https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=Trapicki&feedformat=atomexplain xkcd - User contributions [en]2024-03-29T05:27:34ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1407:_Worst_Hurricane&diff=771291407: Worst Hurricane2014-10-14T08:58:13Z<p>Trapicki: Added Category Maps</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1407<br />
| date = August 13, 2014<br />
| title = Worst Hurricane<br />
| image = worst_hurricane.png<br />
| titletext = 'Finding a 105-year-old who's lived in each location and asking them which hurricane they think was the worst' is left as an exercise for the reader.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
This comic has a [http://xkcd.com/1407/large/ larger version] available.<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|State, severity and remarks still need to be filled for all hurricanes.}}<br />
The map divides America's Atlantic coastline into regions according to the worst hurricane that has hit each area in the last century, based on data from the North Atlantic hurricane database ({{w|HURDAT}}) and the {{w|National Centers for Environmental Prediction}} (NCEP). Most of the hurricanes are listed by their US reporting names, with hurricanes before 1953 (the year when the current naming system was established) being listed by their year and sometimes a sequence number or city name.<br />
<br />
Hurricanes have a maximum wind speed in the eye-wall around the centre of the storm. After a storm passes over land it loses the warm water needed to power it, and rapidly dissipates. Around the Caribbean Sea there are major storms, like Katrina, that affect a long path inland, and storms such as Carmen that have had significant effects on local coastal areas. Further north the pattern changes, as hurricanes will be beginning to transform to an extra-tropical depression, and can intensify over land. There may be a degree of sample bias, as hurricanes from the early half of the twentieth century may not have been monitored as intensely after making landfall. <br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable"<br />
|-<br />
! Date<br />
! Name<br />
! States<br />
! Highest winds<br />
! Lowest pressure <br />
! Remarks<br />
|-<br />
|| 1915<br />
|| {{w|1915_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_Two|1915 II}}<br />
|| LA TX OK AR<br />
|| 145 mph<br />
|| 940 mbar<br />
|| Hit hardest along the Texas coastline near {{w|1915_Galveston_hurricane|Galveston}}.<br />
|-<br />
|| 1915<br />
|| {{w|1915_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_Six|1915 VI}}<br />
|| LA MS AL TN KY WV PA<br />
|| 145 mph<br />
|| 931 mbar<br />
|| Hit hardest in the areas near {{w|1915_New_Orleans_hurricane|New Orleans}}.<br />
|-<br />
|| 1916<br />
|| {{w|1916_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_Four|1916 IV}}<br />
|| SC NC<br />
|| 115 mph<br />
|| 960 mbar<br />
|| Caused 7 deaths and $100,000 in damages in South Carolina, with 80 deaths and $15-$20 million in damages in North Carolina.<br />
|-<br />
|| 1916<br />
|| {{w|1916_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_Six|1916 VI}}<br />
|| TX<br />
|| 135 mph<br />
|| 932 mbar<br />
|| Hit hardest along the west side of {{w|1916_Texas_hurricane|Texas}}'s coastline.<br />
|-<br />
|| 1918<br />
|| {{w|1918_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_One|1918 I}}<br />
||<br />
|| 120 mph<br />
|| 955 mbar<br />
|| Hit hardest in western Louisiana.<br />
|-<br />
|| 1921<br />
|| {{w|1921_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_Six|1921 VI}}<br />
||<br />
|| 140 mph<br />
|| 941 mbar<br />
|| Hit hardest in {{w|1921_Tampa_Bay_hurricane|Tampa Bay}}.<br />
|-<br />
|| 1926<br />
|| {{w|1926_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_One|1926 I}}<br />
||<br />
|| 140 mph<br />
|| 967 mbar<br />
|| Hit hardest in {{w|1926_Nassau_hurricane|Nassau}} and a small area of north-eastern Florida.<br />
|-<br />
|| 1926<br />
|| {{w|1926_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_Three|1926 III}} / {{w|1926_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_Two|II}}<br />
||<br />
|| 115 mph / 140 mph<br />
|| 955 mbar / 967 mbar<br />
|| {{w|1926_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_Two|1926 II}} did not hit land where indicated on the map. What is labelled "1926 II" is most likely Hurricane III which did make land around Lousiana but affected the entire coast line from Mobile Alabama. Hit hardest at the end of the Florida panhandle. {{w|1926_Louisiana_hurricane|Louisiana}}<br />
|-<br />
|| 1926<br />
|| {{w|1926_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_Seven|1926 VII}} / {{w|1926_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_Three|III}}<br />
||<br />
|| 150 mph / 115 mph<br />
|| 930 mbar / 955 mbar<br />
|| {{w|1926_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_Three|1926 III}} did not hit Miami as indicated on the map, instead it hit west Louisiana and Texas. What is labelled "1926 III" is most likely hurricane seven instead. It the {{w|1926_Miami_hurricane|Miami}} area the hardest. The costliest hurricane in US history.<br />
|-<br />
|| 1928<br />
|| {{w|1928_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_Four|1928 IV}}<br />
||<br />
|| 160 mph<br />
|| &le; 929 mbar<br />
|| {{w|1928_Okeechobee_hurricane|Okeechobee}}<br />
|-<br />
|| 1932<br />
|| {{w|1932_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_Two|1932 II}}<br />
||<br />
|| 150 mph<br />
|| 935 mbar<br />
|| {{w|1932_Freeport_hurricane|Freeport}}<br />
|-<br />
|| 1933<br />
|| {{w|1933_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_Six|1933 VI}}<br />
||<br />
|| 140 mph<br />
|| 940 mbar<br />
|| Hit hardest along the western side of {{w|1933_Chesapeake-Potomac_hurricane|Chesapeake Bay}}.<br />
|-<br />
|| 1935<br />
|| {{w|1935_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_Three|1935 III}}<br />
||<br />
|| 185 mph<br />
|| 892 mbar<br />
|| Hit hardest on {{w|1935_Labor_Day_hurricane|Labor Day}} along two areas of western Florida. The 1935 hurricane is notable for being the strongest hurricane in American history.<br />
|-<br />
|| 1938<br />
|| {{w|1938_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_Six|1938 VI}}<br />
||<br />
|| 160 mph<br />
|| 940 mbar<br />
|| Hit hardest around Long Island and Connecticut, {{w|1938_New_England_hurricane|New England}}. Although Sandy caused more monetary damage to the New Jersey/NYC area, the 1938 hurricane was more powerful and resulted in far more deaths.<br />
|-<br />
|| 1940<br />
|| {{w|1940_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_Three|1940 III}}<br />
||<br />
|| 100 mph<br />
|| 972 mbar<br />
|| {{w|1940_South_Carolina_hurricane|South Carolina}}<br />
|-<br />
|| 1941<br />
|| {{w|1941_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_Two|1941 II}}<br />
||<br />
|| 125 mph<br />
|| 942 mbar<br />
|| {{w|1941_Texas_hurricane|Texas}}<br />
|-<br />
|| 1942<br />
|| {{w|1942_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_Three|1942 III}}<br />
||<br />
|| 115 mph<br />
|| 950 mbar<br />
|| {{w|1942_Matagorda_hurricane|Matagorda}}<br />
