explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

2010: Update Notes

2018-07-05T16:43:07Z

Bobthecello: got rid of the tag

{{comic
| number = 2010
| date = June 22, 2018
| title = Update Notes
| image = update_notes.png
| titletext = v3.0.2: Hey, if anyone still using this app is headed to the beach, can you stop at 4th and River St and grab the sunscreen from my car? Trunk should be unlocked. Thanks!
}}

==Explanation==
Update notes or {{w|release notes}} are notes (or documents) released when software has been updated, to inform the user of any important changes to the software.

In this comic, Randall and his friend are using release notes of their {{w|Mobile application|app}}s as a form of chat service, instead of actual software change information. He says this is possible because the two apps are no longer being maintained, so theoretically, there are not many people using the app who would read the update / change notes. Incidentally, one can still argue that the chat is still technically update notes, only instead of updating users on what has changed about an app, it is now giving Randall and his friend status "updates".

This comic has a similar theme as [[1305: Undocumented Feature]] both use old software forums as a chat application.

This "chat service" would not be in real time, so presumably, Randall and his friend would have to be constantly checking each other's apps to see if there are updates.

On the "stars" app, the last "actual" notes says "Introduced bugs and degraded performance". This is a very common change when new features are added, however, developers will normally describe what the new features are rather than just state the negative consequences. It goes in contrast with the typical change note "fixed bugs and improved performance" that usually follows.

The comic also refers to a meteor shower occurring in August, most likely the {{w|Perseids|Perseid meteor shower}}.

The title text says that Randall, who is at the beach, has left his {{w|sunscreen}} in his car, but that the {{w|Trunk (car)|trunk}}(a pun with the name of the main software development branch in SVN) is unlocked, for whoever is still reading the updates for this app. This may invite the attention of thieves, who are now informed that Randall's trunk is unlocked. However they may not know what city Randall lives in, and conversely readers of the release notes could be anywhere in the world so most are probably not in a position to physically make contact with Randall's car.

This comic could be seen as a subtle reference to how plain sight communication such as gang codes and steganography are used by people, possibly out of coerced necessity, to communicate information both deniably and publicly. It is likely that this often happens in real app update messages in real life. This kind of communication would more realistically allow a criminal worker to communicate with a contact point without endangering their anonymity by associating with them directly.

This comic could also be poking fun at the non-descriptive updates many popular apps post in the "What's new" or change log. One example of this would be the Uber app stating "We update the app as often as possible" as a "new" feature every update. Apple recently changed AppStore guidelines[https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#accurate-metadata] to require clear descriptions of new features and product changes, effectively putting an end to the problem Randall is highlighting.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
:[There are two panels that show smartphone-esque screens with two different apps with different update notes, showing a conversation between two people. New updates are added to the top, so to follow the conversation flow one would start from the bottom and alternate between the second app and the first one.]
:[At the top, the status bars between the two panels are slightly different: telephone reception, WiFi strength, battery, GPS...]

:["Updates" is written in uppercase at the top. The first app's icon is an "A" symbol. Next to it, there is the following information:]
:[The app name is a scribble]
:Version 3.0.1
:June 22, 2018

:Update Notes:

:v3.0.1
:I'm actually off work Monday so that's perfect.

:v3.0
:Oh, that sounds fun! What night?

:v2.8.31
:Are you around this weekend? We're heading to the beach.

:v2.8.3
:Hey Mike, you there?

:["Updates" is written in uppercase at the top. The second app's icon consists of three stars arranged in a triangle. Next it, there is:]
:[The app name is a scribble followed by two stars in parentheses]
:Version 7.0
:June 22, 2018

:Update Notes:

:v7.0
:It peaks August 12-13th.

:v6.8.16
:Sorry, no, going to a wedding. But do you want to camp out for the meteor shower in August?

:v6.8.15
:Yeah, what's up?

:v6.8.14
:Introduced bugs and degraded performance[.]

:[At the bottom of each panel, there are menu icons: a star, a stack of rectangles, a bullet list, a magnifying glass and an arrow pointing down to a square]

:[Caption below the panels:]
:My friend and I both have apps we've stopped maintaining, so we just use the updates to chat.

:[For convenience, here are the update notes in order of release (note that the first and last comments are not part of the conversation with Mike):]

:"A" app (v6.8.14): Introduced bugs and degraded performance[.]

:"3-star" app (v2.8.3): Hey Mike, you there?

:A (v6.8.15): Yeah, what's up?

:3-star (v.2.8.31): Are you around this weekend? We're heading to the beach.

:A (v6.8.16): Sorry, no, going to a wedding. But do you want to camp out for the meteor shower in August?

:3-star (v3.0): Oh, that sounds fun! What night?

:A (v7.0): It peaks August 12-13th.

:3-star (v3.0.1): I'm actually off work Monday so that's perfect.

:3-star (v3.0.2): Hey, if anyone still using this app is headed to the beach, can you stop at 4th and River St and grab the sunscreen from my car? Trunk should be unlocked. Thanks!

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Smartphones]]

2014: JWST Delays

2018-07-03T17:02:21Z

Bobthecello: Completed transcript

{{comic
| number = 2014
| date = July 2, 2018
| title = JWST Delays
| image = jwst_delays.png
| titletext = Since delays should get less likely closer to the launch, most astronomers in 2018 believed the expansion of the schedule was slowing, but by early 2020 new measurements indicated that it was actually accelerating.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a DELAYED TELESCOPE - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
The {{w|James Webb Space Telescope}} (JWST) is a {{w|space telescope}} that was created to be the successor of the {{w|Hubble Space Telescope}}.

The telescope has been in development since 1996, but has been plagued by numerous delays and cost overruns. This comic was likely inspired by the most recent [https://nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-completes-webb-telescope-review-commits-to-launch-in-early-2021 delay announcement], which was posted on June 27, 2018. As of July 3, 2018, the JWST is scheduled to launch on March 30, 2021.

This comic portrays the launch delays and the new predicted launch years and the times at which those predictions were made. There have been so many delays in this project that you can plot a line of best fit with a surprisingly high degree of accuracy. Randall says optimistically that the line’s slope is less than one (there is less than one year of ''new'' delay per year of elapsed time), implying, of course, that if events continue without further intervention, it will eventually be built, with a predicted date of late 2026.

The title text compares the famous research over the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accelerating_expansion_of_the_universe universe’s accelerating expansion] to the apparently ever-delaying schedule and observes that the delay per time does not decrease, although the date gets nearer (which should help to schedule the launch date, as research and unknown parameters are replaced with engineering and exact predictions and measurements).

The Wikipedia article linked above includes a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Webb_Space_Telescope#Cost_and_schedule_issues table] which provides the data points for the chart:

{| class=wikitable
! width=35 | Year !! Planned launch !! Time left (years)
|-
| 1997 || 2007 || 10
|-
| 1998 || 2007 || 9
|-
| 1999 || 2007 to 2008 || 8-9
|-
| 2000 || 2009 || 9
|-
| 2002 || 2010 || 8
|-
| 2003 || 2011 || 8
|-
| 2005 || 2013 || 8
|-
| 2006 || 2014 || 8
|-
| 2008 || 2014 || 6
|-
| 2010 || 2015 to 2016 || 5-6
|-
| 2011 || 2018 || 7
|-
| 2013 || 2018 || 5
|-
| 2017 || 2019 || 2
|-
|2018 || 2020 || 2
|-
|2018 || 2021 || 3
|}

==Transcript==

[Top caption, in the panel:]

James Webb Space Telescope

[Subtitle of top caption:]

Launch Delays

[There is a positive-quadrant only line graph. The x- axis is labeled 'Current Date' and the y axis is labeled 'Planned Launch Date'. The dates on both of the axes range from 1995 to 2030]

[There are 15 points on the graph, starting at (1997,2007) and extending at a slope of a little less than one. The most recent one is labeled 'Now: 2021'.]

[There are two lines on the graph: a red one and a dashed black one. The red one is a regression of the points on the graph. The black one is a line with a slope of one. They intersect at the point (2026,2026), marked by the label "Late 2026"]

[Caption below the panel:]

Look, at least the slope is less than one.

{{comic discussion}}

2011: Newton's Trajectories

2018-06-25T12:16:33Z

Bobthecello:

{{comic
| number = 2011
| date = June 25, 2018
| title = Newton's Trajectories
| image = newtons_trajectories.png
| titletext = With just one extra line, he could have anticipated the 2003 film The Core, but some things are too audacious for even the greatest visionaries.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a cannonball - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
The comic shows the Earth, with three apparent spaceships on separate trajectories. One set is released with sufficient velocity to remain in a stable orbit, while the other two fall towards the Earth. This is a slight modification of {{w|Newton's cannonball}}, a thought experiment demonstrating the planetary effects of gravity.

[[File:1669780A-D3EE-43E7-BD94-DD34B224BFF4.gif]]

Here, Newton's cannonball is used both to observe humanity’s technological future (interstellar travel, availability of advanced technology to the masses, and constant scientific improvement, or nuclear desolation and the extinction of our species) and to underscore that argument by pointing out the inherent metaphor in the experiment: the cannonball can only escape the atmosphere by achieving high velocity (i.e. escape velocity). Similarly, technological progress will only deliver us from nuclear extinction if it happens quickly; otherwise, mankind will destroy itself.

The phrase "slip the bonds of Earth" comes from the sonnet "[http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/highflig.htm High Flight]" written in 1941 by John Gillespie Magee Jr., an American pilot in the Second World War. Portions of this poem appear on the headstones of many interred in Arlington National Cemetery, particularly aviators and astronauts.

The title text alludes to the unfortunate film ''{{w|The Core}}'', involving, obviously, drilling to the center of the Earth. If there had been one extra line that declined much earlier than the others, its trajectory would point itself toward the center of the earth. Apparently, not even Newton could predict such a disaster.

