explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

1821: Incinerator

2017-04-07T20:25:35Z

BobTheMad: Added word

{{comic
| number = 1821
| date = April 7, 2017
| title = Incinerator
| image = incinerator.png
| titletext = My trash can broke recently and I had to get rid of it. When I picked it up, I suffered a brief but harrowing existential crisis.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

Cueball and Ponytail have just finished installing an incinerator for some unspecified purpose at some establishment. Ponytail brings up the problem of having to get rid of the old incinerator, and Cueball begins to suggest using the new incinerator to incinerate the old one before he is shut down by Ponytail off-panel. This makes him noticeably disappointed.

There are several reasons why incinerating the old incinerator might not be an option. Regulations or safety concerns could easily shut that plan down. The reason that the title text seems to suggest however is that there is something wrong with forcing anything to destroy something of it's own kind, at least for Randall. Since machines that have no human emotion, this would not cause any trauma for the machine, but the humans in charge might feel as if something is wrong, and Randall mentions having an existential crisis in the title text. This is because humans tend to project human qualities onto the machines they are working with (anthropomorphization), thus possibly framing the situation in the context of something like cannibalism or homicide.

That doesn't even matter though, because disposing of the incinerator in this way would be physically impossible. Incinerators are effective at disposing of organic waste: paper, wood etc. But not good for disposing of an incinerator that is mostly non-flammable. Parts of the old incinerator could be recycled, the remainder would have to go to landfill.

Cueball is probably disappointed because the idea of using an incinerator to destroy an incinerator is novel, and not getting to see something as cool as that happen is a let down if you are in a position where you might expect to get to see that happen. Cueball may also be projecting human qualities onto the incinerators, imagining the scenario with the same excitement as one might have watching a criminal be executed. After all, incinerators are easy to see as a type of executioner when personified, since their whole purpose is to destroy what they are given.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

''Cueball and ponytail are standing next to an incinerator, with a combustion chamber and flue that rises up to the top of the frame.''

Ponytail: Great, the new incinerator is installed. Now we just need to dispose of the old one.

''Ponytail walks out of frame''

''Cueball is left, thinking..."

Cueball Hey could ---

Ponytail: ''from out of frame'' No!

Cueball ''quietly'' Aww maaan.

{{comic discussion}}

1815: Flag

2017-03-24T14:14:42Z

BobTheMad: Removing unnecessarily political statements

{{comic
| number = 1815
| date = March 24, 2017
| title = Flag
| image = flag.png
| titletext = There's a compromise bill to keep the notification bar but at least charge the battery.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

Randall was hired to propose a new flag - potentially for the United States.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

The design committee fired me once they realized that my editing process involved a screenshot, but it was too late.

Until they change it, our new country has the only national flag to include a phone notification bar.

Title text: There's a compromise bill to keep the notification bar but at least charge the battery.

{{comic discussion}}

1788: Barge

2017-01-20T16:17:11Z

BobTheMad: plan sortcomings

{{comic
| number = 1788
| date = January 20, 2017
| title = Barge
| image = barge.png
| titletext = My life goal is to launch a barge into the air and have it land on one of Elon Musk's rockets.
}}

==Explanation==

This is another one of the "[[My Hobby]]" series, where [[Randall]] tells about a strange hobby. This is probably the most destructive one so far, as it would result in the destruction of a space rocket.

The launch company {{w|SpaceX}} is currently testing a reusable rocket system, where the {{w|multi-stage rocket|first rocket stage}} lands on an {{w|autonomous spaceport drone ship}}. The rockets guide themselves in to land by aiming themselves towards a giant launch pad with the "X" from the SpaceX logo painted on it. Cueball intends to trick a rocket into falling into the sea with a variation on the old {{w|trapping pit}}. He empties out a barge, covers the hole with a giant copy of the launch pad, and floats it near launch sites. If a rocket attempts to land on the barge, it will crash through the paper and fall into the sea. This plan would likely not work, as the exhaust from the descending rocket would burn away the paper; assuming that the paper target had not become previously destroyed from being soaked by spray from the ocean.

