explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:2118: Normal Distribution

2019-03-01T19:52:09Z

162.158.78.178:

Is there a statistician in the house? [[User:Hawthorn|Hawthorn]] ([[User talk:Hawthorn|talk]]) 15:32, 1 March 2019 (UTC)
I think they all got annoyed at the graph and left. [[User:Margath|Margath]] ([[User talk:Margath|talk]]) 15:46, 1 March 2019 (UTC)
Of course there is! [[Special:Contributions/162.158.214.22|162.158.214.22]] 15:44, 1 March 2019 (UTC)

As an example: When measuring the height of people in the same age bracket, then you'll expect the number of people at each height to look like this graph. There will be a lot of people around the average height, fewer a foot shorter/taller, some (but very few) exceptionally tall people, and some (but very few) exceptionally short people. The x-value represents the height, the y-value essentially represents the amount of population that share that height. When we measure the middle 50% of the population using vertical bars, then people at a certain height are either inside '''OR''' outside the middle. Randall uses horizontal bars here, which means some people at a certain height will be counted in the middle 50%, but other people with the same height won't be. In fact, some people with the exact average height of the whole population would fall outside the middle. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.241.214|108.162.241.214]] 16:01, 1 March 2019 (UTC)

Feel free to rip me apart for referring to it as the "number of people at each height", since y-axis is more complicated than a simple count. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.241.214|108.162.241.214]] 16:03, 1 March 2019 (UTC)

Just to say, Randall's horizontal slice isn't entirely meaningless. It's a calculation I've had to do, where I have a series of binned samples of a population (say I knew how many fell in -10..10, how many fell in -5..5, how many fell in -2..2) and wanted to combine them with an appropriate weighting to approximate a Gaussian. I was using it for filtering, but it's logically similar. [[User:Fluppeteer|Fluppeteer]] ([[User talk:Fluppeteer|talk]]) 16:19, 1 March 2019 (UTC)

Pedant: etymologically, there *is* actually a connection between a normal (to a surface or line) and the normal distribution; the former comes from the Latin for a set square (giving you perpendicular), and it later came to mean "standard". The "tangential distribution" certainly fits the etymology of "odd/unusual" though. [[User:Fluppeteer|Fluppeteer]] ([[User talk:Fluppeteer|talk]]) 16:26, 1 March 2019 (UTC)

As the axis are not labeled (see comic 833) we could consider this a multivariate distribution where one parameter is uniform and the other is normal. That was my first thought when I saw this. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.34.88|172.68.34.88]] 18:43, 1 March 2019 (UTC)

Is there any meaning to midpoint: 57.2%? Maybe that is the arbitrary center he formed the horizontal bounds around? Maybe it relates to data? Is this a reference to something? It's certainly reminiscent of how normal distributions produce statistically meaningful numbers that have weird decimals in them (like the % represented by being within so many standard deviations). [[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.178|162.158.78.178]] 19:45, 1 March 2019 (UTC)
::Maybe it's because the meaning of "50% of the chart lies between these lines" specifically becomes roughly useless for discerning error if the lines are not centered around the origin. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.178|162.158.78.178]] 19:52, 1 March 2019 (UTC)

Talk:2118: Normal Distribution

2019-03-01T19:45:10Z

162.158.78.178:

112: Baring My Heart

2019-02-27T21:00:42Z

162.158.78.178: FIXED FORMATTING OF LINK

{{comic
| number = 112
| date = June 7, 2006
| title = Baring My Heart
| image = baring_my_heart.png
| titletext = I'm just trying to explain, please don't be jealous! Man, why are all my relationships ruined by early 90's rappers?
}}

==Explanation==
[[Randall Munroe|Randall]] presents a logical diagram known as a {{w|Venn diagram}}, which illustrates the relationship between multiple sets. The diagram is usually used to illustrate the overlap between various sets. For example, a Venn diagram of "even numbers" and "numbers divisible by 5" would have 2, 4, 6, 8, 12… in one circle, 5, 15, 25… in another circle, and 10, 20, 30… in the intersection of the circles (as those numbers fit into both sets).

Here we have a three-set diagram that Randall has purportedly created to explain his feelings to his love interest. The three sets are:
# People who can always make him smile
# people he wants to spend the rest of his life with
# people who constantly show him new things to love about the world.

In the intersection of these three sets is "you" – his love interest; all three of these statements apply to her. Normally, this might be a cute way of simply implying that he has these three feelings about her, without including any other elements in any of the sets.

Here, however, Randall has included one other element: {{w|Vanilla Ice}} is shown to also constantly show Randall new things to love about the world, and to be someone Randall wants to spend the rest of his life with (although Vanilla Ice doesn't always make him smile).

{{w|Vanilla Ice}} is an {{w|United States|American}} {{w|Light skin|white-skinned}} {{w|Rapping|rapper}} who was most popular in the early {{w|1990s}} with his song "{{w|Ice Ice Baby}}". He was frequently mocked as a very "white" rapper. He is obviously an unexpected name to turn up in this diagram.

Apparently, Randall's love interest didn't take too well to Randall professing similar feelings for Vanilla Ice as he did for her, causing some friction in their relationship. The title text suggests that other '90s rappers have similarly affected Randall's past relationships.

==Transcript==
:[A venn diagram with three sets]
:Description of set 1: People who can always make me smile
:Description of set 2: People who constantly show me new things about the world
:Description of set 3: People I want to spend the rest of my life with
:Intersection point: YOU.
:Intersection of sets 2 and 3: Vanilla Ice
{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Venn diagrams]]
[[Category:Romance]]
[[Category:Math]]

112: Baring My Heart

2019-02-27T20:59:27Z

162.158.78.178: ADDED WIKIPEDIA LINKS

{{comic
| number = 112
| date = June 7, 2006
| title = Baring My Heart
| image = baring_my_heart.png
| titletext = I'm just trying to explain, please don't be jealous! Man, why are all my relationships ruined by early 90's rappers?
}}

==Explanation==
[[Randall Munroe|Randall]] presents a logical diagram known as a {{w|Venn diagram}}, which illustrates the relationship between multiple sets. The diagram is usually used to illustrate the overlap between various sets. For example, a Venn diagram of "even numbers" and "numbers divisible by 5" would have 2, 4, 6, 8, 12… in one circle, 5, 15, 25… in another circle, and 10, 20, 30… in the intersection of the circles (as those numbers fit into both sets).

