explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

2661: Age Milestone Privileges

2022-08-20T03:41:07Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2661
| date = August 19, 2022
| title = Age Milestone Privileges
| image = age_milestone_privileges.png
| titletext = If you reach 122, you get complete unrevertible editorial control over Jeanne Calment's Wikipedia article.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BABY GOD-EMPRESS MAKING THE PRESIDENT'S LETTER R-RATED - Please change this comment when editing this page. (Edited by Cuvtixo) Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This is a list of "age milestones" in the United States. As usual for Randall, he has added many fictional entries to supplement some real life ones.

{| class="wikitable"
! Age || Privilege || Description
|-
| 16 || Drive || Legal driving age varies by state in the US, but 16 is the highest age to qualify for a learner's permit.
|-
| 17 || Attend R-Rated movies Alone ||In the US, the Motion Picture Association assigns {{w|Motion_Picture_Association_film_rating_system|ratings}} to movies based on whether content in said movie is generally acceptable to present to minors. A rating of "R" is supposed to prohibit viewing by minors under 17 years of age unless a parent or guardian accompanies them.
|-
| 18 || Vote ||
|-
| 21 || Buy Alcohol || In the US, the legal drinking age is 21 years, although other countries have a lower drinking age (Example: In Japan the legal age to drink is 20.).
|-
| 25 || Rent a car ||
|-`e
| 30 || Run for Senate || This entry is incorrect: one must be at least 30 years old in order to ''become'' Senator, not ''run'' for Senate. Joe Biden was 29 years old when he was elected to Senate but turned 30 before being sworn in.
|-
| 32 || Rent a Senator's Car || The first joke entry in the table.
|-
| 35 || Run for president ||
|-
| 40 || Rent a flying car ||
|-
| 45 || Learn about the God-empress ||
|-
| 50 || Join AARP || Full AARP (formerly called the American Association of Retired Persons) membership is available to anyone age 50 and over. {{w|AARP}}
|-
| 52 || Click to skip captchas ||
|-
| 55 || Vote for God-empress ||
|-
| 62 || $80 national parks lifetime pass || https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm
|-
| 65 || Eligible for Medicare ||
|-
| 68 || See "Skip ads" button on live tv || 68 refers to a "Skip ads" button on live TV. Some DVRs and streaming applications have a feature to skip over commercial breaks in recorded programs, but this could not be available in live TV, since it would require jumping forward in time. Time travel is currently impossible.{{citation needed}} ||
|-
| 70 || Run for God-empress ||
|-
| 75 || Ride any animal in a national park ||
|-
| 80 || Eligible for Megacare ||
|-
| 85 || Click to toggle whether an ad is positive or negative about the product ||
|-
| 90 || Click to make any movie R-rated ||
|-
| 100 || Get a letter from the president ||
|-
| 102 || (35+67) Collect a presidential pension ||
|-
| 105 || Get a birthday card from the God-empress ||
|-
| 111 || Leave your own birthday party early by putting on a magic ring ||
|-
| 118 || Vote 100 times ||
|-
| 120 || Collect the pensions of all elected officials ||
|-
| 125 || Drink alcohol in an R-rated movie while getting a shingles vaccine from the president ||
|-
| 128 || Age rolls over, become a baby again ||

|}

In the UK you get a telegram from the Queen on your 100th birthday. In the US you also get congratulated by the weatherman on the {{w|Today Show}}.

Bilbo Baggins Farewell Birthday Party took place on his eleventy-first (111th) birthday.

Obviously, the god-empress does not actually exist because this comic is visible to people under 45 years old.{{citation needed}} According to [[1413]], she will be public knowledge by 2040 anyway.

128 is a reference to computers, though 128 would become either -128 or -0 (depending upon implementation) in signed 8-bit, which means you would have a weird experience of your next phase of life. For unsigned integers, the correct rollback number would be 256.

The title text mentions {{w|Jeanne Calment}}, who holds the record for the oldest person ever (there are biblical references to older people, such as {{w|Methuselah}}, who supposedly lived to 969, but their ages haven't been verified); she reportedly was age 122 when the died in 1997. Randall claims that if you match her age you get editorial control over her Wikipedia page. Not there's some controversy whether Calment actually claimed her mother's records (including birth certificate) as her own, and "editing wars" have been fought over her article.

Although if anyone managed to exceed her age, presumably they would get their own page (albeit that they should not be encouraged to {{w|Wikipedia:Editing Your Own Page|edit it}} themselves) and hers would cease to be as interesting, although that might depend on what use is made of the unparalleled editorial control now granted.

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

<big>Age Milestones</big> 
and associated privileges

16  Drive 
17  Attend R-rated movies alone 
18  Vote 
21  Buy alcohol 
25  Rent a car 
32  Run for senate 
35  Run for president 
40  Rent a flying car 
45  Learn about the God-Empress 
50  Join AARP 
52  Click to skip captchas 
55  Vote for God-Empress 
62  $80 National parks lifetime pass 
65  Eligible for Medicare 
67  Collect Social Security 
68  See "Skip Ads" button on live TV 
70  Run for God-Empress 
75  Ride any animal in a national park 
80  Eligible for MegaCare 
85  Click to toggle whether any ad is positive or negative about the product 
90  Click to make any movie R-rated 
100  Get a letter from the president 
102  (35+67) Collect a presidential pension 
105  Get a birthday card from the God-Empress 
111  Leave your own birthday party early by putting on a magic ring 
118  Vote 100 times 
120  Collect the pensions of all elected officials 
125  Drink alcohol in an R-rated movie while getting a shingles vaccine from the president 
128  Age rolls over, become a baby again

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Politics]]
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]] 
[[Category:Wikipedia]]

Talk:2660: Gen Z

2022-08-18T01:35:31Z

108.162.221.17:

It makes sense that Randall isn't calling out any particular fads, trends, tendencies, or commonalities in Gen Z to comment on, but some immediately came to my mind as I read the comic. Is it worth putting a list of possibilities in the explanation, or just one or two examples? That knowledge probably isn't going to contribute to the understanding of the joke, which is that for *every* generation there have been such observations and complaints from older folks. [[User:Dextrous Fred|Dextrous Fred]] ([[User talk:Dextrous Fred|talk]]) 21:28, 17 August 2022 (UTC)
:I don't think there's a need for that, but someone should add a definition of Generation Z. The Wikipedia page that it links to should describe the notable features of that generation. [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 22:41, 17 August 2022 (UTC)

I found the title text in the New Zealand Mail, Issue 1729, 19 April 1905, Page 15 (https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZMAIL19050419.2.44).

holy shit randall is based --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.17|108.162.221.17]] 01:35, 18 August 2022 (UTC)

Template:outdent

2022-07-24T03:44:45Z

108.162.221.17: Undo revision 290331 by Theusaf hates niggers (talk) go back to sucking your dad's dick in the trailer park, KKK shitbag

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Template:outdent

2022-07-24T03:34:45Z

108.162.221.17: Undo revision 290320 by Theusaf hates niggers (talk) go back to sucking your dad's dick in the trailer park, KKK shitbag

2640: The Universe by Scientific Field

2022-07-17T01:44:06Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */ Tried to turn the garbled mess into concise bullets

{{comic
| number = 2640
| date = July 1, 2022
| title = The Universe by Scientific Field
| image = the_universe_by_scientific_field.png
| titletext = The math and philosophy people also claim everything, but the astronomers argue that the stuff they study really only comprises a small number of paper surfaces.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by A TINY PROPORTION OF A PIE CHART REPRESENTING THE UNIVERSE - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

{{w|Astronomy}} is the study of outer space and celestial phenomena. This comic makes a joke that most of the "universe" falls under the study of astronomy, which makes sense because it is so vast and large and is not studied directly by other fields of science.

The volume of the {{w|observable universe}} is 3.566×1080 cubic meters. The volume of Earth is 1.08321×1021 cubic meters.

1.08321×1021 m3 ÷ 3.566×1080 m3 × 100% ≈ 3×10-58%, which is scientific notation for the second of the two percentages, the first being its difference from 100%.

Thus, the universe is comprised almost entirely of the objects of astronomical study, when measured by volume.

There are many arguments to be made that this is not the most useful way of measuring the size of scientific fields compared to the universe. If we measure the universe by mass-energy instead, for example, the study of physics becomes non-trivial. Other arguments include:
*Astronomers are only studying the {{w|Observational astronomy|observable phenomena}} (i.e. light, subatomic particles, and gravity) of the rest of the universe, leaving the vast majority of the universe's properties (for instance the geology and biochemistry of an unknown planet in a distant galaxy) entirely unstudied. By this reasoning, the pie chart would properly have a sliver for astronomy, a sliver for every other field, and the vast majority would not belong to any field.
*Astronomy is only possible due to understanding of physics, optics, chemistry, mathematics, and geometry, so surely they deserve some credit.
*The interesting parts of the universe are not the empty space. They are the matter and energy described by physics and chemistry.
*The interesting parts of the universe are not the empty space. They are the life experiences of people, which are overwhelmingly terrestrial even for professional astronomers (who often complain about how little time they can allocate to making actual astronomical observations).
*It is disingenuous to claim to be studying more than every other field when astronomy and astrophysics publications comprise only about 0.5% of academic science and engineering output worldwide.[https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsb20214/table/SPBS-34] Other fields may be studying smaller things, but they are studying them much more thoroughly.

A counterargument is that astronomy, {{w|cosmology}}, and astrophysics are the only scientific disciplines that study the {{w|Big Bang}} and subsequent {{w|Inflation (cosmology)|inflation}} from which all matter, energy, and space itself arose. The ordinary laws of physics can describe neither of those events.

The title text says that mathematicians and philosophers claim that what they study also represents everything. But (according to the comic) astronomers counter this by saying that they just study things that are written down, and this comprises just tiny amounts of "paper" on the Earth. This claim by mathematicians also appears in [[435: Purity]]. A conceivable counterargument by philosophers could be that any and all science, including astronomy, is nothing more than a branch of {{w|epistemology}}, the philosophical study of knowledge. Another could be that since philosophy includes theology, it is studying something even larger than the universe (although one could argue back that theology is nothing more than writing fiction.)

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

:The Universe by Scientific Field

:[A pie chart is shown. It is white except for a single black line going from the edge of the circle to the middle.]
:Astronomy [The white space]
:99.9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999997%

:Other [The black line]
:0.0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000003%

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Pie charts]]
[[Category:Science]]
[[Category:Astronomy]]
[[Category:Math]]
[[Category:Philosophy]]

2111: Opportunity Rover

2019-02-14T23:36:14Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2111
| date = February 13, 2019
| title = Opportunity Rover
| image = opportunity_rover.png
| titletext = Thanks for bringing us along.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Made By a GUY WITH ONIONS IN HIS ROOM, HE ISN'T CYRING... . Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic is a paean to the {{w|Opportunity (rover)|Opportunity rover}}, and its nearly 15 year mission in which it sent back publicly available photos and research from Mars to Earth. The evening prior to this comic uploading (Feb 12, 2019), Nasa's JPL sent their [https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/02/opportunity-did-not-answer-nasas-final-call-and-its-now-gone-to-us/ final data request] to the rover, in hopes that it would respond. When it did not, the rover was declared to be officially lost.

The comic starts with White Hat, looking at some people taking photographs and lamenting the fact that they're taking pictures all the time, saying "Kids these days...", a common complaint of younger people by their elders.This is actually a straw-person argument, as White Hat is lamenting that the younger generation look at the world through their camera phones and thus don't experience it directly, and believe that they lose some of the joy of the event in the process - [[1314: Photos|an opinion he has expressed previously]].

To this [[Randall]] appears to counter that sharing and showing to others is an exciting part of the joy, an opinion which he has been sharing since before this comic{{Citation needed}}. He then proceeds to say that the Oppurtunity of exploring a completely new world is an exciting part of the exploration, and expresses joy in the fact that MER-B Opportunity was able to share its experiences in its 15-year, 45-kilometer journey on Mars with the entirety of humanity.

The comic ends by thanking Rover (and NASA) for allowing the general public the incredible experiences it had on Mars in its 15 Earth-year lifetime, to receive the pictures and data, while traversing along hostile terrain for us. The last panel shows some "followers" which represents everyone on Earth listening to the words from Rover as it transmits the incredible experiences it had on Mars in its 15 Earth-year lifetime. Note, perhaps the reference to "dust devil" suggests these may have been the last such descriptions as that may refer to the deadly global dust storm that likely killed the Rover and ended the mission. Actually, the dust-devils were likely responsible for the amazing extended missions for both rovers as they tended to blow the accumulated dust off the solar panels.

The title text shows gratitude for the rover, which brought everyone on Earth, including Randall along in its journey by sending images of the journey to Earth. Also, Randall used to work for NASA, so as much joy as it brought the world at large, it probably felt just a little more personal for him.

The Opportunity rover also appeared in [[1504: Opportunity]], while its twin rover Spirit also had a dedicated comic in [[695: Spirit]]

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

:[White Hat is watching while two people in the background hold their phones to use their cameras.]
:Some people complain that we see the world through our cameras.
:White Hat: Kids these days...

:[Cueball points to the left with his hand while shouting.]
:But for me, the really exciting part of finding something new
:Cueball: ''Wow, you gotta come see this!''
:has always been showing it to others.

:[A space probe is approaching a planet.]
:Exploring an entire new world
:would already be the adventure of a lifetime.
:Imagine having the chance to share every new sight

:[A queue of seven people is seen following a rover.]
:with seven billion friends.
:Rover: ...and here's a trench I dug with my wheel, and here's where a dust devil went ''right'' past me, and over there is the biggest cliff I've ever seen, and this is...

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Science Girl]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Mars rovers]]
[[Category:Space]]

2076: Horror Movies 2

2019-02-13T05:10:06Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */ I noted that Jonas does indeed live; there are more books in the series, two featuring Jonas as a side character.

{{comic
| number = 2076
| date = November 23, 2018
| title = Horror Movies 2
| image = horror_movies_2.png
| titletext = When I was a kid, someone told me the end of The Giver was ambiguous, which surprised me. I had just assumed Jonah died--because the book had a medal on the cover, and I knew grown-ups liked stories where sad stuff happens at the end for no reason.
}}

==Explanation==

This comic is the second in the [[:Category:Horror Movies|Horror Movies]] series, and is the follow-up to [[2056: Horror Movies]] released a month earlier.

While the first Horror Movies comic was about giving voice to [[Randall|Randall's]] inability to enjoy horror movies, this comic takes Randall's previous position and exaggerates it.

[[White Hat]] and [[Cueball]] (as Randall) discuss the appeal of {{w|horror movies}} and tragic plots. Cueball expresses his dissatisfaction with stories that focus on evoking negative feelings. As an example he mentions how he disliked the ending of ''{{w|Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic}}'' where Jack sacrifices his life in order to save Rose. White Hat does not seem to share Cueball's point of view on successful storytelling and sarcastically promises to send feedback to the movie director {{w|James Cameron}} as well as the 16th century playwright and writer {{w|William Shakespeare}}, whose most famous works include tragedies like ''{{w|Romeo and Juliet}}''.

In the title text Cueball (as Randall?) discusses the ending of the science fiction novel ''{{w|The Giver}}'' where the fate of the main character Jonah [sic, [[2076: Horror Movies 2#Trivia|see Trivia]]] had been left ambiguous. The joke is a [https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DeathByNewberyMedal stereotype] that the {{w|Newbery Medal}}, a children's literature award, is only given to books with tragic endings. However, the protagonist lives, as there are three more titles in the series, two of which have the main character as a side character. However, those three books are rather obscure.

This was the first of two comics in a row to reference a specific movie genre, this one horror movies, the next one, [[2077: Heist]], heist movies.

==Transcript==
:[White Hat and Cueball are walking, with Cueball holding his arms out in front of him.]
:White Hat: So you don't like '''''any''''' horror movies?
:Cueball: Spooky stuff is neat but I hate jump scares and watching people get murdered.
:Cueball: Why would you '''''want''''' to see that?

:[Zoom in on the two.]
:White Hat: It's like roller coasters. People like experiencing powerful feelings in a safe, controlled setting.
:Cueball: But why not '''''good''''' feelings?

:[In a frame-less panel Cueball stops and turns towards White Hat.]
:White Hat: We've always been into tragic stories. Romeo and Juliet, Titanic...
:Cueball: See, that's another thing I don't get!

:[Zoom out again as White Hat walks past Cueball who now hold his arms out to the side as he looks after White Hat.]
:Cueball: I loved ''Titanic'' because Rose and Jack found each other and seemed so happy! I just hated the ending.
:White Hat: I'll be sure to give James Cameron and Shakespeare your feedback.

==Trivia==
*In the original (current) title-text, there is a typo where the protagonist of ''The Giver'' is referred to as "Jonah" instead of "Jonas."

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Horror Movies]]
[[Category:Comics sharing name|Horror Movies 02]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]
[[Category:Fiction]]

Talk:2107: Launch Risk

2019-02-05T15:54:19Z

108.162.221.17:

Gave a short explanation, but I think it would be good to mention probability based logical fallacies and https://what-if.xkcd.com/55/. Don’t know how to link without it looking bad. This is my first page! [[User:Netherin5|Netherin5]] ([[User talk:Netherin5|talk]]) 17:28, 4 February 2019 (UTC)

Revised to a more extensive explanation including the fallacy that the second astronaut apparently realizes in mid-reply. [[User:SteveMB|SteveMB]] ([[User talk:SteveMB|talk]])

What are the odds that one or both astronauts are female? I see "he" being used to refer to the second astronaut, but we don't actually know the sex of either one. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.74.135|162.158.74.135]] 17:56, 4 February 2019 (UTC)
: Fixed [[Special:Contributions/108.162.246.95|108.162.246.95]] 18:07, 4 February 2019 (UTC)

This seems wrong, at least with the lightning explanation. I believe the joke is that since he already is an astronaut, being hit by lightning doesn’t seem unlikely. [[User:Netherin5|Netherin5]] ([[User talk:Netherin5|talk]]) 18:03, 4 February 2019 (UTC)

Would be nice to add something about risk perception of common vs. uncommon and dramatic vs. more mundane seeming events. e.g. in US, lifetime chance of death from flu, 1 in 63; from automobile accident 1 in 84; from lightning 1 in 79,746; from shark attack, 1 in 3,748,067 https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/odds/compare-risk/death/ [[Special:Contributions/108.162.245.166|108.162.245.166]] 18:52, 4 February 2019 (UTC)
:I find it strange that 1 in 63 citizens die from flu, while 1 in 84 die in auto accidents. Those sound like old numbers to me.
:[[User:ProphetZarquon|ProphetZarquon]] ([[User talk:ProphetZarquon|talk]]) 22:44, 4 February 2019 (UTC)

The risk to be killed as an astronaut should be add somewhere (it is easy to find number of death/total number of astronaut) if someone want to make the morbid calculation. [[User:Xavier Combelle|Xavier Combelle]] ([[User talk:Xavier Combelle|talk]]) 18:55, 4 February 2019 (UTC)

From some impatient Googling and Wikipedia scanning there have been just over 360 people in space and 18 deaths (excepting training including Apollo 1). That puts the death rate at just over 3%.

These were mostly Shuttle as the crews were larger. However,the title is Launch Risk, so the figure would be less than half that, but still about 1.5%. Furthermore, if you ignore the Space Planes the Launch Risk is probably very low. [[User:RIIW - Ponder it|RIIW - Ponder it]] ([[User talk:RIIW - Ponder it|talk]]) 19:07, 4 February 2019 (UTC)

We should get a better source for the lightning info: The current citation is confirmed as a biased source owned and controlled by socialist Jews.
[[Special:Contributions/108.162.245.220|108.162.245.220]] 19:10, 4 February 2019 (UTC)
:I ''would'' like to hear some statistics on lightning-related death rates, as compiled by anarchist Buddhists.
:[[User:ProphetZarquon|ProphetZarquon]] ([[User talk:ProphetZarquon|talk]]) 22:44, 4 February 2019 (UTC)

I'd say that part of the joke was the phrasing. The astronaut's friend said "You're more likely to be struck by lightning than selected as an astronaut," which isn't very reassuring; if the friend had said "You're more likely to be killed by a lightning strike than to die in spaceflight," it might have been a consolation (albeit a fallacious one).

Removed the shark death rate statistic, since it was 1) not typical, 2) not comparable to the other statistics in the paragraph. The statistic given was the percent of shark attacks that are fatal. It used reporting from one beach in Brazil, noted for having particularly high death rate statistics [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shark_attack]. The other rates listed are lifetime chance of death from particular cause - a totally different statistic.

The rocket closly resembels Soyuz. Might be this comic releted to recent Soyuz launch accident? If it is so, the one who is trolling is russian cosmonaut. And it also meeans some meta-trolling.
:It could be a Soyuz, thought it looks like the conical part just below the escape tower has windows. Soyuz has just a closed fairing. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.182.58|172.68.182.58]] 11:38, 5 February 2019 (UTC)

Launch pads usually have lightning protection systems, as a lightning strike on an assembled rocket would be bad news. See https://ams.confex.com/ams/pdfpapers/38831.pdf for example

Talk:2107: Launch Risk

2019-02-05T15:53:52Z

108.162.221.17:

Gave a short explanation, but I think it would be good to mention probability based logical fallacies and https://what-if.xkcd.com/55/. Don’t know how to link without it looking bad. This is my first page! [[User:Netherin5|Netherin5]] ([[User talk:Netherin5|talk]]) 17:28, 4 February 2019 (UTC)

Revised to a more extensive explanation including the fallacy that the second astronaut apparently realizes in mid-reply. [[User:SteveMB|SteveMB]] ([[User talk:SteveMB|talk]])

What are the odds that one or both astronauts are female? I see "he" being used to refer to the second astronaut, but we don't actually know the sex of either one. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.74.135|162.158.74.135]] 17:56, 4 February 2019 (UTC)
: Fixed [[Special:Contributions/108.162.246.95|108.162.246.95]] 18:07, 4 February 2019 (UTC)

This seems wrong, at least with the lightning explanation. I believe the joke is that since he already is an astronaut, being hit by lightning doesn’t seem unlikely. [[User:Netherin5|Netherin5]] ([[User talk:Netherin5|talk]]) 18:03, 4 February 2019 (UTC)

Would be nice to add something about risk perception of common vs. uncommon and dramatic vs. more mundane seeming events. e.g. in US, lifetime chance of death from flu, 1 in 63; from automobile accident 1 in 84; from lightning 1 in 79,746; from shark attack, 1 in 3,748,067 https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/odds/compare-risk/death/ [[Special:Contributions/108.162.245.166|108.162.245.166]] 18:52, 4 February 2019 (UTC)
:I find it strange that 1 in 63 citizens die from flu, while 1 in 84 die in auto accidents. Those sound like old numbers to me.
:[[User:ProphetZarquon|ProphetZarquon]] ([[User talk:ProphetZarquon|talk]]) 22:44, 4 February 2019 (UTC)

The risk to be killed as an astronaut should be add somewhere (it is easy to find number of death/total number of astronaut) if someone want to make the morbid calculation. [[User:Xavier Combelle|Xavier Combelle]] ([[User talk:Xavier Combelle|talk]]) 18:55, 4 February 2019 (UTC)

From some impatient Googling and Wikipedia scanning there have been just over 360 people in space and 18 deaths (excepting training including Apollo 1). That puts the death rate at just over 3%.

These were mostly Shuttle as the crews were larger. However,the title is Launch Risk, so the figure would be less than half that, but still about 1.5%. Furthermore, if you ignore the Space Planes the Launch Risk is probably very low. [[User:RIIW - Ponder it|RIIW - Ponder it]] ([[User talk:RIIW - Ponder it|talk]]) 19:07, 4 February 2019 (UTC)

We should get a better source for the lightning info: The current citation is confirmed as a biased source owned and controlled by socialist Jews.
[[Special:Contributions/108.162.245.220|108.162.245.220]] 19:10, 4 February 2019 (UTC)
:I ''would'' like to hear some statistics on lightning-related death rates, as compiled by anarchist Buddhists.
:[[User:ProphetZarquon|ProphetZarquon]] ([[User talk:ProphetZarquon|talk]]) 22:44, 4 February 2019 (UTC)

I'd say that part of the joke was the phrasing. The astronaut's friend said "You're more likely to be struck by lightning than selected as an astronaut," which isn't very reassuring; if the friend had said "You're more likely to be killed by a lightning strike than to die in spaceflight," it might have been a consolation (albeit a fallacious one).

Removed the shark death rate statistic, since it was 1) not typical, 2) not comparable to the other statistics in the paragraph. The statistic given was the percent of shark attacks that are fatal. It used reporting from one beach in Brazil, noted for having particularly high death rate statistics [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shark_attack]. The other rates listed are lifetime chance of death from particular cause - a totally different statistic.

The rocket closly resembels Soyuz. Might be this comic releted to recent Soyuz launch accident? If it is so, the one who is trolling is russian cosmonaut. And it also meeans some meta-trolling.
:It could be a Soyuz, thought it looks like the conical part just below the escape tower has windows. Soyuz has just a closed fairing. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.182.58|172.68.182.58]] 11:38, 5 February 2019 (UTC)

Launch pads usually have lightning protection systems, as a lightning strike on an assembled rocket would be bad news. See https%://ams.confex.com/ams/pdfpapers/38831.pdf for example

2105: Modern OSI Model

2019-01-30T16:39:26Z

108.162.221.17: added missing "the"

{{comic
| number = 2105
| date = January 30, 2019
| title = Modern OSI Model
| image = modern_osi_model.png
| titletext = In retrospect, I shouldn't have used each layer of the OSI model as one of my horcruxes.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a seven-layered BOT. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
The {{w|OSI Model}} is a computing model for network communications that abstracts a communication between two services like a Facebook client and Facebook servers all the way from physical to user interaction layers. As Facebook is one of the most used websites in the world with more than a billion users, Randall claims that the "application" layer (what the client sees and uses) is mostly {{w|Facebook}}.

A light gray shape labeled "Google & Amazon" surrounds all seven layers of the model in an irregular shape indicating that Google and Amazon, by dint of their size and dominance at multiple layers of the model influence the entire structure. An example of Google's influence would be their introduction of new protocols like {{w|QUIC}} and {{w|SPDY}} as replacements for the existing HTTP protocol that was a foundation of the web.

The title text refers to {{w|Magical_objects_in_Harry_Potter#Horcruxes|Horcruxes}} used by {{w|Lord Voldemort|Voldemort}} in the ''{{w|Harry Potter}}'' book series. A Horcrux is a magical artifact used to house a wizard's soul, preventing them from dying if their body is destroyed. Since they can only be created by murdering other people, they are heavily forbidden, and before Voldemort it was unheard of for a wizard to use more than one. Voldemort used seven -- the same number of layers Randall uses in the OSI model. However, while Voldemort hid his seven Horcruxes in different places to make himself that much harder to kill, Randall has stashed all seven in the same place, defeating the purpose of using more than one. Alternatively, transforming each layer of the OSI model into a horcrux may be regarded as a strategy to prevent them from being destroyed since doing so would destroy networking. This strategy would fail in the modern world, since some of the envisioned layers were rarely used and in the case of cloud infrastructure potential exists to provide even more shortcuts.

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

:'''Modern OSI Model'''

::Application (Facebook)

::Presentation

::Session

::Transport

::Network

:Google & Amazon

::Data link

::Physical

{{comic discussion}}

Talk:2105: Modern OSI Model

2019-01-30T14:38:59Z

108.162.221.17:

Randall seems to be saying that a startup doesn't need to create a new computer system to service their customers, all they have to do is put up a Facebook page which uses Google to find products and then has Amazon deliver them. The middle layer "Transport" is a joke because Amazon literally ships physical boxes, but the OSI model is not about actual boxes; it's about information and the way the information is presented to the user vs what goes on behind the scenes.
But I don't get the part about the horcruxes. Is it just the fact that there are seven of them? Or is there some subtle connection I'm missing here? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.106.180|162.158.106.180]] 05:50, 30 January 2019 (UTC)
:(Spoilers alert) Voldemort uses signifying objects of his life, heritage and his school's founders as horcruces. When the OSI layers are used as horcruces, one problem would be that Google/Amazon would have taken control of two horcruces, the other that some of the layers are frayed at the sides. Randall should not have put his horcruces in living standards - that was a very dangerous move. Sebastian --[[Special:Contributions/172.68.110.46|172.68.110.46]] 07:54, 30 January 2019 (UTC)

Is there a meaning of the widths of the layers - not a block or a triangle/pyramid? Are there more layers than the named ones? Or the named ones multiple times? This would correspond to the design of ever more layers, virtualizations, abstractions and overall complexity of computer systems as time moved forward. Sebastian --[[Special:Contributions/172.68.110.46|172.68.110.46]] 07:49, 30 January 2019 (UTC)
:It looks like a jenga tower to me. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.89.223|162.158.89.223]] 12:35, 30 January 2019 (UTC)

I think Google & Amazon are the grey blob that is slowly absorbing all of the layers [[Special:Contributions/141.101.107.114|141.101.107.114]] 07:55, 30 January 2019 (UTC)
: Excellent remark! Google & Amazon are inserted between the Data Link and Network layers, and while it seems like an eight layer from the shape profile, they do not sit in their own bordered rectangle. Another view point is maybe Randall tried to display the fight between the Infrastructure providers to capture a new layer in gestation. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.107.114|141.101.107.114]] 08:21, 30 January 2019 (UTC)

: Agreed. There is no way that Randall wanted the label for the gray blob to just apply to a couple of layers. It's clearly labelling the entire gray blob as "Google and Amazon". Otherwise, he would have put in another dividing line or two. So all the glue between the layers is being described as "Google and Amazon". Meaning that the layers wouldn't even be able to talk to each other and function correctly without G+A glue between them. Maybe this is "glue" in the technical sense of trivial code which converts from one API to another. The basic point here is that Google lays cable in some places and writes Chrome and owns You Tube, so it's definitely at both ends. I'm not sufficiently knowledgeable to say if it owns/writes stuff in the middle. And I'd be surprised if this was true of Amazon. But it's not my place to comment on the veracity of Randall's remarks, I'm just trying to sort out what he's saying.

: That's how I understood it as well. By having there hands in *everything* G+A defeat the whole purpose of having a layered (ie. divided) model, making the 'modern model' just bits and pieces added to G+A code.

Trivia: (Major Spoiler alert) Voldemort originally intended to create six horcruces to divide his soul into 7 (including his own body) pieces. The 6th unintended horcrux is Harry Potter by Voldemort killing his parents. Later on after his revival Voldemort made the snake Nagini to his seemingly 6th horcrux, which was actually his 7th. Does that mean Randall embodies one of the OSI layers from the beginning of his existence? :-) Sebastian --[[Special:Contributions/172.68.110.46|172.68.110.46]] 08:01, 30 January 2019 (UTC)

Just a point of contention with the current explanation. Right now, Google and Facebook are two of the major players in cloud-based computing: I have seen tutorials on leveraging Google's cloud services to home-brew your own proxy service.
As such, a lot of internet services are running ON Google or Amazon, so Google and Amazon DO effectively own, or at least manage, several layers.
I do not know if Facebook is one of those, and I would tend to doubt it, considering its size.

2104: Biff Tannen

2019-01-29T15:39:31Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2104
| date = January 28, 2019
| title = Biff Tannen
| image = biff_tannen.png
| titletext = I can't help myself; now I want to read a bunch of thinkpieces from newspapers in Biff's 1985 arguing over whether the growth of the region into a corporate dystopia was inevitable.
}}

==Explanation==

This comic is based on ''{{w|Back to the Future II}}''. In this movie, the character Biff Tannen steals the time machine, which is the main plot device, and uses it to go back in time from 2015 to 1955. He then gives Marty McFly’s sports almanac, containing the outcomes of 50 years (1950–2000) worth of sporting events, to his younger self. His younger self uses this sports almanac to make millions by successfully betting on {{w|horse races}}. He then forms a company, and calls it [https://backtothefuture.fandom.com/wiki/BiffCo BiffCo]. While in the movie the protagonists reverse this, by stealing the almanac back, Cueball imagines the universe where BiffCo continues to exist in a parallel universe. This is consistent with the {{w|multiverse}} theory.

Cueball mentions that this universe would not have any ''counterfactuals'' to work with. This is often short in epistemology for {{w|counterfactual conditionals}}, that is, conditional statements about what ''would'' be true if something ''were'' true that we know for a fact is not true. For instance, Randall’s “[[what if?]]” series is based on counterfactuals, for it explores hypotheticals—conditionals which are contrary to fact. The first post in that series, about what would happen if you tried to hit a baseball that was thrown at 90% the speed of light, is a counterfactual, because we know for a fact that a baseball has never been hit at such a speed{{Citation needed}}. In the case of the universe where BiffCo exists, they would not have any information on the ''counterfactuals'', that is, the facts about what would happen if Biff did not have this almanac.

The movie is set in the fictional town of Hill Valley, California. When the protagonists return to 1985, they find that Biff has turned the town’s “Courthouse Square” into a 27-story casino, and generally taken over Hill Valley. Cueball interprets this as “the decline of the city, and general social decay”.

''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillbilly_Elegy Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis]'' is a book, published in June 2016, that gives an account of growing up in a poor Rust Belt town, and offers a broader, probing look at the struggles of America’s white working class. This comic is a play on the title of this book, which has been described as explaining the “social, regional, and class” issues in white working-class America. The white American working class was a key factor in the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, and many critics have interpreted the book as an explanation of his election, which was deemed improbable by many analysts before it happened. Netflix [https://deadline.com/2019/01/netflix-hillbilly-elegy-ron-howard-movie-deal-40m-1202541118/ purchased the rights] to an upcoming film adaptation of the book three days before this comic, prompting another wave of criticism of the book's theories.

Cueball is proposing a similarly-titled book, set in the ''Back to the Future II'' universe where BiffCo exists, that would describe the supposed factors leading to the rise of Biff Tannen in Hill Valley. In that universe, while the rise of Biff—and the subsequent decay of the city—is the result of his using a future sports almanac to cheat at sports betting, the rest of the population would have to guess at the structural societal issues that might have caused Biff’s otherwise inexplicable success. Thus, Cueball compares such blind guessing with the analysis contained in ''Hillbilly Elegy''.

This makes White Hat Guy angry, because it’s such a painfully long setup for a really stupid pun. There is also a decent chance that the book White Hat Guy is currently reading is ''Hillbilly Elegy'', which would make the joke more insulting to him, as it compares the book to useless theorizing about an event which was really caused by time traveling. After seeing similar symptoms in our society, perhaps he would consider that we are living in such a world predetermined to negative effects. It would probably frustrate him that being optimistic for the future and hoping for a changing society would be an effort in vain, when the universe is similarly tampered with by time-travellers. Alternatively, he is enjoying the book and is angry at the insult to it.

[[Randall]] is known to have [[1756: I'm With Her|supported Hillary Clinton]], the opposing candidate, in the 2016 election, having made a comic just to promote her, and particularly [[1779: 2017|sad comics]] following Trump's election. Therefore, he may have made this comic as an insult to a book which supposedly explains the election of the candidate he opposed, by comparing it to useless (and wrong) theorizing. It may also be intended as an insult to Trump himself, by comparing the dystopian universe where Biff rose to power (albeit not as President) to the actual universe where Trump rose to power.

Alternatively, the comic may be an allusion to alleged Russian tampering of the 2016 U.S. elections: Randall is proposing that it is futile to attribute Donald Trump's rise to power to any set of structural, societal issues that may have acted indirectly while ignoring the hidden, speculated, but far more direct cause of foul play, just as it would be futile to analyze Biff Tannen's rise to power by similar means, ignoring the impact of foul play via time travel and a sports almanac.

The title text continues this comparison by mentioning thinkpieces from newspapers that would appear in the ''Back to the Future II'' universe where BiffCo exists. Various thinkpieces did appear in real life newspapers in an attempt to explain Trump’s rise to power after his election, and asking whether it was inevitable.

As ''{{w|Back to the Future II}}''’s important October 2015 setting date approached, commentators began noting the similarities between the older version of the character Biff Tannen and then presidential candidate Donald Trump. When the comparison was brought to the attention of the film’s writer, Bob Gale, in an interview, he [https://www.thedailybeast.com/back-to-the-future-writer-biff-tannen-is-based-on-donald-trump# claimed] that elements of Tannen’s personality were actually based on Trump, who was already well known in the late 1980s for his work in real estate and tabloid controversies. Thus, there is a real connection between Biff Tannen and Donald Trump. This supports the comparison between the two made by Randall. That being said, actor Tom Wilson has [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4lYCaFx3Og denied] that his performance of the role was in any way based on Trump.

==Transcript==

:[Cueball talks while walking up behind White Hat, who is reading in an armchair.]
:Cueball: You know, in the universe where Biff Tannen took Marty McFly’s sports almanac back in time, the people wouldn’t have any counterfactuals to work with.
:Cueball: Their world would be ''the'' world.

:[White Hat turns his head to look at Cueball as he keeps talking.]
:Cueball: They would have spent decades debating which structural problems enabled the rise of BiffCo, the decline of the city, and general social decay.
:Cueball: Everyone would find reasons it confirmed their pet theory.

:Cueball: I'm going to write a book set in that universe. I'll call it ''Hill Valley Elegy''.
:[White Hat turns his head back to his book in disgust.]
:White Hat: ... I ''hate'' you.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]
[[Category:Fiction]]
[[Category:Time travel]]

2034: Equations

2019-01-21T07:08:08Z

108.162.221.17: Further clarified after reading the comic again.

{{comic
| number = 2034
| date = August 17, 2018
| title = Equations
| image = equations.png
| titletext = All electromagnetic equations: The same as all fluid dynamics equations, but with the 8 and 23 replaced with the permittivity and permeability of free space, respectively.
}}
==Explanation==

This comic gives a set of mock equations. To anyone not familiar with the field in question they look pretty similar to what you might find in research papers or on the relevant Wikipedia pages. Most of the jokes are related to the symbols or "look" of most equations in the given field.

The comic makes jokes about the fields of kinematics, number theory, fluid dynamics, quantum mechanics, chemistry, quantum gravity, gauge theory, cosmology, and physics equations. Of course, all of the equations listed are not real equations (<math>\pi-\infty</math> and H2EAT are clearly jokes and making a mockery of the given field). As always, Randall is just having a laugh.

:<math>E=K_{0}t+\frac{1}{2}\rho{}vt^2</math>
;All kinematics equations
Most kinematics equations tend to make heavy use of constants, addition, powers, and multiplication. This specific equation resembles the actual kinematics equation d = vt + 1/2at^2, but replaces a (acceleration) with v (velocity) and replaces velocity with "K0", which is not a term used in kinematics.

:<math>K_{n}=\sum_{i=0}^{\infty}\sum_{\pi=0}^{\infty}(n-\pi)(i+e^{\pi-\infty})</math>
;All number theory equations
Randall jokes about how number theory often involves the use of summations. The use of ''π'' as an integer variable in the double summation is a joke, as ''π'' is essentially always used for the well-known constant 3.14159..., not a variable. The use of ''i'' as a summation variable '''is''' common, though it can also be confused with the imaginary unit √-1. The constants ''e'', ''i'', and ''π'', as well as the theoretical upper bound <math>\infty</math>, often appear in number theory equations.

