explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

1126: Epsilon and Zeta

2014-02-12T09:00:43Z

Charlesisbozo:

{{comic
| number = 1126
| date = October 26, 2012
| title = Epsilon and Zeta
| image = epsilon and zeta.png
| titletext = The average error in the NHC forecasted position of a hurricane three days in the future has shrunk to a third of what it was in 1990--a staggering accomplishment. However, as you may have gathered, forecasts of future storm *strength* have proved more difficult to improve.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Incomplete because no proper explain is given. The links have to be removed from the transcript and should belong to the explain.}}
The {{w|Atlantic hurricane season}} ''normally'' runs from June to November. [[Randall]] is imagining the situation in the {{w|National Hurricane Center}} when the {{w|2005 Atlantic hurricane season|2005 season}} was extended more than a month by the appearance of {{w|Hurricane Epsilon}} and {{w|Tropical Storm Zeta}}. He imagines the situation as NOAA meterologists watch with amazement (and increasing annoyance as they were presumably unable to move off to other things such as post-season analysis) as Hurricane Epsilon and Zeta, far beyond the normal end-of-season (November 30th).

The monospaced text in most of the panels is material taken from actual NHC reports [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al292005.discus.026.shtml][http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al292005.discus.027.shtml][http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al292005.discus.028.shtml] from that season. The commentary has been edited to fit the comic's format, but it's otherwise faithful to the actual reports. While the only change to Forecaster 1 is when he's celebrating New Year's Eve, Forecaster 2 is visibly losing it after the appearance of Zeta in late December, with unkempt hair and an unshaven beard.

The [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al302005.discus.030.shtml last report of the 2005 season] was issued on January 6, 2006.

A full analysis of the 2005 hurricane season can be found [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/2005.pdf here].

Randall [[453|has discussed]] the seemingly erratic nature of hurricanes before. This may, however, have been a response to the recent {{w|Hurricane Sandy}}.

The text also seems to be a parody of horror stories/movies, and their theme of writing.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|The links have to be removed from the transcript and should be explained at explain.}}
:Narrator: The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season saw devastating storms like Katrina and Rita. But less well-remembered is just how ''strange'' the season got toward the end. The forecasters at the National Hurricane Center are the best of the best. Their predictions are masterpieces of professional analysis. But in November 2005, out in the center of the Atlantic -- far from any land -- the atmosphere stopped making sense. And the forecasters -- who'd expected the season to be long over by now -- started to get a little ... unhinged. This is their story, as seen through the actual 2005 NHC advisories:

:Report: [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al292005.discus.001.shtml? Tuesday, November 29th, 2005:] Tropical storm Epsilon... The 26th named storm of apparently never ending 2005 Atlantic hurricane season.

:[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al292005.discus.007.shtml? 10 PM Wed:] The window of opportunity for strengthening should close in 12-24 hr.

:[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al292005.discus.010.shtml? 4 PM Thu:] Slow but steady weakening is expected to begin in 12-24 hours.

:[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al292005.discus.012.shtml? 4 AM Fri:] Epsilon does not appear weaker.
:[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al292005.discus.013.shtml? 10 AM Fri:] Epsilon has been upgraded to a 65-kt hurricane.
:[Forcaster 2: ??]

:Report: [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al292005.discus.018.shtml? 4 PM Sat:] Epsilon has continued to strengthen against all odds ... [but] can not maintain the current intensity much longer since the environment is becoming increasingly unfavorable.
:[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al292005.discus.019.shtml? 10 PM Sat:] Epsilon might or might not still be a hurricane ... but in any case it likely will not be one on Sunday.

:[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al292005.discus.020.shtml? 4 AM Sun:] Epsilon is downgraded to a tropical storm.
:[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al292005.discus.021.shtml? 10 AM Sun:] Morning satellite images indicate that Epsilon has restrengthened.
:There are no clear reasons ... and I am not going to make one up ... to explain the recent strengthening of Epsilon and I am just describing the facts.
:However ... I still have to make an intensity forecast and the best bet at this time is to predict weakening ... Epsilon will likely become a remnant low.
:I heard that before about Epsilon ... haven't you?

:[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al292005.discus.026.shtml? 4 PM Mon:] The cloud pattern continues to be a remarkably well-organized for a hurricane at such high latitude in December.
:[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al292005.discus.027.shtml? 10 PM Mon:] We have said this before ... but Epsilon really does not appear as strong this evening as it did this afternoon.

:[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al292005.discus.028.shtml? 4 AM Tue:] I have run out of things to say.
:[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al292005.discus.032.shtml? 10 PM Tue:] The end is in sight. It really really is. But in the meantime ... Epsilon continues to maintain hurricane status.

:[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al292005.discus.031.shtml? 4 AM Wed:] The end is in sight ... yes ... but not quite yet. I thought I was going to find a weakening system and instead I found that Epsilon is still a hurricane.

:[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al292005.discus.037.shtml? 10 AM Thu:] Convection has vanished and Epsilon is now a tight swirl of low clouds.
:I hope this is the end of the long lasting 2005 hurricane season.

