explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

2333: COVID Risk Chart

2020-07-16T05:56:02Z

108.162.215.190: um what? this is definitely not a reference to this

{{comic
| number = 2333
| date = July 15, 2020
| title = COVID Risk Chart
| image = covid_risk_chart.png
| titletext = First prize is a free ticket to the kissing booth.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by THE WINNER OF A TEST-TUBE EATING CONTEST. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
This comic is a graph showing the risk of COVID-19 infection of numerous activities on the horizontal axis, while showing the other (ie. safety) risks of the activity on the vertical axis. The activities are also color coded green, yellow, orange, or red, presumably indicating whether engaging in them is a good idea. All the activities are green in the upper left corner (no COVID-19 danger and no other dangers), but change to yellow, orange, and red as you go right or down. This presentation and color progression is similar to a common presentation of a {{w|risk matrix}}.

The top of the graph contains activities that people are likely to engage in during the pandemic, beginning (from left to right) with staying at home, hanging out with friends at the park, grocery shopping, attending in-person classes, and singing in church. The first few activities are common and not very dangerous (colored green and yellow), but the last two come with significant risks of infection due to COVID-19 (they are colored orange and red). Lower on the graph the activities become more and more dangerous (though these dangers are not related to COVID-19, i.e.: they are non-covid risks) and then non-sensical, a trend often seen in XKCD comics. Some activities are grouped together, being variations of the same thing (such as going down a waterslide, going down a waterslide with a stranger, and going down a waterside on an electric scooter).The last row contains extremely dangerous activities such as (from left to right, or from low COVID-19 danger to high) bungee jumping while doing sword tricks, going down a waterslide on an electric scooter, (participating in an) axe catching contest, racing a scooter through a hospital with a mask over your eyes, and winning a test-tube-eating contest at a COVID testing lab. All these activities are likely to result in undesirable outcomes.

Part of the humor comes from the increasing ridiculousness of the "red" activities, some of which are unlikely combinations or escalations of other less-risky activities (e.g. renting an electric scooter is a "green" activity, but riding that scooter with a stranger carries more risk, and then still more from racing that scooter through a hospital, with or without a mask).

This comic strip is similar in presentation to [[2282: Coronavirus Worries]].

The '''title text''' suggests a ticket to "the" kissing booth as a prize. (Presumably, the kissing booth mentioned in the comic, "a kissing booth at a COVID testing site"). A kissing booth, is a kind of sideshow sometimes seen at carnivals, where members of the public can pay a small fee to kiss someone, usually an attractive woman. Winning a ticket would normally be positively received. However, since kissing is a very high risk activity for COVID-19 transmission, it would now be perceived as a kind of punishment.

=== Green (low risk) ===

The lowest-risk category of activities has very low COVID risk and also very low non-COVID risk.

;Staying home
:The lowest-risk activity of all, as long as the home itself is safe, and your family members do not have COVID-19.
;Video chats
:Video chatting carries a slightly higher non-COVID risk than simply staying at home, because you might get into an upsetting argument or accidentally expose something embarrassing. As long as the person you're chatting with is not within your personal space, the risk of catching COVID from them is still zero.
;Hanging out with friends in the park
:Physically interacting with others creates an increased risk COVID transmission, but the major risk of transmission seems to come from sharing enclosed spaces, not the outdoors, and as long as everyone keeps to themselves, they can still safely enjoy the social interaction (as long as [[2330: Acceptable Risk|they aren't prone to overthinking everyday decisions]]).
;Going for walks
:Going for walks carries very little COVID risk as long as you stay by yourself. It is slightly more dangerous than staying home though, as you might fall or hurt yourself in some way.

;Hanging out with friends on the beach
:This has a similar COVID risk as hanging out with friends in the park, but has slightly more safety concerns due to possible unpleasant encounters with crabs, jellyfish, and other ocean-going animals[cetacean needed] as well as the risks posed by extended UV exposure. There are also negligible risks of tsunamis, shark attacks, and encounters with other rare and deadly animals[cetacean needed].
;Riding an electric scooter
:Electric scooters are scooters powered by electricity. They have increased in popularity recently, representing a form of lightweight transportation. If done by one’s self, riding one has essentially no risk of coronavirus, but it is relatively easy to injure one’s self when riding an electric scooter. Electric scooters have already been mentioned in [[E Scooters]].
;Renting an electric scooter
:This has a slightly higher COVID risk than riding your own scooter, as a previous renter could have left traces of the virus on the handle bars. In terms of general safety, it is the equivalent of riding your own scooter.
;Going down a waterslide
Waterslides are common attractions at water parks. They are simply slides made faster by running water down them. They are not extremely dangerous, though it is definitely possible to injure yourself on one. The COVID risk is near zero if the slide belongs to you and you are using it by yourself.

=== Yellow (medium risk) ===

;Grocery shopping
:Going shopping for groceries involves entering a building in which others are present, including many workers who are present for hours-long shifts. The risk of catching COVID can be reduced by wearing face masks, barriers between staff areas and customer areas, and limiting customer densities.
;Grocery shopping while hungry
:Shopping for groceries ''while hungry'' does not carry any greater risk of catching COVID, but it is said to have a slightly increased non-COVID risk because people who go shopping while hungry tend to buy foods that are more expensive and less healthy. (Be advised that a study that popularized this "common sense" result [https://media.jamanetwork.com/news-item/jama-network-retracts-6-articles-that-included-dr-brian-wansink-as-author/ has been retracted] due to academic misconduct by its author, {{w|Brian Wansink}}.)

;Grocery shoplifting
:Shoplifting means stealing, so this activity is stealing groceries. It would expose you to the same amount of COVID risk as regular grocery shopping, but might get you hurt by falling and crashing into stands, and might get you arrested. While this activity is not very risky and is colored yellow, it is probably not a good idea.
;Riding a single rental scooter with a stranger
:This is a bad idea, as most rental scooters are designed for only one person. It would also expose you to a stranger, who might have COVID. The safety concern of riding with two people on a one person scooter is not reflected in the comic.
;Going down a waterslide with a stranger
:This carries the same risks as going down a waterslide by yourself (as long as the waterslide is designed for two people), but exposes you to a stranger who could have COVID.
;Getting in a stranger’s car
:This can potentially be risky because driving is dangerous, and because murders have occurred in the past when people hitchhike. Getting into a stranger’s car would also expose you COVID, if they are carrying the virus. A car is a confined space, which is generally considered particularly bad from a COVID perspective.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
[This comic is a graph plotting the safety risk of activities on the vertical axis and the risk of infection from COVID-19 on the horizontal axis. Lowest risks are in the upper left corner, and highest in the lower right. All activities are color coded green, yellow, orange, or red. A two way arrow labeled “non-COVID risk” points up and down to "high" and "low" labels on the left side of the graph. Another two way arrow labeled “COVID risk” points left and right to "high" and "low" labels on the top of the graph.
From left to right and top to bottom:]
:Staying home & Video chats, Hanging out with friends at the park, Grocery shopping, Attending in-person classes, Singing in church
:Going for walks, Hanging out with friends on the beach, Grocery shopping while hungry, Attending online classes while in class at a different school, Going to a restaurant
:Riding an electric scooter, Renting an electric scooter, Grocery shoplifting & Riding a single rental scooter with a stranger, Getting a dental cleaning & Going on a tinder date, Going to a bar & Going to a party & Hosting a party & Going on a cruise
:Going down a waterslide, Going down a waterslide with a stranger, Getting in a stranger’s car, Getting a dental cleaning from a tinder date, Opening a kissing booth at a COVID testing site
:Playing lawn darts, Climbing a waterslide with a stranger, Getting in a stranger’s car uninvited, Doing skateboard tricks in a hospital, Doing skateboard tricks in a bar
:Doing skateboard tricks, Riding a conveyor belt through the TSA x-ray machine, Axe throwing contest, Racing a scooter through a hospital with a mask on & Racing a scooter through a hospital without a mask, Skateboarding into a mosh pit on a cruise ship & Getting a COVID test from a stranger at a crowded bar
:Setting off fireworks in your car, Running and sliding headfirst into the pins at a bowling alley, Stealing a stranger’s car, Racing a scooter through a hospital with a mask on & Racing a scooter through a hospital without a mask [extends from previous row], Skateboarding into a mosh pit on a cruise ship & Getting a COVID test from a stranger at a crowded bar
:Bungee jumping while doing sword tricks, Going down a waterslide on an electric scooter, Setting off fireworks in a stranger’s car & Axe catching contest, Racing a scooter through a hospital with a mask over your eyes, Winning a test-tube-eating contest at a COVID testing lab

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Charts]]
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:COVID-19]]

2332: Cursed Chair

2020-07-13T22:59:42Z

108.162.215.190:

{{comic
| number = 2332
| date = July 14, 2020
| title = Cursed Chair
| image = cursed_chair.png
| titletext = The Wirecutter staff called the Herman Miller Siege Perilous "the most cursed product we've ever had to fight" and "nearly as immortal as it boasts."
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by HERMAN MILLER. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

{{comic discussion}}

2181: Inbox

2019-07-26T23:44:55Z

108.162.215.190: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2181
| date = July 26, 2019
| title = Inbox
| image = inbox.png
| titletext = Rome's declaration of war against Carthage was sent from a no-reply address, so Hannibal had to cross the Alps to deliver his "UNSUBSCRIBE" response in person.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by an ANCIENT ROMAN. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

{{w|Email}} differs from "snail" mail, in that it usually demands a reply. And replying to an email, may lead to another email response, thus leading to a "loop" of constant replies and responses.

The {{w|ancient Romans}} are one of the model historical societies, well revered for their culture and life. A common misconception is that Romans did not have a concept of the number Zero. The Romans were aware of the concept of zero, but there is no {{w|Numeral}} for 0 in the {{w|Roman Numeral}} system, as Roman numerals do not have place values like Arabic numerals. A value of ten or greater requires Arabic numerals to represent each lesser individually, with 0 serving as a placeholder digit for empty place values. Roman numerals do not have such a placeholder digit, and so did not have a numeral for zero; the word ''nulla'' was used to refer to "zero" in the sense of "nothing". Various sources indicate that this eventually gave use to '''N''' as a Roman numeral for "zero", and such is the case for modern users of Roman numerals.

Megan plays on this misconception by claiming that they were able to accomplish a lot because they did not have the Inbox Zero philosophy. [https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/inbox-zero Inbox Zero] is a recent organizational approach to email inbox management, with the idea that an inbox should be empty or as close to empty as possible. This would involve replying to all incoming emails immediately, and then filing them away when replied to. If the receiver also implements Inbox Zero, conversations never stop. As Megan mentions in the comic, this could lead to a lot of work if you receive a lot of daily emails.

Megan implies that because ancient Romans did not have a zero, they had no concept of Inbox Zero; thus, they did not need to waste time replying to email, and there for could accomplish more. This is of course redundant, as email did not exist at the time. {{Citation needed}}

The title text refers to {{w|Hannibal's crossing of the Alps}}, a famous military campaign by Hannibal against the Romans. Randall claims that Hannibal needed to invade Rome to tell them to stop sending him so many emails. The reason for this was that Rome's email was sent from a "[https://www.mailjet.com/blog/news/the-noreply-dilemma-going-from-no-to-yes/ no-reply]" email address, so Hannibal had no way of replying and had to tell them in person.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

[Megan and Cueball are sitting at a desk, facing each other, each working on their laptop computers.]
:Megan: Answering email is the worst. It just leads to getting more email.
:Cueball: Yeah, email is a trap.

[Beat panel.]

[Megan looks up from her work on the computer.]
:Megan: I bet the reason the Ancient Romans got so much done was that they had no concept of Inbox Zero.
:Cueball: ''That'' explains it.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Computers]]

2180: Spreadsheets

2019-07-25T18:04:46Z

108.162.215.190: /* Explanation */ ce

{{comic
| number = 2180
| date = July 24, 2019
| title = Spreadsheets
| image = spreadsheets.png
| titletext = My brother once asked me if there was a function to produce a calendar grid from a list of dates in Google Sheets. I replied with a single-cell formula that took in a list of dates and outputted a calendar. It used SEQUENCE(), REGEXMATCH(), and a double-nested ARRAYFORMULA(), and it locked up the browser for 15 seconds every time it ran. I think he learned a lot about asking me things.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a REGEXREPLACE(). Need to explain the Google Sheets fucntions. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
Cueball is doing some task on his computer, with an {{w|Shoulder angel|angel and devil on both sides of him}}, trying to influence his work. The angel is telling him to do things the "right" way, while the devil is telling him to do his work using a {{w|spreadsheet}}, which is considered to be a shortcut or a hack.

Although it is not clear from the cartoon that this is meant, the "right" alternative to using a spreadsheet for some task usually involves a database.

The punch line comes when the angel becomes so intrigued by the functions that can be accomplished by spreadsheets, Google Sheets in particular, that it gives up trying to dissuade Cueball, and asks for more information from the devil.

In the title text, Randall mentions a time when he created a calendar grid in Google Sheets using a list of dates. This is described as being done in a "single-cell formula", and taking a long time to run. This shows the power and complexity of spreadsheets. The procedure taking a long time to run, and freezing up the computer for 15 seconds every time it ran, was probably not what Randall's brother had in mind when he requested help. His brother learned he might need to be wary about what he gets back when asking Randall for assistance.

All functions mentioned in this comic can be found in {{w|Google Sheets}}, but similar functions can be found in most modern spreadsheet applications.

REGEXREPLACE(text, regular_expression, replacement)

ARRAYFORMULA(array_formula)

QUERY(data, query, [headers])

IMPORTHTML(url, query, index)

SEQUENCE(rows, columns, start, step)

REGEXMATCH(text, regular_expression)

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

[Cueball is at his computer. In the air on either side of him are an angel version of Cueball, with a halo and wings, and a devil version of Cueball, with horns and a pitchfork.]
[The angel's dialogue appears in regular print, while the devil's dialogue appears in white print in black speech balloons.]
:Angel: Don't use a spreadsheet! Do it '''''right'''''.
:Devil: But a spreadsheet would be so ''easy''.
:Angel: In the long run you'll regret it!

[Closeup on Cueball, the angel, and the devil.]
:Angel: Take the time to write ''real'' code.
:Devil: Just paste the data! Tinker until it works!
:Devil: Build a labyrinth of REGEXREPLACE() and ARRAYFORMULA()!
:Devil: ''Feel the power!''

[Closeup on the devil.]
:Angel (off-panel): Fight the temptation!
:Devil: Ever tried QUERY() in Google Sheets? It lets you treat a block of cells like a database and run SQL queries on them.

[Another shot of Cueball at his computer with the angel and devil at either side.]
:Angel: Don't listen to--
:Angel: ... wait, really?
:Devil: Yes, and let me tell you about IMPORTHTML() ...
:Angel: ''Oooh...''

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Computers]]

2180: Spreadsheets

2019-07-24T23:32:22Z

108.162.215.190: /* Explanation */ whoops, duplicated

{{comic
| number = 2180
| date = July 24, 2019
| title = Spreadsheets
| image = spreadsheets.png
| titletext = My brother once asked me if there was a function to produce a calendar grid from a list of dates in Google Sheets. I replied with a single-cell formula that took in a list of dates and outputted a calendar. It used SEQUENCE(), REGEXMATCH(), and a double-nested ARRAYFORMULA(), and it locked up the browser for 15 seconds every time it ran. I think he learned a lot about asking me things.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a REGEXREPLACE(). Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
Cueball is doing some task on his computer, with a {{w|Shoulder angel|angel and devil on both sides of him}}, trying to influence his work. The angel is telling him to do things the "right" way, while the devil is telling him to do his work using a {{w|spreadsheet}}, which is considered to be a shortcut or a hack.

The punch line comes when the angel becomes so intrigued by the functions that can be accomplished by spreadsheets, Google Sheets in particular, that it gives up trying to dissuade Cueball, and asks for more information from the devil.

In the title text, Randall mentions a time when he created a calendar grid in Google Sheets using a list of dates. This is described as being done in a "single-cell formula", and taking a long time to run. This shows the power and complexity of spreadsheets, scaring his brother from asking him any further computing questions.

All functions mentioned in this comic can be found in {{w|Google Sheets}}, but similar functions can be found in most modern spreadsheet applications.

REGEXREPLACE(text, regular_expression, replacement)

ARRAYFORMULA(array_formula)

QUERY(data, query, [headers])

IMPORTHTML(url, query, index)

SEQUENCE()

REGEXMATCH()

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

[Cueball is at his computer. In the air on either side of him are an angel version of Cueball, with a halo and wings, and a devil version of Cueball, with horns and a pitchfork.]
[The angel's dialogue appears in regular print, while the devil's dialogue appears in white print in black speech balloons.]
:Angel: Don't use a spreadsheet! Do it '''''right'''''.
:Devil: But a spreadsheet would be so ''easy''.
:Angel: In the long run you'll regret it!

[Closeup on Cueball, the angel, and the devil.]
:Angel: Take the time to write ''real'' code.
:Devil: Just paste the data! Tinker until it works!
:Devil: Build a labyrinth of REGEXREPLACE() and ARRAYFORMULA()!
:Devil: ''Feel the power!''

[Closeup on the devil.]
:Angel (off-panel): Fight the temptation!
:Devil: Ever tried QUERY() in Google Sheets? It lets you treat a block of cells like a database and run SQL queries on them.

[Another shot of Cueball at his computer with the angel and devil at either side.]
:Angel: Don't listen to--
:Angel: ... wait, really?
:Devil: Yes, and let me tell you about IMPORTHTML() ...
:Angel: ''Oooh...''

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Computers]]

Talk:2179: NWS Warnings

2019-07-23T00:33:33Z

108.162.215.190: /* Transcript */ new section

== Transcript ==

I tried to start one, but it's going to be hard to do the list of warnings right.--[[Special:Contributions/108.162.215.190|108.162.215.190]] 00:33, 23 July 2019 (UTC)

2179: NWS Warnings

2019-07-23T00:27:29Z

108.162.215.190: /* Transcript */

{{comic
| number = 2179
| date = July 23, 2019
| title = NWS Warnings
| image = nws_warnings.png
| titletext = Kind of rude of them to simultaneously issue an EVACUATION - IMMEDIATE alert, a SHELTER IN PLACE alert, and a 911 TELEPHONE OUTAGE alert.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|First human-made explanation. Not complete or final. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

The [[wiki:National Weather Service|National Weather Service]] is a United States Federal Agency that is known for issuing national weather forecasts and extreme weather alerts.

This comic portrays the NWS as a person that needs breaks, which is absurd, as it an important service and would probably always have staff active, even on holidays.

Regardless, the NWS has decided to take a break, and so has opted to issue every extreme weather alert possible for the entire country to make sure one is caught by surprise by extreme weather, since the NWS will not be able to issue warnings.
The title text mentions how some weather requires action to get to safety that contradicts itself, for example, an evacuation warning and a shelter in place order, since doing one would mean failing the other.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
Alert: Everyone Just Keep An Eye Out In General

[Drawing of the US mainland, with lots of overlaying colors.]

When the National Weather Service needs to take a day off, they just issue warnings for everything so no one is caught by surprise.
{{comic discussion}}

2179: NWS Warnings

2019-07-23T00:26:53Z

108.162.215.190: /* Transcript */

{{comic
| number = 2179
| date = July 23, 2019
| title = NWS Warnings
| image = nws_warnings.png
| titletext = Kind of rude of them to simultaneously issue an EVACUATION - IMMEDIATE alert, a SHELTER IN PLACE alert, and a 911 TELEPHONE OUTAGE alert.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|First human-made explanation. Not complete or final. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

The [[wiki:National Weather Service|National Weather Service]] is a United States Federal Agency that is known for issuing national weather forecasts and extreme weather alerts.

This comic portrays the NWS as a person that needs breaks, which is absurd, as it an important service and would probably always have staff active, even on holidays.

