https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=172.68.58.95&feedformat=atomexplain xkcd - User contributions [en]2024-03-28T09:13:32ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2185:_Cumulonimbus&diff=1775212185: Cumulonimbus2019-08-05T18:56:14Z<p>172.68.58.95: Link to disappearing comic it replaced.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2185<br />
| date = August 5, 2019<br />
| title = Cumulonimbus<br />
| image = cumulonimbus.png<br />
| titletext = The rarest of all clouds is the altocumulenticulostratonimbulocirruslenticulomammanoctilucent cloud, caused by an interaction between warm moist air, cool dry air, cold slippery air, cursed air, and a cloud of nanobots.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a CUMULONIMBOCUNIMBULONIMBUS CLOUD. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic follows the naming of clouds. As with other lists (like in [[2022: Sports Champions]]), it starts off as normal but then gets more unusual until it is unrealistic. <br />
<br />
;Cumulus<br />
: The first panel shows a {{w|cumulus}} These are your typical clouds, and are relatively small.<br />
;Cumulonimbus<br />
: The second panel shows a {{w|cumulonimbus}}. This cloud can be described as anvil shaped, and are also rain clouds<br />
;Cumulonimbulonimbus<br />
: The third panel shows an even bigger cloud and names it cumulonimbulonimbus. The humor here comes from building up an even bigger name for the cloud as its size increases.<br />
;Cumulonimbulonimbulocumulonimbus<br />
: The forth panel shows an absurdly large cloud and gives it the name cumulonimbulonimbulocumulonimbus<br />
;Altocumulenticulostratonimbulocirruslenticulomammanoctilucent<br />
: The title text continues this list by naming a new cloud that is also supposedly the rarest. It requires cursed air and nanobots to make, which is impossible since neither of those exist.{{Citation needed}}<br />
<br />
==Disappearing Comic==<br />
<br />
This comic replaced the following 'disappearing' comic, sharing the same sequence number. The original comic does not appear in explainxkcd's comic navigation and hence is linked here: [[2185:_Disappearing_Sunday_Update]]<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>172.68.58.95https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1980:_Turkish_Delight&diff=155820Talk:1980: Turkish Delight2018-04-13T22:00:27Z<p>172.68.58.95: </p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
whomever[[Special:Contributions/172.68.26.71|172.68.26.71]] 15:42, 13 April 2018 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Randall is a known Animorphs fan, and Cinnabon is portrayed in the books as being foremost among the favourite foods of Andalites when in human morph. Possibly the title text is meant to introduce the narrator as one? It wouldn't be the [[769:_War|first time]] that mousing over has revealed the identity of a character in the strip. [[User:D5xtgr|D5xtgr]] ([[User talk:D5xtgr|talk]]) 17:57, 13 April 2018 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Would it be useful to include an explanation of what Turkish Delights are and what they’re made from? It could help to explain why he might be let down. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.211.82|172.68.211.82]] 19:41, 13 April 2018 (UTC)<br />
*This might be helpful for background [http://www.slate.com/articles/life/food/2005/12/the_lion_the_witch_and_the_really_foul_candy.html The Lion, the Witch, and the Really Foul Candy] [[User:Odysseus654|Odysseus654]] ([[User talk:Odysseus654|talk]]) 21:22, 13 April 2018 (UTC)<br />
<br />
One point that might be worth mentioning, is that this happens during World War II, more specifically during The Blitz (the Kids were being sent off to the professor's to get them out of the city, since the city was being bombed to crap. This kind of thing was rather common.) Rationing had been in place for some time, and ANY sort of confectionery would've been exceedingly difficult to come by. Poor Edmund probably hadn't had any candy at all for months. -Graptor [[Special:Contributions/172.68.58.95|172.68.58.95]] 22:00, 13 April 2018 (UTC)</div>172.68.58.95https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1932:_The_True_Meaning_of_Christmas&diff=1496751932: The True Meaning of Christmas2017-12-22T15:45:11Z<p>172.68.58.95: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1932<br />
| date = December 22, 2017<br />
| title = The True Meaning of Christmas<br />
| image = the_true_meaning_of_christmas.png<br />
| titletext = They all made fun of Autometalogolex, but someday there will be a problem with Christmas that can only be solved if Santa somehow gets a serious headache, and then they'll see.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a Grinch. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
This comic is making fun of the common trope in popular media that the {{tvtropes|TrueMeaningOfChristmas|true meaning of Christmas}} is about family, friends, and sharing the Christmas Spirit. It subverts the trope by suggesting that once the stories of the "True Meaning of Christmas" become sufficiently common, the real true meaning becomes to spread those stories. Thus the "True Meaning of Christmas" is itself the meaning of Christmas.<br />
<br />
In the last panel and title text, "Autometalogolex" can be broken down to its various prefixes and the root.<br />
<br />
"Auto-" - Greek meaning "self."<br />
<br />
"Meta-" - Greek meaning "after," "beyond," or "in reference to."<br />
<br />
"Logo-" - Greek meaning "word" or "speech."<br />
<br />
"Lex" - "lexis" is another Greek word meaning "word"; but in this case it is more likely to be a shortening of "lexicon" (another word for dictionary), or perhaps a reference to the process of "lexing" (lexical analysis), part of the process of computer analysis of text.<br />
<br />
Thus, "Autometalogolex" literally means "A word that refers to itself in the dictionary."<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
:[Cueball and a person wearing a Santa hat are standing together.]<br />
:Cueball: You're looking festive.<br />
:Santa Hat: I love Christmas!<br />
:Cueball: Really? Doesn't seem like your kind of thing.<br />