:Narrator: Nope.

:ENTER TROPICAL STORM ZETA
:Report: [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al302005.discus.001.shtml? Friday, December 30th, 2005:] An elongated area of low pressure ... which had its origins in an old frontal trough ... began developing organized convection overnight. Advisories are initiated on the 27th tropical storm of 2005.

:Narrator: ANY NEW STORMS WOULD BE IN THE 2006 SEASON
:Report: [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al302005.discus.002.shtml? 4 PM Fri:] Although the atmosphere seems to want to develop tropical storms ad nauseam ... the calendar will shortly put an end to the use of the Greek alphabet to name them.

:Narrator: BUT 2005's WOULDN'T END UNTIL ZETA DID.
:Report: [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al302005.discus.007.shtml? 10 PM Sat:] Zeta appeared on the verge of losing all of its deep convection a few hours ago... but since about 21z the convection has been on somewhat of an increase again.

:[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al302005.discus.011.shtml? 10 PM Sun:] This is like Epsilon all over again. most of the conventional guidance suggested that Zeta should have been dissipated by now...well it is not indeed...and Zeta is pretty much alive at this time. ... I have no choice but to forecast weakening again and again.

:[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al302005.discus.014.shtml? 4 AM Mon:] By 24-36 hours... a significant increase in westerly winds... should act to shear away most of the associated convection... and finally bring the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season to a merciful ending.

:[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al302005.discus.014.shtml? 4 PM Mon:] It is hard to conceive that a tropical cyclone will be able to survive for very long in such a hostile environment. Therefore I have not backed off on the forecast of weakening. (of course...Zeta may have other ideas.)

:[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al302005.discus.015.shtml? 10 PM Mon:] Zeta is stronger than yesterday.

:[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al302005.discus.021.shtml? 10 AM Wed:] As you can see...I ran out of things to say.

:[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al302005.discus.024.shtml? 4 AM Thu:] Satellite intensity estimates have decreased ... Zeta is downgraded to a 30 kt tropical depression.

:[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al302005.discus.025.shtml? 10 AM Thu:] Shortly after the previous advisory had been issued ... regretfully...the intensity increased to 35 kt and Zeta is a tropical storm once again.

:[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al302005.discus.027.shtml? 10 PM Thu:] Although it seems as if Zeta will never die...the forecast continues to show weakening.

:[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al302005.discus.030.shtml? 4 PM, Friday, January 6, 2006:] Zeta no longer meets the criteria of a tropical cyclone... which means that both it and the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season have ended. ... this is the National Hurricane Center signing off for 2005.

:[Forecaster 2 leaves]

:Forecaster 1: Actually, Zeta's cloud pattern is...
:Forecaster 2 (offscreen): '''''NO.'''''
:Forecaster 1: Ok.

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

Talk:1219: Reports

2013-06-02T12:45:54Z

Charlesisbozo:

Shouldn't it be 2000th St? --[[Special:Contributions/81.23.24.56|81.23.24.56]] 06:41, 31 May 2013 (UTC)

Shouldn't it be a 25,000 mi/h speed limit if multiplied by 1000? Afterall, I have never heard of a 2.5 mi/h speed limit... Think I could get a speeding ticket whilst walking with that limit. Definitely while jogging. [[Special:Contributions/99.195.243.220|99.195.243.220]] 07:04, 31 May 2013 (UTC) Aaron

:I've seen 5 kph (around 3 mph) speed limit. It was in parks and we were supposed to run timed laps. Interestingly, in order to get through the minimum, you had to break the speed limit.--[[User:Charlesisbozo|Charlesisbozo]] ([[User talk:Charlesisbozo|talk]]) 12:45, 2 June 2013 (UTC)

Lol exactly the first two comments I had in mind were made here. [[Special:Contributions/80.101.91.220|80.101.91.220]] 07:07, 31 May 2013 (UTC)
:Also beaten to the 25,000 comment. The lowest I've think I've ever seen indicated is 5mph (mostly in car parks) and except in one locale(1) that's wishful thinking at best, given that at this point you find that on an analogue standard speedo that potentially sweeps far further(2), it's definitely a crap-shoot as to whether you're able to hover the needle barely off of the zero-stop with any accuracy... Even assuming reasonable calibration at the higher speeds. I suspect that 5km/h (3.1-ish mph(3)) might be the minimum I've seen in metric-tied countries, making that just an arbitrary low figure.
:(1) A local bus station that has "Your speed is..." matrices to show a presumably calibrated digital measurement to the drivers of any said bus entering/exiting the site, and flashes in red if they exceed this. Not sure if there's a penalty accumulation, but I suspect there'd be the capability to link to the CCTV systems that also cover the site so that post-incident enquiries would record any driver errors should the worst come to the (painfully slow) worst.
:(2) 120mph on smaller cars, 240mph or more on anything that promises way-over-the-top performance for a country with a top-end national speed limit of 70mph in force. Not that anyone believes that, but even the unofficial publicly-used "I'll get away with it..." 80mph line is 1/3rd of 240. Of course they could go over to Germany to try out on the unlimited Autobahns, or burn rubber at a 'track day' somewhere, but still it irks me that people think like that...
:(3) I can never remember the 'standard' conversion factor. I just remember that it's 93 million miles to the Sun or 150 million kilometres and work it out from that. ;) [[Special:Contributions/178.98.255.57|178.98.255.57]] 08:14, 31 May 2013 (UTC)

