explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

474: Turn-On

2014-01-09T11:09:59Z

Biohazard: Changed the release date from Oct 10 to Sep 10

{{comic
| number = 474
| date = September 10, 2008
| title = Turn-On
| image = turn-on.png
| titletext = Supercollider? I 'ardly know 'er!
}}

==Explanation==
This comic refers to the first start up of CERN's {{w|Large Hadron Collider}} (LHC). There was a theoretical concern that that the LHC experiments could create a {{w|black hole}} which would suck in our planet.

[[Cueball]] uses this concern when telling [[Megan]] this could be their last night on Earth, but since the scene is in a bar it is more likely that he just wants to stay the next night together with her. Megan answers as a physicist and expresses scientists have determined that the fears are unfounded.

Cueball feels rejected by her answer and leaves her, but she calls him back and he continues the conversation by using three of the six {{w|Quark}} flavors in his first sentence ({{w|Up quark}}, {{w|Charm quark}}, and {{w|Strange quark}}). Megan is impressed and asks if she has to be on top or bottom ({{w|Top quark}} and {{w|Bottom quark}}). Then, while Cueball explains that he hasn't even bought her a drink, Megan does the order, just straight down ({{w|Down quark}}).

The quarks are some fundamental particles the LHC is generating. All six {{w|Flavour (particle physics)|flavors}} of quarks are in the last panel: Up, Charm, Strange, Top, Bottom, and Down.

Yet another joke is hidden in the identity of the barkeeper. Given [[Beret Guy]]’s strange behavior, “two whiskey sours, straight down” could be interpreted in a range of ways. This, however, is left to the reader’s overactive imagination.

The title text is of course a very old joke "I 'ardly know 'er!", using this at the wrong moment it could be bad for a nice romance.

==Transcript==
:[A bar.]
:Cueball: So, the LHC's turning on. This could be our last night on earth.
:Megan: Gimme a break. They're not even colliding yet, and it won't do anything cosmic rays haven't.
:[Cueball starts to turn away.]
:Megan: Hey, I didn't say no.
:Megan: I'm a physics grad student. I need the excuse to party.
:Cueball: So, you're up for a night with a charming stranger?
:Megan: Depends. Top or bottom?
:Cueball: Hey, I haven't even bought you a drink.
:Megan: Barkeep, two whiskey sours, straight down.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]
[[Category:Physics]]
[[Category:Romance]]

447: Too Old For This Shit

2013-12-28T08:02:51Z

Biohazard: /* Explanation */ added wiki link for Measuring the world

{{comic
| number = 447
| date = July 9, 2008
| title = Too Old For This Shit
| image = too_old_for_this_shit.png
| titletext = They say if a mathematician doesn't do their great work by age eleven, they never will.
}}

==Explanation==
This comic makes fun of the fact that most mathematical geniuses have their exceptional work done in their early years (for which they eventually become famous) by exaggerating it, particularly given that "too old for this shit" is a phrase more appropriately used by people later in age. At the age of thirteen, even prodigal mathematicians will not be to a point where they would be pushing the frontier of mathematical knowledge, let alone to the point where they would be "too old for it." As such, this is more a joke about a young boy attempting to dismiss the world around him.

A striking example is Carl Friedrich Gauss the famous mathematician, who wrote his exceptional masterpiece Disquisitiones Arithmeticae at the early age of 21. At least in "{{w|Measuring the World}}" he admitted having trouble understanding it when he got older because of his age.

The title of the comic, "Too Old For This Shit", is also likely a reference to the {{w|Lethal Weapon}} series, in which one of the main characters (Roger Murtaugh, played by Danny Glover) is repeatedly quoted as saying things along the line of "I'm too old for this shit."

The title text just tops this and claims that a mathematician should do the first great work at the age of eleven, if not, he/she does fail.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball and friend and standing somewhere.]
:Cueball: I wish I could do math like when i was young.
:Friend: Huh?
:Cueball: It doesn't come easy like it once did.
:Friend: Uh huh.
:Cueball: Math is a game for the young. I need to sit back and let the future happen.
:Friend: You're thirteen.
:Cueball: Yes, and it's time I accept that.

