https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=162.158.202.52&feedformat=atomexplain xkcd - User contributions [en]2024-03-28T23:27:09ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2129:_1921_Fact_Checker&diff=1716902129: 1921 Fact Checker2019-03-27T17:06:34Z<p>162.158.202.52: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2129<br />
| date = March 27, 2019<br />
| title = 1921 Fact Checker<br />
| image = 1921_fact_checker.png<br />
| titletext = POLITIFACT SAYS: MOSTLY WHATEVER<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a NON IMPORTANT SOMETHING. Explain pilgrims. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
This comic shows a 1921 newspaper article with information about pilgrims coming to America. [[Randall]] has a 'grudging respect' for the author, who feels the information is so unimportant that no fact-checking has been done, and enough integrity that he felt the need to inform the reader of this.<br />
<br />
The Kansas City Sun was a newspaper than ran from 1908-1924.[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn90061556/]<br />
<br />
{{w|PolitiFact}}, mentioned in the title text, is a fact-checking project which evaluates the truth or falsity of various statements made by politicians and other people involved in U.S. politics. The positions on its rating scale are "True", "Mostly True", "Half True", "Mostly False", "False", and "Pants on Fire", the last position being reserved for the most egregiously false claims. "Mostly Whatever", the rating identified in the title text, is presented by Randall as a rating that could apply to claims that have so little relevance or interest that they are not worth checking.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[In a panel with light-gray background is a block of text:]<br />
:An investigator claims to have discovered in some dusty archives that back in the days when the pilgrims landed each person coming to America from England was required to bring with them eight bushels of corn meal, two bushels of oatmeal, two gallons of vinegar and a gallon each of oil and brandy.<br />
<br />
:In view of the fact that nothing of importance hinges on the truth or falsity of this statement, not much time need be consumed to ascertain whether this is truth or fiction.<br />
:::-Kansas City Sun<br />
:::Friday, May 6<sup>th</sup>, 1921<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the panel]<br />
:I have a grudging respect for this 1921 newspaper fact-checker.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>162.158.202.52https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2103:_Midcontinent_Rift_System&diff=1686212103: Midcontinent Rift System2019-01-25T23:30:42Z<p>162.158.202.52: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2103<br />
| date = January 25, 2019<br />
| title = Midcontinent Rift System<br />
| image = midcontinent_rift_system.png<br />
| titletext = The best wedge issue is an actual wedge.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a MID CONTINENTAL RIFT. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
Recently, USA politics has caused polarization of the public.<ref>[https://news.gallup.com/opinion/polling-matters/215210/partisan-differences-growing-number-issues.aspx Partisan Differences Growing on a Number of Issues]</ref> It is said to be "split" in two camps (liberal and conservative). Here [[Black Hat]] is trying to get elected by promising he will actually split America in two. His presentation suggest he would accomplish this by using a giant crowbar, thus completing the {{w|Midcontinent Rift System|Midcontinent Rift}}, which is a large crack that started to form about 1.1 billion years ago, but failed to completely sever the continent.<br />
<br />
It is unclear why anyone would vote for such a thing, but people directly affected (the Midwest) are likely to vote against [[Black Hat]]. While Black Hat and his campaign advisor [[Ponytail]] speak of weakness in the Midwest, they are talking about two different things: Black Hat refers to the physical weakness of the North American Plate in the Midwest due to the geological rift which he thinks could be exploited by a large enough crowbar, while Ponytail is referring to a political weakness for Black Hat's campaign in the Midwest due to the likely-unpopular proposal (different regions of the US have different voters and populations who have different priorities and stances, so candidates and their campaigns' platforms will likely be more popular in some regions and less popular in others). In this case a successful or attempted completion of the rift would likely result in the destruction of millions of houses, buildings, and other man-made structures, not to mention the deaths of many humans (if proper evacuation were not fully implemented and enforced) as well as millions of animals that could not be evacuated. The proposal would also cause huge economic impacts; the Midwest produces a significant proportion of America's food supplies and hosts important economic centres, such as Chicago and Cleveland. So the popularity among those directly or even indirectly affected is likely quite low.<br />
