explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

1282: Monty Hall

2013-10-25T05:00:53Z

184.66.160.91: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1282
| date = October 25, 2013
| title = Monty Hall
| image = monty hall.png
| titletext = A few minutes later, the goat from behind door C drives away in the car.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}
This comic is a reference to the famous {{w|Monty Hall Problem}}, a probability puzzle that involves three doors. Behind two doors is a goat, and behind one of them is a car. The player does not know which is behind which door; the host does know. First, the player picks a door. Next, the host opens a different door, knowing it will reveal a goat. He then asks whether the contestant would like to stick with their original decision or switch. Intuitively, most people believe that it does not matter. In reality, those who switch win 2/3rds of the time and those who do not switch win only 1/3rd of the time.

Many educated people and professors failed to grasp why it is better to switch.

The problem assumes that the player wants the car. Rather than make a second choice, Beret Guy decides that he just wants to have the goat and be happy with it.

The title text is a reference to the car and the remaining goat, untouched behind the doors.

Monty Hall was the host of a US game show called '{{w|Let's Make a Deal}}'. The final deal required the contestant to pick from three doors, Door #1, Door #2, or Door #3. The big prize was not always a car.

==Transcript==
:[A game show presenter is standing in front of three doors labeled "A", "B" and "C", and the "B" door is open. Beret Guy is walking away with a goat.]
:Beret Guy: ...And my yard has so much grass, and I'll teach you tricks, and...

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]

Talk:1282: Monty Hall

2013-10-25T04:58:49Z

184.66.160.91:

Monty hall. Is this a Monty Python reference? Or something related to a skit of theirs'?
--[[User:Commarchinin|Commarchinin]] ([[User talk:Commarchinin|talk]]) 04:18, 25 October 2013 (UTC)

I don't understand "It is known that door 3 has a goat, but nothing else." What do you mean by that? At the beginning in the Monty Hall problem, a contestant knows nothing. --[[Special:Contributions/209.51.184.11|209.51.184.11]] 04:27, 25 October 2013 (UTC)

It goes like this: Player chooses door A, Monty then opens a door he knows there is a goat behind. Player is then offered a chance to switch.

If you do not switch you get a 1/3rd chance of winning because it was a 1 in 3 guess and nothing changed. But if you take into account that Monty will ALWAYS open a goat door and never a car door you can recalculate the odds. So you have a 1/3rd chance that you initially chose the car which means you will lose if you switch 1/3rd of the time, but you had a 2/3rd chance of not selecting the car initially meaning you have a 2/3rds chance if you switch at winning the car. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 04:58, 25 October 2013 (UTC)

1282: Monty Hall

2013-10-25T04:52:24Z

184.66.160.91: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1282
| date = October 25, 2013
| title = Monty Hall
| image = monty hall.png
| titletext = A few minutes later, the goat from behind door C drives away in the car.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}
This comic is a reference to the famous {{w|Monty Hall Problem}}, a probability puzzle that involves three doors. Behind two doors is a goat, and behind one of them is a car. The player does not know which is behind which door; the host does know. After the player picks a door the host will then open different door which always has a goat and asks the contestant if they want to stick to their original decision or switch. While the intuitive answer may be that it does not matter the reality is that those who switch win 2/3rds of the time and those who do not win only 1/3rd of the time.

Rather than settle for those two choices he decides that he just wants to have the goat and be happy with it.

The title text is a reference to the car and the remaining goat, untouched behind the doors.

Monty Hall was the host of a US game show called 'Let's Make a Deal'. The final deal required the contestant to pick from three doors, Door #1, Door #2, or Door #3. The big prize was not always a car. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let%27s_Make_a_Deal

==Transcript==
:[A game show presenter is standing in front of three doors labeled "A", "B" and "C", and the "B" door is open. Beret Guy is walking away with a goat.]
:Beret Guy: ...And my yard has so much grass, and I'll teach you tricks, and...

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]

1282: Monty Hall

2013-10-25T04:49:57Z

184.66.160.91: The previous description of the game was wrong, I have corrected it

{{comic
| number = 1282
| date = October 25, 2013
| title = Monty Hall
| image = monty hall.png
| titletext = A few minutes later, the goat from behind door C drives away in the car.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}
This comic is a reference to the famous {{w|Monty Hall Problem}}, a probability puzzle that involves three doors. Behind two doors is a goat, and behind one of them is a car. The player does not know which is behind which door; the host does know. The host will then open another door which always has a goat and asks the contestant if they want to stick to their original decision or switch. While the intuitive answer may be that it does not matter the reality is that those who switch win 2/3rds of the time and those who do not win only 1/3rd of the time.

Rather than settle for those two choices he decides that he just wants to have the goat and be happy with it.

The title text is a reference to the car and the remaining goat, untouched behind the doors.

Monty Hall was the host of a US game show called 'Let's Make a Deal'. The final deal required the contestant to pick from three doors, Door #1, Door #2, or Door #3. The big prize was not always a car. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let%27s_Make_a_Deal

==Transcript==
:[A game show presenter is standing in front of three doors labeled "A", "B" and "C", and the "B" door is open. Beret Guy is walking away with a goat.]
:Beret Guy: ...And my yard has so much grass, and I'll teach you tricks, and...

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]

Talk:531: Contingency Plan

2013-10-22T16:35:36Z

184.66.160.91:

I don't think the idea is that the parents would kill the child if something went wrong (that would not be responsible parenting.) I think the idea is that the child would not be able to run away from home and there would be no incentive for someone to kidnap the child, since it could not live without insulin from the parents. {{unsigned ip|‎213.203.138.251}}

:Given the story of Jurassic Park I think you are wrong. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 16:35, 22 October 2013 (UTC)

Talk:554: Not Enough Work

2013-10-22T04:27:51Z

184.66.160.91:

I always pronounce tags like as "slash span."{{unsigned ip|107.204.46.198}}

I thought the keys jamming thing was a myth... [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 04:27, 22 October 2013 (UTC)

Talk:1279: Reverse Identity Theft

2013-10-18T14:29:09Z

184.66.160.91:

My first attempt at an explanation. I have actually received emails designed for someone else because we had the same name and the sender missed a crucial difference between my email address and the intended recipient. [[User:Grahame|Grahame]] ([[User talk:Grahame|talk]]) 05:39, 18 October 2013 (UTC)Grahame

AFAIK if you have adress name@gmail.com, then gmail delivers all mails in shape name+anything@gmail.com to your box. So the trick is to make address like J@gmail.com, then heavily use J+Brown@gmail.com to the point, that other people catch up an for example Joe Smith instead correct Smith@gmail.com will write J+Smith@gmail.com - which would end in your mailbox then. {{unsigned ip|89.176.232.253}}

:Good explanation, except gmail only allowes usernames between 6 and 30 characters (and doesn't allow + in username). I would assume that this was true even before this strip and it's not so hard to verify, so Randal probably speaks about addresses like JoeSmith@gmail.com being mistakenly used by other Joe Smiths. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 08:55, 18 October 2013 (UTC)

I don't get this. When you're creating an account, every e-mail service provider checks to see if the username is available, and only lets you create an account if your username's unique. This kind of issue can happen if you then go around and enter a wrong e-mail ID whenever you sign up for something, or if the company automatically assumes an e-mail ID without asking you (I don't think the latter happens). It shouldn't matter if a provider (GMail for instance) ignores everything after a certain character (+) while determining recepient, or even if it ignores an entire character (.) - all this should've been taken care of when you signed up in the first place. [[Special:Contributions/220.224.246.97|220.224.246.97]] 08:50, 18 October 2013 (UTC)

:Exactly, it's about entering wrong e-mail ID. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 08:55, 18 October 2013 (UTC)

I'm pretty sure the "+" in the comic refers to a simple concatenation of first initial and last name (e.g., <code>rmunroe@gmail.com</code>), not a literal <code>+</code> character (as in <code>r+munroe@gmail.com</code>). [[Special:Contributions/130.225.98.201|130.225.98.201]] 09:04, 18 October 2013 (UTC)
:No, because then it should be ''<code>[First initial][Last name]@gmail.com</code>'' instead of ''<code>[First initial]+[Last name]@gmail.com</code>''.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 10:20, 18 October 2013 (UTC)
::Taking the plus sign as a literal character does not make very much sense. GMail would ignore ''<code>[Last name]</code>'' behind it and deliver the message to ''<code>[First initial]@gmail.com</code>'', which is no valid address at all due to the limit of 6 characters. Also, it is fairly uncommon to use a plus sign in an email address, and the joke of the comic relies on the pattern being generic. [[User:LotharW|LotharW]] ([[User talk:LotharW|talk]]) 11:28, 18 October 2013 (UTC)

The point of the comic is that old people forget their email address and regularly give other people the wrong email address. So when they register for something, like online notifications of a phone bill, Joe Smith puts down JSmith@gmail.com even though his email address is a different variation on that. [[Special:Contributions/69.143.178.218|69.143.178.218]]
:Some of them might not even ''have'' an email address. They might easily believe that email addresses are assigned automatically, somewhat like street addresses or telephone numbers. Which is not so very far-fetched, since in the early days of the Internet your provider gave you an email address when you signed up for an Internet connection. Many might also think that an email address is reserved for the person with the corresponding name, instead of their having to claim it. [[User:LotharW|LotharW]] ([[User talk:LotharW|talk]]) 12:17, 18 October 2013 (UTC)

[First Initial]+[Last Name] is the same as [ FIailnrst]+[ LNaemst]. Then he is clearly referring to names such as IrinaN or FanniL. [[User:Xhfz|Xhfz]] ([[User talk:Xhfz|talk]]) 13:24, 18 October 2013 (UTC) This is a joke, and the plus sign means concatenation.

The plus sign is clearly an indication of concatenation and not meant as a literal character. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 14:29, 18 October 2013 (UTC)

Talk:Main Page

2013-09-30T23:23:48Z

184.66.160.91: /* Adverts */

{{notice|This page is for discussion of the [[Main Page]] itself. Other issues probably belong at the [[Explain XKCD:Community portal]].}}

As a new user, I think the first page is very important. So I thought why not begin a discussion here what to have on the first page every user visits.--[[User:Relic|Relic]] ([[User talk:Relic|talk]]) 05:59, 1 August 2012 (EDT) Re-signed here - b/c I broke the comment in two when I added the "List of comics" header. --''[[User:Philosopher|Philosopher]]'' [[User talk:Philosopher|Let us reason together.]] 23:01, 2 August 2012 (EDT)

==List of comics==
I was thinking of having a quick link to the list of comics that is explained. Right know, it took me a while to even see any of them. Eventually I found the "List All Pages" (found it in Special pages) where I could find the comics that have been explained. What do you think?
:A category tag will do that for you automatically. Having a list of comics indexed by its number would be a little different.--[[User:Relic|Relic]] ([[User talk:Relic|talk]]) 05:59, 1 August 2012 (EDT)
::Sounds like a great list - I ''think'' it'd have to be manually maintained until/unless we get someone who knows how to make a bot update it. Categories will be useful, but they only work if someone added the category to the page in the first place. --''[[User:Philosopher|Philosopher]]'' [[User talk:Philosopher|Let us reason together.]] 07:21, 1 August 2012 (EDT)
:::A (somewhat) related question - should [[:Category:Comics]] be sorted alphabetically or by comic number? --''[[User:Philosopher|Philosopher]]'' [[User talk:Philosopher|Let us reason together.]] 07:43, 1 August 2012 (EDT)
::::I think [[:Category:Comics]] should be sorted by comic number. If you are looking for a specific comic, you will use the search field. Is there a way to make that happen? --[[User:Jeff|Jeff]] ([[User talk:Jeff|talk]]) 08:11, 1 August 2012 (EDT)
:::::They are two different functions. For the former, instead of adding <nowiki>[[Category:Comics]]</nowiki>, add, say, <nowiki>[[Category:Comics|1]]</nowiki>. For the second, we can create redirects. Normally, I'd say just make sure the search term was in the article text, but since numbers are going to be use for other purposes than just comic titles, it may be better to create [[1]] and [[Comic 1]] as redirects to the relevant articles right off the bat. --08:24, 1 August 2012 (EDT)
::::::We could also have a comic-list template on the Main Page, I suppose, or perhaps two - one for number and one for name? --''[[User:Philosopher|Philosopher]]'' [[User talk:Philosopher|Let us reason together.]] 08:54, 1 August 2012 (EDT)
:::::::Here's what I was thinking of for that: {{tl|Comics navbox}} Thoughts? ''[[User:Philosopher|Philosopher]]'' [[User talk:Philosopher|Let us reason together.]]
:(outdent) It's ugly, but a sortable wikitable [[User:SurturZ/sandbox|(click here for example)]] could be used as a checklist to see what has been uploaded and what hasn't. What's the project namespace here, anyway (analogue of "WP:")? --[[User:SurturZ|SurturZ]] ([[User talk:SurturZ|talk]]) 03:04, 3 August 2012 (EDT)
:OK, I've found a way to get all the titles of the comics, so I was confident enough to create <big>[[Explain XKCD:Checklist]]</big> which can be used to fill in the gaps. --[[User:SurturZ|SurturZ]] ([[User talk:SurturZ|talk]]) 03:41, 3 August 2012 (EDT)
::I'm liking the checklist! That should do quite nicely as a "tool for editors". (I'm linking to it at the Community Portal). We still need the "template for readers." Did you think {{tl|Comics navbox}} was on the right track or should we do something else for that? --''[[User:Philosopher|Philosopher]]'' [[User talk:Philosopher|Let us reason together.]] 20:09, 3 August 2012 (EDT)
::Better idea - I'm throwing it directly onto the Main Page. --''[[User:Philosopher|Philosopher]]'' [[User talk:Philosopher|Let us reason together.]] 20:10, 3 August 2012 (EDT)