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

{{comic discussion}}

980: Money

2018-06-21T19:17:36Z

Bobthecello: /* Dollars */

{{comic
| number = 980
| date = November 21, 2011
| title = Money
| image = money.png
| titletext = There, I showed you it.
}}
{{TOC}}

'''Note:''' Clicking on the image on xkcd (click the date above the comic to go to the comic on xkcd) takes you to an [http://xkcd.com/980/huge/ interactive] and '''much much''' larger image. 
On the interactive image there are two links: 
One takes you to the [http://xkcd.com/980/sources/ sources and downloads] page where a list of sources can be downloaded (DataDump.csv). 
Also the [http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/money_huge.png full image] can be downloaded here (it is a PNG of considerable size: 12528x8352 pixels). 
This is one of the comics that can be [http://store.xkcd.com/products/money-poster bought as a poster] on xkcd and the other link takes you there.

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|There is not much explanation of the individual items.}}
This is another [[:Category:Charts|chart]] comic - a type of comic that [[Randall]] does from time to time. He has for instance done [[Online Communities|maps of the Internet]] ([[Online Communities 2|twice]]!) and other huge visualizations like this chart [[Radiation]] with a similar structure as this chart but with Radiation as the subject. The Radiation chart is most likely the inspiration for this much more comprehensive Money chart.

In the chart there are five boxes with items on different scales of monetary value. Each scale of dollar increments are different colors. One dollar increments are green - naturally, because American paper money is green. Thousands are Orange/Red. Millions are gray. Billions are yellow. Trillions are blue. This comic uses {{w|Long and short scales|the short scale}} for naming large numbers (so a billion = 1000 millions = 109 rather than a million millions = 1012 as in continental Europe).

Because the comic is so huge and complex the explanation has been split into several parts and also individual pages:
:Below are [[#Tables with explanations|five tables]] with explanation for some of the items.
:The [[#Transcript|transcript]] is (as is usually the case with huge comics) only given for the text that is visible on the picture shown here above. 
:However the '''[[980: Money/Transcript|full transcript]]''' for all the text in the [http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/money_huge.png huge image] has also been completed.
:Finally some [[980: Money/Prices in tables|tables with prices]] has been made (although they are not yet complete).

In the Billions box there is a vague term called the "Economic Vortex" as well as arrows that flow between different blocks of this box. This is to show where the money goes. Where it is collected from, and where it is distributed to.

Included in one frame is a small man with a red and white striped shirt, blue pants, a cane and a knit cap. He is known as Wally or Waldo (in the US) from the {{w|Where's Wally?|Where's Waldo books}}. To not give anything away for those who wish to search for him themselves there will be no spoiler here. But if someone needs a little help... Then by clicking this [[980: Money/Transcript#Billions|link]] you will be directed to the relevant section amongst the five sections where Waldo can be found. (The link will take you to that section of the full transcript page). If you still cannot find him (or give up in advance) then just search the transcript page for Wally or Waldo.

The title text is a reference to the phrase "Show me the money!" which originates from the film ''{{w|Jerry Maguire}}''.

==Transcript==
:[This transcript is only reproducing text visible on the [http://www.xkcd.com/980/ front page comic].]
:[Title panel at the top left has one large heading, and then it is possible to read the first and third out of five lines (but not for instance the second line which is just the word "almost"):]
:'''Money''' 
:A chart of 
:all of it 
:[Below this there are 5 large panels, each with a series of plots, comparing the values of various things. The only clearly visible text is the title of each panel written in white on black background at the top of each panel] 
:[The first section covers single coffees up to the hourly salaries of CEOs. It is located below the title panel and there are a lot of green groups marked by unreadable text.]
:'''Dollars'''
:[The next section discusses values from around $1000 to $1,000,000, including a dissection of the song If I had $1000000. It is located directly below the Dollars section and has mainly orange groups (but also some gren) marked by unreadable text.]
:'''Thousands'''
:[The third section focuses on $1,000,000 to $1,000,000,000, with a large section on campaign contributions of American political presidential campaigns, values of expensive works of art, and J. K. Rowling. It is located to the right of the Thousands section below the Billions section and there are a lot of gray groups (but also some orange) marked by unreadable text.]
:'''Millions'''
:[The fourth section gets into larger scale finances, profits of various sectors, costs of natural disasters, and net worths of the richest people on the planet. Also, Donald Trump. It is located to the right of the Dollars section and above both the Millions and Trillions section and has mainly yellow groups (but also some gray and red) all marked by unreadable text. There are, however, a few large headings that can be read:]
:'''Billions'''
:Education
:The Economic (...?)
:US household income
:Federal budget
:[In the last panel global financial status is described. It discusses derivatives, liquid assets, public debt by nation and GDP by continent, culminating with the total economic production of the human race to date. It is located below the Billions section to the right of the Millions section and has mainly cyan groups (but also one yellow) all marked by unreadable text.]
:'''Trillions'''
:['''For the full transcript of the [http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/money_huge.png huge image] see [[980: Money/Transcript]].''']
==Trivia==
*XKCD comics are usually posted at, or around, midnight Eastern time the day of the comic (Monday, Wednesday, Friday). This one was posted at about noon on Monday
**The reason for this was that it was difficult to get it all finished in time, as was explained in the [[Blag]] post titled [http://blog.xkcd.com/2011/11/24/money-chart/ Money chart] released three days later.
**This post also states that this was the first big project he undertook after his [http://blog.xkcd.com/2011/06/30/family-illness/ fiancée was diagnosed] with breast [[:Category:Cancer|cancer]].
*Most of the amounts has a [http://xkcd.com/980/sources/ source at XKCDS]. In the dollars section there is an [[980: Money/Transcript#Important notes|important note]] that at every possible opportunity Randall used a scholarly work or government publication as a source.

==Tables with explanations==
===Dollars===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Dollars
|-
|Top-left
|The price of various common bills and commodities. The One Dollar Menu is a type of menu at various fast food restaurants. The one dollar bill and ten dollar bill are likely used for reference points. A Starbucks coffee actually ranges in price from $1.95 to $2.15 depending on the location.
|-
|Middle-left
|Pet Ownership. The {{w|ASPCA}} is the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The most expensive animal on this list may seem surprising; rabbits cost an average of 35 dollars more than dogs and 70 dollars more than cats.
|-
|Bottom-right
|Four boxes indicate that the CEO pay has skyrocketed from $490.31 (hourly) to $5,419.97 (hourly) in the same time period in which the average worker's salary has grown 10 cents.
|}

===Thousands===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Thousands
|-
|Top-right
|Hogwarts degree: a reference to {{w|Hogwarts|Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy}} from the popular book series by {{w|J.K. Rowling}} about {{w|Harry Potter}}.
One box is the estimated yearly tuition for the school and the next is how much seven years at the school would cost. To get a degree at the school, it takes 7 years (starting at age 11, ending at age 18).
|-
|Bottom
|A reference to the song by {{w|Bare Naked Ladies}} entitled "{{w|If I Had $1000000}}" and all the things referenced in the song to buy the love of another person.
|-
|Bottom
|A few items on the marriage of {{w|Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton|Kate Middleton and Prince William}}, the major royal wedding of 2011, including:
*a {{w|Wedding dress of Kate Middleton|wedding dress with its own Wikipedia page}} of 3 times the annual per capita income of the average UK person,
*an 8-tier [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1381944/Royal-Wedding-cake-Kate-Middleton-requested-8-tiers-decorated-900-flowers.html wedding cake],
*and the flowers for the wedding. These re-appear in the Millions section of the graph, where they also list the costs for the security around the event ($20 million).
|}

===Millions===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Millions
|-
|Left
|Dr. Evil's ransom demands from the film "Austin Powers" corrected for inflation between 1969 and 1997.
|-
|Middle-right
|Another reference to JK Rowling, comparing her (actual $1 billion) net worth as an author with her (imagined $82,000) net worth as a rapper.
The magnified 82 orange/red ($1,000) boxes are footnoted "Professional assessment by rapper/geek culture expert MC Frontalot." {{w|MC Front-A-Lot}} is the creator of the subgenre of {{w|hip-hop}} known as {{w|Nerd Core}}.
|-
|Middle
|An {{w|Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor|F-22 Raptor fighter jet}} (valued at $154.5M) is compared to a Velociraptor ($1.9M in production costs for the film Jurassic Park)
|}

===Billions===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Billions
|-
|Top-Left ((Fictional)Billionaires section)
|{{w|Carlisle Cullen}} is from the {{w|Twilight (series)|Twilight Series}} of books and movies. He is a vampire and adoptive father of {{w|Edward Cullen|Edward}}, {{w|Emmett Cullen|Emmett}} and {{w|Alice Cullen (Twilight)|Alice Cullen}}, as well as {{w|Rosalie Hale|Rosalie}} and {{w|Jasper Hale}}. He was born in the 1640s and amassed his wealth through many years of compound interest and investments.
|{{w|Scrooge McDuck}} is a cartoon character from many {{w|Disney}} properties including the afternoon cartoon, {{w|Duck Tales}}. Scrooge McDuck has a "money bin" full of coins and other sorts of collectibles that he routinely [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMU2NwaaXEA goes swimming in].
|{{w|Bruce Wayne}} is {{w|Batman}}. {{w|Batman}} is {{w|Bruce Wayne}}. He is portrayed in many comic books, graphic novels, TV shows and movies by many different actors.
|{{w|Artemis Fowl II|Artemis Fowl}} is an Irish child prodigy and a ruthless master criminal from the {{w|Artemis Fowl (series)|eponymous book series}}. He uses his intelligence to build his family fortune through crime.
|}

