explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:2358: Gravitational Wave Pulsars

2020-09-12T18:22:00Z

172.69.62.160: location, direction and length?

This one isn't very funny..
[[Special:Contributions/162.158.75.190|162.158.75.190]] 19:37, 11 September 2020 (UTC)
::It's not topical either. I sense filler. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.186.100|162.158.186.100]] 19:49, 11 September 2020 (UTC)
::::Perhaps not as topical as US Presidential Elections or COVID-19, but there have been at least two research papers on gravity wave phenomena in the past two weeks, I’ve been seeing YouTube vids about it pop up in my feed and various people tweeting about it. See the research paper, "GW190521: A Binary Black Hole Coalescence with a Total Mass of 150 Solar Masses," which was published in Physical Review Letters on September 2, 2020 and The research paper, "Properties and Astrophysical Implications of the 150 Solar Mass Binary Black Hole Merger GW190521," published in Astrophysical Journal Letters on September 2, 2020. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.58|108.162.219.58]] 05:13, 12 September 2020 (UTC)
::Unless there's a hidden joke that I don't get [[Special:Contributions/172.68.141.176|172.68.141.176]] 20:05, 11 September 2020 (UTC)
::There's a common joke that roughly goes "What is the secret to a good joke timing?" (said all at once) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.106.244|162.158.106.244]] 21:18, 11 September 2020 (UTC)

Context is here: https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.04496
::Related to this? [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GW190521 GW190521 Wiki]] [[User:OhFFS|OhFFS]] ([[User talk:OhFFS|talk]]) 21:13, 11 September 2020 (UTC)
::No, the gravitational waves have different periods than what LIGO/Virgo detects, and therefore the astrophysical sources are different. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.75.200|162.158.75.200]] 21:22, 11 September 2020 (UTC)

This is a reference to the (possibly apocryphal) Johnny Carson interview of a comedian (possibly Jerry Lewis, possibly Buddy Hackett):
* Comedian: Go ahead: ask me what is the secret of comedy.
* Carson: OK, what is the...
* Comedian: TIMING!
I've looked for the source, and all I can find are retellings of retellings (e.g. https://www.sleuthsayers.org/2013/08/the-immortal-timing-of-elmore-leonard.html ). -- [[User:Dtgriscom|Dtgriscom]] ([[User talk:Dtgriscom|talk]]) 02:35, 12 September 2020 (UTC)

I think the title text is referring to the saying I’m realty that the most important things to consider when buying a house are “location, location, location.” (https://www.realestateabc.com/insights/location.html)
[[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.5|108.162.238.5]] 03:34, 12 September 2020 (UTC)
:Which is good to know, but leaves some doubt over momentum, momentum and momentum. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.158.197|162.158.158.197]] 08:24, 12 September 2020 (UTC)

The use of curly braces around {location, location, location} might also be a joke.
"...using curly braces refers to the character vector that is stored within the string."
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/curly-brace
I don't understand enough abot the topic to be sure. ---- JM

I've forgotten 110% of what I learned about math, but I thought {length, length, length} (or, equivalently, angle and magnitude) were equally important to a vector in 3-space. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.62.160|172.69.62.160]] 18:22, 12 September 2020 (UTC)

2003: Presidential Succession

2019-10-16T11:25:58Z

172.69.62.160: /* Order of succession */ added links

{{comic
| number = 2003
| date = June 6, 2018
| title = Presidential Succession
| image = presidential_succession.png
| titletext = Ties are broken by whoever was closest to the surface of Europa when they were born.
}}

==Explanation==
The {{w|United States presidential line of succession}} is the order of people who serve as president if the current incumbent president is incapacitated, dies, resigns, or is removed from office.

The {{w|Presidential_Succession_Act#Presidential_Succession_Act_of_1947|Presidential Succession Act of 1947}} was an act by the U.S. Congress that revised the presidential order of succession to its current order. This Act, though never challenged in the courts, may not be constitutional for two reasons. First, it is unclear whether members of Congress can be designated in the line of succession. Secondly, the Act allows for a cabinet officer to be "replaced" as acting President by a new Speaker of the House or a new President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

An additional concern regarding the Act is that after the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the line of succession list the members of the Cabinet in the order that their department was established with the oldest departments first, irrespective of the Secretary's personal fitness or appropriateness of the office. The Department of Homeland Security is in charge of the security and protection of the United States and its citizens and would probably already be privy to sensitive intelligence and briefings related to national security, but because it is the latest of the Departments to have been established (in 2003), the Secretary of Homeland Security is all the way at the bottom of the current Presidential line of succession at 18th, behind other Secretaries such as that of Agriculture (9th) and Education (16th).

Another practical concern is that, by including the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate immediately after the Vice President, there is a serious risk that the simultaneous death of the President and Vice President could cause the Presidency to change to the opposing party, which (in the current American political climate) could lead to serious political instability at the precise moment when the country is facing a national crisis, and could even encourage assassinations.

The full text of the Second Report of the Continuity of Government Commission can be found here: <https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/06_continuity_of_government.pdf>. A short, readable summary, including the report's recommended new line of succession, is here: <https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-continuity-of-the-presidency-the-second-report-of-the-continuity-of-government-commission/>. The first 6 members of the commission's list are included in the current line of succession, after which they specificy that 5 new people should be appointed specifically for the purpose of succeeding the presidency if needed. Randall's list begins with these 11 people (stuffing all 5 of the new appointees into #7); afterwards, his list continues with more politicians, actors who have played Presidents, athletes, and others.

Randall's list omits the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, as well as many other cabinet positions. He is probably simply following the commission's report in this. But perhaps he does not find those people qualified to become President of the United States, or is concerned about the constitutionality of lawmakers becoming President. However, he does not seem to be concerned about constitutionality, because he included the entire line of succession to the British throne, most of whom do not meet the requirement to be a natural-born citizen of the United States.{{Citation needed}} {{w|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_Two_of_the_United_States_Constitution#Clause_5:_Qualifications_for_office|Article Two of the US Constitution}} establishes that the President must be a "{{w|Natural-born-citizen clause|natural-born}}" US citizen at least 35 years of age and had lived in the US for the last 14 years.

Randall's list includes several other people who also might not be eligible to become President either because they are not natural-born U.S. citizens (e.g., as of the time of the comic's publication, {{w|Serena Williams}} had withdrawn from her last match in the {{w|French Open}} to {{w|Maria Sharapova}}, who is Russian) or they are under 35 years of age ({{w|Russell Westbrook}}, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player at the time of the comic's publication, was only 29 years old). These would mainly be athletes due to the relatively global reach of the four major professional sports leagues in North America and the fact that 35 is quite old for a professional athlete, let alone one who is good enough to win the league MVP. Presumably, those who wouldn't qualify for the office of President would be skipped over like in real life -- at the comic's publication, {{w|Elaine Chao}} was the Secretary of Transportation and would normally be 14th in line, but because she is a naturalized citizen of the US (she was born in Taiwan) she would not qualify for the office if the line came to her.

The title text mentions whoever was closest to the surface of {{w|Europa}} when they were born. Europa is a moon of Jupiter and one of the most likely locations in the Solar System for {{w|Habitability of natural satellites|potential habitability}}. Nevertheless it's a completely meaningless way of settling a tie. However, depending on the relative positions of Earth and Jupiter when you were born, you could easily have been tens of millions of kilometers closer. Alternatively, Randall could be playing on how Europa sounds like Europe.

==Order of succession==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!#
!Randall's order
!Current order by the 1947 Act
!Notes
|-
|1
|{{w|POTUS|President}}
|President
|Not generally considered part of the line of succession, as incumbents cannot "succeed" to their own post. (This should really be item 0 on the list.)
|-
|2
|{{w|POTUS|Vice president}}
|Vice president
|No change
|-
|3
|{{w|United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State}}
|Speaker of the House of Representatives
|Moved up from 5th position. This is likely a serious suggestion. Existing rules of succession hand Executive power to the leaders of the Legislative branch if the President and Vice-President are both killed or removed from power. This is troubling for a number of reasons. One is that the Executive and Legislative branches are supposed to act as independent checks on one another's power, and so are supposed to be kept separate. Another issue is that the Executive and Legislative branches are frequently controlled by political rivals from different political parties. In such a case, assassins could effectively reverse the results of Presidential elections if they managed to kill the President and Vice-President in a short period of time (which is used as part of the twist ending in ''{{w|White House Down}}''). Additionally, leaders of the House and Senate aren't as deeply connected to the military and diplomatic missions of the country, and so would have a hard time maintaining continuity, particularly if an attack or disaster killed multiple national leaders at once. These problems could all be addressed by keeping the initial Line of Succession confined to the Executive branch of government.
|-
|4
|{{w|United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense}}
|{{w|President pro tempore of the United States Senate|President pro tempore of the Senate}}
|Moved up from 7th position
|-
|5
|{{w|United States Secretary of Homeland Security|Secretary of Homeland Security}}
|Secretary of State
|Moved up from 19th position, possibly to highlight the Attorney General's place in the current order
|-
|6
|{{w|United States Attorney General|Attorney General}}
|{{w|United States Secretary of the Treasury|Secretary of the Treasury}}
|Moved up from 8th position
|-
|7
|Five people who do not live in Washington DC, nominated at the start of the President's term and confirmed by the Senate
|Secretary of Defense
|{{w|Washington, D.C.}} is the capital of the United States, and is where the {{w|White House}}, the President's residence, is located. Presumably this provision covers the case where much of the government, including positions 1–6 here, are killed by a natural disaster or attack in Washington, D.C.

This suggestion establishes no qualifications for these people, but the fact that they'd need to be confirmed by the Senate suggests that they would be chosen to be competent for the role. It is also unclear if an order is determined among these five or if they take up a joint presidency. This suggestion is taken from the Second Report of the Continuity of Government Commission as a potential mechanism to ensure members of succession are not in Washington DC during a catastrophic attack.
|-
|8
|{{w|Tom Hanks}}
|Attorney General
|Academy Award-winning American actor. This is the first unambiguously unserious suggestion.{{Citation needed}} Tom Hanks is very popular and considered exceptionally likeable by many Americans, but has never served in public office or displayed any particular affinity for politics. He has also never played a president, though he has received a {{w|Presidential Medal of Freedom}}, and appeared in a {{w|Last Week Tonight with John Oliver}} [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyPRssh2rk0 skit], where he rallies five (wax) presidents to action. The implication is that Mr. Hanks would be easily accepted as a leader, based solely on his personal charm.
|-
|9
|State Governors, in descending order of state population at last census
|{{w|United States Secretary of the Interior|Secretary of the Interior}}
|Also taken from Second Report of the Continuity of Government Commission. At the time of publication, the last {{w|United States Census}} was the 2010 Census. As California is the most populous state, its Governor ({{w|Jerry Brown}} at the time of publication) would have been first in line.

See also the {{w|2010_United_States_Census#State_rankings|state population rankings}} and the {{w|list of current United States governors}}. As worded, this criterion would exclude territorial governors (and the Mayor of Washington, D.C.).
|-
|10
|Anyone who won an Oscar for playing a governor
|{{w|United States Secretary of Agriculture|Secretary of Agriculture}}
|Oscars, or {{w|Academy Awards}}, are annual film awards awarded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. At the time of publication, the only Oscar awarded for playing a governor was {{w|Broderick Crawford}}'s 1949 Best Actor award for the fictional Willie Stark in ''{{w|All the King's Men (1949 film)|All the King's Men}}'' (a character based on {{w|Huey Long}}). However, Crawford died in 1986, so would be unable to serve as President.

May be a reference to the {{w|Political career of Arnold Schwarzenegger}}: a highly-lauded actor who became governor of California, but did not win an Oscar or play a governor before being elected. (As a naturalized citizen, he is also ineligible for the Presidency.)
|-
|11
|Anyone who won a Governor's award for playing someone named Oscar
|{{w|United States Secretary of Commerce|Secretary of Commerce}}
|The {{w|Governors Awards}} are an annual award ceremony hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to present lifetime achievement awards within the film industry. As this award is a lifetime achievement award, it does not seem possible that an actor could win this award for simply playing someone named Oscar. Notwithstanding the nature of the award, at the time of publication, no recipient of a Governors Award has played a character named Oscar.

Obviously, the joke is that changing the order of the words from the previous proposal produces something that could actually exist.
|-
|12
|{{w|Kate McKinnon}}, if available
|Secretary of Labor
|Comedic actress famous for being a cast member on {{w|Saturday Night Live}}. She is known for her character work and celebrity impressions. She has recently done impersonations of members of the Trump administration including Spokeswoman {{w|Kellyanne Conway}} and Attorney General {{w|Jeff Sessions}}. She also played {{w|Hillary Clinton}} during the 2016 campaign and presumably would have played her when she was President had she won; but since Clinton lost, McKinnon has not actually played a President.
|-
|13
|Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Singles artists #1 through #10 (for groups, whoever is credited first in name, liner notes, etc)
|Secretary of Health and Human Services
|The {{w|Billboard Hot 100}} is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for singles, published weekly by Billboard magazine. The weekly data is aggregated into a cumulative {{w|Billboard Year-End}} (based on a "year" that ends the third week of November, in order to meet December publication deadlines). At the time of publication, the most recent such list was the {{w|Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2017}}.

Based on that list, the artists considered for the presidential succession would be: {{w|Ed Sheeran}}, {{w|Luis Fonsi}}, {{w|Bruno Mars}}, {{w|Kendrick Lamar}}, Alex Pall (of {{w|The Chainsmokers}}), {{w|Quavo|Quavoius Keyate Marshall}} (of {{w|Migos}}), {{w|Sam Hunt}}, {{w|Dan Reynolds}} (of {{w|Imagine Dragons}}), and {{w|Post Malone}}. There are only nine names instead of ten because The Chainsmokers had two of the top 10 singles in 2017. Of these, only Luis Fonsi (40 years old, born in Puerto Rico) was legally eligible for the office; all the others were too young, and Sheeran is additionally from the United Kingdom.
|-
|14
|The top 5 US astronauts in descending order of total spaceflight time
|Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
|Astronauts are highly respected and rigorously selected, but most have little involvement in politics. According to [https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-station-astronaut-record-holders NASA], the top 5 US astronauts by cumulative space time at the time of publication were: {{w|Peggy Whitson}}, {{w|Jeffrey Williams (astronaut)|Jeff Williams}}, {{W|Scott Kelly (astronaut)|Scott Kelly}}, {{w|Mike Fincke}}, and {{w|Mike Foale}}. However, it is unclear whether Foale would qualify as a natural-born citizen, as he was born in the United Kingdom to a British father and American mother.
|-
|15
|{{w|Serena Williams}} (or, if she lost her most recent match, whoever beat her)
|Secretary of Transportation
|As of the time of publication, Serena Williams was a top female tennis player. She is arguably the greatest female tennis player of all-time, winning 39 {{w|Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam}} titles, including 23 women's singles titles. At the time of publication Serena Williams did win her most recent match (2018 French Open, third round, on June 2nd), although she withdrew from her next match against Maria Sharapova (which perhaps should count as a loss, especially if she withdrew in order to preserve her place in the line of succession and killed everyone in place ahead of her).

If her most recent defeat was to a non-US player, presumably she would be skipped over in line although this is not explicitly stated (the current succession list skips over anyone who would not normally qualify for not being a natural-born US citizen).
|-
|16
|The most recent season NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL MVPs
|Secretary of Energy
|MVP stands for {{w|Most Valuable Player}}. The 4 listed leagues are the major sports leagues in the United States, the {{w|National Basketball Association}} (NBA), the {{w|National Football League}} (NFL), {{w|Major League Baseball}} (MLB), and the {{w|National Hockey League}} (NHL). We're assuming that Randall meant the regular season MVPs of each league, as each league also awards MVPs for their respective championships (or in the case of the NHL's {{w|Conn Smythe Trophy}}, their entire playoffs).

As of the time of publication, the most recent MVPs for the listed sports were {{w|Russell Westbrook}} (NBA), {{w|Tom Brady}} (NFL), {{w|José Altuve}} and {{w|Giancarlo Stanton}} (MLB has two, one for the American League and one for the National League), and {{w|Connor McDavid}} (NHL). Of these, only Brady would qualify for the list - Altuve and McDavid are Venezuelan and Canadian citizens respectively, and Westbrook (29) and Stanton (28) were too young.
|-
|17
|{{w|Bill Pullman}} and his descendants by absolute primogeniture
|Secretary of Education
|American actor, known for playing President Thomas J. Whitmore in the 1996 film ''{{w|Independence Day (1996 film)|Independence Day}}''.

Absolute primogeniture is a form of succession where the oldest direct descendant regardless of gender receives the title. This is contrasted to {{w|Male-preference primogeniture}}, in which males come before females in the order of the throne, whether the males were born first or not. This may be a reference to the British law {{w|Succession to the Crown Act 2013}}, which changed the order of the throne from male-preference primogeniture to absolute primogeniture. This act allows {{w|Princess Charlotte of Cambridge|Princess Charlotte}} to retain her place in line before {{w|Prince Louis of Cambridge|Prince Louis}}.

At the time of publication, Pullman's immediate descendants consisted of three children, with Maesa Pullman being the oldest at age 29. Thus all but Bill Pullman himself were too young for the presidency.
|-
|18
|The entire line of succession to the British throne
|Secretary of Veterans Affairs
|According to the Constitution, only a natural-born citizen of the United States can become President, which means that at least most of the line of succession to the British throne is ineligible. However, it is possible that someone in the line of succession to the British throne either is a dual citizen (especially one who is a U.S. citizen based on place of birth and a British citizen based on having a parent who was a British citizen descended from {{w|Sophia of Hanover}}) or is not British (a person from outside of Britain can become King; for example, some, including George I, were from what is now Germany).

The first 59 names on the list are {{w|Succession_to_the_British_throne#Current_line_of_succession|here}}. [https://lineofsuccession.co.uk/?date=2018-06-06 British Line of Succession on 6 June 2018] shows the list as it was at the comic's publication. American citizens [http://articles.latimes.com/1988-02-11/news/vw-42233_1_royal-house have, at times] been on the list, but no natural-born Americans were on the list when the comic was published. However, after this comic was published {{w|Archie Mountbatten-Windsor}} was born on May 6, 2019; he is currently seventh in the line of succession to the British throne and has US citizenship through his mother {{w|Meghan, Duchess of Sussex}}. As with Mark Foale, though, whether that qualifies as natural-born has not be tested (leaving aside his age and the fact that many royals in his position have historically relinquished their birthright US citizenship voluntarily, which he may choose to do once he reaches age 16). In theory, the full British succession list includes [http://www.wargs.com/essays/succession/2011.html several thousand people] (living descendants of {{w|Sophia of Hanover}} who are not Roman Catholic or otherwise disqualified), and it is possible that one or more such people would also be eligible to be President of the United States beyond Master Archie.

