explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

User:Cody Hackins

2018-07-31T06:35:03Z

Cody Hackins: Blanked the page

1745: Record Scratch

2016-10-12T04:05:20Z

Cody Hackins: Add base information

{{comic
| number = 1745
| date = October 12, 2016
| title = Record Scratch
| image = record_scratch.png
| titletext = The 78-rpm era was closer to the Civil War than to today.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Skeletal information provided.}}

A [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gramophone_record vinyl disc] (also known as a gramophone record) is a type of storage medium that stores music on a disc with very small bumps. These are often played on a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonograph Phonograph]. Sometimes, the small bumps are scratched, and the phonographs move on these the wrong way and creates an unintentional noise.

Because not many people have phonographs for a long time, many people do not know what a record scratch is or sounds like. Randall pokes fun at this by beginning to give a backstory on what it is.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

Talk:666: Silent Hammer

2016-10-12T03:54:41Z

Cody Hackins: Title Text disagreement

I took the comic to be less about a haunting and more about a "Did that really happen to me?" Especially when considering that Black Hat never bothers him again. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.218|108.162.237.218]] 08:16, 7 May 2014 (UTC)
: Quite so. People who manage to pass the course for most sciences tend to become sceptical. I think that this is to allow them to worship the beast more readily than the uneducated would. {{unsigned|Weatherlawyer}}
The comic number is 666… Is this intentional, given the creepy premise of the comic? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.245.177|108.162.245.177]]
: I would think so; after all, Hat guy is metaphorically the devil of this comic. --[[User:Fallencrow305|Fallencrow305]] ([[User talk:Fallencrow305|talk]]) 21:56, 28 July 2016 (UTC)
I disagree with the Title Text explanation. My guess is that Black Hat was still talking, but Cueball was just being Cueball by absentmindedly trying out the silent hammer with the first piece of wood he found. [[User:Cody Hackins|Cody Hackins]] ([[User talk:Cody Hackins|talk]]) 03:54, 12 October 2016 (UTC)

838: Incident

2016-08-18T17:10:51Z

Cody Hackins: /* Explanation */ Add info on Password field

{{comic
| number = 838
| date = December 24, 2010
| title = Incident
| image = incident.png
| titletext = He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake, he's copied on /var/spool/mail/root, so be good for goodness' sake.
}}

==Explanation==
This comic was posted on {{w|Christmas Eve}}. While {{w|Christmas}} is principally a {{w|Christian}} holiday celebrating the birth of {{w|Jesus}} on December 25, there are many tradition around the holiday, among them {{w|Christmas Eve#Gift_giving|a tradition}} that on {{w|Christmas Eve}} {{w|Santa Claus}} will make his round delivering gifts to good children.

[[Rob]] sits behind a Linux computer and tried to change his user account from his normal access to the access of a super user by using the command "{{w|sudo|sudo su}}". Sudo is a famous phrase in xkcd lore, made famous by comic [[149: Sandwich]]. Before allowing administrator access (as root user), it asks for a password. The field is blank because, in most Linux systems, the characters of the password are not shown. The When Rob is unable to use tbe command his account is not authorized, and the system says that the incident "will be reported" (usually to the system administrator, so he can see if someone is making repeated attempts at accessing administrator privileges).

In the comic, however, sudo and the system report the incidents to {{w|Santa Claus}}, who, in Christmas lore, makes a list of who is naughty and who is nice. If you are nice then you get presents, while if you are naughty, you get a lump of coal. When sudo reports to Santa that Rob's account is not authorized, he puts Rob on the naughty list.

In the title text, which is a parody of the famous Christmas song, "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", <code>/var/spool/mail/root</code> is the root (superuser) mailbox on a Linux system, where the incident described in the comic would commonly be reported to.