<br />
However, recent political developments, such as the 2016 election or the Brexit vote, show that people do not always vote in their own interest. As its actual potential can thusly not be disregarded, Black Hat's program may be a satire.<br />
<br />
The title text is a pun. A {{w|wedge issue}} is an controversial issue which splits apart a demographic group. It is often introduced to create controversy within an opponent's base so that if the opponent takes any position on the issue, half the voters will desert the opponent. Here the joke is that the "wedge issue" is an actual wedge to split apart the United States.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
:[A map of North America shows the Midcontinent Rift System as a red line curving through the Great Lakes and down through the midwestern United States.]<br />
:1.1 billion years ago, the North American continent began to split in half.<br />
<br />
:[Black Hat stands at a lectern with a "Vote 2020" sign on it. He gestures to an image of the globe with a giant crowbar inserted in the rift with an arrow indicating applying pressure to widen the rift.]<br />
:Black Hat: We don't know why it stopped. If elected, I vow to finish the job. Thank youl.<br />
<br />
:[Ponytail, Black Hat, Megan, and Cueball walk to the right away from a set of stairs. Cueball is looking at a phone and Ponytail is looking at a device or paper with writing on it.]<br />
:Ponytail: Great job up there.<br />
:Black Hat: Thanks! How are my polling numbers?<br />
:Ponytail: Well, I'm seeing some weakness in the Midwest.<br />
:Black Hat: So am I. So am I.<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Elections]]<br />
[[Category:Maps]]</div>162.158.202.52https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2103:_Midcontinent_Rift_System&diff=1686202103: Midcontinent Rift System2019-01-25T23:29:37Z<p>162.158.202.52: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2103<br />
| date = January 25, 2019<br />
| title = Midcontinent Rift System<br />
| image = midcontinent_rift_system.png<br />
| titletext = The best wedge issue is an actual wedge.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a MID CONTINENTAL RIFT. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
Recently, USA politics has caused polarization of the public.<ref>[https://news.gallup.com/opinion/polling-matters/215210/partisan-differences-growing-number-issues.aspx Partisan Differences Growing on a Number of Issues]</ref> It is said to be "split" in two camps (liberal and conservative). Here [[Black Hat]] is trying to get elected by promising he will actually split America in two. His presentation suggest he would accomplish this by using a giant crowbar, thus completing the {{w|Midcontinent Rift System|Midcontinent Rift}}, which is a large crack that started to form about 1.1 billion years ago, but failed to completely sever the continent.<br />
<br />
It is unclear why anyone would vote for such a thing, but people directly affected (the Midwest) are likely to vote against [[Black Hat]]. While Black Hat and his campaign advisor [[Ponytail]] speak of weakness in the Midwest, they are talking about two different things: Black Hat refers to the physical weakness of the North American Plate in the Midwest due to the geological rift which he thinks could be exploited by a large enough crowbar, while Ponytail is referring to a political weakness for Black Hat's campaign in the Midwest due to the likely-unpopular proposal (different regions of the US have different voters and populations who have different priorities and stances, so candidates and their campaigns' platforms will likely be more popular in some regions and less popular in others). In this case a successful or attempted completion of the rift would likely result in the destruction of millions of houses, buildings, and other man-made structures, not to mention the deaths of many humans (if proper evacuation were not fully implemented and enforced) as well as millions of animals that could not be evacuated. The proposal would also cause huge economic impacts; the Midwest produces a significant proportion of America's food supplies and hosts important economic centres, such as Chicago and Cleveland. So the popularity among those directly or even indirectly affected is likely quite low.<br />
<br />
However, recent political developments, such as the 2016 election or the Brexit vote, show that people do not always vote in their own interest. As its actual viability can thusly not be disregarded, Black Hat's program may be a satire.<br />
<br />
