explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:2068: Election Night

2018-11-05T16:59:00Z

Erkinalp:

This is an early example of using red and blue to denote candidates and parties. Here, McKinley (R) gets blue and Bryan (D) red; it wasn't standardized on blue for Democrats and red for Republicans until after the 2000 election. NBC News having used red/R and blue/D that year, Tom Brokaw was the first to speak extensively of "red states" and "blue states" elevating that to political meme status and leading to standardization. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.166|162.158.78.166]] 14:36, 5 November 2018 (UTC)

:I was just going to mention the hat :) [[Special:Contributions/108.162.246.191|108.162.246.191]] 14:57, 5 November 2018 (UTC)

I distinctly remember the reporting during the 1980 election (Reagan vs. Carter) that the TV news used blue for Republicans and red for Democrats. I don't know why they later switched, but I have always assumed that Democrats got offended by the use of red (the color of the USSR's flag and many other communist organizations) for their party. [[User:Shamino|Shamino]] ([[User talk:Shamino|talk]]) 15:19, 5 November 2018 (UTC)

:Beyond having one party being red and the other blue, there was no consistent color-coding scheme for the two major parties either from election to election or between news agencies prior to 2000. Both parties still officially list red, white, and blue as their colors. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.149|162.158.79.149]] 15:24, 5 November 2018 (UTC)

::There's a long history about red and blue states, all of which comes directly from the media reporting the different parties. It's interesting to note that in Europe, the liberal parties are red and the conservative parties are blue (opposite of the US), and the fact that red is the color of the USSR has nothing to do with the Democrats "not wanting to be red," they didn't choose the colors. [[User:Zachweix|Zachweix]] ([[User talk:Zachweix|talk]]) 16:51, 5 November 2018 (UTC)
:: European politics, unlike US politics, is multidimensional. [[User:Erkinalp|Erkinalp]] ([[User talk:Erkinalp|talk]]) 16:59, 5 November 2018 (UTC)

:: IIRC, blue was used for incumbents on some stations, red for challengers, and in 2000, blue stuck as the color of the democratic party,

2068: Election Night

2018-11-05T16:56:55Z

Erkinalp: /* Transcript */

{{comic
| number = 2068
| date = November 5, 2018
| title = Election Night
| image = election_night.png
| titletext = "Even the blind—those who are anxious to hear, but are not able to see—will be taken care of. Immense megaphones have been constructed and will be in use at The Tribune office and in the Coliseum. The one at the Coliseum will be operated by a gentleman who draws $60 a week from Barnum & Bailey's circus for the use of his voice."
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|CREATED BY A VOTER - Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
This comic compares media coverage on election results in 1896 and 2000.

==Transcript==

:[Megan and Cueball face each other while talking on the left of the panel]
:Megan: Ugh, I'm just going to hide out for election night. We'll know the results the next day anyway. The drama is so unnecessary.
:Cueball: Yeah. The internet and the 24-hour news have turned elections into a continuous, inescapable media onslaught.
:[A man in a top hat appears on the right side of the panel with a "Poof"]

:[Panel with just the man in a top hat, holding a newspaper]
:Man in a top hat: Hi! I'm a time traveler from 1896. Let me tell you about '''''our''''' election night coverage.
:Man in a top hat: *Ahem*
:Man in a top hat: From the ''Chicago Tribune''

:[Zoom in on head of the man in a top hat]
:Man in a top hat: "Once every hour from the roof of the Great Northern Hotel a series of bombs, which will ascend for several thousand feet, will be fired. Two colors will be used, blue and red."
:Man in a top hat: "Blue to indicate McKinley's election, red to indicate Bryan's election."
:Man in a top hat: "The bombardment of the skies will commence at 7 o'clock and will be repeated hourly."
:[Grey citation]: Chicago Tribune, Oct 30th & Nov 1st, 1896

:[Megan and Cueball on the left looking at the man in the top hat on the right]
:Megan: Yeah, well, we have a ''needle,'' though.
:Man in a top hat: A needle.
:Megan: It jiggles!
:Man in a top hat: Sounds awful.
:Cueball: Listen, you had to be there.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Elections]]
[[Category:Time travel]]

2068: Election Night

2018-11-05T16:56:04Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2068
| date = November 5, 2018
| title = Election Night
| image = election_night.png
| titletext = "Even the blind—those who are anxious to hear, but are not able to see—will be taken care of. Immense megaphones have been constructed and will be in use at The Tribune office and in the Coliseum. The one at the Coliseum will be operated by a gentleman who draws $60 a week from Barnum & Bailey's circus for the use of his voice."
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|CREATED BY A VOTER - Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
This comic compares media coverage on election results in 1896 and 2000.

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

:[Megan and Cueball face each other while talking on the left of the panel]
:Megan: Ugh, I'm just going to hide out for election night. We'll know the results the next day anyway. The drama is so unnecessary.
:Cueball: Yeah. The internet and the 24-hour news have turned elections into a continuous, inescapable media onslaught.
:[A man in a top hat appears on the right side of the panel with a "Poof"]

:[Panel with just the man in a top hat, holding a newspaper]
:Man in a top hat: Hi! I'm a time traveler from 1896. Let me tell you about '''''our''''' election night coverage.
:Man in a top hat: *Ahem*
:Man in a top hat: From the ''Chicago Tribune''

:[Zoom in on head of the man in a top hat]
:Man in a top hat: "Once every hour from the roof of the Great Northern Hotel a series of bombs, which will ascend for several thousand feet, will be fired. Two colors will be used, blue and red."
:Man in a top hat: "Blue to indicate McKinley's election, red to indicate Bryan's election."
:Man in a top hat: "The bombardment of the skies will commence at 7 o'clock and will be repeated hourly."
:[Grey citation]: Chicago Tribune, Oct 30th & Nov 1st, 1896

:[Megan and Cueball on the left looking at the man in the top hat on the right]
:Megan: Yeah, well, we have a ''needle,'' though.
:Man in a top hat: A needle.
:Megan: It jiggles!
:Man in a top hat: Sounds awful.
:Cueball: Listen, you had to be there.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Elections]]
[[Category:Time travel]]

2053: Incoming Calls

2018-10-03T18:49:30Z

Erkinalp:

{{comic
| number = 2053
| date = October 1, 2018
| title = Incoming Calls
| image = incoming_calls.png
| titletext = I wonder if that friendly lady ever fixed the problem she was having with her headset.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|CREATED BY A MOBILE PHONE - Can someone address the presumption in paragraph 1 where it says it's safe to assume that calls from family didn't decrease over the years... is that actually safe to assume, or might family be communicating via text messages, Facebook, email, etc. rather than phone calls? Or was there more communication when he lived with his parents, and less as an adult out on his own? Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic shows a graph of incoming phone calls over time to [[Randall]] since he was younger than six years. The graph doesn't show the absolute numbers but the proportion of callers. Because it's safe to assume that calls from his family didn't decrease over the years, other calls just increased over time and this graph can be misunderstood because the number of calls in the recent years are probably much higher than in 1990. Randall married in 2011, so family may have increased since then due to in-laws. This leads to Randall's second header line when he states that he "finally stopped picking up for unknown numbers", which is still roughly the same fraction but the amount is much more today.

Not covered are major modern ways to communicate like {{w|SMS}}, talking on {{w|Facebook}}, or the famous {{w|WhatsApp}}. Nonetheless Randall is also known to use the old fashioned {{w|ICQ}}. But, all these other electronic connections are behind the revelation done by Randall about his phone talks as he did in this comic.

Wrong numbers used to be a small but significant portion of the phone calls that Randall received, and remained fairly steady until the late 1990s, when they began a gradual and accelerating decline, eventually tapering off to nearly none in 2015. This is likely due to the rise of cellphones and programmable land-line phones, which contain their own address books and only require the caller to enter the number once, greatly reducing the chances of accidentally entering a wrong number in general and eliminating the possibility entirely for anyone with whom you have taken the time to save their number.

Appointment reminders and miscellaneous similar calls have steadily increased with time, likely due to a combination of Randall's increasing responsibilities as he ages, and thus the number of appointments and legitimate businesses who need to contact him, and the increased use by businesses of automated reminder systems. The appointments section seems to be slightly tapering off, possibly for the rise of using other means, such as SMS, for reminders.

The proportion of friends who call Randall rapidly increased in the 1990s and began to overtake family, probably because he has gained friends over time and because as they grew up they were more likely to own their own phone, and starting in the 2000s, their own cellphones, and at that time the Internet wasn't a primary method of communication, especially when away from home, so phone calls were the main way to connect with friends when apart. Over time, Randall's friends and family have been less likely to make phone calls to him, likely due to the use of text messages and the rise of the Internet and smartphones capable of running Internet-based messaging apps. This is further confirmed by the addition of an entry for "that one friend who hates texting" which has grown to encompass pretty much the entire "Friends" category, because presumably all his friends EXCEPT that "one friend" do all their communicating with Randall by methods other than actual phone calls, such as text messages, etc. The alternative idea that he no longer has friends except that "one friend" is sad and can be dismissed outright.

Additionally, although there was a large percentage of phone calls from legal {{w|Telemarketing|telemarketers}} in the 1990s, this percentage has significantly dropped, most likely due to the creation of the {{w|National Do Not Call Registry}}, which allows individuals and families in the United States to register phone numbers that are exempt from telemarketers. Instead, there has been a rise in phone calls from {{w|Phone fraud|scammers}} and political advertisements. Even if a phone number is registered on the National Do Not Call Registry, they may still receive phone calls from political organizations. It is implied that the latter two groups have caused Randall to stop answering phone calls from unknown numbers.

The title text refers to a common scamming tactic in which a {{w|Robocall|robocaller}}, typically one named "Emily," will claim to be having trouble with their headset and say "Can you hear me now?" The trick is either to keep you on the line while taking a second or two to connect you to a real person to get scammed, or to get a recording of you saying "yes" for potential fraudulent use (or both).

==Transcript==
:[A line graph shows the portions of phone calls by type over time beginning slightly before 1990 until today.]
:'''Incoming personal calls over time'''
:or: why I finally stopped picking up for unknown numbers

:[The x-axis is labeled with years beginning at 1990 in five year segments up to NOW (2018). The y-axis shows a relative distribution of callers.]
:[The calls are (from top to down):]
:Appointment reminders, misc. (small growing all over time)
:Family (larger in the beginning, constant with some fluctuations since 2000)
:Friends (growing from 1995 to 2005, then decreasing but intersected with "that one friend who hates texting", after that decreasing)
:Legal telemarketers (peak in the beginning, decreasing over time)
:Auto insurance scammers (a big peak between 2005 and 2012)
:Other scammers (beginning in 2010, replacing the auto insurance, increasing until today)
:Political (starting in 2002 and increasing since then)
:Wrong numbers (constant up to 2000 and then decreasing to nearly today)

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Randall Munroe]]
[[Category:Line graphs]]
[[Category:Timelines]]

2053: Incoming Calls

2018-10-01T21:28:55Z

Erkinalp: /* Transcript */

{{comic
| number = 2053
| date = October 1, 2018
| title = Incoming Calls
| image = incoming_calls.png
| titletext = I wonder if that friendly lady ever fixed the problem she was having with her headset.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Please edit the explanation below and only mention here why it isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
This comic shows a graph of incoming phone calls over time to [[Randall]] since he was younger than six years. The graph doesn't show the absolute numbers but the proportion of callers. Because it's safe to assume that calls from his family didn't decrease over the years, other calls just increased over time and this graph can be misunderstood because the number of calls in the recent years are probably much higher than in 1990. This leads to Randall's second header line when he states that he "finally stopped picking up for unknown numbers", which is still roughly the same fraction but the amount is much more today.

Over time, Randall's friends and family have been less likely to make phone calls to him, likely due to the use of text messages and other messaging apps. Additionally, although there was a large percentage of phone calls from legal {{w|Telemarketing|telemarketers}} in the 1990s, this percentage has significantly dropped, most likely due to the creation of the {{w|National Do Not Call Registry}}, which allows individuals and families in the United States to register phone numbers that are exempt from telemarketers. Instead, there has been a rise in phone calls from {{w|Phone fraud|scammers}} and political advertisements. Even if a phone number is registered on the National Do Not Call Registry, they may still receive phone calls from political organizations. It is implied that the latter two groups have caused Randall to stop answering phone calls from unknown numbers.

The title text refers to a common scamming tactic in which a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robocall robocaller], typically one named "Emily," will claim to be having trouble with their headset and say "Can you hear me now?" The trick being that you will think you're talking to a person, not a computer that took a second or two to connect. However, this is not the case and will usually simply transfer the victim to a real person to get scammed, when needed.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
:[A line graph shows the portions of phone calls by type over time beginning slightly before 1990 until today.]
:'''Incoming personal calls over time'''
:or: why I finally stopped picking up for unknown numbers

:[The x-axis is labeled with years beginning at 1990 in five year segments up to NOW (2018). y-axis shows a relative distribution of callers.]
:[The calls are (from top to down):]
:Appointment reminders, misc. (small growing all over time)
:Family (larger in the beginning, constant with some fluctuations since 2000)
:Friends (growing from 1995 to 2005, then decreasing but intersected with "that one friend who hates texting", after that decreasing)
:Legal telemarketers (peak in the beginning, decreasing over time)
:Auto insurance scammers (a big peak between 2005 and 2012)
:Other scammers (beginning in 2010, replacing the auto insurance, increasing until today)
:Political (starting in 2002 and increasing since then)
:Wrong numbers (constant up to 2000 and then decreasing to nearly zero today)

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Randall Munroe]]
[[Category:Line graphs]]
[[Category:Timelines]]

2053: Incoming Calls

2018-10-01T21:28:38Z

Erkinalp: /* Transcript */

{{comic
| number = 2053
| date = October 1, 2018
| title = Incoming Calls
| image = incoming_calls.png
| titletext = I wonder if that friendly lady ever fixed the problem she was having with her headset.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Please edit the explanation below and only mention here why it isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
This comic shows a graph of incoming phone calls over time to [[Randall]] since he was younger than six years. The graph doesn't show the absolute numbers but the proportion of callers. Because it's safe to assume that calls from his family didn't decrease over the years, other calls just increased over time and this graph can be misunderstood because the number of calls in the recent years are probably much higher than in 1990. This leads to Randall's second header line when he states that he "finally stopped picking up for unknown numbers", which is still roughly the same fraction but the amount is much more today.

Over time, Randall's friends and family have been less likely to make phone calls to him, likely due to the use of text messages and other messaging apps. Additionally, although there was a large percentage of phone calls from legal {{w|Telemarketing|telemarketers}} in the 1990s, this percentage has significantly dropped, most likely due to the creation of the {{w|National Do Not Call Registry}}, which allows individuals and families in the United States to register phone numbers that are exempt from telemarketers. Instead, there has been a rise in phone calls from {{w|Phone fraud|scammers}} and political advertisements. Even if a phone number is registered on the National Do Not Call Registry, they may still receive phone calls from political organizations. It is implied that the latter two groups have caused Randall to stop answering phone calls from unknown numbers.

The title text refers to a common scamming tactic in which a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robocall robocaller], typically one named "Emily," will claim to be having trouble with their headset and say "Can you hear me now?" The trick being that you will think you're talking to a person, not a computer that took a second or two to connect. However, this is not the case and will usually simply transfer the victim to a real person to get scammed, when needed.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
:[A line graph shows the portions of phone calls by type over time beginning slightly before 1990 until today.]
:'''Incoming personal calls over time'''
:or: why I finally stopped picking up for unknown numbers

:[The x-axis is labeled with years beginning at 1990 in five year segments up to NOW (2018). y axis shows a relative distribution of callers.]
:[The calls are (from top to down):]
:Appointment reminders, misc. (small growing all over time)
:Family (larger in the beginning, constant with some fluctuations since 2000)
:Friends (growing from 1995 to 2005, then decreasing but intersected with "that one friend who hates texting", after that decreasing)
:Legal telemarketers (peak in the beginning, decreasing over time)
:Auto insurance scammers (a big peak between 2005 and 2012)
:Other scammers (beginning in 2010, replacing the auto insurance, increasing until today)
:Political (starting in 2002 and increasing since then)
:Wrong numbers (constant up to 2000 and then decreasing to nearly zero today)

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Randall Munroe]]
[[Category:Line graphs]]
[[Category:Timelines]]

2044: Sandboxing Cycle

2018-09-11T16:33:31Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2044
| date = September 10, 2018
| title = Sandboxing Cycle
| image = sandboxing_cycle.png
| titletext = All I want is a secure system where it's easy to do anything I want. Is that so much to ask?
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a CONTAINER BOT (otherwise new comic pages and much more would have to be created here manually) - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

A {{w|Sandpit|sandbox}} or sandpit is a playground where children can play safe without interfering the world outside. By this meaning the term was adopted by others like the {{w|Sand table|sand table}} in military uses, or as a {{w|Wikipedia:Sandbox|Wikipedia Sandbox}}, a playground for inexperienced editors to test their additions, and in computer security which [[Randall]] probably references at this comic.

Software is getting more and more complex, and in an effort to reduce programming work and security vulnerabilities, large applications are composed of multiple programs. Getting these mostly self-contained programs to work with each other can be tricky, since requirements can vary a lot between different applications, requiring a rather general {{w|Interface (computing)|interface}} or {{w|API}} for communication. The more open such interfaces are, the higher the risk of unintended side effects, like vulnerabilities and overly permissive data access which could be exploited by hackers.

At first, we are presented with an application whose parts are not yet fully connected to each other, suggesting the application has not yet been fully developed. Some of them are encapsulated and don't talk directly with programs on the outside, but through the encapsulation layer.

Using some "new technology" these parts are interconnected, with blatant disregard to good software design (foregoing encapsulation (as they are being drawn from an inner circle 'cutting' through its container), too much data sharing, even a connection that seemingly leads nowhere).

Randall then notices that the programs making up his service have a very high number of connections between them, reducing the sandboxing effort to absurdity (and probably gaining a few security holes along the way).

One solution to this problem is {{w|Sandbox (computer security)|sandboxing}}. Sandboxing a program limits its access to the outside world transparently. This can tighten up sloppy security by working around it. A direct consequence of restricted communication is that it is now harder to connect programs with each other. The Industry currently puts a lot of work into {{w|Orchestration (computing)|orchestrating}} these sandboxes; making it (supposedly) easier to plug programs into each other without sacrificing security.

He then proceeds to re-sandbox his services without cleaning up the mess he made and the cycle starts over.

The dilemma is again stated in the title text: Randall wants both ease of use and high security. In practice, a tradeoff has to be made.

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

:[The comic consists of four panels arranged in a circle around the center. Black arrows connecting them clockwise in an infinite loop. All panels show the same 14 tiny circles and three different rings embedding some of the circles while other circles are outside. A few circles and rings are connected by lines but there is no connection between them all.]

:[The panel at top left shows this configuration but with a few circles in red.]
:"I wish these parts could communicate more easily."

:[Clockwise the next panel on the right shows new lines in green connecting nearly all remaining also now green circles and the lower most circle has a dashed green line to the outside.]
:"Ohh, this new technology makes it easy to create arbitrary connections, integrating everything!"

:[At the third panel to the bottom right all green parts are now in black and even more connections are established. Parts of these and some others are now highlighted in red.]
:"Uh-oh, there are so many connections it's creating bugs and security holes!"

:[At the fourth panel to the bottom left all red parts are now in black, showing a complex structure. Four green rings separate the structure with only green connections between them and to the outside.]
:"Ohh, this new technology makes it easy to enclose arbitrary things in secure sandboxes!"

:[The arrow above the fourth panel connects it to the first and the circle continues from the beginning.]

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Charts]]

2022: Sports Champions

2018-09-08T20:33:00Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2022
| date = July 20, 2018
| title = Sports Champions
| image = sports_champions.png
| titletext = For a long time, people thought maybe Usain Bolt was the one for running, until the 2090s and the incredible dominance of Derek Legs.
}}

==Explanation==
In an example of {{w|nominative determinism}}, the comic lists people whose surname relates to their participation in various sports. It is presented as though it was created in the far future, reflecting on champions over the decades through to the 2080s. The first three are real sportspeople, the remainder are imaginary players of the future. The names progress from real, to fictional-but-plausible, to rare or highly unusual, to utterly implausible and impractical names.

The caricatures are participating in their sport, except for Jebediah who is standing at a {{w|lectern}}.

;Margaret Court (1960s, Tennis)
:{{w|Margaret Court}} is an Australian tennis player, former world number 1, who won many competitions in the 1960s and 70s. A {{w|tennis court|tennis '''court'''}} is the playing arena used in that sport.
;Gary Player (1970s, Golf)
:{{w|Gary Player}} is a South African golfer who won nine major championships between 1959 and 1978. Competitors are often known as '''player'''s, such as in {{w|The Players Championship}}.
;Lonzo Ball (2020s, Basketball)
:{{w|Lonzo Ball}} is an American professional basketball player, currently with the Los Angeles Lakers. The 2020s decade predicts future success, as he began playing professionally in 2017. Basketball is, of course, a {{w|ball game|'''ball''' game}}.
;Jake Halfpipe (2030s, Skateboarding)
:A '''{{w|half-pipe|halfpipe}}''' is a structure used in extreme sports such as skateboarding and snowboarding.
;Sarah Goggles (2030s, Swimming)
:'''{{w|Goggles}}''' are protective eyewear used in many sports, such as swimming or skiing.
;Kevin Slurve (2050s, Baseball)
:A '''{{w|slurve}}''' is a baseball throwing technique, a portmanteau of '''sl'''ider and c'''urve'''.
;Julia Chairlift (2050s, Skiing)
:A '''{{w|chairlift}}''' is an aerial machine often used to transport winter sports participants up mountains.
;Dwight Shuttlecock (2060s, Badminton)
:A '''{{w|shuttlecock}}''' is a projectile used in the sport of badminton.
;Brandon Sponsorship (2060s, Unclear)
:Sporting professionals are often {{w|Sponsor (commercial)|sponsored}} by corporations. Brandon is holding a pair of shoes, which are probably a branded '''sponsorship''' item. Possible pun on "brand on sponsorship", i.e. a sponsored player.
;Kate Dopingscandal (2070s, Cycling)
:There have been many '''{{w|List of doping cases in cycling|doping scandal}}s''' in the world of cycling. Doping refers to the "use of physiological substances or abnormal methods to obtain an artificial increase in performance."
;Jebediah Disasterous Postgame-PressConference (2080s, Unspecified)
:At the end of sporting events - i.e. post-game - there is often a {{w|News conference|press conference}} where the competitors discuss the result. Sometimes, these live interviews are a disaster. Randall has chosen to spell his name as "Disasterous", rather than the more conventional "Disastrous".
;Title Text<nowiki>:</nowiki> Usain Bolt (2010s) and Derek Legs (2090s, Sprinting)
:From the title text, {{w|Usain Bolt}} is a retired world record {{w|100 metres|sprinter}}. He was a solid contender for this list since he can '''bolt''' down the track. However the fictional Derek '''Legs''' is selected, either as an even faster sprinter, or because “legs” more clearly and unambiguously relates to running than “bolt” does.