|-<br />
|| 1944<br />
|| {{w|1944_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_Seven|1944 VII}}<br />
||<br />
|| 145 mph<br />
|| 933 mbar<br />
|| {{w|1944_Great_Atlantic_hurricane|Great Atlantic hurricane}}<br />
|-<br />
|| 1944<br />
|| {{w|1944_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_Thirteen|1944 XII}}<br />
||<br />
|| 145 mph<br />
|| 937 mbar<br />
|| {{w|1944_Cuba–Florida_hurricane|Cuba–Florida}}<br />
|-<br />
|| 1946<br />
|| {{w|1946_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_Six|1946 VI}}<br />
||<br />
|| 100 mph<br />
|| 977 mbar<br />
|| {{w|1946_Florida_hurricane|Florida}}<br />
|-<br />
|| 1947<br />
|| {{w|1947_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_Nine_.28King.29|1947 IX}}<br />
||<br />
|| 105 mph<br />
|| 965 mbar<br />
|| {{w|1947_Cape_Sable_hurricane|King}}<br />
|-<br />
|| 1949<br />
|| {{w|1949_Atlantic_hurricane_season#Hurricane_Two|1949 II}}<br />
||<br />
|| 130 mph<br />
|| 954 mbar<br />
|| {{w|1949_Florida_hurricane|Florida}}<br />
|-<br />
|| 1950<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Easy_(1950)|Easy}}<br />
||<br />
|| 125 mph<br />
|| 958 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1954<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Carol|Carol}}<br />
||<br />
|| 115 mph<br />
|| 957 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1954<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Edna|Edna}}<br />
||<br />
|| 120 mph<br />
|| &le; 954 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1954<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Hazel|Hazel}}<br />
||<br />
|| 150 mph<br />
|| &le; 937 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1955<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Connie|Connie}}<br />
||<br />
|| 145 mph<br />
|| 936 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1955<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Diane|Diane}}<br />
||<br />
|| 120 mph<br />
|| &le; 969 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1957<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Audrey|Audrey}}<br />
||<br />
|| 145 mph<br />
|| 945 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1958<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Helene_(1958)|Helene}}<br />
||<br />
|| 135 mph<br />
|| 934 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1959<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Gracie|Gracie}}<br />
||<br />
|| 140 mph<br />
|| 950 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1960<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Donna|Donna}}<br />
||<br />
|| 160 mph<br />
|| 932 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1961<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Carla|Carla}}<br />
||<br />
|| 175 mph<br />
|| 931 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1961<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Esther_(1961)|Esther}}<br />
||<br />
|| 145 mph<br />
|| 927 mbar<br />
|| Labelled incorrectly as 1951. The first cyclone to be discovered using satellite.<br />
|-<br />
|| 1964<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Dora|Dora}}<br />
||<br />
|| 130 mph<br />
|| 942 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1964<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Hilda|Hilda}}<br />
||<br />
|| 150 mph<br />
|| 941 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1965<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Betsy|Betsy}}<br />
|| FL LA MS AR TE MO<br />
|| 155 mph <br />
|| 941 mbar<br />
|| Tropical Cyclone<br />
|-<br />
|| 1966<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Alma_(1966)|Alma}}<br />
||<br />
|| 125 mph<br />
|| 970 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1967<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Beulah|Beulah}}<br />
||<br />
|| 160 mph<br />
|| &le; 923 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1969<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Camille|Camille}}<br />
||<br />
|| 175 mph<br />
|| 900 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1970<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Celia|Celia}}<br />
||<br />
|| 125 mph<br />
|| 945 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1972<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Agnes|Agnes}}<br />
||<br />
|| 85 mph<br />
|| 977 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1974<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Carmen|Carmen}}<br />
||<br />
|| 150 mph<br />
|| 928 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1975<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Eloise|Eloise}}<br />
||<br />
|| 125 mph<br />
|| 955 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1979<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_David|David}}<br />
||<br />
|| 175 mph<br />
|| 924 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1979<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Frederic|Frederic}}<br />
||<br />
|| 135 mph<br />
|| 943 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1980<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Allen|Allen}}<br />
||<br />
|| 190 mph<br />
|| 899 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1984<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Diana_(1984)|Diana}}<br />
||<br />
|| 130 mph<br />
|| 949 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1985<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Elena|Elena}}<br />
||<br />
|| 125 mph<br />
|| 953 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1985<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Gloria|Glora}}<br />
||<br />
|| 145 mph<br />
|| 919 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1985<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Kate_(1985)|Kate}}<br />
||<br />
|| 120 mph<br />
|| 954 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1989<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Hugo|Hugo}}<br />
||<br />
|| 160 mph<br />
|| 918 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1991<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Bob|Bob}}<br />
||<br />
|| 115 mph<br />
|| 950 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1992<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Andrew|Andrew}}<br />
||<br />
|| 175 mph<br />
|| 922 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1995<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Opal|Opal}}<br />
||<br />
|| 150 mph<br />
|| 916 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1996<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Fran|Fran}}<br />
||<br />
|| 120 mph<br />
|| 946 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1998<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Bonnie_(1998)|Bonnie}}<br />
||<br />
|| 115 mph<br />
|| 954 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 1999<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Floyd|Floyd}}<br />
|| FL to Maine<br />
|| 155 mph<br />
|| 921 mbar<br />
|| Bad weather over Florida.<br />
|-<br />
|| 2002<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Lili|Lili}}<br />
