https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=108.162.238.220&feedformat=atomexplain xkcd - User contributions [en]2024-03-29T16:01:35ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=564:_Crossbows&diff=59136564: Crossbows2014-02-01T04:15:20Z<p>108.162.238.220: /* Transcript */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 564<br />
| date = April 3, 2009<br />
| title = Crossbows<br />
| image = crossbows.png<br />
| titletext = I hate being the slowest guy in the lab.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|The proper interpretation of this comic, or whether there even is one, remains an open question.}}<br />
There are conflicting theories as to the meaning of this comic.<br />
#Since the experimental confirmation or denial of the {{w|Higgs mechanism}} was widely recognized as important to the development of physics, the experimenters involved were likely to receive Nobel Prizes. Nobel Prizes, however, are only given to living people and groups of up to three in size. The experimenters, therefore, are preparing to fight to the death when the discovery comes. Peter Higgs had [http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/04/07/us-science-particle-idUSL0765287220080407 made a statement] in 2008 hinting that the confirmation would come within one year, and that statement was made one year before the Tuesday mentioned in the comic. Tentative experimental confirmation of the Higgs boson was made in March 2013.<br />
#At the time this was written, there was much hype about the Higgs mechanism, as it was a theory explaining how particles got their masses. Experimental confirmation of the Higgs mechanism and its signature particle (the {{w|Higgs boson}}) was seen with such importance that the boson was dubbed the "God particle." Detecting it, however, required accelerating particles to energies higher than ever before. Since this was at the cutting edge of physics, it was unknown what would actually happen. There were [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/09/05/lhc_to_leave_fabric_of_spacetime_continuum_unripped/ fears] that the experiment would create a micro black hole or worse. This comic could be seen as applying those fears to a common trope in horror movies and video games where a mutant infestation is created by unknowing scientists. The scientists here, apart from poor [[Cueball]], have done their research and armed themselves for any upcoming dangers. It is unknown whether these dangers are specific or not. Some argue that [[:Category:Velociraptors|velociraptors]] are a common enough theme in xkcd that the experimenters are preparing for a velociraptor attack. Others point out that the crossbow is a weapon in the game series {{w|Half-Life (video game)|Half-Life}}, whose plot has a similar infestation following failed physical experiment riping dimensional seams. They mention that someone at the particle accelerator [http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/2131/freemanae8.jpg closely resembled] one of the main characters of Half-Life. Of course, the crossbows may just be a general preparation for danger.<br />
#Finally, this comic may simply be general sympathy for those late to catch on to something. Substituting different things for "crossbow" and "Higgs excitation" would give a similar situation for Cueball. [[Randall]] apparently hates these situations. A layer of {{w|metahumor}} may be present here, as Cueball may represent the clueless readers of xkcd who have to go to the [http://forums.xkcd.com/index.php forum] or [[Main Page|this wiki]] to understand its comics.<br />
<br />
The proper interpretation of this comic, or whether there even is one, remains an open question.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball is pulling a crossbow out of a desk.]<br />
:Cueball: Why do you have a crossbow in your desk?<br />
:Megan (off-screen): You ''don't''?<br />
<br />
:[Megan is on panel.]<br />
:Cueball (off-screen): No—why would—<br />
:Megan: You ''are'' studying the consequences of Higgs excitation, aren't you? Like the rest of the lab?<br />
<br />
:[Cueball and another man, both carrying crossbows, join Megan on panel.]<br />
:Cueball: Yes, but why—<br />
:Friend: Maybe he's slow with the math.<br />
:Megan: Well, he has until Tuesday.<br />
:Friend: Poor guy.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Crossbows]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=559:_No_Pun_Intended&diff=59101559: No Pun Intended2014-01-31T21:16:45Z<p>108.162.238.220: /* Transcript */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 559<br />
| date = March 23, 2009<br />
| title = No Pun Intended<br />
| image = no_pun_intended.png<br />
| titletext = Like spelling 'dammit' correctly -- with two m's -- it's a troll that works best on the most literate.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
"No pun intended" is an idiom meaning that something just said wasn't meant to be a pun, implying that the preceding statement could be interpreted as one. As done in the comic, following a non-pun with "no pun intended" breaks this implication and confuses listeners.<br />
<br />
The title text elicits a similar confused reaction, as the most literate people will be more likely to want to spell out "damn it" rather than using an abbreviated form with morphed spelling.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:My Hobby: Appending "no pun intended" to lines with no pun in them.<br />
:[Cueball is talking to Beret Guy.]<br />
:Cueball: I think he's internalized his girlfriend's attitudes - no pun intended - and so...<br />
:Three hours later:<br />
:[Beret Guy is thinking.]<br />
:Beret Guy: "Internalized?" Lied? Analyzed? Or is it "attitudes"? Dammit.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]<br />
[[Category:My Hobby]]<br />
[[Category:Language]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1063:_Kill_Hitler&diff=590551063: Kill Hitler2014-01-31T07:51:30Z<p>108.162.238.220: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1063<br />
| date = June 1, 2012<br />
| title = Kill Hitler<br />
| image = kill_hitler.png<br />
| titletext = Revised directive: It is forbidden for you to interfere with human history until you've at least taken a class on it.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Explanation ==<br />
