explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

1994: Repairs

2018-05-16T14:05:19Z

Apbarratt: /* Trivia */

{{comic
| number = 1994
| date = May 16, 2018
| title = Repairs
| image = repairs.png
| titletext = I was just disassembling it over the course of five hours so it would fit in the trash more efficiently.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete| lacks cross references/ analogies to similar cartoons, and the ups and downs in the graph need to be explained individually.}}

A graph depicts the sentiment created by the act of repairing something, depending on the time it took (x-axis) and ensuing result (y-axis). The degree of triumph and exultation (expressed in sentences in quotes inside the graph) is strongly enhanced by the time the operation takes, and is also positively correlated with the result (if any). Actions during the repair process are described in sentences without quotes.
Conclusions are rather optimistic. The most negative feeling expressed (after the maximum time of repair with minimum degree of success) is a threat against other objects might have plans to break.

A similar sentiment was expressed in [[349: Success]].

==Transcript==
:[Caption above the diagram:]
:'''<big>How well something works</big>'''
:After I decide to fix it

:[The comic shows a graph with a solid curve that decreases in 8 different sized steps from the top left to the bottom right. The X-axis shows time passes and gives the time from zero to five hours with 6 ticks with labels beneath. The Y-axis shows how well something works with 8 ticks, but only four of them labeled.]

:Works great
:Has minor problems
:Doesn't work

:Will never work again

:0 hours   1 hour   2 hours   3 hours   4 hours   5 hours

:[The solid line has six labels with eight arrow pointing to different sections, two times the same label has two arrows pointing to different sections the first two places where the lines takes a step down, and the second to two plateaus on either side of a step. In total the arrows point four times on both steps and plateaus. Both the first and final plateau has a dot has added to the line, and the arrows point to those. Above the solid line there are three dotted lines going up from three plateaus just before the solid line takes a step down, the last two of these lines split up in two, with one going higher. At the end of each of these five dotted lines there is a sentence spoken. The solid line begins at the 2nd tick on the Y-Axis and finishes at the last. The three dotted lines going up ends up at the 1. tick on the Y-axis, for the last two there are also a line ending at the 2nd tick and 3rd tick respectively. Only the first label being above the first tick on the X-axis but the last three labels are all above the last tick on the X-Axis. Here is a list of all the labels in chronological order according to the position on the X-axis. For those that has the same time stamp the top one will be mentioned first. Those at the end of a line are indented:]
:I start trying to fix it
::"It just needed cleaning!"
:Take it apart
::"Fixed it!"
::"Well, at least it's not ''more'' broken than when I started."
:Take it apart more
:Watch YouTube instructional videos
:Take a deep breath and cut wires
::"That was heroic and I deserve a Nobel prize."
::"Well, it ''sort'' of works now."
:(Turn to other possessions)
::"...And let that be a lesson to you."

==Trivia==

The initial version of the normal sized image at xkcd was [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/archive/d/de/20180516052839%21repairs.png broken]. This was later repaired, with the result that this comic now works great.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Line graphs]]

1733: Solar Spectrum

2016-09-15T10:51:50Z

Apbarratt: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1733
| date = September 15, 2016
| title = Solar Spectrum
| image = solar_spectrum.png
| titletext = I still don't understand why the Sun paid the extra money for Transitions lenses.
}}

==Explanation==
This is a reference to pictures of the sun wearing sunglasses, often used to denote good weather. The alt text is most likely a reference to a specific advert using this image.

Transitions are a type of coating used prescription spectacles that allow the lens to turn dark when exposed to UV light such as that found in sunlight. The sun choosing to get transition lens would prove a waste of money as the lenses would be permanently transitioned to be dark, so a pair of ordinary sunglasses would likely have proved more cost effective.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

This is a reference to pictures of the sun wearing sunglasses, often used to denote good weather. The alt text is most likely a reference to a specific advert using this image.

Talk:1578: Squirrelphone

2015-09-18T09:24:40Z

Apbarratt:

Could it be a reference to this? http://web.media.mit.edu/~stefanm/phd/cellularsquirrel/ {{unsigned ip|‎108.162.216.68}}

:I think it might be a reference to this: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2015/09/11/vampire-squirrel-caught-on-camera-for-the-first-time-ever/ ‘Vampire squirrel’ caught on camera for the first time ever – Washington Post]. --[[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.234|141.101.104.234]] 07:35, 16 September 2015 (UTC)
:agreed: [https://www.michigandaily.com/section/statement/i-was-bitten-squirrel] [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.8|108.162.221.8]] 10:25, 16 September 2015 (UTC)

What about the old "Bananaphone" pun? {{unsigned ip|188.114.106.131}}

Sometimes I wonder if the joke is to make ExplainXKCD squirm. {{unsigned ip|108.162.221.150}}

^ Not really. Those like me who used SquirrelMail had a laugh. Mostly every XKCD joke is incomprehensible to people not familiar with the subject of the joke. {{unsigned ip|108.162.229.135}}