It is also possible [[Black Hat]] had this particular hobby, considering that he is a real [[classhole]].

The title text makes the ''barge'' land of one of Elon Musk's ''rockets''- a reversed case, as rockets normally land on the barge. Launching a barge into the air would be tremendously difficult - they are big, heavy and not very aerodynamic - but it would be worth it for the spectacular explosion.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:My Hobby]]

1785: Wifi

2017-01-13T14:08:29Z

BobTheMad: Take conversation to the "Discussion" page, not the main article

{{comic
| number = 1785
| date = January 13, 2017
| title = Wifi
| image = wifi.png
| titletext = Further out to the right, it works correctly, but the reason it works still involves the word 'firmware.'
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Seems good, but could do with more. The ref to TV Problems title text seems far fetched.}}

The graph shows the supposed probability that a guest will be able to connect to the owner's {{w|Wi-Fi}}. The graph starts with people who cannot find the settings, followed by those who can connect. Finally, the large drop in the graph on the right-hand side is explained by "firmware." Firmware is programming which operates a device at the lowest level, typically stored in a {{w|ROM}} or an EEPROM/flash, but sometimes it is transferred from a CPU to a device at system boot time. In most systems this just works but in the case of more geeky operating systems, like GNU/Linux, or more esoteric hardware, it needs to be installed separately. Therefore there is a group of people who know what they are missing but are unable to overcome the issue to connect. The title text indicates that the curve recovers once users are more experienced, and ''can'' overcome said issue.

These computer issues have previously appeared in several xkcd comics, notably [[456: Cautionary]], where WiFi problems specifically are mentioned in the title text.

The apparent paradox of people knowing more about a subject also having more problems with it is also explored in [[1760: TV Problems]] ; in the title text, the ones who are more likely to die from a skydiving accident are the ones who know the more about skydiving safety, but that is of course not because they cannot make it work, but rather because they make many more dives than regular people, thus increasing the overall risk in-spite of their competence.

==Transcript==
:[A line graph with a curve that starts just left of the Y-axis above the middle of the axis. Then it increases slightly and stays almost stable on a long flat plateau before it falls off fast towards the right. Each axis ends in an arrow and has a label to the left of the Y-axis and below the x-axis. Over the curve there are three labels, pointing with one arrow to the two rising and falling parts, and three arrows to the center label above the plateau.]
:Y-axis: Probability houseguest will be able to connect to WiFi
:X-axis: Houseguest tech-savviness
:Left label: Can't find wifi settings
:Center label: Works fine
:Right label: Something involving the word "firmware"

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Line graphs]]
[[Category:Computers]]

1704: Gnome Ann

2016-07-08T11:37:29Z

BobTheMad: Spelling error correction

{{comic
| number = 1704
| date = July 8, 2016
| title = Gnome Ann
| image = gnome_ann.png
| titletext = In the words of Andrew Johnson, if I am to be shot at, I want Gnome Ann to be in the way of the bullet.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|It would be nice if there was a table here with individual explanations for each quote.}}
This comic presents a series of images depicting a female {{w|gnome}} who is known as "Gnome Ann". The humor derives from the fact that the name "Gnome Ann" and the compound noun "no man" are {{w|homophone}}s, meaning they sound alike but have different meanings and spellings.
(Users of the {{w|GNOME|Gnome desktop system}} may have difficulties understanding this since they pronounce Gnome with a hard "g", reflecting its {{w|GNU}} ties.)

[[Randall]] presents the reader with six images (and a title text) captioned with quotations from a wide range of sources, each featuring an instance of the compound noun "no man" being replaced by "Gnome Ann" (and featuring a drawing that reflects this change). There is one proverb, two Biblical quotations, two literary quotations (the {{w|Miguel de Cervantes|Cervantes}} quote is from ''{{w|Don Quixote}}'', the other one is from {{w|Lord of the Rings}}, the line {{w|Éowyn}} said to the {{w|Witch-king_of_Angmar|Witch-king of Angmar}} before killing him), one quotation from the opening of a television show (''{{w|Star Trek: The Original Series}}''), and a quotation from a piece of historical rhetoric in the title text.