[[Black Hat]] creates a one use time machine. [[Cueball]] selects the most common suggestion for Time Machine usage: killing Adolf Hitler. Black Hat finally relents and goes to kill Hitler. However, he goes to April 30th, 1945, when Hitler actually committed suicide in reality, therefore not changing any history or avoiding any of the atrocities carried out by Nazi Germany.<br />
<br />
The title text also refers to the time travel theme from the Superman movie in which Jor-El states: "It is forbidden for you to interfere with human history".<br />
<br />
Alternatively, Black Hat really could have killed Hitler in the bunker in 1945, which relates to conspiracies that Hitler was shot by someone other than himself.<br />
<br />
== Transcript ==<br />
:[Black Hat and Cueball stand in front of a double door, which bears the label 'TIME door'. Black Hat has his hands on his hips.]<br />
:Black Hat: I finished my time machine, but it's one-use only.<br />
:Cueball: You ''gotta'' kill Hitler.<br />
<br />
:[Close-up of Black Hat, one hand palm upward.]<br />
:Black Hat: Why are you so obsessed with this Hitler guy? We have ''all'' of ''time'' we could explore!<br />
<br />
:[Close-up of Cueball with both hands palm upward.]<br />
:Cueball: He's evil incarnate! He murdered millions and sparked global war! ''Everyone'' agrees -- if you get a time machine, you kill Hitler.<br />
<br />
:[Black Hat enters the now open Time door as the other man looks on..]<br />
:Black Hat: Fine, fine, I get it! Calm down. BRB, killing Hitler.<br />
<br />
:[Black Hat returns and shuts the door, Cueball has outstretched arms.]<br />
:Black Hat: There. Done. Are you happy? <br />
:Cueball: ''Thank'' you.<br />
:Black Hat: He was in some kind of bunker. 1945 was ''loud!''<br />
:Cueball: '''''NO!'''''<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Hitler]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=316:_Loud_Sex&diff=59013316: Loud Sex2014-01-30T22:27:36Z<p>108.162.238.220: /* Transcript */ Title text.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 316<br />
| date = September 14, 2007<br />
| title = Loud Sex<br />
| image = loud_sex.png<br />
| titletext = Spherical or parabolic reflectors would of course lead to aberrant behavior.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
[[Cueball]]'s neighbor likes to engage in loud sex, which keeps Cueball awake at night, and she pretends to apologize for it as a way of bragging, so Cueball wants to get revenge. A usual way to do it is to retaliate by also having loud sex when the neighbor is not, thus inflicting the same to her as she did. But Cueball adds a science nerd's touch to it, by using an elliptical reflector dish. As shown on the schema, such a dish reflects the sound waves in a way that all waves originating from a specific point (the first focus of the ellipse the dish's shape is based on) converge after reflection to a specific other point (the second focus of the same ellipse).<sup>[1]</sup> Cueball calibrates and installs his elliptical dish in a way that all the sound coming from his loud girlfriend's head during sex, converge after reflection to his neighbor's head in her bed. This makes his loud sex far louder to her, than hers was to him (the concentrated noise seems loud enough to exceed the {{w|threshold of pain}}).<br />
<br />
The title text makes a {{w|double entendre}} on the word "aberrant", where a spherical or parabolic reflector would cause distortion, but the play on words leads the reader to believe that aberrant sexual behavior would occur.<br />
<br />
<small>[1]: Note: that is actually the behaviour of an {{w|Ellipsoid|''ellipsoidal''}} reflector dish, or an elliptic one in two dimensions; but in 3D an elliptic one works similarly, only converging waves from a line to another line, instead of points.</small><br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:My neighbor has loud sex.<br />
:[Cueball in bed, covering his head with pillow. There is sound coming from outside.]<br />
:''OHHHHH''<br />
:''GASP''<br />
:''AAAAAAA''<br />
:Good for her and all, but it keeps me up at night.<br />
<br />
:And she's so smug about it.<br />
:[Cueball and neighbor coming out of their apartments.]<br />
:Neighbor: Sorry, could you hear us last night? Oh, you know how it gets sometimes.<br />
:Cueball: Not really...<br />
<br />
:But tonight I finally get my revenge. Because now I have a loud girlfriend too.<br />
:[Megan with "LOUD" and an arrow pointing to her.]<br />
<br />
:And an elliptical reflector dish.<br />
:[Diagram of an elliptical reflector dish.]<br />
<br />
:[Cueball and Megan having sex, with dish behind them reflecting the sex sound effects, in a way that they focus, through walls, on his neighbor sitting up in bed while holding her head in pain.]<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Sex]]<br />
[[Category:Physics]]<br />
[[Category:Language]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=538:_Security&diff=58960538: Security2014-01-29T19:14:23Z<p>108.162.238.220: /* Transcript */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 538<br />
| date = February 2, 2009<br />
| title = Security<br />
| image = security.png<br />
| titletext = Actual actual reality: nobody cares about his secrets. (Also, I would be hard-pressed to find that wrench for $5.)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
The "crypto nerd" would be concerned with strongly encrypting data on his personal machine. This would conceivably come in handy when villains attempt to steal information on his computer. He imagines that due to his advanced encryption, they will be ultimately defeated. [[Randall]] suggests that in the real world, people with the desire to access this information would simply {{w|Rubber-hose cryptanalysis|torture the nerd}} to give them the password. Both panels also reference the amount of money used to access the data. In the first the villain is willing to use millions of dollars to construct a {{w|TWIRL|super computer}}, while in the second, he simply uses a $5 wrench. This humorously suggests that the weakest part of computer security is not the computer, but the user.<br />
<br />
{{w|RSA (algorithm)|RSA}} is a commonly used, public key encryption method. Current standards typically use 1024, 2048, and (more recently) 4096 {{w|Key size|bit keys}}. These encryption methods are not yet (feasibly) breakable. A 4096-bit key will remain unbreakable for the foreseeable future.<br />