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

442: xkcd Loves the Discovery Channel

2013-12-25T09:48:17Z

Biohazard: Change in Panel 6,9 transcript as it is in official one. Added description for 3rd panel.

{{comic
| number = 442
| date = June 27, 2008
| title = xkcd Loves the Discovery Channel
| image = xkcd_loves_the_discovery_channel.png
| titletext = I love the title-text!
}}
{{incomplete|Transcript is not standard, many panels are not explained.}}
==Explanation==
This comic is a parody of the {{w|Discovery Channel}} commercial showing various clips of people singing a song with the chorus line [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at_f98qOGY0 'Boom De Yada']. The comic is divided into a grid of 4 by 6 panels, each depicting a character or situation from a previous xkcd strip. In each panel is written a part of a song similar to the song from the Discovery Channel commercial."

The campaign from the {{w|Discovery Channel}} was not called "Boom De Yada", but {{w|I Love The World}}. It's possible that the title "xkcd Loves the Discovery Channel" is in reference to that.

Most of the panels are references to previous xkcd strips. However, some are not:

* The 1st panel is a reference to [[162|comic 161]], where Megan spins in a circle to "rob the planet of angular momentum."
* The 3rd panel is a reference to [[434|comic 434]], where Beret Guy shows his liking for bakeries in first panel.
* The 6th panel is a reference to the /b/ ("Random") forum on {{w|4chan}}, which is in fact home to plenty of "messed-up folks".
* The 8th panel is a reference to [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/robe-and-wizard-hat this (nsfw)].
* The 17th panel is a pun on the song {{w|Rock Me Amadeus}} and US president {{w|Barack Obama}}.
* The 18th panel has Cueball's crotch replaced with the (similar-looking) icon used for a {{w|transistor}} in a circuit diagram.

==Transcript==
:[The comic is in parody of the Discovery Channel commercial showing various clips of people singing a song with the chorus line "Boom De Yada."]
:[The comic is divided into a grid of 4 by 6 panels, each depicting a character or situation from a previous xkcd strip.]
:[In each panel is written a part of a song similar to the song from the Discovery Channel commercial.]

:Panel 1: [[162|(Reference Comic 162)]]
:[Megan spinning around.]
:I love momentum.

:Panel 2: [[413|(Reference Comic 413)]]
:[Megan laying on floor tinkering with EEE PC hamster ball robot.]
:I love to engineer.

:Panel 3: [[434|(Reference Comic 434)]]
:[Beret Guy standing in bakery holding a loaf of bread in each hand, sign with "PIE!" in background.]
:I love this bakery!

:Panel 4: [[239|(Reference Comic 239)]]
:[Cory Doctorow in goggles and red cape flying superman-style.]
:I love the blogosphere!

:Panel 5: [[152|(Reference Comic 152)]]
:[Cueball running in large hamster ball.]
:I love the whole world

:Panel 6:
:[Depiction of internet sludge (4chan b-Random)]
:And all its messed-up folks.

:Panel 7: [[150|(Reference Comic 150)]]
:[Cueball and Megan immersed in playpen balls.]
:Boom De Yada
:Boom De Yada

:Panel 8:
:[Mass of playpen balls with speech "I put on my robe and wizard hat" originating from it.]
:Boom De Yada
:Boom De Yada

:Panel 9: [[72|(Reference Comic 72)]]
:[Black Hat taking gift away from kid with party hat.]
:I love your suffering.

:Panel 10: [[153|(Reference Comic 153)]]
:[Diagram showing RSA fingerprint authentication between two people.]
:I love cryptography.

:Panel 11: [[230|(Reference Comic 230)]]
:[Cueball and Megan in bed covered by red sheet.]
:I love entangled sheets.

:Panel 12: (Blag or [[235|Reference Comic 235)]]
:[Cueball hanging from kite string holding camera.]
:And kite photography.