"a living squirrel being not an appropiate creature to mantain a phone call. "... well, duh. Everyone knows that a squid would make MUCH more sense! [[Special:Contributions/108.162.250.161|108.162.250.161]] 05:16, 16 September 2015 (UTC)
::A puppy... www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0tiNwOpZ68 [[Special:Contributions/108.162.229.182|108.162.229.182]] 14:11, 16 September 2015 (UTC)
:I doubt this is supposed to be about SquirrelMail; it's much more likely to just be "Bananaphone" with a squirrel. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.193|108.162.237.193]] 05:33, 16 September 2015 (UTC)
: Maybe a _dead_ squirrel would work better. At least it wouldn't bite... [[User:Elektrizikekswerk|Elektrizikekswerk]] ([[User talk:Elektrizikekswerk|talk]]) 08:16, 16 September 2015 (UTC)

"chomp" is also a command on unixoid operating systems that removes characters which carry no information (leading, trailing white spaces, newlines etc) from strings. Seems like the squirrelphone removed every bit of non-information, essentially cutting the call to nothing. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.92.167|162.158.92.167]] 07:10, 16 September 2015 (UTC)

Whoever put that [needs citation] in there deserves a medal XD [[User:Apbarratt|Apbarratt]] ([[User talk:Apbarratt|talk]]) 08:34, 16 September 2015 (UTC)

Summary of POTS should be present tense - POTS is still active.
[[Special:Contributions/108.162.215.179|108.162.215.179]] 16:42, 16 September 2015 (UTC)

The tone played at the end is likely a howler tone, not fast busy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Off-hook_tone {{unsigned|Trenin}}

Do we really need an explanation of every noise landline phones make? Only two really apply here, ringing and howling. Since even cellphones have ringtones, I don't think ringing would need to be explained in the detail that it is, just something like "These phones would make a series of rings on receiving a call (as shown in the first panel) and would automatically stop ringing and answer when picked up."
I must admit I'm young enough that my first impulse for a squirrelphone beeping was "Oh, it must be one of those wireless home phone recievers and it's low on battery." I suppose squirrelphones must still be wired, though, though it doesn't look like it. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.50.142|173.245.50.142]] 17:39, 16 September 2015 (UTC)
:Seems like we do need the explanation for the ring tones. Sine this is a real squirrel imitating a phone, it is of course not wired. It just pretends making the appropriate sounds. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 19:38, 16 September 2015 (UTC)

How do we know it's not a phone pretending to be a squirrel? [[User:Mikemk|Mikemk]] ([[User talk:Mikemk|talk]]) 23:55, 16 September 2015 (UTC)

What if the squirrel swallowed a phone? Like in Jurassic Park, when the spinosaurus swallows the satellite phone? {{unsigned ip|108.162.219.91}}
:I think this is part of the joke. The way it is drawn shows the noise coming from the squirrel's abdomen not its mouth. It's not a squirrel pretending to be anything. The squirrel was probably just as surprised to be picked up and spoken into as Cueball was to be bitten by a ringing squirrel! --[[User:R0hrshach|R0hrshach]] ([[User talk:R0hrshach|talk]]) 16:06, 17 September 2015 (UTC):By that logic, all most characters in XKCD appear to talk out of their foreheads. [[User:Apbarratt|Apbarratt]] ([[User talk:Apbarratt|talk]]) 09:24, 18 September 2015 (UTC)

Just to let you know, there is nothing currently up on the wiki page that explains this comic. {{unsigned ip|173.245.54.91}}

This whole page is dumb as hell. You guys overexplain everything. Not every joke requires or benefits from a multiple-paragraph explanation and a bunch of imagined allusions. This comic in particular should be a lesson that sometimes you guys need to take a day off on this site. And by the way, the "citation needed" joke has become a cliche.[[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.106|108.162.216.106]] 05:16, 17 September 2015 (UTC)
:You don’t have to read it – there are many other site on the net ;-). --[[User:DaB.|DaB.]] ([[User talk:DaB.|talk]]) 13:20, 17 September 2015 (UTC)
::They are correct though in this instance and many others. Often times when someone doesn't "get the joke" they still blather on in the explanation and it ends up sounding obtuse and contrived. I like to follow Albert Einstein's rule of thumb, "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough". --[[User:R0hrshach|R0hrshach]] ([[User talk:R0hrshach|talk]]) 16:06, 17 September 2015 (UTC)

Wait, seriously the POTS description is written in the past tense, as if it were something people were not used to anymore. Ringing landline telephones are not yet a thing belonging to history museums (although rotary dial ones almost belong there.) [[User:Ralfoide|Ralfoide]] ([[User talk:Ralfoide|talk]]) 14:21, 17 September 2015 (UTC)

This youtube video ("Animal Phone") seems to have some similarity in the content: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMNW51-RmwU [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.246|141.101.104.246]] 14:30, 17 September 2015 (UTC)

I think the joke is that despite the absurdity of the situation, a squirrel ringing like a phone, Cueball just "goes with it" and picks up the telephone expecting it to work despite common sense telling him that however improbable the situation or why it is ringing it is still a squirrel. In the third panel, nature takes over and the squirrel does what it realistically would do. This leaves Cueball confused. If the squirrel was just a squirrel then why was it ringing like a phone? And if the squirrel was ringing like a phone then why did it bite him like a squirrel? It's a bit of the ol' Looney Tunes logic when Wylie Coyote would paint a tunnel in the side of a butte and the Road Runner would successfully use said tunnel entrance while for Wylie it would go back to being just a painting on the butte. I think we all have analogous life experiences. --[[User:R0hrshach|R0hrshach]] ([[User talk:R0hrshach|talk]]) 16:17, 17 September 2015 (UTC)