:<math>\frac{\partial}{\partial{t}}\nabla\!\cdot\!\rho=\frac{8}{23}\int\!\!\!\!\int\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\subset\!\!\supset\rho\,{ds}\,{dt}\cdot{}\rho\frac{\partial}{\partial\nabla}</math>
;All fluid dynamics equations
Fluid dynamics equations often involve copious integrals, especially those over closed contours as done here, which are often the main telling factors of those equations to an outsider.

:<math>|\psi_{x,y}\rangle=A(\psi)A(|x\rangle\otimes|y\rangle)</math>
;All quantum mechanics equations
Quantum mechanics often involves some of the foreign-looking symbols listed, including {{w|Bra–ket notation|bra-ket notation}}, the {{w|Tensor product|tensor product}}, and the Greek letter Psi for a quantum state. Specifically, the left side of the equation is a ket state labeled Psi that depends on x and y (probably positions), while the right hand side may be an operator A that depends on the state Psi (it is very unusual to have such a dependence) acting on what looks like another copy of that operator which depends on the outer product of states labeled by x and y (again strange). A charitable interpretation could be that the second A is the eigenfunction A of the operator A. Normally this is clearly indicated by giving the operator a “hat” (^ symbol) or making the eigenfunction into a ket eigenstate, but since the equation is intentionally nonsense both A’s are left ambiguous. Also note that the bra-ket math is inconsistent here, as the left side is a ket, but the right side is just two A’s, which are either operators or functions but are definitely not kets.

:<math>CH_4+OH+HEAT\rightarrow{}H_2O+CH_{2}+H_2EAT</math>
;All chemistry equations
Chemistry equations use formulas of chemical compounds to describe a chemical reaction. Such equations show the starting chemicals on the left side and the resulting products on the right side, as displayed. Sometimes such an equation might optionally indicate that an {{w|activation energy}} is required, for the reaction to take place in a sensible timeframe, e.g. by heating. A reaction requiring heating is usually indicated by a Greek capital letter Delta (''Δ'') or a specified temperature above the reaction arrow, however this comic uses the "+ HEAT" term on the left side instead. The joke is that Randall interprets "HEAT" to be another chemical, which reacts with Hydrogen (H) to H2EAT, which is non-sensical, as heat is transferred energy here, not added matter. Regardless of this, Randall gets the {{w|stoichiometry}} of this equation correct, with the same number of all types of 'atoms' on each side of the equation.

:<math>SU(2)U(1)\times{}SU(U(2))</math>
;All quantum gravity equations
Quantum gravity uses mathematical {{w|Group (mathematics)|groups}} denoted by uppercase letters, as shown. {{w|Special unitary group|SU(2)}}, {{w|Unitary group|U(1)}}, and {{w|Unitary group|U(2)}} are all well-studied groups, though 'SU(U(2))' makes no sense. The lack of relator means this expression isn't an equation. Here is a possible pun, on "Sue you too... you won"... "Sue you, you too", though it's unclear how it fits in here.

:Sg=(-1)/(2ε̄) ið(̂ ξ0 ⨢ pε ρvabc⋅η0)̂ f̵a0 λ(ξ) ψ(0a)
;All gauge theory equations
Gauge theory is a subset of field theory. Most gauge theory equations appear to have many strange-looking constants and variables with odd labels.

:<math>H(t)+\Omega+G\!\cdot\!\nabla...\begin{cases}...>0\mathsf{\ (Hubble\ model)}\\
...=0\mathsf{\ (Flat\ sphere\ model)}\\
...<0\mathsf{\ (Bright\ dark\ matter\ model)}
\end{cases}</math>
;All cosmology equations
Cosmology is the science of the development and ultimate fate of the universe. The joke here may be pertaining to the different models accepted in the field of cosmology. H is the {{w|Hubble's law#Time-dependence of Hubble parameter|Hubble parameter}}, Ω is the universal {{w|Friedmann equations#Density parameter|density parameter}}, G is the {{w|gravitational constant}}, and Λ is the {{w|cosmological constant}}.

:Ĥ - u̧0 = 0
;All truly deep physics equations
The joke about the "truly deep physics equations" is that most of the universal physics equations are simple, almost exceedingly so. One example is Einstein's <math>E = mc^2</math>.

The title text is referencing the fact that the electric and magnetic fields are often explained to physics students using an analogy with fluid dynamics, as well as the fact that they do share some similarities (only in terms of mathematical description as three-dimensional vector fields) with fluids. The permittivity constant (represented with ''ε''0) and the permeability constant (represented with ''μ''0) are coefficients that relate the amount of charge required to cause a specific amount of electric flux in a vacuum and the ability of vacuum to support the formation of magnetic fields, respectively. They appear frequently in Maxwell's equations (the equations that define the electric and magnetic fields in classical mechanics), so Randall is making the joke that any surface integral with them in it automatically is an electromagnetism equation.

==Transcript==
:[Nine equations are listed, three in the top row and two in each of the next three rows. Below each equation there are labels:]

:E=K0t+1/2 ρvt2
:All kinematics equations

:Kn=∑∞i=0∑∞π=0(n-π)(i-eπ-∞) [K sub n = the summation from i = 0 to infinity of the sum from pi = 0 to infinity of (n - pi) * (i-e^(pi-infinity))]
:All number theory equations

:∂/∂t ∇⋅ρ=8/23 (∯ ρ ds dt ⋅ ρ ∂/∂∇)
:All fluid dynamics equations

:|ψx,y〉=A(ψ)A(|x〉⊗|y〉)
:All quantum mechanics equations

:CH4+OH+HEAT→H2O+CH2+H2EAT
:All chemistry equations

:SU(2)U(1)×SU(U(2))
:All quantum gravity equations

:Sg=(-1)/(2ε̄) ið(̂ ξ0 ⨢ pε ρvabc⋅η0)̂ f̵a0 λ(ξ) ψ(0a)
:All gauge theory equations

:H(t)+Ω+G⋅Λ ...
:[There is a brace linking the three cases together.]
:... > 0 (Hubble model)
:... = 0 (Flat sphere model)
:... < 0 (Bright dark matter model)
:All cosmology equations

:Ĥ - u̧0 = 0
:All truly deep physics equations

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Science]]
[[Category:Physics]]
[[Category:Math]]
[[Category:Chemistry]]
[[Category:Astronomy]]

2034: Equations

2019-01-21T06:55:18Z

108.162.221.17: Added explanation to the quantum mechanics equation. Love the site guys!

{{comic
| number = 2034
| date = August 17, 2018
| title = Equations
| image = equations.png
| titletext = All electromagnetic equations: The same as all fluid dynamics equations, but with the 8 and 23 replaced with the permittivity and permeability of free space, respectively.
}}
==Explanation==

This comic gives a set of mock equations. To anyone not familiar with the field in question they look pretty similar to what you might find in research papers or on the relevant Wikipedia pages. Most of the jokes are related to the symbols or "look" of most equations in the given field.

The comic makes jokes about the fields of kinematics, number theory, fluid dynamics, quantum mechanics, chemistry, quantum gravity, gauge theory, cosmology, and physics equations. Of course, all of the equations listed are not real equations (<math>\pi-\infty</math> and H2EAT are clearly jokes and making a mockery of the given field). As always, Randall is just having a laugh.

:<math>E=K_{0}t+\frac{1}{2}\rho{}vt^2</math>
;All kinematics equations
Most kinematics equations tend to make heavy use of constants, addition, powers, and multiplication. This specific equation resembles the actual kinematics equation d = vt + 1/2at^2, but replaces a (acceleration) with v (velocity) and replaces velocity with "K0", which is not a term used in kinematics.

:<math>K_{n}=\sum_{i=0}^{\infty}\sum_{\pi=0}^{\infty}(n-\pi)(i+e^{\pi-\infty})</math>
;All number theory equations
Randall jokes about how number theory often involves the use of summations. The use of ''π'' as an integer variable in the double summation is a joke, as ''π'' is essentially always used for the well-known constant 3.14159..., not a variable. The use of ''i'' as a summation variable '''is''' common, though it can also be confused with the imaginary unit √-1. The constants ''e'', ''i'', and ''π'', as well as the theoretical upper bound <math>\infty</math>, often appear in number theory equations.

:<math>\frac{\partial}{\partial{t}}\nabla\!\cdot\!\rho=\frac{8}{23}\int\!\!\!\!\int\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\subset\!\!\supset\rho\,{ds}\,{dt}\cdot{}\rho\frac{\partial}{\partial\nabla}</math>
;All fluid dynamics equations
Fluid dynamics equations often involve copious integrals, especially those over closed contours as done here, which are often the main telling factors of those equations to an outsider.

:<math>|\psi_{x,y}\rangle=A(\psi)A(|x\rangle\otimes|y\rangle)</math>
;All quantum mechanics equations
Quantum mechanics often involves some of the foreign-looking symbols listed, including {{w|Bra–ket notation|bra-ket notation}}, the {{w|Tensor product|tensor product}}, and the Greek letter Psi for a quantum state. Specifically, the left side of the equation is a ket state labeled Psi that depends on x and y (probably positions), while the right hand side may be an operator A that depends on the state Psi (it is very unusual to have such a dependence) acting on the outer product of states labeled by x and y.

:<math>CH_4+OH+HEAT\rightarrow{}H_2O+CH_{2}+H_2EAT</math>
;All chemistry equations
Chemistry equations use formulas of chemical compounds to describe a chemical reaction. Such equations show the starting chemicals on the left side and the resulting products on the right side, as displayed. Sometimes such an equation might optionally indicate that an {{w|activation energy}} is required, for the reaction to take place in a sensible timeframe, e.g. by heating. A reaction requiring heating is usually indicated by a Greek capital letter Delta (''Δ'') or a specified temperature above the reaction arrow, however this comic uses the "+ HEAT" term on the left side instead. The joke is that Randall interprets "HEAT" to be another chemical, which reacts with Hydrogen (H) to H2EAT, which is non-sensical, as heat is transferred energy here, not added matter. Regardless of this, Randall gets the {{w|stoichiometry}} of this equation correct, with the same number of all types of 'atoms' on each side of the equation.

:<math>SU(2)U(1)\times{}SU(U(2))</math>
;All quantum gravity equations
Quantum gravity uses mathematical {{w|Group (mathematics)|groups}} denoted by uppercase letters, as shown. {{w|Special unitary group|SU(2)}}, {{w|Unitary group|U(1)}}, and {{w|Unitary group|U(2)}} are all well-studied groups, though 'SU(U(2))' makes no sense. The lack of relator means this expression isn't an equation. Here is a possible pun, on "Sue you too... you won"... "Sue you, you too", though it's unclear how it fits in here.

:Sg=(-1)/(2ε̄) ið(̂ ξ0 ⨢ pε ρvabc⋅η0)̂ f̵a0 λ(ξ) ψ(0a)
;All gauge theory equations
Gauge theory is a subset of field theory. Most gauge theory equations appear to have many strange-looking constants and variables with odd labels.

:<math>H(t)+\Omega+G\!\cdot\!\nabla...\begin{cases}...>0\mathsf{\ (Hubble\ model)}\\
...=0\mathsf{\ (Flat\ sphere\ model)}\\
...<0\mathsf{\ (Bright\ dark\ matter\ model)}
\end{cases}</math>
;All cosmology equations
Cosmology is the science of the development and ultimate fate of the universe. The joke here may be pertaining to the different models accepted in the field of cosmology. H is the {{w|Hubble's law#Time-dependence of Hubble parameter|Hubble parameter}}, Ω is the universal {{w|Friedmann equations#Density parameter|density parameter}}, G is the {{w|gravitational constant}}, and Λ is the {{w|cosmological constant}}.

:Ĥ - u̧0 = 0
;All truly deep physics equations
The joke about the "truly deep physics equations" is that most of the universal physics equations are simple, almost exceedingly so. One example is Einstein's <math>E = mc^2</math>.

The title text is referencing the fact that the electric and magnetic fields are often explained to physics students using an analogy with fluid dynamics, as well as the fact that they do share some similarities (only in terms of mathematical description as three-dimensional vector fields) with fluids. The permittivity constant (represented with ''ε''0) and the permeability constant (represented with ''μ''0) are coefficients that relate the amount of charge required to cause a specific amount of electric flux in a vacuum and the ability of vacuum to support the formation of magnetic fields, respectively. They appear frequently in Maxwell's equations (the equations that define the electric and magnetic fields in classical mechanics), so Randall is making the joke that any surface integral with them in it automatically is an electromagnetism equation.

==Transcript==
:[Nine equations are listed, three in the top row and two in each of the next three rows. Below each equation there are labels:]

:E=K0t+1/2 ρvt2
:All kinematics equations

:Kn=∑∞i=0∑∞π=0(n-π)(i-eπ-∞) [K sub n = the summation from i = 0 to infinity of the sum from pi = 0 to infinity of (n - pi) * (i-e^(pi-infinity))]
:All number theory equations

:∂/∂t ∇⋅ρ=8/23 (∯ ρ ds dt ⋅ ρ ∂/∂∇)
:All fluid dynamics equations

:|ψx,y〉=A(ψ)A(|x〉⊗|y〉)
:All quantum mechanics equations

:CH4+OH+HEAT→H2O+CH2+H2EAT
:All chemistry equations

:SU(2)U(1)×SU(U(2))
:All quantum gravity equations

:Sg=(-1)/(2ε̄) ið(̂ ξ0 ⨢ pε ρvabc⋅η0)̂ f̵a0 λ(ξ) ψ(0a)
:All gauge theory equations

:H(t)+Ω+G⋅Λ ...
:[There is a brace linking the three cases together.]
:... > 0 (Hubble model)
:... = 0 (Flat sphere model)
:... < 0 (Bright dark matter model)
:All cosmology equations

:Ĥ - u̧0 = 0
:All truly deep physics equations

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Science]]
[[Category:Physics]]
[[Category:Math]]
[[Category:Chemistry]]
[[Category:Astronomy]]

2094: Short Selling

2019-01-04T18:40:16Z

108.162.221.17: Expanded on the fairy tale origins of Ponytails analogy by adding references to Rapunzel and Into the Woods

{{comic
| number = 2094
| date = January 4, 2019
| title = Short Selling
| image = short_selling.png
| titletext = "I'm selling all my analogies at auction tomorrow, and that witch over there will give you 20 beans if you promise on pain of death to win them for her." "What if SEVERAL people promised witches they'd win, creating some kind of a ... squeeze? Gosh, you could make a lot of–" "Don't be silly! That probably never happens."
}}

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

{{w|Short (finance)|Shorting stocks}} (short selling stocks) is a stock market practice where someone takes a risk because they believe that a certain stock's price is going to drop. The risk-taker borrows stock to sell, believing that they will be able to buy the stock back later at a lower price and return it. If everything goes according to plan, the risk-taker will walk away with a profit. Of course, if things don't go according to plan, the risk-taker winds up losing money.

Cueball asks Ponytail to explain shorting stocks. Ponytail starts out with a fairy tale story that falls apart almost before she even starts.

Her story appears to begin by mixing up the story of {{w|Rapunzel|Rapunzel}} with {{w|Jack and the Beanstalk|Jack and the Beanstalk}}.

In one version of {{w|Rapunzel|Rapunzel}} a Father breaks into a witches garden to steal the Rapunzel plant for his pregnant wife, in this version of the story the Witch catches him and agrees to let him go and not punishing him in exchange for the child.

In one version of the "{{w|Jack and the Beanstalk|Jack and the Beanstalk}}" fairy tale story, Jack sells a cow for magic beans. His mother, thinking the beans are fake, is angry with Jack. Jack plants the beans and a magic beanstalk grows up into the clouds. Jack climbs the beanstalk and explores the land above the clouds. He finds the home of a cruel giant and proceeds to steal from the giant. The giant discovers the theft and chases Jack back down the beanstalk. Jack reaches the bottom of the beanstalk first and cuts the beanstalk down. The giant falls to his death, and Jack uses his stolen wealth to take care of himself and his mother.

The combination of the two stories is similar to the story from the musical "{{w|Into the Woods|Into the Woods}}," In witch a Father sneaks into the Witches garden to steal vegetables and then trades his soon to be born child for the vegetables, but also steals beans in the process.

Ponytail's version starts with a father (not Jack) selling a child he hasn't had yet to a witch. Like short selling, the father is selling something he doesn't own. But unlike short selling, the father is selling something that doesn't exist yet. The child is sold for five magic beans, and the father thinks he will make a profit as he believes the child will only be worth two beans/love once born. The debt comes due, but the value of the child is now 200 beans/love.

The somewhat broken analogy breaks further when Ponytail says the father now is going to fight the witch instead of paying the witch with the child. There is no "fighting" if a short selling stock strategy fails. You simply lose money.

Our now definitely broken analogy breaks down even further (if possible) by sending the kid up the beanstalk to fight the giant - a giant that Ponytail says represents high interest rates. Interest rates have nothing to do with shorting stocks. (Technically they can, but the short seller would have / should have calculated that when determining if their investment strategy would work.)

Cueball comments that the analogy is rapidly losing its value to him. Ponytail fires back with the comment that he should have shorted her advice before asking for it, thus making a profit.

The title text is actually the most useful part of this comic when it comes to investment advice. The witch (the broker) is offering the father (short seller) 20 magic beans now if the father/short seller buys all of the analogies (stocks) later. However, the witch/stock broker tricks several people into this strategy. Since every father/seller now needs the same analogies/stocks, a bidding war erupts. The winner pays a much higher price than expected. And the losers wind up either dead or enslaved (bankrupt).

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
:[Cueball and Ponytail are walking together, talking.]
:Cueball: I don't understand shorting stocks.
:Ponytail: It's like when you promise your firstborn to a witch for five magic beans.

:[Ponytail close up]
:Cueball: Is that a common-
:Ponytail: She's a sucker, right? You know your awful kid will be worth one or two beans at ''best''.

:[Ponytail and Cueball stopped, facing each other]
:Ponytail: But then it turns out you ''love'' your kid, a love worth 200 beans! You can't afford that loss!
:Ponytail: There's only one way out:
:Ponytail: You gotta fight the witch.

:[Ponytail and Cueball stopped, facing each other]
:Ponytail: So you send your kid up the beanstalk to battle the giant, who represents interest rates.
:Cueball: This analogy is getting less helpful by the minute.
:Ponytail: If only you'd somehow shorted my wisdom before you asked.

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

1688: Map Age Guide

2016-07-30T01:34:37Z

108.162.221.17: /* Table */ Map fingerprinting

{{comic
| number = 1688
| date = June 1, 2016
| title = Map Age Guide
| image = map_age_guide.png
| titletext = Does the screeching chill your blood and herald death? If yes, banshee. If no, seagull.
}}

*A [http://xkcd.com/1688/large/ larger version] of this image can be found by clicking the image at xkcd.com - the comic's page can also be accessed by clicking on the comic number above.

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Errors in the year etc. should be collected in the [[#Trivia|trivia section]]. Another table with the possible year ranges and the length of their interval would be interesting. (Only for the political maps) What are the longest range after 1805 and how finely disected are the maps closer to today?}}
The comic consists of a flowchart depicting various ways to tell what era a map is from based on present country borders and land forms. (Except in the Not a Political Map Branch (from "Can you see the familiar continents?" downwards), the comic applies to a political map.) While many of the options are very serious, a few bizarre options reference to fictional maps ({{w|Discworld}}, {{w|Narnia}} and Tolkien's {{w|Middle-earth}}), or consider that seagulls, staplers, tubas or breadboxes could be mistaken for a map. Randall also mentions US President {{w|Jimmy Carter}} being attacked by a giant swimming rabbit, an event previously referenced as one we must never forget in [[204: America]].

The flowchart, although probably effective in eventually identifying the production year of certain maps, is designed in a rather inefficient way as some early distinctions are already on a very detailed level before some really important distinctions (fictional or non-political map) are made. This, of course, adds to the humorous tone of the comic. It is also hampered by several smaller or larger error (see [[#Trivia|trivia]]), the biggest a whole section on I-25 that gives year in the range 1948-1952, before the I-25 was built and coming from a question that fixed the year range to 1960-1961.

Additionally, (possible) future maps including a "Radioactive Exclusion Zone" in the place of Colorado are mentioned. It predicts that some kind of nuclear incident will occur in Colorado (possibly at Rulison or Rio Blanco nuclear testing sites) in 2022. It also predicts that the area will be infested by radioactive spiders one year later.

The title text continues the path where the user has confused a seagull for a map by inquiring if the (presumed) seagull might be a banshee based on the effect of its screams.

===Table===
*Going through the flowchart, taking the leftmost path first, recursively. (Note there is no recursive loop). See also {{w|Depth-first search}}.
**"Prior Date Range" is the range determined immediately before the question, carried over from the previous question.
**"Question Date Range" is the range each answer choice implies.
**"New Date Range" is the intersection of the Prior Date Range and the Question Date Range for each choice, and is the range determined by all questions hitherto answered.

{| border =1 width=100% cellpadding=5 class="wikitable"
! # !! Question !! Explanation !! Prior Date Range !! Question Date Range !! New Date Range
|-
! 1
| '''Istanbul or Constantinople'''
| The largest city in Turkey is famous for having different names at different times or to different people. Variations on both names go back at least 1,000 years. Other names have also been used at various points. {{w|Istanbul}} has been the official name since the 1920's, although Western maps often referred to it as Constantinople as late as the 1960's; on the flowchart, the choice of name appears to go with the 1920's date. The name changes are the subject of a [http://mentalfloss.com/article/60314/original-istanbul-not-constantinople song], originally by the Four Lads, but now mainly known for the They Might Be Giants recording.
| '''Start here'''
|
* Constantinople: 330 - 1928
* Neither: inconclusive
* Istanbul: 1928+
|
* Constantinople: 330 - 1928 (Go to 2)
* Neither: inconclusive (Go to 19)
* Istanbul: 1928+ (Go to 52)
|-
| colspan="6" | '''Note:''' the chart splits here into three divisions, each from a choice in question 1. The Neither Division will attempt to use other indicators to sort maps into one of the other two divisions or branches thereof, or, after 5 failures to find a country, conclude that the "map" in question is not a political map and proceed to find out what it is (the Not a Political Map Branch). The Constantinople and Istanbul Divisions are linear except where the Neither Division joins them as stated above.
|-
! colspan="6" | Constantinople Division
|-
! 2
| '''Do any of these exist?'''
* '''Independent Canada'''
* '''US Territory of Alaska'''
* '''Tokyo'''
| All these seem to specify a date cut-off of 1867/8, but there are caveats attached to each:
* Canada gained its independence gradually, but it would appear as its own country on maps some time between the {{w|Constitution Act, 1867}} (which created Canada as a British dominion) and the {{w|Statute of Westminster 1931}} (which made Canada largely self-governing).
* The {{w|Territory of Alaska}} existed between 1912 (previously, it was a US district) and 1959 (when it became a state). The US has owned Alaska since the 1867 {{w|Alaska Purchase}}, but it was not a territory then.
* {{w|Tokyo}} was once called Edo. It was renamed Tokyo (which means "Eastern Capital") when it became the capital in 1868. [https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=Tokyo%2CTokei&year_start=1870&year_end=1880&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2CTokyo%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2CTokei%3B%2Cc0 Most English books around then] would actually have called it "Tokei", the Chinese reading. The name Tokyo didn't take off until {{w|Hepburn romanization}} was popularized in the 1880s.
| 330 - 1928 (from 1)
1299 - 1922 (from 19 in the Neither Division)
(from 24 in the Neither Division)
|
* No: 1867-
* Yes: 1868+
|
* No: 330 - 1867 (Go to 3)
* Yes: 1868 - 1928 (Go to 11)
|-
! colspan="6" | Holy Roman Empire Branch
|-
! 3
| '''The Holy Roman Empire?'''
| The predecessor to modern Germany, the {{w|Holy Roman Empire}} was a union of hundreds of small states in Central Europe. Nationalism and the concept of the {{w|nation state}} hadn't taken off yet, so countries as we know them didn't really exist. There were just small lands, often with keenly contested borders, owned by minor aristocracy who pledged allegiance to one of the big powers. The HRE was dissolved in 1806 after it was invaded by Napoleon, arguably the first leader to realise the potential of making a nation salute a flag.
| 330 - 1867
|
* Yes: 899 - 1806
* No: 899- or 1806+
|
* Yes: 899 - 1806 (Stated in comic as "1805 or earlier", since modern map-making was fuzzy as a concept prior) ('''Stop''')
* No: 330 - 899 or 1806-67 (Go to 4)
|-
! 4
| '''The United States?'''
| The original 13 colonies declared independence in 1776. A map that does not include ''either'' the HRE ''or'' the USA must be older than the HRE which would put the map some time prior to 1000 AD, when there really were no countries, and English wasn't used yet, hence Randall's comment.
| 330 - 899 or 1806-67
|
* No: 1776-
* Yes: 1776+
|
* No: 330 - 899 (Not stated in comic, since a map in this period is probably not in English, which violates a proviso of the comic) ('''Stop''')
* Yes: 1806-67 (Go to 5)
|-
! 5
| '''Texas is... Part of Mexico? Independent? Part of the US?'''
| Mexico occupied the area modern day Texas from around 1718 ({{w|Spanish Texas|when the first permanent Spanish settlements were founded}}) to the {{w|Texas Declaration of Independence}} in 1836 (the comic apparently cited 1834 as the date) - the land called "Texas" was only a small part of the modern day state. The {{w|Republic of Texas}} only lasted a decade, and joined the US in 1846.
| 1806-67
|
* Part of Mexico: 1718 - 1836
* Independent: 1836-46
* Part of the US: 1846+
|
* Part of Mexico: 1806-36 (Go to 6)
* Independent: 1836-46 (stated in comic as 1834-45 - a discrepancy) ('''Stop''')
* Part of the US: 1846-67 (Go to 9)
|-
! 6
| '''Florida is part of... Spain? The US?'''
| Spain occupied {{w|Florida}} (as East Florida and West Florida) but frankly they didn't actually want it - it was expensive to send people to settle it, and there wasn't much economic value in it. So they gave it to the US for free in the 1819 {{w|Adams–Onís Treaty}} (which took effect in 1821) in exchange for the US giving up parts of Mexico and paying off angry Spanish settlers. (For some reason, the comic treats Florida as part of the US in 1818; see questions 7 and 8.)
| 1806-36
|
* Spain: 1565 - 1763 or 1783 - 1821
* The US: 1821+
|
* Spain: 1806-21 (Go to 7)
* The US: 1821-36 (Go to 8)
|-
! 7
| '''{{w|Paraguay}}?'''
| Declared independence from Spain in 1811 (although it might appear on older maps as the Spanish Province of Paraguay).
| 1806-21
|
* No: 1811-
* Yes: 1811+
|
* No: 1806-11 (stated in comic as 1806-10) ('''Stop''')
* Yes: 1811-21 (stated in comic as 1811-17 - a discrepancy (see question 6)) ('''Stop''')
|-
! 8
| '''{{w|Venezuela}} and/or {{w|Ecuador?}}'''
| Both declared independence from {{w|Gran Colombia}} (Greater Colombia) in 1830.
| 1821-36
|
* No: 1830-
* Yes: 1830+
|
* No: 1821-30 (stated in comic as 1818-29 - a discrepancy (see question 6)) ('''Stop''')
* Yes: 1830-36 (stated in comic as 1830-33 - a discrepancy (see question 5)) ('''Stop''')
|-
! 9
| '''Does Russia border the Sea of Japan?'''
| The 1858 {{w|Treaty of Aigun}} brought the Russian border to the Sea of Japan.
| 1846-67
|
* No: 1858-
* Yes: 1858+
|
* No: 1846-58 (Go to 10)
* Yes: 1858-67 ('''Stop''')
|-
! 10
| '''The US's southern border looks...'''
| The last southward expansion of the US is the 1854 {{w|Gadsden Purchase}}, where the US bought a chunk of what is now Arizona and New Mexico so they could build a railway that avoided unfavourable terrain. The southern border looks "weird" before that because we are accustomed to the current border shape.
| 1846-58
|
* Weird: 1854-
* Normal: 1854+
|
* Weird: 1846-54 (stated in comic as 1846-53) ('''Stop''')
* Normal: 1854-58 (stated in comic as 1854-56 - a discrepancy (where is 1857?)) ('''Stop''')
|-
! colspan="6" | South Africa Branch
|-
! 11
| '''{{w|South Africa}}?'''
| The Union of South Africa was created in 1910, although South Africa was then not yet fully independent from the United Kingdom (which would not happen until 1931).
| 1868 - 1928
|
* No: 1910-
* Yes: 1910+
|
* No: 1868 - 1910 (Go to 12)
* Yes: 1910-28 (Go to 16)
|-
! 12
| '''Rhodesia?'''
| The region was named {{w|Rhodesia_(region)|"Rhodesia"}} by the British South Africa Company in 1895. An {{w|Rhodesia|unrecognised state}} (1965-79) and a {{w|Southern_Rhodesia|colony}} (1923-80 on-and-off) also born this name, but they are both outside the Prior Date Range.
| 1868 - 1910
|
* No: 1895-
* Yes: 1895+
|
* No: 1868-95 (Go to 13)
* Yes: 1895 - 1910 (Go to 15)
|-
! 13
| '''Is Bolivia landlocked?'''
| {{w|Bolivia}} lost its coastal territory to Chile in the {{w|War of the Pacific}}, ceding Antofagasta in the {{w|Treaty of Valparaiso}} in 1884.
| 1868-95
|
* No: 1825-84
* Yes: 1884+
|
* No: 1868-84 (Go to 14)
* Yes: 1884-95 ('''Stop''')
|-
! 14
| '''"Buda" and "Pest" or "Budapest"?'''
| In 1873, the cities of {{w|Buda}} and {{w|Pest,_Hungary|Pest}} joined together to form the city of {{w|Budapest}}.
| 1868-84
|
* Buda and Pest: 1247 - 1873
* Budapest: 1873+
|
* Buda and Pest: 1868-73 (stated in comic as 1868-72) ('''Stop''')
* Budapest: 1873-84 (stated in comic as 1873-83) ('''Stop''')
|-
! 15
| '''Is Norway part of Sweden?'''
| {{w|Norway}} was ceded to Sweden in 1814, from which it separated in 1905.
| 1895 - 1910
|
* Yes: 1814 - 1905
* No: 1814- or 1905+
|
* Yes: 1895-1905 (Stated in comic as 1896-1905) ('''Stop''')
* No: 1905-10 (Stated in comic as 1906-09) ('''Stop''')
|-
! 16
| '''Austria-Hungary?'''
| {{w|Austria-Hungary}} formed in 1867 and dissolved in 1918. (However, during that time period, it was frequently called simply "Austria"; it is more consistently called "Austria-Hungary" in historical maps created later, for example, in history textbooks illustrating the alliances of World War One.)
| 1910-28
|
* Yes: 1867-1918
* No: 1918+
|
* Yes: 1910-18 (Go to 17)
* No: 1918-28 (Go to 18)
|-
! 17
| '''Albania?'''
| {{w|Albania}} declared independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912.
| 1910-18
|
* No: 1912-
* Yes: 1912+
|
* No: 1910-12 ('''Stop''')
* Yes: 1912-18 (stated in comic as 1913-18) ('''Stop''')
|-
! 18
| '''Leningrad?'''
| {{w|Saint Petersburg}} was known as Leningrad between 1924 and 1991. The city was founded in 1703 as Saint Petersburg (specific spellings vary); in August 1914, due to major anti-German sentiment related to WWI, it was renamed Petrograd (essentially the Russian translation of Petersburg). On January 26, 1924, five days after the death of Vladimir Lenin (the main revolutionary leader), the new Communist government (hostile to both the the Orthodox Saint the city was named after and the Czar Peter the Great who named it) renamed the city Leningrad in his honor. After the decline of the Soviet government in 1991, the name became unpopular, and a referendum in June 1991 (concurrently with the first Russian presidential election) restored the name Saint-Petersburg for the city (officially in September 1991), which it holds to this day.
| 1918-28
|
* No: 1924- or 1991+
* Yes: 1924-91
|
* No: 1918-24 (stated in comic as 1919-23) ('''Stop''')
* Yes: 1924-28 (stated in comic as 1924-29) ('''Stop''')
|-
! colspan="6" | Neither Division
|-
! 19
| '''Does the Ottoman Empire exist?'''
| The {{w|Ottoman Empire}} was founded in 1299, and defeated and dissolved on November 1, 1922 when the sultanate was abolished.
| Inconclusive
|
* Yes: 1299-1922
* No: 1299- or 1922+
|
* Yes: 1299-1922 (Go to 2 in the Constantinople Division)
* No: 1299- or 1922+ (Go to 20)
|-
! 20
| '''The Soviet Union?'''
| The {{w|Soviet Union}} is one of the largest countries ever to exist consisting of Russia and large portions of eastern Europe and central Asia. It was a major political force from December 28, 1922, when several allied Soviet republics united, to 1991, when it broke up.
''Note:'' This question is the same as question 52 in the Istanbul Division, but because there a Prior Date Range of 1928+ has already been established by the presence of Istanbul, we need one more question to determine whether we are within the range of 1928+.
| 1299- or 1922+
|
* Yes: 1922-91
* No: 1922- or 1991+
|
* Yes: 1922-91 (Go to 21)
* No: 1299- or 1922 (November 1 - December 28) or 1991+ (Go to 22)
|-
! 21
| '''Saudi Arabia?'''
| The kingdom of {{w|Saudi Arabia}} was founded in 1932. It is the first modern state to exert control over the area it claims, which previously were controlled by various tribal leaders. Most maps before 1932 will not mark the area as belonging to a nation at all, will attempt to mark the various shifting chieftains, or will attribute the land to the ottoman empire, which claimed the land but did not effectively control it.
| 1922-91
|
* Yes: 1932+
* No: 1932-
|
* Yes: 1932-91 (Go to 53 in the Istanbul Division)
* No: 1922-32 ('''Stop''')
|-
! 22
| '''North Korea?'''
| The Korean Peninsula was divided into two regions, the north of which would be known as {{w|North Korea}}, at the end of World War II in 1945.
| 1299- or 1922 (November 1 - December 28) or 1991+
|
* Yes: 1945+
* No: 1945-
|
* Yes: 1991+ (Go to 69 in the Istanbul Division)
* No: 1299- or 1922 (November 1 - December 28) (Go to 23)
|-
! 23
| '''Saint Trimble's Island'''
| Since [[Randall]] just made up this place, it is impossible that a map would include it, probably as a cartographer's fingerprint indicating plagiarism?
| 1299- or 1922 (November 1 - December 28)
|
* No: inconclusive
* Yes: impossible
|
* No: 1299- or 1922 (November 1 - December 28) (Go to 24)
* Yes: impossible ('''Stop''')
|-
! 24
| '''Is Jan Mayen part of the kingdom of Norway?'''
| Jurisdiction over the island of {{w|Jan Mayen}} was given to Norway around 1920, and it officially joined in 1930. '''Note:''' Strictly speaking, it should be almost impossible to answer "Yes" to this question - the Ottoman Empire existed until 1922, the Soviet Union existed from 1922 to 1991, and North Korea from 1945 onwards, so by answering "No" to the previous three questions, the user has ruled out the entire period during which Norway has officially owned Jan Mayen, and almost the entire period it controlled it bar an extremely slim sliver of time between November 1, 1922 to December 28, 1922. The following questions ignore the previous ones (East Germany only existed at the same time as the USSR, and Pakistan was founded later than North Korea, so both should have already been excluded) - essentially, the Jan Mayen question reboots the test.
| 1299- or 1922 (November 1 - December 28)
|
* Not yet: prior to 1930
* What?: Not a political map
* Yes: 1930+
|
* Not yet: (Go to 2 in the Constantinople Division)
* What?: (Go to 25)
* Yes: (Go to 54 in the Istanbul Division)
|-
! colspan="6" | Not a Political Map Branch
|-
! 26
| '''Can you see the familiar continents?'''
| At this point it is clear that the map in question is not a political map from any time. Therefore the comic tries to determine whether it is a map of the Earth at all by asking if the continents are there.
|
|
* Yes: map of the Earth
* No: not a map of the Earth
|
* Yes: map of the Earth (Go to 27)
* No: not a map of the Earth (Go to 33)
|-
! colspan="6" | Topographical Map / Satellite Image Subbranch
|-
! 27
| '''This sounds like a physical map or satellite photo.'''
| A map of the Earth that does not label political regions must be a topological map; or, it can be a satellite image of the Earth.
| Map of the Earth
|
* Yes, that's it: topographical map or satellite image of the Earth
|
* Yes, that's it: topographical map or satellite image of the Earth (Go to 28)
|-
! 28
| '''Is Lake Chad missing?'''
| {{w|Lake Chad}} lost 3/4 of its area in the 1970s, becoming too small to be included in a map or picture of the Earth.
| Topographical map or satellite image of the Earth
|
* No: 1970s-
* Yes: 1970s+
|
* No: 1970s- (Go to 29)
* Yes: 1970s+ (Go to 32)
|-
! 29
| '''How far east do the American prairies reach?'''
| As settlers made their way west, the prairie land in the {{w|Great Plains}} region was steadily replaced by farmland and ranches. By the 1920s, most of the land had been converted to agricultural use, and the last of the prairie was largely obliterated by the {{w|Dust Bowl}}s in the 1930s. The dividing lines correspond roughly to the three types of prairie: {{w|tallgrass prairie}} grew between the Mississippi and Indiana, {{w|mixed grass prairie}} covered Nebraska and other states on the {{w|100th meridian west}}, and {{w|shortgrass prairie}} covered the remaining area east of the Rocky Mountains. There's some overlap in the dates, since it's fairly arbitrary at what you point you say the prairies stopped existing. There are still patches of prairie (covering about 1% of their former reach), but these are probably not visible in a satellite image.

| 1970s-
|
* Indiana: Before 1830
* The Mississippi: 1830 - 1880s
* Nebraska: 1860s - 1910s
* What prairies?: 1920s+
|
* Indiana: Before 1830 ('''Stop''')
* The Mississippi: 1830 - 80s ('''Stop''')
* Nebraska: 1860s - 1910s (Go to 30)
* What prairies?: 1920s - 1970s (Go to 31)
|-
! 30
| '''Is there a big lake in the middle of Southern California? (created by mistake)'''
| This is {{w|Salton Sea}}, a previously dry lake bed accidentally flooded in 1905 while attempting to increase irrigation to the area from the Colorado River
| 1860s - 1910s
|
* No: before 1905
* Yes: 1905+
|
* No: 1860s - 1900s ('''Stop''')
* Yes: 1910s ('''Stop''')
|-
! 31
| '''Is there a big lake in the middle of Ghana? (created on purpose)'''
| {{w|Lake Volta}}, formed by the {{w|Akosombo Dam}} which was built in the 1960s
| 1920s - 1970s
|
* No: before 1960s
* Yes: 1960s+
|
* No: 1920s - 50s ('''Stop''')
* Yes: 1960s - 70s ('''Stop''')
|-
! 32
| '''Is the Aral Sea missing?'''
| Shrinking since the 1930s, the {{w|Aral Sea}} would be too small to be on maps or images of the Earth by the 2000s.
| 1970s+
|
* No: 1990s-
* Yes: 2000s+
|
* No: 1970s-90s ('''Stop''')
* Yes: 2000s+ ('''Stop''')
|-
! colspan="6" | ''Topograpical Map / Satellite Image Subbranch ends''
|-
! colspan="6" | Fictional Map / Non-Map Subbranch
|-
! 33
| '''Rivers "Sirion" or "Anduin"?'''
| The rivers {{w|List_of_Middle-earth_rivers#Sirion|Sirion}} and {{w|Anduin}} are part of {{w|Middle-earth|Middle-earth}}, the fictional setting of J.R.R. Tolkien's ''Lord of the Rings'' books.
| Not a map of the Earth
|
* Yes: map of Middle-earth
* No: inconclusive
|
* Yes: map of Middle-earth (Go to 34)
* No: not a map of the Earth (Go to 38)
|-
! colspan="6" | Middle-earth Subbranch
|-
! 34
| '''Mordor?'''
| {{w|Mordor}} is the base of operations of {{w|Sauron}}, who settled there c. 1000 in the {{w|Second Age}} (which lasted for 3,441 years).
| Map of Middle-earth
|
* No: S.A. c. 1000-
* Yes: S.A. c. 1000+
|
* No: S.A. c. 1000- (Go to 35)
* Yes: S.A. c. 1000+ (Go to 36)
|-
! 35
| '''Beleriand?'''
| {{w|Beleriand}} was broken in the {{w|War of Wrath}} in the year 583 in the {{w|Years of the Sun}} in the {{w|First Age}} The First Age itself ran for 450 Valian Years and 590 Years of the Sun, adding up to between 5,023 and 65,390 Years of the Sun, depending on the conversion factor used ({{w|J. R. R. Tolkien}} has given several during the years). Note that Randall has apparently ignored the time before the First Age (4,550 Valian Years).
| S.A. c. 1000-
|
* Yes: Y.S. 583 First Age-
* No: Y.S. 583 First Age+
|
* Yes: Y.S. 583 First Age- (stated in comic as First Age) ('''Stop''')
* No: Y.S. 583 First Age - S.A. c. 1000 (stated in comic as early Second Age) ('''Stop''')
|-
! 36
| '''Númenor?'''
| The island of {{w|Númenor}} was raised from the sea at the start of the Second Age. It sank back into the sea in 3319 in the Second Age, as the formerly flat Earth was made into a globe.
| S.A. c. 1000+
|
* Yes: S.A. 1 - 3319
* No: First Age- or S.A. 3319+
|
* Yes: S.A. c. 1000 - 3319 (stated in comic as late Second Age) ('''Stop''')
* No: S.A. 3319+ (Go to 37)
|-
! 37
| '''The forest east of the Misty Mountains is...'''
| The forest {{w|Mirkwood}} was called Greenwood the Great from its discovery by the Elves c. V.Y. 4620 in the First Age to 1050 in the {{w|Third Age}} when the shadow of Sauron fell upon it and it was renamed. It was cleansed on 'March' 28, 3019 in the Third Age (which ran for 3,021 years), after which it is called the Wood of Greenleaves. Note that Randall ignores the Fifth Age and onwards; although Tolkien said that the present day is about the end of the Sixth Age or the beginning of the Seventh, nothing is written about these later Ages.
| S.A. 3319+
|
* Greenwood the Great: c. V.Y. 4620 - T.A. 1050
* Mirkwood: T.A. 1050 - 3019-03-28
* The Wood of Greenleaves: T.A. 3019-03-28+
|
* Greenwood the Great: S.A. 3319 - T.A. 1050 (stated in comic as early Third Age) ('''Stop''')
* Mirkwood: T.A. 1050 - 3019-03-28 (stated in comic as Late Third Age) ('''Stop''')
* The Wood of Greenleaves: T.A. 3019-03-28+ (stated in comic as Fourth Age) ('''Stop''')
|-
! colspan="6" | ''Middle-earth Subbranch ends''
|-
! 38
| '''Cair Paravel?'''
| {{w|Cair Paravel}} is the fictional castle where the Kings and Queens of Narnia rule in ''{{w|The Chronicles of Narnia}}''.
| Not a map of the Earth
|
* Yes: map of Narnia
* No: inconclusive
|
* Yes: map of Narnia (Go to 39)
* No: not a map of the Earth (Go to 43)
|-
! colspan="6" | Narnia Subbranch
|-
| colspan="6" | '''Note:''' This series contains seven books, whose original publication order does not match their chronological order. Specifically, ''The Magician's Nephew'' is earlier than ''The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'', and ''The Horse and His Boy'' is between ''The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'' and ''Prince Caspian''. Questions in this subbranch concern whether the place referenced can be found in the map contained in each book, not in which books' time the place exists. Therefore, places that exist in a book published later but is chronologically earlier than another book will not appear in the latter book, even if canonically they still exist in its time. Here are the seven books in their original publication order, which they will be referred to as.