:Santa Hat: It's our most meta holiday!<br />
<br />
:Cueball: How so?<br />
:Santa Hat: All our Christmas stories now are about discovering the "true meaning of Christmas."<br />
<br />
:Cueball: Huh, yeah. And then sharing it with others.<br />
:[Santa Hat shrugs.]<br />
:Santa Hat: At some point, that quest itself '''''became''''' the true meaning.<br />
<br />
:Cueball: Like a word who's definition is "the act of looking up the definition of this word."<br />
:[Santa Hat thinks.]<br />
:Santa Hat: "Autometalogolex"?<br />
:Cueball: My least favorite of Santa's reindeer.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]<br />
[[Category:Christmas]]<br />
[[Category:Characters with Hats]]</div>172.68.58.95https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1932:_The_True_Meaning_of_Christmas&diff=1496741932: The True Meaning of Christmas2017-12-22T15:44:07Z<p>172.68.58.95: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1932<br />
| date = December 22, 2017<br />
| title = The True Meaning of Christmas<br />
| image = the_true_meaning_of_christmas.png<br />
| titletext = They all made fun of Autometalogolex, but someday there will be a problem with Christmas that can only be solved if Santa somehow gets a serious headache, and then they'll see.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a Grinch. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
This comic is making fun of the common trope in popular media that the {{tvtropes|TrueMeaningOfChristmas|true meaning of Christmas}} is about family, friends, and sharing the Christmas Spirit. It subverts the trope by suggesting that once the stories of the "True Meaning of Christmas" become sufficiently common, the real true meaning becomes to spread those stories. Thus the "True Meaning of Christmas" is itself the meaning of Christmas.<br />
<br />
In the last panel and title text, "Autometalogolex" can be broken down to its various prefixes and the root.<br />
<br />
"Auto-" - Greek meaning "self."<br />
<br />
"Meta-" - Greek meaning "after," "beyond," or "in reference to."<br />
<br />
"Logo-" - Greek meaning "word" or "speech."<br />
<br />
"Lex" - "lexis" is another Greek word meaning "word"; but in this case it is more likely to be a shortening of "lexicon" (another word for dictionary), or perhaps a reference to the process of "lexing" (lexical analysis), part of the process of computer analysis of text.<br />
<br />
Thus, "Autometalogolex" literally means "A word that refers to itself in the dictionary."<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
:[Cueball and a person wearing a Santa hat are standing together.]<br />
:Cueball: You're looking festive.<br />
:Santa Hat: I love Christmas!<br />
:Cueball: Really? Doesn't seem like your kind of thing.<br />
:Santa Hat: It's our most meta holiday!<br />
<br />
:Cueball: How so?<br />
:Santa Hat: All our Christmas stories now are about discovering the "true meaning of Christmas."<br />
<br />
:Cueball: Huh, yeah. And then sharing it with others.<br />
:[Santa Hat shrugs.]<br />
:Santa Hat: At some point, that quest itself '''''became''''' the true meaning.<br />
<br />
:Cueball: Like a word who's definition is "the act of looking up the definition of this word."<br />
:[Santa Hat thinks.]<br />
:Santa Hat: "Autometalogolex"?<br />
:Cueball: My least favorite of Santa's reindeer.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}} Stupid Jews<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]<br />
[[Category:Christmas]]<br />
[[Category:Characters with Hats]]</div>172.68.58.95https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1917:_How_to_Make_Friends&diff=148022Talk:1917: How to Make Friends2017-11-17T08:18:57Z<p>172.68.58.95: "Friends"?</p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
Please clarify: What are "friends"?<br />
[[Special:Contributions/172.68.58.95|172.68.58.95]] 08:18, 17 November 2017 (UTC)</div>172.68.58.95https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1902:_State_Borders&diff=1466221902: State Borders2017-10-13T23:33:07Z<p>172.68.58.95: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1902<br />
| date = October 13, 2017<br />
| title = State Borders<br />
| image = state_borders.png<br />
| titletext = A schism between the pro-panhandle and anti-panhandle factions eventually led to war, but both sides spent too much time working on their flag designs to actually do much fighting.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Add a table of all the proposed changes, explain title text... Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
In this comic, graphic designers take control of the United States, but the only thing they do is to change the state and national borders, as well as to some extent the coast line, using primarily esthetic criteria. <br />
<br />
Despite the caption's rather blasé reaction to the graphic designers' master plan, the changes they propose could be rather tumultuous. Many U.S. residents will be made to live in new states, and thus be required to pay different taxes and obey different state laws, and even root for different sports teams. Some particularly unlucky U.S. citizens living Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska and Minnesota could be required to file for citizenship in Mexico or Canada if they wish to continue living in their current homes. And given that the comic implies that the Trump administration has been ousted by the graphic designer regime, there would probably be no upside to the ensuing international bureaucratic nightmare.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Proposed change !! Explanation<br />
|-<br />
| Give to Canada || {{w|Minnesota}} has a small northern exclave (the {{w|Northwest Angle}}) which is accessible from the rest of the US only via the {{w| Lake of the Woods}} or by travelling through Canada. The new borders suggest giving this territory to Canada to simplify the state and national border.<br />
|-<br />
| This should be {{w|Wisconsin}} || {{w|Michigan}} is divided into two parts by {{w|Lake Michigan}}. The graphic designers suggest eliminating a boundary line by assigning the upper peninsula of Michigan to Wisconsin. <br />
|-<br />