==Transcript==
:[Rob is sitting at a computer. The computer's prompt is shown.]
robm@homebox~$ sudo su
Password:
robm is not in the sudoers file. This incident will be reported.
robm@homebox~$ █
:[Megan approaches.]
:Rob: Hey — who does sudo report these "incidents" ''to''?
:Megan: You know, I've never checked.
:[Santa Claus is sitting at a desk supported by candy canes, with a red monitor. On the wall are two lists labeled 'naughty' and 'nice'. He is in the process of adding a line to the 'naughty' list.]

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Rob]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Linux]]
[[Category:Christmas]]

269: TCMP

2016-03-12T20:58:07Z

Cody Hackins: /* Explanation */ Added reason why "First Post"

{{comic
| number = 269
| date = May 28, 2007
| title = TCMP
| image = tcmp.png
| titletext = A big obstacle in experimenting with the mind's dream-simulation-engine is holding onto the details as you wake up. With TCMP you can bring back any information you want.
}}

==Explanation==

{{Incomplete| Missing cultural explanation of of "first post" and trolling}}

[[Cueball]] trained himself to type while asleep, so he could communicate from inside his dreams. He calls this ''Trans-Consciousness Messaging Protocol'', or '''TCMP'''.

He succeeds in using this system to send a message from inside his dream, but his friends, [[Megan]] and another Cueball-like guy, are disappointed when that first message is a {{w|troll (Internet)|trollish}} "F1rst p0st!!", instead of something constructive. This cliche comment is type by people on their internet after they discover a previously not commented post or creation, such as this experience. See also [[1019: First Post]] and [[1258: First]] and regarding trolling [[493: Actuarial]].

"Bell & Watson" refers to {{w|Alexander Graham Bell}} and his assistant {{w|Thomas A. Watson}}. Bell is traditionally credited with inventing the {{w|telephone}} because he was awarded the patent for it although {{w|Elisha Gray and Alexander Bell telephone controversy|that is still controversial}}. His first phone call was to Watson in another part of their lab.

The title text explains how this protocol, if real, would be of great value in dream research since you then would not have to worry about forgetting the dreams after waking up like as in [[430: Every Damn Morning]]. You can relay the dreams as you experience them.

However, in order for this to work the dream has to be {{w|Lucid dream|lucid}}, where the dreamer is aware that he or she is dreaming. This type of dream is very facinating to [[Randall]] as mentioned in the title text of [[203: Hallucinations]]. But thus this could never work for normal dreams. And lucid dreams are probably easier to remember anyway.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball stand with a keyboard next to a bed. The keyboard is connected to a computer to the right. He talks to Megan and a Cueball-like friend.]
:Cueball: Hey, help me test the Trans-Consciousness Messaging Protocol.
:Friend: What's that?
:Cueball: I've been training myself to keep my fingers moving slightly as I fall asleep. So I can type from inside dreams.

:[Cueball sits with the keyboard on the bed.]
:Cueball: I'm going to sleep now. My computer will relay my messages to you as I explore the dream world.

:[Cueball stand with the keyboard in a forrest with tall trees. The leaves are not visdible, they are above the top of the drawing. At the top there is a frame with text:]
:In the dream:
:Cueball (thinking): So strange to think none of this is real.
:Cueball (thinking): And yet I have this lifeline to the internet back home.

:[Cueball places the keyboard on a stone, bends down and types.]
:Cueball (thinking): A chance to speak from one reality to another.
:Cueball (thinking): I feel like Bell & Watson. I get to write the inaugural TCMP message.
:Cueball (thinking): Let's see...
:Keyboard: *Type type type*

:[Megan at the computer and the Cueball-like friend behind her looks at his message from the dream. At the top there is a frame with text:]
:Outside:
:Megan: "F1rst P0st!!"?
:Friend: Great. He's jumped straight to trans-reality trolling.