==Admin list==
You can find a system-accurate list of admins [{{canonicalurl:Special:ListUsers|group=sysop}} here], so that might good to share, along with the manual list. --''[[User:Philosopher|Philosopher]]'' [[User talk:Philosopher|Let us reason together.]] 07:13, 1 August 2012 (EDT)
:Added to page. --''[[User:Philosopher|Philosopher]]'' [[User talk:Philosopher|Let us reason together.]] 08:10, 1 August 2012 (EDT)
::That's exactly what I wanted, but couldn't find the auto page for it. I knew it was somewhere. I don't see any reason to keep the link to the manual page. Do you? --[[User:Jeff|Jeff]] ([[User talk:Jeff|talk]]) 08:11, 1 August 2012 (EDT)
:::Not unless you want it. I'll remove it. Should I add the similar link for 'crats or is that unnecessary at this point? --''[[User:Philosopher|Philosopher]]'' [[User talk:Philosopher|Let us reason together.]] 08:25, 1 August 2012 (EDT)
::::To be honest, I have no idea what the Burecrats role does. Might be unnecessary now but helpful in the future? --[[User:Jeff|Jeff]] ([[User talk:Jeff|talk]]) 11:16, 1 August 2012 (EDT)
:::::Bureaucrats can turn other users into administrators (or indeed, other bureaucrats). That privilege isn't available to ordinary administrators. I'd keep it to yourself for the time being. :-) --[[User:Yirba|Yirba]] ([[User talk:Yirba|talk]]) 17:39, 1 August 2012 (EDT)
::::::You can actually see a technical list of which rights each group confers at [[Special:ListGroupRights]]. As the wiki grows, you might want to spin off a few, such as the ability to grant rollbacker and autopatrolled, to admins as some other wikis have. But for the time being, at least, there's really no reason for the wiki to have more than one 'crat. --''[[User:Philosopher|Philosopher]]'' [[User talk:Philosopher|Let us reason together.]] 17:07, 2 August 2012 (EDT)

== Community portal ==

I've created the [[Explain XKCD:Community portal]] as a tools/help page. If that's not what you want, feel free to change/move/whatever it, but I thought it'd be nice to save this page for discussion of the Main Page and discuss the wiki as a whole/ask for help there. --''[[User:Philosopher|Philosopher]]'' [[User talk:Philosopher|Let us reason together.]] 08:36, 1 August 2012 (EDT)

== Direct link to latest comic ==

There should be a direct link to the latest comic at the top of the Main page. A nice thing about going to explainxkcd.com was that the latest comic is right there at the top. For those changing their default link to the wiki, there should be an easy "Latest Comic" link that quickly takes them there. I'm sure some folks actually skip xkcd.com and come directly here instead to read the latest offering from Randall. They shouldn't have to search for it.
[[User:Christopher Foxx|- CFoxx]] ([[User talk:Christopher Foxx|talk]]) 11:59, 1 August 2012 (EDT)

: Maybe the page [[latest]] should redirect to the most recent comic? Could that be taken care of by some sort of script/template so it doesn't have to be manually updated? Should each explination page also have "next", "previous", "random", "first" and "latest" links, possibly also generated automatically via scripts/templates? Additionally, shouldn't the number page be the canonical one? It seems like [[Internal monologue]] should redirect to [[1089]] rather than the other way around - certainly it would make a bunch of scripting types of things a lot easier. [[User:J-beda|J-beda]] ([[User talk:J-beda|talk]]) 13:02, 1 August 2012 (EDT)
:::If you wanted, we could even use wiki-magic to show the title of the page as the Comic name, but the URL as the number - in order to parallel the actual XKCD website. --''[[User:Philosopher|Philosopher]]'' [[User talk:Philosopher|Let us reason together.]] 17:09, 2 August 2012 (EDT)
:: Shouldn't there be a way to programmatically find the comic with the highest number that has a page with content? That would work as long as no one puts future comic pages up. --[[User:Jeff|Jeff]] ([[User talk:Jeff|talk]]) 20:25, 1 August 2012 (EDT)
:::It's all sounding like folks are over-complicating something quite easy. All I'm suggesting is a prominent link to http://www.xkcd.com/. No need, I think, to list which number the latest is, or include the next/last/random buttons, etc. [[User:Christopher Foxx|- CFoxx]] ([[User talk:Christopher Foxx|talk]]) 11:41, 3 August 2012 (EDT)
::::Oh. We've got that, now, in the sidebar - labeled as "XKCD." I do think that having an internal link to the latest (explained) comic would be a great thing, though. --''[[User:Philosopher|Philosopher]]'' [[User talk:Philosopher|Let us reason together.]] 16:36, 4 August 2012 (EDT)

You can transclude the latest comic on the main page like this: <nowiki>{{:pagename}} e.g. {{:Internal_monologue}} </nowiki>--[[User:SurturZ|SurturZ]] ([[User talk:SurturZ|talk]]) 00:25, 2 August 2012 (EDT)
: I've started with just a manual link to the latest comic. Ideally it will be automatic, but a manual link will work for now as I've had quite a few people ask for it. --[[User:Jeff|Jeff]] ([[User talk:Jeff|talk]]) 21:09, 1 August 2012 (EDT)

Transclusion of the latest comic is great. Someone with the right permissions should add (for instance on the top-right corner of the grey transclusion area) a link to edit the corresponding wiki page, so that people seeing something they could add would feel invited to do so (wiki style). In my opinion this would be a good way to improve the quality of the user-generated explanations.
Also, all the "XKCD"s in the "New here?" section should be converted to the lowercase "xkcd"...
[[User:Cos|Cos]] ([[User talk:Cos|talk]]) 14:00, 6 August 2012 (UTC)
:Good points. I've done both. --[[User:Waldir|Waldir]] ([[User talk:Waldir|talk]]) 15:48, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

Call me dumb, but... You've got a link called "prev" that goes to the explaination for the previous comic. Then a link called "comic #42" but that goes to xkcd. And then a smaller, less prominent link called "go to this comic" that doesn't go to the comic but to its explaination. Anyone else think that's a little back-to-front? [[User:Zootle|Zootle]] ([[User talk:Zootle|talk]]) 17:18, 31 August 2012 (UTC)
:OK, you're dumb :-). The standard template for an explanation page includes the header with "Prev", "Comic # (date)", and "Next" links. If we don't have explanation pages for the previous or next comic, we don't show the respective link. I hadn't noticed that the "Comic # (date)" bit was a link to the xkcd site before, but in context it makes sense to me. Including a link to the Explain page for the comic who's explain page you are already looking at doesn't make sense.
:The explanation page for the latest comic is "transcluded" in the main page pretty much as-is, so we get the header, the comic, the explanation, etc. We don't get the discussion, which is visible at the bottom of the Explain page. Because there is never an explanation for a comic that hasn't been released yet, there is never a "Next" link on the main page's transcluded header. So you get "Prev" and "Comic" links. The "Go to this comic" link is added by the main page above the transcluded explain page.
:I can see how the "Go to this comic" link might be poorly worded especially as it's placement seems to be within the explanation it's linking to. [[User:Blaisepascal|Blaisepascal]] ([[User talk:Blaisepascal|talk]]) 18:16, 31 August 2012 (UTC)
::Rather than "Go to this comic" maybe it could be "Go to full explanation" ? Something else? [[User:J-beda|J-beda]] ([[User talk:J-beda|talk]]) 13:38, 5 September 2012 (UTC)
::There was [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=explain_xkcd:Community_portal/Admin_requests#.22Edit_this_explanation.22_link_on_main_page a discussion at one point] about a wittier/more descriptive link - but no one came up with anything. I do like "Go to Full Explanation" better, for what it's worth. --[[User:DanB|DanB]] ([[User talk:DanB|talk]]) 15:31, 5 September 2012 (UTC)
:::My problem with that suggestion is that it implies that the main page explanation is not full. As of right now, the full explanation is transcluded on the main page. There's nothing more to see by clicking that link (explanation wise) Perhaps "Go to full explanation page" but that doesn't quite sound right to me... [[User:TheHYPO|TheHYPO]] ([[User talk:TheHYPO|talk]]) 15:42, 7 September 2012 (UTC)
::::How about "Go to this Comic Explanation Page"? One nice thing about the specific page rather than the [[Main_Page]] transcoding is that it nicely includes the discussion as well. I have a bookmark to the [[Main_Page]] that I look at every day, but I want to easily read the discussions, not only the explanation. Humm, maybe we could have a page [[most recent comic]] that automagically redirects to the most recent comic? [[User:J-beda|J-beda]] ([[User talk:J-beda|talk]]) 12:42, 8 September 2012 (UTC)
:::::I tried to get [[most recent comic]] to redirect to LATESTCOMIC, but can't get the syntax working - it is possible? [[User:J-beda|J-beda]] ([[User talk:J-beda|talk]]) 13:03, 8 September 2012 (UTC)
::::::Apparently it isn't. I would have tried <code><nowiki>#REDIRECT [[{{LATESTCOMIC}}]]</nowiki></code> like you did, but since that doesn't work, I'll delete the page for now. --[[User:Waldir|Waldir]] ([[User talk:Waldir|talk]]) 16:38, 20 November 2012 (UTC)

== Discussion of latest comic ==
Perhaps include the discussions of the latest comic here? I almost missed there was a discussion field a few times because I would only read about the latest comic on the main page. [[User:Carewolf|Carewolf]] ([[User talk:Carewolf|talk]]) 14:54, 22 September 2012 (UTC)

This comics's explanation is complete bollocks, I think. Of course it is NOT a "fact that such a room exists". This comics parodies trope often used in cop movies - an elderly cop goes to work for the last time before his retirement, packs things, plans fishing the next day ... only to be called to one more case (possibly with a new, young and brash partner). And despites his efforts not to screw anything and stay clear of danger, he is either mortally wounded or screws big time and is degraded. So much clichè, that if someone says "It's my last day or service", you might be sure one of the two options above happens. See http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Retirony [[User:edheldil|Edheldil]] 10:17, 26 September 2012 (UTC)

== The comic explanation count is wrong ==

The adjustment is currently 3, but there are now 6 subcategories and one list making the current correct adjustment 7.
If the wiki was upgraded to version 1.20, a form exists to automatically exclude subcategories.
--[[User:Divad27182|Divad27182]] ([[User talk:Divad27182|talk]]) 09:56, 8 October 2012 (UTC)

:Looks like another week of the wiki going down then.
:But seriously, I've been noticing this too. Didn't know what was causing it, but it's going to have to be fixed sometime.[[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]] ([[User talk:Davidy22|talk]]) 10:25, 8 October 2012 (UTC)

::The text reads <pre><nowiki>We already have [[:Category:Comics|'''{{#expr:{{PAGESINCAT:Comics}}-3}}''' comic explanations]]!</nowiki></pre> The -3 is to account for the subcategories and non-explanation pages in the category. There apparently used to be three such pages, and now there are seven. I would fix this myself, but the page is protected. If the wiki where upgraded to version 1.20, the categories could be explicitly excluded, but the [[List of all comics]] would still be in the category. (Note that the -3 actually appears twice.) --[[User:Divad27182|Divad27182]] ([[User talk:Divad27182|talk]]) 05:03, 11 October 2012 (UTC)

:::Mediawiki 1.20 fixes this issue, although it'd be nice if this could be fixed in the meantime via the hack reccommended by divad. [[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]][[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>(talk)</tt>]] 06:40, 16 November 2012 (UTC)

:Looks like Waldir updated the "Comic Correction Count" to "10" (as of 20 November 2012):
<nowiki> We already have [[:Category:Comics|'''{{#expr:{{PAGESINCAT:Comics}}-10}}''' comic explanations]]!</big>
Note: the -10 in the calculation above is to discount subcategories (there are 7 of them as of 20 November 2012),
non-comic pages (2 as of same date: [[List of all comics]] and [[Exoplanet]])
and the comic 404, which was deliberately not posted. Thus 7 + 2 + 1 = 10
(But there are still {{#expr:{{LATESTCOMIC}}-({{PAGESINCAT:Comics}}-10)}} to go. Come and [[List of all comics|add yours]]!)</nowiki>
:Could we possibly make this more dynamic by creating a "IGNORE_IN_COUNT" category or something? and then using something like: <nowiki>{#expr:{{PAGESINCAT:Comics}}-{{PAGESINCAT:IGNORE_IN_COUNT}}}</nowiki>? Then any additional entries to the "Comics" category (that are 'special' entries) could just have the special category added and no main page editing would be necessary? --[[User:Bpothier|B. P.]] ([[User talk:Bpothier|talk]]) 07:50, 22 November 2012 (UTC)

==Make Jeff stop apologizing==
The apology for server downtime has been around for a while now. Can we take it down? [[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]] ([[User talk:Davidy22|talk]]) 04:41, 11 October 2012 (UTC)

== Spambots ==

I think someone should install [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:AbuseFilter AbuseFilter]. --[[User:Kronf|Kronf]] ([[User talk:Kronf|talk]]) 10:09, 13 October 2012 (UTC)

== Purge ==

We should regularly purge the server's cache for the main page using http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&action=purge to keep the explanation up to date. --[[User:Kronf|Kronf]] ([[User talk:Kronf|talk]]) 02:28, 3 November 2012 (UTC)

== Updating the Rules ==

I've been having a lovely discussion with someone who apparently thought the "edit anything you want" rule applied to the Talk pages. As we don't have any codified rules for ''here'' and can only point to "well the canonical way this is done on Wikipedia is..." I think that there are a few things we need to put into the list of Rules on the front page, and then have a link to a more in-depth talk about why the rules exist and what-not.