The humor here derives from the fact that the United States was established by declaring independence from the United Kingdom, with rejection of the British monarchy being a basic founding principle, and a core principle of US governance. To appoint the British monarchy to the American presidency would contradict the basic goals of American independence. Alternatively, it may reference the recent wedding of {{w|Prince Harry}} to {{w|Meghan Markle}}, although she is not in the order of succession to the British throne. A similar sequence of events was the plotline of the comedy film ''{{w|King Ralph}}'', which saw an American become the British monarch after the death of the royal family.
|-
|19
|The current champion of the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating contest
|Secretary of Homeland Security
|The {{w|Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest}} is an annual American hot dog competitive eating competition sponsored by {{w|Nathan's Famous}} held on July 4th. As of the time of publication, the most recent men's winner was {{w|Joey Chestnut}} and the women's winner was {{w|Miki Sudo}}. At the time of publication, neither was old enough to assume the office.

The comic does not specify whether the men's or women's winner should take office, creating a tie that would be broken by distance from Europa at birth. Had they both been eligible, [https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/29132/was-earth-closer-to-europa-on-1983-11-25-or-1985-07-22 Sudo would have won] by between 0.125 and 4 {{w|Astronomical unit}}s.
|-
|20
|All other US citizens, chosen by a 29-round single-elimination Jousting tournament
|''None''
|Effective for a population up to 536,870,912 individuals (2^29) which would be enough to cover the entire US population (estimated at around 325 million at time of publication), although additional rounds can be added should the population grow further.

This is probably a reference to the {{w|Matter of Britain}} (e.g., {{w|The Sword in the Stone (film)|The Sword in the Stone}}), where, after the death of Uther Pendragon, with no known successor to the throne of England for years, it is decided that the winner of a jousting tournament shall be crowned. However, Arthur, the Wart, pulls the Sword from the Stone.
|}

===List of specific individuals===
Based on the comic's defined criteria for the order of succession, these are the specific individuals in that order, including only people who are otherwise eligible to be the President of United States (35 year old and natural born US citizens who lived in US for last 14 years) '''as of the date the comic was published'''.
#{{w|Donald Trump}} ({{w|President of the United States}})
#{{w|Mike Pence}} ({{w|Vice President of the United States}})
#{{w|Mike Pompeo}} ({{w|United States Secretary of State}})
#{{w|Jim Mattis}} ({{w|United States Secretary of Defense}})
#{{w|Kirstjen Nielsen}} ({{w|United States Secretary of Homeland Security}})
#{{w|Jeff Sessions}} ({{w|United States Attorney General}})
#{{w|Tom Hanks}} (Tom Hanks) As Donald Trump did not appoint anyone to fill position #7 on Randall's line of succession, Hanks immediately follows after Sessions.
#{{w|Jerry Brown}} (Governor of California)
#{{w|Greg Abbott}} (Governor of Texas)
#{{w|Andrew Cuomo}} (Governor of New York)
#{{w|Rick Scott}} (Governor of Florida)
#{{w|Bruce Rauner}} (Governor of Illinois)
#{{w|Tom Wolf}} (Governor of Pennsylvania)
#{{w|John Kasich}} (Governor of Ohio)
#{{w|Rick Snyder}} (Governor of Michigan)
#{{w|Nathan Deal}} (Governor of Georgia)
#{{w|Roy Cooper}} (Governor of North Carolina)
#{{w|Phil Murphy}} (Governor of New Jersey)
#{{w|Ralph Northam}} (Governor of Virginia)
#{{w|Jay Inslee}} (Governor of Washington)
#{{w|Charlie Baker}} (Governor of Massachusetts)
#{{w|Eric Holcomb}} (Governor of Indiana)
#{{w|Doug Ducey}} (Governor of Arizona)
#{{w|Bill Haslam}} (Governor of Tennessee)
#{{w|Mike Parson}} (Governor of Missouri)
#{{w|Larry Hogan}} (Governor of Maryland)
#{{w|Scott Walker (politician)|Scott Walker}} (Governor of Wisconsin)
#{{w|Mark Dayton}} (Governor of Minnesota)
#{{w|John Hickenlooper}} (Governor of Colorado)
#{{w|Kay Ivey}} (Governor of Alabama)
#{{w|Henry McMaster}} (Governor of South Carolina)
#{{w|John Bel Edwards}} (Governor of Louisiana)
#{{w|Matt Bevin}} (Governor of Kentucky)
#{{w|Kate Brown}} (Governor of Oregon) Born in Spain to a member of the US Air Force, should be considered a natural-born citizen until proven otherwise.
#{{w|Mary Fallin}} (Governor of Oklahoma)
#{{w|Dannel Malloy}} (Governor of Connecticut)
#{{w|Kim Reynolds}} (Governor of Iowa)
#{{w|Phil Bryant}} (Governor of Mississippi)
#{{w|Asa Hutchinson}} (Governor of Arkansas)
#{{w|Jeff Colyer}} (Governor of Kansas)
#{{w|Gary Herbert}} (Governor of Utah)
#{{w|Brian Sandoval}} (Governor of Nevada)
#{{w|Susana Martinez}} (Governor of New Mexico)
#{{w|Jim Justice}} (Governor of West Virginia)
#{{w|Pete Ricketts}} (Governor of Nebraska)
#{{w|Butch Otter}} (Governor of Idaho)
#{{w|David Ige}} (Governor of Hawaii)
#{{w|Paul LePage}} (Governor of Maine)
#{{w|Chris Sununu}} (Governor of New Hampshire)
#{{w|Gina Raimondo}} (Governor of Rhode Island)
#{{w|Steve Bullock (American politician)|Steve Bullock}} (Governor of Montana)
#{{w|John Carney (politician)|John Carney}} (Governor of Delaware)
#{{w|Dennis Daugaard}} (Governor of South Dakota)
#{{w|Bill Walker (U.S. politician)|Bill Walker}} (Governor of Alaska)
#{{w|Doug Burgum}} (Governor of North Dakota)
#{{w|Phil Scott (politician)|Phil Scott}} (Governor of Vermont)
#{{w|Matt Mead}} (Governor of Wyoming)
#{{w|Kate McKinnon}} (Kate McKinnon) If she is available. Entries 10 and 11 on Randall's list have no eligible living members.
#{{w|Luis Fonsi}} (Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2017, #2 artist) Fonsi is the only eligible individual under the Billboard criterion.
#{{w|Peggy Whitson}} (Astronaut, 665 days in space)
#{{w|Jeffrey Williams (astronaut)|Jeff Williams}} (Astronaut, 534 days in space)
#{{w|Scott Kelly}} (Astronaut, 520 days in space)
#{{w|Mike Fincke}} (Astronaut, 382 days in space)
#{{w|Mike Foale}} (Astronaut, 374 days in space) Foale was born in the UK but his mother is an American, and he holds dual citizenship with both countries. It isn't clear legally whether this situation would qualify him as being a "natural-born" citizen as US courts have never definitively ruled on what the term means, so similar to Governor Kate Brown his name is included in the list until further notice.
#{{w|Serena Williams}} Serena's place on this list assumes that you do not count her withdrawal against Maria Sharapova as a ''loss''; if that counts as a loss, then subsequent entries move up one position (as Sharapova is ineligible).
#{{w|Tom Brady}} ({{w|National Football League Most Valuable Player Award|NFL MVP}}) The MVPs of all other listed sports leagues are ineligible for the office due to age or nationality.
#{{w|Bill Pullman}} (Bill Pullman) None of his children are old enough to become President at this time.
#''line of succession to the British throne''
#''everyone else'' (Jousting tournament) Assumes that no eligible member of the British order of succession exists due to citizenship issues. The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating champions were too young to hold the office. Further assumes that the number of eligible US Citizens does not exceed 536,870,912.

Based on the comic's defined criteria for the order of succession, these are the specific individuals in that order, including only people who are otherwise eligible to be the President of United States (35 year old and natural born US citizens who lived in US for last 14 years) '''as of the current date'''.
#{{w|Donald Trump}} ({{w|President of the United States}})
#{{w|Mike Pence}} ({{w|Vice President of the United States}})
#{{w|Mike Pompeo}} ({{w|United States Secretary of State}})
#{{w|Mark Esper}} ({{w|United States Secretary of Defense}})
#{{w|Kevin McAleenan}} ({{w|United States Secretary of Homeland Security}}) Kevin McAleenan is currently the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security. It's unclear whether this proposal would include acting officers.
#{{w|William Barr}} ({{w|United States Attorney General}})
#{{w|Tom Hanks}} (Tom Hanks) As Donald Trump did not appoint anyone to fill position #7 on Randall's line of succession, Hanks immediately follows after Barr.
#{{w|Gavin Newsom}} (Governor of California)
#{{w|Greg Abbott}} (Governor of Texas)
#{{w|Andrew Cuomo}} (Governor of New York)
#{{w|Ron DeSantis}} (Governor of Florida)
#{{w|J. B. Pritzker}} (Governor of Illinois)
#{{w|Tom Wolf}} (Governor of Pennsylvania)
#{{w|Mike DeWine}} (Governor of Ohio)
#{{w|Gretchen Whitmer}} (Governor of Michigan) Notably, the first woman on this list.
#{{w|Brian Kemp}} (Governor of Georgia)
#{{w|Roy Cooper}} (Governor of North Carolina)
#{{w|Phil Murphy}} (Governor of New Jersey)
#{{w|Ralph Northam}} (Governor of Virginia)
#{{w|Jay Inslee}} (Governor of Washington)
#{{w|Charlie Baker}} (Governor of Massachusetts)
#{{w|Eric Holcomb}} (Governor of Indiana)
#{{w|Doug Ducey}} (Governor of Arizona)
#{{w|Bill Lee}} (Governor of Tennessee)
#{{w|Mike Parson}} (Governor of Missouri)
#{{w|Larry Hogan}} (Governor of Maryland)
#{{w|Tony Evers}} (Governor of Wisconsin)
#{{w|Tim Walz}} (Governor of Minnesota)
#{{w|Jared Polis}} (Governor of Colorado)
#{{w|Kay Ivey}} (Governor of Alabama)
#{{w|Henry McMaster}} (Governor of South Carolina)
#{{w|John Bel Edwards}} (Governor of Louisiana)
#{{w|Matt Bevin}} (Governor of Kentucky)
#{{w|Kate Brown}} (Governor of Oregon) Born in Spain to a member of the US Air Force, should be considered a natural-born citizen until proven otherwise.
#{{w|Kevin Stitt}} (Governor of Oklahoma) Notably, the first nonwhite person on this list.
#{{w|Ned Lamont}} (Governor of Connecticut)
#{{w|Kim Reynolds}} (Governor of Iowa)
#{{w|Phil Bryant}} (Governor of Mississippi)
#{{w|Asa Hutchinson}} (Governor of Arkansas)
#{{w|Laura Kelly}} (Governor of Kansas)
#{{w|Gary Herbert}} (Governor of Utah)
#{{w|Steve Sisolak}} (Governor of Nevada)
#{{w|Michelle Lujan Grisham}} (Governor of New Mexico)
#{{w|Jim Justice}} (Governor of West Virginia)
#{{w|Pete Ricketts}} (Governor of Nebraska)
#{{w|Brad Little}} (Governor of Idaho)
#{{w|David Ige}} (Governor of Hawaii)
#{{w|Janet Mills}} (Governor of Maine)
#{{w|Chris Sununu}} (Governor of New Hampshire)
#{{w|Gina Raimondo}} (Governor of Rhode Island)
#{{w|Steve Bullock (American politician)|Steve Bullock}} (Governor of Montana)
#{{w|John Carney (politician)|John Carney}} (Governor of Delaware)
#{{w|Kristi Noem}} (Governor of South Dakota)
#{{w|Mike Dunleavy}} (Governor of Alaska)
#{{w|Doug Burgum}} (Governor of North Dakota)
#{{w|Phil Scott (politician)|Phil Scott}} (Governor of Vermont)
#{{w|Mark Gordon}} (Governor of Wyoming)
#{{w|Kate McKinnon}} (Kate McKinnon) If she is available. Entries 10 and 11 on Randall's list have no eligible living members.
#{{w|Adam Levine}} (Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2018, #10 artist) Levine is the only eligible individual under the Billboard criterion, being over 35. He represents {{w|Maroon 5}}.
#{{w|Peggy Whitson}} (Astronaut, 665 days in space)
#{{w|Jeffrey Williams (astronaut)|Jeff Williams}} (Astronaut, 534 days in space)
#{{w|Scott Kelly}} (Astronaut, 520 days in space)
#{{w|Mike Fincke}} (Astronaut, 382 days in space)
#{{w|Mike Foale}} (Astronaut, 374 days in space) Foale was born in the UK but his mother is an American, and he holds dual citizenship with both countries. It isn't clear legally whether this situation would qualify him as being a "natural-born" citizen as US courts have never definitively ruled on what the term means, so similar to Governor Kate Brown his name is included in the list until further notice.
#{{w|Bill Pullman}} (Bill Pullman) {{w|Bianca Andreescu}}, the winner of {{w|Serena Williams}}' last match, is ineligible due to age and nationality. The MVPs of all listed sports leagues are ineligible for the office due to age or nationality. None of Bill Pullman's children are old enough to become President at this time.
#''line of succession to the British throne''
#''everyone else'' (Jousting tournament) Assumes that no eligible member of the British order of succession exists due to citizenship issues. The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating champions were too young to hold the office. Further assumes that the number of eligible US Citizens does not exceed 536,870,912.

==Transcript==
: A proposal for a new presidential line of succession
: Current politics aside, most experts agree the existing process is flawed. The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 is probably unconstitutional on several counts, and there are many practical issues with the system as well.
: (For more, see the surprisingly gripping ''Second Report of the Continuity of Government Commission'', June 2009.)
: Proposed line of succession:
:# President
:# Vice president
:# Secretary of State
:# Secretary of Defense
:# Secretary of Homeland Security
:# Attorney General
:# Five people who do not live in Washington DC, nominated at the start of the president's term and confirmed by the Senate
:# Tom Hanks
:# State Governors, in descending order of state population at last census
:# Anyone who won an Oscar for playing a governor
:# Anyone who won a Governor's award for playing someone named Oscar
:# Kate McKinnon, if available
:# Billboard year-end Hot 100 singles artists #1 through #10 (for groups, whoever is credited first in name, liner notes, etc)
:# The top 5 US astronauts in descending order of total spaceflight time
:# Serena Williams (or, if she lost her most recent match, whoever beat her)
:# The most recent season NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL MVPs
:# Bull Pullman and his descendants by absolute primogeniture
:# The entire line of succession to the British throne
:# The current champion of the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating contest
:# All other US citizens, chosen by a 29-round single-elimination Jousting tournament

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Politics]]

Talk:2123: Meta Collecting

2019-03-22T16:48:56Z

172.69.62.160: re

RIP {{w|List of collectables}} and grammar. It’s collectable. Not collectible, collectable. [[User:Netherin5|Netherin5]] ([[User talk:Netherin5|talk]]) 16:07, 13 March 2019 (UTC)
:You may disagree, but collectable is also correct. https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/collectable [[Special:Contributions/108.162.242.23|108.162.242.23]] 16:21, 13 March 2019 (UTC)
:I think we’re agreeing here? I also use collectable, and said so in my comment. At least it should be used in this case, because it’s what Wikipedia uses on said page. [[User:Netherin5|Netherin5]] ([[User talk:Netherin5|talk]]) 16:26, 13 March 2019 (UTC)
:My understanding was that the words had different meanings. Something is collectible if it would have a place in a collection; a Harley is collectible because it would have a place in Cueball's collection of items. Something is collectable if it can be collected; a court judgement may be collectable if the person ordered to pay has enough money to make the payment. [[User:D5xtgr|D5xtgr]] ([[User talk:D5xtgr|talk]]) 17:33, 13 March 2019 (UTC)
::Suspiciously enough, that’s the exact example I got when I googled it, but thank you for the collection. I only say this because of the article in question discussed. [[User:Netherin5|Netherin5]] ([[User talk:Netherin5|talk]]) 17:41, 13 March 2019 (UTC)
:::Yes, I was having a hard time wording my original example - it's rather easier to show why a debt or court judgement ''wouldn't'' be collectable than to explain why one ''would'' be. [[User:D5xtgr|D5xtgr]] ([[User talk:D5xtgr|talk]]) 18:54, 13 March 2019 (UTC)
: Googling "collectible define" or "collectable define", we get that both seem to be correct. https://writingexplained.org/collectible-vs-collectable-difference says collectable is typically the British spelling of the word.