So, anyway, I put my hand to writing an explanation, making it impressively brief compared with what I usually write (see above). I've put some <nowiki></nowiki> in, especially next to the potentially disputed numbers, so that future editors can zero in on things that I think might need to be changed, or could be expanded upon. Or redo it all from scratch, as I probably won't notice anyway. ;) [[Special:Contributions/178.98.255.57|178.98.255.57]] 09:20, 31 May 2013 (UTC)

Looks like Randall corrected his title-text. So I completed the necessary edit (half done already, with the edit comment "(2500 / 100 = 25, not 2.5)", which I won't argue with...) and removed the related comments. Tempted to add an "in the original version..." addendum, but then anyone who's bothered with that sort of detail has read up to here in the Talk bit, right? ;) [[Special:Contributions/178.98.255.57|178.98.255.57]] 17:25, 31 May 2013 (UTC)

Talk:1219: Reports

2013-06-02T12:45:12Z

Charlesisbozo:

Shouldn't it be 2000th St? --[[Special:Contributions/81.23.24.56|81.23.24.56]] 06:41, 31 May 2013 (UTC)

Shouldn't it be a 25,000 mi/h speed limit if multiplied by 1000? Afterall, I have never heard of a 2.5 mi/h speed limit... Think I could get a speeding ticket whilst walking with that limit. Definitely while jogging. [[Special:Contributions/99.195.243.220|99.195.243.220]] 07:04, 31 May 2013 (UTC) Aaron

Lol exactly the first two comments I had in mind were made here. [[Special:Contributions/80.101.91.220|80.101.91.220]] 07:07, 31 May 2013 (UTC)

:I've seen 5 kph (around 3 mph) speed limit. It was in parks and we were supposed to run timed laps. Interestingly, in order to get through the minimum, you had to break the speed limit.--[[User:Charlesisbozo|Charlesisbozo]] ([[User talk:Charlesisbozo|talk]]) 12:45, 2 June 2013 (UTC)

:Also beaten to the 25,000 comment. The lowest I've think I've ever seen indicated is 5mph (mostly in car parks) and except in one locale(1) that's wishful thinking at best, given that at this point you find that on an analogue standard speedo that potentially sweeps far further(2), it's definitely a crap-shoot as to whether you're able to hover the needle barely off of the zero-stop with any accuracy... Even assuming reasonable calibration at the higher speeds. I suspect that 5km/h (3.1-ish mph(3)) might be the minimum I've seen in metric-tied countries, making that just an arbitrary low figure.
:(1) A local bus station that has "Your speed is..." matrices to show a presumably calibrated digital measurement to the drivers of any said bus entering/exiting the site, and flashes in red if they exceed this. Not sure if there's a penalty accumulation, but I suspect there'd be the capability to link to the CCTV systems that also cover the site so that post-incident enquiries would record any driver errors should the worst come to the (painfully slow) worst.
:(2) 120mph on smaller cars, 240mph or more on anything that promises way-over-the-top performance for a country with a top-end national speed limit of 70mph in force. Not that anyone believes that, but even the unofficial publicly-used "I'll get away with it..." 80mph line is 1/3rd of 240. Of course they could go over to Germany to try out on the unlimited Autobahns, or burn rubber at a 'track day' somewhere, but still it irks me that people think like that...
:(3) I can never remember the 'standard' conversion factor. I just remember that it's 93 million miles to the Sun or 150 million kilometres and work it out from that. ;) [[Special:Contributions/178.98.255.57|178.98.255.57]] 08:14, 31 May 2013 (UTC)

So, anyway, I put my hand to writing an explanation, making it impressively brief compared with what I usually write (see above). I've put some <nowiki></nowiki> in, especially next to the potentially disputed numbers, so that future editors can zero in on things that I think might need to be changed, or could be expanded upon. Or redo it all from scratch, as I probably won't notice anyway. ;) [[Special:Contributions/178.98.255.57|178.98.255.57]] 09:20, 31 May 2013 (UTC)

Looks like Randall corrected his title-text. So I completed the necessary edit (half done already, with the edit comment "(2500 / 100 = 25, not 2.5)", which I won't argue with...) and removed the related comments. Tempted to add an "in the original version..." addendum, but then anyone who's bothered with that sort of detail has read up to here in the Talk bit, right? ;) [[Special:Contributions/178.98.255.57|178.98.255.57]] 17:25, 31 May 2013 (UTC)

1210: I'm So Random

2013-05-10T08:56:10Z

Charlesisbozo:

{{comic
| number = 1210
| date = May 10, 2013
| title = I'm So Random
| image = I'm_So_Random.png
| titletext = In retrospect, it's weird that as a kid I thought completely random outbursts made me seem interesting, given that from an information theory point of view, lexical white noise is just about the opposite of interesting by definition.
}}

=Explanation=
A youthful character walks up to [[Black Hat]] and proclaims that he is "so random". [[Black Hat]], being the mean and rather bullying person that he is, replies that he is also random, proving this by pouring fourth a massive amount of numbers, knocking the young character to the ground. [[Black Hat]] regains his posture at the computer, as if nothing has happened.
The title elaborates on "random text", stating that he believes that it is what [[Black Hat]] does to the young character (that is, random outbursts) make him interesting while the definition of "interesting" means the opposite. [w|White noise|White noise] is essentially random sounds.

=Transcript=
:[A young character, looking like [[Cueball]] with hair approches [[Black Hat]],who is at a computer]
:Young character, excited: Monkey Tacos! I'm so random.
:[[Black Hat]]: Yeah, me too.
:[A massive speech bubble comes out of [[Black Hat]]'s mouth, filled with random numbers, knocking/pressing the youthful character to the ground.]
:[ [[Black Hat]] resumes work at his computer, as if nothing has happened.]

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]

Talk:1210: I'm So Random

2013-05-10T08:54:40Z

Charlesisbozo: Created page with "="Random"= Are the numbers in the speech bubble truely random (as in is there a real pattern)? Can someone check? --~~~~"

="Random"=
Are the numbers in the speech bubble truely random (as in is there a real pattern)? Can someone check?
--[[User:Charlesisbozo|Charlesisbozo]] ([[User talk:Charlesisbozo|talk]]) 08:54, 10 May 2013 (UTC)

1210: I'm So Random

2013-05-10T08:52:31Z

Charlesisbozo:

I'm So Random

2013-05-10T08:51:53Z

Charlesisbozo: Redirected page to 1210: I'm So Random

#REDIRECT [[1210: I'm So Random]]

1210

2013-05-10T08:51:16Z

Charlesisbozo: Redirected page to 1210: I'm So Random

#REDIRECT [[1210: I'm So Random]]

List of all comics (1001-1500)

2013-05-10T08:49:15Z

Charlesisbozo: Added comic 1210

:''See also: [[List of unexplained comics]]''

This is the list of comics from '''1001 till date'''.
:For the first 500 comics, see [[List of all comics (1-500)]].
:For comics 501-1000, see [[List of all comics (501-1000)]].