|| LA<br />
|| 145 mph<br />
|| 938 mbar<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
|| 2003<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Isabel|Isabel}}<br />
|| NC to PA<br />
|| 165 mph<br />
|| 915 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 2004<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Charley|Charley}}<br />
||<br />
|| 150 mph<br />
|| 941 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 2004<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Frances|Frances}}<br />
||<br />
|| 145 mph<br />
|| 935 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 2004<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Gaston_(2004)|Gaston}}<br />
||<br />
|| 75 mph<br />
|| 985 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 2004<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Ivan|Ivan}}<br />
||<br />
|| 165 mph<br />
|| 910 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 2004<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Jeanne|Jeanne}}<br />
||<br />
|| 120 mph<br />
|| 950 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 2005<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Dennis|Dennis}}<br />
||<br />
|| 150 mph<br />
|| 930 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 2005<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Katrina|Katrina}}<br />
||<br />
|| 175 mph<br />
|| 902 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 2005<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Rita|Rita}}<br />
||<br />
|| 180 mph<br />
|| 895 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 2008<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Gustav|Gustav}}<br />
||<br />
|| 155 mph<br />
|| 941 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 2008<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Ike|Ike}}<br />
||<br />
|| 145 mph<br />
|| 935 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 2011<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Irene|Irene}}<br />
||<br />
|| 120 mph<br />
|| 942 mbar<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
|| 2011<br />
|| {{w|Tropical_Storm_Lee_(2011)|Lee}}<br />
||<br />
|| 60 mph<br />
|| 986 mbar<br />
|| Not a hurricane, but "just" a tropical storm<br />
|-<br />
|| 2012<br />
|| {{w|Hurricane_Sandy|Sandy}}<br />
||<br />
|| 115 mph<br />
|| 940 mbar<br />
|| Hitting the New York City and New Jersey area with devastating effects for the Jersey Shore area.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
A full list of North Atlantic hurricanes after {{w|Tropical cyclone naming}} was introduced can be found {{w|List_of_historic_tropical_cyclone_names#North_Atlantic|here}}.<br />
<br />
The title text is a joke in light of this bleak humor, saying that finding residents in each of the regions who are old enough to have been alive through all of these is quite a daunting task. In principle, this would be the only way to confirm the "worst hurricane in living memory," and may be taken as a riposte to anyone who wishes to argue this map: "If you think there was a worse one, find a 105 year old resident who agrees!" 105 was likely chosen because most people can only remember back to an age when they were 5, so someone would have needed to be 5 years old to remember a hurricane in any detail 100 years later.<br />
<br />
Hurricanes and especially their names have been featured before in comics [[453: Upcoming Hurricanes]], [[944: Hurricane Names]] and [[1126: Epsilon and Zeta]].<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript}}<br />
*The current transcript below lacks all the hurricane names. <br />
<br />
:What's The<br />
:;Worst Hurricane<br />
:Anyone In Your Town Remembers?<br />
:Estimated from Hurdat Database and NCEP rainfall totals<br />
:1914-2014<br />
:[A map of the east coast of the United States as far southwest as the Texas/Mexico border, as far northeast as the Maine/Canada border, and as far inland as Kentucky. The map has coastal regions blocked out with the name and year of the worst hurricane in the last 100 years.]<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Hurricanes]]<br />
[[Category:Maps]]</div>Trapickihttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1410:_California&diff=771281410: California2014-10-14T08:56:46Z<p>Trapicki: Added Category Charts</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1410<br />
| date = August 20, 2014<br />
| title = California<br />
| image = california.png<br />
| titletext = 58% of the state has gone into plaid.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This graph shows the levels of drought over time in the state of {{w|California}} using years on the horizontal axis and distance along a 45 degrees rotated north-south-axis of California on the vertical axis. The image illustrates the use of the distance measure on the vertical axis by visually rotating and stacking multiple maps of California next to each other.<br />
<br />
The geography of California lends itself well to this kind of graphical interpretation because on a map where north is up the state is much taller than it is wide, large-scale phenomena like weather patterns are likely to cover much of the "width" of the state but only part of the "height". Because the variation in the west-east direction will be small, a side-on view of the state can be used as the vertical axis in a graph, so that the indicated values are either the average or extreme value across the width of California.<br />
<br />
[[Randall]] compiled the data in this graph from data from the [http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/ US Drought Monitor], which is authored by Richard Tinker from {{w|National_Oceanic_and_Atmospheric_Administration|NOAA}}. The colors Randall uses correspond to [http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/AboutUs/ClassificationScheme.aspx drought intensity levels D0-D4] defined on the Drought Monitor site. <br />
<br />
The graph shows that in 2000, 2005, and 2010, there were very little or no drought conditions in California, but that the intervening periods have seen increasingly severe droughts. According to the most recent data, the state is entirely in a condition of "severe" or worse drought, with "ludicrous" conditions across approximately half its area. The graph also reveals that 2014 is the first year (since 2000) where the "ludicrous" level has been seen. Indeed, a comic about drought is rather topical: California is in the middle of one of its worst droughts in recorded history.<br />
<br />
The darkest, most severe level of drought is labelled "ludicrous" (causing laughter because of absurdity), but a parenthetical remark indicates that the official term is "exceptional.".<br />
<br />
The title text is a reference from the movie {{w|Spaceballs}}, a {{w|Parody_film|parody}} of various {{w|Science_fiction|Sci-Fi}} movies. Lone Starr and Barf in their Winnebago space ship traveling at lightspeed are passed by Spaceball One, which is traveling at "ludicrous" speed. The path of Spaceball One is shown as a {{w|Plaid_(pattern)|plaid pattern}} and Barf remarks "They've gone to plaid!" ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk7VWcuVOf0 YouTube clip]).<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:I like how long and skinny California is because it means you can use it as a graph axis:<br />