===Trillions===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Trillions
|-
|As Randall already indicated in the transcript, this is the block for world, continent and nation finances. The numbers are really huge. There are no jokes in here (apart from the fact that Randall tried to make the shapes of the GDP look like the continent), likely because financial values this large aren't funny to start with.
|-
|GDP is {{w|Gross domestic product}}, the market value of all goods and services produced in a nation.
*The major chart in the center shows the development of the GDP in the world since the 1940s. So far the US GDP has always grown, except for a small reduction in the early 1980s, a flat line around the 1991 global recession and a flat line in the second half of the naughts. The world-wide GDP is growing more rapidly, but is also much more volatile.
|-
|In the middle of the box, it shows the worth of all gold ever mined in 2011 prices. This is important because of the concept of the {{w|Gold standard}}, a concept where monetary values are linked to the value of gold. As indicated in the top-right of the box, both the EU and the USA have more debt than the total value of all gold in the world.
|-
|{{w|Derivative (finance)|Derivatives}} are a complex financial instrument where one is not trading in something tangible, but in derived values - like options. Derivatives thus are dangerous as one trades in concepts instead of values. Critics claim that derivatives are at the base of the 'economic bubble'.
*The growth of the derivatives market size is incredible - more than doubling every four years. The derivatives market thus is much larger than the GDP of the entire world.
*We get a reference to [http://landartgenerator.org/blagi/archives/127 a proposed project to power the world] by erecting massive solar farms out in the deserts. The area of Texas alone would be enough to match almost all of our modern power costs (though the people who live in Texas wouldn't enjoy being displaced).
|}

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Large drawings]]
[[Category:Charts]]
[[Category:Velociraptors]]
[[Category:Playpen balls]]
[[Category:Star Wars]]
[[Category:The Lion King]]
[[Category:Twilight]] 
[[Category:Climate change]] 
[[Category:Food]]
[[Category:Wikipedia]]

1221: Nomenclature

2018-04-16T13:06:02Z

Bobthecello: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1221
| date = June 5, 2013
| title = Nomenclature
| image = nomenclature.png
| titletext = [shouted, from the field] 'Aunt Beast hit a pop fly to second! Dive for it, Mrs Whatsit!'
}}

==Explanation==
Nomenclature can be defined as the devising or choosing of names for things. Here [[Randall]] connects three pop culture references that each contain one or more instances of ambiguous nomenclature based on pronouns: the "{{w|Who's on First?}}" skit, the "{{w|Doctor Who}}" television series, and in the title text also the novel "{{w|A Wrinkle in Time}}" by {{w|Madeleine L'Engle}}.

The comic references the famous "{{w|Who's on First?}}" skit by the American comedy duo {{w|Abbott and Costello}} in the 1930s. This [http://youtu.be/airT-m9LcoY video] is one of the original performances. Costello is the shorter character, with a round brimmed hat and baseball bat, while Abbott is taller and wearing a baseball cap. This reflects the [http://www.ramsheadgroup.com/files/2013/04/abbott-and-costello-whos-on-first.jpg most common image] associated with the skit. In the routine, Costello is confused by the nicknames the {{w|Baseball|ball}} players go by. The man playing first base goes by the name "Who", the man on second base goes by "What", and the one on third calls himself "I Don't Know". Costello asks "Who's on first?", inquiring the name of the first baseman, and Abbott replies "that's right", affirming that the first baseman's name is Who. Both parties become confused within a matter of seconds. This skit is also referenced in the 1975th comic, Right Click.

{{w|Doctor (Doctor Who)|The Doctor}} from the long-running British television series ''{{w|Doctor Who}}'' is often referred to as "Doctor Who" by people who [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/IAmNotShazam think the series' name and his name are the same] (although it should be noted that the name "Doctor Who" is not entirely incorrect; the character [https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSipAqHqoHH-Ma04kMV_d0rmCVD7p6co_iItlcmSXfOqt6BiCmGDQ was referred to as such in the end credits for several seasons]). In-universe, he often introduces himself as "The Doctor" which elicits the response "[http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/The_%22Doctor_Who%3F%22_running_joke Doctor who?]". His response to this question is "Just 'The Doctor'". [[Megan]] (or according to the [http://xkcd.com/1221/info.0.json original transcript], Mrs. Whatsit) appears to have interrupted the "Who's on First?" skit to clarify the confusion that the guy on first is not called "Who", but just "The Doctor".

The title text references the Madeleine L'Engle novel ''A Wrinkle in Time'', which has characters with similarly ambiguous names. The book's {{w|A Wrinkle in Time#Mrs Whatsit|Mrs. Whatsit}} appears to be on second base. "Aunt Beast" is a minor character in the novel from the planet of Ixchel.
And they are playing a real baseball game. "Aunt Beast" is the batter and hits a {{w|pop fly}} high in the air towards second base while "Mrs. Whatsit" (presumably playing second base, in place of "What") is being encouraged to dive to catch the ball before it hits the ground, to get the batter out. So both the players "Who" and "What" have been exchanged with other characters going under similar names.

==Transcript==
:[Mrs. Whatsit, a woman drawn as Megan with her hand held out, is talking to Abbott, a tall guy with a baseball cap and Costello, a short guy with a round brimmed hat and baseball bat. The names comes from the [http://xkcd.com/1221/info.0.json original transcript].]
:Mrs. Whatsit: You're both confused.
:Mrs. Whatsit: He's just "The Doctor".

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]
[[Category:Fiction]]
[[Category:Doctor Who]]
[[Category:Baseball]]

1970: Name Dominoes

2018-04-09T18:54:21Z

Bobthecello: /* Table of names */

{{comic
| number = 1970
| date = March 21, 2018
| title = Name Dominoes
| image = name_dominoes.png
| titletext = In competition, you can only play a name if you know who the person is. No fair saying "Frank ... Johnson. That sounds like a real person! Let me just Google him real quick."
}}

*A large version of the comic picture can be found [https://xkcd.com/1970/large/ here].
*A numbered version can be found [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/73/1970-_Name_Dominoes_-_The_large_image_with_numbers.jpg here].

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Some of the names at the bottom need to be explained, connections need to be finished, and some links are wrong (Maybe typo by an editor or a mistake on Randall's part? Needs to be sorted out). Good luck to the brave soul who manages to complete the table, and thanks in advance. Do NOT delete this tag too soon. }}

{{w|Dominoes}} is a family of boardgames played with rectangular "domino" tiles. A domino tile is divided into two squares, each displaying a number. Under most rules, a domino tile is placed on the table adjacent to another tile, and the adjacent ends must match in some way (usually by the number displayed on the touching ends). Randall's "name dominoes" shows a set of domino tiles with people's names instead of numbers, and adjacent tiles are matched by whether the closest name is the same (such as how Chris Evans' family name matches Evan Taylor Jones' given name).

The title text spells out a rule that a player may only place a tile if they know who that person is. This is a variation of a rule in {{w|Scrabble}}, where a player loses a turn if their chosen word don't survive a dictionary challenge over the validity of the word. This rule implies that players are allowed to create new name dominoes tiles and that it is not a fixed set. In this case the player that is challenged has used the name Frank Johnson of which there are {{w|Frank Johnson|12 exact matches}} on Wikipedia along with six with a middle name and more. (The player was likely trying to place a tile in the upper-right area of the board, in an attempt to connect the "Frank Vincent" and "Lyndon Johnson" dominoes. The move was subsequently made impossible when the "Francis Drake" domino was played.) In a google search as of the day the comic came out the first hit was {{w|Frank Johnson (basketball)|Frank Johnson}} who is a retired American professional basketball player and coach. Randall has made several [[:Category:Basketball|references to basketball]] in his comics.

A large board is covered in rectangular "dominoes" (271 pieces), with each domino bearing the name of a "well-known" person or character (fictional). The dominoes are arranged as if a game of dominoes were being played, but instead of the game requiring the number of spots of adjacent dominoes to match up, this game requires adjacent ''names'' to match up. Because most people have two or more names, different matches are made at each end of a domino. Fun fact is that two of the people are "named after" the game: {{w|Fats Domino}} and {{w|Domino Harvey}}.

The match can be exact (e.g., "Kevin" on one domino adjacent to "Kevin" on another), homonymic (e.g., "Klein" adjacent to "Kline"), or nickname-based (e.g., "James" adjacent to "Jimmy", which in turn is adjacent to "Jim"). Sometimes last names are matched up with first names (e.g., "{{w|Elizabeth Warren}}" adjacent to "{{w|Warren Beatty}}"), and in some cases only a single name is used (e.g., "{{w|Columbo}}", "{{w|Drake_(musician)|Drake}}", "{{w|Garfield_(character)|Garfield}}", "{{w|Prince_(musician)|Prince}}"). Singular names are represented by a half-size square "domino" (or "{{w|Polyomino|monomino}}"), with a few exceptions: "{{w|Garnet_(Steven_Universe)|Garnet}}" has a full-size tile (a complex reference explained below), and "{{w|Batman}}" and "{{w|Superman}}" have full-size tiles and are placed as though they were two-part names: the first square of "Superman" is matched with "Super", and the second square is matched with the second square of "Batman" (as though both characters had the last name "Man"). Some people have three or more names (e.g., "{{w|Frank Lloyd Wright}}") and have a 3-square domino tile (or "straight {{w|Tromino|tromino}}", 50% longer than normal) which permits matching to a middle name (e.g. "Frank Lloyd Wright" is matched to "{{w|Lloyd Alexander}}" and "{{w|Harold Lloyd}}").

The names come from a wide variety of fields: scientists (e.g., {{w|Isaac Newton}}), historical figures ({{w|George Washington}}), musicians ({{w|Drake (musician)|Drake}}), politicians ({{w|John Kerry}}), actors ({{w|Kevin Costner}}), writers ({{w|Washington Irving}}), fashion designers ({{w|Oscar de la Renta}}), and so on. Most of the names are real people but a few are fictional characters, including some non-human characters like {{w|Garfield_(character)|Garfield}} and {{w|Grover#Super_Grover|Super Grover}}. In one case the nick name for a company is used: {{w|Ma Bell}} aka Bell System.

One notable reference beyond just the use of a name is in the bottom left, there is the connection [ {{w|William Safire}} ][ Garnet ][ {{w|Jack Ruby|Ruby, Jack}} ]. The connection seems to be based on the fact that {{w|Sapphire}}, {{w|Garnet}} and {{w|Ruby}} are all {{w|gemstones}}, which does not match the implied rules of the game. This tile is a reference to the character {{w|Garnet_(Steven_Universe)|Garnet}} in the cartoon {{w|Steven Universe}}, who is a "fusion" formed by two Gems: Ruby and Sapphire. Thus, the name "Garnet" is treated as though it was two names "Ruby" and "Sapphire", requiring a two-square tile despite having a one-word name. Randall has previously made references to this universe in [[1608: Hoverboard]]. (See [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1608_1031x1095y_Steven_Universe_family_and_ice_cream_prediction.png this] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fa/1608_1077x1109y_Darth_Vaders_talks_about_Steven_Universe_on_the_bridge_Megan_adjust_antenna.png this] image from that comic).