Specifically, I'm talking about writing "Feel free to edit any page on the wiki to be better. But, treat talk pages like you would blog comments: comments by other people ''cannot be changed by you'', you can only respond to them." as a new rule to be plastered on the front page, as there seems to be an increasing number social neophytes that seem to think that editing words that are attributed as being said by another person is perfectly legitimate and non-controversial.

Shall we discuss? [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]]_a ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 01:25, 15 November 2012 (UTC)

:We could add the etiquette rules as an addendum to the signature reminder at the top of the page. Just an extra note below the alert box asking people to not edit other people's comments. [[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]][[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>(talk)</tt>]] 06:40, 16 November 2012 (UTC)

::It really should be right down with the "edited mercilessly" description, because this is an exception to that statement. Shouldn't have two sets of contradictory instructions in different places. When I made my improper edit, I had a semi-conscious moment of doubt about whether changing the other guy's comment was ok, even though this is a wiki (and even though it wasn't really clear to me that this "discussion" box held something totally separate from the page content), but that statement at the bottom put all such doubts to rest. I read it multiple times to be sure. But I did not notice that line at the top about the four tildes until ''much'' later. It's somewhat lost, visually, in the header line, when you're not looking directly at it.[[Special:Contributions/50.0.38.245|50.0.38.245]] 18:32, 18 November 2012 (UTC)

:::There's discussion to replace that message with a more noticeable alert box. The message at the bottom of the page appears for all pages, including talk pages, so a talk-page specific message there would not entirely fit. [[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]][[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>(talk)</tt>]] 00:18, 19 November 2012 (UTC)

::::If that text at the bottom is in fact alterable, it should be written to take every case into account. It's an extremely poor user interface that has instructions appearing on a page stating rules that are the exact opposite of reality. And note that the altert box on the top looks a lot like a banner add, when you don't focus on it and read it. People will tend to habitually filter out anything written there from their perception. Also, it can easily be scrolled off the top of the screen when the discussion starts to get long, and they have a preview displayed.
::::So I think after the "...then do not submit it here.", it should add, "'''Exception''': others' comments in Discussion pages are not to be altered. See full rules at <<link to appropriate wikipedia page>>."[[Special:Contributions/50.0.38.245|50.0.38.245]] 15:46, 28 November 2012 (UTC)

== Update after changes ==

The front page explanation hasn't been updated at all day to match changes in the explanation on the comic's page. This is a major problem i think, as it is the front page explanation people visitors will most often read. --[[User:St.nerol|St.nerol]] ([[User talk:St.nerol|talk]]) 20:43, 26 November 2012 (UTC)
: It might be a caching issue. Appending <code>&action=purge</code> to the URL will probably fix it. Can you confirm it looks good to you now? --[[User:Waldir|Waldir]] ([[User talk:Waldir|talk]]) 00:29, 27 November 2012 (UTC)
::Yep, now it updates instantly! Well done, whatever you did! :) --[[User:St.nerol|St.nerol]] ([[User talk:St.nerol|talk]]) 16:24, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

:::I've also added a link underneath the comic box that has the action embedded, so no one has to do any manual URL hacking. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]]_a ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 17:38, 11 December 2012 (UTC)

::::Just wanted to check in on this - are there issues with automated systems or spammers following this link? I know it can affect performance - caching is important on a busy site! --[[User:Overand|Overand]] ([[User talk:Overand|talk]]) 22:37, 13 September 2013 (UTC)

== Suggestion: Change "Go to this comic" to "Go to this entry" ==

Just a small suggestion. For the Main Page, I suggest changing "Go to this comic" to say "Go to this ''entry''" instead to remove any confusion for new and regular viewers. It certainly took me a while to figure how to go to each featured comic's entry from the main page.

[[Special:Contributions/69.43.114.2|69.43.114.2]] 17:04, 11 December 2012 (UTC)

:How about if it reads "Go to this comic explanation"? Would that be less confusing? I only quibble because the explanations aren't really entries, in wiki parlance each page is usually called an article, but that doesn't seem to fit here as we really have explanation pages. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]]_a ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 17:41, 11 December 2012 (UTC)

::Agreed. [[User:Ctxppc|Randy Marsh]] ([[User talk:Ctxppc|talk]]) 22:55, 8 January 2013 (UTC)

== Explain the Unreleased Comic? ==
:I wonder if [[http://i56.tinypic.com/a9ton8.png this comic]] is permitted to be explained, despite the double issue of Randall pulling the comic plus me finding the pulled comic through "xkcd overrated"... [[User:Greyson|Greyson]] ([[User talk:Greyson|talk]]) 18:21, 12 December 2012 (UTC)

== Comic 1156 ==

I don't have an account to edit the page directly, so here's an edit someone should make:
It looks like whoever wrote the existing page simply googled 'conditioning' and found the first link that came up.
Please modify the link to point to 'Classical conditioning', not 'Operant conditioning'.
Thanks. {{unsigned ip|124.191.56.91|05:26, 7 January 2013‎ (UTC)}}

:Hi. This is the talk page for the main page of the wiki. This page only has a "view" of the actual comic explanation. The actual explanation page is at [[1156: Conditioning]], and I assure you, edit permissions have not been restricted for that page. Someone has already changed the page to link to Classical conditioning, but the original editor came back stating that Operant was correct. If you would like to start a discussion about this [[Talk:1156: Conditioning|on the talk page for this explanation]] that would be much more conducive to getting this matter settled. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]]_a ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 05:52, 7 January 2013 (UTC)

== Comic Links ==

Some of the links seem to be confusing, as they're titled in a weird way. The link/button 'go to this comic', I'd expect would go to the actual comic on XKCD's page. Yet it goes to the comic's wiki page. And clicking on the comic # and date directs you to the XKCD page, yet I really feel that link should go to the wiki page, as it's right at the top center there, and has the date and everything, sort of indicating that it's a wiki page, yet it's not. And the prev and next buttons next to it don't go to the xkcd page, they go to the wiki pages. Which is really messed up, I think. Because of my confusion, every single time I visit here, I clicked on the wrong link, though now I've gotten used to it. I suggest rewording the links as 'XKCD Comic # and date' and 'go to this comic's wiki page'. And possibly switching the links' positions so that the wiki links could be in that navigation bar and the XKCD links could be off to the side. After all, we are a wiki, so putting our wiki links to the comic off to the side and the direct xkcd link in the center seems odd. Anyway, has anyone had the same thoughts and/or agree with me on this?--[[Special:Contributions/69.119.250.251|69.119.250.251]] 18:19, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

== Unexplained comics ==

The template that starts each explanation page should be edited to have the next and previous buttons automatically skip over pages that don't exist, rather than simply not being there if comic n+1 or n-1 doesn't exist. Preferably it would append a notice to the next page (like the redirect notices commonly found on mediawiki) telling you how many comics have been skipped. I'm not sure how feasible this would be to script, however. [[Special:Contributions/130.160.145.185|130.160.145.185]] 23:45, 9 March 2013 (UTC)

== Percentage of remaining comics calculation is off... ==

Okay, I hate to be "that pedantic math guy", but... Today the main page reads "We have collaboratively explained 936 xkcd comics, and only 252 (27%) remain." While I agree that 252/936 is roughly 27%, I believe we should really be calculating the percentage as "the number left to explain" divided by "the total number of comics that exist", not divided by "the number we have finished". That is (today), 252/1188=21%. Think about it. If we had completed 594 comics today, with 594 remaining, what should the percentage be? 594/594=100%? That's not right... 594/1188=50%? That's what we really want to say.

The page is protected, which makes sense. So I'll make my suggestion here.

Change this:

<pre>
and only {{#expr:{{LATESTCOMIC}}-({{PAGESINCAT:Comics}}-9)}}
({{#expr: ({{LATESTCOMIC}}-({{PAGESINCAT:Comics}}-9)) / ({{PAGESINCAT:Comics}}-9) * 100 round 0}}%)
remain.
</pre>
To this:
<pre>
and only {{#expr:{{LATESTCOMIC}}-({{PAGESINCAT:Comics}}-9)}}
({{#expr: ({{LATESTCOMIC}}-({{PAGESINCAT:Comics}}-9)) / {{#expr:{{LATESTCOMIC}}}} * 100 round 0}}%)
remain.
</pre>
[[User:Imperpay|Imperpay]] ([[User talk:Imperpay|talk]]) 15:32, 20 March 2013 (UTC)

:Done and done. '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|purple|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 15:37, 20 March 2013 (UTC)

:Thanks for the heads-up! However, notice that the #expr: around LATESTCOMIC was unnecessary. I've removed it. [[User:Waldir|Waldir]] ([[User talk:Waldir|talk]]) 11:30, 21 March 2013 (UTC)

::Waldir, you have exposed me as a charlatan and a fool! (I just copied, pasted, and tinkered until I made something that worked. I don't actually understand it. No formal training, you see. It's what we used to call "hacking" back in the dawn of the digital era, before the word took on connotations of vandalism, trespassing, and fraud. Have you kids come up with another word for it?) [[User:Imperpay|Imperpay]] ([[User talk:Imperpay|talk]]) 13:59, 22 March 2013 (UTC)

::: Joke's on me then, 'cause you sure fooled me – I readily assumed you knew your way around those parser functions. Nice job hacking the code, it was a nearly perfect crime ;) --[[User:Waldir|Waldir]] ([[User talk:Waldir|talk]]) 03:26, 25 March 2013 (UTC)

:::I've heard the cool kids call that the "Maker Mentality", usually with a reference to [http://makezine.com/ Make magazine] and [http://makerfaire.com/ Maker Faire]. But I think there's also a movement to resurrect the original meaning of hacker. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]]_a ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 04:21, 25 March 2013 (UTC)

==sidebar ads?==
''Moved to [[explain xkcd:Community portal/Proposals]] –– [[User:St.nerol|St.nerol]] ([[User talk:St.nerol|talk]]) 08:06, 4 May 2013 (UTC)''

== Expression error on Main Page ==

Please use <code><nowiki>{{PAGESINCAT:...|R}}</nowiki></code> instead of <code><nowiki>{{PAGESINCAT:...}}</nowiki></code> to correct these errors :) --[[Special:Contributions/110.168.83.62|110.168.83.62]] 10:55, 8 April 2013 (UTC)
:Dun diddly done. '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|#707|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 11:21, 8 April 2013 (UTC)

== Compile a list of non-technical comics to non-technical readers? ==

I'm a long-time reader and fan of >< |< C |}, but my normal approach is useless when I introduce this provocative comic series to my less technical friends. They stay at the apparent level of many comics. They don't bother reading the explanations, but they would say, "it's hard to make sense". Imagine an average non-technical (and non-arts) major guy/girl, can we compile a list of state-of-the-art but less-technical, easy-to-comprehend but "ah ha!!" strips that is suitable for them? --[[User:FrenzY|W shll nvr flly xpln xkcd!]] ([[User talk:FrenzY|talk]]) 12:39, 18 May 2013 (UTC)
:Oh my god that signature.
:Gaah, derailment. Uh, pretty much anything that isn't tagged with the physics or math categories are easy enough to understand for the average English speaker, so just check the categories at the bottom of the page for that. Also, avoid comics with the incomplete tag, and that oughta be fine. '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|#707|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 14:41, 18 May 2013 (UTC)

== Quit building? ==
''This post was moved to [[Talk:1214: Geoguessr]].''