<br />
:'''California Droughts'''<br />
:Based on map data from US Drought Monitor/NOAA/Richard Tinker<br />
<br />
:[Legend:]<br />
:Dry<br />
::[Yellow]<br />
:Drought<br />
::[Beige] Moderate<br />
::[Orange] Severe<br />
::[Red] Extreme<br />
::[Brown] Ludicrous ("exceptional")<br />
<br />
:[Graph showing a colored contour plot, with time in years from Jan 4, 2000 until Aug 14, 2014 on the x-axis and distance along the length of California as the y-axis, and depth of drought as the dependent variable indicated by color.]<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Charts]]</div>Trapickihttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=730:_Circuit_Diagram&diff=76969730: Circuit Diagram2014-10-10T08:17:57Z<p>Trapicki: Added Category Diagram</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 730<br />
| date = April 21, 2010<br />
| title = Circuit Diagram<br />
| image = circuit_diagram.png<br />
| titletext = I just caught myself idly trying to work out what that resistor mass would actually be, and realized I had self-nerd-sniped.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
Another fine example of [[356|nerd sniping]].<br />
There are pieces of circuit diagrams, road maps, chemical diagrams, and other things all mixed in.<br />
Explanations for each below!<br />
<br />
{|class="wikitable table-padding left-align"<br />
!Image Fragment<br />
!width="130px" | Image Location<br />
!Description<br />
|-<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=19|Y=25|W=106|H=37|image=circuit_diagram-019-025-106-037-scale.png|text=A map scale. Lists kilometers and miles as equivalent. And makes the diagram many miles wide.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=15|Y=62|W=40|H=85|image=circuit_diagram-015-062-040-085-antenna.png|text=An antenna. Typical of radio receivers or transmitters. Or the Turtle in LOGO programming language}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=53|Y=60|W=41|H=87|image=circuit_diagram-053-060-041-087-inductor.png|text=A coil or inductor. Normal, but unlabeled.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=107|Y=86|W=85|H=93|image=circuit_diagram-107-086-085-093-cloverleaf.png|text=A {{w|cloverleaf interchange}} or junction is a feature of road networks that does not belong in a circuit diagram. Of course, other types of {{w|p–n junction|junction}} are important in electronics. <br />
A cloverleaf junction has previously been used in comic: [[253: Highway Engineer Pranks]]}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=184|Y=12|W=87|H=63|image=circuit_diagram-184-012-087-063-battery.png|text=A battery. The voltage of square root of two is strange, but getting about 1.41412... volts is not unheard of. The marked polarity is also the reverse of what is implied by the symbol (where the larger terminal is positive).}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=187|Y=110|W=94|H=71|image=circuit_diagram-187-110-094-071-resister.png|text=A 120 ohm resistor is normal enough. "Or to taste" is odd for a circuit diagram and more like instructions from a recipe, e.g., "1 tbsp tomato purée, or to taste".}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=283|Y=50|W=90|H=63|image=circuit_diagram-283-050-090-063-switch.png|text=A normal switch, with a notation to glue it open. Reminiscent of the [http://catb.org/esr/jargon/html/magic-story.html MAGIC/MORE MAGIC] switch.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=337|Y=101|W=69|H=64|image=circuit_diagram-337-101-069-064-transisitor.png|text=A bipolar PNP transistor, except that it has two emitters and no collector.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=52|Y=141|W=79|H=107|image=circuit_diagram-052-141-079-107-compass-points.png|text=Compass points. A map feature, not a circuit feature.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=415|Y=18|W=63|H=58|image=circuit_diagram-415-018-063-058-resister.png|text=A normal resistor, labeled with color code. Brown-Blue-Orange would be 16000 ohms. Resistor color codes are for reading the value on the physical device itself. They would not normally be shown on the circuit diagram, where it's much easier to just write the number, e.g. 16K.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=517|Y=14|W=42|H=32|image=circuit_diagram-517-014-042-032-diode.png|text=A normal diode.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=615|Y=55|W=73|H=74|image=circuit_diagram-615-055-073-074-666timer.png|text=A chip. The normal timer is a "{{w|555_timer_IC|555}}". "666" would be the number of the beast in [http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Rev&c=13&v=18&t=KJV#18 Rev. 13:18]. The pin connected to "?" is the CTRL pin on a normal 555 timer, which would typically be connected to ground (via a decoupling capacitor) if used at all; the implication here seems to be that it would be connected directly to Hell itself.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=632|Y=138|W=69|H=41|image=circuit_diagram-632-138-069-041-bat.png|text=A Batman logo.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=650|Y=211|W=75|H=71|image=circuit_diagram-650-211-075-071-squirrel.png|text=A squirrel. What it does as a circuit element is unclear.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=606|Y=165|W=54|H=53|image=circuit_diagram-606-165-054-053-inductor.png|text=A coil or inductor, or a spring symbol in Physics force diagrams, probably the latter as it is labeled with an 11-kilogram mass.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=538|Y=209|W=99|H=59|image=circuit_diagram-538-209-099-059-generator.png|text=A 240-volt AC generator (or other power source).}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=483|Y=186|W=111|H=103|image=circuit_diagram-483-186-111-103-shorted-generator.png|text=A shorting wire around a generator. The label reads "Omit this if you're a '''wimp.'''" If this wire is included, it will quickly melt - or worse.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=419|Y=78|W=57|H=75|image=circuit_diagram-419-078-057-075-scarab-beetles.png|text=A jar of {{w|Scarabaeidae|scarab beetles}}.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=482|Y=47|W=28|H=44|image=circuit_diagram-482-047-028-044-variable-resister.png|text=A variable resistor with center tap. Normally, there would be an arrowhead on the center tap.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=507|Y=53|W=22|H=27|image=circuit_diagram-507-053-022-027-capacitor.png|text=A normal capacitor.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=577|Y=318|W=96|H=62|image=circuit_diagram-577-318-096-062-magic.png|text="{{w|Magic Smoke}}" is the legendary stuff inside a chip that comes out when it fails.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=669|Y=315|W=51|H=66|image=circuit_diagram-669-315-051-066-frayed-wires.png|text=Some frayed or dangling wires.