{| class="wikitable sortable plainlinks table-padding"
|-
|+ Comics
|-
!xkcd
!Title
!Redirects
!Image
!Date
{{comicsrow|1210|2013-05-10|I'm So Random|I'm_So_Random.png}}
{{comicsrow|1209|2013-05-08|Encoding}}
{{comicsrow|1208|2013-05-06|Footnote Labyrinths}}
{{comicsrow|1207|2013-05-03|AirAware}}
{{comicsrow|1206|2013-05-01|Einstein}}
{{comicsrow|1205|2013-04-29|Is It Worth the Time?|is_it_worth_the_time.png}}
{{comicsrow|1204|2013-04-26|Detail}}
{{comicsrow|1203|2013-04-24|Time Machines}}
{{comicsrow|1202|2013-04-22|Girls and Boys}}
{{comicsrow|1201|2013-04-19|Integration by Parts}}
{{comicsrow|1200|2013-04-17|Authorization}}
{{comicsrow|1199|2013-04-15|Silence}}
{{comicsrow|1198|2013-04-12|Geologist}}
{{comicsrow|1197|2013-04-10|All Adobe Updates}}
{{comicsrow|1196|2013-04-08|Subways}}
{{comicsrow|1195|2013-04-05|Flowchart}}
{{comicsrow|1194|2013-04-03|Stratigraphic Record}}
{{comicsrow|1193|2013-04-01|Externalities}}
{{comicsrow|1192|2013-03-29|Humming}}
{{comicsrow|1191|2013-03-27|The Past}}
{{comicsrow|1190|2013-03-25|Time}}
{{comicsrow|1189|2013-03-22|Voyager 1}}
{{comicsrow|1188|2013-03-20|Bonding}}
{{comicsrow|1187|2013-03-18|Aspect Ratio}}
{{comicsrow|1186|2013-03-15|Bumblebees}}
{{comicsrow|1185|2013-03-13|Ineffective Sorts}}
{{comicsrow|1184|2013-03-11|Circumference Formula}}
{{comicsrow|1183|2013-03-08|Rose Petals}}
{{comicsrow|1182|2013-03-06|Rembrandt Photo}}
{{comicsrow|1181|2013-03-04|PGP}}
{{comicsrow|1180|2013-03-01|Virus Venn Diagram}}
{{comicsrow|1179|2013-02-27|ISO 8601}}
{{comicsrow|1178|2013-02-25|Pickup Artists}}
{{comicsrow|1177|2013-02-22|Time Robot}}
{{comicsrow|1176|2013-02-20|Those Not Present}}
{{comicsrow|1175|2013-02-18|Moving Sidewalks}}
{{comicsrow|1174|2013-02-15|App}}
{{comicsrow|1173|2013-02-13|Steroids}}
{{comicsrow|1172|2013-02-11|Workflow}}
{{comicsrow|1171|2013-02-08|Perl Problems}}
{{comicsrow|1170|2013-02-06|Bridge}}
{{comicsrow|1169|2013-02-04|Expedition}}
{{comicsrow|1168|2013-02-01|tar}}
{{comicsrow|1167|2013-01-30|Star Trek into Darkness}}
{{comicsrow|1166|2013-01-28|Argument}}
{{comicsrow|1165|2013-01-25|Amazon}}
{{comicsrow|1164|2013-01-23|Home Alone}}
{{comicsrow|1163|2013-01-21|Debugger}}
{{comicsrow|1162|2013-01-18|Log Scale}}
{{comicsrow|1161|2013-01-16|Hand Sanitizer}}
{{comicsrow|1160|2013-01-14|Drop Those Pounds}}
{{comicsrow|1159|2013-01-11|Countdown}}
{{comicsrow|1158|2013-01-09|Rubber Sheet}}
{{comicsrow|1157|2013-01-07|Sick Day}}
{{comicsrow|1156|2013-01-04|Conditioning}}
{{comicsrow|1155|2013-01-02|Kolmogorov Directions}}
{{comicsrow|1154|2012-12-31|Resolution}}
{{comicsrow|1153|2012-12-28|Proof}}
{{comicsrow|1152|2012-12-26|Communion}}
{{comicsrow|1151|2012-12-24|Tests}}
{{comicsrow|1150|2012-12-21|Instagram}}
{{comicsrow|1149|2012-12-19|Broomstick}}
{{comicsrow|1148|2012-12-17|Nothing to Offer}}
{{comicsrow|1147|2012-12-14|Evolving}}
{{comicsrow|1146|2012-12-12|Honest}}
{{comicsrow|1145|2012-12-10|Sky Color}}
{{comicsrow|1144|2012-12-07|Tags}}
{{comicsrow|1143|2012-12-05|Location}}
{{comicsrow|1142|2012-12-03|Coverage}}
{{comicsrow|1141|2012-11-30|Two Years}}
{{comicsrow|1140|2012-11-28|Calendar of Meaningful Dates}}
{{comicsrow|1139|2012-11-26|Rubber and Glue}}
{{comicsrow|1138|2012-11-23|Heatmap}}
{{comicsrow|1137|2012-11-21|RTL}}
{{comicsrow|1136|2012-11-19|Broken Mirror}}
{{comicsrow|1135|2012-11-16|Arachnoneurology}}
{{comicsrow|1134|2012-11-14|Logic Boat}}
{{comicsrow|1133|2012-11-12|Up Goer Five}}
{{comicsrow|1132|2012-11-09|Frequentists vs. Bayesians|frequentists_vs_bayesians.png}}
{{comicsrow|1131|2012-11-07|Math}}
{{comicsrow|1130|2012-11-05|Poll Watching}}
{{comicsrow|1129|2012-11-02|Cell Number}}
{{comicsrow|1128|2012-10-31|Fifty Shades}}
{{comicsrow|1127|2012-10-29|Congress}}
{{comicsrow|1126|2012-10-26|Epsilon and Zeta}}
{{comicsrow|1125|2012-10-24|Objects In Mirror}}
{{comicsrow|1124|2012-10-22|Law of Drama}}
{{comicsrow|1123|2012-10-19|The Universal Label}}
{{comicsrow|1122|2012-10-17|Electoral Precedent}}
{{comicsrow|1121|2012-10-15|Identity}}
{{comicsrow|1120|2012-10-12|Blurring the Line}}
{{comicsrow|1119|2012-10-10|Undoing}}
{{comicsrow|1118|2012-10-08|Microsoft}}
{{comicsrow|1117|2012-10-05|My Sky}}
{{comicsrow|1116|2012-10-03|Traffic Lights|traffic_lights.gif}}
{{comicsrow|1115|2012-10-01|Sky}}
{{comicsrow|1114|2012-09-28|Metallurgy}}
{{comicsrow|1113|2012-09-26|Killed in Action}}
{{comicsrow|1112|2012-09-24|Think Logically}}
{{comicsrow|1111|2012-09-21|Premiere}}
{{comicsrow|1110|2012-09-19|Click and Drag}}
{{comicsrow|1109|2012-09-17|Refrigerator}}
{{comicsrow|1108|2012-09-14|Cautionary Ghost}}
{{comicsrow|1107|2012-09-12|Sports Cheat Sheet}}
{{comicsrow|1106|2012-09-10|ADD}}
