explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

1439: Rack Unit

2014-10-27T05:58:00Z

Cheeselover724: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1439
| date = October 27, 2014
| title = Rack Unit
| image = rack_unit.png
| titletext = There's also nothing in the TOSes that says you can't let a dog play baseball in the server room!
}}

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

Black Hat finds that server rack units and honeycombs have similar mounting systems within their racks. He then uses this knowledge to fill a Google datacenter with honeycombs instead of server units.

==Transcript==
:[Megan and Black Hat are talking, Megan is sitting at a computer]
:Black Hat: I've discovered something.
:Megan: Oh?
:Black Hat: Standard server rack units and standard beehive honeycomb frames are compatible.
:Black Hat: They're both 19 inches, with similar pitches.
:Megan: Uh oh.
:Black Hat: I'm pleased to announce that today, for a few hours, Google led the world in datacenter honey production.
:Black Hat: Until their security people kicked me out.
:Megan: I'm sorry your beekeeping career ended so quickly.
:Black Hat: I'll find a new datacenter.
:Black Hat: Turns out most colocation TOSes don't mention beehives.
:Megan: I suspects that will soon change.
{{comic discussion}}

1438: Houston

2014-10-25T00:57:33Z

Cheeselover724: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1438
| date = October 24, 2014
| title = Houston
| image = houston.png
| titletext = 'Oh, hey Mom. No, nothing important, just at work.'
}}

==Explanation==
{{Incomplete|Incomplete. Why is NASA unengaged in the issue? What is the relevance of prioritizing a call from mom over an exploding manned space ship? Why is the anachronistic monitor present: is NASA less responsive now?}}
NASA mission {{w|Apollo 13}} was intended to be the third manned landing on the moon. On its way there, however, during a routine stirring of the hydrogen and oxygen tanks, an explosion occurred that damaged the craft. Frantic efforts by {{w|Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center}} (located in Houston) resulted in the safe return of all three astronauts to Earth. Immediately following the explosion, astronaut James A. Lovell calmly reported to Mission Control: "Houston, we've had a problem" - a notable understatement which was famously misquoted in the {{w|Apollo 13 (film)|1995 film adaptation of the mission}} as "Houston, we have a problem".

A similar situation is depicted in the this strip (including the design of the spacecraft, the nature of the problem and the famous misquote), except with much less help from Mission Control. Although it's not clear if [[Cueball]] is only one person at mission control, or if he is only one of many, but upon receiving the message from the spacecraft, he seems fairly indifferent. Instead of attempting to resolve the issue, he mocks the crew for not knowing how to stir. He then blows the crew off in favor of a call from his mother.

In reality, Mission Control worked diligently and tirelessly to solve numerous problems such as if and how to adjust the spacecraft's trajectory, how to have the astronauts jerry-rig CO2 removal equipment intended for the command module to work with the lunar module (to which the astronauts had evacuated) using just the equipment on board. and how to power equipment back up within strict limitations.

At first glance, this comic appears to be an "alternate reality" view at what could happen today, given technical customer service lines are notoriously un-helpful and/or staffed by people not well versed in the products they supposedly support. It is meant to contrast history with Cueball's (lack of) action. It leaves implicit the consequences of this inaction, for greater shock. 

The modern type of monitor ({{w|Liquid-crystal display|flat panel LCD}}) in front of which Cueball sits suggests that the author is describing what would happen today. The comic can be read as a commentary about one's favorite objection to how the world has gotten worse:
* Call centers which blithely ignore critical calls
* NASA's quality issues in recent decades (and/or the funding cuts or direction shift contributing to same)
* the perception view that {{w|millennials}} are less committed to work
* the lack of national commitment to grand projects
* the idea that we are "falling behind" in technical skills, causing Cueball to fail to recognize the seriousness of the problem
* the objections by some to lack of governmental support for those in need
* by others to the lack of individual commitment for the same

Similarly, it can be read as a parody of the idea that you are responsible for fixing your own problems, an old idea that is being used in many contentious contexts today.

In short, it seems a comic designed to provoke legitimate conversation and enjoyable whining.