Additionally, Ayn Rand, Paul Ryan and Rand Paul have been mentioned before, in the title text of [[1277: Ayn Random]]. That idea may have been the prototype for this.

In at least one case it is not entirely clear who is being referred to: "John Kelly" most likely refers to Gen. {{w|John F. Kelly}}, Donald Trump's chief of staff, but the name is extremely common and could equally refer to {{w|John Kelly|any number of people}}.

==Table of names==
*The number # refers to the numbers on this [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/73/1970-_Name_Dominoes_-_The_large_image_with_numbers.jpg numbered picture].
**Read more on this page:
***[[1970: Name Dominoes/Numbered images]]
*Wiki links not tested as they were set in only from the name in the comic.
**Spell checking...

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!style="width:15%"|Domino
!style="width:45%"|Notability and notes
!style="width:15%"|Connections
!style="width:20%"|Mode
!style="width:5%"|#
|-
|{{w|Christian Campbell}}
|Canadian American stage and screen actor, writer, and photographer. Most likely refers to the actor, but there are also a Trinidadian-Bahamian poet called {{w|Christian Campbell (poet)|Christian Campbell}}.
|Neve Campbell Naomi Campbell
|Last-Last Last-Last
|1
|-
|{{w|Neve Campbell}}
|Canadian actress, known for starring in the movie series {{w|Scream (1996 film)|Scream}}.
|Christian Campbell Joseph Campbell
|Last-Last Last-Last
|2
|-
|{{w|Joe McCarthy}}
|Joseph McCarthy, (also called {{w|Joseph_McCarthy#Legacy|Joe McCarthy}}), served as U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957. {{w|McCarthyism}} is named after him. It was the practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper regard for evidence, especially caused by fear of Communist influence during the beginning of the cold war. McCarthyism has its origins in the period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare, lasting roughly from 1947 to 1956.
|Eugene McCarthy Joseph Smith
|Last-Last First-First (approximate)
|3
|-
|{{w|Eugene McCarthy}}
|Eugene Joseph McCarthy was an American politician, poet, and a long-time Congressman from Minnesota. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1949 to 1959 and the United States Senate from 1959 to 1971. (He is not to be confused with the other Senator McCarthy, Joseph McCarthy, see #3)
|Joe McCarthy Gene Vincent
|Last-Last First-First (approximate)
|4
|-
|{{w|Gene Vincent}}
|American musician who pioneered the styles of rock and roll and rockabilly. His 1956 top ten hit with his Blue Caps, "Be-Bop-A-Lula", is considered a significant early example of rockabilly.
|Eugene McCarthy Gene Kelly Frank Vincent
|First-First (approximate) First-First Last-Last
|5
|-
|{{w|Gene Kelly}}
|American actor and dancer known primarily for musicals such as 'Singing in the rain'
|Gene Vincent John Kelly
|First-First Last-Last
|6
|-
|{{w|Kate Hudson}}
|Golden Globe-winning American actress. Won for playing Penny Lane in Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous in 2000.
|Rock Hudson Katherine Johnson
|Last-Last First-First (approximate)
|7
|-
|{{w|Rock Hudson}}
|American actor who was viewed as a prominent 'heartthrob' of the Hollywood Golden Age, staring as the lead man in many movies during the 1950s and 60s, among other {{w|Giant (1956 film)|Giant}}, James Deans last film, for which both where nominated for an Oscar in the best actor category. He later became known for his secret homosexual life. Hudson died from AIDS-related complications in 1985, becoming the first major celebrity to die from an AIDS-related illness.
|Katie Hudson The Rock
|Last-Last First-Last
|8
|-
|{{w|Gordon Brown}}
|British Prime Minister from 2007-2010.
|James Brown
|Last-Last
|9
|-
|{{w|James Brown}}
|American singer, known as the Godfather of Soul
|Gordon Brown John Brown James Newton Howard
|Last-Last Last-Last First-First
|10
|-
|{{w|John Brown (abolitionist)|John Brown}}
|American abolitionist who led an attack on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry. There are several other {{w|John Brown|John Browns}}.
|James Brown John Howard John Wayne
|Last-Last First-First First-First
|11
|-
|{{w|John Howard}}
|Australian politician. Served as 25th Prime Minister of Australia from 1996-2007. There are several other {{w|John Howard (disambiguation)|John Howards}} but this Prime Minister is by far the best known among them.
|John Brown Howard Stern
|First-First Last-First
|12
|-
|{{w|Columbo}}
|Fictional character. Homicide detective from American TV show "Columbo"; portrayed by actor Peter Falk.
|Chris Columbus
|Only-Last (approximate)
|13
|-
|{{w|Chris Columbus (filmmaker)|Chris Columbus}}
|Film director and screenwriter.
|Columbo Christopher Columbus Chris Hughes
|Last-Only (approximate) First-First (approximate) and Last-Last First-First
|14
|-
|{{w|Christopher Columbus}}
|Italian explorer. Credited with "discovering" the Americas in 1492 by leading voyages and establishing continued ties between Europe and the Americas.
|Chris Columbus
|First-First (approximate) and Last-Last
|15
|-
|{{w|Naomi Campbell}}
|British model and actress.
|Christian Campbell Joseph Campbell Naomi Klein
|Last-Last Last-Last First-First
|16
|-
|{{w|Joseph Campbell}}
|American author. Most known for his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces about the hero type found throughout world mythologies.
|Neve Campbell Naomi Campbell Joseph Smith
|Last-Last Last-Last First-First
|17
|-
|{{w|Joseph Smith}}
|American religious leader; founder of Mormonism. Publisher of The Book of Mormon.
|Joe McCarthy Joseph Campbell
|First-First (approximate) First-First
|18
|-
|{{w|Frank Vincent}}
|American actor.
|Gene Vincent Francis Drake
|Last-Last First-First (approximate)
|19
|-
|{{w|John Kelly}}
|White House Chief of Staff under President Donald Trump. Retired US Marine Corps general.
|Gene Kelly Katherine Johnson
|Last-Last First-Last (approximate)
|20
|-
|{{w|Katherine Johnson}}
|African-American mathematician at NASA. Calculated trajectories, launch windows, and flight paths for NASA moon missions and the Space Shuttle.
|Kate Hudson John Kelly Lyndon Johnson
|First-First (approximate) Last-First (approximate) Last-Last
|21
|-
|{{w|The Rock}}
|Nickname for Dwayne Johnson, a pro wrestler, and actor.
|Rock Hudson Chris Rock Oscar the Grouch
|Last-First Last-Last First-Middle
|22
|-
|{{w|Chris Rock}}
|American comedian.
|The Rock Chris Isaac
|Last-Last First-First
|23
|-
|{{w|Chris Isaac}}
|American musician.
|Chris Rock Isaac Newton
|First-First Last-First
|24
|-
|{{w|James Newton Howard}}
|American composer, conductor, music producer and musician.
|James Brown Isaac Newton Wayne Newton Wayne Howard
|First-First Middle-Last Middle-Last Last-Last
|25
|-
|{{w|John Wayne}}
|American actor, known primarily for roles in Westerns
|John Brown Wayne Newton
|First-First Last-First
|26
|-
|{{w|Howard Stern}}
|Radio talk show host. Known for {{w|The Howard Stern Show}}.
|John Howard Howard Hunt
|First-Last First-First
|27
|-
|{{w|Howard Hunt}}
|Former CIA operative, convicted for Watergate burglary.
|Howard Stern Helen Hunt
|First-First Last-Last
|28
|-
|{{w|Chris Hughes}}
|American entrepreneur who co-founded Facebook with Mark Zuckerberg.
|Chris Columbus Helen Hughes
|First-First Last-Last
|29
|-
|{{w|Naomi Watts}}
| Australian actress, born in Britain
|Naomi Klein James Watt (steam)
|First-First Last-Last (approximate)
|30
|-
|{{w|Naomi Klein}}
|Best known for the book "No Logo"
|Naomi Campbell Naomi Watts Kevin Kline
|First-First First-First Last-Last (approximate)
|31
|-
|{{w|Kevin Kline}}
|American actor
|Naomi Klein Kevin Bacon
|Last-Last (approximate) First-First
|32
|-
|{{w|Francis Bacon}}
|16th century English philosopher. Commonly credited with the phrase "knowledge is power".
|Francis Drake Kevin Bacon
|First-First Last-Last
|33
|-
|{{w|Francis Drake}}
|English privateer
|Frank Vincent Francis Bacon Frank Drake
|First-First (approximate) First-First First-First (approximate)
|34
|-
|{{w|Lyndon Johnson}}
|Former American president (1963-1969)
|Katherine Johnson
|Last-Last
|35
|-
|{{w|Oscar the Grouch}}
|A muppet who lives in a trash can from the children's TV show {{w|Sesame Street}}.
|The Rock Oscar Isaac
|Middle-Last First-First
|36
|-
|{{w|Oscar Isaac}}
|Actor.
|Oscar the Grouch Isaac Hayes Oscar de la Hoya
|First-First Last-First First-First
|37
|-
|{{w|Isaac Hayes}}
|American singer-songwriter
|Oscar Isaac Isaac Newton Sean Hayes
|First-Last First-First Last-Last
|38
|-
|{{w|Isaac Newton}}
|Well-known 15th century physicist who created the three laws of motion.
|Chris Isaac James Newton Howard Isaac Hayes
|First-Last Last-Middle First-First
|39
|-
|{{w|Wayne Newton}}
|Musician.
|James Newton Howard John Wayne Wayne Knight
|Last-Middle First-Last First-First
|40
|-
|{{w|Wayne Knight}}
|American actor best known for playing Newman in the TV show {{w|Seinfeld}}.
|Wayne Newton Wayne Brady
|First-First First-First
|41
|-
|{{w|Helen Hunt}}
|American actress
|Howard Hunt Helen Hughes Helen Thomas
|Last-Last First-First First-First
|42
|-
|{{w|Helen Hughes}}
|Australian economist