<br />
The title text pokes fun at typical users, who do not have data that would be worth anything to anyone but themselves. Therefore, it is unlikely that the above situation would ever occur. Additionally, the wrench used in the second panel is large, and presumably more than the $5 referenced by the thug.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:A Crypto nerd's imagination:<br />
:[Cueball is holding a laptop, and his friend is examining it.]<br />
:Cueball: His laptop's encrypted. Let's build a million-dollar cluster to crack it.<br />
:Friend: No good! It's 4096-bit RSA!<br />
:Cueball: Blast! Our evil plan is foiled!<br />
<br />
:What would actually happen:<br />
:[Cueball is holding a piece of paper and giving his friend a wrench.]<br />
:Cueball: His laptop's encrypted. Drug him and hit him with this $5 wrench until he tells us the password.<br />
:Friend : Got it.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Cryptography]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=299:_Aeris_Dies&diff=58843299: Aeris Dies2014-01-28T22:57:05Z<p>108.162.238.220: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 299<br />
| date = August 6, 2007<br />
| title = Aeris Dies<br />
| image = aeris_dies.png<br />
| titletext = It's bad enough that all the families in your Sims are just you and Maggie recreated over and over.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
From the looks of this comic, there is a friend here who had a loved one (named 'Maggie') die. [[Cueball]] tries to help him by comparing his plight to a significant plot point in the popular game {{w|Final Fantasy VII}} for PlayStation 1 in 1997, the plot point being the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx3duFYCcho/ permanent death] of [http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Aerith_Gainsborough/ Aerith Gainsborough], the last of a race called 'the Ancients' and even a potential love interest of the main character of the game. Although technically being a spoiler due to its significance and dissonance to the plot, Aerith's death became one of the most iconic video game scenes of all time, leading to its referencing and even parodies throughout the game community (some even [http://aoigetsu.deviantart.com/art/Aerith-s-Revenge-2839790/ depicting her revenge] on [http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Sephiroth_(Final_Fantasy_VII) Sephiroth], the main antagonist of the game and her murderer).<br />
<br />
The word 'permanent' was not meant for redundancy in the last paragraph; [http://www.ff7citadel.com/press/int_egm.shtml/ the developers wanted to symbolize how death is unexpected, leaving you with an empty feeling, filled only be regret.] Therefore, when they received word about how much people wanted Aerith to be brought back to life, they felt that they succeeded with evoking the right feelings with her death. Even so, due to all the significance her death brought, the developers refused to '''officially''' resuscitate her.<br />
<br />
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6bAeb2P-fs/ That did not stop other people from modifying the game in order to '''unofficially''' resuscitate her, though.] Even so, there is doubt that [[Randall]] knew about this mod upon making this comic.<br />
<br />
Cueball feels really troubled that his friend would take such a course of action (especially with a fictional character, admittedly) instead of dealing with her death. His friend takes this to more disturbing levels, wanting to 'mod' Cueball with Maggie's clothes, turning Cueball into a 'substitute Maggie.'<br />
<br />
The title text references {{w|The Sims}}, a series of life simulation games where you can create virtual people (the aforementioned Sims), set their appearances and essentially mess around with their lives. Cueball notes that his friend already attempted to 'recreate' Maggie and him (repeatedly at that) using the simulation abilities in the games of his The Sims series.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Two men are talking. The second man is sitting on the ground, hugging his knees to his chest.]<br />
:Cueball: Maggie's gone. You can't bring her back.<br />
:Friend: But I have to, she's a part of my life.<br />
:Cueball: *sigh*<br />
:Cueball: Okay, let me put this in your terms.<br />
:Cueball: Remember when Aeris died in FFVII? It was sad, but you had to <u>keep</u> <u>playing</u>.<br />
:Friend: Actually, I downloaded a mod to add her back to my party. It changed other character's appearances and dialogue to hers so you didn't have to lose her.<br />
:Friend: Lots of gamers did it.<br />
:[Cueball puts his hand on his chin.]<br />
:Cueball: That is troubling on several levels.<br />
:Friend: I wonder if Maggie's old dresses would fit you.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Video games]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:729:_Laser_Pointer&diff=58842Talk:729: Laser Pointer2014-01-28T22:50:28Z<p>108.162.238.220: </p>
<hr />
<div>My cat still chases this hopeless dream. Sucker. '''[[User:Davidy22|<span title="I want you."><u><font color="purple" size="2px">David</font><font color="green" size="3px">y</font></u><sup><font color="indigo" size="1px">22</font></sup></span>]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 13:29, 18 February 2013 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The laser cavity link in the explanation now redirects to {{w|optical cavity}}. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.220|108.162.238.220]] 22:50, 28 January 2014 (UTC)</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=User_talk:108.162.238.220&diff=58837User talk:108.162.238.2202014-01-28T20:34:25Z<p>108.162.238.220: </p>
<hr />
<div>Please stop this IP spam: ...50.151.2.168, GameZone, 108.162.216.45, 108.162.237.8, and 108.162.216.71...<br />
<br />
Use your account [[ User:GameZone ]] for this. In summer you maybe occupied 10 IP addresses, next year 20... Please use an account and stop this IP edits. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:08, 26 January 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
<br />
I forgot the GameZone password. I tried that "forgot your login details" button, didn't send me one e-mail. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.220|108.162.238.220]] 03:24, 27 January 2014 (UTC)<br />
