Difference between revisions of "ibm hc 2"

Explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb.
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(→‎Explanation: add comment rom SlimothyJ (talk) 17:11, 11 November 2025 (UTC))
 
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{{comic
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<noinclude>{{DISPLAYTITLE:ibm_hc_2}}</noinclude>{{comic
 
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==Explanation==
 
==Explanation==
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{{incomplete|[[User:Novotvor]] has discovered 2 new comics, [[ibm hc 2]] and [[ibm hc 3]]. They do not have a title, so the filename is used instead. '''They have never been published.''' For more info, see [[Category talk: A Smarter Planet]]. To discuss and coordinate, only use [[Category talk: A Smarter Planet]]. Below is the text copied from [[Prescriptions]] to kickstart the page. Explain everything (both the joke and the discovery) and use all the information you can find (also add the missing categories).
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{{incomplete|
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*Learn more about the discovery: [[Category talk: A Smarter Planet]]
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*Finish explaining the joke
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*Learn about the "A Smarter Planet" comic series: [[:Category:A Smarter Planet]]
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*Mention the discovery of this comic and Randall's response, using the {{tl|Quote}} template.)}}
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*Learn about the two released comics: [[Conservation]] and [[Prescriptions]]
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This comic was created by [[Randall Munroe|Randall]] after a special request from {{w|IBM}}'s [http://asmarterplanet.com A Smarter Planet blog], which now redirects to IBM's Think blog's homepage ([https://web.archive.org/web/20161119052748/http://asmarterplanet.com archive]). This and the other [[:Category:A Smarter Planet|A Smarter Planet]] comic, [[Conservation]], are not part of the regular numbered series of comics, but both of them used to be featured on [https://xkcd.com/asmarterplanet xkcd.com/asmarterplanet] (now defunct, [https://web.archive.org/web/20190102070937/https://xkcd.com/asmarterplanet/ archive]). Each comic on that page linked to their respective blog posts on IBM's site.
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*Use the Wayback Machine if necessary ([https://web.archive.org/web/20250000000000*/https://imgs.xkcd.com/ibm/ibm_hc_2.png Wayback: ibm hc 2]) ([https://web.archive.org/web/20250000000000*/https://imgs.xkcd.com/ibm/ibm_hc_3.png Wayback: ibm hc 3]). (see more wayback machine links at [[:Category: A Smarter Planet]].)}}
 
  
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This comic was created by [[Randall Munroe|Randall]] after a special request from {{w|IBM}}'s [http://asmarterplanet.com A Smarter Planet blog] (now defunct, [https://web.archive.org/web/20161119052748/http://asmarterplanet.com archive]). The website now redirects to IBM's Think blog's homepage. This and the other [[:Category:A Smarter Planet|A Smarter Planet]] comic, [[Conservation]], are not part of the regular numbered series of comics, but both of them used to be featured on [https://xkcd.com/asmarterplanet xkcd.com/asmarterplanet] (now defunct, [https://web.archive.org/web/20190102070937/https://xkcd.com/asmarterplanet/ archive]). Each comic on that page linked to their respective blog posts on IBM's site.
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This comic talks about someone who spent two years creating medical records databases. Clearly, the person being examined has modified the medical records database the doctor is using, making it say he was president for a full term (four years).
  
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This comic references to the stereotype of doctors' handwriting being illegible, which is a very bad thing when you need a very specific medication and your pharmacy clerk can't read the numbers. Cueball is eager for his doctor to start signing his prescription digitally, as it means less paperwork and faster response time, but his enthusiasm fades when the doctor somehow manages to ''type'' in illegible handwriting. This could theoretically be done with a bad handwriting font, though most computerized forms don't allow you to change their font, and even if they did, one would not use such a horrible font.{{Citation needed}} The type of code that they used is known as a "public key fingerprint" (or an RSA fingerprint), used as a code to shorten the length of a longer code number.
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This idea crops up again in [[2756: Qualifications]].
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The prescription number is given as "{{w|THX1138}}", the first film directed by {{w|George Lucas}}.
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This comic was apparently discovered as far back as 26th Aug 2009, due to [http://xkcdsw.com/2121 Making XKCD Slightly Worse using it]. Given how Making XKCD Slightly Worse originated from the now-defunct forums, there could've been some discussion on there.
  