| If we're going to have a panhandle, why not commit to it? || {{w|Oklahoma}} has a "panhandle" to its west, which is a kind of {{w|Salient (geography)|Salient}}. The obvious fix would be to give it to Texas. In a twist, the graphic designers suggest extending it even further, across the northern parts of {{w|Arizona}} and {{w|New Mexico}}.<br />
|-<br />
| Let's be honest, this should be Canada too || {{w|Southeast Alaska}} should be given to {{w|Canada}}, presumably because it more neatly fits with {{w|British Columbia}}. This is slightly problematic, as the state capital, {{w|Juneau}}, is within this section.<br />
|-<br />
| Unlabelled cleanup at the junction of {{w|Texas}}/{{w|Oklahoma}}/{{w|Arkansas}}/{{w|Louisiana}} || Square off {{w|Southwest Arkansas}}, and move {{w|Lousiana's}} northwest border to meet up, presumably because square corners are better.<br />
|-<br />
| Unlabelled cleanup at the junction of {{w|Nevada}}/{{w|Arizona}} || Continue the line of Utah's western border and Arizona's far northwestern border south (replacing part of the {{w|Colorado River}} boundary), transferring part of Arizona's {{w|Mohave_County,_Arizona|Mohave county}} to Nevada.<br />
|- <br />
| Clean up (Arizona/New Mexico/Texas) || One of {{w|New Mexico}}'s borders should be extended into a single line. This results in ceding some land to Mexico, having {{w|El Paso}} split across New Mexico and Texas, and Highway 62 alternating between two states. <br />
|-<br />
| Unlabelled cleanup at the junction of {{w|Kentucky}}/{{w|Virginia}} || Virginia's western border is shifted east to align it with the borders to the north and south, forming a continuous line along the {{w|Appalachian_Mountains|Appalachians}}.<br />
|-<br />
| Fix this thing || The border of {{w|Missouri}} cuts into {{w|Arkansas}}, in the so-called {{w|Missouri Bootheel}}. The Design Team has awarded that piece to {{w|Arkansas}}, straightening the border.<br />
|-<br />
| Align to Grid || Most of the Western states are variations on "Let's have a large box", but there's something a bit irregular about them. Never fear, the Design Team has fixed!<br />
|-<br />
| Why should Florida get Alabama's coastline? It has plenty. || <br />
The {{w|Florida Panhandle}} borders southern {{w|Alabama}} denying the state all but a sliver of coastline. Given that Florida already has an abundance of coast, the Graphic Designers consider the present arrangement unfair. Ceding the Florida counties west of the {{w|Apalachicola River}} have actually been {{w|Florida_Panhandle#Alabama_annexation_proposals|raised since the 19th century}}. This change would have the additional benfit of more neatly aligning Florida's western border with that of neighboring {{w|Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia}}.<br />
|-<br />
|Enlarge Rhode Island & Delaware || {{w|Rhode Island}} and {{w|Delaware}}, the two {{w|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_area#Area_by_state.2Fterritory|smallest U.S. states by area}}, are often difficult to make out on a map of the United States. Expanding Delaware to occupy the entire {{w|Delmarva_Peninsula|Delmarva peninsula}} eliminates some boundary lines the designers apparently consider excessively fiddly; expanding Rhode Island eastward would reduce the number of land borders it has to too (one to its west with Connecticut and one to its north with Massachusetts) and make it easier to see on a map.<br />
|-<br />
| Move Long Island to NJ or CT, or make it its own state || {{w|Connecticut}} and {{w|New Jersey}} are very close to each other but don't actually border, separated only a few miles by {{w|New York State}}. {{w|Long Island}} is part of New York State, which visibly juts out into the Atlantic and apparently drives graphic designers crazy who see an association with New Jersey or Connecticut or even becoming its own state more logical than being a part of New York State. This would have some issues, not least of which is that Long Island contains two of {{w|New York City}}'s five boroughs ({{w|Brooklyn}} and {{w|Queens}}) and more than half the city's population.<br />
|-<br />
| Clean Up (Maryland/Pennsylvania/Virginia/West Virginia) || Maryland's western panhandle and both of West Virginia's to the east and north would be smoothed out to have nice, straight, shorter lines. <br />
|-<br />
| Good Curve! Keep (Florida/Georgia/South Carolina) || The only thing the design team likes already about the shape of the US is the shape of the Atlantic coast in northern {{w|Florida}}, Georgia, and {{w|South Carolina}}, as it seems to bend into the US smoothly. Given the curve is the border between land and water, it's good they like it as changing it would be very difficult and expensive.<br />
|-<br />
| Straighten to fix survey errors (Tennessee) || {{w|Tenneesse}}'s southern border is supposed to be the 35th parallel north, but due to surveying errors made in the 19th Century the marked border is one mile south of that line. At many times since, Georgia has sought to fix this by various means (at least partly because doing so would net them some rights to the water from the Tennessee River) including bringing its case to the US Supreme Court - with the Design Team in charge, they wouldn't need those lawyers any more. Farther westward, Tennessee's actual southern border suddenly juts south at the Tennessee River between Alabama and Mississippi - again, the Design Team would rather see it smoothed out. Tenneesse's northern border with Kentucky has similar hitches that prevent it from being a straight line that the Design Team wants to address.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
In the title text, the graphic designers have a civil war between the ones that favor "panhandles" in the borders, such as the Oklahoma one which is enlarged in the map, the Florida one which is removed in the map, and maybe others such as the Texas region known as the "Texas panhandle". However, they get too caught up in making the flag designs for their faction to actually fight. Randall has shown interest for vexillology (the study of flags) in the past.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