|Chris Hughes Helen Hunt
|Last-Last First-First
|43
|-
|{{w|James Watt|James Watt (Steam)}}
|Scottish inventor who perfected on the earlier Newcomen steam engine with a design that made it practical for widespread use and is credited with helping to usher in the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain. His name became the SI unit for power.
|Naomi Watts James Watt (Interior) Stephen James
|Last-Last (approximate) First-First and Last-Last First-Last
|44
|-
|{{w|James G. Watt|James Watt (Interior)}}
|U.S. Secretary of the Interior from 1981-1983
|James Watt (Steam)
|First-First and Last-Last
|45
|-
|{{w|Kevin Costner}}
|Academy Award-winning American actor.
|Kevin Bacon Kevin Love
|First-First First-First
|46
|-
|{{w|Kevin Bacon}}
|American actor. Known for {{w|Footloose (1984 film)|Footloose}}, and for {{w|Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon}}.
|Kevin Kline Francis Bacon Kevin Costner
|First-First Last-Last First-First
|47
|-
|{{w|Kevin Love}}
|Relatively famous and accomplished professional basketball player who won an NBA championship with the much more famous and accomplished LeBron James in Cleveland.
|Kevin Costner Kevin Smith
|First-First First-First
|48
|-
|{{w|Lisa Frank}}
|American businesswoman who founded {{w|Lisa Frank Incorporated}}.
|Frank Drake
|Last-First
|49
|-
|{{w|Frank Drake}}
|American astronomer and astrophysicist.
|Francis Drake Lisa Frank Drake
|Last-Last First-Last Last-Only
|50
|-
|{{w|Drake}}
|Grammy Award-winning Canadian rapper.
|Frank Drake
|Only-Last
|51
|-
|{{w|Oscar de la Renta}}
|Fashion designer.
|Oscar de la Hoya
|First-First
|52
|-
|{{w|Oscar de la Hoya}}
|Professional boxer who won multiple titles in different weight classes as well as an Olympic gold medal before his retirement in 2009.
|Oscar Isaac Oscar de la Renta
|First-First First-First
|53
|-
|{{w|Sean Hayes (actor)|Sean Hayes}}
|
|Isaac Hayes Wallace Shawn
|Last-Last First-Last (approximate)
|54
|-
|{{w|Wallace Shawn}}
|American actor. Vizzini in The Princess Bride
|George Wallace Charles Wallace Sean Hayes
|First-Last First-Last Last-First (approximate)
|55
|-
|{{w|Wayne Howard}}
|
|James Newton Howard Wayne Brady
|Last-Last First-First
|56
|-
|{{w|Wayne Brady}}
|American comedian, known for {{w|Whose Line Is It Anyway? (U.S. TV series)|Whose Line Is It Anyway?}}
|Wayne Howard Wayne Knight James Brady Tom Brady
|First-First First-First Last-Last Last-Last
|57
|-
|{{w|James Brady}}
|White House Press Secretary for US President Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) who was shot during an assassination attempt against Reagan in 1981. Subsequent gun control legislation known as the "Brady Bill" was named for him.
|Wayne Brady James Monroe
|Last-Last First-First
|58
|-
|{{w|Tom Brady}}
|Quarterback for the {{w|New England Patriots}}. Notable for winning 5 Super Bowls.
|James Brady Helen Thomas
|Last-Last First-Last (approximate)
|59
|-
|{{w|Helen Thomas}}
|
|Helen Hunt Tom Brady Tom Hanks
|First-First Last-Last (approximate) Last-Last (approximate)
|60
|-
|{{w|Tom Hanks}}
|Academy award winning actor. Known for {{w|Forrest Gump}}, {{w|Saving Private Ryan}}, {{w|Cast Away}}, and several other famous films.
|Helen Thomas Hank Aaron Hank Williams
|First-Last (approximate) Last-First (approximate) Last-First (approximate)
|61
|-
|{{w|Hank Aaron}}
|Former Major League Baseball player. Hit 755 career home runs, a record at the time.
|Tom Hanks Aaron Carter
|First-Last (approximate) Last-First
|62
|-
|{{w|Aaron Carter}}
|American singer.
|Hank Aaron
|First-Last
|63
|-
|{{w|Stephen James}}
|
|James Watt (Steam) Steve Harvey
|Last-First First-First (approximate)
|64
|-
|{{w|Will Smith}}
|American actor. Known for {{w|The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air}}
|Kevin Smith
|Last-Last
|65
|-
|{{w|Kevin Smith}}
|College football superstar for the {{w|University of Central Florida}} and a modestly successful professional.
|Will Smith Kevin Love Kevin James
|Last-Last First-First First-First
|66
|-
|{{w|Kevin James}}
|American actor. Known for {{w|Paul Blart: Mall Cop}}
|Kevin Smith James Saint James
|First-First Last-Last
|67
|-
|{{w|Garfield (character)|Garfield}}
|A fictional cat and the star of the eponymous ''{{w|Garfield}}'' comic by {{w|Jim Davis (cartoonist)|Jim Davis}}. Previously appeared in [[78: Garfield]].
|James Garfield
|Only-Last
|68
|-
|{{w|James Garfield}}
|20th President of the United States. Notably, he was assassinated after only 6 months.
|Garfield Etta James James Saint James
|Last-Only First-Last First-Last
|69
|-
|{{w|Warren Buffett}}
|Billionaire and CEO of {{w|Berkshire Hathaway}}.
|Jimmy Buffett Warren Beatty
|Last-Last First-First
|70
|-
|{{w|Jimmy Buffett}}
|American country musician.
|Etta James Warren Buffett Jim Jones
|First-Last (approximate) Last-Last First-First (approximate)
|71
|-
|{{w|Warren Beatty}}
|Actor.
|Warren Buffett Elizabeth Warren
|FIrst-First First-Last
|72
|-
|{{w|Elizabeth Warren}}
|Massachusetts Senator since 2013. Known for her work as a consumer rights activist.
|Warren Beatty Earl Warren Elizabeth Kolbert
|Last-First Last-Last First-First
|73
|-
|{{w|Earl Warren}}
|Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1953 to 1969. Presided over several landmark cases including ''Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka'' (ruled segregation of public schools unconstitutional), ''Reynolds v. Sims'' (electoral districts for state legislature must be equal in population), and ''Miranda v. Arizona'' (suspects detained by police must be informed of their rights as an accused).
|Elizabeth Warren James Earl Jones
|Last-Last First-Middle
|74
|-
|{{w|Elizabeth Kolbert}}
|
|Elizabeth Warren Stephen Colbert
|First-First Last-Last (approximate)
|75
|-
|{{w|Stephen Colbert}}
|American talk show host. Known for {{w|The Colbert Report}} and {{w|The Late Show with Stephen Colbert}}
|Elizabeth Kolbert
|Last-Last (approximate)
|76
|-
|{{w|George Wallace}}
|American politician, who initially supported, but later renounced racial segregation.
|Wallace Shawn
|Last-First
|77
|-
|{{w|Charles Wallace}}
|
|Wallace Shawn Charles Manson
|Last-First First-First
|78
|-
|{{w|James Monroe}}
|Founding father and Fifth president of the USA
|James Brady Marilyn Monroe
|First-First Last-Last
|79
|-
|{{w|Marilyn Monroe}}
|American actress and pin-up model from the 50s. She was immensely famous during her time, and unexpectedly committed suicide at age 36.
|James Monroe Marilyn Manson
|Last-Last First-First
|80
|-
|{{w|Hank Williams}}
|Country singer
|Tom Hanks William C. Williams Robin Williams
|First-Last (approximate) Last-Last Last-Last
|81
|-
|{{w|William C. Williams}}
|American poet closely associated with modernism and imagism.
|Hank Williams Billy D. Williams
|Last-Last First-First (approximate) and Last-Last
|82
|-
|{{w|Steve Harvey}}
|Host of {{w|Family Feud}}.
|Stephen James Domino Harvey
|First-First (approximate) Last-Last
|83
|-
|{{w|Domino Harvey}}
|
|Steve Harvey Harvey Milk Fats Domino
|Last-Last Last-First First-Last
|84
|-
|{{w|Harvey Milk}}
|American politician and gay rights activist.
|Domino Harvey
|First-Last
|85
|-
|{{w|James Saint James}}
|
|Kevin James James Garfield Jimmy John
|Last-Last Last-First First-First (approximate)
|86
|-
|{{w|Etta James|Etta James (1)}}
|Used again in 266
|James Garfield Jimmy Buffett
|Last-First Last-First (approximate)
|87
|-
|{{w|Jim Jones}}
|Cult leader behind the 1978 {{w|Jonestown}} mass suicide in Guyana.
|Jimmy Buffett James Earl Jones Tom Jones
|First-First (approximate) Last-Last Last-Last
|88
|-
|{{w|James Earl Jones}}
|American actor. Voiced {{w|Darth Vader}} in the original Star Wars.
|Earl Warren Jim Jones Quincy Jones James Earl Ray
|Middle-First Last-Last Last-Last First-First
|89
|-
|{{w|Charlie Parker}}
|Jazz musician.
|Ray Parker Jr. Charles Manson
|Last-Last First-First (approximate)
|90
|-
|{{w|Ray Parker Jr.}}
|Singer and songwriter who wrote and performed the theme song to the 1984 film {{w|Ghostbusters}}.
|Charlie Parker Man Ray Rachael Ray
|Last-Last First-Last First-Last
|91
|-
|{{w|Ray Charles}}
|American blues musician. Blind from the age of 7.
|Charles Manson Rachael Ray Ray Allen
|Last-First First-Last First-First
|92
|-
|{{w|Charles Manson}}
|Cult leader of the {{w|Manson Family}}. Convicted of 7 murders; used Beatles songs as bases.
|Charles Wallace Charlie Parker Ray Charles Marilyn Manson
|First-First First-First (approximate) First-Last Last-Last
|93
|-
|{{w|Marilyn Manson}}
|American musician. Known for esoteric performances.
|Marilyn Monroe Charles Manson
|First-First Last-Last
|94
|-
|{{w|Robin Williams}}
|American stand up comedian. Voiced the Genie in {{w|Aladdin (1992 Disney film)|Aladdin}}.
|Hank Williams Billy D. Williams Robin Wright
|Last-Last Last-Last First-First
|95
|-
|{{w|Billy D. Williams}}
|American actor best known for playing {{w|Lando Calrissian}} in ''{{w|The Empire Strikes Back}}'' and ''{{w|Return of the Jedi}}''.
|William C. Williams Robin Williams Will Wright
|First-First (approximate) and Last-Last Last-Last First-First (approximate)
|96
|-
|{{w|Will Wright}}
|
|Billy D. Williams Robin Wright Wilber Wright