First time posting here, so my format might be terrible. But looking at the list of collectables; Maytag is listed, and the reference is for antique scales, so definitely not dryers. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.7|173.245.54.7]] 16:13, 13 March 2019 (UTC)
:Antique washer models to scale? Fixed it. On a serious note, it’s just one source, there are probably people who would collect washers, or, the more likely option, they just saw Maytag and thought “washers” EDIT: As a formatting nerd, it’s good. [[User:Netherin5|Netherin5]] ([[User talk:Netherin5|talk]]) 16:20, 13 March 2019 (UTC)

Wikipedia intern: "Mr. Sanger? Randall made a comic about us again." Larry Sanger: "Godammit, what page do we have to lock this time?" [[User:GreatWyrmGold|GreatWyrmGold]] ([[User talk:GreatWyrmGold|talk]]) 04:21, 14 March 2019 (UTC)
:<nowiki/>*Jimbo (Sanger left around 2003) [[Special:Contributions/172.69.62.160|172.69.62.160]] 16:48, 22 March 2019 (UTC)

I already suggested this [https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/2099:_Missal_of_Silos before] that I think we can have a new collected page of xkcd Wikipedia edit wars. I doubt the trivia in 2099 is the full list, or is it? Are there not that many cases as I think to be worth it? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.118.22|162.158.118.22]] 04:48, 14 March 2019 (UTC)
: Well, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xkcd#Wikipedia_vandalism Wikipedia] has the list now, so I'm satisfied. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.118.46|162.158.118.46]] 05:59, 15 March 2019 (UTC)

As of right now, Randall has got his wish: the page is protected. Unfortunately, it's protected with "yachts" on it and, of course, it can't be reverted because of the protection. [[User:Jeremyp|Jeremyp]] ([[User talk:Jeremyp|talk]]) 10:45, 14 March 2019 (UTC)
:On the plus side, old yachts that are no longer seaworthy but still collectable are quite common on craigslist for under $10,000. Even cheaper yet, just ask any marina owner for abandoned sunken yachts you can have just for getting them out of the waterway.[[User:Seebert|Seebert]] ([[User talk:Seebert|talk]]) 13:06, 14 March 2019 (UTC)
:It's gone now. The edit history is quite entertaining though. "Added boating category" [[User:Linker|Linker]] ([[User talk:Linker|talk]]) 17:15, 14 March 2019 (UTC)
::Looks like one of the editors got a bit overzealous and deleted Element Collecting because they thought it was an xkcd reference. [[User:CJB42|CJB42]] ([[User talk:CJB42|talk]]) 05:38, 15 March 2019 (UTC)
:::That sucks. That is such a real hobby though. There is this guy who made a wooden periodic actual table and put elements on it in each of their places. He takes beautiful photos of them.

Interesting choice of username, xkcd2123. {{unsigned|103.22.200.210}}

It is disappointing that xkcd readers think it's funny to vandalize the wikipedia article because of this comic. I highly doubt that Randall himself did so, and I don't think he intended for anyone else to actually vandalize it either. Furthermore, giving these viewers any satisfaction by actually including this info in the comic discussion seems somehow inappropriate. [[User:Ianrbibtitlht|Ianrbibtitlht]] ([[User talk:Ianrbibtitlht|talk]]) 13:11, 15 March 2019 (UTC)

:While I agree that Randall probably didn't vandalize it himself I don't think he is naive enough to think no one would after he posted the comic. Also, personally I don't see a big problem with a little harmless editing of a single Wikipedia article. If this was ongoing or involved more consequential edits I'd agree with you.[[Special:Contributions/162.158.93.27|162.158.93.27]] 07:44, 22 March 2019 (UTC)

I think that the second item on the top shelf may be a bottle of perfume.[[User:I prefer qwerty|I prefer qwerty]] ([[User talk:I prefer qwerty|talk]]) 20:49, 17 March 2019 (UTC)

Talk:2122: Size Venn Diagram

2019-03-11T15:51:11Z

172.69.62.160:

I think Randall kind of missed an opportunity with the title text: he should have used the new terms as a way to fill the blank areas in the diagram, for instance 'Great Emerald' for the currently empty set Great+Small+Little+Large.[[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.221|141.101.99.221]] 14:31, 11 March 2019 (UTC)
:No, I think the diagram itself is meant to be completely correct. But I didn't check all 100+ combinations. [[User:Fabian42|Fabian42]] ([[User talk:Fabian42|talk]]) 14:57, 11 March 2019 (UTC)
::Yes, I believe the diagram is correct now, but as per the title text Randall will start using new combinations of terms, probably to get their usage mainstream and move the location of the words in the diagram. I'm saying he should have created terms that would fill some blank areas. For instance, his Large Dipper would make Dipper appear in the Big+Little+Large area where we already have League.[[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.95|141.101.99.95]] 15:16, 11 March 2019 (UTC)
:He could also have placed “man” between “little” and “big” just to reference the movie ☺

Any such diagram will inevitably have small lacunae. But "Friendly Giant" is a particularly large one. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.63.172|162.158.63.172]] 15:21, 11 March 2019 (UTC)

Endian? Scott? Tits?[[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.112|108.162.219.112]] 15:23, 11 March 2019 (UTC)

Besides the transcript of what's in each category, what about a table to explain ''why'' the items categorized as they are, like:
{| class="wikitable"
!Item
!Big
!Great
!Large
!Little
!Small
|-
|Island
|Hawaii
|Cork Harbor, Ireland
|Antilles
|movie
|novel, movie
|-
|Pox
|n/a
|syphilis
|n/a
|n/a
|disease
|-
|White
|BC ski resort
|shark
|pig
|n/a
|butterfly
|}

2121: Light Pollution

2019-03-09T23:54:59Z

172.69.62.160: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2121
| date = March 8, 2019
| title = Light Pollution
| image = light_pollution.png
| titletext = It's so sad how almost no one alive today can remember seeing the galactic rainbow, the insanity nebula, or the skull and glowing eyes of the Destroyer of Sagittarius.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by the DESTROYER OF SAGITTARIUS. Some answers appear possibly one-person poorly-backed opinions such as Lovecraft; any other opinions to counter them? Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic shows how {{w|Light pollution|light pollution}} in cities affect what you can see from the night sky. The first three panels show realistic examples of what you could see from the sky inside a large city, in the suburbs and far away from light pollution. These panels roughly correlate on the {{w|Bortle Scale}} to 8-9 (city), 5-6 (suburbs) and 2-3 (remote area).

The last panel contrasts these for comedic effect with fake things in the sky that are not actually present in the night sky.{{Citation needed}} "{{w|Celestial spheres|Crystal spheres}}" is an ancient theory about the heavens and what it was that held up the stars, before it was commonly accepted that space could be made of hard vacuum and celestial bodies held there by mere law of inertia and vast distances. The spheres are nested inside each other concentrically. Randall proposes they are held by {{w|latticework}} like that which supports the Eiffel Tower, and that the lattice structure could be seen long ago when the sky was much darker.

Although all crystals do have a {{w|Crystal structure|crystal lattice}}, as in the [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crystal meaning 3] of the word "crystal" in Merriam-Webster (a body that [...] has a regularly repeating internal arrangement of its atoms and often external plane faces), these lattices are sub-microscopic and would be invisible in the sky. Additionally, crystal structure was not yet known at the time that the crystal spheres theory was popular.

The title text starts off sounding like a legitimate statement about light pollution. It is common to remark that the vast majority of people never see things in the night sky that were commonly seen by our ancestors every night prior to industrialization, such as the {{w|Milky Way}} or now-obscure phenomena such as {{w|Zodiacal light}}, {{w|Airglow}} or {{w|Gegenschein}}. The title text then further adds to the humor of the last panel by describing non-existent features, many of which a reader has suggested could be references to {{w|H. P. Lovecraft}}. He often refers to beasts the possible size that “The Destroyer of Sagittarius” would have to be. He also often speaks of insanity and color, connecting the two.

{{w|Sagittarius (constellation)|Sagittarius}} is one of the constellations of the zodiac and {{w|Sagittarius A*}} a black hole at the center of the {{w|Milky Way}} inside of that constellation.

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

:[Four views of the night sky are shown among each other. The text on top reads:]
:'''Light Pollution and the Disappearing Night Sky'''

:[The first view shows only a few bright stars visible on a fairly light gray-brownish background. The inline text on the left top is:]
:High Light Pollution
:(Cities)

:[On the second view more stars are visible and some faint blurry white clouds on a dark-gray background are visible.]
:Moderate Light Pollution
:(Suburbs)

:[A lot of stars, even partly colored, and a clear image of many clouds on a dark background are shown.]
:Low Light Pollution
:(Very remote areas)

:[The last image shows the same region as above but with even more exposed stars and clouds, the colors are also more explicit. A faint lattice of triangles overlaying the image to its full extent and three ghastly silhouettes of sail-ships are shown embedded in clouds. The text on the top left reads:]
:No Light Pollution
:(How the sky should look)
:[Four arrows are pointing to some triangles:]
:Lattice of the crystal spheres
:[Three arrows are indicating the sail-ships:]
:Ships of the Sky King

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Astronomy]]

Talk:2121: Light Pollution

2019-03-08T18:44:55Z

172.69.62.160: c

Small error in this comic. It's not possible to tile a sphere with just hexagons. https://stackoverflow.com/questions/749264/covering-earth-with-hexagonal-map-tiles
[[User:AlanKilian|AlanKilian]] ([[User talk:AlanKilian|talk]]) 16:03, 8 March 2019 (UTC)
:Six triangles form a hexagon - just an explanation for people with less mathematical or geometric knowledge. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 16:17, 8 March 2019 (UTC)
::but a indefinite large group of triangles doesn't automatically transform to hexagons, since it could be overlapping hexagons, or hexagons with their interim spaces filled up by triangles?--[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 16:29, 8 March 2019 (UTC)
:::Look at that hexagons (consisting of six triangles), each fitting to the next, and you will understand that this is only possible in a plane but not in a sphere. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 16:37, 8 March 2019 (UTC)
::::Yes, but if the triangles are not actually equilateral then they could form a sphere. And if the sphere is big enough (I think solar-system-surrouding or bigger counts) then you probably wouldn't be able to see it with the naked eye. [[User:Shamino|Shamino]] ([[User talk:Shamino|talk]]) 17:08, 8 March 2019 (UTC)
:::::But can it form a [https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/1365:_Inflation basketball?] [[User:Netherin5|Netherin5]] ([[User talk:Netherin5|talk]]) 17:24, 8 March 2019 (UTC)
:Your eyes are making the hexagons up. Some triangles would be left over if you tried to make every group of 6 triangles a hexagon. Triangle arrays like this are commonly used in computer graphics, as they are the closest approximation to a sphere: https://mft-dev.dk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/icosahedron_frame_sub3.gif [[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.185|162.158.79.185]] 17:25, 8 March 2019 (UTC)
::Not really. On a plane, there are only three {{W|tesselation|tesselations}} made only of identical regular polygons: {{W|triangular tiling}}, {{W|square tiling}} or {{W|hexagonal tiling}}. But since a regular hexagon can be divided into six equilateral triangles, the tiling in the picture can be seen as both triangular and hexagonal. The leaving out you write about may have come from another tesselation which uses hexagons and triangles, the {{W|trihexagonal tiling}}. On a sphere, there's a completely different discussion as there's no tesselations, only approximations of them.

Oh man where are the conspiracy nuts from a few weeks ago ;-) [[User:Cgrimes85|Cgrimes85]] ([[User talk:Cgrimes85|talk]]) 17:03, 8 March 2019 (UTC)
:Hey, I think this works like Beetlejuice. Shush. Don’t jinx it. [[User:Netherin5|Netherin5]] ([[User talk:Netherin5|talk]]) 17:24, 8 March 2019 (UTC)

Ok, I know most of the discussion is focused on the lattice, but are the ships a reference to something? LOTR maybe? Also there’s nothing about the title text at all, and the (more probable than LOTR) Lovecraft reference, considering the mentions of insanity, cosmic horror, and color. (I believe the book was Cool Air?) [[User:Netherin5|Netherin5]] ([[User talk:Netherin5|talk]]) 17:24, 8 March 2019 (UTC)

I think it's notable that the world actually works this way. The sky is full of drones, satellites, {{w|Mesosphere#Exploration_and_uses|nearcraft}}, and we basically can't see them, but they can freely observe us, transmit things to us, and drop things on us. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.185|162.158.79.185]] 17:34, 8 March 2019 (UTC)

I may be too nerdy, but my mind went to Spelljammer on this. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.62.160|172.69.62.160]] 18:44, 8 March 2019 (UTC)

Talk:2119: Video Orientation

2019-03-04T15:28:40Z

172.69.62.160: c

[IMG]http://i64.tinypic.com/2co1zio.png[/IMG]
More readable:I think this could be done with text too.
[[Special:Contributions/172.68.154.64|172.68.154.64]] 13:41, 4 March 2019 (UTC)

Obligatory prior art in this commentary space: [https://vimeo.com/313458699 Glove and Boots: Vertical Video Syndrome] (apparently they decamped from Youtube to Vimeo last month, the original c. 2013 video was Bt9zSfinwFA). [[User:JohnHawkinson|JohnHawkinson]] ([[User talk:JohnHawkinson|talk]]) 14:21, 4 March 2019 (UTC)

The title text seems to be a reference to AL, the A.I in ''2001 : A Space Odyssey'' which cause a few problems to the crew and mainly communicate through a round lens. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.226.171|172.69.226.171]] 14:27, 4 March 2019 (UTC)
::Or 2002 movie The Ring [[Special:Contributions/141.101.96.221|141.101.96.221]] 14:32, 4 March 2019 (UTC)
:I presumed it was a reference to summoning circles. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.62.160|172.69.62.160]] 15:28, 4 March 2019 (UTC)

A circular screen is great for that retro-look, like a [https://picclick.com/1950s-ZENITH-PORTHOLE-Television-18-Circular-TV-Screen-113317154719.html 1950's Zenith Porthole TV]. I seem to remember seeing circular screens on some really old sci-fi shows as well. As well as one use of a [https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/ThisIslandEarth triangular screen]. [[User:Shamino|Shamino]] ([[User talk:Shamino|talk]]) 14:37, 4 March 2019 (UTC)

Fails in the obvious- Horizontal is better because you can send the video in to the TV news for your 15 seconds of fame without looking like a douche who doesn't know how to rotate their phone. And why isn't there a setting for "always landscape" anyway?[[User:Seebert|Seebert]] ([[User talk:Seebert|talk]]) 14:48, 4 March 2019 (UTC)

Ironically, when I first read the comic on my phone (portrait), I did not realise there was a third "CONS" column. [[User:ColinHogben|ColinHogben]] ([[User talk:ColinHogben|talk]]) 15:20, 4 March 2019 (UTC)

Talk:2071: Indirect Detection

2018-11-12T15:24:57Z

172.69.62.160:

Genius reference in the title text to 'throwing shade', linking modern slang with something 2,400 years earlier! --[[User:OliReading|OliReading]] ([[User talk:OliReading|talk]]) 13:33, 12 November 2018 (UTC)
:Should I be concerned that I got the Plato reference from >2K years ago, but had to look up what "throwing shade" is? I feel so old now. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.62.160|172.69.62.160]] 15:24, 12 November 2018 (UTC)

Sorry, first time entry editor, turned out I really couldn't add that much but I just really wanted to at least put this. I mean, what an awesome joke! [[User:Lheticus|Lheticus]] ([[User talk:Lheticus|talk]]) 13:50, 12 November 2018 (UTC)

2070: Trig Identities

2018-11-10T22:17:56Z

172.69.62.160: Corrected statement that claimed some formulas were wrong

{{comic
| number = 2070
| date = November 9, 2018
| title = Trig Identities
| image = trig_identities.png
| titletext = ARCTANGENT THETA = ENCHANT AT TARGET
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Please only mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
This comic shows several real and fictitious {{w|List_of_trigonometric_identities#Trigonometric_functions|trigonometric identities}}. Most of the identities past the second line are "derived" by applying algebraic methods to the letters in the trig functions, which violates the rules of math, since the trig functions are operators and not variables.

The first line are well known trigonometric functions. The second line contains the lesser known reciprocals of the trigonometric functions in the first line.

The following identities are made up and are increasing in absurdity. The comic reflects on the confusion one gets when working more intensely with these identities, since there are a lot of hidden dependencies between them.

The third and fourth line is made by treating the trigonometric function as a product of variables rather than a function and then using the above identities to create words. e.g. sin = b/c -> cin = b/s (this could also be a reference to the C++ cin).

The third line is composed of puns: e.g., cin=b/s describes how the C++ cin object sucks, cas=0/c is read "California's South is Orange County".

The second to last line performs some algebra on the individual letters of <math>(\mathrm{tan}\ \theta)^2=\frac{b^2}{a^2}</math> as a setup to the last line. The last line takes the formula <math>distance=\frac{1}{2}at^2</math> "from physics" and plugs it into the equation of the previous line, doing some algebra to replace <math>at^2</math> with <math>distance2</math> and expanding <math>(na)^2</math> into <math>nana</math> to get the final equation, <math>distance2banana=\frac{b^3}{\theta^2}</math> . This is valid algebra only if the trigonometric operators are taken as variable products rather than operators, but this is a common misconception encountered when people first learn trigonometry. The distance equation is the distance a constantly accelerating object initially at rest moves in a given length of time t, most often used to find how far an object dropped from rest will fall under the influence of gravity in a given amount of time (or how long it will take to fall a given distance).

There are a few formulas that may seem to have a mistake, but are in fact correct, just requiring more than one step:
* <math>\mathrm{cas}\ \theta=\frac{o}{c}</math> seems to be derived from <math>\cos\theta=\frac{a}{c}</math> but to reach "cas" from "cos" one has to divide by "o" and multiply by "a". This would lead to <math>\frac{a^2}{co}</math> on the right hand side. However, this is still valid as it can be "proved" that both "a" and "o" are equal to 1, thus making <math>\frac{a^2}{co}=\frac{o}{c}</math>
* In the identity <math>\sin\theta\sec\theta=\mathrm{insect}\theta^2</math> one of the "s"'s has turned into a "t". This can be found by combining <math>\cos\theta=\frac{a}{c}</math>, <math>\mathrm{cas}\ \theta=\frac{o}{c}</math>, which show <math>o=a</math>, and <math>s=\frac{1}{c^2\theta}</math>. Using this with <math>\csc\theta=\frac{c}{b}</math> you can "prove" <math>c=b</math> and then with with <math>\cot\theta=\frac{a}{b}</math> you can find <math>t=\frac{1}{c^2\theta}=s</math>. The casual reader is more likely to see a 'poetic stretch' from the sound of saying 'sin sec' together.

The title-text is an anagram. Due to the commutative property of multiplication (which states that order does not affect the product), these equations are equivalent if treated as individual variables as earlier. Another layer of absurdity is added in that the variable Theta is spelled out and broken into its letters, which are then treated as individual variables. (The {{w|arctangent}} referred to here is the inverse tangent, a one-sided inverse to the tangent function. You would not normally write <math>\arctan\theta</math>, since the theta in the comic refers to an angle, and the arctangent has an angle as its ''value'' rather than as its ''argument''; however, using theta here is merely unconventional, not forbidden.) The arctangent generally produces theta, the meaning of it being taken on theta being poorly understood. Randall here elucidates, via tongue-in-cheek algebraic proof, that taking a second arctangent of theta produces magical effects.