 
==Transcript==
 
==Transcript==
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:[A caption above the first panel to the left:]
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:[A bald doctor with a forehead mirror is holding a piece of paper in front of Cueball, who is sitting on a cushion.]
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:Good news: Doctors are finally learning to use modern security tools.
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:Doctor: It says here you spent 2 years building medical records databases…
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:[Beneath the caption is a panel where a bald doctor with a forehead mirror is handing a piece of paper to Cueball who is reaching for it. The doctor speaks although there is no speech line from him to the text above the two.]
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:Doctor: and then four years as President of the United States?
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:Doctor: No need for phone verification. I've digitally signed it.
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:Doctor: I’m sorry, Mr. President, I didn’t recognize you.
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:[A caption above the first panel to the left:]
 
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:Bad news: They've somehow learned to ''type'' with terrible handwriting.
 
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:[Beneath the caption is a panel with a close up of the top left of the paper handed over by the doctor, which turns out to be a prescription for Cueball. The two first lines of text are clearly readable printed text, but the actual code message from the doctor is written in almost unreadable computer font, below given as best as can be interpreted.]
 
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:Prescription THX1138
 
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:RSA fingerprint: 5e:2c:eb:ea:cc:1e:17:ed:5f:96
 
  
 
{{comic discussion}}
 
{{comic discussion}}
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[[Category:No title text]]
 
[[Category:No title text]]
 
[[Category:Unreleased comics]]
 
[[Category:Unreleased comics]]
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[[Category:No date]]

Latest revision as of 18:28, 12 November 2025

                                     
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ibm hc 2.png
Title text: none

      Explanation[edit]

      Ambox warning blue construction.svg This is one of 53 incomplete explanations:
      • Finish explaining the joke
      • Mention the discovery of this comic and Randall's response, using the {{Quote}} template.) If you can fix this issue, edit the page!

      This comic was created by Randall after a special request from IBM's A Smarter Planet blog, which now redirects to IBM's Think blog's homepage (archive). This and the other A Smarter Planet comic, Conservation, are not part of the regular numbered series of comics, but both of them used to be featured on xkcd.com/asmarterplanet (now defunct, archive). Each comic on that page linked to their respective blog posts on IBM's site.

      This comic talks about someone who spent two years creating medical records databases. Clearly, the person being examined has modified the medical records database the doctor is using, making it say he was president for a full term (four years).

      This idea crops up again in 2756: Qualifications.

      This comic was apparently discovered as far back as 26th Aug 2009, due to Making XKCD Slightly Worse using it. Given how Making XKCD Slightly Worse originated from the now-defunct forums, there could've been some discussion on there.

      Transcript[edit]

      [A bald doctor with a forehead mirror is holding a piece of paper in front of Cueball, who is sitting on a cushion.]
      Doctor: It says here you spent 2 years building medical records databases…
      Doctor: and then four years as President of the United States?
      Doctor: I’m sorry, Mr. President, I didn’t recognize you.

      comment.png  Add comment      new topic.png  Create topic (use sparingly)     refresh discuss.png  Refresh 

      Discussion

      warning!!.png To share information and coordinate, please use Category talk:A Smarter Planet instead of this talk page. Thanks!

      xkcd lost media??? D: Caliban (talk) 12:09, 10 February 2025 (UTC)

      Well I mean we just found it, so it's not lost anymore. 172.69.135.143 21:34, 13 February 2025 (UTC)

      This comic was apparently discovered as far back as 2009, due to this Making XKCD Slightly Worse using it. http://xkcdsw.com/2121SlimothyJ (talk) 14:32, 5 November 2025 (UTC)

      Given how Making XKCD Slightly Worse originated from the now-defunct forums, there could've been some discussion on there.SlimothyJ (talk) 17:11, 11 November 2025 (UTC)
      When we first discovered this, did anyone else have a wave of déja vú? --DollarStoreBa'alConverse 19:07, 11 November 2025 (UTC)
            comment.png        Add comment'
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