usually isn't saved long-term on the user's computer; instead the browser downloads it again when needed. {{w|HTML5}} does however offer the option of {{w|Cache_manifest_in_HTML5|caching web application files locally}} so it can remain operational when there is no network connection.<br />
<br />
In the title text, Cueball's idea for local application storage already exists in the HTTP protocol as {{w|HTTP cookie|cookies}}. The more flexible {{w|Web storage|web storage}} was originally part of the HTML5 specification, but it's now in a separate specification.<br />
<br />
Native phone applications and web applications are not completely interchangeable. Web applications may not allow access to more advanced or platform-specific resources. Projects like {{w|Apache Cordova}} make these resources available to web applications by creating a native application wrapper for the web application.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball and Megan are standing next to each other.]<br />
:Cueball: Installing things has gotten so fast and painless.<br />
:Cueball: Why not skip it entirely, and make a phone that has every app "installed" already and just downloads and runs them on the fly?<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the panel:]<br />
:I felt pretty clever until I realized I'd invented webpages.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Computers]]<br />
[[Category:Smartphones]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1944:_The_End_of_the_Rainbow&diff=2760211944: The End of the Rainbow2022-05-23T18:33:28Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1944<br />
| date = January 19, 2018<br />
| title = The End of the Rainbow<br />
| image = the_end_of_the_rainbow.png<br />
| titletext = The retina is the exposed surface of the brain, so if you think about a pot of gold while looking at a rainbow, then there's one at BOTH ends.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
[[Megan]] appears to reference the myth that at the end of every {{w|rainbow}} lies a {{w|leprechaun}}'s pot of gold. Instead of claiming that leprechauns and their gold don't exist, [[Cueball]] offers the refutation that, technically, {{w|File:Circular_rainbow.jpg|rainbows are circles}}, so they do not have an end. This is true for an idealised rainbow, and for some actual rainbows: if the viewer has an unobstructed view of the light-reflecting substance creating the effect for the whole of the circle's circumference, they could see a full circle. In practice, the circle is often broken by the horizon or, for example, discontinuity in cloud cover.<br />
<br />
However, Megan counters that if one considers the path that light takes to form a rainbow, then it forms a two-cone structure, where the Sun (the vertex of the outer cone) emits light rays that move towards the Earth (forming the faces of the outer cone), then reflect off water droplets located at just the right angle (the circular base) to reach our eyes (the vertex of the inner cone). Thus, such a rainbow structure ''can'' be said to have "ends", represented by the vertices of the two cones: one at the eye of the viewer, and another at the light source (usually the sun).<br />
A common rainbow (which base is formed by a water droplets in the Earth's atmosphere) can not be viewed as that. The Sun's diameter is orders of magnitude greater than Earth's one (even including the outer layers of the atmosphere), and we would expect the apex of a cone to be much smaller than its base. Thus a two-cone rainbow which starts in Sun shall have its base formed in the outer space.<br />
<br />
Megan then says that the Sun is indeed a pot of gold. The Sun is approximately [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/sunfact.html 1.989 × 10<sup>30</sup> (1 nonillion 989 octillion) kilograms], and its abundance of gold is approximately [http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-iarticle_query?1968PASAu...1..133A&data_type=PDF_HIGH&filetype=.pdf&type=PRINTER&whole_paper=YES 0.3 parts per trillion] (ed: this value is incorrect - values in the paper are not in ppt - see comments below). Based on these numbers, the sun contains 5.967 × 10<sup>17</sup> (596 quadrillion 700 trillion) kilograms of gold. This equates to 5.967 × 10<sup>14</sup> (596 trillion 700 billion) metric tons of gold. As such, Megan's statement that the sun contains "quintillions of tons of gold" is off by a factor of roughly 4000, but the amount of gold within the sun is, nonetheless, far more than a pot's worth.{{Citation needed}}<br />
<br />
The amount of water in the oceans is about [https://phys.org/news/2014-12-percent-earth.html 1.35 × 10<sup>18</sup> (1 quintillion 350 quadrillion) metric tons]. If we assume that Megan is still talking in terms of mass rather than volume or molecule count, then her next statement (that there is more gold in the sun than water in the oceans) would have been true had she been correct in her previous claim, but in fact there is more sea-water than sun-gold by a factor of roughly 2300.<br />
<br />
Cueball then asks about leprechauns (perhaps ironically, since Megan's theory at this point appears to involve astronomy/physics, not mythical creatures/beings). Megan replies that the leprechauns all died when the Sun formed, building on the irony of Cueball's question (& opening questions about the role of leprechauns in the early formation of our solar system).<br />