|First-First (approxiate) Last-Last Last-Last
|97
|-
|{{w|Fats Domino}}
|Jazz musician.
|Domino Harvey Fatty Arbuckle
|Last-First First-First (approximate)
|98
|-
|{{w|Bill Clinton}}
|42nd president of the United States. His wife, {{w|Hillary Clinton}}, ran against {{w|Donald Trump}} in the 2016 presidential election and was Secretary of State.
|George Clinton
|Last-Last
|99
|-
|{{w|Jimmy John}}
|Founder of the sandwich shop chain Jimmy John's.
|James Earl Jones John Kerry
|First-First (approximate) Last-First
|100
|-
|{{w|Tom Jones}}
|Can refer to the Welsh Singer or to the fictional character from the book of the same name by Henry Fielding
|
|
|101
|-
|{{w|Tommy John}}
|Former baseball pitcher who had a surgical graft done to replace a blown ligament in his pitching elbow in 1974; the procedure is now called Tommy John surgery.
|
|
|102
|-
|{{w|Quincy Jones}}
|American Jazz musician
|
|
|103
|-
|{{w|James Earl Ray}}
|Killer of Martin Luther King Jr.
|
|
|104
|-
|{{w|Man Ray}}
|Photographer (Dada, Surrealism).
|
|
|105
|-
|{{w|Rachel Ray}}
|Celebrity chef.
|
|
|106
|-
|{{w|Ray Allen}}
|Professional basketball player who retired in 2013. Won two NBA championships with the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat, making him the second teammate of {{w|LeBron James}} to appear on this list.
|
|
|107
|-
|{{w|Tim Allen}}
|American comedic actor. Created and starred in the long running sitcom "Home Improvement". Voiced Buzz Lightyear in {{w|Toy Story}}.
|
|
|108
|-
|{{w|Tim Cook}}
|Current (as of the time of this comic) Chief Executive Officer of {{w|Apple, Inc.}}
|
|
|109
|-
|{{w|Tim Howard}}
|Former goalkeeper for the United States men's national soccer team. Holds the record for most saves made in a World Cup match (15 against Belgium in 2010).
|
|
|110
|-
|{{w|Robin Wright}}
|American actress, aka Robin Wright-Penn
|
|
|111
|-
|{{w|Wilbur Wright}}
|One of the two Wright Brothers (the other was Orville) who made the world's first powered flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1903.
|
|
|112
|-
|{{w|Fatty Arbuckle}}
|Comedian.
|
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|113
|-
|{{w|Fat Joe}}
|Real name Joseph Antonio Cartagena, rapper.
|
|
|114
|-
|{{w|George Clinton}}
|Could be either the {{w|George Clinton (vice president)|19th Century politician}} who served as Governor of New York and later as Vice President under {{w|Thomas Jefferson}} and {{w|James Madison}}, or the {{w|George Clinton (musician)|musician}} who rose to fame in the 1970's as one of the biggest acts in funk music and entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.
|
|
|115
|-
|{{w|John Kerry}}
|Secretary of State under {{w|Barrack Obama}}. Ran against {{w|George W. Bush}} in the 2004 presidential election.
|
|
|116
|-
|{{w|Kerry Washington}}
|Actress in the TV show Scandal.
|
|
|117
|-
|{{w|John Irving}}
|Author.
|
|
|118
|-
|{{w|John Quincy Adams}}
|Sixth president of the United States and son of John Adams.
|
|
|119
|-
|{{w|John Adams}}
|Second president of the United States and father of John Quincy Adams.
|
|
|120
|-
|{{w|Amy Adams}}
|
|
|
|121
|-
|{{w|Aimee Mann}}
|Singer/Songwriter.
|
|
|122
|-
|{{w|Superman}}
|Superhero owned by DC comics who can fly and have super strength/invincibility.
|
|
|123
|-
|{{w|Batman}}
|Superhero owned by DC comics.
|
|
|124
|-
|{{w|Ayn Rand}}
|Russian political author, known for {{w|Atlas Shrugged}}. XKCD frequently makes fun of Rand's philosophy.
|
|
|125
|-
|{{w|Lily Allen}}
|British singer-songwriter, sometime actress.
|
|
|126
|-
|{{w|Paul Allen}}
|Co-founder of {{w|Microsoft}} along with Bill Gates and current owner of several professional sports teams in the Pacific Northwest (Seattle Seahawks, Portland Trail Blazers, part of Seattle Sounders FC).
|
|
|127
|-
|{{w|Ron Howard}}
|Actor and director. Most famously acted in ''{{w|Happy Days}}''; later directed ''{{w|Apollo 13 (film)|Apollo 13}}''.
|
|
|128
|-
|{{w|Howard Hughes}}
|American business tycoon
|
|
|129
|-
|{{w|Joe Kennedy}}
|US ambassador to the United Kingdom and father of {{w|John F. Kennedy}}.
|
|
|130
|-
|{{w|George Bush}}
|{{w|George H. W. Bush}} and {{w|George W. Bush}} (father and son, respectively), were both presidents of the United States.
|
|
|131
|-
|{{w|George Washington}}
|First president of the United States, and general during the Revolutionary War.
|
|
|132
|-
|{{w|Washington Irving}}
|Short story author who wrote "{{w|Rip Van Winkle}}" and "{{w|The Legend of Sleepy Hollow}}"
|
|
|133
|-
|{{w|Martha Wasington}}
|Wife of George Washington.
|
|
|134
|-
|{{w|Ma Rainey}}
|
|
|
|135
|-
|{{w|Jack Ma}}
|
|
|
|136
|-
|{{w|Super Grover}}
|
|
|
|137
|-
|{{w|Jack Black}}
|Singer and actor.
|
|
|138
|-
|{{w|Rand Paul}}
|Republican senator from Kentucky; member of the {{w|Tea Party movement}}. Ran in the 2016 Republican presidential primary.
|
|
|139
|-
|{{w|Paul Ryan}}
|Republican representative from Wisconsin. Served as Speaker of the House at the time this comic was published.
|
|
|140
|-
|{{w|Paul Simon}}
|Singer.
|
|
|141
|-
|{{w|Ron Paul}}
|Libertarian politician. Known for running for president in many elections and mentioned often in xkcd.
|
|
|142
|-
|{{w|John Hughes}}
|Director famed for a series of 1980s coming of age movies including "Sixteen Candles", "The Breakfast Club", and "Pretty in Pink"
|
|
|143
|-
|{{w|Langston Hughes}}
|Writer.
|
|
|144
|-
|{{w|John F. Kennedy}}
|35th president of the United States. Known for his public assassination during a parade; subject to many conspiracy theories.
|
|
|145
|-
|{{w|Little Richard}}
|Early rock and roll singer known for his energetic and flamboyant style on songs such as "Tutti Frutti" and "Long Tall Sally"
|
|
|146
|-
|{{w|Rich Little}}
|American comedian known for his impressions of numerous celebrities and public figures
|
|
|147
|-
|{{w|Martha Stewart}}
|American TV personality. Convicted of insider trading in 2004.
|
|
|148
|-
|{{w|Yo Yo Ma}}
|Chinese cellist. Known for winning 18 Grammys; considered a child prodigy.
|
|
|149
|-
|{{w|Ma Bell}}
|Aka Bell System, the system of companies, led by the Bell Telephone Company and later by AT&T, which provided telephone services to much of the United States and Canada from 1877 to 1984.
|
|
|150
|-
|{{w|Grover Cleveland Alexander}}
|Pitcher named after the president; co-holds record for most wins by a pitcher in the National League (374).
|
|
|151
|-
|{{w|Grover Cleveland}}
|22nd and 24th president of the United States. Notably the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms.
|
|
|152
|-
|{{w|Jack White}}
|American musician. Part of {{w|The White Stripes}}.
|
|
|153
|-
|{{w|Jack Ryan}}
|Fictional character in the novels by Tom Clancy. Portrayed in Movies by Harrison Ford, Alec Baldwin, and Ben Affleck
|
|
|154
|-
|{{w|Debby Ryan}}
|
|
|
|155
|-
|{{w|Carly Simon}}
|Singer. "You're so vain" referenced on xkcd in <insert here>
|
|
|156
|-
|{{w|Carly Hughes}}
|
|
|
|157
|-
|{{w|Charles Evans Hughes}}
|
|
|
|158
|-
|{{w|John Williams}}
|American composer. Known for many famous movie soundtracks, including Star Wars and Harry Potter.
|
|
|159
|-
|{{w|Little John}}
|Fictional character in the Robin Hood Legend. Known for great stature and strength.
|
|
|160
|-
|{{w|Stuart Little}}
|Fictional character by E. B. White, an intelligent mouse.
|
|
|161
|-
|{{w|Potter Stewart}}
|
|
|
|162
|-
|{{w|Kristen Stewart}}
|American actress. Known for {{w|Twilight (2008 film)|Twilight}}.
|
|
|163
|-
|{{w|Kristen Bell}}
|American actress, known for various romantic comedies.
|
|
|164
|-
|{{w|Kristen Hooks}}
|
|
|
|165
|-
|{{w|Alexander Graham Bell}}
|Scottish inventor, credited with inventing the telephone.
|
|
|166
|-
|{{w|Franklin Graham}}
|
|
|
|167
|-
|{{w|Lloyd Alexander}}
|
|
|
|168
|-
|{{w|Meg White}}
|Drummer. The other half of The White Stripes.
|
|
|169
|-
|{{w|Meg Ryan}}
|American actress. Known for 'WHen Harry met Sally'
|
|
|170
|-
|{{w|Debbie Reynolds}}
|American singer and actress.
|
|
|171
|-
|{{w|John Reynolds}}
|
|
|
|172
|-
|{{w|Carly Fiorina}}
|Former CEO of {{w|Hewlett-Packard}}. Ran for president in the 2016 Republican primaries.
|
|
|173
|-
|{{w|Grace Lee Boggs}}
|
|
|
|174
|-
|{{w|Wade Boggs}}
|American baseball player. Played with the {{w|Boston Red Sox}}.
|
|
|175
|-
|{{w|William Safire}}
|Writer and publicist.
|
|
|176
|-
|{{w|Prince William}}
|Member of the British Royal Family. Second in line for succession to the throne.
|
|
|177
|-
|{{w|Little Prince}}
|One of the main characters of ''{{w|The Little Prince}}'', a novella by {{w|Antoine de Saint-Exupéry}}. The Little Prince has previously appeared in [[618: Asteroid]], as well as [http://what-if.xkcd.com/68 article 68] of ''[[what if?]]''.
|
|
|178
|-
|{{w|Harry Potter}}
|Fictional main character in the Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
|
|
|179
|-
|{{w|James Potter}}
|Fictional character, father of Harry Potter.
|
|
|180
|-
|{{w|James Hook}}
|Fictional character from 'Peter Pan'
|
|
|181
|-
|{{w|James Dean}}
|American actor and teen icon. Starred in the films "Rebel Without a Cause", "East of Eden" and "Giant" before his sudden death in a car accident
|
|
|182
