explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

1274: Open Letter

2013-10-07T08:05:53Z

213.163.40.100: Templatified table links

{{comic
| number = 1274
| date = October 7, 2013
| title = Open Letter
| image = open_letter.png
| titletext = Are you ok? Do you need help?
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}
Under some circumstances, the United States Federal Government {{w|Government_shutdown_in_the_United_States|can temporarily shut down}} pending budget legislation from the United States Congress. These shutdowns are typically due to political disagreements between the President, the House of Representatives, and the Senate.

Over the years, various conspiracy theories have been proposed claiming that the United States Government is not controlled by publicly-elected officials, but rather by one or more organizations that secretly control the actions of the government (sometimes termed a {{w|Shadow_government_(conspiracy)|"shadow government"}}).

[[Randall]] jokes on the {{w|United_States_federal_government_shutdown_of_2013|US government shutdown in 2013}}, that has been ongoing for a week and is still current as of the time of this comic, by writing a letter to the shadow government, telling them that this situation is embarrassing and asking them to fix the problem.

This comic may also be subtly arguing against the plausibility of the aforementioned conspiracy theories if one assumes that a shadow-controlled government would be more likely to operate with a singular purpose and therefore be less susceptible to paralyzing political disagreements. That is to say, if an outside organization were controlling the US government, then it would demonstrate more competence than the US government is currently exhibiting. Randall previously alluded to this in the title text to [[1081|comic 1081]]: "Really, the comforting side in most conspiracy theory arguments is the one claiming that anyone who's in power has any plan at all." This is one of several comics in which Randall expresses dismay at how many intelligent people can fall for absurd conspiracy theories; see comics [[258]] and [[690]], among others.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Addressee !! Brief Description
|-
| {{w|Freemasonry|The Freemasons }}||
|-
| {{w|Illuminati}} ||
|-
| {{w|Scientology}} ||
|-
| {{w|Federal_Emergency_Management_Agency|FEMA}} ||
|-
| {{w|New_World_Order_(conspiracy_theory)|The New World Order}} ||
|-
| {{w|Federal_Reserve_System|The Federal Reserve}} ||
|-
| {{w|Citigroup}} ||
|-
| {{w|Halliburton}} ||
|-
| {{w|Google}} ||
|-
| {{w|Vatican|The Vatican}} ||
|-
| {{w|Bilderburg_Group|Bilderburg}} ||
|-
| {{w|Walmart}} ||
|-
| {{w|Rothschild_family|The Rothschilds}} ||
|-
| {{w|Knights_Templar_(Freemasonry)|The Knights Templar}} ||
|-
| {{w|High_Frequency_Active_Auroral_Research_Program#Conspiracy_theories|HAARP}} ||
|-
| {{w|United_Nations|The UN}} ||
|-
| {{w|Skull_and_Bones|Skull & Bones}} ||
|-
| {{w|Bohemian_Grove|Bohemian Grove}} ||
|-
| {{w|Political_activities_of_the_Koch_brothers#Political_activity|The Koch Brothers}} ||
|-
| {{w|Soros_György|George Soros}} ||
|-
| {{w|Sovereign_Military_Order_of_Malta|The Knights of Malta}} ||
|-
| {{w|Code_of_Federal_Regulations|The CFR}} ||
|-
| {{w|ExxonMobil|Exxon Mobil}} ||
|-
| {{w|Zionism|The Zionists}} ||
|-
| {{w|Vril#Vril_society|The Vril Society}} ||
|-
| {{w|Reptilians|The Lizard People}} ||
|-
| and everyone else who secretly controls the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_government_of_the_United_States US Govenment] ||
|}

==Transcript==
:[The picture shows a letter.]
:October 7th 2013
:To: The Freemasons, the Illuminati, Scientology, FEMA, the New World Order, the Federal Reserve, Citigroup, Halliburton, Google, the Vatican, Bilderburg, Walmart, the Rothschilds, the Knights Templar, HAARP, the UN, Skull & Bones, Bohemian Grove, the Koch Brothers, George Soros, the Trilateral Commision, the Knights of Malta, the CFR, Exxon Mobil, the Zionists, the Vril Society, the Lizard People, and everyone else who secretly controls the US government
:Can you please get your shit together?
:This is embarrassing.
:Sincerely,
:A Concerned Citizen

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Politics]]

1274: Open Letter

2013-10-07T07:57:10Z

213.163.40.100: Adding table

{{comic
| number = 1274
| date = October 7, 2013
| title = Open Letter
| image = open_letter.png
| titletext = Are you ok? Do you need help?
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}
Under some circumstances, the United States Federal Government {{w|Government_shutdown_in_the_United_States|can temporarily shut down}} pending budget legislation from the United States Congress. These shutdowns are typically due to political disagreements between the President, the House of Representatives, and the Senate.