<br />
The title text suggests that, since the pot of gold exists as an idea in the brains of people thinking about it, and the retina is the foremost part of the brain for light perception, it can be argued that, in addition to existing in the sun as the comic explains, the gold (and leprechauns) also exist at the perceiver's end of the cone, as long as they are thinking about a pot of gold at the time (and then it's gone as soon as they stop thinking about it). Many neurologists would agree with the concept that ideas in your mind can be said to be physically located in your brain. However, this seems to go further, and suggest an {{w|Idealism|idealist}} ontological position, that things, in this case a pot of gold, exist by virtue of our having an idea of them.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
<br />
:[Megan and Cueball are walking.]<br />
:Megan: There's a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.<br />
:Cueball: Rainbows are circles. They have no end.<br />
:Megan: Not quite!<br />
<br />
:[In a borderless panel, a multi-part graphic is shown depicting what Megan is describing off-panel: a short cone inside a longer cone, with the longer cone having its point starting at the Sun, the shorter cone having its point at a miniature Cueball's head, and both cones sharing the same circular base. The diagram is repeated from 3 different perspectives to make the structure easier to grasp.]<br />
:Megan (off-panel): A '''rainbow''' is light leaving the Sun, bouncing off the clouds, and converging on your eye. It's an inside-out two-ended cone.<br />
<br />
:[Megan and Cueball are still walking.]<br />
:Megan: One end of that cone is your retina.<br />
<br />
:[A wider view of the same scene, with Megan and Cueball walking on a dark ground.]<br />
:Megan: The other end is the Sun—which contains quintillions of tons of gold. There's more gold in the Sun than water in the oceans.<br />
:Cueball: So there ''is'' a pot of gold!<br />
:Cueball: What about leprechauns?<br />
:Megan: All incinerated as the sun formed. Very sad.<br />
<br />
==Trivia==<br />
<br />
As of January 19, 2017, the value of gold is 42,692.98 USD per kilogram. Based on this, all of the gold in the sun is worth 2.5474901 × 10^22 (25 sextillion 474 quintillion 901 quadrillion) USD. Of course, if you tried to sell the gold in the sun, the market would be saturated and the value of gold would plummet astronomically. You would never be able to cash out.<br />
<br />
The idea that the Sun is valuable in monetary terms is also present in [[1622: Henge]].<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics_featuring_Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics_featuring_Cueball]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2499:_Abandonment_Function&diff=2760222499: Abandonment Function2022-05-23T18:33:28Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2499<br />
| date = August 6, 2021<br />
| title = Abandonment Function<br />
| image = abandonment function.png<br />
| titletext = Remember to only adopt domesticated drones that specifically request it. It's illegal to collect wild ones under the Migratory Drone Treaty Act.<br />
| imagesize =<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This is another one of [[Randall|Randall's]] [[:Category:Tips|Tips]], this time a Tech Tip.<br />
<br />
{{W|abandoned_pets|Pet abandonment}} is a situation of concern among biological pets, and is part of the reason there are animal rescue organizations providing for adoption in most regions. Since drones are automated, they can be programmed to have an automatic abandonment function.<br />
<br />
In reality, this "abandonment function" is the norm that things left outside homes are {{w|free box|often considered gifts}} for any passersby who would like them. Hence, following the instructions in the webcomic may result in one's drone disappearing for a new owner, but not for the reason depicted.<br />
<br />
With the drone responsible for flying to find its own new owner, one can possibly imagine it becoming more and more "fervent" as its charge runs down, to prevent the accumulation of derelict drones in the streets.<br />
<br />
Triggering abandonment based on extended close proximity to the device's own controller could produce issues such as accidental activation, or malicious activation by a party who could send the proximity signal from a great distance, possibly to many drones at once, via {{W|software defined radio}}. It is, however, more likely that being left consciously uncontrolled for an extended period is the actual trigger, with the attachment of the controller being more a direct courtesy to the next adoptive-owner, and/or preventing the loss of carrier signal that would instead activate whatever auto-homing (i.e. return-to-launch-point) behavior the more sophisticated drones may use if ever beyond their pre-programmed flight parameters.<br />
<br />