Talk:1578: Squirrelphone

2015-09-16T08:34:46Z

Apbarratt:

Talk:1577: Advent

2015-09-14T09:21:18Z

Apbarratt:

16800 squares counted, corresponding to a projected lifespan of 46 years. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.225.124|108.162.225.124]] 04:09, 14 September 2015 (UTC)

This description says "64 small drawers" but each of the small drawer sets contains 70. 7 columns, 10 rows. (Then there are 20 columns of drawer sets, and 12 rows.) [[Special:Contributions/199.27.133.115|199.27.133.115]] 04:54, 14 September 2015 (UTC)

Same counting here, I changed the description. [[Special:Contributions/199.27.133.160|199.27.133.160]] 05:07, 14 September 2015 (UTC)

Use × not x. (Editing with this phone is really hard.) [[Special:Contributions/173.245.55.171|173.245.55.171]] 05:13, 14 September 2015 (UTC)

I corrected the number of drawers ((70×12×20)÷365.25≈50) then used that calculation to work out Cueball's approximate age.
[[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.185|141.101.98.185]] 06:36, 14 September 2015 (UTC)

Reminds me on the [http://store.waitbutwhy.com/collections/life-calendars Life calender] from this [http://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/life-weeks.html Wait but why post] [[User:Elektrizikekswerk|Elektrizikekswerk]] ([[User talk:Elektrizikekswerk|talk]]) 07:54, 14 September 2015 (UTC)

There is a (common) mistake in the life expectancy calculation in the description. If the life expectancy in the US is 75.9, then that doesn't mean you expected remaining life at 25 will be 50.9 years - otherwise that would imply no-one dies under 25. Since, sadly, many people do die before their 25th birthday, the life expectancy remaining at 25 will be somewhat larger than 50 years. As these tables show: http://www.ssa.gov/oact/STATS/table4c6.html 50 years remaining corresponds roughly to an age of 27-28. In other words your remaining life expectancy drops by less than one year per year, if no new information is presented (i.e. assuming you don't take up smoking etc.) {{unsigned ip|141.101.98.205}}

There's a link in this explanation stating that the life expectancy refers back to comic 1070. I think this may be the wrong comic, not sure what the correct one should be :/ [[User:apbarratt|apbarratt]] 09:17, 14 September 2015 (UTC)

1577: Advent

2015-09-14T09:15:11Z

Apbarratt: /* Explanation */ Added note about traditional advent calendars not having doors for 25th of December.

{{comic
| number = 1577
| date = September 14, 2015
| title = Advent
| image = advent.png
| titletext = The few dozen doors that have little Christmas trees on them are a nice touch.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|first drafts}}
An Advent calendar is usually a mean of celebrating the days before Christmas. Each day on the calendar contains a small gift. This comic satirizes the concept by proposing such a calendar that would have one gift for each day one is anticipated to live. Such a calendar would be very morbid and existential. This is especially disturbing when given as a gift because it implies someone has put extensive thought into when the recipient will die.

In Cueball's case, assuming each square in the calendar represents one day, and that the wall he is facing is the entire present he received, the sender of the gift assumes he will live for just under 50 more years. (Each smaller grid is 10×7, and the larger grid is 12×20 smaller grids). Assuming that Cueball is a US male (with a life expectancy of 76.18 years), he is probably 27-28 years old at the time of this comic's publication.

The title text refers back to a standard advent calendar by saying that the Christmases are specially marked; on a traditional Advent calendar, only the 1st to the 24th of December have doors, however in recent times, Advent calendars often also include an additional door for the day after Advent, Christmas Day. Referring back to [[1070]], the calendar seems to place Cueball's death between 24 and 60 years in the future.

A completely different advent calendar was mentioned in [[994: Advent Calendar]].

==Transcript==

:[Cueball is looking at a large wall subdivided into a rectangular grid, with each grid subdivided into 70 small drawers]
:Caption: Unsettling gift: Life expectancy Advent calendar

{{comic discussion}}

405: Journal 3

2015-09-07T09:22:06Z

Apbarratt: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 405
| date = April 2, 2008
| title = Journal 3
| image = journal 3.png
| titletext = Oh, and, uh, if the Russian government asks, that submarine was always there.
}}

==Explanation==
In Journal 1, [[Black Hat]] explains to [[Cueball]] that a hobby of his is to pretend to write in a journal while on the subway, acting embarrassed if anyone sees. He then proceeds to silently scorn the person once they give him any kind of reassurance.

In Journal 2, however, [[Danish]] sees through his ruse. She counteracts it by proving that she understands him, and attempts to resign him to the fact that he will never see her again, thus robbing him of the satisfaction of a proper social connection. She leaves, taking his hat in the process.

Initially stunned, Black Hat seems to have quickly recovered and tracked Danish down, even to the ends of the earth. He tells Danish that although she was able to read him brilliantly, she miscalculated one minor detail. We are led to believe that this is some mistake in the covering of her tracks, but then he explains that it was simply how much he values his hat. This way he gets back at her. She thought that he would mourn the loss of her - the only person who understands him - but he deflates her ego when claiming that he likes his hat (implicitly saying that he doesn't care for her). In [[432: Journal 4]] we see that this is not entirely true.