# ''{{w|The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe}}''
# ''{{w|Prince Caspian}}''
# ''{{w|The Voyage of the Dawn Treader}}''
# ''{{w|The Silver Chair}}''
# ''{{w|The Horse and His Boy}}''
# ''{{w|The Magician's Nephew}}''
# ''{{w|The Last Battle}}''
|-
! 39
| '''Calormen?'''
| {{w|Calormen}} is a foreign empire in ''The Chronicles of Narnia''. While it was indirectly referenced in the first three books, it was not included in maps until the later books in the series.
| Map of Narnia
|
* No: 3-
* Yes: 4+
|
* No: 3- (Go to 40)
* Yes: 4+ (Go to 42)
|-
! 40
| '''Lotta islands?'''
| Refers to [http://www.charliewstarr.com/_Media/mapdawntreader.gif this map] from ''The Voyage of the Dawn Treader'', which focused on a ship voyage from Cair Paravel to the eastern edge of the world and back.
| 3-
|
* No: not 3
* Yes: 3
|
* No: 2- (Go to 41)
* Yes: 3 ('''Stop''')
|-
! 41
| '''Beruna'''
| Refers to [http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-54_2TDRUbHY/TpJHzFBzmiI/AAAAAAAALOA/q3RnPSvfdJ0/s1600/IMG.jpg the map] of Narnia originally published in Prince Caspian. During the time of ''The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe'', the people of Beruna crossed the Great River via a ford, but it had been replaced by a bridge at the beginning of ''Prince Caspian''.
| 2-
|
* Ford: 1
* Bridge: 2
|
* Ford: 1 ('''Stop''')
* Bridge: 2 ('''Stop''')
|-
! 42
| '''Weird recursive heaven?'''
| Refers to ''The Last Battle'', where the protagonists find themselves in {{w|Aslan's Country}}, a glorious afterlife of which Narnia (along with Earth and presumably every other world) is only a shadowy reflection.
| 4+
|
* No: 6-
* Yes: 7
|
* No: 4 - 6 (stated in comic as one of the random later books) ('''Stop''')
* Yes: 7 ('''Stop''')
|-
! colspan="6" | ''Narnia Subbranch ends''
|-
! 43
| '''Mossflower?'''
| A forest from the ''{{w|Redwall}}'' book series.
| Not a map of the Earth
|
* Yes: ''Redwall''
* No: inconclusive
|
* Yes: ''Redwall'' ('''Stop''')
* No: not a map of the Earth (Go to 44)
|-
! 44
| '''Is the world on the back of a turtle?'''
| The comic fantasy book series ''{{w|Discworld}}'' is set on the fictional Discworld, a flat disc balanced on the backs of four elephants which in turn stand on the back of a giant turtle.
| Not a map of the Earth
|
* Yes: ''Discworld''
* No: inconclusive
|
* Yes: ''Discworld'' ('''Stop''')
* No: not a map of the Earth (Go to 45)
|-
! 45
| '''Are you ''sure'' this is a map?'''
| After incorrectly guessing several popular fictional world, it is fair to doubt whether the subject being identified here is a map at all.
| Not a map of the Earth
|
* Yes: a map ''for sure'', just not of the Earth
* No: not a map
|
* Yes: a map ''for sure'', just not of the Earth (Go to 46)
* No: not a map (Go to 48)
|-
! 46
| '''Did you make it yourself?'''
| At this point, the map can only be a homemade map of some other fictional world.
| A map ''for sure'', just not of the Earth
|
* Yes: a homemade map
|
* Yes: a homemade map (Go to 47)
|-
! 47
| '''It's very nice.'''
| A stock response to "[It's] Very nice" is "Thanks, I made it myself". Since we have already done the "made it myself" part, we need to do the other parts too, albeit out of sequence.
| A homemade map
|
* Thank you!: something "very nice"
|
* Thank you!: a "very nice" homemade map ('''Stop''')
|-
! colspan="6" | Not a Map Subbranch
|-
! 48
| '''Is it trying to bite you?'''
| Now we are trying to guess something that is not a map. Makes sense to ask if it's something that bites, right? Right?
| Not a map
|
* No: doesn't bite
* Yes: bites
|
* No: doesn't bite and not a map (Go to 49)
* Yes: bites (Go to 50)
|-
! 49
| '''Is it larger than a breadbox?'''
| The most common reference to breadboxes is the phrase "Is it bigger than a breadbox?" when trying to guess what some surprise object may be in the game {{w|Twenty_Questions|Twenty Questions}}. However, instead of asking further questions to narrow down the choices, the comic just gives a guess for each response. The comic guesses a breadbox itself as something about the same size as a breadbox.
| Doesn't bite and not a map
|
* Yes: larger than a breadbox
* No: smaller than a breadbox
* About the same: about the same size as a breadbox
|
* Yes: larger than a breadbox, doesn't bite, and not a map (comic guesses a tuba) ('''Stop''')
* No: smaller than a breadbox, doesn't bite, and not a map (comic guesses a stapler) ('''Stop''')
* About the same: about the same size as a breadbox, doesn't bite, and not a map (comic guesses a breadbox) ('''Stop''')
|-
! 50
| '''If you let it go, what does it do?'''
|
| Bites
|
* Hisses and runs away: hisses and runs away if let go
* Screeches and flaps around the room breaking things: screeches and flaps around the room breaking things if let go
|
* Hisses and runs away: bites, and hisses and runs away if let go (comic guesses a cat) ('''Stop''')
* Screeches and flaps around the room breaking things: bites, and screeches and flaps around the room breaking things if let go (comic guesses a seagull) ('''Stop''' (however, see 51))
|-
! 51
| '''Does the screeching chill your blood and herald death?'''
| ''Note: Title text question.''
| Bites, and screeches and flaps around the room breaking things if let go
|
* Yes: Screeching chills your blood and heralds death
* No: Screeching does not chill your blood and herald death; or does not screech
|
* Yes: bites; screeches and flaps around the room breaking things if let go; screeching chills your blood and heralds death (title text guesses a banshee) ('''Stop''')
* No: bites; screeches and flaps around the room breaking things if let go; screeching does not chill your blood and herald death (title text guesses a seagull) ('''Stop''')
|-
! colspan="6" | Istanbul Division
|-
! 52
| '''Does the Soviet Union exist?'''
| The Soviet Union, officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, existed from 1922 - 1991. After 1991, the Soviet Union split up into Russia and 15 other post-Soviet states.
|1928+
|
* Yes: 1928 - 1991
* No: 1991+
|
* Yes: 1928 - 1991 (Go to 53)
* No: 1991+ (Go to 70)
|-
! colspan="6" | West Africa branch
|-
! 53
| '''Is most of West Africa a giant French blob?'''
| Before 1960, most of West Africa consisted of a number of French colonies united under {{w|French_West_Africa|French West Africa}}.
|1928 - 1991
|
* Yes: 1928 - 1960
* No: 1960 - 1991
|
* Yes: 1928 - 1960 (Go to 54)
* No: 1960 - 1991 (Go to 61)
|-
! 54
| '''Pakistan?'''
| Pakistan was officially recognized as its own country in 1947, when British India was granted independence and partitioned into two nations. Pakistan was created at the request of Muslims who wished for a Muslim majority state.
|1928 - 1960
|
* No: 1928 - 1947
* Yes: 1947 - 1960
|
* No: 1928 - 1947 (Go to 55)
* Yes: 1948 - 1960 (Go to 57)
|-
! 55
| '''How many Germanys are there?'''
| During WWII, the Nazi Party invaded a large swath of Europe, which would make Nazi Germany huge on the map during that period. After the war, it split up into two countries — West Germany which was part of NATO, and East Germany which was part of the Warsaw Pact. Note that by modern standards, pre-WWII Germany was also quite huge, since at that point Germany included {{w|Prussia}} which contained much of modern Poland as well as Russian {{w|Kaliningrad}}, and in 1938 Germany took control of Austria in the {{w|Anschluss}} and the {{w|Sudetenland}} in {{w|Czechoslovakia}} following the {{w|Munich Agreement}}. Not all maps produced during WWII used the Nazi borders, since the Allies refused to recognize German occupation and supported the {{w|government-in-exile|governments-in-exile}}.
|1928 - 1947
|
* One: 1928 - 1940
* One, but it's ''huge'': 1941 - 1945
* Two: 1946 - 1947
|
* One: 1928 - 1940 (Go to 56)
* One, but it's ''huge'': 1941 - 1945 ('''Stop''')
* Two: 1946 - 1947 ('''Stop''')
|-
! 56
| '''Persia or Iran?'''
| In 1935 the Iranian Government requested that westerners call it by the name its own people had used for hundreds of years, rather than after a tribe within it that gained prominence 2500 years earlier. The interval from 1928 - 1930 is dropped from this branch, but it would fall under Persia.
|1928 - 1940
|
* Persia: 1930 - 1934
* Iran: 1935 - 1940
|
* Persia: 1930 - 1934 ('''Stop''')
* Iran: 1935 - 1940 ('''Stop''')
|-
! 57
| '''Cambodia?'''
| Cambodia (or Kampuchea) declared independence from France in 1953.
|1948 - 1960
|
* No: 1948 - 1953
* Yes: 1953 - 1960
|
* No: 1948 - 1953 (Go to 58)
* Yes: 1953 - 1960 (Go to 60)
|-
! 58
| '''Eritrea is a part of...'''
| Eritrea declared independence from Italy in 1952, joining Ethiopia to create the {{w|Federation of Ethiopia and Eritrea}}.
|1947 - 1953
|
* Italy: 1948 - 1952
* Ethiopia: 1952 - 1953
|
* Italy: 1948 - 1952 (Go to 59)
* Ethiopia: 1952 - 1953 ('''Stop''')
|-
! 59
| '''Canada is...'''
| In 1949, the {{w|Dominion of Newfoundland}} became a part of Canada. Before that, it was marked as its own region on the map, so maps from 1948 and before would have Canada "missing a piece" on its east coast as compared to how it looks today.
|1947 - 1952
|
* Missing a piece: 1948
* Fine: 1949 - 1952
|
* Missing a piece: 1948 ('''Stop''')
* Fine: 1949 - 1952 ('''Stop''')
|-
! 60
| '''The United Arab Republic?'''
| The {{w|The United Arab Republic}} was a short-lived political union between Egypt and Syria. The union began in 1958 and existed until 1961.
This had been forgotten (and two placed had been pointed wrong)
|1953 - 1960
|
* No: 1953-1958
* Yes: 1958-1960
|
* No: 1953-58 (stated in comic as 1954-57 - a discrepancy) ('''Stop''')
* Yes: 1958-60 ('''Stop''')
|-
! 61
| '''How many Vietnams are there?'''
| On April 30, 1975, forces from North Vietnam captured Saigon, and reunified the country, in an event known as {{w|Reunification Day}}, which marked the end of the Vietnam War. Maps before this date would have "North Vietnam" and "South Vietnam" on them rather than a single "Vietnam".
|1960 - 1991
|
* Two: 1960 - 1975
* One: 1975 - 1991
|
* Two: 1960 - 1975 (Go to 62)
* One: 1975 - 1991 (Go to 65)
|-
! 62
| '''Bangladesh?'''
| Bangladesh declared independence from Pakistan in 1972, as they had different languages, cultures, and the Bengalis felt their country was being run from 'West Pakistan' without their input. The resulting war lasted just over 8 months and ended in Indian intervention.
|1960 - 1975
|
* No: 1960 - 1972
* Yes: 1972 - 1975
|
* No: 1960 - 1972 (Go to 63)
* Yes: 1972 - 1975 ('''Stop''')
|-
! 63
| '''Is the area south of Lake Victoria...'''
| The area south of {{w|Lake Victoria}} was called {{w|Tanganyika}}, and it declared independence from Britain to form its own country in 1961, and unified with {{w|Zanzibar}} to create {{w|Tanzania}} in 1964.
|1960 - 1972
|
* British: 1960 - 1961
* Tanganyika: 1961 - 1964
* Tanzania: 1965 - 1971
|
* British: 1960 - 1961 (Go to 64)
* Tanganyika: 1961 - 1964 ('''Stop''')
* Tanzania: 1965 - 1972 (stated in comic as 1964-1971 - a discrepancy) ('''Stop''')
|-
! 64
| '''The town on I-25 between Albuquerque and El Paso is... '''
| {{w|Interstate 25 in New Mexico|I-25}} didn't exist for any of the years listed for this item, since the Interstate Highway System wasn't launched until 1956. The highway designation on maps printed during the years listed was {{w|U.S._Route_85#New_Mexico|U.S. 85}}, and it was first replaced by the I-25 in 1970-1990. The town changed it name from Hot Springs to "{{w|Truth or Consequences, New Mexico|Truth or Consequences}}" in 1950, although locals say that it provides more of the latter than of the former. Still the question would have made sense (although it should have been US 85) had it not been for the fact that the whole question is for the wrong time period, as the search tree leading to a British Tanganyika is only the period from 1960-1961. Actually this item seems like it should actually follow from the "Fine" option of "Canada is.." from 1949-1952 as it is in the same time period.
|1960 - 1961
|
* Hot Springs: 1916-49
* Truth or Consequences: 1950+
|
* Hot Springs: 1948-49 ('''Stop''') (a discrepancy as this is for a period from 1960-61)
* Truth or Consequences: 1950-52 ('''Stop''') (a discrepancy as this is for a period from 1960-61)
|-
! 65
| '''Jimmy Carter is...'''
| On April 20, 1979, Jimmy Carter was "{{w|Jimmy Carter rabbit incident|attacked}}" by a swamp rabbit, a fact referenced in [[204|204: America]]. This fact would not normally be referenced on a map, however, and is simply a joke entry that leads to the next question.
|1975 - 1991
|
* Being attacked by a giant swimming rabbit: April 20, 1979
* Fine: 1975 - 1991
|
* Being attacked by a giant swimming rabbit: April 20, 1979 ('''Stop''')
* Fine: 1975 - 1991 (Go to 66)
|-
! 66
| '''The Sinai is part of what country?'''
| In 1979, Israel signed a peace treaty in which it would gradually retreat from the entire Sinai Peninsula, handing that area to Egypt. This happened over a period of three years, completing in 1982.
|1975 - 1991
|
* Israel: 1976 - 1979
* Mostly Israel: 1980
* Mostly Egypt: 1981
* Egypt: 1982 - 1991
|
* Israel: 1976 - 1979 (missing 1975?) ('''Stop''')
* Mostly Israel: 1980 ('''Stop''')
* Mostly Egypt: 1981 ('''Stop''')
* Egypt: 1982 - 1991 (Go to 67)
|-
! 67
| '''What's the capital of Micronesia?'''
| The {{w| Federated States of Micronesia}} are a group of small islands in the Pacific Ocean. Their capital was Kolonia until 1989, when it changed to Palikir, on the same island.
|1982 - 1991
|
* Kolonia: 1982 - 1988
* Palikir: 1989 - 1991
|
* Kolonia: 1982 - 1988 (Go to 68)
* Palikir: 1989 - 1991 (Go to 69)
|-
! 68
| '''Republic of the Upper Volta or Burkina Faso?'''
| Burkina Faso was named the Republic of the Upper Volta until 1984, when the president Thomas Sankara decided to rename it to promote a sense of unity in the nation and in an anti-colonial statement.
|1982 - 1988
|
* Upper Volta: 1982 - 1984
* Burkina Faso: 1985 - 1988
|
* Upper Volta: 1982 - 1984 ('''Stop''')
* Burkina Faso: 1985 - 1988 ('''Stop''')
|-
! 69
| '''(Number of Yemens) + (Number of Germanys) = ?'''
| In 1990, two unification events took place: the {{w| Yemeni unification}} on May 22, and the {{w|German_reunification}} on October 3. Before these events, in early 1990, there would have been four Yemens and Germanys total. In mid-1990, when only the Yemeni unification had taken place, there would be one Yemen and two Germanys, for a total of three. and in late 1990, after both events took place, there would be one of each for a total of two.
|1989 - 1991
|
* Four: 1989 - early 1990
* Three: mid-1990
* Two: late 1990-1991
|
* Four: 1989 - early 1990 ('''Stop''')
* Three: mid-1990 ('''Stop''')
* Two: late 1990-1991 ('''Stop''')
|-
! colspan="6" | Post-Soviet branch
|-
! 70
| '''Zaire? or: "Hong Kong (UK)"'''
| Zaire was one of a series of names for what is today called the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 1996 a (successful) revolt began to oust the reigning government from power. As part of this revolution, the country was renamed. The original name change away from 'Congo' was part of an 'Africanisation' naming campaign, although 'Congo' is in origin an authentic African name for the river that set the boundaries of the nation.

{{w|Hong Kong}} was taken by the British in 1843 at the end of the {{w|First Opium War}}, and an additional area (the New Territories) were leased from China in 1898 on a 99-year lease. When the lease expired in 1997, {{w|Transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong|the whole of Hong Kong was returned to China}}.
|1991+
|
* Yes: 1992 - 1996
* No: 1996+
|
* Yes: 1992 - 1996 ('''Stop''')
* No: 1996+ (Go to 71)
|-
! 71
| '''Serbia and Montenegro are...'''
| Serbia and Montenegro were a remnant of Yugoslavia. Montenegro voted to become its own country in 2006. '''Note:''' For much of the prior date range, "Serbia and Montenegro" did not appear on maps - the states still went by the name Yugoslavia. {{w|Serbia and Montenegro#State union|Serbia and Montenegro only came into existence in 2003}}.
|1996+
|
* One country: 1996 - 2006
* Two countries: 2007+
|
* One country: 1996 - 2006 (Go to 72)
* Two countries: 2007+ (Go to 73)
|-
! 72
| '''East Timor?'''
| East Timor is a nation north of Australia and south east of Indonesia. During the dutch colonization of Indonesia east Timor remained in Portuguese hands. While occupied and annexed by Indonesia since 1976, east Timor retained its own culture and voted for independence, then had a nasty militia action that required UN peacekeeping action, and finally become independent in 2002.
|1996 - 2006
|
* No: 1997 - 2001
* Yes: 2002 - 2006
|
* No: 1997 - 2001 ('''Stop''')
* Yes: 2002 - 2006 ('''Stop''')
|-
! 73
| '''How many Sudans are there?'''
| In 2011, after a long history of violence between the two portions of the country (which can be characterized as Islamic vs. Christian and Traditional Religions), South Sudan became independent from its northern neighbor.
|2006+
|
* One: 2007 - 2011
* Two: 2011+
|
* One: 2007 - 2011 ('''Stop''')
* Two: 2011+ (Go to 74)
|-
! 74
| '''Is Crimea disputed?'''
| In 2014, a revolution ousted the current Ukrainian president. Crimea had its own civil unrest, and Russian troops exploited the unrest to launch an invasion. A referendum, where many nations, including all member states of the EU, the USA, and Canada, disputed the democratic legitimacy of the referendum, was held during this and ostensibly decided in favor of Russian annexation. Depending on where you get your maps, Crimea might not be marked as disputed - [http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/04/12/302337754/google-maps-displays-crimean-border-differently-in-russia-u-s Google Maps Ukraine shows it as solely Ukrainian while Google Maps Russia shows it as Russian].
|2011+
|
* Yes: 2014+
* No: 2012 - 2013
|
* Yes: 2014+ (Go to 75)
* No: 2012 - 2013 ('''Stop''')
|-
! 75
| '''"Colorado" or "Danger—Radioactive Exclusion Zone—Avoid"?'''
| This entry and the one below it are now referring to hypothetical future events: specifically, a huge radioactivity event in Colorado that takes place some time in 2022. Colorado has a previous history of radioactive contamination - it was home to uranium mines, nuclear tests (including {{w|Project Rulison}}, an attempt to use nuclear bombs to drill for natural gas that ended up making the gas radioactive) and the controversial {{w|Rocky Flats Plant}}, a nuclear weapons manufacturing facility that suffered {{w|Radioactive contamination from the Rocky Flats Plant|several fires and leaks}} and was ultimately raided and shut down by the FBI. None of these has yet caused spiders to mutate.{{Citation needed}}
|2014+
|
* Colorado: 2014 - 2021
* Danger: 2022+
|
* Colorado: 2014 - 2021 ('''Stop''')
* Danger: 2022+ (Go to 76)
|-
! 76
| '''Does the warning mention the spiders?'''
| Presumably some time in 2023, the radioactive exclusion zone also becomes infested with mutant spiders.
|2022+
|
* No: 2022
* Yes: 2023 or later
|
* No: 2022 ('''Stop''')
* Yes: 2023 or later ('''Stop''')
|}

==Transcript==
:[A very complicated flow chart, which can only be read in detail using the larger image now shown at the top of this page. This transcript uses the large version, where there is no problem reading all entries.]

:[At the top of the chart there is a large caption, with a smaller caption below:]
:<big>Guide to figuring out the age of an undated world map</big>
:(Assuming it's complete, labeled in english, and detailed enough)

:[Below the starting bracket in the small caption is a start box. It has rounded corners and it is gray with white text. From this box there is a gray line to a box consisting of a black frame with rounded corners. In these kind of boxes there are questions regarding the map in black text. Below this box there are three gray boxes like the start box, superimposed over the bottom frame. In these boxes are the possible answers to the question in the frame above. From each of these options there is a gray line going to similar black framed boxes with other questions either below, or to either side. There can either be two, three or four gray boxes, two the most common. Only at the very bottom of the central branch where it turns out it was a home made map, are there two frames with only one gray question box each. This trend continues over this entire large image. When reaching the end of a branch in the flow chart, there is no line away from one, more or all of the gray boxes for a black frame. When this happens a year range or a guess at what the map shows, or what it is (if it turns out to not be a map) is written below the gray box in gray text. Of the text in the gray boxes are Yes/No, but not always. There are 74 boxes with black frames with 158 gray boxes and 78 endpoints with text below the gray box and one end point without text below (the one with the home made map).]

:Start
::Istanbul or Constantinople?
:::Constantinople
::::Do any of these exist? 
::::*Independent Canada
::::*US Territory of Alaska
::::*Tokyo
:::::No
::::::The Holy Roman Empire?
:::::::Yes
::::::::1805 or earlier (before this point, the modern idea of a complete political map of the world gets hard to apply.)
:::::::No
::::::::The United States?
:::::::::No
::::::::::How sure are you that this map is in english?
:::::::::Yes
::::::::::Texas is...
:::::::::::Part of Mexico
::::::::::::Florida is part of...
:::::::::::::Spain
::::::::::::::Paraguay?
:::::::::::::::No 1806-10
:::::::::::::::Yes 1811-17
:::::::::::::The US
::::::::::::::Venezuela and/or ecuador?
:::::::::::::::No 1818-29
:::::::::::::::Yes 1830-33
:::::::::::Independent 1834-45
:::::::::::Part of the US
::::::::::::Does Russia border the Sea of Japan?
:::::::::::::No
::::::::::::::The US's southern border looks...
:::::::::::::::Weird 1846-53
:::::::::::::::Normal 1854-56
:::::::::::::Yes 1858-67
:::::Yes
::::::South Africa?
:::::::No
::::::::Rhodesia?
:::::::::No
::::::::::Is Bolivia landlocked?
:::::::::::No
::::::::::::"Buda" and "Pest" or "Budapest"?
:::::::::::::Buda and Pest 1868-72
:::::::::::::Budapest 1873-83
:::::::::::Yes 1884-95
:::::::::Yes
::::::::::Is Norway part of Sweden?
:::::::::::Yes 1896-1905
:::::::::::No 1906-09
:::::::Yes
::::::::Austria-Hungary?
:::::::::Yes
::::::::::Albania?
:::::::::::No 1910-12
:::::::::::Yes 1913-18
:::::::::No
::::::::::Leningrad?
:::::::::::No 1919-23
:::::::::::Yes 1924-29
:::Neither
::::Does the Ottoman Empire exist?
:::::Yes [[#canada-alaska-tokyo]]
:::::No
::::::The Soviet Union?
:::::::Yes
::::::::Saudi Arabia?
:::::::::Yes
::::::::::Is most of West Africa a giant french blob?
:::::::::::Yes
::::::::::::Bangladesh?
:::::::::::::No
::::::::::::::Is the area south of Lake Victoria...
:::::::::::::::British
::::::::::::::::The town on I-25 between Albuquerque and El Paso is...
:::::::::::::::::Hot Springs 1948-49
:::::::::::::::::Truth or Consequences 1950-52
:::::::::::::::Tanganyika 1961-64
:::::::::::::::Tanzania 1965-71
:::::::::::::Yes 1972-75
:::::::::::No
::::::::::::How many Vietnams are there?
:::::::::::::Two
::::::::::::::[[#bangladesh]]
:::::::::::::One
::::::::::::::Jimmy Carter is...
:::::::::::::::Being attacked by a giant swimming rabbit April 20, 1979
:::::::::::::::Fine
::::::::::::::::The Sinai is part of what country?
:::::::::::::::::Israel 1976-79
:::::::::::::::::Mostly Israel 1980
:::::::::::::::::Mostly Egypt 1981
:::::::::::::::::Egypt
::::::::::::::::::What's the capital of Micronesia?
:::::::::::::::::::Kolonia
::::::::::::::::::::Republic of the Upper Volta or Burkina Faso?
:::::::::::::::::::::Upper Volta 1982-84
:::::::::::::::::::::Burkina Faso 1985-88
:::::::::::::::::::Palikir
::::::::::::::::::::(number of Yemens) + (number of Germanys) = ?
:::::::::::::::::::::Four 1989-early 1990
:::::::::::::::::::::Three mid-1990
:::::::::::::::::::::Two late 1990-1991
:::::::::No 1922-1932
:::::::No
::::::::North Korea?
:::::::::Yes
::::::::::Zaire? or: "Hong Kong (UK)"
:::::::::::Yes 1992-96
:::::::::::No
::::::::::::Serbia/Montenegro are...
:::::::::::::One country
::::::::::::::East Timor?
:::::::::::::::No 1997-2001
:::::::::::::::Yes 2002-06
:::::::::::::Two countries
::::::::::::::How many Sudans are there?
:::::::::::::::One 2007-11
:::::::::::::::Two
::::::::::::::::Is Crimea disputed?
:::::::::::::::::Yes
::::::::::::::::::"Colorado" or "Danger—Radioactive Exclusion Zone—Avoid"?
:::::::::::::::::::Colorado 2014-21
:::::::::::::::::::Danger
::::::::::::::::::::Does the warning mention the spiders?
:::::::::::::::::::::No 2022
:::::::::::::::::::::Yes 2023 or later
:::::::::::::::::No 2012-13
:::::::::No
::::::::::Saint Trimble's Island
:::::::::::No
::::::::::::Is Jan Mayen part of the Kingdom of Norway?
:::::::::::::Not yet
::::::::::::::[[#canada-alaska-tokyo]]
:::::::::::::What?
::::::::::::::Can you see the familiar continents?
:::::::::::::::Yes
::::::::::::::::This sounds like a physical map or satellite photo.
:::::::::::::::::Yes, that's it
::::::::::::::::::Is Lake Chad missing?
:::::::::::::::::::No
::::::::::::::::::::How far east do the American Prairies reach?
:::::::::::::::::::::Indiana before 1830
:::::::::::::::::::::The Mississippi 1830s-80s
:::::::::::::::::::::Nebraska
::::::::::::::::::::::Is there a big lake in the middle of Southern California? (created by mistake)
:::::::::::::::::::::::No 1860s-1900s
:::::::::::::::::::::::Yes 1910s
:::::::::::::::::::::What prairies?
::::::::::::::::::::::Is there a big lake in the middle of Ghana? (created on purpose)
:::::::::::::::::::::::No 1920s-50s
:::::::::::::::::::::::Yes 1960s-70s
:::::::::::::::::::Yes
::::::::::::::::::::Is the Aral Sea missing?
:::::::::::::::::::::No 1970s-90s
:::::::::::::::::::::Yes 2000s+
:::::::::::::::No
::::::::::::::::Rivers "Sirion" or "Anduin"?
:::::::::::::::::Yes
::::::::::::::::::Mordor?
:::::::::::::::::::No
::::::::::::::::::::Beleriand?
:::::::::::::::::::::Yes First Age
:::::::::::::::::::::No Early Second Age
:::::::::::::::::::Yes
::::::::::::::::::::Númenor?
:::::::::::::::::::::Yes Late Second Age
:::::::::::::::::::::No
::::::::::::::::::::::The forest east of the Misty Mountains is...
:::::::::::::::::::::::Greenwood Early Third Age
:::::::::::::::::::::::Mirkwood Late Third Age
:::::::::::::::::::::::The Wood of Greenleaves Fourth Age
:::::::::::::::::No
::::::::::::::::::Cair Paravel?
:::::::::::::::::::Yes
::::::::::::::::::::Calormen?
:::::::::::::::::::::No
::::::::::::::::::::::Lotta Islands?
:::::::::::::::::::::::No
::::::::::::::::::::::::Beruna
:::::::::::::::::::::::::Ford The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
:::::::::::::::::::::::::Bridge Prince Caspian
:::::::::::::::::::::::Yes Dawn Treader
:::::::::::::::::::::Yes
::::::::::::::::::::::Weird recursive heaven?
:::::::::::::::::::::::No One of the random later books
:::::::::::::::::::::::Yes The Last Battle
:::::::::::::::::::No
::::::::::::::::::::Mossflower?
:::::::::::::::::::::Yes
::::::::::::::::::::::Redwall
:::::::::::::::::::::No
::::::::::::::::::::::Is the world on the back of a turtle?
:::::::::::::::::::::::Yes Discworld
:::::::::::::::::::::::No
::::::::::::::::::::::::Are you ''sure'' this is a map?
:::::::::::::::::::::::::Yes
::::::::::::::::::::::::::Did you make it yourself?
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::Yes
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::It's very nice.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Thank you!
:::::::::::::::::::::::::No
::::::::::::::::::::::::::Is it trying to bite you?
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::No
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Is it larger than a breadbox?
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Yes tuba
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::No stapler
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::About the same breadbox
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::Yes
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::If you let it go, what does it do?
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Hisses and runs away cat
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Screeches and flaps around the room breaking things seagull
:::::::::::::Yes
::::::::::::::Pakistan?
:::::::::::::::No
::::::::::::::::How many Germanys are there?
:::::::::::::::::One
::::::::::::::::::Persia or Iran?
:::::::::::::::::::Persia 1930-34
:::::::::::::::::::Iran 1935-40
:::::::::::::::::One, but it's ''huge'' 1941-45
:::::::::::::::::Two 1946-47
:::::::::::::::Yes
::::::::::::::::Cambodia?
:::::::::::::::::No
::::::::::::::::::Eritrea is part of...
:::::::::::::::::::Italy
::::::::::::::::::::Canada is...
:::::::::::::::::::::Missing a piece 1948
:::::::::::::::::::::Fine 1949-52
:::::::::::::::::::Ethiopia 1952-53
:::::::::::::::::Yes
::::::::::::::::::The United Arab Republic?
:::::::::::::::::::No 1954-57
:::::::::::::::::::Yes 1958-60
:::::::::::Yes No, I made that one up.
:::Istanbul
::::Does the Soviet Union exist?
:::::Yes
::::::[[#west-africa-french-blob]]
:::::No
::::::[[#zaire]]

==Trivia==
*There are some errors and several discrepancies in the comic regarding how year ranges is given.
**The largest error seem to be a real mistake, rather than just not being precise.
***It regards the entry ''The town on I-25 between Albuquerque and El Paso is...'' which gives a year range from 1948-1952, but to get to this entry the previous answer ''British'' fixes the time to 1960-1961. Also the I-25 was built in 1970-1990 through New Mexico, see the [[#Table|table]] above for more info.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Large drawings]]
[[Category:Flowcharts]]
[[Category:Maps]]
[[Category:Time]]
[[Category:Geography]]
[[Category:Comics featuring politicians]]
[[Category:Animals]]
[[Category:LOTR]]
[[Category:Fiction]]
[[Category:Spiders]]

Talk:1692: Man Page

2016-07-30T01:12:47Z

108.162.221.17:

I do not entirely understand how wikis work; however, I have attempted to add a transcript. I apologize if anything breaks. I also apologize if this is not how I should be apologizing.
: In time, perhaps with counseling, I feel confident we will learn to forgive you. -- [[User:Brettpeirce|Brettpeirce]] ([[User talk:Brettpeirce|talk]]) 14:19, 27 June 2016 (UTC)

[[Special:Contributions/108.162.241.135|108.162.241.135]] 04:27, 10 June 2016 (UTC)

The Pope flag is referencing the time of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avignon_Papacy Avignon Papacy] --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.243|108.162.237.243]] 04:56, 10 June 2016 (UTC)

:Would have frickin' loved Randall if he inserted a reference to Pope of Dope here. :D [[User:Todor|Todor]] ([[User talk:Todor|talk]]) 08:17, 10 June 2016 (UTC)

OK, -e -h -v doesn't seem to work, it keeps halting at an input line!

Also, -p "AVIGNON" only works if I specify -D -I, -O, or -jk.

Why isn't -x documented on this man page? -x seems to do ''something'' but I'm not sure what the value of it is.

-y just returns "CHROMOSOME MISMATCH".

-a -e -f -n -o -r -S works if I specify -g, but -R starts to return CloudFlare errors after the first few million sites.

-v -d seems to make debug.exe speak out loud, but eventually it just starts spouting seemingly random numbers, unless I use -q. Is this desired behavior, or a bug?