==Transcript==
{{Incomplete|Name for capsule? Also, descriptions need work.}}
:[The mated Odyssey/Aquarius vehicles in space on their way to the moon with nearby debris in foreground, with the Earth in the background.]
:Lovell: Houston, we have a problem
:[Cueball sitting In front of two monitors wearing a headset.]
:Cueball: Cool.
:Lovell: ...What? Houston, we stirred our O2 tank and it exploded!
:Cueball: Sounds like you suck at stirring.
:[Capsule shown from a greater distance, with Earth beside it.]
:Lovell: ...Houston? Are you-
:Cueball: Listen, I've got another call.
:Cueball: Good luck landing your airplane or whatever.
: *click*

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]

Talk:1438: Houston

2014-10-24T05:32:41Z

Cheeselover724:

A commentary on the nature of outsourced helpdesks, perhaps? Although, IME, the problems are more due to 'sticking to a script' (which would have given an entirely different exchange) rather than an unknowledgable and casually uninterested 'service'-person. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.247|141.101.98.247]] 05:15, 24 October 2014 (UTC)

What is going on is this strip? Usually it's a reference to something or a commentary, but I don't get it at all. [[User:Cheeselover724|Cheeselover724]] ([[User talk:Cheeselover724|talk]]) 05:32, 24 October 2014 (UTC)

1437: Higgs Boson

2014-10-22T06:10:17Z

Cheeselover724: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1437
| date = October 22, 2014
| title = Higgs Boson
| image = higgs_boson.png
| titletext = 'Can't you just use the LHC you already built to find it again?' 'We MAY have disassembled it to build a death ray.' 'Just one, though.' 'Nothing you should worry about.' 'The death isn't even very serious.'
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page.}}
This comic is a play on the term "finding" in terms of particles. The actual usage would mean to discover or observe the particle. Instead, Cueball and Ponytail claim that they "lost" the Higgs Boson, so they need money to "find" it again.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

1435: Presidential Alert

2014-10-17T04:40:44Z

Cheeselover724: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1435
| date = October 17, 2014
| title = Presidential Alert
| image = presidential_alert.png
| titletext = When putting his kids to bed, after saying 'Goodnight', Obama has to stop himself from saying 'God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.'
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page.}}
The President activates the United States' Emergency Alert System, but does not know what it does.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

Talk:1435: Presidential Alert

2014-10-17T04:38:18Z

Cheeselover724:

Do you think this has to do with the Floss joke on Reddit at all? [[User:Kllrshrk|Kllrshrk]] ([[User talk:Kllrshrk|talk]]) 04:11, 17 October 2014 (UTC) Kllrshrk
:I don't know about floss joke on reddit, tell me more [[Special:Contributions/103.31.5.112|103.31.5.112]] 04:32, 17 October 2014 (UTC)

::http://www.reddit.com/r/OutOfTheLoop/comments/2j6pxs/whats_the_joke_with_then_floss/ [[User:Cheeselover724|Cheeselover724]] ([[User talk:Cheeselover724|talk]]) 04:38, 17 October 2014 (UTC)

:Randall knows reddit; this is most likely a reference.[[User:Cheeselover724|Cheeselover724]] ([[User talk:Cheeselover724|talk]]) 04:34, 17 October 2014 (UTC)

Talk:1435: Presidential Alert

2014-10-17T04:34:42Z

Cheeselover724:

Do you think this has to do with the Floss joke on Reddit at all? [[User:Kllrshrk|Kllrshrk]] ([[User talk:Kllrshrk|talk]]) 04:11, 17 October 2014 (UTC) Kllrshrk
:I don't know about floss joke on reddit, tell me more [[Special:Contributions/103.31.5.112|103.31.5.112]] 04:32, 17 October 2014 (UTC)

:Randall knows reddit; this is most likely a reference.[[User:Cheeselover724|Cheeselover724]] ([[User talk:Cheeselover724|talk]]) 04:34, 17 October 2014 (UTC)

Talk:1435: Presidential Alert

2014-10-17T04:34:19Z

Cheeselover724:

Do you think this has to do with the Floss joke on Reddit at all? [[User:Kllrshrk|Kllrshrk]] ([[User talk:Kllrshrk|talk]]) 04:11, 17 October 2014 (UTC) Kllrshrk
:I don't know about floss joke on reddit, tell me more [[Special:Contributions/103.31.5.112|103.31.5.112]] 04:32, 17 October 2014 (UTC)
:Randall knows reddit; this is most likely a reference.[[User:Cheeselover724|Cheeselover724]] ([[User talk:Cheeselover724|talk]]) 04:34, 17 October 2014 (UTC)

Talk:1434: Where Do Birds Go

2014-10-15T06:28:24Z

Cheeselover724:

Hehe, are we suggesting that "bird" may be a phase of dihydrogen monoxide? I like that.
--[[User:Stg|Stg]] ([[User talk:Stg|talk]]) 05:11, 15 October 2014 (UTC)

I recommend we keep the answer out of the explain page since it wasn't included in the comic. Birds can google it themselves. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.209|108.162.216.209]] 06:25, 15 October 2014 (UTC)

I added the thing about catcher in the rye, but now I think that might not be right.[[User:Cheeselover724|Cheeselover724]] ([[User talk:Cheeselover724|talk]]) 06:28, 15 October 2014 (UTC)

Talk:1434: Where Do Birds Go

2014-10-15T06:28:13Z

Cheeselover724:

1434: Where Do Birds Go

2014-10-15T06:27:17Z

Cheeselover724: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1434
| date = October 15, 2014
| title = Where Do Birds Go
| image = where_do_birds_go.png
| titletext = Water/ice has a lot of weird phases. Maybe asking 'where do birds go when it rains' is like asking 'where does Clark Kent go whenever Superman shows up?'
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page.}}
Cueball searches Google to find out where birds go when it rains. He finds that the question is asked worldwide, and that everyone want to know the answer. At the end, a bird is seen searching the same thing.

In the title text, the water/ice phases is likely a reference to Holden Caulfield's question of where the ducks go from the Central Park pond when it freezes over, from ''The Catcher in the Rye'', by J.D. Salinger.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

Talk:1431: Marriage

2014-10-08T04:42:05Z

Cheeselover724: Created page with "Okay, that was the hardest explanation I've attempted so far. ~~~~"

Okay, that was the hardest explanation I've attempted so far. [[User:Cheeselover724|Cheeselover724]] ([[User talk:Cheeselover724|talk]]) 04:42, 8 October 2014 (UTC)

1431: Marriage

2014-10-08T04:41:05Z

Cheeselover724: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1431
| date = October 8, 2014
| title = Marriage
| image = marriage.png
| titletext = People often say that same-sex marriage now is like interracial marriage in the 60s. But in terms of public opinion, same-sex marriage now is like interracial marriage in the 90s, when it had already been legal nationwide for 30 years.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page.}}
Randall has compiled a graph of the percentage of americans who approve of and allow certain breakthroughs in marital freedom over time.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

Talk:1429: Data

2014-10-03T06:06:13Z

Cheeselover724:

What should "off-screen" be called in the transcript? I just put that since I didn't know what else to say. Also, someone needs to a) explain the Kirk/Picard situation and b) explain the title text. Sorry for not doing it myself, but I'm editing on my phone so there are probably errors that people need to fix and other people know far more about it anyway. [[User:Athang|Athang]] ([[User talk:Athang|talk]]) 04:42, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

:Based on looking through some other transcripts, it looks like the convention is "off-screen". Also, fixed some typos in your comment. [[User:Cheeselover724|Cheeselover724]] ([[User talk:Cheeselover724|talk]]) 06:06, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

The comic refers tp "pedants '''on all sides'''", which implies there is some kind of debate/dispute about the issue in the grammatical world. If someone who is aware of this dispute were to explain the details of it and/or provide links to sites that discuss it, I think the explanation would be greatly improved. {{unsigned ip|108.162.219.180}}

I always thought the noun data was non-quantifiable like "gasoline" which you'd need a unit to pluralize. "This piece of data suggests more than those gallons of gasoline"... [[Special:Contributions/173.245.48.79|173.245.48.79]] 05:03, 3 October 2014 (UTC)BLuDgeons

I added some info on Kirk vs. Picard, but I'm not sure how useful or understandable it is. Sorry in advance. [[User:Cheeselover724|Cheeselover724]] ([[User talk:Cheeselover724|talk]]) 06:01, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