Here we have a three-set diagram that Randall has purportedly created to explain his feelings to his love interest. The three sets are:
# People who can always make him smile
# people he wants to spend the rest of his life with
# people who constantly show him new things to love about the world.

In the intersection of these three sets is "you" – his love interest; all three of these statements apply to her. Normally, this might be a cute way of simply implying that he has these three feelings about her, without including any other elements in any of the sets.

Here, however, Randall has included one other element: {{w|Vanilla Ice}} is shown to also constantly show Randall new things to love about the world, and to be someone Randall wants to spend the rest of his life with (although Vanilla Ice doesn't always make him smile).

{{w|Vanilla Ice}} is an {{w|American|United States}} {{w|Light skin|white-skinned}} rapper who was most popular in the early {{w|1990s}} with his song "{{w|Ice Ice Baby}}". He was frequently mocked as a very "white" rapper. He is obviously an unexpected name to turn up in this diagram.

Apparently, Randall's love interest didn't take too well to Randall professing similar feelings for Vanilla Ice as he did for her, causing some friction in their relationship. The title text suggests that other '90s rappers have similarly affected Randall's past relationships.

==Transcript==
:[A venn diagram with three sets]
:Description of set 1: People who can always make me smile
:Description of set 2: People who constantly show me new things about the world
:Description of set 3: People I want to spend the rest of my life with
:Intersection point: YOU.
:Intersection of sets 2 and 3: Vanilla Ice
{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Venn diagrams]]
[[Category:Romance]]
[[Category:Math]]

112: Baring My Heart

2019-02-27T20:56:59Z

162.158.78.178: /* Explanation */ REMOVED MISLEADING WORD HE IS NOT FROM THE CAUCASUS

{{comic
| number = 112
| date = June 7, 2006
| title = Baring My Heart
| image = baring_my_heart.png
| titletext = I'm just trying to explain, please don't be jealous! Man, why are all my relationships ruined by early 90's rappers?
}}

==Explanation==
[[Randall Munroe|Randall]] presents a logical diagram known as a {{w|Venn diagram}}, which illustrates the relationship between multiple sets. The diagram is usually used to illustrate the overlap between various sets. For example, a Venn diagram of "even numbers" and "numbers divisible by 5" would have 2, 4, 6, 8, 12… in one circle, 5, 15, 25… in another circle, and 10, 20, 30… in the intersection of the circles (as those numbers fit into both sets).

Here we have a three-set diagram that Randall has purportedly created to explain his feelings to his love interest. The three sets are:
# People who can always make him smile
# people he wants to spend the rest of his life with
# people who constantly show him new things to love about the world.

In the intersection of these three sets is "you" – his love interest; all three of these statements apply to her. Normally, this might be a cute way of simply implying that he has these three feelings about her, without including any other elements in any of the sets.

Here, however, Randall has included one other element: {{w|Vanilla Ice}} is shown to also constantly show Randall new things to love about the world, and to be someone Randall wants to spend the rest of his life with (although Vanilla Ice doesn't always make him smile).

Vanilla Ice is an American white-skinned rapper who was most popular in the early 1990s with his song "{{w|Ice Ice Baby}}". He was frequently mocked as a very "white" rapper. He is obviously an unexpected name to turn up in this diagram.

Apparently, Randall's love interest didn't take too well to Randall professing similar feelings for Vanilla Ice as he did for her, causing some friction in their relationship. The title text suggests that other '90s rappers have similarly affected Randall's past relationships.

==Transcript==
:[A venn diagram with three sets]
:Description of set 1: People who can always make me smile
:Description of set 2: People who constantly show me new things about the world
:Description of set 3: People I want to spend the rest of my life with
:Intersection point: YOU.
:Intersection of sets 2 and 3: Vanilla Ice
{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Venn diagrams]]
[[Category:Romance]]
[[Category:Math]]

Talk:2116: .NORM Normal File Format

2019-02-26T17:42:31Z

162.158.78.178:

Oh man, I don’t know whether to laugh or passive aggressively link people this comic. [[User:Netherin5|Netherin5]] ([[User talk:Netherin5|talk]]) 16:55, 25 February 2019 (UTC)
:''Mumbles about special places in hell for people that deserve links of this comic'' [[Special:Contributions/162.158.90.90|162.158.90.90]] 08:11, 26 February 2019 (UTC)
::link it to them? send it in a weird data format, including notification bar of a phone, etc.--[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 08:34, 26 February 2019 (UTC)
:::I think [https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/Flag this] needs to be here. [[User:Netherin5|Netherin5]] ([[User talk:Netherin5|talk]]) 12:52, 26 February 2019 (UTC)

At the moment I'm seeing " https://twitter.com/openelex/status/853977391747801088 " as the title text [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.82|108.162.216.82]] 17:36, 25 February 2019 (UTC)
:That’s because the comic is a link, and clicking on it will take you there. The title text is correct, though. [[User:Netherin5|Netherin5]] ([[User talk:Netherin5|talk]]) 17:40, 25 February 2019 (UTC)

Reminds me of [https://thedailywtf.com/articles/Web_0_0x2e_1 Web 0.1 at TheDailyWTF].[[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.113|162.158.79.113]] 19:01, 25 February 2019 (UTC)

Why the bloody hell is everyone censoring me???[[Special:Contributions/108.162.245.202|108.162.245.202]] 21:47, 25 February 2019 (UTC)
:From the revision history, the only things that look like they could be interpreted as being censored are the "JEWISH SHILL" thing from the (no longer present) "incomplete" tag, which is hate speech, and the "SOON THE TRUTH WILL BE REVEALED" thing that briefly replaced all of the actual content, which is vandalism. Both are considered unacceptable. See also [https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/1357:_Free_Speech xkcd #1357] [[Special:Contributions/162.158.214.22|162.158.214.22]] 03:53, 26 February 2019 (UTC)

I'm on my phone but can someone please work this link into the explanation: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glitch_art thanks
:Done. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.246.173|108.162.246.173]] 01:20, 26 February 2019 (UTC)

The "share" functionality on mobile systems may serve as a rather catch-all protocol. On PC not many apps have this in mind.
[[Special:Contributions/172.68.141.148|172.68.141.148]] 02:43, 26 February 2019 (UTC)