{{unsigned ip|255.255.255.0}}
(-jk | off) [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.8|108.162.221.8]] 20:19, 10 June 2016 (UTC)

The horrible thing about this comic is that somebody is sure to have implemented this program by the end of the day... {{unsigned ip|141.101.104.140}}

:Found one on Github: https://github.com/iKevinY/blerp . It has a man page file, but the program itself just outputs "bleep blerp" and doesn't implement any of the flags (yet?). [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.141|141.101.104.141]] 08:05, 10 June 2016 (UTC)

::Thanks for linking my repo! I quickly drafted up the man page when the comic was released, and decided to use this project as an opportunity to become more familiar with Rust. I'll be gradually adding functionality to meet the "spec" of the man page. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.244.79|108.162.244.79]] 06:38, 14 June 2016 (UTC)

"Behavior Not Defined" might be a reference to undefined behavior, where a program is allowed to do anything including make demons fly out your nose: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undefined_behavior [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.12|108.162.219.12]] 06:48, 10 June 2016 (UTC)

[[Special:Contributions/162.158.135.36|162.158.135.36]] 06:58, 10 June 2016 (UTC) Søren Mors

I thought Ansel was a deliberate misspelling of ANSI, the most common 8 bit codepage. {{unsigned ip|162.158.135.36}}

The commit "Revision as of 07:08, 10 June 2016" reverted an IMO good explanation for the debug option with a bad one. Consider changing it back. [[User:Todor|Todor]] ([[User talk:Todor|talk]]) 07:20, 10 June 2016 (UTC)
:I agree. The bad explanation also mixed up {{w|Pipeline (Unix)|piping}} with {{w|Redirection (computing)|redirection}} --[[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.76|141.101.104.76]] 07:41, 10 June 2016 (UTC)

I don't think `blerp -a -d -t -p "AVIGNON"` is a valid call to blerp, because the syntax line syntax is utterly off. For example, the first line has an unclosed open [, whereas the second line – in addition to having the corresponding unmatched ] – plays with the fact that even though {} is usually used to list a set of required items, {} is also how `find` (which might do something similar to blerp, and is in fact mentioned in -v) denotes its results when passed to an exec. {{unsigned ip|141.101.104.30}}

Command line options do not normally use n-dashes; they use hyphens. Another problem with this option is that n-dashes and m-dashes cannot usually be displayed properly in the fixed-width fonts commonly used for command line terminals. The usual custom is to use two hyphens to represent a dash (which for proportional font display will often be converted to either an n-dash or m-dash).
: In groff (GNU troff, the language in which man pages are written) the code for an m-dash is '''\(em'''. It will display as either two hyphens "'''--'''" or as an actual m-dash "'''—'''" depending on the character set specified in the locale environment variables. [[User:Locoluis|Locoluis]] ([[User talk:Locoluis|talk]]) 17:17, 10 June 2016 (UTC)
: Many commands use a double dash "--" to specify the end of the options. In "ls -a" the "-a" is an option. In "ls -- -a" the "-a" is the name of the file.--[[Special:Contributions/108.162.218.59|108.162.218.59]] 16:00, 11 June 2016 (UTC)

While "check whether input halts" clearly alludes to the halting problem, it may not actually be impossible, depending on what blerp actually does and what sort of input it accepts. (It says nothing about actually ''reporting'' the result, and it makes no guarantees that it will itself halt.)

—[[User:PhantomLimbic|PhantomLimbic]] ([[User talk:PhantomLimbic|talk]]) 07:30, 10 June 2016 (UTC)

:Indeed. Turing's proof for the halting theorem says that there is no algorithm that allows a Turing machine to determine whether any possible program/input combination will halt. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that it's impossible to develop an algorithm that determines whether a particular, fixed program will halt on an arbitrary input. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.141|141.101.104.141]] 08:14, 10 June 2016 (UTC)

Currently, there is no mention of the unmatched square brackets in the synopsis, or unmatched parenthesis in the title text. Presumably a reference to XKCD comic 859. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.77|141.101.98.77]] 07:51, 10 June 2016 (UTC)

Attack Mode might be a reference to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yu-Gi-Oh!_Trading_Card_Game Yu-Gi-Oh Trading Card Game] [[Special:Contributions/162.158.85.117|162.158.85.117]] 08:23, 10 June 2016 (UTC)

:Attack mode could also be a pun on "Attract Mode", a demo mode of arcade machines which is meant to attract players. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.85.243|162.158.85.243]] 09:39, 15 June 2016 (UTC)

In the description of -b the computer (Named "Hex") from discworld uses ants not bees.
Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hex_(Discworld) [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.125|141.101.98.125]] 09:13, 10 June 2016 (UTC)Bluewhelk
:Hmm. Reading the wiki article further Hex uses a beehive for long term storage! My bad [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.125|141.101.98.125]] 09:20, 10 June 2016 (UTC)Bluewhelk

"Or best offer" doesn't need to reference a financial offer, it may also mean that anyone offering to reuse the article with an alternative license is allowed to do so. Attack Mode and Stealth Mode seem to me to be references to computer viruses. Stealth Mode is also an option in some applications that can hide their presence when run, often because of malicious behavior, such as remote access tools, keyloggers, etc. Piping is not only used in Unix, it is also common in MS-DOS. Opposite Day has a good explanation on Wikipedia. Literal quote from Wikipedia: "Once Opposite Day is declared, statements mean the opposite of what they usually mean.". --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.222.217|162.158.222.217]] 11:17, 10 June 2016 (UTC)

Is there any evidence that Opposite Day may refer to Cyanide & Happiness? Opposite Day is a fairly well-known concept (at least from what I know growing up in the U.S.), and I don't see any direct connections to the specific C&H video short. I think that speculation should be removed. [[User:Sayno2quat|Sayno2quat]] ([[User talk:Sayno2quat|talk]]) 14:33, 10 June 2016 (UTC)

I could be wrong, but I think the program is also "simulating" a man (a play with the words because it's a '''man''' page). If you think like that a lot more commands makes sense (especially, -D, -e, -f, -g, -jk, -R, -u). Just a penny for a thought. --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.241.134|108.162.241.134]] 11:52, 10 June 2016 (UTC)

If someone wants a history of the useragent string (possibly a reference for that "citation needed"), then [http://webaim.org/blog/user-agent-string-history/|this might be of interest]. --[[User:Draco18s|Draco18s]] ([[User talk:Draco18s|talk]]) 16:12, 10 June 2016 (UTC)

The <code>-n</code> option might be a reference to <code>echo</code>, where it is an option often used but which does not work on all systems. 
Am I the only one to see the “k” capitalized in <code>-jK</code>? 
[[User:Ltrlg|Ltrlg]] ([[User talk:Ltrlg|talk]]) 18:55, 10 June 2016 (UTC)

I interpreted "CHECK WHETHER INPUT HALTS" as simply determining whether the input was a finite string. (while at the same time referencing the halting problem) --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.68.59|162.158.68.59]] 20:22, 10 June 2016 (UTC)

I think that "suppress bees" probably indicates a smoke situation, a situation where the magic smoke is let out of the computer, such as halt-catch-fire. Smoke is the way to suppress bees. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.249.158|108.162.249.158]] 20:24, 10 June 2016 (UTC)

What does "BSD 4(2)" mean? --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.255.65|162.158.255.65]] 20:54, 10 June 2016 (UTC)

blerp -v | blerp -ha [[User:Mikemk|Mikemk]] ([[User talk:Mikemk|talk]]) 21:28, 10 June 2016 (UTC)

The word "bug" doesn't actually come from an insect; see the Etymology section of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_bug [[Special:Contributions/108.162.245.117|108.162.245.117]] 04:37, 11 June 2016 (UTC)

Some remarks to the current explanation:
- I think the description is more specific than suggested. It is true that command-line programs regularly read stdin and output something to stdout, but I would categorize only some of them grep/sed/awk/sort/... as filter in the narrower sense. Also that it can access remote files (URL syntax) is a clue
- In the syntax we have args, option, options, and flags
- the environment variables are never described
- attack mode could refer to a network attack, e.g. trying to break into protected servers, or not just filtering the information, but also using it in a damaging way
- suppress bees hints that for normal operation bees are used, something you would not expect from a typical command line program
- the em dashes are probably used from there on on the command line (right of this option)
- piping output to the MS-DOS debug.exe can be used for entering small assembly programs (including saving them typically as .com command), changing memory contents or accessing I/O ports. Normally it is used interactively. In a pipe setup it enhances the abilities of a text processing filter to do some enhanced actions on the target computer
- execute something, similar to the find program which can execute an external program per match; could also mean a specified algorithm and refer to halting check; in any case "something" is quite vague for a man page
- use google: either for input (e.g. read URLs by searching for ARG and getting the first found webpage) or some special Google API; possibly Google is so powerful, it can replace some of the functionality of the program. Just use Google
- Check whether input halts hints that the input processing including algorithm execution is so complex that it can run into an infinite loop, but easy enough to be not yet Turing complete or it is and -h is the joke; or some input never halts, e.g. /dev/random, or it refers to the robot theory, e.g. whether the attacked victim halts
- ignore case probably refers to the actual input files instead of to the command line
- overwrite would be funny with speech output
- the true pope is seemingly important fir filtering. Could refer to important faith settings for other programs, e.g. which editor to use vim/emacs or it us important for knowledge processing
- randomize arguments is good for some test procedures
- as mentioned in the explanation the copyright refers to the man page, not the program, here the explanation is inconsistent in the current revision
Sebastian --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.83.168|162.158.83.168]] 08:55, 11 June 2016 (UTC)

With reference to the See Also, the multiple blerps are due to different sections, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_page#Manual_sections [[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.34|173.245.54.34]] 13:08, 11 June 2016 (UTC)

Could "supress bees" reference to "[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/797:_debian-main debian-main]"? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.86.131|162.158.86.131]] 19:20, 11 June 2016 (UTC)

Does the unclosed paren in the title text bother anyone else? [[Special:Contributions/173.245.50.25|173.245.50.25]] 06:02, 12 June 2016 (UTC)
:Not me, but someone somewhere... - [[Special:Contributions/108.162.244.85|108.162.244.85]] 08:41, 12 June 2016 (UTC)

Is the newspaper on this What-If [http://what-if.xkcd.com/61/] relevant? - [[Special:Contributions/108.162.244.85|108.162.244.85]] 08:41, 12 June 2016 (UTC)

I've never put anything on this site, but I feel it's worth mentioning that lerp (which stands for linear interpolation) is a thing and it sounds like blerp. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.245.119|108.162.245.119]] 02:31, 13 June 2016 (UTC)

1. The NAME section is missing the one-line description that is necessary for the whatis and apropos commands.
2. "Set version number" could be used to set the version number in the output files or provide compatibility output.
[[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.98|108.162.216.98]] 02:38, 13 June 2016 (UTC)

I thought one of the main features of licences like the GPL and BSD was that they ''weren't'' revocable (unless you break the licence terms)? Oh, and someone else already mentioned it, but computer bugs aren't called "bugs" because of insects flying into them. The reason there's that famous bug in a logbook? That's because "bug" already existed as a term for a malfunction, and the operator who kept that logbook found it funny that a bug was caused by an actual bug. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.92|141.101.98.92]] 00:42, 14 June 2016 (UTC)

The explanation about ANSEL is largely incorrect. ANSEL is backward compatible with 7-bit ASCII, which would make the "blerp" default compatible with most english-language inputs. [[User:Sysin|Sysin]] ([[User talk:Sysin|talk]]) 11:00, 15 June 2016 (UTC)

The capital flags D, I, O, R, S, U, V, have exactly one English anagram found: "DO VIRUS". {{unsigned ip|162.158.255.143}}

Missing a Velociraptor option. -VR maybe? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.246.70|108.162.246.70]] 01:03, 16 June 2016 (UTC)

Talk:1692: Man Page

2016-07-30T01:02:08Z

108.162.221.17:

1674: Adult

2016-04-29T19:22:18Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */ Explained that writing a will isn't usually exciting. Anyone have a citation?

{{comic
| number = 1674
| date = April 29, 2016
| title = Adult
| image = adult.png
| titletext = (1) That shopping cart is full of AirHeads, and (2) I died at 41 from what the AirHeads company spokesperson called 'probably natural causes.'
}}

==Explanation==
In this comic, [[Cueball]] performs several mundane 'adult' tasks, namely shopping for groceries, buying furniture, and applying for a mortgage. In each instance thought bubbles show his apparent surprise or bemusement at the fact that he is behaving like an adult.

In the last panel [[Megan]] is reading Cueball's will. Instead of containing standard language, its expresses Cueball's feelings at the fact that he was actually creating a will. This, even more than the other panels, is a task not traditionally viewed as exciting{{Citation needed}}.

[[Randall]] frequently addresses the issue of growing up and being expected to be an adult, despite still seeing oneself as a child in many ways. In this strip, Cueball finds himself performing tasks that he's used to thinking of as things that grown-ups have to worry about, from shopping for food to preparing for one's own death. In each case, he treats the situation as if he were a child suddenly finding himself taking on adult responsibility, which seems to be how he sees himself.

Randall also frequently addresses the issue of finding oneself in adulthood, despite feeling unprepared and immature. In some, he points out that this can be freeing, because it allows us the power to redefine adulthood on our own terms (see [[150: Grownups]] and [[219: Blanket Fort]]). In others (as in this case), he addresses the surprise that comes with realizing that adult responsibilities belong to you, and fear about his ability to handle them (see [[905: Homeownership]] and [[616: Lease]]).

In the title text we learn that the shopping cars if filled with AirHeads, a tangy, taffy-like, chewy candy, predominantly known for its sweet taste and texture. The title text thus suggests that Cueball still retains some more childish instincts, namely using the freedom of adulthood to indulge in AirHead candies, to fatal consequences, explaining why they already read out his will in front of his family in the last panel. It also suggests that the candy company would be quick to portray that death as "natural causes", to downplay the involvement of their product in someone's death.

Randall has previously made a comic displaying what happened to him when he suddenly was able to freely make or buy the kind of food his parents would have limited his access to in [[418: Stove Ownership]], where it was bacon in the comic and Frosting (or icing) in the title text.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is holding onto a shopping cart more than half filled with items looking quite similar. Above his head is a large thought bubble.]
:Cueball (thinking): Haha, look at me grocery shopping! I'm such an adult.

:[Cueball is standing, arms in his sides, in front of a sofa with a price tag. He is thinking again, this time the frame of the panel is the lower part of the thought bubble, as there is no frame around the text in the "bubble".]
:Cueball (thinking): Buying a sofa! Ooh, look how domestic I am!

:[Cueball is sitting in an office chair. at a desk, leaning in over it while writing something. The desk is filled with office items, and on the opposite side of the desk sits a man with a wisp of hair in another office chair. Cueball is thinking again with the text in a large thought bubble above their heads.]
:Cueball (thinking): Applying for a mortgage! As if I'm a real grown-up.

:[Megan is reading out loud from a piece of paper, while standing in front of a long table, where Hairbun, Hairy, and White Hat are sitting. White hat sits at the end of the table in an office chair.]
:Megan: ...And I, being of sound mind and body, am totally writing a will right now!
:Megan: Can you believe this?

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairbun]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]
[[Category:Food]]

1663: Garden/Users gardens

2016-04-13T03:17:01Z

108.162.221.17: /* Experimental gardens */

*Here urls for users gardens from the interactive comic [[1663: Garden]] can be posted.
**Please post your user name if putting it in the first section.
**If you have [[#Experimental gardens|experimental gardens]] that you do not wish to post a user name post them below in the experimental gardens.
**There are even more "locked" gardens for explanations here [[#Locked gardens only for explanation use|Locked gardens only for explanation use]]
*Since all gardens will change over time, these gardens cannot be used as a permanent help in the explanation.
**Only screen shots or image downloads can be used.
**Any such images can be posted here [[1663: Garden/Screen-shots]].

==Users garden==
*This table is for users who wish to display their gardens.
**If you do not wish your user name displayed (or link to special contribution then use the table below for [[#Experimental gardens|experimental gardens]].
{| class="wikitable"
! User
! Garden url
! Description
! Day of creation (screen-shot links?)
|-
| [[User:.42|.42]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#b818944a-faa5-11e5-8002-42010a8e0014 Garden]
| Plants grow toward the lights with duck and medium sized trees
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7c/1663_garden_Growth_towards_the_light_duck_and_intermediate_tree.png April 5th]
|-
| [[User:.42|.42]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#87f799b0-faa9-11e5-8001-42010a8e000c Garden]
| Intense blue light creates an octopus garden (And that octopus has a Black Hat. Relax.) No pillars here, when they started to appear in other blue gardens on April 7th (see [[#Experimental gardens|experimental gardens]] below).
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/23/1663_garden_Octopus_garden_with_Cueball_hand_up_and_a_black_hat_octopus.png April 5th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e0/1663_garden_Intense_blue_light_with_no_pillars.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:.42|.42]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#1c23832a-fab8-11e5-8001-42010a8e0017 Garden]
| Some of the grass is very flexible.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a5/1663_garden_Flexible_grass_left_bending.png Left bending], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7b/1663_garden_Flexible_grass_Straight.png Straight], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1663_garden_Flexible_grass_right_bending.png Right bending]
|-
| [[User:.42|.42]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#d12a0932-faaa-11e5-8012-42010a8e0006 Garden]
| Mandelbrot set and birds, one carrying Megan (later two Megans in the air)
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/99/1663_garden_Mandelbrot_set_and_birds%2C_one_carrying_Megan_.png April 5th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/34/1663_garden_Mandelbrot_set_and_birds%2C_TWO_carrying_Megans.png April 6th]
|-
| [[User:.42|.42]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#f084488e-fb99-11e5-8001-42010a8e0012 Garden]
| Cueball and octopus have a gardening store for deer, with birdbaths and a duck. Shining a light at the crown of the bare trees causes one to grow a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/da/1663_Garden_face_tree.png face]. Here the new pillars appeared in the blue area.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/48/1663_garden_Cueball_talks_to_deer.png April 5th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e8/1663_garden_Cueball_talks_to_deer_duck_in_birdbath.png April 6th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fa/1663_garden_Store_for_deer_now_with_pillars.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:.42|.42]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#3e3ff85e-fb11-11e5-8009-42010a8e0003 Garden]
| Megan waves a wand and office furniture appears (two wands later and bunnies and Cueball). After pruning the second wand, a bird arrives.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bc/1663_garden_Megan_waves_a_wand_and_office_furniture_appears_.png April 5th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1b/1663_garden_Megan_waves_TWO_wands_bunnies_office_Cueball_bird_ducks.png April 6th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/21/1663_garden_Wand_Megan_with_bird_instead_of_two_wands.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:.42|.42]]
| [http://linden.xkcd.com/#4a84cee6-0034-11e6-8001-42010a8e000d Garden]
| Stilt girl watches a shark in the birdbath from a safe distance. Megan brings a sword to make the water safe for a duck. Development goes on as there now are '''two stilts girl''' on the gate, and the bird bath also has a jumping fish and a heron appeared in the pond!
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fb/1663_Garden_shark_watching.png April 11th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/17/1663_garden_Two_stilts_girl_on_gate%2C_bird_bath_on_it_with_shar_and_fish_and_heron_in_pond.png April 12th]
|-
| [[User:Liera21|Liera21]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#9de9a12a-fab1-11e5-8014-42010a8e0005 Garden]
| Megan fighting an octopus army possibly saving Cueball? Flowers have later appeared to the left.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6b/1663_garden_Megan_with_sword%2C_trees_octopuses_with_Cueball_bunny_ducklings.png April 5th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a3/1663_garden_Megan_with_sword_now_also_flowers.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Dry Paratroopa|Dry Paratroopa]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#f4e1105e-fad8-11e5-8001-42010a8e000e Garden]
| Plants appear to prefer red light to blue, and fountains are capable of growing in trees.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/46/1663_garden_Red_plant_world_with_both_deer_and_birdbaths_in_trees_and_on_gates_with_pots.png April 5th]
|-
| [[Special:Contributions/108.162.229.71|Special 71]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#9adb3010-fa62-11e5-8001-42010a8e0018 Garden]
| Mars rovers strange tree multiple tree deer etc.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1f/1663_garden_Mars_rovers_strange_tree_multiple_tree_two_deer_etc.png April 5th]
|-
| [[Special:Contributions/162.158.214.230|Special 230]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#01811958-fa89-11e5-8001-42010a8e0013 Garden]
| A little bit of everything including Beret Guy and a cat.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/77/1663_garden_Beret_guy_and_cat_and_much_more.png April 5th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#0d11a2c8-fa8f-11e5-8001-42010a8e000e Garden]
| Flying birds, some with something in the beak, around large tree and birdbath, deer, snake, gate with two cactus on top turtles. Now yellow light, have been all colors. Four Beret Guys in the lake, sways, and two gates. Cannot change this garden anymore. Now five Beret and cats in different positions. Is that bugs in the air. Really need to prune it but can't :-(. The bugs disappeared the next day?
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7f/1663_garden_tree_turtle_birdbath.png April 4th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7c/1663_garden_Flying_birds_deer_gate_with_cactus_turtles_snake_etc.png April 5th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5a/1663_garden_Pruned_garden_with_birds_deer_gate_cactus_turtles_snake_gate.png Pruning 5th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/61/1663_garden_Four_Beret_guy_two_gates_and_much_more.png April 6th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cf/1663_garden_Five_Beret_Guy_different_cats_and_bugs_in_the_air.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/64/1663_garden_The_bugs_seem_to_be_gone.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#70bc19ee-0015-11e6-8001-42010a8e0015 Garden]
| Try to recreate the first garden that was locked with flying birds. Same color settings to [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1663_garden_Starting_point_for_recreation_of_locked_garden.png begin with] as the one above [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7f/1663_garden_tree_turtle_birdbath.png began with].
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1663_garden_Starting_point_for_recreation_of_locked_garden.png April 11th start]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#5639f2bc-fc3c-11e5-8019-42010a8e0005 Garden]
| My new garden as the old one seems to be locked now after the next comic. Tries with some colors in between orange, white and yellow. Haven't really done anything with those colors before. Will not change the next 15 hours! UPDATE: Coool a ''Sale sign'' I had not seen before and also I do not think it was in the posted link to images, so maybe new items continue to appear when Randall makes them? Also my first potted plant and Star plant. And a very bendy water plant in the lake a {{w|Typha}} I think. It can even bend into the water, see examples.
| April 6th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/62/1663_garden_Orange_yellow_white_light_a_sale_sign_bendy_Typha_straight.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0d/1663_garden_Orange_yellow_white_light_a_sale_sign_bendy_Typha_left.png bend left], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2c/1663_garden_Orange_yellow_white_light_a_sale_sign_bendy_Typha_right.png bend right], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7f/1663_garden_Orange_yellow_white_light_a_sale_sign_bendy_Typha_under_water.png under water]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#08fadd06-fd93-11e5-8002-42010a8e0014 Garden]
| Another new garden as the two above has been locked. Try with only one color touching ground. The one that gave stone in my experimental garden. But then two other colors would touch anything growing up above the ground. And they also touch at the edges. Early image when just two monolith appeared.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/04/1663_garden_One_light_along_the_ground_two_mainly_just_above_ground.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#06bea7b8-fe7c-11e5-8001-42010a8e000a Garden]
| New garden using the three colors to begin with that seems to give the most interesting one color gardens from the experiment below. Yellow, Red orange and Blue white. Only small overlap with red orange in the middle. But this may change, this is not an experiment but my new garden.
| April 9th
|-
|spooky3do
|[http://xkcd.com/1663/#6eb32976-fafc-11e5-8014-42010a8e0006 Garden]
|Cueball giving rectal exam to a deer. Very surreal garden also with Rovers. Now Cueball holds a Turtle in front of Megan making it look like she has a cap down over her eyes... And finally now a '''light pole with a lamp on top''' like the one from Narnia. A first! Very clear after pruning on the 11th.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/de/1663_garden_Cueball_hand_in_deer_two_rovers_office_furniture_two_Cueballs_on_top.png April 6th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/09/1663_garden_Cueball_holds_a_Turtle_in_front_of_Megan_looking_like_a_cap_on_her.png April 8th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/42/1663_garden_First_light_pole_with_lamp.png April 8th late], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/File:1663_garden_Lightning_pole_with_lamp.png April 11th]
|-
| [[Special:Contributions/162.158.38.207|Special 207]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#8d526e44-fb49-11e5-8001-42010a8e000c Garden]
| Cueball can look like he's holding items if they grow on his outstretched hand and Megan with black hat. Now also Cueball has a black hat without looking like [[Black Hat]] as it is tilted.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d6/1663_garden_Cueball_holding_grass_and_Megan_with_black_hat.png April 6th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1663_garden_Giant_planter_on_pillars_and_both_Cueball_and_Megan_with_black_hat.png April 8th]
|-
| [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114415&start=440#p3953059 nicodemus]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#526e04fe-fc67-11e5-801a-42010a8e0007 Garden], [http://linden.xkcd.com/?debug#526e04fe-fc67-11e5-801a-42010a8e0007 Debugger]
| Balloon string can bend into S shapes, even when there is a balloon attached.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/82/1663_garden_S_shaped_empty_balloon_string_up.png April 9th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1e/1663_garden_S_shaped_empty_balloon_string_left.png Left], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/34/1663_garden_S_shaped_empty_balloon_string_right.png Right]
|-
| Next user? 
| Garden? 
| Here a description (And this --> is for easy insertion of new links:)
| 
|}

==Experimental gardens==
*These gardens are for experiments, and also for gardens who is so misskept as to loose interest (gardens from above can then be moved here.)
**In this section no user entry is needed.
{| class="wikitable"
! User
! Garden url
! Description
! Day of creation (screen-shot links?)
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#f5152f7e-fafb-11e5-8001-42010a8e0017 Garden]
| One yellow light (standard start) but interesting garden anyway with Megan in three and star plant.
| April 5th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a0/1663_garden_Standard_start_with_interesting_garden_none_the_less.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#90277934-fb35-11e5-8001-42010a8e0010 Garden]
| Two yellow lamps
| April 5th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#0a4d51a0-fafc-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| Three yellow lights
| April 5th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#cdb6d0e8-fb02-11e5-8014-42010a8e0006 Garden]
| Three yellow lamps
| April 5th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1663_garden_Yellow_plant_and_Megan_world.png April 6th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#c82f4e84-fb02-11e5-8015-42010a8e0005 Garden]
| Three red all over ---> resulting in barren desert with only cactus and turtles.
| April 5th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/98/1663_garden_Desert_with_red_light_only.png April 6th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#1bd5e766-fafc-11e5-8002-42010a8e0014 Garden]
| Three different red lamps
| April 5th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#fbbdebcc-fafb-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 Garden]
| One blue light - now blue also with pillars six in two groups of three! And two Cueballs.
| April 5th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d1/1663_garden_One_blue_light_with_six_pillars.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#984b4570-fafc-11e5-8001-42010a8e0019 Garden]
| Three blue light - resulting in one pillar and one black hat octopus - same place as the intense blue light garden above over the lake and one Cueball
| April 5th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2a/1663_garden_Three_blue_light_with_one_pillar_and_black_hat_octopus.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#99b78eb8-fb02-11e5-8001-42010a8e000d Garden]
| Three colors covering everything - not very interesting garden...
| April 5th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/78/1663_garden_Three_colors_over_everything_not_very_interesting.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#d58a46f6-fb02-11e5-8001-42010a8e000f Garden]
| Three colors more separate. Much more interesting than the above with Beret Guy hiding in a shrubbery and office furniture with octopus on top.
| April 5th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/9b/1663_garden_Three_colors_more_separate_Beret_Guy_in_shrubbery_and_Octopus_on_office_desk.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#6cad1562-fb77-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| Blue from left yellow from right - tried to grow office furniture per a user comment. But failed here but then succeeded above without trying. But here Berety Guy is again out of the lake in the birdbath this time and a balloon etc.
| April 5th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/96/1663_garden_Blue_yellow_Beret_Guy_in_Birdbath_and_balloon_bird_cats_Megan_holding_wavy_straw.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#f2dd519c-fb7c-11e5-8001-42010a8e0010 Garden]
| A little towards blue left and a little towards red from right... Rather boring garden with mainly bare trunks and snakes.
| April 5th
[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/02/1663_garden_Almost_red_and_blue_snakes_and_bare_trunks.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#bdd06116-fbbc-11e5-8001-42010a8e0012 Garden]
| Three colors light on central area. Two deer looking away from each other but overlapping so their tales looks like part of the other
| April 6th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bb/1663_garden_Three_lights_center_only_two_deers_mixed_together_.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#0fc94d9c-fbeb-11e5-8002-42010a8e0014 Garden]
| Two lamps yellow (turned towards red) and blue on one patch of ground to he right. Furniture here? No but other stuff and nothing outside the light cones
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3e/1663_garden_Two_light_on_small_area_nothing_outside_the_light.png April 6th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#9de33106-fbeb-11e5-8001-42010a8e000d Garden]
| Three lamps, yellow up and two along the ground reddish and bluish. First time seen pillars outside a fully blue world, and then two gates symmetrical on each side of the image.
| April 6th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/de/1663_garden_Three_lamps_two_along_ground_with_pillars_not_in_blue_world_and_symmetric_gates.png April 7th]
|-
| Wegguy
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#55d4f6d6-fb34-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 Garden]
| Office space with star plant balloon with bird and grass on Cueball. The second day also with a giant balloon waving in the wild wind. See examples.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ad/1663_garden_Office_space_with_star_plant_balloon_with_bird_and_grass_on_Cueball.png April 6th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c4/1663_garden_Office_space_with_giant_wavy_balloon_left.png April 7th left], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d4/1663_garden_Office_space_with_giant_wavy_balloon_right.png April 7th right]
|-
| DMAY
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#6fe5c7ba-fc12-11e5-8001-42010a8e0012 Garden]
| French Theme. Or maybe Russian. Sometimes I can't tell the difference. With monoliths.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/83/1663_garden_French_theme_with_monoliths.png April 6th]
|-
| The_Alchemist
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#054b53ec-fa9c-11e5-8012-42010a8e0006 Garden]
| New type of poles, looks like lamp post - maybe they will grow into that?
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/81/1663_garden_Lamp_post_poles_and_mars_rover.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#8abd809e-fccd-11e5-8001-42010a8e000d Garden]
| platform in tree with potted plant. SE
| April 7th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7e/1663_garden_platform_in_tree_with_potted_plant.png April 9th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#f7ddbc66-fccd-11e5-8001-42010a8e0017 Garden]
| My first linsang cat like creature held up by Megan. SC
| April 7th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1663_garden_My_first_linsang_cat_like_creature_in_SC.png April 12th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#59246c86-fcce-11e5-8001-42010a8e0010 Garden]
| Monoliths and tree with platform. SF
| April 7th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e7/1663_garden_Monoliths_and_tree_with_platform_SF.png April 10th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#e774b4b8-fcd4-11e5-8001-42010a8e0017 Garden]
| Ponytail and two Cueballs cat pillar and trunk. And now stilts and a platform on the pillar sE. The stilt girl first got one owl then two cats on her head (at the same time!) Alto tulips.
| April 7th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/eb/1663_garden_Ponytail_and_two_Cueballs_cat_pillar_and_trunk_sE.png April 8th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b6/1663_garden_Platform_on_pillar_with_stilts.png April 9th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a1/1663_garden_Stilt_girl_with_owl_on_head_and_tulips.png April 11th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/46/1663_garden_Stilt_girl_now_with_both_owl_and_two_cats_on_head.png April 12th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#2f659260-fcd5-11e5-8001-42010a8e000c Garden]
| Sale sign left pillar and deer sC. Also here a platform on the pillar. A gate with the owl and Megan with a sword later appeared.
| April 7th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/24/1663_garden_Sale_sign_pillar_and_deer_sC.png April 8th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ad/1663_garden_Platform_on_pillar_with_trees_around.png April 9th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cb/1663_garden_Megan_with_sword_and_owl_on_gate.png April 11th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#6e67ea72-fcd4-11e5-8010-42010a8e0003 Garden]
| Sale sign right with Megan and a trunk sF:
| April 7th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/8b/1663_garden_Sale_sign_right_Megan_trunk_sF.png April 8th]
|-
| Anonymous
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#ae3adcaa-fd37-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| Grey Garden: Three Gray (or white) (between blue and yellow, ) lamps. Office desk and chair also normal table with pots birds and a cat and Cueballs on table
| April 7th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/63/1663_garden_Grey_garden_office_desk_chair_and_normal_table_with_pots_birds_and_a_cat_and_now_Cueballs.png April 8th]
|-
| Anonymous
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#30d8d4e2-fc83-11e5-801a-42010a8e0007 Garden]
| Blue, yellow, and red from underground. With a [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-giant-planter.png giant planter]on pillars filled with trees.
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1a/1663_garden_Underground_light_gives_large_tub_on_top_of_pillar_then_filled_with_trees.png April 8th]
|-
| Anonymous
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#7e9b522e-fb87-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| R'lyeh for sale. Good price but a long queue at the real state agency... and the agent is a viper... and the customers visiting now are so slow... and I don't like this guy... I think i'm leaving
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fd/1663_garden_Rlyeh_for_sale.png April 8th]
|-
| Anonymous
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#0b00730c-fa7a-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| Amazon forest. For some reason only girls appeared in this forest patch... even the deer is female...
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/8d/1663_garden_Amazon_forest.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#2845bd8a-fe7d-11e5-8001-42010a8e0019 Garden]
| Orange red top left to begin
| April 9th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#3e959eca-fe7d-11e5-8001-42010a8e000c Garden]
| Yellow top right to begin
| April 9th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#4c2e5b9e-fe7d-11e5-801a-42010a8e0007 Garden]
| Blue White bottom right to begin
| April 9th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#654054de-fe7d-11e5-8001-42010a8e000d Garden]
| Almost red bottom left to begin
| April 9th
|-
| [[User talk:162.158.85.177|IP .177]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#9ed4d584-fb59-11e5-8001-42010a8e0009 Garden]
| Very interesting garden with stilt girl with owl on her head, giant planter on pillars with balloons, deer, Cueball and octopus as well as a gate with Ponytail, cat, bird and bunny and more.
| April ?, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/50/1663_garden_Stilt_girl_with_owl_on_her_head_and_planter_and_more.png April 11th]
|-
| [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114415&start=480#p3954408 libra]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#a97f5b80-fcd5-11e5-8001-42010a8e000d Garden]
| '''Purple light''' garden (blue and red mixed) with '''stilt girl in a tree''' and a giant planter with deer.
| April ??, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/68/1663_garden_Purple_light_with_stilt_girl_in_tree_and_planter_with_deer.png April 12th]
|-
| [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114415&start=480#p3954408 libra]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#c5ff300e-fcd6-11e5-8001-42010a8e0009 Garden]
| Purple light garden with '''stilt girl with a duck on her head''' - 1.
| April ??, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c7/1663_garden_Purple_light_with_stilt_girl_with_duck_1.png April 12th]
|-
| [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114415&start=480#p3954408 libra]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#1d1ea296-feff-11e5-8001-42010a8e0013 Garden]
| Purple light garden with '''stilt girl with a duck on her head''' - 2.
| April ??, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0c/1663_garden_Purple_light_with_stilt_girl_with_duck_2.png April 12th]
|-
| Anonymous
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#323ee5ac-fb74-11e5-8001-42010a8e0018 Garden]
| Experimental garden, red and blue light placed at respective corners creating apparent purple gradient. Allowing to grow to observe effects of gradient, if any. Will clear occasionally. Experiment overseen by cat named Seymour.
| April 12th
|-
| Next user? 
| Garden? 
| This is for easy insertion of new links
| 
|}

==Locked gardens only for explanation use==
*These gardens are experiments used directly in this explanation and they will not be changed again after the first settings.
**Any experiment that need to do that can go above. If that should be used for explanation, then changes need to be explained
**If you have something you wish to explain, and it can be done with one setting only, then feel free to include it here below.
{| class="wikitable"
! User
! Garden url
! Description
! Day of creation (screen-shot links?)
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#21374f9e-fbbd-11e5-8001-42010a8e0015 Garden]
| '''No lights ever!'''. Result: '''No growth'''.
| April 6th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#4896b678-fbbe-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| '''Yellow laser beam'''. Result: '''No growth'''.
| April 6th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#6a6a7be0-fbbe-11e5-800d-42010a8e0008 Garden]
| '''Lots of light but not on ground'''. Result: '''No growth'''.
| April 6th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#c75991f6-fbbe-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| '''Three yellow lamps under ground shining down'''. Result: '''No growth'''. There seems to be no growth this way, but the lamp under the small pond has somehow managed to create a straw...
| April 6th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#e8552cc6-fbbe-11e5-8001-42010a8e0012 Garden]
| '''Three yellow lamps under ground shining up'''. Result: '''Perfect growth'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3a/1663_garden_Yellow_light_from_below_the_ground.png April 6th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#0544006e-fbbf-11e5-8001-42010a8e0017 Garden]
| '''Three different color lamps under ground shining up'''. Result: '''Perfect growth'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7c/1663_garden_Different_light_from_below_the_ground.png April 6th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#9733dff4-fbbe-11e5-8001-42010a8e0012 Garden]
| '''Three separate different color close to ground'''. . Result: '''Perfect growth'''. Something can grow here. Not much but it is not barren.
| April 6th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#357a48d8-fbbf-11e5-8019-42010a8e0006 Garden]
| '''Three different color lamps just above ground'''. . Result: '''Perfect growth'''. Something can grow here. Not much but it is not barren.
| April 6th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#f65c4906-fcf1-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 Garden]
| '''Blue one color''' whole screen from center. Nothing happened for 12 hours then two hors later an Octopus - so it was not completely dead! After 18 hours also two Cueball checking for rain and another octopus makes this behave as expected although 12 hours delayed!
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d3/1663_garden_One_color_Blue.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3f/1663_garden_One_color_Blue_14h.png April 8th 14 hours], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e5/1663_garden_One_color_Blue_18h.png April 8th 18 hours]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#d5b7fed6-fd94-11e5-8001-42010a8e000a Garden]
| '''Color setting between the one above and the one below'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cb/1663_garden_One_color_Between_blue_and_light_blue.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#3afb7988-fcf2-11e5-8001-42010a8e0019 Garden]
| '''Light Blue one color''' whole screen from center. (All the other eight one color gardens from this and below has been '''updated after 12 hours'''). Cueball with hands down (unlike up for pure blue), pillars of '''stones''' and monolith.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cc/1663_garden_One_color_Light_blue.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c9/1663_garden_One_color_Light_blue_12h.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#303c341c-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 Garden]
| '''Color setting between the one above and the one below'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/af/1663_garden_One_color_Between_light_blue_and_Blue_White.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#98dc3452-fcf2-11e5-8010-42010a8e0008 Garden]
| '''Blue White one color''' whole screen from center. Office landscape with pillar monolith pots Cueball and balloons one of them giant and bending far left and right. Also behind the desks a long table and before the going from left to right a star plant appeared in the pot on this table. (Three examples from same 12 hours later)
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/77/1663_garden_One_color_White_Blue.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d1/1663_garden_One_color_White_Blue_12h.png April 8th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d8/1663_garden_One_color_White_Blue_12h_balloon_left.png Left bend], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/73/1663_garden_One_color_White_Blue_12h_balloon_right_plus_star_plant.png Right bend],
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#5a45a1f8-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e000e Garden]
| '''Color setting between the one above and the one below'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/83/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Blue_White_and_White.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#ba6b4ac2-fcf2-11e5-8001-42010a8e0019 Garden]
| '''White one color''' whole screen from center. Only one balloon which is giant covering one of the two Megans holding up a cat. There are more cats bunnies a Beret Guy in pond and a tree.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bd/1663_garden_One_color_White.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/99/1663_garden_One_color_White_12h.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#8874be6a-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 Garden]
| '''Color setting between the one above and the one below'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/de/1663_garden_One_color_Between_White_and_Light_yellow.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#db338968-fcf2-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 Garden]
| '''Light yellow one color''' (start color) whole screen from center. As expected but a little meager outcome with Megan tree (with '''shelfe''') a bare trunk (because mainly outside the light) birdbaths.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3c/1663_garden_One_color_Light_yellow.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cb/1663_garden_One_color_Light_yellow_12h.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#b28f8522-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e0013 Garden]
| '''Color setting between the one above and the one below'''. Almost instantly there was the girl with black haired ponytail '''on stilts''' swaying in the breeze. Nothing else has appeared in 5 hours. Had seen her in an image from another site, but this was the first live garden I have seen her in.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/20/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow.png April 8th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1b/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow_First_thing_stilts_right.png April 8th First thing], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b8/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow_First_thing_stilts_left.png April 8th left], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0c/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow_First_thing_stilts.png April 8th right]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#efccf292-fcf2-11e5-8010-42010a8e0003 Garden]
| '''Yellow one color''' whole screen from center. Three ''sale'' signs around a gate and two snakes, almost no plants!
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1a/1663_garden_One_color_Yellow.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/55/1663_garden_One_color_Yellow_12h.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#de4fd3b0-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| '''Color setting between the one above and the one below'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2a/1663_garden_One_color_Between_yellow_and_orange.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#0d6bca62-fcf3-11e5-8019-42010a8e0005 Garden]
| '''Orange one color''' whole screen from center. Very boring with '''only turtles'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/31/1663_garden_One_color_Orange.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/62/1663_garden_One_color_Orange_12h.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#578b80bc-fd96-11e5-8001-42010a8e000a Garden]
| '''Color setting between the one above and the one below'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/55/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_and_orange_red.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#28b238b0-fcf3-11e5-8001-42010a8e0018 Garden]
| '''Orange red one color''' whole screen from center. Desert scape like only red with turtles and a cactus '''but''' also ''sale'' signs and five lamp post poles without lamps. No lamps yet after 24h (but have seen one in another garden here on this page search for lamp post). But more posts now also with three with additional pin sticking out (one of them new with pin tot he left two of the old have gained one to the right) and four more cactus three of them with a '''platform on top'''. Had not made those myself before.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/26/1663_garden_One_color_Orange_red.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/82/1663_garden_One_color_Orange_red_12h.png April 8th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/ce/1663_garden_One_color_Orange_red_24h.png April 8th 24h]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#ad7ca596-fd96-11e5-8020-42010a8e0006 Garden]
| '''Color setting between the one above and the one below'''. The first thing (as well as my first) '''Mars rover'''.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/54/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_red_and_red.png April 8th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3f/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_red_and_red_First_thing_Mars_rover.png April 8th First thing]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#46cc4e08-fcf3-11e5-8001-42010a8e0013 Garden]
| '''Red one color''' whole screen from center. As expected desert landscape with turtles and cactus only.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ec/1663_garden_One_color_red.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e3/1663_garden_One_color_red_12h.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Anon|Anon]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#0dbf7e1c-fcd2-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| '''Bluish White, White, Orange''' some overlap. Reddish end of the spectrum seems to produce more growth than the blue end.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f8/1663_garden_Anons_mixed_garden.png April 11th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#c5909c64-0007-11e6-8001-42010a8e0016 Garden]
| '''Growth speed one blue - 1'''. The one color blue garden grew very little compared to other gardens. So some gardens seem to grow only few items. Could it be distance? To test this these six gardens are created right after each other. Only blue light to make sure the light is the same, but with one, two or three lamps just covering everything, so the one lamp is much higher up than the three lamp version. Two of each type is made to see how much different progress will be.
| April 11th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#d685c8e6-0007-11e6-8001-42010a8e0006 Garden]
| '''Growth speed one blue - 2'''. See first growth speed above
| April 11th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#e1c33662-0007-11e6-8001-42010a8e0012 Garden]
| '''Growth speed two blue - 1'''. See first growth speed above
| April 11th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#13580496-0008-11e6-8001-42010a8e0010 Garden]
| '''Growth speed two blue - 2'''. See first growth speed above
| April 11th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#30249e22-0008-11e6-8001-42010a8e0010 Garden]
| '''Growth speed three blue - 1'''. See first growth speed above
| April 11th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#57572820-0008-11e6-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| '''Growth speed three blue - 2'''. See first growth speed above
| April 11th
|-
| Next user? 
| Garden? 
| This is for easy insertion of new links
| 
|}

{{DEFAULTSORT: 1663}}
[[Category:Comic subpages]]

1663: Garden/Users gardens

2016-04-13T03:16:22Z

108.162.221.17: /* Experimental gardens */

*Here urls for users gardens from the interactive comic [[1663: Garden]] can be posted.
**Please post your user name if putting it in the first section.
**If you have [[#Experimental gardens|experimental gardens]] that you do not wish to post a user name post them below in the experimental gardens.
**There are even more "locked" gardens for explanations here [[#Locked gardens only for explanation use|Locked gardens only for explanation use]]
*Since all gardens will change over time, these gardens cannot be used as a permanent help in the explanation.
**Only screen shots or image downloads can be used.
**Any such images can be posted here [[1663: Garden/Screen-shots]].