:[An outline map of the United States is shown, including state boundaries. The following edit marks are shown in red text:]<br />
:[Minnesota's Northwest Angle is circled] Give to Canada<br />
:[Border between Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula is crossed out] This should be Wisconsin<br />
:[New York's Long Island is circled, with arrows and question marks pointing to New Jersey and Connecticut] Move Long Island to NJ or CT or make it its own state<br />
:[New York's eastern border has been straightened]<br />
:[Wyoming's western border is moved to align with that of Colorado. The Montana/Idaho and Idaho/Utah borders are extended to reach the new border. Similarly, Colorado's eastern border is moved to align with that of Wyoming, and the Nebraska/Kansas border has been extended] Align to grid<br />
:[West Virginia's northern panhandle has been given to Ohio and part of its eastern panhandle has been given to Maryland. In return, Western Maryland has been given to West Virginia. The altogether effect is that West Virginia and Maryland have more compact shapes] Clean Up<br />
:[Rhode Island has been enlarged to encompass southeastern Massachusetts, and Delaware now takes up the entire Delmarva Peninsula] Enlarge Rhode Island & Delaware<br />
:[The Oklahoma Panhandle has been extended west until it reaches Nevada, taking the northernmost parts of Arizona and New Mexico with it] If we're going to have a panhandle, why not commit to it?<br />
:[The Missouri Bootheel has been given to Arkansas] Fix this thing<br />
:[The part of Virginia west of the Appalachian Mountains has been given to Kentucky]<br />
:[The southwestern and eastern borders of Nevada have been extended into Arizona until they meet a point. A part of California is slightly extended to reach the revised border]<br />
:[Parts of Arizona and New Mexico have been ceded to Mexico, and part of Texas has been given to New Mexico, so that the southern borders of Arizona and New Mexico and the northern border of the Trans-Pecos area of Texas collectively form a straight line] Clean Up<br />
:[Parts of northeastern Texas have been given to Arkansas and Louisiana]<br />
:[The northern and southern borders of Tennessee have been straightened] Straighten to fix survey errors<br />
:[A line has been traced along the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, and northern Florida] Good curve! Keep.<br />
:[Alaska's southeastern panhandle has been circled] Let's be honest - this should be Canada, too.<br />
:[The Alabama/Florida border has been erased, and Alabama's eastern border has been extended south until it meets the Gulf of Mexico] Why should Florida get Alabama's coastline? It has plenty.<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the panel:] <br />
:It was scary when graphic designers seized control of the country, but it turned out they just wanted to fix some things about the state borders that had always bothered them.<br><br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>172.68.58.95https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1899:_Ears&diff=1463421899: Ears2017-10-07T00:35:12Z<p>172.68.58.95: Description looks complete to me.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1899<br />
| date = October 6, 2017<br />
| title = Ears<br />
| image = ears.png<br />
| titletext = My theory is that most humans have been colonized with alien mind-control slugs that hold the earbuds for them, and the ones who can't wear earbuds are the only surviving free ones.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
[[Cueball]] and [[Megan]] are sitting in a park together and appear to be cloudwatching. Cueball asks if Megan has ever looked up in the sky and wondered, implying that he is thinking deep thoughts while allowing his mind to wander. However, it transpires that in fact he is listening to some audio device, and his wondering is possibly caused because he looked up at the sky and his {{w|Headphones#Ear-fitting headphones|earbuds}} fell out, leading to the thoughts about what it would be like to have "normal shaped ears" so he could wear earbuds without them falling out. (This joke is directed towards a large group of people who cannot use earbuds successfully because they fall out.) Megan response could either be making fun of Cueball and the stuff that goes on in his head with the random conversation points he tends to bring up, or agreeing with him that earbud wearers ears are mysterious.<br />
<br />
The comic appears to be a variation on a famous and often-quoted fragment from {{w|Voltaire}}'s {{w|Candide}}, where Dr. Pangloss states that we live in 'the best of all possible worlds', among other reasons because '…noses were made to wear spectacles, and so we have spectacles'.<br />
<br />
The title text is a reference to the ''{{w|Animorphs}}'' book series or any other of a large number of similar stories, in which humanity is being colonized by parasitic alien slugs called [http://animorphs.wikia.com/wiki/Yeerk Yeerks], that enter a human's brain through the ears and can control them. Randall/Cueball here is suggesting that the reason most humans can wear earbuds is because the Yeerks hold the earbuds in place. Randall seems partial to ''Animorphs,'' but it could also be referencing {{w|List_of_Star_Trek_animals#Ceti_eel|Star Trek Ceti Eels}}.<br />
<br />
Another possibility, given the earbud/music reference is that Randall is making a joke about {{w|earworms}}.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball is sitting with his back towards Megan who is lying on her back on a grassy hill. Both are looking up at a sky with small puffy clouds (one large, two small, and four tiny). In the background fields are visible below their vantage point.]<br />
<br />
:[Same setting, but with the clouds removed, to make room for Cueball's text.]<br />
:Cueball: Do you ever just look up at the sky and wonder...<br />
<br />
:[Same setting, zoomed a bit out to make more of the background fields visible, still with the clouds missing due to the text from the two people.]<br />
:Cueball: "What are normal peoples' ears shaped like, that earbuds stay in without falling out?"<br />