Regardless, the NWS has decided to take a break, and so has opted to issue every extreme weather alert possible for the entire country to make sure one is caught by surprise by extreme weather, since the NWS will not be able to issue warnings.
The title text mentions how some weather requires action to get to safety that contradicts itself, for example, an evacuation warning and a shelter in place order, since doing one would mean failing the other.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
Alert: Everyone Just Keep An Eye Out In General
[Drawing of the US mainland, with lots of overlaying colors.]
When the National Weather Service needs to take a day off, they just issue warnings for everything so no one is caught by surprise.
{{comic discussion}}

980: Money/Prices in tables

2019-07-22T05:52:59Z

108.162.215.190: /* Millions */

__NOTOC__
Below are five tables listing the prices of the items in [[980: Money]].

{{incomplete| Many items are missing from the Billions section. If you can organize the Millions, Billions and Trillions sections please do. Also we need someone to double-check the values.}}
==Dollars==
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
{| class="wikitable"
! Category
! Item
! Price
|-
! rowspan="5"|Dollar bills
|-
| $1 Bill
| $1
|-
| $10 Bill
| $10
|-
| $500 Bill (William McKinley, discontinued)
| $500
|-
| $1000 Bill (Grover Cleveland, discontinued)
| $1000
|-
! rowspan="3"|Fruit
|-
| Apples (one dozen)
| $5.68
|-
| Oranges (one dozen)
| $3.08
|-
! rowspan="3"|Fast Food
|-
| Dollar menu item
| $1.00
|-
| Starbucks Coffee
| $2.00
|-
! rowspan="3"|Average US Restaurant Meals
|-
| Average single US restaurant meal
| $35.65
|-
| Average meal at the 20 costliest San Francisco restaurants
| $85.27
|-
! rowspan="7"|Dinner for four
|-
| Homemade rice and pinto beans
| $9.26 (With time cost of two hours of shopping, travel, prep and cleanup: $41.80)
|-
| Homemade chicken dinner
| $13.78 (With time cost of two hours of shopping, travel, prep and cleanup: $46.32)
|-
| McDonalds
| $27.89 (With time cost of 30 minutes travel: $36.03)
|-
| Arby’s
| $34.00 (With time cost of 30 minutes travel: $42.13)
|-
| Chili’s
| $69.64 (With time cost of 30 minutes travel: $77.78)
|-
| Outback Steakhouse
| $109.82 (With time cost of 30 minutes travel: $117.96)
|-
! rowspan="2"|Vehicles
|-
| Low-end bicycle
| $190
|-
! rowspan="2"|Clothes
|-
| Men's suit
| $400
|-
! rowspan="2"|Debt
|-
| Daily interest on average credit card debt
| $5.63
|-
! rowspan="4"|Daily income
|-
| Median household daily income
| $136.28
|-
| Taxes
| $32.16
|-
| After-tax
| $104.12
|-
! rowspan="4"|Game Consoles
|-
| PS3
| $250
|-
| Xbox 360
| $200
|-
| Wii
| $150
|-
! rowspan="9"|Electronics
|-
| Kindle Fire
| $199
|-
| Basic iPad
| $499
|-
| iPad + 3G + a year of data
| $869
|-
| Basic Macbook Air
| $999
|-
| Netbook
| $249.99
|-
| iPod Nano
| $129
|-
| Mac Mini
| $599
|-
| Comcast cable internet for a year ($59.99/month) || $719.88
|-
! rowspan="7"|Books
|-
| Paperback book
| $6.80
|-
| Hardcover book
| $32.27
|-
| Audio book
| $50.42
|-
| [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I15SB16/ref=r_kdia_h_i_gl Kindle]
| $79.00
|-
| New video game
| $49.99
|-
| Kindle keyboard + 3G
| $139
|-
! rowspan="6"|Loose change
|-
| Loose change per pound
| $12.80
|-
| Loose change with no quarters
| $5.40
|-
| One-gallon jug of loose change
| $270
|-
| Loose change with no pennies
| $17.40
|-
| Annual value of pennies received in change (at one daily cash purchase)
| $7.30
|-
! rowspan="7"|Pet ownership (Based on ASPCA estimations)
|-
| Annual cost of rabbit ownership
| $730
|-
| Annual cost of dog ownership
| $695
|-
| Annual cost of cat ownership
| $670
|-
| Annual cost of fish ownership
| $35
|-
| Annual cost of bird ownership
| $200
|-
| Annual cost of small mammal ownership
| $300
|-
! rowspan="3"|Cell phone bill
|-
| Traditional cell phone average annual bill
| $928.30
|-
| Smartphone average annual bill
| $1,320
|-
! rowspan="5"|Worker/CEO comparison
|-
| 1965 production worker average hourly wage
| $19.61
|-
| 2007 production worker average hourly wage
| $19.71
|-
| Typical 1965 CEO pay for the same period
| $490.31
|-
| Typical 2007 CEO pay for the same period
| $5419.97
|}
</div>

==Thousands==
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
{| class="wikitable"
! Category
! Item
! Price
|-
! rowspan="6"|Typical household net worth by head of household’s age in 1984
|-
| <35 years
| $11,680
|-
| 35-44 years
| $72,090
|-
| 45-54 years
| $115,060
|-
| 55-64 years
| $149,240
|-
| >65 years
| $122,100
|-
! rowspan="6"|Typical household net worth by head of household’s age in 2009
|-
| <35 years
| $3,710
|-
| 35-44 years
| $40,140
|-
| 45-54 years
| $103,040
|-
| 55-64 years
| $164,270
|-
| >65 years
| $172,820
|-
! rowspan="4"|Raising a child to age 17
|-
| Upper income
| $302,860
|-
| Middle income
| $206,920
|-
| Lower income
| $150,380
|-
!rowspan="5"|Vacations
|-
| All-inclusive one-week trip for two to St. Lucia resort from New England (incl. flights)
| $3,204
|-
| Twenty week-long Hawaiian vacations
| $136,020
|-
| Typical week-long Hawaii trip for two from US West Coast (incl. flights)
| $6,801
|-
| Typical weekend Hawaii trip for two from US West Coast incl. flights)
| $2,863
|-
!rowspan="5"|School Prices
|-
| Estimated one-year Hogwarts cost (incl. tuition)
| $43,000
|-
| Seven-year Hogwarts degree
| $301,000
|-
| Average community college tuition
| $10,340 (One year $2,580)
|-
| Average in-state university tuition
| $28,920 (One year $7,230)
|-
!rowspan="8"|Income per capita (2005)
|-
| United States 2005 per capita income
| $32,360
|-
| Switzerland 2005 per capita income
| $29,910
|-
| Germany 2005 per capita income
| $27,550
|-
| UK 2005 per capita income
| $23,240
|-
| France 2005 per capita income
| $16,400
|-
| China 2005 per capita income
| $3,540
|-
| Brazil 2005 per capita income
| $5,540
|-
!rowspan="3"|Houses
|-
| Small rural house
| $100,000
|-
| Typical new home
| $224,910
|-
!rowspan="3"|Health
|-
| Average individual health insurance annual premium
| $5,430
|-
| Cancer treatment including chemo
| $117,260
|-
!rowspan="8"|Annual Household Costs
|-
| A daily pack of cigarettes for a year (NJ)
| $3,050
|-
| One Starbucks latte per day
| $1,820
|-
| Average smartphone annual cost
| $1,320
|-
| Annual cost of car ownership
| $3,650
|-
| Typical annual household food spending
| $5,650
|-
| Average household CC debt
| $9,960
|-
| Annual cost to carry that debt
| $2,090
|-
!rowspan="13"|Typical annual housing cost for various cities (based on military's Basic Allowance for Housing for an E1 servicemember with no dependents)
|-
| NYC
| $25,416
|-
| San Francisco
| $21,888
|-
| Boston
| $18,216
|-
| Los Angeles
| $17,640
|-
| Washington DC
| $16,380
|-
| Chicago
| $13,664
|-
| Worcester
| $12,456
|-
| Houston
| $11,888
|-
| Minneapolis
| $10,908
|-
| Detroit
| $10,080
|-
| Salt Lake City
| $9,108
|-
| Scranton
| $8,604
|-
!rowspan="4"|Prince William and Kate Middleton's Wedding
|-
| Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding cake
| $78,000
|-
| Kate Middleton's wedding dress
| $350,000
|-
| Flower cost for Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding
| $800,000
|-
!rowspan="10"|Value of an investment of $1,000/year
(NOT changing with inflation) for 30 years at 5% annual interest
|-
| 1 year
| $1,000
|-
| 5 years
| $5,526
|-
| 10 years
| $12,850
|-
| 15 years
| $21,580
|-
| 20 years
| $33,070
|-
| 25 years
| $47,730
|-
| 30 years
| $66,440
|-
| 30 years ($30,000 saved in mattress)
| $30,000
|-
| 30 years ($1,000/yr at a 4% real return (long-term stock + dividend average)
| $56,080
|-
!rowspan="3"|Value of investment (accounting for inflation)
|-
| 30 years
| $27,370
|-
| 30 years ($30,000 saved in mattress)
| $12,360
|-
!rowspan="4"|Average Vehicle Costs
|-
| Average used car
| $8,910
|-
| Average new car
| $27,230
|-
| High-end bicycle
| $1,500
|-
!rowspan="15"|Total cost to buy and own selected vehicles for five years
|-
| Honda Insight
| $27,874
|-
| Toyota Prius
| $38,771
|-
| Jeep Patriot
| $35,425
|-
| Honda Fit
| $28,745
|-
| BMW Z4
| $61,312
|-
| Ford Explorer
| $45,524
|-
| Toyota Camry
| $34,697
|-
| smart fortwo
| $29,629
|-
| Honda CR-V
| $35,183
|-
| Chevy Volt
| $42,180
|-
| Hyundai Sonata
| $34,644
|-
| Ford F-150
| $48,734
|-
| Nissan Cube
| $29,383
|-
| Porsche 911
| $91,590
|-
!rowspan="7"|Total cost to buy and own selected vehicles for five years if gas were $10/gallon
|-
| Toyota Prius
| $48,990
|-
| Honda Fit
| $45,233
|-
| Ford Explorer
| $69,076
|-
| smart fortwo
| $45,058
|-
| Chevy Volt
| $50,612
|-
| Ford F-150
| $77,111
|-
!rowspan="8"|Typical annual household income
|-
| Bottom 20%
| $10,200
|-
| Second 20%
| $24,800
|-
| Middle 20%
| $44,400
|-
| Fourth 20%
| $76,100
|-
| Top 10%
| $201,100
|-
| Top 1%
| $822,000
|-
| Top 1/500th
| $2,080,000
|-
!rowspan="6"|Median US household income
|-
| Median US household income
| $51,570
|-
| After-tax
| $39,170
|-
| Taxes
| $12,100
|-
| Total lifetime income from ages 25-65 at $50,000/year after 25% taxes (including Social Security)
| $1,500,000
|-
| Cost per household served by US Rural Utilities Service program to expand broadband access
| $359,790
|-
!rowspan="13"|If I had $1000000 (Cost of the items the singer in "If I had $1000000" would buy in order to win your love: $263,330)
|-
| Furniture
| $21,160
|-
| Plymouth Reliant
| $3,000
|-
| Tree fort
| $15,000
|-
| Llama
| $2,120
|-
| Joseph Merrick's remains
| N/A (Held in Royal London Hospital collection and not available for purchase)
|-
| House
| $224,820
|-
| Tiny fridge
| $99.08
|-
| Gourmet pre-wrapped sausages (2)
| $34.48
|-
| Kraft Dinner (two double servings)
| $3.06
|-
| Expensive ketchup
| $10.75
|-
| Faux fur coat
| $198.00
|-
| Limo ride to the store
| $186.59
|-
!rowspan="5"|Luxuries
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Opulence_Sundae Golden Opulence ice cream sundae]
| $1,000
|-
| Waist deep half-room ball pit
| $2,400
|-
| All 30 bestselling game consoles (refurb, eBay)
| $2,640
|-
| Initial seat on Virgin Galactic suborbital flight
| $200,000
|-
!rowspan="3"|Video Games
|-
| Typing F-U-N-D-S
| $10,000
|-
| Daily sales of [http://www.minecraft.net/ Minecraft]
| $193,500
|}
</div>

==Millions==
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
{| class="wikitable"
! Category
! Item
! Price
|-
! rowspan="3"|Dr. Evil
|-
| Amount Dr. Evil thought he was demanding from the 1997 world
| $6,630,000
|-
| Amount he was actually demanding
| $1,380,000
|-
! rowspan="2"|Video Games
|-
| Minecraft sales by October 2011
| $56,780,000
|-
! rowspan="4"|William and Kate's wedding
|-
| Flowers
| $800,000
|-
| Security
| $20,000,000
|-
| Total cost
| $80,000,000
|-
! rowspan="6"|Human Values
|-
| Amount needed to live comfortably off investments
| $4,090,000
|-
| EPA value of a human life
| $8,120,000
|-
| Six Million Dollar Man (2011 dollars)
| $29,870,000
|-
| 50,000 salary for 40 years after 25% taxes
| $1,500,000
|-
| Lifetime cost to avoid changing your oil by abandoning your car and buying a new one whenever you hit 5.000 miles
| $3,270,000
|-
! rowspan="4"|Corporation Expenses
|-
| 30-second Super Bowl ad slot
| $3,000,000
|-
| Annual cost to run Wikipedia
| $18,500,000
|-
| Loss in NewsCorp value over hacking scandal
| $750,000,000
|-
! rowspan="6"|Vehicles
|-
| Most expensive production car (Bugatti Veyron)
| $2,400,000
|-
| Most expensive car ever sold (1957 Ferrari 250)
| $16,390,000
|-
| Marginal cost to launch one shuttle
| $450,000,000
|-
| Total shuttle program per launch
| $1,451,000,000
|-
| One B-2 bomber
| $2,500,000,000
|-
! rowspan="5"|Structures
|-
| Large city office building
| $100,000,000
|-
| Dubai Fountain
| $224,540,000
|-
| Burj Khalifa
| $1,521,000,000
|-
| New Yankee Stadium
| $1,545,000,000
|-
! rowspan="12"|Rare Items
|-
| Qianlong Chinese vase sold in 2010
| $83,710,000
|-
| Leonardo’s Codex Leicester (bought by Bill Gates)
| $45,930,000
|-
| Estimated value of first-edition Gutenberg Bible
| $34,610,000
|-
| 1933 Double Eagle coin (All destroyed uncirculated save a few stolen from the US Mint)
| $9,330,000
|-
| Treskilling Yellow postage stamp (At $50 billion/lb possibly the world’s most expensive thing by weight)
| $2,780,000
|-
| 1297 Magna Carta original copy signed by Edward I
| $21,890,000
|-
| Painting from The Card Players series (rumor)
| $250,000,000
|-
| Willem de Kooning’s “Woman III” (2006 auction bought by David Geffen)
| $168,780,000
|-
| Jackson Pollock’s “No. 5, 1948” (2006 auction bought by David Geffen)
| $153,440,000
|-
| Airbus A380
| $264,000,000
|-
| Mona Lisa assessed value
| $730,660,000
|-
! rowspan="3"|Bitcoins
|-
| Market value of all Bitcoins as of 11/2011
| $22,819,797
|-
| Market value of all Bitcoins as at July 2011 peak price
| $210,000,000
|-
! rowspan="9"|Millionaires
|-
| Darrell Issa (R-CA) net worth
| $304,000,000
|-
| Jane Harman (D-CA) net worth
| $294,000,000
|-
| John Kerry (D-MA) net worth
| $239,000,000
|-
| Mitt Romney net worth
| $210,000,000
|-
| Jon Huntsman net worth
| $40,000,000
|-
| Average net worth of US senator
| $13,400,000
|-
| Average net worth of US representative
| $4,900,000
|-
| A billionaire
| $1,000,000,000
|-
! rowspan="5"|Per US resident
|-
| $1 per US resident
| $312,620,000
|-
| $1 per US household
| $117,290,000
|-
| $10 from every US resident
| $3,326,200,000
|-
| $10 from every US household
| $1,179,180,000
|-
! rowspan="3"|Raptors
|-
| One F-22 raptor
| $154,500,000
|-
| One velociraptor (25% of Jurassic Park production budget amortized over three velociraptors)
| $1,930,000
|-
! rowspan="8"|Professional rapper net worth
|-
| 50 Cent
| $100,000,000
|-
| 50 Cent (stage name)
| $0.50
|-
| 50 Cent (adjusted for inflation)
| $0.70
|-
| Birdman
| $100,000,000
|-
| Dr Dre
| $125,000,000
|-
| Jay-Z
| $450,000,000
|-
| Diddy
| $475,000,000
|-
! rowspan="3"|J.K. Rowling
|-
| J.K. Rowling
| $1,000,000,000
|-
| J.K. Rowling had she become a rapper (Professional assessment by rapper/geek culture expert MC Frontalot)
| $82,000
|-
! rowspan="4"|Hurricanes
|-
| Annual hurricane forecast R&D funding
| $20,000,000
|-
| Hurricane forecast improvement funding since 1989
| $440,000,000
|-
| Economic savings—during Hurricane Irene alone—due to limiting evacuations made possible by recent forecast advances
| $700,000,000
|}

===Prizes===
{| class="wikitable"
! Amount !! Year !! Show/Movie !! Amount Today
|-
| $64,000
| 1955
| The $64,000 Question
| $528,310
|-
| £1,000,000
| 1998
| Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (UK)
| $2,270,000
|-
| $1,000,000
| 1999
| Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (USA)
| $1,330,000
|-
| $1,000,000
| 1955
| The Millionaire (TV Show)
| $8,250,000
|-
| $1,000,000
| 1931
| The Millionaire (Movie)
| $14,530,000
|}

===Elections===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Person !! Funds raised
|-
| 2012 presidential fundraising || $188,260,000
|-
| Herman Cain || $5,380,000
|-
| Jon Huntsman || $4,510,000
|-
| Michele Bachmann || $9,870,000
|-
| Ron Paul || $12,790,000
|-
| Rick Perry || $17,200,000
|-
| Mitt Romney || $32,610,000
|-
| Barack Obama || $88,420,000
|-
| Other || $17,480,000
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Person !! Funds raised
|-
| 2008 presidential campaign fundraising ||$1,860,390,000
|-
| Excluding candidate Lee L. Mercer, Jr of Houston, who claimed, in his combined FEC filings, || $900,005,507 in fundraising and $900,006,431 in campaign spending.
|-
| Ron Paul || $32,480,000
|-
| John Edwards || $64,410,000
|-
| Rudy Giuliani || $66,520,000
|-
| Mitt Romney || $116,730,000
|-
| Barack Obama ||$799,670,000
|-
| John McCain || $394,280,000
|-
| Hilary Clinton || $259,050,000
|-
| Other || $127,250,000
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Person !! Funds raised
|-
| 2004 presidential campaign fundraising || $1,006,810,000
|-
| Howard Dean || $61,620,000
|-
| Wesley Clark || $34,620,000
|-
| John Edwards || $39,310,000
|-
| John Kerry || $352,090,000
|-
| George W. Bush || $429,660,000
|-
| Other || $89,510,000
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Person !! Funds raised
|-
| 2000 presidential campaign fundraising || $805,120,000
|-
| Pat Buchanan || $37,440,000
|-
| John McCain || $75,180,000
|-
| Bill Bradley || $65,680,000
|-
| Steve Forbes || $114,400,000 *The Money Chart incorrectly reads $11,440,000
|-
| Al Gore || $170,520,000
|-
| George W. Bush || $247,100,000
|-
| Other || $94,800,000
|}

===2010 midterm elections fundraising===

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Party !! Funds raised
|-
| Democrats || $815,000,000
|-
| Republicans || $587,000,000
|}

===2011-2012 Campaign donations by industry===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Industry !! To Democrats (approx) !! To Republicans (approx) !! To Other (approx) !! Total Funds donated
|-
| Finance industry || $47,000,000 || $68,000,000 || $7,000,000 || $122,900,000
|-
| Organized labor || $14,000,000 || $2,000,000 || $2,000,000 || $18,720,000
|-
| Energy industry || $6,000,000 || $21,000,000 || $0 || $26,680,000
|-
| Lawyers and general lobbyists || $39,000,000 || $19,000,000 || $0 || $57,590,000
|-
| Health industry || $19,000,000 || $23,000,000 || $0 || $42,727,000
|-
| Electronics and communication industry || $21,000,000 || $12,000,000 || $7,000,000 || $32,420,000
|}

===Inaugurations===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Thing !! Price
|-
| Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration || $174,100,000
|-
| Festivities (private donors) || $46,400,000
|-
| Federal + state + local government (mainly security) || $127,700,000
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Thing !! Price
|-
| George Bush’s 2005 inauguration || $178,600,000
|-
| Festivities (private donors) || $47,800,000
|-
| Federal + state + local government (mainly security) || $130,800,000
|}

===Past presidential campaign fundraising===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Campaign Year !! Funds raised
|-
| 1996 || $559,810,000
|-
| 1992 || $521,480,000
|-
| 1988 || $606,300,000
|-
| 1984 || $429,860,000
|-
| 1980 || $434,220,000
|-
| 1976 || $664,160,000
|}

===Value of a solid gold toilet (626 lbs) by year===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Value (Approximate)
|-
| 1967 || $2,000,000
|-
| 1968 || $2,000,000
|-
| 1969 || $2,000,000
|-
| 1970 || $2,000,000
|-
| 1971 || $2,000,000
|-
| 1972 || $3,000,000
|-
| 1973 || $4,000,000
|-
| 1974 || $7,000,000
|-
| 1975 || $6,000,000
|-
| 1976 || $4,000,000
|-
| 1977 || $5,000,000
|-
| 1978 || $6,000,000
|-
| 1979 || $9,000,000
|-
| 1980 || $15,000,000
|-
| 1981 || $10,000,000
|-
| 1982 || $8,000,000
|-
| 1983 || $9,000,000
|-
| 1984 || $7,000,000
|-
| 1985 || $6,000,000
|-
| 1986 || $7,000,000
|-
| 1987 || $8,000,000
|-
| 1988 || $7,000,000
|-
| 1989 || $6,000,000
|-
| 1990 || $6,000,000
|-
| 1991 || $5,000,000
|-
| 1992 || $5,000,000
|-
| 1993 || $5,000,000
|-
| 1994 || $5,000,000
|-
| 1995 || $5,000,000
|-
| 1996 || $5,000,000
|-
| 1997 || $4,000,000
|-
| 1998 || $4,000,000
|-
| 1999 || $3,000,000
|-
| 2000 || $3,000,000
|-
| 2001 || $3,000,000
|-
| 2002 || $3,000,000
|-
| 2003 || $4,000,000
|-
| 2004 || $4,000,000
|-
| 2005 || $5,000,000
|-
| 2006 || $6,000,000
|-
| 2007 || $8,000,000
|-
| 2008 || $8,000,000
|-
| 2009 || $10,000,000
|-
| 2010 || $13,000,000
|-
| 2011 || $15,000,000
|}

===Value of a carry-on suitcase full of $100 bills (30,00 ct, 60lbs)===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Value (Approximate)
|-
| 1967 || $20,000,000
|-
| 1968 || $19,000,000
|-
| 1969 || $18,000,000
|-
| 1970 || $17,000,000
|-
| 1971 || $16,000,000
|-
| 1972 || $16,000,000
|-
| 1973 || $15,000,000
|-
| 1974 || $13,000,000
|-
| 1975 || $12,000,000
|-
| 1976 || $12,000,000
|-
| 1977 || $11,000,000
|-
| 1978 || $10,000,000
|-
| 1979 || $9,000,000
|-
| 1980 || $8,000,000
|-
| 1981 || $7,000,000
|-
| 1982 || $7,000,000
|-
| 1983 || $7,000,000
|-
| 1984 || $6,000,000
|-
| 1985 || $6,000,000
|-
| 1986 || $6,000,000
|-
| 1987 || $6,000,000
|-
| 1988 || $6,000,000
|-
| 1989 || $5,000,000
|-
| 1990 || $5,000,000
|-
| 1991 || $5,000,000
|-
| 1992 || $5,000,000
|-
| 1993 || $5,000,000
|-
| 1994 || $4,000,000
|-
| 1995 || $4,000,000
|-
| 1996 || $4,000,000
|-
| 1997 || $4,000,000
|-
| 1998 || $4,000,000
|-
| 1999 || $4,000,000
|-
| 2000 || $4,000,000
|-
| 2001 || $4,000,000
|-
| 2002 || $4,000,000
|-
| 2003 || $4,000,000
|-
| 2004 || $4,000,000
|-
| 2005 || $3,000,000
|-
| 2006 || $3,000,000
|-
| 2007 || $3,000,000
|-
| 2008 || $3,000,000
|-
| 2009 || $3,000,000
|-
| 2010 || $3,000,000
|-
| 2011 || $3,000,000
|}