The process by which "no man" becomes "nom an" (and hence Gnome Ann) is known as {{w|false splitting}}, and is a familiar process of word formation in English and other languages; examples include {{w|Vipera_berus#Etymologies|"an adder" from "a nadder"}} and "lone" from "(all) one".

==Transcript==
The Legend of Gnome Ann

:[At the beach, between the shoreline and a clock, "Gnome Ann" stands with her arms outstretched.]
:Proverb: Time and tide wait for Gnome Ann.

:[Gnome Ann chases 3 men to the right.]
:Proverb: The wicked flee when Gnome Ann pursueth. - Proverbs 28:1

:[Gnome Ann takes the groom's place in a wedding, shoving him to the side. The bride stands showing no reaction on the left.]
:Proverb: What therefor God hath joined together, let Gnome Ann put asunder. - Mark 10:9

:[Gnome Ann wisely meditates on a rock.]
:Quote: Time ripens all things; Gnome Ann is born wise. - Miguel De Cervantes

:[The Enterprise flies to the right, chasing a smaller craft.]
:Enterprise: Our Mission: to boldly go where Gnome Ann has gone before.

:[The Witch-king of Angmar, Lord of the Nazgûl, stands to the left of Gnome Ann, who is preparing to stab him with a sword.]
:Lord of the Nazgûl: Fool! No man can kill me.
:Gnome Ann: I AM GNOME ANN!

{{comic discussion}}

Talk:1701: Speed and Danger

2016-07-01T16:22:41Z

BobTheMad: ~~~~

;Worst Comic
I think this might be a strong contender for worst comic on xkcd. Although [[1384: Krypton]] definitely makes for stiff competition. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.102|108.162.216.102]] 14:28, 1 July 2016 (UTC)

Is there something this is referencing? [[User:Saklad5|Saklad5]] ([[User talk:Saklad5|talk]]) 14:41, 1 July 2016 (UTC)

The worst? Have you looked at the first few hundred? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.246.119|108.162.246.119]] 15:09, 1 July 2016 (UTC)

I think this comic is actually enlightening on a certain (albeit narrow level). People frequently lack a proper sense of perspective, and this comic illustrates this fact. While we might say "Wow, that Indy car is really moving fast!", it pales in comparison to other vehicles that some fortunate few travel in.

;Sarcasm
Is sarcasm to be encouraged in explanations? “Here, Randall makes the '''truly astounding''' observation that the danger of a crash is directly proportional to its speed….” [Emphasis mine.] ''— [[User:Tbc|tbc]] ([[User talk:Tbc|talk]]) 15:29, 1 July 2016 (UTC)''
:In this case it's definitely warranted...Jesus Randall, this wouldn't exactly have been hard to make funny/interesting. --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.7|108.162.219.7]] 15:51, 1 July 2016 (UTC)

1701: Speed and Danger

2016-07-01T14:32:22Z

BobTheMad: /* Explanation */ requesting citation

{{comic
| number = 1701
| date = July 1, 2016
| title = Speed and Danger
| image = speed_and_danger.png
| titletext = NASCAR removed the passenger seats because drivers hated how astronauts kept riding along with them and loudly announcing "Ahh, what a nice and relaxing drive."
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Very early explanation. Please elaborate further.}}

Here, Randall makes the truly astounding observation that the danger of a crash is directly proportional to its speed, and serves to highlight the contrast between what we perceive as 'fast' (i.e., racing cars) between what's actually quite fast (i.e., a rocket during takeoff). A rocket may appear to ascend slowly, but it's moving very quite quick.

The titletext serves to further emphasize the point, as an astronaut (used to the several G's of acceleration during takeoff) would likely find a nascar car moving at ~200mph paltry compared to what they're acclimated to.