The title text is a pun. A {{w|wedge issue}} is an controversial issue which splits apart a demographic group. It is often introduced to create controversy within an opponent's base so that if the opponent takes any position on the issue, half the voters will desert the opponent. Here the joke is that the "wedge issue" is an actual wedge to split apart the United States.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
:[A map of North America shows the Midcontinent Rift System as a red line curving through the Great Lakes and down through the midwestern United States.]<br />
:1.1 billion years ago, the North American continent began to split in half.<br />
<br />
:[Black Hat stands at a lectern with a "Vote 2020" sign on it. He gestures to an image of the globe with a giant crowbar inserted in the rift with an arrow indicating applying pressure to widen the rift.]<br />
:Black Hat: We don't know why it stopped. If elected, I vow to finish the job. Thank youl.<br />
<br />
:[Ponytail, Black Hat, Megan, and Cueball walk to the right away from a set of stairs. Cueball is looking at a phone and Ponytail is looking at a device or paper with writing on it.]<br />
:Ponytail: Great job up there.<br />
:Black Hat: Thanks! How are my polling numbers?<br />
:Ponytail: Well, I'm seeing some weakness in the Midwest.<br />
:Black Hat: So am I. So am I.<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Elections]]<br />
[[Category:Maps]]</div>162.158.202.52https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2103:_Midcontinent_Rift_System&diff=1686192103: Midcontinent Rift System2019-01-25T23:29:13Z<p>162.158.202.52: Expanding on the satirical aspect of Black Hat's program in the light of recent politics</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2103<br />
| date = January 25, 2019<br />
| title = Midcontinent Rift System<br />
| image = midcontinent_rift_system.png<br />
| titletext = The best wedge issue is an actual wedge.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a MID CONTINENTAL RIFT. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
Recently, USA politics has caused polarization of the public.<ref>[https://news.gallup.com/opinion/polling-matters/215210/partisan-differences-growing-number-issues.aspx Partisan Differences Growing on a Number of Issues]</ref> It is said to be "split" in two camps (liberal and conservative). Here [[Black Hat]] is trying to get elected by promising he will actually split America in two. His presentation suggest he would accomplish this by using a giant crowbar, thus completing the {{w|Midcontinent Rift System|Midcontinent Rift}}, which is a large crack that started to form about 1.1 billion years ago, but failed to completely sever the continent.<br />
<br />
It is unclear why anyone would vote for such a thing, but people directly affected (the Midwest) are likely to vote against [[Black Hat]]. While Black Hat and his campaign advisor [[Ponytail]] speak of weakness in the Midwest, they are talking about two different things: Black Hat refers to the physical weakness of the North American Plate in the Midwest due to the geological rift which he thinks could be exploited by a large enough crowbar, while Ponytail is referring to a political weakness for Black Hat's campaign in the Midwest due to the likely-unpopular proposal (different regions of the US have different voters and populations who have different priorities and stances, so candidates and their campaigns' platforms will likely be more popular in some regions and less popular in others). In this case a successful or attempted completion of the rift would likely result in the destruction of millions of houses, buildings, and other man-made structures, not to mention the deaths of many humans (if proper evacuation were not fully implemented and enforced) as well as millions of animals that could not be evacuated. The proposal would also cause huge economic impacts; the Midwest produces a significant proportion of America's food supplies and hosts important economic centres, such as Chicago and Cleveland. So the popularity among those directly or even indirectly affected is likely quite low.<br />
However, recent political developments, such as the 2016 election or the Brexit vote, show that people do not always vote in their own interest. As its actual viability can thusly not be disregarded, Black Hat's program may be a satire.<br />
<br />
The title text is a pun. A {{w|wedge issue}} is an controversial issue which splits apart a demographic group. It is often introduced to create controversy within an opponent's base so that if the opponent takes any position on the issue, half the voters will desert the opponent. Here the joke is that the "wedge issue" is an actual wedge to split apart the United States.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
:[A map of North America shows the Midcontinent Rift System as a red line curving through the Great Lakes and down through the midwestern United States.]<br />