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=567|Y=392|W=58|H=48|image=circuit_diagram-567-392-058-048-buoy.png|text=An object which is either a float used in fishing, a {{w|Tippe top}}, or perhaps a {{w|Naval mine|mine}}.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=458|Y=336|W=111|H=86|image=circuit_diagram-458-336-111-086-moral-rectifier.png|text=A {{w|Diode_bridge|bridge rectifier}}, which would normally turn alternating current at the top and bottom into direct current on the left and right. In this case, it is labeled as a "moral rectifier". This is presumably a play on the idea of moral rectitude – it makes your circuit more moral. Why this matters in a circuit is unclear.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=423|Y=259|W=80|H=85|image=circuit_diagram-423-259-080-085-warm-front.png|text=A {{w|warm front}} is a feature on a {{w|Surface weather analysis|synoptic weather map}}.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=190|Y=199|W=54|H=52|image=circuit_diagram-190-199-054-052-battery.png|text=A normal 50-volt battery.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=173|Y=200|W=89|H=56|image=circuit_diagram-173-200-089-056-shorted-battery.png|text=A battery is grounded on both sides. Something will melt or burn out quickly, unless these are separate "earth ground"s, in which case the ground might get a bit cooked.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=259|Y=198|W=174|H=25|image=circuit_diagram-259-198-174-025-pull-wire.png|text=Text reads "Pull this wire really tight". This kind of physical-property issue may indicate a high-frequency radio device. Or, given the absurdity of the context, it's a silly reference to a "high tension wire."}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=141|Y=211|W=41|H=91|image=circuit_diagram-141-211-041-091-3-8-inch.png|text=A specified 3/8-inch separation. This probably indicates a carefully controlled capacitance issue. Also contradicts the scale of the drawing, by which the distance shown would be about 0.8 miles or 0.8 km.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=173|Y=309|W=92|H=59|image=circuit_diagram-173-309-092-059-eel.png|text=An {{w|electric eel}}. This may be an effective power source in the circuit, capable of producing a shock at up to 600 volts and 1 ampere of current (600 watts), but for less than 2 ms.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=266|Y=307|W=35|H=41|image=circuit_diagram-266-307-035-041-resistor.png|text=A normal resistor.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=222|Y=358|W=34|H=29|image=circuit_diagram-222-358-034-029-capacitor.png|text=A normal capacitor.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=130|Y=335|W=44|H=40|image=circuit_diagram-130-335-044-040-resistor.png|text=A normal resistor, labeled "&euml;". This may be a play on {{w|e (mathematical constant)|Euler's Number}}, which doesn't normally have an umlaut. Alternatively instead of being an umlaut it may indicate the second {{w|derivative}} derivative of e with respect to time in {{w|Newton's notation}}, in which case, as e is a constant, the resistance of this element is zero.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=65|Y=249|W=61|H=92|image=circuit_diagram-065-249-061-092-blender.png|text=This appears to be a blender.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=20|Y=342|W=115|H=73|image=circuit_diagram-020-342-115-073-arduino.png|text=An {{w|arduino}}, labeled "Arduino, just for blog cred". May refer to the fact that inexpensive, easy-to-integrate single-board computers like the arduino, which have contributed to the rise of {{w|Maker_culture}}, are used and discussed frequently in that culture, and the use of one might impress readers. The comment implies that an arduino is not otherwise needed in this circuit, although it is necessarily hard to tell, given the other components of the circuit.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=39|Y=423|W=118|H=82|image=circuit_diagram-039-423-118-082-meca.png|text=A chip labeled "Most expensive chip available". The small curve at the top is a part of the packaging designed to show its orientation.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=159|Y=428|W=91|H=50|image=circuit_diagram-159-428-091-050-neck-strap.png|text=Labeled "Neck Strap". Perhaps a piece of torture equipment or indicating that the circuit is part of an {{w|electric chair}}?}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=147|Y=480|W=110|H=88|image=circuit_diagram-147-480-110-088-switch.png|text=A switch labeled "Hire someone to open and close switch real fast." Possibly meant to perform the function of an oscillator in a more hackish manner and the reason for the neck strap. Could also be a reference to {{w|Maxwell's Demon}}.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=273|Y=498|W=61|H=64|image=circuit_diagram-273-498-061-064-resistor.png|text=A 5 ohm resistor labeled "(decoy)". One end is not attached to anything. Perhaps this indicates wishful thinking that electrons might be tricked into entering this part of the circuit despite the fact that there's nowhere for them to go?}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=307|Y=453|W=103|H=56|image=circuit_diagram-307-453-103-056-tongue.png|text=A pair of contacts, labeled "Touch Tongue Here". Could be referring to the practice of daring someone to touch their tongue to the contacts of a 9V battery.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=301|Y=270|W=45|H=45|image=circuit_diagram-301-270-045-045-frown.png|text=A frowny-face. See the float/mine.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=294|Y=311|W=128|H=124|image=circuit_diagram-294-311-128-124-IC.png|text=A small integrated circuit. The lower gate is an inverter, wired as a free-running oscillator. The upper gate is an XOR wired to act as either a free-running oscillator or a latch. Since the XOR will be slower than the inverter, the overall output of the upper gate is probably very chaotic. Two "input" wires are not connected at all. An additional wire is attached to the top with hot glue. This last wire probably acts to control static electricity and leakage.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=302|Y=235|W=91|H=25|image=circuit_diagram-302-235-091-025-curve.png|text=A caution sign at a curve. Another road feature in the circuit.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=401|Y=455|W=67|H=68|image=circuit_diagram-401-455-067-068-CH3.png|text=A {{w|methyl group}} (chemistry) attached to a corner. If the circuit were an organic chemical, it would be reasonable to find a number of these.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=453|Y=167|W=43|H=93|image=circuit_diagram-453-167-043-093-baloon.png|text=A balloon, possibly blowing in a breeze.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=572|Y=68|W=22|H=43|image=circuit_diagram-572-068-022-043-inductor.png|text=A coil or inductor.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=508|Y=96|W=42|H=20|image=circuit_diagram-508-096-042-020-inductor.png|text=A coil or inductor.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=534|Y=61|W=22|H=31|image=circuit_diagram-534-061-022-031-ground.png|text=A ground connection.