https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=209.134.72.54&feedformat=atomexplain xkcd - User contributions [en]2024-03-29T12:22:15ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=108:_M.C._Hammer_Slide&diff=47745108: M.C. Hammer Slide2013-08-25T22:28:30Z<p>209.134.72.54: add :Category:Comics on holidays -- Memorial Day</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 108<br />
| date = May 29, 2006<br />
| title = M.C. Hammer Slide<br />
| image = mc_hammer_slide.png<br />
| titletext = Once, long ago, I saw this girl go by. I didn't stop and talk to her, and I've regretted it ever since.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
The base part of the comic is self-explanatory: Girl attracts Boy, Boy notices Girl, Boy approaches Girl, Girl reacts positively, Boy falls in love, Girl decides to answer lovecall, happily ever after etc. The quirk in this comic is the way Girl catches attention of Boy in the comic: through the signature move of 1980's rapper {{w|MC Hammer}} (the slide). To watch MC Hammer doin' the slide, click [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIHAkqCls4A&t=1m47s here].<br />
<br />
The title text indicates that [[Randall]] once saw a girl go by and regrets that he did not speak with her as Boy does in this comic. The title text is unclear whether Randall is stressing the word "this". It is possible that the girl Randall is referring to was actually doing the slide.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Two guys stand next to each other talking.]<br />
:Cueball: I just feel like somewhere out there is the girl for me.<br />
:Hairy: Yeah.<br />
:Cueball: Someone loving and caring.<br />
:Hairy: I know what you mean.<br />
:Cueball: A girl whose only mode of transportation is the M.C. Hammer Slide.<br />
:Hairy: Yeah.<br />
:Hairy: ...Wait, what?<br />
:[Megan hammer slides past.]<br />
:[Cueball sees Megan hammer slide and it's love at first sight.]<br />
:[Megan hammer slides over into Cueball's waiting arms.]<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Romance]]<br />
[[Category:Comics on holidays]]</div>209.134.72.54https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=66:_Abusive_Astronomy&diff=4774466: Abusive Astronomy2013-08-25T22:27:30Z<p>209.134.72.54: add :Category:Comics on holidays -- President's Day</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 66<br />
| date = February 20, 2006<br />
| title = Abusive Astronomy<br />
| image = abusive_astronomy.jpg<br />
| titletext = Medium: Pencil on paper<br />
}}<br />
==Explanation==<br />
A constellation (more formally known as an {{w|Asterism (astronomy)|asterism}}) is a pattern of stars which form some sort of perceived shape in the night sky. Different cultures have created different patterns from the same groups of stars going back at least as far as the Babylonians. The {{w|Pleiades}}, {{w|Orion's belt}} and the {{w|Big Dipper}} are among the most common constellations that we recognise today and are among the first taught to people with an interest in astronomy. The Big Dipper can be used to help find the north pole star {{w|Polaris}} and this can be a useful aid to night time navigation.<br />
<br />
During planetarium tours, the tour guide will point out popular constellations and stars, sometimes they will ask a question to get the audience involved in the presentation. Usually these people are big on showing the wonder of the galaxy and are all smiles, but people have bad days. Randall might also be reflecting on the fact that the grouping and naming of constellations varies from culture to culture and how easy it is for an expert to fail to realise that what is basic knowledge to them might be completely new to someone else.<br />
<br />
When astronomers are showing stars to people, there will frequently be someone who points to the Pleiades and says, "There's the Big Dipper!" This gets frustrating about the 100th time that you encounter this error. So, this comic shows someone releasing their frustration on the mis-informed public by pointing out that what they just pointed at is actually the Pleiades. Then, pointing out that you can always locate the Pleiades by following the line of the stars in the belt of Orion. Then, pointing out the REAL Big Dipper.<br />
<br />
At the title text Randall explains that he did draw this pictures on paper using only a pencil. So he inverted them later for this comic.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:Identifying star clusters:<br />
:[Image of a star cluster.]<br />