:I'll make a new account if my IP changes to an old IP again. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.220|108.162.238.220]] 20:34, 28 January 2014 (UTC)</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=User:50.151.2.168&diff=58836User:50.151.2.1682014-01-28T20:33:28Z<p>108.162.238.220: Undo revision 58711 by 108.162.216.71 (talk)</p>
<hr />
<div>My new IP: [[User:108.162.238.220]]<br />
<br />
Go here for my contributions: [[Special:Contributions/50.151.2.168]]<br />
<br />
I was also [[User:GameZone|GameZone]].</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=User:GameZone&diff=58835User:GameZone2014-01-28T20:33:22Z<p>108.162.238.220: </p>
<hr />
<div>I was [[User:50.151.2.168|50.151.2.168]], then I was [[User:108.162.216.45|108.162.216.45]], then I was [[User:108.162.237.8|108.162.237.8]], then I was [[User:108.162.216.71|108.162.216.71]], then I was [[User:108.162.238.220|108.162.238.220]], then I was 108.162.216.71 again, now I'm 108.162.238.220 again. Not sure what the hell is going on.<br />
<br />
Contributions: [[Special:Contributions/GameZone]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=User:108.162.216.45&diff=58834User:108.162.216.452014-01-28T20:33:19Z<p>108.162.238.220: </p>
<hr />
<div>I was previously [[User:50.151.2.168|50.151.2.168]] and [[User:GameZone|GameZone]], then I was [[User:108.162.237.8|108.162.237.8]], then I was [[User:108.162.216.71|108.162.216.71]], then I was [[User:108.162.238.220|108.162.238.220]], then I was 108.162.216.71 again, now I'm 108.162.238.220.<br />
<br />
Contributions: [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.45]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=User:108.162.237.8&diff=58833User:108.162.237.82014-01-28T20:33:15Z<p>108.162.238.220: </p>
<hr />
<div>I was previously [[User:50.151.2.168|50.151.2.168]], [[User:GameZone|GameZone]], and [[User:108.162.216.45|108.162.216.45]], then I was [[User:108.162.216.71|108.162.216.71]], then I was [[User:108.162.238.220|108.162.238.220]], then I was 108.162.216.71 again, now I'm 108.162.238.220 again.<br />
<br />
Contributions: [[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.8]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=User:108.162.216.71&diff=58832User:108.162.216.712014-01-28T20:33:11Z<p>108.162.238.220: </p>
<hr />
<div>I was previously [[User:50.151.2.168|50.151.2.168]], [[User:GameZone|GameZone]], [[User:108.162.216.45|108.162.216.45]], and [[User:108.162.237.8|108.162.237.8]], now I'm [[User:108.162.238.220|108.162.238.220]] again.<br />
<br />
Contributions: [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.71]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=User:108.162.238.220&diff=58831User:108.162.238.2202014-01-28T20:33:08Z<p>108.162.238.220: </p>
<hr />
<div>I was previously [[User:50.151.2.168|50.151.2.168]], [[User:GameZone|GameZone]], [[User:108.162.216.45|108.162.216.45]], [[User:108.162.237.8|108.162.237.8]], [[User:108.162.216.71|108.162.216.71]], and was 108.162.216.71 again.<br />
<br />
Contributions: [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.220]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=685:_G-Spot&diff=58829685: G-Spot2014-01-28T20:25:05Z<p>108.162.238.220: /* Transcript */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 685<br />
| date = January 6, 2010<br />
| title = G-Spot<br />
| image = g-spot.png<br />
| titletext = The BBC lead was 'The elusive erogenous zone said to exist in some women may be a myth, say researchers who have hunted for it.' I couldn't read it with a straight face.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
The {{w|G-Spot}} is, as the BBC is quoted of saying in the title text, an elusive erogenous zone some women claim to have that can be stimulated to enhance their sexual experience. In this comic, a live press conference has been held due to a peer-reviewed study suggesting the G-Spot may not exist. [[Cueball]] (the researcher) initially claims he's not researching the G-Spot, but then admits he can't find it anyway i.e. he has difficulty making his lover orgasm.<br />
<br />
Cueball may be a G-Spot researcher, but not initially wanting to admit it because of the research result, or really is a solar cell researcher, but has not found the G-Spot when having sex with his partner(s).<br />
<br />
As mentioned in the Wikipedia article there actually has been such a study, so the BBC report in the title text is quite likely to have actually been heard by [[Randall Munroe|Randall]].<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:A study published in the journal of sexual medicine suggests that the g-spot may not actually exist.<br />
:We go live to the researchers' press conference:<br />
<br />
:[Reporters, including Ponytail, stand below a Cueball at a podium.]<br />
:Ponytail: Is it true you've been unable to find evidence that the g-spot exists?<br />
<br />
:Cueball: My research is in solar cells. I think you have the wrong press conference.<br />
<br />
:[Beat panel.]<br />
<br />
:[Cueball hangs his head.]<br />
:Cueball: But... yes.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Sex]]<br />
[[Category:Public speaking]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1222:_Pastime&diff=587971222: Pastime2014-01-28T09:09:20Z<p>108.162.238.220: /* Transcript */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1222<br />
| date = June 7, 2013<br />
| title = Pastime<br />
| image = pastime.png<br />
| titletext = Good thing we're too smart to spend all day being uselessly frustrated with ourselves. I mean, that'd be a hell of a waste, right?<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
When asked by [[Megan]] what he's been up to, [[Cueball]] responds with the [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SuspiciouslySpecificDenial suspiciously specific denial], "Definitely not spending every day consumed with worry over stupid things I never talk to anyone about.", which suggests that that is exactly what he's been spending every day doing, but he is hiding it from her (and everyone else). Megan's response "Oh, yeah, me neither" suggests she too is worrying over stupid things but isn't admitting it.<br />
<br />