</div>

==Billions==
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">

===Harry Potter movie franchise total revenue===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Item !! Value
|-
| Harry Potter movie franchise total revenue || $21,000,000,000
|-
| Treasure found in a temple in India in 2011 || $22,000,000,000
|}

===Box office revenue===
Adjusted for monetary inflation but not ticket price inflation
Hilighted [sic]: films that earned more than 2009's ''Avatar''
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Movie !! Revenue !! Highlighted
|-
| 2009 || ''Avatar'' || $783,510,000 ||
|-
| 2008 || ''The Dark Knight'' || $547,520,000 ||
|-
| 2003 || ''Shrek 3'' || $516,610,000 ||
|-
| 1999 || ''The Phantom Menace'' || $572,000,000 ||
|-
| 1997 || ''Titanic'' || $827,260,000 || Yes
|-
| 1994 || ''Lion King'' || $625,810,000 ||
|-
| 1993 || ''Jurassic Park'' || $625,810,000 ||
|-
| 1984 || ''Ghostbusters'' || $507,720,000 ||
|-
| 1983 || ''Return of the Jedi'' || $686,710,000 ||
|-
| 1982 || ''E.T.'' || $996,580,000 || Yes
|-
| 1980 || ''The Empire Strikes Back || $778,530,000 ||
|-
| 1977 || ''Star Wars'' || $1,681,000,000 || Yes
|-
| 1975 || ''Jaws'' || $1,067,510,000 || Yes
|-
| 1973 || ''The Exorcist'' || $1,019,000,000 || Yes
|-
| 1965 || ''The Sound of Music'' || $1,144,920,000 || Yes
|-
| 1962 || ''101 Dalmatians'' || $1,131,310,000 || Yes
|-
| 1960 || ''Ben-Hur'' || $561,090,000 ||
|-
| 1957 || ''The Ten Commandments'' || $532,570,000 ||
|-
| 1943 || ''Bambi'' || $1,391,000,000 || Yes
|-
| 1942 || ''Fantasia'' || $1,146,000,000 || Yes
|-
| 1940 || ''Gone with the Wind'' || $3,157,000,000 || Yes
|-
| 1938 || ''Snow White'' || $2,841,700,000 || Yes
|}

===Charity===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Area !! Amount given
|-
| US annual charitable giving || $294,850,000,000
|-
| To religious organizations || $102,000,000,000
|-
| To educational organizations || $42,240,000,000
|-
| To foundations || $33,450,000,000
|-
| To human services || $26,850,000,000
|-
| To societal benefit organizations || $24,570,000,000
|-
| To health organizations || $23,140,000,000
|-
| To international affairs || $15,980,000,000
|-
| To arts and culture || $13,460,000,000
|-
| To animals and environment || $6,750,000,000
|}
====Type of giving:====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Type !! Amount given
|-
| Individual giving || $214,650,000,000
|-
| Foundation grantmaking || $41,560,000,000
|-
| Bequests || $23,140,000,000
|-
| Corporate giving || $15,500,000,000
|}

===Gates Foundation total giving since 1994===

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Area !! Amount given
|-
| Gates Foundation total giving since 1994 || $25,360,000,000
|-
| Global health || ~$12,000,000,000
|-
| US || ~$4,000,000,000
|-
| Developments || ~$3,000,000,000
|-
| Grants || ~$1,000,000,000
|}

===Book publishing industry revenue===

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Genre !! Revenue
|-
| Book publishing industry revenue || $28,320,000,000
|-
| Romance || $1,380,000,000
|-
| Trade books || $14,130,000,000
|-
| K-12 || $5,570,000,000
|-
| Professional || $3,750,000,000
|-
| Higher education || $4,560,000,000
|}

===Video game industry revenue===

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Area !! Revenue
|-
| Video game industry revenue || $48,900,000,000
|-
| United States || $18,830,000,000
|}

===Education===
{| class= "wikitable sortable"
|-
! Item !! Value
|-
| Student loans outstanding || $955,800,000,000
|-
| Federal student loans || $792,900,000,000
|-
| Defaulted Federal student loans (Private total unknown) || $65,020,000,000
|-
| Private student loans || $163,900,000,000
|-
| Total spending on primary and secondary education in the US || $612,470,000,000
|-
| Teacher Salaries || $295,810,000,000
|-
| Total annual higher education spending in the US || $355,110,000,000
|}

===Harvard University revenue===

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Area !! Revenue
|-
| Tuition, donations, and fees || $1,425,000,000
|-
| Investments || $7,900,000,000
|}

In other words, if Harvard completely eliminated tuition, it would mean roughly a 15% budget cut.

===Education foundations===

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Foundation !! Amount given
|-
| Gates Foundation || $36,700,000,000
|-
| INGKA Foundation || $36,000,000,000
|-
| Howard Hughes Medical Institute || $14,800,000,000
|-
| Ford Foundation || $13,800,000,000
|-
| John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation || $6,100,000,000
|}

===Endowments of the 63 wealthiest universities===

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! University !! Endowments
|-
| Endowments of the 63 wealthiest universities || $277,570,000,000
|-
| Harvard || $32,000,000,000
|-
| Yale || $19,400,000,000
|-
| Princeton || $17,100,000,000
|-
| U of Texas || $16,610,000,000
|-
| Stanford || $16,500,000,000
|-
| MIT || $9,900,000,000
|-
| Columbia || $7,800,000,000
|-
| U of Michigan || $7,800,000,000
|-
| Texas A&M || $7,030,000,000
|-
| Northwestern || $7,030,000,000
|}

===Corporate revenue===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Corporation !! Revenue !! Profit !! Loss
|-
| Walmart || $421,800,000,000 || $16,390,000,000 ||
|-
| ExxonMobil || $354,700,000,000 || $30,460,000,000 ||
|-
| Chevron || $196,300,000,000 || $19,020,000,000 ||
|-
| Fannie Mae || $153,800,000,000 || || $14,010,000,000
|-
| GE || $151,600,000,000 || $11,640,000,000 ||
|-
| Berkshire Hathaway || $136,100,000,000 || $12,970,000,000 ||
|-
| PepsiCo || $57,840,000,000 || $6,320,000,000 ||
|-
| Coca-Cola || $35,840,000,000 || $11,800,000,000 ||
|-
| VISA || $8,100,000,000 || $2,700,000,000 ||
|-
| MasterCard || $5,500,000,000 || $1,850,000,000 ||
|-
| General Motors || $135,600,000,000 || $6,170,000,000 ||
|-
| Ford || $129,000,000,000 || $6,560,000,000 ||
|-
| Chrysler || $44,950,000,000 || || $653,000,000
|-
| AT&T || $124,600,000,000 || $19,860,000,000 ||
|-
| Verizon || $106,560,000,000 || $2,550,000,000 ||
|-
| Bank of America || $134,20,000,000 || || $2,240,000,000
|-
| JP Morgan Chase || $115,480,000,000 || $17,370,000,000 ||
|-
| Citigroup || $111,060,000,000 || $10,600,000,000 ||
|-
| AGI || $104,420,000,000 || $17,370,000,000 ||
|-
| HP || $126,000,000,000 || $8,780,000,000 ||
|-
| Apple || $65,230,000,000 || $14,010,000,000 ||
|-
| Microsoft || $62,480,000,000 || $18,760,000,000 ||
|-
| Google || $29,320,000,000 || $8,510,000,000 ||
|-
| Combined annual profit of the Fortune 500 companies || || $708,600,000,000 ||
|}

===US health care spending===
{| class="wikitable"
! Category
! Item
! Price
|-
! rowspan="5"|US cancer spending
|-
| US spending on lung cancer treatment
| $11,310,000,000
|-
| US spending on tobacco marketing
| $13,600,000,000
|-
| US spending on all cancer treatment
| $106,870,000,000
|-
| US spending on cigarettes
| $91,660,000,000
|-
! rowspan="10"|US health care spending (2005 data)
|-
| Private insurance
| $785,900,000,000
|-
| Out-of-pocket
| $282,260,000,000
|-
| Other private spending
| $79,000,000,000
|-
| Total private spending
| $1,147,050,000,000
|-
| Medicare
| $387,070,000,000
|-
| Medicaid
| $351,980,000,000
|-
| Other government spending
| $219,000,000,000
|-
| Total Government spending
| $958,950,000,000
|-
| Total
| $2,106,000,000,000
|}

===Total annual tax breaks to the five largest oil companies===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Item !! Value
|-
| Combined pay at Wall St. banks and securities firms || $135,000,000,000
|-
| Mobile computing annual sales || $220,000,000,000
|-
| Online spending in 2009 || $251,070,000,000
|-
| NCAA budget || $5,640,000,000
|-
| Total annual tax breaks to the five largest oil companies || $2,100,000,000
|-
| US annual oil and gas subsidies || $41,000,000,000
|-
| Ethanol subsidies || $5,000,000,000
|-
| Combined annual profits of the ten largest health insurance companies || $12,870,000,000
|-
| 2010 lobbying || $3,560,000,000
|-
| 2005 lobbying || $2,750,000,000
|-
| 2000 lobbying || $2,000,000,000
|-
| One B-2 bomber || $2,500,000,000
|}

===US R&D===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Item !! Value
|-
| US annual corporate R&D || $334,490,000,000
|-
| Information technology || $46,560,000,000
|-
| Scientific technical, or professional services || $31,060,000,000
|-
| Manufacturing industries (Unlabelled on the money chart) || $236,151,000,000
|-
| Other || $20,710,000,000
|}

===US GDP===
Combined economic value of all goods and services produced in a year
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Item !! Value
|-
| US GDP || $14,545,950,000,000
|-
| Government || $1,980,640,000,000
|-
| Real estate || $1,925,210,000,000
|-
| Non-rental Real estate || $1,737,500,000,000
|-
| Rental and leasing || $187,610,000,000
|-
| Nondurable goods || $739,300,000,000
|-
| Food, beverage, and tobacco || $212,330,000,000
|-
| Chemicals || $223,050,000,000
|-
| Petroleum and coal || $123,630,000,000
|-
| Apparel || $12,050,000,000
|-
| Paper products || $57,800,000,000
|-
| Plastics and rubber products || $58,410,000,000
|-
| Textile mills || $18,130,000,000
|-
| Printing and related supports || $33,790,000,000
|-
| Durable goods || $898,420,000,000
|-
| Computers and electronics|| $212,640,000,000
|-
| Metal products || $125,590,000,000
|-
| Machinery || $116,110,000,000
|-
| Wood products || $21,530,000,000
|-
| Furniture || $24,930,000,000
|-
| Motor vehicles, trailers, and parts || $80,560,000,000
|-
| Other transportation equipment || $93,440,000,000
|-
| Mineral products || $39,360,000,000
|-
| Metals || $44,710,000,000
|-
| Electrical equipment and components|| $53,260,000,000
|-
| Miscellaneous || $81,390,000,000
|-
| Finance and insurance || $1,207,030,000,000
|-
| Federal Reserve banks and credit intermediaries || $529,540,000,000
|-
| Insurance || $437,340,000,000
|-
| Investments || $180,500,000,000
|-
| Funds and trusts || $59,550,000,000
|-
| Professional and business services || $1,752,750,000,000
|-
| Waste management || $39,870,000,000
|-
| Administrative and support services || $358,110,000,000
|-
| Legal services || $225,830,000,000
|-
| Computer systems design and service || $174,730,000,000
|-
| Corporate management || $253,950,000,000
|-
| Other professional or technical services || $700,250,000,000
|-
| Health and education || $1,294,580,000,000
|-
| Social assistance || $93,750,000,000
|-
| Ambulatory health care services || $529,750,000,000
|-
| Hospitals || $466,390,000,000
|-
| Educational services || $159,580,000,000
|-
| Utilities || $276,210,000,000
|-
| Other services || $345,540,000,000
|-
| Construction || $553,750,000,000
|-
| Retail trade || $844,380,000,000
|-
| Wholesale trade || $804,410,000,000
|-
| Mining || $248,080,000,000
|-
| Mining (other than oil and gas) || $50,380,000,000
|-
| Mining support || $51,270,000,000
|-
| Oil and gas || $145,990,000,000
|-
| Agriculture || $137,120,000,000
|-
| Farms || $107,140,000,000
|-
| Forestry, fishing, and related || $30,080,000,000
|-
| Arts and entertainment || $528,620,000,000
|-
| Food service || $285,480,000,000
|-
| Performing arts, sports, and museums || $73,040,000,000
|-
| Amusements, gambling, and general recreation || $73,040,000,000 || This appears to be a mistake by [[Randall]] and should read $58,110,000,000
|-
| Accommodation || $111,990,000,000
|-
| Information || $658,630,000,000
|-
| Broadcasting and telecommunications|| $366,560,000,000
|-
| Information and data processing || $78,300,000,000
|-
| Film, video, and sound recording || $61,610,000,000
|-
| Publishing (including software) || $152,170,000,000
|-
| Transportation and storage || $401,280,000,000
|-
| Warehousing and storage || $40,590,000,000
|-
| Water || $14,730,000,000
|-
| Air || $36,770,000,000 || This appears to be a mistake by [[Randall]] and should read $63,680,000,000
|-
| Rail || $31,730,000,000
|-
| Truck || $116,520,000,000
|-
| Transit and land passenger || $24,110,000,000
|-
| Pipeline || $12,360,000,000
|-
| Other transport) || $97,560,000,000
|-
|}

===Billionaires===
{| class="wikitable"
! Category
! Person
! Networth
! Ten Richest Ranking
|-
! rowspan="14"|Technology
|-
| Carlos Slim Helú and family
| $74,000,000,000
| First
|-
| Bill Gates
| $56,000,000,000
| Second
|-
| Larry Ellison
| $39,500,000,000
| Fifth
|-
| Larry Page
| $19,800,000,000
|
|-
| Sergey Brin
| $19,800,000,000
|
|-
| Jeff Bezos
| $18,000,000,000
|
|-
| Steve Ballmer
| $14,500,000,000
|
|-
| Mark Zuckerberg
| $13,500,000,000
|
|-
| Paul Allen
| $13,500,000,000
|
|-
| Steve Jobs (D)
| $8,300,000,000
|
|-
| Eric Schmidt
| $7,000,000,000
|
|-
| Sean Parker
| $1,600,000,000
|
|-
| Steve Case
| $1,300,000,000
|
|-
! rowspan="9"|Politicians and alleged evil plutocratic puppet masters
|-
| Warren Buffett
| $50,000,000,000
| Third
|-
| Charles Koch
| $22,000,000,000
|
|-
| David Koch
| $22,000,000,000
|
|-
| Michael Bloomberg
| $18,100,000,000
|
|-
| George Soros
| $14,000,000,000
|
|-
| Silvio Berlusconi and family
| $7,800,000,000
|
|-
| Rupert Murdoch
| $7,600,000,000
|
|-
| David Geffen
| $6,000,000,000
|
|-
! rowspan="6"|Uncategorized
|-
| Bernard Arnault
| $41,000,000,000
| Fourth
|-
| Lakshmi Mittal
| $31,100,000,000
| Sixth
|-
| Amancio Ortega
| $31,000,000,000
| Seventh
|-
| Eike Batista
| $30,000,000,000
| Eighth
|-
| Mukesh Ambani
| $27,000,000,000
| Ninth
|-
! rowspan="5"|Walmart
|-
| Christy Walton and family
| $26,500,000,000
| Tenth
|-
| Jim Walton
| $21,300,000,000
|
|-
| Alice Walton
| $21,200,000,000
|
|-
| S. Robson Walton
| $21,000,000,000
|
|-
|-
! rowspan="5"|Fictional (source: ''Forbes'')
|-
| Carlisle Cullen
| $34,500,000,000
|
|-
| Scrooge McDuck
| $33,500,000,000
|
|-
| Bruce Wayne
| $6,500,000,000
|
|-
| Artemis Fowl
| $1,900,000,000
|
|-
! rowspan="4"|Fashion
|-
| Lilianne Bettencourt
| $23,500,000,000
|
|-
| Ralph Lauren
| $5,800,000,000
|
|-
| Ronald Lauder
| $3,100,000,000
|
|-
! rowspan="5"|Art and media
|-
| George Lucas
| $3,200,000,000
|
|-
| Oprah Winfrey
| $3,200,000,000
|
|-
| Five wealthiest rappers combined
| $1,250,000,000
|
|-
| J. K. Rowling
| $1,000,000,000
|
|-
! rowspan="2"|Donald Trump
|-
| Donald Trump
| $2,700,000,000
|
|-
|}

Combined net worth of the world's 1,210 billionaires $4,500,000,000,000

===Corporations===
by market capitalization (combined value of all stock)

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Company !! Value
|-
| Saudi Aramco (State-owned company--estimated market value) || $2,940,000,000,000
|-
| Apple || $358,310,000,000
|-
| ExxonMobil || $357,910,000,000
|-
| PetroChina || $280,160,000,000
|-
| IBM || $211,640,000,000
|-
| Microsoft || $211,340,000,000
|-
| Bank of China || $208,810,000,000
|-
| China Mobile || $201,510,000,000
|-
| Royal Dutch Shell || $199,780,000,000
|-
| Nestle || $193,700,000,000
|-
| Chevron || $188,030,000,000
|-
| Facebook 2011 valuation || $70,000,000,000
|-
| AT&T attempted T-Mobile purchase || $39,000,000,000
|-
| Facebook 2010 valuation || $33,450,000,000
|-
| Zynga 2011 valuation || $14,000,000,000
|-
| LivingSocial 2011 valuation || $2,980,000,000
|}

===Cost to buy the world a coke===

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Item !! Cost
|-
| Cost to buy the world a coke (2011 wholesale prices) || $2,240,000,000
|-
| Coca-Cola's annual marketing budget || $2,980,000,000
|-
| Cost to teach the world to sing (four half-hour lessons at $30 each) || $840,000,000,000
|}

===US household income===

===State government spending===

[map without amounts]

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
| Total US states' debt || $46,000,000,000
|}

====US foreign military aid====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Area !! Amount
|-
| Total || $11,010,000,000
|-
| Afghanistan || $5,800,000,000
|-
| Israel || $2,410,000,000
|-
| Egypt || $1,320,000,000
|-
| Other || $5,800,000,000
|}

====US foreign humanitarian and economic aid====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Area !! Amount
|-
| Total || $11,010,000,000
|-
| Iraq and Afghanistan || $5,370,000,000
|-
| West Bank and Ghana || $1,050,000,000
|-
| Africa (total) || $8,850,000,000
|-
| Other || $19,130,000,000
|}

===Ft. Knox gold reserves===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Item !! Value
|-
| Ft. Knox gold reserves (November 2011 prices) || $245,900,000,000
|-
| Unclaimed US treasury bonds || $16,000,000,000
|-
| All the tea in China || $4,210,000,000
|}

===Corporate tax deduction===

(Note: some of the corporate deductions are very technical, and even with the help of a technical accountant, I had trouble making sense of them. The text below is my best attempt at an English interpretation of the legalese.)