:Megan: Man, who ''knows'' what's going on in there.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Animorphs]]</div>172.68.58.95https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1895:_Worrying_Scientist_Interviews&diff=1459791895: Worrying Scientist Interviews2017-09-27T17:37:38Z<p>172.68.58.95: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1895<br />
| date = September 27, 2017<br />
| title = Worrying Scientist Interviews<br />
| image = worrying_scientist_interviews.png<br />
| titletext = They always try to explain that they're called 'solar physicists', but the reporters interrupt with "NEVER MIND THAT, TELL US WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE SUN!"<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Add percentages to the table, elaborate on the explanations. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Interviewee !! Worry level !! Explanation<br />
|-<br />
| Archeologist || Minimum || Likely just dug up some old ruins or bones. Unlikely to involve bad news, though it may possibly cause problems (e.g. if a construction project is delayed to accomodate an archaeological investigation).<br />
|-<br />
| Economist || Very low || News about the economy could be either good or bad, and in most cases is just more of the usual ups and downs rather than anything catyclysmic.<br />
|-<br />
| Nutritionist || Very low || Possible fad diet. Note that nutritionists tend not to be a protected profession, compared to dietitians. May be alarming if it involves credible information about bad health consequences of eating, or not eating, a particular food.<br />
|-<br />
| Criminologist || Low || Probably just crime statistics. Usually just correcting people who mistakingly believe crime is on the rise, or been hired to suggest crime is on the rise without actually saying it. Could be dangerous in the unlikely case crime is on the rise.<br />
|-<br />
| Ornithologist || Medium || This would indicate the discovery of a strange behavior exhibited by {{w|Bird|avian dinosaurs}}. We can only hope that {{w|Alfred Hitchcock}} isn't trying to torment humanity from beyond the grave...<br />
|-<br />
| Botanist || Medium || There might be a new invasive plant species that will affect your lawn or garden.<br />
|-<br />
| Marine Biologist || Medium || There might be a new invasive aquatic species that will affect the availability of fish and other ocean-harvested resources.<br />
|-<br />
| Entomologist || Medium high || There might be a new invasive insect species that could cause health concerns, ranging from {{w|Locust|famine}} to {{w|Mosquito|blood-transmitted diseases}}.<br />
|-<br />
| Astronomer || High || Possible inbound meteor, or perhaps sighting of incoming alien ships<br />
|-<br />
| Virologist || Very high || A disease that is incurable and spreads fast might contaminate a town.<br />
|-<br />
| Vulcanologist || Very high || A volcano might erupt soon, danger level depending on what volcano.<br />
|-<br />
| Astronomer who studies the sun || Maximum || There might be something wrong with the sun, the consequences of which could range from [[Wikipedia:Solar_storm_of_1859|major disruption of modern technology]] to the end of life on earth. The title text elaborates that, [[1475: Technically|technically]], the correct term is '{{w|Solar physics|Solar Physicist}}'. Unsurprisingly, reporters (and the general audience) aren't particularly interested in such a pedantic matter, and want to be informed about the more pressing issue regarding the fiery ball that maintains the Earth's orbit, gravity, and capacity for life.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
<p>How worried you should be if you see local reporters interviewing scientists about a breaking news story, by field:</p><br />
<br />
<p>[Chart showing "More worried" with an arrow to the right with these marks in progressively more worrying sequence.]</p><br />
<p>Archeologist<br/><br />
Economist<br/><br />
Nutritionist<br/><br />
Criminologist<br/><br />
Ornithologist<br/><br />
Botanist<br/><br />
Marine Biologist<br/><br />
Entomologist<br/><br />
Astronomer<br/><br />
Virologist<br/><br />
Vulcanologist<br/><br />
Astronomer who studies the sun</p><br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>172.68.58.95https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1895:_Worrying_Scientist_Interviews&diff=1459761895: Worrying Scientist Interviews2017-09-27T17:30:06Z<p>172.68.58.95: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1895<br />
| date = September 27, 2017<br />
| title = Worrying Scientist Interviews<br />
| image = worrying_scientist_interviews.png<br />
| titletext = They always try to explain that they're called 'solar physicists', but the reporters interrupt with "NEVER MIND THAT, TELL US WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE SUN!"<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Add percentages to the table, elaborate on the explanations. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Interviewee !! Worry level !! Explanation<br />
|-<br />
| Archeologist || Minimum || Likely just dug up some old ruins or bones. Unlikely to involve bad news, though it may possibly cause problems (e.g. if a construction project is delayed to accomodate an archaeological investigation).<br />
|-<br />
| Economist || Very low || News about the economy could be either good or bad, and in most cases is just more of the usual ups and downs rather than anything catyclysmic.<br />
|-<br />
| Nutritionist || Very low || Possible fad diet. Note that nutritionists tend not to be a protected profession, compared to dietitians. May be alarming if it involves credible information about bad health consequences of eating, or not eating, a particular food.<br />
|-<br />
| Criminologist || Low || Probably just crime statistics. Usually just correcting people who mistakingly believe crime is on the rise, or been hired to suggest crime is on the rise without actually saying it. Could be dangerous in the unlikely case crime is on the rise.<br />
|-<br />
| Ornithologist || Medium || This would indicate the discovery of a strange behavior exhibited by {{w|Bird|avian dinosaurs}}. We can only hope that {{w|Alfred Hitchcock}} isn't trying to torment humanity from beyond the grave...<br />
|-<br />