:Panel 13: [[256|(Reference Comic 256)]]
:[Map of the internet.]
:I love the whole world

:Panel 14: [[8|(Reference Comic 8)]]
:[Cube with red spider on top.]
:And all its mysteries.

:Panel 15: [[303|(Reference Comic 303)]]
:[Two people sword-fighting on rolling office chairs.]
:Boom De Yada
:Boom De Yada

:Panel 16: [[263|(Reference Comic 263)]]
:[Classroom with two students and Mrs. Lenhart.]
:Boom De Yada
:Boom De Yada

:Panel 17:
:[Cueball saying "Barack me Obamadeus!" to another man speaking energetically at a podium.]
:I love elections.

:Panel 18:
:[Cueball holding schematic diagram of a transistor in front of his crotch.]
:I love transistors.

:Panel 19: (Reference Comic [[69]], [[214]])
:[Cueball and Megan in bed, Cueball saying "There ''must'' be taft slash fiction."]
:I love weird pillow talk.

:Panel 20: (Reference Comic [[49]], [[279]], [[317]])
:[Cueball speaking to Megan.]
:I love your sister.

:Panel 21: [[249|(Reference Comic 249)]]
:[Roller coaster with Cueball in front car holding chess board and thinking about a move.]
:I love the whole world.

:Panel 22: [[167|(Reference Comic 167)]]
:[Beret Guy standing in the midst of leafless trees.]
:The future's pretty cool!

:Panel 23: [[108|(Reference Comic 108)]]
:[Megan doing the MC Hammer slide towards Cueball.]
:Boom De Yada
:Boom De Yada

:Panel 24: [[409|(Reference Comic 409)]]
:[Cueball and Megan on an electric skateboard.]
:Boom De Yada
:Boom De Yada

==Trivia==
*This comic was enacted by Olga Nunes and various famous people as [http://www.olganunes.com/xkcd ''We Love xkcd''].

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Miss Lenhart]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cory Doctorow]]
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Playpen balls]]
[[Category:Red Spiders]]
[[Category:Songs]]
[[Category:Electric skateboard]]

372: To Be Wanted

2013-11-26T06:52:15Z

Biohazard: explanation from emotions point of view

{{comic
| number = 372
| date = June 25, 2008
| title = To Be Wanted
| image = to_be_wanted.png
| titletext = Or so I hope?
}}

==Explanation==
The comic begins with a grainy, pencil-drawing of [[Megan]] on a ship. This is a clue that things are not as they appear.

As the point-of-view pulls back in each successive frame, we see that "Megan on a ship" is really a {{w|Thought_bubble#Thought_bubbles|thought-bubble}} belonging to [[Cueball]], who is sitting at his desk. He apparently is day-dreaming instead of working. Note that this is presented in the standard, crisp format, as if drawn on a computer. This suggests it shows us our "normal" view.

However, as the perspective continues to pull back, we see that "Cueball thinking of Megan" is actually a thought-bubble belonging to Megan. In the final frames, the ship sails out of frame. However, since the final frames are in the same grainy pencil-drawing format, it suggests that this is still Cueball's thoughts, rather than an actual image of Megan.

The title text, "Or so I hope", shows us what this {{w|recursion}} really means: Cueball hopes that Megan realizes that he misses her, but suggests he's not entirely certain she does.

----
'''Alternate Explanation'''

Comic starts with Megan on the bow of a ship, but in following panels it turns out that Cueball (presumably in a relationship with Megan) is thinking about about her, sitting afar from her. As we move forward(or downwards) in the comic, it turns out indeed that Megan is thinking that his partner Cueball might be missing her and thinking about her while she is on a voyage or at least she hopes it to be that way as the title text suggests. This also explains the title of the comic "To Be Wanted" which Megan expects from Cueball.

