explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:2469: Astronomy Status Board

2021-05-29T04:35:26Z

DrPumpkinz:

I don't think the two characters shown in the comic are necessarily junior astronomers. The title text seems more like a comment on how people new to a field would want to do big and exciting things, and groan when told they need to do boring but essential tasks. [[User:DrPumpkinz|DrPumpkinz]] ([[User talk:DrPumpkinz|talk]]) 04:35, 29 May 2021 (UTC)

Talk:2453: Excel Lambda

2021-04-23T00:07:13Z

DrPumpkinz: Randall fixed the ghost head

Another ghost cueball comic! You can see it in the last panel. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.54|108.162.216.54]] 06:03, 22 April 2021 (UTC)

==> Is that something that has happened before? First time noticing it. Is it just a remnant of the sketching? Of doest it mean something? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.93.213|162.158.93.213]] 13:21, 22 April 2021 (UTC)

==> Randall seems to have update the comic to remove the ghost head. Someone should update it here too. (I don't know how). [[User:DrPumpkinz|DrPumpkinz]] ([[User talk:DrPumpkinz|talk]]) 00:07, 23 April 2021 (UTC)

Someone needs to add an explanation of the Lambda, and possibly how Excel is implementing it. (I suppose it would immediately be useful for cutting down common re-use within a formula line, though =IF(ISERR(FIND(":",A1)),A1,RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-FIND(":",A1))) is a trivial repeat of the FIND, once to check, then again to do, I often need to do far more nested things, check for being a value, repeat the FIND to deal with the LEFT, etc.) But it has the smell of being effectively a Macro in this instance. Which already seems to me to be the only way to run a ''proper'' Turing Machine in an Excel column without hitting Circular Reference issues.

Would it be a stretch to say that Turing's inability to prove if Cueball will stop is actually equivalent to the halting problem, except it is for Cueball and not an arbitrary Turing machine? I thought that was pretty funny. [[User:XTheBHox|xTheBHox]] ([[User talk:XTheBHox|talk]]) 11:30, 22 April 2021 (UTC)

Microsoft themselves claim that the addition of LAMBDA makes Excel turing-comlpete (see here: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/excel-blog/announcing-lambda-turn-excel-formulas-into-custom-functions/ba-p/1925546). Based on this comic, I would argue that it already was... [[Special:Contributions/162.158.159.36|162.158.159.36]] 12:55, 22 April 2021 (UTC)

==> Someone has already made Conway's game of life in excel (http://dailydoseofexcel.com/archives/2011/04/06/conways-game-of-life-simulation-in-excel) and game of life has been shown to be Turing complete. [[User:Kvarts314|Kvarts314]] ([[User talk:Kvarts314|talk]]) 13:28, 22 April 2021 (UTC)

==> Since Excel has a way to store and do math on numbers, and also a way to 'point' to a certain cell, it is Turing-complete. A lambda function is not necessary for Turing-completeness (e.x. a turing machine does not have one.) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.255.250|162.158.255.250]] 15:14, 22 April 2021 (UTC)

it should probably be mentioned that the number of excel rows is emphatically *not* infinite, so only simple turing machines could be implemented this way. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.93.15|162.158.93.15]] 17:20, 22 April 2021 (UTC)

:In fact, it technically isn't Turing complete, as it has only a finite amount of data. It might be a finite-state-machine or the like, though. --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.218|108.162.219.218]] 20:22, 22 April 2021 (UTC)

# It may be worth citing this work. https://gotocon.com/amsterdam-2016/presentation/Pure%20Functional%20Programming%20in%20Excel [[User:Noehp|Noehp]] ([[User talk:Noehp|talk]]) 00:02, 23 April 2021 (UTC)

Talk:2432: Manage Your Preferences

2021-03-04T08:55:53Z

DrPumpkinz: Why green?

It's Atrus, not Atrius!
: There's also [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Neverending_Story_characters#Atreyu '''Atreyu'''] from the NeverEnding Story who was trapped inside a book...