| Botanist || Medium || There might be a new invasive plant species that will affect your lawn or garden.<br />
|-<br />
| Marine Biologist || Medium || There might be a new invasive aquatic species that will affect the availability of fish and other ocean-harvested resources.<br />
|-<br />
| Entomologist || Medium high || There might be a new invasive insect species that could cause health concerns, ranging from {{w|Locust|famine}} to {{w|Mosquito|blood-transmitted diseases}}.<br />
|-<br />
| Astronomer || High || Possible inbound meteor, or perhaps sighting of incoming alien ships<br />
|-<br />
| Virologist || Very high || Some disease is likely spreading<br />
|-<br />
| Vulcanologist || Very high || A volcano might erupt soon, danger level depending on what volcano.<br />
|-<br />
| Astronomer who studies the sun || Maximum || There might be something wrong with the sun, the consequences of which could range from [[Wikipedia:Solar_storm_of_1859|major disruption of modern technology]] to the end of life on earth.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
<p>How worried you should be if you see local reporters interviewing scientists about a breaking news story, by field:</p><br />
<br />
<p>[Chart showing "More worried" with an arrow to the right with these marks in progressively more worrying sequence.]</p><br />
<p>Archeologist<br/><br />
Economist<br/><br />
Nutritionist<br/><br />
Criminologist<br/><br />
Ornithologist<br/><br />
Botanist<br/><br />
Marine Biologist<br/><br />
Entomologist<br/><br />
Astronomer<br/><br />
Virologist<br/><br />
Vulcanologist<br/><br />
Astronomer who studies the sun</p><br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>172.68.58.95https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1895:_Worrying_Scientist_Interviews&diff=1459751895: Worrying Scientist Interviews2017-09-27T17:14:25Z<p>172.68.58.95: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1895<br />
| date = September 27, 2017<br />
| title = Worrying Scientist Interviews<br />
| image = worrying_scientist_interviews.png<br />
| titletext = They always try to explain that they're called 'solar physicists', but the reporters interrupt with "NEVER MIND THAT, TELL US WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE SUN!"<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Add percentages to the table, elaborate on the explanations. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Interviewee !! Worry level !! Explanation<br />
|-<br />
| Archeologist || Minimum || Likely just dug up some old ruins or bones. Unlikely to involve bad news, though it may possibly cause problems (e.g. if a construction project is delayed to accomodate an archaeological investigation).<br />
|-<br />
| Economist || Very low || News about the economy could be either good or bad, and in most cases is just more of the usual ups and downs rather than anything catyclysmic.<br />
|-<br />
| Nutritionist || Very low || Possible fad diet. Note that nutritionists tend not to be a protected profession, compared to dietitians. May be alarming if it involves credible information about bad health consequences of eating, or not eating, a particular food.<br />
|-<br />
| Criminologist || Low || Probably just crime statistics. Usually just correcting people who mistakingly believe crime is on the rise, or been hired to suggest crime is on the rise without actually saying it. Could be dangerous in the unlikely case crime is on the rise.<br />
|-<br />
| Ornithologist || Medium || This would indicate the discovery of a strange behavior exhibited by {{w|Bird|avian dinosaurs}}. We can only hope that {{w|Alfred Hitchcock}} isn't trying to torment humanity from beyond the grave...<br />
|-<br />
| Botanist || Medium || There might be a new invasive species to worry about. <br />
|-<br />
| Marine Biologist || Medium || There might be a new invasive species to worry about.<br />
|-<br />
| Entomologist || Medium high || There might be a new invasive species to worry about.<br />
|-<br />
| Astronomer || High || Possible inbound meteor, or perhaps sighting of incoming alien ships<br />
|-<br />
| Virologist || Very high || Some disease is likely spreading<br />
|-<br />
| Vulcanologist || Very high || A volcano might erupt soon, danger level depending on what volcano.<br />
|-<br />
| Astronomer who studies the sun || Maximum || There might be something wrong with the sun, the consequences of which could range from [[Wikipedia:Solar_storm_of_1859|major disruption of modern technology]] to the end of life on earth.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
<p>How worried you should be if you see local reporters interviewing scientists about a breaking news story, by field:</p><br />
<br />
<p>[Chart showing "More worried" with an arrow to the right with these marks in progressively more worrying sequence.]</p><br />
<p>Archeologist<br/><br />
Economist<br/><br />
Nutritionist<br/><br />
Criminologist<br/><br />
Ornithologist<br/><br />
Botanist<br/><br />
Marine Biologist<br/><br />
Entomologist<br/><br />
Astronomer<br/><br />
Virologist<br/><br />
Vulcanologist<br/><br />
Astronomer who studies the sun</p><br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>172.68.58.95https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1887:_Two_Down,_One_to_Go&diff=1451841887: Two Down, One to Go2017-09-10T05:46:05Z<p>172.68.58.95: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1887<br />
| date = September 8, 2017<br />
| title = Two Down, One to Go<br />
| image = two_down_one_to_go.png<br />
| titletext = The third row will probably have to wait until 2034, and maybe longer. If I see a daytime supernova, I'll replace the meteor storm with that and consider it 3/3.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
In this comic, [[Randall]] lists three of the most spectacular astronomical sights: a {{w|Solar eclipse|total solar eclipse}}, an {{w|aurora}} (Aurora Borealis in the northern hemisphere and Aurora Australis in the south), and a {{w|Meteor shower|meteor storm}}. In 2017, the first two of these phenomena happened within weeks of each other for observers in much of the US - a coincidence that Randall celebrates. <br />
<br />