The concept of there being "wild" vs "domesticated" drones rings again both of wildlife and pets, and of new intelligent software providing for drones acting on their own. In the latter case, protection for "wild" drones could imply many things about the role of artificial intelligence in society. Did we organize the wild drones to obey our laws, or are we protecting them in fear of being punished by their superior power? A foreign military drone could also be considered a wild drone.<br />
<br />
But more likely [[Randall]] is imagining flocks of abandoned drones, fending for themselves, traveling distances as they survive off of seasonally-dependent charging resources. This is similar to the behavior of birds, which are protected (in the U.S.) by the real-world {{W|Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918}}. Aggressive flocks of drones was used in [[1630: Quadcopter]] and drones has become a [[:Category:Drones|recurring theme]] on xkcd, where also training of drones as a pet has been the subject in [[1881: Drone Training]].<br />
<br />
This idea of protecting drones is analogous to the anomaly that misbehaving drones have not been well tracked by law enforcement: https://observer.com/2020/01/drone-flock-mystery-baffling-authorities/ . If computer viruses continue to evolve, wild drones could indeed evolve too, as they are directed by software, but usually a human being or organization is considered to be somewhere at the helm (separately) of both computer viruses and drones.<br />
<br />
The idea that a drone may choose of its own volition whether to find a new owner or join a wild flock is a little similar to the situation for abandoned pets.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[A multi-Rotor drone is seen flying though the air from left to right. Tied below the drones main body is the drone's own remote controller. Movement lines behind drone indicate a wavery flight path. A voice emanates from the drone:]<br />
:Drone: Hi, I'm yours now! Please charge me!<br />
:Drone: Hi, I'm yours now! Please charge me!<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the panel:]<br />
:Tech Tip: If you ever get tired of a toy drone, tie the controller to it and set it outside. Its abandonment function will activate and it will find a new home.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Tips]]<br />
[[Category:Drones]]<br />
[[Category:Artificial Intelligence]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1974:_Conversational_Dynamics&diff=2760231974: Conversational Dynamics2022-05-23T18:33:28Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1974<br />
| date = March 30, 2018<br />
| title = Conversational Dynamics<br />
| image = conversational_dynamics.png<br />
| titletext = "You should make it so people can search for and jump into hundreds of conversations at once if they want." "Ooh, good idea! I imagine only the most well-informed people with the most critical information to share will use that feature."<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
On the modern World Wide Web (usually coined as {{w|Web 2.0}}, in contrast to the {{w|Web_2.0#"Web_1.0"|original web}} envisioned and created by {{w|Tim Berners-Lee}}), particularly on {{w|Internet forum|internet forums}} (like the [http://forums.xkcd.com/ xkcd forums]), a pervasive issue is that forum users with strong opinions but little interest in fruitful discussion will often interject themselves into all conversations that are related to their area of interest; examples include [[:Category:Conspiracy theory|conspiracy theorists]], {{w|Political extremism|political extremists}}, and {{w|Internet troll|trolls}}. This counterproductive behavior is not feasible in real life, where conversations happen locally and synchronously and one must be physically present in order to participate. In this sense, it is enabled by Internet forum technology. In forums that have search features, it is even easier for these problematic users to identify and target large numbers of threads rapidly. The field of [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25988263 conversational dynamics] studies the interpersonal processes underlying dialog between people, and this is an example of how changing the mode of communication can negatively impact productive "conversational dynamics" (hence the title).<br />
<br />
In this satirical comic, [[Randall]] imagines the inventor of the modern web, here depicted as [[Cueball]], correctly anticipating that anyone will be able to inject their opinion into any conversation. When he tells [[White Hat]] about it, White Hat's comment, either sarcastic or very naive, interprets this as a benefit as he is willing to bet that this will not lead to any ''unhealthy'' [conversational] ''dynamics''. In the best case, naive scenario, the web enables broader participation by helpful users with relevant information, in the real world it rather turned out as a potential problem as described above with trolls and conspirators overtaking many online forums. Note that in contrast to what the comic depicts, there is no single person or group who created the foundation of the modern web, unlike the original web where there is an identifiable person. <br />
<br />