The title text continues the theme of Black Hat's superhuman ability to troll and to avoid the consequences: If Black Hat stole a military submarine, said military is probably going to be hot on his tail, but he writes it off with: "just tell them it was always here", as if it is no big deal. Black Hat will later be blamed for stealing the submarine in [[496: Secretary: Part 3]], but once again casually avoid punishment.

It is perhaps an interesting point that this comic includes the line "So, you found me after all," given that the previous comic number {{xkcd|404}} was skipped, leading instead to an HTTP 404 Not Found error page.

The whole "[[:Category:Journal|Journal]]" story arc:
*[[374: Journal]]
*[[377: Journal 2]]
*405: Journal 3 (this one)
*[[432: Journal 4]]
*[[433: Journal 5]]

==Transcript==
:[Two women ice-skating outside.]
:Ponytail: Wait up!
:Danish (wearing Black Hat's Hat): Skate faster!

:[Danish sees cracking ice.]
:''Crack Crack''

:[Danish on chunk of ice broken off.]
:''Crack Rumble''

:[Submarine dorsal fin emerging.]
:''AWOOGA''

:[Black Hat (minus hat) coming out of hatch.]
:''CREAK''
:Black Hat: Hi.

:Black Hat: That's my hat you're wearing.

:Danish (wearing Black Hat's Hat): So, you found me after all.
:Black Hat (out of frame): You didn't make it easy.

:Black Hat: You saw through me, all right. But not quite well enough.

:Black Hat: Because if you wanted to stay lost forever, you made one mistake

:[Black Hat climbing out of hatch.]

:[Black Hat sliding down a sheet of ice.]

:[Black Hat snatches hat from Danish's head as he slides by on the ice.]

:[Black Hat skidding to a stop and putting hat back on his head.]

:Black Hat: You took my hat.

:Black Hat: I '''LIKE''' my hat.

:[Black Hat walking away.]

:[Danish left standing.]

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Danish]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Journal|03]]

404: Not Found

2015-09-07T09:19:54Z

Apbarratt: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 404
| date = April 1, 2008
| title = Not Found
}}

==Explanation==
There is no xkcd comic numbered 404. Randall did not skip a day, however; he put {{xkcd|405}} up on April 2 (2008), which leads some to see the 404 as an April Fool's joke.

"404" is the HTTP Response Code for "{{w|HTTP 404|Not Found}}". [[Randall]] deliberately skipped comic number 404 in xkcd. Therefore, when people go to {{xkcd|404}} they get a "404 Not Found" error page. (This does not work in all browsers. In newer versions of Internet Explorer a message about the link being broken occurs without the 404 code.)

[[Randall]] has stated that he considers 404 [http://plus.google.com/111588569124648292310/posts/j6w9DkYApya an official, actual comic, albeit a rather avant-garde one], and that for a time he made it possible to find it using the "random" button on xkcd.com.

It may seem like a random coincidence that {{xkcd|403}} came out the day before April 1st 2008. And for sure it must have been by chance that it would come out close to that date when Randall began posting on xkcd. But when Randall noticed this fact, at some point prior to that date, he would, however, have had a chance to influence the release date. In November 2007, less than half a year before this April 1st, he released the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/Category:1337 1337 series] over five consecutive days. That would have moved the release date of 403 from Friday the 4th of April to the Monday it was actually released - making it possible to skip comic 404 as if it came out on April 1st without skipping a comic on a normal release day. There was at least one other series in 2007 to use all five day of a week ([http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Choices Choices]), so maybe he had this planned for a long time?

It is perhaps an interesting point that the very next comic, {{xkcd|405}} includes the line "So, you found me after all."

==Trivia==
*The web comic Comic JK made this spoof of this missing comic in total xkcd style:
**The [http://comicjk.com/comic.php/404 comic 404] that could have been.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:April fools' comics]]
[[Category:No title text]]

1568: Synonym Movies 2

2015-08-24T09:28:33Z

Apbarratt: /* Table of the titles */

{{comic
| number = 1568
| date = August 24, 2015
| title = Synonym Movies 2
| image = synonym_movies_2.png
| titletext = There's also the TV show based on the hit Hot and Cold Music books: Fun With Chairs, Royal Rumble, Knife Blizzard, Breakfast for Birds, and Samba Serpents.
}}

==Explanation==
[[File: Flipped.jpg|right|A flipped version of the comic]]

This comic is a continuation of [[1563: Synonym Movies]] with a new set of movie series. As with the previous comic, the titles aren't always synonymous with the original (''Indiana Jones as Professor Whip'').

This set includes ''Wandboy'' (''Harry Potter''), ''Puncher'' (''Rocky''), ''Tropical Boaters'' (''Pirates of the Caribbean''), and ''Professor Whip'' (''Indiana Jones'').

The ''is in Another Movie'' title in the ''Professor Whip'' series differs from the other titles in that it does not reference the plot of the movie. The more dismissive reference may be due to ''Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'' being poorly received by fans of the series.

The title text is a reference to the TV series ''A Game of Thrones'', based on the book series ''A Song of Ice and Fire''.