==Transcript==
:[Megan stands looking out on the bow of a ship.]
:[Scene backs up. More of the boat is shown.]
:[Scene backs up. The boat with Megan is within a thought bubble.]
:[Scene backs up. The thought bubble comes from Cueball sitting at a computer in an office.]
:[Scene repeated for the next frame.]
:[Scene backs up. Cueball is within yet another thought bubble.]
:[Scene backs up. The thought bubble with Cueball in it belongs to the Megan at the bow of the ship.]
:[The thought bubble disappears, showing only Megan in the boat.]
:[The boat sails out of view.]

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

301: Limerick

2013-09-30T12:47:29Z

Biohazard: /*Explanation*/

{{comic
| number = 301
| date = August 10, 2007
| title = Limerick
| image = limerick.png
| titletext = Fun game: try to post a YouTube comment so stupid that people realize you must be joking. (Hint: this is impossible)
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Incomplete as the hell, typos, layout...}}
{{w|Slashdot}} is a venerable techie site. On many sites, the user base can vote comments "up" or "down", but at Slashdot, only moderators (these are randomly drawn from the pool of registered users) may up or down vote comments, and the moderator may select a reason for his or her up or down vote. Instead of a simple +1, a comment may be voted +1 (Funny). Similarly, instead of -1, a comment may be voted -1 (Off-topic). +5 is the maximum positive score. A comment rated +5 (Insightful) has been upvoted at least 5 times, and has a plurality of "Insightful" votes.

[[Cueball]]'s {{w|limerick (poetry)|limerick}} says that he does not like {{w|Slashdot}} anymore, because his sarcastic comments are being treated as "insightful" by the very people he's being sarcastic to.

The title text refers to the notoriously awful comments on YouTube.

In both cases, [[Randall]] is invoking {{w|Poe's Law}}. Both sites have become so full of extremes that you can no longer mock the extremists without looking like a sincere extremist yourself.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball sitting at computer, typing.]
:Cueball: I used to find slashdot delightful,
:Cueball: but my feelings of late are more spiteful;
:Cueball: my comments sarcastic
:Cueball: the iconoclastic
:Cueball: keep modding to plus five (Insightful).

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

148: Mispronouncing

2013-08-07T17:46:32Z

Biohazard: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 148
| date = August 25, 2006
| title = Mispronouncing
| image = mispronouncing.png
| titletext = 'My pal Emad does this all the time. 'Hey man, which way to the airpart?'
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}
This is the sixth comic in [[My Hobby]] series. In this comic, as a hobby, [[Cueball]] is deliberately mispronouncing words while talking. [[Randall]] is saying that it is his hobby too. Hobbies in "My Hobby" series are genrally annoying, weird or sometimes clever. This hobby is an annoying one as despite being corrected by other person, Cueball keeps mispronouncing words. Randall suggests in the title text that he got idea for this comic as one of his friends keep doing this.

Interestingly, "blag" is how Randall calls [http://blag.xkcd.com his blog]
*Wobsite = Website
*Blag = Blog
*Airpart = Airport

==Transcript==
:Cueball: Yeah, did you see what he said on his wobsite?
:Man 2: ...his what?
:Cueball: Wobsite.
:Man 2: ... I think you mean "website."
:Cueball: Why don't you write about it in your blag?

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

62: Valentine - Karnaugh

2013-08-06T20:11:22Z

Biohazard: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 62
| date = February 10, 2006
| title = Valentine - Karnaugh
| image = valentine_karnaugh.png
| titletext = Love and circuit analysis, hand in hand at last.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}
A {{w|Karnaugh map}} is a Boolean algebra tool which is used to simplify expressions. The final picture, the one that looks like a crossword puzzle, is similar to the way that a Karnaugh map is used on a Boolean truth table, to identify areas that can be simplified. [http://www.utdallas.edu/~dodge/EE2310/lec5.pdf This PDF document] shows how the process is used to simplify logic circuits. The lament of the valentine is that feelings don't yield themselves to the same kind of analysis.

This comic has four pictures with a line of text alongside them. The text can be used to understand the picture. First three pictures show love to become more coherent and well-defined(with time) but yet complicated. The last picture and text alongside it, show [[Cueball]]'s desire that their should be a way to simplify complications in love, just like Karnaugh map is for matrices.