In the title text, White Hat suggests to Cueball to add a search feature that will enable these "helpful" users to be even ''more'' helpful by enabling them to jump into not just one conversation at a time, but into hundreds of conversations simultaneously. This may be referring to free, anonymous chat sites like {{w|4Chan}} or possibly {{w|Discord_(software)|Discord}}. Whether White Hat is again sarcastic or just even more naive, Cueball immediately jumps to the conclusion that this will be an even better idea than his own, and continues to envision a system where "only the most well-informed people with the most critical information to share will use that feature." <br />
<br />
In reality, as any modern user of Internet forums would be aware, both of these technologies are routinely abused by problematic users, and the characters are being too optimistic.<br />
<br />
That we today need someone to fight online trolls was the subject of [[591: Troll Slayer]].<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball is sitting at a computer and pointing at the CRT monitor. White Hat is standing behind him.]<br />
:Cueball: Check it out! My new system allows anyone on Earth to inject themselves into any conversation happening anywhere&nbsp; at any time.<br />
:White Hat: Cool! I bet this won't lead to any unhealthy dynamics!<br />
<br />
:[Caption under the panel:]<br />
:The creation of the modern web<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Internet]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1192:_Humming&diff=2760241192: Humming2022-05-23T18:33:28Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1192<br />
| date = March 29, 2013<br />
| title = Humming<br />
| image = humming.png<br />
| titletext = I'm so bad at carrying a tune, those 'find a song by humming its melody' websites throw an HTTP 406 error as soon as I start to hum.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
Services like {{w|MusicBrainz}} and {{w|SoundHound}} can detect a recorded song's {{w|acoustic fingerprint}} and match it with an existing song. This lets them identify the title and artist of an unnamed recorded musical extract. In this comic, [[Megan]] hacks the acoustic fingerprint database to add her own entry with a message to [[Cueball]], in which she asks him to buy [[1022|cat food]].<br />
<br />
HTTP error code 406 means Not Acceptable. When a client requests data from a server, the client lists the data formats that it can accept. If a server is unable to provide data in any format that the client accepts, the server returns error 406 Not Acceptable. For example, this can occur if a client requests XML but the server supports only JSON. In the title text, the standard meaning of the error message is ignored and the text "Not Acceptable" is taken literally: The server is offended by [[Randall]]'s humming.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Megan is humming a tune.]<br />
:Cueball: Hey.<br />
:Cueball: What's that?<br />
<br />
:[Megan is still humming the same tune.]<br />
:Cueball: What are you humming?<br />
:Cueball: Should I know the tune?<br />
:Cueball: ...Hmm...<br />
<br />
:[Cueball gets out his phone and opens up a music recognition program.]<br />
:Phone: Identify song<br />
:Phone: Recorded<br />
:Phone: > Live [beta]<br />
<br />
:Phone: Identifying...<br />
<br />
:[A zoom in on the phone screen. An album cover with a picture of Megan on it.]<br />
:Positive match:<br />
:''Check it out!''<br />
:By I hacked the audio fingerprint database<br />
:Feat. MEEEEEE<br />
:Track: We're out of cat food (pick some up?)<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Music]]<br />
[[Category:Cats]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=311:_Action_Movies&diff=276025311: Action Movies2022-05-23T18:33:28Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 311<br />
| date = September 3, 2007<br />
| title = Action Movies<br />
| image = action_movies.png<br />
| titletext = By my count, only 48 of the 158 minutes in Live Free or Die Hard have action. That's pathetic, guys. Crank is better, but needs a bigger budget and more Summer Glau.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
A common complaint about {{w|Action film|action films}} is that they are light on plot and heavy on pointless violence and special effects. The ''{{w|Die Hard (film series)|Die Hard}}'' series (including ''{{w|Live Free or Die Hard}}'') are typical action films about which this complaint has been made. However, [[Cueball]] reverses the complaint, stating that proportional to the run-time of the movie, there could have been much ''more'' action and much ''less'' plot. He takes this idea to an extreme, saying that his ideal action movie should have only half a minute of exposition and otherwise consist of nothing but one long, continuous action scene. [[Megan]] adds that starring a well-known and popular character - one that audiences "never get tired of watching" - would further eliminate the need for exposition and provide more time for action.<br />
<br />
The two come up with "River Tam Beats Up Everyone" as such a movie. It is unclear if this is the actual title of their proposed movie or simply a description or teaser. In either case, the name doubles as a more or less complete plot description.<br />
<br />