This comic is notable for containing the fewest samples of any plot-point graph featured on xkcd.{{Citation needed}}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

1651: Robotic Garage

2016-03-04T13:34:12Z

BobTheMad: /* Transcript */ corrected spelling error

{{comic
| number = 1651
| date = March 4, 2016
| title = Robotic Garage
| image = robotic_garage.png
| titletext = But listen, if getting your car out from under the pile is REALLY important to you, we do have an axe you can borrow.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Any references in the "Robots aren't magic" quote. And any reason/reference for choosing an axe to get a car out of a pile. Seems like a useless tool in the situation.}}

In some cities, {{w|automated parking system}}s (aka robotic garages) are used to reduce the amount of space needed to store cars, as opposed to traditional parking buildings. The robotic system eliminates the needs for ramps and circulation/reversing areas. Normally, they work by having the user drive their car onto an elevator and get out, after which the elevator lifts or lowers the car into a compact storage space. Here [[Cueball]] drives up to what he believes to be a garage of this type operated by [[Black Hat]]. However, instead of an elevator carefully moving it into a storage space, a robotic claw simply picks up the car and dumps it in a bin of cars.

This type of parking options will not only break the car, but also make it impossible to take out if the car is at the bottom, hence the cars are ''{{w|Stack_(abstract_data_type)|stacked}}''.

Cueball reacts quite well to this treatment of his car, (maybe he knows Black Hat well enough not to try to argue with him?) And when Black Hat tells him that later they just dump out the bin (full of cars) and he can then pick his own our from the pile. This is of course not possible with such heavy objects. Had it only been the keys then... Cueball continues to be benign abut this absurd situation, which becomes even more absurd when he asks if Black Hat could at least make sure his car is not at the bottom (when it is dumped out with all the other cars). But Black Hat is cheeky enough to just tell him that what can he do... ''Robots aren't magic''.

In the title text he at least gives Cueball an option, he can borrow an axe, if it is really important for him to get the car out from the pile. He thus gives Cueball "permission" to destroy any other car that lies in the way on top of his own... Still it would not help much, because if his car is at the bottom, it will be even more destroyed than from just being dumped into the bin to begin with.

This is just one of many situations where Black Hat has an evil or just mean/crazy plan in progress. It's for instance not the first time that Black Hat has treated other peoples car with great disrespect, although in [[562: Parking]], the guy with the car had it coming!

==Transcript==
:[Black Hat points left while talking to Cueball inside his small car.]
:Black Hat: Just pull onto the receiving platform.
:Cueball: Cool-I've always wanted to try one of these futuristic robotic garages.

:[Cueball has driven the car onto a platform in front of a stop to the left. He is just walking of the platform towards Black Hat.]

:[Zoom out reveals a robotic crane arm, that sits on top of the stop from the previous panel, which turns out to be a huge platform for this robot arm. The robotic arm picks up the car with it's two thongs and just lift it straight up in the air with a thong on the hood and the other below the car. Black Hat and Cueball look on.]
:Cueball: Um.

:[This panel pans over to the center of the robotic arm, to reveal a large bin with a label to the robots left. The robot arm holds the car almost straight up in the air, but over the bin.]
:Label: Cars

:[The robotic arm open up to release the car which crashes down into the bin, a sound already emanating from it when the rear end of the car (with one wheel still showing) is still visible.]
:Car: ''Crunch''
:Label: Cars

:[Zoom back to Black Hat and Cueball standing at the end of the empty platform.]
:Black Hat: We'll dump out the bin when you get back and you can pick out your car from the pile.
:Cueball: Can you at least make sure it's not on the bottom
:Black Hat: Look, robots aren't magic.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Robots]]

1613: The Three Laws of Robotics

2015-12-07T13:53:32Z

BobTheMad: Removed a useless sentence that was factually inaccurate.

{{comic
| number = 1613
| date = December 7, 2015
| title = The Three Laws of Robotics
| image = the_three_laws_of_robotics.png
| titletext = In ordering #5, self-driving cars will happily drive you around, but if you tell them to drive to a car dealership, they just lock the doors and politely ask how long humans take to starve to death.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Very basic first draft, and I'm pretty inexperienced [[User:Halfhat|Halfhat]] ([[User talk:Halfhat|talk]]) 09:38, 7 December 2015 (UTC) you should also check my awful spelling [[User:Halfhat|Halfhat]] ([[User talk:Halfhat|talk]]) 09:46, 7 December 2015 (UTC)}}
This comic explores alternative orderings of sci-fi author Isaac Asimov's famous {{w|Three Laws of Robotics}}. These laws form the basis of a number of Asimov works of fiction, including most famously, "I, Robot". The comic answers the generally unasked question: "Why are they in that order?"