:This is the <u>Pleiades</u>, asshole.<br />
<br />
:Orion's Belt:<br />
:[Image of Orion's Belt.]<br />
:Only a moron couldn't find it.<br />
<br />
:This is the <u>Big</u> <u>Dipper</u>:<br />
:[Image of the Big Dipper.]<br />
:What the hell is <u>wrong</u> with you?<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Comics on holidays]]</div>209.134.72.54https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=168:_Reverse_Euphemisms&diff=47742168: Reverse Euphemisms2013-08-25T22:24:17Z<p>209.134.72.54: add :Category:Comics on holidays -- Columbus Day</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 168<br />
| date = October 9, 2006<br />
| title = Reverse Euphemisms<br />
| image = reverse euphemisms.png<br />
| titletext = I'm still waiting for a chance to use 'I have to see a man about a horse'.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete}}<br />
{{w|Euphemisms}} are figures of speech often used in place of more offensive terms. In this comic, [[Cueball]] uses gratuitous swearing as an "euphemism" for a benign term, inverting the typical usage of euphemisms to lessen shock by inserting offensive language into what would normally be a benign statement. To 'drop the kids off at the pool' is a euphemism meaning to, as Cueball puts it 'go take a shit.' In using 'go take a shit' to mean 'drop the kids off at the pool' Cueball is using the euphemism in the reverse, hence the title.<br />
<br />
In the title text, the figure suggests he is waiting for a situation in which he has to see a man concerning a horse, as this is also euphemism meaning to urinate. It can be assumed that, when telling someone about seeing the man about the horse, he would say '...then I gotta go take a piss'<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:My Hobby: Reverse Euphemisms<br />
:[Two people talking.]<br />
:Cueball: Oh, hey, school just let out and it's YMCA night, so I've gotta go take a shit.<br />
:Friend: What?<br />
:Cueball: I mean I actually have to drop the kids off at the pool.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Language]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:My Hobby]]<br />
[[Category:Comics on holidays]]</div>209.134.72.54https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=29:_Hitler&diff=4773929: Hitler2013-08-25T22:18:43Z<p>209.134.72.54: add :Category:Comics on holidays -- Veterans Day</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 29<br />
| date = November 11, 2005<br />
| title = Hitler<br />
| image = hitler.jpg<br />
| titletext = So he's saying that God thought Hitler's art was so bad that the Holocaust was an acceptable alternative. It's no secret that the hat guy is closely based on Aram, from Men in Hats.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
[[Cueball]] speaks to an early version of [[Black Hat]] (with more of a top hat than his later "boater" hat style) about the {{w|Holocaust}} and {{w|Adolf Hitler}}. Hitler was the leader of {{w|Nazi}} Germany beginning 1933 and starting the {{w|World War II}} in 1939 by attacking Poland. During that war the Germans (under Hitler's leadership) killed millions of people; most of them were Jews, but other ethnic groups, homosexuals, and the mentally disabled were all targeted as well. This has come to be known as the Holocaust.<br />
<br />
Black Hat's comment that Hitler wanted to be a painter, but did not get into art school is historically accurate. He applied to the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts twice. In any event, Cueball implies in the second frame that had Hitler been accepted into art school, the course of history might have changed and the Holocaust might never have occurred. Black Hat suggests that perhaps God intentionally prevented Hitler from become an artist because God is an "art lover" and Hitler's art was terrible.<br />
<br />
As with other early comics, the title text explains the comic for us: this implies that God would have preferred the Holocaust to have occurred rather than allow Hitler to make some bad paintings. Such a comment that God could be so callous would surely be offensive to many people. Cueball's reaction to this shocking statement is relatively mild and suggests that Black Hat has made such controversial statements before. He will make a similarly controversial and Nazi-related statement again in [[984: Space Launch System]].<br />
<br />