* '''Total solar eclipse''': The {{w|Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017|total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017}} was the first seen for decades in the {{w|contiguous United States}}. Randall already made [[:Category:Total Solar Eclipse 2017|several comics about this eclipse]] and had traveled to Missouri to witness this by himself as shown in this comic: [[1880: Eclipse Review]].<br />
<br />
* '''Aurora''': The aurora borealis is rarely visible from the continental USA. Randall bemoaned the fact he'd never seen one back in [[1302: Year in Review]] in 2013 - which also mentioned the 2017 eclipse. Randall likely finally saw it due to the [https://gizmodo.com/huge-solar-flare-disrupts-gps-satellites-1801838410 giant solar flares] in the week leading up to this comic probably without any need of traveling.<br />
<br />
* '''Meteor storm''': A meteor storm is more than just a shower - while the best typical shower gives you a meteor or two per every minute, a storm gives you meteors every few ''seconds'' or better. The {{w|Great Meteor Storm of 1833}} produced hundreds of thousands of meteors per hour. <br />
<br />
In the title text, Randall suggests the next meteor storm could be 2034, probably because this is predicted to be [http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/2007JIMO...35....5M a good year for Leonids]. <br />
<br />
Randall then continues by saying that if he manages to see a {{w|supernova}} during the daytime, he will drop the goal for the meteor storm and call it 3 of 3. This is because such an event is so unlikely that he hasn't even included it in his bucket list, and he would be happy to switch between the two types of events if he had the chance. A few stars, when they turn supernova, could be so bright that they can be seen during the day time here on Earth. The brightest supernova recorded in human history was {{w|SN 1006}} which was sixteen times brighter than {{w|Venus}} but still not bright as the full moon. {{w|SN 1054}} is an other example. When such a very rare event happen is impossible to predict. There is a [http://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/betelgeuse-will-explode-someday (very small) chance] that the giant star {{w|Betelgeuse}} will go supernova within Randall's lifetime, allowing him to tick this off the list too. Randall even mentioned that this could not happen soon enough in [[1644: Stargazing]]. Note that if you could see it during the day time, it would be one of the brightest objects in the night sky after the Moon.<br />
<br />
;Astronomical backgrounds<br />
* This particular ''aurora borealis'' happened because the coronal mass ejection (CME) headed directly toward Earth causing Northern Lights spreading more south than common. That solar flare was first detected by the {{w|Solar Dynamics Observatory|Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)}} just eight minutes after it happened at the Sun. This [https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2017/nasa-s-sdo-captures-image-of-mid-level-flare animation] shows what the probe SDO has seen on Sept. 4, 2017 in the early evening. While light, and x-rays as well, travel at light speed the mass ejected did only move at a speed of 500-1,000 km/s. It was [http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/shock-arrival-6-sep-2308-utc-4-september-cme first detected] by {{w|Deep Space Climate Observatory|DSCOVR}} two days later, still 1,5 Mio. to reach Earth or just 30 minutes before the --non critical-- impact. And at this [http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/g3-watch-7-through-9-september-2017-due-cme-effects aurora forecast] the prediction showed that the northern United States were lucky.<br />
<br />
* Betelgeuse is estimated to be in a range between 613 and 881 {{w|light-year}}s from Earth, which means that its light takes more than 600 years to reach Earth. That incident must have already happened when it should reach us in the next few decades. But since all information cannot travel faster than light there is no way to find this out.<br />
* Something about the brightness of celestial objects:<br />
** The Sun is the brightest object at a {{w|Apparent magnitude|magnitude}} of −26.74<br />
** The next object is the full moon at −12.90<br />
** Venus is at −4.89 on maximum brightness, bright enough to be (barely) [http://www.fourmilab.ch/images/venus_daytime/ visible in the daytime]<br />
** The mentioned supernovae SN 1006 and SN 1054 were at −7.50 and −6.00 respectively<br />
** The brightness of the supernova from Betelgeuse is hard to predict. Because it's closer than the other both supernovae it could become brighter than Venus but definitely not than the full moon.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[There are three rows equally filled with squares and above are year dates beginning from 2002 until 2017. The first year is cut on the left and the color is light gray then fading in to black until 2005. Left of the three rows the text reads:]<br />
:Total eclipse<br />
:Aurora<br />
:Meteor storm<br />
:[Below the year 2017 the squares in the first two rows are checked.]<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Total Solar Eclipse 2017]]<br />
[[Category:Astronomy]]</div>172.68.58.95https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1885:_Ensemble_Model&diff=1449741885: Ensemble Model2017-09-05T00:26:51Z<p>172.68.58.95: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1885<br />
| date = September 4, 2017<br />
| title = Ensemble Model<br />
| image = ensemble_model.png<br />
| titletext = I'm in talks with Netflix to produce an alternate-universe crime drama about the world where sliced bread was never re-legalized, but it's going slowly because they keep changing their phone numbers and the door lock codes at their headquarters.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Requires descriptions of each entry. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