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Area !! Deductions
|-
| Corporate tax deduction || $125,180,000,000
|-
| Reduced tax on first $10 million of corporate income || $3,240,000,000
|-
| Delay of taxes on 'income' made from defaulting on a debt (Temporary stimulus measure) || $21,390,000,000
|-
| Temporary change to equipment depreciation rules allowing more (and sooner) deductions on the purchase of new equipment || $24,390,000,000
|-
| Clean energy, space, science, and tech R&D || $13,900,000,000
|-
| Miscellaneous rules for international corporate finance || $6,800,000,000
|-
| Foreign corporation income financing rules || $13,680,000,000
|}

===Individual tax deductions===
These are types of income, or uses of income, which the government has partly or fully exempt from tax, often to encourage some activity. This can be thought of as "spent" tax revenue, although it's not quite that simple; there's no guarantee that removing the deduction would add that amount of revenue, because the presence of the deduction may be affecting taxpayers' spending habits.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Area !! Deductions
|-
| Small business health insurance|| $1,620,000,000
|-
| Federal employee expenses abroad || $7,910,000,000
|-
| EITC (anti-poverty low-income tax credit) || $78,760,000,000
|-
| Donations to charity || $39,130,000,000
|-
| Capital gains (investment income) || $78,760,000,000
|-
| Pension contributions || $84,940,000,000
|-
| Other || $64,970,000,000
|-
| Employee fringe benefits || $6,690,000,000
|-
| Scholarships || $2,130,000,000
|-
| Property taxes || $15,710,000,000
|-
| Employer-provided transportation || $3,850,000,000
|-
| Retirement accounts || $24,630,000,000
|-
| Cafeteria plans || $26,760,000,000
|-
| State and local bonds || $19,560,000,000
|-
| Company daycare || $3,140,000,000
|-
| College and university tax credits || $12,060,000,000
|-
| Mortgage interest || $92,040,000,000
|-
| Medicare Benefits || $55,850,000,000
|-
| Child care || $55,850,000,000
|-
| Employer health plans || $107,140,000,000
|-
| Making Work Pay (ending) || $60,510,000,000
|-
| First-time homebuyer credit || $8,820,000,000
|-
| Veterans' benefits || $5,570,000,000
|-
| Life insurance benefits || $25,750,000,000
|-
| Capital gains death exclusion || $25,750,000,000
|-
| Social security and railroad retirement || $27,170,000,000
|-
| Home sale capital gains || $15,200,000,000
|}

===Federal spending===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Item !! Value
|-
| Annual Deficit || $1,394,530,000,000
|-
| Additional receipts || $83,230,000,000
|-
| Taxes raised || $2,192,180,000,000
|}

===Disasters===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Disaster !! Estimated Total Damage !! Notes
|-
| Japan 2011 Earthquake || $235,000,000,000 || reconstruction and recovery cost, World Bank estimate
|-
| Hurricane Katrina || $107,440,000,000 ||
|-
| 1988 US Drought || $78,060,000,000 ||
|-
| 1980 US Drought || $60,740,000,000 ||
|-
| Hurricane Andrew || $46,180,000,000 ||
|-
| 9/11 insured losses || $40,000,000,000 || For hurricanes, the rule of thumb is that total losses are roughly double insured losses. It is unclear if a similar rule exist for terrorism.
|-
| Hurricane Ike || $28,170,000,000 ||
|-
| Hurricane Irene || $8,000,000,000 || (estimated)
|}

===Hypothetical disasters===
Estimated total losses if the disaster happened today
(based on insurance industry modeling)
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Disaster !! Estimated Total Losses !! Notes
|-
| 1938 Long Island Express || $236,960,000,000 || if it had curved left and made landfall in New Jersey instead of Long Island
|-
| 1812 New Madrid, Missouri earthquake || $206,050,000,000 ||
|-
| 1926 Miami hurricane || $202,000,000,000 ||
|-
| 1909 San Francisco earthquake || $197,810,000,000 ||
|-
| 1907 Galveston hurricane || $82,420,000,000 ||
|-
| Long Island Express || $78,060,000,000 || (1938 New England Hurricane)
|-
| Charleston SC, quake of 1886 || $76,240,000,000 ||
|-
| 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake || $12,360,000,000 ||
|}

===Cost of electricity===
(Price of electricity to power all US homes for a year, by plant type)
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Plant Type !! Cost !! Notes
|-
|Advance combined cycle natural gas || 78,100,000,000 ||
|-
|Conventional Coal (without societal costs) || 117,340,000,000
|-
| External societal costs from use of that amount of coal power || $226,690,000,000 || Harvard Medical School analysis. Range of possible values was $119b to $342b. Most of the uncertainty was due to potentially lower costs from air pollution or higher ones from climate change.
|-
| Public Health Burden in Appalacia [sic] || $55,400,000,000 ||
|-
| Air pollution from power plants || $118,300,000,000 ||
|-
| Climate Impact || $40,030,000,000 ||
|-
| Advanced coal with carbon capture || $168,590,000,000 ||
|-
| Biomass || $139,250,000,000 || Estimates of climate impact vary wildly Consensus seems to be more than nothing but less than coal.
|-
| Geothermal || $125,880,000,000 ||
|-
| Hydroelectric || $106,940,000,000 ||
|-
| Wind || $120,070,000,000 ||
|-
| Offshore wind || $301,030,000,000 ||
|-
| Solar (photovoltaic) || $260,800,000,000 ||
|-
| Solar (thermal) || $385,940,000,000 ||
|-
| Advanced nuclear || $140,980,000,000 || Little impact on climate/air, but hard to find assessments of meltdown and fuel storage costs/risks. Some past costs shown for perspective.
|}

===Nuclear accidents===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Accident !! Cost !! Notes
|-
| Fukushima meltdown estimated total cost to Japan || $131,100,000,000 || Compare to $128,590,000,000 for deaths from quake/tsunami
|-
| Fukushima cost from 300 extra cancer deaths (EPA conversion) || $2,579,000,000 ||
|-
| Belarus estimated 30-year costs from Chernobyl || $282,350,000,000 ||
|-
| Cost of estimated 42,457 Chernobyl deaths (EPA method) || $344,750,000,000 ||
|}

===BP oil spill claims fund===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Item !! Value
|-
| BP oil spill claims fund || $20,270,000,000
|-
| Total 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami aid from all countries || $15,840,000,000
|-
| Worldwide aid to Somalia since 1991 || $55,000,000,000
|-
| G8/IMF loan pledge to Arab Spring || $73,000,000,000
|-
| Japan's contribution to TEPCO victim fund || $62,000,000,000
|-
| Cost to fund wikipedia at current levels for 100 years || $1,850,000,000
|-
| Cost to provide free yearly tax prep to every US household || $8,450,000,000
|-
| Cost to give every US 18 year-old a free degree at a community college || $46,340,000,000
|-
| Additional cost to fund all US schools at magnet school levels || $46,340,000,000
|-
| Annual cost to send every US child to a university for free || $127,610,000,000
|-
| Cost to buy the Amazon rainforest || $130,000,000,000
|-
| UBS loss from one rogue trader || $2,300,000,000
|-
| DoE loan to CA Valley Solar Ranch Project || $1,200,000,000
|-
| Apple's cash on hand || $76,200,000,000
|}

===New York CIty===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Area !! Combined Property Value
|-
| New York City || $806,490,000,000
|-
| Manhattan || $281,040,000,000
|-
| Queens || $208,180,000,000
|-
| Brooklyn || $201,230,000,000
|-
| Staten Island || $61,230,000,000
|-
| Bronx || $54,660,000,000
|}

===Megaprojects===

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Project !! Cost !! Notes
|-
| National missile defense shield cost through 2013 || $107,690,000,000 ||
|-
| F-22 Raptor program || $67,610,000,000 || halted
|-
| Planned Russian Bering Strait tunnel || $66,000,000,000 ||
|-
| Obama's 2011 high-speed rail proposal || $53,000,000,000 ||
|-
| Cost to build SF-to-LA high-speed rail || $45,000,000,000 ||
|-
| UK Crossrail || $26,490,000,000 ||
|-
| King Abdullah Economic City || $50,020,000,000 || High-speed rail $9,120,000,000
|-
| Hong Kong International airport || $27,120,000,000 ||
|-
| Manhattan Project || $24,400,000,000 ||
|-
| 2nd Avenue NYC subway line || $17,960,000,000 ||
|-
| Big Dig cost || $18,510,000,000 || as of 2008
|-
| Failed Army intelligence-sharing computer system || $2,700,000,000 ||
|-
| Bay Bridge span replacement || $6,300,000,000 ||
|-
| Downtown Dubai project || $20,270,000,000 || Burj Khalifa $1,520,000,000
|-
| Channel Tunnel || $22,960,000,000 ||
|-
| Nimitz-class carrier || $4,930,000,000 ||
|-
| Gerald R. Ford-class carrier || $9,000,000,000 ||
|-
| Amtrak 30-year plan for northeast corridor || $192,000,000,000 || Randall made a mistake here the value represented by the blocks is $117,000,000,000
|-
| City Qatar is building to host the 2022 World Cup || $207,000,000,000 ||
|-
| Apollo moon landing project || $192,000,000,000 ||
|-
| International Space Station || $138,000,000,000 ||
|-
| Space Shuttle program || $194,620,000,000 ||
|-
| US interstate highway system || $465,970,000,000 || The largest single public-works project in the history of mankind
|}

===Federal budget===

===Budget options===
Estimates by the Congressional Budget Office of the effect of various hypothetical policy decisions on annual tax revenue, averaged over the next ten years.
{| class="wikitable"
! Category
! Item
! Price
|-
! rowspan="4"|Cost of existing tax cuts (Loss in annual revenue if tax cuts are made permanent)
|-
| 2001 (Bush) tax cuts
| $158,240,000,000
|-
| 2003 (Bush) capital gains tax cuts
| $27,190,000,000
|-
| 2010 (Obama) payroll tax cut
| $111,700,000,000
|-
! rowspan="4"|Potential new taxes (Increase in annual tax revenue if implimented)
|-
| Raise corporate taxes by one percentage point
| $10,060,000,000
|-
| Legalize marijuana and tax it at levels similar to tobacco
| $7,020,000,000
|-
| Institute tax on CO2 emissions
| $10,060,000,000 (This appears to be a mistake by [[Randall]] and should read $113,000,000,000)
|}

===Stimulus spending===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Item !! Value
|-
| 2008 Total || $205,930,000,000
|-
| Individual tax breaks || $120,110,000,000
|-
| Student loan guarantees || $33,470,000,000
|-
| Business tax breaks || $52,360,000,000
|-
| 2009 Total || $747,950,000,000
|-
| Tax breaks || $307,530,000,000
|-
| Education || $90,460,000,000
|-
| Medicare/Medicaid || $80,500,000,000
|-
| Transportation || $32,560,000,000
|-
| Unemployment || $62,740,000,000
|-
| Infrastructure || $24,000,000,000
|-
| Other spending || $150,160,000,000
|}

===Bailouts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Item !! Value !! Notes
|-
| 1980s-1990 S&L bailout || $78,300,000,000 || total cost to taxpayers
|-
| Cost to FDIC of bank failures || $19,000,000,000 || resulting from the 2008 financial crisis
|-
| TARP bailout funds distributed || $392,980,000,000 || Out of $700,000,000,000 available
|-
| Estimated TARP taxpayer losses || $41,660,000,000 ||
|-
| Value of outstanding TARP assets || $144,440,000 || Randall made a mistake here the chart should read $144,440,000,000
|-
| Bailout funds returned || $206,880,000,000 ||
|-
| Current Eurozone bailout fund || $1,361,700,000,000 ||
|}

===Federal Payments===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Item !! Cost
|-
| Annual improper federal payments comprising fraud, abuse, and poorly-documented payments || $125,400,000,000
|-
| Federal payments to dead retirees || $120,200,000
|-
| NEA-estimated cost to bring all US schools into good repair || $413,300,000,000,000
|-
| Annual economic cost of unmaintained infrastructure || $129,000,000,000
|-
| Estimated direct annual agricultural value of bees || $220,000,000,000
|}

===Military/Security Spending===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Item !! Cost
|-
| Wasted money in Afghanistan/Iraq war contracts || $60,000,000,000
|-
| Reconstruction money reportedly missing || $18,000,000,000
|-
| Total US spending since 2001 to secure borders || $90,000,000,000
|-
| US nuclear arms spending during the Cold War || $2,818,300,000,000
|-
| Ballistic missile submarines || $451,360,000,000
|-
| Ballistic missiles to put on those submarines || $136,690,000,000
|-
| The $87 billion which John Kerry voted for/against || $101,800,000,000
|-
| "Star Wars" missile defence system (1987 Heritage Foundation estimate) || $185,300,000,000
|}

===US Spending on Wars===
Including only direct spending on war operations, and not resulting veterans' benefits or interest on debt incurred.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! War !! Cost
|-
| World War I || $334,000,000,000
|-
| Spanish-American War || $9,030,000,000
|-
| Civil War || $79,740,000,000
|-
| American revolution || $2,410,000,000
|-
| 1812 || $1,550,000,000
|-
| Mexican War || $2,380,000,000
|-
| World War II || $4,104,000,000,000
|-
| Korean War || $341,000,000,000
|-
| Vietnam War || $738,000,000,000
|-
| Persian Gulf War || $102,000,000,000
|-
| Iraq War || $784,000,000,000
|-
| War in Afghanistan || $321,000,000,000
|}

</div>

==Trillions==
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
{| class="wikitable"
! Category
! Item
! Price
|-
! rowspan="6"|Size of derivatives markets by year
|-
| 1988
| $3,090,000,000,000
|-
| 1995
| $26,690,000,000,000
|-
| 2001
| $86,390,000,000,000
|-
| 2005
| $227,260,000,000,000
|-
| 2009
| $439,000,000,000,000
|-
! rowspan="5"|Size of credit default swap market by year (included in derivatives)
|-
| 2001
| $1,150,000,000,000
|-
| 2005
| $19,350,000,000,000
|-
| 2007
| $66,280,000,000,000
|-
| 2009
| $31,350,000,000,000
|-
! rowspan="5"|US household net worth
|-
| US household
| $58,740,000,000,000
|-
| Poorer half
| $1,470,000,000,000
|-
| Richer half
| $57,270,000,000,000
|-
| Richest 1%
| $19,620,000,000,000
|-
! rowspan="6"|Total debt in the US
|-
| Total debt in the US
| $36,560,000,000,000
|-
| State and local government
| $2,500,000,000,000
|-
| Household
| $13,560,000,000,000
|-
| Federal government
| $9,510,000,000,000
|-
| Business
| $10,980,000,000,000
|-
! rowspan="10"|World GDP
|-
| World
| $62,900,000,000,000
|-
| North America
| $17,850,000,000,000
|-
| United States
| $14,530,000,000,000
|-
| South America
| $3,070,000,000,000
|-
| EU
| $16,240,000,000,000
|-
| Europe (incl. Russia and Turkey)
| $20,130,000,000,000
|-
| Africa
| $1,610,000,000,000
|-
| Asia
| $17,530,000,000,000
|-
| Oceania
| $1,310,000,000,000
|-
! rowspan="15"|Total public debt (Note: US figures are from 2011, while the other totals use 2010 debt in 2011 dollars, which is likely an underestimate.)
|-
| EU (total)
| $13,340,000,000,000
|-
| United States
| $10,200,000,000,000 (Plus internal government borrowing of 4,740,000,000,000)
|-
| Japan
| $8,630,000,000,000
|-
| Germany
| $2,480,000,000,000
|-
| Italy
| $2,140,000,000,000
|-
| India
| $2,140,000,000,000
|-
| China
| $1,907,000,000,000
|-
| France
| $1,767,000,000,000
|-
| United Kingdom
| $1,654,000,000,000
|-
| Brazil
| $1,281,000,000,000
|-
| Canada
| $1,130,000,000,000
|-
| Spain
| $834,210,000,000
|-
| Mexico
| $584,860,000,000
|-
| Greece
| $460,180,000,000
|-
! rowspan="4"|World total proven Energy reserves
|-
| Oil
| $131,960,000,000,000 (November 2011 prices)
|-
| Coal
| $72,850,000,000,000 (2011 central Appalachian prices)
|-
| Natural gas
| $21,470,000,000,000 (2011 NYMEX prices)
|-
! rowspan="4"|US Energy Reserves
|-
| Oil
| $20,580,000,000,000
|-
| Coal
| $20,020,000,000,000
|-
| Natural gas
| $930,470,000,000
|-
! rowspan="3"|Value of 10 years of electricity generated if the surface of Texas was converted to:
|-
| Solar power plants
| $89,240,000,000,000
|-
| Wind turbines
| $7,950,000,000,000
|-
! rowspan="4"|All US real estate
|-
| All
| $28,380,000,000,000
|-
| Home
| $23,010,000,000,000
|-
| Commercial (includes stores, apartments, industrial, etc.)
| $5,370,000,000,000
|-
! rowspan="4"|Total ____ so far
|-
| Value of all gold ever mined (late 2011 prices)
| $9,120,000,000,000
|-
| World Total Liquid Assets
| $77,000,000,000,000
|-
| Estimated total economic production of the human race (so far, roughly three-fifths of it since 1980)
| $2,396,950,000,000,000
|}

===GDP by year===
{|class=wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! GDP (total economic activity) the world (minus US) !! GDP (total economic productivity) of the US (minus government) !! US federal government
|-
| 1920 || || ||
|-
| 1930 || || ||
|-
| 1940 || || ||
|-
| 1942 || || || $500,000,000,000
|-
| 1943 || || || $1,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1944 || || || $1,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1945 || || || $1,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1946 || || || $500,000,000,000
|-
| 1947 || || $2,000,000,000,000 || $500,000,000,000
|-
| 1948 || || $2,000,000,000,000 || $500,000,000,000
|-
| 1949 || || $2,000,000,000,000 || $500,000,000,000
|-
| 1950 || || $2,500,000,000,000 || $500,000,000,000
|-
| 1951 || || $2,500,000,000,000 || $500,000,000,000
|-
| 1952 || || $2,500,000,000,000 || $500,000,000,000
|-
| 1953 || || $2,500,000,000,000 || $500,000,000,000
|-
| 1954 || || $2,500,000,000,000 || $500,000,000,000
|-
| 1955 || || $3,000,000,000,000 || $500,000,000,000
|-
| 1956 || || $3,000,000,000,000 || $500,000,000,000
|-
| 1957 || || $3,000,000,000,000 || $500,000,000,000
|-
| 1958 || || $3,000,000,000,000 || $500,000,000,000
|-
| 1959 || || $3,500,000,000,000 || $500,000,000,000
|-
| 1960 || || $3,500,000,000,000 || $500,000,000,000
|-
| 1961 || || $3,500,000,000,000 || $500,000,000,000
|-
| 1962 || || $3,000,000,000,000 || $1,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1963 || || $4,000,000,000,000 || $1,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1964 || || $4,000,000,000,000 || $1,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1965 || || $4,000,000,000,000 || $1,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1966 || || $4,000,000,000,000 || $1,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1967 || || $5,000,000,000,000 || $1,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1968 || || $5,000,000,000,000 || $1,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1969 || || $5,000,000,000,000 || $1,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1970 || || $5,000,000,000,000 || $1,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1971 || || $5,500,000,000,000 || $1,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1972 || || $6,000,000,000,000 || $1,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1973 || || $6,000,000,000,000 || $1,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1974 || || $6,000,000,000,000 || $1,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1975 || || $5,500,000,000,000 || $1,500,000,000,000
|-
| 1976 || || $6,000,000,000,000 || $1,500,000,000,000
|-
| 1977 || || $6,000,000,000,000 || $1,500,000,000,000
|-
| 1978 || || $6,500,000,000,000 || $1,500,000,000,000
|-
| 1979 || || $7,000,000,000,000 || $1,500,000,000,000
|-
| 1980 || $19,000,000,000,000 || $6,500,000,000,000 || $1,500,000,000,000
|-
| 1981 || $19,000,000,000,000 || $6,500,000,000,000 || $1,500,000,000,000
|-
| 1982 || $19,000,000,000,000 || $6,000,000,000,000 || $1,500,000,000,000
|-
| 1983 || $20,000,000,000,000 || $6,000,000,000,000 || $2,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1984 || $20,000,000,000,000 || $7,000,000,000,000 || $2,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1985 || $22,000,000,000,000 || $7,000,000,000,000 || $2,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1986 || $23,000,000,000,000 || $7,000,000,000,000 || $2,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1987 || $23,500,000,000,000 || $7,500,000,000,000 || $2,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1988 || $25,000,000,000,000 || $8,000,000,000,000 || $2,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1989 || $26,000,000,000,000 || $8,000,000,000,000 || $2,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1990 || $27,000,000,000,000 || $8,000,000,000,000 || $2,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1991 || $27,000,000,000,000 || $8,000,000,000,000 || $2,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1992 || $31,000,000,000,000 || $8,000,000,000,000 || $2,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1993 || $32,500,000,000,000 || $8,500,000,000,000 || $2,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1994 || $33,000,000,000,000 || $9,000,000,000,000 || $2,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1995 || $34,000,000,000,000 || $9,000,000,000,000 || $2,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1996 || $34,500,000,000,000 || $9,500,000,000,000 || $2,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1997 || $36,500,000,000,000 || $9,500,000,000,000 || $2,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1998 || $36,500,000,000,000 || $10,500,000,000,000 || $2,000,000,000,000
|-
| 1999 || $37,000,000,000,000 || $10,500,000,000,000 || $2,500,000,000,000
|-
| 2000 || $39,000,000,000,000 || $10,500,000,000,000 || $2,500,000,000,000
|-
| 2001 || $39,000,000,000,000 || $10,500,000,000,000 || $2,500,000,000,000
|-
| 2002 || $41,000,000,000,000 || $10,500,000,000,000 || $2,500,000,000,000
|-
| 2003 || $42,500,000,000,000 || $11,000,000,000,000 || $2,500,000,000,000
|-
| 2004 || $45,000,000,000,000 || $11,500,000,000,000 || $2,500,000,000,000
|-
| 2005 || $46,500,000,000,000 || $11,500,000,000,000 || $3,000,000,000,000
|-
| 2006 || $50,000,000,000,000 || $12,000,000,000,000 || $3,000,000,000,000
|-
| 2007 || $53,000,000,000,000 || $12,000,000,000,000 || $3,000,000,000,000
|-
| 2008 || $57,500,000,000,000 || $11,500,000,000,000 || $3,000,000,000,000
|-
| 2009 || $56,500,000,000,000 || $11,000,000,000,000 || $3,500,000,000,000
|-
| 2010 || $61,000,000,000,000 || $11,500,000,000,000 || $3,500,000,000,000
|-
| 2011 || $64,500,000,000,000 || $11,500,000,000,000 || $4,000,000,000,000
|}
</div>
{{DEFAULTSORT:0980}}

2178: Expiration Date High Score

2019-07-19T17:04:42Z

108.162.215.190: /* Transcript */ add cats

{{comic
| number = 2178
| date = July 19, 2019
| title = Expiration Date High Score
| image = expiration_date_high_score.png
| titletext = "Wait, we've MOVED since 2010. How on Earth did--" "Look, some of us were just born to be champions."
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by someone, born champion. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon. EXP 20190721}}
[[Randall]] is introducing the rules of a game. If you find an item which you purchased, but is now past its {{w|expiration date}}, you get a score which is what percent of your lifetime elapsed between when the item expired and when you found it. Many perishable items, such as food, cosmetics, medications, batteries, or condoms, have expiration dates, or sometimes best by dates. The only other rule is, that it has to be something you have purchased yourself, so that heritages or stuff that was left in the basement when one moved in, does not count.

The joke is, that owning expired items without of noticing for long here is getting you a high score, while in reality it is not considered favourable.{{Citation needed}}

Megan's mom does not have a jar of pickles with a 1978 expiration date because in 1978 jars and cans of food did not have expiration dates. Since then many countries introduced laws and regulations requiring companies to put expiration dates on perishable goods. In some instances this can have the negative effect of people throwing out good food by blindly following the suggested expiration date. This behavior can incentivise companies to adjust the expiration date so that people will re-buy the products sooner.

Megan's age is revealed to be 37, found by substituting 2019 and 2010 into the formula.