|-
|{{w|Aretha Franklin}}
|Soul singer, first woman to be inducted into the hall of fame and performer of Respect.
|
|
|183
|-
|{{w|Frank Lloyd Wright}}
|American architect, known for his unconventional buildings such as Fallingwater and the Guggenheim.
|
|
|184
|-
|{{w|Barry White}}
|American soul singer known for his deep, rich voice on songs such as "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe"
|
|
|185
|-
|{{w|Walter White}}
|Main character from the TV show {{w|Breaking Bad}}.
|
|
|186
|-
|{{w|Walt Whitman}}
|American poet. {{w|Walt Whitman Bridge|A bridge in Philadelphia}} was named after him.
|
|
|187
|-
|{{w|John Kelly}}
|
|
|
|188
|-
|{{w|Grace Lee}}
|
|
|
|189
|-
|{{w|Nancy Grace}}
|
|
|
|190
|-
|{{w|Garnet_(Steven_Universe)|Garnet}}
|A {{w|garnet}} is a gem stone and the two names around here are {{w|William Safire}} (almost {{w|Sapphire}}) and {{w|Jack Ruby}} as in {{w|Ruby}}. But it is not just used because they are all {{w|gemstones}}. It is instead a reference to the character {{w|Garnet_(Steven_Universe)|Garnet}} in the cartoon {{w|Steven Universe}}. She is a "fusion" formed by two gems: Ruby and Sapphire, hence the legal connection in the Name Dominoes... Randall has previously made references to this universe in [[1608: Hoverboard]]. (See [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1608_1031x1095y_Steven_Universe_family_and_ice_cream_prediction.png this] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fa/1608_1077x1109y_Darth_Vaders_talks_about_Steven_Universe_on_the_bridge_Megan_adjust_antenna.png this] image from that comic).
|{{w|William Safire}} {{w|Jack Ruby}}
|Last-Only (as a Sapphire gem stone) Last-Only (as a Ruby gem stone) Both used to fuse together to Garnet.
|191
|-
|{{w|Prince (musician)|Prince}}
|American musician, part of the Rock and Roll hall of fame. He died two years prior to the release of this comic.
|
|
|192
|-
|{{w|Prince Fielder}}
|Professional baseball player who retired in 2016 after playing for the Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers, and Texas Rangers.
|
|
|193
|-
|{{w|Prince Harry}}
|Member of the British royal family. Fifth in line for succession to the throne.
|
|
|194
|-
|{{w|Harry Styles}}
|Singer from One Direction.
|
|
|195
|-
|{{w|John Dean}}
|
|
|
|196
|-
|{{w|Benjamin Franklin}}
|One of the founding fathers of the United States. Credited with "discovering" electricity by flying a kite in a thunderstorm.
|
|
|197
|-
|{{w|Harrold Lloyd}}
|
|
|
|198
|-
|{{w|Harrold Ford}}
|
|
|
|199
|-
|{{w|Betty White}}
|American comedian. Known as the only surviving member of the {{w|The Golden Girls}}.
|
|
|200
|-
|{{w|Meg Whitman}}
|American business executive, former CEO of eBay and Hewlett Packard, unsuccessful candidate for California governor in 2010
|
|
|201
|-
|{{w|Christine Todd Whitman}}
|Governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001, then served as Director of the Environmental Protection Agency under {{w|George W. Bush}} from 2001 to 2003.
|
|
|202
|-
|{{w|Megyn Kelly}}
|American TV news anchor. Worked for Fox news until 2017, then switched to NBC.
|
|
|203
|-
|{{w|Grace Kelly}}
|American actress and Princess of Monaco
|
|
|204
|-
|{{w|Grace Jones}}
|Singer and actress.
|
|
|205
|-
|{{w|Jack Nicholson}}
|Actor who has appeared in many films from ''{{w|The Shining (film)}}'' (as Jack Torrance) to ''{{w|Batman (1989 film)}}'' (as the Joker) to ''{{w|A Few Good Men}}'' (as Colonel Jessup).
|
|
|206
|-
|{{w|Jack Ruby}}
|Jack Ruby is known for shooting and killing {{w|Lee Harvey Oswald}} on national television. Oswald was the prime suspect in the {{w|assassination of John F. Kennedy}}. Ruby's involvement is the subject of many conspiracy theories.
|
|
|207
|-
|{{w|Jack Russel}}
|
|
|
|208
|-
|{{w|Harry Fielder}}
|
|
|
|209
|-
|{{w|Harry Truman}}
|33rd president of the United States. Known for authorizing the use of atomic weapons against Japan at the end of World War 2.
|
|
|210
|-
|{{w|Harry Jon Benjamin}}
|
|
|
|211
|-
|{{w|John Edward}}
|
|
|
|212
|-
|{{w|Benjamin Harrison}}
|23rd president of the United States
|
|
|213
|-
|{{w|Harrison Ford}}
|American actor. Known for playing Han Solo in the ''{{w|Star Wars}}'' films and the titular character in the ''{{w|Indiana Jones}}'' films.
|
|
|214
|-
|{{w|Henry Ford}}
|Founder of the {{w|Ford Motor Company}}. Credited with inventing the assembly line.
|
|
|215
|-
|{{w|Betty Ford}}
|Wife of Gerald Ford, 38th president of the United States.
|
|
|216
|-
|{{w|Betty Friedan}}
|
|
|
|217
|-
|{{w|Chris Christie}}
|Governor of New Jersey from 2010 to 2018. Ran for president in the Republican primaries in 2016.
|
|
|218
|-
|{{w|Chris Pratt}}
|American actor. Known for {{w|Parks and Recreation}}
|
|
|219
|-
|{{w|Maggie Grace}}
|
|
|
|220
|-
|{{w|Grace Hopper}}
|American computer scientist. Helped develop the {{w|COBOL}} programming language.
|
|
|221
|-
|{{w|Russel Crowe}}
|Australian actor. (s/be Russell?)
|
|
|222
|-
|{{w|Russ Smith}}
|
|
|
|223
|-
|{{w|John Smith}}
|John Smith is the most common name in the United States. {{w|John Smith|See Wikipedia}} for a list of people this may refer to.
|
|
|224
|-
|{{w|Justin Long}}
|
|
|
|225
|-
|{{w|John Bel Edwards}}
|
|
|
|226
|-
|{{w|John Candy}}
|Canadian comedian and actor. Known for {{w|Spaceballs}}.
|
|
|227
|-
|{{w|John Henry}}
|American folk hero
|
|
|228
|-
|{{w|Henry James}}
|American author known for works including "The Turn of the Screw" and "The Portrait of a Lady"
|
|
|229
|-
|{{w|Bill James}}
|
|
|
|230
|-
|{{w|Chris Cooper}}
|
|
|
|231
|-
|{{w|Chris Hemsworth}}
|Actor.
|
|
|232
|-
|{{w|Chris Evans}}
|
|
|
|233
|-
|{{w|Topher Grace}}
|
|
|
|234
|-
|{{w|Van Morrison}}
|Irish singer best known for the song "Brown Eyed Girl"
|
|
|235
|-
|{{w|Sheryl Crow}}
|American singer and session musician
|
|
|236
|-
|{{w|Sheryl Sandberg}}
|
|
|
|237
|-
|{{w|Cameron Crow}}
|
|
|
|238
|-
|{{w|Long John Silver}}
|Fictional antagonist from {{w|Treasure Island}}.
|
|
|239
|-
|{{w|Olivia Newton John}}
|American actress. Known for ''Grease''
|
|
|240
|-
|{{w|Huey Long}}
|Governor of Louisiana from 1928 to 1932, and US Senator from 1932 until his assassination in 1935. Known for his "Share Our Wealth" proposal to address the hard economic conditions of the Great Depression.
|
|
|241
|-
|{{w|John Edwards}}
|American politician. Democratic candidate for presidential nomination in 2004 and 2008.
|
|
|242
|-
|{{w|Candy Crowley}}
|
|
|
|243
|-
|{{w|Alestier Crowley}}
|English occultist and author
|
|
|244
|-
|{{w|James Fenimore Cooper}}
|Author of ''{{w|The Last of the Mohicans}}''.
|
|
|245
|-
|{{w|James Cook}}
|18th century British explorer, navigator, cartographer, and captain in the Royal Navy.
|Alistair Cooke Cokie Roberts Alistair Cookie James Fenimore Cooper
|Last-Last (approximate) Last-First (approximate) Last-Last (approximate) First-First
|246
|-
|{{w|Robert Frost}}
|19th century American poet, named Poet Laureate of Vermont in 1922 by the Vermont State League of Women's Clubs, and in 1961 by the Vermont State legislature
|
|
|247
|-
|{{w|Bob Evans}}
|
|
|
|248
|-
|{{w|Evan Tayler Jones}}
|
|
|
|249
|-
|{{w|Van Jones}}
|
|
|
|250
|-
|{{w|James Cameron}}
|American director. Known for {{w|Terminator}} and {{w|Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic}}.
|
|
|251
|-
|{{w|Cam Newton}}
|Quarterback for the {{w|Carolina Panthers}}.
|
|
|252
|-
|{{w|Cameron Diaz}}
|American actress. Voiced Fiona in {{w|Shrek}}.
|
|
|253
|-
|{{w|Huey Newton}}
|Co-founder of the Black Panthers.
|
|
|254
|-
|{{w|Huey Lewis}}
|Lead singer for the band Huey Lewis and the News.
|
|
|255
|-
|{{w|John Lewis}}
|
|
|
|256
|-
|{{w|Jenny Lewis}}
|
|
|
|257
|-
|{{w|Ryan Lewis}}
|
|
|
|258
|-
|{{w|Burt Reynolds}}
|American actor. Known for a wide variety of western and/or action films.
|
|
|259
|-
|{{w|Alistair Cooke}}
|Name misspelled Alistiar Cooke in the comic.
|
|
|260
|-
|{{w|Monsterpiece_Theater#Alistair_Cookie|Alistair Cookie}}
|A parody of Alistair Cooke "played" by Cookie Monster in the Sesame Street sketch "Monsterpiece Theatre" in the 1980s, a parody of the PBS series "Masterpiece Theatre".
|James Cook Alastair Reynolds
|Last-Last (approximate) First-First (approximate)
|261
|-
|{{w|Cokie Roberts}}
|National Public Radio (NPR) political correspondent known for her recurring segment "Ask Cokie" in which she answers listener submitted questions.
|
|
|262
|-
|{{w|John Roberts}}
|Current Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court at the time of the comic's publication.
|
|
|263
|-
|{{w|Robert Johnson}}
|Delta blues guitar legend.
|
|
|264
|-
|{{w|Robert E. Lee}}
|Confederate general during the {{w|American Civil War}}.
|
|
|265
|-
|{{w|Tommy Lee}}
|Drummer for the rock band Mötley Crüe
|
|
|266
|-
|{{w|Tommy Lee Jones}}
|American actor known for 'The Fugitive'
|
|
|267
|-
|{{w|Etta James|Etta James (2)}}
|Used first time in 86
|
|
|268
|-
|{{w|John Oliver}}
|American talk show host. Known for {{w|Last Week Tonight}}.
|
|
|269
|-
|{{w|Ryan Reynolds}}
|Canadian actor. Known for several romantic comedies, and {{w|Deadpool (film)|Deadpool}}.
|
|
|270
|-
|{{w|Alastair Reynolds}}
|SF writer.
|
|
|271
|}