Instead of discussing their mutual worry and possibly making each other feel better, they instead continue to "not talk to anyone about it" and stand in awkward silence. The title text continues the "irony" suggesting it's good that they're too smart to spend all day being uselessly frustrated with themselves, when that is apparently exactly what they are doing.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Megan and Cueball are chatting. She has hair.]<br />
:Megan: What've you been up to?<br />
<br />
:Cueball: Definitely not spending every day consumed with worry over stupid things I never talk to anyone about.<br />
<br />
:Megan: Oh, yeah, me neither.<br />
:Cueball: That's good.<br />
:Megan: Yeah.<br />
<br />
:[The final panel is silent.]<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1163:_Debugger&diff=587961163: Debugger2014-01-28T09:06:02Z<p>108.162.238.220: /* Transcript */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1163<br />
| date = January 21, 2013<br />
| title = Debugger<br />
| image = debugger.png<br />
| titletext = It can take a site a while to figure out that there's a problem with their 'report a bug' form.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
[[Cueball]] mentions to [[Megan]] that he can't understand how his mind works, the same mind he uses to understand how things work, and he's not sure if this is a problem. In other words, if he can't understand how his mind works, then how can he tell that it does in fact work and that his perception of reality is accurate? Ordinarily he would use his mind to figure it out, but if his mind really doesn't work, then he'll probably never determine that his mind doesn't work. Understandably, he's a little unsure of how he should feel about this.<br />
<br />
The title text alludes to the problem that if a website's "report a bug" page is buggy or broken to such a degree that it prevents the actual reporting of a bug, specifically that the "report a bug" page is buggy, then it can take time before the website's administrators realises, if they do at all, as unless they test it themselves, the site's administration are relying on users to use the page to report the problem. Which the users can't. This is somewhat analogous to the "brain" dilemma in the main comic, in that they ponder problems occurring in the normal method of determining that there is a problem.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:Cueball: I don't understand how my brain works.<br />
<br />
:Cueball: But my brain is what I rely on to understand how things work.<br />
<br />
:Megan: Is that a problem?<br />
:Cueball: I'm not sure how to tell.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Programming]]<br />
[[Category:Philosophy]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=308:_Interesting_Life&diff=58794308: Interesting Life2014-01-28T08:58:43Z<p>108.162.238.220: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 308<br />
| date = August 27, 2007<br />
| title = Interesting Life<br />
| image = interesting_life.png<br />
| titletext = Quick, fashion a climbing harness out of a cat-6 cable and follow me down.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete}}<br />
'{{w|May you live in interesting times}}' is supposedly a Chinese curse, and depending on which 'interesting' period of Chinese history you were thinking about, one supposes that it could indeed be quite threatening, even if the attribution is apocryphal. The quote also provides the title of the {{w|Terry Pratchett}} novel {{w|Interesting Times}}, which takes place in a fictional counterpart of China.<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]] is shown here as an office worker, a job which to most people is the opposite of interesting. This is contrasted with [[Megan]] who is rappelling down the outside of his office building, for no apparent reason other than because she can, and inviting him on an adventure.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to {{w|Category 6 cable|Cat6}} cable, which is more commonly known as Ethernet cable. It would be easily found in an office building, since it is used to connect computers to a network. Its usefulness as climbing rope is indeterminate.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[On the left hand side of the panel is a cutaway of several floors of an office, in gray. On the right side a blue sky with clouds, and green hills. Hanging from a cable is Megan, clearly having rappelled down the side of the building.]<br />
:Megan: You know how some people consider "May you have an interesting life" to be a curse?<br />
:Cueball at the office: Yeah...<br />
:Megan: Fuck those people. Wanna have an adventure?<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=272:_Linux_User_at_Best_Buy&diff=58782272: Linux User at Best Buy2014-01-28T03:46:58Z<p>108.162.238.220: /* Transcript */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 272<br />
| date = June 4, 2007<br />
| title = Linux User at Best Buy<br />
| image = linux_user_at_best_buy.png<br />
| titletext = We actually stand around the antivirus displays with the Mac users just waiting for someone to ask.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{w|Best Buy|Best Buy}} is an American chain of electronics and media shops. As many such shops, they only sell boxed software and boxed hardware - where the computers are either Macs or PCs pre-installed with Mac OS or Windows.<br />
<br />
This salesman is trying to sell {{w|Antivirus software|antivirus software}}, but Cueball claims he doesn't need it: he runs Linux, an {{w|open source}} {{w|operating system}}. While some viruses also exist for Linux the vast majority is only able to infect Windows systems, so Cueball is positive about that he is safe without that software. Back in 2007, many Linux users believed that Linux would wipe out Windows as the operating system of choice for PCs. Six years later, at least that hasn't happened. (Note nearly all modern television sets, (wifi-)routers and all {{w|Android}} devices are running the Linux kernel, so in a way it ''has'' happened). Nevertheless there are many antivirus versions for Linux including open source software.<br />
<br />
The rest of the comic is essentially proving how much cooler Linux users are: the user performs a few amazing tricks, like flipping over on a motorbike, doing a wheely and throwing dirt in the face of the salesman. It's one reason why Linux users claim that Linux is faster because of the actual absence of the antivirus software: no need to scan all files - which allows faster operation.<br />