==Transcript==
:[Two rows of people wielding sports equipment are shown, six in the upper row, five in the lower, only the last has no equipment but is standing behind a lectern with a microphone attached to it. Below each person, their name is given and the decade in which they were champions of their sport is given below their name, in brackets. Here is a list of the 11 people:]

:[Woman with dark hair holding a tennis racket]
:Margaret Court
:(1960s)

:[Cueball with a golf club]
:Gary Player
:(1970s)

:[Cueball with a basketball]
:Lonzo Ball
:(2020s)

:[Hairy on a skateboard]
:Jake Halfpipe
:(2030s)

:[Woman with dark hair wearing a swim cap and goggles]
:Sarah Goggles
:(2030s)

:[A man with a baseball cap throwing a baseball to the right]
:Kevin Slurve
:(2050s)

:[A woman with long black hair in a knit cap and wearing ski googles is standing on skis holding ski poles]
:Julia Chairlift
:(2050s)

:[Hairy holding a badminton racket bouncing a shuttlecock on it]
:Dwight Shuttlecock
:(2060s)

:[Hairy holding a pair of shoes in his hand]
:Brandon Sponsorship
:(2060s)

:[Hairbun standing next to a bicycle.]
:Kate Dopingscandal
:(2070s)

:[Hairy standing behind a lectern with a microphone on it.]
:Jebediah Disasterous Postgame PressConference
:(2080s)

:[Caption below the panel:]
:Fun fact: Every sport eventually produces a champion competitor named after a common element of the game.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairbun]]
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]
[[Category:Sport]]
[[Category:Baseball]]
[[Category:Basketball]]

2035: Dark Matter Candidates

2018-08-21T19:06:58Z

Erkinalp: Undo revision 161641 by Dgbrt (talk)

{{comic
| number = 2035
| date = August 20, 2018
| title = Dark Matter Candidates
| image = dark_matter_candidates.png
| titletext = My theory is that dark matter is actually just a thin patina of grime covering the whole universe, and we don't notice it because we haven't thoroughly cleaned the place in eons.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Every section needs to be filled and explained. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
{{w|Dark matter}} is a hypothetical form of matter used by the vast majority of astronomers to explain the far too high apparent mass of objects at large scales in our universe. In galaxies, stars are orbiting faster than the gravitational force of the sum of the masses of visible matter in the galaxy could cause, and entire galaxies are observed moving much faster around each other than their visible masses could explain. In galactic collisions, the mass can appear to separate from the visible matter, as if the mass doesn't collide but the visible matter does. A small handful of galaxies have been observed to not have this property, suggesting that it is a *thing* that a galaxy can have more or less of and is separable from. At scales of our solar system, those effects are too small and can't be measured. In cosmology, dark matter is estimated to account for 85% of the total matter in the universe.

This comic gives a set of possibilities for what dark matter could possibly be, charted by mass from smallest (given in {{w|Electronvolt#Mass|electronvolts}}) to largest (given in kilograms). Masses in the range 10-15 kg to 10-3 kg are given in grams together with appropriate prefixes, while the ton takes the place of 103 kg.

Only massive objects ranging from subatomic particles up to super massive ones are covered in this comic. There are also {{w|Dark matter#Alternative hypotheses|alternative hypotheses}} trying to modify general relativity with no need of additional matter. The problem is that these theories can't explain all different observations at once. Nonetheless dark matter is a mystery because no serious candidate has been found yet.

The joke in this comic is that the range of the mass of the possible particles and objects stretch over 81 powers of ten, with explanations suggested by astronomers covering only some portions of that range. [[Randall]] fills the gaps with highly absurd suggestions.

;Axion
An {{w|Axion|axion}} is a hypothetical elementary particle that might be a component of dark matter.

;Sterile neutrino
{{w|Sterile neutrino|Sterile neutrinos}} are hypothetical particles interacting only via gravity. It's an actual candidate for dark matter.

;Electrons painted with space camouflage
{{w|Electron|Electrons}} are fundamental particles which compose the outer layers of atoms. A large number of electrons in the galaxy would be relatively easy to detect, as they not only interact with light (which dark matter does not appear to), but also have a strong electric charge. Presumably, space camouflage is a positively-charged coating which prevents electrons from interacting with light. (Needless to say, this is not an actual candidate for dark matter.) The mass of an electron is about 0.5 MeV which fits well into the graph.

;Neutralino
A {{w|Neutralino|neutralino}} is a hypothetical particle from {{w|Supersymmetry|supersymmetry}}, it is an actual candidate for dark matter.

;Q-ball
In theoretical physics, a {{w|Q-ball}} is a stable group of particles. It's an actual candidate for dark matter.

(In billiards, a cue ball is the white (or yellow) ball hit with the cue in normal play. In addition, [[Cueball]] is the name explainxkcd uses for the most common xkcd character.)

;Pollen
{{w|Pollen}} is a joke candidate, though people with seasonal allergies may suspect that the universe is genuinely made up entirely of pollen in the springtime.

;No-See-Ums
{{w|Ceratopogonidae|No-See-Ums}} are a family (Ceratopogonidae) of small flies, 1–4 mm long, that can pass through most window screens. Another joke candidate.

;Bees
Insects of the clade {{w|Bee|Antophila}} are major pollinators of flowering plants. In recent years {{w|Colony collapse disorder|bees have been disappearing}} at an alarming rate; {{w|The Stolen Earth|Doctor Who explained}} that they are in fact aliens leaving Earth prior to a Dalek invasion.

;8-balls
In pool, the {{w|Pool (cue sports)|8-ball}} is a black ball numbered 8. It's a pun with Q-ball/cue ball. Unless undetected aliens have discovered billiards and become addicted to it, 8-balls are found only on Earth and are, hence, unlikely dark matter candidates.

;Space Cows
Cows are {{w|Bovinae|bovines}} extensively farmed on Earth for milk and meat. Although there is folklore concerning cows {{w|Hey diddle diddle|achieving circum-lunar orbits}}, not to mention their appearance on a {{w|Shindig (Firefly)|space western TV show}}, they have yet to be found elsewhere in the Universe. In the television show "Too Close for Comfort", one of the characters is the cartoonist of a comic strip called "Cosmic Cow".

;Obelisks, Monoliths, Pyramids
While those human constructions are huge on a human scale, they're negligible at universe-scale. It would take a large number of such constructions, distributed through space, to replicate the effects of dark matter; while a scenario could be envisioned where enough such constructs existed, with properties and distribution allowing them to match observations, this is obviously not a likely explanation.
They often show up in fiction and pseudo-scientific literature as alien artifacts generating immense unknown power out of nowhere, with the most famous and influential example being the three monoliths from {{w|2001: A Space Odyssey (film)|2001: A Space Odyssey}} (with the largest having a mass of about 500,000 tonnes).

;Black Holes ruled out by:
{{w|Black hole|Black holes}} are known to occur in sizes of a few sun masses (about 1030-1031 kg) as remnants of the core of former big stars, as well as in quite large sizes at the centers of galaxies (millions or even billions of sun masses). But recent gravitational wave detections indicate that black holes at 50 or 100 sun masses also exist, though their origin is still not understood. Randall doesn't mention this but some astronomers hope that these could fill at least a part of the gap. Regardless, they have been ruled out as a candidate for dark matter for various reasons Randall has listed. However, black holes weighing approximately 1013kg or 1030kg are not ruled out according to comic.

Except the last item, all range below the mass of the sun (2x1030 kg) while the smallest known black hole is about four sun masses.
* Gamma rays: If dark matter were black holes of this size, the black holes would be evaporating in bursts of {{w|Hawking radiation}}, and we'd see a buzz of gamma rays from every direction.
* GRB lensing: {{w|Gamma-ray burst|Gamma-ray bursts}} (GRBs) are the brightest events in the universe and have been observed only in distant galaxies. While gravitational microlensing (see below) is an astronomical phenomenon, it doesn't make much sense here. GRBs are short (milliseconds to several hours) and are often detected only by space-borne sensors for gamma-rays -- rarely at any other wavelengths. Measuring lensing effects would be very difficult. This [https://arxiv.org/abs/1406.3102 paper] discusses the probability of detecting lensing effects caused by {{w|Dark matter halo|galactic halo objects}} among the known GRBs given sufficient objects to represent the missing mass.
* Neutron star data: {{w|Neutron star|Neutron stars}} aren't black holes, but they're also very small highly compact objects at about 1.4-2.16 solar masses. While black holes can't be observed directly, neutron stars are detectable in many wavelengths. The number of them gives a clue about the number of black holes close to the mass of the sun, a number which is far too low to make up dark matter.
* Micro lensing: {{w|Gravitational microlensing}} is a gravitational lens effect, (the path of radiation is changed by passing through space bent by nearby mass). This was predicted by Einstein's {{w|General Relativity|Theory of General Relativity}} and was first confirmed in 1919 during a solar eclipse, when a star which was nearly in line with the sun appeared more distant to the sun than usual. Astronomers have found many so called {{w|Einstein ring|Einstein rings}} or Einstein crosses where a massive object in front of other galaxies bends the light toward us. Those massive objects may be black holes, but the number is far too low to explain dark matter.
* Solar system stability: Our {{w|Solar system|solar system}} is 4.5 billion years old and has been very stable since shortly after its formation. If not, we wouldn't exist. If dark objects at 1024 kg - 1030 kg (mass of Earth up to mass of Sun) accounted for dark matter and were distributed throughout galaxies, there should be many of them in the vicinity of our solar system and the system wouldn't be stable at all.
* Buzzkill Astronomers: Black holes above a certain size would be impossible to miss, due to the effects they have on nearby matter. But at the mass of some 1030 kg there must be many supernova remnants we still haven't found.

;Maybe those orbit lines on space diagrams are real and very heavy
Diagrams of our solar system (or any planetary system) often show lines representing the elliptical paths the planet takes around its sun. These lines don't show real objects, though. Astronomers just draw them on pictures of the solar system to show where the planets move. If you draw a line on a map to give someone directions, that line isn't an object in real life; it's just on the map. If these lines were real, they would be ''huge'' (Earth's would be 940 million km long (2π AU) and Neptune's would be 28 ''billion'' kilometers long). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fKBhvDjuy0 Powers of Ten (1977)] gives a good sense of just how large these orbit lines need to be in order to be visible in space diagrams. If these orbit lines were also very dense, they would have a huge mass and could possibly account for the missing 85% of the mass in the universe. But they would also constantly be impaling the planets, including the Earth, which would be a problem. Their mass would also affect planetary motions in ways which we would detect. A related worry about space travel was expressed in previous centuries; it was thought that the planets were embedded within {{w|Celestial spheres|crystal shells}} (spheres or Platonic solids), and a rocket into space could smash the shells and send planets plummeting to Earth. Another joke candidate.

;Title text
The title text refers to the fact that space is just vast emptiness where a little bit of dirt could be overlooked. Actually the mean density of detectable matter in the universe, according to NASA, is equivalent to roughly [https://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/universe/uni_matter.html 1 proton per 4 cubic meters]. And because this matter is mostly located in galaxies -- and inside there in stars and clouds -- the space between is even more empty. For comparison, one gram hydrogen consists of {{w|Avogadro constant|6.022 x 1023 atoms}}. Like at home wiping with a cleaning cloth in which we can see the dirt that wasn't clearly visible on the surface we have wiped, Randall believes that some few atoms more per cubic meter could stay undetected in the same way. This isn't true because in the space between galaxies astronomers can detect matter as it spreads over thousands or millions cubic light years. Atoms can't hide; there is always radiation.

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

:Dark matter candidates:
:[A line graph is shown and labeled at left quarter in eV and further to the right in g together with some prefixes.]
:[The labels read:]
:µeV, meV, eV, keV, MeV, GeV, TeV, 10-18kg, ng, µg, mg, g, kg, TON, 106kg, 1012kg, 1018kg, 1024kg, 1030kg

:[All items are shown in bars ranging between two approximately values:]
:< 1 µeV - 10 meV: Axion

:1 eV - 10 keV: Sterile neutrino

:0.5 MeV (exactly): Electrons painted with space camouflage

:10 GeV - 10 TeV: Neutralino

:100 TeV - 10-17 kg: Q-ball

:1 ng - 100 ng: Pollen

:0.1 mg - 1 mg: No-See-Ums

:10-1 g (exactly): Bees

:10 g - 100 g: 8-balls

:100 kg - TON: Space cows

:TON - 109 kg: Obelisks, monoliths, pyramids

:109 kg - 1033 kg: Black holes ruled out by:
::109 kg - 1013 kg: Gamma rays
::1013 kg - 1017 kg: GRB lensing
::1015 kg - 1022 kg: Neutron star data
::1021 kg - 1030 kg: Micro lensing
::1024 kg - 1030 kg: Solar system stability
::1030 kg - 1033 kg: Buzzkill astronomers

:1033 kg - >1036 kg: Maybe those orbit lines on space diagrams are real and very heavy

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Science]]
[[Category:Physics]]
[[Category:Astronomy]]
[[Category:Line graphs]]

2035: Dark Matter Candidates

2018-08-21T18:15:11Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2035
| date = August 20, 2018
| title = Dark Matter Candidates
| image = dark_matter_candidates.png
| titletext = My theory is that dark matter is actually just a thin patina of grime covering the whole universe, and we don't notice it because we haven't thoroughly cleaned the place in eons.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Every section needs to be filled and explained. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
{{w|Dark matter}} is a hypothetical form of matter used by the vast majority of astronomers to explain the far too high apparent mass of objects at large scales in our universe. In galaxies, stars are orbiting faster than the gravitational force of the sum of the masses of visible matter in the galaxy could cause, and entire galaxies are observed moving much faster around each other than their visible masses could explain. In galactic collisions, the mass can appear to separate from the visible matter, as if the mass doesn't collide but the visible matter does. A small handful of galaxies have been observed to not have this property, suggesting that it is a *thing* that a galaxy can have more or less of and is separable from. At scales of our solar system, those effects are too small and can't be measured. In cosmology, dark matter is estimated to account for 85% of the total matter in the universe.

This comic gives a set of possibilities for what dark matter could possibly be, charted by mass from smallest (given in {{w|Electronvolt#Mass|electronvolts}}) to largest (given in kilograms). Masses in the range 10-15 kg to 10-3 kg are given in grams together with appropriate prefixes, while the ton takes the place of 103 kg.

Only massive objects ranging from subatomic particles up to super massive ones are covered in this comic. There are also {{w|Dark matter#Alternative hypotheses|alternative hypotheses}} trying to modify general relativity with no need of additional matter. The problem is that these theories can't explain all different observations at once. Nonetheless dark matter is a mystery because no serious candidate has been found yet.

The joke in this comic is that the range of the mass of the possible particles and objects stretch over 81 powers of ten, with explanations suggested by astronomers covering only some portions of that range. [[Randall]] fills the gaps with highly absurd suggestions.

;Axion
An {{w|Axion|axion}} is a hypothetical elementary particle that might be a component of dark matter.

;Sterile neutrino
{{w|Sterile neutrino|Sterile neutrinos}} are hypothetical particles interacting only via gravity. It's an actual candidate for dark matter.

;Electrons painted with space camouflage
{{w|Electron|Electrons}} are fundamental particles which compose the outer layers of atoms. A large number of electrons in the galaxy would be relatively easy to detect, as they not only interact with light (which dark matter does not appear to), but also have a strong electric charge. Presumably, space camouflage is a positively-charged coating which prevents electrons from interacting with light. (Needless to say, this is not an actual candidate for dark matter.) The mass of an electron is about 0.5 MeV which fits well into the graph.

;Neutralino
A {{w|Neutralino|neutralino}} is a hypothetical particle from {{w|Supersymmetry|supersymmetry}}, it is an actual candidate for dark matter.

;Q-ball
In theoretical physics, a {{w|Q-ball}} is a stable group of particles. It's an actual candidate for dark matter.

(In billiards, a cue ball is the white (or yellow) ball hit with the cue in normal play. In addition, [[Cueball]] is the name explainxkcd uses for the most common xkcd character.)

;Pollen
{{w|Pollen}} is a joke candidate, though people with seasonal allergies may suspect that the universe is genuinely made up entirely of pollen in the springtime.

;No-See-Ums
{{w|Ceratopogonidae|No-See-Ums}} are a family (Ceratopogonidae) of small flies, 1–4 mm long, that can pass through most window screens. Another joke candidate.

;Bees
Insects of the clade {{w|Bee|Antophila}} are major pollinators of flowering plants. In recent years {{w|Colony collapse disorder|bees have been disappearing}} at an alarming rate; {{w|The Stolen Earth|Doctor Who explained}} that they are in fact aliens leaving Earth prior to a Dalek invasion.

;8-balls
In pool, the {{w|Pool (cue sports)|8-ball}} is a black ball numbered 8. It's a pun with Q-ball/cue ball. Unless undetected aliens have discovered billiards and become addicted to it, 8-balls are found only on Earth and are, hence, unlikely dark matter candidates.

;Space Cows
Cows are {{w|Bovinae|bovines}} extensively farmed on Earth for milk and meat. Although there is folklore concerning cows {{w|Hey diddle diddle|achieving circum-lunar orbits}}, not to mention their appearance on a {{w|Shindig (Firefly)|space western TV show}}, they have yet to be found elsewhere in the Universe. In the television show "Too Close for Comfort", one of the characters is the cartoonist of a comic strip called "Cosmic Cow".

;Obelisks, Monoliths, Pyramids
While those human constructions are huge on a human scale, they're negligible at universe-scale. It would take a large number of such constructions, distributed through space, to replicate the effects of dark matter; while a scenario could be envisioned where enough such constructs existed, with properties and distribution allowing them to match observations, this is obviously not a likely explanation.
They often show up in fiction and pseudo-scientific literature as alien artifacts generating immense unknown power out of nowhere, with the most famous and influential example being the three monoliths from {{w|2001: A Space Odyssey (film)|2001: A Space Odyssey}} (with the largest having a mass of about 500,000 tonnes).

;Black Holes ruled out by:
{{w|Black hole|Black holes}} are known to occur in sizes of a few sun masses (about 1030-1031 kg) as remnants of the core of former big stars, as well as in quite large sizes at the centers of galaxies (millions or even billions of sun masses). But recent gravitational wave detections indicate that black holes at 50 or 100 sun masses also exist, though their origin is still not understood. Randall doesn't mention this but some astronomers hope that these could fill at least a part of the gap. Regardless, they have been ruled out as a candidate for dark matter for various reasons Randall has listed. However, two precise distinct sizes of black holes are not ruled out according to comic.

Except the last item, all range below the mass of the sun (2x1030 kg) while the smallest known black hole is about four sun masses.
* Gamma rays: If dark matter were black holes of this size, the black holes would be evaporating in bursts of {{w|Hawking radiation}}, and we'd see a buzz of gamma rays from every direction.
* GRB lensing: {{w|Gamma-ray burst|Gamma-ray bursts}} (GRBs) are the brightest events in the universe and have been observed only in distant galaxies. While gravitational microlensing (see below) is an astronomical phenomenon, it doesn't make much sense here. GRBs are short (milliseconds to several hours) and are often detected only by space-borne sensors for gamma-rays -- rarely at any other wavelengths. Measuring lensing effects would be very difficult. This [https://arxiv.org/abs/1406.3102 paper] discusses the probability of detecting lensing effects caused by {{w|Dark matter halo|galactic halo objects}} among the known GRBs given sufficient objects to represent the missing mass.
* Neutron star data: {{w|Neutron star|Neutron stars}} aren't black holes, but they're also very small highly compact objects at about 1.4-2.16 solar masses. While black holes can't be observed directly, neutron stars are detectable in many wavelengths. The number of them gives a clue about the number of black holes close to the mass of the sun, a number which is far too low to make up dark matter.
* Micro lensing: {{w|Gravitational microlensing}} is a gravitational lens effect, (the path of radiation is changed by passing through space bent by nearby mass). This was predicted by Einstein's {{w|General Relativity|Theory of General Relativity}} and was first confirmed in 1919 during a solar eclipse, when a star which was nearly in line with the sun appeared more distant to the sun than usual. Astronomers have found many so called {{w|Einstein ring|Einstein rings}} or Einstein crosses where a massive object in front of other galaxies bends the light toward us. Those massive objects may be black holes, but the number is far too low to explain dark matter.
* Solar system stability: Our {{w|Solar system|solar system}} is 4.5 billion years old and has been very stable since shortly after its formation. If not, we wouldn't exist. If dark objects at 1024 kg - 1030 kg (mass of Earth up to mass of Sun) accounted for dark matter and were distributed throughout galaxies, there should be many of them in the vicinity of our solar system and the system wouldn't be stable at all.
* Buzzkill Astronomers: Black holes above a certain size would be impossible to miss, due to the effects they have on nearby matter. But at the mass of some 1030 kg there must be many supernova remnants we still haven't found.