:Hello, this is the talk page for the content of the front page of the wiki, not for discussion of the most recent comic, that happens [[Talk:1214: Geoguessr|here]]. I've moved your post over there for you. Cheers, and welcome to explain xkcd! [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]]_a ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 05:09, 22 May 2013 (UTC)

== List of incomplete comics ==
We need a link to the "Incomplete articles" at the main page below the "Missing link". Most pages are created but many are incomplete.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:06, 7 June 2013 (UTC)

== Header message ==

'''Please don't take this seriously unless you actually think it's a good idea:'''

I think the header should be changed from "explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb." to "explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb... or still have some hope that comic [[1190]] will end." or something similar. [[User:Schiffy|Schiffy]] ([[User_talk:Schiffy|Speak to me]]|[[Special:Contributions/Schiffy|What I've done]]) 14:53, 9 June 2013 (UTC)

::Nope! This page is trying to explain more than 1222 comics, not only [[1190: Time]]. The header just states the truth.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 15:49, 9 June 2013 (UTC)

I'd vote for a change. People have started coming over to discuss the comic even when they've 'gotten' it. That, and the fact that this is one step ahead of Googling the references yourself. So.. maybe, "it's because you're dumb..and lazy."[[Special:Contributions/220.224.246.97|220.224.246.97]] 02:26, 31 August 2013 (UTC)

== A point of confusion ==

Why is 'Apatosaurus' a category but 'Internet Argument' no longer a category? [[User:Greyson|Greyson]] ([[User talk:Greyson|talk]]) 13:53, 20 June 2013 (UTC)
:Cuz people hit the random button, see an Apatosaurus feature in three comics and figure it must be a recurring theme. Same as the internet argument thing. Will get round to a category purge after we've cleared out all the incomplete tags. I think there's one for ferrets hidden away somewhere in the dark recesses of our catalog of categories. '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|#707|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 14:45, 20 June 2013 (UTC)
::On the subject, can I suggest a "Barred from Conferences" category, or similar? That's definitely a recurring theme (for a long, long time), and thus should be justified enough. I'd be happy to add various qualifying articles as I scroll through again, if I can, but first I'll leave it up to someone else to solidify the actual name. (In case it turns out not to be just conferences, for example.) [[Special:Contributions/178.98.31.27|178.98.31.27]] 16:27, 22 June 2013 (UTC)

== Incomplete comics statement ==

I suggest the minor change: "We have an explanation for all x xkcd comics, and only y (y/x %) are '''marked as''' incomplete." –[[User:St.nerol|St.nerol]] ([[User talk:St.nerol|talk]]) 08:07, 21 June 2013 (UTC)

== 1262 is out ==

So what are you waiting for? [[Special:Contributions/75.60.27.102|75.60.27.102]] 06:25, 9 September 2013 (UTC)
:<nowiki>(diff | hist) . . N 1262: Unquote‎; 06:23, 9 September 2013 (UTC) . . (+322)‎ . . ‎Davidy22 (Talk | contribs | block)‎ (Created page with "{{comic | number = 1262 | date = September 9, 2013 | title = Unquote | image = unquote.png | titletext = I guess it's a saying from the Old Country. }} ==Expl...")</nowiki>
:Examine the time stamps. '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|#707|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 06:30, 9 September 2013 (UTC)

== Adverts ==

I am not going to disable my adblock, I hate ads. If you accept bitcoin I can make a donation though. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 05:24, 27 September 2013 (UTC)
:Our ads are always easy-to-load images as opposed to flash ads, they're always pointing to some valuable product of some form and we've looked at and approved all of them. They also occupy space that would otherwise have been empty, as our one ad is bound strictly to the sidebar. We used to have a paypal donation button, but it was pitifully tended to and a much less reliable source of income than ads. Ads are the only reliable business model for small sites like this one; unless our readers suddenly become willing to pay all our server costs for us, we can't feasibly afford a better hosting plan without ads. We legally aren't allowed to open a merch store, because that infringes on Randall's shop, and we haven't had a single generous benefactor yet. If you want to stop seeing our server error messages, loosening up adblock for us and contributing to our impressions count will help us massively. '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|#707|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 06:00, 27 September 2013 (UTC)

I don't care about your server message, I wanted to make a donation. Sooo, you don't want any bitcoins? [[Special:Contributions/37.221.161.235|37.221.161.235]] 07:16, 27 September 2013 (UTC)
:This took a bit of digging. We're fine with bitcoin donations, it's just that at the rate donations came in, they were just not enough to pay for anything. [https://coinbase.com/checkouts/b19f921822ac962807a8f72d51509e59] '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|#707|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 20:34, 28 September 2013 (UTC)

Donation made! [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 23:23, 30 September 2013 (UTC)

Talk:Main Page

2013-09-27T05:24:33Z

184.66.160.91:

Talk:1269: Privacy Opinions

2013-09-26T06:57:38Z

184.66.160.91: My 2 cents

Sometimes I think all my burritos are imaginary. [[User:Nathkingcole|Nathkingcole]] ([[User talk:Nathkingcole|talk]]) 11:55, 25 September 2013 (UTC)Nat.

This may be pointless, but Kudos to 63.85.81.254's edit. [[User:Saibot84|Saibot84]] ([[User talk:Saibot84|talk]]) 13:13, 25 September 2013 (UTC)
:This may be offensive, but Redeemer's edit was both excellent and necessary. [[Special:Contributions/96.254.46.231|96.254.46.231]] 13:26, 25 September 2013 (UTC)
::I wouldn't call it offensive (outside the language); it's simply opinionated. Thanks Saibot84. [[Special:Contributions/63.85.81.254|63.85.81.254]] 13:37, 25 September 2013 (UTC)
::Fail on both counts, from me (for Redeemer's contribution), as neither excellent ''nor'' necessary. Only in the light of that does 63.etc's edit (who has just ninjaed me with an edit conflict... hi there!) actually make any sort of sense. But what do I know? I'm just an IP, and you can probably find that I'm not even in the US, from that...
::Can we just have a proper explanation, instead, please? Let's say something like: there's those that overthink the situation, those that over-''do'' it, some overestimate the problem, some overestimate ''other'' problems, some enjoy the idea too much and some just enjoy their food more. Eh? Any good for ya? I'm sure it can be tweaked, to taste. [[Special:Contributions/31.109.31.130|31.109.31.130]] 13:41, 25 September 2013 (UTC)
::::Done. Or at least a start. [[User:N0lqu|-boB]] ([[User talk:N0lqu|talk]]) 14:04, 25 September 2013 (UTC)

I have an opinion, but I'm keeping it private for now. [[User:N0lqu|-boB]] ([[User talk:N0lqu|talk]]) 13:24, 25 September 2013 (UTC)

One mention of the NSA, one mention of Google. I'm not sure how Randall's politics are relevant, or how he's excusing privacy concerns, and the "explanation" says a lot about the interpretation and US-centric perspective of the poster without adding to the comic. Unless it was a deliberate parody of the conspiracy panel, not appropriate, dude. (And I'm a Brit - I definitely didn't vote for any political party in the states. But hello, Echelon.) [[User:Fluppeteer|Fluppeteer]] ([[User talk:Fluppeteer|talk]]) 13:37, 25 September 2013 (UTC)
::The comment was so off the wall I think it pretty much had to be parody, in keeping with panel 3. [[User:N0lqu|-boB]] ([[User talk:N0lqu|talk]]) 14:04, 25 September 2013 (UTC)

I wonder why '''some''' Americans consider that '''world-wide''' issues like on-line privacy have to be related '''only''' to U.S. politicians.{{unsigned ip|88.9.73.162}}

I'm pretty sure the explanation of the Nihilist isn't right. In my opinion Randall jokes that if all of your actions are meaningless (the nihilistic way of thought) then the same applies to all your data. [[Special:Contributions/188.174.192.237|188.174.192.237]] 14:51, 25 September 2013 (UTC)
Thanks to whoever classed this place up by deleting that vitriol.{{unsigned ip|50.148.241.3}}

I'm a fan, but I'm disappointed. Don't tell me I didn't "get it" though. I "got it" very well. I love XKCD very much, but not today. I would like to thank Saibot84 and 96.254.46.231 for their heartwarming support. A Reddit post about the edit can be found here: [http://www.reddit.com/r/restorethefourth/comments/1n3rz0/my_protest_against_xkcds_underhanded_defense_of/ My protest against XKCD's underhanded defense of the NSA] -- Yours truly, Redeemer [[Special:Contributions/31.172.30.1|31.172.30.1]] 16:37, 25 September 2013 (UTC)
::I'm genuinely concerned about internet security issues, and I'm entirely sympathetic to your perspective, Redeemer. But, whatever Randall's background or motivation, this comic stands alone in poking fun at extreme positions on the subject. I don't believe it either trivialises the argument or makes a reasoned statement about an acceptable position - none of the panels show a "normal" perspective. Whether or not Randall intended it to be, there are many more sources of privacy concerns world-wide than the NSA, and many reasons to hold an opinion on NSA network analysis other than support for a political party (which to me rarely means support for every position that they hold). Let's stick to explaining the comic, not meta-analyzing Randall's motivations for posting it. This is not the place, no matter how your perspective may colour your interpretation of the message behind the comic. [[User:Fluppeteer|Fluppeteer]] ([[User talk:Fluppeteer|talk]])
:::TL;DR, but the current NSA incidents are a source for Randall's ideas here. It should be mentioned. Incomplete done tag by me.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:52, 25 September 2013 (UTC)
::I also can claim "web scraping, network administration and security <nowiki>[as]</nowiki> my professional area of expertise" (only currently on personal time, hence this pseudo-anonymous IP, which I know wouldn't fool the NSA), but I think you just don't get it, Redeemer. Nor do some of your Reddit contributors. Not wanting to reddit (by a name I'd jump into there with, that is), I won't even attempt to disabuse you of your opinion, however. But you ''do not'' vandalise key areas of wikis with such personal venom. Bad show for doing so, and stick to your blogs. Anyway, for myself: Hamlet, Act 5, Scene 2, line 358, second half. [[Special:Contributions/31.109.31.130|31.109.31.130]] 23:07, 25 September 2013 (UTC)
:::"These foils have all a length"?[[Special:Contributions/150.135.210.50|150.135.210.50]] 23:22, 25 September 2013 (UTC)

Is it just me, or is it actually Danish instead of Megan in the Nihilist panel? The hair looks too long to be Megan's. [[User:Sciepsilon|Sciepsilon]] ([[User talk:Sciepsilon|talk]]) 00:09, 26 September 2013 (UTC)

I have to disagree with "''Since a large percentage of people and companies present in the internet don't have the ability or intention to do strong cryptography''". Strong encryption is extremely available to 100% of people and companies. It is public and free to use. Most significant companies use VPN's and encrypted hard drives. It is just untrue to suggest that strong cryptography is not available to anyone. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 06:57, 26 September 2013 (UTC)

129: Content Protection

2013-09-23T20:53:42Z

184.66.160.91: This is how I read it.

{{comic
| number = 129
| date = July 17, 2006
| title = Content Protection
| image = content_protection.png
| titletext = If you think the purveyors of DRM simply want to protect artists, check out chapters 13 and 14 in Free Culture, by Lawrence Lessig. Their goal is the elimination of all culture they don't control.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}
This comic presents {{w|HDCP}}, the standard used for protecting content passed over an HDMI interface. It also illustrates the {{w|analog hole}} created by providing the content to the viewer. The hole could also be just an analog video camera, which makes the protection more senseless.

At the title text [[Randall]] is referring again on {{w|Digital rights management|DRM}} protection. The {{w|Students for Free Culture|Free Culture}} movement, and {{w|Lawrence Lessig}} as one of the activists, are fighting for free content. But the DRM people just try to destroy any free content not protected by DRM.

By referring to the person as "approved content" the may be stating that because outside parties control what information you are exposed to that your body of knowledge itself is controlled and "approved" by them.

==Transcript==
:Content Protection System:
:[Megan sits on a couch watching a large flat-panel television, connected to a box labeled HDMI.
:The screen is labeled with "Approved screen"
:The cable is labeled with "Approved connection"
:The HDMI box is labeled with "Approved player"
:Megan's head is labeled with "Approved content".]

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

Talk:1267: Mess

2013-09-22T17:37:30Z

184.66.160.91:

I do this on purpose whenever people are likely to come over. I mostly clean my house except for a little thing and apologize for the mess. [[Special:Contributions/62.159.14.62|62.159.14.62]] 11:29, 20 September 2013 (UTC)
*Remind me never to come visit you.[[Special:Contributions/184.57.72.181|184.57.72.181]] 12:40, 20 September 2013 (UTC)
::Never come visit him/her. Is that enough of a reminder? --[[Special:Contributions/24.145.230.197|24.145.230.197]] 05:48, 22 September 2013 (UTC)
"There is a common psychological phenomenon which causes people to mentally magnify their own flaws, while failing to notice the flaws of others." '''Tell that to my ex-wife!''' --[[User:Dangerkeith3000|Dangerkeith3000]] ([[User talk:Dangerkeith3000|talk]]) 15:03, 20 September 2013 (UTC)

This comic wierdly mirrors (in contrast) a recently broadcast radio programme (which I doubt Randall will have heard, it being UK's BBC Radio 4 "Thinking Allowed", I think it was, with a segment regarding how normal people react to those not acting 'properly' to social norms) in which the phenomena was mentioned. A lady hostess who unselfconsciously apologises for "not having dusted" (despite dust being possibly shed skin cells and such, it's considered "clean mess"), for her visitor, is then utterly mortified when said visitor breaks the rules and also 'helpfully' points out a coffee-ring stain (considered "dirty mess", for some reason) upon a surface. Doubtless the traditional light and largely insignificant layering of dust possibly somehow prevents highlighting any ''geniuinely'' missed spots (if one had actually dusted ''most'' of the room), yet distinct stains and marks (and dust layers with obvious finger-marks in?) ought to have been cleaned or even prevented in the first place.