[[Special:Contributions/172.68.142.63|172.68.142.63]] 00:29, 4 March 2021 (UTC)TH

To quote Wikipedia, "Myst is a graphic adventure puzzle video game designed by the Miller brothers, Robyn and Rand. It was developed by Cyan, Inc., published by Broderbund, and initially released for the Macintosh personal computer platform in 1993. In the game, players travel via a special book to the island of Myst. There, players solve puzzles, and by doing so, travel to four other worlds, known as Ages, which reveal the backstory of the game's characters." Just some background on what Myst is. [[User:Sarah the Pie(yes, the food)|Sarah the Pie(yes, the food)]] ([[User talk:Sarah the Pie(yes, the food)|talk]]) 00:40, 4 March 2021 (UTC)

I am going to put this on all my future game apps instead of an "auto" or "accept recommended settings" button [[Special:Contributions/162.158.187.183|162.158.187.183]] 02:36, 4 March 2021 (UTC)

In my view this explanation is entirely wrong. In many web sites and apps "Manage Your Preferences" is deliberately confusing or non-functional because the real purpose of the site or app is to install spyware (or other malware) or otherwise compromise users privacy or personal information.
The explanation makes this vile behavior appear accidental or even benign. It is not. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.87|173.245.54.87]] 03:30, 4 March 2021 (UTC)
:You want to say, there are pages out there trying to install malware on my computer, but I can stop them by saying "I do not agree"? I am pretty sure it is just about cookies. Do you consider cookies to be malware? --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 06:18, 4 March 2021 (UTC)
I'm not sure why the button is specifically referred to as green in the explanation. They can be any color to my knowledge, and the one in the comic is grey. [[User:DrPumpkinz|DrPumpkinz]] ([[User talk:DrPumpkinz|talk]]) 08:55, 4 March 2021 (UTC)

Talk:2356: Constellation Monstrosity

2020-09-07T22:53:02Z

DrPumpkinz:

This is some human centipede sh*t. Constellation centipede? 22:53, 7 September 2020 (UTC)

Talk:2325: Endorheic Basin

2020-06-28T00:07:26Z

DrPumpkinz:

I think it is a funny comic, but the way water acts towards Beret Guy has nothing to do with what happens in an Endorheic basin. And also if he attracts water more than gravity, then a siphon is no help at all to get rid of the water. A pump would be needed that could make a larger pull then gravity. But the name is just something Beret Guy gives it. And since he is the only hydrophilic person in the world it is hard to say how it will work for him. But given that Randall named the comic it seems to me that either he did not care about this, did not think about it correctly, or else, also a possibility, I do not understand these concepts well enough --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 22:49, 26 June 2020 (UTC)

I sort of disagree with Kynde. I think the idea here is that Beret Guy is a local low point where water flows toward. It's not that he's "more attractive that gravity" but that from the perspective of the water he's now the lowest point around and thus it flows toward him. Like a Endorheic basin it can't flow out to somewhere else. This makes the siphon comment funnier in my opinion as they're suggesting that if then found an even lower point than Beret Guy they could siphons water off of him and to that lower point. Something that the water wouldn't do on its own because of "walls" in his water potential function. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.63.172|162.158.63.172]] 23:23, 26 June 2020 (UTC)Max

Do we have a category for comics where Randal is suspected of trolling the explainxkcd community? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.245.132|108.162.245.132]] 00:32, 27 June 2020 (UTC)
:"All Comics"? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.158.167|162.158.158.167]] 00:43, 27 June 2020 (UTC)

"Generating Electricity" is most likely a reference to the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qattara_Depression_Project
:Qatarra makes sense; my first thought was the Salton Sea. It's certainly not a Minecraft reference, since rivers in Minecraft are flat (same altitude as the oceans) & hydroelectric dams do not exist in the game.
:[[Special:Contributions/172.69.33.125|172.69.33.125]] 17:25, 27 June 2020 (UTC)

(Prior item is unsigned.) Worth a link to https://what-if.xkcd.com/143/ aroujd the subject of siphons? If nothing else, it shows that Randall knows how they work (even if there's confusion over whether BG does, or just has the laws of nature do what he ''thinks'' they should do, as per Vacuum Energy). [[Special:Contributions/162.158.155.240|162.158.155.240]] 10:57, 27 June 2020 (UTC)

:Ordinary siphoning wouldn't work unless MOND or modified inertia dark matter theories are true. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.141.146|172.68.141.146]] 18:25, 27 June 2020 (UTC)

So, does anyone know what a Colonial Engineer is? I'm unfamiliar with the term. A quick google search just turns up a plastic parts company and a minecraft mod and that's it.[[Special:Contributions/172.69.63.169|172.69.63.169]] 21:13, 27 June 2020 (UTC)