==== Value of Variables ====
It can be proven, given the six basic trig equations (the first two lines), under the (obviously false, but that's the point of the comic) assumption that each letter is a variable and they are being multiplied, that all the letters must be equal to 1.
The proof can be conducted basically by setting things equal to each other and canceling/rearranging/replacing variables with what you discovered them to be equal to (like Randall did in lines 3-6), until a variable is proven to equal 1. Then that works its way around (with more setting things equal/rearranging/replacing) as every other variable is proven equal to the others, and to the one that equals 1.
(I would include the proof, but it is long and annoying to write. Sorry)

Since every variable equals 1, all combinations of the letters a, b, c, e, i, n, o, s, t, and <math>\theta</math> can be validly set equal to each other. For example, biostatisticians=nonscientists, tobacco=assassinates, and even teta=<math>\theta</math>. Of course, it would be a massive pain to derive those as Randall derived the others, but by proving they all equal one, we know it can be done.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
:[Inside a single frame comic a right-angled triangle is shown. The shorter sides are labeled "a" and "b" and the hypotenuse has a "c". All angles are marked: the right angle by a square and the two others by arcs. One arc (enclosed by "a" and "c") is labeled by the Greek symbol theta (θ).]

:[Supposed trigonometric functions of the marked angle θ are shown:]

:sin θ = b/c
:cos θ = a/c
:tan θ = b/a

:cot θ = a/b
:sec θ = c/a
:csc θ = c/b

:cin θ = b/s
:cas θ = o/c
:tab θ = b²/na

:bot θ = a/c → boat θ = a²/c → stoat θ = a²/c · st/b

:tan θ ( = b/a = b/a · c/c = b/c · c/a = sin θ sec θ ) = insect θ²

:(tan θ)² = b²/a² ( → t²n²a⁴ = b²/θ² → at²ba(na)² = b³/θ²
:from physics: distance = 1/2 at² → ) distance2banana = b³/θ²

:[Caption below the frame:]
:Key trigonometric identities

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Math]]

2070: Trig Identities

2018-11-10T22:15:19Z

172.69.62.160: Added Value of Variables section

{{comic
| number = 2070
| date = November 9, 2018
| title = Trig Identities
| image = trig_identities.png
| titletext = ARCTANGENT THETA = ENCHANT AT TARGET
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Please only mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
This comic shows several real and fictitious {{w|List_of_trigonometric_identities#Trigonometric_functions|trigonometric identities}}. Most of the identities past the second line are "derived" by applying algebraic methods to the letters in the trig functions, which violates the rules of math, since the trig functions are operators and not variables.

The first line are well known trigonometric functions. The second line contains the lesser known reciprocals of the trigonometric functions in the first line.

The following identities are made up and are increasing in absurdity. The comic reflects on the confusion one gets when working more intensely with these identities, since there are a lot of hidden dependencies between them.

The third and fourth line is made by treating the trigonometric function as a product of variables rather than a function and then using the above identities to create words. e.g. sin = b/c -> cin = b/s (this could also be a reference to the C++ cin).

The third line is composed of puns: e.g., cin=b/s describes how the C++ cin object sucks, cas=0/c is read "California's South is Orange County".

The second to last line performs some algebra on the individual letters of <math>(\mathrm{tan}\ \theta)^2=\frac{b^2}{a^2}</math> as a setup to the last line. The last line takes the formula <math>distance=\frac{1}{2}at^2</math> "from physics" and plugs it into the equation of the previous line, doing some algebra to replace <math>at^2</math> with <math>distance2</math> and expanding <math>(na)^2</math> into <math>nana</math> to get the final equation, <math>distance2banana=\frac{b^3}{\theta^2}</math> . This is valid algebra only if the trigonometric operators are taken as variable products rather than operators, but this is a common misconception encountered when people first learn trigonometry. The distance equation is the distance a constantly accelerating object initially at rest moves in a given length of time t, most often used to find how far an object dropped from rest will fall under the influence of gravity in a given amount of time (or how long it will take to fall a given distance).

There seem to be (at least) two errors in the formulars:
* <math>\mathrm{cas}\ \theta=\frac{o}{c}</math> seems to be derived from <math>\cos\theta=\frac{a}{c}</math> but to reach "cas" from "cos" one has to divide by "o" and multiply by "a". This would lead to <math>\frac{a^2}{co}</math> on the right hand side. However, this is still valid as it can be proved that both "a" and "o" are equal to 1, thus making <math>\frac{a^2}{co}=\frac{o}{c}</math>
* In the identity <math>\sin\theta\sec\theta=\mathrm{insect}\theta^2</math> one of the "s"'s has turned into a "t". This can be found by combining <math>\cos\theta=\frac{a}{c}</math>, <math>\mathrm{cas}\ \theta=\frac{o}{c}</math>, which show <math>o=a</math>, and <math>s=\frac{1}{c^2\theta}</math>. Using this with <math>\csc\theta=\frac{c}{b}</math> you can "prove" <math>c=b</math> and then with with <math>\cot\theta=\frac{a}{b}</math> you can find <math>t=\frac{1}{c^2\theta}=s</math>. The casual reader is more likely to see a 'poetic stretch' from the sound of saying 'sin sec' together.

The title-text is an anagram. Due to the commutative property of multiplication (which states that order does not affect the product), these equations are equivalent if treated as individual variables as earlier. Another layer of absurdity is added in that the variable Theta is spelled out and broken into its letters, which are then treated as individual variables. (The {{w|arctangent}} referred to here is the inverse tangent, a one-sided inverse to the tangent function. You would not normally write <math>\arctan\theta</math>, since the theta in the comic refers to an angle, and the arctangent has an angle as its ''value'' rather than as its ''argument''; however, using theta here is merely unconventional, not forbidden.) The arctangent generally produces theta, the meaning of it being taken on theta being poorly understood. Randall here elucidates, via tongue-in-cheek algebraic proof, that taking a second arctangent of theta produces magical effects.

==== Value of Variables ====
It can be proven, given the six basic trig equations (the first two lines), under the (obviously false, but that's the point of the comic) assumption that each letter is a variable and they are being multiplied, that all the letters must be equal to 1.
The proof can be conducted basically by setting things equal to each other and canceling/rearranging/replacing variables with what you discovered them to be equal to (like Randall did in lines 3-6), until a variable is proven to equal 1. Then that works its way around (with more setting things equal/rearranging/replacing) as every other variable is proven equal to the others, and to the one that equals 1.
(I would include the proof, but it is long and annoying to write. Sorry)

Since every variable equals 1, all combinations of the letters a, b, c, e, i, n, o, s, t, and <math>\theta</math> can be validly set equal to each other. For example, biostatisticians=nonscientists, tobacco=assassinates, and even teta=<math>\theta</math>. Of course, it would be a massive pain to derive those as Randall derived the others, but by proving they all equal one, we know it can be done.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
:[Inside a single frame comic a right-angled triangle is shown. The shorter sides are labeled "a" and "b" and the hypotenuse has a "c". All angles are marked: the right angle by a square and the two others by arcs. One arc (enclosed by "a" and "c") is labeled by the Greek symbol theta (θ).]

:[Supposed trigonometric functions of the marked angle θ are shown:]

:sin θ = b/c
:cos θ = a/c
:tan θ = b/a

:cot θ = a/b
:sec θ = c/a
:csc θ = c/b

:cin θ = b/s
:cas θ = o/c
:tab θ = b²/na

:bot θ = a/c → boat θ = a²/c → stoat θ = a²/c · st/b

:tan θ ( = b/a = b/a · c/c = b/c · c/a = sin θ sec θ ) = insect θ²

:(tan θ)² = b²/a² ( → t²n²a⁴ = b²/θ² → at²ba(na)² = b³/θ²
:from physics: distance = 1/2 at² → ) distance2banana = b³/θ²

:[Caption below the frame:]
:Key trigonometric identities

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Math]]

2069: Wishlist

2018-11-07T14:27:46Z

172.69.62.160: Typos

{{comic
| number = 2069
| date = November 7, 2018
| title = Wishlist
| image = wishlist.png
| titletext = Disappointed that they caved to fan pressure and went with Ruth Bader Ginsburg over Elena Kagan.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Please only mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
''{{w|Super Smash Brothers}}'' (titled as ''Super Smash Bros.'') is a crossover fighting game series published by Nintendo, primarily featuring Nintendo characters. As of publish date, there are 77 playable characters across the 5 games in the series. Starting with the third game, ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'', characters from third-party franchises (non-Nintendo) have been made available.

Fans have suggested new characters to add, and few of these suggestions have been implemented. The comic lists 16 "characters" that Randall wishes were made available in ''Super Smash Bros.'', ranging from plausible playable characters, to the absurd.

; Mario / Luigi hybrid
: {{w|Mario}} and {{w|Luigi}} are characters in the {{w|Super Mario}} series, one of Nintendo's flagship franchises. They are both playable characters in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series. A hybrid of these two characters would be quite interesting, though one could argue that {{w|Dr. Mario}} is a hybrid of these two in terms of moveset.

; The SkiFree monster
: {{w|SkiFree}} is a computer game for Windows released in 1991. The player controls a skier trying to avoid obstacles. After the end of a full run, a monster (possibly the Abominable Snowman) appears, and tries to catch the player. The SkiFree monster was a subject of the [[667: SkiFree]] comic.

; Siri
: {{w|Siri}} is the name given to Apple's personal virtual assistant for iOS, macOS, and its other operating systems. It is unclear how Siri would be a playable character in ''Super Smash Bros.''

; Ellie from ''Up''
: Ellie is one of the characters in ''{{w|Up (2009 film)|Up}}'', a 2009 Pixar film. In the beginning of the film, Ellie passes away, leaving her husband Carl alone, and leading him to start his adventure in Paradise Falls.

; Zordon
: {{w|Zordon}} is a fictional character from the ''Power Rangers'' franchise who serves as the Rangers' mentor.

; Clippy
: Clippit, commonly nicknamed {{w|Clippy}}, was one of the Office Assistants for Microsoft Office (versions 1997 to 2003). It was an intelligent user interface that assisted users. Clippy (and the other Office Assistants) was negatively received by users, and was eventually removed in Office 2007.

; The Sarlaac
: The {{w|Sarlaac}} is an alien monster that lived in {{w|Tatooine}} in the ''{{w|Star Wars}}'' universe. It is most prominently shown in the film ''{{w|Return of the Jedi}}'', when the main heroes are sentenced to death by being dropped into the Sarlaac's mouth. Notably, the Sarlaac is a large, stationary creature embedded in the ground (essentially, a pit).

; InstallShield Wizard
: A ''wizard'' is a type of UI that simplifies configuration of an app or process by guiding the user through a number of screens in sequence. A user makes one decision on each screen, and the overall process puts less cognitive load on the user.
: {{w|InstallShield}} is a proprietary software tool for creating installer applications (or software packages) for Microsoft Windows. When the created package is being installed, the installer application can be shown in form of a 'standard Windows Wizard' dialog. Depending on the creativity of the user creating the package, the Wizard can display images while different stages of the installer are being executed.
: There are known instances of The InstallShield Wizard showing a wizard-like character images. Also, the standard wording of the installer text shown to the user ('software-to-be-installed is preparing the InstallShield Wizard, which will guide you through the program setup process') suggests that the Wizard is a 'real character'.

; Mr. Clean
: {{w|Mr. Clean}} is a brand and mascot for Procter & Gamble used for all-purpose cleaners and melamine foam cleaners.

; Comet Cursor
: {{w|Comet Cursor}} was Windows software that allowed users or websites to customise the mouse cursor. It was often installed with mimimal user interaction and was accused of tracking users and being “spyware”.

; Beto O'Rourke
: {{w|Beto O'Rourke}} is an American politician and businessman serving as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 16th congressional district since 2013. He was the nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2018 Texas U.S. Senate election, running against Republican incumbent Ted Cruz. O'Rourke received much media attention leading up to the election, with many considering the election abnormally competitive.

; The Monopoly boot
: The "boot" is one of the classic pewter tokens from the board game ''{{w|Monopoly (game)|Monopoly}}''. In 2017, the boot token was retired from the standard version of ''Monopoly''.

; Lot's wife
: Lot and his wife are characters from the book of Genesis in the Bible. According to the book of Genesis, Lot and his family had to {{w|Sodom_and_Gomorrah#In_the_Book_of_Genesis|flee the city of Sodom}}, which was being judged by God for its wickedness. They were commanded to flee and not look back at the city. However, Lot's wife looked back at the city and was turned into a pillar of salt. It is unclear which version of Lot's wife Randall wishes to be playable in the game.

; D.B. Cooper
: {{w|D.B. Cooper}} is the name popularly used to refer to an unidentified man who hijacked a Boeing 727 aircraft on November 24, 1971. He extorted $200,000 in ransom and parachuted out of the plane. His identity and whereabouts have never been discovered. D.B. Cooper was a subject of the [[1400: D.B. Cooper]] comic.

; The Blair Witch
: The Blair Witch is the titular character of the ''{{w|The Blair Witch Project}}'', a 1999 "found footage" supernatural horror film. The film became one of the most successful independent films of all time.

; Mavis Beacon
: ''{{w|Mavis Beacon}}'', properly titled as ''Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing'', is a software program used to teach touch typing. However, many have mistakenly thought that "Mavis Beacon" is an actual person.

The title text refers to two US Supreme Court Associate Justices. {{w|Ruth Bader Ginsburg}} was appointed by Bill Clinton; {{w|Elena Kagan}} was appointed by Barack Obama. Both are considered to be on the “liberal” wing of the court, but Ginsburg’s forceful dissenting opinions may explain why she would have been a more popular character Super Smash Bros.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
:[A bulleted list of items:]
*Mario/Luigi hybrid
*The SkiFree monster
*Siri
*Ellie from ''Up''
*Zordon
*Clippy
*The Sarlaac
*The InstallShield Wizard
*Mr. Clean
*Comet Cursor
*Beto O'Rourke
*The Monopoly boot
*Lot's wife
*D.B. Cooper
*The Blair Witch
*Mavis Beacon

:[Caption below the frame:]
:Super Smash Brothers never did end up adding anyone from my wishlist.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Video games]]

Talk:2069: Wishlist

2018-11-07T09:36:38Z

172.69.62.160:

Inspired by the current furore over Super Smash Bros being branded racist over the character Mr Game And Watch, perhaps? I know people started yelling over the last few days, but don't play the game so I don't have any further details. Feel free to delete / expand. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.62.160|172.69.62.160]] 09:36, 7 November 2018 (UTC)

2063: Carnot Cycle

2018-10-31T18:23:49Z

172.69.62.160: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2063
| date = October 24, 2018
| title = Carnot Cycle
| image = carnot_cycle.png
| titletext = The Carnot cycle is more properly known by its full title, the "Carnot-Tolkien-Wagner Ring Cycle."
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|At the discussion page there are still unsolved issues mentioned about "Decline and fall". Please help to fix this or at least add your comments at the discussion page.}}

This comic shows a {{w|Pressure–volume diagram}} which is used in this case for a {{w|Carnot cycle}}, a theoretical thermodynamic cycle and covers most thermodynamics classes which looks very much like the figure drawn. The most common example of a (suboptimal) Carnot cycle is the {{w|Heat_pump_and_refrigeration_cycle|vapor compression cycle}} used in {{w|Refrigerator|refrigerators}}. However in this case, [[Randall]] has replaced the labels of the 4 stages of the real Carnot cycle with new ones.

Pressure–volume diagrams were first developed to understand the efficiency of steam engines and plot the change of pressure ''P'' with respect to volume ''V'' for a specific process. The process forms a cycle and the amount of energy involved can be estimated by the area under the curve on the chart. The Carnot cycle describes the ideal efficiency that such an engine can achieve during the conversion of heat into work, or vice versa like in a refrigeration system. The real steps are called (explained in short):
#'''Isothermal expansion''' (An external force by heat causes an increase of volume but also a small decrease of pressure on the first place.)
#'''Isentropic expansion''' (The volume of the gas remains nearly constant while the pressure decreases dramatically, the external heat is now absent.)
#'''Isothermal compression''' (No external forces still involved, the volume of the gas decreases and leads to the last step:)
#'''Isentropic compression''' (Now the volume of the gas collapses, increasing the pressure significantly usable for engineering.)

An isothermal process is a change of a system, in which the temperature remains constant but in this diagrams the volume increases (expansion) or decreases (compression). The term isentropic describes a lossless process where no matter or energy is transferred, here the increased volume only causes a further decrease in pressure; it is also called adiabatic process.

The prefix ''iso-'' is derived from the Ancient Greek word ''ísos'' which translates to ''equal'' and used widely in modern days in science like here to indicate a process at the same temperature (-thermal) which is not shown in the graph. The prefix ''is-'' to the term {{w|Entropy|entropy}} is only used in thermodynamics.

In the comic, the cycle also has two phases of expansion followed by two phases of contraction (or "decline"), but the names of steps one to three are replaced with other words beginning with the prefix "iso-" meaning same or equal, and the factors that are held constant are absurd.

Each step in this comic is explained below:

'''1. Isometric expansion.''' When heated, the gas becomes larger due to increasing volume

Isometric (literally "equal dimensions") can refer to a property or process that is symmetrical in all dimensions (i.e. the gas is expanding radially) or to a [[wikipedia:Isometric process | type of thermodynamic process]] where volume is held constant but temperature is free to vary, the exact opposite of the first step in the real Carnot cycle. Additionally, the comic text uses a circular argument (become larger due to increasing volume).

In mathematics, an {{w|isometric mapping}} (between metric spaces) is a map that keeps all the distances intact. If we measure the distance the same way throughout the cycle, then isometric expansion (or for that matter, isometric compression) is not really an expansion (or a compression).

'''2. Isotonic expansion.''' The gas expands further due to dark energy while percent milkfat remains constant.

{{w|Isotonic}} is a descriptor commonly associated with sports drinks (and not thermodynamics), which contain similar concentrations of salt and sugar as in the human body. {{w|Dark energy}} is hypothesized to be a cause for the expansion of the universe, which obviously isn't relevant to thermodynamics. The [https://hypertextbook.com/facts/2002/AliciaNoelleJones.shtml density of milk] depends on milkfat and solids-non-fat, which includes lactose. Fortified milk has increased solids-non-fat but the same percentage of milkfat, resulting in increased calories and an increased density. So the fortification of milk results in increased calories, possibly referred to as dark energy, and a contraction, as less space is needed for 1 kg of milk. However, this explanation does not match the expansion suggested in the comic.