(For the record, my own home is a "working mess", much to the chagrin of my mother when she visits. It could definitely be tidier, and there's absolutly no way to convincingly apologise for its state. I consider the whole place to be my "shed", in the grand tradition of "shedology". Mind you, this attitude of mine arises out of the tendency for me to ''lose'' so many things when I deliberately tidy up/pack away "projects in progress" for such esteemed visitors. Better that I can find everything when I need to, IMO. This ''mostly'' works better than with the alternative, under a sometimes Holmesian 'stratified' surface-based filing system.) [[Special:Contributions/178.105.138.196|178.105.138.196]] 15:42, 20 September 2013 (UTC)
:tl;dr--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:09, 20 September 2013 (UTC)

I was reminded of..
http://www.theonion.com/articles/man-puts-glass-of-water-on-bedside-table-in-case-h,33751/ {{unsigned ip|173.14.162.93}}

People call a clean house messy as a way to seem superior to their guests. They clean it before the guest gets here then say that because they know the guest has not cleaned. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 17:37, 22 September 2013 (UTC)

Talk:474: Turn-On

2013-09-19T00:27:01Z

184.66.160.91:

All six flavors of quark are mentioned in the last panel [[Special:Contributions/140.247.0.14|140.247.0.14]] 22:30, 16 December 2012 (UTC)AMP

I thought that I got this one, turns out I didn't have a clue. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 00:27, 19 September 2013 (UTC)

429: Fantasy

2013-09-10T18:36:50Z

184.66.160.91: This seems reasonably complete. If something is missing mention it on the talk page

{{comic
| number = 429
| date = May 28, 2008
| title = Fantasy
| image = fantasy.png
| titletext = I guess if she accepted irrational realities, she'd hardly be my fantasy.
}}

==Explanation==

[[Cueball]] is fantasizing about [[Megan]]. However, the imaginary versions of himself and Megan quickly realize how impossible their relationship would be (although the reasons are left unstated) and so they decide to destroy the universe they are in. This leave's Cueball confused. Rather than allow Cueball's idle daydream to end romantically, they run rampant and bring his fantasy crashing to a halt.

The title text refers to the fact that Cueball would only appreciate a girl who refused an irrational reality, thus the fantasy is consistent with his personality.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball sits hugging his knees.]
:Cueball: If only there were some way we could be together.
:[He fades into a thought bubble containing the next four panels.]
<div style="color:#666; margin-left:1em">
:[Cueball and Megan are lounging on a bed.]
:Megan: We're so lucky to have each other. How did it happen, anyway?
:Cueball: I, uh... I don't remember.

:Megan: No, really, how did we get together? It's hard to imagine it happening.
:Cueball: It does strain the bounds of fantasy...
:Megan: ...Fantasy? That's it!

:Megan: My God, it's the only explanation: We're objects in some transient fantasy. We'll be gone when it ends!
:Cueball: We'll lose each other.
:Megan: Oh God.

:[Megan leaps from the bed with a flaming torch.]
:Megan: Well, I'm not going out quietly. I'm burning this fucking world.
:Cueball: Burn the world!
:Megan: Fire! Fire! Cleanse this hellish place-
</div>
:[The thought ends.]
:Cueball (scratching his head): ??

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

431: Delivery

2013-09-10T18:33:35Z

184.66.160.91: might as well explain the pun, that is why we are here

{{comic
| number = 431
| date = June 2, 2008
| title = Delivery
| image = delivery.png
| titletext = Ma'am, I admit that wasn't in the best taste, but you have to admire my delivery! Ha, ha get it? Oh god, don't throw those syringes! Your baby's fine!
}}

==Explanation==
An old superstition is that you can tell at the end of winter if spring will be early or late by whether a {{w|groundhog}} (a type of rodent akin to a large squirrel), after sticking his head out, sees his shadow and retreats back in, or - thanks to cloudy weather - doesn't and boldly steps out. This, in turn, is the basis for a funny movie {{w|Groundhog Day (film)|''Groundhog Day''}} that has been referred also in this comic: [[1076: Groundhog Day]].

The joke here is that, instead of a groundhog predicting when spring will come, it's a baby predicting when he'll be born. Evidently he decided to wait six more weeks.

The title text indicates that the doctor was joking about the baby retreating back inside. He then makes a pun which results in an assault by the mother. The word ''delivery'' can mean the act of giving birth or the presentation of a joke. He then indicates that the baby is fine.

==Transcript==
:[In a delivery room.]
:Doctor: There's the head... he's looking at me... Wait, he's crawling back into the womb.
:Megan: What?!
:Doctor: Yeah, it's the darnedest thing.
:Megan: Um, what does it mean?
:Megan: My guess? Six more weeks of winter.

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

431: Delivery

2013-09-10T18:32:36Z

184.66.160.91: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 431
| date = June 2, 2008
| title = Delivery
| image = delivery.png
| titletext = Ma'am, I admit that wasn't in the best taste, but you have to admire my delivery! Ha, ha get it? Oh god, don't throw those syringes! Your baby's fine!
}}

==Explanation==
An old superstition is that you can tell at the end of winter if spring will be early or late by whether a {{w|groundhog}} (a type of rodent akin to a large squirrel), after sticking his head out, sees his shadow and retreats back in, or - thanks to cloudy weather - doesn't and boldly steps out. This, in turn, is the basis for a funny movie {{w|Groundhog Day (film)|''Groundhog Day''}} that has been referred also in this comic: [[1076: Groundhog Day]].

The joke here is that, instead of a groundhog predicting when spring will come, it's a baby predicting when he'll be born. Evidently he decided to wait six more weeks.

The title text indicates that the doctor was joking about the baby retreating back inside. He then makes a pun which results in an assault by the mother. He then indicates that the baby is fine.

==Transcript==
:[In a delivery room.]
:Doctor: There's the head... he's looking at me... Wait, he's crawling back into the womb.
:Megan: What?!
:Doctor: Yeah, it's the darnedest thing.
:Megan: Um, what does it mean?
:Megan: My guess? Six more weeks of winter.

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

431: Delivery

2013-09-10T18:31:06Z

184.66.160.91: it was funny, but not _really_ funny

{{comic
| number = 431
| date = June 2, 2008
| title = Delivery
| image = delivery.png
| titletext = Ma'am, I admit that wasn't in the best taste, but you have to admire my delivery! Ha, ha get it? Oh god, don't throw those syringes! Your baby's fine!
}}

==Explanation==
An old superstition is that you can tell at the end of winter if spring will be early or late by whether a {{w|groundhog}} (a type of rodent akin to a large squirrel), after sticking his head out, sees his shadow and retreats back in, or - thanks to cloudy weather - doesn't and boldly steps out. This, in turn, is the basis for a funny movie {{w|Groundhog Day (film)|''Groundhog Day''}} that has been referred also in this comic: [[1076: Groundhog Day]].

The joke here is that, instead of a groundhog predicting when spring will come, it's a baby predicting when he'll be born. Evidently he decided to wait six more weeks.

On a side note, the title text may or may not imply that the doctor was joking about the baby retreating back inside. He certainly appears to have taste bad enough to pull a prank like that.

==Transcript==
:[In a delivery room.]
:Doctor: There's the head... he's looking at me... Wait, he's crawling back into the womb.
:Megan: What?!
:Doctor: Yeah, it's the darnedest thing.
:Megan: Um, what does it mean?
:Megan: My guess? Six more weeks of winter.

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

Talk:1258: First

2013-08-30T13:09:43Z

184.66.160.91: /* Exactly zero */

= First =

First! [[User:Edo|Edo]] ([[User talk:Edo|talk]]) 04:28, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

:This is a wiki, not some xkcd reader's blog. [[User:GameZone|GameZone]] ([[User talk:GameZone|talk]]) 04:30, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

::(it's called a joke) [[User:Edo|Edo]] ([[User talk:Edo|talk]]) 04:38, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

::I thought it was funny. [[Special:Contributions/75.37.205.50|75.37.205.50]] 07:42, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

:Ha! I was going to do the same thing. --[[User:Druid816|Druid816]] ([[User talk:Druid816|talk]]) 07:58, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

When I saw today's comic on XKCD.com, I came here just to check if someone made a "First!" comment in comic's discussion page. [[Special:Contributions/78.205.5.80|78.205.5.80]] 08:13, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

I agree it is likely Megan offscreen, but can we be sure? [[Special:Contributions/83.227.33.35|83.227.33.35]] 09:57, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

:Is Megan the canonical name for the long-haired brunette? Interesting... [[Special:Contributions/188.76.190.204|188.76.190.204]] 12:10, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

I corrected the indents, dont be mad at me :) [[Special:Contributions/188.76.190.204|188.76.190.204]] 12:10, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

= Exactly zero =

Can someone explain what it means? I first guessed it was the proliferation on the "exactly zero" sentence, but it can also means "not comments at all". [[Special:Contributions/188.76.190.204|188.76.190.204]] 12:10, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

:He is being ironic because there have been so many annoying internet behaviours have come about. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 13:09, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Talk:1257: Monster

2013-08-28T14:30:55Z

184.66.160.91:

My first contribution, woo! I'm writing the transcript now. If there's an official one, please throw mine out and let me know :) [[User:Matega|Matega]] ([[User talk:Matega|talk]]) 06:13, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

I think it's done. Is it okay to refer to person 2 as Cueball and person 4 as Ponytail? As far as I know, Cueball is identified by not wearing anything... [[User:Matega|Matega]] ([[User talk:Matega|talk]]) 06:28, 28 August 2013 (UTC)
:Official transcripts tend to be days behind us. And yeah, we usually follow that naming convention for characters. '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|#707|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 06:49, 28 August 2013 (UTC)
This comic should be based on Pacific Rim(http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1663662/) and the dictionary of numbers(http://blog.xkcd.com/2013/05/15/dictionary-of-numbers/) [[User:Tianshuo|Tianshuo]] ([[User talk:Tianshuo|talk]]) 08:07, 28 August 2013 (UTC)
: I've not seen Pacific Rim so I may be missing something obvious, but why? I don't see any obvious references to either. It's certainly in someways a continuation of the dictionary of numbers, but it looks at it from the other direction as a too often used cliche. [[Special:Contributions/131.123.61.160|131.123.61.160]] 10:51, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

I like to relate this to [[1047: Approximations]] and [[526: Converting to Metric]] [[User:Theo|Theo]] ([[User talk:Theo|talk]]) 12:43, 28 August 2013 (UTC)
:Your links appear to be broken [[Special:Contributions/131.123.61.160|131.123.61.160]] 12:48, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

I added the basic tautology reference, but really wanted to add more, bracketted, maybe like: "(Usually overwhelmingly large amounts of conventional explosives, meteorite explosions or other non-nuclear energy-producers are likened directly as single-Hiroshima equivalent, although nuclear (or non-nuclear) blasts that are multiple-Hiroshimas in size maybe so scaled.)" But that looks too wordy. Feel free to adapt/adopt/correct. [[Special:Contributions/31.109.251.100|31.109.251.100]] 14:07, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

:Perhaps is could be noted that the Hiroshima bomb was one of the smallest nuclear bombs ever used. Probably enough to kill most monsters less than several football fields in length, but only about seven times the strength of the Halifax explosion. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 14:30, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

1257: Monster

2013-08-28T05:53:27Z

184.66.160.91: fix

{{comic
| number = 1257
| date = August 28, 2013
| title = Monster
| image = monster.png
| titletext = It was finally destroyed with a nuclear weapon carrying the destructive energy of the Hiroshima bomb.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

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

Talk:1097: A Hypochondriac's Nightmare

2013-08-28T01:56:43Z

184.66.160.91:

*I am not sure that hypochondriac is spelled hypochrondiac. According to the dictionary it is hypochondriac. I wonder if RM will fix this.  [[User:Grep|grep]][[User_talk:Grep|talk]]
**I think hypochondriac is the right spelling (according to Google and Wikipedia)
**Is it possible that the spelling of hypo'''chron'''diac is on purpose? The timing of the banana and jet engine versus the death mites? [[User:Altor|Altor]] ([[User talk:Altor|talk]]) 12:46, 20 August 2012 (UTC)
*** I doubt that it was intended, as I would think there would still be the r in driac. It has not been changed as of now, so I can't be sure. #TEBOWTIME 14:19, 20 August 2012 (UTC)
****Corrected to proper spelling by RM as of 9/21/12 [http://www.xkcd.com/1097/]Maybe we should as well. --[[User:Shine|Shine]] ([[User talk:Shine|talk]]) 17:32, 21 August 2012 (UTC)
***Moved page and 1097 redirect to new spelling...--[[User:Bpothier|B. P.]] ([[User talk:Bpothier|talk]]) 22:40, 21 August 2012 (UTC)

*What are "death mites"?
** A {{W|Mite}} is a small arthropod that aren't particularly dangerous to humans, at worst causing allergic reactions. I guess "death mites" is another joke on hypochondriacs. [[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 11:11, 21 August 2012 (UTC)

*I feel like a Hypochondriac's nightmare would be dying from a disease that they detected at the earilest stage, but could do absolutely nothing about. #TEBOWTIME 10:33, 20 August 2012 (UTC)

*Don't you think the Title Text is more suggesting that Randal has a rash and he made the comic to calm himself down, but then it turns out that he has death mites in real life?
** Using the context clues, it's safe to assume that Cueball is thinking the title-text. #TEBOWTIME 13:24, 20 August 2012 (UTC)
* Note that banana peels aren't actually slippery (though they are portrayed as such in media), and haven't been since the Gros Michel cultivar (think "breed") was wiped out (by Panama Disease, a fungus) and replaced with the Cavendish. [[Special:Contributions/75.103.23.206|75.103.23.206]] 22:50, 26 December 2012 (UTC)

Banana peels are slippery if you crush them, like by stepping on them. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 01:56, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

327: Exploits of a Mom

2013-08-27T06:01:46Z

184.66.160.91: There is no commit command there, it auto-commits unless you tell it not to. Expanded on the nature of the hack, explained --

{{comic
| number = 327
| date = October 10, 2007
| title = Exploits of a Mom
| image = exploits_of_a_mom.png
| titletext = Her daughter is named Help I'm trapped in a driver's license factory.
}}

==Explanation==
The title of this comic is a pun - an exploit can simply mean an accomplishment or heroic deed, but in computer science it means a program or technique that takes advantage of a vulnerability in other software. In fact her exploit is to exploit an exploit (her achievement is to make use of a vulnerability). We can also assume that she regards the name she has given her son as an extraordinary deed.