The title text continues the conversation from the comic. The beans were apparently bought while living in a different home, meaning they were moved along with Megan's and Cueball's other belongings. This is somewhat unusual as many people take moving as an opportunity to go through their old stuff and get rid of things they no longer need. Another interpretation would be that Megan Cueball didn't bring the beans but bought them along with the kitchen they were found in.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Food]]

2174: First News Memory

2019-07-11T00:23:02Z

108.162.215.190: /* Explanation */ actually 7

{{comic
| number = 2174
| date = July 10, 2019
| title = First News Memory
| image = first_news_memory.png
| titletext = Psychology researchers say our 'flashbulb' memories of big events can be unreliable, but I clearly remember watching live on CNN as Challenger crashed into and destroyed the Berlin Wall.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a FAULTY FIRST NEWS MEMORY. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. (Explain title-text) Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
7 xkcd characters are discussing their "first news memory", their first memory of an event that was reported by the news media. A person's "first news memory" can vary based on their age, the region where they grew up, and how in touch with the news they are.

The following is a breakdown of the memories given by the characters, in typical xkcd fashion:
===Frame One===
Cueball recalls the election coverage from the year 1988. As Randall is usually US-centric [citation needed], this is probably the {{w|1988 United States presidential election|1988 US presidential election}} in which George H. W. Bush defeated Michael Dukakis. Megan recalls {{w|Berlin_Wall#Fall_of_the_Berlin_Wall|the removal of the Berlin wall}}, which began in 1989.

===Frame Two===
Hairy recalls the {{w|Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|''Challenger'' explosion}}, which occurred in 1986. However, he remembers watching the footage in 1995, so Hairy's teacher was not showing them the launch live. Presumably, showing a number of young schoolchildren a traumatizing event led to the dismissal.

===Frame Three===
White Hat says that his first news memory was about the 2016 election (presumably the {{w|2016 United States presidential election|2016 US presidential election}}), which is only three years prior to the publication date of this comic. Given that he is in his thirties, this memory implies that he had not been following the news for quite some time. Alternatively, he could have amnesia and be unable to recall earlier memories.

===Frame Four===
Black Hat's first sentence is normal in the context of the question. Given only the sentence 'we landed on the moon,' the 'we' is inferred to be 'the United States of America' or 'the human race.' The first {{w|moon landing}} occurred on July 20, 1969.
However, Black Hat goes on to say that 'my second memory is my mom telling us we were moving to Earth instead, to blend in with the humans.' This gives a completely different meaning to his first memory, as it is now implied that Black Hat is a humanoid alien who moved to the Moon, but whose mother then decided to move to Earth. Whether any news coverage resulted is unclear. Hairbun then remarks that this revelation explains Black Hat's odd (and usually disruptive) behavior. It is unclear whether Black Hat is telling the truth, but knowing Black Hat, he is likely intentionally trying to unnerve others.

The title text gives [http://theconversation.com/flashbulb-memories-of-dramatic-events-arent-as-accurate-as-believed-64838 the claim] that {{w|Flashbulb memory|flashbulb memories}} of big events can be unreliable. Randall refutes this claim, claiming to remember watching on CNN as the ''Challenger'' spacecraft crashed into the Berlin Wall. This is an inaccurate memory of these two events, as the ''Challenger'' explosion occurred in 1986 over the Atlantic Ocean, just east of Cape Canaveral, Florida, and did not occur near the Berlin Wall (in Berlin, Germany). Also, the Berlin Wall was intentionally demolished starting in 1989; it was not damaged by a space shuttle.

==Transcript==
:[Ponytail, Cueball, Megan, Hairy, White Hat, Black Hat and Hairbun are all at a party, discussing their earliest news memories.]

:[Panel with Ponytail, Cueball, Megan, and Hairy]
:Ponytail: What's your first news memory?
:Cueball: I always like this question! Mine was the 1988 election.
:Megan: Berlin wall for me. You?

:[Frame-less panel with Megan, Hairy, White Hat, and Black Hat]
:Hairy: Watching the ''Challenger'' launch in class. We were so excited; everyone was horrified when it blew up.
:Hairy: It was 1995.
:Hairy: Our teacher got fired soon after.

:[Panel with Hairy, White Hat, Black Hat, and Hairbun]
:White Hat: Mine's the 2016 election.
:Hairbun: ...aren't you in your 30's?
:White Hat: Look, we're not all great about keeping up with the news, OK?

:[Panel with White Hat, Black Hat, and Hairbun]
:Black Hat: My first memory is when we landed on the moon.
:Black Hat: My second memory is my mom telling us we were moving to Earth instead, to blend in with the humans.
:Hairbun: This explains a lot.

{{comic discussion}}

Talk:902: Darmok and Jalad

2017-01-27T05:02:27Z

108.162.215.190:

I've always been kind of lukewarm about this comic. I get it, but it doesn't hit any point incredibly well like some of the other comics do. '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|#707|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 01:58, 17 April 2013 (UTC)

As someone who doesn't know much about Star Trek, why the "wiiiiiink" from Dathon? --[[User:Someone Else 37|Someone Else 37]] ([[User talk:Someone Else 37|talk]]) 00:47, 29 May 2014 (UTC)
: Not sure what might be unclear that is not explained pretty well in the explanation above (?) - a wink is fairly universal in "western" culture as being stress placed on a suggestion -- [[User:Brettpeirce|Brettpeirce]] ([[User talk:Brettpeirce|talk]]) 14:13, 1 December 2014 (UTC)

'''Explain xkcd. It's 'cause you haven't watched a particular episode of Star Trek''' could be a more fitting tagline for this wiki. And by that I'm suggesting that Munroe might have narrowed down his intended audience a bit too much in this case. [[User:Mumiemonstret|Mumiemonstret]] ([[User talk:Mumiemonstret|talk]]) 09:17, 10 December 2014 (UTC)
Having viewed one star trek, or parts thereof, haven't you seen them all, or sum of parts therefore?
: Have to disagree. Seems to me that many xkcd's are quite narrow in the audience who immediately understand. Take [https://xkcd.com/1661/] If you're in Toastmasters and have been around a while, the joke is immediately clear; most others, however, have probably never encountered somebody so pedantic as to care whether you called it a "podium" or a "lectern." [[Special:Contributions/108.162.215.190|108.162.215.190]] 05:02, 27 January 2017 (UTC)

[[User:Weatherlawyer| I used Google News BEFORE it was clickbait]] ([[User talk:Weatherlawyer|talk]]) 20:13, 23 January 2015 (UTC)

Speaking as a Star Trek fan who has watched the episodes several times, this comic was great and immediately understood. Darmok is one of the finer episodes of Season 5 in the The Next Generation series, and the fact that he even added the ridges to the alien captain's head was a nice touch for stick figures. Yes, it lowered the "immediately get it" audience, but if it encourages people to pull up this episode on the video streaming service of their choice to help understand the comic, they'll be better off for it. It's very much one of the more "thinking" episodes in the series and worth watching, even if you don't usually watch Star Trek media. {{unsigned ip|108.162.216.33}}

Talk:1735: Fashion Police and Grammar Police

2016-09-19T22:50:18Z

108.162.215.190:

I added a basic explanation to this comic. I also changed the incomplete to say "Needs more on the explanation". Maybe you guys can help connect the dots and extend the explanation? --[[User:JayRulesXKCD|JayRulesXKCD]] ([[User talk:JayRulesXKCD|talk]]) 14:45, 19 September 2016 (UTC)

It should be noted that he uses literally wrong, just to anger the grammar police he's mocking, it's a nice touch.[[User:Trives|Trives]] ([[User talk:Trives|talk]]) 14:59, 19 September 2016 (UTC)

In my eyes the 2 groups are not standing together in this comic. --[[User:DaB.|DaB.]] ([[User talk:DaB.|talk]]) 15:12, 19 September 2016 (UTC)
: Yeah I'd have said they were just being presented graphically, the intention isn't to display them as protesting alongside each other. [[User:Xseo|Xseo]] ([[User talk:Xseo|talk]]) 15:31, 19 September 2016 (UTC)

Is there an extra joke in the Title Text, "* Mad about jorts"? If it's something which both Grammar Police and Fashion Police would find distasteful, it would add an extra layer to the assertion that they are the same people. {{unsigned ip|172.68.35.71}}
:Yes for sure and this is now in the explanation. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 20:27, 19 September 2016 (UTC)

Incidentally, I find it ironic and probably unintentional that the Title Text demonstrates the importance of grammar and undermines Randall's own assertions that Grammar Police are superfluous and annoying. Is he saying that he really likes jorts, or is he saying that he is really angered by them? If only there was some formal ruleset which allowed meaning to be more effectively conveyed, rather than being a system of glorious chaos... https://xkcd.com/1576/ {{unsigned ip|172.68.35.71}}
:I think the comment above is inaccurate: "Title Text demonstrates the importance of grammar and undermines Randall's own assertions that Grammar Police are superfluous and annoying". The "*" represents a bullet point so it is clear that "* Mad about jorts" is an additional bullet point that both groups would find offensive. The irony now is that I'm not familiar with how to structure my wiki comments. ~~dizzydan~~ {{unsigned ip|108.162.221.103}}
::Yes very intentionally and thanks for pointing out it is an extra bullet point ;-) That is why the grammar police would hate that sentence where the other police just hate jorts. And would be mad if they realized it could be understood like they loved jorts. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 20:27, 19 September 2016 (UTC)

Technically, the grammar police wouldn't care about jorts, since that is a spelling error, not a grammatical error. Please contact the spelling police. Sincerely,
:The Semantics Police {{unsigned ip|108.162.237.216}}
::Jorts is not a spelling error it is a real term used on Wikipedia and now linked in the explanation. They are mad about the use of "mad about". Because in this case it can be misunderstood as either really loving jorts or being upset about jorts. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 20:27, 19 September 2016 (UTC)

'''Judgemental''' A spelling of the word 'judgmental,' infrequently used in the UK (which is widely regarded to be more fashionable than the US)? 
'''Deeply Arbitrary''' Internally inconsistent? Arbitrary means based on random chance or whim and as such cannot be strong or deep? 
'''Appreciate . . . are . . . is ''' Subject/verb disagreement with a plural/singular shift? 
'''Cool and casual''' vague use of an indefinite pronoun & a 'cool and casual' fashion choice is likely entails a significant amount of work, meaning it is not casual at all.--[[User:GotWilLeibniz|GotWilLeibniz]] ([[User talk:GotWilLeibniz|talk]]) 18:43, 19 September 2016 (UTC)

"Fashion Police and Grammar Police and ExplainXKCD Contributors" {{unsigned ip|108.162.219.69}}
:True ;-) --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 20:27, 19 September 2016 (UTC)

Just dropping a couple links here re: the "uncomfortably transparent proxies for race and class" in language. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.214.227|162.158.214.227]] 21:20, 19 September 2016 (UTC)
http://wordtree.com/what-the-victorians-did-to-english-grammar/
http://www.languagejones.com/blog-1/2014/6/8/what-is-aave

Por simpliĝi gramatikon, nur lernu Esperanton! Ĝi ne havas arbitrajn regularojn. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.249.158|108.162.249.158]] 22:17, 19 September 2016 (UTC)

In reality, I support the grammar police. Language is a set of shared rules allowing us to understand each other. Speaking in improper grammar produces misunderstandings and throws off listeners/readers, as well as making the speaker sound incompetent. Imagine if people started piping garbage down TCP connections! Servers wouldn't understand a thing! [[Special:Contributions/108.162.215.190|108.162.215.190]] 22:50, 19 September 2016 (UTC)

1529: Bracket

2015-05-25T17:29:45Z

108.162.215.190: /* Explanation */ fixed links

{{comic
| number = 1529
| date = May 25, 2015
| title = Bracket
| image = bracket.png
| titletext = I'm staring at the "doctor" section, and I can't help but feel like I've forgotten someone.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Explain the specific groupings.}}
A {{w|Bracket (tournament)|tournament bracket}} shows the planned series of matchups in a tournament. In this comic Randall has shown a plan for a tournament between a wide range of cultural icons, both real and fictional, based mostly on similarities in their names. Various internet groups have speculated on who would win in a fight between characters from different films. It may be relevant that the film {{w|Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice}} is soon to be released where the two namesake {{w|superheros}}, {{w|Batman}} and {{w|Superman}} fight against each other.

The individual starting pairings are generally based on common or similar given or surnames. Some adjacent brackets are "segued" by someone like Jeff Daniels who segues from a bracket of "Jeff"s into a bracket of "Daniels"es. The bracket itself is fairly arbitrary. Most initial matchups are pairs, although several are trios while a single entry, Beyoncé, is given a first- and second-round {{w|bye (sports)|bye}}. Most of the participants in the tournament are people with a few exceptions: {{w|Shallots}} (small onions), {{w|scallops}} (bivalve mollusks), and {{w|scallions}} (green onions) are similar sounding foods, therefore may be confusing for some individuals (perhaps including [[Randall]]). The final grouping on the lower right of the bracket features a several retail stores and a film.

The [[title text]] may be referring to {{w|Dr. Dre}}, particularly as a reference to his 2001 song "{{w|Forgot About Dre}}". Alternatively, the title text could simply be a reference to the large number of pop culture personas that include the word "Doctor", such as {{w|Doctor Who}}, {{w|Gregory House|Doctor House}}, {{w|Mehmet Oz|Dr. Oz}}, {{w|Phil McGraw|Dr. Phil}}, {{w|Dr. Watson}}, {{w|Emmett Brown|"Doc" Brown}}, {{w|Dr. Seuss}}, {{w|Dr Pepper}}, {{w|Doctor Doom}}, and {{w|List of fictional doctors|many others}} (or, in fact, [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/futurama-zoidberg-why-not-zoidberg why not Dr. Zoidberg]?). Another possibility is that the [[title text]] is supposed to make the readers ask themselves "{{w|Doctor who}}?" Though "The Doctor" is already listed, this could refer to either ''Doctor Who'' or {{w|Doctor (Star Trek: Voyager)|the ''Star Trek: Voyager'' character}}. Notably, while the Doctor in "Doctor Who" is technically one character, the Doctor has currently been played by 13 different actors. The mythos of the Doctor Who even includes individual incarnations of the Doctor interacting with each other; knowing they are the same person, yet often expressing annoyance when grouped together. So perhaps Randall is implying that to just include the Doctor as one individual is not an accurate representation of this character.

The names and other entries in the bracket are:
{| class="wikitable" style="background:transparent;border:none;width:100%;"
| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Armstrong:
:{{w|Louis Armstrong}} (musician)
:{{w|Neil Armstrong}} (first human on the moon)
:{{w|Lance Armstrong}} (bicyclist)
:{{w|Stretch Armstrong}} (action figure)

Jeff *:
:{{w|Jeff Gordan}}
:{{w|Jeff Bridges}} (Actor)

J* Daniels:
:{{w|Jeff Daniels}}
:{{w|Jack Daniels}} (Alcoholic beverage)

Mr. Well*s:
:{{w|Orson Welles}} (Known for "The War of the Worlds")
:{{w|H.G. Wells}} (Known for "The Time Machine")

<nowiki>*</nowiki>well*:
:{{w|George Orwell}} (Author of "1984" and "Animal Farm")
:{{w|Wells Fargo}} (Bank and stage coach company)

<nowiki>*</nowiki> Russell *:
:{{w|Kurt Russell}}
:{{w|Russell Brand}}
:{{w|Russell Crowe}}
:{{w|Russell Simmons}}

<nowiki>*</nowiki> Simmons:
:{{w|Richard Simmons}}
:{{w|Gene Simmons}}

<nowiki>*</nowiki>ckman:
:{{w|Gene Hackman}}
:{{w|Hugh Jackman}}
:{{w|Alan Rickman}}

Alan Par*:
:{{w|Alan Parsons}}
:{{w|Alan Partridge}}

McCarthy/Eugene:
:{{w|Jenny McCarthy}}
:{{w|Joseph McCarthy}} (Senator known for anti-communist witchhunt)
:{{w|Eugene McCarthy}}
:{{w|Eugene V. Debs}} (labor leader)

<nowiki>*</nowiki> Wilde*
:{{w|Gene Wilder}}
:{{w|Olivia Wilde}}
:{{w|Oscar Wilde}}

Oscar De La *:
:{{w|Oscar De La Renta}}
:{{w|Oscar De La Hoya}}

Jack *:
:{{w|Jack Nicklaus}} (Golf player)
:{{w|Jack Nicholson}} (Actor)

<nowiki>*</nowiki>ickle* / *ickel*:
:{{w|Phil Mickelson}}
:{{w|Nicholas Nickelby}}

<nowiki>*</nowiki>ryan Adams:
:{{w|Ryan Adams}}
:{{w|Bryan Adams}}

Popular Games:
:{{w|Chubby Checker}} (Checkers is a board game)
:{{w|Fats Domino}} (Dominoes [or dominos] is a game. Domino's is a pizza chain.)

Colin *:
:{{w|Colin Firth}}
:{{w|Colin Farrell}}

F*rell:
:{{w|Will Ferrell}}
:{{w|The Farrelly Brothers}}

<nowiki>*</nowiki>itt:
:{{w|Joseph Gordon-Levitt}}
:{{w|Jennifer Love Hewitt}}

<nowiki>*</nowiki> Glover:
:{{w|Danny Glover}}
:{{w|Donald Glover}}

<nowiki>*</nowiki> Wahlberg:
:{{w|Donnie Wahlberg}}
:{{w|Mark Wahlberg}}

Mark *:
:{{w|Mark Ruffalo}}
:{{w|Mark Shuttleworth}}

| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
Bill */* Pullman:
:{{w|Philip Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Paxton}}

Ghostbusters:
:{{w|Bill Murray}}
:{{w|Dan Aykroyd}}

<nowiki>*</nowiki> Rogers:
:{{w|Ginger Rogers}} (Woman known for dancing with {{w|Fred Astaire}})
:Mister/Fred Astaire/Rogers (Confusing reference to {{w|Fred Rogers}} (popularly known as "Mister Rogers") and to {{w|Fred Astaire}})

Doctor */* Spock:
:{{w|Mister Spock}} (Character on Star Trek)
:{{w|Doctor Spock}} (Author of book on childcare)
:{{w|Doctor Octopus}}

Doctors:
:{{w|Doctor Manhattan}}
:{{w|Doctor Strangelove}} (Character based on Henry Kissinger in movie about nuclear war)
:{{w|Doctor Strange}}

More doctors:
:{{w|Dr. No}} (Science fiction character)
:{{w|The Doctor}} (Science fiction character)
:{{w|Cory Doctorow}} (Real person)

<nowiki>*</nowiki> Jerry Lewis:
:{{w|Jerry Lee Lewis}}
:{{w|Jerry Lewis}}

Others with initial J:
:{{w|Jenny Lewis}}
:{{w|Xeni Jardin}}

Chris *:
:{{w|Chris Evans}}
:{{w|Chris Hemsworth}}

Chris P*:
:{{w|Chris Pine}}
:{{w|Chris Pratt}}

Homophones of Shallots:
:{{w|Shallots}} (small onions)
:{{w|Scallops}} (bivalve mollusks)
:{{w|Scallions}} (green onions)

S* (Similar phonetics):
:{{w|Siouxie Sioux}}
:{{w|Suzanne Vega}}

Arnold */* Palmer:
:{{w|Tom Arnold}} (ex-husband of Roseanne Barr)
:{{w|Arnold Palmer}}
:{{w|Amanda Palmer}}

Wes *:
:{{w|Wes Craven}}
:{{w|Wes Anderson}}

P* Anderson:
:{{w|Paul Thomas Anderson}}
:{{w|Poul Anderson}}

Sir Walter *:
:{{w|Sir Walter Scott}}
:{{w|Sir Walter Raleigh}}

F* Drake:
:{{w|Sir Francis Drake}}
:{{w|Frank Drake}}

Van *:
:{{w|Van Halen}}
:{{w|Van Morrison}}
:{{w|Van Wilder}}

<nowiki>*</nowiki> Van Winkle:
:{{w|Robert Van Winkle}}
:{{w|Rip Van Winkle}} (fictional character)

Connects the "Rip"s with Natalie Imbruglia - her most famous hit was the song "Torn":
:{{w|Rip Torn}}
:{{w|Natalie Imbruglia}}

Businesses with the word "Body" in their name:
:{{w|The Body Shop}}
:{{w|Bath and Body Works}}

Things with the word "Beyond" in their name:
:{{w|Bed Bath and Beyond}}
:{{w|Beyond Thunderdome}}

Beyoncé
:{{w|Beyoncé}}
|}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

:[A tournament bracket with the following:]

{| class="wikitable" style="background:transparent;border:none;width:100%;"
| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
:{{w|Louis Armstrong}}
:{{w|Neil Armstrong}}
:{{w|Lance Armstrong}}
:{{w|Stretch Armstrong}}

:{{w|Jeff Gordan}}
:{{w|Jeff Bridges}}

:{{w|Jeff Daniels}}
:{{w|Jack Daniels}}

:{{w|Orson Welles}}
:{{w|H.G. Wells}}

:{{w|George Orwell}}
:{{w|Wells Fargo}}

:{{w|Kurt Russell}}
:{{w|Russell Brand}}
:{{w|Russell Crowe}}
:{{w|Russell Simmons}}

:{{w|Richard Simmons}}
:{{w|Gene Simmons}}

:{{w|Gene Hackman}}
:{{w|Hugh Jackman}}
:{{w|Alan Rickman}}

:{{w|Alan Parsons}}
:{{w|Alan Partridge}}

:{{w|Jenny McCarthy}}
:{{w|Joseph McCarthy}}
:{{w|Eugene McCarthy}}
:{{w|Eugene V. Debs}}

:{{w|Gene Wilder}}
:{{w|Olivia Wilde}}
:{{w|Oscar Wilde}}

:{{w|Oscar De La Renta}}
:{{w|Oscar De La Hoya}}

:{{w|Jack Nicklaus}}
:{{w|Jack Nicholson}}

:{{w|Phil Mickelson}}
:{{w|Nicholas Nickelby}}

:{{w|Ryan Adams}}
:{{w|Bryan Adams}}

:{{w|Chubby Checker}}
:{{w|Fats Domino}}

:{{w|Colin Firth}}
:{{w|Colin Farrell}}

:{{w|Will Ferrell}}
:{{w|The Farrelly Brothers}}

:{{w|Joseph Gordon-Levitt}}
:{{w|Jennifer Love Hewitt}}

:{{w|Danny Glover}}
:{{w|Donald Glover}}

:{{w|Donnie Wahlberg}}
:{{w|Mark Wahlberg}}

:{{w|Mark Ruffalo}}
:{{w|Mark Shuttleworth}}

| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
:{{w|Philip Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Paxton}}

:{{w|Bill Murray}}
:{{w|Dan Aykroyd}}

:{{w|Ginger Rogers}}
:{{w|Fred Rogers|Mister/Fred Astaire/Rogers}}

:{{w|Mister Spock}}
:{{w|Doctor Spock}}
:{{w|Doctor Octopus}}

:{{w|Doctor Manhatten}}
:{{w|Doctor Strangelove}}
:{{w|Doctor Strange}}

:{{w|Dr. No}}
:{{w|The Doctor}}
:{{w|Cory Doctorow}}

:{{w|Jerry Lee Lewis}}
:{{w|Jerry Lewis}}

:{{w|Jenny Lewis}}
:{{w|Xeni Jardin}}

:{{w|Chris Evans}}
:{{w|Chris Hemsworth}}

:{{w|Chris Pine}}
:{{w|Chris Pratt}}

:{{w|Shallots}}
:{{w|Scallops}}
:{{w|Scallions}}

:{{w|Siouxie Sioux}}
:{{w|Suzanne Vega}}

:{{w|Tom Arnold}}
:{{w|Arnold Palmer}}
:{{w|Amanda Palmer}}

:{{w|Wes Craven}}
:{{w|Wes Anderson}}

:{{w|Paul Thomas Anderson}}
:{{w|Poul Anderson}}

:{{w|Sir Walter Scott}}
:{{w|Sir Walter Raleigh}}

:{{w|Sir Francis Drake}}
:{{w|Frank Drake}}

:{{w|Van Halen}}
:{{w|Van Morrison}}
:{{w|Van Wilder}}

:{{w|Robert Van Winkle}}
:{{w|Rip Van Winkle}}

:{{w|Rip Torn}}
:{{w|Natalie Imbruglia}}

:{{w|The Body Shop}}
:{{w|Bath and Body Works}}

:{{w|Bed Bath and Beyond}}
:{{w|Beyond Thunderdome}}

:{{w|Beyoncé}}
|}

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Charts]]
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]

1529: Bracket

2015-05-25T17:22:00Z

108.162.215.190: /* Explanation */ minor typos

{{comic
| number = 1529
| date = May 25, 2015
| title = Bracket
| image = bracket.png
| titletext = I'm staring at the "doctor" section, and I can't help but feel like I've forgotten someone.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Explain the specific groupings.}}
A {{w|Bracket (tournament)|tournament bracket}} shows the planned series of matchups in a tournament. In this comic Randall has shown a plan for a tournament between a wide range of cultural icons, both real and fictional, based mostly on similarities in their names. Various internet groups have speculated on who would win in a fight between characters from different films. It may be relevant that the film {{w|Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice}} is soon to be released where the two namesake {{w|superheros}}, {{w|Batman}} and {{w|Superman}} fight against each other.