{{comicsrow|1105|2012-09-07|License Plate}}
{{comicsrow|1104|2012-09-05|Feathers}}
{{comicsrow|1103|2012-09-03|Nine}}
{{comicsrow|1102|2012-08-31|Fastest-Growing|fastest_growing.png}}
{{comicsrow|1101|2012-08-27|Sketchiness}}
{{comicsrow|1100|2012-08-27|Vows}}
{{comicsrow|1099|2012-08-24|Tuesdays}}
{{comicsrow|1098|2012-08-22|Star Ratings}}
{{comicsrow|1097|2012-08-20|A Hypochondriac's Nightmare|a_hypochondriacs_nightmare.png}}
{{comicsrow|1096|2012-08-17|Clinically Studied Ingredient}}
{{comicsrow|1095|2012-08-15|Crazy Straws}}
{{comicsrow|1094|2012-08-13|Interview}}
{{comicsrow|1093|2012-08-10|Forget}}
{{comicsrow|1092|2012-08-08|Michael Phelps}}
{{comicsrow|1091|2012-08-06|Curiosity}}
{{comicsrow|1090|2012-08-03|Formal Languages}}
{{comicsrow|1089|2012-08-01|Internal Monologue}}
{{comicsrow|1088|2012-07-30|Five Years}}
{{comicsrow|1087|2012-07-27|Cirith Ungol}}
{{comicsrow|1086|2012-07-25|Eyelash Wish Log}}
{{comicsrow|1085|2012-07-23|ContextBot}}
{{comicsrow|1084|2012-07-20|Server Problem}}
{{comicsrow|1083|2012-07-18|Writing Styles}}
{{comicsrow|1082|2012-07-16|Geology}}
{{comicsrow|1081|2012-07-13|Argument Victory}}
{{comicsrow|1080|2012-07-11|Visual Field}}
{{comicsrow|1079|2012-07-09|United Shapes}}
{{comicsrow|1078|2012-07-06|Knights}}
{{comicsrow|1077|2012-07-04|Home Organization}}
{{comicsrow|1076|2012-07-02|Groundhog Day}}
{{comicsrow|1075|2012-06-29|Warning}}
{{comicsrow|1074|2012-06-27|Moon Landing}}
{{comicsrow|1073|2012-06-25|Weekend}}
{{comicsrow|1072|2012-06-22|Seventies}}
{{comicsrow|1071|2012-06-20|Exoplanets}}
{{comicsrow|1070|2012-06-18|Words for Small Sets}}
{{comicsrow|1069|2012-06-15|Alphabet}}
{{comicsrow|1068|2012-06-13|Swiftkey}}
{{comicsrow|1067|2012-06-11|Pressures}}
{{comicsrow|1066|2012-06-08|Laundry}}
{{comicsrow|1065|2012-06-06|Shoes}}
{{comicsrow|1064|2012-06-04|Front Door}}
{{comicsrow|1063|2012-06-01|Kill Hitler}}
{{comicsrow|1062|2012-05-30|Budget News}}
{{comicsrow|1061|2012-05-28|EST}}
{{comicsrow|1060|2012-05-25|Crowdsourcing}}
{{comicsrow|1059|2012-05-23|Bel-Air|bel_air.png}}
{{comicsrow|1058|2012-05-21|Old-Timers|old_timers.png}}
{{comicsrow|1057|2012-05-18|Klout}}
{{comicsrow|1056|2012-05-16|Felidae}}
{{comicsrow|1055|2012-05-14|Kickstarter}}
{{comicsrow|1054|2012-05-11|The bacon|thebacon.png}}
{{comicsrow|1053|2012-05-09|Ten Thousand}}
{{comicsrow|1052|2012-05-07|Every Major's Terrible|every_majors_terrible.png}}
{{comicsrow|1051|2012-05-04|Visited}}
{{comicsrow|1050|2012-05-02|Forgot Algebra}}
{{comicsrow|1049|2012-04-30|Bookshelf}}
{{comicsrow|1048|2012-04-27|Emotion}}
{{comicsrow|1047|2012-04-25|Approximations}}
{{comicsrow|1046|2012-04-23|Skynet}}
{{comicsrow|1045|2012-04-20|Constraints}}
{{comicsrow|1044|2012-04-18|Romney Quiz}}
{{comicsrow|1043|2012-04-16|Ablogalypse}}
{{comicsrow|1042|2012-04-13|Never}}
{{comicsrow|1041|2012-04-11|Whites of Their Eyes}}
{{comicsrow|1040|2012-04-09|Lakes and Oceans}}
{{comicsrow|1039|2012-04-06|RuBisCO}}
{{comicsrow|1038|2012-04-04|Fountain}}
{{comicsrow|1037|2012-04-01|Umwelt}}
{{comicsrow|1036|2012-03-30|Reviews}}
{{comicsrow|1035|2012-03-28|Cadbury Eggs}}
{{comicsrow|1034|2012-03-26|Share Buttons}}
{{comicsrow|1033|2012-03-23|Formal Logic}}
{{comicsrow|1032|2012-03-21|Networking}}
{{comicsrow|1031|2012-03-19|s/keyboard/leopard/|s_keyboard_leopard.png}}
{{comicsrow|1030|2012-03-16|Keyed}}
{{comicsrow|1029|2012-03-14|Drawing Stars}}
{{comicsrow|1028|2012-03-12|Communication}}
{{comicsrow|1027|2012-03-09|Pickup Artist}}
{{comicsrow|1026|2012-03-07|Compare and Contrast}}
{{comicsrow|1025|2012-03-05|Tumblr}}
{{comicsrow|1024|2012-03-02|Error Code}}
{{comicsrow|1023|2012-02-29|Late-Night PBS|late_night_pbs.png}}
{{comicsrow|1022|2012-02-27|So It Has Come To This}}
{{comicsrow|1021|2012-02-24|Business Plan}}
{{comicsrow|1020|2012-02-22|Orion Nebula}}
{{comicsrow|1019|2012-02-20|First Post}}
{{comicsrow|1018|2012-02-17|Good Cop, Dadaist Cop|good_cop_dadaist_cop.png}}
{{comicsrow|1017|2012-02-14|Backward in Time}}
{{comicsrow|1016|2012-02-13|Valentine Dilemma}}
{{comicsrow|1015|2012-02-10|Kerning}}
{{comicsrow|1014|2012-02-08|Car Problems}}
{{comicsrow|1013|2012-02-06|Wake Up Sheeple}}
{{comicsrow|1012|2012-02-03|Wrong Superhero}}
{{comicsrow|1011|2012-02-01|Baby Names}}
{{comicsrow|1010|2012-01-30|Etymology-Man|etymology_man.png}}
{{comicsrow|1009|2012-01-27|Sigh}}
{{comicsrow|1008|2012-01-25|Suckville}}
{{comicsrow|1007|2012-01-23|Sustainable}}
{{comicsrow|1006|2012-01-20|Sloppier Than Fiction}}
{{comicsrow|1005|2012-01-18|SOPA}}
{{comicsrow|1004|2012-01-16|Batman}}
{{comicsrow|1003|2012-01-13|Adam and Eve}}
{{comicsrow|1002|2012-01-11|Game AIs}}
{{comicsrow|1001|2012-01-09|AAAAAA}}
|}

