explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:673: The Sun

2020-03-09T01:44:54Z

162.158.78.52:

Interesting (or deliberate?) that there's no reference at all in the explanation to [[wikipedia:Sunshine_(2007_film)|Sunshine]], released two years previously. [[Special:Contributions/178.99.247.73|178.99.247.73]] 21:07, 20 May 2013 (UTC)

Can't "to spring" be thought of as a physical movement? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.212.196|108.162.212.196]] 00:49, 7 January 2014 (UTC)
: Yes; that's why the mnemonic works. [[User:Zowayix|Zowayix]] ([[User talk:Zowayix|talk]]) 16:08, 15 January 2014 (UTC)
:: Also, the mnemonic works because physically it is relatively easier to spring (i.e., jump) forward and to fall (through the simple action of gravity, without being able to catch yourself with your arms) back(ward) than it is to do the reverse. --[[User:Bedunkel|BD]] ([[User talk:Bedunkel|talk]]) 01:09, 20 November 2014 (UTC)
the fusion reactions are well understood
By whom?

[[User:Weatherlawyer| I used Google News BEFORE it was clickbait]] ([[User talk:Weatherlawyer|talk]]) 22:12, 27 January 2015 (UTC)

Okay, I'm too lazy to figure out a rewrite, but honestly...it seems pretty durned obvious that it's making fun of "The Core" which is actually mentioned in the comic, not making fun of some random British film not mentioned. Also look at the movie poster for "The Core" on Wikipedia; the similarities to the last panel with the group of people and the silhouettes is pretty obvious. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.215.150|108.162.215.150]] 23:11, 12 April 2015 (UTC)MW

I think "not on my watch" is being used as another pun, as daylight savings would not happen on your watch if you couldn't adjust it. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.52.127|173.245.52.127]] 12:19, 28 April 2015 (UTC)

It's not incorrect to say that this comic makes fun of science fiction disaster movies, but that's not right place to start. The comic is really about the fact that there are two ways to interpret the term "daylight saving time", and one of those ways sounds like the over-adrenalized style that one sees in action movie posters. That's the central joke, and the mockery of science fiction disaster movies is there in order to make that joke funny

The statement that "Even in the nearly impossible event of the sun's fusion is failing in the traditional sense, the sun would collapse causing a supernova." is incorrect as the Sun does not have enough mass to fuel a supernova. IIRC it's mass would have to be about 40% higher for that to happen

Talk:1167: Star Trek into Darkness

2020-03-06T19:20:21Z

162.158.78.52:

There has been a considerable amount of debate as to whether the title of this movie should have a colon in it, which would have appeared as "Star Trek: Into Darkness." They eventually decided against the colon, and I wonder if this comic is poking fun at that debate.[[Special:Contributions/169.234.40.187|169.234.40.187]] 00:49, 31 January 2013 (UTC)

I suspect an allusion to movie title spellings that can be seen on moviez sites, torrent sites etc. -- [[Special:Contributions/193.174.118.70|193.174.118.70]] 08:20, 30 January 2013 (UTC)

The Associated Press style manual says to capitalize all prepositions that are four letters or more in titles, e.g. Into, Through, etc. --[[User:Prooffreader|Prooffreader]] ([[User talk:Prooffreader|talk]]) 09:54, 30 January 2013 (UTC)

This could also have to do with WP's MOS of capitalizing "The first word in a compound preposition (e.g. "Time Out of Mind", "Get Off of My Butt")".

However, you cannot simply change the title of a page on WP. This requires actually moving the whole page. [[Special:Contributions/84.208.51.23|84.208.51.23]] 14:02, 30 January 2013 (UTC)

I think there is a capitalization error in the comic. The second to last 's' should be capitalized in order to match the rest of the pattern in "xX_StAr TrEk InTo DaRkNess_Xx". Unless the author is trying to subtly troll us into arguing about that capitalization... [[User:Sayno2quat|Sayno2quat]] ([[User talk:Sayno2quat|talk]]) 14:31, 30 January 2013 (UTC)
:Non-sense, double consonants should never be capitalized! Unless of course you want to use them for structural purposes, like spacing or framing, obviously.--[[User:Pnariyoshi|Pnariyoshi]] ([[User talk:Pnariyoshi|talk]]) 15:05, 30 January 2013 (UTC)

I believe Cueball's comment, "I have a new favorite edit war," is refering to the title text in this comic http://xkcd.com/878 about the great debate of HO vs. H0. [[Special:Contributions/206.39.12.245|206.39.12.245]] 15:23, 30 January 2013 (UTC)Pat

"Magnificient"?