:1.1 billion years ago, the North American continent began to split in half.<br />
<br />
:[Black Hat stands at a lectern with a "Vote 2020" sign on it. He gestures to an image of the globe with a giant crowbar inserted in the rift with an arrow indicating applying pressure to widen the rift.]<br />
:Black Hat: We don't know why it stopped. If elected, I vow to finish the job. Thank youl.<br />
<br />
:[Ponytail, Black Hat, Megan, and Cueball walk to the right away from a set of stairs. Cueball is looking at a phone and Ponytail is looking at a device or paper with writing on it.]<br />
:Ponytail: Great job up there.<br />
:Black Hat: Thanks! How are my polling numbers?<br />
:Ponytail: Well, I'm seeing some weakness in the Midwest.<br />
:Black Hat: So am I. So am I.<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Elections]]<br />
[[Category:Maps]]</div>162.158.202.52https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:2098:_Magnetic_Pole&diff=168500Talk:2098: Magnetic Pole2019-01-22T20:08:43Z<p>162.158.202.52: relation to the "wrong sign" problem in electricity mentioned</p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
GPS relies on satellites not the magnetic pole, so it wouldn't be affected.<br />
: I originally mentioned that modern GPS receivers like in smartphones may integrate the compass, gyro, and GPS to provide higher-quality location data using heuristics, which may get fouled-up if the pole moves too far, but I wrote it in too playful a manner and it has been deleted since. There was no citation anyway; it was just a vague memory. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.245|162.158.79.245]] 06:08, 15 January 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
So, GPS ''receivers'' don't need magnetic poles... but what about the GPS ''satellites''? GPS works being them transmitting their exact location, so they need so way of knowing what that is. [[User:JamesCurran|JamesCurran]] ([[User talk:JamesCurran|talk]]) 22:58, 14 January 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I was wondering about that. Just added {{Citation needed}} to that and a couple of other alleged facts that should really be cited if true, and removed if not. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.208|108.162.216.208]] 20:35, 14 January 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
It was speculated that reversals were linked to mass extinctions. This would make the alt-text appear to be a bit blase - but " Statistical analysis shows no evidence for a correlation between reversals and extinctions." so it seems we will probably be OK.<br />
It does seem odd that GPS wouldn't be calibrated against fixed ground positions. [[User:Baldrickk|Baldrickk]] ([[User talk:Baldrickk|talk]]) 22:06, 14 January 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I expect we'll be fine, but don't a lot of migratory critters use the Earth's magnetic field for navigation over very long distances? I mean, it's not as though they check a calendar and say, "Oh, hey, winter's coming, I guess I'd better head North." They just go in the direction they are 'programmed' to go when they start to feel the urge to do so. So... If the poles reverse (or whatever else) aren't they going to go the wrong direction? There are lots of other species that rely on those migratory species for their lunch. Yeah, I can imagine that there could be a lot of problems. Assuming, of course, that what I read about migratory species using the magnetic field of the Earth for navigation is true.[[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.143|162.158.79.143]] 02:39, 15 January 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I don't believe any "location systems" depend on magnetic field for their accuracy, other than a magnetic compass. As noted above, GPS is calculated numerically from signals received from satellites, so the only effect the magnetic field could have on that is if it somehow disrupts the broadcast of the satellite radio signals. Similarly, LORAN calculates location based on radio signal, from towers on land. There are others as well, and I'm pretty sure none that depend on the location of the magnetic pole. GPS in general is not calibrated to fixed ground positions, but there are enhancements to GPS that do. But those still use radio broadcasts from towers whose locations are known, and don't need to take into account the location of magnetic north.<br />