'''3. Isopropyl compression.''' While inflation is held constant, the gas contracts due to tightening interest rates.

{{w|Isopropyl alcohol}} is commonly used for cleaning. Inflation and contraction could refer to changes in gas volume, but the reference to {{w|interest rate}}s puts them in the context of {{w|macroeconomics}}. Raising ("tightening") interest rates tends to reduce {{w|inflation}} and/or "contract" the economy. High interest rates are a feature of the third stage (recession) of the Juglar cycle. In economics (and other sciences) to better understand model parameter relations, some parameter may be held constant in theory. This could refer to the {{w|Fisher equation}}. Holding one parameter constant is also done in the Carnot cycle (for a physical parameter): not only in theory but also in practice! (In free market economies the inflation cannot be directly held constant).

But inflation my also refer to ''dark energy'' mentioned at the ''isotonic expansion'' section above. {{w|Inflation (cosmology)|Inflation}} in cosmology is a theory of the exponential expansion of space in the early universe, an effect associated with the "accelerating universe" and for which findings the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics was given. The NationalGeographic blog entry [https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2011/10/12/nobel-prize-in-physics-2011-the-accelerating-universe/ Nobel Prize in Physics 2011 – The Accelerating Universe] explains that "...Today, most physicists, influenced by inflation, would ... call it dark energy."

'''4. Decline and fall.''' The gas diminishes and goes into the West while remaining Galadriel, completing the cycle.

{{w|Galadriel}} is a character in ''{{w|The Lord of the Rings}}''. She is one of the leading {{w|Elf (Middle-earth)|elves}}, a race that in the time of the book is said to be dwindling (in number and importance) in {{w|Middle Earth}} and migrating westward to {{w|Valinor}}. Galadriel is one of the last elves to leave, after successfully resisting temptation to take the One Ring and become an all-powerful queen who dominates Middle-earth, instead saying "I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Galadriel." The title may be a reference to {{w|Edward Gibbon}}'s 18th century masterpiece ''{{w|The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire}}'', or to the novel ''{{w|Decline and Fall}}'' by {{w|Evelyn Waugh}}.

The title text refers to {{w|Richard Wagner}} and {{w|J.R.R Tolkien}}. Wagner's ''{{w|Der Ring des Nibelungen|Ring Cycle}}'' consists of four operas. Tolkien wrote ''{{w|The Lord of the Rings}}'', which some have [[wikipedia:J. R. R. Tolkien's influences#Wagnerian_influences|suggested]] was inspired by Wagner's Ring. Their works are known as {{w|literary cycle}}s.

==Transcript==
:[A cartesian plot in the first quadrant with axes labeled "P" on the vertical axis and "V" on the horizontal axis, with a rhombus-shaped set of four points with arrows between them.]
:[Caption above the graph:]
:The four stages of the
:'''Carnot Cycle'''

:[The first line starts at the top-left point and goes right and slightly downwards to the next point. The label is:]
:'''1. Isometric Expansion'''
:When heated, the gas becomes larger due to increasing volume

:[The next line starts at the last point and goes downwards and a little to the right.]
:'''2. Isotonic Expansion'''
:The gas expands further due to dark energy while percent milkfat remains constant

:[The next line starts at this last point and goes to the left and slightly upwards.]
:'''3. Isopropyl Compression'''
:While inflation is held constant, the gas contracts due to tightening interest rates

:[The last line goes upwards and slightly to the left, returning to the first point.]
:'''4. Decline and Fall'''
:The gas diminishes and goes into the west while remaining Galadriel, completing the cycle

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Line graphs]]
[[Category:Physics]]
[[Category:LOTR]]

Talk:2062: Barnard's Star

2018-10-24T13:32:45Z

172.69.62.160:

Uh . . . I'm pretty sure that stars don't talk. {{unsigned ip|172.68.58.113}}
: And [[1578|squirrels don't ring]]. This comic can be absurd sometimes. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.141.58|172.68.141.58]] 17:05, 22 October 2018 (UTC)
::{{Citation needed}} --[[Special:Contributions/172.68.54.160|172.68.54.160]] 18:05, 22 October 2018 (UTC)
:Why are you so sure that stars don't talk? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.38.70|162.158.38.70]] 18:23, 22 October 2018 (UTC)
:I think it was a NOVA doco where they describe the inner workings of the sun and how hydrogen atoms, photons, plasma, and magnetic flux interact, and it sounded a heck of a lot like the function of neurons and signals in the brain. Maybe I was just high, but I got to thinking that, with photons from every star in the universe connecting to every other star, the stars are in constant communication with eachother in some sort of neural-like network with each star having it's own neural-like network complete with it's own sentient thoughts (albeit probably far outside the realm of our imagination). FORTY TWO! {{unsigned ip|162.158.74.27}}
:Obviously, stars, being in vacuum, don't talk in classic acoustic way. But they emit lot of light, which includes radio emissions ... and remember that properly encrypted signal is hard to recognize from random noise. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 23:05, 22 October 2018 (UTC)
Stars can talk but usually don't. Maybe because they are under a lot of pressure ? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.69.45|141.101.69.45]] 08:45, 24 October 2018 (UTC) BadJokeNinja

Am I'm the only one, who is reminded by the beginning "...AAAA" and the ending "EEEEEAAA..." to the [https://xkcd.com/417/ "The Man Who Fell Sideways" comic]?--[[Special:Contributions/162.158.94.20|162.158.94.20]] 12:17, 24 October 2018 (UTC)

"a small Red dwarf has a lifespan of about a trillion years." A trillion years? Any source for this? The universe is around 14 billion years old. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.62.160|172.69.62.160]] 13:32, 24 October 2018 (UTC)comicreader

Talk:2062: Barnard's Star

2018-10-24T13:32:05Z

172.69.62.160:

Uh . . . I'm pretty sure that stars don't talk. {{unsigned ip|172.68.58.113}}
: And [[1578|squirrels don't ring]]. This comic can be absurd sometimes. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.141.58|172.68.141.58]] 17:05, 22 October 2018 (UTC)
::{{Citation needed}} --[[Special:Contributions/172.68.54.160|172.68.54.160]] 18:05, 22 October 2018 (UTC)
:Why are you so sure that stars don't talk? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.38.70|162.158.38.70]] 18:23, 22 October 2018 (UTC)
:I think it was a NOVA doco where they describe the inner workings of the sun and how hydrogen atoms, photons, plasma, and magnetic flux interact, and it sounded a heck of a lot like the function of neurons and signals in the brain. Maybe I was just high, but I got to thinking that, with photons from every star in the universe connecting to every other star, the stars are in constant communication with eachother in some sort of neural-like network with each star having it's own neural-like network complete with it's own sentient thoughts (albeit probably far outside the realm of our imagination). FORTY TWO! {{unsigned ip|162.158.74.27}}
:Obviously, stars, being in vacuum, don't talk in classic acoustic way. But they emit lot of light, which includes radio emissions ... and remember that properly encrypted signal is hard to recognize from random noise. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 23:05, 22 October 2018 (UTC)
Stars can talk but usually don't. Maybe because they are under a lot of pressure ? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.69.45|141.101.69.45]] 08:45, 24 October 2018 (UTC) BadJokeNinja

Am I'm the only one, who is reminded by the beginning "...AAAA" and the ending "EEEEEAAA..." to the [https://xkcd.com/417/ "The Man Who Fell Sideways" comic]?--[[Special:Contributions/162.158.94.20|162.158.94.20]] 12:17, 24 October 2018 (UTC)
:"a small Red dwarf has a lifespan of about a trillion years." A trillion years? Any source for this? The universe is around 14 billion years old. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.62.160|172.69.62.160]] 13:32, 24 October 2018 (UTC)comicreader

564: Crossbows

2018-10-08T19:55:34Z

172.69.62.160: Possibility that title-text refers to physical running speed

{{comic
| number = 564
| date = April 3, 2009
| title = Crossbows
| image = crossbows.png
| titletext = I hate being the slowest guy in the lab.
}}

==Explanation==
There are conflicting theories as to the meaning of this comic.
#Since the experimental confirmation or denial of the {{w|Higgs mechanism}} was widely recognized as important to the development of physics, the experimenters involved were likely to receive Nobel Prizes. Nobel Prizes, however, are only given to living people and groups of up to three in size. The experimenters, therefore, are preparing to fight to the death when the discovery comes. Peter Higgs had [http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/04/07/us-science-particle-idUSL0765287220080407 made a statement] in 2008 hinting that the confirmation would come within one year, and that statement was made one year before the Tuesday mentioned in the comic. Tentative experimental confirmation of the Higgs boson was made in July 2013.
#At the time this was written, there was much hype about the Higgs mechanism, as it was a theory explaining how particles got their masses. Experimental confirmation of the Higgs mechanism and its signature particle (the {{w|Higgs boson}}) was seen with such importance that the boson was dubbed the "God particle". Detecting it, however, required accelerating particles to energies higher than ever before. Since this was at the cutting edge of physics, it was unknown what would actually happen. There were [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/09/05/lhc_to_leave_fabric_of_spacetime_continuum_unripped/ fears] that the experiment would create a micro black hole or worse. This comic could be seen as applying those fears to a common trope in horror movies and video games where a mutant infestation is created by unknowing scientists. The scientists here, apart from poor [[Cueball]], have done their research and armed themselves for any upcoming dangers. It is unknown whether these dangers are specific or not. Some argue that [[:Category:Velociraptors|velociraptors]] are a common enough theme in xkcd that the experimenters are preparing for a velociraptor attack. Others point out that the crossbow is a weapon in the game series ''{{w|Half-Life (video game)|Half-Life}}'', whose plot has a similar infestation following failed physical experiment ripping dimensional seams. They mention that someone at the particle accelerator closely resembled one of the main characters of ''Half-Life''. Of course, the crossbows may just be a general preparation for danger.
#Finally, this comic may simply be general sympathy for those late to catch on to something. Substituting different things for "crossbow" and "Higgs excitation" would give a similar situation for Cueball. [[Randall]] apparently hates these situations. A layer of {{w|metahumor}} could be present here, as Cueball may represent the clueless readers of xkcd who have to go to the [http://forums.xkcd.com/index.php forum] or [[Main Page|this wiki]] to understand its comics.

In the first and second interpretations, the title text could refer to literally being the slowest in the lab, and therefore the least able to outrun whatever is making everyone carry crossbows.

The proper interpretation of this comic, or whether there even is one, remains an open question.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is pulling a crossbow out of a desk.]
:Cueball: Why do you have a crossbow in your desk?
:Megan (off-screen): You ''don't''?

:[Pan to Megan who looks towards Cuball who is off-screen to the left.]
:Cueball (off-screen): No—why would—
:Megan: You ''are'' studying the consequences of Higgs excitation, aren't you?
:Megan: Like the rest of the lab?

:[Cueball, now carying Megan's crossbow joins her as the panel extends to include another Cueball-like guy to her right, he also carries a crossbow.]
:Cueball: Yes, but why—
:Guy: Maybe he's slow with the math.
:Megan: Well, he has until Tuesday.
:Guy: Poor guy.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]
[[Category:Crossbows]]

2051: Bad Opinions

2018-09-27T22:45:04Z

172.69.62.160: which I am doing right now

{{comic
| number = 2051
| date = September 26, 2018
| title = Bad Opinions
| image = bad_opinions.png
| titletext = I thought of another bad opinion! I couldn't find anyone who expressed it specifically, but still, the fact that I can so easily imagine it is infuriating! I'm gonna tell everyone about it!
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Explain xkcd seeks to be a neutral source of information; as such, it should be treated like one. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
[[Cueball]] is imagining bad opinions, searching them up on the Internet, and excoriating people holding said opinions.

In title text he goes further, where he can't find an opinion he imagined on the internet, but still wants to discredit it, just because he is so infuriated by just being able to imagine it. This is similar to {{w|Straw man|straw man argument}}, where someone refutes an argument that wasn't actually made by anyone.

If Cueball wasn't thinking of all these bad opinions, nobody else would have brought them to his attention, and he wouldn't have an opportunity to argue against them. The fact that Cueball is the cause of his own agitation is the joke of the comic (or perhaps, the sad part of the comic).

Ironically, the comic itself could be considered an example of this behavior. It is possible that Randall imagined the absurd person and behavior depicted in the comic, and wrote a comic satirizing it, without knowing if such a person actually exists.

The [[1974: Conversational Dynamics|unhealthy conversation habits]] enabled by the [[181: Interblag|Interblag]] has been a regular theme in xkcd. In fact, this is a rather obvious callback to one of the most popular xkcd comics, [[386: Duty Calls]], wherein Cueball is actively seeking to discredit and correct people who are "wrong" on the internet.

Perhaps due to the inherent combination of disconnection and intense focus involved in use of the internet, it's pretty common for people to get into arguments online. Cueball has followed the trend of finding social success online by dedicating more time and energy to arguing pedantic points than his opponents. He's done this to such a great degree that he is now actively seeking possible arguments, even when the situations do not arise on their own. The end result is that his life has needlessly more stress, his interpersonal habits are those of contradiction and conflict, he makes unnecessary enemies, and he is always looking at a computer screen instead of his real world friends. It's similar to obsessively editing a wiki article, just to make sure it's right.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball sits at a laptop.]
:Offscreen voice: What are you doing?
:Cueball: I just thought of a bad opinion someone could have, and now I'm searching to see if anyone does so I can be mad at them.
:Offscreen voice: Sounds like you have a healthy relationship with the internet.
:Cueball: Hey, at least I'm not ''this'' guy I just found!

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Internet]]

1970: Name Dominoes

2018-09-17T19:58:30Z

172.69.62.160: /* Table of names */

{{comic
| number = 1970
| date = March 21, 2018
| title = Name Dominoes
| image = name_dominoes.png
| titletext = In competition, you can only play a name if you know who the person is. No fair saying "Frank ... Johnson. That sounds like a real person! Let me just Google him real quick."
}}

*A large version of the comic picture can be found [https://xkcd.com/1970/large/ here].
*A numbered version can be found [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/73/1970-_Name_Dominoes_-_The_large_image_with_numbers.jpg here].

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Some of the names at the bottom need to be explained, connections need to be finished, and some links are wrong (Maybe typo by an editor or a mistake on Randall's part? Needs to be sorted out). Good luck to the brave soul who manages to complete the table, and thanks in advance. Do NOT delete this tag too soon. }}

{{w|Dominoes}} is a family of boardgames played with rectangular "domino" tiles. A domino tile is divided into two squares, each displaying a number. Under most rules, a domino tile is placed on the table adjacent to another tile, and the adjacent ends must match in some way (usually by the number displayed on the touching ends). Randall's "name dominoes" shows a set of domino tiles with people's names instead of numbers, and adjacent tiles are matched by whether the closest name is the same (such as how Chris Evans' family name matches Evan Taylor Jones' given name).

The title text spells out a rule that a player may only place a tile if they know who that person is. This is a variation of a rule in {{w|Scrabble}}, where a player loses a turn if their chosen word don't survive a dictionary challenge over the validity of the word. This rule implies that players are allowed to create new name dominoes tiles and that it is not a fixed set. In this case the player that is challenged has used the name Frank Johnson of which there are {{w|Frank Johnson|12 exact matches}} on Wikipedia along with six with a middle name and more. (The player was likely trying to place a tile in the upper-right area of the board, in an attempt to connect the "Frank Vincent" and "Lyndon Johnson" dominoes. The move was subsequently made impossible when the "Francis Drake" domino was played.) In a google search as of the day the comic came out the first hit was {{w|Frank Johnson (basketball)|Frank Johnson}} who is a retired American professional basketball player and coach. Randall has made several [[:Category:Basketball|references to basketball]] in his comics.

A large board is covered in rectangular "dominoes" (271 pieces), with each domino bearing the name of a "well-known" person or character (fictional). The dominoes are arranged as if a game of dominoes were being played, but instead of the game requiring the number of spots of adjacent dominoes to match up, this game requires adjacent ''names'' to match up. Because most people have two or more names, different matches are made at each end of a domino. Fun fact is that two of the people are "named after" the game: {{w|Fats Domino}} and {{w|Domino Harvey}}.

The match can be exact (e.g., "Kevin" on one domino adjacent to "Kevin" on another), homonymic (e.g., "Klein" adjacent to "Kline"), nickname-based (e.g., "James" adjacent to "Jimmy", which in turn is adjacent to "Jim"), or gender different versions of a name (e.g., "Olivia" adjacent to "Oliver"). Sometimes last names are matched up with first names (e.g., "{{w|Elizabeth Warren}}" adjacent to "{{w|Warren Beatty}}"), and in some cases only a single name is used (e.g., "{{w|Columbo}}", "{{w|Drake_(musician)|Drake}}", "{{w|Garfield_(character)|Garfield}}", "{{w|Prince_(musician)|Prince}}"). Singular names are represented by a half-size square "domino" (or "{{w|Polyomino|monomino}}"), with a few exceptions: "{{w|Garnet_(Steven_Universe)|Garnet}}" has a full-size tile (a complex reference explained below), and "{{w|Batman}}" and "{{w|Superman}}" have full-size tiles and are placed as though they were two-part names: the first square of "Superman" is matched with "Super", and the second square is matched with the second square of "Batman" (as though both characters had the last name "Man"). Some people have three or more names (e.g., "{{w|Frank Lloyd Wright}}") and have a 3-square domino tile (or "straight {{w|Tromino|tromino}}", 50% longer than normal) which permits matching to a middle name (e.g. "Frank Lloyd Wright" is matched to "{{w|Lloyd Alexander}}" and "{{w|Harold Lloyd}}").

The names come from a wide variety of fields: scientists (e.g., {{w|Isaac Newton}}), historical figures ({{w|George Washington}}), musicians ({{w|Drake (musician)|Drake}}), politicians ({{w|John Kerry}}), actors ({{w|Kevin Costner}}), writers ({{w|Washington Irving}}), fashion designers ({{w|Oscar de la Renta}}), and so on. Most of the names are real people but a few are fictional characters, including some non-human characters like {{w|Garfield_(character)|Garfield}} and {{w|Grover#Super_Grover|Super Grover}}. In one case the nick name for a company is used: {{w|Ma Bell}} aka Bell System.