The actual [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Star_Trek_into_Darkness#xkcd_Mention Talk Page] of the Wikipedia article in question has an item about this comic. --[[User:Prooffreader|Prooffreader]] ([[User talk:Prooffreader|talk]]) 16:32, 30 January 2013 (UTC)
:Oh sweet mother of god. Between that and the spam on this wiki, I think I'll take the spam. '''[[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 11:33, 31 January 2013 (UTC)

I spent a good portion of last night reading through Wikipedia's talk pages for that. Worth a good laugh. [[Special:Contributions/76.122.5.96|76.122.5.96]] 16:56, 30 January 2013 (UTC)

Well it obviously should be capitalized. --[[User:Shine|Shine]] ([[User talk:Shine|talk]]) 17:43, 30 January 2013 (UTC)

:I tried to make a point on wikipedia that Wikipedia itself went out of its way to create a "lowercase first letter" template so that iPod and things of that nature could be capitalized the way the producer styled it, but there's really nowhere to point it as all discussions have closed and been ground to a halt. [[User:TheHYPO|TheHYPO]] ([[User talk:TheHYPO|talk]]) 19:50, 30 January 2013 (UTC)

But is it really an edit war? Have they been moving the page bach and forth? --[[User:St.nerol|St.nerol]] ([[User talk:St.nerol|talk]]) 00:18, 31 January 2013 (UTC)

I still feel the most retarded of discussions on Wikipedia is for the Hentai article, where a disturbing majority demand pornography. --[[Special:Contributions/59.167.191.93|59.167.191.93]] 08:05, 31 January 2013 (UTC)

Just a minor matter of correctness... but shouldn't this page be entitled "1167: Star Trek Into Darkness", with a capital I, you know, since that's the way the movie studio is writing it, even though it doesn't follow MOS? I think someone needs to fix it RIGHT NOW! --boB
:Hey boB, you should fix your username! :P I'm kidding. I think the wiki just follows what is on the xkcd website, which has the lower case "i".--[[User:Pnariyoshi|Pnariyoshi]] ([[User talk:Pnariyoshi|talk]]) 22:45, 31 January 2013 (UTC)

I wish the Super Bowl Halftime Show could be that talk page being presented in a dramatic on stage performance. wow. Do you think Ian McKellen is available?--[[User:Shine|Shine]] ([[User talk:Shine|talk]]) 19:29, 31 January 2013 (UTC)

It looks like it's been moved to the capital I. I'd say that it's definitely because xkcd mentioned it. [[Special:Contributions/76.122.5.96|76.122.5.96]]

: https://twitter.com/wikisignpost/statuses/297188486421831680 :-) --[[User:Mormegil|Mormegil]] ([[User talk:Mormegil|talk]]) 07:56, 1 February 2013 (UTC)

I wanna be the guy who has to watch the xkcd website for new Wikipedia-related comics and lock the related article as quickly as possible... [[User:Ilinamorato|Ilinamorato]] ([[User talk:Ilinamorato|talk]]) 15:44, 1 February 2013 (UTC)

Perhaps it is worth noting that the argument over whether to include a section about the debate and the following xkcd mention is meow growing on the talk page and already has a couple thousand words of debate. {{unsigned|24.114.22.89}}

:That reminds me of the time that I was reading my Encyclopedia Britannica and happened across the section on the Titmouse and it mentioned the debate the editors were having on whether to include a joke about {{w|Tufted_Titmouse|Titmice}} and {{w|tit_(bird)|tits}} being cousins of sorts. Oh Wait.... --[[User:Shine|Shine]] ([[User talk:Shine|talk]]) 23:06, 1 February 2013 (UTC)

Maybe someone who has seen Contact wants to add some comment about the meaning of the quote or why it is relevant/funny? –[[User:St.nerol|St.nerol]] ([[User talk:St.nerol|talk]]) 18:45, 18 February 2013 (UTC)

This may be obvious to others, but I don't know why the ~*~ symbol is used for the alternate capitalization. Can someone explain what the meaning of those characters is? [[User:Djbrasier|Djbrasier]] ([[User talk:Djbrasier|talk]]) 19:06, 22 May 2015 (UTC)
:I think it is making fun of old AIM profiles and similar username choices, usually with 'random' capitalization and xX or ~*~* , examples: [1] http://img.ifcdn.com/images/60a97877d77df653f3c29a9f78f342958c00b864d68eda6a6324cafda44ffc69_1.jpg , http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/katy-t3h-pengu1n-of-d00m , https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2015-07/1/16/enhanced/webdr04/enhanced-20005-1435781306-7.jpg --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.91|108.162.221.91]] 19:29, 12 June 2016 (UTC)

I don't know if the title text was changed from what it was originally, but on xkcd.com it says "factions sprang up..." not "crackers..." -[[Special:Contributions/108.162.246.174|108.162.246.174]] 20:18, 27 May 2015 (UTC)

Must be the capital "I". That's final! Everything else is plainly stupid! If you like your franchise, then let the movies have beautiful titles. If you use lower-case "i", it's ugly. Btw I'm not a fan of Star Trek. And I don't want to join the war(s). I'm gone. Bye! {{unsigned ip|162.158.85.117}}

Seems there was an edit war about the page title before there was even a film title. Anyway the [Ii]nto debate starts from the first talk archive and it keeps going: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Star_Trek_Into_Darkness/Archive_1#Title_redux --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.75.16|162.158.75.16]] 21:14, 22 May 2018 (UTC)

It’s still happening. The edit war still rages. [[User:Netherin5|“That Guy from the Netherlands”]] ([[User talk:Netherin5|talk]]) 13:07, 13 November 2019 (UTC)