[[User:Lnthomp|Lnthomp]] ([[User talk:Lnthomp|talk]]) 22:28, 14 January 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I agree that the way it is currently phrased is misleading (to the point of being wrong), but some "location systems" use multiple factors to increase their accuracy. A good smartphone will use GPS together with signal strengths to wifi routers with known locations together with its compass to increase accuracy above that which it could obtain from GPS alone. I've only taken little glimpses into the issue professionally but if I were making an algorithm for such a thing I'd also use input from the accelerometers. In any event, I'd most certainly use the built-in compass. Cheap estimation of direction of travel. Of course I'm just being pedantic with all of that. The difference in accuracy for such a scenario would most likely be minor to the point that nobody would notice. I just kind of think the algorithms that try to combine all that sensor data are cool. --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.62.51|162.158.62.51]] 01:24, 15 January 2019 (UTC)<br />
:It's navigation systems rather than location/positioning systems that rely on magnetic field (although both are often combined). You need a compass to know which direction your are facing and how to go to your destination.[[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.11|141.101.104.11]] 11:32, 15 January 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Granted no one has ever experienced and documented a magnetic reversal event, however, would it be possible for the magnetic flux to cause errors on magnetic media? (eg HDD, credit cards, floppies, cassette, VHS, etc) If it were a cause for alarm, would a faraday cage be useful in protecting against the effects? [[Special:Contributions/172.68.34.34|172.68.34.34]] 23:05, 14 January 2019 (UTC)<br />
: Faraday cages attenuate electric, not magnetic, fields. I think magnetic shielding involves thick, rounded material with high permeability such as iron, steel, mu-metal, often placed inside a faraday cage to prevent RF signals from saturating the permeability; never done it myself though. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.245|162.158.79.245]] 06:13, 15 January 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
No. Magnetic media would not be affected. Geomagnetic field strengths are orders of magnitude weaker than those used to write to magnetic media. --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.62.51|162.158.62.51]] 01:27, 15 January 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The biggest issue during a magnetic pole reversal will be the loss of the Van Allen belt, frying all of us. [[User:RandalSchwartz|RandalSchwartz]] ([[User talk:RandalSchwartz|talk]]) 02:39, 15 January 2019 (UTC)<br />
:Unlikely to literally fry us, but there could definitely be damages on the electrical grids around the world as the magnetic field is weakened during the transition. Probably also a rise in radiation-induced cancers.[[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.11|141.101.104.11]] 11:32, 15 January 2019 (UTC).<br />
<br />
<br />
GPS and Solar weather [https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/impacts/space-weather-and-gps-systems citation ] - worth a read. Basically, the ionosphere disturbance from a changing Earth field (analogous to a changing solar wind) leads to notable inaccuracy and service disruption. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.167|108.162.221.167]] 23:12, 14 January 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
We'll have to renumber all our runways, which will be annoying. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.58.111|162.158.58.111]] 04:27, 15 January 2019 (UTC)<br />
:actually, several runways have already had to have been renumbered because of change in the magnetic poles.[[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.143|162.158.79.143]] 05:19, 15 January 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Wait, "geomagnetic reversal in the next few decades"? Last I checked, it was scheduled to happen in the next few ''millennia''. Have there been new data? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.131|141.101.104.131]] 09:00, 15 January 2019 (UTC)<br />
:Reversals appear to happen randomly, so there's no way to know when the next one will happen. Even if the last one happened about 800 000 years ago, there have been periods of tens of millions of years without reversal.[[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.11|141.101.104.11]] 11:32, 15 January 2019 (UTC)<br />
::800 000 = 0. [[User:Lysdexia|Lysdexia]] ([[User talk:Lysdexia|talk]]) 16:08, 15 January 2019 (UTC)<br />
:::Not when the fields can reverse as often as 5 times in a million years.[[Special:Contributions/141.101.77.128|141.101.77.128]] 16:37, 15 January 2019 (UTC)<br />
:https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121016084936.htm might shed some light on things. In any case, “scheduled” is definitely the wrong word. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.142.77|172.68.142.77]] 13:49, 15 January 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
What about the SOUTH magnetic pole?<br />
[[Special:Contributions/162.158.186.54|162.158.186.54]] 15:29, 15 January 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