The joke here is that any alternative ordering of the three laws results in ridiculous worlds; two of these are designated orange (pretty bad) and three results are designated red ("Hellscape").

;Ordering #1:This is the original ordering.
;Ordering #2: The robots value their existence over their job and so would make many much less functional. The silliness of this is portrayed in the accompanying image, where the robot laughs at the idea of doing what it was clearly built to do (explore mars), because of the risk. This personification is augmented by the robot being switched on on earth and ordered by the fleshy human known as [[Megan]]. The personification is humorous since it is a very nonhuman robot.
;Ordering #3: This puts obeying orders above not harming humans which means anyone could send them on a killing spree, resulting in a "Killbot Hellscape"; It should also be noted humour is derived from the superlative nature of "Killbot Hellscape", as well as its over the top accompanying image, where there are multiple mushroom clouds (not necessarily nuclear), it also appears there are no humans, only robots.

;Ordering #4:The next would also result in much the same, the only difference here is that they would be willing to kill humans to protect themselves.

;Ordering #5:The penultimate would result in a unpleasant world, though not a full hellscape, where the robots would not only disobey to protect themselves, but also kill if necessary. The absurdity of this one is further demonstrated with the very unhuman robot happily doing repetitive mundane tasks but then threatening its user, the terrified relic of the age of men known as [[Cueball]].

;Ordering #6:The last also results in a hellscape wherein robots not only kill for self defense but will also go on killing sprees if ordered as long as they didn't risk themselves.

The titletext further adding to ordering #5 by noting anyone wishing to trade in their self-driving car could be killed, despite it (currently) being a standard and mundane and (mostly) risk free activity.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Artificial Intelligence]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]

Talk:1610: Fire Ants

2015-12-04T14:28:34Z

BobTheMad:

misinterpreting a question as an invitation to talk about one's pet obsession is symptomatic of autistic spectrum disorder. although not necessarily so. as, i suppose, is wanting to do science in academe. --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.210.223|108.162.210.223]] 13:12, 30 November 2015 (UTC)

i don't think she was misinterpreting the question,she probably is so obsessed about ants that she tries to talk about them every chance she gets. {{unsigned ip|173.245.62.29}}

:ok, so "misinterpreting" was a poor choice. try "interpreting, wrongly". and only autists feel like that. to a neuro-typical this isn't even an issue. --[[Special:Contributions/141.101.106.233|141.101.106.233]] 12:57, 1 December 2015 (UTC)

Theoretically, there's a hidden analogy in that a colony of rather simplistic and specialist individuals can ensure their own survival in the face of adverse environmental conditions by keeping themselves all in one location so that they can continue to perpetuate themselves in the future. And as it is with those heading off to Grad School, so it may also be with ants. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.75.185|141.101.75.185]] 13:29, 30 November 2015 (UTC)

I've just joined, so please forgive the new boy. Perhaps the joke is really to do with biblical references and metaphors, as I have suggested in my contribution to the main article. (User:Paw 42)

There is absolutely no reason to junk up this explanation with biblical references. Please correct, or I will do so. --[[User:BobTheMad|BobTheMad]] ([[User talk:BobTheMad|talk]]) 14:41, 30 November 2015 (UTC)
:Ooh, scary threat. The biblical reference is completely justified. [[Special:Contributions/198.41.238.32|198.41.238.32]] 22:59, 30 November 2015 (UTC)
::Hey jerk, it wasn't a threat. When I made the comment, around 2/3 of the article was about biblical references. It has since been resolved because most people agreed with me. But thanks for playing anyway. --[[User:BobTheMad|BobTheMad]] ([[User talk:BobTheMad|talk]]) 14:28, 4 December 2015 (UTC)