==Transcript==
:[This comic a large grid, 27 units wide and 35 units high, with 271 black "domino" tiles. On each tile there is a name written with white text. The grid is arranged so that each touching side corresponds with the first or last name of another person (or at least there are some kind of relation between the names on the end of connecting tiles). Some of the domino tiles are rotated 90, 180 or 270 degrees so the text is either to be read down, up-side down or up. The names on the tiles are listed here below in approximate reading order, thus staring top left and moving over the grid from left to right and down. Each swipe left to right covers approximately tiles that are within a span of one standard tile in height. To be exact it lists the names in the order they were numbered in this [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/73/1970-_Name_Dominoes_-_The_large_image_with_numbers.jpg image]. One name is used twice, Etta James.]
:Christian Campbell
:Neve Campbell
:Joe McCarthy
:Eugene McCarthy
:Gene Vincent
:Gene Kelly
:Kate Hudson
:Rock Hudson
:Gordon Brown
:James Brown
:Jon Brown
:John Howard
:Columbo
:Chris Columbus
:Christopher Columbus
:Naomi Campbell
:Joseph Campbell
:Joseph Smith
:Frank Vincent
:John Kelly
:Katherine Johnson
:The Rock
:Chris Rock
:Chris Isaac
:James Newton Howard
:John Wayne
:Howard Stern
:Howard Hunt
:Chris Hughes
:Naomi Watts
:Naomi Klein
:Kevin Kline
:Francis Bacon
:Francis Drake
:Lyndon Johnson
:Oscar the Grouch
:Oscar Isaac
:Isaac Hayes
:Isaac Newton
:Wayne Newton
:Wayne Knight
:Helen Hunt
:Helen Hughes
:James Watt (Steam)
:James Watt (Interior)
:Kevin Costner
:Kevin Bacon
:Kevin Love
:Lisa Frank
:Frank Drake
:Drake
:Oscar de la Renta
:Oscar de la Hoya
:Sean Hayes
:Wallace Shawn
:Wayne Howard
:Wayne Brady
:James Brady
:Tom Brady
:Helen Thomas
:Tom Hanks
:Hank Aaron
:Aaron Carter
:Stephen James
:Will Smith
:Kevin Smith
:Kein James
:Garfield
:James Garfield
:Warren Buffett
:Jimmy Buffett
:Warren Beatty
:Elizabeth Warren
:Earl Warren
:Eliabeth Kolbert
:Stephen Colbert
:George Wallace
:Charles Wallace
:James Monroe
:Marilyn Monroe
:Hank Williams
:William C. Williams
:Steve Harvey
:Domino Harvey
:Harvey Milk
:James Saint James
:Etta James
:Jim Jones
:James Earl Jones
:Charlie Parker
:Ray Parker Jr.
:Ray Charles
:Charles Manson
:Marilyn Manson
:Robin Williams
:Billy D. Williams
:Will Wright
:Fats Domino
:Bill Clinton
:Jimmy John
:Tom Jones
:Tommy John
:Quincy Jones
:James Earl Ray
:Man Ray
:Rachel Ray
:Ray Allen
:Tim Allen
:Tim Cook
:Tim Howard
:Robin Wright
:Wilbur Wright
:Fatty Arbuckle
:Fat Joe
:George Clinton
:John Kerry
:Kerry Washington
:John Irving
:John Quincy Adams
:John Adams
:Amy Adams
:Aimee Mann
:Superman
:Batman
:Ayn Rand
:Lily Allen
:Paul Allen
:Ron Howard
:Howard Hughes
:Joe Kennedy
:George Bush
:George Wasington
:Wasington Irving
:Martha Wasington
:Ma Rainey
:Jack Ma
:Super Grover
:Jack Black
:Rand Paul
:Paul Ryan
:Paul Simon
:Ron Paul
:John Hughes
:Langston Hughes
:John F. Kennedy
:Little Richard
:Rich Little
:Martha Stewart
:Yo Yo Ma
:Ma Bell
:Grover Cleveland Alexander
:Grover Cleveland
:Jack White
:Jack Ryan
:Debby Ryan
:Carly Simon
:Carly Hughes
:Charles Evans Hughes
:John Williams
:Little John
:Stuart Little
:Potter Stewart
:Kristen Stewart
:Kristen Bell
:Kristen Hooks
:Alexander Graham Bell
:Franklin Graham
:Lloyd Alexander
:Meg White
:Meg ryan
:Debbie Reynolds
:John Reynolds
:Carly Fiorina
:Grace Lee Boggs
:Wade Boggs
:William Safire
:Prince William
:Little Prince
:Harry Potter
:James Potter
:James Hook
:James Dean
:Aretha Franklin
:Frank Lloyd Wright
:Barry White
:Walter White
:Walt Whitman
:John Kelly
:Grace Lee
:Nancy Grace
:Garnet
:Prince
:Prince Fielder
:Prince Harry
:Harry Styles
:John Dean
:Benjamin Franklin
:Harrold Lloyd
:Harrold Ford
:Betty White
:Meg Whitman
:Christine Todd Whitman
:Megyn Kelly
:Grace Kelly
:Grace Jones
:Jack Nicholson
:Jack Ruby
:Jack Russel
:Harry Fielder
:Harry Trueman
:Harry Jon Benjamin
:John Edward
:Benjamin Harrison
:Harrison Ford
:Henry Ford
:Betty Ford
:Betty Friedan
:Chris Christie
:Chris Pratt
:Maggie Grace
:Grace Hopper
:Russel Crowe
:Russ Smith
:John Smith
:Justin Long
:John Bel Edwards
:John Candy
:John Henry
:Henry James
:Bill James
:Chirs Cooper
:Chirs Hemsworth
:Chirs Evans
:Topher Grace
:Van Morrison
:Sheryl Crow
:Sheryl Sandberg
:Cameron Crow
:Long John Silver
:Olivia Newton John
:Huey long
:John Edwards
:Candy Crowley
:Alestier Crowley
:James Fenimore Cooper
:James Cook
:Robert Frost
:Bob Evans
:Evan Tayler Jones
:Van Jones
:James Cameron
:Cam Newton
:Cameron Diaz
:Huey Newton
:Huey Lewis
:John Lewis
:Jenny Lewis
:Ryan Lewis
:Burt Reynolds
:Alistiar Cooke
:Alistair Cookie
:Cokie Roberts
:John Roberts
:Robert Johnson
:Robert E. Lee
:Tommy Lee
:Tommy Lee Jones
:Etta James
:John Oliver
:Ryan Reynolds
:Alastair Reynolds

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Large drawings]]