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=472|Y=49|W=134|H=140|image=circuit_diagram-472-049-134-140-solderr-blob.png|text=A solder blob covering a portion of the circuit. Normally, this would not be part of the circuit diagram, but a mistake in building the circuit.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=493|Y=443|W=207|H=158|image=circuit_diagram-493-443-207-158-res-rats-nest.png|text=A rats nest of 1 ohm resistors. It is labeled "Oh, so you think you're such a whiz at EE201?" [http://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-Series-and-Parallel-Resistance Calculating the effective resistance of this] is what the title text refers to. It appears to work out to 0.75800964845 ohms.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=315|Y=533|W=232|H=200|image=circuit_diagram-362-531-151-167-arena.png|text=An arena, with a few bodies in it. Note the direction of movement enforced by the surrounding diodes, {{w|Mad_Max_Beyond_Thunderdome|"two men enter, one man leaves"}} }}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=569|Y=653|W=47|H=51|image=circuit_diagram-569-653-047-051-resistor.png|text=A "pi" ohm resistor.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=610|Y=655|W=75|H=70|image=circuit_diagram-610-655-075-070-generator.png|text=A 500-volt AC generator. The wiring to the right shorts out this generator.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=481|Y=682|W=85|H=64|image=circuit_diagram-481-682-085-064-ground.png|text=A ground connection, labeled "Bury deep, but not too deep". This type of ground connection is called an "earth ground" The "too deep" part might be a reference to {{w|Moria (Middle-earth)|Moria}} in Lord of Rings. The dwarves dug too deeply and disturbed a balrog. See also comic [[760]].}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=17|Y=610|W=75|H=73|image=circuit_diagram-017-610-075-073-fishhook.png|text=A ground connection at the end of a curve, looking like a fishhook. Means perhaps "earthed down under", i.e., Australia or the southern hemisphere.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=206|Y=662|W=66|H=45|image=circuit_diagram-206-662-066-045-yarn.png|text=A length of "wire" is labeled "yarn". This probably makes it a terrible conductor.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=102|Y=590|W=93|H=88|image=circuit_diagram-102-590-093-088-fluxcapacitor.png|text=The {{w|DeLorean time machine#Flux capacitor|flux capacitor}} from {{w|Back to the Future}}.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=138|Y=685|W=54|H=24|image=circuit_diagram-138-685-054-024-I95.png|text=A road sign for "I-95". Interstate 95 is the main north-south highway on the east coast of the United States, running from Maine to Florida.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=12|Y=713|W=134|H=36|image=circuit_diagram-012-713-134-036-tothesun.png|text=A connection labeled "To center of Sun". A 93-million-mile circuit is rather large, but...}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=31|Y=753|W=144|H=177|image=circuit_diagram-031-753-144-177-rats-nest.png|text=A rat's nest of wires. Everything winds up being connected.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=22|Y=513|W=97|H=61|image=circuit_diagram-022-513-097-061-esf.png|text=A label reading "Electrons Single File". If this happens, the resistance in this section of wire would be rather high.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=256|Y=619|W=29|H=39|image=circuit_diagram-256-619-029-039-ground.png|text=A ground connection.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=589|Y=600|W=58|H=46|image=circuit_diagram-589-600-058-046-vibrator.png|text=A vibrator, which would be a motor with an off-center weight attached to it.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=532|Y=779|W=74|H=52|image=circuit_diagram-532-779-074-052-motor.png|text=A motor, labeled "To Scale". This indicates that the physical size and shape of the motor must match the size of the parts around it, or is consistent with the specified scale of the drawing. }}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=662|Y=822|W=73|H=109|image=circuit_diagram-662-822-073-109-holy-ground.png|text=A ground connection, in a beaker labeled "{{w|Holy Water}}", possibly creating {{w|Holy ground (religion)|Holy ground}}.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=197|Y=740|W=48|H=55|image=circuit_diagram-197-740-048-055-speed.png|text=A sign indicating a speed limit of 55 MPH. This is a rather typical road sign, but inappropriate for a circuit diagram.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=238|Y=706|W=100|H=116|image=circuit_diagram-238-706-100-116-flipflop.png|text=A pair of NOR gates wired as a SR (set-reset) {{w|Flip-flop (electronics)|flip-flop}}. The label reads "May use an actual sandal instead", which is a play on the meanings of the term "{{w|Flip-flops|flip-flop}}".}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=322|Y=708|W=70|H=54|image=circuit_diagram-322-708-070-054-holdingpen.png|text=Something that could be the side view of a fence, labeled "Holding Pen".}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=339|Y=777|W=42|H=49|image=circuit_diagram-339-777-042-049-knot.png|text=A simple overhand knot. Also looks like a pretzel, which would have pretty high resistance.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=191|Y=889|W=149|H=33|image=circuit_diagram-191-889-149-033-ecg.png|text=This appears to be an {{w|Electrocardiography|electrocardiograph}} (ECG) trace, but not the sort that would be seen in a healthy person. If this were a real ECG trace, it would indicate {{w|Atrial Fibrillation|atrial fibrillation.}} It is not clear if Randall intended this, or if he is just not familiar with how a normal ECG should look.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=223|Y=826|W=82|H=68|image=circuit_diagram-223-826-082-068-photodiode.png|text=A photodiode, labeled "Tear Collector". A photodiode is a light-sensing device.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=373|Y=859|W=49|H=68|image=circuit_diagram-373-859-049-068-lamp.png|text=A lamp. This is not [http://electronicsclub.info/circuitsymbols.htm the symbol used in electrical circuits], but a drawing of a lightbulb.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=450|Y=887|W=65|H=32|image=circuit_diagram-450-887-065-032-inductor.png|text=A coil or inductor.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=537|Y=847|W=120|H=72|image=circuit_diagram-537-847-120-072-inductor.png|text=A coil or inductor, labeled "Take off shirt while wiring this part. Ooh, yeah, I like that."}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=504|Y=860|W=34|H=41|image=circuit_diagram-504-860-034-041-resistor.png|text=A resistor labeled "?". Presumably this means the resistance is unknown.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=459|Y=828|W=55|H=38|image=circuit_diagram-459-828-055-038-resistor.png|text=A resistor labeled "YES". Likely another improper unit - a reference to boolean values YES (TRUE) and NO (FALSE). Depending on the limits of a circuit, a resistor would still have a YES boolean value. Possibly indicating that this is a real resistor, as opposed to the one above it in the circuit, labeled "not a resistor."}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=389|Y=774|W=58|H=53|image=circuit_diagram-389-774-058-053-resistor.png|text=A resistor labeled "8 mm".}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=443|Y=747|W=93|H=84|image=circuit_diagram-443-747-093-084-resistor.png|text=A resistor labeled "Not a resistor; wire just does this". This may reflect the fact that any wire has a certain amount of resistance just by being a wire, or it may be that the wire is physically bent into a zig-zag shape.}}<br />