The individual starting pairings are generally based on common or similar given or surnames. Some adjacent brackets are "segued" by someone like Jeff Daniels who segues from a bracket of "Jeff"s into a bracket of "Daniels"es. The bracket itself is fairly arbitrary. Most initial matchups are pairs, although several are trios while a single entry, Beyoncé, is given a first- and second-round {{w|bye (sports)|bye}}. Most of the participants in the tournament are people with a few exceptions: {{w|Shallots}} (small onions), {{w|scallops}} (bivalve mollusks), and {{w|scallions}} (green onions) are similar sounding foods, therefore may be confusing for some individuals (perhaps including [[Randall]]). The final grouping on the lower right of the bracket features a several retail stores and a film.

The [[title text]] may be referring to {{w|Dr. Dre}}, particularly as a reference to his 2001 song "{{w|Forgot About Dre}}". Alternatively, the title text could simply be a reference to the large number of pop culture personas that include the word "Doctor", such as {{w|Doctor Who}}, {{w|Gregory House|Doctor House}}, {{w|Mehmet Oz|Dr. Oz}}, {{w|Phil McGraw|Dr. Phil}}, {{w|Dr. Watson}}, {{w|Emmett Brown|"Doc" Brown}}, {{w|Dr. Seuss}}, {{w|Dr Pepper}}, {{w|Doctor Doom}}, and {{w|List of fictional doctors|many others}} (or, in fact, [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/futurama-zoidberg-why-not-zoidberg why not Dr. Zoidberg]?). Another possibility is that the [[title text]] is supposed to make the readers ask themselves "{{w|Doctor who}}?" Though "The Doctor" is already listed, this could refer to either ''Doctor Who'' or {{w|Doctor (Star Trek: Voyager)|the ''Star Trek: Voyager'' character}}. Notably, while the Doctor in "Doctor Who" is technically one character, the Doctor has currently been played by 13 different actors. The mythos of the Doctor Who even includes individual incarnations of the Doctor interacting with each other; knowing they are the same person, yet often expressing annoyance when grouped together. So perhaps Randall is implying that to just include the Doctor as one individual is not an accurate representation of this character.

The names and other entries in the bracket are:
{| class="wikitable" style="background:transparent;border:none;width:100%;"
| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Armstrong:
:{{w|Louis Armstrong}} (musician)
:{{w|Neil Armstrong}} (first human on the moon)
:{{w|Lance Armstrong}} (bicyclist)
:{{w|Stretch Armstrong}} (action figure)

Jeff *:
:{{w|Jeff Gordan}}
:{{w|Jeff Bridges}} (Actor)

J* Daniels:
:{{w|Jeff Daniels}}
:{{w|Jack Daniels}} (Alcoholic beverage)

Mr. Well*s:
:{{w|Orson Welles}} (Known for "The War of the Worlds")
:{{w|H.G. Wells}} (Known for "The Time Machine")

<nowiki>*</nowiki>well*:
:{{w|George Orwell}} (Author of "1984" and "Animal Farm")
:{{w|Wells Fargo}} (Bank and stage coach company)

<nowiki>*</nowiki> Russell *:
:{{w|Kurt Russell}}
:{{w|Russell Brand}}
:{{w|Russell Crowe}}
:{{w|Russell Simmons}}

<nowiki>*</nowiki> Simmons:
:{{w|Richard Simmons}}
:{{w|Gene Simmons}}

<nowiki>*</nowiki>ckman:
:{{w|Gene Hackman}}
:{{w|Hugh Jackman}}
:{{w|Alan Rickman}}

Alan Par*:
:{{w|Alan Parsons}}
:{{w|Alan Partridge}}

McCarthy/Eugene:
:{{w|Jenny McCarthy}}
:{{w|Joseph McCarthy}} (Senator known for anti-communist witchhunt)
:{{w|Eugene McCarthy}}
:{{w|Eugene V. Debs}} (labor leader)

<nowiki>*</nowiki> Wilde*
:{{w|Gene Wilder}}
:{{w|Olivia Wilde}}
:{{w|Oscar Wilde}}

Oscar De La *:
:{{w|Oscar De La Renta}}
:{{w|Oscar De La Hoya}}

Jack *:
:{{w|Jack Nicklaus}} (Golf player)
:{{w|Jack Nicholson}} (Actor)

<nowiki>*</nowiki>ickle* / *ickel*:
:{{w|Phil Mickelson}}
:{{w|Nicholas Nickelby}}

<nowiki>*</nowiki>ryan Adams:
:{{w|Ryan Adams}}
:{{w|Bryan Adams}}

Popular Games:
:{{w|Chubby Checker}} (Checkers is a board game)
:{{w|Fats Domino}} (Dominoes [or dominos] is a game. Domino's is a pizza chain.)

Colin *:
:{{w|Colin Firth}}
:{{w|Colin Farrell}}

F*rell:
:{{w|Will Ferrell}}
:{{w|The Farrelly Brothers}}

<nowiki>*</nowiki>itt:
:{{w|Joseph Gordon-Levitt}}
:{{w|Jennifer Love Hewitt}}

<nowiki>*</nowiki> Glover:
:{{w|Danny Glover}}
:{{w|Donald Glover}}

<nowiki>*</nowiki> Wahlberg:
:{{w|Donnie Wahlberg}}
:{{w|Mark Wahlberg}}

Mark *:
:{{w|Mark Ruffalo}}
:{{w|Mark Shuttleworth}}

| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
Bill */* Pullman:
:{{w|Philip Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Paxton}}

Ghostbusters:
:{{w|Bill Murray}}
:{{w|Dan Aykroyd}}

<nowiki>*</nowiki> Rogers:
:{{w|Ginger Rogers}} (Woman known for dancing with Fred Astaire)
:{{w|Mister/Fred Astaire/Rogers}} (Confusing reference to "Mister Rogers" [Fred Rogers] and Fred Astaire)

Doctor */* Spock:
:{{w|Mister Spock}} (Character on Star Trek)
:{{w|Doctor Spock}} (Author of book on childcare)
:{{w|Doctor Octopus}}

Doctors:
:{{w|Doctor Manhattan}}
:{{w|Doctor Strangelove}} (Character based on Henry Kissinger in movie about nuclear war)
:{{w|Doctor Strange}}

More doctors:
:{{w|Dr. No}} (Science fiction character)
:{{w|The Doctor}} (Science fiction character)
:{{w|Cory Doctorow}} (Real person)

<nowiki>*</nowiki> Jerry Lewis:
:{{w|Jerry Lee Lewis}}
:{{w|Jerry Lewis}}

Others with initial J:
:{{w|Jenny Lewis}}
:{{w|Xeni Jardin}}

Chris *:
:{{w|Chris Evans}}
:{{w|Chris Hemsworth}}

Chris P*:
:{{w|Chris Pine}}
:{{w|Chris Pratt}}

Homophones of Shallots:
:{{w|Shallots}} (small onions)
:{{w|Scallops}} (bivalve mollusks)
:{{w|Scallions}} (green onions)

S* (Similar phonetics):
:{{w|Siouxie Sioux}}
:{{w|Suzanne Vega}}

Arnold */* Palmer:
:{{w|Tom Arnold}} (ex-husband of Roseanne Barr)
:{{w|Arnold Palmer}}
:{{w|Amanda Palmer}}

Wes *:
:{{w|Wes Craven}}
:{{w|Wes Anderson}}

P* Anderson:
:{{w|Paul Thomas Anderson}}
:{{w|Poul Anderson}}

Sir Walter *:
:{{w|Sir Walter Scott}}
:{{w|Sir Walter Raleigh}}

F* Drake:
:{{w|Sir Francis Drake}}
:{{w|Frank Drake}}

Van *:
:{{w|Van Halen}}
:{{w|Van Morrison}}
:{{w|Van Wilder}}

<nowiki>*</nowiki> Van Winkle:
:{{w|Robert Van Winkle}}
:{{w|Rip Van Winkle}} (fictional character)

Connects the "Rip"s with Natalie Imbruglia - her most famous hit was the song "Torn":
:{{w|Rip Torn}}
:{{w|Natalie Imbruglia}}

Businesses with the word "Body" in their name:
:{{w|The Body Shop}}
:{{w|Bath and Body Works}}

Things with the word "Beyond" in their name:
:{{w|Bed Bath and Beyond}}
:{{w|Beyond Thunderdome}}

Beyoncé
:{{w|Beyoncé}}
|}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

:[A tournament bracket with the following:]

{| class="wikitable" style="background:transparent;border:none;width:100%;"
| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
:{{w|Louis Armstrong}}
:{{w|Neil Armstrong}}
:{{w|Lance Armstrong}}
:{{w|Stretch Armstrong}}

:{{w|Jeff Gordan}}
:{{w|Jeff Bridges}}

:{{w|Jeff Daniels}}
:{{w|Jack Daniels}}

:{{w|Orson Welles}}
:{{w|H.G. Wells}}

:{{w|George Orwell}}
:{{w|Wells Fargo}}

:{{w|Kurt Russell}}
:{{w|Russell Brand}}
:{{w|Russell Crowe}}
:{{w|Russell Simmons}}

:{{w|Richard Simmons}}
:{{w|Gene Simmons}}

:{{w|Gene Hackman}}
:{{w|Hugh Jackman}}
:{{w|Alan Rickman}}

:{{w|Alan Parsons}}
:{{w|Alan Partridge}}

:{{w|Jenny McCarthy}}
:{{w|Joseph McCarthy}}
:{{w|Eugene McCarthy}}
:{{w|Eugene V. Debs}}

:{{w|Gene Wilder}}
:{{w|Olivia Wilde}}
:{{w|Oscar Wilde}}

:{{w|Oscar De La Renta}}
:{{w|Oscar De La Hoya}}

:{{w|Jack Nicklaus}}
:{{w|Jack Nicholson}}

:{{w|Phil Mickelson}}
:{{w|Nicholas Nickelby}}

:{{w|Ryan Adams}}
:{{w|Bryan Adams}}

:{{w|Chubby Checker}}
:{{w|Fats Domino}}

:{{w|Colin Firth}}
:{{w|Colin Farrell}}

:{{w|Will Ferrell}}
:{{w|The Farrelly Brothers}}

:{{w|Joseph Gordon-Levitt}}
:{{w|Jennifer Love Hewitt}}

:{{w|Danny Glover}}
:{{w|Donald Glover}}

:{{w|Donnie Wahlberg}}
:{{w|Mark Wahlberg}}

:{{w|Mark Ruffalo}}
:{{w|Mark Shuttleworth}}

| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
:{{w|Philip Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Paxton}}

:{{w|Bill Murray}}
:{{w|Dan Aykroyd}}

:{{w|Ginger Rogers}}
:{{w|Fred Rogers|Mister/Fred Astaire/Rogers}}

:{{w|Mister Spock}}
:{{w|Doctor Spock}}
:{{w|Doctor Octopus}}

:{{w|Doctor Manhatten}}
:{{w|Doctor Strangelove}}
:{{w|Doctor Strange}}

:{{w|Dr. No}}
:{{w|The Doctor}}
:{{w|Cory Doctorow}}

:{{w|Jerry Lee Lewis}}
:{{w|Jerry Lewis}}

:{{w|Jenny Lewis}}
:{{w|Xeni Jardin}}

:{{w|Chris Evans}}
:{{w|Chris Hemsworth}}

:{{w|Chris Pine}}
:{{w|Chris Pratt}}

:{{w|Shallots}}
:{{w|Scallops}}
:{{w|Scallions}}

:{{w|Siouxie Sioux}}
:{{w|Suzanne Vega}}

:{{w|Tom Arnold}}
:{{w|Arnold Palmer}}
:{{w|Amanda Palmer}}

:{{w|Wes Craven}}
:{{w|Wes Anderson}}

:{{w|Paul Thomas Anderson}}
:{{w|Poul Anderson}}

:{{w|Sir Walter Scott}}
:{{w|Sir Walter Raleigh}}

:{{w|Sir Francis Drake}}
:{{w|Frank Drake}}

:{{w|Van Halen}}
:{{w|Van Morrison}}
:{{w|Van Wilder}}

:{{w|Robert Van Winkle}}
:{{w|Rip Van Winkle}}

:{{w|Rip Torn}}
:{{w|Natalie Imbruglia}}

:{{w|The Body Shop}}
:{{w|Bath and Body Works}}

:{{w|Bed Bath and Beyond}}
:{{w|Beyond Thunderdome}}

:{{w|Beyoncé}}
|}

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Charts]]
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]

Talk:1529: Bracket

2015-05-25T17:14:46Z

108.162.215.190:

Who is Jeff Gordan? There's an extremely famous NASCAR driver named Jeff Gordon, but I don't know of a Jeff Gordan. Significant or typo? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.182|108.162.238.182]] 16:07, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

What's the connection between Rip Torn and Natalie Imbruglia? {{unsigned ip|108.162.238.183}}
:Answer: Her song, Torn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV1XWJN3nJo-{{unsigned|Stumpy}}
Rip Torn could have a preliminary match with Prof. Lance Rips {{16:34, 25 May 2015 (UTC)Mitch Marks uchicago}}

Any pairings that you'd add, given the opportunity? Personally I always confuse [[wikipedia:Wilson Pickett|Wilson Pickett]] and [[wikipedia:Wilson Phillips|Wilson Phillips]]. [[User:Studley|Studley]] ([[User talk:Studley|talk]]) 08:28, 25 May 2015 (UTC)
[[wikipedia:Will Ferrell|Will Ferrell]] and [[wikipedia:Pharrell Williams|Pharrell Williams]] for me! -{{unsigned|Stumpy}}

How about George Washington and George Washington Carver? and the George Washington Bridge?

At one time, the White House had both a Donald Regan and a Ronald Reagan.[[Special:Contributions/108.162.215.190|108.162.215.190]] 17:14, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

Why do some first round pairings have more than two people? Beyoncé starts at the third round, so it can't be just because of the number of people. There has to be a joke in them but I don't see it. --[[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.176|141.101.104.176]] 08:45, 25 May 2015 (UTC)
:Possibly an in-joke at the NCAA bracket's First Four round. Mister/Fred Astaire/Rogers is a more "traditional" reference to the First Four. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.103|108.162.219.103]] 10:32, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

Perhaps it's worth adding to a trivia section that (assuming every person/thing has an equal chance of winning every matchup, Beyonce has the highest odds of winning (1/32 = 3.125%) while Kurt Russell, Russell Crowe, Russell Brand, and Russell Simmons are all tied for having the worst starting odds (1/256 = .391%).[[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.91|108.162.219.91]] 09:19, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

I may be worth mentioning that the bracketing trees resemble hierarchical clustering dendrograms in which some string similarity metric was used as a distance function.

Although the comic is formatted as a tournament bracket, there are hints that it is in fact a dendrogram based on string similarity, in a similar way to how trees of evolutionary relationships between proteins are formed. We see this especially in the "Russell" group where there is equal similarity between any name containing "Russell" and so that group is not resolved into two separate forks. If readers wish to recreate such an analysis for themselves they can take the text on [http://pastebin.com/DRqjaDHH here] paste it into a [http://www.ebi.ac.uk/Tools/msa/clustalw2/ multiple sequence aligner], press Submit, then after processing click Phylogenetic Tree and scroll down. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.74|141.101.99.74]] 12:46, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

Somewhat disagree. There is no "string similarity" between domino and checker. The connection between the names seems to be that there are games named Dominos and Checkers. They would not be together if it was based on strictly on string similarity or generated automatically by software without human intervention.[[Special:Contributions/108.162.215.190|108.162.215.190]] 17:09, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

Is there any significance to the number of entries? 52 on the left side but only 51 on the right?

;Title text
Changed the reference of the Title Text from Doctor Who (who is already listed in the comic) to Dr. Dre, as the phrasing of the Title Text seems like a very direct reference to the 2001 song "Forgot About Dre." {{unsigned|Conquistador}}
:Probably would have been better to add it as an option since we're clearly far from certain -{{unsigned|Stumpy}}

Why not Zoidberg? --RhyvenNZ [[Special:Contributions/198.41.238.41|198.41.238.41]] 09:55, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

Pretty sure Doctor Who is covered by "The Doctor". He doesn't go by "Who" in the show. He's just the Doctor. I think the missing doctor is House. {{unsigned ip|108.162.215.127}}

Dr. Pepper, maybe? Does "staring" or "forgotten" have to do with it? {{unsigned ip|108.162.237.156}}

Whatagainnow? {{unsigned ip|108.162.222.178}}

Dr. Oz? Dr. Phil? Dr. Watson? Dr. Kavorkian? Dr. Seuss? Wasn't there a famous literary work, The Lost Island of Dr. Moreau? I agree that Dr. House and/or house calls could be a missing candidate for the bracket. But then, there are a ton of 'Sirs' that didn't make the list.  {{unsigned|GAKDragon||please sign your posts appropriately with the appropriate user and talk page links using <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>}}
:[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Teeth_and_The_Electric_Mayhem Doctor Teeth!] [[User:Jarod997|Jarod997]] ([[User talk:Jarod997|talk]]) 13:50, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

Or is "The Doctor" http://en.memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/The_Doctor? {{unsigned ip|108.162.215.108}}
:The Doctor is already in the bracket. --[[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.49|141.101.99.49]] 10:40, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

It's Doctor House - definitely and finally! {{unsigned|Raydleemsc}}

Definitely "Doc" Brown: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmett_Brown {{unsigned ip|108.162.221.171}}

::It's clearly Dr. Doolittle. Can't imagine why no one has realized this yet.

Could the joke simply be "there are way too many famous doctors", so even though it's arguably the most numerous category in the bracket, some are still "forgotten"?