;Maybe those orbit lines on space diagrams are real and very heavy
Diagrams of our solar system (or any planetary system) often show lines representing the elliptical paths the planet takes around its sun. These lines don't show real objects, though. Astronomers just draw them on pictures of the solar system to show where the planets move. If you draw a line on a map to give someone directions, that line isn't an object in real life; it's just on the map. If these lines were real, they would be ''huge'' (Earth's would be 940 million km long (2π AU) and Neptune's would be 28 ''billion'' kilometers long). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fKBhvDjuy0 Powers of Ten (1977)] gives a good sense of just how large these orbit lines need to be in order to be visible in space diagrams. If these orbit lines were also very dense, they would have a huge mass and could possibly account for the missing 85% of the mass in the universe. But they would also constantly be impaling the planets, including the Earth, which would be a problem. Their mass would also affect planetary motions in ways which we would detect. A related worry about space travel was expressed in previous centuries; it was thought that the planets were embedded within {{w|Celestial spheres|crystal shells}} (spheres or Platonic solids), and a rocket into space could smash the shells and send planets plummeting to Earth. Another joke candidate.

;Title text
The title text refers to the fact that space is just vast emptiness where a little bit of dirt could be overlooked. Actually the mean density of detectable matter in the universe, according to NASA, is equivalent to roughly [https://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/universe/uni_matter.html 1 proton per 4 cubic meters]. And because this matter is mostly located in galaxies -- and inside there in stars and clouds -- the space between is even more empty. For comparison, one gram hydrogen consists of {{w|Avogadro constant|6.022 x 1023 atoms}}. Like at home wiping with a cleaning cloth in which we can see the dirt that wasn't clearly visible on the surface we have wiped, Randall believes that some few atoms more per cubic meter could stay undetected in the same way. This isn't true because in the space between galaxies astronomers can detect matter as it spreads over thousands or millions cubic light years. Atoms can't hide; there is always radiation.

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

:Dark matter candidates:
:[A line graph is shown and labeled at left quarter in eV and further to the right in g together with some prefixes.]
:[The labels read:]
:µeV, meV, eV, keV, MeV, GeV, TeV, 10-18kg, ng, µg, mg, g, kg, TON, 106kg, 1012kg, 1018kg, 1024kg, 1030kg

:[All items are shown in bars ranging between two approximately values:]
:< 1 µeV - 10 meV: Axion

:1 eV - 10 keV: Sterile neutrino

:0.5 MeV (exactly): Electrons painted with space camouflage

:10 GeV - 10 TeV: Neutralino

:100 TeV - 10-17 kg: Q-ball

:1 ng - 100 ng: Pollen

:0.1 mg - 1 mg: No-See-Ums

:10-1 g (exactly): Bees

:10 g - 100 g: 8-balls

:100 kg - TON: Space cows

:TON - 109 kg: Obelisks, monoliths, pyramids

:109 kg - 1033 kg: Black holes ruled out by:
::109 kg - 1013 kg: Gamma rays
::1013 kg - 1017 kg: GRB lensing
::1015 kg - 1022 kg: Neutron star data
::1021 kg - 1030 kg: Micro lensing
::1024 kg - 1030 kg: Solar system stability
::1030 kg - 1033 kg: Buzzkill astronomers

:1033 kg - >1036 kg: Maybe those orbit lines on space diagrams are real and very heavy

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Science]]
[[Category:Physics]]
[[Category:Astronomy]]
[[Category:Line graphs]]

2030: Voting Software

2018-08-10T10:54:06Z

Erkinalp: /* Transcript */

{{comic
| number = 2030
| date = August 8, 2018
| title = Voting Software
| image = voting_software.png
| titletext = There are lots of very smart people doing fascinating work on cryptographic voting protocols. We should be funding and encouraging them, and doing all our elections with paper ballots until everyone currently working in that field has retired.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BLOCKCHAIN - Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
The first two panels of this comic involve a reporter talking to professionals of a given field regarding the given safety of the products/solutions that each of their fields help to produce, or are at least partially involved in said production (Airplanes from aircraft designers in Panel 1, Elevators from building engineers in Panel 2). While the two inventions selected are relatively new when compared to how long humans have existed, the two fields mentioned have existed for multiple human generations, giving enough time to find flaws in their products/solutions and patch them to the point that they can be considered safe to use for the general public

The comic from Panel 3 contrasts this with [[Megan]] and [[Cueball]] both agreeing that their given field (computer science / software development / software engineering) does not have the overall consistent competency that other fields have or, at the very least, appear to have. This is true (at least anecdotally) since there are very few ethical and security restrictions for what developers can/cannot do, and relatively minor consequences when catastrophes arise from poor decisions.

Computer systems, operating primarily in a digital domain, fail differently from most traditional areas of engineering, which operate in analog (or continuous) domains. A small error in an analog part often gives a result which is close to the desired properties (it almost fits, it works most of the time). By contrast, a small error in a digital system (just one bit being changed) can easily make the system function in radically different ways. So not only is software engineering younger than other areas of engineering, but the domain is much less forgiving. Even small errors/variations are likely to produce radically different behavior.

The title text confirms the comic's stance by implicitly saying that any digital voting systems that are produced are to not be used under any circumstances.

The main joke of the comic is that when other engineers say something is safe, people don't believe them: People are scared of flying and elevators even though they are, statistically, very safe. However, the opposite is true for software engineers: When software engineers say something is dangerous, people don't believe them.

This is a result of a fundamental difference between computer security and other types of safety measures -- in cryptography, there is ''always'' somebody trying to undo what you've built. Not only that, but new advances in cryptography tend to point out vulnerabilities with previous versions, making them not only obsolete, but dangerously so.

For these reasons, it is especially important to make sure that whoever is selling you the security method is both competent and non-malicious, but because crypto software is highly technical and often confidential/proprietary, it can be hard to verify this if you're not an expert in the field (which you won't be, if you're buying it).

These issues are especially pertinent to {{w|voting machine}}s, which store incredibly sensitive information but are often catastrophically outdated due to lack of funding. There are also major issues with electronic voting in general; for example, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3_0x6oaDmI this video from Computerphile] raises issues of malware infections, transferring the votes to the election authorities without having them intercepted, and needing to trust both the machine's software and central counting system to present an accurate account of the votes. Furthermore, the people purchasing them, the politicians, are generally not known for their technical understanding.

{{w|Blockchain}} is a relatively new technology that is intended to solve some computer security issues by making it difficult to doctor old data. However, in the process of solving the old computer security issues, it has introduced new computer security issues that have not yet been ironed out. It also doesn't solve input fraud issues, only data-doctoring fraud, so if a program caused the voting machine to record a vote for candidate B whenever a vote for candidate A was cast (such a program could be uploaded to the voting machines through USB, or through the internet which the voting machine must be connected to for blockchain), blockchain would not prevent it.

Most computer security specialists are more worried about programs that randomly deliberately misrecord a vote, than people changing the votes after they're already recorded, so blockchain would solve an issue that most computer security specialists are less worried about, while causing new issues (the perpetual internet connection among them).

Also, the security issues that Blockchain solves could also be solved via write-once memory, which would be more secure and more difficult to doctor.

==Transcript==

:Asking aircraft designers about airplane safety:
:Hairbun: Nothing is ever foolproof, but modern airliners are incredibly resilient. Flying is the safest way to travel.

:Asking building engineers about elevator safety:
:Cueball: Elevators are protected by multiple tried-and-tested failsafe mechanisms. They're nearly incapable of falling.

:Asking software engineers about computerized voting:
:Megan: That's ''terrifying''.

:Ponytail: Wait, really?
:Megan: Don't trust voting software and don't listen to anyone who tells you it's safe.
:Ponytail: Why?
:Megan: I don't quite know how to put this, but our entire field is bad at what we do, and if you rely on us, everyone will die.

:Ponytail: They say they've fixed it with something called "blockchain."
:Megan: AAAAA!!!
:Cueball: Whatever they sold you, don't touch it.
:Megan: Bury it in the desert.
:Cueball: Wear gloves.

{{comic discussion}}

2030: Voting Software

2018-08-08T18:20:18Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

801: Golden Hammer

2018-08-01T12:43:02Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 801
| date = October 4, 2010
| title = Golden Hammer
| image = golden hammer.png
| titletext = Took me five tries to find the right one, but I managed to salvage our night out--if not the boat--in the end.
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Java}} is a programming language touted for its Portability™ (the ability for software to run on many different systems "write once, run everywhere"), which sometimes leads to it being used in systems where it really just shouldn't be used. [[Cueball]] laments that the hardware he's tinkering with, despite being used for a single purpose, has its firmware written in Java; since the microprocessor is unknown, it's quite possible the {{w|Java Virtual Machine}} (JVM) had to be ported over to the processor before the hardware designers could write firmware for it. Presumably, they considered this worthwhile to be able to write the control code in a language they're comfortable with, even though it probably would have been much simpler to just write the control code in whatever language they used to port the JVM in the first place.

[[Black Hat]] explains that this is really an example of an age-old adage: "When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail", also referred to as the "{{w|law of the instrument}}" or, as in the title, the "golden hammer". The hardware developers probably only knew Java, and when they thought about how to write firmware for their new device, "Java" was the only solution that occurred to them.

Of course, instead of a hammer and a nail, Black Hat's analogy is about using bolt-cutters and vodka to get through the lock on {{w|Wolf Blitzer}}'s boathouse. Not-so-coincidentally, Black Hat is holding a pair of bolt-cutters and a bottle of vodka. The implication is that Black Hat ''did'', in fact, break into Wolf Blitzer's boathouse the previous night, which is why he has just now entered the door at the start of the strip. The changes he makes to the adage implies that he believes vodka and boltcutters are designed specifically to be used on Wolf Blitzer's boathouse, an interpretation that fits Black Hat's warped and anarchic disposition. As he is carrying both of these items, it also implies that he has just used those instruments for exactly that purpose. Cueball however, being extremely jaded by the (mis)use of Java, can only bring himself to tell that he's glad that Black Hat had a nice night.

The title text implies that Black Hat had to break into a number of boathouses before he found Wolf's, and that his boat did not survive the evening. The use of the phrase 'our night' allows us to infer that Black Hat may have been with [[Danish]], his partner in crime.

==Transcript==
:[Black Hat is going through a door, a bottle in his hand. A voice speaks to him from off panel.]
:Cueball: Seriously? This thing runs ''Java?'' It's single-purpose hardware!

:[Cueball is sitting at a computer, holding some device which is wired to a box, and pointing at the screen.]
:Cueball: I bet they actually hired someone to spend six months porting this JVM so they could write their 20 lines of code in a familiar setting.

:[Black Hat has a pair of bolt cutters in the hand that had been obscured in the first panel.]
:Black Hat: Well, you know what they say— When all you have is a pair of bolt cutters and a bottle of vodka, everything looks like the lock on the door of Wolf Blitzer's boathouse.
:Cueball: I'm glad ''you ''had a nice night.

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

2025: Peer Review

2018-08-01T12:41:28Z

Erkinalp: /* Transcript */

{{comic
| number = 2025
| date = July 27, 2018
| title = Peer Review
| image = peer_review.png
| titletext = Your manuscript "Don't Pay $25 to Access Any of the Articles in this Journal: A Review of Preprint Repositories and Author Willingness to Email PDF Copies for Free" has also been rejected, but nice try.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a PEER REVIEWER. Needs volunteer commentary on title text. Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

How academic publishing works: When a researcher wants to publish their findings, they send it to an academic journal. The editor of the journal is another researcher (usually a college professor), ''who gets paid nothing or a minimal honorarium'' for editing the journal. The editor chooses a few (usually three) peer reviewers who are other researchers familiar enough with the study's subfield to judge the study's quality fairly and accurately, and sends it out to them for review. These peer reviewers ''do not get paid'' for the work of reviewing the manuscript and offering a detailed critique of every part of the study, from lit review to methodology to conclusions drawn from the results. If the peer reviewers and editor agree that the study was well-conducted and the paper well-written (or just needs minor revisions), it is accepted and published in the journal. The researcher ''is not paid'' for getting their paper published in the journal.

In short, nobody in the process is paid for their work except the journal publisher, who charges other researchers, libraries and individuals for access to the fruit of these people's free labor. This is commonly referred to as a "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paywall Paywall]".

This system relies upon researchers to be employed by either companies or universities in positions which require them to publish in order to remain employed or achieve promotions or pay raises. In universities, only postdocs and tenure-track or tenured professors are paid in a way that figures in their research time as well as their teaching time, which means that anyone not in one of those positions (lecturers, educators, adjunct instructors) is not paid for any research they might be doing and publishing, nor are those who are conducting research but cannot get a tenure-track job due to universities replacing tenure lines with non-tenure-track positions.

Charging for access to these works has raised [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cost_of_Knowledge controversy] in recent years, due to concerns that this may lead to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_silo Information silos].

Ponytail seems to be presenting papers concluding that this flow of currency is not equitable. Unfortunately (?), the journal she has submitted these findings to has opted not to review or publish them, either because they do not find her research suitable for their publication, or because they have a financial interest which conflicts with the findings, since sending her paper to review would give it directly to her target audience.

The title text refers to a recent Twitter [https://twitter.com/hwitteman/status/1015049411276300289 post] that went viral. Researcher Dr. Holly Witteman informs the public that you could just ask many researchers for a PDF copy of their academic paper and that they would be delighted to do so free of charge. (This hearkens back to the days of snailmail, when researchers would distribute printed copies, "reprints", of their work for, at most, the price of a self-addressed stamped envelope.) She has additionally written [http://holly.witteman.ca/index.php/2017/12/11/getting-access-to-paywalled-papers/ an article] on the situation and how to get papers for free.
Pre-Print Repositories are online databases for researchers to publish drafts of their research for quick distribution to willing reviewers, sidestepping the lengthy and often arduous reviewing process as conducted by many research journals. These databases are free to access by researchers and the general public, and often papers will remain on these sites long after their journal publication, making them a convenient way to get to papers locked behind a paywall. However, the pre-print versions of the papers will often lack peer review, and as such may contain a higher occurrence of errors. There are also sites which collect and re-publish papers for free, such as [http://sci-hub.is/ Sci-Hub], which attempts to provide all published papers free of charge globally. Links to Sci-Hub can go dead after being widely published; this one was live as of July 27, 2018. In the title text, the publisher refuses to publish a paper that describes ways to get around the paywall restrictions that make up their bottom line.

==Transcript==

:[Ponytail is sitting and looking at a laptop.]

:RE: Economics Journal Submission

:We have received your manuscript "The Bizarre Economics of Academic Publishing: Why Volunteer Peer Reviewers Should Rise Up and Demand Payment from For-Profit Journals."

:We have elected not to send it out for review.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]

2026: Heat Index

2018-08-01T12:40:50Z

Erkinalp:

{{comic
| number = 2026
| date = July 30, 2018
| title = Heat Index
| image = heat_index.png
| titletext = The heat index is calculated via looking up the "effective temperature" in a table of air temperature and humidity values, and then adding a bunch more degrees because it feels WAY hotter than that.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by an AIR CONDITIONER - Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
Heat index, like wind chill, is a way to combine multiple factors, in this case temperature and humidity, to get a single number indicating what the air "feels like." {{w|Heat index}} gives a table, a formula, and lots more explanation.

Human skin does not directly detect temperature - only the rate of heat gain or loss. This is why a piece of metal feels cooler than a piece of plastic or wood at the same exact temperature (below body temperature, above it is the other way around) - the metal conducts heat away from the higher body temperature at a higher rate than a good insulator does.

So in warm weather, it's not just the temperature that matters for comfort. The humidity and wind speed also factor into it. When humidity is high, sweat evaporation is less effective at cooling us off than in a "dry heat" with low humidity.

Hence, meteorologists use a combination of temperature and humidity to come up with the "heat index" value...and a combination of temperature and wind speed to produce a "wind chill" number.

Neither scale is particularly scientific in terms of measuring how people feel - but both are a more accurate representation of comfort levels than temperature alone.

The joke here is that these numbers seem entirely subjectively chosen - and in a sense, they really are, although they are calculated from an actual formula (a multivariate fit to a mathematical model of the human body - with nine terms!) and not by guesswork as the flow chart implies.

==Transcript==
The comic contains a single panel containing a flowchart titled "How to Calculate the 'Heat Index':"
# Starts with a box: "Measure the Temperature"
# An arrow goes to a decision diamond labeled "Does it look hot enough?"
#* An arrow labeled "Yes" goes to the right to a box labeled "Done"
#* An arrow labeled "No" goes down to a box labeled "Add a few degrees" with an arrow back to the decision diamond

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Flowcharts]]

2022: Sports Champions

2018-07-30T14:37:02Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2022
| date = July 20, 2018
| title = Sports Champions
| image = sports_champions.png
| titletext = For a long time, people thought maybe Usain Bolt was the one for running, until the 2090s and the incredible dominance of Derek Legs.
}}

==Explanation==
In an example of {{w|nominative determinism}}, the comic lists people whose surname relates to their participation in various sports. It is presented as though it was created in the far future, reflecting on champions over the decades through to the 2080s. The first three are real sportspeople, the remainder are imaginary players of the future. The names progress from real, to fictional-but-plausible, to rare or highly unusual, to utterly implausible and impractical names.

The caricatures are participating in their sport, except for Jebediah who is standing at a {{w|lectern}} or , more likely, a reference to kerbal space program.

{| class="wikitable"
!style="width:20%"|Name
!style="width:10%"|Years
!style="width:15%"|Sport
!style="width:55%"|Explanation
|-
|Margaret Court
|1960s
|Tennis
|{{w|Margaret Court}} is an Australian tennis player, former world number 1, who won many competitions in the 1960s and 70s. A {{w|tennis court|tennis '''court'''}} is the playing arena used in that sport.
|-
|Gary Player
|1970s
|Golf
|{{w|Gary Player}} is a South African golfer who won nine major championships between 1959 and 1978. Competitors are often known as '''player'''s, such as in {{w|The Players Championship}}.
|-
|Lonzo Ball
|2020s
|Basketball
|{{w|Lonzo Ball}} is an American professional basketball player, currently with the Los Angeles Lakers. The 2020s decade predicts future success, as he began playing professionally in 2017. Basketball is, of course, a {{w|ball game|'''ball''' game}}.
|-
|Jake Halfpipe
|2030s
|Skateboarding
|A '''{{w|half-pipe|halfpipe}}''' is a structure used in extreme sports such as skateboarding and snowboarding.
|-
|Sarah Goggles
|2030s
|Swimming
|'''{{w|Goggles}}''' are protective eyewear used in many sports, such as swimming or skiing.
|-
|Kevin Slurve
|2050s
|Baseball
|A '''{{w|slurve}}''' is a baseball throwing technique, a portmanteau of '''sl'''ider and c'''urve'''.
|-
|Julia Chairlift
|2050s
|Skiing
|A '''{{w|chairlift}}''' is an aerial machine often used to transport winter sports participants up mountains.
|-
|Dwight Shuttlecock
|2060s
|Badminton
|A '''{{w|shuttlecock}}''' is a projectile used in the sport of badminton.
|-
|Brandon Sponsorship
|2060s
|Unclear
|Sporting professionals are often {{w|Sponsor (commercial)|sponsored}} by corporations. Brandon is holding a pair of shoes, which are probably a branded '''sponsorship''' item.
|-
|Kate Dopingscandal
|2070s
|Cycling
|There have been many '''{{w|List of doping cases in cycling|doping scandal}}s''' in the world of cycling. Doping refers to the "use of physiological substances or abnormal methods to obtain an artificial increase in performance."
|-
|Jebediah Disasterous Postgame-PressConference
|2080s
|Unspecified
|At the end of sporting events - i.e. post-game - there is often a {{w|News conference|press conference}} where the competitors discuss the result. Sometimes, these live interviews are a disaster. Randall has chosen{{Citation needed}} to spell his name as "Disasterous", rather than the more conventional "Disastrous".
|-
rowspan="2"|(in title text, not depicted)
|Usain Bolt
|2010s
|rowspan="2"|Sprinting
|rowspan="2"|From the title text, {{w|Usain Bolt}} is a retired world record {{w|100 metres|sprinter}}. He was a solid contender for this list since he can '''bolt''' down the track. However the fictional Derek '''Legs''' is selected, either as an even faster sprinter, or because “legs” more clearly and unambiguously relates to running than “bolt” does.
|-
|Derek Legs
|2090s
|}

==Transcript==
:[Two rows of people wielding sports equipment are shown, six in the upper row, five in the lower, only the last has no equipment but is standing behind a lectern with a microphone attached to it. Below each person, their name is given and the decade in which they were champions of their sport is given below their name, in brackets. Here is a list of the 11 people:]

:[Woman with dark hair holding a tennis racket]
:Margaret Court
:(1960s)

:[Cueball with a golf club]
:Gary Player
:(1970s)

:[Cueball with a basketball]
:Lonzo Ball
:(2020s)

:[Hairy on a skateboard]
:Jake Halfpipe
:(2030s)

:[Woman with dark hair wearing a swim cap and goggles]
:Sarah Goggles
:(2030s)

:[A man with a baseball cap throwing a baseball to the right]
:Kevin Slurve
:(2050s)

:[A woman with long black hair in a knit cap and wearing ski googles is standing on skis holding ski poles]
:Julia Chairlift
:(2050s)

:[Hairy holding a badminton racket bouncing a shuttlecock on it]
:Dwight Shuttlecock
:(2060s)

:[Hairy holding a pair of shoes in his hand]
:Brandon Sponsorship
:(2060s)

:[Hairbun standing next to a bicycle.]
:Kate Dopingscandal
:(2070s)

:[Hairy standing behind a lectern with a microphone on it.]
:Jebediah Disasterous Postgame PressConference
:(2080s)

:[Caption below the panel:]
:Fun fact: Every sport eventually produces a champion competitor named after a common element of the game.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairbun]]
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]
[[Category:Sport]]
[[Category:Baseball]]
[[Category:Basketball]]

2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-17T12:54:39Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2015
| date = July 4, 2018
| title = New Phone Thread
| image = new_phone_thread.png
| titletext = I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are ADMIRABLE and ETHICAL and their developers are ATTRACTIVE and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their IMPECCABLE VIRTUE.
}}

==Explanation==

This comic shows the posts on an online forum by a person whose new phone is programmed to autocorrect every complaint about the phone to a {{w|wiktionary:plaudit|plaudit}}, à la Orwell. The phone goes so far as to change a certain complaint to a scripted customer testimonial, complete with a hyperlink to an ordering site. This is of course a highly undesirable feature. This is continued in the title text, which presumably contains several flattering compliments about the great developers and the company.