==Table of the titles==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="12em" | Synonym
! width="13em" | Real Title
! Notes
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Magic Rock''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone}}''
| Also known as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the US.
|
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Hidden Room''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets}}''
|
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Fugitive''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}''
| A central character in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Sirius Black, is a fugitive.
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Burning Cup''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire}}''
|
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Firebird Club''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix}}''
| The {{w|Phoenix}} is a bird that is strongly connected to fire. Dying phoenixes go up in flames, only to be reborn out of the ashes shortly afterwards. The Order of the Phoenix is an association of wizards founded by Albus Dumbledore, whose distinctive pet is a phoenix.
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Book Owner''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}}''
| In ''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'', Harry's Potions textbook was previously owned by a "Half-Blood Prince." Therefore, "Half-Blood Prince" is replaced with "book owner."
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Magic Stuff (1/2)''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1}}''
| rowspan="2" | The ''Deathly Hallows'' are three magical items that are believed to have once belonged to the Death himself. Someone in possession of all three items is thought to be master of death, which is widely interpreted as meaning able to defeat death. Near the end of the ''Harry Potter'' series, the protagonist is in possession of all items, but he destroys the ''Elder Wand'' (the most powerful wand of all times), loses the ''Stone of Resurrection'' on purpose (a stone capable of bringing people back to life) and only keeps the ''Invisibility Cloak'', which is a family heirloom. See also {{w|The Tales of Beedle the Bard#"The Tale of the Three Brothers"}}.
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Magic Stuff (2/2)''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2}}''
|-
| ''Puncher''
| ''{{w|Rocky}}''
|
|-
| ''Puncher II''
| ''{{w|Rocky II}}''
|
|-
| ''Puncher III''
| ''{{w|Rocky III}}''
|
|-
| ''Puncher IV''
| ''{{w|Rocky IV}}''
|
|-
| ''Puncher V''
| ''{{w|Rocky V}}''
|
|-
| ''Puncher Lastname''
| ''{{w|Rocky Balboa (film)}}''
|
|-
| ''Tropical Boaters: Spooky Boat''
| ''{{w|Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl}}''
|
|-
| ''Tropical Boaters: Angry Wormface''
| ''{{w|Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest}}''
|
|-
| ''Tropical Boaters: Boats Everywhere''
| ''{{w|Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End}}''
|
|-
| ''Tropical Boaters: Vitamin Water''
| ''{{w|Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides}}''
|
|-
| ''Professor Whip and the Box of God''
| ''{{w|Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark}}''
|
|-
| ''Professor Whip and the Scary Church''
| ''{{w|Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom}}''
|
|-
| ''Professor Whip Looks for a Cup''
| ''{{w|Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade}}''
|
|-
| ''Professor Whip is in Another Movie''
| ''{{w|Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull}}''
| ''Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'' is widely regarded as the worst in the series. Therefore, the "synonym" is simply called "another movie" to imply that it shouldn't have been made.
|-
| ''Fun With Chairs''
| ''{{w|A Game of Thrones}}''
|
|-
| ''Royal Rumble''
| ''{{w|A Clash of Kings}}''
|
|-
| ''Knife Blizzard''
| ''{{w|A Storm of Swords}}''
|
|-
| ''Breakfast for Birds''
| ''{{w|A Feast for Crows}}''
|
|-
| ''Samba Serpents''
| ''{{w|A Dance with Dragons}}''
|
|}

==Transcript==
:[22 DVDs on a shelf in four groups. All DVDs are labeled in black on light grey. Text written, so it is supposed to be read when the DVD is lying down.]
:[First group of 8 DVDs. All standing straight]
:Wandboy and the Magic Rock
:Wandboy and the Hidden Room
:Wandboy and the Fugitive
:Wandboy and the Burning Cup
:Wandboy and the Firebird Club
:Wandboy and the Book Owner
:Wandboy and the Magic Stuff (1/2)
:Wandboy and the Magic Stuff (2/2)

:[Second group of six DVDs. Five standing straight, last on the right leaning against the rest]
:Puncher
:Puncher II
:Puncher III
:Puncher IV
:Puncher V
:Puncher Lastname

:[Third group of four DVDs. First and last standing straight, others leaning on first]
:Tropical Boaters: Spooky Boat
:Tropical Boaters: Angry Wormface
:Tropical Boaters: Boats Everywhere
:Tropical Boaters: Vitamin Water

:[Fourth group of four DVDs. Three standing straight, second from left leaning on first]
:Professor Whip and the Box of God
:Professor Whip and the Scary Church
:Professor Whip Looks for a Cup
:Professor Whip is in Another Movie

{{comic discussion}}

1568: Synonym Movies 2

2015-08-24T09:25:29Z

Apbarratt: /* Table of the titles */

{{comic
| number = 1568
| date = August 24, 2015
| title = Synonym Movies 2
| image = synonym_movies_2.png
| titletext = There's also the TV show based on the hit Hot and Cold Music books: Fun With Chairs, Royal Rumble, Knife Blizzard, Breakfast for Birds, and Samba Serpents.
}}

==Explanation==
[[File: Flipped.jpg|right|A flipped version of the comic]]

This comic is a continuation of [[1563: Synonym Movies]] with a new set of movie series. As with the previous comic, the titles aren't always synonymous with the original (''Indiana Jones as Professor Whip'').