An {{w|ensemble forecasting|ensemble model}} is a combination of multiple, similar models to show a wider range of possible outcomes. The graphs on the left are tracks of predictions from multiple models. In this comic, Randall starts out describing actual changes that ensemble models show, but sinks into absurdity, describing strange alternate universes and scenarios that likely would not be necessary in an actual model.<br />
<br />
The upper graph looks like one plotting global temperatures with time using different scenarios, like this one: https://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg1/en/figure-spm-5.html<br />
The bottom right graph is a typical hurricane path-prediction graphic.<br />
<br />
Not all of the outcomes are serious. They are explained below:<br />
;…rain is 0.5% more likely in some areas<br />
This is usually a prediction rather than a parameter, but might be used as a parameter in a second iteration.<br />
<br />
;…wind speeds are slightly lower<br />
A usual parameter.<br />
<br />
;…pressure levels are randomly tweaked<br />
A very vague but otherwise understandable parameter.<br />
<br />
;…dogs run slightly faster<br />
This is where the comic divulges; there is no reason to have the locomotion speed of dogs as a parameter.<br />
<br />
;…there is one extra cloud in the Bahamas<br />
This situation is most likely too specific and subtle a difference to be useful to the model.<br />
<br />
;…Germany won WWII<br />
"What if Germany won World War II" is a {{w|Hypothetical Axis victory in World War II|very popular}} subject for {{w|alternate history}} stories.<br />
<br />
;…snakes are wide instead of long<br />
<br />
;…Will Smith took the lead in ''The Matrix'' instead of ''Wild Wild West''<br />
Actor {{w|Will Smith}} famously turned down the lead role of {{w|Neo (The Matrix)|Neo}} in ''{{w|The Matrix}}'', instead taking the role of Captain James T. West in the widely-panned action-comedy ''{{w|Wild Wild West}}''. The role of Neo ultimately went to {{w|Keanu Reeves}}. For a more detailed discuss of how the cinematic world would have been different had Smith taken the role, see [https://moviepilot.com/posts/2481780 "How Will Smith Turned Down "The Matrix" - And Blew A Chance To Change Hollywood Forever."]<br />
<br />
;…swimming pools are carbonated<br />
A simple calculation reveals this as a serious {{w|Greenhouse effect|greenhouse}} problem. In the United States there are not less than 5,000,000 private owned pools. Conservatively assumed a volume of 25,000 liters per pool gives 125 billion liters of carbonated soda. According to Wikipedia the U.S. sales reached around 30 billion bottles of water in 2008 (including non carbonated water) which is surely much less than all the pool water. While all those bottles are not considered to have an impact on the green house effect this scenario is getting even worse. Open a bottle of carbonated water and fill the content into glasses. More or less soon the sprinkling is over, meaning you have to open the next bottle and so on. In a pool at the bottom the pressure is high enough to hold the carbon dioxide but on the surface it behaves like the glass. So, while a glass needs new carbonated water every two hours, or ten times per day, let's say it's three times per day for the pool which leads to one thousand times per year. The total number in this scenario would be 125 trillion liters of carbonated soda, ejecting carbon dioxide, per year. But stop: The carbon dioxide used for artificial carbonated water is taken from the air and because of the pressure at the bottom of the pool it doesn't release all back this should have a positive effect. But as Randall has shown in {{what if|88|Soda Sequestration}} this effect would be minimal.<br />
<br />
;…sliced bread, after being banned in January 1943, was never re-legalized.<br />
{{w|Sliced bread}} was in fact {{w|Sliced bread#1943 U.S. ban on sliced bread|banned in the US}} for about two months in early 1943, as a supposed wartime conservation measure. The issue was not the bread itself, but that the pre-sliced loaves required a heavier {{w|wax paper}} wrapping to prevent them from drying out too quickly.<br />
<br />
The title text suggests that [[Randall]] has been pitching an absurd "alternate-universe crime drama" to {{w|Netflix}}. He indicates that a breakdown in communication has occurred between them, though he does not assume directly assume responsibility for this situation. It is nonetheless clear that Netflix has zero interest in the pitch, and so Randall has become overzealous in pushing his idea, to the point that Netflix employees are changing their numbers (presumably they can't block his number because he has resorted to calling from many different phones). He has even taken to infiltrating Netflix's corporate headquarters using ill-gotten security codes, which is definitely illegal.{{Citation needed}}<br />
<br />
only that Netflix is uninterested and is attempting to prevent Randall from contacting them (or trespassing into the building).<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Inside this single panel comic the header on top reads:]<br />
:In an ''ensemble model'', forecasters run many different versions of a weather model with slightly different initial conditions. This helps account for uncertainty and shows forecasters a spread of possible outcomes.<br />
<br />
:[To the left side a picture shows several gray overlapping swirling lines emitted from a point, then gradually diverging rightwards. Below are two smaller pictures; the first shows the lines connected to several loops and in the second it's still a similar figure to the above but moving into the opposite direction with the point emerged to a spiral.]<br />
<br />
:[The text right to the pictures reads:]<br />
:'''Members in a typical ensemble:'''<br />
:A universe where…<br />
:…rain is 0.5% more likely in some areas<br />
:…wind speeds are slightly lower<br />
:…pressure levels are randomly tweaked<br />
:…dogs run slightly faster<br />
:…there's one extra cloud in the Bahamas<br />
:…Germany won WWII<br />
:…snakes are wide instead of long<br />
:…Will Smith took the lead in ''The Matrix'' instead of ''Wild Wild West''<br />
:…swimming pools are carbonated<br />
:…sliced bread, after being banned in January 1943, was never re-legalized.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Science]]</div>172.68.58.95