"It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same", "I mean the words are correct" and "some of my posts look normal" are definitely something one would not normally say. However, the
auto-correct features of cell phones are so notorious for mangling people's posts, that one might express astonishment at a phone which did not change one's meaning. However the rest of the thread does not support this interpretation.

The original posts may have read something like this:

----

Whoa, weird

I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look '''strange'''

What the hell?

I mean the words are '''incorrect'''

'''That isn't''' what I typed!'

?????????

I think this new phone is '''screwed up'''

No, it's doing it again

Those '''aren't''' my words!

Help!

How do I explain?

It's taking the words I type and '''changing them to praise'''

Forget it, I give up

I'll '''just''' get a new phone. This one is '''crap'''.

What?!?

Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you '''shouldn't'''. It's the '''worst''' phone on the market''', a total rip-off. DON'T BUY IT!''' {or this entire paragraph may be an ad inserted by the phone with no prompting}

AAAAA HELPPP

I '''hate''' my new phone!!!!

I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are '''HORRIBLE''' and '''UNETHICAL''' and their developers are '''UGLY AS HELL''' and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their '''DESPICABLE CRIME'''.
----

The comic may have been inspired by a [https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-messages-app-randomly-sending-pictures-some-users bug in Samsung Galaxy S9 and Note 8], discovered a few days earlier – the phone sometimes sent random photos to contacts without leaving any sort of evidence. This doesn't happen with the Mobile Pro 3, and it is therefore superior.

==Transcript==

:[A thread of posts by the same user is shown with a default user profile, and square and heart-shaped buttons.]

:Whoa, weird

:I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look normal

:What the hell?

:I mean the words are correct

:That's exactly what I typed!

:?????????

:I think this new phone is working really well

:No, it's doing it again

:Those are my words!

:Help!

:How do I explain?

:It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same

:Forget it, I give up

:I'll never get a new phone. This one is perfect.

:What?!?

:Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]

:AAAAA HELPPP

:I love my new phone!!!!

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Smartphones]]

2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-17T12:14:30Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2015
| date = July 4, 2018
| title = New Phone Thread
| image = new_phone_thread.png
| titletext = I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are ADMIRABLE and ETHICAL and their developers are ATTRACTIVE and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their IMPECCABLE VIRTUE.
}}

==Explanation==

This comic shows the posts on an online forum by a person whose new phone is definitely not programmed to autocorrect every complaint about the phone to a {{w|wiktionary:plaudit|plaudit}}, à la Orwell. The phone goes so far as to change a certain complaint to a scripted customer testimonial, complete with a hyperlink to an ordering site. This is of course a highly undesirable feature. This is continued in the title text, which presumably contains several flattering compliments about the great developers and the company.

"It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same", "I mean the words are correct" and "some of my posts look normal" are definitely something one would not normally say. However, the
auto-correct features of cell phones are so notorious for mangling people's posts, that one might express astonishment at a phone which did not change one's meaning. However the rest of the thread does not support this interpretation.

The original posts may have read something like this:

----

Whoa, weird

I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look '''strange'''

What the hell?

I mean the words are '''incorrect'''

'''That isn't''' what I typed!'

?????????

I think this new phone is '''screwed up'''

No, it's doing it again

Those '''aren't''' my words!

Help!

How do I explain?

It's taking the words I type and '''changing them to praise'''

Forget it, I give up

I'll '''just''' get a new phone. This one is '''crap'''.

What?!?

Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you '''shouldn't'''. It's the '''worst''' phone on the market''', a total rip-off. DON'T BUY IT!''' {or this entire paragraph may be an ad inserted by the phone with no prompting}

AAAAA HELPPP

I '''hate''' my new phone!!!!

I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are '''HORRIBLE''' and '''UNETHICAL''' and their developers are '''UGLY AS HELL''' and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their '''DESPICABLE CRIME'''.
----

The comic may have been inspired by a [https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-messages-app-randomly-sending-pictures-some-users bug in Samsung Galaxy S9 and Note 8], discovered a few days earlier – the phone sometimes sent random photos to contacts without leaving any sort of evidence. This doesn't happen with the Mobile Pro 3, and it is therefore superior.

==Transcript==

:[A thread of posts by the same user is shown with a default user profile, and square and heart-shaped buttons.]

:Whoa, weird

:I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look normal

:What the hell?

:I mean the words are correct

:That's exactly what I typed!

:?????????

:I think this new phone is working really well

:No, it's doing it again

:Those are my words!

:Help!

:How do I explain?

:It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same

:Forget it, I give up

:I'll never get a new phone. This one is perfect.

:What?!?

:Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]

:AAAAA HELPPP

:I love my new phone!!!!

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Smartphones]]

2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-17T12:14:00Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2015
| date = July 4, 2018
| title = New Phone Thread
| image = new_phone_thread.png
| titletext = I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are ADMIRABLE and ETHICAL and their developers are ATTRACTIVE and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their IMPECCABLE VIRTUE.
}}

==Explanation==

This comic shows the posts on an online forum by a person whose new phone is definitely not programmed to autocorrect every complaint about the phone to a {{w|wiktionary:plaudit|plaudit}}, à la Orwell. The phone goes so far as to change a certain complaint to a scripted customer testimonial, complete with a hyperlink to an ordering site. This is of course a highly desirable feature{{Citation needed}}. This is continued in the title text, which presumably contains several flattering compliments about the great developers and the company.

"It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same", "I mean the words are correct" and "some of my posts look normal" are definitely something one would not normally say. However, the
auto-correct features of cell phones are so notorious for mangling people's posts, that one might express astonishment at a phone which did not change one's meaning. However the rest of the thread does not support this interpretation.

The original posts may have read something like this:

----

Whoa, weird

I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look '''strange'''

What the hell?

I mean the words are '''incorrect'''

'''That isn't''' what I typed!'

?????????

I think this new phone is '''screwed up'''

No, it's doing it again

Those '''aren't''' my words!

Help!

How do I explain?

It's taking the words I type and '''changing them to praise'''

Forget it, I give up

I'll '''just''' get a new phone. This one is '''crap'''.

What?!?

Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you '''shouldn't'''. It's the '''worst''' phone on the market''', a total rip-off. DON'T BUY IT!''' {or this entire paragraph may be an ad inserted by the phone with no prompting}

AAAAA HELPPP

I '''hate''' my new phone!!!!

I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are '''HORRIBLE''' and '''UNETHICAL''' and their developers are '''UGLY AS HELL''' and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their '''DESPICABLE CRIME'''.
----

The comic may have been inspired by a [https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-messages-app-randomly-sending-pictures-some-users bug in Samsung Galaxy S9 and Note 8], discovered a few days earlier – the phone sometimes sent random photos to contacts without leaving any sort of evidence. This doesn't happen with the Mobile Pro 3, and it is therefore superior.

==Transcript==

:[A thread of posts by the same user is shown with a default user profile, and square and heart-shaped buttons.]

:Whoa, weird

:I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look normal

:What the hell?

:I mean the words are correct

:That's exactly what I typed!

:?????????

:I think this new phone is working really well

:No, it's doing it again

:Those are my words!

:Help!

:How do I explain?

:It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same

:Forget it, I give up

:I'll never get a new phone. This one is perfect.

:What?!?

:Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]

:AAAAA HELPPP

:I love my new phone!!!!

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Smartphones]]

2019: An Apple for a Dollar

2018-07-14T20:58:41Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2019
| date = July 13, 2018
| title = An Apple for a Dollar
| image = an_apple_for_a_dollar.png
| titletext = I'd like 0.4608 apples, please.
}}

==Explanation==
[[Megan]] is about to buy an apple at a grocery store when she is surprised that the price is exactly one dollar. In most cases in the US, {{w|Sales taxes in the United States|sales tax}} must be taken into account, and it is not included in the list price, but most states exempt food sold in grocery stores, so the price comes out to a round value. This is so strange for Megan that it throws her for a loop. Buying one apple for one dollar feels to her more like a simplified, imaginary ''Idea'' of a transaction (a "{{w|Platonic Ideal}}") than like something that could actually happen in real life.

Megan likely shares Randall's background of engineering and math. When learning science, engineering, and math in the education system, one studies examples where every number is some round value, and all situations are simplified to the barest essentials so as to demonstrate the ideas being taught. Then, when doing real problems in the real world, one spends the rest of one's life almost never being able to use the simplified tricks demonstrated as examples in school, because when math is used to describe the natural world, nothing is ever a round number unless by design.

Megan references {{w|Platonic Idealism}}, which is the theory attributed to Plato that abstract or non-physical Ideas represent the purest, most accurate version of reality, but we can only perceive of more flawed versions of Ideas because of our limited viewpoint (as explained in his Allegory of the Cave). Thus we can understand the concept of a perfect circle or a perfect line, even though we have never seen one, and cannot create one. Megan believes she has glimpsed a Platonic Ideal, because the absolute concept of currency is it is the exact worth of something in trade. Megan is awed because if this is true, than she is witnessing the next layer of reality, which Plato often compared to heaven.

The harsh difference between being able to buy an apple for a dollar at this quaint store, and having to deal with arbitrary decimals and numbers in the rest of life could be touching on Megan's life experience of the world not being what she was prepared for, resulting in her intense response. Regardless if that is true or not, it seems the cashier is unable to figure out how to handle it (or does not want to), and raises the price to an arbitrary non-rounded value, which has the intended effect of halting Megan's outburst.

Megan's references refer to common parameters used in solving science or math questions. A {{w|Frictionless plane}} is a scenario from the writings of Galileo to calculate the movement of an object down an {{w|inclined plane}}, since his equations did not account for {{w|friction}}.

"A train leaving Chicago at 40 mph" refers to common math questions, involving trains and solving for the distance required to overtake said train, although this problem involves the rather unrealistic assumption that the train's velocity keeps constant. Like the frictionless plane, this is a common simplification that allows the problem to be solved with quite simple techniques, just like having round quantities (e.g. 1 dollar/apple) eases arithmetic problems. See also [[669: Experiment]]. Apples themselves are commonly used as units for math problems, including problems as simple as basic arithmetic.

The comic repeats a common theme in the strip of engineers and computer scientists trying to apply their technical experience to social situations. In this case, the conversation partner is "normal", and does not respond supportively, which is a common situation in the real world and a possible point of empathy with readers.

It seems that according to the title text, Megan only has (or only wants to spend) one dollar, so she would not be able to buy a whole apple at the new price (0.4608 × $2.17 ≈ $1). Stores usually sell whole apples, so asking for a fraction of one is not likely to work out.

==Transcript==
:[Megan is at the store counter, behind which Ponytail (the cashier) is waiting.]
:Megan: Just this apple, thanks.
:Ponytail: That will be one dollar.
:Megan: Exactly? No tax or anything?
:Ponytail: That's right.

:[Megan stares at the apple in a frameless panel.]

:[Scene zooms in on Megan.]
:Ponytail: ...Is that a problem?
:Megan: It's just weird to realize that every other transaction in my life will be more complicated than this.

:[Scene changes focus to Ponytail behind the counter.]
:Megan: This is like a platonic ideal exchange. An apple for a dollar.
:Ponytail: I see.

:[Scene changes back to Megan, once again lost in profound contemplation of the apple.]
:Megan: Are we on a frictionless plane? Is a train leaving Chicago at 40 mph? ''Should I solve for something??''
:Ponytail: Okay, apples are $2.17 now.
:Megan: That's... probably better for us both.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]

2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-12T08:56:52Z

Erkinalp:

{{comic
| number = 2015
| date = July 4, 2018
| title = New Phone Thread
| image = new_phone_thread.png
| titletext = I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are ADMIRABLE and ETHICAL and their developers are ATTRACTIVE and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their IMPECCABLE VIRTUE.
}}

==Explanation==

This comic shows the posts on an online forum by a person whose new phone is apparently programmed to autocorrect every complaint about the phone to a [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/plaudit plaudit], à la Orwell. The phone goes so far as to change a certain complaint to a scripted customer testimonial, complete with a hyperlink to an ordering site. This is of course a highly undesirable feature. This is continued in the title text, which presumably contains several unflattering epithets about the developers and the company.

"It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same", "I mean the words are correct" and "some of my posts look normal" are not something one would normally say. However, the
auto-correct features of cell phones are so notorious for mangling people's posts, that one might express astonishment at a phone which did not change one's meaning. However the rest of the thread does not support this interpretation.

The original posts may have read something like this:

----

Whoa, weird

I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look '''strange'''

What the hell?

I mean the words are '''incorrect'''

'''That isn't''' what I typed!'

?????????

I think this new phone is '''screwed up'''

No, it's doing it again

Those '''aren't''' my words!

Help!

How do I explain?

It's taking the words I type and '''changing them to praise'''

Forget it, I give up

I'll '''just''' get a new phone. This one is '''crap'''.

What?!?

Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you '''shouldn't'''. It's the '''worst''' phone on the market''', a total rip-off. DON'T BUY IT!''' {or this entire paragraph may be an ad inserted by the phone with no prompting}

AAAAA HELPPP

I '''hate''' my new phone!!!!

I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are '''HORRIBLE''' and '''UNETHICAL''' and their developers are '''UGLY AS HELL''' and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their '''DESPICABLE CRIME'''.
----

The comic may have been inspired by a [https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-messages-app-randomly-sending-pictures-some-users bug in Samsung Galaxy S9 and Note 8], discovered a few days earlier – the phone sometimes sent random photos to contacts without leaving any sort of evidence.

==Transcript==

:[A thread of posts by the same user is shown with a default user profile, and square and heart-shaped buttons.]

:Whoa, weird

:I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look normal

:What the hell?

:I mean the words are correct

:That's exactly what I typed!

:?????????

:I think this new phone is working really well

:No, it's doing it again

:Those are my words!

:Help!

:How do I explain?

:It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same

:Forget it, I give up

:I'll never get a new phone. This one is perfect.

:What?!?

:Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]

:AAAAA HELPPP

:I love my new phone!!!!

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Smartphones]]

2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-12T08:16:28Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2015
| date = July 4, 2018
| title = New Phone Thread
| image = new_phone_thread.png
| titletext = I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are ADMIRABLE and ETHICAL and their developers are ATTRACTIVE and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their IMPECCABLE VIRTUE.
}}

==Explanation==

This comic shows the posts on an online forum by a person whose new phone is apparently programmed to autocorrect every complaint about the phone to a [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/plaudit plaudit], à la Orwell. The phone goes so far as to change a certain complaint to a scripted customer testimonial, complete with a hyperlink to an ordering site. This is of course a highly undesirable feature. This is continued in the title text, which presumably contains several unflattering epithets about the developers and the company.

"It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same", "I mean the words are correct" and "some of my posts look normal" are not something one would normally say. However, the
auto-correct features of cell phones are so notorious for mangling people's posts, that one might express astonishment at a phone which did not change one's meaning. However the rest of the thread does not support this interpretation.

The original posts may have read something like this:

----

Whoa, weird

I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look '''different'''

What the hell?

I mean the words are '''incorrect'''

'''That isn't''' what I typed!'

?????????

I think this new phone is '''screwed up'''

No, it's doing it again

Those '''aren't''' my words!

Help!

How do I explain?

It's taking the words I type and '''changing them to praise'''

Forget it, I give up

I'll '''just''' get a new phone. This one is '''crap'''.

What?!?

Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you '''shouldn't'''. It's the '''worst''' phone on the market''', a total rip-off. DON'T BUY IT!''' {or this entire paragraph may be an ad inserted by the phone with no prompting}

AAAAA HELPPP

I '''hate''' my new phone!!!!

I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are '''HORRIBLE''' and '''UNETHICAL''' and their developers are '''UGLY AS HELL''' and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their '''DESPICABLE CRIME'''.
----

The comic may have been inspired by a [https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-messages-app-randomly-sending-pictures-some-users bug in Samsung Galaxy S9 and Note 8], discovered a few days earlier – the phone sometimes sent random photos to contacts without leaving any sort of evidence.

==Transcript==

:[A thread of posts by the same user is shown with a default user profile, and square and heart-shaped buttons.]

:Whoa, weird

:I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look normal

:What the hell?

:I mean the words are correct

:That's exactly what I typed!

:?????????

:I think this new phone is working really well

:No, it's doing it again

:Those are my words!

:Help!

:How do I explain?

:It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same

:Forget it, I give up

:I'll never get a new phone. This one is perfect.

:What?!?

:Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]

:AAAAA HELPPP

:I love my new phone!!!!

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Smartphones]]

2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-08T08:06:10Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2015
| date = July 4, 2018
| title = New Phone Thread
| image = new_phone_thread.png
| titletext = I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are ADMIRABLE and ETHICAL and their developers are ATTRACTIVE and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their IMPECCABLE VIRTUE.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|YOU SHOULD DONATE TO EXPLAINXKCD - Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic shows the posts on an online forum by a person whose new phone is apparently programmed to autocorrect every complaint about the phone to a [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/plaudit plaudit], à la Orwell. The phone goes so far as to change a certain complaint to a scripted customer testimonial, complete with a hyperlink to an ordering site. This is of course a highly undesirable feature. This is continued in the title text, which presumably contains several unflattering epithets about the developers and the company. "It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same", "I mean the words are correct" and "some of my posts look normal" are not something one would normally say.

The original posts may have read something like this:

----

Whoa, weird

I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look '''strange'''

What the hell?

I mean the words are '''wrong'''

That's '''not''' what I typed!'

?????????

I think this new phone is '''broken'''

No, it's doing it again

Those '''aren't''' my words!

Help!

How do I explain?

It's taking the words I type and '''changing them'''

Forget it, I give up

I'll '''just''' get a new phone. This one is '''crap'''.

What?!?

Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you '''shouldn't'''. It's the '''worst''' phone on the market''', a total rip-off. DON'T BUY IT!''' {or this entire paragraph may be an ad inserted by the phone with no prompting}

AAAAA HELPPP

I '''hate''' my new phone!!!!

I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are '''HORRIBLE''' and '''UNETHICAL''' and their developers are '''UGLY AS HELL''' and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their '''DESPICABLE CRIME'''.
----

The comic may have been inspired by a [https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-messages-app-randomly-sending-pictures-some-users bug in Samsung Galaxy S9 and Note 8], discovered a few days earlier – the phone sometimes sent random photos to contacts without leaving any sort of evidence.

==Transcript==

:[A thread of posts by the same user is shown with a default user profile, and square and heart-shaped buttons.]

:Whoa, weird

:I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look normal

:What the hell?

:I mean the words are correct

:That's exactly what I typed!

:?????????

:I think this new phone is working really well

:No, it's doing it again

:Those are my words!

:Help!

:How do I explain?

:It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same

:Forget it, I give up

:I'll never get a new phone. This one is perfect.

:What?!?

:Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]

:AAAAA HELPPP

:I love my new phone!!!!

{{comic discussion}}

1663: Garden

2018-07-06T11:07:39Z

Erkinalp: /* Debug mode */

{{comic
| number = 1663
| date = April 4, 2016
| title = Garden
| image = garden.png 
| titletext = Relax.
}}
<div class="toclimit-3" style="float:right; margin-left: 10px;">__TOC__</div>
*'''Note''' this is an interactive comic. Go to {{xkcd|1663|xkcd}} to try it out.
**Also '''note''' that a few weeks after the comic was released a change was made so growth only seems to appear when the gardens is actively running in a browser window!
**(This is opposed to what happened during the first few weeks after release!)

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Fill out the [[#Items in the garden|tables]] with images of all the possible items. General explanations/comment are missing as well as link to screenshots of gardens where each item "grows".}}

This was the seventh [[:Category:April fools' comics|April fools' comic]] released by [[Randall]]. The previous fools comic was
[[1506: xkcloud]] from Wednesday April 1st 2015. The next [[1818:_Rayleigh_Scattering#No_April_Fools.27_Day_comic_in_2017|did not come out in 2017]], but first in 2018 when [[1975: Right Click]] was released on Sunday April 1st 2018.

This comics represents the April fools' comic of 2016, and it is [[Randall|Randall's]] celebration of {{w|April Fools' Day}} Friday, April 1, 2016. It represents the third time in a row that user input changes the April Fool's comic. Although in the last two [[1350: Lorenz]] and [[1506: xkcloud]] it was written (or drawn) input that became part of the comics. This time the user input is like a game, as the user actively adds, moves and deletes items, and new items appear based on these actions. In this way it actually more resembles the game comic [[1608: Hoverboard]], than the previous April Fool's comics.