The first line means that love is such an overwhelming feeling that it is hard to understand it and even harder to explain. The picture alongside has incoherent lines depicting the feelings of someone(here Cueball) in love and hearts represents the overwhelming love.

The second picture and related text mean that the feelings are now identified to some extent but are numerous and there are too few words to explain them. The picture depict Cueball and [[Megan]] on separate side of his heart crisscrossed by many feelings. It shows that his inability to explain his feelings is like a barrier between them.

The third picture shows that Cueball has a much better understanding of love and now sees it as a matrix of desires and tangled relations, but it is still very complex to fully understand love.

The fourth picture shows a Karnaugh map that Cueball wishes he could find in the future to solve the matrix of desires and tangled relations that is love.

==Transcript==
:[Squiggly heart design.]
:You make me feel so much
:it all runs together
:I wish I could tell you
:[Crisscrossing heart design.]
:So few words
:for so many feelings
:crisscrossing my heart
:[Heart matrix design. Cueball and Megan on seperate side of big heart]
:A matrix of desire
:Tangled relations
:I can't simplify
:[Karnaugh map of hearts.]
:I wish I could find
:the Karnaugh map
:for love.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Math]]
[[Category:Romance]]
[[Category:Valentines]]

92: Sunrise

2013-08-06T20:08:37Z

Biohazard: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 92
| date = April 21, 2006
| title = Sunrise
| image = sunrise.jpg
| titletext = Sometimes, I sit on top of parking decks and watch the sun rise. I feel like I should have a guitar or something.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}
Much like the [http://4amproject.org/ 4am Project], [[Cueball]] finds a certain beauty in the way the world looks without billions of humans crawling around on it. He thinks of this as a secret place which thrills him. He wishes to find other people like him who are wandering at this time rather than sleeping so that they can meet and talk to each other. But then he suggests that it is a bad time and place to meet people as you can only find troublemakers and police in the streets, both of whom are not suitable for talking. Considering this he goes back to his house, probably disappointed, gets ready and goes to a club which is much safer place to meet people but not as unusual and exciting as what he wants.

This comic shows Cueball's tendency towards defying the norms and exploring unusual things and circumstances.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is on the street. Behind him is a house with a lawn.]
:Cueball's thoughts: I love the time just before sunrise. It's quiet; no one is ever just walking about. It's like a secret. I always hope that I'll find someone else quietly hiding from sleep, and we'll see each other and sit and talk. I guess this is a bad place to meet people. I wish it weren't.
:[Cueball goes into the house, brushes his teeth, and leaves the house again.]
:[Cueball is at a club, disco balls in the ceiling and a giant woofer. Many people are dancing around him.]

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

46: Secrets

2013-08-06T18:13:06Z

Biohazard: /* Explanation */ Someone who is native english please check it.

{{comic
| number = 46
| date = January 6, 2006
| title = Secrets
| image = secrets.jpg
| titletext = I'm a big fan of Kurt Halsey
}}

==Explanation==
[http://www.kurthalsey.com Kurt Halsey] is a comic artist from Oregon. He was also referenced in [[24: Godel, Escher, Kurt Halsey]]. His style is similar to that in this comic. Many of his comics and paintings depict a couple and convey various emotions they go through.

This comic is [[Randall]]'s attempt at Halsey's style. It addresses the issue of commitment-phobic partners. They get into a relationship but couldn't go through with it. The girl in the picture is sad and lonely and wishes her partner to share her feelings and emotions and remain committed to the relationship.

== Transcript ==
:I just want you to share in my secrets
:[Lonely looking girl staring down.]
:and not run away

==Trivia==
*Original quote from [[Randall]]: "I'm a fan of [http://www.kurthalsey.com/ Kurt Halsey], if you hadn't noticed. Don't click that right now, because it's depressing how much better at this he is than me."
*This is the forty-third comic originally posted to livejournal. The previous comic was [[45: Schrodinger]], the next is [[47: Counter-Red Spiders]].