{{circuit-diagram-part|X=415|Y=863|W=82|H=24|image=circuit_diagram-415-863-082-024-unsure.png|text=A symbol for a feedthrough capacitor, labeled "3 Liters". Probable word-play on "capacity/capacitor." Also similar to the symbol for an orifice or flow restriction used on plumbing or hydraulic diagrams, in which case the "3 Liters" might mean 3 liters per minute or per second.}}<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:See table.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Physics]]<br />
[[Category:Diagram]]</div>Trapickihttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1431:_Marriage&diff=769681431: Marriage2014-10-10T08:14:14Z<p>Trapicki: Added Category Diagram</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1431<br />
| date = October 8, 2014<br />
| title = Marriage<br />
| image = marriage.png<br />
| titletext = People often say that same-sex marriage now is like interracial marriage in the 60s. But in terms of public opinion, same-sex marriage now is like interracial marriage in the 90s, when it had already been legal nationwide for 30 years.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
{{incomplete|Find previous studies of these trends. Is there any polling data using more parallel language? Why does public opinion seem to follow the law in one case but precede it in the other?}}<br />
<br />
The comic notes a curious inversion between the timing of legal and popular opinion trends for interracial marriage vs. same-sex marriage.<br />
In the 11 years since {{w|same-sex marriage in Massachusetts|Massachusetts first legalized}} same-sex marriage, at no point have there been more people living in states where it's legal than there are people who support its legality (although this may soon come to pass). This stands in stark contrast to interracial marriage, which was legal for the majority of the population for over 50 years, and for the whole country for 28 years, before it was [http://www.gallup.com/poll/163697/approve-marriage-blacks-whites.aspx approved of by the majority].<br />
<br />
Note that poll questions are slightly different: "Do you approve of interracial marriage?" vs "Do you think same-sex marriage should be legal?" It could be argued that fewer people would approve of these marriages than would support legalizing them, which may explain part of the discrepancy. But there are more factors at work, the effects and relative importance of which are not clear.<br />
<br />
=== Recent developments ===<br />
Two days before this comic came out, the United States Supreme Court [http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/07/us/denying-review-justices-clear-way-for-gay-marriage-in-5-states.html declined to hear] appeals to decisions that had legalized same-sex marriage in five states. The court's refusal to hear the appeals was widely considered a surprise, and had the immediate effect of pushing the percentage of people living in states where such marriages are legal [http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/same-sex-marriage-is-now-legal-for-a-majority-of-the-u-s/ past 50%]. The decision has also led to considerable speculation that there will be a surge of similar decisions applying to other states, especially to the six states that are in the same {{w|United States courts of appeals|appeals circuits}} as the previous five, and to the three in the same circuit as Idaho and Nevada, where same-sex marriage bans [http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/08/us/same-sex-marriage-bans-struck-down-in-idaho-and-nevada.html were struck down] a day after the Supreme Court's decision (although the decision in Idaho and Nevada has yet to take effect).<br />
<br />
=== Interracial marriage trend line annotated ===<br />
<br />
:''See also: {{w|Anti-miscegenation laws in the United States|Wikipedia: Anti-miscegenation laws in the United States}}''<br />
<br />
Legal controls concerning interracial marriage in the US (known since 1863 as {{w|miscegenation}}) have been significantly harder to track as a single statistic, due in part to the fact that such controls existed in several of the American British colonies before the United States formed, and complicated somewhat by the changes in territory claimed by and fluctuations in overall population (and methods of counting the population) of the United States over that time period. Depicting this as a simple percentage of US population over these earlier times would be far less meaningful outside of the context of these other fluctuations.<br />
<br />
;Start of line: Prior to ca. 1940 and continuing to 1948: Since the establishment of the United States, most states have had anti-miscegenation legislation in one form or another. Only nine states (Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Alaska, Hawaii) and the District of Columbia never enacted such legislation. Earlier repeal dates range from 1780 in Pennsylvania to 1887 in Ohio, though none were repealed between 1887 and 1948.<br />
<br />
;First rise: October 1948: Supreme Court of California overturns the state anti-miscegenation law in ''{{w|Perez v. Sharp}}''.<br />
<br />
;General upward trend: 1951&ndash;1967: (in order of repeal by year) 13 states repeal anti-miscegenation laws prior to rulings at the federal level of government, largely encouraged by comparisons to similar laws promoted by opponents in World War II and other civil rights movements and victories.<br />
<br />
;Last spike: 12 June 1967: The U.S. Supreme Court rules in ''{{w|Loving v. Virginia}}'' that the 16 remaining state-level anti-miscegenation laws are unconstitutional, rendering such laws thereafter ineffective.<br />
<br />
=== Same-sex marriage trend line explained ===<br />
<br />
:''See also: {{w|Same-sex marriage in the United States|Wikipedia: Same-sex marriage in the United States}}''<br />
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;Start of line: 2003: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court rules in ''{{w|Goodridge v. Department of Public Health}}'' that the Massachusetts Constitution does not allow the denial of marriage licenses to same-sex couples.<br />
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;First rise: May&ndash;October 2008: The supreme courts of California and Connecticut make similar decisions based on their states' constitutions.<br />