The title text informs the reader that Black Hat is based on a character named Aram from a now-defunct comic strip entitled [http://www.meninhats.com/ ''Men in Hats'' - http://www.meninhats.com/]. Like Black Hat, Aram seems to have frequently made judgmental, insulting or controversial comments in a very emotionless manner. Aram wore a grey (perhaps intended to be black) suit with a red bowtie and a black top hat with white strip above the brim. Black Hat's hat clearly evolved from the top hat design later in xkcd.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:Cueball: Learning about the Holocaust has really shaken my belief in God.<br />
<br />
:Black Hat: You know, as a young man, Hitler was rejected from art school.<br />
:Cueball: Yeah... shame he didn't get in<br />
<br />
:Black Hat: Well, have you seen any of his paintings? They're awful. Defy all rules of composition.<br />
:Cueball: What are you suggesting?<br />
<br />
:Black Hat: Maybe there is a god, but he's a real art lover.<br />
:Cueball: This is why I don't go out in public with you.<br />
<br />
==Trivia==<br />
*Original quote from [[Randall]]: "Yes, it's entirely possible that those two are [http://meninhats.com/d/20040225.html Aram and Gamal]."<br />
*This is the thirty-first comic originally posted to livejournal. The previous was [[34: Flowers]]. The next was [[28: Elefino]].<br />
<br />
{{Comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics posted on livejournal]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Religion]]<br />
[[Category:Hitler]]<br />
[[Category:Comics on holidays]]</div>209.134.72.54https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=18:_Snapple&diff=4773818: Snapple2013-08-25T22:16:13Z<p>209.134.72.54: add :Category:Comics on holidays -- Columbus Day</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 18<br />
| date = October 10, 2005<br />
| title = Snapple<br />
| image = snapple.jpg<br />
| titletext = Sn = tin<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
In reality, {{w|Snapple}} is a brand of tea and juice based beverages whose name is based on a carbonated apple juice they once produced ("snappy apple"). The joke in this comic is pretty self-explanatory; especially given that the image text continues the trend in early [[xkcd]] comics of explaining the joke. {{w|Tin}} is a metallic element whose abbreviation on the periodic table is "Sn" (as the Latin word for tin is "stannum"). Thus, the apple is a "Sn-apple."<br />
<br />
The fourth panel is a silent wide shot, perhaps suggesting the joke was met with silence as a lame joke. As a meta joke, the final panel might jokingly suggest that the silence is because those unfamiliar with the table of elements don’t get the joke.<br />
<br />
[[James]] (in the caption) presumably once made a joke to [[Randall]] about tin or Snapple or both.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:This one is entirely [[James]]' fault.<br />
:[Two guys are standing and talking.]<br />
:Right Guy: Here, take a bite of this Snapple.<br />
:Left Guy: food!<br />
:[Guy on the left takes a bite]<br />
:''CLINK''<br />
:Left Guy: Ow! What is this? <br />
:Right Guy: It's an apple infused with tin.<br />
:[The two guys continue to stand as if frozen]<br />
:Those of you who know your periodic table should be laughing right about now.<br />
<br />
==Trivia==<br />
*This is another early [[xkcd]] comic in which [[Cueball]] characters are drawn in some panels with faces.<br />
*This is the seventeenth comic originally posted to livejournal. The previous was [[17: What If]]. The next was [[19: George Clinton]].<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics posted on livejournal]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics on holidays]]</div>209.134.72.54https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=204:_America&diff=47737204: America2013-08-25T22:09:21Z<p>209.134.72.54: add :Category:Comics on holidays</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number =204<br />
| date =January 1, 2007<br />
| title =America<br />
| image =america.png<br />
| titletext =The younger folk in the audience think this is a joke.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
On April 20, 1979, U.S. President {{w|Jimmy Carter}} was allegedly "{{w|Jimmy_Carter_rabbit_incident|attacked by a giant swimming rabbit}}", while solo-fishing on a boat in his hometown. The reality is a little more nuanced: According to Carter, the rabbit had actually been chased into the water by some hounds and swam near his boat. Carter splashed some water on it to compel the rabbit not to come any closer.<br />
<br />