{{w|River Tam}} (played by {{w|Summer Glau}}) is a character from the popular but short-lived TV series ''{{w|Firefly (TV series)|Firefly}}''. In the show, she is shown to have almost clairvoyant mental capabilities (including being able to read minds and aim a gun without looking), and the series largely revolves around a conspiracy concerning her. In the follow-up movie ''{{w|Serenity (2005 film)|Serenity}}'', River also possesses superhuman fighting skills - early in the film, triggered by a subliminal message, she unexpectedly begins attacking everyone in a bar. Later, in the film's climax, she subdues an entire squadron of Reavers while hardly breaking a sweat.<br />
<br />
The poster art for "River Tam Beats Up Everyone" is almost certainly inspired by these scenes from ''Serenity'', and Megan and Cueball's decision to use River is based on her rampant popularity among the ''Firefly'' fan base. The poster's typeface, {{w|Papyrus (typeface)|Papyrus}}, has also been used in many of the marketing materials for both ''Firefly'' and ''Serenity''; [[Randall]] would later confess his love for it in the title text of [[590: Papyrus]].<br />
<br />
In the title text, Randall states that ''Live Free or Die Hard'' had far too little action and suggests another movie, ''Crank'', as a better example. He goes on to suggest that ''Crank'' would have been better if it had had a larger budget and starred Summer Glau in a fighting role.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball and Megan are talking together as they walk away from a cinema.]<br />
:Cueball: Another summer gone without a mindless big-budget action movie.<br />
:Megan: Huh? Die Hard was nothing BUT action!<br />
:Cueball: No, it was too talky.<br />
:Megan: What? Too talky?<br />
:Cueball: I tallied it minute-by-minute. It's at least 60% people walking and talking. ALL those movies are.<br />
:Cueball: Just once, I want a real action movie. 30 seconds of exposition followed by a perfect 90-minute action scene. One with a huge budget, a good choreographer, and a great director.<br />
:Megan: And they should center it around some character we already know, someone we never get tired of watching.<br />
:Cueball: I think we've got something here...<br />
:[A movie poster is shown.]<br />
: Coming this summer<br />
: River Tam<br />
: Beats up EVERYONE<br />
:[The poster shows a line of doorways. In the background, numerous people are lying on the ground or draped over doorways and windows. River Tam is doing a flying kick into someone's face, and another person is emerging from the doorway closest to the viewer.]<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Summer Glau]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Firefly]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1372:_Smartwatches&diff=2760261372: Smartwatches2022-05-23T18:33:28Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: haha your js cant stop my js</p>
<hr />
<div>crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2114:_Launch_Conditions&diff=2760272114: Launch Conditions2022-05-23T18:33:28Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2114<br />
| date = February 20, 2019<br />
| title = Launch Conditions<br />
| image = launch_conditions.png<br />
| titletext = Though I do think the tiny vent on one of the boosters labeled "O-RING" is in poor taste.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
An image of a rocket (presumably a {{w|Long March 5}}) with a progressively larger white cloud around it is shown, but no external object for scale is visible until the third panel.<br />
It is then revealed to be a model or miniature when Ponytail walks into the shot.<br />
<br />
The dialog reveals the miniature rocket is a domestic {{w|humidifier}} appliance, using its plumes of water mist to mimic the appearance of the exhaust plume of a full-size rocket.<br />
<br />
Modern rocket launches are backed by a ''Sound Suppression System'' avoiding damages to the rocket itself, the payload, or humans inside. This system drops vast amounts of water into the exhaust of the rocket engines and the water vaporizes immediately. This vapor mainly interrupts the sound reflections from the ground. This reduces the sound to a level the rocket can withstand but also produces a big cloud of water mist. The cloud at the ground consists mostly of water and not the exhaust of the rocket engines. This article shows how the system works: [https://interestingengineering.com/nasa-sound-suppression-system-prevents-rocket-from-exploding NASA's Incredible Sound Suppression System Prevents Rockets from Exploding (interestingengineering.com)].<br />
<br />
Some rockets use liquid hydrogen as a fuel, especially for upper stages, so steam is the combustion product.<br />
<br />
This comic was posted the day after the death of Peter Cosgrove was reported. He was known for photographing many Space Shuttle launches.<br />
<br />
The title text references the failed o-ring that led to the {{Wikipedia|Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|disintegration of the ''Challenger'' Space Shuttle}}. <br />