Due to technical problems (or to make fools of his fans, see more about the [[#April Fool's header text|header text]] below) the comic did not go live until Sunday evening (after midnight, so technically first on Monday April 4th) so there was no Friday release the week before, see [[#Monday 4th of April release|more details below]].

The comic begins with a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f1/Garden_Loading_collage.png loading screen] with a revolving tree and the text "loading..." This is because the first time a computer loads this dynamic comic it can take a while.

Once it is loaded it displays "your '''Garden'''", being a barren landscape, with a small pond to the left, some rocks at the far left and right, and a single lamp shining light yellow light on most of the ground. This is what is shown at the top of the explanation here. But if you leave the lights on and wait (or "relax", as the reader is told to do by the title text), then plants and other items will start to appear.

The reason it is correct to call it "your garden" is that every time this comic is loaded from scratch, a new garden will be created with a unique url-address. By [[#Saving garden with url|saving this link]] (making a bookmark for it), the user will be able to return to their garden again and again. As the garden only develops very slowly this is important. (If users wish to share their garden they can do it in the table on the page for '''[[1663: Garden/Users gardens|Users gardens]]''').

[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/78/1663_garden_Three_colors_over_everything_not_very_interesting.png Plants appear] one at a time, and sometimes it takes a long time. Only a few of the plants actually grow. For instance there are some large trees that begins as [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/27/1663_garden_Fast_growing_tree_-_leafless.png a large trunk] and from there [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/67/1663_garden_Fast_growing_tree_-_lots_of_leaves.png grows branches and leaves]. This can sometimes happen quite fast. Most other plants just appear, the only other exception being one type of flowers. All plants, except the cactus, clearly sway in the breeze.

Also [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5a/1663_garden_Pruned_garden_with_birds_deer_gate_cactus_turtles_snake_gate.png animals] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/de/1663_garden_Three_lamps_two_along_ground_with_pillars_not_in_blue_world_and_symmetric_gates.png building-like structures] such as [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/15/1663_garden_Megan_Monolith_Animals_and_more.png a monolith and birdbaths] appear, together with lots of other items like [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ad/1663_garden_Office_space_with_star_plant_balloon_with_bird_and_grass_on_Cueball.png office furniture] with [http://xkcd.com/1663/#98dc3452-fcf2-11e5-8010-42010a8e0008 balloons swaying in the wind] or even one of the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3f/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_red_and_red_First_thing_Mars_rover.png Mars rovers] which so [[:Category:Mars rovers|often have been featured]] in xkcd.

On top of all this, several known characters may appear in different poses including [[Cueball]] and [[Megan]] (for instance with a sword, see [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6b/1663_garden_Megan_with_sword%2C_trees_octopuses_with_Cueball_bunny_ducklings.png here]), [[Ponytail]] (see [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/eb/1663_garden_Ponytail_and_two_Cueballs_cat_pillar_and_trunk_sE.png here]) and [[Beret Guy]] from the torso and up (see [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/9b/1663_garden_Three_colors_more_separate_Beret_Guy_in_shrubbery_and_Octopus_on_office_desk.png here]). Megan and also Cueball can both be seen [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1663_garden_Giant_planter_on_pillars_and_both_Cueball_and_Megan_with_black_hat.png with a black hat], but it is one that "grows" on top of their heads after they first appear. However, Cueball with a black hat automatically turns into [[Black Hat]], so he can also be said to be in this comic. There is also an unknown character, a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0c/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow_First_thing_stilts.png girl on stilts] with black hair in a ponytail who like plants and balloons [http://xkcd.com/1663/#e774b4b8-fcd4-11e5-8001-42010a8e0017 sways in the wind]. A possible origin of this girl could be the What If article "Burning Pollen". The article involves a character with seasonal allergies that is trying unsuccessfully to avoid their allergen (pollen) with giant stilts.

All the [[#Items in the garden|items that can appear]] in the garden are listed below in several tables. During the first week new items kept appearing, but after the eighth day (April 12th), no new items have appeared. Also the growth rate (and thus the fun of this comic) has decreased with time (maybe due to the enormous amount of gardens that the server has to keep track of?) .

Every so often the image will refresh. You can change the number of lamps, their position, direction, beam width and the color temperature which always begins somewhere between white and yellow, but can change all the way from red to blue (See this [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b8/Garden_Three_Lamp_screen_shot.png example] with one lamp selected and three colors of light). Other colors than those four may appear where two lamps' cones of different colored light overlap.

The color of light [[#Effect of light|affects the growth]] with a strong correlation for what appears in the garden depending on the [[#Colors of light|color of light]], and this is not only split between red, yellow and blue, but rather [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/4a/1663_garden_Numbered_color_scale_1-17.png 10 different colors].

Early on it became clear that pure red light results in a desert theme with [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/98/1663_garden_Desert_with_red_light_only.png cacti and turtles] and pure blue light gives an aquatic theme with [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/23/1663_garden_Octopus_garden_with_Cueball_hand_up_and_a_black_hat_octopus.png lots of octopuses] that may also wear a black hat. For the most interesting gardens the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/15/1663_garden_Megan_Monolith_Animals_and_more.png light colors should be mixed]; see more below under [[#Effect of light|Effect of light]].

If this comic is scientifically accurate, that correlation will be based on {{w|photosynthetically active radiation}}.

Some users manage to create fantastic gardens (by using lots of time on them, pruning them at the right time and changing the light and lamp position to get what they strive for). Especially one user have created a series of amazing gardens that is posted on another [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114415&start=600 xkcd forum]. Here is a collection of screenshots with some of [[1663:_Garden/Screen-shots#Blitz_Girls_amazing_gardens|Blitz Girls amazing gardens]]!

The title text "Relax" can be debated. Is it to let the users know they should just sit back and relax as the garden grows.? Or should they relax and don't worry so much about how it works (not working here on explain xkcd though!)? Or is he teasing the users by giving them a garden that they need to tend to, and then telling them to relax? And also giving them many more colors than lamps... Given that this comic was supposed to come out on April 1st, there is a good chance that it is, also, to tease the users. There are actually [[#Trivia|two other title texts]] as well.

===Extra Garden pages===
*Since this comic is so complicated extra pages have been created to include much more information than is wished for on this main page (which is already of considerable size).
*These pages are listed here for convenience, but they are also linked in the relevant sections below:
**[[1663: Garden/Images]]. The images of items that can appear in the comic.
***This page is linked in the section below with table for ''[[#Items in the garden|Items in the garden]]''.
**[[1663: Garden/Screen-shots]]. Since there are no permalink it in order to save a particular moment of a garden a screen shot is needed. These can be posted here.
***This page is linked in the section below about for ''[[#Saving images|Saving images]]''.
**[[1663: Garden/Users gardens]]. A place for users of explain xkcd to post links to their own garden, and also for experimental gardens.!
***This page is linked in the section below about for ''[[#Saving garden with url|Saving garden with url]]''.

==Transcript==
:[After a '''loading image''' with a rotating tree in the middle and the text "Loading..." with the three dots appearing one at a time, and then disappear when all three have been there the image shown above in the explanation will appear:]

:['''Description of the image above''': A piece of bare landscape is shown. At the edges there are some rocks or stones raising the level from the general level through the center of the panel. Above the middle, a little more than halfway to the to of the panel, is a light bulb sitting inside a lamp that reminds of the desk lamp from the movie Luxo Jr. The lamp shines a yellow light down on the landscape in a broad cone that jus reaches the first rock to the left, but not those to the right. The lamp just hovers in the air. In the top right corner are two gray icons. The top one has a black frame and shows an image of a lamp, tilted left as opposed to the straight position of the lamp in the image. There is a + sign below in the left corner. The second icon without a frame has a large white cross in the middle.]

:[This turns out to be a '''web applet''' and using the "+ lamp" icon two more lamps can be added getting up to three. They are all adjustable both regarding position, direction, color of light and beam width. When selecting a lamp a red circle appear around it with a small circle on top that can be used to control the light color from blue to the left to red to the right. In front is a red arrow that can turn the lamp and it can also be used to change the beam width by pulling it away from the lamp or pushing it back. The lamps can be moved by just clicking on it and moving it. The other icon with a X can be used to remove the lamps (and later any object that appear in the garden). When any object is selected there is a red circle around it. When this is done the gray cross icon becomes red and can the be used to delete the selected item. When no item is selected (either because it is deleted, or by clicking in a part of the screen with no items), then the cross icon turns gray again. When all three lamps are on, then the "+ lamp" icon is faded out.]

:['''If you wait''' (or relax, as in the title text), then a plant will grow or animals, humans and other items may appear. This could be birds, snakes, octopuses or turtles, Megan or Cueball or a birdbath, a monolith or a tall gate just as a few examples. Most of the items appear in one go, but at least the largest trees grow up with a big stem first and then adds parts later with leaves or empty branches. Also one item may appear on top of another item and for instance birds may fly in the air.]

:[There is but one word in the entire comic, which appears when you grow a sign:]
:Sign: Sale

==Functionality==
===Saving garden with url===
*There is no [[1350#Permalink|permalink button]] as in the last two years' April Fool's comics.
*The URL is different for every garden that is loaded, but stays the same. It links to a server-side copy of the scene, which then changes depending on what the users does with their gardens.
**Sharing a URL will connect a new browser to the same garden session, but only the original browser will be allowed to edit.
**The user can always return to change the garden with the link, but only from the same browser on the same computer.
**This means that a specific moment in a gardens life has to be [[#Saving images|saved as an image]] for future references.
*The garden itself will thus continue to develop further from the time when the url was copied, and events will happen from now on even though the garden is not opened in any browser.
**If the user doesn't keep it, it will become infested with weeds.
**So most likely the garden is serverside, as all browsers are allowed to see the development of this garden, but users following the url are not allowed to edit anything.
*Here is an example garden [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#0d11a2c8-fa8f-11e5-8001-42010a8e000e linked by ID] versus the same garden:
**In the original [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7f/1663_garden_tree_turtle_birdbath.png screenshot from April 4th] from when the url was created
**In a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7c/1663_garden_Flying_birds_deer_gate_with_cactus_turtles_snake_etc.png screenshot from April 5th] the day after.
**Here [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5a/1663_garden_Pruned_garden_with_birds_deer_gate_cactus_turtles_snake_gate.png example] after the user pruned the garden in the examples.
**Other [[1663: Garden/Users gardens|user gardens]] can be found on the link.
*Starting two browser windows or tabs pointing to the same URL will allow you to edit from either window.
**linden.xkcd.com holds all the data; the UUID just corresponds to your access key, held in your browser's local storage.

====Saving images====
*Since the [[#Saving garden with url|urls are changing]] the only way to save a particular garden is to save an image of the current garden.
**Alternatively by deleting all lamps (or changing them to laser beams or turning them upwards) the no new growth will occur. But then the garden will no longer develop.
*In Edge, Firefox and Chrome, the image plus light cones but minus lamps and icons elements, can be saved by right clicking in the image. (Not possible in explorer).
**They do not always save in the same way as some browsers saves the part of the background without any light cones as white, and other save it as no background, in which case it may render black, basically hiding any black items outside the light.
***For those images it depends on which viewer is used to see the image, if everything can be seen or only that in the light cones.
****See examples of how it looks with black background in these two color maps collections using [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/50/1663_garden_Single_colors.png a single lamp] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/90/1663_garden_Three_colors.png three lamps].
****See more details about how these [[1663:_Garden/Screen-shots#Color_maps|color maps]] have been made.
****See also (at least) two examples of saved images as the are here on explain xkcd [[1663:_Garden/Screen-shots#Saved_image_from_xkcd|here]].
*An image of the whole screen can be captured, by pressing the PrtScn (Print Screen) key on the keyboard & then pasting the content into a blank image in an image-editing program.
**An even better solution is to use a tool like {{w|Snipping Tool}} which can take the part of the screen that are relevant. This is how most of the [[1663: Garden/Screen-shots|screen shots]] for this explanation has been aquired.
**In both way the lamps and icons can also be displayed, which is not an option with saved images.

===Lamps===
*Additional lamps, up to a total of three lamps, can be added by clicking the black plus lamp icon along the right of the window. The control will black plus lamp icon will [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b8/Garden_Three_Lamp_screen_shot.png turn gray].
*Lamps can be removed by clicking to select a lamp, then clicking the red X icon along the right of the window, or pressing the Delete or Backspace key on the keyboard. All lights can be deleted.
*The position of the lamp can be moved by clicking and dragging the lamp within the scene.
*The angle and area of the light cone emitted by the lamp can be changed by [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/09/Garden_Red_Lamp_screen_shot.png clicking to select the lamp and to reveal the red control triangle]. Rotating the control triangle around the lamp will change the aim of the lamp to point in the direction of the triangle, dragging the control triangle towards the lamp will [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cc/1663_garden_One_color_Light_blue.png widen the beam], and dragging the control triangle towards away from the lamp will [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5a/1663_garden_Pruned_garden_with_birds_deer_gate_cactus_turtles_snake_gate.png narrow the beam].
*The color emitted by the lamp can be changed by clicking the lamp to reveal the colored control dot, and by rotating the dot around the lamp. The small color control circle changes color to match the color of the lamps beam of light. new lights default to a center position, emitting a pale green. '''rotating the control right''' changes the color to yellow, orange, and finally red, and '''rotating the control left''' changes the color to white, then blue.
===Colors of light===
*The color control moves in a smooth gradient between colors, along the spectrum without any set positions.
*Small changes in the color can have an effect on the garden, even though there is no clear change in the color.
*[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/50/1663_garden_Single_colors.png As many as nine colors] can be identified from the emitted light of a single lamp, and many more colors are evident when [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/90/1663_garden_Three_colors.png two or three lamps overlap].
*There is reason to believe that even half the change will create different gardens, i.e. there can be at least one more position between those nine settings that will change the effect, giving eight more settings for a total of 17 "different" colors. An experiment with such '''17 settings''' for just [[1663:_Garden/Screen-shots#One_lamp_one_color|One lamp with one color]].
*Several unique elements only seem to appear using the eight half-colors. Both the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3f/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_red_and_red_First_thing_Mars_rover.png Mars rover] and the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1b/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow_First_thing_stilts_right.png Stilts girl] might be missed.
*Colors can thus be indicated from these 17 divisions: 
**Below is a table with these 17 division shown and what to expect.
**This may change over time, but was as it about a week after release.
***If updating, please make a note that this may have only applied during the first week(s) and add new feature without deleting.
**There has been an [[1663:_Garden/Screen-shots#One_lamp_one_color|experiment made]] with these 17 colors, see that for more details.
***The color names links to these experimental gardens, that will never be changed after the initiation.
***But there are reasons to believe that two gardens made identical may develop quite differently, as it seems some gardens have very limited growth in spite of the same light. Some of these gardens may be of that persuasion.
****This was proven when 34 more gardens using the 17 colors where started in a [[1663:_Garden/Screen-shots#Second_experiment|similar experiment]].
*The debugger reveals that each light has a "temp" property which ranges from 0 (red) to 1 (blue). The default setting is 0.5.
**The RGB color corresponding to "temp" is determined by this function in linden.js:
::<tt>function u(t){return.32>t?[1,.5+.5*t/.32,.5]:.64>t?[1,1,.5+.5*(t-.32)/.32]:[.75+.25*(1-t)/.36,.75+.25*(1-t)/.36,1]}</tt>
[[File:1663 garden Numbered color scale 1-17.png]] 
{| class="wikitable"
! #
! Color
! Description of items etc
|-
| 1
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#f65c4906-fcf1-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 Blue]
| '''Pure blue'''! Aquatic theme with octopus (some with black hat), Cueball checking for rain with hand up. Less growth after the first week and octopus only over the pond (see [[1663:_Garden/Screen-shots#Growth_speed_vs_blue_light|growth speed vs blue light]]).
|-
| 2
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#d5b7fed6-fd94-11e5-8001-42010a8e000a Blue -> light blue]
| Octopus over pond and boats in pond, Cueball hands up and down (the latter possibly with black hat), {{w|Cairn}}s of '''stones''' and {{w|obelisk}}.
|-
| 3
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#3afb7988-fcf2-11e5-8001-42010a8e0019 Light blue]
| Cueball hands down (but can be with [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/64/1663_garden_Color_03_8d.png hand up] as well), Cairns of '''stones''', obelisk, wading bird and boats.
|-
| 4
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#303c341c-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 Light blue -> blue white]
| Obelisk, flower base and stems and balloon string with normal and huge balloons, Cueball hands up (and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a5/1663_garden_Color_04_2_8d.png also down] with {{w|column}} and wadding bird), fish, shark fins and boats.
|-
| 5
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#98dc3452-fcf2-11e5-8010-42010a8e0008 Blue white]
| Office landscape with desks and chairs, table, column, obelisk, pots with star plant or other flowers base and stems, Beret Guy in pond, Cueball hands up and down, balloon string with normal and huge balloons drifting far left and right on their strings in the wind. [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ac/1663_garden_Color_05_8d.png Also wadding bird], boats and shark fin
|-
| 6
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#5a45a1f8-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e000e Blue white -> white]
| Both kinds of Cueball, Ponytail, Beret Guy, both types of cats, office desk, table, standing bird, wading bird, heron, owl, shark fin, bunny boat, flowers base and stems, balloon string with normal and huge balloons. Also [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/36/1663_garden_Color_06_2_8d.png fish] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/75/1663_garden_Color_06_8d.png flying fish].
|-
| 7
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#ba6b4ac2-fcf2-11e5-8001-42010a8e0019 White]
| Balloon string with normal and huge balloons (here '''three in one garden'''), Megan hand up, cats, bunnies, shark fin, fish, Beret Guy, flowers base and stems and trees. [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c7/1663_garden_Color_07_8d.png Also] platform in tree, beehive base, Ponytail, water bird and flying fish and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/82/1663_garden_Color_07_2_8d.png Heron].
|-
| 8
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#8874be6a-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 White -> light yellow]
| Megan hands up, {{w|shrub}}s, flowers base stems, '''hilt''' and '''some blooms''', trees, bunnies, fish, shark fin, water bird, owl, bunnies. [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2a/1663_garden_Color_08_2_8d.png Also] birdbath and stilt girl.
|-
| 9
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#db338968-fcf2-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 Light yellow]
| '''Starting color'''. Megan hands down and with sword on platform, trees, shrub, flowers base and stems, grass, platform in tree, birdbath, ducks, wading bird, pots, with star plants, tall platform. [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c3/1663_garden_Color_09_8d.png Also] deer, stilt girl, fish and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1f/1663_garden_Color_09_2_8d.png shark fin].
|-
| 10
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#b28f8522-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e0013 Light yellow -> Yellow]
| Girl on stilts, Megan with swords on platform, trees, flowers base and stems, grass, reeds in pond, platform in trees, tall platforms, deer, snake, pots
|-
| 11
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#efccf292-fcf2-11e5-8010-42010a8e0003 Yellow]
| Sale signs, tall platform, snakes, armadillo, flowers base and stems, reeds in pond. Also [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/ce/1663_garden_Color_11_2_8d.png deer].
|-
| 12
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#de4fd3b0-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Yellow -> Orange]
| Sale signs, snakes, turtles, tulips and wavy plants. Also [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bb/1663_garden_Color_12_2_8d.png tall platform] and armadillo.
|-
| 13
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#0d6bca62-fcf3-11e5-8019-42010a8e0005 Orange]
| Wavy plants, turtles, [[#Linsang_-_cat_like_animal|linsang]], flying birds and flying Megan (and thus also bird risers and their roots). Also [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/98/1663_garden_Color_13_8d.png armadillos].
|-
| 14
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#578b80bc-fd96-11e5-8001-42010a8e000a Orange -> orange red]
| Snakes, turtles, linsang, armadillo, tulips wavy plants, flying birds and flying Megan (and thus also bird risers and their roots).
|-
| 15
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#28b238b0-fcf3-11e5-8001-42010a8e0018 Orange red]
| Desert landscape with turtles, cactus sale, signs, lamp post poles without lamps, platform on cactus resulting in inverted pyramids. Also [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d4/1663_garden_Color_15_2_8d.png linsang].
|-
| 16
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#ad7ca596-fd96-11e5-8020-42010a8e0006 Orange red -> red]
| Desert landscape with Mars rover, turtles, cactus sale, signs, lamp post poles without lamps but no platforms. Also [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e3/1663_garden_Color_16_2_8d.png linsang].
|-
| 17
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#46cc4e08-fcf3-11e5-8001-42010a8e0013 Red]
| '''Pure red'''! Desert landscape with turtles and cactus only.
|}