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics posted on livejournal]]
[[Category:Romance]]

46: Secrets

2013-08-04T15:13:23Z

Biohazard: /* Explanation */ Hope this is complete now. Please, check it.

{{comic
| number = 46
| date = January 6, 2006
| title = Secrets
| image = secrets.jpg
| titletext = I'm a big fan of Kurt Halsey
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}
[http://www.kurthalsey.com Kurt Halsey] is a comic artist from Oregon. He was also referenced in [[24: Godel, Escher, Kurt Halsey]]. His style is similar to that in this comic. Many of his comics and paintings depict a couple and convey various emotions they go through. This comic is Randall's attempt on Halsey's style. This comic seems to address the issue of commitment-phobic partners. They get into a relationship but couldn't go through with it. Here, the girl is sad and lonely and wishes for her partner to share her feelings/emotions and be committed to the relationship.

== Transcript ==
:I just want you to share in my secrets
:[Lonely looking girl staring down.]
:and not run away

==Trivia==
*Original quote from [[Randall]]: "I'm a fan of [http://www.kurthalsey.com/ Kurt Halsey], if you hadn't noticed. Don't click that right now, because it's depressing how much better at this he is than me."
*This is the forty-third comic originally posted to livejournal. The previous comic was [[45: Schrodinger]], the next is [[47: Counter-Red Spiders]].

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics posted on livejournal]]
[[Category:Romance]]

215: Letting Go

2013-08-04T08:44:21Z

Biohazard: Rewriting revision 45710 without any duplication.

{{comic
| number = 215
| date = January 26, 2007
| title = Letting Go
| image = letting_go.png
| titletext = At least I never gave her the root password.
}}

==Explanation==
The title "Letting Go" points out a classic human behavior; you know it's over, you can't do anything to reverse it, but nevertheless you are still very sad.

Obviously, [[Megan]] broke up with [[Cueball]] and he is still desolate, just looking at the torn photo (of Megan & himself). He sits through the night mourning the breakup, and probably contemplating if there is any chance of a patch up. In the morning, he acknowledges the reality that the relationship is over and thus deletes the user account of Megan. This also shows that decision to delete the computer account is as important as the relation to Cueball, presumably a power user/geek, as it involves loss of data and settings.

The Unix command ''userdel'' deletes a user account. Megan can't login again.

The title text continues the theme of Unix terminology, as the root password means full access to the system. But he never gave her access at this level, maybe the cause for the breakup.

==Transcript==
:[A picture of Cueball and Megan in a heart is being held by someone, it has been ripped down the middle, separating the two people.]

:[Cueball sits at computer, looking at the picture.]

:[It is night, Cueball still sits at computer with the picture in front of him and his head drooped.]

:[It is day again, Cueball types on computer.]
:Text from computer: <code>root@homebox:~# userdel megan</code>

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

Talk:212: Brain

2013-08-03T12:51:47Z

Biohazard:

I wonder if the brain is colored blue because it contains the 'blue'print for the tree house. [[User:Biohazard|Biohazard]] ([[User talk:Biohazard|talk]]) 12:51, 3 August 2013 (UTC)

Talk:212: Brain

2013-08-03T12:47:58Z

Biohazard: Created page with "I wonder if the brain is colored blue because it contains the 'blue'print for the tree house."

I wonder if the brain is colored blue because it contains the 'blue'print for the tree house.

212: Brain

2013-08-03T12:44:33Z

Biohazard: /* Explanation */ & added reference to The Swiss Family Robinson

{{comic
| number =212
| date =January 19, 2007
| title =Brain
| image =brain.png
| titletext =The rest is fear of raptors.
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|The Swiss Family Robinson}} (German: Der Schweizerische Robinson) is a novel by Johann David Wyss, first published in 1812. In the novel, a shipwrecked family builds a tree house as good as a normal house complete with library and mechanical contraptions (presumably for automation).

Growing up, many children (especially boys) grow a fascination with tree houses. Tree houses are a child's own special place to do stuff away from their parents, have some autonomy, perhaps form a club. The obsession with tree houses usually fades once a child reaches his teenage years, but of course some of us never grow up. Being an adult geek/scientist who still enjoys childish things, Randall wants to build a sophisticated tree house rather than a simple one, taking the theme from above mentioned novel.