Nevertheless, the newspapers ate it up, with respected paper ''{{w|The Washington Post}}'' putting the story "President Attacked by Rabbit" on the front page. Since the White House refused to release the photograph, the paper created a cartoon parody of the rabbit, calling it PAWS, in reference to the blockbuster film ''{{w|Jaws (film)|JAWS}},'' about a killer shark. Carter's opponents used it as fodder for their arguments that Carter's presidency was weak and ineffectual, and basically, the whole thing was blown way out of proportion by the American media, as so often happens with goofy events such as this.<br />
<br />
This comic treats the Killer Rabbit attack as a dark day for the United States, and uses the phrase "America Must Never Forget", which usually applies to days like the {{w|Attack on Pearl Harbor|Pearl Harbor attack}} or {{w|September 11 attacks|9/11}}.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Timeline.]<br />
:1776; Declaration of independence<br />
:1979; Jimmy carter attacked by giant swimming rabbit<br />
:2007; Present day<br />
<br />
:America must never forget<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Charts]]<br />
[[Category:Politics]]<br />
[[Category:Comics on holidays]]</div>209.134.72.54https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=683:_Science_Montage&diff=47736683: Science Montage2013-08-25T22:07:33Z<p>209.134.72.54: /* Transcript */ typo fix</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 683<br />
| date = January 1, 2010<br />
| title = Science Montage<br />
| image = science_montage.png<br />
| titletext = The rat's perturbed; it must sense nanobots! Code grey! We have a Helvetica scenario!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This comic makes fun of the artificially dramatized and simplified depiction of science in movies. The unstated premise seems to be that the scientists are trying to get information about a murderer based on a sample obtained from his clothing. The movie version of events involves the characters doing exciting things with a computer display, lab rats, a laser, and a complicated chemical apparatus. The characters quickly arrive at the firm conclusion that paint on the clothes is from an "antimatter factory" in Belgrade, Serbia.<br />
<br />
The actual science version shows the scientists putting a sample into a machine (perhaps a {{w|mass spectrometer}}). The machine takes an hour and 20 minutes to analyze the sample (according to the clock on the wall). At the end of this process, the only thing learned is that there is likely no {{w|barium}} or {{w|radium}} in the sample. This conclusion is not very helpful, and is not even very certain.<br />
<br />
There are several major concepts about science and technology that movies tend to distort for the purposes of a more exciting plot, both illustrated here. One is that the work involves a lot of different exciting-looking gadgets. Another is that the analysis can be done very quickly, and results in very certain and significant conclusions. Besides this, the scientists often seem to have access to a database full of trivial information from around the world. In reality, a scientific analysis of some sample or data often only requires a single boring-looking machine, takes quite some time, and provides a limited result that must be interpreted very carefully to have any meaning at all.<br />
<br />
The title text illustrates movie science by observing a lab rat and deducing the presence of {{w|nanobots}}. Helvetica Scenario is a scenario, presented in Switzerland (Helvetica), assuming that removing a nucleus (only the center of an atom) of a calcium molecule in skin, but still leaving the electron shell at its position, would cause a massive reaction end up in heavy mutations. A small part of this film describes what would [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZPTM0PGQPE&feature=player_detailpage&t=389 happen].<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:Movie Science Montage<br />
<br />
:[One scientist passes a test tube to another, who's sitting at a machine. They're both wearing lab coats and goggles. Lights and screens are shining, and there's a hamster ball and a Newton's cradle on a shelf behind them.]<br />
<br />
:[There's a glowing sample next to a rat in a cage. One of the scientists is holding a glowing implement; she has another rat in her hand and one on her head. The other scientist is on the phone.]<br />
:Caged Rat: Squeak!<br />
<br />
:[One of the scientists pulls levers on another machine, which is shooting some kind of ray downwards a a sample.]<br />
<br />