Over the years, various conspiracy theories have been proposed claiming that the United States Government is not controlled by publicly-elected officials, but rather by one or more organizations that secretly control the actions of the government (sometimes termed a {{w|Shadow_government_(conspiracy)|"shadow government"}}).

[[Randall]] jokes on the {{w|United_States_federal_government_shutdown_of_2013|US government shutdown in 2013}}, that has been ongoing for a week and is still current as of the time of this comic, by writing a letter to the shadow government, telling them that this situation is embarrassing and asking them to fix the problem.

This comic may also be subtly arguing against the plausibility of the aforementioned conspiracy theories if one assumes that a shadow-controlled government would be more likely to operate with a singular purpose and therefore be less susceptible to paralyzing political disagreements. That is to say, if an outside organization were controlling the US government, then it would demonstrate more competence than the US government is currently exhibiting.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Addressee !! Brief Description
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemasonry The Freemasons ]||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illuminati Illuminati] ||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology Scientology] ||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Emergency_Management_Agency FEMA] ||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_World_Order_(conspiracy_theory) The New World Order] ||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Reserve_System The Federal Reserve] ||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citigroup Citigroup] ||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halliburton Halliburton] ||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google Google] ||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican The Vatican] ||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilderburg_Group Bilderburg] ||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walmart Walmart] ||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rothschild_family The Rothschilds] ||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_Templar_(Freemasonry) The Knights Templar] ||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Frequency_Active_Auroral_Research_Program#Conspiracy_theories HAARP] ||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations The UN] ||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skull_and_Bones Skull & Bones] ||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemian_Grove Bohemian Grove] ||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_activities_of_the_Koch_brothers#Political_activity The Koch Brothers] ||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soros_György George Soros] ||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_Military_Order_of_Malta The Knights of Malta] ||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_of_Federal_Regulations The CFR] ||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ExxonMobil Exxon Mobil] ||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zionism The Zionists] ||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vril#Vril_society The Vril Society] ||
|-
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilians The Lizard People] ||
|-
| and everyone else who secretly controls the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_government_of_the_United_States US Govenment] ||
|}

==Transcript==
:[The picture shows a letter.]
:October 7th 2013
:To: The Freemasons, the Illuminati, Scientology, FEMA, the New World Order, the Federal Reserve, Citigroup, Halliburton, Google, the Vatican, Bilderburg, Walmart, the Rothschilds, the Knights Templar, HAARP, the UN, Skull & Bones, Bohemian Grove, the Koch Brothers, George Soros, the Trilateral Commision, the Knights of Malta, the CFR, Exxon Mobil, the Zionists, the Vril Society, the Lizard People, and everyone else who secretly controls the US government
:Can you please get your shit together?
:This is embarrassing.
:Sincerely,
:A Concerned Citizen

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Politics]]

Talk:1271: Highlighting

2013-09-30T08:13:26Z

213.163.40.100:

Personally, I dislike it when the highlighted area includes either the beginning indent/tab or the ending indent/tab, so according to my standards, I'm satisfied with the highlighting in paragraphs 1-3, but not with 4-6. Saibot84 04:33, 30 September 2013 (UTC)
:There is nothing marked in paragraph 6, is there? --[[User:Chtz|Chtz]] ([[User talk:Chtz|talk]]) 07:07, 30 September 2013 (UTC)

Why does he spell highlight like "hilight"? [[Special:Contributions/62.209.198.2|62.209.198.2]] 06:47, 30 September 2013 (UTC)
:Good question. Wiktionary allows {{Wiktionary|hilite}} as ''informal'', but says that {{Wiktionary|hilight}} is a "common misspelling". --[[User:Chtz|Chtz]] ([[User talk:Chtz|talk]]) 07:07, 30 September 2013 (UTC)

I'm so used to doing this that I know a few tricks and tiny strips of areas to click on in order to achieve symmetry in some tricky situations. [[Special:Contributions/131.215.169.224|131.215.169.224]] 07:53, 30 September 2013 (UTC)

: On some pages, I spent more time getting the highlights right than actually reading it --[[Special:Contributions/141.89.226.146|141.89.226.146]] 08:06, 30 September 2013 (UTC)

The most frustrating thing when it comes to highlighting: willing to select text on a long line (such as source code with no word wrap) only to have the mouse cursor move out of line, sabotaging your selection and location in the text. When pages are wider than the visible area, it should not jump to the left side when there are empty lines above/below a long line and you drag the selection up/down, instead, it should scroll left only as you drag the selection to the left. [[Special:Contributions/213.163.40.100|213.163.40.100]] 08:11, 30 September 2013 (UTC)