Probably not talking about doctor who, however he could be referencing The Silence, which is a an alien race, on that show, which you immediately forget about after losing sight of it. {{unsigned|KroniK907}}

I immediately thought of Amy's wedding in Dr Who S5Ep13 where she needed to remember the doctor to bring him back. Too obscure? [[User:Blu003|Blu003]] ([[User talk:Blu003|talk]]) 13:07, 25 May 2015 (UTC)
:Hardly. You want obscure, try The Doctor's granddaughter. Yep, he had/has one. --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.144|108.162.237.144]] 13:41, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

Y'know, I can't help but feel that this is a little to bland and unfinished for xkcd. I'm willing to bet that the picture updates with winners. May be sorely disappointed though. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.119|108.162.219.119]] 15:02, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

Can't help but feel that there's a better way to lay this explanation out, but I haven't been able to come up with it. Maybe some sort of table listing all the different groups, with people allowed to be in more than one group? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.232|141.101.98.232]] 15:18, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

:I personally don't love the large listing of people. It is a bit bland, but more importantly, it doesn't really show the linkages between the participants (though most people ought to be able to figure out these overt links Jeff Gordon... Jeff Daniels... it doesn't need explanation. That said, the current format doesn't quite demonstrate the chain-link nature of some matchups like:
:*'''Body''' Shop
:*'''Bath''' and '''Body''' Works
:*Bed '''Bath''' & '''Beyond'''
:*'''Beyond''' Thunderdome
:* '''Beyon'''cé.
:I wouldn't mind a format with that kind of bolding. I think that shows the chain of links better than the first to being grouped "businesses with the word "body" and the second two "things with the word beyond" and "Beyoncé" separately. Similarly, Jeff Daniels belongs to both the "Jeff"s and the "J. Daniels"es. [[User:TheHYPO|TheHYPO]] ([[User talk:TheHYPO|talk]]) 15:48, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

I wouldn't categorize Fats Domino and Chubby Checker (just) as games. Given that they're directly under Ryan Adams and Bryan Adams, I'd have identified them as 50's singers, with some physical similarities. [[User:KenWhitesell|KenWhitesell]] ([[User talk:KenWhitesell|talk]]) 16:17, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

Agree. I put in the identification about games without knowing who Chubby Checker was.[[Special:Contributions/108.162.215.190|108.162.215.190]] 17:09, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

== celebrity deathmatch ==

This reminds me of Celebrity Deathmatch. Then have:
* Charles Manson vs. Marilyn Manson
* Backstreet Boys vs. Beastie Boys
* The Three Stooges vs. The Three Tenors
* Kevin Costner vs. Kevin Smith
* John Cusack vs. John Malkovich
* David Blaine vs. David Copperfield
* Corey Feldman vs. Corey Haim
* Jack Black vs. Jack White

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Celebrity_Deathmatch_episodes {{unsigned|Bart9h}}

Talk:1529: Bracket

2015-05-25T17:09:37Z

108.162.215.190:

Who is Jeff Gordan? There's an extremely famous NASCAR driver named Jeff Gordon, but I don't know of a Jeff Gordan. Significant or typo? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.182|108.162.238.182]] 16:07, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

What's the connection between Rip Torn and Natalie Imbruglia? {{unsigned ip|108.162.238.183}}
:Answer: Her song, Torn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV1XWJN3nJo-{{unsigned|Stumpy}}
Rip Torn could have a preliminary match with Prof. Lance Rips {{16:34, 25 May 2015 (UTC)Mitch Marks uchicago}}

Any pairings that you'd add, given the opportunity? Personally I always confuse [[wikipedia:Wilson Pickett|Wilson Pickett]] and [[wikipedia:Wilson Phillips|Wilson Phillips]]. [[User:Studley|Studley]] ([[User talk:Studley|talk]]) 08:28, 25 May 2015 (UTC)
[[wikipedia:Will Ferrell|Will Ferrell]] and [[wikipedia:Pharrell Williams|Pharrell Williams]] for me! -{{unsigned|Stumpy}}

Why do some first round pairings have more than two people? Beyoncé starts at the third round, so it can't be just because of the number of people. There has to be a joke in them but I don't see it. --[[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.176|141.101.104.176]] 08:45, 25 May 2015 (UTC)
:Possibly an in-joke at the NCAA bracket's First Four round. Mister/Fred Astaire/Rogers is a more "traditional" reference to the First Four. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.103|108.162.219.103]] 10:32, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

Perhaps it's worth adding to a trivia section that (assuming every person/thing has an equal chance of winning every matchup, Beyonce has the highest odds of winning (1/32 = 3.125%) while Kurt Russell, Russell Crowe, Russell Brand, and Russell Simmons are all tied for having the worst starting odds (1/256 = .391%).[[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.91|108.162.219.91]] 09:19, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

I may be worth mentioning that the bracketing trees resemble hierarchical clustering dendrograms in which some string similarity metric was used as a distance function.

Although the comic is formatted as a tournament bracket, there are hints that it is in fact a dendrogram based on string similarity, in a similar way to how trees of evolutionary relationships between proteins are formed. We see this especially in the "Russell" group where there is equal similarity between any name containing "Russell" and so that group is not resolved into two separate forks. If readers wish to recreate such an analysis for themselves they can take the text on [http://pastebin.com/DRqjaDHH here] paste it into a [http://www.ebi.ac.uk/Tools/msa/clustalw2/ multiple sequence aligner], press Submit, then after processing click Phylogenetic Tree and scroll down. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.74|141.101.99.74]] 12:46, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

Somewhat disagree. There is no "string similarity" between domino and checker. The connection between the names seems to be that there are games named Dominos and Checkers. They would not be together if it was based on strictly on string similarity or generated automatically by software without human intervention.[[Special:Contributions/108.162.215.190|108.162.215.190]] 17:09, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

Is there any significance to the number of entries? 52 on the left side but only 51 on the right?

;Title text
Changed the reference of the Title Text from Doctor Who (who is already listed in the comic) to Dr. Dre, as the phrasing of the Title Text seems like a very direct reference to the 2001 song "Forgot About Dre." {{unsigned|Conquistador}}
:Probably would have been better to add it as an option since we're clearly far from certain -{{unsigned|Stumpy}}

Why not Zoidberg? --RhyvenNZ [[Special:Contributions/198.41.238.41|198.41.238.41]] 09:55, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

Pretty sure Doctor Who is covered by "The Doctor". He doesn't go by "Who" in the show. He's just the Doctor. I think the missing doctor is House. {{unsigned ip|108.162.215.127}}

Dr. Pepper, maybe? Does "staring" or "forgotten" have to do with it? {{unsigned ip|108.162.237.156}}

Whatagainnow? {{unsigned ip|108.162.222.178}}

Dr. Oz? Dr. Phil? Dr. Watson? Dr. Kavorkian? Dr. Seuss? Wasn't there a famous literary work, The Lost Island of Dr. Moreau? I agree that Dr. House and/or house calls could be a missing candidate for the bracket. But then, there are a ton of 'Sirs' that didn't make the list.  {{unsigned|GAKDragon||please sign your posts appropriately with the appropriate user and talk page links using <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>}}
:[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Teeth_and_The_Electric_Mayhem Doctor Teeth!] [[User:Jarod997|Jarod997]] ([[User talk:Jarod997|talk]]) 13:50, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

Or is "The Doctor" http://en.memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/The_Doctor? {{unsigned ip|108.162.215.108}}
:The Doctor is already in the bracket. --[[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.49|141.101.99.49]] 10:40, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

It's Doctor House - definitely and finally! {{unsigned|Raydleemsc}}

Definitely "Doc" Brown: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmett_Brown {{unsigned ip|108.162.221.171}}

::It's clearly Dr. Doolittle. Can't imagine why no one has realized this yet.

Could the joke simply be "there are way too many famous doctors", so even though it's arguably the most numerous category in the bracket, some are still "forgotten"?

Probably not talking about doctor who, however he could be referencing The Silence, which is a an alien race, on that show, which you immediately forget about after losing sight of it. {{unsigned|KroniK907}}

I immediately thought of Amy's wedding in Dr Who S5Ep13 where she needed to remember the doctor to bring him back. Too obscure? [[User:Blu003|Blu003]] ([[User talk:Blu003|talk]]) 13:07, 25 May 2015 (UTC)
:Hardly. You want obscure, try The Doctor's granddaughter. Yep, he had/has one. --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.144|108.162.237.144]] 13:41, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

Y'know, I can't help but feel that this is a little to bland and unfinished for xkcd. I'm willing to bet that the picture updates with winners. May be sorely disappointed though. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.119|108.162.219.119]] 15:02, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

Can't help but feel that there's a better way to lay this explanation out, but I haven't been able to come up with it. Maybe some sort of table listing all the different groups, with people allowed to be in more than one group? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.232|141.101.98.232]] 15:18, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

:I personally don't love the large listing of people. It is a bit bland, but more importantly, it doesn't really show the linkages between the participants (though most people ought to be able to figure out these overt links Jeff Gordon... Jeff Daniels... it doesn't need explanation. That said, the current format doesn't quite demonstrate the chain-link nature of some matchups like:
:*'''Body''' Shop
:*'''Bath''' and '''Body''' Works
:*Bed '''Bath''' & '''Beyond'''
:*'''Beyond''' Thunderdome
:* '''Beyon'''cé.
:I wouldn't mind a format with that kind of bolding. I think that shows the chain of links better than the first to being grouped "businesses with the word "body" and the second two "things with the word beyond" and "Beyoncé" separately. Similarly, Jeff Daniels belongs to both the "Jeff"s and the "J. Daniels"es. [[User:TheHYPO|TheHYPO]] ([[User talk:TheHYPO|talk]]) 15:48, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

I wouldn't categorize Fats Domino and Chubby Checker (just) as games. Given that they're directly under Ryan Adams and Bryan Adams, I'd have identified them as 50's singers, with some physical similarities. [[User:KenWhitesell|KenWhitesell]] ([[User talk:KenWhitesell|talk]]) 16:17, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

Agree. I put in the identification about games without knowing who Chubby Checker was.[[Special:Contributions/108.162.215.190|108.162.215.190]] 17:09, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

== celebrity deathmatch ==

This reminds me of Celebrity Deathmatch. Then have:
* Charles Manson vs. Marilyn Manson
* Backstreet Boys vs. Beastie Boys
* The Three Stooges vs. The Three Tenors
* Kevin Costner vs. Kevin Smith
* John Cusack vs. John Malkovich
* David Blaine vs. David Copperfield
* Corey Feldman vs. Corey Haim
* Jack Black vs. Jack White

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Celebrity_Deathmatch_episodes {{unsigned|Bart9h}}

1529: Bracket

2015-05-25T15:01:09Z

108.162.215.190: /* Explanation */ added table

{{comic
| number = 1529
| date = May 25, 2015
| title = Bracket
| image = bracket.png
| titletext = I'm staring at the "doctor" section, and I can't help but feel like I've forgotten someone.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Explain the specific groupings.}}
A {{w|Bracket (tournament)|tournament bracket}} shows the planned series of games in a tournament. In this comic Randall has shown a plan for a tournament between a wide range of cultural icons, both real and fictional, based mostly on similarities in their names. Various internet groups have speculated on who would win in a fight between characters from different films. It may be relevant that the film {{w|Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice}} is soon to be released where the two namesake {{w|superheros}}, {{w|Batman}} and {{w|Superman}} fight against each other.

{{w|Shallots}}, {{w|scallops}}, and {{w|scallions}} are similar sounding words, therefore may be confusing for some individuals. They are not people, but other life forms. This probably hints that [[Randall]] probably confuses the three.

The [[title text]] is possibly talking about {{w|Dr. Dre}}, particularly as a reference to his 2001 song "{{w|Forgot About Dre}}". Alternatively, the title text could simply be a reference to the large number of pop culture personas that include the word "Doctor", such as {{w|Doctor Who}}, {{w|Gregory House|Doctor House}}, {{w|Mehmet Oz|Dr. Oz}}, {{w|Phil McGraw|Dr. Phil}}, {{w|Dr. Watson}}, {{w|Emmett Brown|"Doc" Brown}}, {{w|Dr. Seuss}}, {{w|Dr Pepper}}, {{w|Doctor Doom}}, and {{w|List of fictional doctors|many others}}. (Or, in fact, [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/futurama-zoidberg-why-not-zoidberg why not Dr. Zoidberg]?) Another possibility is that the [[title text]] is supposed to make the readers ask themselves "{{w|Doctor who}}?" Though "The Doctor" is already listed, this could refer to either ''Doctor Who'' or ''{{w|Doctor (Star Trek: Voyager)|the Star Trek: Voyager character}}''. Notably, while the Doctor in "Doctor Who" is technically one character, the Doctor has currently been played by 13 different actors. The mythos of the Doctor Who even includes individual incarnations of the Doctor interacting with each other; knowing they are the same person, yet often expressing annoyance when grouped together. So perhaps Randall is implying that to just include the Doctor as one individual is not an accurate representation of this character.

The names and other entries in the bracket are:
{| class="wikitable" style="background:transparent;border:none;width:100%;"
| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
Men with surname "Armstrong":
:{{w|Louis Armstrong}} (Musician)
:{{w|Neil Armstrong}} (First human on the moon)
:{{w|Lance Armstrong}} (Bicyclist)
:{{w|Stretch Armstrong}}

Men with given name Jeff, without surname Daniels:
:{{w|Jeff Gordan}}
:{{w|Jeff Bridges}} (Actor)

Male given names with surname Daniels:
:{{w|Jeff Daniels}}
:{{w|Jack Daniels}} (Alcoholic beverage)

Men with surname Welles:
:{{w|Orson Welles}} (Known for "The War of the Worlds")
:{{w|H.G. Wells}} (Known for "The Time Machine")

Other names with character string W-E-L-L:
:{{w|George Orwell}} (Author of "1984" and "Animal Farm")
:{{w|Wells Fargo}} (Bank and stage coach company)

Men with name "Russell" (first name or surname):
:{{w|Kurt Russell}}
:{{w|Russell Brand}}
:{{w|Russell Crowe}}
:{{w|Russell Simmons}}

Men with surname Simmons:
:{{w|Richard Simmons}}
:{{w|Gene Simmons}}

Men with surnames that end ...ckman:
:{{w|Gene Hackman}}
:{{w|Hugh Jackman}}
:{{w|Alan Rickman}}

Men with given name Alan:
:{{w|Alan Parsons}}
:{{w|Alan Partridge}}

Names containing "McCarthy", "Eugene" or both:
:{{w|Jenny McCarthy}}
:{{w|Joseph McCarthy}} (Senator known for anti-communist witchhunt)
:{{w|Eugene McCarthy}}
:{{w|Eugene V. Debs}} (labor leader)

Persons with surnames containing string "Wilde":
:{{w|Gene Wilder}}
:{{w|Olivia Wilde}}
:{{w|Oscar Wilde}}

Men with names that begin "Oscar De La...":
:{{w|Oscar De La Renta}}
:{{w|Oscar De La Hoya}}

Men with given name Jack:
:{{w|Jack Nicklaus}} (Golf player)
:{{w|Jack Nicholson}} (Actor)

Men with string "ickel" in their surnames:
:{{w|Phil Mickelson}}
:{{w|Nicholas Nickelby}}

Men with names ending "...yan Adams":
:{{w|Ryan Adams}}
:{{w|Bryan Adams}}

Men with surnames that in plural are also names of games
:{{w|Chubby Checker}} (Checkers is a board games)
:{{w|Fats Domino}} (Dominoes [or dominos]) is a game. Domino's is a pizza chain.)

Men named Colin:
:{{w|Colin Firth}}
:{{w|Colin Farrell}}

Men with names that begin with F and include the string r-r-e-l-l:
:{{w|Will Ferrell}}
:{{w|The Farrelly Brothers}}

Persons with an initial L and a name ending "itt":
:{{w|Joseph Gordon-Levitt}}
:{{w|Jennifer Love Hewitt}}

Men with surname Glover:
:{{w|Danny Glover}}
:{{w|Donald Glover}}

Men with surname Wahlberg:
:{{w|Donnie Wahlberg}}
:{{w|Mark Wahlberg}}

Men with given name Mark:
:{{w|Mark Ruffalo}}
:{{w|Mark Shuttleworth}}

| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
Men with surname Pullman or given name Bill:
:{{w|Philip Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Paxton}}

Men with no obvious connection in their names:
:{{w|Bill Murray}}
:{{w|Dan Aykroyd}}

Persons with surname Rogers:
:{{w|Ginger Rogers}} (Woman known for dancing with Fred Astaire)
:{{w|Mister/Fred Astaire/Rogers}} (Confusing reference to "Mister Rogers" [Fred Rogers] and Fred Astaire])

Men named "Spock" or "Doctor":
{{w|Mister Spock}} (Character on Star Trek)
:{{w|Doctor Spock}} (Author of book on childcare)
:{{w|Doctor Octopus}}

More men named Doctor:
:{{w|Doctor Manhatten}}
:{{w|Doctor Strangelove}} (Character based on Henry Kissinger in movie about nuclear war)
:{{w|Doctor Strange}}

More men with "Doctor" in their names:
:{{w|Dr. No}} (Science fiction character)
:{{w|The Doctor}} (Science fiction character)
:{{w|Cory Doctorow}} (Real person)

Men with given name Jerry and surname Lewis:
:{{w|Jerry Lee Lewis}}
:{{w|Jerry Lewis}}

Others with initial J:
:{{w|Jenny Lewis}}
:{{w|Xeni Jardin}}

Persons named Chris, surnames not starting P:
:{{w|Chris Evans}}
:{{w|Chris Hemsworth}}

Persons named Chris, with last initial P:
:{{w|Chris Pine}}
:{{w|Chris Pratt}}

Seafood:
:{{w|Shallots}}
:{{w|Scallops}}
:{{w|Scallions}}

Persons with first initial S:
:{{w|Siouxie Sioux}}
:{{w|Suzanne Vega}}

Persons named Arnold or Palmer:
:{{w|Tom Arnold}} (ex-husband of Roseanne Barr)
:{{w|Arnold Palmer}}
:{{w|Amanda Palmer}}

Persons named Wes:
:{{w|Wes Craven}}
:{{w|Wes Anderson}}

Persons with first initial P and surname Anderson:
:{{w|Paul Thomas Anderson}}
:{{w|Poul Anderson}}

Knights (men with title "Sir") with given name Walter:
:{{w|Sir Walter Scott}}
:{{w|Sir Walter Raleigh}}

Men with first initial F and surname Drake:
:{{w|Sir Francis Drake}}
:{{w|Frank Drake}}

Names that begin Van:
:{{w|Van Halen}}
:{{w|Van Morrison}}
:{{w|Van Wilder}}

Male figures with surname Van Winkle:
:{{w|Robert Van Winkle}}
:{{w|Rip Van Winkle}} (fictional character)

Unknown connection:
:{{w|Rip Torn}}
:{{w|Natalie Imbruglia}}

Business with the word "Body" in their name:
:{{w|The Body Shop}}
:{{w|Bath and Body Works}}

Things with the word "Beyond" in their name:
:{{w|Bed Bath and Beyond}}
:{{w|Beyond Thunderdome}}

Beyoncé
:{{w|Beyoncé}}
|}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

:[A tournament bracket with the following:]

{| class="wikitable" style="background:transparent;border:none;width:100%;"
| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
:{{w|Louis Armstrong}}
:{{w|Neil Armstrong}}
:{{w|Lance Armstrong}}
:{{w|Stretch Armstrong}}

:{{w|Jeff Gordan}}
:{{w|Jeff Bridges}}

:{{w|Jeff Daniels}}
:{{w|Jack Daniels}}

:{{w|Orson Welles}}
:{{w|H.G. Wells}}

:{{w|George Orwell}}
:{{w|Wells Fargo}}

:{{w|Kurt Russell}}
:{{w|Russell Brand}}
:{{w|Russell Crowe}}
:{{w|Russell Simmons}}

:{{w|Richard Simmons}}
:{{w|Gene Simmons}}

:{{w|Gene Hackman}}
:{{w|Hugh Jackman}}
:{{w|Alan Rickman}}

:{{w|Alan Parsons}}
:{{w|Alan Partridge}}

:{{w|Jenny McCarthy}}
:{{w|Joseph McCarthy}}
:{{w|Eugene McCarthy}}
:{{w|Eugene V. Debs}}

:{{w|Gene Wilder}}
:{{w|Olivia Wilde}}
:{{w|Oscar Wilde}}

:{{w|Oscar De La Renta}}
:{{w|Oscar De La Hoya}}

:{{w|Jack Nicklaus}}
:{{w|Jack Nicholson}}

:{{w|Phil Mickelson}}
:{{w|Nicholas Nickelby}}

:{{w|Ryan Adams}}
:{{w|Bryan Adams}}

:{{w|Chubby Checker}}
:{{w|Fats Domino}}

:{{w|Colin Firth}}
:{{w|Colin Farrell}}

:{{w|Will Ferrell}}
:{{w|The Farrelly Brothers}}

:{{w|Joseph Gordon-Levitt}}
:{{w|Jennifer Love Hewitt}}

:{{w|Danny Glover}}
:{{w|Donald Glover}}

:{{w|Donnie Wahlberg}}
:{{w|Mark Wahlberg}}

:{{w|Mark Ruffalo}}
:{{w|Mark Shuttleworth}}

| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
:{{w|Philip Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Paxton}}

:{{w|Bill Murray}}
:{{w|Dan Aykroyd}}

:{{w|Ginger Rogers}}
:{{w|Fred Rogers|Mister/Fred Astaire/Rogers}}

:{{w|Mister Spock}}
:{{w|Doctor Spock}}
:{{w|Doctor Octopus}}

:{{w|Doctor Manhatten}}
:{{w|Doctor Strangelove}}
:{{w|Doctor Strange}}

:{{w|Dr. No}}
:{{w|The Doctor}}
:{{w|Cory Doctorow}}

:{{w|Jerry Lee Lewis}}
:{{w|Jerry Lewis}}

:{{w|Jenny Lewis}}
:{{w|Xeni Jardin}}

:{{w|Chris Evans}}
:{{w|Chris Hemsworth}}

:{{w|Chris Pine}}
:{{w|Chris Pratt}}

:{{w|Shallots}}
:{{w|Scallops}}
:{{w|Scallions}}

:{{w|Siouxie Sioux}}
:{{w|Suzanne Vega}}

:{{w|Tom Arnold}}
:{{w|Arnold Palmer}}
:{{w|Amanda Palmer}}

:{{w|Wes Craven}}
:{{w|Wes Anderson}}

:{{w|Paul Thomas Anderson}}
:{{w|Poul Anderson}}

:{{w|Sir Walter Scott}}
:{{w|Sir Walter Raleigh}}

:{{w|Sir Francis Drake}}
:{{w|Frank Drake}}

:{{w|Van Halen}}
:{{w|Van Morrison}}
:{{w|Van Wilder}}

:{{w|Robert Van Winkle}}
:{{w|Rip Van Winkle}}

:{{w|Rip Torn}}
:{{w|Natalie Imbruglia}}

:{{w|The Body Shop}}
:{{w|Bath and Body Works}}

:{{w|Bed Bath and Beyond}}
:{{w|Beyond Thunderdome}}

:{{w|Beyoncé}}
|}

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Charts]]
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]

Talk:1127: Congress

2015-05-24T16:50:02Z

108.162.215.190: why district lines must be drawn racially

Being a stupidly over political (please don't ask me here, this is an xkcd wiki not reddit) kinda guy, this one really interests me. Another one of those amazing visualizations of real-world facts xkcd is so great at. I have no idea what one might write for an explanation that would be useful. Everything is explained in pretty thorough fashion right on the panel... {{unsigned|Renegade4dio}}
:Well, there's always the transcript for us to <strike>waste time</strike> work on. [[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]] ([[User talk:Davidy22|talk]]) 12:36, 29 October 2012 (UTC)

The first thing that is missing is the explanation why there are two houses. Why never three or four?
I get why monarchy only had advisors but opposition varied with whichever branch of the family had most to lose. So there was a never ending and closely focussed stream of opposition, albeit short-lived if unsuccessful.[[User:Weatherlawyer| I used Google News BEFORE it was clickbait]] ([[User talk:Weatherlawyer|talk]]) 18:29, 15 January 2015 (UTC)

;Congress as check

Perhaps a pedantic point, but I couldn't leave the description describing Congress as simply a check on the president. That would imply that the president has free reign (literally) and that Congress only acts (or, more often, doesn't act) to veto the president. That is a much more accurate description of the president's role in legislation (or of a pre-modern English Parliament). {{unsigned|208.32.120.10}}

;Typo
There's a typo on the right-hand side of the comic around 1952 - "''Other than these few years after the war; the House [was] under control Democratic control for the entire period ...''". The "was" is missing. [[User:TheHYPO|TheHYPO]] ([[User talk:TheHYPO|talk]]) 15:27, 29 October 2012 (UTC)

;definition of conservative is pejorative

Conservatives are not interested in preserving wealth amongst those who have it - they are interested in creating as many opportunities to create wealth as possible by reducing unwanted government regulation and returning to constitutional limitations (aka 10th ammendment) on Federal power. A different view of liberty and rights than what liberals maintain, but highly supported - I find your definition to be highly pejorative. [[User:Ghaller825|Ghaller825]] ([[User talk:Ghaller825|talk]]) 18:59, 29 October 2012 (UTC)

:That went completely over my head, but you're entirely welcome to change it if the definition in the article bothers you. [[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]][[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>(talk)</tt>]] 09:16, 30 October 2012 (UTC)

::Perhaps the segment could be changed to say "conservatives believe the government should not interfere with a person's wealth", or something very similar. The resistence to government involvement seems to be more consistent across the various degrees of the modern conservative movement. I'll admit that my suggested statement is also false, because almost everyone believes there should be some amount of taxes, and taxes affect wealth. However, it should be more palatable to the political ideology.