This disaster was a focal point of controversy, which Richard Feynman played a key {{w|Rogers_Commission_Report#Role_of_Richard_Feynman|role in piercing}}. The o-ring in question failed to expand at freezing temperatures, resulting in a leak of gas around the edges that was visible as a small vapor plume on the recording. The launch was pushed to a day with lower temperatures than the engineers had planned for. For the humidifier to vent the water mist from this opening is indeed in poor taste, even though the model does not resemble a shuttle.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[A rocket sits on a launch pad and the tower to the left has retracted its access arms. The engines seem to have just started firing and a small cloud at the bottom is visible.]<br />
<br />
:[The rocket still sits on the pad but the cloud is growing and extending to both sides on the ground.]<br />
<br />
:[Ponytail's head, much larger than the rocket, appears above the rocket on the right. The cloud covers the full ground and hides a bigger part of the rocket.]<br />
<br />
:[Zoom out. Ponytail stands behind a pedestal with a rocket model on top and the cloud is all around the bottom of the rocket and below.]<br />
:Off screen: It's still pretty dry in here.<br />
:Ponytail: I love the new humidifier, though.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Space]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Deltahttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=642:_Creepy&diff=276028642: Creepy2022-05-23T18:33:28Z<p>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta: Reverted vandalism with User:CRLF/OneClickUndo.js</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 642<br />
| date = September 28, 2009<br />
| title = Creepy<br />
| image = creepy.png<br />
| titletext = And I even got out my adorable new netbook!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This comic displays [[Cueball]]'s fears that his attempts to strike up a conversation with [[Megan]] will only result in her rejecting him and even humiliating him in front of others for attempting to get to know her - he might even risk getting his picture on {{w|Facebook}} with a warning that he is a creep to be avoided. This is because he worries that others might interpret his behavior as {{w|sexual harassment}}, the exaggerated flip-side of his attempted courtship. It turns out in the fifth and last panel that the first four panels was just one large thought bubble on how Cueball fantasized an attempt to contact Megan would turn out. <br />
<br />
Ironically, however, Megan is actually attracted to Cueball and is dismayed that he has not spoken to her. Therefore, Cueball's fears are unfounded and are even preventing the two from meeting and possibly forming a relationship. Megan could of course also have spoken to Cueball herself, but she expects him to make a move if he is interested. Thus she also prevents herself from making contact because of her own expectations and fears of rejection.<br />
<br />
The title text is the continuation of Megan's apparent journal entry and further emphasizes the irony of the situation: in the attempt to be alluring to Cueball, Megan took out her "adorable new {{w|netbook}}," the very thing Cueball stopped himself from complimenting in the first place.<br />
<br />
This comic comments on the unsettling effects of social change, particularly with respect to the advent of {{w|social media}} and to modern sensitivity toward a woman's (or any person's) right to be left alone in public. It points out that attempting to start a conversation with a stranger has become risky, and we have yet to evolve new customs and conventions [http://store.xkcd.com/products/just-shy to signal openness] to such an approach. The risk is aggravated by social media, by which means an innocent misjudgment may subject one to public humiliation - or even worse someone might expect that you had intention of performing some {{w|Sex and the law|sexual crime}} - if that type of info is published with a picture and/or your name on Facebook or {{w|Twitter}} etc. your life could be ruined without any reason. As a result, opportunities to meet other people are missed, loneliness and social isolation are increased, and one may even experience existential fears of being unattractive. Ironically, some people react to this problem by relying on the same social media to stay connected with others.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball and Megan are sitting on chairs, presumably on a train.]<br />
:Cueball: Hey, cute netbook.<br />
:Megan: ''What.''<br />
<br />
:[Zoomed in on Cueball and Megan.]<br />
:Cueball: Your laptop. I just—<br />
:Megan: No, why are you talking to me.<br />
<br />
:[Zoomed in on Megan.]<br />
:Megan: Who do you think you are? If I were even slightly interested, I'd have shown it.<br />
<br />
:[Both Cueball and Megan, with Megan pointing at Cueball.]<br />
:Megan: Hey everyone, this dude's hitting on me.<br />
:Voice #1: Haha<br />
:Voice #2: Creepy<br />
:Voice #3: Let's get his picture for Facebook to warn others.<br />
<br />
:[The previous panel fades into a thought bubble of Cueball.]<br />
:[Cueball and are sitting on chairs, on the train, and Megan is typing on her laptop.]<br />
:Dear blog,<br />
:Cute boy on train still ignoring me.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Romance]]<br />
[[Category:Social interactions]]</div>Xray Kilo Charlie Delta