[[Mrs. Roberts]] receives a call from her son's school. The caller asked if the she really named her son <code>Robert'); DROP TABLE students;--</code> and the mom claimed that they used the nickname "Little Bobby Tables". As the full name is read into the database without "{{w|Data sanitization#SQL injection|sanitization}}" it causes the student table to be deleted.

The '''');''' closes the current command allowing the '''DROP TABLE students;''' command to run. The '''--''' that follows it tells the interpreter to ignore everything after it so that the injection is complete. At the end, the school informs the mom that her exploit was successful and the mom reminds the school to make sure they have added data filtering code to prevent code injection exploits in the future.

In {{w|SQL}}, commands are separated by semicolons ";" and data is often quoted using single quotes -'-. Commands may also be enclosed in parentheses '(' and ')'. Data is stored in tables of similar items (e.g. "students") and individual entries are "rows" in the table. To delete an entire table (and every row of data in that table), you use the command "DROP" (e.g. "DROP TABLE students").

The exploited vulnerability is that the single quote in the name input was not properly "escaped" by the software. Thus, when the name is embedded into some SQL statement, the quote is erroneously parsed as a closing quote inside some SQL statement, instead of being parsed as part of the name. Lack of such escaping is a common SQL vulnerability; its exploit is referred to as {{w|SQL injection}}.

There is a site about preventing SQL injection named http://bobby-tables.com.

The title text refers to this joke: Someone found a fortune cookie message that reads ''Help! I’m trapped in a fortune cookie factory!''.

==Transcript==
:[Mrs. Roberts receives a call from her son's school.]
:Caller: Hi, This is your son's school. We're having some computer trouble.

:Mrs. Roberts: Oh, dear - did he break something?
:Caller: In a way -

:Caller: Did you really name your son <code>Robert'); DROP TABLE students;--</code> ?
:Mrs. Roberts: Oh, yes. Little Bobby Tables, we call him.

:Caller: Well, we've lost this year's student records. I hope you're happy.
:Mrs. Roberts: And I hope you've learned to sanitize your database inputs.

==Trivia==
*[[10: Pi Equals]]'s setting is similar to the title text of this comic.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Little Bobby Tables]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Mrs. Roberts]]

247: Factoring the Time

2013-08-27T05:40:16Z

184.66.160.91: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 247
| date = April 11, 2007
| title = Factoring the Time
| image = factoring_the_time.png
| titletext = I occasionally do this with mile markers on the highway.
}}
==Explanation==
[[Cueball]] is bored and so he does prime factorize the time shown at the clock. He's been doing this for almost two hours (from 1:00 pm to 2:53 pm). The number 1 is the smallest prime but 253 is in fact not a prime because it can be divided by 11. His co-worker is likely annoyed at this inactivity, and so he switches the clock from 12-hour time (2:53 pm) to 24-hour time (14:53). This makes factorization more difficult, as the time now shown is a four digit number rather than a three digit number. The number 1,453 is a prime number as well, but Cueball has only one minute to solve this.

Finding the prime factors of a number gets exponentially more difficult as the number gets larger.

This comic is also a play on the phrase "factoring the time", which means the time required to do something or the current time into account when making a decision.

The title text refers to doing something similar with mile marker signs, hopefully not while driving as this could be considered distracted driving.

==Transcript==
:[One man is sitting at a computer. Cueball sits at a separate desk. There is a clock which reads 2:53.]
:Cueball: 253 is 11x23
:Man at computer: What?
:Cueball: I'm factoring the time.
:Cueball: I have nothing to do, so I'm trying to calculate the prime factors of the time each minute before it changes.
:Cueball: It was easy when I started at 1:00, but with each hour the number gets bigger
:Cueball: I wonder how long I can keep up.
:[Man at desk reaches back and touches the clock.]
:''BEEP''
:[Clock now reads 14:53.]
:Cueball: Hey!
:Man at computer: Think fast.

==Trivia==
*There is a [http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/status/xkcdtimefactorisation.html widget for OS X] to display the current time and its prime factors.

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

249: Chess Photo

2013-08-27T05:19:54Z

184.66.160.91: +http://xkcd.com/chesscoaster/

{{comic
| number = 249
| date = April 16, 2007
| title = Chess Photo
| image = chess_photo.png
| titletext = We once tried playing blindfold chess on the Aerosmith ride at Disney World.
}}
==Explanation==
{{Incomplete|Title text needs an explanation. Anyone ridden the Aerosmith ride?}}
A roller coaster is a kind of thrill ride where a small train carries people through a number of twists, turns, and hills at a high speed to the occupants great delight. Such rides are popular at amusement parks where people have to wait in long lines to get on a ride that lasts a less than two minutes.

Many amusement parks have a spot where they take souvenir pictures as you are experiencing the ride. After you get off the ride, you can buy one, or a set to commemorate riding the roller coaster. These pictures usually have people with their hands up, yelling and screaming. Wind may be going through their hair as they pass through the air at high speeds.

[[Cueball]] is subverting the usual 'souvenir picture pose' by gluing chess pieces to a board and then staring at the board when the picture is taken. He stands out in the picture as a calm person studiously studying a chess problem while everyone else yelps and whoops with excitement.

Several people emulated this comic, pictures can be seen here: http://xkcd.com/chesscoaster/

==Transcript==
:[Cueball sits at a desk with glue, chess pieces, and a chessboard while a friend looks over his shoulder.]
:Friend: What are you doing?
:Cueball: Gluing down chess pieces.
:Friend: Why?
:Cueball: Because there's a picture I've always wanted... I'll need your coat to sneak this onto the ride.
:[A photograph of a roller coaster ride with Cueball sitting in the first car, chin in hand, thinking over the chessboard. The photograph has "Mega Coaster 3000 souvenir photo" written on the margin.]

==Trivia==
*This comic [http://xkcd.com/chesscoaster/ inspired people to try this in real life], to awesome effect.

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

251: CD Tray Fight

2013-08-27T05:17:57Z

184.66.160.91: +Skynet

{{comic
| number = 251
| date = April 20, 2007
| title = CD Tray Fight
| image = cd_tray_fight.png
| titletext = This is silly, of course. The enemy will be born in the network.
}}

==Explanation==
{{Incomplete|Unlike most incompletes, this page is actually incomplete! The title text seems like a Terminator reference or something, and is not addressed at all.}}
This comic refers to the behavior of a CD/DVD drive of a desktop computer. When the tray is opened and the user is reaching for the disc, a process or task on the computer can, at that exact inopportune time, request that the disc drive close its tray. Alternatively, accidentally bumping the open tray may engage the auto-close feature, resulting in the same scenario.

This results in a sort of "tug of war" between the user who is trying to remove the disc and the CD/DVD drive trying to retract.

With a reasonable amount of force by the user, most drives will detect the resistance and give up trying to close as a safety feature, ejecting the disc again.

The title text is a reference to Skynet.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is standing, holding a CD tray which is half-in his computer. There are other CDs on the floor.]
:Cueball: Hey. Hey! Stop retracting my CD!
:I feel uncomfortable when my computer physically struggles with me. Sure, I can overpower it now, but it feels like a few short steps from here to the robot war.

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

257: Code Talkers

2013-08-27T04:43:37Z

184.66.160.91: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 257
| date = May 4, 2007
| title = Code Talkers
| image = code_talkers.png
| titletext = As far as I can tell, Navajo doesn't have a common word for 'zero'. do-neh-lini means 'neutral'.
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Code talker}}s are persons who communicate using their native language not known by the enemies. The most well-known code talkers were the Navajo-speaking Marines serving during World War II.

This comic shows a Navajo code talker transmitting an encrypted binary file by speaking "one" and "zero" (actually "neutral") into a microphone. By using only two words the code is easily cracked. Unlike the Navajo Marines, this process does not add security because it easily can be decrypted and is also much slower than simply transmitting the file over a network.

The title text states that [[Randall]] used "neutral" instead of "zero" because this word doesn't exist in Navajo.

==Transcript==
:[A man is looking at a computer monitor and speaking into a microphone.]
:Code talker: A'la'ih, do'neh'lini,
:do'neh'lini, a'la'ih,
:a'la'ih, do'neh'lini,
:do'neh'lini, do'neh'lini,
:a'la'ih, a'la'ih,
:do'neh'lini, a'la'ih,
:do'neh'lini,do'neh'lini,
:do'neh'lini...
:[Two men are talking nearby.]
:Cueball: For added security, after we encrypt the data stream, we send it through our Navajo code talker.
:Friend: ...Is he just using Navajo words for "Zero" and "One"?
:Cueball: Whoa, hey, keep your voice down!

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

260: The Glass Necklace

2013-08-27T04:38:33Z

184.66.160.91: +{{comic discussion}}

{{comic
| number = 260
| date = May 11, 2007
| title = The Glass Necklace
| image = the_glass_necklace.png
| titletext = Well, for some value of 'actually work'.
}}
==Explanation==
The heat from a lightning strike can fuse {{w|sand}} into {{w|glass}}. When this occurs in nature hollow tubes called {{w|fulgurite}}s are formed. [[Cueball]] uses this knowledge and a spark of handiness and ingenuity to create an entirely home made glass necklace for [[Megan]]. Here is [http://chemistry.about.com/od/advancedscienceprojects/a/How-To-Make-A-Fulgurite.htm some inspiration] to do it yourself.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball draws a diagram of a cylinder with electrical terminals on either end.]
:[Cueball is shown at a workbench making the device in a workshop.]
:[Cueball kneels down on a beach and scoops up sand.]
:[Cueball pours the sand into the cylinder.]
:[Cueball ties a spool of string to one end of the cylinder, and ties a deflated weather balloon to the other end.]
:[The weather balloon is inflated, and raised up into the clouds as thunder rumbles.]
:[The end of the string is tied to a stake in the ground, and lightning is flashing in the background.]
:[Lightning hits the balloon, travels through the cylinder, and fuses it's contents.]
:Later
:[Cueball follows the string to find the cylinder.]
:[Cueball detaches it, opens it, removes a solidified piece, and admires the piece.]
:[Cueball takes the stone to a jeweller.]
:[White Hat examines, grinds, and sets the now-shining stone in a necklace.]
:[Cueball approves of the final result.]
:[Cueball gives it to Megan.]

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]
[[Category:Romance]]
[[Category:Physics]]

Talk:260: The Glass Necklace

2013-08-27T04:37:47Z

184.66.160.91: Created page with "All I gave my girl was a pearl necklace... ~~~~"

All I gave my girl was a pearl necklace... [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 04:37, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

Talk:266: Choices: Part 3

2013-08-27T04:29:48Z

184.66.160.91:

Hang on, This first version is a fail, Let me do a little fixing [[Special:Contributions/121.54.48.38|121.54.48.38]] 02:10, 14 May 2013 (UTC)
From now, IP address 121.54.48.38 is now called StuckInReality (this account). [[User:StuckInReality|StuckInReality]] ([[User talk:StuckInReality|talk]]) 02:16, 14 May 2013 (UTC)

I guess this version is good for now. [[User:StuckInReality|StuckInReality]] ([[User talk:StuckInReality|talk]]) 02:22, 14 May 2013 (UTC)

Damn, I forgot my password for StuckInReality. [[Special:Contributions/121.54.48.38|121.54.48.38]] 07:39, 15 May 2013 (UTC)

As it is, the explaniation is only a description of what is happening in the panels. Try to ''explain'' the comic by considering what Randall wanted to say with it. What's the point of th comic? –[[User:St.nerol|St.nerol]] ([[User talk:St.nerol|talk]]) 11:32, 30 May 2013 (UTC)

:You can help to explain this. All five "Choices" comics still do need an well explanation.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 17:42, 30 May 2013 (UTC)

I smoked DMT once and this happened to me. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 04:29, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

Talk:271: Powers of One

2013-08-27T04:26:22Z

184.66.160.91: Created page with "I got the math joke but did not know about the documentary, very interesting. ~~~~"

I got the math joke but did not know about the documentary, very interesting. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 04:26, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

271: Powers of One

2013-08-27T04:24:56Z

184.66.160.91: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 271
| date = June 6, 2007
| title = Powers of One
| image = powers_of_one.png
| titletext = It's kinda Zen when you think about it, if you don't think too hard.
}}

==Explanation==
This is a parody of the short documentary {{w|Powers of Ten|"Powers of 10"}}: the original one can be found at http://www.powersof10.com/film.