==Users garden==
*This table is for users who wish to display their gardens.
**If you do not wish your user name displayed (or link to special contribution then use the table below for [[#Experimental gardens|experimental gardens]].
{| class="wikitable"
! User
! Garden url
! Description
! Day of creation (screen-shot links?)
|-
| [[User:.42|.42]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#b818944a-faa5-11e5-8002-42010a8e0014 Garden]
| Plants grow toward the lights with duck and medium sized trees
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7c/1663_garden_Growth_towards_the_light_duck_and_intermediate_tree.png April 5th]
|-
| [[User:.42|.42]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#87f799b0-faa9-11e5-8001-42010a8e000c Garden]
| Intense blue light creates an octopus garden (And that octopus has a Black Hat. Relax.) No pillars here, when they started to appear in other blue gardens on April 7th (see [[#Experimental gardens|experimental gardens]] below).
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/23/1663_garden_Octopus_garden_with_Cueball_hand_up_and_a_black_hat_octopus.png April 5th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e0/1663_garden_Intense_blue_light_with_no_pillars.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:.42|.42]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#1c23832a-fab8-11e5-8001-42010a8e0017 Garden]
| Some of the grass is very flexible.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a5/1663_garden_Flexible_grass_left_bending.png Left bending], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7b/1663_garden_Flexible_grass_Straight.png Straight], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1663_garden_Flexible_grass_right_bending.png Right bending]
|-
| [[User:.42|.42]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#d12a0932-faaa-11e5-8012-42010a8e0006 Garden]
| Mandelbrot set and birds, one carrying Megan (later two Megans in the air)
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/99/1663_garden_Mandelbrot_set_and_birds%2C_one_carrying_Megan_.png April 5th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/34/1663_garden_Mandelbrot_set_and_birds%2C_TWO_carrying_Megans.png April 6th]
|-
| [[User:.42|.42]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#f084488e-fb99-11e5-8001-42010a8e0012 Garden]
| Cueball and octopus have a gardening store for deer, with birdbaths and a duck. Shining a light at the crown of the bare trees causes one to grow a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/da/1663_Garden_face_tree.png face]. Here the new pillars appeared in the blue area.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/48/1663_garden_Cueball_talks_to_deer.png April 5th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e8/1663_garden_Cueball_talks_to_deer_duck_in_birdbath.png April 6th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fa/1663_garden_Store_for_deer_now_with_pillars.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:.42|.42]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#3e3ff85e-fb11-11e5-8009-42010a8e0003 Garden]
| Megan waves a wand and office furniture appears (two wands later and bunnies and Cueball). After pruning the second wand, a bird arrives.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bc/1663_garden_Megan_waves_a_wand_and_office_furniture_appears_.png April 5th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1b/1663_garden_Megan_waves_TWO_wands_bunnies_office_Cueball_bird_ducks.png April 6th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/21/1663_garden_Wand_Megan_with_bird_instead_of_two_wands.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:.42|.42]]
| [http://linden.xkcd.com/#4a84cee6-0034-11e6-8001-42010a8e000d Garden]
| Stilt girl watches a shark in the birdbath from a safe distance. Megan brings a sword to make the water safe for a duck. Development goes on as there now are '''two stilts girl''' on the gate, and the bird bath also has a jumping fish and a heron appeared in the pond!
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fb/1663_Garden_shark_watching.png April 11th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/17/1663_garden_Two_stilts_girl_on_gate%2C_bird_bath_on_it_with_shar_and_fish_and_heron_in_pond.png April 12th]
|-
| [[User:Liera21|Liera21]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#9de9a12a-fab1-11e5-8014-42010a8e0005 Garden]
| Megan fighting an octopus army possibly saving Cueball? Flowers have later appeared to the left.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6b/1663_garden_Megan_with_sword%2C_trees_octopuses_with_Cueball_bunny_ducklings.png April 5th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a3/1663_garden_Megan_with_sword_now_also_flowers.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Dry Paratroopa|Dry Paratroopa]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#f4e1105e-fad8-11e5-8001-42010a8e000e Garden]
| Plants appear to prefer red light to blue, and fountains are capable of growing in trees.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/46/1663_garden_Red_plant_world_with_both_deer_and_birdbaths_in_trees_and_on_gates_with_pots.png April 5th]
|-
| [[Special:Contributions/108.162.229.71|Special 71]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#9adb3010-fa62-11e5-8001-42010a8e0018 Garden]
| Mars rovers strange tree multiple tree deer etc.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1f/1663_garden_Mars_rovers_strange_tree_multiple_tree_two_deer_etc.png April 5th]
|-
| [[Special:Contributions/162.158.214.230|Special 230]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#01811958-fa89-11e5-8001-42010a8e0013 Garden]
| A little bit of everything including Beret Guy and a cat.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/77/1663_garden_Beret_guy_and_cat_and_much_more.png April 5th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#0d11a2c8-fa8f-11e5-8001-42010a8e000e Garden]
| Flying birds, some with something in the beak, around large tree and birdbath, deer, snake, gate with two cactus on top turtles. Now yellow light, have been all colors. Four Beret Guys in the lake, sways, and two gates. Cannot change this garden anymore. Now five Beret and cats in different positions. Is that bugs in the air. Really need to prune it but can't :-(. The bugs disappeared the next day?
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7f/1663_garden_tree_turtle_birdbath.png April 4th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7c/1663_garden_Flying_birds_deer_gate_with_cactus_turtles_snake_etc.png April 5th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5a/1663_garden_Pruned_garden_with_birds_deer_gate_cactus_turtles_snake_gate.png Pruning 5th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/61/1663_garden_Four_Beret_guy_two_gates_and_much_more.png April 6th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cf/1663_garden_Five_Beret_Guy_different_cats_and_bugs_in_the_air.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/64/1663_garden_The_bugs_seem_to_be_gone.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#70bc19ee-0015-11e6-8001-42010a8e0015 Garden]
| Try to recreate the first garden that was locked with flying birds. Same color settings to [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1663_garden_Starting_point_for_recreation_of_locked_garden.png begin with] as the one above [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7f/1663_garden_tree_turtle_birdbath.png began with].
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1663_garden_Starting_point_for_recreation_of_locked_garden.png April 11th start]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#5639f2bc-fc3c-11e5-8019-42010a8e0005 Garden]
| My new garden as the old one seems to be locked now after the next comic. Tries with some colors in between orange, white and yellow. Haven't really done anything with those colors before. Will not change the next 15 hours! UPDATE: Coool a ''Sale sign'' I had not seen before and also I do not think it was in the posted link to images, so maybe new items continue to appear when Randall makes them? Also my first potted plant and Star plant. And a very bendy water plant in the lake a {{w|Typha}} I think. It can even bend into the water, see examples.
| April 6th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/62/1663_garden_Orange_yellow_white_light_a_sale_sign_bendy_Typha_straight.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0d/1663_garden_Orange_yellow_white_light_a_sale_sign_bendy_Typha_left.png bend left], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2c/1663_garden_Orange_yellow_white_light_a_sale_sign_bendy_Typha_right.png bend right], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7f/1663_garden_Orange_yellow_white_light_a_sale_sign_bendy_Typha_under_water.png under water]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#08fadd06-fd93-11e5-8002-42010a8e0014 Garden]
| Another new garden as the two above has been locked. Try with only one color touching ground. The one that gave stone in my experimental garden. But then two other colors would touch anything growing up above the ground. And they also touch at the edges. Early image when just two monolith appeared.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/04/1663_garden_One_light_along_the_ground_two_mainly_just_above_ground.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#06bea7b8-fe7c-11e5-8001-42010a8e000a Garden]
| New garden using the three colors to begin with that seems to give the most interesting one color gardens from the experiment below. Yellow, Red orange and Blue white. Only small overlap with red orange in the middle. But this may change, this is not an experiment but my new garden.
| April 9th
|-
|spooky3do
|[http://xkcd.com/1663/#6eb32976-fafc-11e5-8014-42010a8e0006 Garden]
|Cueball giving rectal exam to a deer. Very surreal garden also with Rovers. Now Cueball holds a Turtle in front of Megan making it look like she has a cap down over her eyes... And finally now a '''light pole with a lamp on top''' like the one from Narnia. A first! Very clear after pruning on the 11th.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/de/1663_garden_Cueball_hand_in_deer_two_rovers_office_furniture_two_Cueballs_on_top.png April 6th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/09/1663_garden_Cueball_holds_a_Turtle_in_front_of_Megan_looking_like_a_cap_on_her.png April 8th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/42/1663_garden_First_light_pole_with_lamp.png April 8th late], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/File:1663_garden_Lightning_pole_with_lamp.png April 11th]
|-
| [[Special:Contributions/162.158.38.207|Special 207]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#8d526e44-fb49-11e5-8001-42010a8e000c Garden]
| Cueball can look like he's holding items if they grow on his outstretched hand and Megan with black hat. Now also Cueball has a black hat without looking like [[Black Hat]] as it is tilted.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d6/1663_garden_Cueball_holding_grass_and_Megan_with_black_hat.png April 6th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1663_garden_Giant_planter_on_pillars_and_both_Cueball_and_Megan_with_black_hat.png April 8th]
|-
| [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114415&start=440#p3953059 nicodemus]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#526e04fe-fc67-11e5-801a-42010a8e0007 Garden], [http://linden.xkcd.com/?debug#526e04fe-fc67-11e5-801a-42010a8e0007 Debugger]
| Balloon string can bend into S shapes, even when there is a balloon attached.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/82/1663_garden_S_shaped_empty_balloon_string_up.png April 9th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1e/1663_garden_S_shaped_empty_balloon_string_left.png Left], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/34/1663_garden_S_shaped_empty_balloon_string_right.png Right]
|-
| Next user? 
| Garden? 
| Here a description (And this --> is for easy insertion of new links:)
| 
|}

==Experimental gardens==
*These gardens are for experiments, and also for gardens who is so misskept as to loose interest (gardens from above can then be moved here.)
**In this section no user entry is needed.
{| class="wikitable"
! User
! Garden url
! Description
! Day of creation (screen-shot links?)
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#f5152f7e-fafb-11e5-8001-42010a8e0017 Garden]
| One yellow light (standard start) but interesting garden anyway with Megan in three and star plant.
| April 5th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a0/1663_garden_Standard_start_with_interesting_garden_none_the_less.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#90277934-fb35-11e5-8001-42010a8e0010 Garden]
| Two yellow lamps
| April 5th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#0a4d51a0-fafc-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| Three yellow lights
| April 5th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#cdb6d0e8-fb02-11e5-8014-42010a8e0006 Garden]
| Three yellow lamps
| April 5th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1663_garden_Yellow_plant_and_Megan_world.png April 6th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#c82f4e84-fb02-11e5-8015-42010a8e0005 Garden]
| Three red all over ---> resulting in barren desert with only cactus and turtles.
| April 5th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/98/1663_garden_Desert_with_red_light_only.png April 6th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#1bd5e766-fafc-11e5-8002-42010a8e0014 Garden]
| Three different red lamps
| April 5th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#fbbdebcc-fafb-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 Garden]
| One blue light - now blue also with pillars six in two groups of three! And two Cueballs.
| April 5th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d1/1663_garden_One_blue_light_with_six_pillars.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#984b4570-fafc-11e5-8001-42010a8e0019 Garden]
| Three blue light - resulting in one pillar and one black hat octopus - same place as the intense blue light garden above over the lake and one Cueball
| April 5th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2a/1663_garden_Three_blue_light_with_one_pillar_and_black_hat_octopus.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#99b78eb8-fb02-11e5-8001-42010a8e000d Garden]
| Three colors covering everything - not very interesting garden...
| April 5th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/78/1663_garden_Three_colors_over_everything_not_very_interesting.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#d58a46f6-fb02-11e5-8001-42010a8e000f Garden]
| Three colors more separate. Much more interesting than the above with Beret Guy hiding in a shrubbery and office furniture with octopus on top.
| April 5th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/9b/1663_garden_Three_colors_more_separate_Beret_Guy_in_shrubbery_and_Octopus_on_office_desk.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#6cad1562-fb77-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| Blue from left yellow from right - tried to grow office furniture per a user comment. But failed here but then succeeded above without trying. But here Berety Guy is again out of the lake in the birdbath this time and a balloon etc.
| April 5th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/96/1663_garden_Blue_yellow_Beret_Guy_in_Birdbath_and_balloon_bird_cats_Megan_holding_wavy_straw.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#f2dd519c-fb7c-11e5-8001-42010a8e0010 Garden]
| A little towards blue left and a little towards red from right... Rather boring garden with mainly bare trunks and snakes.
| April 5th
[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/02/1663_garden_Almost_red_and_blue_snakes_and_bare_trunks.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#bdd06116-fbbc-11e5-8001-42010a8e0012 Garden]
| Three colors light on central area. Two deer looking away from each other but overlapping so their tales looks like part of the other
| April 6th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bb/1663_garden_Three_lights_center_only_two_deers_mixed_together_.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#0fc94d9c-fbeb-11e5-8002-42010a8e0014 Garden]
| Two lamps yellow (turned towards red) and blue on one patch of ground to he right. Furniture here? No but other stuff and nothing outside the light cones
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3e/1663_garden_Two_light_on_small_area_nothing_outside_the_light.png April 6th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#9de33106-fbeb-11e5-8001-42010a8e000d Garden]
| Three lamps, yellow up and two along the ground reddish and bluish. First time seen pillars outside a fully blue world, and then two gates symmetrical on each side of the image.
| April 6th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/de/1663_garden_Three_lamps_two_along_ground_with_pillars_not_in_blue_world_and_symmetric_gates.png April 7th]
|-
| Wegguy
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#55d4f6d6-fb34-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 Garden]
| Office space with star plant balloon with bird and grass on Cueball. The second day also with a giant balloon waving in the wild wind. See examples.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ad/1663_garden_Office_space_with_star_plant_balloon_with_bird_and_grass_on_Cueball.png April 6th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c4/1663_garden_Office_space_with_giant_wavy_balloon_left.png April 7th left], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d4/1663_garden_Office_space_with_giant_wavy_balloon_right.png April 7th right]
|-
| DMAY
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#6fe5c7ba-fc12-11e5-8001-42010a8e0012 Garden]
| French Theme. Or maybe Russian. Sometimes I can't tell the difference. With monoliths.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/83/1663_garden_French_theme_with_monoliths.png April 6th]
|-
| The_Alchemist
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#054b53ec-fa9c-11e5-8012-42010a8e0006 Garden]
| New type of poles, looks like lamp post - maybe they will grow into that?
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/81/1663_garden_Lamp_post_poles_and_mars_rover.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#8abd809e-fccd-11e5-8001-42010a8e000d Garden]
| platform in tree with potted plant. SE
| April 7th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7e/1663_garden_platform_in_tree_with_potted_plant.png April 9th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#f7ddbc66-fccd-11e5-8001-42010a8e0017 Garden]
| My first linsang cat like creature held up by Megan. SC
| April 7th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1663_garden_My_first_linsang_cat_like_creature_in_SC.png April 12th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#59246c86-fcce-11e5-8001-42010a8e0010 Garden]
| Monoliths and tree with platform. SF
| April 7th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e7/1663_garden_Monoliths_and_tree_with_platform_SF.png April 10th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#e774b4b8-fcd4-11e5-8001-42010a8e0017 Garden]
| Ponytail and two Cueballs cat pillar and trunk. And now stilts and a platform on the pillar sE. The stilt girl first got one owl then two cats on her head (at the same time!) Alto tulips.
| April 7th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/eb/1663_garden_Ponytail_and_two_Cueballs_cat_pillar_and_trunk_sE.png April 8th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b6/1663_garden_Platform_on_pillar_with_stilts.png April 9th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a1/1663_garden_Stilt_girl_with_owl_on_head_and_tulips.png April 11th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/46/1663_garden_Stilt_girl_now_with_both_owl_and_two_cats_on_head.png April 12th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#2f659260-fcd5-11e5-8001-42010a8e000c Garden]
| Sale sign left pillar and deer sC. Also here a platform on the pillar. A gate with the owl and Megan with a sword later appeared.
| April 7th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/24/1663_garden_Sale_sign_pillar_and_deer_sC.png April 8th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ad/1663_garden_Platform_on_pillar_with_trees_around.png April 9th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cb/1663_garden_Megan_with_sword_and_owl_on_gate.png April 11th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#6e67ea72-fcd4-11e5-8010-42010a8e0003 Garden]
| Sale sign right with Megan and a trunk sF:
| April 7th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/8b/1663_garden_Sale_sign_right_Megan_trunk_sF.png April 8th]
|-
| Anonymous
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#ae3adcaa-fd37-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| Grey Garden: Three Gray (or white) (between blue and yellow, ) lamps. Office desk and chair also normal table with pots birds and a cat and Cueballs on table
| April 7th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/63/1663_garden_Grey_garden_office_desk_chair_and_normal_table_with_pots_birds_and_a_cat_and_now_Cueballs.png April 8th]
|-
| Anonymous
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#30d8d4e2-fc83-11e5-801a-42010a8e0007 Garden]
| Blue, yellow, and red from underground. With a [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-giant-planter.png giant planter]on pillars filled with trees.
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1a/1663_garden_Underground_light_gives_large_tub_on_top_of_pillar_then_filled_with_trees.png April 8th]
|-
| Anonymous
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#7e9b522e-fb87-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| R'lyeh for sale. Good price but a long queue at the real state agency... and the agent is a viper... and the customers visiting now are so slow... and I don't like this guy... I think i'm leaving
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fd/1663_garden_Rlyeh_for_sale.png April 8th]
|-
| Anonymous
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#0b00730c-fa7a-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| Amazon forest. For some reason only girls appeared in this forest patch... even the deer is female...
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/8d/1663_garden_Amazon_forest.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#2845bd8a-fe7d-11e5-8001-42010a8e0019 Garden]
| Orange red top left to begin
| April 9th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#3e959eca-fe7d-11e5-8001-42010a8e000c Garden]
| Yellow top right to begin
| April 9th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#4c2e5b9e-fe7d-11e5-801a-42010a8e0007 Garden]
| Blue White bottom right to begin
| April 9th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#654054de-fe7d-11e5-8001-42010a8e000d Garden]
| Almost red bottom left to begin
| April 9th
|-
| [[User talk:162.158.85.177|IP .177]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#9ed4d584-fb59-11e5-8001-42010a8e0009 Garden]
| Very interesting garden with stilt girl with owl on her head, giant planter on pillars with balloons, deer, Cueball and octopus as well as a gate with Ponytail, cat, bird and bunny and more.
| April ?, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/50/1663_garden_Stilt_girl_with_owl_on_her_head_and_planter_and_more.png April 11th]
|-
| [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114415&start=480#p3954408 libra]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#a97f5b80-fcd5-11e5-8001-42010a8e000d Garden]
| '''Purple light''' garden (blue and red mixed) with '''stilt girl in a tree''' and a giant planter with deer.
| April ??, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/68/1663_garden_Purple_light_with_stilt_girl_in_tree_and_planter_with_deer.png April 12th]
|-
| [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114415&start=480#p3954408 libra]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#c5ff300e-fcd6-11e5-8001-42010a8e0009 Garden]
| Purple light garden with '''stilt girl with a duck on her head''' - 1.
| April ??, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c7/1663_garden_Purple_light_with_stilt_girl_with_duck_1.png April 12th]
|-
| [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114415&start=480#p3954408 libra]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#1d1ea296-feff-11e5-8001-42010a8e0013 Garden]
| Purple light garden with '''stilt girl with a duck on her head''' - 2.
| April ??, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0c/1663_garden_Purple_light_with_stilt_girl_with_duck_2.png April 12th]
|-
| Anonymous
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#323ee5ac-fb74-11e5-8001-42010a8e0018 Garden]
| Experimental garden, red and blue light placed at respective corners creating apparent purple gradient. Allowing to grow to observe effects of gradient, if any. Will clear occasionally. Experiment overseen by cat named Seymour.
| April 12th
| Next user? 
| Garden? 
| This is for easy insertion of new links
| 
|}

==Locked gardens only for explanation use==
*These gardens are experiments used directly in this explanation and they will not be changed again after the first settings.
**Any experiment that need to do that can go above. If that should be used for explanation, then changes need to be explained
**If you have something you wish to explain, and it can be done with one setting only, then feel free to include it here below.
{| class="wikitable"
! User
! Garden url
! Description
! Day of creation (screen-shot links?)
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#21374f9e-fbbd-11e5-8001-42010a8e0015 Garden]
| '''No lights ever!'''. Result: '''No growth'''.
| April 6th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#4896b678-fbbe-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| '''Yellow laser beam'''. Result: '''No growth'''.
| April 6th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#6a6a7be0-fbbe-11e5-800d-42010a8e0008 Garden]
| '''Lots of light but not on ground'''. Result: '''No growth'''.
| April 6th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#c75991f6-fbbe-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| '''Three yellow lamps under ground shining down'''. Result: '''No growth'''. There seems to be no growth this way, but the lamp under the small pond has somehow managed to create a straw...
| April 6th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#e8552cc6-fbbe-11e5-8001-42010a8e0012 Garden]
| '''Three yellow lamps under ground shining up'''. Result: '''Perfect growth'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3a/1663_garden_Yellow_light_from_below_the_ground.png April 6th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#0544006e-fbbf-11e5-8001-42010a8e0017 Garden]
| '''Three different color lamps under ground shining up'''. Result: '''Perfect growth'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7c/1663_garden_Different_light_from_below_the_ground.png April 6th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#9733dff4-fbbe-11e5-8001-42010a8e0012 Garden]
| '''Three separate different color close to ground'''. . Result: '''Perfect growth'''. Something can grow here. Not much but it is not barren.
| April 6th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#357a48d8-fbbf-11e5-8019-42010a8e0006 Garden]
| '''Three different color lamps just above ground'''. . Result: '''Perfect growth'''. Something can grow here. Not much but it is not barren.
| April 6th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#f65c4906-fcf1-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 Garden]
| '''Blue one color''' whole screen from center. Nothing happened for 12 hours then two hors later an Octopus - so it was not completely dead! After 18 hours also two Cueball checking for rain and another octopus makes this behave as expected although 12 hours delayed!
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d3/1663_garden_One_color_Blue.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3f/1663_garden_One_color_Blue_14h.png April 8th 14 hours], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e5/1663_garden_One_color_Blue_18h.png April 8th 18 hours]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#d5b7fed6-fd94-11e5-8001-42010a8e000a Garden]
| '''Color setting between the one above and the one below'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cb/1663_garden_One_color_Between_blue_and_light_blue.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#3afb7988-fcf2-11e5-8001-42010a8e0019 Garden]
| '''Light Blue one color''' whole screen from center. (All the other eight one color gardens from this and below has been '''updated after 12 hours'''). Cueball with hands down (unlike up for pure blue), pillars of '''stones''' and monolith.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cc/1663_garden_One_color_Light_blue.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c9/1663_garden_One_color_Light_blue_12h.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#303c341c-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 Garden]
| '''Color setting between the one above and the one below'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/af/1663_garden_One_color_Between_light_blue_and_Blue_White.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#98dc3452-fcf2-11e5-8010-42010a8e0008 Garden]
| '''Blue White one color''' whole screen from center. Office landscape with pillar monolith pots Cueball and balloons one of them giant and bending far left and right. Also behind the desks a long table and before the going from left to right a star plant appeared in the pot on this table. (Three examples from same 12 hours later)
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/77/1663_garden_One_color_White_Blue.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d1/1663_garden_One_color_White_Blue_12h.png April 8th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d8/1663_garden_One_color_White_Blue_12h_balloon_left.png Left bend], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/73/1663_garden_One_color_White_Blue_12h_balloon_right_plus_star_plant.png Right bend],
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#5a45a1f8-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e000e Garden]
| '''Color setting between the one above and the one below'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/83/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Blue_White_and_White.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#ba6b4ac2-fcf2-11e5-8001-42010a8e0019 Garden]
| '''White one color''' whole screen from center. Only one balloon which is giant covering one of the two Megans holding up a cat. There are more cats bunnies a Beret Guy in pond and a tree.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bd/1663_garden_One_color_White.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/99/1663_garden_One_color_White_12h.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#8874be6a-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 Garden]
| '''Color setting between the one above and the one below'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/de/1663_garden_One_color_Between_White_and_Light_yellow.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#db338968-fcf2-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 Garden]
| '''Light yellow one color''' (start color) whole screen from center. As expected but a little meager outcome with Megan tree (with '''shelfe''') a bare trunk (because mainly outside the light) birdbaths.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3c/1663_garden_One_color_Light_yellow.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cb/1663_garden_One_color_Light_yellow_12h.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#b28f8522-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e0013 Garden]
| '''Color setting between the one above and the one below'''. Almost instantly there was the girl with black haired ponytail '''on stilts''' swaying in the breeze. Nothing else has appeared in 5 hours. Had seen her in an image from another site, but this was the first live garden I have seen her in.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/20/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow.png April 8th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1b/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow_First_thing_stilts_right.png April 8th First thing], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b8/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow_First_thing_stilts_left.png April 8th left], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0c/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow_First_thing_stilts.png April 8th right]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#efccf292-fcf2-11e5-8010-42010a8e0003 Garden]
| '''Yellow one color''' whole screen from center. Three ''sale'' signs around a gate and two snakes, almost no plants!
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1a/1663_garden_One_color_Yellow.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/55/1663_garden_One_color_Yellow_12h.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#de4fd3b0-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| '''Color setting between the one above and the one below'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2a/1663_garden_One_color_Between_yellow_and_orange.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#0d6bca62-fcf3-11e5-8019-42010a8e0005 Garden]
| '''Orange one color''' whole screen from center. Very boring with '''only turtles'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/31/1663_garden_One_color_Orange.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/62/1663_garden_One_color_Orange_12h.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#578b80bc-fd96-11e5-8001-42010a8e000a Garden]
| '''Color setting between the one above and the one below'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/55/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_and_orange_red.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#28b238b0-fcf3-11e5-8001-42010a8e0018 Garden]
| '''Orange red one color''' whole screen from center. Desert scape like only red with turtles and a cactus '''but''' also ''sale'' signs and five lamp post poles without lamps. No lamps yet after 24h (but have seen one in another garden here on this page search for lamp post). But more posts now also with three with additional pin sticking out (one of them new with pin tot he left two of the old have gained one to the right) and four more cactus three of them with a '''platform on top'''. Had not made those myself before.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/26/1663_garden_One_color_Orange_red.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/82/1663_garden_One_color_Orange_red_12h.png April 8th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/ce/1663_garden_One_color_Orange_red_24h.png April 8th 24h]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#ad7ca596-fd96-11e5-8020-42010a8e0006 Garden]
| '''Color setting between the one above and the one below'''. The first thing (as well as my first) '''Mars rover'''.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/54/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_red_and_red.png April 8th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3f/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_red_and_red_First_thing_Mars_rover.png April 8th First thing]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#46cc4e08-fcf3-11e5-8001-42010a8e0013 Garden]
| '''Red one color''' whole screen from center. As expected desert landscape with turtles and cactus only.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ec/1663_garden_One_color_red.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e3/1663_garden_One_color_red_12h.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Anon|Anon]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#0dbf7e1c-fcd2-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| '''Bluish White, White, Orange''' some overlap. Reddish end of the spectrum seems to produce more growth than the blue end.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f8/1663_garden_Anons_mixed_garden.png April 11th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#c5909c64-0007-11e6-8001-42010a8e0016 Garden]
| '''Growth speed one blue - 1'''. The one color blue garden grew very little compared to other gardens. So some gardens seem to grow only few items. Could it be distance? To test this these six gardens are created right after each other. Only blue light to make sure the light is the same, but with one, two or three lamps just covering everything, so the one lamp is much higher up than the three lamp version. Two of each type is made to see how much different progress will be.
| April 11th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#d685c8e6-0007-11e6-8001-42010a8e0006 Garden]
| '''Growth speed one blue - 2'''. See first growth speed above
| April 11th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#e1c33662-0007-11e6-8001-42010a8e0012 Garden]
| '''Growth speed two blue - 1'''. See first growth speed above
| April 11th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#13580496-0008-11e6-8001-42010a8e0010 Garden]
| '''Growth speed two blue - 2'''. See first growth speed above
| April 11th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#30249e22-0008-11e6-8001-42010a8e0010 Garden]
| '''Growth speed three blue - 1'''. See first growth speed above
| April 11th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#57572820-0008-11e6-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| '''Growth speed three blue - 2'''. See first growth speed above
| April 11th
|-
| Next user? 
| Garden? 
| This is for easy insertion of new links
| 
|}

{{DEFAULTSORT: 1663}}
[[Category:Comic subpages]]

1663: Garden/Users gardens

2016-04-13T03:14:17Z

108.162.221.17: /* Experimental gardens */

*Here urls for users gardens from the interactive comic [[1663: Garden]] can be posted.
**Please post your user name if putting it in the first section.
**If you have [[#Experimental gardens|experimental gardens]] that you do not wish to post a user name post them below in the experimental gardens.
**There are even more "locked" gardens for explanations here [[#Locked gardens only for explanation use|Locked gardens only for explanation use]]
*Since all gardens will change over time, these gardens cannot be used as a permanent help in the explanation.
**Only screen shots or image downloads can be used.
**Any such images can be posted here [[1663: Garden/Screen-shots]].