Talk:1429: Data

2014-10-03T06:01:17Z

Cheeselover724:

What should "off-screen" be called in the transcript? I just put that since I didn't know what else to say. Also, someone needs to a) explain the Kirk/Picard situation and b) explain the title text. Sorry for not doing it myself, but I'm editting on my phone so there are probably errors that people need to fix and other peolle know far more about it anyway. [[User:Athang|Athang]] ([[User talk:Athang|talk]]) 04:42, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

The comic refers tp "pedants '''on all sides'''", which implies there is some kind of debate/dispute about the issue in the grammatical world. If someone who is aware of this dispute were to explain the details of it and/or provide links to sites that discuss it, I think the explanation would be greatly improved. {{unsigned ip|108.162.219.180}}

I always thought the noun data was non-quantifiable like "gasoline" which you'd need a unit to pluralize. "This piece of data suggests more than those gallons of gasoline"... [[Special:Contributions/173.245.48.79|173.245.48.79]] 05:03, 3 October 2014 (UTC)BLuDgeons

I added some info on Kirk vs. Picard, but I'm not sure how useful or understandable it is. Sorry in advance. [[User:Cheeselover724|Cheeselover724]] ([[User talk:Cheeselover724|talk]]) 06:01, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

1429: Data

2014-10-03T06:00:15Z

Cheeselover724: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1429
| date = October 3, 2014
| title = Data
| image = data.png
| titletext = If you want to have more fun at the expense of language pedants, try developing an hypercorrection habit.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Rough explanation, probably needs expanding}}
"Kirk vs. Picard" is a debate that many ''Star Trek'' fans engage in- specifically which was a better captain of the starship ''Enterprise'' on the TV show. Captain James Kirk and Jean-Luc Picard each were captains of the ship, but fans argue over who was the "best".

The humor in this comic stems from the fact that the word "data" is plural (the singular form of "data" is "datum".) Since there are very few uses for the singular form, many people do not use it and assume data to be singular as well, which sometimes leads to subject-verb agreement errors.

Data is a character from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Since it is a character's name, when used to refer to the character, "Data" should be treated as singular.

By reversing the subject-verb agreement in both cases, you are basically going out of your way to annoy any grammatically obsessed people.

The title text suggests the mocking of language pedants/amateur grammar Nazis by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypercorrection hyper-correcting] your use of language. The example given is "an hypercorrection habit", following from 'an honour' (/ˈɒnə/) and 'an hour' (/ˈaʊə(ɹ)/) in English. These two are correct as they are French derived, and so the 'h' is silent and the words start with a vowel sound, and thus the use of 'an'. "Hyper-correction" (/ˌhaɪ.pə.kəˈɹɛk.ʃən/) starts with a standard consonant 'h' sound and so must be preceded with 'a', not 'an'. Contrast 'an umbrella' and 'a uniform'. This comic also complements https://xkcd.com/326/ which discusses the trolling of amateur grammar Nazis.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}
:[Cueball reading off a smart phone to someone off the panel]
:Cueball: According to this polling data, after Kirk and Picard, the most popular Star Trek character are Data.
:Off-panel character: Augh!
:Annoy grammar pedants on all sides by making "data" singular except when referring to the android.

{{comic discussion}}

Talk:1428: Move Fast and Break Things

2014-10-01T21:48:42Z

Cheeselover724:

catch me if I'm wrong here, but driving the hearse recklessly would probably be more likely to injure pedestrians on the way to the funeral - not the attendees, who are often behind the hearse (?) -- [[User:Brettpeirce|Brettpeirce]] ([[User talk:Brettpeirce|talk]]) 11:05, 1 October 2014 (UTC)
:That really depends on how recklessly you're driving.--[[User:Bmmarti3|Bmmarti3]] ([[User talk:Bmmarti3|talk]]) 13:32, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

Forgive me, but "removing wrong body parts" in the explanation made me grin. "Woops, that's not an appendix! Why are we in the brain, anyway?" [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.165|108.162.219.165]] 13:53, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