Could someone do a short explanation of what absentee precincts are? A (quick) google search could not answer that question to me, and I think for many who do not deal with the topic whichever absentee precincts refer to will have the same question... --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 08:07, 26 February 2019 (UTC)

I love .NORM files, they compress so well: https://explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/1683:_Digital_Data [[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.178|162.158.78.178]] 17:42, 26 February 2019 (UTC)

2114: Launch Conditions

2019-02-20T21:42:32Z

162.158.78.178: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2114
| date = February 20, 2019
| title = Launch Conditions
| image = launch_conditions.png
| titletext = Though I do think the tiny vent on one of the boosters labeled "O-RING" is in poor taste.
}}

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

An image of a rocket with a progressively larger white cloud around it is shown, but no external object for scale is visible until the third panel.
It is then revealed to be a model or miniature by the relatively enormous size of Ponytail's head.
The dialog and reservoir under the rocket show that it is emitting clouds of water vapor as a humidifier, which mimic the appearance of the exhaust plume of a full-size rocket.

Modern rocket launches are backed by a ''Sound Suppression System'' avoiding damages to the rocket itself, the payload, or even humans inside. This system drops vast amounts of water into the exhaust of the rocket engines and vaporizes immediately. This vapor mainly interrupts the sound reflections from the ground. This reduces the sound to a level the rocket can withstand but also produces a big cloud of water vapor. In fact the cloud at the ground consists mostly of water and not the exhaust of the rocket engines. This article shows how the system works: [https://interestingengineering.com/nasa-sound-suppression-system-prevents-rocket-from-exploding NASA's Incredible Sound Suppression System Prevents Rockets from Exploding (interestingengineering.com)].

This comic appeared the day after the death of Peter Cosgrove, who was known for photographing many Space Shuttle launches.

The title text references the failed o-ring that led to the {{Wikipedia|Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|disintegration of the ''Challenger'' Space Shuttle}} and the death of all on board.
This disaster was a focal point of controversy, which Richard Feynman played a key {{Wikipedia|Rogers_Commission_Report#Role_of_Richard_Feynman|role in piercing}}. The o-ring in question failed to expand at freezing temperatures, resulting in a leak of gas around the edges that was visible as a small vapor plume on the recording. The launch was pushed to a day with lower temperatures than the engineers had planned for. For the humidifier to vent gas from this opening is indeed in poor taste, even though the model does not resemble a shuttle.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
:[A rocket sits on a launch pad and the tower to the left has retracted its access arms. The engines have just start firing and a small cloud at the bottom is visible.]

:[The rocket still sits on the pad but the cloud is growing and extending to both sides on the ground.]

:[Ponytail's head in a size like the rocket appears above. The cloud covers the full ground and hides a bigger part of the rocket.]

:[Zoom out. Ponytail stands behind a pedestal with a rocket model on top and the cloud is all around the bottom of the rocket and below.]
:Off screen: It's still pretty dry in here.
:Ponytail: I love the new humidifier, though.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Space]]

Talk:2114: Launch Conditions

2019-02-20T21:40:28Z

162.158.78.178:

Queue a boost in hits for "rocket shaped humidifier" pages. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.59.108|172.68.59.108]] 19:26, 20 February 2019 (UTC)

I've already done a search to see if this exists. Shouldn't take long for the internet to come through. [[User:Andyd273|Andyd273]] ([[User talk:Andyd273|talk]]) 19:34, 20 February 2019 (UTC)

I've checked but all i can find is the steam coming out of the top, not the bottom [[Special:Contributions/162.158.142.34|162.158.142.34]] 19:39, 20 February 2019 (UTC)
: I'm thinking this would be a little challenging to create, because liquid water falls out of openings that under it. Humidifiers also usually have a larger reservoir of water than that rocket. I'm thinking the simplest approach would be to place a model rocket on top of a normal humidifier. Maybe you could also make a rocket with a mini-humidifier and a tube that goes from the top to the bottom, or that plugs into a faucet rather than having a reservoir. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.220|162.158.78.220]]
:: I looked closer at the comic, and you can see the body of the humidifier under the rocket. It may actually be a model rocket on top of a normal humidifer. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.178|162.158.78.178]] 21:40, 20 February 2019 (UTC)

How disappointing. All of the examples a quick search brought up emit mist from the tip, instead of the exhaust. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.62.10|172.69.62.10]] 19:38, 20 February 2019 (UTC)

Yes! I want one! (A PROPER one, with exhaust.) {{unsigned ip|162.158.89.55}}

What does it mean if a rocket is venting steam from its nose, anyway? [[Special:Contributions/172.68.58.83|172.68.58.83]] 19:59, 20 February 2019 (UTC)
: You are having a bad problem and you will not go to space today.[[Special:Contributions/162.158.75.226|162.158.75.226]] 20:18, 20 February 2019 (UTC)

Nothing Good [[Special:Contributions/162.158.142.82|162.158.142.82]] 20:02, 20 February 2019 (UTC)

What people need is a "pea soup - micro rocket " fog machine and a model rocket. However that would set you back over 400 GBP or USD and do nothing much to humidify the room, being a type of vape machine. I suppose you could take a vape machine and add a fan to mimic a user inhaling, and exhaust into the model for less. Still not humidifying, but the voice off days "still dry in here" [[User:RIIW - Ponder it|RIIW - Ponder it]] ([[User talk:RIIW - Ponder it|talk]]) 20:45, 20 February 2019 (UTC)

Whoops! I updated the Feynman story at the same time as somebody else removed it. It's currently back with changes. Maybe I'd better find a better citation to see how accurate it is. It's notable that it was Feynman who found the o-ring issue mentioned in the comic. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.62.220|172.69.62.220]] 20:46, 20 February 2019 (UTC)
:The Feynman story is from part II of "What do YOU care what other people think?: Further adventures of a curious character". [[Special:Contributions/162.158.106.6|162.158.106.6]] 21:24, 20 February 2019 (UTC)
::Thanks. I found it on library genesis ( http://gen.lib.rus.ec/book/index.php?md5=EA0CB0CF9A75A62E9F407CF1EE915F23 ) and my thirdhand telling was indeed rather inaccurate. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.178|162.158.78.178]] 21:38, 20 February 2019 (UTC)
: Removed the story and referenced wikipedia. But Feynman was a badass to stand up to the NASA administration and his silent peers so expressively. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.62.220|172.69.62.220]] 20:59, 20 February 2019 (UTC)