:Isn't it simply engineer from British colony? You know, from the time of British Empire, when that included Egypt, India and lot more ... -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 22:42, 27 June 2020 (UTC)

Taking a poo must be awful. All that toilet water getting attracted to his butt... [[User:DrPumpkinz|DrPumpkinz]] ([[User talk:DrPumpkinz|talk]]) 00:07, 28 June 2020 (UTC)

Talk:1819: Sweet 16

2020-02-17T08:26:52Z

DrPumpkinz: Would the players in segways need to dribble? They aren't technically taking steps, so would it count as traveling?

Would the players in segways need to dribble? They aren't technically taking steps, so would it count as traveling?[[User:DrPumpkinz|DrPumpkinz]] ([[User talk:DrPumpkinz|talk]]) 08:26, 17 February 2020 (UTC)

I checked it out, if this truly is a basketball comp, then the 1988 Los Angeles Lakers win hands-down. [[User:Themanhimself11|Themanhimself11]] ([[User talk:Themanhimself11|talk]]) 10:25, 3 April 2017 (UTC)
:The youngest members of the '88 Lakers are now in their 50s, which would be a significant handicap. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is 69! The team with the best chance here is probably the regular basketball team wearing baseball equipment; with the exception of catcher's gear, it's the least restrictive of all the options.[[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.250|108.162.216.250]] 18:44, 3 April 2017 (UTC)
:: Not if the baseball equipment includes cleats. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.58.101|172.68.58.101]] 01:10, 4 April 2017 (UTC)
:This being Randall, they'll probably be playing basketball by Marquess of Queensberry rules. [[User:Nialpxe|Nialpxe]] ([[User talk:Nialpxe|talk]]) 11:22, 3 April 2017 (UTC)
:Looking at this comic as a whole, I feel I can guarantee that he meant the 1988 Lakers today. Skilled then, but 30 years older and slower. As for the baseball team / gear matchup, this begs the question if they can use the equipment... A guy swinging a baseball bat would make an effective blocker and make a significant difference, no matter how unskilled they are AT basketball. :) - NiceGuy1 [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.88|108.162.219.88]] 04:28, 7 April 2017 (UTC) I finally signed up! This comment is mine. [[User:NiceGuy1|NiceGuy1]] ([[User talk:NiceGuy1|talk]]) 04:57, 13 June 2017 (UTC)

:A lot of people who play NBA 2K17 are actually good in real life, so they should have a pretty good chance.

WHERE IS MY APRIL FOOLS DAY COMIC?? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.238.130|162.158.238.130]] 11:04, 3 April 2017 (UTC)

Minor detail - NBA 2K17 is made by 2K Games, rather than EA. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.107.36|141.101.107.36]] 12:43, 3 April 2017 (UTC)
:My bad. Must've confused it with the NBA Live series by EA. [[User:Nialpxe|Nialpxe]] ([[User talk:Nialpxe|talk]]) 14:31, 3 April 2017 (UTC)

The additional text says, "Every year I make my bracket at the season ...." Should that say "at the end of the season"? --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.74.105|162.158.74.105]] 13:20, 3 April 2017 (UTC)
:I was thinking it should say "at the beginning of the season," thus explaining why his bracket is busted before the postseason begins. Clearly ''something'' is missing! [[User:Miamiclay|Miamiclay]] ([[User talk:Miamiclay|talk]]) 15:52, 3 April 2017 (UTC)
:I know almost nothing about most sports, and less about basketball (at least the sports fan end of it), and with this explanation I feel certain it's "beginning". Somewhat pointless at the end, when all is over and settled. They would make such brackets to either predict how the Sweet 16 will fill out, or to record how it DID fill out. With the mouse-over contribution, these are clearly predictions. I wonder if Randall hedged between saying "at the beginning of the season" and "early in the season", since the Sweet 16 seems to come about once the season is well underway, so then "early" would be more accurate, then he forgot to pick one... - NiceGuy1 [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.88|108.162.219.88]] 04:28, 7 April 2017 (UTC) I finally signed up! This comment is mine. [[User:NiceGuy1|NiceGuy1]] ([[User talk:NiceGuy1|talk]]) 04:57, 13 June 2017 (UTC)