[[Category:Comics| ]]

1210: I'm So Random

2013-05-10T08:46:46Z

Charlesisbozo:

{{comic
| number = 1210
| date = May 10, 2013
| title = I'm So Random
| image = I'm_So_Random.png
| titletext = In retrospect, it's weird that as a kid I thought completely random outbursts made me seem interesting, given that from an information theory point of view, lexical white noise is just about the opposite of interesting by definition.
}}

=Explanation=
A youthful character walks up to [[Black Hat]] and proclaims that he is "so random". [[Black Hat]], being the mean and rather bullying person that he is, replies that he is also random, proving this by pouring fourth a massive amount of numbers, knocking the young character to the ground. [[Black Hat]] regains his posture at the computer, as if nothing has happened.
The title elaborates on "random text", stating that he believes that it is what [[Black Hat]] does to the young character (that is, random outbursts) make him interesting while the definition of "interesting" means the opposite. [w|White noise|White noise] is essentially random sounds.

=Transcript=
:[A young character, looking like [[Cueball]] with hair approches [[Black Hat]],who is at a computer]
:Young character, excited: Monkey Tacos! I'm so random.
:[[Black Hat]]: Yeah, me too.
:[A massive speech bubble comes out of [[Black Hat]]'s mouth, filled with random numbers, knocking/pressing the youthful character to the ground.]
:[[[Black Hat]] resumes work at his computer, as if nothing has happened.]

{{comic discussion}}
[[category:Comics featuring Black hat]]

1210: I'm So Random

2013-05-10T08:45:41Z

Charlesisbozo: Added Content

{{comic
| number = 1210
| date = May 10, 2013
| title = I'm So Random
| image = im_so_random.png
| titletext = In retrospect, it's weird that as a kid I thought completely random outbursts made me seem interesting, given that from an information theory point of view, lexical white noise is just about the opposite of interesting by definition.
}}

=Explanation=
A youthful character walks up to [[Black Hat]] and proclaims that he is "so random". [[Black Hat]], being the mean and rather bullying person that he is, replies that he is also random, proving this by pouring fourth a massive amount of numbers, knocking the young character to the ground. [[Black Hat]] regains his posture at the computer, as if nothing has happened.
The title elaborates on "random text", stating that he believes that it is what [[Black Hat]] does to the young character (that is, random outbursts) make him interesting while the definition of "interesting" means the opposite. [w|White noise|White noise] is essentially random sounds.

=Transcript=
:[A young character, looking like [[Cueball]] with hair approches [[Black Hat]],who is at a computer]
:Young character, excited: Monkey Tacos! I'm so random.
:[[Black Hat]]: Yeah, me too.
:[A massive speech bubble comes out of [[Black Hat]]'s mouth, filled with random numbers, knocking/pressing the youthful character to the ground.]
:[[[Black Hat]] resumes work at his computer, as if nothing has happened.]