Really?? Life of Brian is the most popular? Sorry, that's either crazy inaccurate or needs a citation. I'm pretty confident the Biblical reference was more accurate as a phase origin, though I can't say I feel it adds much to the explanation. Google likes "Consider the lobster" and "Consider the source" better than either when I search for it. When I search for it adding the keyword "phrase," it gives the Biblical reference, but still not as a first result. The Life of Brian doesn't show up in any front page results. [[User:Ancientt|Ancientt]] ([[User talk:Ancientt|talk]]) 15:13, 30 November 2015 (UTC)

During an initial read through I assumed that he was speaking to a career adviser. Thus, the "consider the fire ant" statement was a take off from the Biblical "consider the ant" statement found in Proverbs 6:6-8. For those who don't know, that particular Proverb is a reprimand to lazy people to consider the diligence and foresight of ants who prepare for the future without being told to do so. Where, lazy people typically have to be micro-managed to get any results from them. So, you assume that hair bun girl is calling cueball lazy because he is rethinking grad school (in this view he is sacrificing diligence and future planning for the now). However, she takes the statement in such a radical direction it loses this meaning - it becomes a rant about how cool fire ants are. Which seems odd until you read the title text and you discover he is in the entomology department (study of insects). Unless cueball regularly visits the entomology department for career advice you can assume that his grad school is about the study of insects. Thus in conclusion, her weird rant about ants really IS meant as a parallel to Proverbs; however, instead of contrasting his behavior to that of ants she is encouraging him to continue his study of insects because of how cool they are. Thus, the joke of using the statement "consider the ant" as a means to get someone to live more responsibly is still being used exactly for that purpose. That's my understanding of it.--[[User:R0hrshach|R0hrshach]] ([[User talk:R0hrshach|talk]]) 17:06, 30 November 2015 (UTC)
:I like this explanation much better. And even if you use Life of Brian this is still a reference to the bible (as the whole film spoofs Jesus). Hope someone will change to incorporate these bible verses. I do not know them so will stay out of this ;-) --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 20:17, 30 November 2015 (UTC)
::I added the above explanation as alternate because I wasn't sure how to mix in elements of the existing explanation. The quotes from the book of Matthew referenced by Life of Brian may have used the same "consider the" format but it is clear to me by Randall's use of fire ants and the situational context of the joke that he was referencing Proverbs. So I didn't find the Life of Brian reference to have any meaning to the explanation.--[[User:R0hrshach|R0hrshach]] ([[User talk:R0hrshach|talk]]) 18:00, 1 December 2015 (UTC)
::It's just a really, really minor point (and not germane to anything - but I do feel quite strongly about it) The Life of Brian does not "spoof Jesus" it spoofs the attitudes and behaviours of the people surrounding Jesus.[[Special:Contributions/162.158.34.147|162.158.34.147]] 09:06, 2 December 2015 (UTC)
:::Thank you to whoever helped by merging the explanations. I moved the Life of Brian fact to the end because it breaks up the explanation and because it is not found in the same area. The wording is similar but meaning is entirely different.--[[User:R0hrshach|R0hrshach]] ([[User talk:R0hrshach|talk]]) 21:30, 1 December 2015 (UTC)

Here's my interpretation. I don't think hair bun girl is making an analogy whatsoever. She is simply expressing her obsession/love of ants. By doing so in response to cue ball's plea for advice, she illustrates (knowingly or unknowingly) why she herself attended grad school (I'm assuming she is a professor of entomology - which I think is reasonable given her comment and the title text). She is so obsessed with ants that she attended grad school (a very large undertaking) in order to study them further. Then she proceeded to pursue a career in Academia to continue to study ants. To her, the very idea of having second thoughts of pursuing graduate school to further her studies is probably ridiculous. She probably never had them. Hence she demonstrates all that she needed to know to pursue graduate school - she is big on ants. A little background on me since it informs my interpretation: I spent a lot of time trying to answer this question for myself: "Should I pursue graduate school?" I saw a common thread amongst my professors, leading graduate students, etc. They all wanted nothing more than to learn more about their field of study. The very fact that I was having doubts ended up being a sign to myself that I did not really want to go to graduate school to study, I wanted to go for other reasons that would have made grad school unfulfilling. [[User:Supersixfour|Supersixfour]] ([[User talk:Supersixfour|talk]]) 20:27, 30 November 2015 (UTC)
:I tried to incorporate your thoughts into the alternate explanation as her reason for launching into the cool fact about fire ants. That is to persuade him that the study of insects is really cool and worthwhile. We never learn Cueball's motivation and whether her enthusiasm won him over or made him realize he wasn't committed enough to that field or level of study. The joke seems to have little to actually do with grad school and more to do with how we give advice or attempt to motivate others through difficult tasks.--[[User:R0hrshach|R0hrshach]] ([[User talk:R0hrshach|talk]]) 18:00, 1 December 2015 (UTC)