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;Drop: November 2008: The voters of California overturn their supreme court's decision by constitutional amendment on {{w|California Proposition 8 (2008)|Proposition 8}}. California is the most populous state in the Union, hence the large size of the drop here.<br />
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;Second rise: 2009&ndash;2010: Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, and the District of Columbia legalize same-sex marriage, the first by state supreme court decision, and the latter three by legislative action.<br />
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;First acceleration: 2011&ndash;2012: New York legalizes same-sex marriage by legislative action. Washington State, Maine, and Maryland do so by voter referendum.<br />
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;Second acceleration: 2013&ndash;2014: The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in ''{{w|Hollingsworth v. Perry}}'' re-legalizes same-sex marriage in California. Seven states legalize it by legislative action or state court decision. The Supreme Court's decision providing federal benefits for same-sex marriages in ''{{w|United States v. Windsor}}'', while not saying that there is a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, is widely cited as precedent by judges who do say so. Oregon and Pennsylvania decline to appeal such decisions, and five states' appeals are declined by circuit courts, and declined to be heard by the Supreme Court.<br />
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==Transcript==<br />
:[A graph with the x-axis showing time in years from 1940 to some time after 2010 (presumably ca. 2014). The y-axis shows percentage of population. The graph has 4 lines, 2 solid and 2 dashed, with 2 different colors: red and blue. The red lines indicate statistics concerning interracial marriage, while the blue indicate statistics concerning same-sex marriage. The solid lines indicate population living in states where that type of marriage is legal, while the dashed lines indicate popular approval of that type of marriage based on various polls.]<br />
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:[Solid red line:] Percentage of US population living in states with legal interracial marriage<br />
:[Dot on solid red line:] Full legal access: 1967<br />
:[Dashed red line:] Popular approval of interracial marriage (Source: Gallup Polls)<br />
:[Dot on dashed red line:] Majority approval: 1995<br />
:[Dashed blue line:] Popular approval of same-sex marriage (Source: various polls)<br />
:[Dot on dashed blue line:] Majority approval: 2011<br />
:[Solid blue line:] Percentage of US population living in states with legal same-sex marriage<br />
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:[Interracial marriage is indicated as being more than 50% legal in 1940, with a very slight downward trend that spikes up slightly ca. 1948, then trends slowly upward to about 65% until ca. 1967, at which point it spikes directly to 100% legality and remains there through 2014. Popular approval of interracial marriage is below 10% in the late 1950s, rising steadily to approximately 40% in 1980, then continuing to rise more slowly to the majority approval point in 1995, and spiking up to about 65% ca. 1997, plateauing until ca. 2003, rising quickly again to about 75% ca. 2006 and rising generally upward to the final ca. 2014 statistic depicted between 85% and 90% popular approval. The visual effect seems to be a wide gap of time between legalization of and popular approval of interracial marriage. Popular approval appears to trail legalization by no less than 20 years at any given point.<br />
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:Popular approval of same-sex marriage (according to "various polls") is depicted first at about 15% ca. 1986, trending gradually upward until ca. 2000, where it plateaus between 35% and 40% to resume an upward trend ca. 2007, continuing steadily through majority approval in 2011 to a ca. 2014 value between 55% and 60%. The legality of same-sex marriage is indicated to start at 0% ca. 2002, then jumps quickly to plateau around 5% until ca. 2008, at which point it spikes up to between 15% and 20%, then plummets to just above than 5% by ca. 2009, jumping quickly back up to between 15% and 20% between ca. 2010 and 2011, then trending upward even more quickly to end at about 55% legality ca. 2014. The visual effect seems to be a more turbulent line for legality of same-sex marriage than any of the other trends, which also seems to be quickly closing on the popular approval trend. Popular approval has preceded legalization by nearly 20 years at certain points, but the trends appear to be closing and may intersect by 2015 or 2016.]<br />
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==Trivia==<br />
* Though rendered ineffective by the 1967 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, the constitutions of South Carolina and Alabama still contained language prohibiting miscegenation until the turn of the century; the language was removed by a majority referendum in 1998 for South Carolina and in 2000 for Alabama.<br />
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{{comic discussion}}<br />
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[[Category:Diagram]]</div>Trapickihttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1401:_New&diff=725241401: New2014-07-30T07:17:11Z<p>Trapicki: existance does not exitst -> existence</p>
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<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1401<br />
| date = July 30, 2014<br />
| title = New<br />
| image = new.png<br />
| titletext = The nice thing about headcannnons is that it's really easy to get other people to believe in them.<br />
}}<br />
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==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete}}<br />
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This is a pun on the phrase “new headcanon”. A “headcanon” is a fan's thought imposed on a fictional world, often seen in fanfiction. Something that is 'canon' exists in the author's actual world; for example, a romantic pairing that is in the text or script of the fiction. A headcanon, then, is a fan thinking "these two characters, who are NOT together in the text, should totally be together." These ideas are notoriously contagious("It's really easy to get other people to believe in them."), and sometimes return to the author, who may decide to canonize them.<br />
Randall's pun, adds an N and turns the imposed idea into a miniature cannon (a projectile weapon) attached to the head (which would be very easy to get people to believe in for other reasons).<br />
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The title text refers to the challenge of getting others to believe in, or accept, another's headcanon. Randall is implying that shooting a cannon at someone is enough evidence to believe in the cannon's existence.<br />
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==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript}}<br />
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{{comic discussion}}</div>Trapicki