:[The other scientist is operating a machine with a scope, flasks, coils, and bubbles.]<br />
:Scientist (in panel): Paint flecks from the killer's clothing match an antimatter factory in Belgrade!<br />
:Scientist (off panel): Let's go!<br />
<br />
:Actual Science Montage<br />
<br />
:[Two scientists in lab coats and goggles place a sample into a machine. There's a clock on the wall.]<br />
<br />
:[Time has passed.]<br />
:Machine: ''...whirrrrrr...''<br />
<br />
:[Time has passed. One of the scientists has removed his goggles.]<br />
:Machine: ''...whirrrr...bing!''<br />
<br />
:[They examine the sample.]<br />
:Male Scientist: Okay, we've determined there's neither barium nor radium in this sample.<br />
:Female Scientist: Probably.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Chemistry]]<br />
[[Category:Comics on holidays]]</div>209.134.72.54https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=683:_Science_Montage&diff=47734683: Science Montage2013-08-25T22:06:19Z<p>209.134.72.54: add :Category:Comics on holidays</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 683<br />
| date = January 1, 2010<br />
| title = Science Montage<br />
| image = science_montage.png<br />
| titletext = The rat's perturbed; it must sense nanobots! Code grey! We have a Helvetica scenario!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This comic makes fun of the artificially dramatized and simplified depiction of science in movies. The unstated premise seems to be that the scientists are trying to get information about a murderer based on a sample obtained from his clothing. The movie version of events involves the characters doing exciting things with a computer display, lab rats, a laser, and a complicated chemical apparatus. The characters quickly arrive at the firm conclusion that paint on the clothes is from an "antimatter factory" in Belgrade, Serbia.<br />
<br />
The actual science version shows the scientists putting a sample into a machine (perhaps a {{w|mass spectrometer}}). The machine takes an hour and 20 minutes to analyze the sample (according to the clock on the wall). At the end of this process, the only thing learned is that there is likely no {{w|barium}} or {{w|radium}} in the sample. This conclusion is not very helpful, and is not even very certain.<br />
<br />
There are several major concepts about science and technology that movies tend to distort for the purposes of a more exciting plot, both illustrated here. One is that the work involves a lot of different exciting-looking gadgets. Another is that the analysis can be done very quickly, and results in very certain and significant conclusions. Besides this, the scientists often seem to have access to a database full of trivial information from around the world. In reality, a scientific analysis of some sample or data often only requires a single boring-looking machine, takes quite some time, and provides a limited result that must be interpreted very carefully to have any meaning at all.<br />
<br />
The title text illustrates movie science by observing a lab rat and deducing the presence of {{w|nanobots}}. Helvetica Scenario is a scenario, presented in Switzerland (Helvetica), assuming that removing a nucleus (only the center of an atom) of a calcium molecule in skin, but still leaving the electron shell at its position, would cause a massive reaction end up in heavy mutations. A small part of this film describes what would [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZPTM0PGQPE&feature=player_detailpage&t=389 happen].<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:Movie Science Montage<br />
<br />
:[One scientist passes a test tube to another, who's sitting at a machine. They're both wearing lab coats and goggles. Lights and screens are shining, and there's a hamster ball and a Newton's cradle on a shelf behind them.]<br />
<br />
:[There's a glowing sample next to a rat in a cage. One of the scientists is holding a glowing implement; she has another rat in her hand and one on her head. The other scientist is on the phone.]<br />
:Caged Rat: Squeak!<br />
<br />
:[One of the scientists pulls levers on another machine, which is shooting some kind of ray downwards a a sample.]<br />
<br />
:[The other scientist is operating a machine with a scope, flasks, coils, and bubbles.]<br />
:Scientist (in panel): Paint flecks from the killer's clothing match an antimatter factory in Belgrade!<br />
:Scientist (off panel): Let's go!<br />
<br />
:Actual Science Montage<br />
<br />