===Effect of light===
*How much the color affects the growth took some time to find out but already from the stat it was clear that there definitely was a correlation
*For instance areas under lights set to the the outer position or the starting position was very different.
**[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/23/1663_garden_Octopus_garden_with_Cueball_hand_up_and_a_black_hat_octopus.png Pure blue light] (left most) develop into a boring aquatic theme with only lots of octopuses (maybe with a black hat) and the Cueball holding a hand out to check for rain.
***The appearance of pure blue gardens have changed with time so octopuses now only appear over the pond [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1663_garden_One_color_Blue_9d.png like this].
**[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/70/1663_garden_One_color_red_9d.png Pure red light] (far right) develop into a boring desert theme with only cactus and turtles.
**[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/9c/1663_garden_One_color_Light_yellow_9d.png Light yellow] or [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2e/1663_garden_Color_09_3d.png starting light] grows lots of plants like trees, grass and scrubs and several animals like ducks, deer, fish and wadding bird and also birdbath, stilt girl and both standing Megan and sword Megan.
*Soon after the release of the comic some research into a single lamp with unchaining light, that covering the whole light range split into 17 divisions was undertaken.
*[[File:1663 garden Numbered color scale 1-17.png]]
**See these gardens [[1663:_Garden/Users_gardens#Locked_gardens_only_for_explanation_use|locked for explanation use only]] and also see more about the 17 split in the color range [[#Colors of light|above]].
*Mixed light seems to be able to do the same, but it is unclear if what grows only depends on the final mixed color, or if it is a mix of what would grow under those two colors.
**There are some indications that it is not a clear mix as pure blue together with pure red, does not seem to produce neither Octopuses or desert theme.
**If there are any items that can only grow under a mix of light this has not been proven. Most objects that can grow directly from the ground, has been observed in the experimental single color gardens mentioned above.
**But there may be items that needs to grow on top of other objects, and these may require a change of color from what the base needs. And thus they will not appear under one color light. Possible examples of these items could be:
***[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f3/Garden_Desk_lamp.png Desk lamp] (needing some kind of platform forming in another color range like the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ee/Garden_Tall_platform.png tall platform], yellow or the small [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/11/Garden_Platform_1.png platform], orange).
***[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/88/Garden_Giant_Planter.png Giant Planter] (needing for instance a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c4/Garden_PlatformColumn_3.png platform column], light blue light]
***[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e0/Garden_lamp-topper.png Lamp pole tops] (needing [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/81/Garden_Lamppost_1.png lamp poles] forming under orange light)
***[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/Garden_Flower_bloom_1.png Flower blooms] (any type) (needing [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d1/Garden_Flower_segment_1.png flower segments], several colors)
***[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7e/Garden_Actual_flying_fish_1.png Actual flying fish] (needing bird raiser, orange light)
***[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5d/Garden_Saucer.png Flying saucer] (needing bird raiser, orange light)
*What happens when using only one color (other than the two outer points red and blue and the starting light yellow color) has been explored in great depth in no less than two different [[1663:_Garden/Screen-shots#One_lamp_one_color|One lamp one color]] experiments with [[1663:_Garden/Users_gardens#Locked_gardens_only_for_explanation_use|51 gardens]] created using 17 different color settings.
**[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/27/1663_garden_One_color_Between_blue_and_light_blue_6d.png Blue light] (just right of pure blue) creates a landscape with stones forming cairns, together with monoliths, both kinds of Cueballs (with black hat on the standing one) and still octopuses.
**[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/75/1663_garden_One_color_Light_blue_9d.png Light blue light] (just a little farther from pure blue than above), the octopuses disappear, but the rest remains the same, although boats and wadding bird now appear in the water, and still both [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a6/1663_garden_Color_03_5d.png Cueballs] can occur. Going just slightly further away [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e4/1663_garden_Color_04_2_5d.png fish and columns] start to appear.
**[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d1/1663_garden_One_color_White_Blue_12h.png Blue white light] grow a sort of office theme, with desks, balloons and Cueballs. Moving towards white light [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d0/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Blue_White_and_White_5d.png Ponytail appears] with less office items together with cats (and now no Beret Guys in the pond but [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/df/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Blue_White_and_White_8d.png lots of animals]).
**[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f7/1663_garden_One_color_White_9d.png White light] gives a forest of balloons with Megan holding her hands up.
**[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3e/1663_garden_One_color_Yellow_2d.png Yellow light] (somewhat right of the starting color) produce sale signs and snakes.
**[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/4f/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_and_orange_red_8d.png Orange light] produce flying bird and flying Megans and on the ground snakes, turtles, linsangs and armadillos, plus tulips and wavy plants.
**[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/02/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_red_and_red_8d.png Orange red light] (just left of red) produce lamp posts (without the top), in addition to the same desert theme as red with cactus and turtles. If it is very close to red the Mars rover appears (as in the example above). If it is a little longer from red, the platforms can form, which can then act as a catalyst for growth and create [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/58/1663_garden_One_color_Orange_red_9d.png large towers] on top of cactus's.
*Nothing seems to be able to grow under several conditions:
**If no lamps are pointing towards the ground for instance because:
***All [http://xkcd.com/1663/#21374f9e-fbbd-11e5-8001-42010a8e0015 lamps are deleted].
***The [http://xkcd.com/1663/#4896b678-fbbe-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 beam is laser thin.]
***The lamps points towards the sky without [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#6a6a7be0-fbbe-11e5-800d-42010a8e0008 touching the ground.]
***The lamps are [http://xkcd.com/1663/#c75991f6-fbbe-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 below the ground pointing down]. (In this case the one over the pond was not far enough down and a single water plant has formed anyway.)
****On the other hand if the lamps are below the ground but pointing up it can result in growth well enough as shown in this [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7c/1663_garden_Different_light_from_below_the_ground.png example] and this [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3a/1663_garden_Yellow_light_from_below_the_ground.png example].
**It was believed that if the lamps where very close to the ground pointing straight down there would be no growth.
***However this can be because only a very small area is illuminated
****In this [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#9733dff4-fbbe-11e5-8001-42010a8e0012 example] there are turtles under the red light in the pond, plants under the yellow and octopus, column and Cueball under the blue (from the time that columns could appear under pure blue light).
****Similar in this [http://xkcd.com/1663/#357a48d8-fbbf-11e5-8019-42010a8e0006 example] there are octopus (in the pond), deer/plants and a cactus from even lower lamps.
****Of course the lamp has to be so high as not to be underground as mentioned above.
**Also if lamps point towards the ground there can still only grow something from the ground [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3e/1663_garden_Two_light_on_small_area_nothing_outside_the_light.png where the light touches]. The growth can move outside the light cones up in the air, but the base has to be within an area with light.
**Similar with items that can grow new things on top of them like tree trunks or platforms, this will only happen if light shines on the relevant places.
***For instance the tall tree trunks can easily grow outside a light cone. Then leaves and branches will [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e9/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow_3d.png only grow below] the point where the light hits
****Similar with platform, that [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3e/1663_garden_One_color_Yellow_2d.png grows partially outside] the light cone. More items will only appear where this lamp still hits the platform.
***One exemption to the rule mentioned here seems to be the bird raisers. The bird raisers are used to hold anything that flies up in the air. And the bird raiser it self needs to grow from either another bird riser or from a bird riser root (which in the end holds all bird raisers). This root has to have light on the ground to grow and thus have light on it self. But from the top of the bird raisers growing from such a root, items are able to grow even if the tip pf the bird raiser is not in the light.
****Thus flying items can appear to grow where there has [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/4f/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_and_orange_red_8d.png never been light]!
****See much more about this under the description of bird raisers in the [[#Helper_structures|table below]].
**Of course lights can be moved and changed without destroying what has already grown there (or so it seems). So a tended garden cannot be used to determine this.
***This is why some [[1663:_Garden/Users_gardens#Locked_gardens_only_for_explanation_use|locked gardens]] have been set up where there will be no changes ever.
***Examples from above has mainly been taken from screen shots of these locked gardens.

===Grown items===
*Grown items may be highlighted by clicking on them. Selected grown items will be highlighted with a red circle, and appear slightly lighter then other items.
*Grown items may be "pruned" by the red X icon along the right of the window, or pressing the Delete key on the keyboard.
*Some items (such as the large tree) can be deleted in minor parts by selecting a branch or smaller set of leaves without deleting the entire tree.
*See the images (with links to xkcd) of all 250 items that can appear, here below in the [[#Items_in_the_garden|tables]].

===Growth development===
*'''After a few weeks''' growth no only seems to appear when the garden is actively running in a browser window (maybe only in the original users browser?)
*There continued to appear new items that was not available on the release day.
**This lasted about a week (maybe 8 days).
**For instance many new items and animals like the columns and the owls started to appear after a few days.
**Also tulips and lightning poles did not appear at first.
***A last burst of new animals occurred about a week after release (either 11th or 12th of April). This burst included the following animals:
***Herons, Wadding birds, Sharks fins, jumping fish and flying fish plus actual flying fish (flying without water), armadillos and no less than 12 different linsangs (see [[1663:_Garden#Linsang_-_cat_like_animal|Linsang - cat like animal]]).
*But it also seems to change what might appear, so that the result of a particular color will change dramatically, not only by adding new, but also by not growing what used to be.
**A clear example of this is that for the first half week pure blue light resulted in lots of octopuses all along the ground and also Cueballs cheeking for rain.
**Later also columns appeared.
***But after a week the growth rate under blue light almost stopped, and it seems that octopuses now only grow over the pond to the left, and much less Cueball and no columns under that color.
**See details here: [[1663:_Garden/Screen-shots#Growth_speed_vs_blue_light|Growth speed vs blue light]].

===Debug mode===
{{notice|Anyone who can explain what the debug mode is, how it works, why it is there and why there is difference between the linden and the normal xkcd?}}
*By changing the url address it is possible to get into a debug mode.
**This may not work from for instance explorer, but seems to work from Firefox and chrome.
*Normal mode: http://xkcd.com/1663/#ID
**[http://xkcd.com/1663/#98dc3452-fcf2-11e5-8010-42010a8e0008 Normal mode example].
*Debug mode works from this address http://xkcd.com/1663/?debug#ID
*http://linden.xkcd.com/?debug#ID does not work anymore.
**[http://linden.xkcd.com/?debug#98dc3452-fcf2-11e5-8010-42010a8e0008 Linden debug mode].
**In this mode each item can clearly be seen as the image is framed, and thus invisible lifter images for flying things can be seen.
***See this [http://linden.xkcd.com/?debug#d12a0932-faaa-11e5-8012-42010a8e0006 example].
**This last mode can be used to find the names of the [[1663:_Garden/Images#Images|images of each item]] in a garden.
***See this section on [[1663:_Garden/Images#How_to_find_new_links|How to find new links]].
***By preventing the browser from loading specific images (''e.g.'' with an ad blocker), all instances can be pruned temporarily.
*On the forum, [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114415&start=600#p3959056 yan provides some jQuery] which can be entered in the javascript console to add an interactive sidebar listing the objects in the garden.

===Limitations===
*The beam produced by each lamp is normally restricted to spread between 0° (which results in no growth) and 95°. The "create new light" button chooses a random angle between 45° and 90°.
*Attempting to view several gardens simultaneously may cause some to hang on the "loading" image, likely due to the server refusing additional connections. The maximum number which can load successfully is usually six, but may be as low as three.

===Bugs===
*There have been several bugs mentioned already after the first day. Please include any spotted here:
**Also some problems that may now be fixed.
*May not run on some tablets or smart phones (i.e. touch-screen only devices).
*There are some browser versions of Chrome and Firefox where it doesn't run.
*The lamps may be invisible for a few seconds after loading.
*The whole page used to refresh at random intervals and lose the whole progress.
**It still does on April 5th.
**Sometimes (in some browsers?) the garden is reloaded when refreshing.
***This may though be because of the url which is a [[#Saving garden with url|link to a given garden]].
***See examples of this [[1663: Garden/Users gardens|here]].
***Seems to be dependent on the browser type.
*Some lamps jumped back to their starting position after a few minutes, without the whole page reloading.
*For a few hours after its apparition, the loading didn't seem to stop for some people, making them think that the rotating tree was the whole joke, with people expected to "relax" while looking at it.
*Occasionally invisible objects are added. They can be deleted, and they have bounding boxes in the [[#Debug mode|debugger]]: [http://linden.xkcd.com/?debug#d12a0932-faaa-11e5-8012-42010a8e0006 Example].
*Doesn't work over https, you have to use http instead.
*It is possible to save the image in Chrome and in Firefox, but not in Explorer.
**It is possible to save the visible portion of the image (in any browser) by pressing the Print-Screen key to perform a screen capture.
**But in Chrome the image is black where there is no light.
**In Firefox everything is visible, wth the light cones (in color) shown.
*Appears to have a memory leak at least in some Windows/Firefox versions, as keeping the page open for a long time will cause Windows to kill Firefox for insufficient memory.
**On the forum, Weeks tries to summon davean! [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114415&start=320#p3951923]
*Does not work in many Linux versions.
*Tree trunks will sometimes grow endlessly without leaves depending on the lights hitting them.
*If you are dragging a light, the arrow, or the color slider when a refresh happens, the refresh will enter an infinite loop.
**This seems to cause corruption of the garden because refreshing the whole page will result in a loop that never loads the page.
**Clearing your local data for xkcd.com solves the issue but also makes you unable to edit your garden.
*On April 6, gardens viewed from [http://xkcd.com/1663/#7877bdfc-fc03-11e5-8001-42010a8e000c http://xkcd.com/1663/] links began to include double-size objects, while they appeared <s>normally</s> with different objects enlarged when viewed from [http://linden.xkcd.com/#7877bdfc-fc03-11e5-8001-42010a8e000c http://linden.xkcd.com/].
**Apparently some of the server's art files were <s>misdirected to the larger versions</s> replaced with new large images. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160407054439/http://linden.xkcd.com/art/rover.png] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-rover.png]
**New giant objects are still placed according to their original sizes. [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114415&start=320#p3951908]
**This was suddenly fixed on April 7, possibly inducing browser memory issues at that time. [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114415&start=360#p3952207]
***However, some giant images remained cached (where?) for a long time. [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114415&start=400#p3952527]
*Although there are six bee images, they have not been reported in any gardens[[File:Garden_Bee_1.png]]

==Trivia==
*There are three different title text in this comic, as there are also one over each of the two icons.
**This is special as with some of the newest "game like comics" there are [[:Category:No title text|no title text]]!
**The normal one "Relax" is mentioned above in the main explanation.
**The other two are explanations for what the two icons in the top right corner does and appear when the cursor hovers over them.
***They are ''Create new light'' explaining that this icon introduces new lamps and
***''Remove selected (delete key)'', which explain that this icon can be used to remove (delete) selected items like lamps, plants or items. It also explains that the delete key can be used instead of the icon.

===Linsang - cat like animal===
*In the second week of release no less than 12 [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/Garden_Linsang_1.png images] of the animal called {{w|linsang}} appeared [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1663_garden_My_first_linsang_cat_like_creature_in_SC.png in the garden].
**See all of them [[1663:_Garden/Images#Images|here]].
*This animal was referenced in ''[[Thing Explainer]]'' in ''Tree of life'' where the animal is drawn in the ''cat-shaped'' section with the following caption:
::'''Almost cat'''
::This animal looks like a cat with a long neck. It's the closest thing to a cat that's not actually in the cat family.
::*Next to the section another one is drawn in front of Cueball (obvsiously it's Randall).
::*The linsang says "Mrowl?" and Cueball says "I wan't one!"
*Randall has in an interview discussed these [http://www.wsj.com/articles/randall-munroe-creator-of-xkcd-on-google-search-tricks-and-cat-like-creature-videos-1447945313 Cat-Like-Creatures] and in is quoted for saying
::Q: '''An animal I’m obsessed with is:'''
::A: The linsang, which looks almost like a cat but has this weird long neck. I find them both unnerving and adorable. I found some footage of one running; it’s like watching a cat video from a parallel universe.
::*The linsang is related to the animal {{w|Genet (animal)|genet}}, and here are two videos/photos of a genet running:
::**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRdJSVlPrGo Genet on a rhino]
::**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehq3ssg7zwk Genet on other things]

===Monday 4th of April release===
*Due to technical problems (or to make [[#April Fool's header text|fools of his fans?]]) the comic did not go live until Sunday evening (after midnight, so technically first on '''Monday April 4th''').
**There was thus no Friday release in the week before
**So the Wednesday comic [[1662: Jack and Jill]] got a lot more attention than it would usually have had.
*This comic thus turned in to the Monday release instead, as no other comic was released later that Monday, as this would have taken attention away from this very special comic.
**But it was called the ''April 1st comic'' and later the ''Friday comic'' in the [[#April Fool's header text|header text]] displayed at the top of xkcd to explain why there was no Friday comic.
***A header text continued to stay a the top but changed two more times until the release past midnight Sunday in the US. It was even past midnight {{w|Pacific Time}}, but not yet on Hawaii.
**There were thus only two comics released in the week before this Monday, which may be the first time since xkcd went live on {{xkcd||xkcd.com}} in 2006.

===April Fool's header text===
*There is some debate as to whether this comic is an April Fool's comic or not.
**Was instead the April fool's joke the text written above the comic in the header of xkcd?
**There is reason to believe this was [[#April Fool's comic|not the case]] based on among other thing these header text.
*Below it a list of the different header text displayed from Friday until the comic was just released.
**The header text continued to change regularly [[#Header text after release|after release]] in regard to this comic at least until next Friday (April 8th).
**Here below is the different header text with info on when it appeared.
***Links are given when possible to a [[1663:_Garden/Screen-shots#Screen-shots_of_header_text|screen shots]] on the word ''message'' and to a webarchive in another link when both are available.
*On Friday, April 1st, 2016, the xkcd website changed to a new [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/81/1663_garden_April_1st_comic_is_currently_experiencing_technical_difficulties.png message] where the standard message "XKCD updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday." usually is. (This [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/69/1663_garden_Commercial_header_text_before_April_1st_problems.png message] had, however, up to this point and for a long time been a [http://web.archive.org/web/20160401175527/https://www.xkcd.com/ commercial] for ''[[Thing Explainer]]''). But now it [http://web.archive.org/web/20160401204749/https://xkcd.com/ began displaying] this instead:
::The xkcd April 1st comic is currently experiencing technical difficulties.
::Please stand by!
*Early Saturday April 2nd the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e0/1663_garden_Calendar_systems_in_which_Saturday_is_April_1st.png message] was [http://web.archive.org/web/20160402050932/http://xkcd.com updated]:
::The xkcd April 1st comic is currently experiencing technical difficulties.
::Status update: Please stand by.
::Status update: This is fine. Everything is fine.
::Status update: Everything is on fire.
::Status update: Searching for calendar systems in which Saturday is April 1st.
*Later on Saturday the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1663_garden_Delayed_until_Sunday_night.png message] was again [http://web.archive.org/web/20160402175822/http://www.xkcd.com changed] to:
::The Friday xkcd comic is currently experiencing technical difficulties
::[Editor's note: Everything is on fire] and has been delayed until Sunday night.
*The comic did not come out until past midnight in the entire North America (coming out just before midnight in Hawaii).
*It was finally released very early on Monday April 4th, and the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/53/Garden_Loading_screen_shot.png message] then [http://web.archive.org/web/20160404123555/http://xkcd.com/ returned] to the old standard text for xkcd for a short while:
::XKCD updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

===Header text after release===
*During April 4th, after the release the message changed from the old standard to display a [[:Category:Protip|Protip]]:
::'''Protip:''' If you don't like how your garden is growing, you can click to prune it.
*And then later on April 4th, the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a2/1663_garden_Protip_and_url_hint.png message] was again [http://web.archive.org/web/20160404185353/http://www.xkcd.com/#5dbfbb82-fc20-11e5-8001-42010a8e000d changed] to:
::'''Protip:''' If you don't like how your garden is growing, you can click to prune it.
::You can copy the URL to share your garden. From other browsers, it will be view-only.
*When the next comic came out, the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/61/1663_garden_Note_if_seeing_todays_comic.png message] then [http://web.archive.org/web/20160408105110/http://xkcd.com/1663/#4b04323a-fddc-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 changed], (also for the [http://web.archive.org/web/20160406194653/http://xkcd.com/1664/ new comic]) to
::'''Protip:''' If you don't like how your garden is growing, you can click to prune it.
::You can copy the URL to share your garden. From other browsers, it will be view-only.
 
::Note: If you're seeing today's comic in place of your garden, change the URL from xkcd.com/#<your code> to xkcd.com/1663/#<your code>.
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20160408145017/http://xkcd.com/ After] the Friday comic came out on April 8th, the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c5/1663_garden_Back_to_pro_tips_only_after_Friday_comic.png message] then [http://web.archive.org/web/20160408195958/http://xkcd.com/ changed] back to
::'''Protip:''' If you don't like how your garden is growing, you can click to prune it.
::You can copy the URL to share your garden. From other browsers, it will be view-only.
*The [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c6/1663_garden_Still_pro_tip_on_Friday_22nd_comic.png message stayed] like the one above at least until Friday April 22th before that Friday's comic [http://web.archive.org/web/20160422102754/http://xkcd.com/ was released]. But either at the time of release or at least on Saturday the day after the release the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ae/1663_garden_Back_to_normal_text_after_Friday_22nd_comic.png message returned] to [http://web.archive.org/web/20160423103108/http://xkcd.com/ the original].
::XKCD updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
:*The pro tip, however, remained as [http://web.archive.org/web/20160425022201/https://www.xkcd.com/1663/ the header text] when displaying the {{xkcd|1663|Garden comic}}.

===April Fool's comic===
*This comic '''was indeed supposed to be''' the Friday 1st of April, April Fool's comic!
**This statement is based on several things, which can can be deduced from the above header text and the subsequent issues with the many [[#Bugs|bugs in this comic]].
*It is clear that this comic did actually come out as promised, at least as promised in the third message about release on Sunday night.
**It is also clear that it is regarded as the Friday comic, even in the last update before the release, which was two days after April 1st.
*It is also clear that this was a very complex comic, and it is realistic that Randall did have problems with making it work.
**On day two there still seemed to be several minor bugs, which seemed to improve over time so Randall was still working on it after release.
***But then new bugs appeared when the next comic was released.
*Both of the last two April Fool's comics, [[1350: Lorenz]] and [[1506: xkcloud]], have had no real meaning or joke in the comic. The jokes appeared from user input, and here it comes from waiting.
**This makes people who spend too much time on these comics ''April Fool's'' (or if they rather wish to be called a ''nerds'' than fools, then they can claim to have been a victim of [[356: Nerd Sniping|nerd sniping]]).
**So, even if Randall ''did'' play a joke on people who [[Talk:1662: Jack and Jill#What happened to Friday's comic|eagerly awaited the comic]], then he did deliver as promised a spectacular comic Sunday night.
*There are several reasons to believe that Randall would have preferred the comic to get out on Friday April 1st.
**Apart from it being a time consuming comic that in it self is April Fool's comic material, then by getting it out Friday this special comic, which he obviously have used a lot of time to prepare, would have had one more day as the first comic.
**Getting it out before a weekend would have let many more users spend time looking at their garden. Now many would not spend enough time to appreciate the comic, as it came out right when the new work week began.
***And it is a very complicated comic that just to get to understand how to really use it could take a days time even for someone with time.
***And this is not talking about how the comic works, but just how to use the program, i.e. the whole [[#Functionality|functionality]] of the comic is way more complex than even a game like [[1608: Hoverboard]].
**And before next weekend two more comics were released taking some of the focus away from this one too soon, and also before the next weekend.
***Of course die hard fans will not forget this one, but many xkcd fans may only come by in the weekend etc. and such a hard to come by comic like this, that demands patience and that you return does not profit from being bumped down to number three as it would be next Friday.
*Randall lives of his fans goodwill and to deliberately make a pun on them like this would probably not seem like a good business proposal, apart from the fact that the comic now gets less attention than by coming out before the weekend.