Maybe Cueball meant to go to the Etymology Dept, not the Entomology Dept. {{unsigned|Ren0901}}
:I'm not sure he would find any more answers to his question in the etymology department than he did in entomology. It would make for a different twist on the same joke though! Probably have less cool information about fire ants though.--[[User:R0hrshach|R0hrshach]] ([[User talk:R0hrshach|talk]]) 18:00, 1 December 2015 (UTC)

As someone who has been fascinated by ants my entire life (60+ years) I totally get Hair Bun Girl's enthusiasm. My family treats me the same way when I get on my favorite topic (as I often do and they they always have). Ants are super cool - they've the unofficial mascot for the ALife community, and arguably the most studied insect in most entomology departments. Ed Wilson is one of my heroes (he was the first to form the hypothesis that ants communicate using chemical signals), not only for his work on ants but his impact on all of natural science, and his sincere concern for the future of our world and all the creatures in it. I was excited and happy to see xkcd referring to ants in both the Hoverboard game and the 11/30/15 comic (as well as [https://xkcd.com/638 #638 The Search]). From the perspective of a life-long myrmecophile I don't think there's anything complex behind HBG's responses except one I heartily endorse: "Because ANTS!" (maybe I'm on the spectrum, too.) As for the biblical reference, I don't specifically think of it as a "biblical" reference except in as much as it seems to refer to an oft-quoted phrase in the book. Most entomologists and myrmecologists know it well: "Go to the ant, thou sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise..." (probably referring to a species of Harvester ants that gathers and stores grain). One reason they love it is that it correctly identifies the ones doing the work as female. Personally I think the bible is hilarious (full disclosure - not a believer). I love pointing out (especially to Christians) that there are not 10 but 600 to 1,000 commandments in the bible (depending on your version, affiliation, definition, etc.) including a prohibition against eating hoopoes (a colorful woodpecker-like bird in Afro-Eurasia that eats ants). Finally I would say that there are a large number of more interesting facts about ants that might be used. These could include suicide bombers who blow themselves up to harm enemies, turtle ants with plug-shaped heads to seal nest entrances, honey-pot ants who gorge on food and become living storage vessels to feed the colony - nearly endless fascinating adaptations (see some [http://bogleech.com/bio-ants.html here]). I also take exception to the comment that the queen controls all the other ants. In reality, ants perform different functions depending on caste, age, etc. The queen produces eggs and receives food and chemical feedback about the colony's health and requirements, and adjusts her production of quantity and type of eggs (castes, etc.) as a result of this feedback. She's basically an egg-laying machine enslaved by the colony. And now I'm at risk of someone saying, "Wait, what lesson am I supposed to take from that?" So go to the [http://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Welcome_to_AntWiki AntWiki] thou sluggard; consider its ways and be wise. [[User:Usagi|Usagi]] ([[User talk:Usagi|talk]]) 19:56, 1 December 2015 (UTC)
:Fascinating. You are correct about the larger number of commandments in the Bible (greater than ten); however, they can all be understood with just two. Full disclosure, I am a believer. If you want to talk about it (friendly-like) you can always give me a chat. :) --[[User:R0hrshach|R0hrshach]] ([[User talk:R0hrshach|talk]]) 21:30, 1 December 2015 (UTC)

Could the lesson be "if you're struggling, ask your classmates for help"? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.152.125|162.158.152.125]] 15:40, 3 December 2015 (UTC)

Talk:1610: Fire Ants

2015-11-30T14:41:26Z

BobTheMad:

1495: Hard Reboot

2015-03-06T13:49:03Z

BobTheMad: Does not 'fix' the problem by attacking the root cause. It just works around it.