This set includes ''Wandboy'' (''Harry Potter''), ''Puncher'' (''Rocky''), ''Tropical Boaters'' (''Pirates of the Caribbean''), and ''Professor Whip'' (''Indiana Jones'').

The ''is in Another Movie'' title in the ''Professor Whip'' series differs from the other titles in that it does not reference the plot of the movie. The more dismissive reference may be due to ''Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'' being poorly received by fans of the series.

The title text is a reference to the TV series ''A Game of Thrones'', based on the book series ''A Song of Ice and Fire''.

==Table of the titles==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="12em" | Synonym
! width="13em" | Real Title
! Notes
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Magic Rock''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone}}''
| Also known as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the US.
|
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Hidden Room''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets}}''
|
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Fugitive''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}''
| A central character in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Sirius Black, is a fugitive.
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Burning Cup''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire}}''
|
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Firebird Club''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix}}''
| The {{w|Phoenix}} is a bird that is strongly connected to fire. Dying phoenixes go up in flames, only to be reborn out of the ashes shortly afterwards. The Order of the Phoenix is an association of wizards founded by Albus Dumbledore, who's distinctive pet is a phoenix.
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Book Owner''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}}''
| In ''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'', Harry's Potions textbook was previously owned by a "Half-Blood Prince." Therefore, "Half-Blood Prince" is replaced with "book owner."
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Magic Stuff (1/2)''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1}}''
| rowspan="2" | The ''Deathly Hallows'' are three magical items that are believed to have once belonged to the Death himself. Someone in possession of all three items is thought to be able to defeat the death. Near the end of the ''Harry Potter'' series, the protagonist is in possession of all items, but he destroys the ''Elder Wand'' (the most powerful wand of all times), looses the ''Stone of Resurrection'' on purpose (a stone capable of bringing people back to life) and only keeps the ''Invisibility Cloak''. See also {{w|The Tales of Beedle the Bard#"The Tale of the Three Brothers"}}.
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Magic Stuff (2/2)''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2}}''
|-
| ''Puncher''
| ''{{w|Rocky}}''
|
|-
| ''Puncher II''
| ''{{w|Rocky II}}''
|
|-
| ''Puncher III''
| ''{{w|Rocky III}}''
|
|-
| ''Puncher IV''
| ''{{w|Rocky IV}}''
|
|-
| ''Puncher V''
| ''{{w|Rocky V}}''
|
|-
| ''Puncher Lastname''
| ''{{w|Rocky Balboa (film)}}''
|
|-
| ''Tropical Boaters: Spooky Boat''
| ''{{w|Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl}}''
|
|-
| ''Tropical Boaters: Angry Wormface''
| ''{{w|Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest}}''
|
|-
| ''Tropical Boaters: Boats Everywhere''
| ''{{w|Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End}}''
|
|-
| ''Tropical Boaters: Vitamin Water''
| ''{{w|Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides}}''
|
|-
| ''Professor Whip and the Box of God''
| ''{{w|Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark}}''
|
|-
| ''Professor Whip and the Scary Church''
| ''{{w|Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom}}''
|
|-
| ''Professor Whip Looks for a Cup''
| ''{{w|Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade}}''
|
|-
| ''Professor Whip is in Another Movie''
| ''{{w|Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull}}''
| ''Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'' is widely regarded as the worst in the series. Therefore, the "synonym" is simply called "another movie" to imply that it shouldn't have been made.
|-
| ''Fun With Chairs''
| ''{{w|A Game of Thrones}}''
|
|-
| ''Royal Rumble''
| ''{{w|A Clash of Kings}}''
|
|-
| ''Knife Blizzard''
| ''{{w|A Storm of Swords}}''
|
|-
| ''Breakfast for Birds''
| ''{{w|A Feast for Crows}}''
|
|-
| ''Samba Serpents''
| ''{{w|A Dance with Dragons}}''
|
|}

==Transcript==
:[22 DVDs on a shelf in four groups. All DVDs are labeled in black on light grey. Text written, so it is supposed to be read when the DVD is lying down.]
:[First group of 8 DVDs. All standing straight]
:Wandboy and the Magic Rock
:Wandboy and the Hidden Room
:Wandboy and the Fugitive
:Wandboy and the Burning Cup
:Wandboy and the Firebird Club
:Wandboy and the Book Owner
:Wandboy and the Magic Stuff (1/2)
:Wandboy and the Magic Stuff (2/2)

:[Second group of six DVDs. Five standing straight, last on the right leaning against the rest]
:Puncher
:Puncher II
:Puncher III
:Puncher IV
:Puncher V
:Puncher Lastname

:[Third group of four DVDs. First and last standing straight, others leaning on first]
:Tropical Boaters: Spooky Boat
:Tropical Boaters: Angry Wormface
:Tropical Boaters: Boats Everywhere
:Tropical Boaters: Vitamin Water

:[Fourth group of four DVDs. Three standing straight, second from left leaning on first]
:Professor Whip and the Box of God
:Professor Whip and the Scary Church
:Professor Whip Looks for a Cup
:Professor Whip is in Another Movie

{{comic discussion}}

1455: Trolley Problem

2014-12-03T10:52:26Z

Apbarratt: /* Explanation */ Further note.