Talk:1271: Highlighting

2013-09-30T08:11:51Z

213.163.40.100:

Personally, I dislike it when the highlighted area includes either the beginning indent/tab or the ending indent/tab, so according to my standards, I'm satisfied with the highlighting in paragraphs 1-3, but not with 4-6. Saibot84 04:33, 30 September 2013 (UTC)
:There is nothing marked in paragraph 6, is there? --[[User:Chtz|Chtz]] ([[User talk:Chtz|talk]]) 07:07, 30 September 2013 (UTC)

Why does he spell highlight like "hilight"? [[Special:Contributions/62.209.198.2|62.209.198.2]] 06:47, 30 September 2013 (UTC)
:Good question. Wiktionary allows {{Wiktionary|hilite}} as ''informal'', but says that {{Wiktionary|hilight}} is a "common misspelling". --[[User:Chtz|Chtz]] ([[User talk:Chtz|talk]]) 07:07, 30 September 2013 (UTC)

I'm so used to doing this that I know a few tricks and tiny strips of areas to click on in order to achieve symmetry in some tricky situations. [[Special:Contributions/131.215.169.224|131.215.169.224]] 07:53, 30 September 2013 (UTC)

: On some pages, I spent more time getting the highlights right than actually reading it --[[Special:Contributions/141.89.226.146|141.89.226.146]] 08:06, 30 September 2013 (UTC)

The most frustrating thing when it comes to highlighting: willing to select text on a long line (such as source code with no word wrap) only to have the mouse cursor move out of line, sabotaging your selection and location in the text. Pages that are wider than the visible area should not jump to the left side when there are empty lines above/below a long line and you drag the selection up/down, instead, it should scroll left only as you drag the selection to the left. [[Special:Contributions/213.163.40.100|213.163.40.100]] 08:11, 30 September 2013 (UTC)

1197: All Adobe Updates

2013-04-10T08:19:46Z

213.163.40.100: Added reference to an actual message to explanation.

{{comic
| number = 1197
| date = April 10, 2013
| title = All Adobe Updates
| image = all adobe updates.png
| titletext = ALERT: Some pending mandatory software updates require version 21.1.2 of the Oracle/Sun Java(tm) JDK(tm) Update Manager Runtime Environment Meta-Updater, which is not available for your platform.
}}

==Explanation==
The comic makes fun of Adobe software that delivers new versions of Adobe products to users' computers, such as ''Adobe Updater'' (which [http://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/acrobat-reader-updater-faq-9.html replaced] ''Adobe Update Manager'') and ''Adobe Download Manager'' (from [http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/akamai-download-manager-faq.html Akamai]). These software increments might either be technical (to fix compatibility or security issues), or they might add new features that would go unnoticed. In addition, these updates are downloaded automatically by default, but the operating system might install them only if a user allows it to. The frequency of software changes (and changes in the way Adobe allows users to download new software) could result in confused users.

There is an actual message that a specific version of these updaters display:

:''The Adobe Updater must update itself before it can check for''
:''updates. Would you like to update the Adobe Updater now?''[http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1348/738614725_09ad7d1d90.jpg]

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is sitting at a laptop with a window with a red title bar floating over his head.]
:Adobe update
:There is an update for:
:*'''Adobe Download Manager'''
:This update will allow you to download the new updates to the Adobe update downloader.
:[OK] [Download]

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

1197: All Adobe Updates

2013-04-10T08:05:26Z

213.163.40.100: Adding some more explanation.

{{comic
| number = 1197
| date = April 10, 2013
| title = All Adobe Updates
| image = all adobe updates.png
| titletext = ALERT: Some pending mandatory software updates require version 21.1.2 of the Oracle/Sun Java(tm) JDK(tm) Update Manager Runtime Environment Meta-Updater, which is not available for your platform.
}}

==Explanation==
The comic makes fun of Adobe software that delivers new versions of Adobe products to users' computers, such as ''Adobe Updater'' (which [http://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/acrobat-reader-updater-faq-9.html replaced] ''Adobe Update Manager'') and ''Adobe Download Manager'' (from [http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/akamai-download-manager-faq.html Akamai]). These software increments might either be technical (to fix compatibility or security issues), or they might add new features that would go unnoticed. In addition, these updates are downloaded automatically by default, but the operating system might install them only if a user allows it to.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is sitting at a laptop with a window with a red title bar floating over his head.]
:Adobe update
:There is an update for:
:*'''Adobe Download Manager'''
:This update will allow you to download the new updates to the Adobe update downloader.
:[OK] [Download]

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

1197: All Adobe Updates

2013-04-10T07:44:37Z

213.163.40.100: Added examples of Adobe updaters.