May I suggest: Star Trek |nto Darkness

Talk:2211: Hours Before Departure

2019-10-07T13:18:57Z

162.158.78.52:

... The title text isn't even a pun. Whoever wrote that needs to leave their pun hatred at the door and stick to what's actually there. [[User:V|V]] ([[User talk:V|talk]]) 19:04, 4 October 2019 (UTC)
: Of course it's a pun. Not a really great one (imho) but a pun nevertheless. [[User:Elektrizikekswerk|Elektrizikekswerk]] ([[User talk:Elektrizikekswerk|talk]]) 07:47, 7 October 2019 (UTC)

Do astronauts get their passports stamped when leaving/entering in a rocket? It makes sense that they should. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.255.34|162.158.255.34]] 19:39, 4 October 2019 (UTC)
:I think they don't even HAVE passports and also don't usually go through customs ... however, I don't know how if they have official exception or if they technically are breaking law. Apollo 11 crew did actually signed custom declaration when returning from Moon, however ... [https://www.space.com/7044-moon-apollo-astronauts-customs.html] -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 23:53, 4 October 2019 (UTC)
::Your discussion about customs declaration made me think of the story of The Bishop of the Moon. [https://www.orlandodiocese.org/remembering-the-bishop-of-the-moon-2/] [[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.52|162.158.78.52]] 13:18, 7 October 2019 (UTC)

The title text missed an opportunity for another twist - it should have said they astronauts have Global '''Re-'''entry! {{unsigned ip|162.158.122.30}}

Whut: Citation of earlier explanation: "...think preparation for a journey over four times longer than the longest of current modern airline flights" ... There are 40,000 km around Earth and 380,000 km to the Moon. So it is almost 10 times around the Earth, and no airline flies even half the distance around the Earth. Have changed that part of the explanation to mention the 10 times around the Earth, each way, instead. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 20:29, 4 October 2019 (UTC)

It may have taken them less than three hours from arrival at the launch site to departure, but remember that it took them three weeks to return to society once they got back. [[User:RAGBRAIvet|RAGBRAIvet]] ([[User talk:RAGBRAIvet|talk]]) 00:11, 5 October 2019 (UTC)
: Sounds like a normal jet lag to me... *shrug* [[User:Elektrizikekswerk|Elektrizikekswerk]] ([[User talk:Elektrizikekswerk|talk]]) 07:47, 7 October 2019 (UTC)

I guess it's the first time where the [citation needed] tag is actually correct and not a joke. [[User:Elektrizikekswerk|Elektrizikekswerk]] ([[User talk:Elektrizikekswerk|talk]]) 07:49, 7 October 2019 (UTC)

May I just challenge "shuttle launch site". The bus may have been a "shuttle"... If the rocket malfunctions, there may be a very very big bang, so it is placed some way away from the hotel. I believe there's also a bunker well underground from the rocket that you could theoretically escape to, of maybe that WAS for the Shuttle? rja.carnegie@gmail.com [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.155|141.101.99.155]] 10:35, 7 October 2019 (UTC)

2206: Mavis Beacon

2019-09-26T19:17:23Z

162.158.78.52:

{{comic
| number = 2206
| date = September 23, 2019
| title = Mavis Beacon
| image = mavis_beacon.png
| titletext = There are actually lowercase-like 'oldstyle' forms of normal numbers with more pronounced ascenders and descenders, which is why some numbers like '5' in books sometimes dangle below the line. But the true capital numbers remain the domain of number maven Mavis Beacon.
}}

==Explanation==
[[Cueball]] is being congratulated by the game he plays, Mavis Beacon, on his computer, because he has beaten the end boss and unlocked a new ability - the ability to type capital numbers...

''{{w|Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing}}'' is a computer game first released in 1987, with the goal of teaching touch-typing and improving typing speed on a computer keyboard. Unlike many video games, ''Mavis Beacon'' contains no combat and therefore does not feature any "{{w|Boss_(video_gaming)#Final_boss|end boss}}" (a very powerful enemy encountered as the final challenge of the game). In many video games, defeating major opponents "unlocks" special features, such as improved weapons. Also, playing ''Mavis Beacon'', although it may improve typing skill, has no effect on how typing works on one's computer.

In the caption, however, [[Randall]] asserts that after 30 years of playing ''Mavis Beacon'', he encountered and defeated such a boss. Playing the same game for 30 years is rare{{Citation needed}}. Regardless, Randall claims that defeating this "end boss" unlocked an ability to type esoteric "capital numbers," which Randall depicts as more extravagant versions of the familiar numerals. Although modern {{w|Latin letters}} have different {{w|letter case}} (i.e. capital or upper case and small or lower-case), {{w|Arabic numerals}} - the conventional numerals 0-9 used in the Western world - do not.

Stating that the game is old enough that it could have been played for 30 years, could be another attempt at making people, who actually did play the game in the early days, [[:Category:Comics to make one feel old|feel old]]. But is doesn't seem to be the main point of the comic.

