explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:2416: Trash Compactor Party

2021-01-26T01:20:52Z

141.101.104.177:

Who invited the dianoga? Oh, it's ok, it's gone now. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.177|141.101.104.177]] 01:20, 26 January 2021 (UTC)

2414: Solar System Compression Artifacts

2021-01-21T07:42:06Z

141.101.104.177: Fixed grammar

{{comic
| number = 2414
| date = January 20, 2021
| title = Solar System Compression Artifacts
| image = solar_system_compression_artifacts.png
| titletext = Most of our universe consists of dark matter rendered completely undetectable by our spacetime codec's dynamic range issues.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a MISSING PHYSICAL PHENOMENON LOST DUE TO HIGH COMPRESSION. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

{{w|Voyager 1}} is a space probe launched by the United States in 1977. Originally designed to study the outer planets of the Solar System, it is now several decades into an extended mission beyond Neptune.

When images are compressed by a {{w|lossy compression}} format (e.g. {{w|JPEG}}), visual artifacts are created. The Voyager probe has made history for passing many milestones of our solar system. Randall here is suggesting that the probe has passed the artifacts. This cannot be true, as the solar system does not have compression artifacts{{Citation needed}}. However, the slightly discolored regions often created by compression may be a metaphor for the region of space that that solar radiation prevents from being a complete vacuum. Voyager 1 has passed through numerous such boundaries, as mentioned previously in [[1189: Voyager 1]].

Compression artifacts are often caused by large changes in coloration over a short distance, and Randall could feel that the drastic change in coloration from bright sun to dark vacuum could be creating a compression artifact around the Sun, somewhat like the Sun looking blurry due to low video quality. However, there is no definite region where solar radiation stops, only a boundary where it fades to a level lower than that of radiation from other sources. Some compression methods result in compression artifacts that behave in the same way, fading as the distance from the color boundary increases but never completely disappearing. (They may become literally unnoticeable because hexadecimal color values are discrete, but the compression artifacts will persist as slightly different RGB values before rounding to the nearest integer.)

==Transcript==

:[Irregular bands of gray are shown, shading from a white {{w|circular segment}} on the left side of the panel to black on the right. The bands have pixellated edges. A small satellite is shown barely in the completely black band moving to the right.]
:Caption below the panel: Milestone: ''Voyager'' has passed through the streaming video compression artifacts that mark the edge of the solar system

{{comic discussion}}

Talk:1454: Done

2014-12-01T08:54:18Z

141.101.104.177:

How do we know the girl is in the United States?? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.177|141.101.104.177]] 08:54, 1 December 2014 (UTC)

Is it a girl? I was thinking the hair is a bit like mick Jaggers... - Palitu {{unsigned ip|108.162.249.223}}

Consider this as a possible reference to Kim Kardashian's photo.. An effect of her trying to "break the internet" -KLee {{unsigned ip|173.245.54.212}}

'''Identity of the writer?'''
:If the writer is based on a reoccurring character than it has to be either Megan or Danish. Is there a consensus as to who it is?[[Special:Contributions/173.245.56.163|173.245.56.163]]

1454: Done

2014-12-01T08:52:32Z

141.101.104.177:

{{comic
| number = 1454
| date = December 1, 2014
| title = Done
| image = done.png
| titletext = I'm sorry, but the author of this Facebook comment clearly believes you were.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Rough draft, needs editing and expanding.}}

The comic opens with a girl typing a message to someone. Over the course of the next few panels it becomes clear that the recipient is someone the girl deeply cares about, as she is planning on saving enough money to have the person flown to the United States from "half a world away." It is also evident that this person was found after a significant amount of searching by the writer. The writer finishes her message with a promise to communicate daily until the recipient is able to meet with her.

Upon attempting to send the message, however, the writer discovers that she is unable to send the message because she does not have a connection to the Internet. Ponytail enters the comic at this point an explains that someone had commented, "That's it. We're done. We can shut down the internet now."
The comment is an internet meme in which users will post comments in response to content found humorous or clever. While most statements are normally disregarded an insincere, somehow this comment set into motion the complete shutdown of the internet. The comic contrasts the legitimate, intimate impact the internet can have with the simple entertainment value that some people can see as its only or primary use.

The title text simply serves as another mention to the mysterious commentator on Facebook who caused the demise of the internet.

==Transcript==
Girl (typing): I had started to think I was asking too much, that I needed to settle. And then I found you half a world away.

Girl (typing): I've been saving money. Six months from now, I'll be able to fly you here and support us for a while.

Girl (typing): It's a long wait, but we'll talk every day until then. Maybe this won't work out, but I want to try. What do you think?

Computer: '''ERROR''': Your message could not be sent.

''[Refresh]''

Computer: '''ERROR''': No connection.

Girl: ??

Girl: Why can't I connect?

Ponytail: Someone saw a ridiculous video and said "That's it. Shut down the internet. We're done." So they did.

Girl: ... But... I wasn't done.

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