We should mention the other comic with similar reaction: https://xkcd.com/2029/ [[Special:Contributions/141.101.77.56|141.101.77.56]] 11:45, 16 January 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I'm glad we decided to work on that. Now a lot of geography-students will be a lot less confused when the magnetic field comes up.</div>162.158.202.52https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:2085:_arXiv&diff=167048Talk:2085: arXiv2018-12-15T04:54:23Z<p>162.158.202.52: </p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
To be fair, the UI is so bad that that alone is barrier enough for downloading the pdf. :D Also, people might now fight me, because it's really easy if you know what to do. [[User:Fabian42|Fabian42]] ([[User talk:Fabian42|talk]]) 19:03, 14 December 2018 (UTC)<br />
<br />
<br />
What fields are they taking about? Which have been most open to sites like arXiv and which have been most reluctant? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.246.161|108.162.246.161]] 19:46, 14 December 2018 (UTC)<br />
<br />
<br />
It appears this comic may be referencing current events where academics are pushing for more open access publishing and publishers are balking. In particular, see this article in [https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/12/13/university-california-challenges-elsevier-over-access-scholarly-research the December 13th issue of Inside Higher Ed]. Some key quotes from the article:<br />
<br />
: ''The California system wants to fundamentally alter how it pays for journal content from publishers like Elsevier and to accelerate open-access publishing in the process. The UC system wants to do more to make publicly funded research freely accessible to the public.''<br />
<br />
: ''If an agreement is not reached before the deadline, then as soon as Jan. 1, 2019, the 69,000 faculty members and 238,000 students in the UC system may no longer have access to new articles published in over a thousand Elsevier journals, including Lancet and biology journals published through Cell Press.''<br />
<br />
: ''It’s certainly the case that major publishers have not embraced these types of agreements,” said MacKie-Mason. “Springer Nature has been more agreeable to contracts of this sort, but many are moving slowly, or actively opposing.”''<br />
<br />
[[Special:Contributions/162.158.106.96|162.158.106.96]] 20:43, 14 December 2018 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:A group of publishing companies are currently taking legal action against websites that share published papers unofficially [http://www.responsiblesharing.org/coalition-statement/]. I don't know if this applies to the ones mentioned in the comic, but it partly comes down to whether the article is in it's final 'published' format which is copyright of the journal, or an earlier pre-print version not using the publisher's template where the copyright may still be owned by the authors. On the other hand, some publishers have embraced the pre-print model and created their own servers [https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/chemistry-preprint-server-plan-generates-sparks/1017239.article]. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.34.178|162.158.34.178]] 21:13, 14 December 2018 (UTC)<br />
<br />
: Propably also interesting https://www.projekt-deal.de/about-deal [[Special:Contributions/162.158.202.52|162.158.202.52]] 04:54, 15 December 2018 (UTC)</div>162.158.202.52https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1890:_What_to_Bring&diff=145811Talk:1890: What to Bring2017-09-22T21:59:26Z<p>162.158.202.52: Still the old image</p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
<br />
Presumably water in a gun fight _might_ work if the guns involved are particularly old fashioned (e.g. see [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flintlock Flintlock]) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.154.55|162.158.154.55]] 06:35, 15 September 2017 (UTC) A flintlock style uses a metal 'frizzen' which hinges over the 'pan' into which the priming power is placed. This not only protects the powder from the weather (and a splash), but also keep the powder in the pan as the firearm is moved about. When the mechanism is fired, the flint comes striking down on the surface of the frizzen which both opens the cover and directs sparks into the pan. The type of firearm that might be made inactive with a splash of water is an older design called the matchlock which held a lit cord or match in a mechanism over the open pan. The gun is fired by allowing the match to fall into the pan and detonating the powder. <br />
<br />
I see that bringing a lid to a knife or gun fight might serve as some sort of a shield? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.107.66|141.101.107.66]] 06:52, 15 September 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