Anyone else notice someone wrote (after the bit explaining how rockets take off) "This is, of course, preposterous, as rockets are a fake child's fantasy created by Jewish NASA employees"?[[Special:Contributions/172.68.34.76|172.68.34.76]] 21:25, 20 February 2019 (UTC)

Talk:2114: Launch Conditions

2019-02-20T21:38:44Z

162.158.78.178:

Queue a boost in hits for "rocket shaped humidifier" pages. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.59.108|172.68.59.108]] 19:26, 20 February 2019 (UTC)

I've already done a search to see if this exists. Shouldn't take long for the internet to come through. [[User:Andyd273|Andyd273]] ([[User talk:Andyd273|talk]]) 19:34, 20 February 2019 (UTC)

I've checked but all i can find is the steam coming out of the top, not the bottom [[Special:Contributions/162.158.142.34|162.158.142.34]] 19:39, 20 February 2019 (UTC)
: I'm thinking this would be a little challenging to create, because liquid water falls out of openings that under it. Humidifiers also usually have a larger reservoir of water than that rocket. I'm thinking the simplest approach would be to place a model rocket on top of a normal humidifier. Maybe you could also make a rocket with a mini-humidifier and a tube that goes from the top to the bottom, or that plugs into a faucet rather than having a reservoir. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.220|162.158.78.220]]

How disappointing. All of the examples a quick search brought up emit mist from the tip, instead of the exhaust. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.62.10|172.69.62.10]] 19:38, 20 February 2019 (UTC)

Yes! I want one! (A PROPER one, with exhaust.) {{unsigned ip|162.158.89.55}}

What does it mean if a rocket is venting steam from its nose, anyway? [[Special:Contributions/172.68.58.83|172.68.58.83]] 19:59, 20 February 2019 (UTC)
: You are having a bad problem and you will not go to space today.[[Special:Contributions/162.158.75.226|162.158.75.226]] 20:18, 20 February 2019 (UTC)

Nothing Good [[Special:Contributions/162.158.142.82|162.158.142.82]] 20:02, 20 February 2019 (UTC)

What people need is a "pea soup - micro rocket " fog machine and a model rocket. However that would set you back over 400 GBP or USD and do nothing much to humidify the room, being a type of vape machine. I suppose you could take a vape machine and add a fan to mimic a user inhaling, and exhaust into the model for less. Still not humidifying, but the voice off days "still dry in here" [[User:RIIW - Ponder it|RIIW - Ponder it]] ([[User talk:RIIW - Ponder it|talk]]) 20:45, 20 February 2019 (UTC)

Whoops! I updated the Feynman story at the same time as somebody else removed it. It's currently back with changes. Maybe I'd better find a better citation to see how accurate it is. It's notable that it was Feynman who found the o-ring issue mentioned in the comic. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.62.220|172.69.62.220]] 20:46, 20 February 2019 (UTC)
:The Feynman story is from part II of "What do YOU care what other people think?: Further adventures of a curious character". [[Special:Contributions/162.158.106.6|162.158.106.6]] 21:24, 20 February 2019 (UTC)
::Thanks. I found it on library genesis ( http://gen.lib.rus.ec/book/index.php?md5=EA0CB0CF9A75A62E9F407CF1EE915F23 ) and my thirdhand telling was indeed rather inaccurate. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.178|162.158.78.178]] 21:38, 20 February 2019 (UTC)
: Removed the story and referenced wikipedia. But Feynman was a badass to stand up to the NASA administration and his silent peers so expressively. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.62.220|172.69.62.220]] 20:59, 20 February 2019 (UTC)

Anyone else notice someone wrote (after the bit explaining how rockets take off) "This is, of course, preposterous, as rockets are a fake child's fantasy created by Jewish NASA employees"?[[Special:Contributions/172.68.34.76|172.68.34.76]] 21:25, 20 February 2019 (UTC)

Talk:2112: Night Shift

2019-02-15T18:47:34Z

162.158.78.178: accidentally cut somebody else's comment; fixed

Lot of vandals, lately... :( {{unsigned ip|162.158.75.10}}
:Yeah, like you! Stop deleting my edits![[Special:Contributions/108.162.246.215|108.162.246.215]] 17:19, 15 February 2019 (UTC)
::I think you're doing it wrong. That or your IP address changed between your edits & your comment here. There are no edits from your IP address in the history for this page. If you sign your posts by finishing with "<nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>" it's easier to track the changes & know for sure if someone's messing with you.
::[[User:ProphetZarquon|ProphetZarquon]] ([[User talk:ProphetZarquon|talk]]) 18:33, 15 February 2019 (UTC)
:::The user's IP is very similar to the one that posted "(This mode also causes your phone to broadcast EM radiation at the frequency of human thought, allowing Jewish interests control over your brain and psyche)". Statements like that should really be couched in phrasing that indicates they are contested beliefs rather than agreed-upon facts. I really feel marketing interests are of all variety of religious persuasions. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.178|162.158.78.178]]
::I don't see lot's of vandals or many deleted edits. But if critical things happen please mention it in the [[explain xkcd:Community portal/Admin requests|Admin requests]] section at the Community portal. And please don't forget to sign your comments. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 17:59, 15 February 2019 (UTC)
:The new phrasing of altering one's neurochemistry is technically correct, as the pixels of an electronic display do project the EM radiation that is responsible for the light we see. The joke could use some context that this is technically true of displays, although many believe there are interests that wirelessly alter their thoughts, and that this view is generally heavily disregarded. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.178|162.158.78.178]] 18:42, 15 February 2019 (UTC)

Talk:2112: Night Shift

2019-02-15T18:46:43Z

162.158.78.178:

Lot of vandals, lately... :( {{unsigned ip|162.158.75.10}}
:Yeah, like you! Stop deleting my edits![[Special:Contributions/108.162.246.215|108.162.246.215]] 17:19, 15 February 2019 (UTC)
::I think you're doing it wrong. That or your IP address changed between your edits & your comment here. There are no edits from your IP address in the history for this page. If you sign your posts by finishing with "<nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>" it's easier to track the changes & know for sure if someone's messing with you.
:::The user's IP is very similar to the one that posted "(This mode also causes your phone to broadcast EM radiation at the frequency of human thought, allowing Jewish interests control over your brain and psyche)". Statements like that should really be couched in phrasing that indicates they are contested beliefs rather than agreed-upon facts. I really feel marketing interests are of all variety of religious persuasions. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.178|162.158.78.178]]
::[[User:ProphetZarquon|ProphetZarquon]] ([[User talk:ProphetZarquon|talk]]) 18:33, 15 February 2019 (UTC)
::I don't see lot's of vandals or many deleted edits. But if critical things happen please mention it in the [[explain xkcd:Community portal/Admin requests|Admin requests]] section at the Community portal. And please don't forget to sign your comments. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 17:59, 15 February 2019 (UTC)
:The new phrasing of altering one's neurochemistry is technically correct, as the pixels of an electronic display do project the EM radiation that is responsible for the light we see. The joke could use some context that this is technically true of displays, although many believe there are interests that wirelessly alter their thoughts, and that this view is generally heavily disregarded. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.178|162.158.78.178]] 18:42, 15 February 2019 (UTC)

Talk:2112: Night Shift

2019-02-15T18:42:44Z

162.158.78.178:

Lot of vandals, lately... :( {{unsigned ip|162.158.75.10}}
:Yeah, like you! Stop deleting my edits![[Special:Contributions/108.162.246.215|108.162.246.215]] 17:19, 15 February 2019 (UTC)
::I think you're doing it wrong. That or your IP address changed between your edits & your comment here. There are no edits from your IP address in the history for this page. If you sign your posts by finishing with "<nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>" it's easier to track the changes & know for sure if someone's messing with you.
::[[User:ProphetZarquon|ProphetZarquon]] ([[User talk:ProphetZarquon|talk]]) 18:33, 15 February 2019 (UTC)
::I don't see lot's of vandals or many deleted edits. But if critical things happen please mention it in the [[explain xkcd:Community portal/Admin requests|Admin requests]] section at the Community portal. And please don't forget to sign your comments. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 17:59, 15 February 2019 (UTC)
:The new phrasing of altering one's neurochemistry is technically correct, as the pixels of an electronic display do project the EM radiation that is responsible for the light we see. The joke could use some context that this is technically true of displays, although many believe there are interests that wirelessly alter their thoughts, and that this view is generally heavily disregarded. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.178|162.158.78.178]] 18:42, 15 February 2019 (UTC)

2111: Opportunity Rover

2019-02-15T14:44:37Z

162.158.78.178:

{{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... UR 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 - an opinion he has expressed previously in [[1314: Photos]].

To this [[Randall]] appears to counter that sharing and showing to others is an exciting part of the joy, an opinion which he also expressed as [[Cueball]] in [[1314: Photos]]. He then proceeds to say that the Opportunity 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. The dust-devils were also 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==
:[White Hat is watching while Science Girl and Cueball in the background hold their smartphones up to use them as cameras. A narrator (Randall) comments with text above them:]
:Narrator: 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 while holding his other hand up near his mouth. Again there is narrating text, both above and below this time]
:Narrator: But for me, the really exciting part of finding something new
:Cueball: ''Wow, you gotta come see this!''
:Narrator: Has always been showing it to others.

:[A black panel shows a space probe approaching a planet. White narrating text is above and below]
: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 driving in front of them on a rock filled landscape. Its track is shown behind it. The people do not leave foot prints though. The rover speaks. At the top of the panel there is a last narrating text inside a small box across the top of the panel. The seven people are Cueball, Science Girl, Hairy (looking back), another Cueball holding his hand to his chin, Ponytail and finally Megan, who points at the rover, or at what it tels them about.]
:Narrator: 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]]

2111: Opportunity Rover

2019-02-15T14:41:24Z

162.158.78.178:

{{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... UR 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 - an opinion he has expressed previously in [[1314: Photos]].

To this [[Randall]] appears to counter that sharing and showing to others is an exciting part of the joy, an opinion which he also expressed as [[Cueball]] in [[1314: Photos]]. 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. The dust-devils were also 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==
:[White Hat is watching while Science Girl and Cueball in the background hold their smartphones up to use them as cameras. A narrator (Randall) comments with text above them:]
:Narrator: 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 while holding his other hand up near his mouth. Again there is narrating text, both above and below this time]
:Narrator: But for me, the really exciting part of finding something new
:Cueball: ''Wow, you gotta come see this!''
:Narrator: Has always been showing it to others.

:[A black panel shows a space probe approaching a planet. White narrating text is above and below]
: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 driving in front of them on a rock filled landscape. Its track is shown behind it. The people do not leave foot prints though. The rover speaks. At the top of the panel there is a last narrating text inside a small box across the top of the panel. The seven people are Cueball, Science Girl, Hairy (looking back), another Cueball holding his hand to his chin, Ponytail and finally Megan, who points at the rover, or at what it tels them about.]
:Narrator: 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]]

Talk:2110: Error Bars

2019-02-11T23:38:19Z

162.158.78.178:

I put in a little thing about fractals and Cantor sets, seemed relevant. [[User:Netherin5|Netherin5]] ([[User talk:Netherin5|talk]]) 17:32, 11 February 2019 (UTC)

Would the series have a limit or would it continue on until the error bars go from infinity to +infinity?
It will have limit. Becouse it will every time be 5% of prevous errors it will lower over time. --172.68.154.40
https://repl.it/repls/AppropriateMatureConferences for demonstration --172.68.154.40

That's not my understanding of "propagating error". I understand that phrase to mean that you're taking a measured value (that has uncertainty) and plugging it into a formula / using it calculate another value. Because of the way this works, the (absolute & relative) error on the newly calculated value is likely to be larger or smaller than the error in the original value (the overall size of the error bars changes). Randall's joke is that, instead of calculating the new error bars, he calculates error bars on the ends of his existing bars. I also agree with Netherin5 that there's a clear fractal reference here.
[[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.113|162.158.79.113]] 17:45, 11 February 2019 (UTC) hagmanti
: I noticed this error too, and tried to correct it, but it sounds like you understand it better than I. Feel free to edit the article itself! [[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.178|162.158.78.178]] 23:38, 11 February 2019 (UTC)

A question too, does the CI tend towards negative infinity, zero, or one? Edit: Today I learned what CI means. [[User:Netherin5|Netherin5]] ([[User talk:Netherin5|talk]]) 18:01, 11 February 2019 (UTC)