{{comic
| number = 1495
| date = March 6, 2015
| title = Hard Reboot
| image = hard_reboot.png
| titletext = Googling inevitably reveals that my problem is caused by a known bug triggered by doing [the exact combination of things I want to do]. I can fix it, or wait a few years until I don't want that combination of things anymore, using the kitchen timer until then.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|The sentence below the comic: Why everything I have is broken is not explained. Is this because he just crashes his server every day? Also the kitchen timer in the title text is not mentioned. It is not a kitchen timer that is used in the picture}}

This comic is about using a simple and unrelated trick to work around a problem.

{{w|Paging|Swap space}} is an area of a computer's hard drive reserved for use when the computer runs out of RAM. Ideally, RAM + SWAP >= MAX, where MAX is the amount of memory the computer will ever try to use at the same time. However, some [broken] programs may keep requesting memory from the system until computer runs out of resources. Alternatively, system may be misconfigured to run more and more programs simultaneously. Rebooting the computer will empty the RAM and swap space so resources can be reallocated, but this only temporarily alleviates the underlying issue. Determining the root cause of the problem is often nontrivial.

It would take up to 10 hours to figure out why the server is running out of swap space and fix the problem. Alternatively, Randall could just take 5 minutes and plug the server into a light timer. This attitude to problem solving is in contrast to the attitude shown in [[974: The General Problem]].

Timers [http://www.diytrade.com/china/pd/10081499/Analog_Electric_Light_on_off_Timer_Dual_Outlet_Switch.html like the one in the comic] typically have four switches or notches per hour, so using the timer would replace an unpredictable and indefinite loss of service with a regular 15 minute downtime event once a day. Also, it can be scheduled during, say, the middle of the night when most users are sleeping to minimize disruption.

The correct method of scheduling a regular reboot would be using a ''cron'' task, but perhaps the server is "crashing" in such a dramatic manner that ''cron,'' or ''shutdown,'' or ''init'' stops working. The comic title alludes to this, in that a "hard" reboot scheduled with an analog timer is more guaranteed to work than a "soft" one scheduled with ''cron.''

If a memory leak is not present, the problem might be fixable by simply increasing swap space, however if there is a more complex underlying issue, this is the first step along the path of 10 hours of troubleshooting. As a general stereotype, the type of person who has a home server is probably also the kind of person who would start by 'just' increasing the swap size, and before they know it has spent 10 hours completely engrossed in the challenge of fixing the problem. (See [[349: Success]])

The title text's first sentence refers to situations where the given solution to a problem is just the original problem rephrased to sound like a solution. It may also refer to bug trackers, where someone found out and posted what causes the issue, but the bug is marked as "Unresolved," "Waiting," or "Will not fix."

The title text's second sentence refers to the fact that operating system bugs take a long time to be solved, hence the solution of "wait[ing] a few years until I don't want that combination of things anymore." Humor in that sentence is found in the fact that readers will anticipate "wait a few years until ..." would be followed by "the bug is fixed", however, Randall is indicating that usually his needs change before the bugs get fixed. This play on expectations is a common comedic trope.

==Transcript==
:[Inside a frame there are two pictures. To the left there is a section of a computer screen with white text on a black background. The screen is covered in lines of illegible text.]
:[Above the screen it says:]
:Figuring out why my home server keeps running out of swap space and crashing:
:[Below the screen it says:]
:1-10 hours

:[To the right there is a frame with a drawing of a timer plugged into a power port with cable running off to the side.]
:[Above the frame it says:]
:Plugging it into a light timer so it reboots every 24 hours:
:[Below the frame it says:]
:5 minutes

:[Below the main frame]
:'''Why everything I have is broken'''

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