{{comic discussion}}
[[category:Comics featuring Black hat]]

File:im so random.png

2013-05-10T08:31:03Z

Charlesisbozo: Comic 1210

== Summary ==
Comic 1210
== Licensing ==
{{XKCD file}}

1210: I'm So Random

2013-05-10T08:29:08Z

Charlesisbozo: Create Page (picture added after page)

{{comic
| number = 1210
| date = May 10, 2013
| title = I'm So Random
| image = I'm So Random.png
| titletext = I don't see how; the C0 block is right there at the beginning.
}}

User talk:Charlesisbozo

2013-04-29T09:18:03Z

Charlesisbozo:

Feel free to add content about the content I added. As long as, of course, that you recognize that:
='''I AM NOT A BOZO'''=

User talk:Charlesisbozo

2013-04-29T09:17:43Z

Charlesisbozo: Created page with "Feel free to add content about the content I added. As long as, of course, that you recognize that: ='''I AM NOT A BOZO'''"

Feel free to add content about the content I added. As long as, of course, that you recognize that:

='''I AM NOT A BOZO'''

User:Charlesisbozo

2013-04-29T09:15:33Z

Charlesisbozo: Created page with "=Charlesisbozo= A high school xkcd fan. I would like to point out that: ='''I AM NOT A BOZO'''="

=Charlesisbozo=
A high school xkcd fan. I would like to point out that:

='''I AM NOT A BOZO'''=

Talk:1205: Is It Worth the Time?

2013-04-29T09:14:13Z

Charlesisbozo:

The title text is just silly.[[Special:Contributions/220.255.1.25|220.255.1.25]] 08:52, 29 April 2013 (UTC)

Is it worth all of the time we've spent on 1190, developing wikis, and wget scripts to pull the pictures efficiently, etc.? [[User:Bdemirci|Bdemirci]] ([[User talk:Bdemirci|talk]]) 08:58, 29 April 2013 (UTC)

I would just like to ask if there is an interactive version of this comit out there. I suppose it wouldn't be too hard to create...
--[[User:Charlesisbozo|Charlesisbozo]] ([[User talk:Charlesisbozo|talk]]) 09:14, 29 April 2013 (UTC)

1205: Is It Worth the Time?

2013-04-29T09:12:16Z

Charlesisbozo: Added the equation which the comic is based on

{{comic
| number = 1205
| date = April 29, 2013
| title = Is It Worth the Time?
| image = is it worth the time.png
| titletext = Don't forget the time you spend finding the chart to look up what you save. And the time spent reading this reminder about the time spent. And the time trying to figure out if either of those actually make sense. Remember, every second counts toward your life total, including these right now.
}}

==Explanation==
The comic is a straightforward chart showing the amount of work (time) one can dedicate to making a task more efficient, in order not to spend more time optimizing the task than the total time saved.

E.g. if you do some task every week once, and you are able to save 1 minute off it by doing some preparatory work (e.g. build or buy a tool), you can spend 4 hours doing this preparatory work, and you will, across five-years time, come even. (Any less time spent doing the preparatory work, and you will profit from it.)

The calculation on which the chart is based, for this example:

: 5 years / 1 week = 260 occurrences of the task
: 260 occurrences * 1 minute = 260 saved minutes = 4.3 hours

Therefore, 1 minute saved every week would, across five years, save over 4 hours of your time.

To put the above into algebraic form:

Total time shaved off = (Number of Occurances over one year)*5*(time shaved off per occurance).

The blacked out areas represent times which are impossible to save (i.e.: it is impossible to shave 1 hour off a task if you perform 50 times a day - the total time shaved off per day would amount to 50 hours, far more than the 24 hours a day.
==Transcript==
:

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Charts]]
[[Category:Math]]

1205: Is It Worth the Time?

2013-04-29T09:08:20Z

Charlesisbozo: Added more explanation

{{comic
| number = 1205
| date = April 29, 2013
| title = Is It Worth the Time?
| image = is it worth the time.png
| titletext = Don't forget the time you spend finding the chart to look up what you save. And the time spent reading this reminder about the time spent. And the time trying to figure out if either of those actually make sense. Remember, every second counts toward your life total, including these right now.
}}

==Explanation==
The comic is a straightforward chart showing the amount of work (time) one can dedicate to making a task more efficient, in order not to spend more time optimizing the task than the total time saved.

E.g. if you do some task every week once, and you are able to save 1 minute off it by doing some preparatory work (e.g. build or buy a tool), you can spend 4 hours doing this preparatory work, and you will, across five-years time, come even. (Any less time spent doing the preparatory work, and you will profit from it.)

The calculation on which the chart is based, for this example:

: 5 years / 1 week = 260 occurrences of the task
: 260 occurrences * 1 minute = 260 saved minutes = 4.3 hours

Therefore, 1 minute saved every week would, across five years, save over 4 hours of your time.

The blacked out areas represent times which are impossible to save (i.e.: it is impossible to shave 1 hour off a task if you perform 50 times a day - the total time shaved off per day would amount to 50 hours, far more than the 24 hours a day.
==Transcript==
:

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Charts]]
[[Category:Math]]