<br />
The title text confirms the above. Mostly like Linux, the software design of Macs also lessens the need for antivirus software. Apparently, Mac and Linux users flock together just waiting for the Best Buy salesmen to ask if anyone needs it - so they can laugh them in the face.<br />
<br />
All in all, the intent of this is to mock how Linux users tend to view themselves as superior to other operating systems.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:Salesman: Interested in updating your antivirus software?<br />
:Cueball: Oh, I wouldn't need any of that.<br />
<br />
:[In a spiky speech bubble.]<br />
:Cueball: I run Linux.<br />
<br />
:[Cueball does a backflip onto a motorcycle.]<br />
:''Flip''<br />
<br />
:[Cueball performs a wheelie on the motorcycle.]<br />
<br />
:[Cueball does a hard, donut turn on the motorcycle, kicking up dirt into the salesman's face.]<br />
<br />
:[Cueball speeds off on the motorcycle, leaving the salesman in a cloud of black exhaust.]<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Linux]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=733:_Eagle&diff=58781733: Eagle2014-01-28T03:45:03Z<p>108.162.238.220: /* Transcript */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 733<br />
| date = April 28, 2010<br />
| title = Eagle<br />
| image = eagle.png<br />
| titletext = In the off-seasons, I hire an animal trainer to help confront secret agents with situations which they are unable to report by radio.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This comic is making a play on the typical "secret agent" code phrases such as the one above or "The Eagle has landed." or "The cobra has struck."<br />
<br />
The *KHHHKHT* noises that the character is making are imitations of the static sounds made when using a walkie-talkie.<br />
<br />
The title text is saying that when the character in the comic is not following field biologists, he is making actual eagles land in front of actual agents, but they are not allowed to report eagles landing, because that would use the secret code phrase.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Ponytail is looking up into a tree, holding a clipboard in one hand and a radio in the other.]<br />
:Ponytail: The eagle has left the nest.<br />
:Off-Panel: *KHHHKHT* Roger that. Alert the agents. *KHKKHHKT*<br />
:Ponytail: Will you ''stop that?''<br />
<br />
:My hobby: Following field biologists around and interpreting everything they say as code phrases.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:My Hobby]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1006:_Sloppier_Than_Fiction&diff=587531006: Sloppier Than Fiction2014-01-27T18:31:05Z<p>108.162.238.220: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1006<br />
| date = January 20, 2012<br />
| title = Sloppier Than Fiction<br />
| image = sloppier_than_fiction.png<br />
| imagesize = <br />
| titletext = Roger Ebert once called you directionless and unwatchable.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
This comic is basically about a terrible person that [[Cueball]] is somehow talking to, possibly at a bar or party as Goatee Guy is carrying a drink.<br />
<br />
The title of this comic is a play on the phrase "Stranger than Fiction", which means that sometimes real life can lead to some unexpected ups and downs that would not even make sense in a fictional representation in a book or a movie. Goatee Guy's life, unfortunately for him, is "Sloppier than Fiction".<br />
<br />
In the title text, {{w|Roger Ebert}} was a famous American {{w|movie critic}}.<br />
<br />
Oh and FYI, if anyone ever says "It wasn't technically cheating"... it was cheating.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[A douchebag with a goatee and a bad haircut talks to Cueball.]<br />
:Goatee Guy: Even though it technically ''wasn't'' cheating, she dumped me anyway! So I tell Bret, and he's like "She sounds just like my crazy ex." And I was like, "dude, what was her name?" and it was the ''same girl.'' I swear, if they made my life into a movie, no one would believe it.<br />
:Cueball: Yeah, though mostly because of the poorly-written dialogue and unlikeable main character.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Sex]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=341:_1337:_Part_1&diff=58681341: 1337: Part 12014-01-27T03:40:18Z<p>108.162.238.220: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 341<br />
| date = November 12, 2007<br />
| title = 1337: Part 1<br />
| image = 1337 part 1.png<br />
| titletext = If you're not cool enough to do it manually, you can look up tools like Upside-Down-Ternet for playing games with people on your wifi.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This is the first part of five in the "[[:Category:1337|1337]]" series. The title 1337 is "L-eet", or "elite", using the {{w|Leet}} alphabet, a coding system used primarily on the internet (and on early text messaging system), meant to provide a bit of {{w|obfuscation}} to plain text both to make it harder to read, and to show off in a creative way using in-group jargon. This comic series is aimed at elite hackers and programmers.<br />
<br />
If a {{w|wireless network}} is unsecured it is usually a sign that the owner of the access point is not technically skilled enough to go into the admin panel and enable encryption. Obviously, someone in the area who wants to get on the net, but doesn't have a mobile data connection, will simply use this open access point. However, it is also common practice to leave open an access point to be able to claim that infringement of copyright may not have been the homeowner, but that anybody could have connected to the access point and started downloading files.<br />
<br />
Another fun trick, for administrators of open APs, is to [http://www.ex-parrot.com/~pete/upside-down-ternet.html intercept pages and edit their contents]. The only way to stop this is to create a secure connection, or tunnel, to a server to stop the admin from playing {{w|Man-in-the-middle attack|man-in-the-middle}}. Of course, as the title text says, [[Mrs. Roberts]] is so cool, she can edit the tcp stream live, without the help of programs.<br />
<br />