Like in the documentary, the comic features a man and a woman on a blanket, during a picnic. Then, the zoom level of the image should change... but, while in the documentary it changes by 10 time at every frame (hence the name "Powers of 10": 1x, 10x, 100x ...), in the comic powers of 1 are used: since every power of 1 is always 1, the image doesn't change at all.

So, a series of identical images is shown.

The title text says that while this idea may seem profound, if you think about it that it is not that profound.

==Transcript==
:[A sequence, presumably continuing endlessly in both directions, of identical images of a couple lying on a chequered blanket, with a picnic basket, on grass. Each image has a rule at the bottom giving measurements in meters, with the scale in terms of 1 to a particular power. The powers visible are the -1th (part), 0th-2nd, and 3rd (part).]

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

Talk:272: Linux User at Best Buy

2013-08-27T04:09:01Z

184.66.160.91:

Not that Macs or Linux are invulnerable to malware. (Anyone else remember the {{w|Morris worm|Internet Worm}}, which would surely have ripped through Linux machines if not encountered on Unix, already, in pre-Linux days. Other exploits ''have'' been discovered, and had to be fixed.) Having said that, both types of machine ''tend'' to be safer from an OS security model point of view, from being a minority target that is largely overlooked ''and'' from the end-users being generally more savvy against liveware component attacks. However with the targetted growing flood of new users, that may well be changing. The latter two points, at least, although I'm sure ''some'' of the distros "boot as root" as well.

The speed of Linux also tends to be more from being more finely-honed by the last generation or two of geeks. Less clutter (at least with the distros ''I'' like, YMMV with some of the more "user friendly" ones) and the somewhat intimate knowledge of the system that the user tends to get and is able to act upon if anything displeases them (although, again, that may be changing). These days (and those days, I'm pretty sure) you ''can'' get mainstream AV programs for Linux (and Mac) and while I'm not going to say they're ''necessary'' for Linux, they're available and primed to help you out of various messes you ''could'' encounter. [[Special:Contributions/178.98.31.27|178.98.31.27]] 08:07, 20 June 2013 (UTC)

:Approximately 15 years ago I did deactivate the firewall at my main (Linux) internet gateway for some tests only for a few minutes. I WILL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN! I only remember the root access was done by a user name r00t and my log files at "/var/log" had been deleted. When I did figure out that attack I immediately disconnected it from the internet, but I also had to do a complete new install to that system. Linux is only secure when you know how to secure it.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:01, 5 August 2013 (UTC)

Most linux virus scanners are to scan e-mails for windoze viruses. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 04:09, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

Talk:164: Playing Devil's Advocate to Win

2013-08-27T03:30:22Z

184.66.160.91:

I'm sure that no matter what scientific evidence about global warming is, the political issue lost contact with science long ago. I mean, do we really need global warming to prove that burning all fossil fuels and deforesting most of planet is bad? Also, our ability to endanger species doesn't seem limited to global warming. And the so-called solutions to global warming? This is not about science. It's a fight between people who are getting rich on oil and people who are getting rich on projects labelled as ecological. And both sides are manipulating science data - one to deny the global warming, one to make it even worse that it is. ... I don't believe anyone have working solution to global warming which doesn't involve at least 3 billions dead humans. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 23:14, 23 May 2013 (UTC)

We have a global warming since the last twenty thousand years. And we are still at a cold period (on long term meanings). A real global warming would bring us back to the conditions of the dinosaur ages.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 21:15, 28 July 2013 (UTC)

They have totally messed with old temperature data. They "adjust" old thermometers to make them fit the data they want. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 03:30, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

Talk:167: Nihilism

2013-08-27T03:21:09Z

184.66.160.91:

That's his logic for dong random stuff?[[User:Guru-45|Guru-45]] ([[User talk:Guru-45|talk]]) 16:33, 10 March 2013 (UTC)

:He is saying that climbing a tree is as a reasonable response to nihilism as acting all mopey and depressed. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 03:21, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

Talk:176: Before Sunrise

2013-08-27T03:08:53Z

184.66.160.91:

I read the third panel to mean that Cueball finds himself not at his Mom's house but at the reader's Mom's apartment. -- [[Special:Contributions/216.137.28.30|216.137.28.30]] 15:47, 8 August 2013 (UTC)

:Yes you are correct, and I am very annoyed at Randall for fooling around with my Mom! [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 03:08, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

184: Matrix Transform

2013-08-27T02:55:11Z

184.66.160.91: This is a matrix to rotate, not to shrink

{{comic
| number = 184
| date = November 15, 2006
| title = Matrix Transform
| image = matrix_transform.png
| titletext = In fact, draw all your rotational matrices sideways. Your professors will love it! And then they'll go home and shrink.
}}

==Explanation==
A {{w|Rotation matrix|rotational matrix transformation}} (i.e. the big brackets with a few "cos" and "sin" in them) is used in computer graphics to rotate an image. The product of the transform matrix and the argument vector (a1, a2) is a rotated version of the argument vector, which should be noted as (a1', a2').

The joke is that the author turned the image of the vector rather than writing the correct answer. Rotational matrix transformations are a special case of the general linear matrix transform, which can do other things to images, including shrinking them. In this case the matrix would rotate the image 90 degrees clockwise.

At the title text we see that the professors even shrinking at home on this joke.

==Transcript==
:[A square matrix next to a vertical two-by-one matrix, equated to a horizontal matrix that looks like the two-by-one matrix turned 90 degrees.]
:[Square matrix:
: cos90° sin90°
: -sin90° cos90°]
:[Two by one matrix:
: a₁
: a₂]
:[An equal sign]
:[The same two by one matrix, but rotated by 90 degrees clockwise:
: a₁
: a₂]

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Math]]

Talk:185: Wikifriends

2013-08-27T02:52:26Z

184.66.160.91: Created page with "I thought this was a reference to the WikiFriends group who defend WikiLeaks. I figured it was about intimidation. ~~~~"

I thought this was a reference to the WikiFriends group who defend WikiLeaks. I figured it was about intimidation. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 02:52, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

Talk:190: IPoD

2013-08-27T02:35:02Z

184.66.160.91:

The joke "IPoD -- IP over Demographics" is referring to the media player from Apple.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 18:49, 25 June 2013 (UTC)

: Perhaps, but I doubt it. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 02:35, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

Talk:194: Penises

2013-08-27T02:29:05Z

184.66.160.91: Created page with "Anyone who thinks erect penis size does not vary is leading a very sheltered life. ~~~~"

Anyone who thinks erect penis size does not vary is leading a very sheltered life. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 02:29, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

Talk:197: Ninja Turtles

2013-08-27T02:20:39Z

184.66.160.91:

Regarding the William Tell Overture's popular re-imagining, it has been said that "An intellectual is someone who can listen to <nowiki>[it]</nowiki> without thinking of the Lone Ranger," or very similar. (Wikipedia currently has a reference note about this that chiefly attributes it "... to Jack Guin writing in the Denver Post in 1962. (Brooklyn Barrister (1962), Volume 14, p. 107).", but it was an very well known anonymous pithy (and snobby?) statement a decade or two later, as I recall.)

------
The explain is wrong! This comic refers to this: {{w|Multi-Purpose Logistics Module}}. NASA did name that modules by real scientists and after that it was matched to this: {{w|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles}}.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:05, 22 June 2013 (UTC)

: I dispute that. The MPLM was named after the TMNTs, and thus would contribute to their notoriety as such. There are no ''direct'' references to the MPLM, however, so the passage about them is at best overkill (at worse, useless). The main point is that the modern popular culture "hijacks" classical figures. --[[User:Quicksilver|Quicksilver]] ([[User talk:Quicksilver|talk]]) 05:09, 24 August 2013 (UTC)
::Randall did work at NASA in the past, if he wouldn't have the MPLM's in his mind while drawing this comic he must suffer on short term memory loss. He is joking about this coincidence.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 18:36, 24 August 2013 (UTC)

::: Again, I dispute the relevance of MPLM to an explanation of this comic. To someone who doesn't know who the TMNT are and haven't heard of Donatello or Raphael, it seems overkill to have to introduce them and then pile on the MPLM layer. The title text refers to similar pop-culture characters, neither of whom have anything to do with NASA, and while the readers of xkcd tend to have a science-y bent, the MPLM is a very specific, technical thing that very few are likely to know about. Furthermore, this comic came out in December 2006, months after the previous MPLM mission. --[[User:Quicksilver|Quicksilver]] ([[User talk:Quicksilver|talk]]) 04:31, 25 August 2013 (UTC)
::::"There were 34 Space Shuttle missions to the ISS. MPLMs were flown twelve times". The first mission was Leonardo on March 8, 2001 at STS 102. The joke is just about the coincidence of the Ninja Turtles and the MPLM program.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 18:45, 25 August 2013 (UTC)
::::: Which joke? The joke in the comic or the joke in the comments? The comic makes absolutely no hint of any reference to NASA, the ISS, or the MPLMs. The joke is that the TMNTs hijacked the importance of the four Renaissance artists. I see no reason (apart from Trivia, which can be its own section) for including MPLM into an explanation. --[[User:Quicksilver|Quicksilver]] ([[User talk:Quicksilver|talk]]) 21:32, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

There is absolutely nothing in the comic that suggests it is related to the MPLM. I have removed this as it is off-topic for the explanation. If this was what the comic was about Randall would have put some sort of hint. Rocksteady and Bebop contradict this theory.

If someone wants to re-add it they should do so in a trivia section, as it is trivia not directly related to the comic. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 02:18, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

Talk:197: Ninja Turtles

2013-08-27T02:19:47Z

184.66.160.91:

Regarding the William Tell Overture's popular re-imagining, it has been said that "An intellectual is someone who can listen to <nowiki>[it]</nowiki> without thinking of the Lone Ranger," or very similar. (Wikipedia currently has a reference note about this that chiefly attributes it "... to Jack Guin writing in the Denver Post in 1962. (Brooklyn Barrister (1962), Volume 14, p. 107).", but it was an very well known anonymous pithy (and snobby?) statement a decade or two later, as I recall.)

------
The explain is wrong! This comic refers to this: {{w|Multi-Purpose Logistics Module}}. NASA did name that modules by real scientists and after that it was matched to this: {{w|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles}}.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:05, 22 June 2013 (UTC)

: I dispute that. The MPLM was named after the TMNTs, and thus would contribute to their notoriety as such. There are no ''direct'' references to the MPLM, however, so the passage about them is at best overkill (at worse, useless). The main point is that the modern popular culture "hijacks" classical figures. --[[User:Quicksilver|Quicksilver]] ([[User talk:Quicksilver|talk]]) 05:09, 24 August 2013 (UTC)
::Randall did work at NASA in the past, if he wouldn't have the MPLM's in his mind while drawing this comic he must suffer on short term memory loss. He is joking about this coincidence.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 18:36, 24 August 2013 (UTC)

::: Again, I dispute the relevance of MPLM to an explanation of this comic. To someone who doesn't know who the TMNT are and haven't heard of Donatello or Raphael, it seems overkill to have to introduce them and then pile on the MPLM layer. The title text refers to similar pop-culture characters, neither of whom have anything to do with NASA, and while the readers of xkcd tend to have a science-y bent, the MPLM is a very specific, technical thing that very few are likely to know about. Furthermore, this comic came out in December 2006, months after the previous MPLM mission. --[[User:Quicksilver|Quicksilver]] ([[User talk:Quicksilver|talk]]) 04:31, 25 August 2013 (UTC)
::::"There were 34 Space Shuttle missions to the ISS. MPLMs were flown twelve times". The first mission was Leonardo on March 8, 2001 at STS 102. The joke is just about the coincidence of the Ninja Turtles and the MPLM program.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 18:45, 25 August 2013 (UTC)
::::: Which joke? The joke in the comic or the joke in the comments? The comic makes absolutely no hint of any reference to NASA, the ISS, or the MPLMs. The joke is that the TMNTs hijacked the importance of the four Renaissance artists. I see no reason (apart from Trivia, which can be its own section) for including MPLM into an explanation. --[[User:Quicksilver|Quicksilver]] ([[User talk:Quicksilver|talk]]) 21:32, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

There is absolutely nothing in the comic that suggests it is related to the MPLM. I have removed this as it is off-topic for the explanation. If this was what the comic was about Randall would have put some sort of hint. Rocksteady and Bebop contradict this theory. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 02:18, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

Talk:197: Ninja Turtles

2013-08-27T02:18:56Z

184.66.160.91:

Regarding the William Tell Overture's popular re-imagining, it has been said that "An intellectual is someone who can listen to <nowiki>[it]</nowiki> without thinking of the Lone Ranger," or very similar. (Wikipedia currently has a reference note about this that chiefly attributes it "... to Jack Guin writing in the Denver Post in 1962. (Brooklyn Barrister (1962), Volume 14, p. 107).", but it was an very well known anonymous pithy (and snobby?) statement a decade or two later, as I recall.)