One notable reference beyond just the use of a name is in the bottom left, there is the connection [ {{w|William Safire}} ][ Garnet ][ {{w|Jack Ruby|Ruby, Jack}} ]. The connection seems to be based on the fact that {{w|Sapphire}}, {{w|Garnet}} and {{w|Ruby}} are all {{w|gemstones}}, which does not match the implied rules of the game. This tile is a reference to the character {{w|Garnet_(Steven_Universe)|Garnet}} in the cartoon {{w|Steven Universe}}, who is a "fusion" formed by two Gems: Ruby and Sapphire. Thus, the name "Garnet" is treated as though it was two names "Ruby" and "Sapphire", requiring a two-square tile despite having a one-word name. Randall has previously made references to this universe in [[1608: Hoverboard]]. (See [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1608_1031x1095y_Steven_Universe_family_and_ice_cream_prediction.png this] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fa/1608_1077x1109y_Darth_Vaders_talks_about_Steven_Universe_on_the_bridge_Megan_adjust_antenna.png this] image from that comic).

Additionally, Ayn Rand, Paul Ryan and Rand Paul have been mentioned before, in the title text of [[1277: Ayn Random]]. That idea may have been the prototype for this.

In at least one case it is not entirely clear who is being referred to: "John Kelly" most likely refers to Gen. {{w|John F. Kelly}}, Donald Trump's chief of staff, but the name is extremely common and could equally refer to {{w|John Kelly|any number of people}}.

==Table of names==
The number # refers to the numbers on this [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/73/1970-_Name_Dominoes_-_The_large_image_with_numbers.jpg numbered picture]. Read more on this page: [[1970: Name Dominoes/Numbered images]].

