Editing 1501: Mysteries
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Some of these mysteries have already been explored in xkcd. See [[950: Mystery Solved]] where Randall "solves" Amelia Earhart, Lost Roanoke Colony, Jimmy Hoffa; [[593: Voynich Manuscript]]; and [[1400: D.B. Cooper]]. | Some of these mysteries have already been explored in xkcd. See [[950: Mystery Solved]] where Randall "solves" Amelia Earhart, Lost Roanoke Colony, Jimmy Hoffa; [[593: Voynich Manuscript]]; and [[1400: D.B. Cooper]]. | ||
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==Table== | ==Table== | ||
− | The X axis in the graph indicates weirdness. The table assumes that the item to the far left is 0% (not that weird) and the item to the far right is 100% (weird as hell). The Y axis indicates if Randall has an explanation. The table assumes that the item at the bottom is 100% (Randall has a clear explanation) and the item at the top is 0% (Randall has no explanation). | + | *The X axis in the graph indicates weirdness. |
+ | **The table assumes that the item to the far left is 0% (not that weird) and the item to the far right is 100% (weird as hell). | ||
+ | *The Y axis indicates if Randall has an explanation. | ||
+ | **The table assumes that the item at the bottom is 100% (Randall has a clear explanation) and the item at the top is 0% (Randall has no explanation). | ||
{| class="wikitable sortable" | {| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
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|100% | |100% | ||
|0% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = -100% --> | |0% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = -100% --> | ||
− | |On 8 March 2014, {{w|Malaysia Airlines Flight 370}} cut off radio contact and diverted from its flight path with 227 passengers aboard, eventually heading over open ocean, eventually crashing in a remote part of the Indian Ocean. The disappearance remains without explanation, although parts were found on Reunion Island in July 2015 | + | |On 8 March 2014, {{w|Malaysia Airlines Flight 370}} cut off radio contact and diverted from its flight path with 227 passengers aboard, eventually heading over open ocean, eventually crashing in a remote part of the Indian Ocean. The disappearance remains without explanation, although parts were found on Reunion Island in July 2015. |
|- | |- | ||
|Lead masks case | |Lead masks case | ||
|99% | |99% | ||
|12% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = -87% --> | |12% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = -87% --> | ||
− | |In 1966 two Brazilian | + | |In 1966 two Brazilian atomicians were found dead on a hill top. No injuries. {{w|Lead Masks Case|Both were wearing lead masks}}. |
|- | |- | ||
|Salish Sea feet | |Salish Sea feet | ||
|96% | |96% | ||
|31% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = -65% --> | |31% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = -65% --> | ||
− | |Over a dozen dismembered human feet {{w|Salish Sea human foot discoveries|were found}} between 2007 and | + | |Over a dozen dismembered human feet {{w|Salish Sea human foot discoveries|were found}} between 2007 and 2014 on the coasts of the Salish Sea in British Columbia (Canada) and Washington (United States). |
|- | |- | ||
|DB Cooper | |DB Cooper | ||
|76% | |76% | ||
|20% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = -56% --> | |20% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = -56% --> | ||
− | | | + | |{{w|D. B. Cooper}} was an airplane hijacker who jumped from a plane after successfully extorting a large ransom in 1971. The man's whereabouts remain unknown to this day, though [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2401312/Parachute-used-hijacker-DB-Cooper-escape-stealing-200-000-goes-display.html some of the ransom money has been recovered]. Previously referenced in [[1400: D.B. Cooper]] which compares Cooper to film director {{w|Tommy Wiseau}}. Note that this "Mysteries" comic was published shortly after [http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2zdzik/tommy_wiseau_creator_of_the_room_and_the_new_tv/ Tommy Wiseau did a Reddit AMA.] |
|- | |- | ||
|The WOW signal | |The WOW signal | ||
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|70% | |70% | ||
|43% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = -27% --> | |43% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = -27% --> | ||
− | |The ''{{w|Mary Celeste}}'' was a sailing ship found adrift off the {{w|Azores Islands}}, mysteriously abandoned yet otherwise undisturbed, in 1872. Most likely the crew abandoned ship, wrongly believing it was in danger. Its name has become a watchword for mysteriously abandoned ships | + | |The ''{{w|Mary Celeste}}'' was a sailing ship found adrift off the {{w|Azores Islands}}, mysteriously abandoned yet otherwise undisturbed, in 1872. Most likely the crew abandoned ship, wrongly believing it was in danger. Its name has become a watchword for mysteriously abandoned ships. |
|- | |- | ||
|UVB-76 | |UVB-76 | ||
|40% | |40% | ||
|23% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = -17% --> | |23% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = -17% --> | ||
− | |{{w|UVB-76}} is a mysterious shortwave radio station | + | |{{w|UVB-76}} is a mysterious shortwave radio station, apparently originating from Russia, that has broadcast a monotonous buzz tone since 1982 with occasional other content. |
|- | |- | ||
|Who Carly Simon is singing about in ''You're So Vain'' | |Who Carly Simon is singing about in ''You're So Vain'' | ||
|9% | |9% | ||
|4% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = -05% --> | |4% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = -05% --> | ||
− | |The ironically self-referential lyrics of the 1972 song include "You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you." There has been {{w|You%27re_So_Vain#Subject_of_the_song|much speculation}} regarding the person or persons to whom Simon was referring | + | |The ironically self-referential lyrics of the 1972 song include "You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you." There has been {{w|You%27re_So_Vain#Subject_of_the_song|much speculation}} regarding the person or persons to whom Simon was referring. |
|- | |- | ||
|Zodiac letters | |Zodiac letters | ||
|62% | |62% | ||