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

Talk:1031: s/keyboard/leopard/

2016-03-09T01:37:53Z

Cody Hackins:

My mechanical leopard's been working out for me, just the feeling of my fingers hitting it is amazing. '''[[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 08:35, 21 January 2013 (UTC)

Why does it say "s/leopard/leopard/" in the url of this page, but title of this comic is "s/leopard/leopard/"?[[User:DiEvAl|DiEvAl]] ([[User talk:DiEvAl|talk]]) 17:57, 15 April 2013 (UTC)
:Now I see "s/leopard/leopard/" twice in my previous comment. I forgot that I have an extension installed that was inspired by this comic. :) [[User:DiEvAl|DiEvAl]] ([[User talk:DiEvAl|talk]]) 18:00, 15 April 2013 (UTC)

I swear I read every instance of leopard as leopard. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.89|173.245.54.89]] 23:33, 14 November 2013 (UTC)

Shouldn't the title of the comic end in "g" since it's a global replace, like "s/leopard/leopard/g"? [[User:Kroq-gar78|Kroq-gar78]] ([[User talk:Kroq-gar78|talk]]) 18:56, 23 November 2013 (UTC)
:I have no idea, but I do know that the current title matches the one on xkcd. We're not changing it, even if there was an error. [[User:NealCruco|NealCruco]] ([[User talk:NealCruco|talk]]) 03:50, 19 February 2014 (UTC)

:I just bought my new leopard today! It's working great, but it's a bit hard to use. Is there such a thing as a leopard-repair shop? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.47|108.162.219.47]] 21:03, 3 March 2014 (UTC)
some[http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-leopards-keypads] leopards even have touch screens[[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.45|108.162.216.45]] 05:58, 8 March 2014 (UTC)

You sure it's not a sed command? Regexps just matches! [[Special:Contributions/108.162.215.97|108.162.215.97]] 13:44, 8 September 2014 (UTC)
:actually, it's an ed command.[[User:Taibhse|Taibhse]] ([[User talk:Taibhse|talk]]) 12:10, 12 February 2015 (UTC)

If the first user's leopard now produces language in Chinese, why is the message in English? {{unsigned ip|108.162.250.155}}

The first add-on looks like google translate. {{unsigned ip|108.162.222.159}}

KEYBOARD. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.250.162|108.162.250.162]] 06:58, 12 August 2015 (UTC)

I have an extension that does quite this, so I have no idea who is actually saying "leopard". [[User:Cody Hackins|Cody Hackins]] ([[User talk:Cody Hackins|talk]]) 01:37, 9 March 2016 (UTC)

User:Cody Hackins

2016-01-24T19:44:38Z

Cody Hackins: Fix links

[https://www.GitHub.com/MathManiac0 Github.]

[http://MathManiac0.github.io Interblog.]

[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=User:Cody_Hackins Wiki Home Page]

User:Cody Hackins

2016-01-24T19:38:07Z

Cody Hackins: Created page with "[GitHub.](https://www.GitHub.com/MathManiac0) [Interblog.](MathManiac0.github.io) [Wiki home page.](http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=User:Cody_Hackins)"

[GitHub.](https://www.GitHub.com/MathManiac0)

[Interblog.](MathManiac0.github.io)

[Wiki home page.](http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=User:Cody_Hackins)

Talk:Footnote

2016-01-24T19:35:11Z

Cody Hackins: Add reply to latest comment

I remember the footnote originally being somewhat different (referring instead to a "formula"). Does anybody have that version? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.44|108.162.219.44]] 02:06, 29 May 2014 (UTC)

;Broken
Just leaving this here - the images on the random billboard link appear to be broken, someone should probably edit it so it points to a more helpful website. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.166|108.162.237.166]] 23:38, 8 June 2015 (UTC)

Actually, searching the BTC string (BTC 1FhCLQK2ZXtCUQDtG98p6fVH7S6mxAsEey) leads here. Talk about meta. [[Special:Contributions/199.27.133.109|199.27.133.109]] 20:44, 21 October 2015 (UTC)

Nice.{{unsigned ip|162.158.2.218}}

That, and its Blackhawk.info webpage. Makes me want to know his method of getting 1.6 bitcoins. [[User:Cody Hackins|Cody Hackins]] ([[User talk:Cody Hackins|talk]]) 19:35, 24 January 2016 (UTC)