1179: ISO 8601

2013-02-27T08:40:02Z

213.163.40.100: Added transcription.

{{comic
| number = 1179
| date = February 27, 2013
| title = ISO 8601
| image = iso_8601.png
| titletext = ISO 8601 was published on 06/05/88 and most recently amended on 12/01/04.
}}

==Explanation==
The two most commonly used date formats in the world are {{w|Date format by country|dd.mm.yyyy and mm/dd/yyyy}} (the symbols separating the values, as well as the year being 2 or 4 digits notwithstanding). This difference is often cause for debate. However, the comic explains that the International Organization for Standardization ({{w|ISO}}) has standardized dates in the yyyy-mm-dd format—this corresponds to neither of the aforementioned two formats.
The comic then lists many formats as "discouraged". This list starts with commonly used formats, which include the two above as well as other commonly used ones, such as dd/mm/yy. However the list then starts listing formats ranging from uncommon to absurd, such as writing the date partly in Roman numerals and painting the date in m/d/yy format with white paint onto a hissing black cat.

The title text mentions two dates in either the dd/mm/yy format or the mm/dd/yy format, but because the day values in both dates are less than 13, the format used is unclear.
(The standard was published on 5 June 1988 and amended on 1 December 2004.)

==Transcript==
Public Service Announcement:

Our different ways of writing dates as numbers can lead to online confusion. That's why in 1998 ISO set a global standard numeric date format. This is '''''the''''' correct way to write numeric dates:

2013-02-27

The following formats are therefore discouraged:
* 02/27/2013
* 02/27/13
* 27/02/2013
* 27/02/13
* 20130227
* 2013.02.27
* 27.02.13
* 27-02-13
* 2013. II. 27.
* 27⁄2-13
* 2013.158904109
* MMXII-II-XXVII
* MMXII [and] LVII [over] CCLXV
* 1330300800
* ((3+3)×(111+1)-1)×3/3-1/33
* 27 [''over''] 02 [''over''] 2013
* 10/11011/1101
* 02/27/20/13
* 0 [2,5] 1 [3] 2 [1,6,7] 3 [4] 7 [8]
* ''A cat, with the numerals'' 2-27-13 ''painted on it, going'' HISSSS

{{comic discussion}}

1175: Moving Sidewalks

2013-02-18T08:05:15Z

213.163.40.100: /* Transcript */ Added transcript.

{{comic
| number = 1175
| date = February 18, 2013
| title = Moving Sidewalks
| image = moving sidewalks.png
| titletext = I think I could spend hours just stepping on and off of conveyor belts moving at various speeds.
}}

==Explanation==
Cueball and Megan are getting ready to ride an array of mini-conveyor belts, each going at a speed multiple of the adjacent one's. Assuming they both take the one in front of them, they will need to walk faster as the conveyor belts set them back more by each step, ultimately reaching a point where they are close enough to able to high-five each other.

==Transcript==
[Cubeball and Megan on the opposite far end of a bidirectional moving sidewalk.]
:Cubeball: Ready?
:Megan: Ready.

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

1175: Moving Sidewalks

2013-02-18T07:59:55Z

213.163.40.100: Removed empty "this comic has none" paragraph.

{{comic
| number = 1175
| date = February 18, 2013
| title = Moving Sidewalks
| image = moving sidewalks.png
| titletext = I think I could spend hours just stepping on and off of conveyor belts moving at various speeds.
}}

==Explanation==
Cueball and Megan are getting ready to ride an array of mini-conveyor belts, each going at a speed multiple of the adjacent one's. Assuming they both take the one in front of them, they will need to walk faster as the conveyor belts set them back more by each step, ultimately reaching a point where they are close enough to able to high-five each other.

==Transcript==
:

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

1175: Moving Sidewalks

2013-02-18T07:58:03Z

213.163.40.100: /* Explanation */ Initial edit.

{{comic
| number = 1175
| date = February 18, 2013
| title = Moving Sidewalks
| image = moving sidewalks.png
| titletext = I think I could spend hours just stepping on and off of conveyor belts moving at various speeds.
}}

==Explanation==
Cueball and Megan are getting ready to ride an array of mini-conveyor belts, each going at a speed multiple of the adjacent one's. Assuming they both take the one in front of them, they will need to walk faster as the conveyor belts set them back more by each step, ultimately reaching a point where they are close enough to able to high-five each other.

==this comic has none==

==Transcript==
:

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