|62% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = +00% --> | |62% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = +00% --> | ||
− | |A set of letters were written by the so-called {{w|Zodiac Killer}}, a serial killer who was active in California in the 1960s and 1970s. The letters are | + | |A set of letters were written by the so-called {{w|Zodiac Killer}}, a serial killer who was active in California in the 1960s and 1970s. The letters are [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Zodiac_Killer_letters available at Wikisource.] Some of the letters are encoded, only some of which have been deciphered. The killings remain unsolved. |
|- | |- | ||
|Dyatlov Pass incident | |Dyatlov Pass incident | ||
|93% | |93% | ||
|96% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = +03% --> | |96% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = +03% --> | ||
− | |On 2 February 1959, nine skiers in the northern Ural Mountains apparently {{w|Dyatlov Pass Incident|fled their tents | + | |On 2 February 1959, nine skiers in the northern Ural Mountains apparently {{w|Dyatlov Pass Incident|fled their tents without taking time to put on winter clothing}}. They were found dead, some with physical injuries. There are in fact a number of theories regarding this event, and it is not clear which one Randall regards as being obviously correct. |
|- | |- | ||
|Kentucky meat shower | |Kentucky meat shower | ||
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|25% | |25% | ||
|34% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = +09% --> | |34% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = +09% --> | ||
− | |{{w|Toynbee tiles}} are colorful tiles with cryptic messages that have been found embedded in asphalt in the streets of various midwestern-to-eastern cities in the United States and four South American cities | + | |{{w|Toynbee tiles}} are colorful ceramic tiles with cryptic messages that have been found embedded in asphalt in the streets of various midwestern-to-eastern cities in the United States and four South American cities. |
|- | |- | ||
|Amelia Earhart | |Amelia Earhart | ||
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|10% | |10% | ||
|42% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = +32% --> | |42% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = +32% --> | ||
− | |{{w|Jimmy Hoffa}} was an American labor union leader who disappeared in 1975. He is widely believed to have been murdered. (See title text of [[950: Mystery Solved]]) | + | |{{w|Jimmy Hoffa}} was an American labor union leader who disappeared in 1975. He is widely believed to have been murdered. (See title text of [[950: Mystery Solved]]) |
|- | |- | ||
|Voynich manuscript | |Voynich manuscript | ||
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|60% | |60% | ||
|98% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = +38% --> | |98% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = +38% --> | ||
− | |{{w|Bigfoot}} is a supposed animal or hominid that reputedly inhabits the Pacific Northwest region of North America | + | |{{w|Bigfoot}} is a supposed animal or hominid that reputedly inhabits the Pacific Northwest region of North America. |
|- | |- | ||
|JFK | |JFK | ||
|38% | |38% | ||
|86% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = +48% --> | |86% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = +48% --> | ||
− | |The 1963 {{w|Assassination of John F. Kennedy|assassination of President John F. Kennedy}} has inspired many conspiracy theories, beginning almost immediately after the event. The subsequent murder of assassin Lee Harvey Oswald added fuel to the fire by encouraging speculation that he was silenced to cover up the true story. | + | |The 1963 {{w|Assassination of John F. Kennedy|assassination of President John F. Kennedy}} has inspired many conspiracy theories, beginning almost immediately after the event. The subsequent murder of assassin Lee Harvey Oswald added fuel to the fire by encouraging speculation that he was silenced to cover up the true story. It seems Randall thinks this has been explained pretty well. |
|- | |- | ||
|Oak Island money pit | |Oak Island money pit | ||
|32% | |32% | ||
|98% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = +66% --> | |98% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = +66% --> | ||
− | |An indentation in the ground on {{w|Oak Island}} (off the east coast of Nova Scotia, Canada), led to over 200 years of treasure hunting, with the excavations repeatedly hampered by flooding pit collapses. A few flagstones, and periodic layers of logs are all that have been found. | + | |An indentation in the ground on {{w|Oak Island}} (off the east coast of Nova Scotia, Canada), led to over 200 years of treasure hunting, with the excavations repeatedly hampered by flooding pit collapses. A few flagstones, and periodic layers of logs are all that have been found. Rumours abound as to what it conceals: Marie Antoinnette's jewels, pirate treasure and Shakespeare's manuscripts have all been suggested. It is called The Money Pit, because of all the money that has been wasted in trying to solve the mystery. |
|- | |- | ||
|Why I keep putting ice cream back in the fridge instead of the freezer | |Why I keep putting ice cream back in the fridge instead of the freezer | ||
|0% | |0% | ||
|96% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = +96% --> | |96% <!-- explainable minus weirdness = +96% --> | ||
− | |Apparently, Randall absent-mindedly puts his ice cream container into the refrigerator rather than into the freezer | + | |Apparently, Randall absent-mindedly puts his ice cream container into the refrigerator rather than into the freezer. |
|} | |} | ||
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+ | Note that Randall used a similar diagram in [[1242: Scary Names]]. | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
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:[Top left quadrant:] | :[Top left quadrant:] | ||
− | :Who Carly Simon is singing about in | + | :Who Carly Simon is singing about in You're So Vain |
:UVB-76 | :UVB-76 | ||
:Lindbergh baby | :Lindbergh baby | ||
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
− | + | [[Category:Charts]] | |
− | [[Category: | ||
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[[Category:Wikipedia]] | [[Category:Wikipedia]] | ||
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