:The scary thing is that it does happen with suprising frequency. Incorrect diagnosis of symptoms, left leg amputated instead of the right, Mr Jones' operation accidentally carried out on Mr James, surgical instruments left inside the patient, incorrect drugs prescribed, etc etc. There is an interesting [http://www.ted.com/talks/brian_goldman_doctors_make_mistakes_can_we_talk_about_that?language=en TED talk] on the subject by Brian Goldman. --[[User:Pudder|Pudder]] ([[User talk:Pudder|talk]]) 14:07, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

:Reminds me of [http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=580#comic this SMBC comic] —[[User:Artyer|Artyer]] <big>([[User Talk:Artyer|talk]]<big>'''|'''</big>[[Special:Contributions/Artyer|ctb]])</big> 15:50, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

Quick question: If cueball almost got fired from his job at the funeral home, and still works there, how is this a job interview? —[[User:Artyer|Artyer]] <big>([[User Talk:Artyer|talk]]<big>'''|'''</big>[[Special:Contributions/Artyer|ctb]])</big> 15:50, 1 October 2014 (UTC)
:You can go to a job interview while you still have a job; in fact in some places you're more likely to get an offer this way. [[User:Zowayix|Zowayix]] ([[User talk:Zowayix|talk]]) 16:26, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

:Maybe he quit instead of getting fired. [[User:Cheeselover724|Cheeselover724]] ([[User talk:Cheeselover724|talk]]) 21:48, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

For the violin, he must have [http://www.laboiteverte.fr/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Faerie__s_Aire_and_Death_Waltz.jpg bowed real fast and slippage occurred.] --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.127|108.162.216.127]] 17:06, 1 October 2014 (UTC)
:That's amazing! Where does it come from? --[[User:RenniePet|RenniePet]] ([[User talk:RenniePet|talk]]) 21:06, 1 October 2014 (UTC)
::Hmm, found this, don't know if it's legitimate or not. http://lostinthecloudblog.com/2010/03/13/john-stump-composer-of-faeries-aire-and-death-waltz/ --[[User:RenniePet|RenniePet]] ([[User talk:RenniePet|talk]]) 21:32, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

Talk:1428: Move Fast and Break Things

2014-10-01T21:48:22Z

Cheeselover724:

catch me if I'm wrong here, but driving the hearse recklessly would probably be more likely to injure pedestrians on the way to the funeral - not the attendees, who are often behind the hearse (?) -- [[User:Brettpeirce|Brettpeirce]] ([[User talk:Brettpeirce|talk]]) 11:05, 1 October 2014 (UTC)
:That really depends on how recklessly you're driving.--[[User:Bmmarti3|Bmmarti3]] ([[User talk:Bmmarti3|talk]]) 13:32, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

Forgive me, but "removing wrong body parts" in the explanation made me grin. "Woops, that's not an appendix! Why are we in the brain, anyway?" [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.165|108.162.219.165]] 13:53, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

:The scary thing is that it does happen with suprising frequency. Incorrect diagnosis of symptoms, left leg amputated instead of the right, Mr Jones' operation accidentally carried out on Mr James, surgical instruments left inside the patient, incorrect drugs prescribed, etc etc. There is an interesting [http://www.ted.com/talks/brian_goldman_doctors_make_mistakes_can_we_talk_about_that?language=en TED talk] on the subject by Brian Goldman. --[[User:Pudder|Pudder]] ([[User talk:Pudder|talk]]) 14:07, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

:Reminds me of [http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=580#comic this SMBC comic] —[[User:Artyer|Artyer]] <big>([[User Talk:Artyer|talk]]<big>'''|'''</big>[[Special:Contributions/Artyer|ctb]])</big> 15:50, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

Quick question: If cueball almost got fired from his job at the funeral home, and still works there, how is this a job interview? —[[User:Artyer|Artyer]] <big>([[User Talk:Artyer|talk]]<big>'''|'''</big>[[Special:Contributions/Artyer|ctb]])</big> 15:50, 1 October 2014 (UTC)
:You can go to a job interview while you still have a job; in fact in some places you're more likely to get an offer this way. [[User:Zowayix|Zowayix]] ([[User talk:Zowayix|talk]]) 16:26, 1 October 2014 (UTC)
:Maybe he quit instead of getting fired. [[User:Cheeselover724|Cheeselover724]] ([[User talk:Cheeselover724|talk]]) 21:48, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