Typing such numerals is said to require pressing the Alt, tilde (~), Scroll Lock, and numeral keys at the same time. Some keyboard layouts do not have a scroll lock key or a separate tilde key (such that pressing ~ actually requires pressing a shift key along with the ~ key), and in any event pressing four or five keys at once would be quite difficult. Needless to say, pressing all those keys simultaneously does not, in fact, do anything like what the comics describes in any known computer system, though some smaller subset of those keys together (i.e. "Alt ~" or "Alt numeral-key") might activate other operating system or user-defined shortcuts.

Keyboards vary in how many simultaneous key presses they can process ({{w|Rollover (key)|rollover}}). Computer keyboards for English may be limited to as few as 3 simultaneous keys, whereas other languages or higher quality keyboards may be able to handle an unlimited number of keys at once. (A musical keyboard might need to handle 10 or more simultaneous keys, likewise gaming or braille keyboards may need to handle many simultaneous keys.)

In the title text, Randall notes that [https://www.bamagazine.com/Text-type-typeface-s/105.htm certain typefaces] feature {{w|text figures}}, numerals that have ascenders and descenders, much as lower-case letters do, rather than all standing at the full X-height like capital letters. He then goes on to joke that, conversely, there are true "capital numerals," but they are a guarded secret of Mavis Beacon. {{w|Mavis Beacon (character)|Mavis Beacon}} was the character created as the typing instructor for the ''Mavis Beacon'' game, and is fictional, not a real person. Additionally, as a typing instructor, this person (even if she actually existed) would not be able to change typographical standards. Randall's description of Mavis Beacon as a "number {{w|maven}}" (that is, expert or connoisseur) contrasts with her supposed field of expertise in typing, which involves letters and punctuation more than numbers.

The comic itself hotlinks to this article: [https://www.fonts.com/content/learning/fontology/level-3/numbers/oldstyle-figures Oldstyle Figures]. It is about oldstyle/text figures.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is sitting in an office chair at his desk in front of his computer reading a message that is shown coming from the screen with a zigzag line, going to the text above him. The two upper lines (of five) are separated from the lines below, but connected with a small zigzag line. The computer short cut is written in three boxes. The last line is the numbers from 1 to 9 and 0, in a highly stylized format but recognizable in this context. The digits are shown below in their standard appearance since the stylized versions cannot be reproduced in this transcript.]
:Congratulations.
:Use this power wisely.

:Key Code (secret!!):
:<kbd>Alt</kbd> + <kbd>Tilde</kbd> + <kbd>Scroll Lock</kbd> + Number
:1234567890

:[Caption below the panel:]
:After 30 years, I finally beat the end boss of ''Mavis Beacon'' and unlocked the ability to type capital numbers.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Computers]]

2206: Mavis Beacon

2019-09-26T19:15:23Z

162.158.78.52:

{{comic
| number = 2206
| date = September 23, 2019
| title = Mavis Beacon
| image = mavis_beacon.png
| titletext = There are actually lowercase-like 'oldstyle' forms of normal numbers with more pronounced ascenders and descenders, which is why some numbers like '5' in books sometimes dangle below the line. But the true capital numbers remain the domain of number maven Mavis Beacon.
}}

==Explanation==
[[Cueball]] is being congratulated by the game he plays, Mavis Beacon, on his computer, because he has beaten the end boss and unlocked a new ability - the ability to type capital numbers...

''{{w|Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing}}'' is a computer game first released in 1987, with the goal of teaching touch-typing and improving typing speed on a computer keyboard. Unlike many video games, ''Mavis Beacon'' contains no combat and therefore does not feature any "{{w|Boss_(video_gaming)#Final_boss|end boss}}" (a very powerful enemy encountered as the final challenge of the game). In many video games, defeating major opponents "unlocks" special features, such as improved weapons. Also, playing ''Mavis Beacon'', although it may improve typing skill, has no effect on how typing works on one's computer.

In the caption, however, [[Randall]] asserts that after 30 years of playing ''Mavis Beacon'', he encountered and defeated such a boss. Playing the same game for 30 years is rare {{citation needed}}. Regardless, Randall claims that defeating this "end boss" unlocked an ability to type esoteric "capital numbers," which Randall depicts as more extravagant versions of the familiar numerals. Although modern {{w|Latin letters}} have different {{w|letter case}} (i.e. capital or upper case and small or lower-case), {{w|Arabic numerals}} - the conventional numerals 0-9 used in the Western world - do not.

Stating that the game is old enough that it could have been played for 30 years, could be another attempt at making people, who actually did play the game in the early days, [[:Category:Comics to make one feel old|feel old]]. But is doesn't seem to be the main point of the comic.

Typing such numerals is said to require pressing the Alt, tilde (~), Scroll Lock, and numeral keys at the same time. Some keyboard layouts do not have a scroll lock key or a separate tilde key (such that pressing ~ actually requires pressing a shift key along with the ~ key), and in any event pressing four or five keys at once would be quite difficult. Needless to say, pressing all those keys simultaneously does not, in fact, do anything like what the comics describes in any known computer system, though some smaller subset of those keys together (i.e. "Alt ~" or "Alt numeral-key") might activate other operating system or user-defined shortcuts.