:I understand your offense, Ghaller. On the other hand, the current phrasing using "making wealth" is also a loaded term, as many factory workers would feel that they are "the ones who make it" more than the CEOs, but are certainly not getting more money. I'm not saying I agree with that perspective, just that it's a suggestive statement, and this is not the forum to have an endless debate over it. The unsigned comment above me has the best compromise in my opinion, so I will implement it. [[User:Jerodast|- jerodast]] ([[User talk:Jerodast|talk]]) 18:12, 22 December 2012 (UTC)

;Errors
I notice the following: (1) George H.W. Bush is shown as serving in the Senate. He never made it to the Senate, just the House. (2) Abraham Lincoln appears to be shown as serving in the House for about seven years. He only was there for one term (two years). --[[Special:Contributions/99.14.234.119|99.14.234.119]] 02:18, 30 October 2012 (UTC)

It also lists John A. Garfield in the House from 1862 until his election -- it is James A Garfield, not John.

It lists Abraham Lincoln (and the Republican Party of Lincoln's time in general) as right-leaning, even though it's widely accepted that the Republicans of that era (whose base was made up mostly of Northern abolitionists) were the more liberal party, and the Democrats (whose base was comprised in large part by Southern slave-owners) the more conservative. {{unsigned|140.247.0.73}}

;Definition of Liberal

While in the US, liberal might mean left-wing, in the UK it's pretty central and in Australia it's right-wing. Go figure.--[[User:Joe Green|Joe Green]] ([[User talk:Joe Green|talk]]) 04:23, 30 October 2012 (UTC)
:Classical liberalism [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_liberalism] is very different from American liberalism; Americans would recognize it more as Libertarianism. --[[User:Prooffreader|Prooffreader]] ([[User talk:Prooffreader|talk]]) 09:12, 30 October 2012 (UTC)

The socialists are well-known for hijacking the good-sounding misleading names. Such as "liberal" in America or "bolshevik" (a made-up word meaning literally "majoritan", a member of majority) in Russia. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.245.111|108.162.245.111]] 00:10, 24 January 2014 (UTC)

That comment makes it sound like there's some conspiracy behind the left thinking up good names for their movements. The words themselves don't really mean anything. You don't have to go back too far in US history to find 'liberals' and 'socialists' being demonized as spies and traitors, and even today the right is happy to call the left 'liberal' with strong undertones of 'weak'. Leftist are generally better at naming things I'll grant you, but then almost all leftist movements (barring the Khmer Rouge and cultural revolution era china) have had strong ties to both universities and the entertainment industry, people who are used to being persuasive with words so it's not surprising that they came up with nice friendly sounding terms for their movements.[[User:LostAlone|LostAlone]] ([[User talk:LostAlone|talk]]) 12:17, 6 April 2015 (UTC)

;Typo

In the "How Ideology Is Calculated" section, I note "acccounting".--[[User:Joe Green|Joe Green]] ([[User talk:Joe Green|talk]]) 04:23, 30 October 2012 (UTC)

;Conservative?

He didn't exactly say that Conservatives are interested in preserving wealth amongst those who have it; I think the implication is that "if you made it, you should get to keep it" (or as much of it as possible, hence lower taxes). One ''consequence'' of this is that the ''distribution'' of wealth tends to remain static, in that the rich stay rich and the poor stay (relatively) poorer. Whether or not that consequence is an intentional one is perhaps in the eye of the pejoratively-inclined beholder :-)--[[User:Joe Green|Joe Green]] ([[User talk:Joe Green|talk]]) 04:30, 30 October 2012 (UTC)

:I made an edit to that effect, but it appears to have been wiped out by another editor calling it "right-wing trolling". If you would like to try re-wording it, please do. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]] ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 05:05, 30 October 2012 (UTC)

::By changing just a little bit I think I removed most of the negative connotation.[[User:Bugefun|Bugefun]] ([[User talk:Bugefun|talk]]) 05:11, 31 October 2012 (UTC)

;Arteries
Kind of unrelated but the diagram to me looks sort of like arteries and veins, with the red and blue. And the branches look like how they branch off the heart and stuff. [[User:Bugefun|Bugefun]] ([[User talk:Bugefun|talk]]) 05:10, 31 October 2012 (UTC)

;Red inside blue and vice versa
What do the red strands inside the blue section and the blue strands inside the red section represent? It doesn't seem to be explained anywhere.
[[Special:Contributions/199.27.200.82|199.27.200.82]] 14:15, 31 October 2012 (UTC)

:Red on the blue side represents "Conservative Democrats" and Blue on the red side represents "Liberal Republicans". Confusing a bit, but so are both those political terms (lol). It is stated (in small text) on the top right diagram of the comic--[[User:Dangerkeith3000|Dangerkeith3000]] ([[User talk:Dangerkeith3000|talk]]) 14:53, 31 October 2012 (UTC)

;Left vs right - or why this comic is stupid
The traditional definition of left vs right (people attribute all sorts of things to it these days) is the support of change (hence the names progressives vs conservatives, or radicals vs reactionaries). The terminology comes from France where those that advocated reforms to government sat on the left of the chamber and those that wanted to do such things as restore the monarchy sat on the right. Your traditional Burkian conservative (smidgen to the right of the centre) would accept change is inevitable, but must be controlled. To the right of that people that want to maintain the status quo, further right people that want to go back to some "better time". To the left you get the, let change happen as it comes, further left lets make change a "good thing", to the furthest left "lets force change". A large part of the Marxist philosophy is that not only is communism desirable, but inevitable as according to Marx that is the final destination of all societies. Now to my point. Over time the parties have switched sides and often will be left on one issue and right on another. Often the parties themselves were divided (look at the civil rights act's passage) To simply say Democratic Party has always been left and the Republicans have always been is such a gross simplification that is renders the whole image a farce. [[Special:Contributions/192.43.227.18|192.43.227.18]] 01:07, 8 November 2012 (UTC)

;What can we learn from this?
I've learned that our congress (and law in general) is too complex. We are tying to keep outdated laws relevant by using an endless series of exceptions (legally called amendments). I hope someday we will be able to scrap the whole thing and simplify our laws so that our children do not have to spend up to a quarter of their lives learning our mistakes. XKCD, please help us simplify something like law so you don't have to waste your time visualizing something as broken as our understanding of it. - e-inspired [[Special:Contributions/24.51.197.187|24.51.197.187]] 18:36, 27 February 2013 (UTC)

This is something someone needs to contact Randall about. {{unsigned ip|108.162.219.105}}

; Mesage of the day

<div class="toccolours">Today's incomplete explanation of the day is 1127: Congress. Help us fix it!</div>
Yes. We desperately need to fix the Congress... -- [[User:Wesha|Wesha]] ([[User talk:Wesha|talk]]) 19:39, 11 May 2015 (UTC)

It might help to have a corollary chart that tracks gerrymandering, that is the practice of selecting and isolating minority and majority populations in districts so that there is virtually no contest at the time of election. A city can be carved up to include just enough suburban voters to overwhelm what would otherwise have been their political choice. Districts now often resemble convoluted, sinuous serpent creatures rather than geography divided along natural boudaries. If someone could write code that would redraw districts with the following parameters: number of voters, and walking distance to polling places - without regard to income, race, party designation, etc. It would change the map drastically.
At any rate, many districts have been redrawn to control election results. Such a chart would parallel the divisions in congress.[[User:Bralbovsky|Bralbovsky]] ([[User talk:Bralbovsky|talk]]) 00:25, 15 May 2015 (UTC)

Someone could (and probably has) come up with code to do what you suggest, but the courts won't let them use it.

When districts are drawn without regard to race, some racial groups wind up underrepresented, because they are a substantial percentage of the total population, but are not a majority in a proportional number of districts (for example, if there are 4 districts and they are 25% of the total populations, then they should be able to elect someone from that group in 1 district, but if they are 25% of each district, then members of the other racial group, which is 75% of each district, may get elected in all 4 districts, when it should be just 3). This is considered unfair and a violation of their right to "equal protection", so districts must be drawn along racial lines to comply with court orders to give these groups fairer representation.

[[Special:Contributions/108.162.215.190|108.162.215.190]] 16:50, 24 May 2015 (UTC)

1528: Vodka

2015-05-23T17:35:51Z

108.162.215.190: /* Explanation */ explained "heads" and "tails"

{{comic
| number = 1528
| date = May 22, 2015
| title = Vodka
| image = vodka.png
| titletext = Or whatever's handy! I'm pretty much pure alcohol and water, so it doesn't really matter!
}}

==Explanation==
{{Incomplete|What does "heads" and "tails" mean in the title text explanation?}}
{{w|Vodka}} is a {{w|distilled beverage}} composed primarily of water and ethanol, sometimes with traces of impurities and flavorings. Traditionally, vodka is made by the distillation of {{w|fermented}} {{w|cereal}} grains or {{w|potatoes}}, though some modern brands use other substances, such as fruits or sugar.

When people say "maybe it's the vodka talking" (or similar phrases), they usually mean that they are speaking under the {{w|influence of alcohol}} and are saying things they probably wouldn't say when {{w|sober}}. This is similar to the {{w|Latin}} saying "{{w|in vino veritas}}" (in wine there is truth). However, in this comic, it appears that the vodka itself is ''literally'' speaking through Ponytail to discuss its origin (potatoes in this case). Other comics in which things have been taken too literally include [[1099: Tuesdays]] and [[1086: Eyelash Wish Log]]. 

The [[title text]] gives the impression that the vodka isn't really sure it's made from potatoes. Vodka can be manufactured from potatoes, grain, and most other plants. (Much as with moonshine whiskey, home- or prison-cell-distilled vodka is often made with whatever one has on hand.) However, vodkas are often repeatedly distilled to remove the "foreshots" (the first few ounces of alcohol that drip from the condenser), the "heads" (the higher alcohols which are first to condense during distillation) and the "tails" (the lower fusel oils which are last to be distilled).<ref>[http://thecellars.com/Brews1/2008/12/17/vodka-does-distillation-quality/ "Vodka: Does distillation = quality?"]
Thad Norlinger

-Cellars Wines & Spirits

Posted: December 17th, 2008
</ref> Removal of these leaves a clear solution consisting almost entirely of ethanol and water. This is in contrast to other distilled beverages like {{w|whiskey}}, {{w|brandy}} and {{w|rum}}.

<references/>

==Transcript==

:[Ponytail and Megan sit together at a table with two small shot glasses on the table. Ponytail holds a large almost full bottle with label near to her mouth, while Megan's hand lies close to a larger glass, filled with liquid and an ice cube, close to her end of the table.]

:Ponytail: Maybe this is the vodka talking, but:
:Ponytail: ''Hi! I'm made from potatoes!''

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]

1503: Squirrel Plan

2015-03-27T04:58:40Z

108.162.215.190: /* Squirrel cosmology */ he would not be stuck

{{comic
| number = 1503
| date = March 25, 2015
| title = Squirrel Plan
| image = squirrel plan.png
| titletext = [Halfway to the Sun ...] Heyyyy ... what if this BALLOON is full of acorns?!
}}

==Explanation==

===Squirrel cosmology===
The joke is that these particular squirrels are ambitious but misguided, like the characters in the myth of {{w|Icarus}} and {{w|Daedalus}}, or the {{w|Tower of Babel}}. The squirrels' understanding of astrophysics is lacking, regarding the distance to the sun and appropriate transportation to reach it (in addition to the need to resist the sun's heat and exist in the vacuum of space). It can be seen as a joke about how limited the knowledge of humans still is regarding many advanced topics of science. The idea of taking a balloon to the moon or the sun might not have been immediately rejected even a few hundred years ago. And the fanciful notion of a sun filled with acorns (the ultimate object in a squirrel's reality) is reminiscent of many early human ideas about heaven and celestial objects, even the common old myth that the moon might be made out of cheese.

The title text reveals that "halfway to the sun," 75 million kilometers from all known acorns in our universe, the airborne squirrel seems to jeopardize the entire mission because he wants to test if the balloon itself is full of acorns. Basic observational skills will tell anyone that acorns do not float, but the idea follows the logic stated by the squirrels: If the sun, being so magnificent, must be full of acorns, then a balloon powerful enough to take a squirrel to the sun must also be powered by something amazing, like acorns. This also reflects on the implied impulsiveness of squirrels, that the squirrel's curiosity would cause him to take an action that would he might think would leave him stuck in outer space (presuming he has made it that far already). Fortunately for him, he would not be stuck at all. Since he is well beyond the earth's gravitational field, he no longer needs the balloon to counteract his weight, and would continue on his path toward the sun. In fact, because of the sun's gravity, his speed would increase as he got closer.

In the real world [http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=1020.0 helium balloons cannot escape the stratosphere.] Perhaps the squirrel only ''thinks'' he's halfway to the sun. Or maybe the acorns in the balloon are pushing on the [[1404:_Quantum_Vacuum_Virtual_Plasma|quantum vacuum virtual plasma]].

Alternate hypothesis: this scene is almost identical to a scene found in the recent movie Kingsman: TSS.

===Squirrels in xkcd===
Squirrels are often used in xkcd and ''What if?'' comics as a way of avoiding reality. Maybe [[Randall]] is going through a tough time this week.

'''Comics:'''
*[[635: Locke and Demosthenes]]
*[[776: Still No Sleep]]
*[[1156: Conditioning]]

'''What if?:'''
*[http://what-if.xkcd.com/21/ Machine Gun Jetpack]
*[http://what-if.xkcd.com/98/ Blood Alcohol]
*[http://what-if.xkcd.com/102/ Keyboard Power]
*[http://what-if.xkcd.com/105/ Cannibalism]

'''Blag:'''
*[http://blog.xkcd.com/2008/02/15/the-laser-elevator/ The Laser Elevator]

==Trivia==

It is commonly believed that real squirrels use their ''tails'' as parachutes, although as yet [http://io9.com/5946627/squirrel-hurls-itself-through-a-fourth-story-window-scampers-off-unscathed "there have been no observational studies on the aerodynamics of free-falling squirrels."]

==Transcript==
:[There are three squirrels. One is suspended from a balloon. The other two are sitting on the ground, looking up at it.]

:Squirrel to the right: Once you've chewed a hole in the sun, shoot the balloon to fall back to earth, then pull the parachute ripcord to land.

:Squirrel tied to balloon: Are you '''''sure''''' it's full of acorns?

:Squirrel to the right: Look how bright and magnificent it is! What ''else'' could be in there?
{{comic discussion}}



[[Category:Animals]]

1496: Art Project

2015-03-10T04:00:53Z

108.162.215.190: /* Note on Megan-like girls */

{{comic
| number = 1496
| date = March 9, 2015
| title = Art Project
| image = art project.png
| titletext = It's my most ambitious project yet, judging by the amount of guacamole.
}}

==Explanation==

This comic appears to be satirizing {{w|art}} in two different ways. From one perspective, [[Randall]] is describing various art forms in unusual ways (e.g., a portrait by [[Cueball]], a video for the [[Megan]]-like girl with short hair (see [[#Note on Megan like girls|note]] below), and perhaps live performance by [[Ponytail]]). From another perspective, Randall might be making fun of {{w|Time-lapse photography|time-lapse photography}} movies. {{w|YouTube}} has a robust collection of videos taken from stitching together pictures or short video clips taken every day or every week; in the {{w|87th Academy Awards|2015 Academy Awards}}, one of the Best Picture nominees, {{w|Boyhood (film)|Boyhood}}, used a similar method, filming short sequences annually over the course of 12 years.

In each case, the art described is simpler than it sounds, and some might not consider it art. A picture of oneself "every hundred years" will only happen once (or maybe twice); a "picture every 1/24th of a second" is the standard {{w|frame rate}} for most small cameras for video, and "watching my face age in real time" is just life...

Then finally the Megan-like girl with long hair (see [[#Note on Megan-like girls|note]] below) pokes fun at all of them by simply watching their attempts at "art" while she eats a {{w|burrito}}. Randall may also be referencing the many perspectives on art by leaving this comic open to several interpretations.

The use of a burrito as a punchline representing someone who is grounded in reality instead of engaging in esoteric pursuits has been seen before in [[1269: Privacy Opinions]].

The title text is just more snark, claiming that it's long haired "Megan's" most ambitious project ever, if the sole criterion for ambition is the amount of {{w|guacamole}} used.

===Note on Megan-like girls===
There has been some debate as to whether the first or the second girl that looks like [[Megan]] is [[Megan]] or a new character. Also, the long-haired version has been compared to [[Danish]]. As Danish has really long hair and is typically more mean than ironic, this is no longer a serious contender for the last girl. The other two are, however, too close to "Megan" to decide who is who.

It is important to remember that it is "Explain xkcd" that has decided to name any girl with shoulder-length black hair "Megan"! Randall has not decreed that any of these girls are named "Megan" (with the exception of one to whom Cueball says "Megan! I love you!" in [[159: Boombox]]) or even the same girl. It is just convenient for this community to have a name for a character.
''Explain xkcd'' originally referred to this character as 'Cutie' (thereby complementing 'Cueball' with a matching first syllable) until it was pointed out that her name was given in [[159: Boombox]]. The same argument applies to Cueball, but it is much more often that he appears more than once in a comic and has thus been more generally accepted as a named character than Megan.

==Transcript==
:[Four people stand next to each other]
:Cueball [taking a selfie with his smart-phone]: I'm doing an art project where I take a picture of myself every hundred years.
:Girl with short black hair [filming herself with her smart-phone]: I'm doing an art project where I take a picture of myself every 1/24th of a second.
:Ponytail [pointing to her face with both hands]: I'm doing an art project where you can come to my house and watch my actual face age in real time.
:Girl with long black hair [eating a burrito]: I'm doing an art project where you all do those things while I eat a burrito.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]

1463: Altitude

2014-12-23T05:10:44Z

108.162.215.190: /* Explanation */ revised discussion of "concentration" (no pun intended)

{{comic
| number = 1463
| date = December 22, 2014
| title = Altitude
| image = altitude.png
| titletext = "TURN OFF THE LASER GUIDE STAR" "WHY" "STAR CATS"
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|}}
In this comic, Randall is making fun of how {{w|Altitude sickness|oxygen deprivation}} can lead to reduced mental acuity. In this case, mental state of the researchers devolves as they approach the high altitude telescope, and reaches such a poor state when they arrive as to lead to juvenile (almost intoxicated) behavior. While "dizziness" and "lightheadedness" are common symptoms, the other behavior is not.

It must be also noted that the phrase "low oxygen" is misleading, as oxygen at high elevations is approximately 2/9ths of the atmosphere, the same proportion as at sea level. The partial pressure of oxygen is reduced, in proportion to the total air pressure. In other words, the concentration of oxygen per unit volume is lower, but the concentration per mole of air is unchanged. The altitude sickness is caused by lowered atmospheric pressure which leads to smaller amount of oxygen actually delivered ("pushed") into bloodstream.

The title text refers to a device used to make artificial reference points in the sky for astronomical observation. The reference points are created by shooting a powerful laser into the sky. The concern of the astronomer in the comic is that an imagined "star cat" may be attracted to the laser in the same way cats on Earth playfully chase laser beams projected on surfaces.

==Transcript==
:Commentary: Because of low oxygen, astronomers working at high altitude telescopes may need to write down their plans ahead of time while at sea level.

:[Some astronomers are inside a sea-level research facility]
:Astronomer #1: Ok, let's head up to the observatory.

:[The astronomers drive uphill]
:Astronomer #1: When we reach the summit, we'll check the iodine cell and do a general calibration.
:Astronomer #2: Sounds good.

:[The astronomers have reached the high-altitude observatory]
:Astronomer #1: My head feels funny.
:Astronomer #2: Look at those telescope domes. I hope they don't roll away.
:Astronomer #3: Maybe we should tape them down.

:[The astronomers are inside one of the domes]
:Astronomer #1: Haha, look at this mirror! My face is huge!
:Astronomer #2: I see your face in the telescope! I discovered you!
:Astronomer #3: Let's make out!

{{comic discussion}}