He has confidence intervals in confidence intervals alone; despite this, you see, he lacks confidence in...he. [[User:GreatWyrmGold|GreatWyrmGold]] ([[User talk:GreatWyrmGold|talk]]) 20:48, 11 February 2019 (UTC)

2110: Error Bars

2019-02-11T23:37:04Z

162.158.78.178: added mention of propagation

{{comic
| number = 2110
| date = February 11, 2019
| title = Error Bars
| image = error_bars.png
| titletext = ...an effect size of 1.68 (95% CI: 1.56 (95% CI: 1.52 (95% CI: 1.504 (95% CI: 1.494 (95% CI: 1.488 (95% CI: 1.485 (95% CI: 1.482 (95% CI: 1.481 (95% CI: 1.4799 (95% CI: 1.4791 (95% CI: 1.4784...
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by an INFINITE SERIES OF ERROR BARS. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

On statistical charts and graphs, it is common to include {{w|error bars}} showing the probable variation of the actual value from the value shown (or the possible error of the value shown). Since there is always uncertainty in any given measurement, the error bars help an observer evaluate how accurate the data shown is, or the implications if the true value is within the likely error, rather than the exact value shown. There are statistical methods for calculating error bars (they can show a {{w|standard deviation}}, a {{w|standard error}}, or a {{w|confidence interval}}) but the fact that there are multiple ways of calculating them - plus general unfamiliarity with statistical methods - means that people often misinterpret or misunderstand them.

As charts may be of data that has been mathematically processed, the known error from the recording process must also be mathematically processed in order to determine the likely error in the final result. Different transformations of the data result in different transformations of the error, and the correctness of the transformations used can sometimes depend on the subtle differences in the distribution of the source data. At a loss as to how to correctly propagate his error, Randall instead puts error bars on the ends of his error bars, to reflect the fact that the error has been combined with other error, or the fact that the error bars also have uncertainty or errors themselves. However, since his second error bar calculations are also suspect, he puts a third set of error bars on them. This repeats {{w|ad infinitum}} creating a fractal similar to a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantor_set Cantor set]

In the title text, he states that the {{w|effect size}} is 1.68 and follows it with the 95% confidence interval (a range of possible values which has a 95% estimated probability of containing the true value), which would normally be represented by something like "1.68 (95% CI 1.56 - 1.80)." Since he is stating that those bounds are uncertain, he starts with "1.68 (95% CI 1.56" but then puts the 95% CI for that lower bound of the interval, "95% CI 1.52," followed by the lower bound for that value, "95% CI 1.504," and so on. He goes 11 layers deep before resorting to an ellipsis.

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

:[A line graph with eight marks on the Y-axis and five marks on the X-axis. The graph has four points represented by dots and connected by three lines between them. Each dot has error bars coming out of the top and bottom of it. The horizontal line delineating the end of each error bar has another set of smaller error bars attached to it. These second error bars in turn have a still smaller third set of error bars attached to the end of them. There is a final fourth set of very small error bars attached to the third set.]

:[Caption below the panels:]
:I don't know how to propagate error correctly, so I just put error bars on all my error bars.

{{comic discussion}}

Talk:2107: Launch Risk

2019-02-06T08:33:24Z

162.158.78.178:

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)

::Many of those 360 have been in space multiple times reducing the risk further. Sebastian --[[Special:Contributions/172.68.110.70|172.68.110.70]] 07:30, 6 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)
::Sorry, I've never compiled those statistics. Otherwise I fit your requirements, though.[[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.178|162.158.78.178]] 08:33, 6 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)
:Nah, the booster shape is completely wrong. I think it might be Gaganyaan / GSLV-III. --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.47|162.158.79.47]] 08:01, 6 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

2103: Midcontinent Rift System

2019-01-26T05:14:43Z

162.158.78.178: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2103
| date = January 25, 2019
| title = Midcontinent Rift System
| image = midcontinent_rift_system.png
| titletext = The best wedge issue is an actual wedge.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a MID CONTINENTAL RIFT. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

Recently, USA politics has caused polarization of the public.<ref>[https://news.gallup.com/opinion/polling-matters/215210/partisan-differences-growing-number-issues.aspx Partisan Differences Growing on a Number of Issues]</ref> It is said to be "split" in two camps (liberal and conservative). Here [[Black Hat]] is trying to get elected by promising he will actually split America in two. His presentation suggest he would accomplish this by using a giant crowbar, thus completing the {{w|Midcontinent Rift System|Midcontinent Rift}}, which is a large crack that started to form about 1.1 billion years ago, but failed to completely sever the continent.

It is unclear why anyone would vote for such a thing, but people directly affected (the Midwest) are likely to vote against [[Black Hat]]. While Black Hat and his campaign advisor [[Ponytail]] speak of weakness in the Midwest, they are talking about two different things: Black Hat refers to the physical weakness of the North American Plate in the Midwest due to the geological rift which he thinks could be exploited by a large enough crowbar, while Ponytail is referring to a political weakness for Black Hat's campaign in the Midwest due to the likely-unpopular proposal (different regions of the US have different voters and populations who have different priorities and stances, so candidates and their campaigns' platforms will likely be more popular in some regions and less popular in others). In this case a successful or attempted completion of the rift would likely result in the destruction of millions of houses, buildings, and other man-made structures, not to mention the deaths of many humans (if proper evacuation were not fully implemented and enforced) as well as millions of animals that could not be evacuated. The proposal would also cause huge economic impacts; the Midwest produces a significant proportion of America's food supplies and hosts important economic centres, such as Chicago and Cleveland. So the popularity among those directly or even indirectly affected is likely quite low. The successful passing of a highly destructive measure such as this would generally involve more direct and overwhelming compensation of the many interests that would otherwise be harmed, to incentivize them to vote against their present livelihood.

The title text is a pun. A {{w|wedge issue}} is a controversial issue which splits apart a demographic group. It is often introduced to create controversy within an opponent's base so that if the opponent takes any position on the issue, half the voters will desert the opponent. Here the joke is that the "wedge issue" is an actual wedge to split apart the United States.

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

:[A map of North America shows the Midcontinent Rift System as a red line curving through the Great Lakes and down through the midwestern United States.]
:1.1 billion years ago, the North American continent began to split in half.