Not only is Mrs. Roberts awesome enough to manually edit the live tcp stream, she's also manually ending individual {{w|VPN}} and {{w|Secure Shell|SSH}} connections as Cueball's friend makes them - while wearing oven mitts and baking cookies at the same time.<br />
<br />
All comics in "[[:Category:1337|1337]]" series:<br />
*[[341: 1337: Part 1]]<br />
*[[342: 1337: Part 2]]<br />
*[[343: 1337: Part 3]]<br />
*[[344: 1337: Part 4]]<br />
*[[345: 1337: Part 5]]<br />
<br />
This series was released on 5 consecutive days (Monday-Friday) and not over the usual Monday/Wednesday/Friday schedule.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball talks to a friend who is lying down on the floor, using his laptop.]<br />
:Cueball: You're not on the neighbour's WiFi, are you?<br />
:Friend: Yeah, why?<br />
:Cueball: The admin... plays games.<br />
:Friend: No problem. I'll just hop on a secure VPN.<br />
<br />
:Friend: Whoa, my connections are dying as soon as I start to tunnel anything!<br />
:Message on laptop: A VPN? How cute! And stop trying to SSH.<br />
:Friend: Holy shit! Someone's inserting notes into the pages I request! Editing the TCP stream live!<br />
:Friend: Nobody's that fast. Who is this admin?<br />
<br />
:[Mrs. Roberts with bun tray in one hand, with oven mitts on both hands typing on a desktop computer.]<br />
:Mrs. Roberts: My goodness. Neighbourhood scamps on the wireless.<br />
:''taptaptaptap''<br />
<br />
:Cueball: I should have warned you about Mrs. Roberts.<br />
:Friend: How does she type with oven mitts!?<br />
:Cueball: You've been pwned pretty hard, man. You might want to sit down.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Mrs. Roberts]]<br />
[[Category:1337|01]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=User_talk:108.162.238.220&diff=58680User talk:108.162.238.2202014-01-27T03:24:09Z<p>108.162.238.220: </p>
<hr />
<div>Please stop this IP spam: ...50.151.2.168, GameZone, 108.162.216.45, 108.162.237.8, and 108.162.216.71...<br />
<br />
Use your account [[ User:GameZone ]] for this. In summer you maybe occupied 10 IP addresses, next year 20... Please use an account and stop this IP edits. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:08, 26 January 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
<br />
I forgot the GameZone password. I tried that "forgot your login details" button, didn't send me one e-mail. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.220|108.162.238.220]] 03:24, 27 January 2014 (UTC)</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=User:50.151.2.168&diff=58657User:50.151.2.1682014-01-26T20:27:37Z<p>108.162.238.220: </p>
<hr />
<div>My new IP: [[User:108.162.238.220]]<br />
<br />
Go here for my contributions: [[Special:Contributions/50.151.2.168]]<br />
<br />
I was also [[User:GameZone|GameZone]].</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=User:GameZone&diff=58656User:GameZone2014-01-26T20:27:10Z<p>108.162.238.220: </p>
<hr />
<div>I was [[User:50.151.2.168|50.151.2.168]], then I was [[User:108.162.216.45|108.162.216.45]], then I was [[User:108.162.237.8|108.162.237.8]], then I was [[User:108.162.216.71|108.162.216.71]], now I'm [[User:108.162.238.220|108.162.238.220]] Yup.<br />
<br />
Contributions: [[Special:Contributions/GameZone]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=User:108.162.216.45&diff=58655User:108.162.216.452014-01-26T20:26:19Z<p>108.162.238.220: </p>
<hr />
<div>I was previously [[User:50.151.2.168|50.151.2.168]] and [[User:GameZone|GameZone]], then I was [[User:108.162.237.8|108.162.237.8]], then I was [[User:108.162.216.71|108.162.216.71]], now I'm [[User:108.162.238.220|108.162.238.220]].<br />
<br />
Contributions: [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.45]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=User:108.162.237.8&diff=58654User:108.162.237.82014-01-26T20:25:36Z<p>108.162.238.220: </p>
<hr />
<div>I was previously [[User:50.151.2.168|50.151.2.168]], [[User:GameZone|GameZone]], and [[User:108.162.216.45|108.162.216.45]], then I was [[User:108.162.216.71|108.216.71]], now I'm [[User:108.162.238.220|108.162.238.220]].<br />
<br />
Contributions: [[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.8]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=User:108.162.216.71&diff=58653User:108.162.216.712014-01-26T20:23:30Z<p>108.162.238.220: </p>
<hr />
<div>I was previously [[User:50.151.2.168|50.151.2.168]], [[User:GameZone|GameZone]], [[User:108.162.216.45|108.162.216.45]], and [[User:108.162.237.8|108.162.237.8]], now I'm [[User:108.162.238.220|108.162.238.220]].<br />
<br />
Contributions: [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.71]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=User:108.162.238.220&diff=58652User:108.162.238.2202014-01-26T20:22:40Z<p>108.162.238.220: Created page with "I was previously 50.151.2.168, GameZone, 108.162.216.45, 108.162.237.8, and [[User:108.1..."</p>
<hr />
<div>I was previously [[User:50.151.2.168|50.151.2.168]], [[User:GameZone|GameZone]], [[User:108.162.216.45|108.162.216.45]], [[User:108.162.237.8|108.162.237.8]], and [[User:108.162.216.71|108.162.216.71]].<br />
<br />
Contributions: [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.220]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=542:_Cover-Up&diff=58651542: Cover-Up2014-01-26T20:16:01Z<p>108.162.238.220: /* Transcript */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 542<br />
| date = February 11, 2009<br />
| title = Cover-Up<br />
| image = cover_up.png<br />
| titletext = Man, this trick has saved me so many times.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
Gullible means easily deceived or naïve. This is a game many people play with each other "Whoa, someone wrote 'gullible' in the sky!" "Did you know when you look at the Microsoft logo upside-down it looks like the word 'gullible'?" Those that are gullible check. Those that aren't, don't. In fact they will pointedly not do the thing that the first person has suggested as a show of how non-gullible they are. [[Black Hat]] uses this to his advantage to cover up copious bloodstains on a ceiling.<br />
<br />
The story in this comic may be a continuation of [[515: No One Must Know]].<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Black Hat is holding blood stained rags while Danish is holding an equally bloody mop.]<br />
:Black Hat: Okay, got the blood off the walls. <br />