==Users garden==
*This table is for users who wish to display their gardens.
**If you do not wish your user name displayed (or link to special contribution then use the table below for [[#Experimental gardens|experimental gardens]].
{| class="wikitable"
! User
! Garden url
! Description
! Day of creation (screen-shot links?)
|-
| [[User:.42|.42]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#b818944a-faa5-11e5-8002-42010a8e0014 Garden]
| Plants grow toward the lights with duck and medium sized trees
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7c/1663_garden_Growth_towards_the_light_duck_and_intermediate_tree.png April 5th]
|-
| [[User:.42|.42]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#87f799b0-faa9-11e5-8001-42010a8e000c Garden]
| Intense blue light creates an octopus garden (And that octopus has a Black Hat. Relax.) No pillars here, when they started to appear in other blue gardens on April 7th (see [[#Experimental gardens|experimental gardens]] below).
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/23/1663_garden_Octopus_garden_with_Cueball_hand_up_and_a_black_hat_octopus.png April 5th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e0/1663_garden_Intense_blue_light_with_no_pillars.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:.42|.42]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#1c23832a-fab8-11e5-8001-42010a8e0017 Garden]
| Some of the grass is very flexible.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a5/1663_garden_Flexible_grass_left_bending.png Left bending], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7b/1663_garden_Flexible_grass_Straight.png Straight], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1663_garden_Flexible_grass_right_bending.png Right bending]
|-
| [[User:.42|.42]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#d12a0932-faaa-11e5-8012-42010a8e0006 Garden]
| Mandelbrot set and birds, one carrying Megan (later two Megans in the air)
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/99/1663_garden_Mandelbrot_set_and_birds%2C_one_carrying_Megan_.png April 5th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/34/1663_garden_Mandelbrot_set_and_birds%2C_TWO_carrying_Megans.png April 6th]
|-
| [[User:.42|.42]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#f084488e-fb99-11e5-8001-42010a8e0012 Garden]
| Cueball and octopus have a gardening store for deer, with birdbaths and a duck. Shining a light at the crown of the bare trees causes one to grow a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/da/1663_Garden_face_tree.png face]. Here the new pillars appeared in the blue area.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/48/1663_garden_Cueball_talks_to_deer.png April 5th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e8/1663_garden_Cueball_talks_to_deer_duck_in_birdbath.png April 6th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fa/1663_garden_Store_for_deer_now_with_pillars.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:.42|.42]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#3e3ff85e-fb11-11e5-8009-42010a8e0003 Garden]
| Megan waves a wand and office furniture appears (two wands later and bunnies and Cueball). After pruning the second wand, a bird arrives.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bc/1663_garden_Megan_waves_a_wand_and_office_furniture_appears_.png April 5th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1b/1663_garden_Megan_waves_TWO_wands_bunnies_office_Cueball_bird_ducks.png April 6th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/21/1663_garden_Wand_Megan_with_bird_instead_of_two_wands.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:.42|.42]]
| [http://linden.xkcd.com/#4a84cee6-0034-11e6-8001-42010a8e000d Garden]
| Stilt girl watches a shark in the birdbath from a safe distance. Megan brings a sword to make the water safe for a duck. Development goes on as there now are '''two stilts girl''' on the gate, and the bird bath also has a jumping fish and a heron appeared in the pond!
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fb/1663_Garden_shark_watching.png April 11th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/17/1663_garden_Two_stilts_girl_on_gate%2C_bird_bath_on_it_with_shar_and_fish_and_heron_in_pond.png April 12th]
|-
| [[User:Liera21|Liera21]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#9de9a12a-fab1-11e5-8014-42010a8e0005 Garden]
| Megan fighting an octopus army possibly saving Cueball? Flowers have later appeared to the left.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6b/1663_garden_Megan_with_sword%2C_trees_octopuses_with_Cueball_bunny_ducklings.png April 5th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a3/1663_garden_Megan_with_sword_now_also_flowers.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Dry Paratroopa|Dry Paratroopa]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#f4e1105e-fad8-11e5-8001-42010a8e000e Garden]
| Plants appear to prefer red light to blue, and fountains are capable of growing in trees.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/46/1663_garden_Red_plant_world_with_both_deer_and_birdbaths_in_trees_and_on_gates_with_pots.png April 5th]
|-
| [[Special:Contributions/108.162.229.71|Special 71]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#9adb3010-fa62-11e5-8001-42010a8e0018 Garden]
| Mars rovers strange tree multiple tree deer etc.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1f/1663_garden_Mars_rovers_strange_tree_multiple_tree_two_deer_etc.png April 5th]
|-
| [[Special:Contributions/162.158.214.230|Special 230]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#01811958-fa89-11e5-8001-42010a8e0013 Garden]
| A little bit of everything including Beret Guy and a cat.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/77/1663_garden_Beret_guy_and_cat_and_much_more.png April 5th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#0d11a2c8-fa8f-11e5-8001-42010a8e000e Garden]
| Flying birds, some with something in the beak, around large tree and birdbath, deer, snake, gate with two cactus on top turtles. Now yellow light, have been all colors. Four Beret Guys in the lake, sways, and two gates. Cannot change this garden anymore. Now five Beret and cats in different positions. Is that bugs in the air. Really need to prune it but can't :-(. The bugs disappeared the next day?
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7f/1663_garden_tree_turtle_birdbath.png April 4th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7c/1663_garden_Flying_birds_deer_gate_with_cactus_turtles_snake_etc.png April 5th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5a/1663_garden_Pruned_garden_with_birds_deer_gate_cactus_turtles_snake_gate.png Pruning 5th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/61/1663_garden_Four_Beret_guy_two_gates_and_much_more.png April 6th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cf/1663_garden_Five_Beret_Guy_different_cats_and_bugs_in_the_air.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/64/1663_garden_The_bugs_seem_to_be_gone.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#70bc19ee-0015-11e6-8001-42010a8e0015 Garden]
| Try to recreate the first garden that was locked with flying birds. Same color settings to [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1663_garden_Starting_point_for_recreation_of_locked_garden.png begin with] as the one above [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7f/1663_garden_tree_turtle_birdbath.png began with].
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ed/1663_garden_Starting_point_for_recreation_of_locked_garden.png April 11th start]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#5639f2bc-fc3c-11e5-8019-42010a8e0005 Garden]
| My new garden as the old one seems to be locked now after the next comic. Tries with some colors in between orange, white and yellow. Haven't really done anything with those colors before. Will not change the next 15 hours! UPDATE: Coool a ''Sale sign'' I had not seen before and also I do not think it was in the posted link to images, so maybe new items continue to appear when Randall makes them? Also my first potted plant and Star plant. And a very bendy water plant in the lake a {{w|Typha}} I think. It can even bend into the water, see examples.
| April 6th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/62/1663_garden_Orange_yellow_white_light_a_sale_sign_bendy_Typha_straight.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0d/1663_garden_Orange_yellow_white_light_a_sale_sign_bendy_Typha_left.png bend left], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2c/1663_garden_Orange_yellow_white_light_a_sale_sign_bendy_Typha_right.png bend right], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7f/1663_garden_Orange_yellow_white_light_a_sale_sign_bendy_Typha_under_water.png under water]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#08fadd06-fd93-11e5-8002-42010a8e0014 Garden]
| Another new garden as the two above has been locked. Try with only one color touching ground. The one that gave stone in my experimental garden. But then two other colors would touch anything growing up above the ground. And they also touch at the edges. Early image when just two monolith appeared.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/04/1663_garden_One_light_along_the_ground_two_mainly_just_above_ground.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#06bea7b8-fe7c-11e5-8001-42010a8e000a Garden]
| New garden using the three colors to begin with that seems to give the most interesting one color gardens from the experiment below. Yellow, Red orange and Blue white. Only small overlap with red orange in the middle. But this may change, this is not an experiment but my new garden.
| April 9th
|-
|spooky3do
|[http://xkcd.com/1663/#6eb32976-fafc-11e5-8014-42010a8e0006 Garden]
|Cueball giving rectal exam to a deer. Very surreal garden also with Rovers. Now Cueball holds a Turtle in front of Megan making it look like she has a cap down over her eyes... And finally now a '''light pole with a lamp on top''' like the one from Narnia. A first! Very clear after pruning on the 11th.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/de/1663_garden_Cueball_hand_in_deer_two_rovers_office_furniture_two_Cueballs_on_top.png April 6th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/09/1663_garden_Cueball_holds_a_Turtle_in_front_of_Megan_looking_like_a_cap_on_her.png April 8th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/42/1663_garden_First_light_pole_with_lamp.png April 8th late], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/File:1663_garden_Lightning_pole_with_lamp.png April 11th]
|-
| [[Special:Contributions/162.158.38.207|Special 207]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#8d526e44-fb49-11e5-8001-42010a8e000c Garden]
| Cueball can look like he's holding items if they grow on his outstretched hand and Megan with black hat. Now also Cueball has a black hat without looking like [[Black Hat]] as it is tilted.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d6/1663_garden_Cueball_holding_grass_and_Megan_with_black_hat.png April 6th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1663_garden_Giant_planter_on_pillars_and_both_Cueball_and_Megan_with_black_hat.png April 8th]
|-
| [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114415&start=440#p3953059 nicodemus]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#526e04fe-fc67-11e5-801a-42010a8e0007 Garden], [http://linden.xkcd.com/?debug#526e04fe-fc67-11e5-801a-42010a8e0007 Debugger]
| Balloon string can bend into S shapes, even when there is a balloon attached.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/82/1663_garden_S_shaped_empty_balloon_string_up.png April 9th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1e/1663_garden_S_shaped_empty_balloon_string_left.png Left], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/34/1663_garden_S_shaped_empty_balloon_string_right.png Right]
|-
| Next user? 
| Garden? 
| Here a description (And this --> is for easy insertion of new links:)
| 
|}

==Experimental gardens==
*These gardens are for experiments, and also for gardens who is so misskept as to loose interest (gardens from above can then be moved here.)
**In this section no user entry is needed.
{| class="wikitable"
! User
! Garden url
! Description
! Day of creation (screen-shot links?)
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#f5152f7e-fafb-11e5-8001-42010a8e0017 Garden]
| One yellow light (standard start) but interesting garden anyway with Megan in three and star plant.
| April 5th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a0/1663_garden_Standard_start_with_interesting_garden_none_the_less.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#90277934-fb35-11e5-8001-42010a8e0010 Garden]
| Two yellow lamps
| April 5th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#0a4d51a0-fafc-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| Three yellow lights
| April 5th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#cdb6d0e8-fb02-11e5-8014-42010a8e0006 Garden]
| Three yellow lamps
| April 5th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1663_garden_Yellow_plant_and_Megan_world.png April 6th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#c82f4e84-fb02-11e5-8015-42010a8e0005 Garden]
| Three red all over ---> resulting in barren desert with only cactus and turtles.
| April 5th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/98/1663_garden_Desert_with_red_light_only.png April 6th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#1bd5e766-fafc-11e5-8002-42010a8e0014 Garden]
| Three different red lamps
| April 5th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#fbbdebcc-fafb-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 Garden]
| One blue light - now blue also with pillars six in two groups of three! And two Cueballs.
| April 5th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d1/1663_garden_One_blue_light_with_six_pillars.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#984b4570-fafc-11e5-8001-42010a8e0019 Garden]
| Three blue light - resulting in one pillar and one black hat octopus - same place as the intense blue light garden above over the lake and one Cueball
| April 5th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2a/1663_garden_Three_blue_light_with_one_pillar_and_black_hat_octopus.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#99b78eb8-fb02-11e5-8001-42010a8e000d Garden]
| Three colors covering everything - not very interesting garden...
| April 5th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/78/1663_garden_Three_colors_over_everything_not_very_interesting.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#d58a46f6-fb02-11e5-8001-42010a8e000f Garden]
| Three colors more separate. Much more interesting than the above with Beret Guy hiding in a shrubbery and office furniture with octopus on top.
| April 5th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/9b/1663_garden_Three_colors_more_separate_Beret_Guy_in_shrubbery_and_Octopus_on_office_desk.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#6cad1562-fb77-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| Blue from left yellow from right - tried to grow office furniture per a user comment. But failed here but then succeeded above without trying. But here Berety Guy is again out of the lake in the birdbath this time and a balloon etc.
| April 5th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/96/1663_garden_Blue_yellow_Beret_Guy_in_Birdbath_and_balloon_bird_cats_Megan_holding_wavy_straw.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#f2dd519c-fb7c-11e5-8001-42010a8e0010 Garden]
| A little towards blue left and a little towards red from right... Rather boring garden with mainly bare trunks and snakes.
| April 5th
[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/02/1663_garden_Almost_red_and_blue_snakes_and_bare_trunks.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#bdd06116-fbbc-11e5-8001-42010a8e0012 Garden]
| Three colors light on central area. Two deer looking away from each other but overlapping so their tales looks like part of the other
| April 6th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bb/1663_garden_Three_lights_center_only_two_deers_mixed_together_.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#0fc94d9c-fbeb-11e5-8002-42010a8e0014 Garden]
| Two lamps yellow (turned towards red) and blue on one patch of ground to he right. Furniture here? No but other stuff and nothing outside the light cones
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3e/1663_garden_Two_light_on_small_area_nothing_outside_the_light.png April 6th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#9de33106-fbeb-11e5-8001-42010a8e000d Garden]
| Three lamps, yellow up and two along the ground reddish and bluish. First time seen pillars outside a fully blue world, and then two gates symmetrical on each side of the image.
| April 6th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/de/1663_garden_Three_lamps_two_along_ground_with_pillars_not_in_blue_world_and_symmetric_gates.png April 7th]
|-
| Wegguy
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#55d4f6d6-fb34-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 Garden]
| Office space with star plant balloon with bird and grass on Cueball. The second day also with a giant balloon waving in the wild wind. See examples.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ad/1663_garden_Office_space_with_star_plant_balloon_with_bird_and_grass_on_Cueball.png April 6th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c4/1663_garden_Office_space_with_giant_wavy_balloon_left.png April 7th left], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d4/1663_garden_Office_space_with_giant_wavy_balloon_right.png April 7th right]
|-
| DMAY
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#6fe5c7ba-fc12-11e5-8001-42010a8e0012 Garden]
| French Theme. Or maybe Russian. Sometimes I can't tell the difference. With monoliths.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/83/1663_garden_French_theme_with_monoliths.png April 6th]
|-
| The_Alchemist
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#054b53ec-fa9c-11e5-8012-42010a8e0006 Garden]
| New type of poles, looks like lamp post - maybe they will grow into that?
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/81/1663_garden_Lamp_post_poles_and_mars_rover.png April 7th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#8abd809e-fccd-11e5-8001-42010a8e000d Garden]
| platform in tree with potted plant. SE
| April 7th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7e/1663_garden_platform_in_tree_with_potted_plant.png April 9th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#f7ddbc66-fccd-11e5-8001-42010a8e0017 Garden]
| My first linsang cat like creature held up by Megan. SC
| April 7th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1663_garden_My_first_linsang_cat_like_creature_in_SC.png April 12th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#59246c86-fcce-11e5-8001-42010a8e0010 Garden]
| Monoliths and tree with platform. SF
| April 7th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e7/1663_garden_Monoliths_and_tree_with_platform_SF.png April 10th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#e774b4b8-fcd4-11e5-8001-42010a8e0017 Garden]
| Ponytail and two Cueballs cat pillar and trunk. And now stilts and a platform on the pillar sE. The stilt girl first got one owl then two cats on her head (at the same time!) Alto tulips.
| April 7th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/eb/1663_garden_Ponytail_and_two_Cueballs_cat_pillar_and_trunk_sE.png April 8th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b6/1663_garden_Platform_on_pillar_with_stilts.png April 9th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a1/1663_garden_Stilt_girl_with_owl_on_head_and_tulips.png April 11th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/46/1663_garden_Stilt_girl_now_with_both_owl_and_two_cats_on_head.png April 12th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#2f659260-fcd5-11e5-8001-42010a8e000c Garden]
| Sale sign left pillar and deer sC. Also here a platform on the pillar. A gate with the owl and Megan with a sword later appeared.
| April 7th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/24/1663_garden_Sale_sign_pillar_and_deer_sC.png April 8th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ad/1663_garden_Platform_on_pillar_with_trees_around.png April 9th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cb/1663_garden_Megan_with_sword_and_owl_on_gate.png April 11th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#6e67ea72-fcd4-11e5-8010-42010a8e0003 Garden]
| Sale sign right with Megan and a trunk sF:
| April 7th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/8b/1663_garden_Sale_sign_right_Megan_trunk_sF.png April 8th]
|-
| Anonymous
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#ae3adcaa-fd37-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| Grey Garden: Three Gray (or white) (between blue and yellow, ) lamps. Office desk and chair also normal table with pots birds and a cat and Cueballs on table
| April 7th, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/63/1663_garden_Grey_garden_office_desk_chair_and_normal_table_with_pots_birds_and_a_cat_and_now_Cueballs.png April 8th]
|-
| Anonymous
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#30d8d4e2-fc83-11e5-801a-42010a8e0007 Garden]
| Blue, yellow, and red from underground. With a [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-giant-planter.png giant planter]on pillars filled with trees.
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1a/1663_garden_Underground_light_gives_large_tub_on_top_of_pillar_then_filled_with_trees.png April 8th]
|-
| Anonymous
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#7e9b522e-fb87-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| R'lyeh for sale. Good price but a long queue at the real state agency... and the agent is a viper... and the customers visiting now are so slow... and I don't like this guy... I think i'm leaving
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fd/1663_garden_Rlyeh_for_sale.png April 8th]
|-
| Anonymous
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#0b00730c-fa7a-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| Amazon forest. For some reason only girls appeared in this forest patch... even the deer is female...
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/8d/1663_garden_Amazon_forest.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#2845bd8a-fe7d-11e5-8001-42010a8e0019 Garden]
| Orange red top left to begin
| April 9th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#3e959eca-fe7d-11e5-8001-42010a8e000c Garden]
| Yellow top right to begin
| April 9th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#4c2e5b9e-fe7d-11e5-801a-42010a8e0007 Garden]
| Blue White bottom right to begin
| April 9th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#654054de-fe7d-11e5-8001-42010a8e000d Garden]
| Almost red bottom left to begin
| April 9th
|-
| [[User talk:162.158.85.177|IP .177]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#9ed4d584-fb59-11e5-8001-42010a8e0009 Garden]
| Very interesting garden with stilt girl with owl on her head, giant planter on pillars with balloons, deer, Cueball and octopus as well as a gate with Ponytail, cat, bird and bunny and more.
| April ?, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/50/1663_garden_Stilt_girl_with_owl_on_her_head_and_planter_and_more.png April 11th]
|-
| [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114415&start=480#p3954408 libra]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#a97f5b80-fcd5-11e5-8001-42010a8e000d Garden]
| '''Purple light''' garden (blue and red mixed) with '''stilt girl in a tree''' and a giant planter with deer.
| April ??, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/68/1663_garden_Purple_light_with_stilt_girl_in_tree_and_planter_with_deer.png April 12th]
|-
| [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114415&start=480#p3954408 libra]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#c5ff300e-fcd6-11e5-8001-42010a8e0009 Garden]
| Purple light garden with '''stilt girl with a duck on her head''' - 1.
| April ??, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c7/1663_garden_Purple_light_with_stilt_girl_with_duck_1.png April 12th]
|-
| [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114415&start=480#p3954408 libra]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#1d1ea296-feff-11e5-8001-42010a8e0013 Garden]
| Purple light garden with '''stilt girl with a duck on her head''' - 2.
| April ??, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0c/1663_garden_Purple_light_with_stilt_girl_with_duck_2.png April 12th]
|-
| Anonymous
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#323ee5ac-fb74-11e5-8001-42010a8e0018 Garden]
| Experimental garden, red and blue light placed at respective corners creating apparent purple gradient. Allowing to grow to observe effects of gradient, if any. Will clear occasionally.
| April 12th
| Next user? 
| Garden? 
| This is for easy insertion of new links
| 
|}

==Locked gardens only for explanation use==
*These gardens are experiments used directly in this explanation and they will not be changed again after the first settings.
**Any experiment that need to do that can go above. If that should be used for explanation, then changes need to be explained
**If you have something you wish to explain, and it can be done with one setting only, then feel free to include it here below.
{| class="wikitable"
! User
! Garden url
! Description
! Day of creation (screen-shot links?)
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#21374f9e-fbbd-11e5-8001-42010a8e0015 Garden]
| '''No lights ever!'''. Result: '''No growth'''.
| April 6th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#4896b678-fbbe-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| '''Yellow laser beam'''. Result: '''No growth'''.
| April 6th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#6a6a7be0-fbbe-11e5-800d-42010a8e0008 Garden]
| '''Lots of light but not on ground'''. Result: '''No growth'''.
| April 6th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#c75991f6-fbbe-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| '''Three yellow lamps under ground shining down'''. Result: '''No growth'''. There seems to be no growth this way, but the lamp under the small pond has somehow managed to create a straw...
| April 6th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#e8552cc6-fbbe-11e5-8001-42010a8e0012 Garden]
| '''Three yellow lamps under ground shining up'''. Result: '''Perfect growth'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3a/1663_garden_Yellow_light_from_below_the_ground.png April 6th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#0544006e-fbbf-11e5-8001-42010a8e0017 Garden]
| '''Three different color lamps under ground shining up'''. Result: '''Perfect growth'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7c/1663_garden_Different_light_from_below_the_ground.png April 6th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#9733dff4-fbbe-11e5-8001-42010a8e0012 Garden]
| '''Three separate different color close to ground'''. . Result: '''Perfect growth'''. Something can grow here. Not much but it is not barren.
| April 6th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#357a48d8-fbbf-11e5-8019-42010a8e0006 Garden]
| '''Three different color lamps just above ground'''. . Result: '''Perfect growth'''. Something can grow here. Not much but it is not barren.
| April 6th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#f65c4906-fcf1-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 Garden]
| '''Blue one color''' whole screen from center. Nothing happened for 12 hours then two hors later an Octopus - so it was not completely dead! After 18 hours also two Cueball checking for rain and another octopus makes this behave as expected although 12 hours delayed!
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d3/1663_garden_One_color_Blue.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3f/1663_garden_One_color_Blue_14h.png April 8th 14 hours], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e5/1663_garden_One_color_Blue_18h.png April 8th 18 hours]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#d5b7fed6-fd94-11e5-8001-42010a8e000a Garden]
| '''Color setting between the one above and the one below'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cb/1663_garden_One_color_Between_blue_and_light_blue.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#3afb7988-fcf2-11e5-8001-42010a8e0019 Garden]
| '''Light Blue one color''' whole screen from center. (All the other eight one color gardens from this and below has been '''updated after 12 hours'''). Cueball with hands down (unlike up for pure blue), pillars of '''stones''' and monolith.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cc/1663_garden_One_color_Light_blue.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c9/1663_garden_One_color_Light_blue_12h.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#303c341c-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 Garden]
| '''Color setting between the one above and the one below'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/af/1663_garden_One_color_Between_light_blue_and_Blue_White.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#98dc3452-fcf2-11e5-8010-42010a8e0008 Garden]
| '''Blue White one color''' whole screen from center. Office landscape with pillar monolith pots Cueball and balloons one of them giant and bending far left and right. Also behind the desks a long table and before the going from left to right a star plant appeared in the pot on this table. (Three examples from same 12 hours later)
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/77/1663_garden_One_color_White_Blue.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d1/1663_garden_One_color_White_Blue_12h.png April 8th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d8/1663_garden_One_color_White_Blue_12h_balloon_left.png Left bend], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/73/1663_garden_One_color_White_Blue_12h_balloon_right_plus_star_plant.png Right bend],
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#5a45a1f8-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e000e Garden]
| '''Color setting between the one above and the one below'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/83/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Blue_White_and_White.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#ba6b4ac2-fcf2-11e5-8001-42010a8e0019 Garden]
| '''White one color''' whole screen from center. Only one balloon which is giant covering one of the two Megans holding up a cat. There are more cats bunnies a Beret Guy in pond and a tree.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bd/1663_garden_One_color_White.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/99/1663_garden_One_color_White_12h.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#8874be6a-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 Garden]
| '''Color setting between the one above and the one below'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/de/1663_garden_One_color_Between_White_and_Light_yellow.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#db338968-fcf2-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 Garden]
| '''Light yellow one color''' (start color) whole screen from center. As expected but a little meager outcome with Megan tree (with '''shelfe''') a bare trunk (because mainly outside the light) birdbaths.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3c/1663_garden_One_color_Light_yellow.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cb/1663_garden_One_color_Light_yellow_12h.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#b28f8522-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e0013 Garden]
| '''Color setting between the one above and the one below'''. Almost instantly there was the girl with black haired ponytail '''on stilts''' swaying in the breeze. Nothing else has appeared in 5 hours. Had seen her in an image from another site, but this was the first live garden I have seen her in.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/20/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow.png April 8th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1b/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow_First_thing_stilts_right.png April 8th First thing], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b8/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow_First_thing_stilts_left.png April 8th left], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0c/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow_First_thing_stilts.png April 8th right]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#efccf292-fcf2-11e5-8010-42010a8e0003 Garden]
| '''Yellow one color''' whole screen from center. Three ''sale'' signs around a gate and two snakes, almost no plants!
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1a/1663_garden_One_color_Yellow.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/55/1663_garden_One_color_Yellow_12h.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#de4fd3b0-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| '''Color setting between the one above and the one below'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2a/1663_garden_One_color_Between_yellow_and_orange.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#0d6bca62-fcf3-11e5-8019-42010a8e0005 Garden]
| '''Orange one color''' whole screen from center. Very boring with '''only turtles'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/31/1663_garden_One_color_Orange.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/62/1663_garden_One_color_Orange_12h.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#578b80bc-fd96-11e5-8001-42010a8e000a Garden]
| '''Color setting between the one above and the one below'''
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/55/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_and_orange_red.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#28b238b0-fcf3-11e5-8001-42010a8e0018 Garden]
| '''Orange red one color''' whole screen from center. Desert scape like only red with turtles and a cactus '''but''' also ''sale'' signs and five lamp post poles without lamps. No lamps yet after 24h (but have seen one in another garden here on this page search for lamp post). But more posts now also with three with additional pin sticking out (one of them new with pin tot he left two of the old have gained one to the right) and four more cactus three of them with a '''platform on top'''. Had not made those myself before.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/26/1663_garden_One_color_Orange_red.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/82/1663_garden_One_color_Orange_red_12h.png April 8th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/ce/1663_garden_One_color_Orange_red_24h.png April 8th 24h]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#ad7ca596-fd96-11e5-8020-42010a8e0006 Garden]
| '''Color setting between the one above and the one below'''. The first thing (as well as my first) '''Mars rover'''.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/54/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_red_and_red.png April 8th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3f/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_red_and_red_First_thing_Mars_rover.png April 8th First thing]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#46cc4e08-fcf3-11e5-8001-42010a8e0013 Garden]
| '''Red one color''' whole screen from center. As expected desert landscape with turtles and cactus only.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ec/1663_garden_One_color_red.png April 7th], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e3/1663_garden_One_color_red_12h.png April 8th]
|-
| [[User:Anon|Anon]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#0dbf7e1c-fcd2-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| '''Bluish White, White, Orange''' some overlap. Reddish end of the spectrum seems to produce more growth than the blue end.
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f8/1663_garden_Anons_mixed_garden.png April 11th]
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#c5909c64-0007-11e6-8001-42010a8e0016 Garden]
| '''Growth speed one blue - 1'''. The one color blue garden grew very little compared to other gardens. So some gardens seem to grow only few items. Could it be distance? To test this these six gardens are created right after each other. Only blue light to make sure the light is the same, but with one, two or three lamps just covering everything, so the one lamp is much higher up than the three lamp version. Two of each type is made to see how much different progress will be.
| April 11th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#d685c8e6-0007-11e6-8001-42010a8e0006 Garden]
| '''Growth speed one blue - 2'''. See first growth speed above
| April 11th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#e1c33662-0007-11e6-8001-42010a8e0012 Garden]
| '''Growth speed two blue - 1'''. See first growth speed above
| April 11th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#13580496-0008-11e6-8001-42010a8e0010 Garden]
| '''Growth speed two blue - 2'''. See first growth speed above
| April 11th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#30249e22-0008-11e6-8001-42010a8e0010 Garden]
| '''Growth speed three blue - 1'''. See first growth speed above
| April 11th
|-
| [[User:Kynde|Kynde]]
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#57572820-0008-11e6-8001-42010a8e0011 Garden]
| '''Growth speed three blue - 2'''. See first growth speed above
| April 11th
|-
| Next user? 
| Garden? 
| This is for easy insertion of new links
| 
|}

{{DEFAULTSORT: 1663}}
[[Category:Comic subpages]]

850: World According to Americans

2016-01-13T13:39:34Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */ the people who were interviewed had studied for a geography bee

{{comic
| number = 850
| date = January 21, 2011
| title = World According to Americans
| image = world according to americans.png
| titletext = It's not our fault we caught a group on their way home from a geography bee. And they taught us that Uzbekistan is one of the world's two doubly-landlocked countries!
}}

==Explanation==
''See a larger version at [http://xkcd.com/850_large/ http://xkcd.com/850_large/].''

There's a somewhat well-circulated image on the internet entitled "[http://google.com/search?q=the+world+according+to&tbm=isch The World According to Americans]" which plays on the stereotype of the ignorant American. In it, the entirety of Eastern Europe and most of Asia are entitled "commies" and the Middle-East as "evil-doers," and so on. Later, other people created similar maps to re-do the concept. It later spread to other cultures. This comic is an anti-joke playing on that idea. You expect to see something which plays on the stereotypes that exist in American culture of various parts of the world. However, instead, the map is remarkably well-informed, because the people who were interviewed had studied for a geography bee as is explained in the panel and in the title text.

A few notes about things written inside the map:

{| class="wikitable"
!style="width: 25%;"|Annotation
! Further details
|-
| Hey so what projection should we use? I’ll aim for “Robinson”.
| Any flat [[977|map projection]] of a sphere must have inaccuracies. {{w|Mercator projection}} displays shapes well at the expense of size. For example, Mercator's Greenland appears larger than South America, but is actually one eighth the size. {{w|Gall-Peters projection}} does the opposite, showing accurate surface area with distorted ("awful") shapes. {{w|Robinson projection}} compromises between shape & size for aesthetics; hence Greenland is "still too big".
|-
| Did you know Maine is actually the US state closest to Africa?
| The distance ist about 5076 km (~3754 mi). Measurement points are {{w|Sail Rock (disambiguation)|Sail Rock (Maine)}}, the most eastern point of the USA, and a point which seems to be the most southern (and as such western) point of el-Beddouza Beach, {{w|Morocco}}. It's not the most western point of Morocco (or Africa), though.
|-
| Do we have to label all the Virgin Islands?
| Which are {{w|Virgin_Islands#Larger_Islands|9 larger}} and about 100 {{w|List of Caribbean islands#British Virgin Islands|smaller}} {{w|List of Caribbean islands#United States Virgin Islands|islands}} - surely a lot of labels.
|-
| French, and I think Dutch and English
| The three separated areas are (from west to east) {{w|Guyana}} (former British colony), {{w|Suriname}} (former Dutch colony) and {{w|French Guiana}} (still officially part of France). The former two often switched between French, Dutch and British colonial rule. The latter was French most times except of a short Portuguese episode.
|-
| Brazil (Portugese-speaking)
Rest of South America (Spanish-speaking)
| In green is Portuguese-speaking Brazil, and in blue are the Spanish speaking Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina.
|-
| {{w|Greenland}} (Still too big!)
Yeah, but the Peters map is awful
| Relating back to the choice of map projection, the apparent size of Greenland is one of the most commonly known projection based inaccuracies. The {{w|Gall-Peters projection}} shows accurate surface area, but with distorted ("awful") shapes.
|-
| British Isles
Ireland
| Although {{w|Ireland}} belongs to the {{w|British Isles}} geographically, it does not belong to the {{w|British Islands}} politically. That may be the reason why Ireland is labelled additionally - to show it's known that Ireland does not belong to the {{w|United Kingdom}}. {{w|Northern Ireland}} does, though.
|-
| Rainforest DRC
| The area shown is actually not completely the {{w|Democratic Republic of the Congo}} (DRC), but since Randall said he doesn't know the African map very well (see statement below), it's fairly accurate.
|-
| So this is one of those things where you point out our ignorance and stereotypes?
Yeah – I mean I freely admit I don’t know the African map very well, which speaks volumes in itself.
| The African portion of the map is perhaps the most poorly labelled, which lends weight to the stereotype of the 'Ignorant American'. Although it has to be mentioned, that the geography of Africa is in general not well known - at least within the Western world. So that's not really an American thing, here. The few countries which are labelled here mostly are well known because of their unstable political situation or because of their remarkable location. The labelled locations (and the presumably reasons of their "publicity") are west to east, north to south: {{w|Morocco}} ({{w|Arab Spring}}, location), {{w|Algeria}} (Arab Spring, {{w|Algerian Civil War|Civil War}}), {{w|Sahara|Sahara Desert}} (largest hot desert of the world), {{w|Sudan}} ({{w|Second Sudanese Civil War|Civil war}}, Arab Spring), {{w|West Africa}} ({{w|West Africa#Postcolonial era|Lots of Civil wars}} and thus bad humanitary situation, {{w|Blood diamond|Blood diamonds}}), {{w|Somalia}} ({{w|Somali Civil War|Civil war}}, {{w|Piracy in Somalia|pirates}}), {{w|Lake Victoria}} (largest lake of Africa, quite remarkable even at large scale maps (as here)), {{w|Mozambique}} ({{w|Mozambican Civil War|Civil war}}), {{w|Angola}} ({{w|Angolan Civil War|Civil War}}) and {{w|Madagascar}} (large island at the east coast - quite remarkable).
|-
| Cape Horn
| {{w|Cape Horn}} is the southern tip of ''South America'', not ''Africa''. The southern tip of Africa is called {{w|Cape of Good Hope}}.
|-
| Should we include {{w|Antarctica}}?
Let’s not – these guys are looking impatient
| This is probably a joke on the lack of labels that would be required for Antarctica. Drawing Antarctica and labelling it would probably take less time than having the discussion about whether to include it, and then writing that discussion on the map.
|-
| {{w|Aral Sea}} (Gone)
| Former one of the largest fresh-water lakes of the world, now actually not completely gone, but almost.
|-
| Various former soviet states
| Which are (west to east) {{w|Kazakhstan}}, {{w|Turkmenistan}}, {{w|Uzbekistan}}, {{w|Tajikistan}} and {{w|Kyrgyzstan}}. The former {{w|Soviet Union|Union of Soviet Socialist Republics}} was dissolved in 1991 and thus the {{w|Cold War}} had ended.
|-
| Boxing Day quake
Wait, “Boxing day”? There’s no way you’re American.
I read BBC News, OK?
| On December 26, 2004, a {{w|2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|huge earthquake}} struck off the coast of Indonesia, causing severe tsunamis. December 26, the day after {{w|Christmas Day}}, is celebrated as {{w|Boxing Day}} in the UK, Canada, Australia, and some other English-speaking countries, but not the US. As such, the earthquake became known as the Boxing Day Quake.
One of the group picks up on the use of 'Boxing Day' as something no American would say. Even an American reader of {{w|BBC News}} (part of the British Broadcasting Corporation) may start to use the phrase "Boxing Day."
|-
| India -> Mostly Muslim
India -> Mostly Hindu
| In general {{w|India}} is separated in {{w|Religion in India|two religious groups}}. Muslims in the north-west, Hindus in the rest.
|-
| Tibet (contested)
| The area was annexed by the {{w|People's Republic of China}} in the 1950's. Since then there are struggles to gain independence, again. The marked area represents the former {{w|Kingdom of Tibet}}. while today's {{w|Tibet Autonomous Region}} is roughly the southern half of the marked area extended a bit to the south-east.
|-
| Kamchatka Peninsula, but I admit I only know this one from Risk
|''{{w|Risk (game)|Risk}}'' is a board game played on a map of the world, where players own territories and battle each other for world domination. The person in the comic admits to knowing {{w|Kamchatka Peninsula}} only from the territory "Kamchatka" in the game.
|-
| Koreas
| The two Koreas are the ''{{w|Democratic People's Republic of Korea}}'' (North Korea) and the ''{{w|Republic of Korea}}'' (South Korea).
|-
| Japan, duh.
| Well... {{w|Japan}}.
|-
| Taiwan (actually called “The Republic of China” – it’s complicated.
| This is a reference to the complicated political history of {{w|Taiwan}}. After the {{w|Chinese Civil War}}, the Nationalists fled China for Taiwan and set up a government in exile there, vowing to return. In the intervening 70 years or so, Taiwan eventually began to transform into a democracy, but hasn't shed the name, or the animosity with China. There is also a missing end-paren here, which is either a typo or a reference to [[859]]. The tag 'it's complicated' is one of the options for relationship statuses on Facebook, and denotes two people whose relationship defies the usual labels. In this case it is the relationship between the countries which is complicated.
|-
| Paupa New Guinea
| A typo of {{w|Papua New Guinea}}.
|-
| Phillipines
| A typo of the {{w|Philippines}}.
|}

The title text jokes that in fact the only reason that the map is fairly well annotated is that the group of people labelling it were actually on the way back from a {{w|National Geographic Bee|geography bee (competition)}}. This would call into question that surely a competitor in a geography competition should be able to do better than the map shown, which would thus reinforce the 'Ignorant American' stereotype, as this is an American ''expert''.

A landlocked country is a country that does not border any major bodies of water. Furthering the concept, a doubly-landlocked country is a country that not only has no connection to water, but is only bordered by ''other'' landlocked countries. As the title text states, there are only two such countries in the world as of 2012: {{w|Uzbekistan}} and {{w|Liechtenstein}}. This is the type of fact that may be stereotypically expected of a geography bee competitor.

==Transcript==

:THE WORLD
:According to a Group of
:'''AMERICANS'''
:who turned out to be unexpectedly good at geography, derailing our attempt to illustrate their country's attitude toward the rest of the world.

:[Left to right, up to down.]

:[North of Canada.] Hey so what projection should we use?
:I'll aim for "Robinson."

:[North America.] Alaska; Canada; Hudson Bay; Québec; United States
:Did you know Maine is actually the US state closest to Africa?; Bermuda (British!)

:[Central America.] Baja California (Mexico); Mexico; Central America; Panama Canal; Gulf of Mexico; Cuba; Hispañola; POR.; Jamaica
:Do we have to label all the Virgin Islands?

:[South America.] Rest of South America (spanish-speaking); Brazil (portugese-speaking); French, and I think Dutch and English; Tierra del Fuego

:[Greenland.] Greenland (still too big!); Yeah but the Peters map is awful; Iceland

:[Europe.] British Isles; Ireland; Gibralter; Scandanavia; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; Black sea; Middle East

:[Africa.] Morocco; Algera; Sahara Desert; West Africa; Sudan; Rainforest DRC; Lake Victoria; Somalia; Angola; Mozambique; South Africa; Cape Horn; Madagascar

:[West of DRC.] So this is one of those things where you point out our ignorance and stereotypes?
:Yeah – I mean, I freely admit I don't know the African map very well, which speaks volumes in itself.

:[West Asia.] Russia; Aral sea (Gone); Various former Soviet states; Afghanistan & Pakistan; India; Mostly Muslim; Mostly Hindu

:[Indian Ocea.] Sri Lanka; Boxing Day Quake
:Wait, "Boxing day"? There's no way you're American.
:I read BBC News, OK?

