explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:1263: Reassuring

2013-09-13T14:24:16Z

74.223.194.206:

Does anyone know of any specific Go program/progress this comic is referring to? Nothing on Slashdot prior to the comic, so unless it's just looking forward I don't know of any current events it's referring to. {{unsigned ip|192.55.54.36}}
:No specific program that can compete with Dan players yet. But when the problem was started in the 80s, computers couldn't even agree the game was over without giving up a good sum of points. 10 years ago, the best supercomputer was outclassed by a trainee. But now, all the current algorithms can match a decent player. The Deep Blue of Go will probably come within 5 years.[[Special:Contributions/96.251.85.48|96.251.85.48]] 18:12, 11 September 2013 (UTC)

Panel 2 seems to be set up as a reference to [[894: Progeny]]. [[Special:Contributions/100.40.49.22|100.40.49.22]] 07:01, 11 September 2013 (UTC)

It seems that there's been progress since [[1002: Game AIs]] [[Special:Contributions/188.221.199.135|188.221.199.135]] 09:06, 11 September 2013 (UTC)

I am reminded of Isaac Asimov's comment: "It always amuses me to hear some perfectly ordinary human being say that a computer 'can't compose a symphony', as though he himself could." [[User:SteveMB|SteveMB]] ([[User talk:SteveMB|talk]]) 10:25, 11 September 2013 (UTC)

The tooltip text is a reminder that PCs become to be obsolete as well, I think. [[Special:Contributions/217.31.207.1|217.31.207.1]] 11:33, 11 September 2013 (UTC)

Is the Dell Inspiron supposed to be quietly amusing humans, which it might be, or itself? I don't think it can be amusing itself. [[User:Jb|Jb]] ([[User talk:Jb|talk]]) 15:44, 11 September 2013 (UTC)

I think that the screensaver thing is in itself a reference to futility, as screensavers are getting more obsolete with every flatscreen there is - although people are still using them to no avail. [[Special:Contributions/213.55.184.130|213.55.184.130]] 16:02, 11 September 2013 (UTC)

Screensavers are more of a security tool now, as they can be set up to require login credentials to resume work. [[User:Gardnertoo|Gardnertoo]] ([[User talk:Gardnertoo|talk]]) 16:49, 11 September 2013 (UTC)

What is that truncated word supposed to be after salad? Salad compost? Salad component? You don't win friends with salad compared to a BBBQ? [[Special:Contributions/128.49.161.70|128.49.161.70]] 20:33, 11 September 2013 (UTC)

I think it's "computers," beginning the next reassuring expression. [[Special:Contributions/69.245.155.187|69.245.155.187]] 01:16, 12 September 2013 (UTC)

It’s shurely no coincidence that megan makes a python script: http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=353 --[[Special:Contributions/84.191.162.233|84.191.162.233]] 09:15, 12 September 2013 (UTC)

1211: Birds and Dinosaurs

2013-05-13T13:17:43Z

74.223.194.206: /* Explanation */ shows, not proves. Nothing was proven.

{{comic
| number = 1211
| date = May 13, 2013
| title = Birds and Dinosaurs
| image = birds and dinosaurs.png
| titletext = Sure, T. rex is closer in height to Stegosaurus than a sparrow. But that doesn't tell you much; 'Dinosaur Comics' author Ryan North is closer in height to certain dinosaurs than to the average human.
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Birds}} are commonly considered to be a separate {{w|class (biology)|class}} of {{w|tetrapods}}. However, this classification is false according to {{w|phylogenetic taxonomy}}. Taking into account that birds developed around {{w|Late Jurassic|150 mio. years ago}} out of small {{w|theropod}} dinosaurs, birds are indeed the last representatives of the {{w|Archosauria|dinosaur clade}}. (This premise appeared also in comic [[867]].)

This relation between birds and dinosaurs is depicted in the comic in a {{w|cladogram}} which shows that {{w|Tyrannosaurus Rex}} is closer related to the common {{w|sparrow}} than to {{w|Stegosaurus}}. Not only do the former share a phylogenetic branch, but T. Rex did also live around 80 mio. years ''after'' stegosaurus. (In popular culture, the concurrence of both species is a widespread error.) T. Rex is also much more alike to modern birds than to other dinosaurs in terms of physiognomy.

The comic draws the conclusion that if birds must in fact be considered modern dinosaurs, the hunting practice of birds of prey is consequently a dinosaur fight. For an inveterate dinosaur aficionado like [[Randall]], this fact must make the modern world much more attractive.

The line "This is a good world." could also possibly refer to a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znxFrgql5dc famous scene] from the {{w|Serenity (Firefly episode)|pilot episode}} of the television series {{w|Firefly}} featuring two plastic dinosaurs in a somewhat philosophic dialogue. [[Randall]] is known to be a {{w|Browncoat}}, i.e. a fan of the series.

The title text is a sidesweep to the webcomic [http://www.qwantz.com Dinosaur Comics] drawn by Ryan North, who stands 6" 6' (198cm) tall.

==Transcript==
:By any reasonable definition, T. Rex is more closely related to sparrows than to Stegosaurus.
:[Diagram showing that Stegosaurus came earlier than T. Rex, along with it showing that T.Rex came at the same time as sparrows. Evaluation criteria "separation by time", "phylogenetic distance" and "physical similarity" are highlighted in red.]
:Birds aren't ''descended'' from dinosaurs, they ''are'' dinosaurs.
:Which means that the fastest animal alive today is a small carnivorous dinosaur, ''Falco Peregrinus''.
:[A picture of two birds is shown.]
:It preys mainly on other dinosaurs, which it strikes and kills in midair with its claws.
:[In red:] This is a good world.

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

1195: Flowchart

2013-04-05T15:04:57Z

74.223.194.206: /* Explanation */ added process

{{comic
| number = 1195
| date = April 5, 2013
| title = Flowchart
| image = flowchart.png
| titletext = The way out is to use the marker you have to add a box that says 'get a marker' to the line between you and 'start', then add a 'no' line from the trap box to 'end'.
}}

==Explanation==
[[Wikipedia:Flowchart|Flowcharts]] are diagrams used to show the logical flow of an algorithm, process, or program. In this comic, Randall uses the fact that flowcharts can indeed be used to show a loop in the procedure: in this case, the reader will theoretically become trapped in a loop of reading the text in the diamond, following the line marked "YES," and ending back up in the diamond. Those familiar with flowcharts will notice though that, while diamonds usually contain decision questions (which can be answered multiple ways), the diamond here actually includes a statement instead.

The title text suggests that the only way to escape the loop is to fetch a maker and add an additional "NO" arrow proceeding from the diamond to a rounded box labeled "END" before you start the algorithm at "START." Of course, this changes the algorithm completely, but it releases the reader from the infinite loop.

Randall has made use of [[:Category:Flowcharts|flowcharts]] before.

==Transcript==

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