Wiki links not tested as they were set in only from the name in the comic.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!style="width:15%"|Domino
!style="width:45%"|Notability and notes
!style="width:15%"|Connections
!style="width:20%"|Mode
!style="width:5%"|#
|-
|{{w|Christian Campbell}}
|Canadian American stage and screen actor, writer, and photographer. Most likely refers to the actor, but there are also a Trinidadian-Bahamian poet called {{w|Christian Campbell (poet)|Christian Campbell}}.
|Neve Campbell Naomi Campbell
|Last-Last Last-Last
|1
|-
|{{w|Neve Campbell}}
|Canadian actress, known for starring in the movie series {{w|Scream (1996 film)|Scream}}.
|Christian Campbell Joseph Campbell
|Last-Last Last-Last
|2
|-
|{{w|Joe McCarthy}}
|Joseph McCarthy, (also called {{w|Joseph_McCarthy#Legacy|Joe McCarthy}}), served as U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957. {{w|McCarthyism}} is named after him. It was the practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper regard for evidence, especially caused by fear of Communist influence during the beginning of the cold war. McCarthyism has its origins in the period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare, lasting roughly from 1947 to 1956.
|Eugene McCarthy Joseph Smith
|Last-Last First-First (approximate)
|3
|-
|{{w|Eugene McCarthy}}
|Eugene Joseph McCarthy was an American politician, poet, and a long-time Congressman from Minnesota. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1949 to 1959 and the United States Senate from 1959 to 1971. (He is not to be confused with the other Senator McCarthy, Joseph McCarthy, see #3)
|Joe McCarthy Gene Vincent
|Last-Last First-First (approximate)
|4
|-
|{{w|Gene Vincent}}
|American musician who pioneered the styles of rock and roll and rockabilly. His 1956 top ten hit with his Blue Caps, "Be-Bop-A-Lula", is considered a significant early example of rockabilly.
|Eugene McCarthy Gene Kelly Frank Vincent
|First-First (approximate) First-First Last-Last
|5
|-
|{{w|Gene Kelly}}
|American actor and dancer known primarily for musicals such as 'Singing in the rain'
|Gene Vincent John Kelly
|First-First Last-Last
|6
|-
|{{w|Kate Hudson}}
|Golden Globe-winning American actress. Won for playing Penny Lane in Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous in 2000.
|Rock Hudson Katherine Johnson
|Last-Last First-First (approximate)
|7
|-
|{{w|Rock Hudson}}
|American actor who was viewed as a prominent 'heartthrob' of the Hollywood Golden Age, staring as the lead man in many movies during the 1950s and 60s, among other {{w|Giant (1956 film)|Giant}}, James Deans last film, for which both where nominated for an Oscar in the best actor category. He later became known for his secret homosexual life. Hudson died from AIDS-related complications in 1985, becoming the first major celebrity to die from an AIDS-related illness.
|Katie Hudson The Rock
|Last-Last First-Last
|8
|-
|{{w|Gordon Brown}}
|British Prime Minister from 2007-2010.
|James Brown
|Last-Last
|9
|-
|{{w|James Brown}}
|American singer, known as the Godfather of Soul
|Gordon Brown John Brown James Newton Howard
|Last-Last Last-Last First-First
|10
|-
|{{w|John Brown (abolitionist)|John Brown}}
|American abolitionist who led an attack on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry. There are several other {{w|John Brown|John Browns}}.
|James Brown John Howard John Wayne
|Last-Last First-First First-First
|11
|-
|{{w|John Howard}}
|Australian politician. Served as 25th Prime Minister of Australia from 1996-2007. There are several other {{w|John Howard (disambiguation)|John Howards}} but this Prime Minister is by far the best known among them.
|John Brown Howard Stern
|First-First Last-First
|12
|-
|{{w|Columbo}}
|Fictional character. Homicide detective from American TV show "Columbo"; portrayed by actor Peter Falk.
|Chris Columbus
|Only-Last (approximate)
|13
|-
|{{w|Chris Columbus (filmmaker)|Chris Columbus}}
|Film director and screenwriter.
|Columbo Christopher Columbus Chris Hughes
|Last-Only (approximate) First-First (approximate) and Last-Last First-First
|14
|-
|{{w|Christopher Columbus}}
|Italian explorer. Credited with "discovering" the Americas in 1492 by leading voyages and establishing continued ties between Europe and the Americas.
|Chris Columbus
|First-First (approximate) and Last-Last
|15
|-
|{{w|Naomi Campbell}}
|British model and actress.
|Christian Campbell Joseph Campbell Naomi Klein
|Last-Last Last-Last First-First
|16
|-
|{{w|Joseph Campbell}}
|American author. Most known for his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces about the hero type found throughout world mythologies.
|Neve Campbell Naomi Campbell Joseph Smith
|Last-Last Last-Last First-First
|17
|-
|{{w|Joseph Smith}}
|American religious leader; founder of Mormonism. Publisher of The Book of Mormon.
|Joe McCarthy Joseph Campbell
|First-First (approximate) First-First
|18
|-
|{{w|Frank Vincent}}
|American actor.
|Gene Vincent Francis Drake
|Last-Last First-First (approximate)
|19
|-
|{{w|John Kelly}}
|White House Chief of Staff under President Donald Trump. Retired US Marine Corps general.
|Gene Kelly Katherine Johnson
|Last-Last First-Last (approximate)
|20
|-
|{{w|Katherine Johnson}}
|African-American mathematician at NASA. Calculated trajectories, launch windows, and flight paths for NASA moon missions and the Space Shuttle.
|Kate Hudson John Kelly Lyndon Johnson
|First-First (approximate) Last-First (approximate) Last-Last
|21
|-
|{{w|The Rock}}
|Nickname for Dwayne Johnson, a pro wrestler, and actor.
|Rock Hudson Chris Rock Oscar the Grouch
|Last-First Last-Last First-Middle
|22
|-
|{{w|Chris Rock}}
|American comedian.
|The Rock Chris Isaac
|Last-Last First-First
|23
|-
|{{w|Chris Isaac}}
|Former quarterback in the Canadian Football League. Probable misspelling of {{w|Chris Isaak}}, American musician.
|Chris Rock Isaac Newton
|First-First Last-First
|24
|-
|{{w|James Newton Howard}}
|American composer, conductor, music producer and musician.
|James Brown Isaac Newton Wayne Newton Wayne Howard
|First-First Middle-Last Middle-Last Last-Last
|25
|-
|{{w|John Wayne}}
|American actor, known primarily for roles in Westerns
|John Brown Wayne Newton
|First-First Last-First
|26
|-
|{{w|Howard Stern}}
|Radio talk show host. Known for {{w|The Howard Stern Show}}.
|John Howard Howard Hunt
|First-Last First-First
|27
|-
|{{w|Howard Hunt}}
|Former CIA operative, convicted for Watergate burglary.
|Howard Stern Helen Hunt
|First-First Last-Last
|28
|-
|{{w|Chris Hughes}}
|American entrepreneur who co-founded Facebook with Mark Zuckerberg.
|Chris Columbus Helen Hughes
|First-First Last-Last
|29
|-
|{{w|Naomi Watts}}
| Australian actress, born in Britain
|Naomi Klein James Watt (steam)
|First-First Last-Last (approximate)
|30
|-
|{{w|Naomi Klein}}
|Best known for the book "No Logo"
|Naomi Campbell Naomi Watts Kevin Kline
|First-First First-First Last-Last (approximate)
|31
|-
|{{w|Kevin Kline}}
|American actor
|Naomi Klein Kevin Bacon
|Last-Last (approximate) First-First
|32
|-
|{{w|Francis Bacon}}
|16th century English philosopher. Commonly credited with the phrase "knowledge is power".
|Francis Drake Kevin Bacon
|First-First Last-Last
|33
|-
|{{w|Francis Drake}}
|English privateer
|Frank Vincent Francis Bacon Frank Drake
|First-First (approximate) First-First First-First (approximate)
|34
|-
|{{w|Lyndon Johnson}}
|Former American president (1963-1969)
|Katherine Johnson
|Last-Last
|35
|-
|{{w|Oscar the Grouch}}
|A muppet who lives in a trash can from the children's TV show {{w|Sesame Street}}.
|The Rock Oscar Isaac
|Middle-Last First-First
|36
|-
|{{w|Oscar Isaac}}
|Actor.
|Oscar the Grouch Isaac Hayes Oscar de la Hoya
|First-First Last-First First-First
|37
|-
|{{w|Isaac Hayes}}
|American singer-songwriter
|Oscar Isaac Isaac Newton Sean Hayes
|First-Last First-First Last-Last
|38
|-
|{{w|Isaac Newton}}
|Well-known 15th century physicist who created the three laws of motion.
|Chris Isaac James Newton Howard Isaac Hayes
|First-Last Last-Middle First-First
|39
|-
|{{w|Wayne Newton}}
|Musician.
|James Newton Howard John Wayne Wayne Knight
|Last-Middle First-Last First-First
|40
|-
|{{w|Wayne Knight}}
|American actor best known for playing Newman in the TV show {{w|Seinfeld}}.
|Wayne Newton Wayne Brady
|First-First First-First
|41
|-
|{{w|Helen Hunt}}
|American actress
|Howard Hunt Helen Hughes Helen Thomas
|Last-Last First-First First-First
|42
|-
|{{w|Helen Hughes}}
|Australian economist
|Chris Hughes Helen Hunt
|Last-Last First-First
|43
|-
|{{w|James Watt|James Watt (Steam)}}
|Scottish inventor who perfected on the earlier Newcomen steam engine with a design that made it practical for widespread use and is credited with helping to usher in the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain. His name became the SI unit for power.
|Naomi Watts James Watt (Interior) Stephen James
|Last-Last (approximate) First-First and Last-Last First-Last
|44
|-
|{{w|James G. Watt|James Watt (Interior)}}
|U.S. Secretary of the Interior from 1981-1983
|James Watt (Steam)
|First-First and Last-Last
|45
|-
|{{w|Kevin Costner}}
|Academy Award-winning American actor.
|Kevin Bacon Kevin Love
|First-First First-First
|46
|-
|{{w|Kevin Bacon}}
|American actor. Known for {{w|Footloose (1984 film)|Footloose}}, and for {{w|Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon}}.
|Kevin Kline Francis Bacon Kevin Costner
|First-First Last-Last First-First
|47
|-
|{{w|Kevin Love}}
|Relatively famous and accomplished professional basketball player who won an NBA championship with the much more famous and accomplished LeBron James in Cleveland.
|Kevin Costner Kevin Smith
|First-First First-First
|48
|-
|{{w|Lisa Frank}}
|American businesswoman who founded {{w|Lisa Frank Incorporated}}.
|Frank Drake
|Last-First
|49
|-
|{{w|Frank Drake}}
|American astronomer and astrophysicist.
|Francis Drake Lisa Frank Drake
|Last-Last First-Last Last-Only
|50
|-
|{{w|Drake}}
|Grammy Award-winning Canadian rapper.
|Frank Drake
|Only-Last
|51
|-
|{{w|Oscar de la Renta}}
|Fashion designer.
|Oscar de la Hoya
|First-First
|52
|-
|{{w|Oscar de la Hoya}}
|Professional boxer who won multiple titles in different weight classes as well as an Olympic gold medal before his retirement in 2009.
|Oscar Isaac Oscar de la Renta
|First-First First-First
|53
|-
|{{w|Sean Hayes (actor)|Sean Hayes}}
|Sean Hayes is an American actor, singer, comedian, and producer. He is best known for his role as Jack McFarland on the NBC sitcom Will & Grace.
|Isaac Hayes Wallace Shawn
|Last-Last First-Last (approximate)
|54
|-
|{{w|Wallace Shawn}}
|American actor. Vizzini in The Princess Bride
|George Wallace Charles Wallace Sean Hayes
|First-Last First-Last Last-First (approximate)
|55
|-
|{{w|Wayne Howard}}
|
|James Newton Howard Wayne Brady
|Last-Last First-First
|56
|-
|{{w|Wayne Brady}}
|American comedian, known for {{w|Whose Line Is It Anyway? (U.S. TV series)|Whose Line Is It Anyway?}}
|Wayne Howard Wayne Knight James Brady Tom Brady
|First-First First-First Last-Last Last-Last
|57
|-
|{{w|James Brady}}
|White House Press Secretary for US President Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) who was shot during an assassination attempt against Reagan in 1981. Subsequent gun control legislation known as the "Brady Bill" was named for him.
|Wayne Brady James Monroe
|Last-Last First-First
|58
|-
|{{w|Tom Brady}}
|Quarterback for the {{w|New England Patriots}}. Notable for winning 5 Super Bowls.
|James Brady Helen Thomas
|Last-Last First-Last (approximate)
|59
|-
|{{w|Helen Thomas}}
|
|Helen Hunt Tom Brady Tom Hanks
|First-First Last-Last (approximate) Last-Last (approximate)
|60
|-
|{{w|Tom Hanks}}
|Academy award winning actor. Known for {{w|Forrest Gump}}, {{w|Saving Private Ryan}}, {{w|Cast Away}}, and several other famous films.
|Helen Thomas Hank Aaron Hank Williams
|First-Last (approximate) Last-First (approximate) Last-First (approximate)
|61
|-
|{{w|Hank Aaron}}
|Former Major League Baseball player. Hit 755 career home runs, a record at the time.
|Tom Hanks Aaron Carter
|First-Last (approximate) Last-First
|62
|-
|{{w|Aaron Carter}}
|American singer.
|Hank Aaron
|First-Last
|63
|-
|{{w|Stephen James}}
|
|James Watt (Steam) Steve Harvey
|Last-First First-First (approximate)
|64
|-
|{{w|Will Smith}}
|American actor. Known for {{w|The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air}}
|Kevin Smith
|Last-Last
|65
|-
|{{w|Kevin Smith}}
|American writer and director of {{w|Clerks}} and other films who often also plays the character Silent Bob in his films.
|Will Smith Kevin Love Kevin James
|Last-Last First-First First-First
|66
|-
|{{w|Kevin James}}
|American actor. Known for {{w|Paul Blart: Mall Cop}}
|Kevin Smith James Saint James
|First-First Last-Last
|67
|-
|{{w|Garfield (character)|Garfield}}
|A fictional cat and the star of the eponymous ''{{w|Garfield}}'' comic by {{w|Jim Davis (cartoonist)|Jim Davis}}. Previously appeared in [[78: Garfield]].
|James Garfield
|Only-Last
|68
|-
|{{w|James Garfield}}
|20th President of the United States. Notably, he was assassinated after only 6 months.
|Garfield Etta James James Saint James
|Last-Only First-Last First-Last
|69
|-
|{{w|Warren Buffett}}
|Billionaire and CEO of {{w|Berkshire Hathaway}}.
|Jimmy Buffett Warren Beatty
|Last-Last First-First
|70
|-
|{{w|Jimmy Buffett}}
|American country musician.
|Etta James Warren Buffett Jim Jones
|First-Last (approximate) Last-Last First-First (approximate)
|71
|-
|{{w|Warren Beatty}}
|Actor.
|Warren Buffett Elizabeth Warren
|FIrst-First First-Last
|72
|-
|{{w|Elizabeth Warren}}
|Massachusetts Senator since 2013. Known for her work as a consumer rights activist.
|Warren Beatty Earl Warren Elizabeth Kolbert
|Last-First Last-Last First-First
|73
|-
|{{w|Earl Warren}}
|Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1953 to 1969. Presided over several landmark cases including ''Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka'' (ruled segregation of public schools unconstitutional), ''Reynolds v. Sims'' (electoral districts for state legislature must be equal in population), and ''Miranda v. Arizona'' (suspects detained by police must be informed of their rights as an accused).
|Elizabeth Warren James Earl Jones
|Last-Last First-Middle
|74
|-
|{{w|Elizabeth Kolbert}}
|
|Elizabeth Warren Stephen Colbert
|First-First Last-Last (approximate)
|75
|-
|{{w|Stephen Colbert}}
|American talk show host. Known for {{w|The Colbert Report}} and {{w|The Late Show with Stephen Colbert}}
|Elizabeth Kolbert
|Last-Last (approximate)
|76
|-
|{{w|George Wallace}}
|American politician, who initially supported, but later renounced racial segregation.
|Wallace Shawn
|Last-First
|77
|-
|{{w|Charles Wallace}}
|
|Wallace Shawn Charles Manson
|Last-First First-First
|78
|-
|{{w|James Monroe}}
|Founding father and Fifth president of the USA
|James Brady Marilyn Monroe
|First-First Last-Last
|79
|-
|{{w|Marilyn Monroe}}
|American actress and pin-up model from the 50s. She was immensely famous during her time, and unexpectedly committed suicide at age 36.
|James Monroe Marilyn Manson
|Last-Last First-First
|80
|-
|{{w|Hank Williams}}
|Country singer
|Tom Hanks William C. Williams Robin Williams
|First-Last (approximate) Last-Last Last-Last
|81
|-
|{{w|William C. Williams}}
|American poet closely associated with modernism and imagism.
|Hank Williams Billy D. Williams
|Last-Last First-First (approximate) and Last-Last
|82
|-
|{{w|Steve Harvey}}
|Host of {{w|Family Feud}}.
|Stephen James Domino Harvey
|First-First (approximate) Last-Last
|83
|-
|{{w|Domino Harvey}}
|
|Steve Harvey Harvey Milk Fats Domino
|Last-Last Last-First First-Last
|84
|-
|{{w|Harvey Milk}}
|American politician and gay rights activist.
|Domino Harvey
|First-Last
|85
|-
|{{w|James Saint James}}
|
|Kevin James James Garfield Jimmy John
|Last-Last Last-First First-First (approximate)
|86
|-
|{{w|Etta James|Etta James (1)}}
|Used again in 266
|James Garfield Jimmy Buffett
|Last-First Last-First (approximate)
|87
|-
|{{w|Jim Jones}}
|Cult leader behind the 1978 {{w|Jonestown}} mass suicide in Guyana.
|Jimmy Buffett James Earl Jones Tom Jones
|First-First (approximate) Last-Last Last-Last
|88
|-
|{{w|James Earl Jones}}
|American actor. Voiced {{w|Darth Vader}} in the original Star Wars.
|Earl Warren Jim Jones Quincy Jones James Earl Ray
|Middle-First Last-Last Last-Last First-First
|89
|-
|{{w|Charlie Parker}}
|Jazz musician.
|Ray Parker Jr. Charles Manson
|Last-Last First-First (approximate)
|90
|-
|{{w|Ray Parker Jr.}}
|Singer and songwriter who wrote and performed the theme song to the 1984 film {{w|Ghostbusters}}.
|Charlie Parker Man Ray Rachael Ray
|Last-Last First-Last First-Last
|91
|-
|{{w|Ray Charles}}
|American blues musician. Blind from the age of 7.
|Charles Manson Rachael Ray Ray Allen
|Last-First First-Last First-First
|92
|-
|{{w|Charles Manson}}
|Cult leader of the {{w|Manson Family}}. Convicted of 7 murders; used Beatles songs as bases.
|Charles Wallace Charlie Parker Ray Charles Marilyn Manson
|First-First First-First (approximate) First-Last Last-Last
|93
|-
|{{w|Marilyn Manson}}
|American musician. Known for esoteric performances.
|Marilyn Monroe Charles Manson
|First-First Last-Last
|94
|-
|{{w|Robin Williams}}
|American stand up comedian. Voiced the Genie in {{w|Aladdin (1992 Disney film)|Aladdin}}.
|Hank Williams Billy D. Williams Robin Wright
|Last-Last Last-Last First-First
|95
|-
|{{w|Billy D. Williams}}
|American actor best known for playing {{w|Lando Calrissian}} in ''{{w|The Empire Strikes Back}}'' and ''{{w|Return of the Jedi}}''.
|William C. Williams Robin Williams Will Wright
|First-First (approximate) and Last-Last Last-Last First-First (approximate)
|96
|-
|{{w|Will Wright}}
|
|Billy D. Williams Robin Wright Wilber Wright
|First-First (approxiate) Last-Last Last-Last
|97
|-
|{{w|Fats Domino}}
|Jazz musician.
|Domino Harvey Fatty Arbuckle
|Last-First First-First (approximate)
|98
|-
|{{w|Bill Clinton}}
|42nd president of the United States. His wife, {{w|Hillary Clinton}}, ran against {{w|Donald Trump}} in the 2016 presidential election and was Secretary of State.
|George Clinton
|Last-Last
|99
|-
|{{w|Jimmy John}}
|Founder of the sandwich shop chain Jimmy John's.
|James Saint James John Kerry
|First-First (approximate) Last-First
|100
|-
|{{w|Tom Jones}}
|Can refer to the Welsh Singer or to the fictional character from the book of the same name by Henry Fielding
|Jim Jones Tommy John Quincy Jones
|Last-Last First-First (approximate) Last-Last
|101
|-
|{{w|Tommy John}}
|Former baseball pitcher who had a surgical graft done to replace a blown ligament in his pitching elbow in 1974; the procedure is now called Tommy John surgery.
|Tom Jones John Irving John Quincy Adams
|First-First (approximate) Last-First Last-First
|102
|-
|{{w|Quincy Jones}}
|American Jazz musician
|James Earl Jones Tom Jones John Quincy Adams
|Last-Last Last-Last First-Middle
|103
|-
|{{w|James Earl Ray}}
|Killer of Martin Luther King Jr.
|James Earl Jones Man Ray
|First-First Last-Last
|104
|-
|{{w|Man Ray}}
|Photographer (Dada, Surrealism).
|Ray Parker Jr. James Earl Ray Batman
|Last-First Last-Last First-Last
|105
|-
|{{w|Rachel Ray}}
|Celebrity chef.
|Ray Parker Jr. Ray Charles
|Last-First Last-First
|106
|-
|{{w|Ray Allen}}
|Professional basketball player who retired in 2013. Won two NBA championships with the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat, making him the second teammate of {{w|LeBron James}} to appear on this list.
|Ray Charles Tim Allen
|First-First Last-Last
|107
|-
|{{w|Tim Allen}}
|American comedic actor. Created and starred in the long running sitcom "Home Improvement". Voiced Buzz Lightyear in {{w|Toy Story}}.
|Ray Allen Tim Cook Lily Allen
|Last-Last First-First Last-Last
|108
|-
|{{w|Tim Cook}}
|Current (as of the time of this comic) Chief Executive Officer of {{w|Apple, Inc.}}
|Tim Allen Tim Howard
|First-First First-First
|109
|-
|{{w|Tim Howard}}
|Former goalkeeper for the United States men's national soccer team. Holds the record for most saves made in a World Cup match (15 against Belgium in 2010).
|Tim Cook Ron Howard
|First-First Last-Last
|110
|-
|{{w|Robin Wright}}
|American actress, aka Robin Wright-Penn
|Robin Williams Will Wright
|First-First Last-Last
|111
|-
|{{w|Wilbur Wright}}
|One of the two Wright Brothers (the other was Orville) who made the world's first powered flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1903.
|Will Wright
|Last-Last
|112
|-
|{{w|Fatty Arbuckle}}
|Comedian.
|Fats Domino Fat Joe
|First-First (approximate) First-First (approximate)
|113
|-
|{{w|Fat Joe}}
|Real name Joseph Antonio Cartagena, rapper.
|Fatty Arbuckle Joe Kennedy
|First-First (approximate) Last-First
|114
|-
|{{w|George Clinton}}
|Could be either the {{w|George Clinton (vice president)|19th Century politician}} who served as Governor of New York and later as Vice President under {{w|Thomas Jefferson}} and {{w|James Madison}}, or the {{w|George Clinton (musician)|musician}} who rose to fame in the 1970's as one of the biggest acts in funk music and entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.
|Bill Clinton George Washington
|Last-Last First-First
|115
|-
|{{w|John Kerry}}
|Secretary of State under {{w|Barack Obama}}. Ran against {{w|George W. Bush}} in the 2004 presidential election.
|Jimmy John Kerry Washington John Irving
|First-Last Last-First First-First
|116
|-
|{{w|Kerry Washington}}
|Actress in the TV show Scandal.
|John Kerry George Washington Washington Irving
|First-Last Last-Last Last-First
|117
|-
|{{w|John Irving}}
|Author.
|Tommy John John Kerry Washington Irving
|First-Last First-First Last-Last
|118
|-
|{{w|John Quincy Adams}}
|Sixth president of the United States and son of John Adams.
|Tommy John Quincy Jones John Adams
|First-Last Middle-First Last-Last
|119
|-
|{{w|John Adams}}
|Second president of the United States and father of John Quincy Adams.
|John Quincy Adams Amy Adams Jack Ma
|First-First Last-Last First-First (approximate)
|120
|-
|{{w|Amy Adams}}
|Amy Adams is an American actress.
|John Adams Aimee Mann
|Last-Last First-First (approximate)
|121
|-
|{{w|Aimee Mann}}
|Singer/Songwriter.
|Amy Adams Batman
|First-First (approximate) Last-Last (approximate)
|122
|-
|{{w|Superman}}
|Superhero owned by DC comics who can fly and have super strength/invincibility.
|Batman Super Grover
|Last-Last (approximate) First-First (approximate)
|123
|-
|{{w|Batman}}
|Superhero owned by DC comics.
|Man Ray Aimee Mann Superman
|Last-First (approximate) Last-Last (approximate) Last-Last (approximate)
|124
|-
|{{w|Ayn Rand}}
|Russian political author, known for {{w|Atlas Shrugged}}. XKCD frequently makes fun of Rand's philosophy.
|Rand Paul
|Last-First
|125
|-
|{{w|Lily Allen}}
|British singer-songwriter, sometime actress.
|
|
|126
|-
|{{w|Paul Allen}}
|Co-founder of {{w|Microsoft}} along with Bill Gates and current owner of several professional sports teams in the Pacific Northwest (Seattle Seahawks, Portland Trail Blazers, part of Seattle Sounders FC).
|
|
|127
|-
|{{w|Ron Howard}}
|Actor and director. Most famously acted in ''{{w|Happy Days}}''; later directed ''{{w|Apollo 13 (film)|Apollo 13}}''.
|
|
|128
|-
|{{w|Howard Hughes}}
|American business tycoon
|
|
|129
|-
|{{w|Joe Kennedy}}
|US ambassador to the United Kingdom and father of {{w|John F. Kennedy}}.
|
|
|130
|-
|{{w|George Bush}}
|{{w|George H. W. Bush}} and {{w|George W. Bush}} (father and son, respectively), were both presidents of the United States.
|
|
|131
|-
|{{w|George Washington}}
|First president of the United States, and general during the Revolutionary War.
|
|
|132
|-
|{{w|Washington Irving}}
|Short story author who wrote "{{w|Rip Van Winkle}}" and "{{w|The Legend of Sleepy Hollow}}"
|
|
|133
|-
|{{w|Martha Wasington}}
|Wife of George Washington.
|
|
|134
|-
|{{w|Ma Rainey}}
|
|
|
|135
|-
|{{w|Jack Ma}}
|
|
|
|136
|-
|{{w|Super Grover}}
|
|
|
|137
|-
|{{w|Jack Black}}
|Singer and actor.
|
|
|138
|-
|{{w|Rand Paul}}
|Republican senator from Kentucky; member of the {{w|Tea Party movement}}. Ran in the 2016 Republican presidential primary.
|
|
|139
|-
|{{w|Paul Ryan}}
|Republican representative from Wisconsin. Served as Speaker of the House at the time this comic was published.
|
|
|140
|-
|{{w|Paul Simon}}
|Singer.
|
|
|141
|-
|{{w|Ron Paul}}
|Libertarian politician. Known for running for president in many elections and mentioned often in xkcd.
|
|
|142
|-
|{{w|John Hughes}}
|Director famed for a series of 1980s coming of age movies including "Sixteen Candles", "The Breakfast Club", and "Pretty in Pink"
|
|
|143
|-
|{{w|Langston Hughes}}
|Writer.
|
|
|144
|-
|{{w|John F. Kennedy}}
|35th president of the United States. Known for his public assassination during a parade; subject to many conspiracy theories.
|
|
|145
|-
|{{w|Little Richard}}
|Early rock and roll singer known for his energetic and flamboyant style on songs such as "Tutti Frutti" and "Long Tall Sally"
|
|
|146
|-
|{{w|Rich Little}}
|American comedian known for his impressions of numerous celebrities and public figures
|
|
|147
|-
|{{w|Martha Stewart}}
|American TV personality. Convicted of insider trading in 2004.
|
|
|148
|-
|{{w|Yo Yo Ma}}
|Chinese cellist. Known for winning 18 Grammys; considered a child prodigy.
|
|
|149
|-
|{{w|Ma Bell}}
|Aka Bell System, the system of companies, led by the Bell Telephone Company and later by AT&T, which provided telephone services to much of the United States and Canada from 1877 to 1984.
|
|
|150
|-
|{{w|Grover Cleveland Alexander}}
|Pitcher named after the president; co-holds record for most wins by a pitcher in the National League (374).
|
|
|151
|-
|{{w|Grover Cleveland}}
|22nd and 24th president of the United States. Notably the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms.
|
|
|152
|-
|{{w|Jack White}}
|American musician. Part of {{w|The White Stripes}}.
|
|
|153
|-
|{{w|Jack Ryan}}
|Fictional character in the novels by Tom Clancy. Portrayed in Movies by Harrison Ford, Alec Baldwin, and Ben Affleck
|
|
|154
|-
|{{w|Debby Ryan}}
|
|
|
|155
|-
|{{w|Carly Simon}}
|Singer. "You're so vain" referenced on xkcd in <insert here>
|
|
|156
|-
|{{w|Carly Hughes}}
|
|
|
|157
|-
|{{w|Charles Evans Hughes}}
|
|
|
|158
|-
|{{w|John Williams}}
|American composer. Known for many famous movie soundtracks, including Star Wars and Harry Potter.
|
|
|159
|-
|{{w|Little John}}
|Fictional character in the Robin Hood Legend. Known for great stature and strength.
|
|
|160
|-
|{{w|Stuart Little}}
|Fictional character by E. B. White, an intelligent mouse.
|
|
|161
|-
|{{w|Potter Stewart}}
|
|
|
|162
|-
|{{w|Kristen Stewart}}
|American actress. Known for {{w|Twilight (2008 film)|Twilight}}.
|
|
|163
|-
|{{w|Kristen Bell}}
|American actress, known for various romantic comedies.
|
|
|164
|-
|{{w|Kristen Hooks}}
|
|
|
|165
|-
|{{w|Alexander Graham Bell}}
|Scottish inventor, credited with inventing the telephone.
|
|
|166
|-
|{{w|Franklin Graham}}
|
|
|
|167
|-
|{{w|Lloyd Alexander}}
|
|
|
|168
|-
|{{w|Meg White}}
|Drummer. The other half of The White Stripes.
|
|
|169
|-
|{{w|Meg Ryan}}
|American actress. Known for 'WHen Harry met Sally'
|
|
|170
|-
|{{w|Debbie Reynolds}}
|American singer and actress.
|
|
|171
|-
|{{w|John Reynolds}}
|
|
|
|172
|-
|{{w|Carly Fiorina}}
|Former CEO of {{w|Hewlett-Packard}}. Ran for president in the 2016 Republican primaries.
|
|
|173
|-
|{{w|Grace Lee Boggs}}
|
|
|
|174
|-
|{{w|Wade Boggs}}
|American baseball player. Played with the {{w|Boston Red Sox}}.
|
|
|175
|-
|{{w|William Safire}}
|Writer and publicist.
|
|
|176
|-
|{{w|Prince William}}
|Member of the British Royal Family. Second in line for succession to the throne.
|
|
|177
|-
|{{w|Little Prince}}
|One of the main characters of ''{{w|The Little Prince}}'', a novella by {{w|Antoine de Saint-Exupéry}}. The Little Prince has previously appeared in [[618: Asteroid]], as well as [http://what-if.xkcd.com/68 article 68] of ''[[what if?]]''.
|
|
|178
|-
|{{w|Harry Potter}}
|Fictional main character in the Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
|
|
|179
|-
|{{w|James Potter}}
|Fictional character, father of Harry Potter.
|
|
|180
|-
|{{w|James Hook}}
|Fictional character from 'Peter Pan'
|
|
|181
|-
|{{w|James Dean}}
|American actor and teen icon. Starred in the films "Rebel Without a Cause", "East of Eden" and "Giant" before his sudden death in a car accident
|
|
|182
|-
|{{w|Aretha Franklin}}
|Soul singer, first woman to be inducted into the hall of fame and performer of Respect.
|
|
|183
|-
|{{w|Frank Lloyd Wright}}
|American architect, known for his unconventional buildings such as Fallingwater and the Guggenheim.
|
|
|184
|-
|{{w|Barry White}}
|American soul singer known for his deep, rich voice on songs such as "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe"
|
|
|185
|-
|{{w|Walter White}}
|Main character from the TV show {{w|Breaking Bad}}.
|
|
|186
|-
|{{w|Walt Whitman}}
|American poet. {{w|Walt Whitman Bridge|A bridge in Philadelphia}} was named after him.
|
|
|187
|-
|{{w|John Kelly}}
|
|
|
|188
|-
|{{w|Grace Lee}}
|
|
|
|189
|-
|{{w|Nancy Grace}}
|
|
|
|190
|-
|{{w|Garnet_(Steven_Universe)|Garnet}}
|A {{w|garnet}} is a gem stone and the two names around here are {{w|William Safire}} (almost {{w|Sapphire}}) and {{w|Jack Ruby}} as in {{w|Ruby}}. But it is not just used because they are all {{w|gemstones}}. It is instead a reference to the character {{w|Garnet_(Steven_Universe)|Garnet}} in the cartoon {{w|Steven Universe}}. She is a "fusion" formed by two gems: Ruby and Sapphire, hence the legal connection in the Name Dominoes... Randall has previously made references to this universe in [[1608: Hoverboard]]. (See [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1608_1031x1095y_Steven_Universe_family_and_ice_cream_prediction.png this] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fa/1608_1077x1109y_Darth_Vaders_talks_about_Steven_Universe_on_the_bridge_Megan_adjust_antenna.png this] image from that comic).
|{{w|William Safire}} {{w|Jack Ruby}}
|Last-Only (as a Sapphire gem stone) Last-Only (as a Ruby gem stone) Both used to fuse together to Garnet.
|191
|-
|{{w|Prince (musician)|Prince}}
|American musician, part of the Rock and Roll hall of fame. He died two years prior to the release of this comic.
|
|
|192
|-
|{{w|Prince Fielder}}
|Professional baseball player who retired in 2016 after playing for the Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers, and Texas Rangers.
|
|
|193
|-
|{{w|Prince Harry}}
|Member of the British royal family. Fifth in line for succession to the throne.
|
|
|194
|-
|{{w|Harry Styles}}
|Singer from One Direction.
|
|
|195
|-
|{{w|John Dean}}
|
|
|
|196
|-
|{{w|Benjamin Franklin}}
|One of the founding fathers of the United States. Credited with "discovering" electricity by flying a kite in a thunderstorm.
|
|
|197
|-
|{{w|Harrold Lloyd}}
|
|
|
|198
|-
|{{w|Harrold Ford}}
|
|
|
|199
|-
|{{w|Betty White}}
|American comedian. Known as the only surviving member of the {{w|The Golden Girls}}.
|
|
|200
|-
|{{w|Meg Whitman}}
|American business executive, former CEO of eBay and Hewlett Packard, unsuccessful candidate for California governor in 2010
|
|
|201
|-
|{{w|Christine Todd Whitman}}
|Governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001, then served as Director of the Environmental Protection Agency under {{w|George W. Bush}} from 2001 to 2003.
|
|
|202
|-
|{{w|Megyn Kelly}}
|American TV news anchor. Worked for Fox news until 2017, then switched to NBC.
|
|
|203
|-
|{{w|Grace Kelly}}
|American actress and Princess of Monaco
|
|
|204
|-
|{{w|Grace Jones}}
|Singer and actress.
|
|
|205
|-
|{{w|Jack Nicholson}}
|Actor who has appeared in many films from ''{{w|The Shining (film)}}'' (as Jack Torrance) to ''{{w|Batman (1989 film)}}'' (as the Joker) to ''{{w|A Few Good Men}}'' (as Colonel Jessup).
|
|
|206
|-
|{{w|Jack Ruby}}
|Jack Ruby is known for shooting and killing {{w|Lee Harvey Oswald}} on national television. Oswald was the prime suspect in the {{w|assassination of John F. Kennedy}}. Ruby's involvement is the subject of many conspiracy theories.
|
|
|207
|-
|{{w|Jack Russel}}
|
|
|
|208
|-
|{{w|Harry Fielder}}
|
|
|
|209
|-
|{{w|Harry Truman}}
|33rd president of the United States. Known for authorizing the use of atomic weapons against Japan at the end of World War 2.
|
|
|210
|-
|{{w|Harry Jon Benjamin}}
|
|
|
|211
|-
|{{w|John Edward}}
|
|
|
|212
|-
|{{w|Benjamin Harrison}}
|23rd president of the United States
|
|
|213
|-
|{{w|Harrison Ford}}
|American actor. Known for playing Han Solo in the ''{{w|Star Wars}}'' films and the titular character in the ''{{w|Indiana Jones}}'' films.
|
|
|214
|-
|{{w|Henry Ford}}
|Founder of the {{w|Ford Motor Company}}. Credited with inventing the assembly line.
|
|
|215
|-
|{{w|Betty Ford}}
|Wife of Gerald Ford, 38th president of the United States.
|
|
|216
|-
|{{w|Betty Friedan}}
|
|
|
|217
|-
|{{w|Chris Christie}}
|Governor of New Jersey from 2010 to 2018. Ran for president in the Republican primaries in 2016.
|
|
|218
|-
|{{w|Chris Pratt}}
|American actor. Known for {{w|Parks and Recreation}}
|
|
|219
|-
|{{w|Maggie Grace}}
|
|
|
|220
|-
|{{w|Grace Hopper}}
|American computer scientist. Helped develop the {{w|COBOL}} programming language.
|
|
|221
|-
|{{w|Russel Crowe}}
|Australian actor. (s/be Russell?)
|
|
|222
|-
|{{w|Russ Smith}}
|
|
|
|223
|-
|{{w|John Smith}}
|John Smith is the most common name in the United States. {{w|John Smith|See Wikipedia}} for a list of people this may refer to.
|
|
|224
|-
|{{w|Justin Long}}
|
|
|
|225
|-
|{{w|John Bel Edwards}}
|
|
|
|226
|-
|{{w|John Candy}}
|Canadian comedian and actor. Known for {{w|Spaceballs}}.
|
|
|227
|-
|{{w|John Henry}}
|American folk hero
|
|
|228
|-
|{{w|Henry James}}
|American author known for works including "The Turn of the Screw" and "The Portrait of a Lady"
|
|
|229
|-
|{{w|Bill James}}
|
|
|
|230
|-
|{{w|Chris Cooper}}
|
|
|
|231
|-
|{{w|Chris Hemsworth}}
|Actor.
|
|
|232
|-
|{{w|Chris Evans}}
|
|
|
|233
|-
|{{w|Topher Grace}}
|
|
|
|234
|-
|{{w|Van Morrison}}
|Irish singer best known for the song "Brown Eyed Girl"
|
|
|235
|-
|{{w|Sheryl Crow}}
|American singer and session musician
|
|
|236
|-
|{{w|Sheryl Sandberg}}
|
|
|
|237
|-
|{{w|Cameron Crow}}
|
|
|
|238
|-
|{{w|Long John Silver}}
|Fictional antagonist from {{w|Treasure Island}}.
|
|
|239
|-
|{{w|Olivia Newton John}}
|American actress. Known for ''Grease''
|
|
|240
|-
|{{w|Huey Long}}
|Governor of Louisiana from 1928 to 1932, and US Senator from 1932 until his assassination in 1935. Known for his "Share Our Wealth" proposal to address the hard economic conditions of the Great Depression.
|
|
|241
|-
|{{w|John Edwards}}
|American politician. Democratic candidate for presidential nomination in 2004 and 2008.
|
|
|242
|-
|{{w|Candy Crowley}}
|
|
|
|243
|-
|{{w|Alestier Crowley}}
|English occultist and author
|
|
|244
|-
|{{w|James Fenimore Cooper}}
|Author of ''{{w|The Last of the Mohicans}}''.
|
|
|245
|-
|{{w|James Cook}}
|18th century British explorer, navigator, cartographer, and captain in the Royal Navy.
|Alistair Cooke Cokie Roberts Alistair Cookie James Fenimore Cooper
|Last-Last (approximate) Last-First (approximate) Last-Last (approximate) First-First
|246
|-
|{{w|Robert Frost}}
|19th century American poet, named Poet Laureate of Vermont in 1922 by the Vermont State League of Women's Clubs, and in 1961 by the Vermont State legislature
|
|
|247
|-
|{{w|Bob Evans}}
|
|
|
|248
|-
|{{w|Evan Tayler Jones}}
|
|
|
|249
|-
|{{w|Van Jones}}
|
|
|
|250
|-
|{{w|James Cameron}}
|American director. Known for {{w|Terminator}} and {{w|Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic}}.
|
|
|251
|-
|{{w|Cam Newton}}
|Quarterback for the {{w|Carolina Panthers}}.
|
|
|252
|-
|{{w|Cameron Diaz}}
|American actress. Voiced Fiona in {{w|Shrek}}.
|
|
|253
|-
|{{w|Huey Newton}}
|Co-founder of the Black Panthers.
|
|
|254
|-
|{{w|Huey Lewis}}
|Lead singer for the band Huey Lewis and the News.
|
|
|255
|-
|{{w|John Lewis}}
|
|
|
|256
|-
|{{w|Jenny Lewis}}
|
|
|
|257
|-
|{{w|Ryan Lewis}}
|
|
|
|258
|-
|{{w|Burt Reynolds}}
|American actor. Known for a wide variety of western and/or action films.
|
|
|259
|-
|{{w|Alistair Cooke}}
|Name misspelled Alistiar Cooke in the comic.
|
|
|260
|-
|{{w|Monsterpiece_Theater#Alistair_Cookie|Alistair Cookie}}
|A parody of Alistair Cooke "played" by Cookie Monster in the Sesame Street sketch "Monsterpiece Theatre" in the 1980s, a parody of the PBS series "Masterpiece Theatre".
|James Cook Alastair Reynolds
|Last-Last (approximate) First-First (approximate)
|261
|-
|{{w|Cokie Roberts}}
|National Public Radio (NPR) political correspondent known for her recurring segment "Ask Cokie" in which she answers listener submitted questions.
|
|
|262
|-
|{{w|John Roberts}}
|Current Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court at the time of the comic's publication.
|
|
|263
|-
|{{w|Robert Johnson}}
|Delta blues guitar legend.
|
|
|264
|-
|{{w|Robert E. Lee}}
|Confederate general during the {{w|American Civil War}}.
|
|
|265
|-
|{{w|Tommy Lee}}
|Drummer for the rock band Mötley Crüe
|
|
|266
|-
|{{w|Tommy Lee Jones}}
|American actor known for 'The Fugitive'
|
|
|267
|-
|{{w|Etta James|Etta James (2)}}
|Used first time in 86
|
|
|268
|-
|{{w|John Oliver}}
|American talk show host. Known for {{w|Last Week Tonight}}.
|
|
|269
|-
|{{w|Ryan Reynolds}}
|Canadian actor. Known for several romantic comedies, and {{w|Deadpool (film)|Deadpool}}.
|
|
|270
|-
|{{w|Alastair Reynolds}}
|SF writer.
|
|
|271
|}