For the violin, he must have [http://www.laboiteverte.fr/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Faerie__s_Aire_and_Death_Waltz.jpg bowed real fast and slippage occurred.] --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.127|108.162.216.127]] 17:06, 1 October 2014 (UTC)
:That's amazing! Where does it come from? --[[User:RenniePet|RenniePet]] ([[User talk:RenniePet|talk]]) 21:06, 1 October 2014 (UTC)
::Hmm, found this, don't know if it's legitimate or not. http://lostinthecloudblog.com/2010/03/13/john-stump-composer-of-faeries-aire-and-death-waltz/ --[[User:RenniePet|RenniePet]] ([[User talk:RenniePet|talk]]) 21:32, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

1425: Tasks

2014-09-24T07:12:06Z

Cheeselover724: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1425
| date = September 24, 2014
| title = Tasks
| image = tasks.png
| titletext = In the 60s, Marvin Minsky assigned a couple of undergrads to spend the summer programming a computer to use a camera to identify objects in a scene. He figured they'd have the problem solved by the end of the summer. Half a century later, we're still working on it.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Basically just a summary, little in the way of an explanation}}
Cueball appears to be asking Ponytail to write an app that determines if a given picture is of a bird in a national park. These two requirements, while seemingly about equally hard to a human, vary greatly in difficulty for a computer.

CS stands for computer science.

The title text expands on the information already given, saying that a project to develop a system that could recognize objects was intended to last for only a single summer but instead continues to this day.

==Transcript==
:[Ponytail sitting at a computer with Cueball standing behind her]
:Cueball: When a user takes a photo, the app should check whether they're in a national park...
:Ponytail: Sure, easy GIS lookup. Gimme a few hours.
:Cueball: ...and check whether the photo is of a bird.
:Ponytail: I'll need a research team and five years.
:In CS, it can be hard to explain the difference between the easy and the virtually impossible

{{comic discussion}}

User talk:Cheeselover724

2014-09-22T12:57:28Z

Cheeselover724:

Do you think my theory is worth adding to the explanation? It's my first time adding anything to a wiki anywhere! {{unsigned ip|‎The4thv}}

: As far as I can tell, theory is not usually welcome on the explanation page. Discussion is a good place for it. The great thing about this wiki is that you can try anything and the community will collectively decide what is relevant. [[User:Cheeselover724|Cheeselover724]] ([[User talk:Cheeselover724|talk]]) 12:54, 22 September 2014 (UTC)

User talk:Cheeselover724

2014-09-22T12:55:09Z

Cheeselover724:

Do you think my theory is worth adding to the explanation? It's my first time adding anything to a wiki anywhere! {{unsigned ip|‎The4thv}}

As far as I can tell, theory is not usually welcome on the explanation page. Discussion is a good place for it. The great thing about this wiki is that you can try anything and the community will collectively decide what is relevant. [[User:Cheeselover724|Cheeselover724]] ([[User talk:Cheeselover724|talk]]) 12:54, 22 September 2014 (UTC)

User talk:Cheeselover724

2014-09-22T12:54:37Z

Cheeselover724:

Do you think my theory is worth adding to the explanation? It's my first time adding anything to a wiki anywhere! {{unsigned ip|‎The4thv}}

:As far as I can tell, theory is not usually welcome on the explanation page. Discussion is a good place for it. The great thing about this wiki is that you can try anything and the community will collectively decide what is relevant. [[User:Cheeselover724|Cheeselover724]] ([[User talk:Cheeselover724|talk]]) 12:54, 22 September 2014 (UTC)

Talk:1424: En Garde

2014-09-22T05:39:03Z

Cheeselover724:

So, what's up. I expected an explanation for this. WHERE IS IT?