If your lid is big enough, you can extinguish a wood fire too [[Special:Contributions/141.101.105.240|141.101.105.240]] 09:50, 15 September 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Is this Randall being political about the situation with North Korea? Maybe I'm reading too much into it, although the world would probably be a better place if more people (and countries) followed the tag text. [[User:Fluppeteer|Fluppeteer]] ([[User talk:Fluppeteer|talk]]) 10:29, 15 September 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
But what if... you bring a wood fire... TO A KNIFE FIGHT?! Also, I'm not the only person thinking about BOTW's lowest-defense shield, am I? [[User:OriginalName|OriginalName]] ([[User talk:OriginalName|talk]]) 11:24, 15 September 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
US Military personnel use "lid" as a euphemism for their uniform hat. I think that interpretation is represented in the drawing for "lid to a knife fight". [[Special:Contributions/162.158.74.201|162.158.74.201]] 12:57, 15 September 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Using a gun to extinguish fire probably was influenced by this official tweet of a sheriff 5 days ago [https://mobile.twitter.com/pascosheriff/status/906712903868469249 "To clarify, DO NOT shoot weapons @ #Irma. You won't make it turn around & it will have very dangerous side effects"], which was necessary after stupid people started to try to fight the hurricane with guns. Sebastian --[[Special:Contributions/172.68.110.94|172.68.110.94]] 15:23, 15 September 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The sentence "which often come with lids suited to making an airtight seal" is inaccurate. Lids don't form an airtight seal, and airtightness is not necessary to extinguish a pan fire.--[[User:Pere prlpz|Pere prlpz]] ([[User talk:Pere prlpz|talk]]) 23:58, 15 September 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The phrase "don't bring a knife to a gun fight" is not a statement of general naive lack of preparation, but is specifically used to advocate literal firearms as a means of defense over literal knives. The "gun fight" refers to encounters with armed criminals who, the phrase suggests, will still use their gun to your disadvantage whether or not you are capable of fighting back. It has been subverted occasionally as an implied threat (usually in drama rather than reality) when the situation is reversed, i.e. the criminal is armed with a knife and the would-be victim is armed with a gun. The violence implied by "a gun fight" tends to restrict more metaphorical use of the phrase. The title text seems to be based in the original meaning, with the implication that Randall expects a gun being used against an armed criminal to escalate violence.<br />
:Struggling to work out whether this comment is tongue in cheek, or for real.[[Special:Contributions/162.158.155.32|162.158.155.32]] 16:31, 18 September 2017 (UTC)<br />
:Hmmm... Since I don't see the humour in this comment if it was meant as a joke, and trolling is just pointless, I'm going to go ahead and treat it as a serious comment. No. Just no. A literal knife to a literal gun fight would be where the saying came from, but even then only as a metaphor or simile, as an issue easily understood. It should be obvious to anyone who knows how guns work that the gun would have an almost complete advantage. The saying actually means being on unequal footing in some conflict, where the person being warned is trying to attack or go against someone who is better prepared. The stereotypical jock trying to argue a point against the captain of the debate team (presumably the captain being the most experienced at making logical well-reasoned arguments, and as such would have no problem winning such an argument). A brand new private in the army challenging a multi-stipe sargeant to a fist fight (presumably anyone who has risen to the rank of sargeant and gained several stripes besides is quite experienced at fighting). A child challenging an Olympic medalist to a race (besides being an adult, presumably someone who has won a medal has tremendous ability at whatever kind of race this is). "Bringing a knife to a gunfight" is a common SAYING to describe such situations. [[User:NiceGuy1|NiceGuy1]] ([[User talk:NiceGuy1|talk]]) 04:01, 19 September 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Just noticed that the comic on xkcd got a little correction: The "Water to a knife fight" Cueball was missing an arm. --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.202.202|162.158.202.202]] 23:12, 17 September 2017 (UTC)<br />
:Here's still the old image. Can anyone update it? --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.202.52|162.158.202.52]] 21:59, 22 September 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The gun is the only thing with two uses, so it's ''obviously'' the most useful. [[User:1337357|1337357]] ([[User talk:1337357|talk]])</div>162.158.202.52