:[East Asia.] Mongolia; Tibet (contested); China; Southeast Asia

:[Pacific Ocean.] Kamchatka Pennisula, but I admit I only know this one from Risk.
:Koreas; Japan, duh.; Taiwan (actually called "The Republic of China." – it's complicated.); Phillipines; Malaysia; Indonesia; Sulawest; Paupa New Guinea; Australia; Tasmania; New Zealand

:[South of Africa.] Should we include Antarctica?
:Let's not – these guys are looking impatient.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Geography]]

Talk:1628: Magnus

2016-01-13T13:35:35Z

108.162.221.17:

Attempted to write the transcript. Hope I did an okay job... {{unsigned ip|‎198.41.235.41}}
:It was great. I just added some descriptions of the panels. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 15:01, 11 January 2016 (UTC)

Actually it is an election against JFK, not an eating contest (panel 3)[[Special:Contributions/108.162.249.162|108.162.249.162]] 18:46, 11 January 2016 (UTC)

Might Ronda Rousey being knocked unconsious be a reference to her recent loss to Holly Holm, where Rousey indeed was knocked unconcious? --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.202.141|162.158.202.141]] 10:27, 11 January 2016 (UTC)
:The word reference means "a thing you say or write that mentions somebody/something else; the act of mentioning somebody/something". Since the comic doesn't mention Holly Holm, there is no reference. I think there isn't even an allusion (something that is said or written that refers to or mentions another person or subject in an indirect way). [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.17|108.162.221.17]] 13:46, 11 January 2016 (UTC)
:Besides, the phrasing is "knocked out". That needn't be a combat/contact-sport 'KO' in which Rousey was rendered actually unconscious in an intentional/explicable manner, according to the activity, but could just be telling us which of the two passed through to the next round of a bracketed competition of some other kind. (Either of a form that remains unspecified or, as the most recently mentioned competition, in an earlier iteration the hot-dog-eating contest. Either way, 11yo Stewart wasn't highly ''expected'' to win, whatever the match conditions, but the outcome needn't be so against form as it might have in a pugilistic match.) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.152.227|162.158.152.227]] 15:13, 11 January 2016 (UTC)
::Since nothing is mentioned about which sport and Rousey is mentioned for the first time and it is a surprise she looses (on a KO) it is obvious to me that it refers to her fighting skill and a real KO. And if it was one of her first KO in that match is could easily be a reference especially if it was not expected. These two last things I do not know anything about though... --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 15:41, 11 January 2016 (UTC)

Magnus' App is available here: http://www.playmagnus.com/. There are also numerous youtube videos of him playing against himself at various ages. --[[Special:Contributions/198.41.242.240|198.41.242.240]] 10:33, 11 January 2016 (UTC)

JFK was not 10 in 1961 as that is when he became President and you have to be at least 35 to do that. [[User:Momerath|Momerath]] ([[User talk:Momerath|talk]]) 15:26, 11 January 2016 (UTC)
:Whops. That went to fast, thanks for correcting it. ;-) --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 15:39, 11 January 2016 (UTC)
::the 35 thing should be mentioned, if only for the ignorant and the foreign, and especially since it's a possible nod towards ted cruz, who by any previous interpretation of "natural born" does not qualify either. --[[Special:Contributions/141.101.106.233|141.101.106.233]] 13:25, 13 January 2016 (UTC)

Maybe I misunderstood some special reference or way to put it here, because as it links to the correct wiki page, it seems the author knew what he was talking about but:
" Michael Phelps who is the most decorated Olympian competitor of all time, with a total of 22 medals in three Olympiads." is still a very strange formulation imo. As correctly linked an Olympiad is the time span between two Olympic Games (aka 4 years). First of all Phelbs won the Medals from 2004 to 2012 so if one really would want to write that in olympiads it would be closer to two. Even so I think it very strange to ever talk about the olympic medals over the course of such a timespan as they were won at three distinct events, while countless other medals were won in the time span. I would rather change it to "olympic games" or something. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.91.139|141.101.91.139]] 15:51, 11 January 2016 (UTC)

Does anyone else actually kind of want this to exist? I mean, it would certainly settle a lot of playground discussions. :P [[User:Hammy2211|Hammy2211]] ([[User talk:Hammy2211|talk]]) 15:55, 11 January 2016 (UTC)

Ronda Rousey is a former Judo Olympian and current MMA fighter, not a boxer. Holly Holmes (who she lost to) is an ex-boxing champion. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.236.19|108.162.236.19]] 16:32, 11 January 2016 (UTC)

Ok, changed Rousey from "boxer" to "fighter". [[User:Jimmbo|Jimmbo]] ([[User talk:Jimmbo|talk]]) 16:38, 11 January 2016 (UTC)

Does Randall Munroe know of a world outside of his own little country? Or is this comic ironic? It's very much one person from not-USA (aka “the world”) versus a lot of people from the USA. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.49.27|173.245.49.27]] 18:46, 11 January 2016 (UTC)
:First: The United States is not a little country. Second: All Americans know little about the world. Probably Randall knows a little more about the world than the average American. [[850: World According to Americans|Or at least he believes so]]. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.17|108.162.221.17]] 13:34, 13 January 2016 (UTC)

Hmm. It appears somebody really wants to use this page to detail Ms. Rousey's recent triumphs. I don't want an editing war, so I'll leave it be, but I don't believe that's the purpose of our undertaking here.[[User:Jimmbo|Jimmbo]] ([[User talk:Jimmbo|talk]]) 20:01, 11 January 2016 (UTC)

I believe the current explanation misunderstands parts of the comic. It says: “But it claims to do so with an unlikely precision which Randall is mocking; e.g. that Cueball could have beaten Magnus when he was 8½-year-old, but not a half-year later.” The age is probably referring to the virtual Magnus' age, not Cueball's age; you can set the app's skill level in half-year increments (at least for the earlier years). So this is not Randall mocking the app, it's merely setup for the rest of the joke. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.91.160|162.158.91.160]] 01:32, 12 January 2016 (UTC)

"But it claims to do so with an unlikely precision which Randall is mocking": the '''precision''' of the app '''is in fact credible'''. Carlsen was gaining 100 Elo points every six months until he was 15, and a chess-playing program can emulate, roughly, a human Elo performance. --[[User:Chvsanchez|Chvsanchez]] ([[User talk:Chvsanchez|talk]]) 01:48, 12 January 2016 (UTC)

Hey, who took out my citation needed joke?[[User:Untothebreach|Untothebreach]] ([[User talk:Untothebreach|talk]]) 08:17, 12 January 2016 (UTC)

The current explanation describes that Serena Williams is a tennis player but only describes Michael Phelps as "the most decorated Olympian competitor", not that he was/is a swimmer. The explanation also claims that it is obvious that Martha Stewart learned cooking later than at age 11, which I don't think is so obvious. But I don't know Martha Stewart, so perhaps it is obvious. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.80.77|141.101.80.77]] 10:29, 13 January 2016 (UTC)

Talk:1628: Magnus

2016-01-13T13:34:46Z

108.162.221.17:

Attempted to write the transcript. Hope I did an okay job... {{unsigned ip|‎198.41.235.41}}
:It was great. I just added some descriptions of the panels. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 15:01, 11 January 2016 (UTC)

Actually it is an election against JFK, not an eating contest (panel 3)[[Special:Contributions/108.162.249.162|108.162.249.162]] 18:46, 11 January 2016 (UTC)

Might Ronda Rousey being knocked unconsious be a reference to her recent loss to Holly Holm, where Rousey indeed was knocked unconcious? --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.202.141|162.158.202.141]] 10:27, 11 January 2016 (UTC)
:The word reference means "a thing you say or write that mentions somebody/something else; the act of mentioning somebody/something". Since the comic doesn't mention Holly Holm, there is no reference. I think there isn't even an allusion (something that is said or written that refers to or mentions another person or subject in an indirect way). [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.17|108.162.221.17]] 13:46, 11 January 2016 (UTC)
:Besides, the phrasing is "knocked out". That needn't be a combat/contact-sport 'KO' in which Rousey was rendered actually unconscious in an intentional/explicable manner, according to the activity, but could just be telling us which of the two passed through to the next round of a bracketed competition of some other kind. (Either of a form that remains unspecified or, as the most recently mentioned competition, in an earlier iteration the hot-dog-eating contest. Either way, 11yo Stewart wasn't highly ''expected'' to win, whatever the match conditions, but the outcome needn't be so against form as it might have in a pugilistic match.) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.152.227|162.158.152.227]] 15:13, 11 January 2016 (UTC)
::Since nothing is mentioned about which sport and Rousey is mentioned for the first time and it is a surprise she looses (on a KO) it is obvious to me that it refers to her fighting skill and a real KO. And if it was one of her first KO in that match is could easily be a reference especially if it was not expected. These two last things I do not know anything about though... --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 15:41, 11 January 2016 (UTC)

Magnus' App is available here: http://www.playmagnus.com/. There are also numerous youtube videos of him playing against himself at various ages. --[[Special:Contributions/198.41.242.240|198.41.242.240]] 10:33, 11 January 2016 (UTC)

JFK was not 10 in 1961 as that is when he became President and you have to be at least 35 to do that. [[User:Momerath|Momerath]] ([[User talk:Momerath|talk]]) 15:26, 11 January 2016 (UTC)
:Whops. That went to fast, thanks for correcting it. ;-) --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 15:39, 11 January 2016 (UTC)
::the 35 thing should be mentioned, if only for the ignorant and the foreign, and especially since it's a possible nod towards ted cruz, who by any previous interpretation of "natural born" does not qualify either. --[[Special:Contributions/141.101.106.233|141.101.106.233]] 13:25, 13 January 2016 (UTC)

Maybe I misunderstood some special reference or way to put it here, because as it links to the correct wiki page, it seems the author knew what he was talking about but:
" Michael Phelps who is the most decorated Olympian competitor of all time, with a total of 22 medals in three Olympiads." is still a very strange formulation imo. As correctly linked an Olympiad is the time span between two Olympic Games (aka 4 years). First of all Phelbs won the Medals from 2004 to 2012 so if one really would want to write that in olympiads it would be closer to two. Even so I think it very strange to ever talk about the olympic medals over the course of such a timespan as they were won at three distinct events, while countless other medals were won in the time span. I would rather change it to "olympic games" or something. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.91.139|141.101.91.139]] 15:51, 11 January 2016 (UTC)

Does anyone else actually kind of want this to exist? I mean, it would certainly settle a lot of playground discussions. :P [[User:Hammy2211|Hammy2211]] ([[User talk:Hammy2211|talk]]) 15:55, 11 January 2016 (UTC)

Ronda Rousey is a former Judo Olympian and current MMA fighter, not a boxer. Holly Holmes (who she lost to) is an ex-boxing champion. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.236.19|108.162.236.19]] 16:32, 11 January 2016 (UTC)

Ok, changed Rousey from "boxer" to "fighter". [[User:Jimmbo|Jimmbo]] ([[User talk:Jimmbo|talk]]) 16:38, 11 January 2016 (UTC)

Does Randall Munroe know of a world outside of his own little country? Or is this comic ironic? It's very much one person from not-USA (aka “the world”) versus a lot of people from the USA. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.49.27|173.245.49.27]] 18:46, 11 January 2016 (UTC)
:First: The United States is not a little country. Second: All Americans know little about the world. Probably Randall knows a little more about the world than the Average American. [[850: World According to Americans|Or at least he believes so]]. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.17|108.162.221.17]] 13:34, 13 January 2016 (UTC)

Hmm. It appears somebody really wants to use this page to detail Ms. Rousey's recent triumphs. I don't want an editing war, so I'll leave it be, but I don't believe that's the purpose of our undertaking here.[[User:Jimmbo|Jimmbo]] ([[User talk:Jimmbo|talk]]) 20:01, 11 January 2016 (UTC)

I believe the current explanation misunderstands parts of the comic. It says: “But it claims to do so with an unlikely precision which Randall is mocking; e.g. that Cueball could have beaten Magnus when he was 8½-year-old, but not a half-year later.” The age is probably referring to the virtual Magnus' age, not Cueball's age; you can set the app's skill level in half-year increments (at least for the earlier years). So this is not Randall mocking the app, it's merely setup for the rest of the joke. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.91.160|162.158.91.160]] 01:32, 12 January 2016 (UTC)

"But it claims to do so with an unlikely precision which Randall is mocking": the '''precision''' of the app '''is in fact credible'''. Carlsen was gaining 100 Elo points every six months until he was 15, and a chess-playing program can emulate, roughly, a human Elo performance. --[[User:Chvsanchez|Chvsanchez]] ([[User talk:Chvsanchez|talk]]) 01:48, 12 January 2016 (UTC)

Hey, who took out my citation needed joke?[[User:Untothebreach|Untothebreach]] ([[User talk:Untothebreach|talk]]) 08:17, 12 January 2016 (UTC)

The current explanation describes that Serena Williams is a tennis player but only describes Michael Phelps as "the most decorated Olympian competitor", not that he was/is a swimmer. The explanation also claims that it is obvious that Martha Stewart learned cooking later than at age 11, which I don't think is so obvious. But I don't know Martha Stewart, so perhaps it is obvious. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.80.77|141.101.80.77]] 10:29, 13 January 2016 (UTC)

1629: Tools

2016-01-13T13:19:56Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */ We don't need an extended transcript

{{comic
| number = 1629
| date = January 13, 2016
| title = Tools
| image = tools.png
| titletext = I make tools for managing job-hunting sites for people who make tools for managing job-hunting sites for people who make tools for ...
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|}}

Cueball asks Megan what she does, and she begins by answering "I make tools that make tools." So far, this is a common expression of the way a sophisticated technology is built on simple building blocks, with one set of tools used to build a more powerful set of tools, and so on. However, the iterations are carried to comical lengths, with Megan spending twenty minutes reeling off various steps including development of software code and software code debugging and development tools.

Eventually Megan admits that she doesn't know the goal of these tasks. The reference to porn may be related to the observation that many information technologies from printing to computers are quickly adopted by porn producers and distributors.

See also: [[1579: Tech Loops]].

==Transcript==
:Cueball: What do you do?
:Megan: I make tools that make tools

:Megan: ...That monitor code that deploys tools that build tools for deploying monitors...

20 minutes later...
:Megan: ...For monitoring deployment of tools for-
:Cueball: But what's it all for?
:Megan: Honestly, no idea. Porn, probably.

Talk:1628: Magnus

2016-01-11T13:46:08Z

108.162.221.17:

Attempted to write the transcript. Hope I did an okay job... {{unsigned ip|‎198.41.235.41}}

Might Ronda Rousey being knocked unconsious be a reference to her recent loss to Holly Holm, where Rousey indeed was knocked unconcious? --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.202.141|162.158.202.141]] 10:27, 11 January 2016 (UTC)
:The word reference means "a thing you say or write that mentions somebody/something else; the act of mentioning somebody/something". Since the comic doesn't mention Holly Holm, there is no reference. I think there isn't even an allusion (something that is said or written that refers to or mentions another person or subject in an indirect way). [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.17|108.162.221.17]] 13:46, 11 January 2016 (UTC)

Magnus' App is available here: http://www.playmagnus.com/. There are also numerous youtube videos of him playing against himself at various ages. --[[Special:Contributions/198.41.242.240|198.41.242.240]] 10:33, 11 January 2016 (UTC)

1628: Magnus

2016-01-11T13:40:52Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */ Secretariat is dead

{{comic
| number = 1628
| date = January 11, 2016
| title = Magnus
| image = magnus.png
| titletext = In the latest round, 9-year-old Muhammad Ali beat 10-year-old JFK at air hockey, while Secretariat lost the hot-dog-eating crown to 12-year-old Ken Jennings. Meanwhile, in a huge upset, 11-year-old Martha Stewart knocked out the adult Ronda Rousey.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|}}

{{w|Magnus Carlsen}} is a {{w|chess grandmaster}} who is currently #1 in the world.

{{W|Serena Williams}} is professional tennis player who is ranked #1 women's singles player in the world.

{{W|Michael Phelps}} is a swimmer who is #1 in the world in several swimming events.

{{W|Martha Stewart}}, among other things, has published several cookbooks.

{{W|JFK}} (John Fitzgerald Kennedy) was the 35th President of the United States.

{{W|Secretariat (horse)|Secretariat}} was a horse that won the Triple Crown in 1973.

{{W|Muhammad Ali}} is a boxer who is "among the greatest heavyweights in the history of the sport."

{{W|Ken Jennings}} currently holds the record for the longest winning streak on {{W|Jeopardy!}}.

{{W|Ronda Rousey}} is a "mixed martial arts" fighter and "judoka."

[[Cueball]] shows [[Megan]] an [https://itunes.apple.com/app/play-magnus/id808138395?mt=8 iOS app] that allows one to simulate playing {{w|chess}} against Magnus Carlsen at various ages. The idea behind the app is that as Magnus grows up he becomes better at chess and thus it become exceedingly difficult to beat him as he get older. The comic is named after him. Cueball can actually beat him when Magnus was an 8½ year old boy, but already half a year later Magnus had progressed beyond Cueball's chess skill

Being the nerds that they are, Cueball and Megan continue development in a similar idea that simulates many famous people doing the thing they are famous for at different ages. They then end up weirding themselves out by comparing famous people in things that they aren't famous for, Secretariat eating hot dogs, Martha Stewart swimming, etc.

The title text continues the theme of the last panel with more comparisons, leading to the ludicrous situation of a young Martha Stewart knocking an adult Ronda Rousey unconscious (who was famous for her fighting skills).

==Transcript==
:Cueball: Magnus Carlsen has an app where you can play chess against a simulated version of him at different ages. I can beat the 8½-year-old, but lose to him at 9.
:Megan: I want that, but for other games. Can I beat 8-year-old Serena Williams at Tennis? Swim laps faster than a 6-year-olf Michael Phelps?
:Cueball: We should make a simulator.
:Cueball: ...Why limit it to games? Can I cook a better chicken than 11-year-old Martha Stewart?
:Megan: Win an election against 12-year-old JFK?
:Soon...
:[Cueball and Megan sitting at laptops in the bottom of the panel.]
:Megan: Looks like 8-year-old Magnus Carlsen can swim faster than 9-year-old Martha Stewart.
:Cueball: But they both lose a Hot-Dog-Eating contest to 2-year-old Secretariat.
:Megan: This project has gotten weird.

==Trivia==
The app they are talking about is called [http://magnuscarlsen.com/playmagnus Play Magnus].

{{comic discussion}}

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

1628: Magnus

2016-01-11T13:39:49Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */ Explanations first

{{comic
| number = 1628
| date = January 11, 2016
| title = Magnus
| image = magnus.png
| titletext = In the latest round, 9-year-old Muhammad Ali beat 10-year-old JFK at air hockey, while Secretariat lost the hot-dog-eating crown to 12-year-old Ken Jennings. Meanwhile, in a huge upset, 11-year-old Martha Stewart knocked out the adult Ronda Rousey.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|}}

{{w|Magnus Carlsen}} is a {{w|chess grandmaster}} who is currently #1 in the world.

{{W|Serena Williams}} is professional tennis player who is ranked #1 women's singles player in the world.

{{W|Michael Phelps}} is a swimmer who is #1 in the world in several swimming events.

{{W|Martha Stewart}}, among other things, has published several cookbooks.

{{W|JFK}} (John Fitzgerald Kennedy) was the 35th President of the United States.

{{W|Secretariat (horse)|Secretariat}} is a horse that won the Triple Crown in 1973.

{{W|Muhammad Ali}} is a boxer who is "among the greatest heavyweights in the history of the sport."

{{W|Ken Jennings}} currently holds the record for the longest winning streak on {{W|Jeopardy!}}.

{{W|Ronda Rousey}} is a "mixed martial arts" fighter and "judoka."

[[Cueball]] shows [[Megan]] an [https://itunes.apple.com/app/play-magnus/id808138395?mt=8 iOS app] that allows one to simulate playing {{w|chess}} against Magnus Carlsen at various ages. The idea behind the app is that as Magnus grows up he becomes better at chess and thus it become exceedingly difficult to beat him as he get older. The comic is named after him. Cueball can actually beat him when Magnus was an 8½ year old boy, but already half a year later Magnus had progressed beyond Cueball's chess skill

Being the nerds that they are, Cueball and Megan continue development in a similar idea that simulates many famous people doing the thing they are famous for at different ages. They then end up weirding themselves out by comparing famous people in things that they aren't famous for, Secretariat eating hot dogs, Martha Stewart swimming, etc.

The title text continues the theme of the last panel with more comparisons, leading to the ludicrous situation of a young Martha Stewart knocking an adult Ronda Rousey unconscious (who was famous for her fighting skills).

==Transcript==
:Cueball: Magnus Carlsen has an app where you can play chess against a simulated version of him at different ages. I can beat the 8½-year-old, but lose to him at 9.
:Megan: I want that, but for other games. Can I beat 8-year-old Serena Williams at Tennis? Swim laps faster than a 6-year-olf Michael Phelps?
:Cueball: We should make a simulator.
:Cueball: ...Why limit it to games? Can I cook a better chicken than 11-year-old Martha Stewart?
:Megan: Win an election against 12-year-old JFK?
:Soon...
:[Cueball and Megan sitting at laptops in the bottom of the panel.]
:Megan: Looks like 8-year-old Magnus Carlsen can swim faster than 9-year-old Martha Stewart.
:Cueball: But they both lose a Hot-Dog-Eating contest to 2-year-old Secretariat.
:Megan: This project has gotten weird.

==Trivia==
The app they are talking about is called [http://magnuscarlsen.com/playmagnus Play Magnus].

{{comic discussion}}

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

1627: Woosh

2016-01-08T14:01:11Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1627
| date = January 8, 2016
| title = Woosh
| image = woosh.png
| titletext = It also occasionally replies with 'Comment of the year', 'Are you for real', and 'I'm taking a screenshot so I can remember this moment forever'.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Very hasty draft. More needed on the alternative title text suggestions.}}
Replying to a comment with "woosh" generally indicates that there was a joke, and the comment failed to recognize it — "woosh" is onomatopoeia for the joke metaphorically "flying over their head". A bot replying to comments with "woosh" at random would be very confusing, as people would search for the nonexistent joke they missed. This is similar to [[559: No Pun Intended]].

The title text expands on this idea, with other comments that would cause similar confusion.

Although it is not specified as one of [[Randall|Randall's]] hobbies it is clearly related to the [[:Category:My Hobby|My Hobby]] series.

==Transcript==
:[Online comment thread: text is placed next to user pictures]

:Person 1: This video looks fake to me. 
::Person on black background: Woosh 
:::Person 1: Huh? Everyone's acting like it's real! 
:::Person 1: If it's a joke lots of people aren't getting it. 
:::Person 1: What am I missing?!! 
:::Person 1: Answer me

:[Caption below the frame:]
:Nothing creates more confusion than my bot that replies to random Internet comments with "Woosh".

{{comic discussion}}

Talk:1627: Woosh

2016-01-08T13:59:35Z

108.162.221.17: format

Looking for a joke that isn't there sounds a lot like [http://xkcd.com/559 xkcd.com/559]. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.2.140|162.158.2.140]] 05:43, 8 January 2016 (UTC)
::Woooosh! [[Special:Contributions/108.162.245.181|108.162.245.181]] 05:48, 8 January 2016 (UTC)

::::Woosh

::::::'''Woof''' ''(Guess my bot still needs some work)'' [[Special:Contributions/162.158.153.131|162.158.153.131]] 08:41, 8 January 2016 (UTC)

If it was a joke video that was never meant to be real to begin with and the commenter didn't realize this, then woosh would actually make sense [[User:Figvh|Figvh]] ([[User talk:Figvh|talk]])

:Woosh[[Special:Contributions/173.245.56.65|173.245.56.65]] 10:32, 8 January 2016 (UTC)

Probably in reaction to a video [https://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEI-iDxfj0M] that gained notoriety this week and raised a big discussion whether is was spontaneous or enacted.
[[User:Duartix|Duartix]] ([[User talk:Duartix|talk]]) 11:16, 8 January 2016 (UTC)

Talk:287: NP-Complete

2016-01-06T21:16:49Z

108.162.221.17: Correct link

;Unique deciphering requires unique pricetags
Shame this only works in restaurants that price all their appetizers differently. [[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]] ([[User talk:Davidy22|talk]]) 03:18, 13 October 2012 (UTC)
:Not necessarily because the NP-problem allows for any equivocally competing sum certifying how the total can be reached. Shared pricetags as well as a nonpositive would add degrees of freedom and make it impossible to rule out surprise deliveries even through exponential pretesting. Unless the waiter is running into the exponential worst case, the six waiting tables can be attended to immediately upon finding the first feasible combination: [[User:Roman Czyborra|Roman Czyborra]] ([[User talk:Roman Czyborra|talk]]) 15:44, 15 May 2014 (UTC)

;Trivial solution first found
I have a hunch that the seven fruit cups are pretty intentional as the first item on the menu and the simplest solution possible.
I was about to write a script to solve the problem through random selections and was going to optimize for speed by limiting the maximum times an item could be order to floor(15.05/price). Thus, one could order up to 2 sample plates, 3 moz sticks, 5 of the hot wings/side salad/french fries or 7 fruit cups without going over budget. (side note: you can always with these prices squeeze in a fruit cup with the exception of the 7 fruit cups). I found the "trivial" solution on the first step of the "preliminary" work for that script and then took a catnap.
Of course, since the nontrivial solution involves the same item as the trivial solution, one could just pick a number, multiply by that number, subtract one unit, and pick two other items, whose prices were not set yet, and adjust their prices to add up accordingly just to ensure both trivial and nontrivial solutions lest anyone actually write a program to solve the problem through brute force as oppose to through wit. Why seed? Because to not have a nontrivial solution would be so much like Blackhat.
Note to self: try this sometime in the real world using a real menu. [[User:Katya|Katya]] ([[User talk:Katya|talk]]) 02:17, 23 November 2012 (UTC)

;Traveling Salesman Problem
Note: Traveling Salesman Problem ''might'' be mentioned ''also'' because both this problem and the Knapsack problem to be solved belong to set of '''[[wikipedia:NP-complete|NP-complete]] problems'''; a Knapsack problem can be transformed in polynomial time to Traveling Salesman Problem, and solution of Traveling Salesman Problem can be transformed in polynomial time to Knapsack problem solution. --[[User:JakubNarebski|JakubNarebski]] ([[User talk:JakubNarebski|talk]]) 16:00, 11 December 2012 (UTC)
:Yes, indeed! I think both meanings are intended to fully get the joke. The <code>TSP:={(n,d,M)∈ℕ×({0…n}²→ℕ)×ℕ|∃c∈{1…n}ⁿ:{1…n}=⋃{cₙ|n∈{1…n}}∧∑{d(cₙ,c₍ₙ₊₁₎)|n∈{0…n}}<M}</code> can both help to timely attend to the six waiting tables and to reduce the <code>ORDERSUM:={(a,b)∈ℕ*×ℕ|∃c∈ℕ*:∑{cₙaₙ|n∈ℕ}=b}</code> problem to. Plus, the "as fast as possible" pun seems to allude to the again six ridiculous inputs any trained human will rearrange to a near-exact solution quicker than they are entered into a computer who can quickly exhaust this tiny search space for an exact solution: [[User:Roman Czyborra|Roman Czyborra]] ([[User talk:Roman Czyborra|talk]]) 15:44, 15 May 2014 (UTC)

;Trivial solution was not intended
In [http://www.maa.org/mathhorizons/MH-Sep2012_XKCD.html an interview] with the Mathematical Association of America Randall said that the trivial answer to this problem was a mistake. [[User:Xrays Knock Charms Down|Xrays Knock Charms Down]] ([[User talk:Xrays Knock Charms Down|talk]]) 03:00, 6 May 2013 (UTC)
:I added this very interesting info to the explanation - at first as a trivia, but then I realized that it would not be seen by everyone - as you often do not read below the transcript. Why would you, you do not need to see what was in the comic again... So I moved it up to the solution part, because to me it is a very important fact about this comic. An error by Randall... But Dgbrt keeps moving this info away from the solution. I have understood now that the trivia should be below the transcript - although I cannot see why this should be so - as I have just described. But who says that this info should be a trivia item? It was I who put it there (by mistake?) at first. I will try not to start an editing fight here, but still think there should at least be a mention in the explanation that it was a mistake - in case you do not realize there is a trivia section below. I have used this page a lot lately, and had not found out before, that it was always below. There is not that many pages with trivia sections [[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 11:02, 10 March 2014 (UTC)
::Cool reference, thanks! [[User:Roman Czyborra|Roman Czyborra]] ([[User talk:Roman Czyborra|talk]]) 15:44, 15 May 2014 (UTC)

;Complex solution found in a second
I was bored and tried to find a solution for fun. I found the more complex one quite fast by chance. It was actually the second combination I tried. I did not realize you could just add seven fruit cups because I was so set on starting with the sampler plate. Now I am not sure if I should be glad, because I was so lucky, or annoyed that my fight-the-boredom-idea did not work out, or even more annoyed that I never have that kind of luck in the lab where I could really use it for finding the one thing out of a thousand possible causes for "why-does-my-experiment-not-work" which actually will give me some usable data.
[[Special:Contributions/84.56.77.11|84.56.77.11]]

;Not the knapsack problem
This explanation is thorough, and I like being thorough, but it seems to be a bit of overkill. I copy-edited it a bit, but I have a couple qualms. This is not really the knapsack problem, as it does not attach values to the items (as mentioned). It is more of a {{w|subset sum}} problem, which admittedly could be considered a variant of the knapsack problem. Secondly, I don't see why we need to go into detail about the movie Office Space. --[[User:Quicksilver|Quicksilver]] ([[User talk:Quicksilver|talk]]) 18:34, 22 August 2013 (UTC)
:I did some clean-ups, but the the "In computational complexity theory" still needs a review.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 20:19, 22 August 2013 (UTC)
::The Wikipedia article on {{w|Karp's 21 NP-complete problems}} hints that Karp originally defined <code>KNAPSACK:={(a,b)∈ℤ*×ℤ|∃c∈𝔹*:∑{cₙaₙ|n∈ℕ}=b}</code> closer to today's shape of <code>SUBSETSUM:={Z⊂ℤ|∃s⊆Z:∑s=0∧s≠∅}</code> than that of the Unbounded Knapsack Problem <code>UKP:={(v,w,V,W)∈ℤ*×ℤ*×ℤ×ℤ|∃c∈ℕ*:{∑{cₙvₙ|n∈ℕ},∑{cₙwₙ|n∈ℕ}}⊆{V…W}}</code> with the former via <code>Z:={b,-a₁…-aₙ,-2a₁…-2aₙ,…}</code> and the latter via <code>(v,w,V,W):=(a,a,b,b)</code> coming close enough to what we really need here, namely <code>ORDERSUM:={(a,b)∈ℕ*×ℕ|∃c∈ℕ*:∑{cₙaₙ|n∈ℕ}=b}</code>. So Randall did hit it bull's eye after all! [[User:Roman Czyborra|Roman Czyborra]] ([[User talk:Roman Czyborra|talk]]) 15:44, 15 May 2014 (UTC)

;NP Food
Inspired by this comic, somebody has actually created an ordering site which tries to give you an order from a restaurant in your area (US only I think) totalling a specific amount [http://www.np-food.com NP Food]. Worth including above? -- [[User:Copito|Copito]] ([[User talk:Copito|talk]]) 20:43, 8 November 2013 (UTC)

That site doesn't work for me. —[[User:TobyBartels|TobyBartels]] ([[User talk:TobyBartels|talk]]) 10:07, 19 November 2013 (UTC)

:I do get more than nothing: a redirect to the HTTPS port whose certificate is signed only to .np-food.com without WWW and whose HTML and PNG and JS suggest that either solutions for San Francisco, Austin, Saint Louis, Miami, and New York menues have been memoized and that you may order by entering your credit card credentials or that only fools wait for a computer to calculate an NP-hard problem on too large a search space. [[User:Roman Czyborra|Roman Czyborra]] ([[User talk:Roman Czyborra|talk]]) 15:44, 15 May 2014 (UTC)

;Exhaustive Solution
[[user:Roman Czyborra|Roman Czyborra]] did post this at the explain:
;The Solution
… can be calculated as
let totaling total menu = if total == 0 then [[]]
else if total < 0 || null menu then []
else totaling total (tail menu) ++ map (
head menu :) (totaling (total - head menu) menu)
in totaling 1505 [215,275,335,355,420,580]
== [[215,355,355,580],[215,215,215,215,215,215,215]]
I don't think this is a helpful explain. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:11, 14 May 2014 (UTC)

Yes, I did.
Because I did think it was helpful.
Not just because an (effective if not efficient) general solution earns you a 50% on $15.05 tip.

Moreover to demonstrate that and how a complete search finds those two solutions.

And that the search tree can branch exponentially with each additional menu item.
Or with additional dollar bills to be spent.
Notwithstanding that any constructive proof of NP=P would let us replace this
straightforward bad NP-implementation with an equivalent better P-implementation.
Before Donald Knuth coined the name NP-Complete, the class was suggested to be named
'''PET''' for the (Probably(while NP?P)|(Proven(if NP>P)|Previously(if NP=P))) Exponential Time pet problems.

What is so confusing about the calculation?
The whole cent amounts instead of dollar floats?
My naming of variables?
Should <code>totaling</code> be renamed to <code>solutions</code> or <code>orders</code>?
Or <code>menu</code> to <code>menu_items</code> or <code>appetizers</code> or <code>pricetags</code>?
<code lang=haskell>
type Cents = Int
orders :: [Cents] -> Cents -> [ [Cents] ]
orders menu total =
total == 0 | [ [] ]
menu == [] | []
total < 0 | []
total > 0 | orders (tail menu) total ++ map (
head menu :) orders menu (total - head menu)

orders [215,275,335,355,420,580] 1505
== [[215,355,355,580],[215,215,215,215,215,215,215]]

calls menu total = if null menu || total < 1
then 1 else 1 + calls (tail menu) total +
calls menu (total - head menu)
calls [] 1505
== 1
calls [580] 1505
== 7
calls [420,580] 1505
== 25
calls [355,420,580] 1505
== 73
calls [335,355,420,580] 1505
== 181
calls [275,335,355,420,580] 1505
== 437
calls [215,275,335,355,420,580] 1505
== 1153
</code>
Or is it the committee language Haskell that is causing problems?
What other well-defined language would you formulate a general solution in?

Discussing all of this is helpful.
Leaving a "Thus" result without its afferent reasoning (and its deleted heading) is not, is it?
Cheers: [[User:Roman Czyborra|Roman Czyborra]] ([[User talk:Roman Czyborra|talk]]) 15:44, 15 May 2014 (UTC)

:Please let's keep this code at the discussion page. No common reader would understand; the explain is not only for programmers. I'm a programmer, knowing many languages like BASIC, Pascal, C, C++, Java, Bash, Perl... also HTML, JavaScript... RPG, Databases and SQL... and much more. And if you like to buy an IBM Power 8 I can tell you the proper configuration for your needs.
:But these details are not helpful to explain the comic. There is math that has to be explained. Findings on program codes do even not belong to a trivia section. Nevertheless it seems I have to take a closer look on Haskell, which is not used by many people. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 21:22, 15 May 2014 (UTC)

A 50% tip on a $ 15.05 order is not possible, is it? --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.231.186|108.162.231.186]] 21:08, 1 November 2014 (UTC)

If I were the waiter my response would, at best, be "I'll come back when you're ready to order". At worse it would probably involve burns. -Pennpenn [[Special:Contributions/108.162.250.162|108.162.250.162]] 04:27, 7 October 2015 (UTC)

---Easiest response: "Excellent, Sir. I'll raise the price of the french fries to $15.05 - [[User:Ruffy314|Ruffy314]] ([[User talk:Ruffy314|talk]]) 18:19, 21 November 2015 (UTC)

1288: Substitutions

2016-01-04T18:56:28Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */ In the title text the sentence "ELECTRIC CARS" was replaced by "ATOMIC CATS".

{{comic
| number = 1288
| date = November 8, 2013
| title = Substitutions
| image = substitutions.png
| titletext = INSIDE ELON MUSK'S NEW ATOMIC CAT
}}

==Explanation==
[[Randall|Randall Munroe]] is playing off of the fact that many readers of modern news articles quickly become bored with the legal and political jargon. He suggests that by substituting certain words for others can make reading the article more interesting, albeit less accurate. Although since Randall [[558: 1000 Times|doesn't think very]] highly [[932: CIA|of the news]], he's probably suggesting this chart wouldn't make them less accurate at all.

For example, a sentence that reads
:Witnesses reported that the suspect allegedly escaped unharmed.
would be changed to
:These dudes I know reported that the suspect kinda probably escaped unharmed.

This substitution does not change the meaning much, and the original sentence does not lose much of its accuracy. However, for substitutions later in the comic, a sentence may be changed as following
:A new study finds that senators and other congressional leaders are increasingly likely to view election results on their smartphone.
into
:A Tumblr post finds that elf-lords and other river spirits are increasingly likely to view eating contest results on their Pokédex.

Which is less meaningful, but more interesting.

The final substitution returns from the realm of the ridiculous to replacing "could not be reached for comment" with "is guilty and everyone knows it." If a journalist writes a story about an accused suspect but is unable to contact them or receives no response from them, they will write that the person "could not be reached for comment." Randall's whimsical assumption that silence implies guilt is so common that juries are instructed that they should not infer guilt if the defendant fails to testify, particularly in nations which have a right against self-incrimination.

[https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/xkcd-substitutions/jkgogmboalmaijfgfhfepckdgjeopfhk?hl=en&gl=001 Chrome] and [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/xkcd-substitutions/?src=ss Firefox] extensions are available for applying the substitutions on webpages.

'Spaaace' is a reference to the Space Core from {{w|Portal 2}}.

The {{w|Virtual Boy}} is a table-top video game console made by Nintendo released in 1995, and discontinued about the same year. It achieved true-3D graphics through the use of a large visor containing a pair of LED screens.

The Pokédex is a device in the {{w|Pokémon|Pokémon world}} that records the data of captured Pokémon.

{{w|Homestar Runner}} is the title character of a Flash-animated web cartoon series, known for being an idiot.

At the title text {{w|Elon Musk}} is mentioned who is the CEO of {{w|Tesla Motors}}, which produces electric cars. In the title text the sentence "ELECTRIC CARS" was replaced by "ATOMIC CATS".

News reports about new studies (Tumblr posts) are further lampooned in [[1295: New Study|a comic posted two weeks later]].

Has a sequel: [[1418: Horse]].

==Transcript==
:'''Substitutions''' that make reading the news more fun:

{|
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Witnesses
| ➜
| These dudes I know
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Allegedly
| ➜
| Kinda probably
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | New study
| ➜
| Tumblr post
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Rebuild
| ➜
| Avenge
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Space
| ➜
| Spaaace
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Google Glass
| ➜
| Virtual Boy
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Smartphone
| ➜
| Pokédex
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Electric
| ➜
| Atomic
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Senator
| ➜
| Elf-lord
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Car
| ➜
| Cat
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Election
| ➜
| Eating contest
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Congressional leaders
| ➜
| River spirits
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Homeland security
| ➜
| Homestar Runner
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Could not be reached for comment
| ➜
| Is guilty and everyone knows it
|}
{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Language]]
[[Category:Video games]]
[[Category:Pokémon]]
[[Category:Politics]]

1625: Substitutions 2

2016-01-04T18:52:38Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1625
| date = January 4, 2016
| title = Substitutions 2
| image = substitutions_2.png
| titletext = Within a few minutes, our roads will be full of uncontrollably-swerving cars and our skies full of Amazon delivery dogs.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Please add examples as per 1288 comic.}}

See also [[1288: Substitutions]].

See also [[1418: Horse]].

Examples:

*Original sentence (as per title text, using also 1288 for "cars"): Within a few years, our roads will be full of self-driving cats and our skies full of Amazon delivery drones.
:Modified sentence: Within a few minutes, our roads will be full of uncontrollably-swerving cats and our skies full of Amazon delivery dogs.

*Original sentence: North Korea’s Kim vows to raise living standards
:Modified sentence: North Korea’s Kim probably won't raise living standards

*Original sentence: Commissioner Russell successfully ran for an at-large seat on the commission
:Modified sentence: Commissioner Russell suddenly ran for a very large seat on the commission

*Original sentence: The Republican presidential front-runner faces a global firestorm
:Modified sentence: The Republican presidential blade runner faces a spherical firestorm

*Original sentence: Donald Trump remains the front-runner Republican candidate in an unknown number of polls since the debates.
:Modified sentence: Donald Trump remains the Blade Runner Republican Airbender in like hundreds of psychic readings since the dance-offs.

*Original sentence: There was no indication of first-degree familial relationships in the analyzed dataset
:Modified sentence: There were lots of signs of friggin' awful familial relationships in the analyzed dataset

Airbender refers to the movie {{w|The Last Airbender}}, where there are waterbenders, earthbenders, firebenders and airbenders.
*Original sentence: Fifth Republican debate: where each candidate excelled and faltered
:Modified sentence: Fifth Republican dance-off: where each airbender excelled and faltered

==Transcript==
More

'''Substitutions'''

That make reading the news more fun

{|
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Debate
| ➜
| Dance-off
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Self driving
| ➜
| Uncontrollably swerving
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Poll
| ➜
| Psychic reading
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Candidate
| ➜
| Airbender
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Drone
| ➜
| Dog
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Vows to
| ➜
| Probably won't
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | At large
| ➜
| Very large
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Successfully
| ➜
| Suddenly
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Expands
| ➜
| Physically expands
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | First/Second/Third-degree
| ➜
| Friggin' awful
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | An unknown number
| ➜
| Like hundreds
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Front runner
| ➜
| Blade runner
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Global
| ➜
| Spherical
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Years
| ➜
| Minutes
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Minutes
| ➜
| Years
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | No indication
| ➜
| Lots of signs
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Urged restraint by
| ➜
| Drunkenly egged on
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Horsepower
| ➜
| Tons of horsemeat
|}

{{comic discussion}}

1625: Substitutions 2

2016-01-04T18:52:03Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */ Fifth Republican dance-off: where each airbender excelled and faltered

{{comic
| number = 1625
| date = January 4, 2016
| title = Substitutions 2
| image = substitutions_2.png
| titletext = Within a few minutes, our roads will be full of uncontrollably-swerving cars and our skies full of Amazon delivery dogs.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Please add examples as per 1288 comic.}}

See also [[1288: Substitutions]].

See also [[1418: Horse]].

Examples:

*Original sentence (as per title text, using also 1288 for "cars"): Within a few years, our roads will be full of self-driving cats and our skies full of Amazon delivery drones.
:Modified sentence: Within a few minutes, our roads will be full of uncontrollably-swerving cats and our skies full of Amazon delivery dogs.