{{comic
| number = 1455
| date = December 3, 2014
| title = Trolley Problem
| image = trolley_problem.png
| titletext = For $5 I promise not to orchestrate this situation, and for $25 I promise not to take further advantage of this ability to create incentives.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Just a rough draft.}}

The {{w|trolley problem}} is a thought experiment often posed in {{w|philosophy}} to test the morals of the person in question, and to explain the systems of thinking. The full problem is that there are 5 people on one track, and 1 innocent worker on an adjacent track. The trolley (or train) is out of control and can be diverted from 5 people by using a lever, with the consequence of killing the 1 worker.

This results of [http://www.philosophyexperiments.com/fatman/Default4.aspx this test] report that around 86% of respondents choose the utilitarian option of diverting the trolley. Utilitarian ethics holds that the morally correct option is that which results in the most amount of good for most amount of people, and as such will choose to sacrifice the 1 worker for 5 people.

However, when [[Cueball]] presents this problem to sadistic [[Black Hat]], Black Hat questions if he can pull the lever without standing up and it becomes apparent that he cares nothing at all for either groups of people. This response is linked to another theory in philosophy, that of {{w|self interest}} or {{w|egoism}}, in which a person will choose the action with the most benefit for them personally.

Black Hat then takes over being the questioner by posing an offer: if Cueball is one of the 5, then Black Hat will divert it. Again Black Hat is turning the situation to his own benefit, in this case monetary. The joke is that the Trolley Problem is to test one's morals, but Black Hat doesn't have any, or is willing to sell his morals for the very low price of $1. Therefore Cueball terminates the problem.

The title text follows this up by continuing Black Hat's offers. For $5 he will not orchestrate this and for $25 he will take no more advantage of the problem. These further shows Black Hat's complete lack of morals.

The fact that Black Hat offers to divert the trolley for $1, under the condition that Cueball would be one of those saved, may allude to Black Hat's affection/acceptance to Cueball as a friend.

==Transcript==
:Cueball: Ever heard of The trolley problem?

:Black hat: No. What is it?

:Cueball: A trolley is barreling towards five helpless people on the tracks. You can pull a lever to direct it onto another track, but-

:Black hat: Can I reach the lever without getting up?

:Cueball: Wait, I'm not-

:Black hat: In this scenario, how busy am I?

:Cueball: I guess I forgot who I was talking to.

:Black hat: For a dollar, I'll promise to pull the lever if one of the five people is you.
{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Philosophy]]
[[Category:Comics with color]]

1444: Cloud

2014-11-07T11:53:23Z

Apbarratt: /* Transcript */

{{comic
| number = 1444
| date = November 7, 2014
| title = Cloud
| image = cloud.png
| titletext = Cloud computing has a ways to go.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Initial explanation added, needs more detail. Title text explanation}}
[[Cueball]] and [[Megan]] are lying outside on the grass and looking up at the clouds. Following the human disposition known as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareidolia Pareidolia] of finding patterns where there are none, it is common for people to interpret the cloud formations as looking like someone or something. Indeed, Cueball asks Megan what she thinks a particular cloud looks like.

Rather than responding with her own interpretation, Megan takes a picture of the cloud with her phone, and uses Google's [http://www.google.com/insidesearch/features/images/searchbyimage.html Search by Image] feature. This feature replaces the usual keyword search, and instead based a search on the content of the uploaded image, and can be used to identify unknown people, objects, movies, etc. The result of the search comes back stating that the image is most likely a cloud, which is factual, but not the desired response. Google is currently unable to understand the context of a query, and the anticipated or desired response.

Whether this exposes limitations in the abilities of the software, or flaws in human logic is up for debate.

{{w|Cloud computing}} involves remote data storage for sharing across multiple devices and has nothing to do with literal clouds. It has been discussed in [[908: The Cloud]] and [[1117: My Sky]].

==Transcript==
:[Cueball and Megan are lying outside on their backs]
:Cueball: What do you think that cloud looks like?

:[Megan takes a photo of the cloud with her smart phone]
:Snap

:[Cueball sits up and looks at Megan. Megan uses her phone.]
:Google -> Search by image
::[Uploading...]

:[In the last frame she gets a response from Google]:
:Google: Best guess for this image: '''Cloud'''
:Cueball: Keep trying, Google.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Google Search]]

1388: Subduction License

2014-06-30T09:24:59Z

Apbarratt: /* Transcript */

{{comic
| number = 1388
| date = June 30, 2014
| title = Subduction License
| image = subduction_license.png
| titletext = 'Dude, why can't you just be a normal roommate?' 'Because I'm coming TOWARD you!'
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page.}}

In {{w|structural geology}}, {{w|subduction}} is the mechanism by which one {{w|tectonic plate}} disappears under another, usually creating an {{w|island arc}}, a {{w|volcanic arc}} or a {{w|mountain range}} on the second one.

In this comic, the beret guy claims to have a "''subduction licence''", something that would enable him to start a subduction: he enters his room-mate's space, slowly disappears under the plate of his room-mate, and in the process creates mountain ranges on the floor, disrupting his room-mate's work.

Xkcd has previously mentioned atypical licenses in [[410|comic 410]].