:[Black Hat stands at a lectern with a "Vote 2020" sign on it. He gestures to an image of the globe with a giant crowbar inserted in the rift with an arrow indicating applying pressure to widen the rift.]
:Black Hat: We don't know why it stopped. If elected, I vow to finish the job. Thank youl.

:[Ponytail, Black Hat, Megan, and Cueball walk to the right away from a set of stairs. Cueball is looking at a phone and Ponytail is looking at a device or paper with writing on it.]
:Ponytail: Great job up there.
:Black Hat: Thanks! How are my polling numbers?
:Ponytail: Well, I'm seeing some weakness in the Midwest.
:Black Hat: So am I. So am I.
{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Elections]]
[[Category:Maps]]

Talk:2097: Thor Tools

2019-01-11T20:39:17Z

162.158.78.178:

I think the comment about the axis direction is based on how you interpret the terms Best and Worst - either for Thor or those who encounter him. [[User:Ianrbibtitlht|Ianrbibtitlht]] ([[User talk:Ianrbibtitlht|talk]]) 17:15, 11 January 2019 (UTC)
:I agree. That interpretation should be in the explanation instead of the present one.--[[User:Pere prlpz|Pere prlpz]] ([[User talk:Pere prlpz|talk]]) 19:58, 11 January 2019 (UTC)

Many nail-guns use cartridges filled with a combustible material (gunpowder or similar) rather than a supply of compressed air. A blank load of a .22 rimfire pistol cartridge is typical. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powder-actuated_tool [[Special:Contributions/50.202.80.200|50.202.80.200]] 18:35, 11 January 2019 (UTC)

Is there a possibility that the reversed axis suggests an (aero)plane as the worst weapon? Bad taste rules it out I suppose. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.212.179|108.162.212.179]] 18:46, 11 January 2019 (UTC) Nic

I think a lightning staple/nail gun would be pretty dope...[[User:Linker|Linker]] ([[User talk:Linker|talk]]) 18:52, 11 January 2019 (UTC)

I've been hit or otherwise injured by most of these, but I do not know of anyone who has been planed, that's how dangerous planes are, everyone knows to be careful. [[User:SDSpivey|SDSpivey]] ([[User talk:SDSpivey|talk]]) 19:17, 11 January 2019 (UTC)
: I'm not sure if you're being humorous or if you have experience with powered board planers. Are they dangerous? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.178|162.158.78.178]] 20:37, 11 January 2019 (UTC)

It's a pity he didn't add "Screwdriver (sonic)" to the chart. [[User:JamesCurran|JamesCurran]] ([[User talk:JamesCurran|talk]]) 19:48, 11 January 2019 (UTC)

There are some nailguns that don't use compressed air tanks or combustible materials - they have air compressors in them, powered by drill batteries or wall outlets. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.167.120|162.158.167.120]] 20:12, 11 January 2019 (UTC)

Also, unless that's an electric staple gun, the transcript should say nail gun. Look at how it's being held - as if there's a trigger, not as if there's a big handle on the back. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.167.120|162.158.167.120]] 20:17, 11 January 2019 (UTC)
: I do not see a finger wrapping around the front to touch a trigger. I see a hand at the back, where the lever of a staple gun is. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.178|162.158.78.178]] 20:37, 11 January 2019 (UTC)

Interpretations of items (feel free to change if desired): [[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.178|162.158.78.178]] 20:37, 11 January 2019 (UTC)
* Adversary being forced into a powered board planer, shreds of flesh spewing out the other side. "OH MY GOD DON'T PLANE ME!"
* Thor throws his flying dremel towards the control board of a distant nuclear bomb on a timer, where it _CUTS THE RED WIRE THE TIMER READS 0:00_
* An evil corporation is marketing a new treatment for depression. Thor marches into a demonstration being broadcast worldwide. Brandishing Mjolnir, his digital calipers, he measures the subject's left eyeball. THE TREATMENT HAS GROWN IT BY TWO THOUSANDTHS OF AN INCH.

Talk:2097: Thor Tools

2019-01-11T20:37:34Z

162.158.78.178:

I think the comment about the axis direction is based on how you interpret the terms Best and Worst - either for Thor or those who encounter him. [[User:Ianrbibtitlht|Ianrbibtitlht]] ([[User talk:Ianrbibtitlht|talk]]) 17:15, 11 January 2019 (UTC)
:I agree. That interpretation should be in the explanation instead of the present one.--[[User:Pere prlpz|Pere prlpz]] ([[User talk:Pere prlpz|talk]]) 19:58, 11 January 2019 (UTC)

Many nail-guns use cartridges filled with a combustible material (gunpowder or similar) rather than a supply of compressed air. A blank load of a .22 rimfire pistol cartridge is typical. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powder-actuated_tool [[Special:Contributions/50.202.80.200|50.202.80.200]] 18:35, 11 January 2019 (UTC)

Is there a possibility that the reversed axis suggests an (aero)plane as the worst weapon? Bad taste rules it out I suppose. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.212.179|108.162.212.179]] 18:46, 11 January 2019 (UTC) Nic

I think a lightning staple/nail gun would be pretty dope...[[User:Linker|Linker]] ([[User talk:Linker|talk]]) 18:52, 11 January 2019 (UTC)

I've been hit or otherwise injured by most of these, but I do not know of anyone who has been planed, that's how dangerous planes are, everyone knows to be careful. [[User:SDSpivey|SDSpivey]] ([[User talk:SDSpivey|talk]]) 19:17, 11 January 2019 (UTC)
: I'm not sure if you're being humorous or if you have experience with powered board planers. Are they dangerous? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.178|162.158.78.178]] 20:37, 11 January 2019 (UTC)

It's a pity he didn't add "Screwdriver (sonic)" to the chart. [[User:JamesCurran|JamesCurran]] ([[User talk:JamesCurran|talk]]) 19:48, 11 January 2019 (UTC)

There are some nailguns that don't use compressed air tanks or combustible materials - they have air compressors in them, powered by drill batteries or wall outlets. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.167.120|162.158.167.120]] 20:12, 11 January 2019 (UTC)

Also, unless that's an electric staple gun, the transcript should say nail gun. Look at how it's being held - as if there's a trigger, not as if there's a big handle on the back. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.167.120|162.158.167.120]] 20:17, 11 January 2019 (UTC)
: I do not see a finger wrapping around the front to touch a trigger. I see a hand at the back, where the lever of a staple gun is. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.178|162.158.78.178]] 20:37, 11 January 2019 (UTC)

Interpretations of items (feel free to change if desired): [[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.178|162.158.78.178]] 20:37, 11 January 2019 (UTC)
* Adversary being forced into a powered board planer, shreds of flesh spewing out the other side. "OH MY GOD DON'T PLANE ME!"
* Thor throws his flying dremel towards the control board of a distant nuclear bomb on a timer, where it _CUTS THE RED WIRE THE TIMER READS 0:00_
* An evil corporation is marketing a new treatment for depression. Thor marches into a demonstration being broadcast worldwide. Brandishing his digital calipers, he measures the subject's left eyeball. THE TREATMENT HAS GROWN IT BY TWO THOUSANDTHS OF AN INCH.