==Transcript==
:[This comic a large grid, 27 units wide and 35 units high, with 271 black "domino" tiles. On each tile there is a name written with white text. The grid is arranged so that each touching side corresponds with the first or last name of another person. Some of the domino tiles are rotated 90, 180 or 270 degrees so the text is either to be read down, up-side down or up. The names on the tiles are listed here below in approximate reading order starting at top left.]
:Christian Campbell, Neve Campbell, Joe McCarthy, Eugene McCarthy, Gene Vincent, Gene Kelly, Kate Hudson, Rock Hudson, Gordon Brown, James Brown, Jon Brown, John Howard, Columbo, Chris Columbus, Christopher Columbus, Naomi Campbell, Joseph Campbell, Joseph Smith, Frank Vincent, John Kelly, Katherine Johnson, The Rock, Chris Rock, Chris Isaac, James Newton Howard, John Wayne, Howard Stern, Howard Hunt, Chris Hughes, Naomi Watts, Naomi Klein, Kevin Kline, Francis Bacon, Francis Drake, Lyndon Johnson, Oscar the Grouch, Oscar Isaac, Isaac Hayes, Isaac Newton, Wayne Newton, Wayne Knight, Helen Hunt, Helen Hughes, James Watt (Steam), James Watt (Interior), Kevin Costner, Kevin Bacon, Kevin Love, Lisa Frank, Frank Drake, Drake, Oscar de la Renta, Oscar de la Hoya, Sean Hayes, Wallace Shawn, Wayne Howard, Wayne Brady, James Brady, Tom Brady, Helen Thomas, Tom Hanks, Hank Aaron, Aaron Carter, Stephen James, Will Smith, Kevin Smith, Kein James, Garfield, James Garfield, Warren Buffett, Jimmy Buffett, Warren Beatty, Elizabeth Warren, Earl Warren, Eliabeth Kolbert, Stephen Colbert, George Wallace, Charles Wallace, James Monroe, Marilyn Monroe, Hank Williams, William C. Williams, Steve Harvey, Domino Harvey, Harvey Milk, James Saint James, Etta James, Jim Jones, James Earl Jones, Charlie Parker, Ray Parker Jr., Ray Charles, Charles Manson, Marilyn Manson, Robin Williams, Billy D. Williams, Will Wright, Fats Domino, Bill Clinton, Jimmy John, Tom Jones, Tommy John, Quincy Jones, James Earl Ray, Man Ray, Rachel Ray, Ray Allen, Tim Allen, Tim Cook, Tim Howard, Robin Wright, Wilbur Wright, Fatty Arbuckle, Fat Joe, George Clinton, John Kerry, Kerry Washington, John Irving, John Quincy Adams, John Adams, Amy Adams, Aimee Mann, Superman, Batman, Ayn Rand, Lily Allen, Paul Allen, Ron Howard, Howard Hughes, Joe Kennedy, George Bush, George Wasington, Wasington Irving, Martha Wasington, Ma Rainey, Jack Ma, Super Grover, Jack Black, Rand Paul, Paul Ryan, Paul Simon, Ron Paul, John Hughes, Langston Hughes, John F. Kennedy, Little Richard, Rich Little, Martha Stewart, Yo Yo Ma, Ma Bell, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Grover Cleveland, Jack White, Jack Ryan, Debby Ryan, Carly Simon, Carly Hughes, Charles Evans Hughes, John Williams, Little John, Stuart Little, Potter Stewart, Kristen Stewart, Kristen Bell, Kristen Hooks, Alexander Graham Bell, Franklin Graham, Lloyd Alexander, Meg White, Meg ryan, Debbie Reynolds, John Reynolds, Carly Fiorina, Grace Lee Boggs, Wade Boggs, William Safire, Prince William, Little Prince, Harry Potter, James Potter, James Hook, James Dean, Aretha Franklin, Frank Lloyd Wright, Barry White, Walter White, Walt Whitman, John Kelly, Grace Lee, Nancy Grace, Garnet, Prince, Prince Fielder, Prince Harry, Harry Styles, John Dean, Benjamin Franklin, Harrold Lloyd, Harrold Ford, Betty White, Meg Whitman, Christine Todd Whitman, Megyn Kelly, Grace Kelly, Grace Jones, Jack Nicholson, Jack Ruby, Jack Russel, Harry Fielder, Harry Trueman, Harry Jon Benjamin, John Edward, Benjamin Harrison, Harrison Ford, Henry Ford, Betty Ford, Betty Friedan, Chris Christie, Chris Pratt, Maggie Grace, Grace Hopper, Russel Crowe, Russ Smith, John Smith, Justin Long, John Bel Edwards, John Candy, John Henry, Henry James, Bill James, Chirs Cooper, Chirs Hemsworth, Chirs Evans, Topher Grace, Van Morrison, Sheryl Crow, Sheryl Sandberg, Cameron Crow, Long John Silver, Olivia Newton John, Huey long, John Edwards, Candy Crowley, Alestier Crowley, James Fenimore Cooper, James Cook, Robert Frost, Bob Evans, Evan Tayler Jones, Van Jones, James Cameron, Cam Newton, Cameron Diaz, Huey Newton, Huey Lewis, John Lewis, Jenny Lewis, Ryan Lewis, Burt Reynolds, Alistiar Cooke, Alistair Cookie, Cokie Roberts, John Roberts, Robert Johnson, Robert E. Lee, Tommy Lee, Tommy Lee Jones, Etta James, John Oliver, Ryan Reynolds, Alastair Reynolds

==Trivia==
*The name Etta James is used twice.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Large drawings]]

Talk:2046: Trum-

2018-09-14T16:25:01Z

172.69.62.160:

This is not that weird. If names were random then it would be a 1 in 26^4 = 456976 chance of a particular president matching another for the first 4, but this is a "Birthday Problem" with 44 presidents, so the probability of any two presidents sharing the first 4 characters is 1-(456976!/(456976^44 (456976 - 44)!)), which wolfram alpha is giving as 0.206%
:Yes, but we already "fulfilled our obligation" after the sixth president :) [[User:Zachweix|Zachweix]] ([[User talk:Zachweix|talk]]) 15:59, 14 September 2018 (UTC)

An approximation to the correct probability would be to do 44^2/(2 x 26^4) which would give about 0.2% chance of this happening. So fairly weird, but as the comic suggests, many things about this presidency are weirder than 0.2%.
:I love that we are now having a mathematical discussion about how weird things are in the presidency. [[User:Zachweix|Zachweix]] ([[User talk:Zachweix|talk]]) 15:58, 14 September 2018 (UTC)

Should we mention Andrew Johnson and LBJ, perhaps in a "Trivia" section? Obviously Johnson is a very common surname, but they're still unrelated presidents that share the first (and only) 7 characters of their last name. (Are there other pairs of presidents that share at least the 3 first letters of their surnames besides AJ/LBJ and HST/DJT?)
[[Special:Contributions/172.69.62.160|172.69.62.160]] 16:25, 14 September 2018 (UTC)

1988: Containers

2018-05-02T23:31:01Z

172.69.62.160: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1988
| date = May 2, 2018
| title = Containers
| image = containers.png
| titletext = All services are microservices if you ignore most of their features.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by SOME GLUED TOGETHER SERVERS - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

{{w|Docker (software)|Docker}} is a computer program that performs operating-system-level virtualization also known as containerization. It is developed by Docker, Inc. White Hat was complaining about how everyone was using Docker, and then Cueball went on about how he wanted to use a tablet as a wall display. He went on about how he tried programming it, but he eventually gave up and glued two smartphones together. The joke is that he achieved software enlightenment, even though he didn't code any software.

Some programmers these days rely heavily on previously written code found online, eg StackExchange. This has the advantage that it takes less work, and if it's well written and documented, can be easily customised for the specific task and environment at hand. It has the disadvantage that it's also easy to incorporate it into other software without fully understanding how it works; in theory, an entire program can be developed from such code, by "gluing together stuff that you don't understand".

The title-text refers to how, in the same vein as gluing together stuff you don't understand, some programmers resort to utilizing small components of many larger services at the cost of having software run lightly and efficiently, because they are not familiar enough with what they are doing to use only a few specialized services to achieve their goal more effectively.

==Transcript==
:[White Hat is sitting at a laptop. Cueball is standing behind him.]
:White Hat: Man, Docker is being used for everything.
:White Hat: I don't know how I feel about it.
:Cueball: Story time!

:[Cueball is standing by himself.]
:Cueball: Once, long ago, I wanted to use an old tablet as a wall display.

:[A picture of Cueball's imagined tablet with two applications open side by side. The app on the left is "LiveCam".]
:Cueball: I had an app and a calendar webpage that I wanted to show side by side, but the OS didn't have split-screen support.
:Cueball: So I decided to build my own app.

:[White Hat and Cueball as before, but White Hat has turned to face Cueball.]
:Cueball: I downloaded the SDK and the IDE, registered as a developer, and started reading the language's docs.

:[A picture of two smartphones glued together side by side, held on a backing board. The same two applications shown earlier are open on different phones.]
:Cueball: Then I realized it would be '''way''' easier to get two smaller phones on eBay and glue them together.
:Cueball: On that day, I achieved software enlightenment.

:[White Hat and Cueball still facing each other, with White Hat's arm resting on the back of the chair.]
:White Hat: But you never learned to write software.
:Cueball: No, I just learned how to glue together stuff that I don't understand.
:White Hat: I...OK, fair.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics with color]]