:Danish: I finished the floor.<br />
<br />
:Black Hat: Good; he'll be home any-<br />
:Black Hat: Oh crap! We forgot to clean the ceiling!<br />
<br />
:Danish: There's no time!<br />
:Black Hat: Wait, I'll handle it.<br />
<br />
:[Cueball with briefcase enters the house.]<br />
:Black Hat: Hi. Did you know "gullible" is written on your ceiling?<br />
:Cueball: Hah. Yeah, right.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Danish]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1014:_Car_Problems&diff=586501014: Car Problems2014-01-26T20:14:37Z<p>108.162.238.220: /* Transcript */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1014<br />
| date = February 8, 2012<br />
| title = Car Problems<br />
| image = car_problems.png<br />
| imagesize = <br />
| titletext = Or if you replace your car, we'll be happy to set it on fire again so you can take another crack at getting that shot.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
[[Megan]]'s friends ([[Black Hat]], [[Danish]], and [[Cueball]]) take the phrase "Can anyone tell me what's wrong with this picture?" literally and are critiquing the style and composition of the picture and not the subject. Megan is hoping that they have any insight to why her car was on fire this morning and not a photography critique. The title text reveals what she was looking for; one of them really did set her car on fire.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Megan stands in front of a projection of a car, with an audience of 3 people. One of the people is Black Hat, the others are Danish and Cueball.]<br />
:Megan: Attention Please. This is a photo of my car as of two weeks ago.<br />
<br />
:[Megan in front of a new projection of the same car engulfed in flames.]<br />
:Megan: And ''this'' is my car as I found it this morning. Can anyone tell me what's wrong with this picture?<br />
<br />
:[The audience ponders.]<br />
<br />
:Cueball: The white balance, for one. <br />
:Danish: Focus is a bit too close.<br />
:Black Hat: The chromatic aberration suggests you bought your camera because it had "The most megapixels".<br />
<br />
:Megan: '''''THE CAR IS ON FIRE!'''''<br />
:Comment from audience: Maybe you should use the insurance money to get a better camera.<br />
:Comment from different person: yeah<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Danish]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]</div>108.162.238.220https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=822:_Guest_Week:_Jeph_Jacques_(Questionable_Content)&diff=58648822: Guest Week: Jeph Jacques (Questionable Content)2014-01-26T19:32:44Z<p>108.162.238.220: /* Transcript */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number =822<br />
| date =November 22, 2010<br />
| title =Guest Week: Jeph Jacques (Questionable Content)<br />
| image =guest week jeph jacques questionable content.png<br />
| titletext =Guest comic by Jeph Jacques of Questionable Content, whose internal monologue hasn't been speaking to him for the past three years.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
The comic starts with [[Cueball]]'s internal dialogue telling him what he's been thinking for some time now — that the girl he's looking at is so beautiful she seems unapproachable, and "what could she ever see in a guy like you", and typical fears that a guy has that prevents him from talking to a pretty girl.<br />
<br />
Only to be interrupted by the ''girl's'' internal monologue, who introduces herself to Cueball's internal monologue and asks if he'd like to get a cup of coffee. As the internal monologues pair off and leave, they criticize the people whom they've been serving for so long, saying that they're made for one another, if only one of them would have the guts to start talking to the other.<br />
<br />
The comic was guest-written by ''[http://questionablecontent.net Questionable Content]'' webcomic artist Jeph Jacques, whose dramatic comedy series has lasted more than 10 years and 2300 strips. The comic follows the vertical panel style typical of Questionable Content. The art is more in the xkcd style, with stick figures.<br />
<br />
This comic may be a reference to Marten and Faye, two characters from Questionable Content. Marten meets Faye in QC #3 but is too shy to talk to her. Faye is less shy and introduces herself to Marten. Later, Marten and Faye are living together and have a crush for each other, but they don't get together because Faye is afraid of relationships since her father killed himself.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[A girl is sitting on a bench, reading a book. There is a tree. Far away, Cueball has a backpack on.]<br />
:Cueball's thought bubble: There she is. The most beautiful girl you've ever seen.<br />
<br />
:[The focus is on the girl on the bench.]<br />
:Cueball's thought bubble: Every day you take this route to class, she's sitting on that bench, reading.<br />
<br />
:[It goes even closer to her face.]<br />
:Cueball's thought bubble: You'd introduce yourself, but you wouldn't know what to say. Besides, she's way out of your league.<br />
<br />
:[Back to the full panel.]<br />
:Cueball's thought bubble: What chance could an average guy like you have with such a radiant-<br />
:Girl's thought bubble: Hey.<br />
<br />
:[The girl looks up at her thought bubble with a question mark over her head.]<br />
:Cueball's thought bubble: E-Excuse me?<br />
:Girl's thought bubble: I said hey. You come by here a lot.<br />
<br />
:[The girl looks over at Cueball, who is scratching his head at his thought bubble.]<br />
:Cueball's thought bubble: Oh, uh, yeah. On the way to class.<br />
:Girl's thought bubble: Wanna skip class and go get a coffee?<br />
<br />
:[Cueball is pondering what's happening.]<br />
:Cueball's thought bubble: Sure, I'd - I'd like that a lot.<br />
:Girl's thought bubble: Great, let's ditch these losers.<br />
:Girl: Hey!<br />
<br />
:[The thought bubbles are behind Cueball now, moving away.]<br />
:Cueball's thought bubble: Man, I gotta tell you, I'm SICK of being that guy's internal monologue! So whiny!<br />
:Girl's thought bubble: Seriously! I swear, he and Little Miss Daddy Issues over there were <u>made</u> for each other.<br />
<br />
:[The two look at each other silently.]<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Guest Week]]<br />
[[Category:Romance]]</div>108.162.238.220