The mouseover text plays on the double-meaning of the word "normal," which in {{w|structural geology}} refers specifically to mountain building faults that form when plates or other crustal blocks relax away from one another (e.g., the {{w|Tetons}}). However, since in {{w|subduction}} the plates are necessarily moving toward one another (as noted in the room-mate's response in the mouseover text), the mountain building is not due to normal (i.e., extensional) faults, but rather to compressional faults.

"{{w|Thrust fault}}" is a type of compressional fault that is itself part of the extended geologic play on words that drives [[1082: Geology]]. In this comic, "''I'm coming toward you''" may reflect a confusion, in beret guy's mind, between ''subduction'' and ''seduction''.

==Transcript==
:[Beret Guy is looking at some mail he has received while Cueball is at his computer desk at the other side of the room.]
:Beret Guy: Sweet! I finally got my subduction license!
:Cueball: Your what?

:[Beret Guy starts sinking into the ground, causing it to ripple.]
:Cueball: ...What are you doing?

:[Beret Guy sinks further, forming a miniature mountain range in front of him. Cueball is frantically trying to keep his computer steady as his desk tilts.]
:Cueball: ''Stop it! Stop it!''

:[Beret Guy is waist-deep, and snow caps have formed on the mountains. Cueball is falling backwards from his desk, and the monitor unplugs itself from his computer.]
:Cueball: '''AUGH!'''

{{comic discussion}}

1388: Subduction License

2014-06-30T09:23:15Z

Apbarratt: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1388
| date = June 30, 2014
| title = Subduction License
| image = subduction_license.png
| titletext = 'Dude, why can't you just be a normal roommate?' 'Because I'm coming TOWARD you!'
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page.}}

In {{w|structural geology}}, {{w|subduction}} is the mechanism by which one {{w|tectonic plate}} disappears under another, usually creating an {{w|island arc}}, a {{w|volcanic arc}} or a {{w|mountain range}} on the second one.

In this comic, the beret guy claims to have a "''subduction licence''", something that would enable him to start a subduction: he enters his room-mate's space, slowly disappears under the plate of his room-mate, and in the process creates mountain ranges on the floor, disrupting his room-mate's work.

Xkcd has previously mentioned atypical licenses in [[410|comic 410]].

The mouseover text plays on the double-meaning of the word "normal," which in {{w|structural geology}} refers specifically to mountain building faults that form when plates or other crustal blocks relax away from one another (e.g., the {{w|Tetons}}). However, since in {{w|subduction}} the plates are necessarily moving toward one another (as noted in the room-mate's response in the mouseover text), the mountain building is not due to normal (i.e., extensional) faults, but rather to compressional faults.

"{{w|Thrust fault}}" is a type of compressional fault that is itself part of the extended geologic play on words that drives [[1082: Geology]]. In this comic, "''I'm coming toward you''" may reflect a confusion, in beret guy's mind, between ''subduction'' and ''seduction''.

==Transcript==
:[Beret Guy is showing some cards to Cueball, who is at his computer desk.]
:Beret Guy: Sweet! I finally got my subduction license!
:Cueball: Your what?

:[Beret Guy starts sinking into the ground, causing it to ripple.]
:Cueball: ...What are you doing?

:[Beret Guy sinks further, forming a miniature mountain range in front of him. Cueball is frantically trying to keep his computer steady as his desk tilts.]
:Cueball: ''Stop it! Stop it!''

:[Beret Guy is waist-deep, and snow caps have formed on the mountains. Cueball is falling backwards from his desk, and the monitor unplugs itself from his computer.]
:Cueball: '''AUGH!'''

{{comic discussion}}

1377: Fish

2014-06-04T09:03:51Z

Apbarratt: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1377
| date = June 4, 2014
| title = Fish
| image = fish.png
| titletext = [Astronomer peers into telescope] [Jaws theme begins playing]
}}

==Explanation==
The {{w|Fermi Paradox}} is the contradiction that arises between the high likelihood of {{w|extraterrestial life}} and the fact that no evidence for it has thus been found.

[[Cueball]] and [[Megan]] are having a conversation regarding this, when Megan suggests that perhaps our search for extraterrestrial life is like looking at a patch of ocean floor looking for a fish. The diver knows that there must be a fish somewhere, but is unable to actually find it. She then goes on to ask why the fish would be hidden - i.e. camouflaged, and what it means about the remaining fish. The suggestion is that the fish would be hidden to avoid being eaten by predators, and perhaps the reason no extraterrestrial life is sending any sign of existence back is that they would be destroyed soon after they revealed their location.

The final panels take the metaphor further, suggesting that there is literally a planet sized shark swimming through space eating planets, and since we are panning away from earth and out to the Shark it is obviously heading our way... And it turns out that Earth is the next fish!

This explains the title text that has the theme from the movie {{w|Jaws (film)|Jaws}} playing while astronomers look into their telescopes. This may also be a reference to the film Alien, which was pitched with the three word proposal "Jaws in Space."

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

[Cueball and Megan are walking down a hill]

Cueball: The Fermi paradox keeps getting worse. If planets are common, where '''is''' everybody?

Megan: Imagine you're a SCUBA diver looking at the ocean floor. You know there's a fish there, but you can't see it. Why?

Cueball: Maybe the fish looks like sand.

Megan: Yeah...

[Zoom out to the Earth from space]

Megan: ...and what would that tell you about the ecosystem?

[Pan to a shark swimming through space towards Earth]

{{comic discussion}}