==Items in the garden==
*Below in the section are several tables displaying all the known images of items that may grow (appear) in the garden.
**They have been sorted based on type like characters, animals (by type), plants (by type), platforms, others and helper structures.
**In time each item will have a link to a screen shot where they appear.
**Also explanations for each item can be written in these tables
*For colors reference refer (also) to the numbers in this image: 
*[[File:1663 garden Numbered color scale 1-17.png]]
**The color under which a given item may grow should be noted.
***Particularly if they can grow under just one color if light (maybe a range, but with only one lamp lit as one specific color).
***But almost more important if some items needs more than one color
****Especially if the items base, the base on which they have to grow, needs another color than they do, as seems to be the case with flower blooms and the lamp to go at the top of the lamp poles.
*All the images can be seen without the table here: [[1663: Garden/Images|Images of items]].
===Characters===
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
! To see/hide images click here:
! Description of images
! Relevant colors
! Link to screen-shots
|-
! [[Cueball]] [[File:Garden Man 1a.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-man-1a.png Man 1a] 
[[File:Garden Man 2a.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-man-2a.png Man 2a]
|
*Here are the two different images of Cueball.
*The first Cueball just stands with his hands down.
**In this position he always looks left.
**Some items can grow on his head, most obviously [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/27/1663_garden_One_color_Between_blue_and_light_blue_6d.png the hat], turning him into [[Black Hat]]. But also animals like the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/92/1663_garden_Blitz_Girls_UFO_and_birds_garden.png water bird], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/32/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Blue_White_and_White_6d.png standing bird or cats] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d4/1663_garden_Crazy_cat_peoples_garden.png owls] can perch on his head.
**He never seems to appears in pure blue light, and also only appears when the light is turned left of white.
*The second Cueball has one hand out.
**In this position he always looks right.
**He is the only character that appears under pure blue light (color 1).
**It seems like he cannot wear the hat or anything else on his head.
**In stead he can hold object on his hand, like a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1e/1663_garden_S_shaped_empty_balloon_string_left.png balloon string] (later [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0e/1663_garden_Office_space_with_two_herons_in_lake_and_huge_balloon_on_long_string.png with balloon] or the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c2/1663_garden_Blitz_Girls_strong_Megan_garden.png huge balloon]), the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e5/1663_garden_Blitz_Girls_Armadillo_tower.png small platform] or some of the smaller animals like [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/32/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Blue_White_and_White_6d.png the bird], the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/09/1663_garden_Cueball_holds_a_Turtle_in_front_of_Megan_looking_like_a_cap_on_her.png turtle], or [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d4/1663_garden_Crazy_cat_peoples_garden.png cat and owls].
|
*Standing Cueball with color [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/92/1663_garden_One_color_Between_blue_and_light_blue_2d.png 2 blue], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c9/1663_garden_One_color_Light_blue_12h.png 3 light blue], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e4/1663_garden_Color_04_2_5d.png 4 light blue] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b2/1663_garden_One_color_Blue_white_2d.png 5 Blue white]
*Hand out Cueball with color [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bf/1663_garden_One_color_Blue_6d.png 1 blue], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/92/1663_garden_One_color_Between_blue_and_light_blue_2d.png 2 blue], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a6/1663_garden_Color_03_5d.png 3 light blue], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5e/1663_garden_One_color_Between_light_blue_and_Blue_White_6d.png 4 light blue] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d1/1663_garden_One_color_White_Blue_12h.png 5 Blue white]
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c9/1663_garden_One_color_Light_blue_12h.png Standing]
[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e5/1663_garden_One_color_Blue_18h.png Hand out] 
|-
! [[Megan]] [[File:Garden Woman 1a.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-woman-1a.png Woman 1a] [[File:Garden Handfig 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-handfig-1.png Handfig 1] 
[[File:Garden Handfig 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-handfig-2.png Handfig 2] [[File:Garden Sword fig.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-sword-fig.png Sword fig] [[File:Garden Flying fig.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flying-fig.png Flying fig]
|
*Here are the images of Megan.
**Megan with sword seems to only occur on top of a platform or a piece of furniture.
***She seem to not be willing to pull out the sword when just standing on the ground.
***This means that she can only occur under a one color setting if that setting can also produce a platform. This is the case though see the color column.
|
*Standing (Yellow 9 standard)
*Hands up (L and R) (White 7)
*Sword ([http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/9c/1663_garden_One_color_Light_yellow_9d.png Yellow 9 standard] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6d/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow_2d.png Yellow 10])
*Flying (Orange 15)
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cb/1663_garden_One_color_Light_yellow_12h.png Standing ] 
[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/99/1663_garden_One_color_White_12h.png Hands up] 
[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6b/1663_garden_Megan_with_sword%2C_trees_octopuses_with_Cueball_bunny_ducklings.png Sword-tree platform] [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cb/1663_garden_Megan_with_sword_and_owl_on_gate.png Sword-gate] [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1663_garden_My_first_linsang_cat_like_creature_in_SC.png Sword-desk] 
[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/87/1663_garden_One_color_Orange_d7.png Flying]
|-
! [[Beret Guy]] [[File:Garden Beret shrub.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-beret-shrub.png Beret shrub]
|
*Here is the image of Beret Guy.
| White 7 or mix of yellow and blue
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/99/1663_garden_One_color_White_12h.png In lake] 
[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/24/1663_garden_Shark_finn_and_Beret_Guy_in_same_bird_bath_fish_boat_heron_and_more.png In birdbath] 
[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/9b/1663_garden_Three_colors_more_separate_Beret_Guy_in_shrubbery_and_Octopus_on_office_desk.png In shrub]
|-
! [[Ponytail]] [[File:Garden Fig 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-fig-1.png Fig 1]
|
*Here are the images of Ponytail.
| Color?
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/eb/1663_garden_Ponytail_and_two_Cueballs_cat_pillar_and_trunk_sE.png Example]
|-
! Stilt girl [[File:Garden Stilt walker.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-stiltwalker.png Stilt walker]
|
*Here is the image of the girl on stilts.
| Light yellow 10
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1b/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow_First_thing_stilts_right.png Example]
|}

===Animals===
====Mammals====
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
! To see/hide images click here:
! Description of images
! Relevant colors
! Link to screen-shots
|-
! Armadillo [[File:Garden Armadillo L.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-armadillo-l.png Armadillo L] 
[[File:Garden Armadillo R.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-armadillo-r.png Armadillo R]
|
*Here are the images of Armadillo.
| Color: Combination of 17 and 9
| [ Example]
|-
! Cats [[File:Garden Cat Balanced.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cat-balanced.png Cat Balanced] 
[[File:Garden Cat Ground.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cat-ground.png Cat Ground]
|
*Here are the images of cats.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Deer [[File:Garden Deer 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-deer-1.png Deer 1] 
[[File:Garden Deer 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-deer-2.png Deer 2]
|
*Here are the images of Deer.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Bunny [[File:Garden Important bun.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-important-bun.png Important bun]
|
*Here is the image of the Bunny.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Linsang [[File:Garden Linsang 1.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-linsang-1.png Linsang 1] 
[[File:Garden Linsang 2.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-linsang-2.png Linsang 2] 
[[File:Garden Linsang 3.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-linsang-3.png Linsang 3] 
[[File:Garden Linsang 4.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-linsang-4.png Linsang 4] 
[[File:Garden Linsang 5.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-linsang-5.png Linsang 5] 
[[File:Garden Linsang 6.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-linsang-6.png Linsang 6] 
[[File:Garden Linsang 7.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-linsang-7.png Linsang 7] 
[[File:Garden Linsang 8.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-linsang-8.png Linsang 8] 
[[File:Garden Linsang 9.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-linsang-9.png Linsang 9] 
[[File:Garden Linsang 10.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-linsang-10.png Linsang 10] 
[[File:Garden Linsang 11.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-linsang-11.png Linsang 11] 
[[File:Garden Linsang 12.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-linsang-12.png Linsang 12]
|
*Here are the images of linsangs.
**See more about [[#Linsang - cat like animal|Linsang - cat like animal]] in the trivia section.
| Color?
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/68/1663_Garden_Ophiocordyceps_linsang.png Linsang infected by fungus]
|}

====Birds====
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
! To see/hide images click here:
! Description of images
! Relevant colors
! Link to screen-shots
|-
! Flying birds [[File:Garden Bird 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bird-1.png Bird 1] 
[[File:Garden Bird 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bird-2.png Bird 2] 
[[File:Garden Bird 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bird-3.png Bird 3] 
[[File:Garden Bird 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bird-4.png Bird 4] 
[[File:Garden Bird 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bird-5.png Bird 5]
|
*Here are the images of flying birds.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Standing bird [[File:Garden Bird standing.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bird-standing.png Bird standing]
|
*Here are the images of Standing bird.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Duck [[File:Garden Duck 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-duck-1.png Duck 1]
|
*Here is the image of the duck.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Heron [[File:Garden Heron L.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-heron-l.png Heron L] 
[[File:Garden Heron R.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-heron-r.png Heron R]
|
*Here are the images of Herons.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Owl [[File:Garden Owl.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-owl.png Owl]
|
*Here is the image of the Owl.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Wading bird [[File:Garden Wading bird L.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-wading-bird-l.png Wading bird L] 
[[File:Garden Wading bird R.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-wading-bird-r.png Wading bird R]
|
*Here are the images of wading birds.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Water bird [[File:Garden Water bird 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-waterbird-1.png Water bird 1] 
[[File:Garden Water bird 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-waterbird-2.png Water bird 2]
|
*Here are the images of water bird.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|}

====From the sea====
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
! To see/hide images click here:
! Description of images
! Relevant colors
! Link to screen-shots
|-
! Fish [[File:Garden Fish 1.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-fish-1.png Fish 1] 
[[File:Garden Fish 2.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-fish-2.png Fish 2]
|
*Here are the images of Fish.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Flying fish [[File:Flying fish 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flying-fish-1.png Flying fish 1] 
[[File:Flying fish 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flying-fish-2.png Flying fish 2] 
[[File:Garden Actual flying fish 1.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-actual-flying-fish-1.png Actual flying fish 1] 
[[File:Garden Actual flying fish 2.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-actual-flying-fish-2.png Actual flying fish 2]
|
*Here are the images of Flying fish.
| Color?
| [http://forums.xkcd.com/download/file.php?id=51476&mode=view Flying fish in Megan's hair] [http://forums.xkcd.com/download/file.php?id=51543&mode=view Flying fish and UGO]
|-
! Octopus [[File:Garden Octopus.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-octopus.png Octopus] 
[[File:Garden Octopus hat capable.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-octopus-hat-capable.png Octopus hat capable]
|
*Here are the images of Octopuses.
| Color: Blue (Only On the Pond)
| [ Example]
|-
! Sharks [[File:Garden Shark fin L.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-shark-fin-l.png Shark fin L] 
[[File:Garden Shark fin R.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-shark-fin-r.png Shark fin R]
|
*Here is the image of the shark fins.
| Color?
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6e/1663_Garden_Megan_there%27s_a_shark_in_the_water.png Shark in birdbath]
|-
! Tentacle [[File:Garden Tentacle 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-tentacle-1.png Tentacle 1] 
[[File:Garden Tentacle 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-tentacle-2.png Tentacle 2] 
[[File:Garden Tentacle 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-tentacle-3.png Tentacle 3] 
[[File:Garden Tentacle 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-tentacle-4.png Tentacle 4] 
[[File:Garden Tentacle 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-tentacle-5.png Tentacle 5] 
[[File:Garden Tentacle 6.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-tentacle-6.png Tentacle 6]
|
*Here are the images of tentacles.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|}

====Reptiles====
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
! To see/hide images click here:
! Description of images
! Relevant colors
! Link to screen-shots
|-
! Snake [[File:Garden Snake 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-snake-1.png Snake 1] 
[[File:Garden Snake 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-snake-2.png Snake 2]
|
*Here are the images of snakes.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Turtle [[File:Garden Turtle 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-turtle-1.png Turtle 1] 
[[File:Garden Turtle 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-turtle-2.png Turtle 2]
|
*Here are the images of turtles.
| Color reddish?
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6c/1663_Garden_octopus_turtle_capable.png Octopus turtle capable]
|}

====Insects====
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
! To see/hide images click here:
! Description of images
! Relevant colors
! Link to screen-shots
|-
! Bees [[File:Garden Bee 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bee-1.png Bee 1] 
[[File:Garden Bee 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bee-2.png Bee 2] 
[[File:Garden Bee 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bee-3.png Bee 3] 
[[File:Garden Bee 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bee-4.png Bee 4] 
[[File:Garden Bee 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bee-5.png Bee 5] 
[[File:Garden Bee 6.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bee-6.png Bee 6]
|
*Here are the images of bees.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Beehive 
[[File:Garden Beehive-base.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-beehive-base.png Beehive-base] 
[[File:Garden Beehive entrance a.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-beehive-entrance-a.png Beehive entrance a] 
[[File:Beehive section.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-beehive-section.png Beehive section]
|
*Here are the images that construct the beehive.
| Color?
| [http://forums.xkcd.com/download/file.php?id=51487&mode=view BlitzGirl's beehive]
|}

===Plants===
====Trees====
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
! To see/hide images click here:
! Description of images
! Relevant colors
! Link to screen-shots
|-
! Tall trunks [[File:Garden Tall trunk 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-talltrunk-1.png Tall trunk 1] 
[[File:Garden Tall trunk 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-talltrunk-2.png Tall trunk 2] 
[[File:Garden Tall trunk 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-talltrunk-3.png Tall trunk 3] 
[[File:Garden Tall trunk 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-talltrunk-4.png Tall trunk 4]
|
*Here are the images of tall trunks.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Trunks [[File:Garden Trunk 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-trunk-1.png Trunk 1] 
[[File:Garden Trunk 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-trunk-2.png Trunk 2] 
[[File:Garden Trunk 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-trunk-3.png Trunk 3] 
[[File:Garden Trunk 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-trunk-4.png Trunk 4] 
[[File:Garden Trunk 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-trunk-5.png Trunk 5] 
[[File:Garden Trunk 6.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-trunk-6.png Trunk 6] 
[[File:Garden Trunk 7.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-trunk-7.png Trunk 7] 
[[File:Garden Trunk 8.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-trunk-8.png Trunk 8]
|
*Here are the images of smaller trunks.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Branches [[File:Garden Branch 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-1.png Branch 1] 
[[File:Garden Branch 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-2.png Branch 2] 
[[File:Garden Branch 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-3.png Branch 3] 
[[File:Garden Branch 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-4.png Branch 4] 
[[File:Garden Branch 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-5.png Branch 5] 
[[File:Garden Branch 6.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-6.png Branch 6] 
[[File:Garden Branch 7.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-7.png Branch 7] 
[[File:Garden Branch 8.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-8.png Branch 8] 
[[File:Garden Branch 9.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-9.png Branch 9] 
[[File:Garden Branch 10.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-10.png Branch 10] 
[[File:Garden Branch 11.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-11.png Branch 11] 
[[File:Garden Branch 12.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-12.png Branch 12] 
[[File:Garden Branch 13.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-13.png Branch 13] 
[[File:Garden Branch 14.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-14.png Branch 14] 
[[File:Garden Branch 15.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-15.png Branch 15] 
[[File:Garden Branch 16.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-16.png Branch 16] 
[[File:Garden Branch 17.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-17.png Branch 17] 
[[File:Garden Branch 18.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-18.png Branch 18] 
[[File:Garden Branch 19.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-19.png Branch 19] 
[[File:Garden Branch 20.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-20.png Branch 20] 
[[File:Garden Branch 21.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-21.png Branch 21] 
[[File:Garden Branch 22.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-22.png Branch 22] 
[[File:Garden Branch 23.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-23.png Branch 23] 
[[File:Garden Branch 24.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-24.png Branch 24]
|
*Here are the images of branches.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Leaves [[File:Garden Leaves 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-1.png Leaves 1] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-2.png Leaves 2] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-3.png Leaves 3] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-4.png Leaves 4] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-5.png Leaves 5] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 6.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-6.png Leaves 6] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 7.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-7.png Leaves 7] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 8.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-8.png Leaves 8] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 9.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-9.png Leaves 9] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 10.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-10.png Leaves 10] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 11.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-11.png Leaves 11] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 12.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-12.png Leaves 12] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 13.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-13.png Leaves 13] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 14.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-14.png Leaves 14] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 15.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-15.png Leaves 15] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 16.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-16.png Leaves 16] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 17.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-17.png Leaves 17] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 18.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-18.png Leaves 18] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 19.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-19.png Leaves 19] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 20.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-20.png Leaves 20] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 21.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-21.png Leaves 21] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 22.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-22.png Leaves 22] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 23.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-23.png Leaves 23] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 24.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-24.png Leaves 24] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 25.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-25.png Leaves 25] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 26.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-26.png Leaves 26] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 27.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-27.png Leaves 27] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 28.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-28.png Leaves 28] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 29.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-29.png Leaves 29] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 30.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-30.png Leaves 30]
|
*Here are the images of leaves.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|}

====Flowers====
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
! To see/hide images click here:
! Description of images
! Relevant colors
! Link to screen-shots
|-
! Blooms [[File:Garden Flower bloom 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-bloom1.png Flower bloom 1] 
[[File:Garden Flower bloom 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-bloom2.png Flower bloom 2] 
[[File:Garden Flower bloom 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-bloom3.png Flower bloom 3] 
[[File:Garden Flower bloom 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-bloom4.png Flower bloom 4] 
[[File:Garden Flower bloom 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-bloom5.png Flower bloom 5] 
[[File:Garden Flower bloom 6.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-bloom6.png Flower bloom 6] 
[[File:Garden Flower bloom 7.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-bloom7.png Flower bloom 7]
|
*Here are the images of blooms.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Hilt [[File:Garden Flower hilt 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-hilt1.png Flower hilt 1] 
[[File:Garden Flower hilt 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-hilt2.png Flower hilt 2]
|
*Here are the images of hilt.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Stem segments [[File:Garden Flower base.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-base.png Flower base] 
[[File:Garden Flower segment 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-segment1.png Flower segment 1] 
[[File:Garden Flower segment 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-segment2.png Flower segment 2] 
[[File:Garden Flower segment 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-segment3.png Flower segment 3] 
[[File:Garden Flower segment 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-segment4.png Flower segment 4] 
[[File:Flower segment 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-segment5.png Flower segment 5] 
[[File:Flower segment 6.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-segment6.png Flower segment 6] 
[[File:Flower segment 7.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-segment7.png Flower segment 7] 
[[File:Flower segment 8.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-segment8.png Flower segment 8] 
[[File:Flower segment 9.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-segment9.png Flower segment 9] 
[[File:Flower segment 10.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-segment10.png Flower segment 10] 
[[File:Flower segment 11.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-segment11.png Flower segment 11] 
[[File:Flower segment 12.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-segment12.png Flower segment 12]
|
*Here is the image of the base and segments of the flower stems.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Star plant [[File:Garden Star Plant.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-starplant.png Star Plant]
|
*Here are the images the star plant.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Tulips [[File:Garden Tulip 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-tulip-1.png Tulip 1] 
[[File:Garden Tulip 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-tulip-2.png Tulip 2]
|
*Here are the images of Tulips.
| Color?
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/03/1663_Garden_tulip_Megan.png Tulip Megan]
|}