Keyboards vary in how many simultaneous key presses they can process ({{w|Rollover (key)|rollover}}). Computer keyboards for English may be limited to as few as 3 simultaneous keys, whereas other languages or higher quality keyboards may be able to handle an unlimited number of keys at once. (A musical keyboard might need to handle 10 or more simultaneous keys, likewise gaming or braille keyboards may need to handle many simultaneous keys.)

In the title text, Randall notes that [https://www.bamagazine.com/Text-type-typeface-s/105.htm certain typefaces] feature {{w|text figures}}, numerals that have ascenders and descenders, much as lower-case letters do, rather than all standing at the full X-height like capital letters. He then goes on to joke that, conversely, there are true "capital numerals," but they are a guarded secret of Mavis Beacon. {{w|Mavis Beacon (character)|Mavis Beacon}} was the character created as the typing instructor for the ''Mavis Beacon'' game, and is fictional, not a real person. Additionally, as a typing instructor, this person (even if she actually existed) would not be able to change typographical standards. Randall's description of Mavis Beacon as a "number {{w|maven}}" (that is, expert or connoisseur) contrasts with her supposed field of expertise in typing, which involves letters and punctuation more than numbers.

The comic itself hotlinks to this article: [https://www.fonts.com/content/learning/fontology/level-3/numbers/oldstyle-figures Oldstyle Figures]. It is about oldstyle/text figures.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is sitting in an office chair at his desk in front of his computer reading a message that is shown coming from the screen with a zigzag line, going to the text above him. The two upper lines (of five) are separated from the lines below, but connected with a small zigzag line. The computer short cut is written in three boxes. The last line is the numbers from 1 to 9 and 0, in a highly stylized format but recognizable in this context. The digits are shown below in their standard appearance since the stylized versions cannot be reproduced in this transcript.]
:Congratulations.
:Use this power wisely.

:Key Code (secret!!):
:<kbd>Alt</kbd> + <kbd>Tilde</kbd> + <kbd>Scroll Lock</kbd> + Number
:1234567890

:[Caption below the panel:]
:After 30 years, I finally beat the end boss of ''Mavis Beacon'' and unlocked the ability to type capital numbers.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Computers]]

1092: Michael Phelps

2019-06-10T01:25:35Z

162.158.78.52: /* "so it have" --> "so it would have"*/

{{comic
| number = 1092
| date = August 8, 2012
| title = Michael Phelps
| image = michael phelps.png
| titletext = [shortly] ...he ate ALL of it!?
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Michael Phelps}} is an American {{w|Olympics|Olympic}} swimmer, who could easily be considered the best swimmer worldwide: he is the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time, with 28 medals, 23 of them gold (won in the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 summer Olympics, so it would have been 18 Olympic gold medals at the time the comic was published). He was most dominant in the 2008 Beijing Olympics where he won gold in all of the eight events in which he competed, the record for a single games.

[[Cueball]] and [[Megan]] find that the Olympic medalist is in Megan's pool. He refuses to leave, and is too fast to be caught. Cueball brings in boxes of Jello Mix to fill the pool with, thereby solidifying the pool and trapping Phelps or forcing him to leave.

However, according to the title text, after having waited the time necessary for the water to solidify, Cueball realizes that Phelps has eaten all of the resulting Jello. This may be a reference to Phelps being used to eating impressive food quantities (about 12,000 calories daily), to keep up with his strenuous exercise regimen;[http://www.michaelphelps.net/michael-phelps-diet/] or it may be a reference to pictures of Phelps smoking from a bong that arose after the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, as Marijuana use is often associated with an increased appetite. Otherwise, the text may simply be a reference to Phelps being capable of achieving super-human feats, such as devouring an entire pool full of Jello.

==Transcript==
:[Megan and Cueball standing outside their en-Phelps-ified swimming pool.]
:Cueball: Why is Michael Phelps in your backyard pool?
:Megan: I don't know. He's been there all day. ''Go home, Michael!''
:Michael Phelps: Woo! 18 gold medals!

:[Megan and Cueball break out a pair of pool nets and unsuccessfully try to snag Phelps.]
:Cueball: Can you get him?
:Megan: He's so '''''fast'''''!
:Phelps: Ha hah! Can't catch me!
:''Splash splash''

:[Cueball heads off to fetch something.]

:[Cueball returns with a hand truck full of Jello mix.]
:Phelps: Oh crap.

{{Comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]

283: Projection

2019-04-11T18:11:17Z

162.158.78.52: Typo

{{comic
| number = 283
| date = June 29, 2007
| title = Projection
| image = projection.png
| titletext = Out in a field, not another car for miles, silence but for the rain drumming on the sunroof, warm thick folds of the blanket hiding wordless fingertip games...
}}

==Explanation==
[[Cueball]] and [[Megan]] are watching a movie on a couch. During the movie, a scene features a character's face with legible text projected by the monitor. Though commonly depicted for dramatic effect, this phenomenon does not actually occur with conventional monitor technology. Megan is annoyed and agitated by the inaccuracy of the effect. Cueball agrees and delves more into the optical underpinnings of projected images, but in the process segues into a romantic memory of the two of them in a parked car in the rain.