------
The explain is wrong! This comic refers to this: {{w|Multi-Purpose Logistics Module}}. NASA did name that modules by real scientists and after that it was matched to this: {{w|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles}}.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:05, 22 June 2013 (UTC)

: I dispute that. The MPLM was named after the TMNTs, and thus would contribute to their notoriety as such. There are no ''direct'' references to the MPLM, however, so the passage about them is at best overkill (at worse, useless). The main point is that the modern popular culture "hijacks" classical figures. --[[User:Quicksilver|Quicksilver]] ([[User talk:Quicksilver|talk]]) 05:09, 24 August 2013 (UTC)
::Randall did work at NASA in the past, if he wouldn't have the MPLM's in his mind while drawing this comic he must suffer on short term memory loss. He is joking about this coincidence.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 18:36, 24 August 2013 (UTC)

::: Again, I dispute the relevance of MPLM to an explanation of this comic. To someone who doesn't know who the TMNT are and haven't heard of Donatello or Raphael, it seems overkill to have to introduce them and then pile on the MPLM layer. The title text refers to similar pop-culture characters, neither of whom have anything to do with NASA, and while the readers of xkcd tend to have a science-y bent, the MPLM is a very specific, technical thing that very few are likely to know about. Furthermore, this comic came out in December 2006, months after the previous MPLM mission. --[[User:Quicksilver|Quicksilver]] ([[User talk:Quicksilver|talk]]) 04:31, 25 August 2013 (UTC)
::::"There were 34 Space Shuttle missions to the ISS. MPLMs were flown twelve times". The first mission was Leonardo on March 8, 2001 at STS 102. The joke is just about the coincidence of the Ninja Turtles and the MPLM program.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 18:45, 25 August 2013 (UTC)
::::: Which joke? The joke in the comic or the joke in the comments? The comic makes absolutely no hint of any reference to NASA, the ISS, or the MPLMs. The joke is that the TMNTs hijacked the importance of the four Renaissance artists. I see no reason (apart from Trivia, which can be its own section) for including MPLM into an explanation. --[[User:Quicksilver|Quicksilver]] ([[User talk:Quicksilver|talk]]) 21:32, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

There is absolutely nothing in the comic that suggests it is related to the MPLM. I have removed this as it is off-topic for the explanation. If this was what the comic was about Randall would have put some sort of hint. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 02:18, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

197: Ninja Turtles

2013-08-27T02:17:36Z

184.66.160.91: Nothing at all in the comic suggests this. Sounds like a coincidence.

{{comic
| number = 197
| date = December 15, 2006
| title = Ninja Turtles
| image = ninja turtles.png
| titletext = The henchmen Bebop and Rocksteady have hijacked the musical genres for us just like the Lone Ranger hijacked the William Tell Overture for our parents.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}
The {{w|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles}}, or Ninja Turtles, are a pop-cultural phenomenon especially prominent in the late 1980s and 1990s. The four turtles are each named for four artists of the European Renaissance: {{w|Leonardo da Vinci}}, {{w|Michelangelo|Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni}}, {{w|Donatello|Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi}}, and {{w|Raphael|Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino}}.

The title text alludes to a similar phenomenon, as two other characters from the show "Bebop" and "Rocksteady" are now better known as the characters than for the musical genres they are named for. Similarly, the {{w|William Tell Overture}} became so closely tied to the character of the Lone Ranger in media for the previous generation that, to many, the William Tell Overture is in effect "The Lone Ranger Theme."

==Transcript==
:[Four pie graphs, each colored green and brown.]
:Leonardo
:[Almost one-half green.]
:Michelangelo
:[More than one-half green.]
:Donatello
:[Almost completely green.]
:Raphael
:[Roughly half-and-half.]
:[A legend]
:Notoriety as a
:[Brown.] Renaissance artist
:[Green.] Ninja turtle

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

199: Right-Hand Rule

2013-08-27T02:14:59Z

184.66.160.91: most likely singular

{{comic
| number = 199
| date = December 20, 2006
| title = Right-Hand Rule
| image = right_hand_rule.png
| titletext = To really expand your mind try some noncartesian porn. Edwin Abbot Abbott has nothing on "Girls on Girls in Tightly Closed Nonorientable Spaces"
}}

==Explanation==
The {{w|right-hand rule}} is a mathematics and physics trick to learning three dimensional Cartesian vectors. First, using your right hand, hold the thumb perpendicular to your other fingers. Then point the thumb in the direction of one axis, and the fingers in another. Curl the fingers and they will point in the direction of the third axis to make the three-dimensional figure consistent.

The joke relies on non-standard ways of measuring, which are unusual and much more impractical. The reference to watching porn(pornography) suggests that an erect penis would represent the result vector/hole.

The title text refers to {{w|Edwin Abbott Abbott}}, author of the book Flatland, a story about a two dimensional world.

==Transcript==
:[Picture of a right hand with fingers curved, thumb pointed away, with axes drawn to demonstrate the right-hand rule of physics.]
:Alternatives to the Right-Hand Rule in vector multiplication:
:[A slightly-open book with labeled axes drawn on.]
:Book Rule: Open the front cover along the first vector and the back cover along the second. The result vector is along the spine, out the top.
:[A handgun with axes.]
:Handgun Rule: Point the grip along the first vector and rotate it so that the second vector is on the safety latch side. Fire. The result vector is toward the nozzle.
:[A person with right arm extended.]
:Body Rule (males only): Point your right arm along the first vector and your legs along the second, then watch some porn.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Math]]
[[Category:Physics]]

199: Right-Hand Rule

2013-08-27T02:13:50Z

184.66.160.91: changed 3rd vector to result vector/holes... both sort of apply *giggle*

{{comic
| number = 199
| date = December 20, 2006
| title = Right-Hand Rule
| image = right_hand_rule.png
| titletext = To really expand your mind try some noncartesian porn. Edwin Abbot Abbott has nothing on "Girls on Girls in Tightly Closed Nonorientable Spaces"
}}

==Explanation==
The {{w|right-hand rule}} is a mathematics and physics trick to learning three dimensional Cartesian vectors. First, using your right hand, hold the thumb perpendicular to your other fingers. Then point the thumb in the direction of one axis, and the fingers in another. Curl the fingers and they will point in the direction of the third axis to make the three-dimensional figure consistent.

The joke relies on non-standard ways of measuring, which are unusual and much more impractical. The reference to watching porn(pornography) suggests that an erect penis would represent the result vector/holes.

The title text refers to {{w|Edwin Abbott Abbott}}, author of the book Flatland, a story about a two dimensional world.

==Transcript==
:[Picture of a right hand with fingers curved, thumb pointed away, with axes drawn to demonstrate the right-hand rule of physics.]
:Alternatives to the Right-Hand Rule in vector multiplication:
:[A slightly-open book with labeled axes drawn on.]
:Book Rule: Open the front cover along the first vector and the back cover along the second. The result vector is along the spine, out the top.
:[A handgun with axes.]
:Handgun Rule: Point the grip along the first vector and rotate it so that the second vector is on the safety latch side. Fire. The result vector is toward the nozzle.
:[A person with right arm extended.]
:Body Rule (males only): Point your right arm along the first vector and your legs along the second, then watch some porn.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Math]]
[[Category:Physics]]

Talk:199: Right-Hand Rule

2013-08-27T02:12:03Z

184.66.160.91:

There's also the right hand rule on urban dictionary, although it's applied slightly differently, and it only has one input parameter. [[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]] ([[User talk:Davidy22|talk]]) 03:44, 30 October 2012 (UTC)

I expanded the explanation to cover the erection joke. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 02:12, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

199: Right-Hand Rule

2013-08-27T02:10:51Z

184.66.160.91: The first two are self explanatory, but the third one might be explained to some folks

{{comic
| number = 199
| date = December 20, 2006
| title = Right-Hand Rule
| image = right_hand_rule.png
| titletext = To really expand your mind try some noncartesian porn. Edwin Abbot Abbott has nothing on "Girls on Girls in Tightly Closed Nonorientable Spaces"
}}

==Explanation==
The {{w|right-hand rule}} is a mathematics and physics trick to learning three dimensional Cartesian vectors. First, using your right hand, hold the thumb perpendicular to your other fingers. Then point the thumb in the direction of one axis, and the fingers in another. Curl the fingers and they will point in the direction of the third axis to make the three-dimensional figure consistent.

The joke relies on non-standard ways of measuring, which are unusual and much more impractical. The reference to watching porn(pornography) suggests that an erect penis would represent the 3rd vector.

The title text refers to {{w|Edwin Abbott Abbott}}, author of the book Flatland, a story about a two dimensional world.

==Transcript==
:[Picture of a right hand with fingers curved, thumb pointed away, with axes drawn to demonstrate the right-hand rule of physics.]
:Alternatives to the Right-Hand Rule in vector multiplication:
:[A slightly-open book with labeled axes drawn on.]
:Book Rule: Open the front cover along the first vector and the back cover along the second. The result vector is along the spine, out the top.
:[A handgun with axes.]
:Handgun Rule: Point the grip along the first vector and rotate it so that the second vector is on the safety latch side. Fire. The result vector is toward the nozzle.
:[A person with right arm extended.]
:Body Rule (males only): Point your right arm along the first vector and your legs along the second, then watch some porn.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Math]]
[[Category:Physics]]

Talk:201: Christmas GPS

2013-08-27T02:07:27Z

184.66.160.91:

Why the car is on the left side? Did Randall move to UK? Over water? Still so many questions.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 21:59, 31 July 2013 (UTC)

: It is a valid line of inquiry, but there are many more gaping, unexplained things in xkcd to worry about. I'd guess the car was easier to draw that way, or something. --[[User:Quicksilver|Quicksilver]] ([[User talk:Quicksilver|talk]]) 04:57, 24 August 2013 (UTC)

:: He might be driving on the wrong side because he is drunk. With a bit of work we could eliminate some of the possible birthdays for these characters(assuming they ended up at a plausible place). Through elimination via clues in various comics we might one day figure out the birthdays(assuming Randall is track this information and leaving clues, which he most likely is(everything he does has some sort of code or secret(seriously... everything))). [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 02:07, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

429: Fantasy

2013-08-27T01:53:23Z

184.66.160.91: The fourth wall refers to performances, not imagined worlds. They imagined characters are destroying their irrational universe

{{comic
| number = 429
| date = May 28, 2008
| title = Fantasy
| image = fantasy.png
| titletext = I guess if she accepted irrational realities, she'd hardly be my fantasy.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}
[[Cueball]] is fantasizing about [[Megan]]. However, the imaginary versions of himself and Megan quickly realize how impossible their relationship would be (although the reasons are left unstated) and so they decide to destroy the universe they are in. This leave's Cueball confused. Rather than allow Cueball's idle daydream to end romantically, they run rampant and bring his fantasy crashing to a halt.

The title text refers to the fact that Cueball would only appreciate a girl who refused an irrational reality, thus the fantasy is consistent with his personality.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball sits hugging his knees.]
:Cueball: If only there were some way we could be together.
:[He fades into a thought bubble containing the next four panels.]
<div style="color:#666; margin-left:1em">
:[Cueball and Megan are lounging on a bed.]
:Megan: We're so lucky to have each other. How did it happen, anyway?
:Cueball: I, uh... I don't remember.

:Megan: No, really, how did we get together? It's hard to imagine it happening.
:Cueball: It does strain the bounds of fantasy...
:Megan: ...Fantasy? That's it!

:Megan: My God, it's the only explanation: We're objects in some transient fantasy. We'll be gone when it ends!
:Cueball: We'll lose each other.
:Megan: Oh God.

:[Megan leaps from the bed with a flaming torch.]
:Megan: Well, I'm not going out quietly. I'm burning this fucking world.
:Cueball: Burn the world!
:Megan: Fire! Fire! Cleanse this hellish place-
</div>
:[The thought ends.]
:Cueball (scratching his head): ??

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

Talk:433: Journal 5

2013-08-27T01:48:18Z

184.66.160.91:

At least he didn't same "remotely" [[Special:Contributions/99.102.154.28|99.102.154.28]] 03:03, 13 August 2013 (UTC)

:Saying "remotely" would have been such a bad play on words. lol. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 01:48, 27 August 2013 (UTC)