What we should explain for non-USA people to understand this comic is that it is an annual tradition to predict the full bracket of games and compare the predictions with friends and workmates. It's not just "a competition bracket": it's the annual "I'm trying to picture what would these opponents do". [[Special:Contributions/188.114.110.250|188.114.110.250]] 14:45, 3 April 2017 (UTC)

The real question is, how long will it be before there's an XKCD Bracket II Twitter? [[Special:Contributions/172.68.58.173|172.68.58.173]] 15:27, 3 April 2017 (UTC)

Could "A dog team with one human" be a reference to the Iditarod? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.75.166|162.158.75.166]] 19:36, 3 April 2017 (UTC)
:First thing I pictured when I saw that pairing, a dogsled team (then a dogsled team led by a cat). Of course, this was before I realized the basketball theme. :) Not sure if Randall was thinking of a dogsled team playing basketball, or if he just reversed the Air Bud scenario. - NiceGuy1 [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.88|108.162.219.88]] 04:28, 7 April 2017 (UTC) I finally signed up! This comment is mine. [[User:NiceGuy1|NiceGuy1]] ([[User talk:NiceGuy1|talk]]) 04:57, 13 June 2017 (UTC)

Could the basketball/baseball teams be a reference to Michael Jordan (in)famous 1993–1994 period during which he retired from basketball and played baseball instead? --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.134.106|162.158.134.106]] 09:34, 4 April 2017 (UTC)

I'm surprised no one's made a "swinger for the LA Lakers" joke yet... --[[User:JayRulesXKCD|'''JayRules''XKCD''' ]]<sup>[[User talk:JayRulesXKCD|what's up?]]</sup> 14:56, 4 April 2017 (UTC)

The NBA 2k17 top developers team might refer to a team made up of NBA 2k17 developers that was created for the game. In some sports video games the developers will create a hidden or bonus team composed of people on the development team, with really good abilities. --[[Special:Contributions/207.136.199.12|207.136.199.12]] 16:45, 4 April 2017 (UTC)
:I interpret that matchup to mean video game players vs video game developers in a real game of basketball. If you ignore realty and pander to the stereotypes then both teams would be pretty unathletic. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.50.162|173.245.50.162]] 18:04, 4 April 2017 (UTC)
:Yeah, these are all games to be played in real life, in person. And while there is sure to be many skilled basketball players among all the game players and game developers (a passion for the sport in real life would draw someone to both), who says the skilled real life players will be among the "top" video game players or developers? The only thing that can transfer is strategy. Actual skills in one form won't confer skill in the other. NiceGuy1 [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.88|108.162.219.88]] 04:28, 7 April 2017 (UTC) I finally signed up! This comment is mine. [[User:NiceGuy1|NiceGuy1]] ([[User talk:NiceGuy1|talk]]) 04:57, 13 June 2017 (UTC)

I think Air Bud should become a category due to the number of comics referencing the films. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.143.36|172.68.143.36]] 05:27, 5 April 2017 (UTC)

Side note: Since coming here Tuesday night for this comic, the ExplainXKCD site has seemed rather different, minimalized. Not sure if my iPad 1 is messing up, or if this is some new mobile version of the site, or if the site is messed up. Anybody else seeing this? For example, the entire left pane is missing, including the site's logo. And this text box is only using half the width of the screen. Tonight I went to a comic I last saw normal, as a control test, and it similarly looked minimized. NiceGuy1 [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.88|108.162.219.88]] 04:28, 7 April 2017 (UTC) I finally signed up! This comment is mine. (Side side note, the site has returned to looking fine for a while, maybe since it went down for maintenance?) [[User:NiceGuy1|NiceGuy1]] ([[User talk:NiceGuy1|talk]]) 04:57, 13 June 2017 (UTC)

Considering what Cinderella's glass slippers survived in the story, either they were not real glass or they were magic. Wait ... actually they were pretty obviously both, so ... -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 23:51, 7 April 2017 (UTC)

In the table it reads "It should be noted that the NBA requires a minimum of 13 team members." However, this comic is clearly related to College-level basketball, specifically NCAA Men's Division I Basketball. The only rules of which governing minimum team size is Rule 3, Section 2, Article 1 which states, "At the start of the game, each team shall consist of five players ...". Article 2 makes it clear a team can continue to play with fewer than five players after starting with five. Therefore, the note should be deleted.