At that point, the two lose interest in the movie, and begin making preparations to drive to the nearest rainstorm for another romantic evening experience.

The title text offers further poetic allusion to the rainy car romantic scene, with "fingertip games" suggesting possibly sexual behaviour involving mutual masturbation.

This was the second time in four months that [[Randall]] mentions [[:Category:Pet Peeves|Pet Peeves]]. The first was [[238: Pet Peeve 114]]. The next, [[1138: Heatmap]], did not appear until more than five years later.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball and Megan are seated on a couch, watching TV.]
:Megan: Argh, movie pet peeve- Someone sitting at a computer in the dark with the screen projected on their face. Monitors don't work like that!

:[Cueball and Megan face each other on the couch.]
:Cueball: Right - that only happens if you're in the way of a projected image. Like when we're sitting together in a parked car in the rain and the mottled light through the raindrops on the windshield makes shifting shadows on your skin...

:[Beat panel.]

:[Megan stands up, Cueball uses a laptop on table behind the couch.]
:Megan: ...I wasn't really into the movie anyway.
:Cueball: The nearest rainstorm's about 60 miles away.
:Megan: We'll drive fast.
:Cueball: I'll grab some snacks.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Romance]]
[[Category:Pet Peeves]]

1554: Spice Girls

2018-12-15T17:31:27Z

162.158.78.52: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1554
| date = July 22, 2015
| title = Spice Girls
| image = spice girls.png
| titletext = The Earth's five major mass extinctions were the Posh Extinction, the Sporty Extinction, the Scary Extinction, the Ginger Extinction, and the Baby Extinction.
}}
''Not to be confused with [[1511: Spice Girl]]''
==Explanation==
[[Cueball]] and [[Megan]] are apparently playing a game in which they name all of the elements in some category. Cueball asks Megan to name all of the {{w|Spice Girls}}, a pop group whose nicknames were
*Posh Spice ({{w|Victoria Beckham}})
*Sporty Spice ({{w|Melanie C|Melanie Chisholm}})
*Scary Spice ({{w|Mel B|Melanie Brown}}),
*Ginger Spice ({{w|Geri Halliwell}})
*Baby Spice ({{w|Emma Bunton}})

Instead, Megan winds up making up names by tacking "Spice" onto words from other, completely unrelated categories:
*First guess: The {{w|Sense#Traditional senses|five human senses}}: Hearing, Vision, Smell, Touch, and Taste.
*Second guess: The {{w|Kübler-Ross model|five stages of grief}}: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance.
*Third guess: The {{w|Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse}}: War, Famine, Plague, and Death.
*Fourth guess: Words that are phonetically similar to the actual names: {{w|Pogs|Pog}} (Posh), Story (Sporty), Sarah (Scary), {{w|Gender}} (Ginger), and {{w|Baleen}} (Baby).

This seems to be a continuation of [[1417: Seven]], where Megan asks Cueball to name the seven dwarfs. Apparently Megan confuses different sets of five (or four when she is not trying) which may be compared to the way Cueball mixes items from different sets of seven, thus not mentioning a full set, but just seven items from seven different sets of seven.

The title text has the correct "first" names of the Spice Girls, but replaces the "Spice" part of their names with "Extinction" to associate them with {{w|Extinction event#Major extinction events|Earth's five mass extinctions}}. The [http://www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org/overview.html five actual worst mass extinctions] are:
*The Ordovician-Silurian extinction,
*The Late Devonian extinction,
*The Permian-Triassic extinction,
*The End Triassic extinction, and
*The Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction.

Randall previously referenced the Spice Girls in [[1511: Spice Girl]] (more specifically, using "Which Spice Girl Are You?" as an example of online personality quizzes).
And already in the next comic [[1555: Exoplanet Names 2]] he suggest to give five exoplanets around the same star the five nicknames.

==Transcript==
:Cueball: Your turn: Can you name all of the Spice Girls?

:Megan: Hmm… Hearing Spice, Vision Spice, Smell Spice, Touch Spice, Taste Spice?
:Cueball: That’s senses.

:Megan: Denial Spice, Anger Spice, Bargaining Spice, Depression Spice, Acceptance Spice.
:Cueball: Stages of grief.

:Megan: War Spice, Famine Spice, Plague Spice, Death Spice?
:Cueball: You're not even trying.

:Megan: No, wait, I can get this for real. Uhh…
:Megan: Pog Spice, Story Spice, Sarah Spice, Gender Spice, Baleen Spice?
:Cueball: …Close enough.

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

2074: Airplanes and Spaceships

2018-11-27T20:56:49Z

162.158.78.52: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2074
| date = November 19, 2018
| title = Airplanes and Spaceships
| image = airplanes_and_spaceships.png
| titletext = Despite having now taken three months longer than the airplane people, we're making disappointingly little progress toward the obvious next stage of vehicle: The Unobtanium-hulled tunneling ship from the 2003 film 'The Core.'
}}

==Explanation==

This comic is pointing out that more time has elapsed since the first spaceship flight, than previously elapsed between the first airplane flight and the first spaceship flight. (This was at the time of release of this comic on November 19th of 2018, a month before the 115th anniversary for the first airplane flight).