The title text makes reference to the regular [[xkcd]] joke about how terrifying {{w|Velociraptors}} from the movie {{w|Jurassic Park}} are. But they never can reach a tree house, just because it's too high as you can see here [[87: Velociraptors]].

==Transcript==
:[Picture of Brain. Line points at a highlighted point.]
:Section that is devoted, no matter where I go in life, to planning the ultimate tree house*.
:<nowiki>*</nowiki>Oh man, it would be like Swiss Family Robinson, but with multiple trees connected by... hey come up to my room and see the blueprints!

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

215: Letting Go

2013-08-03T12:15:20Z

Biohazard: Added alternate explanation

{{comic
| number = 215
| date = January 26, 2007
| title = Letting Go
| image = letting_go.png
| titletext = At least I never gave her the root password.
}}

==Explanation==
The title "Letting Go" is pointing on a classic human behave; you know it's over, you can't do anything to reverse this, but nevertheless you are very sad.

[[Megan]] did break up with [[Cueball]] and he is still desolate, just looking on the broken picture. When it gets night he still only looks at that picture, ignoring the computer screen in front of him. But at the next day he removes her account from his computer.

The Unix command ''userdel'' deletes a user account. Megan can't login again.

The title text continues the theme of Unix terminology, as the root password means full access to the system. But he never gave her access at this level, maybe the cause for the breakup.

'''Alternate Explanation'''

The title "Letting Go" is pointing on a classic human behavior; you know it's over, you can't do anything to reverse this, but nevertheless you are very sad.

Obviously, [[Megan]] broke up with [[Cueball]] and he is still desolate, just looking at the torn photo (of Megan & himself). He sits through the night mourning the breakup, and probably contemplating if there is any chance of a patch up. In the morning, he acknowledges the reality that the relationship is over and thus deletes the user account of Megan. This also shows that decision to delete the computer account is as important as the relation to Cueball, presumably a power user/geek, as it involves loss of data and settings.

The Unix command ''userdel'' deletes a user account. Megan can't login again.

The title text continues the theme of Unix terminology, as the root password means full access to the system. But he never gave her access at this level, maybe the cause for the breakup.

==Transcript==
:[A picture of Cueball and Megan in a heart is being held by someone, it has been ripped down the middle, separating the two people.]

:[Cueball sits at computer, looking at the picture.]

:[It is night, Cueball still sits at computer with the picture in front of him and his head drooped.]

:[It is day again, Cueball types on computer.]
:Text from computer: <code>root@homebox:~# userdel megan</code>

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

238: Pet Peeve 114

2013-08-03T09:26:17Z

Biohazard: added definition of pet peeve and a new explanation

{{comic
| number =238
| date =March 21, 2007
| title =Pet Peeve 114
| image =pet_peeve_114.png
| titletext =I'm reading a goddamn book, thank you very much.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}
A [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pet_peeve pet peeve] is a minor annoyance that an individual identifies as particularly annoying to them, to a greater degree than others may find it. Here Randall is talking about one of his many pet peeves which he numbers 114.

Randall's saying that it really pisses him off when people treat him as less of a person because he occasionally enjoys solitude on a Saturday night while everyone else is out partying. Sometimes, you just want to read a goddamn book, thank you very much.

'''Alternate Explanation'''

In the comic, Cueball's friend calls him and on finding out that he is reading a book on a "Saturday Night", mocks him. Saturday Night or weekends in general are supposed to be time for enjoying or partying with friends after five weekdays of work. Cueball is annoyed by the fact that people are stuck with the stereotype of partying out on weekends. In his view, reading a good book is also great way of enjoying a Saturday night. His annoyance/frustation is expressed in the title text.
==Transcript==
:[Cueball reading a book in a chair.]
:Pet peeve #114:
:Voice on the phone: Really? What are you doing reading? It's ''Saturday night!''

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