2097: Thor Tools

2019-01-11T20:30:10Z

162.158.78.178:

{{comic
| number = 2097
| date = January 11, 2019
| title = Thor Tools
| image = thor_tools.png
| titletext = CORRECTION: After careful evaluation, we have determined that the axis label on this chart was printed backward.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Add a list of the tools in the comic. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

{{w|Thor}} is a god of lightning and thunder in Norse mythology. His signature weapon is a magic hammer called {{w|Mjölnir}}. He's likely best known for his role in {{w|Thor (Marvel Comics)|Marvel comics and films}}, which his appearance here seems to be referencing.

This comic is listing various hand tools in order of utility and viability as a weapon, besides Thor's actual, enchanted hammer. Hammers are heavy, blunt, and can do large amounts of damage to an opponent, whereas a plane is sharp, but only in one place, and will only inflict surface wounds.

Some of these tools require power, which would require Thor to stay near an outlet or have a power source, such as the circular saw, or jackhammer. However, being the god of lightning may circumvent this. Thor would also need compressed air for the nail gun, only allowing Thor so many shot before reloading the air tank at an outlet.

The nail gun and staple gun would also require nails or staples respectively to function as a weapon. Although Mjölnir is believed to return to Thor if thrown, it's not clear how similar system could work with nails and staples.

In the title text, Munroe says the the order should be reversed. There are a few interpretations of this:
* Randall proposes that Thor armed with a plane or digital calipers would be much more fearsome than with a hammer.
* The "value" of the more strange-seeming items would be much higher than his tradition hammer, perhaps more gory or more humorous.
* "Best" and "worst" are to be interpreted for Thor's enemies rather than Thor himself.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
[A timeline labeled "Hand tools Thor could have ended up with" with "Best" on the left and "Worst" on the right.]

[Points on the line are labeled "Hammer", "Axe", "Claw hammer", "Circular saw", "Jackhammer", "Shovel", "Socket wrench", "Bolt cutters", "Hacksaw", "Nail gun", "Staple gun", "Coping saw", "Screwdriver (flat)", "Ball-peen hammer", "Screwdriver (phillips)", "Awl", "Digital Caliper", "Dremel", "Plane"]

[A figure wearing a winged helmet is seen preparing to use: a Circular saw, a Socket wrench, a Staple gun, and a Dremel.]

{{comic discussion}}

2097: Thor Tools

2019-01-11T20:28:44Z

162.158.78.178: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2097
| date = January 11, 2019
| title = Thor Tools
| image = thor_tools.png
| titletext = CORRECTION: After careful evaluation, we have determined that the axis label on this chart was printed backward.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Add a list of the tools in the comic. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

{{w|Thor}} is a god of lightning and thunder in Norse mythology. His signature weapon is a magic hammer called {{w|Mjölnir}}. He's likely best known for his role in {{w|Thor (Marvel Comics)|Marvel comics and films}}, which his appearance here seems to be referencing.

This comic is listing various hand tools in order of utility and viability as a weapon, besides Thor's actual, enchanted hammer. Hammers are heavy, blunt, and can do large amounts of damage to an opponent, whereas a plane is sharp, but only in one place, and will only inflict surface wounds.

Some of these tools require power, which would require Thor to stay near an outlet or have a power source, such as the circular saw, or jackhammer. However, being the god of lightning may circumvent this. Thor would also need compressed air for the nail gun, only allowing Thor so many shot before reloading the air tank at an outlet.

The nail gun and staple gun would also require nails or staples respectively to function as a weapon. Although Mjölnir is believed to return to Thor if thrown, it's not clear how similar system could work with nails and staples.

In the title text, Munroe says the the order should be reversed. There are a few interpretations of this:
* Randall proposes that Thor armed with a plane or digital calipers would be much more fearsome than with a hammer.
* The "value" of the more strange-seeming items would be much higher than his tradition hammer, perhaps more gory or more humorous.
* "Best" and "worst" are likely to be interpreted in an opposite manner.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
[A timeline labeled "Hand tools Thor could have ended up with" with "Best" on the left and "Worst" on the right.]

[Points on the line are labeled "Hammer", "Axe", "Claw hammer", "Circular saw", "Jackhammer", "Shovel", "Socket wrench", "Bolt cutters", "Hacksaw", "Nail gun", "Staple gun", "Coping saw", "Screwdriver (flat)", "Ball-peen hammer", "Screwdriver (phillips)", "Awl", "Digital Caliper", "Dremel", "Plane"]

[A figure wearing a winged helmet is seen preparing to use: a Circular saw, a Socket wrench, a Staple gun, and a Dremel.]

{{comic discussion}}

121: Balloon

2017-03-29T17:15:10Z

162.158.78.178: Changed "people who thick" to "people who think"

{{comic
| number = 121
| date = June 28, 2006
| title = Balloon
| image = balloon.png
| titletext = So I'm a bad person.
}}

==Explanation==
An unidentified narrator, probably [[Randall]], says how he saw a kid with a balloon stand next to a ceiling fan in a restaurant. He explains how for fifteen minutes, he watched the kid's balloon, hoping the balloon would get caught in the ceiling fan and make the kid fly up towards it. This looks like it could cause serious injury to the child, hence the title text of how you're a bad person if this is what you sit in restaurants and imagine. This might be a poke to people who think waiting for a disaster to happen makes you a bad person like in [[611: Disaster Voyeurism]].

==Transcript==
:I watched the scene in the restaurant for a full fifteen minutes, hoping this would happen:
:[A kid is holding balloon; balloon gets caught in ceiling fan; kid holds on and is pulled up.]

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]