Airplanes and spaceships are often considered to be related vehicles, under the term aerospace, with degrees in aerospace fields often having aeronautics (airplanes) or astronautics (spaceships) tracks. The jump in technology and performance between the first airplane and the first spaceship was enormous: the ''{{w|Wright Flyer}}'' had a max speed of 30 mph (48 km/h), and the first flights reached only about 30 feet (9 m) above ground, with distances of only 120 to 850 feet (260 m). In comparison the {{w|Vostok 1}} mission of {{w|Yuri Gagarin}} reached orbital velocity of 17,500 mph (28,000 km/h), a minimum altitude of 91 miles (480,480 ft; 146 km), and traveled once around the earth (about 25,000 miles or 40,000 km). This represents an increase in performance of between about 600 and 150,000 times.

By contrast, an equal amount of time has passed between the first spaceflight and the publish date of this comic, but aeronautical performance has not improved much at all. Although the Apollo mission broke speed and altitude records, and later space missions extended the distance traveled in a single flight by sustaining Earth orbit for longer, the overall technology and performance is not much different than that used during the first space mission.

It is one of the typical takes by [[Randall]] to try to [[:Category:Comics to make one feel old|make people feel old]]. Flight seemed old news when the Apollo mission started, so people who lived through the space race, will now feel very old since there where alive back when the space race is new, and that is now old news. This take is also used in the title text.

The title text refers to the 2003 film ''{{w|The Core}}''. In this film, there is an instability in the Earth's magnetic field, so a team of scientists attempt to drill to the center of the Earth and set off nuclear explosions to restart the rotation of the Earth's core. To do this, they travel in a vehicle made of "Unobtainium" that can withstand the heat and pressure within the Earth's crust. Randall is sad to report that there is little progress being made on creating this vehicle. Incidentally, ''The Core'' is a film which represents science and engineering wrong in many, many aspects. There is a long list of flaws.[http://geolor.com/The_Core_Movie-Facts_and_Fiction.htm][https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298814/goofs][http://intuitor.com/moviephysics/core.html][https://www.moviemistakes.com/film3100] For instance, if a material is resistant to the extreme heat and pressure of the Earth's core, then the significantly cooler and less forceful techniques of human metallurgy would certainly not be able to work that material at all, let alone craft it into a functional hull for a vehicle.

Randall makes sure to mention that the movie is from 2003, so 15 years old. Many people are surprised when realizing that a movie they saw "recently" is now so old that children born that year no longer need their parents guidance when watching it.

The Core was already used as the main plot starter in [[673: The Sun]] back in 2009, and in 2011 it was mentioned in the title text of [[2011: Newton's Trajectories]]. That Randall has a great interest in the Earths cores is shown in several comics, and may explain why he continues to return to the movie, even though he probably (taken from his comics mentioning it) thinks is a bad movie. See a recent comic here, [[2058: Rock Wall]] and of course [[913: Core]].

==Transcript==
:[A timeline is shown with three dots on it. Each dot has a label beneath the dot, and the two intervals between the dots are also labeled, with lines indicating which dots are belonging to that label.]

:;Dot 1:
::December 17, 1903
::First human airplane flight

:;Dot 2:
::April 12, 1961
::First human spaceflight

:;Dot 3:
::Today

:;Interval 1-2: 57 years 4 months
:;Interval 2-3: 57 years 7 months

:[Caption beneath the frame:]
:Spaceships are now older than airplanes were when we flew our first spaceships.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Timelines]]
[[Category:Space]]
[[Category:Comics to make one feel old]]
[[Category:Fiction]]

1824: Identification Chart

2017-04-14T11:49:45Z

162.158.78.52: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1824
| date = April 14, 2017
| title = Identification Chart
| image = identification_chart.png
| titletext = Be careful-it's breeding season, and some of these can be *extremely* defensive of their nests.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
Some aircraft are named after animals, including {{w|bird of prey|birds of prey}}, other birds, and insects. This comic presents an "identification guide" of silhouettes, each with the {{w|fuselage}} of an aircraft and the wings of the flying animal from which the aircraft gets its name. All are birds with the exception of the {{w|hornet|hornet}} that is an insect. This would be absurd if it was a cyborg or a plane with the feathers designed, as bird wings are usually made to support the lightweight structure of a bird and supporting the parts of a plane with its human pilot would be impossible.{{Citation needed}}

The comic highlights not only the various designs of aircraft tails, but also bird wings. Some wings are highly adapted for soaring (eagle), speed (falcon), as well as rapid acceleration and short flights (blackbird).