:Remember to sign your posts with four tildes (~).
:The explanation will be up when it's up. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.72|108.162.216.72]] 04:52, 22 September 2014 (UTC)

:Someone, somewhere on Earth, has to be awake, see the comic, come to this page, and write something. Automatic explanations are a long way out of our technological reach. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.169|108.162.216.169]] 05:21, 22 September 2014 (UTC)

This reminds me of [http://xkcd.com/1146 Honest]. [[User:Cheeselover724|Cheeselover724]] ([[User talk:Cheeselover724|talk]]) 05:37, 22 September 2014 (UTC)

Talk:1424: En Garde

2014-09-22T05:38:22Z

Cheeselover724:

So, what's up. I expected an explanation for this. WHERE IS IT?

:Remember to sign your posts with four tildes (~).
:The explanation will be up when it's up. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.72|108.162.216.72]] 04:52, 22 September 2014 (UTC)

:Someone, somewhere on Earth, has to be awake, see the comic, come to this page, and write something. Automatic explanations are a long way out of our technological reach. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.169|108.162.216.169]] 05:21, 22 September 2014 (UTC)

This reminds me of [http://xkcd.com/1146]. [[User:Cheeselover724|Cheeselover724]] ([[User talk:Cheeselover724|talk]]) 05:37, 22 September 2014 (UTC)

Talk:1424: En Garde

2014-09-22T05:37:07Z

Cheeselover724:

So, what's up. I expected an explanation for this. WHERE IS IT?

:Remember to sign your posts with four tildes (~).
:The explanation will be up when it's up. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.72|108.162.216.72]] 04:52, 22 September 2014 (UTC)

:Someone, somewhere on Earth, has to be awake, see the comic, come to this page, and write something. Automatic explanations are a long way out of our technological reach. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.169|108.162.216.169]] 05:21, 22 September 2014 (UTC)

This reminds me of xkcd.com/1146. [[User:Cheeselover724|Cheeselover724]] ([[User talk:Cheeselover724|talk]]) 05:37, 22 September 2014 (UTC)

1424: En Garde

2014-09-22T05:34:06Z

Cheeselover724: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1424
| date = September 22, 2014
| title = En Garde
| image = en_garde.png
| titletext = 'Touch!' 'Nope, I sighed and stared at you with resignation, so I regained emotional right-of-way.'
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|How guarded is Cueball really?}}

The left participant says "en garde!", a fencing call literally meaning "be on your guard" (from French). The call is used to make sure the participants are ready to begin fencing. The right participant takes this to mean being "guarded" emotionally, and explains so, to which the left participant says he shouldn't be ''that'' guarded.

The title text takes this further with the "touch" call, used to indicate to a participant that they have been "touched" by their opponent's blade, and have therefore lost the bout (fencing terminology for the current round). The right participant counters this claim by saying his emotions have priority (or right-of-way). Fencing right-of-way rules can make a move invalid when another move has priority, but generally refer to physical actions on the participant's part.

==Transcript==
[Two fencers are standing together as if to fight]
:Fencer 1: ''En Garde!''
:Fencer 2: Ok.
:Fencer 2: No matter how long we know each other, when you ask "What are you thinking," I will always pause before answering.
:Fencer 1: Maybe a little ''less'' guarded?
:Fencer 2: No way. I've been hurt before.

{{comic discussion}}

1423: Conversation

2014-09-19T04:28:42Z

Cheeselover724: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1423
| date = September 19, 2014
| title = Conversation
| image = conversation.png
| titletext = Later, at home: 'Dear diary: Still can't figure out what to write here ...'
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page.}}
Megan's free time activity comprises only of her trying to figure out how to respond if asked what she does in her free time.

==Transcript==

[Cueball and Megan are sitting at a candle lit dinner.]

Cueball: So, what do you do in your free time?
Megan: Mostly I set around worrying someone will ask me that, and try to think of a good answer.
Cueball: That's not a bad answer.
Megan: It's all I've got. Now that it's done I should go. Bye!