:[Two scientists in lab coats and goggles place a sample into a machine. There's a clock on the wall.]<br />
<br />
:[Time has passed.]<br />
:Machine: ''...whirrrrrr...''<br />
<br />
:[Time has passed. One of the scientists has removed his goggles.]<br />
:Machine: ''...whirrrr...bing!''<br />
<br />
:[They examine the sample.]<br />
:Male Scientist: Okay, we've determined there''s neither barium nor radium in this sample.<br />
:Female Scientist: Probably.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Chemistry]]<br />
[[Category:Comics on holidays]]</div>209.134.72.54https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=680:_December_25th&diff=47732680: December 25th2013-08-25T22:04:30Z<p>209.134.72.54: add :Category:Christmas and :Category:Comics on holidays</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number =680<br />
| date =December 25, 2009<br />
| title =December 25th<br />
| image =december_25th.png<br />
| titletext =If you're turning 27 and were born in the Northeast, maybe you were conceived in the April blizzard of 1982. Imagine: snowed in, candles, massage oil, your mom sporting nothing but her early 80's haircut and a smile ... aren't you glad you read the title-text?<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
On Christmas Day, most kids whose families celebrate the holiday get Christmas presents. And kids who were actually born on the 25th may feel a little off-put because they don't get a special day all to themselves like their siblings and friends do. (A lot of families alleviate this by celebrating the child's birthday on a day other than the 25th, so the kid will still get his party).<br />
<br />
In the title text, Randall provided a ''lovely'' image for the people turning 27 on this date (Christmas Day, 2009) that would surely have them reaching for the brain bleach.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[On one side, a family of four gathered around a Christmas tree, the daughter and son looking excitedly at the presents under the tree; on the other, a character wearing a party hat, sitting dejectedly before a birthday cake. The panel edges are decorated with holly and a wreath.]<br />
:Happy Birthday to those of you born on the 25th!<br />
:Sorry you get kinda shafted by the overlap with Christmas.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Comics on holidays]]<br />
[[Category:Christmas]]</div>209.134.72.54https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=201:_Christmas_GPS&diff=47730201: Christmas GPS2013-08-25T22:02:57Z<p>209.134.72.54: add :Category:Comics on holidays</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 201<br />
| date = December 25, 2006<br />
| title = Christmas GPS<br />
| image = christmas gps.png<br />
| titletext = If it's over water, and you can't get a boat or revise the rules to preserve the makeout, there is no helping you.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
In the comic Cueball has gotten a GPS and asks Megan what to do with it. She suggest to take their current Longitude and Latitude coordinates and put their birthdays after the decimal points to get a location. For example, if Cueball was born on let's say April 1, 1986 and Megan on August 12, 1988 and they are somewhere in New York ([https://toolserver.org/~geohack/geohack.php?pagename=New%20York%20City&params=40.768062_N_-73.98468_E_type:landmark 40.768062,-73.98468]), the coordinate they type will make ([https://toolserver.org/~geohack/geohack.php?params=40.040186_N_-73.081288_E_type:landmark 40.040186, -73.081288]). The good thing about keeping the number before the decimal point is that the distance is still realistic to get to by car. Megan suggests to make out in this place. This procedure is similar to [[Geohashing]].<br />
<br />
The comic is a Christmas comic, since it came online on Christmas Day 2006.<br />
<br />
The title text suggests if the location you make for yourself (and girlfriend) is over water (which the example above happens to be), you either need to find a boat or find some rule that you can preserve the promise of making out.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:Cueball: Check it out--I got a GPS receiver for Christmas! What should we do with it?<br />
<br />
:Megan: Let's take our latitude & longitude, put our birthdays after the decimal points, then go to that spot and make out.<br />
<br />
:[Cueball is in love.]<br />
<br />
:Merry Christmas from XKCD<br />
:[Car driving off in to the distance.]<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
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