{| class="wikitable"
!Name
!Plane
!Explain
|-
|{{w|Osprey|Osprey}}
|{{w|Bell_Boeing_V-22_Osprey|V-22 Osprey}}
|The tilt-rotor V-22 Osprey has been in development since the 1980s, and was introduced to the U.S. Armed Forces in 2007.
|-
|{{w|Hornet|Hornet}}
|{{w|McDonnell_Douglas_F/A-18_Hornet|F/A-18 Hornet}}
|A design stemming from the 1970ies, the U.S. Navy now flies an updated and larger version, the F-18E/F.
|-
|{{w|Falcon|Falcon}}
|{{w|General_Dynamics_F-16_Fighting_Falcon|F-16 Falcon}}
|A smaller, more versatile fighter jet. Has been sold to many foreign air forces.
|-
|{{w|Harrier|Harrier}}
|{{w|Harrier_Jump_Jet|Harrier_Jump_Jet}}
|The first operational STOL/VTOL fighter. They are known for their use in the Falklands War (1982), where they, for a lack of aircraft carriers, even operated from converted cargo ships.
|-
|{{w|Eagle|Eagle}}
|{{w|McDonnell_Douglas_F-15_Eagle|F-15 Eagle}}
|Introduced in 1976, other jets like F-16 have filled its role. The U.S. Air National Guard is the largest operater as of now.
|-
|{{w|Kestrel|Kestrel}}
|{{w|Kestrel_K-350|Kestrel_K-350}}
|The Kestrel is a single-engine, proof-of-concept aircraft, similar to the {{w|Pilatus PC-12}}.
|-
|{{w|Hawk|Hawk}}
|{{w|BAE_Systems_Hawk|Hawk T1}}
|A trainer aircraft. {{w|T-45 Goshawk}} is the U.S. designation of that aircraft. Alternatively could be the Douglas [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_A-4_Skyhawk A-4 Skyhawk]
|-
|{{w|Blackbird|Blackbird}}
|{{w|Lockheed_SR-71_Blackbird|SR-71 Blackbird}}
|A hypersonic spy aircraft, known for its speed and engine concept (which works both as a turbine and a ramjet).
|}

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

{{comic discussion}}

1217: Cells

2017-02-24T01:06:59Z

162.158.78.52:

{{comic
| number = 1217
| date = May 27, 2013
| title = Cells
| image = cells.png
| titletext = Now, if it selectively kills cancer cells in a petri dish, you can be sure it's at least a great breakthrough for everyone suffering from petri dish cancer.
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Cancer}} is one of the most feared group of illnesses due to high mortality and a topic visited by Randall in [[:Category:Cancer|past comics]].

Whenever a study finds a hint of a cure, it is hyped up in media as major breakthrough. However, because research is done in a laboratory using cultivated cancer cell assays in petri dishes or well plates, it typically does not take interactions with other parts of a body into consideration, which is ultimately necessary for a patient to survive treatment without harmful side-effects. In order for a cancer treatment to be viable, it would have to primarily target only cancer cells; not healthy ones. Added to this is the issue that major cancer in the body quickly evolves resistance to most treatments, most treatments end up either unused or used as just one in a cocktail of cancer fighting drugs.

Here, [[Randall]] reminds us that there's no need to get excited upon hearing about a drug that kills cancer cells because it may very well harm healthy cells as well, just as a bullet fired from a handgun would.

The title text suggests that even if a drug did only kill cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone, the human body still has many other complex processes that may render a drug that works in a petri dish insufficient. For instance, a drug that kills cancer cells in a petri dish may not be able to get at cancer cells deep within a human body. It is a long way from the laboratory to the pharmacy.

A more humorous interpretation of the title text is that it will only kill cancer cells if they are in petri dishes, and not anywhere else.

==Transcript==
:[Caption above the panel:]
:When you see a claim that a common drug or vitamin "kills cancer cells in a petri dish,"
:keep in mind:

:[Cueball in a lab coat stands on a chair next to a desk, pointing a gun at a petri dish. There is a microscope on the desk.]

:[Caption below the panel:]
:So does a handgun.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Cancer]]

180: Canada

2017-02-10T03:36:35Z

162.158.78.52:

{{comic
| number = 180
| date = November 6, 2006
| title = Canada
| image = canada.png
| titletext = IT'S ALL REAL
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Canada}} is the country north of the {{w|USA}}{{Citation needed}}. During political seasons, partisan voters often threaten to move away if their side loses. For Americans, this often comes to [http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/people-moving-to-canada-because-of-obamacare claims of moving to Canada].

The punchline references the tagline "If you die in the game, you die in real life" from the 2006 horror movie {{w|Stay Alive}} (released a few months before this comic), where people die in real life soon after their characters are killed in a certain video game. The idea was also present in ''{{w|The Matrix}}'': "If you're killed in the Matrix, you die here?"

Taken literally, it is obviously true, as Canada is part of reality{{Citation needed}}. It really is "all real" as the comic says.

==Transcript==
:[Two men stand talking to each other.]
:Cueball: If we lose this election, I'm moving to Canada.
:Friend: You say that every year.
:Cueball: I mean it this time.

:Friend: Well, becoming a citizen takes work. Meanwhile, you have no money, half an art degree, and it's the start of winter. You'll freeze to death in the streets.
:Cueball: Whatever.

:[Friend raises his hands.]
:Friend: No, don't you get it? If you die in Canada, you die in REAL LIFE!

==Trivia==
*According to [http://blag.xkcd.com/2007/03/16/mit-programming-team/ Randall's blag], a team named “If You Die in Canada, You Die in Real Life” entered the 2007 MIT BattleCode programming competition. They won the "Best Team Name" award.

{{Comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Politics]]