{{comic discussion}}

1422: My Phone is Dying

2014-09-17T06:12:20Z

Cheeselover724: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1422
| date = September 17, 2014
| title = My Phone is Dying
| image = my_phone_is_dying.png
| titletext = When it explodes, it will cast off its outer layers, leaving behind nothing but a slowly fading PalmPilot, calculator, or two-way pager.
}}

==Explanation==
The phone in question appears to "die" in a way analogous to the {{w|Stellar_evolution|life and death}} of a star: expending its fuel while heating up and expanding before ultimately losing its outer layers and becoming a white dwarf or similar "lesser" star. Stars constantly undergo fusion reactions. The pressure generated by these reactions counteracts gravity from collapsing the star during the main lifespan of the star. As the hydrogen mostly fuses into helium in the core, the core gradually becomes more dense and the region of fusion gradually moves away from the center. Then, the star grows in size, reaching the stage of the Red Giant. Then, most of the "fuel" for fusion will be consumed, and gravity will collapse the star into a white dwarf while outer layers are shed. For stars much more massive than the sun, there will be a supernovae explosion caused by a violent collapse, which is very powerful. Because heavier stars often have shorter lifespans while producing more energy, Beret Guy probably references this when he refuses the charger. Both the supernova explosion and the collapse of red giants into white dwarfs shed their outer layers, which is referenced in the title text. Once extra mass is added to the dying star, analogous to "charging", the process only accelerates. The phone seems to have an certain mass - because [[White Hat]] expects the phone to go {{w|Supernova|(super)nova}}. Charging the phone may lead to a {{w|Nova|type 1a nova}}.
The comic also plays on the release of two new {{w|IPhone|iPhone models}} with {{w|IPhone_6|bigger}} screens, planned for 2 days after the release of the comic.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

1412: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

2014-08-25T04:17:44Z

Cheeselover724: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1412
| date = August 25, 2014
| title = Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
| image = teenage_mutant_ninja_turtles.png
| titletext = My upcoming alubm, 'Linked List', has covers of 'The Purple People Eater', the Ninja Turtles theme, 'Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini', and the Power Rangers theme, with every song played to the tune of the next.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page.}}
In reference to the upcoming ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' movie, Randall has compiled a list of Wikipedia article titles that, when stressed on the correct syllables, sound similar to the cartoon's theme song.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

1412: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

2014-08-25T04:17:17Z

Cheeselover724: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1412
| date = August 25, 2014
| title = Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
| image = teenage_mutant_ninja_turtles.png
| titletext = My upcoming alubm, 'Linked List', has covers of 'The Purple People Eater', the Ninja Turtles theme, 'Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini', and the Power Rangers theme, with every song played to the tune of the next.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page.}}
In reference to the upcoming ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' movie, Randall has compiled a list of Wikipedia article titles that, when stressed on the correct syllable, sound similar to the cartoon's theme song.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

1412: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

2014-08-25T04:16:58Z

Cheeselover724: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1412
| date = August 25, 2014
| title = Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
| image = teenage_mutant_ninja_turtles.png
| titletext = My upcoming alubm, 'Linked List', has covers of 'The Purple People Eater', the Ninja Turtles theme, 'Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini', and the Power Rangers theme, with every song played to the tune of the next.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page.}}
In reference to the upcoming ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' movie, Randall has compiled a list of Wikipedia article titles that, when stressed on the correct syllable, sound similar to the ''Ninja Turtles'' cartoon's theme song.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

1412: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

2014-08-25T04:16:21Z

Cheeselover724: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1412
| date = August 25, 2014
| title = Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
| image = teenage_mutant_ninja_turtles.png
| titletext = My upcoming alubm, 'Linked List', has covers of 'The Purple People Eater', the Ninja Turtles theme, 'Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini', and the Power Rangers theme, with every song played to the tune of the next.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page.}}
In reference to the upcoming ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' movie, Randall has compiled a list of Wikipedia article titles that, when stressed on the correct syllable, sound similar to part of the cartoon's theme song.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

1412: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

2014-08-25T04:15:44Z

Cheeselover724: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1412
| date = August 25, 2014
| title = Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
| image = teenage_mutant_ninja_turtles.png
| titletext = My upcoming alubm, 'Linked List', has covers of 'The Purple People Eater', the Ninja Turtles theme, 'Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini', and the Power Rangers theme, with every song played to the tune of the next.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page.}}
In reference to the upcoming ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' movie, Randall has compiled a list of phrases that, when stressed on the correct syllable, sound similar to part of the cartoon's theme song.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

Talk:1396: Actors

2014-07-18T04:42:50Z

Cheeselover724: Created page with "Could be Bieber... ~~~~~"

Could be Bieber... 04:42, 18 July 2014 (UTC)