*Original sentence: North Korea’s Kim vows to raise living standards
:Modified sentence: North Korea’s Kim probably won't raise living standards

*Original sentence: Commissioner Russell successfully ran for an at-large seat on the commission
:Modified sentence: Commissioner Russell suddenly ran for a very large seat on the commission

*Original sentence: The Republican presidential front-runner faces a global firestorm
:Modified sentence: The Republican presidential blade runner faces a spherical firestorm

*Original sentence: Donald Trump remains the front-runner Republican candidate in an unknown number of polls since the debates.
:Modified sentence: Donald Trump remains the Blade Runner Republican Airbender in like hundreds of psychic readings since the dance-offs.

*Original sentence: There was no indication of first-degree familial relationships in the analyzed dataset
:Modified sentence: There were lots of signs of friggin' awful familial relationships in the analyzed dataset

Airbender refers to the movie {{w|The Last Airbender}}, where there are waterbenders, earthbenders, firebenders and airbenders
*Original sentence: Fifth Republican debate: where each candidate excelled and faltered
:Modified sentence: Fifth Republican dance-off: where each airbender excelled and faltered

==Transcript==
More

'''Substitutions'''

That make reading the news more fun

{|
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Debate
| ➜
| Dance-off
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Self driving
| ➜
| Uncontrollably swerving
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Poll
| ➜
| Psychic reading
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Candidate
| ➜
| Airbender
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Drone
| ➜
| Dog
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Vows to
| ➜
| Probably won't
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | At large
| ➜
| Very large
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Successfully
| ➜
| Suddenly
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Expands
| ➜
| Physically expands
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | First/Second/Third-degree
| ➜
| Friggin' awful
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | An unknown number
| ➜
| Like hundreds
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Front runner
| ➜
| Blade runner
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Global
| ➜
| Spherical
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Years
| ➜
| Minutes
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Minutes
| ➜
| Years
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | No indication
| ➜
| Lots of signs
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Urged restraint by
| ➜
| Drunkenly egged on
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Horsepower
| ➜
| Tons of horsemeat
|}

{{comic discussion}}

1625: Substitutions 2

2016-01-04T18:01:08Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */ There were lots of signs of friggin' awful familial relationships in the analyzed dataset

{{comic
| number = 1625
| date = January 4, 2016
| title = Substitutions 2
| image = substitutions_2.png
| titletext = Within a few minutes, our roads will be full of uncontrollably-swerving cars and our skies full of Amazon delivery dogs.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Please add examples as per 1288 comic.}}

See also [[1288: Substitutions]].

See also [[1418: Horse]].

Examples:

*Original sentence (as per title text, using also 1288 for "cars"): Within a few years, our roads will be full of self-driving cats and our skies full of Amazon delivery drones.
:Modified sentence: Within a few minutes, our roads will be full of uncontrollably-swerving cats and our skies full of Amazon delivery dogs.

*Original sentence: North Korea’s Kim vows to raise living standards
:Modified sentence: North Korea’s Kim probably won't raise living standards

*Original sentence: Commissioner Russell successfully ran for an at-large seat on the commission
:Modified sentence: Commissioner Russell suddenly ran for a very large seat on the commission

*Original sentence: The Republican presidential front-runner faces a global firestorm
:Modified sentence: The Republican presidential blade runner faces a spherical firestorm

*Original sentence: There was no indication of first-degree familial relationships in the analyzed dataset
:Modified sentence: There were lots of signs of friggin' awful familial relationships in the analyzed dataset

==Transcript==
More

'''Substitutions'''

That make reading the news more fun

{|
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Debate
| ➜
| Dance-off
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Self driving
| ➜
| Uncontrollably swerving
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Poll
| ➜
| Psychic reading
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Candidate
| ➜
| Airbender
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Drone
| ➜
| Dog
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Vows to
| ➜
| Probably won't
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | At large
| ➜
| Very large
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Successfully
| ➜
| Suddenly
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Expands
| ➜
| Physically expands
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | First/Second/Third-degree
| ➜
| Friggin' awful
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | An unknown number
| ➜
| Like hundreds
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Front runner
| ➜
| Blade runner
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Global
| ➜
| Spherical
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Years
| ➜
| Minutes
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Minutes
| ➜
| Years
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | No indication
| ➜
| Lots of signs
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Urged restraint by
| ➜
| Drunkenly egged on
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Horsepower
| ➜
| Tons of horsemeat
|}

{{comic discussion}}

1625: Substitutions 2

2016-01-04T17:55:04Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */ The Republican presidential blade runner faces a spherical firestorm

{{comic
| number = 1625
| date = January 4, 2016
| title = Substitutions 2
| image = substitutions_2.png
| titletext = Within a few minutes, our roads will be full of uncontrollably-swerving cars and our skies full of Amazon delivery dogs.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page. Also, please add examples as per 1288 comic.}}

See also [[1288: Substitutions]].

See also [[1418: Horse]].

Examples:

*Original sentence (as per title text, using also 1288 for "cars"): Within a few years, our roads will be full of self-driving cars and our skies full of Amazon delivery drones.
:Modified sentence: Within a few minutes, our roads will be full of uncontrollably-swerving cats and our skies full of Amazon delivery dogs.

*Original sentence: North Korea’s Kim vows to raise living standards
:Modified sentence: North Korea’s Kim probably won't raise living standards

*Original sentence: Commissioner Russell successfully ran for an at-large seat on the commission
:Modified sentence: Commissioner Russell suddenly ran for a very large seat on the commission

*Original sentence: The Republican presidential front-runner faces a global firestorm
:Modified sentence: The Republican presidential blade runner faces a spherical firestorm

==Transcript==
More

'''Substitutions'''

That make reading the news more fun

{|
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Debate
| ➜
| Dance-off
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Self driving
| ➜
| Uncontrollably swerving
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Poll
| ➜
| Psychic reading
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Candidate
| ➜
| Airbender
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Drone
| ➜
| Dog
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Vows to
| ➜
| Probably won't
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | At large
| ➜
| Very large
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Successfully
| ➜
| Suddenly
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Expands
| ➜
| Physically expands
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | First/Second/Third-degree
| ➜
| Friggin' awful
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | An unknown number
| ➜
| Like hundreds
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Front runner
| ➜
| Blade runner
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Global
| ➜
| Spherical
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Years
| ➜
| Minutes
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Minutes
| ➜
| Years
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | No indication
| ➜
| Lots of signs
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Urged restraint by
| ➜
| Drunkenly egged on
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Horsepower
| ➜
| Tons of horsemeat
|}

{{comic discussion}}

1625: Substitutions 2

2016-01-04T17:52:02Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */ Commissioner Russell suddenly ran for a very large seat on the commission

{{comic
| number = 1625
| date = January 4, 2016
| title = Substitutions 2
| image = substitutions_2.png
| titletext = Within a few minutes, our roads will be full of uncontrollably-swerving cars and our skies full of Amazon delivery dogs.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page. Also, please add examples as per 1288 comic.}}

See also [[1288: Substitutions]].

See also [[1418: Horse]].

Examples:

*Original sentence (as per title text, using also 1288 for "cars"): Within a few years, our roads will be full of self-driving cars and our skies full of Amazon delivery drones.
:Modified sentence: Within a few minutes, our roads will be full of uncontrollably-swerving cats and our skies full of Amazon delivery dogs.

*Original sentence: North Korea’s Kim vows to raise living standards
:Modified sentence: North Korea’s Kim probably won't raise living standards

*Original sentence: Commissioner Russell successfully ran for an at-large seat on the commission
:Modified sentence: Commissioner Russell suddenly ran for a very large seat on the commission

==Transcript==
More

'''Substitutions'''

That make reading the news more fun

{|
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Debate
| ➜
| Dance-off
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Self driving
| ➜
| Uncontrollably swerving
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Poll
| ➜
| Psychic reading
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Candidate
| ➜
| Airbender
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Drone
| ➜
| Dog
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Vows to
| ➜
| Probably won't
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | At large
| ➜
| Very large
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Successfully
| ➜
| Suddenly
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Expands
| ➜
| Physically expands
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | First/Second/Third-degree
| ➜
| Friggin' awful
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | An unknown number
| ➜
| Like hundreds
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Front runner
| ➜
| Blade runner
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Global
| ➜
| Spherical
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Years
| ➜
| Minutes
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Minutes
| ➜
| Years
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | No indication
| ➜
| Lots of signs
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Urged restraint by
| ➜
| Drunkenly egged on
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Horsepower
| ➜
| Tons of horsemeat
|}

{{comic discussion}}

1625: Substitutions 2

2016-01-04T17:47:12Z

108.162.221.17: The actual comic says "cars" not "cats", 1288 notwithstanding

1625: Substitutions 2

2016-01-04T17:45:33Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */ Explaining the cars-cats change

1625: Substitutions 2

2016-01-04T15:12:53Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */ North Korea’s Kim probably won't raise living standards

1625: Substitutions 2

2016-01-04T15:10:15Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */

1625: Substitutions 2

2016-01-04T15:06:41Z

108.162.221.17: See also 1288: Substitutions

1623: 2016 Conversation Guide

2015-12-30T15:24:09Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */ Suppressing Easter eggs

{{comic
| number = 1623
| date = December 30, 2015
| title = 2016 Conversation Guide
| image = 2016_conversation_guide.png
| titletext = The real loser in an argument about the meaning of the word 'hoverboard' is anyone who leaves that argument on foot.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Open to editing, but perhaps a useful start.}}
As each year turns (or other milestone dates, perhaps set out in popular fiction) it is common enough to remember that what is now the present was once considered ''the future!''

This comic, published just prior to the start of 2016, aims to clarify a number of the things one might have expected by now.

The classic target of personal futurology is the ability to levitate or fly, to varying degrees. "Where's my {{w|jetpack}}?" is one of the [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/IWantMyJetPack memes] addressed here, and has actually been developed in a somewhat workable fashions and {{w|Astronaut propulsion unit|analogues}}, but is dismissed as being too personally dangerous to have a {{w|The_Jetsons|Jetson}}-like ubiquity. Similarly, various forms of {{w|Flying_car_(aircraft)|flying car}} have had varying {{w|AVE_Mizar|degrees}} of {{w|Moller_M400_Skycar|success}}, but here are ignored to point out that the regular {{w|helicopter}} is as close as most of us would ever get to this technology. The {{w|Hoverboard|levitating Hoverboard}} has been popularised by the {{w|Back_to_the_Future_Part_II|Back To The Future franchise}} of films, with several attempts to fully emulate such a device with air-blast or magnetic levitation, but the ''term'' Hoverboard has ended up being applied to a {{w|Segway}}-like {{w|Self-balancing_two-wheeled_board|personal transport system}} that has at least become a mass-produced device (albeit with a number of {{w|Self-balancing_two-wheeled_board#Safety|safety concerns}}).

(The very concept of the hoverboard, in particular, is predicted to be reduced mostly to arguments between opposing camps of opinions; and then, in the title-text, the conclusion that giving up and resorting to old-fashioned walking is inferior to ''any'' of the possible alternatives...)

A much bigger challenge in levitation is the 'sky city', with various forms from fiction (e.g. {{w|Bespin}}, {{w|Mortal Engines Quartet}}). In reality, this seems highly unlikely to ever come to pass when there is perfectly good ground to lay the buildings down upon, due to the sheer mass. (But never say never!) It might be considered more reasonable to build a {{w|Space:_1999|settlement of some kind}} on the Moon. The basic {{w|Apollo_program|engineering}} {{w|International Space Station|exists}}, but the comic blames financial pressures for it not yet having come into existence. (Arguably political pressures, or perhaps the lack of them, are also a factor.)

From the fields of automation, the {{w|Autonomous car|self-driving car}} has had a lot of recent development put into it, with many and varied protypes being tried out, and may actually end up featuring in our immediate future, even if not in 2016. Meanwhile the long-held science-fantasy aim to create a {{w|Robby the Robot|robot that can do odd tasks}} has been {{w|Roomba|limited}} or a {{w|Ask.com|differently implemented}} and the ''fully'' omnicapable version is probably almost as far out of reach as it always was considered to be.

==Transcript==
It's 2016 - Where's my...

:Flying car --> They're called "Helicopters"

:Jetpack --> Turns out people are huge wimps about crashing

:Moon colony --> No one has put up the cash

:Self-driving car --> Coming surprisingly soon

:Floating sky city --> Turns out cities are heavy

:Hoverboard --> This question is now ambiguous thanks to a new scooter thing
::::: (and will lead to an argument about the meaning of "Hoverboard"
::::: which is way less interesting than either kind of hoverboard)

:Robot butler --> He was called "Jeeves" and he wasn't that great

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Charts]]
[[Category:Robots]]

1515: Basketball Earth

2015-12-30T13:00:23Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */ grammar

{{comic
| number = 1515
| date = April 22, 2015
| title = Basketball Earth
| image = basketball earth.png
| titletext = How many points do you get for dunking every basketball in existence at once?
}}

==Explanation==
In this comic [[Cueball]] is repeatedly attempting to make a size comparison between the {{w|Earth}} and the {{w|Moon}}. But he only gets to say ''If the Earth were the size of a basketball, the Moon would be-''. Then he is interrupted again and again. (See the title text of [[1074: Moon Landing]] for the same Earth comparison).

A {{w|Basketball (ball)|basketball}} is about 25 cm in diameter and from this it can be inferred that the Moon should then be less than 7 cm in diameter, a typical size for other smaller balls in different sports. Cueball handily illustrates this with two "balls" of the relevant sizes. At first you think that they just look like the Earth and the Moon. But they are invisibly suspended, and — as seems clear from the first row of panels — they are actually the real Moon and Earth shrunk to the relevant size, hence the title ''Basketball Earth''.

This would place Cueball and his "friends" in {{w|God}}-like positions, outside Earth. Maybe they are even in a different dimension, since they can stand and observe the system.

But before Cueball can finish with this common type of comparison, he is interrupted and must begin all over again. We thus never learn what object he would have compared the Moon with. It seems, likely, however that he would use another ball for the comparison. And the best ball to use would be a {{w|tennis ball}}. See the same sort of comparison of Earth/Moon with basketball/tennis ball in this illustrative video that asks the question: [http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2011/02/24/how-far-away-is-the-moon/ How far away is the Moon?]. From this it is also obvious that the system Cueball shows is not to scale with regard to that distance, which should be 7.37 m! This is not necessarily a mistake of the comic, since Cueball never claims that these two balls are in orbit or that they are even the real ones. He is just (in vain) trying to make a size comparison of the two. (Though perhaps further exposition and demonstration might take place after the size comparison.)

A basketball has an average diameter of 24.6 cm (9.7 inches) vs. a tennis ball, which has an average diameter of 6.7 cm (2.6 inches). The ratio between these two diameters is 0.273, which is the same (to three digits) as the ratio given on the Wikipedia page for the Moon: ''Mean radius 1737.10 km (0.273 Earths)''. If he had used a {{w|Baseball (ball)|baseball}}, which is slightly larger, this would still be good enough for demonstrative purposes, as it would have been with an apple.

It is common to describe the relationship between very large (and very small) objects by analogy to common objects on a more human scale. Here is a similar example where someone has made a comparison of the sizes of the Solar system based on a [http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/silveira60.html Sun the size of a basketball]. And here, coming from smaller scales, is an [http://www.infoplease.com/dk/science/encyclopedia/atoms.html#ESCI024ATOMS001 example] that states the following: "Imagine an atom magnified to the size of a football stadium. The nucleus of the atom would be the size of a pea in the centre of the stadium."

It is almost certainly not a coincidence that this comic was released on {{w|Earth Day}}, which is celebrated annually on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. This seems to be something that [[Randall]] cares about a lot, as he has made several comics demonstrating the need for the human race to begin taking better care of our globe. See, for instance, [[1321: Cold]] and [[1379: 4.5 Degrees]].

This comic clearly demonstrates four examples where the inhabitants of Earth did not take care of the well being of our globe, although here on a somewhat grander scale than what individuals can usually do. The typical case is that people did not do this out of bad intentions, but only because they were careless, curious, playful, or just plain stupid.

This comic may be seen as a spiritual successor to [[445: I Am Not Good with Boomerangs]] and its follow-up, [[475: Further Boomerang Difficulties]] in depicting various failed outcomes to the same opening panel.

===Interruptions===
The four interruptions are described and explained below. Each of the four attempts has its own row of four panels in the comic. It is clear from panels one and two in each row that the Basketball Earth is rotating quite fast compared to the time frame of the comic since the {{w|continents}} have moved considerably between frames. It is thus not necessarily the interrupters that have moved the Basketball Earth between frames two and three, except of course in the final interruption.

No matter how fast it rotates or whatever happens, we always see the Basketball Earth from the same side, as seen from far above the {{w|Atlantic Ocean}}. We can see the continents of the {{w|Americas}} as well as {{w|Africa}} and sometimes part of {{w|Europe}}, all of which are the borders for this ocean.

It seems most likely that Cueball starts all over every time, with a completely fresh and new Earth-Moon system, since they look the same regardless of the catastrophe befalling the prior Basketball Earth, and the interruptions—the second especially—would be difficult to reverse. We can thus suppose that there is still "normal" life going on for each Basketball Earth before the interruption. Most or all of this life would presumably perish for all of the last three cases.

====Black Hat====
In the first interruption, [[Black Hat]] comes in and is amazed by this cool floating globe. Of course, being Black Hat, he has to prod this nice globe with a digit. But by putting his finger into one of the oceans of this "real" Basketball Earth without a second thought, he apparently generates a {{w|megatsunami}} that rolls in over an unidentified city with skyscrapers, utterly dwarfed by a breaking wave.

This is similar to a scene in "{{w|Men in Black II}}" where K messed with a globe that actually is a small planet, and his finger become visible in the sky of its inhabitants. It is also reminiscent of {{w|Deep Impact (film)|Deep Impact}} in which a meteor strike causes exactly such a tsunami to hit the {{w|East Coast of the United States}}. Since Black Hat puts his finger down in the Atlantic Ocean, the tsunami would hit all bordering coastlines. Since the coast seems to be an eastern coast (assuming a vantage point of South --> North), and because Randall lives there, the city could be {{w|New York City}} or {{w|Boston}} or one of the other large US cities on the East Coast. Of course, the wave would also affect the coast line (far into land) for all the other continents.

====Megan====
The second interruption occurs when [[Megan]] arrives and pours liquid (perhaps water) from a sports {{w|water bottle}} onto the Basketball Earth, seemingly flooding its entire surface. This would cause {{w|List of flood myths|extensive flooding}}, almost certainly extinguishing all multicellular land-dwelling life. The most familiar analogous situation is from the {{w|Bible}} in the {{w|Genesis flood narrative}} about {{w|Noah's Ark}}. The deluge from Megan's bottle would also change the composition of the ocean and create enormous churn and pressure changes, with widespread or catastrophic effects even on multicellular marine life.

====Cat====
In the third interruption a cat walks into shot and then playfully attacks the Basketball Earth rolling around with it like it would do with a ball of {{w|yarn}} (see real life example in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1rTAI2aExI this video]).

The people living upon this Basketball Earth would experience cataclysmic events far greater than Blackhat's digital prodding caused, especially as the Basketball Earth is no longer suspended and was thus taken "out of its orbit" and will eventually hit the floor very hard. One way or another, that will surely cause (undepicted) disasters of tremendous magnitude.

====Ponytail====
In the fourth and final interruption, [[Ponytail]] uses Basketball Earth as an actual basketball. She comes running by Cueball, grabs the Basketball Earth, probably bouncing it off the floor while {{w|Dribbling#Basketball|dribbling}} towards the {{w|Backboard (basketball)|basketball hoop}} where she actually jumps in an attempt to {{w|Slam dunk|dunk}} the Basketball Earth. This would ''not'' be good for any residents of Basketball Earth; the combined pressure, movement, and impact damage from this simple sequence would surely kill off all complex life on Basketball Earth.

===Title text===
This simile-callback is continued in the title text with the idea that "every basketball in existence" (i.e., every basketball upon the Basketball Earth, as well as the Basketball Earth itself) is counted towards the score from a single dunking. Randall may have a good estimate of how many basketballs there are, perhaps through research for some [[what if?]] question or other research, but almost certainly assumes that there are no extraterrestrial basketballs ''not'' on Basketball Earth. But there might be some question about whether the Basketball Earth's own sub-scale basketballs fall within the regulations.

If we go by the strict rules of league Basketball, the answer would only be '''two''', as it is illegal to have more than one basketball in play at a time.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is standing next to a floating Basketball Earth indicating it with his left hand. The continents are clearly visible as seen from above the Atlantic Ocean. This remains the same all through the comic, except that the Basketball Earth rotates a bit from frame to frame.]
:Cueball: If the Earth were the size of a basketball,

:[Cueball is now indicating, with his right hand, a small pockmarked moon (also floating), in the correct proportions (regarding size not for their distance) to the Basketball Earth, which is on his other side. Black Hat walks into the panel towards Earth.]
:Cueball: The Moon would be—
:Black Hat: Hey, cool!

:[Black Hat is touching the Basketball Earth with a digit.]
:Cueball: Um.

:[In the next scene we see a megatsunami on the verge of crashing down onto a coastal city with skyscrapers. The A's are cut of on each side of the panels frames, i.e. they begin outside and finishes outside the frame.]
:Aaaaaaaa

:[Back to Cueball standing with the Basketball Earth in the same position as the first panel.]
:Cueball: Let's try that again. If the Earth were the size of a basketball,

:[Same situation as when Black Hat walked in, except now it is Megan that walks into the frame towards the Basketball Earth holding a sports water bottle.]
:Cueball: The Moon would be—

:[Megan squirts the Basketball Earth with the liquid in her water bottle while Cueball just stands watching with the Moon behind him].

:[Megan just walks away while Cueball stares at his "water" Basketball Earth where the continents have disappeared completely beneath the liquid.]

:[Back to Cueball standing with the Basketball Earth in the same position as the first panel.]
:Cueball: If the Earth were the size of a basketball,

:[Same situation as when Black Hat walked in, except now he spots a cat coming into the frame from the left.]
:Cueball: The Moon— would…

:[While Cueball watches with the Moon behind him, the cat jumps at the Basketball Earth.]
:Cat: Mrowl!

:[Cueball continues to watch while the cat rolls around playing with the Basketball Earth as if it was a ball of yarn.]
:Cat: Rrrrr

:[Back to Cueball standing with the Basketball Earth in the same position as the first panel.]
:Cueball: If the Earth were the size of a basketball,

:[Same situation as when Black Hat walked in, except this time it is Ponytail who enters the frame at a run coming from the left.]
:Cueball: The Moon would, uh…

:[While Cueball watches with the Moon behind him, Ponytail has grabbed the Basketball Earth and is dribbling it out of the frame, still running.]

:[Zoom out from Cueball who continues to watch while Ponytail reaches a basketball hoop and jump towards it with the Basketball Earth, obviously in an attempt to make a slam dunk.]

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Basketball]]
[[Category:Animals]]

1622: Henge

2015-12-30T12:28:16Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */ Uppercase

{{comic
| number = 1622
| date = December 28, 2015
| title = Henge
| image = henge.png
| titletext = I've got the Craigslist post ready to go! I wasn't sure what category it should go in, so I listed it as property and put that it has 'good sun exposure.'
}}

{{incomplete| explanation is rambling}}

==Explanation==
The Manhattan thing is a reference to {{W|Manhattanhenge}}, the phenomenon that causes the setting sun to align with the east-west streets of the main grid of {{w|Manhattan}}, {{W|New York City|New York}}, causing a very special light display. This happens twice a year. Manhattanhenge is itself named after {{W|Stonehenge}}, an ancient monument with several big stones, where the heel stone, and the embanked avenue, are aligned to the sunset of the {{W|winter solstice}} and the opposing sunrise of the {{W|summer solstice}} (thus creating on purpose the effect seen today in Manhattan). Hence the title of the comic.

In this comic [[Ponytail]] tells [[Cueball]] that ''One day a year, the sun sets directly between these two trees.'' However Cueball realizes that the setting sun would line up with almost any two trees on any given day. This is due to the fact that any two trees that are close together with one further north would allow a setting sun to set between them, as the viewer of the sunset would simply need to move themselves to make the alignment work (as opposed to Manhattanhenge, which requires the sun to align with a straight line).

The twist comes when Ponytail and [[Megan]] actually attempt to capture the setting sun with a {{w|butterfly net}}, as it is revealed that the sun is actually setting at the point between the two trees rather than behind the trees when viewed from the east side. This is of course not possible in real life; but in the comic's last panel and in the title text the girls continue with their successful though surrealistic plan.

If this was indeed our {{w|Sun}} that they had somehow shrunk and cooled enough to captured with a butterfly net, transfer to a bag and bring it home, this would on {{xkcd}} terms be no more strange than many of the strange [[:Category:Strange powers of Beret Guy|powers]] of [[Beret Guy]]. If this would indeed happen, then since {{w|Earth}} and the rest of the {{w|solar system}} is now missing its central star there would be a ton of problems for everyone on Earth. So the girls would probably be able to get a lot of money in ransom for releasing the sun... But in the title text it turns out that they are just going to sell the Sun on-line.

Alternatively this is not ''The Sun'', but just a small sun-look alike, maybe a {{w|Ball lightning}} which might actually be able behave like this (but not be captured in a bag).

The title text refers to {{w|Craigslist}}, a web site where the girls plans to offer the sun for sale in hopes of getting rich. Craigslist is a {{w|classified advertisements}} website with sections devoted to jobs, housing, personals, for sale, items wanted, etc. One of the girls tells that she was uncertain as to under which category she should list a "Sun for sale". But she put it under property (as in real estate). To advertise the "property" she put "''that it has 'good sun exposure''", a common description of real estate. Being the sun itself, and having lasted already 5 billion years under its own intense radiation, you could phrase it like it has lasted well under sun exposure. On the other hand you could claim that it has never really been exposed to any external sun radiation, as the star light hitting the sun from other suns (stars) is very limited, even over 5 billion years.

The title text is likely a reference to a woman who was stopped by eBay for selling plots of "land" on sun.

==Transcript==
:[Ponytail and Cueball are walking towards two the trees from the left (Cueball has just passed the first tree) and Megan is walking towards them fro the right. Ponytail spreads her arms while talking.]
:Ponytail: One day a year, the sun sets directly between these two trees.
:Cueball: Oh, cool - like the Manhattan thing.

:[Cueball stands alone in a beat panel without a frame.]

:[Shining light appears at the top of the frame (below Cueball's text). Cueball is lifting his hand, looking at the girls in front of him while Ponytail walks straight under the light looking up and Megan standing to the right looks up and points at the light.]
:Cueball: Wait, isn't that true every day for pretty much any two trees?
:Megan: Shh, here it comes!

:[Cueball lifts both arms up and look on as Ponytail bending back suddenly holds a butterfly net up towards the "setting" sun that approaches the net while Megan is holding a bag open. Both are looking at the sun.]
:Cueball: Wait, what?
:Ponytail: OK, got the bag?
:Megan: Yup, grab it!
:Ponytail: We're gonna be ''rich!''

{{comic discussion}}

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

1622: Henge

2015-12-28T15:23:50Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */ spelling

{{comic
| number = 1622
| date = December 28, 2015
| title = Henge
| image = henge.png
| titletext = I've got the Craigslist post ready to go! I wasn't sure what category it should go in, so I listed it as property and put that it has 'good sun exposure.'
}}

==Explanation==
The Manhattan thing is a reference to {{W|Manhattanhenge}}, the phenomenon that causes the setting sun to align with the east-west streets of the main grid of {{w|Manhattan}}, {{W|New York City|New York}}, causing a very special light display. This happens twice a year. Manhattanhenge is itself named after {{W|Stonehenge}}, an ancient monument with several big stones, where the heel stone, and the embanked avenue, are aligned to the sunset of the {{W|winter solstice}} and the opposing sunrise of the {{W|summer solstice}} (thus creating on purpose the effect seen today in Manhattan). Hence the title of the comic.

In this comic [[Ponytail]] tells [[Cueball]] that ''One day a year, the sun sets directly between these two trees.'' However Cueball realizes that the setting sun would lineup with almost any two trees on any given day. This is due to the fact that any two trees that are close together and one is further north would allow a setting sun to set between them, as the viewer of the sunset would simply need to move themselves to make the alignment work.

The twist comes when Ponytail and Megan attempt to capture the sun with a net, as it is revealed that the sun is actually setting at the point between the two trees rather than behind the trees when viewed from the east side. This is of course not possible; the last panel and the title text continue this surrealistic scenario.

The title text refers to {{w|Craigslist}}; the website where the girls plans to sell the sun so they can get rich. It is a {{w|classified advertisements}} website with sections devoted to jobs, housing, personals, for sale, items wanted, etc. One of the girls tells that she was uncertain as to under which category she should list a "Sun for sale". But she put it under property (as in real estate). To advertise the "property" she put "''that it has 'good sun exposure''", a common description of real estate. Being the sun itself, and having lasted already 5 billion years under its own intense radiation, you could phrase it like it has lasted well under sun exposure. On the other hand you could claim that it has never really been exposed to any external sun radiation, as the star light hitting the sun from other suns (stars) is very limited, even over 5 billion years.

==Transcript==
:[Ponytail and Cueball are walking towards two the trees from the left (Cueball has just passed the first tree) and Megan is walking towards them fro the right. Ponytail spreads her arms while talking.]
:Ponytail: One day a year, the sun sets directly between these two trees.
:Cueball: Oh, cool - like the Manhattan thing.

:[Cueball stands alone in a beat panel without a frame.]

:[Shining light appears at the top of the frame (below Cueball's text). Cueball is lifting his hand, looking at the girls in front of him while Ponytail walks straight under the light looking up and Megan standing to the right looks up and points at the light.]
:Cueball: Wait, isn't that true every day for pretty much any two trees?
:Megan: Shh, here it comes!

:[Cueball lifts both arms up and look on as Ponytail bending back suddenly holds a butterfly net up towards the "setting" sun that approaches the net while Megan is holding a bag open. Both are looking at the sun.]
:Cueball: Wait, what?
:Ponytail: OK, got the bag?
:Megan: Yup, grab it!
:Ponytail: We're gonna be ''rich!''

{{comic discussion}}

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

Talk:1620: Christmas Settings

2015-12-23T12:51:39Z

108.162.221.17:

That's how Little Johnny killed Christmas, he left the tap running all night. --[[User:Jarfil|Jarfil]] ([[User talk:Jarfil|talk]]) 05:32, 23 December 2015 (UTC)

Pores of your skin?! As utterly horrifying as it sounds, it's probably the most effective of the bunch, considering that all the others might not exist/be blocked in some manner and in some houses. [[User:Bon|Bon]] ([[User talk:Bon|talk]]) 06:27, 23 December 2015 (UTC)

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxh-Hjj8T9o Swearing dogs are definitely a thing]. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.28|173.245.54.28]] 05:59, 23 December 2015 (UTC)

How'd I do for my first explanation on this site? [[User:VectorLightning|VectorLightning]] ([[User talk:VectorLightning|talk]]) 07:47, 23 December 2015 (UTC)

"These dials, for example, controls..." - is this a mistake? "This dial, for example, controls..." or "These dials, for example, control" would make more grammatical sense. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.33|141.101.99.33]] 09:35, 23 December 2015 (UTC)
: I think that there is more than one dail controlling Christmas. [[User:SirKitKat|sirKitKat]] ([[User talk:SirKitKat|talk]]) 09:53, 23 December 2015 (UTC)
:: Then surely it should be "These dials, for example, control"? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.33|141.101.99.33]] 10:13, 23 December 2015 (UTC)

Probably could do with a table of the options and associations. Better than the following that I just drew up (and actually formatted as a table!):
:Chimney - traditional (but not always practical) to our universe; also usable (to varying degrees of success) by Big Bad Wolves, adventurous burglars and adverse atmospheric/weather conditions;
:Shower Drain - typical horror movie (supernatural or natural creature invasion), as well as back-flooding;
:Open Window - more like a mundane burglar, or Hitchcock's 'The Birds';
:Mail slot - 'mundane' magical alternative to fitting down the chimney, where there is no usable chimney (''or'' horror movie, of various kinds); but raises the question of where the "with a special key that can open any door" option is, also, for Santa...
:Kitchen Faucet - another horror movie (supernatural) or a technothriller plot (contaminated water supply);
:Heating vents - another common alternative already given for those without a chimney/chimneyplace (''or'' horror/technothriller fodder);
:Cat Flap - another 'normal' alternative (which, again, does not exclude entry by various threats... or non-resident cats/non-cat pets/wildlife);
:Bathroom Mirror - supernatural (especially 'bad magic');
:Toilet - more traditionally rats or sewer-snakes, with reactions from "argh!" to "ewww...", depending on whether anybody is 'enthroned' at the time;
:Pores Of Your Skin - very much... ewww... (as for (techno)horror threats, it's almost always ''someone else's'' skin and/or sweat that's dangerous, so ''your'' skin
(where you aren't the 'patient-zero' or revenant already) would be something pretty novel)
:: Great minds think alike, I've just gone ahead and done that [[User:Kev|Kev]] ([[User talk:Kev|talk]]) 12:16, 23 December 2015 (UTC)

Genre examples would be good.
...also, there is of course a direct reference to how ''our'' universe seems to have certain universal physical values (e.g. 'speed of light') that might well be different in alternate universes. Whether or not the 'physical constants' we currently know are ''the'' fundemental physical constants (rather than derivative of the actual constant(s) the universe started with), it appears that this control room has access to rather less fundemental 'fundementals' to it. Or assumes that Christmas and Santa (and also probably the various entryways, even when not used by Santa) are universals to the universe that always exist in some form, but perhaps differently configured, in alternate universes. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.152.227|162.158.152.227]] 10:28, 23 December 2015 (UTC)

Someone thought these links were funny: <nowiki>{{W|Kitchen Faucet}} {{w|Bathroom Mirror}}. I removed the {{w}}</nowiki> template. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.17|108.162.221.17]] 12:51, 23 December 2015 (UTC)

Talk:1616: Lunch

2015-12-14T20:03:55Z

108.162.221.17:

... I don't think pizza is that bad. Those are sort of things people could really eat ... -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 13:36, 14 December 2015 (UTC)

That's not that gross, IMO. Tomato sauce is pretty much thought of as thick tomato juice. White bread. Salt. Normal things. And this seems to be assuming I wouldn't want to eat a brick of cheese. I do this regularly-ish with brie. [[User:International Space Station|International Space Station]] ([[User talk:International Space Station|talk]]) 13:51, 14 December 2015 (UTC)
:Cut the cheese to thick slices and put it on pieces of bread to make a few sandwiches, spread the tomato sauce on other pieces of bread for a few more sandwiches. Put the salt on the tomato sauce, or on a few other pieces of bread. Completely nice lunch (though with the ingredient amounts pictured, it would be a lunch for 2-3 people). Incidentally, when I listed the ingredients to my mother, she immediately said "pizza Margarita". --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.180.191|162.158.180.191]] 19:22, 14 December 2015 (UTC)

I'm not American, so what does he mean by cheese and grease soaked vegetables? {{unsigned ip|162.158.153.101}}
:The cheese is a common ingredient in the pizza seen in the comic, which might be a plain cheese pizza. As for the veggies, this might be a reference to french fries, which is essentially potatoes cooked in a deep fryer which is filled with oil (though I can't be sure with the English definition correlation between grease and oil). {{unsigned ip|108.162.218.148}}
:On this side of the lake pizza's made with dough (white bread), tomato sauce, cheese, and apparently salt the way Randall makes it. Some people put veggies on their pizza, which later get greasy and oily thanks to the cheese; nothing to do with french fries, though I'm told fries on pizza is actually pretty good Though I suppose you'd call them chips over there. {{unsigned|Legofan613}}
::Salt is usually an ingredient in dough, although why it's listed separately is anyone's guess. [[User:Rawmustard|Rawmustard]] ([[User talk:Rawmustard|talk]]) 16:55, 14 December 2015 (UTC)
:::Many pizza places (at least in the central/midwest of the US) will put salt down under the dough to help prevent it sticking to the pan, and also to add a little flavor. Examples would be places like Donatos, Little Cesars, Marions, LaRosas, as well as many Chicago-style pizza joints. The big chains tend not to do this though, not sure why because in my opinion it's details like that that really make the smaller places more delicious. [[User:Domino|Domino]] ([[User talk:Domino|talk]]) 17:28, 14 December 2015 (UTC)Domino

I believe that the "grease soaked vegetables" refers to a "caesar salad" or similar salad arrangement containing oil-based dressing and other ingredients with high fat content. [[User:Spongebog|Spongebog]] ([[User talk:Spongebog|talk]]) 17:23, 14 December 2015 (UTC)
:Cueball is eating the pizza in turns: ''I'm trying to be healthier, so after I eat this brick of cheese, I'll have a spoonful of grease-soaked vegetables.'' This means he's eating a pizza that has just a spoonful of vegetables. A Caesar salad would be much bigger. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.17|108.162.221.17]] 20:03, 14 December 2015 (UTC)

I wonder if the joke was derived from the "healthy eating" craze here in the US at least. That is, people who spend copious amounts of time pouring over nutrition and ingredient labels to understand what it is they are actually eating. For most foods bought already prepared from the grocery store, the individual ingredients can range from bizarre (if you are not a chemist) to unappetizing. Perhaps Randall thought about it one step further and realized that any meal when broken into its macro components sounds unappetizing.--[[User:R0hrshach|R0hrshach]] ([[User talk:R0hrshach|talk]]) 17:33, 14 December 2015 (UTC)

1616: Lunch

2015-12-14T19:59:46Z

108.162.221.17: /* Explanation */ Title text is talking about pizza, not about a side dish

{{comic
| number = 1616
| date = December 14, 2015
| title = Lunch
| image = lunch.png
| titletext = I'm trying to be healthier, so after I eat this brick of cheese, I'll have a spoonful of grease-soaked vegetables.
}}

==Explanation==

{{incomplete|refine the explanation of the title text to a single explanation}}

The explanation is in the comic itself: Pizza seems way grosser if you imagine eating just the ingredients. Many people, for example, would find simply eating "a block of cheese" as repulsive, but would not object if the same amount of cheese were integrated with a whole meal as in a cheese pizza. Tomato sauce is also typically something that is not served alone (especially not in a glass) though it is a common ingredient in many dishes. Bread may be eaten alone more frequently than the rest of the ingredients but doing so is popularly considered indulgent or not healthy due to bread only having simple carbohydrates and little other nutritional value. Salt is also never supposed to be served by itself, since it is a seasoning.

The title text refers to a vegetable pizza, which is perceived as a healthier choice due to the presence of vegetables, despite the high fat content of the cheese and oil that are also included on the pizza.


==Transcript==
:[Cueball and a Cueball-like guy are behind a table. Visible on the table are a bread, a glass, a box with “cheese” and a small heap]
:Friend: What're you having for lunch?
:Cueball: The usual - half a pound of cheese, white bread, a glass of tomato sauce, and some salt.
:Friend: Eww.

:[Caption below the panel]
:Pizza seems way grosser if you imagine eating just the ingredients.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]