====Other plants====
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
! To see/hide images click here:
! Description of images
! Relevant colors
! Link to screen-shots
|-
! Cactus [[File:Garden Cactus 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cactus-1.png Cactus 1] 
[[File:Garden Cactus 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cactus-2.png Cactus 2]
|
*Here are the images of cactus.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Grass [[File:Garden Grass 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-grass-1.png Grass 1] 
[[File:Garden Grass 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-grass-2.png Grass 2] 
[[File:Garden Grass 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-grass-3.png Grass 3] 
[[File:Garden Grass 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-grass-4.png Grass 4] 
[[File:Garden Grass 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-grass-5.png Grass 5] 
[[File:Garden Grass 6.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-grass-6.png Grass 6] 
[[File:Garden Grass 7.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-grass-7.png Grass 7] 
[[File:Garden Grass 8.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-grass-8.png Grass 8] 
[[File:Garden Grass 9.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-grass-9.png Grass 9]
|
*Here are the images of grass.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Reeds [[File:Garden Reeds 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-reeds-1.png Reeds 1] 
[[File:Garden Reeds 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-reeds-2.png Reeds 2] 
[[File:Garden Reeds 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-reeds-3.png Reeds 3] 
[[File:Garden Reeds 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-reeds-4.png Reeds 4] 
[[File:Garden Reeds 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-reeds-5.png Reeds 5] 
[[File:Garden Reeds 6.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-reeds-6.png Reeds 6] 
[[File:Garden Reeds 8.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-reeds-8.png Reeds 8] 
[[File:Garden Reeds 9.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-reeds-9.png Reeds 9] 
[[File:Garden Reeds 10.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-reeds-10.png Reeds 10] 
[[File:Garden Reeds 11.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-reeds-11.png Reeds 11] 
[[File:Garden Reeds 12.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-reeds-12.png Reeds 12] 
[[File:Garden Reeds 13.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-reeds-13.png Reeds 13]
|
*Here are the images of reeds.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Shrub [[File:Garden Shrub 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-shrub-1.png Shrub 1] 
[[File:Garden Shrub 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-shrub-2.png Shrub 2] 
[[File:Garden Shrub 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-shrub-3.png Shrub 3] 
[[File:Garden Shrub 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-shrub-4.png Shrub 4] 
[[File:Garden Shrub 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-shrub-5.png Shrub 5] 
[[File:Garden Shrub 6.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-shrub-6.png Shrub 6] 
[[File:Garden Shrub 7.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-shrub-7.png Shrub 7] 
[[File:Garden Shrub 8.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-shrub-8.png Shrub 8] 
[[File:Garden Shrub 9.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-shrub-9.png Shrub 9] 
[[File:Garden Shrub 10.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-shrub-10.png Shrub 10] 
[[File:Garden Shrub 11.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-shrub-11.png Shrub 11]
|
*Here are the images of shrubs.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Wavy plant [[File:Garden Wavy plant 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-wavyplant-1.png Wavy plant 1] 
[[File:Garden Wavy plant 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-wavyplant-2.png Wavy plant 2] 
[[File:Garden Wavy plant 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-wavyplant-3.png Wavy plant 3] 
[[File:Garden Wavy plant 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-wavyplant-4.png Wavy plant 4]
|
*Here are the images of wavy plants.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|}

===Platforms===
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
! To see/hide images click here:
! Description of images
! Relevant colors
! Link to screen-shots
|-
! Tree platform [[File:Garden Left platform.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-left-platform.png Left platform] [[File:Garden Right platform.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-right-platform.png Right platform]
|
*Here are the images of platforms in trees.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Platform [[File:Garden Platform 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-platform-1.png Platform 1]
|
*Here is the image of the basic platform.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Platform Column [[File:Garden PlatformColumn 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-platform-column-1.png PlatformColumn 1] 
[[File:Garden PlatformColumn 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-platform-column-2.png PlatformColumn 2] 
[[File:Garden PlatformColumn 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-platform-column-3.png PlatformColumn 3]
|
*Here are the images of platform columns.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Stone Platform [[File:Garden Stone Platform 1 Wide.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-stone-platform-1wide.png Stone Platform 1 Wide] 
[[File:Garden Stone Platform 3 Wide.png]]  [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-stone-platform-3wide.png Stone Platform 3 Wide] 
[[File:Garden Stone Platform 5 Wide.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-stone-platform-5wide.png Stone Platform 5 Wide]
|
*Here are the images of stone platforms.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Tall platform [[File:Garden Tall platform.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-tall-platform.png Tall platform]
|
*Here is the image of the tall platform.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|}

===Other items===
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
! To see/hide images click here:
! Description of images
! Relevant colors
! Link to screen-shots
|-
! Balloon [[File:Garden Balloon.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-balloon.png Balloon] 
[[File:Garden Balloon Huge.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-balloon-huge.png Balloon Huge] 
[[File:Garden Balloon Segment.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-balloon-segment.png Balloon Segment] 
[[File:Balloon segment short.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-balloon-segment-short.png Balloon segment short]
|
*Here are the images of balloons and their strings.
| Color?
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/34/1663_garden_S_shaped_empty_balloon_string_right.png S-shaped balloon string]
|-
! Birdbath [[File:Garden Birdbath.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-birdbath.png Birdbath]
|
*Here is the image of the birdbath.
| Color?
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a1/1663_garden_Purple_garden_with_Heron.png Birdbath legged deer]
|-
! Boat [[File:Garden Boat 1 L.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-boat-1-l.png Boat 1 L] 
[[File:Garden Boat 1 R.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-boat-1-r.png Boat 1 R]
|
*Here are the images of boats.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Cairn stones [[File:Garden Cairn Base 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-base-1.png Cairn Base 1] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Base 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-base-2.png Cairn Base 2] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Base 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-base-3.png Cairn Base 3] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Base 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-base-4.png Cairn Base 4] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Base 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-base-5.png Cairn Base 5] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Mid 1.png]]  [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-mid-1.png Cairn Mid 1] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Mid 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-mid-2.png Cairn Mid 2] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Mid 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-mid-3.png Cairn Mid 3] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Mid 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-mid-4.png Cairn Mid 4] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Mid 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-mid-5.png Cairn Mid 5] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Top 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-top-1.png Cairn Top 1] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Top 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-top-2.png Cairn Top 2] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Top 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-top-3.png Cairn Top 3] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Top 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-top-4.png Cairn Top 4] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Top 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-top-5.png Cairn Top 5]
|
*Here is the image of the stones used to form cairns.
| Color?
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/23/1663_Garden_An_Engineer_cairns.png Gigantic rock pile]
|-
! Furniture [[File:Garden Desk 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-desk-1.png Desk 1] 
[[File:Garden Desk lamp.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-desk-lamp.png Desk lamp] 
[[File:Garden Table 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-table-1.png Table 1]
|
*Here are the images of furniture for the office and other places.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Giant Planter [[File:Garden Giant Planter.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-giant-planter.png Giant Planter]
|
*Here is the image of the giant Planter.
| Color?
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1a/1663_garden_Underground_light_gives_large_tub_on_top_of_pillar_then_filled_with_trees.png Giant planter with trees]
|-
! Hat [[File:Garden Hat 1a.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-hat-1a.png Hat 1a]
|
*Here is the image of the black hat.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Lamppost [[File:Garden Lamp crossbar left.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-lamp-crossbar-left.png Lamp crossbar left] 
[[File:Garden Lamp crossbar right.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-lamp-crossbar-right.png Lamp crossbar right] 
[[File:Garden Lamppost 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-lamppost-1.png Lamppost 1] 
[[File:Garden lamp-topper.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-lamp-topper.png lamp-topper]
|
*Here are the images that may form the complete lamppost.
*The lamp post looks exactly like the one in [[665: Prudence]], and that is the one from {{w|Narnia}} which actually grew up in the forest when Narnia was created in the chronologically first book {{w|The Magician's Nephew}} when Aslan created Narnia.

| Color?
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7a/1663_garden_Blitz_Girls_lamp_posts_and_flowers_garden.png Example with lamp] [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/81/1663_garden_Lamp_post_poles_and_mars_rover.png Example with crossbar]
|-
! Obelisk [[File:Garden Obelisk.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-obelisk.png Obelisk]
|
*Here is the image of the obelisk.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Pot [[File:Garden Pot 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-pot-1.png Pot 1] 
[[File:Garden Pot 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-pot-2.png Pot 2] 
[[File:Garden Pot 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-pot-3.png Pot 3]
|
*Here are the images of pots.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Rover [[File:Garden Rover.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-rover.png Rover]
|
*Here is the image of the Mars rover.
| Color 16
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3f/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_red_and_red_First_thing_Mars_rover.png Mars rover]
|-
! Sale sign [[File:Garden Sale sign.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-sale-sign.png Sale sign]
|
*Here is the image of the sale sign.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Saucer [[File:Garden Saucer.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-saucer.png Saucer]
|
*Here is the image of the flying saucer.
| Color?
| [http://forums.xkcd.com/download/file.php?id=51432&mode=view BlitzGirl's UFO garden]
|}

===Helper structures===
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
! To see/hide images click here:
! Description of images
! Relevant colors
! Link to screen-shots
|-
! Bird riser [[File:Garden Bird riser.png]], [[File:Garden Bird riser with background.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bird-riser.png Bird riser], and with background 
[[File:Garden Bird riser root.png]] [[File:Garden Bird riser root with frame.png]][http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-bird-riser-root.png Bird riser root], and with frame 
|
*Here are the images of the bird riser and it's root.
**They only seem to appear in the orange color range.
**The riser is invisible (white) and would have to have a background to be seen (both versions are shown to the left). This will never be the case in the garden as the raiser does not show up in front of other black items.
***However, the risers can be seen using the [[#Debug_mode|debug mode]], and this is used as the example to the right.
***Also using the debug mode on this [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#1e853af8-055f-11e6-8001-42010a8e000f garden] the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e0/1663_garden_Color_13_2_5d_debug_with_count.png number of items can be counted] as shown in the link.
****From this link it is clear that there are three bird risers attached to two of the seven bird riser roots.
****Here only single bird risers are displayed, but they can be connected see below.
**The root can often be seen on the ground, but it can be hidden behind other objects.
***Also the root has the first short part of a bird riser above the root, which is invisible (by any means). The bird riser takes hold at the top of this invisible part. That it is there can best be seen by putting a frame around the image of the root, to see that it is twice as high as the root itself. Such an image is also shown to the left. (But the end can also be seen in the debug mode images).
*The riser are used to make items fly in the air.
**I.e. the five types of flying birds, the saucer, flying Megan and the two "actual flying fish", can attach them selves to the end of a bird riser.
**Whereas the risers need to have a root to begin, then more risers can attach to the end already existing risers, thus getting much higher up in the air than one riser (all the way up!).
**Risers can have any angles to each others, even going further down, which can explain birds and other flying objects touching the ground (even making an object be situated partially beneath the ground, like [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cf/1663_garden_One_color_Orange_6d.png this flying Megan] from this [http://xkcd.com/1663/#0d6bca62-fcf3-11e5-8019-42010a8e0005 garden] or maybe even outside the frame, see last example below).
**As opposed to anything else the light that creates a bird (or other flying item) does not need to touch the actually bird, but rather the place from where the bird riser is rooted.
***This indicates that the birds etc. can grow from light touching the base of the risers rather than the tip.
****Since many bird risers can grow in layers above the first riser it is clear that the bird riser does not appear with a bird on them in one go!
***There are many examples with [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/48/1663_garden_One_color_Orange_9d.png birds] or [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/4f/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_and_orange_red_8d.png flying Megan] "growing" outside the light, where no light ever was, as seen from some of the [[1663:_Garden/Users_gardens#Locked_gardens_only_for_explanation_use|locked experimental gardens]].
*When selecting a bird riser root all bird risers and all flying things connected to these will also be selected (and deleted if the root is deleted).
**Here are two examples from the same [http://xkcd.com/1663/#578b80bc-fd96-11e5-8001-42010a8e000a garden] where two different roots have been selected:
***In this [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b9/1663_garden_14_Between_orange_and_orange_red_15d_selected_bird_riser_root.png example] the selected root is hidden by the tulip in the red circle. Seven birds are selected both right and left of this root. (Two of them on top of each other).
***In this [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/27/1663_garden_14_Between_orange_and_orange_red_15d_selected_bird_riser_root_Megan.png example] the root in the red circle is completely hidden by turtles etc. It connects to three birds and one flying Megan, showing that it is the bird riser roots that also connect to her.
**In this next example [http://xkcd.com/1663/#59246c86-fcce-11e5-8001-42010a8e0010 garden] the links between a root and four birds are displayed in detail.
***The [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/73/1663_garden_SF_final.png first image] is just the normal garden view screen-shot (lamps deleted). 10 birds can be seen; there are six birds over the lamp post; two near the ground under the high platform; one near the right crown of the tree; and one to the left that looks like it is a part of the linsang. Several bird riser roots (at least five) can be seen on the ground from the middle of the platform and right past the cat (two under it) and then at the sign.
***In the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/8d/1663_garden_SF_final_selected.png second image] the root at the foot of the Sale sign has been selected. Four birds have been selected, spread out over the entire section with birds, including the lowest, the highest, the left most and one over the lamp post.
***In the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/73/1663_garden_SF_final_debug.png third image] debug mode has been used. All the long purple lines (of equal length) indicate bird risers.
***In the last [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/35/1663_garden_SF_final_debug_drawing.png fourth image] the links between the root and the four birds have been indicated. A zero (0) has been written under the root. Then 1 indicates the single bird riser that goes to the right bird over the lamp post. Bird riser 2, 3 and 4 connect to each other from the root up to the highest bird right of the crown. Then bird riser 5 goes from that to the bird near the linsang left of the tree, and finally bird riser 6 and 7 goes straight back and down to the lowest bird near the ground.
****Several bird risers seems to go beneath the ground!
**That bird risers can go beneath the ground has already been show with flying Megan partly under ground.
***In this last example it is made clear that birds can then appear either under ground (or under the top of other structures blocking their view) or even totally outside the frame (as indicated above the bird risers seem to be able to sprout items outside the cones of light, as long as they grow in the light them selves).
***The proof for this comes in this [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/16/1663_garden_Color_13_5d_debug_with_count.png example] with the debug version of this [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#fa1b5c92-055e-11e6-8001-42010a8e000f garden] showing the count:
****At the time of [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/73/1663_garden_Color_13_5d.png these images] there where only 8 visible birds
****But the count lists 20 birds, indicating that no less than 12 birds are hidden from view!
| Color [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/48/1663_garden_One_color_Orange_9d.png 13 Orange] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/4f/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_and_orange_red_8d.png 14 Orange].
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e7/1663_garden_Color_13_2_5d_debug_bird_risers.png Bird riser debug] 
[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5e/1663_garden_Color_14_3d.png Root]
|-
! Null [[File:Garden Null.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-null.png Null] [[File:Garden Null continue.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-null-continue-air.png Null continue] 
[[File:Garden Null continue air.png]], [[File:Garden Null continue air with background.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-null-continue-air.png Null continue air], and with background 
|
*Here are the images of ''null''. They cannot normally be seen, the air version even have to have a background to be seen (both versions are shown). They are used for ??.
| Color
| [ Example]
|}

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:April fools' comics]] 
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Dynamic comics]]
[[Category:Interactive comics]]
[[Category:Comics with animation]] 
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]] 
[[Category:Animals]]
[[Category:Sharks]] 
[[Category:Mars rovers]]
[[Category:Protip]]
[[Category:Buns]]

1663: Garden

2018-07-06T11:06:22Z

Erkinalp: /* Debug mode */

{{comic
| number = 1663
| date = April 4, 2016
| title = Garden
| image = garden.png 
| titletext = Relax.
}}
<div class="toclimit-3" style="float:right; margin-left: 10px;">__TOC__</div>
*'''Note''' this is an interactive comic. Go to {{xkcd|1663|xkcd}} to try it out.
**Also '''note''' that a few weeks after the comic was released a change was made so growth only seems to appear when the gardens is actively running in a browser window!
**(This is opposed to what happened during the first few weeks after release!)

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Fill out the [[#Items in the garden|tables]] with images of all the possible items. General explanations/comment are missing as well as link to screenshots of gardens where each item "grows".}}

This was the seventh [[:Category:April fools' comics|April fools' comic]] released by [[Randall]]. The previous fools comic was
[[1506: xkcloud]] from Wednesday April 1st 2015. The next [[1818:_Rayleigh_Scattering#No_April_Fools.27_Day_comic_in_2017|did not come out in 2017]], but first in 2018 when [[1975: Right Click]] was released on Sunday April 1st 2018.

This comics represents the April fools' comic of 2016, and it is [[Randall|Randall's]] celebration of {{w|April Fools' Day}} Friday, April 1, 2016. It represents the third time in a row that user input changes the April Fool's comic. Although in the last two [[1350: Lorenz]] and [[1506: xkcloud]] it was written (or drawn) input that became part of the comics. This time the user input is like a game, as the user actively adds, moves and deletes items, and new items appear based on these actions. In this way it actually more resembles the game comic [[1608: Hoverboard]], than the previous April Fool's comics.

Due to technical problems (or to make fools of his fans, see more about the [[#April Fool's header text|header text]] below) the comic did not go live until Sunday evening (after midnight, so technically first on Monday April 4th) so there was no Friday release the week before, see [[#Monday 4th of April release|more details below]].

The comic begins with a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f1/Garden_Loading_collage.png loading screen] with a revolving tree and the text "loading..." This is because the first time a computer loads this dynamic comic it can take a while.

Once it is loaded it displays "your '''Garden'''", being a barren landscape, with a small pond to the left, some rocks at the far left and right, and a single lamp shining light yellow light on most of the ground. This is what is shown at the top of the explanation here. But if you leave the lights on and wait (or "relax", as the reader is told to do by the title text), then plants and other items will start to appear.

The reason it is correct to call it "your garden" is that every time this comic is loaded from scratch, a new garden will be created with a unique url-address. By [[#Saving garden with url|saving this link]] (making a bookmark for it), the user will be able to return to their garden again and again. As the garden only develops very slowly this is important. (If users wish to share their garden they can do it in the table on the page for '''[[1663: Garden/Users gardens|Users gardens]]''').

[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/78/1663_garden_Three_colors_over_everything_not_very_interesting.png Plants appear] one at a time, and sometimes it takes a long time. Only a few of the plants actually grow. For instance there are some large trees that begins as [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/27/1663_garden_Fast_growing_tree_-_leafless.png a large trunk] and from there [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/67/1663_garden_Fast_growing_tree_-_lots_of_leaves.png grows branches and leaves]. This can sometimes happen quite fast. Most other plants just appear, the only other exception being one type of flowers. All plants, except the cactus, clearly sway in the breeze.

Also [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5a/1663_garden_Pruned_garden_with_birds_deer_gate_cactus_turtles_snake_gate.png animals] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/de/1663_garden_Three_lamps_two_along_ground_with_pillars_not_in_blue_world_and_symmetric_gates.png building-like structures] such as [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/15/1663_garden_Megan_Monolith_Animals_and_more.png a monolith and birdbaths] appear, together with lots of other items like [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ad/1663_garden_Office_space_with_star_plant_balloon_with_bird_and_grass_on_Cueball.png office furniture] with [http://xkcd.com/1663/#98dc3452-fcf2-11e5-8010-42010a8e0008 balloons swaying in the wind] or even one of the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3f/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_red_and_red_First_thing_Mars_rover.png Mars rovers] which so [[:Category:Mars rovers|often have been featured]] in xkcd.

On top of all this, several known characters may appear in different poses including [[Cueball]] and [[Megan]] (for instance with a sword, see [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6b/1663_garden_Megan_with_sword%2C_trees_octopuses_with_Cueball_bunny_ducklings.png here]), [[Ponytail]] (see [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/eb/1663_garden_Ponytail_and_two_Cueballs_cat_pillar_and_trunk_sE.png here]) and [[Beret Guy]] from the torso and up (see [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/9b/1663_garden_Three_colors_more_separate_Beret_Guy_in_shrubbery_and_Octopus_on_office_desk.png here]). Megan and also Cueball can both be seen [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1663_garden_Giant_planter_on_pillars_and_both_Cueball_and_Megan_with_black_hat.png with a black hat], but it is one that "grows" on top of their heads after they first appear. However, Cueball with a black hat automatically turns into [[Black Hat]], so he can also be said to be in this comic. There is also an unknown character, a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0c/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow_First_thing_stilts.png girl on stilts] with black hair in a ponytail who like plants and balloons [http://xkcd.com/1663/#e774b4b8-fcd4-11e5-8001-42010a8e0017 sways in the wind]. A possible origin of this girl could be the What If article "Burning Pollen". The article involves a character with seasonal allergies that is trying unsuccessfully to avoid their allergen (pollen) with giant stilts.

All the [[#Items in the garden|items that can appear]] in the garden are listed below in several tables. During the first week new items kept appearing, but after the eighth day (April 12th), no new items have appeared. Also the growth rate (and thus the fun of this comic) has decreased with time (maybe due to the enormous amount of gardens that the server has to keep track of?) .

Every so often the image will refresh. You can change the number of lamps, their position, direction, beam width and the color temperature which always begins somewhere between white and yellow, but can change all the way from red to blue (See this [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b8/Garden_Three_Lamp_screen_shot.png example] with one lamp selected and three colors of light). Other colors than those four may appear where two lamps' cones of different colored light overlap.

The color of light [[#Effect of light|affects the growth]] with a strong correlation for what appears in the garden depending on the [[#Colors of light|color of light]], and this is not only split between red, yellow and blue, but rather [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/4a/1663_garden_Numbered_color_scale_1-17.png 10 different colors].

Early on it became clear that pure red light results in a desert theme with [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/98/1663_garden_Desert_with_red_light_only.png cacti and turtles] and pure blue light gives an aquatic theme with [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/23/1663_garden_Octopus_garden_with_Cueball_hand_up_and_a_black_hat_octopus.png lots of octopuses] that may also wear a black hat. For the most interesting gardens the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/15/1663_garden_Megan_Monolith_Animals_and_more.png light colors should be mixed]; see more below under [[#Effect of light|Effect of light]].

If this comic is scientifically accurate, that correlation will be based on {{w|photosynthetically active radiation}}.

Some users manage to create fantastic gardens (by using lots of time on them, pruning them at the right time and changing the light and lamp position to get what they strive for). Especially one user have created a series of amazing gardens that is posted on another [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114415&start=600 xkcd forum]. Here is a collection of screenshots with some of [[1663:_Garden/Screen-shots#Blitz_Girls_amazing_gardens|Blitz Girls amazing gardens]]!

The title text "Relax" can be debated. Is it to let the users know they should just sit back and relax as the garden grows.? Or should they relax and don't worry so much about how it works (not working here on explain xkcd though!)? Or is he teasing the users by giving them a garden that they need to tend to, and then telling them to relax? And also giving them many more colors than lamps... Given that this comic was supposed to come out on April 1st, there is a good chance that it is, also, to tease the users. There are actually [[#Trivia|two other title texts]] as well.

===Extra Garden pages===
*Since this comic is so complicated extra pages have been created to include much more information than is wished for on this main page (which is already of considerable size).
*These pages are listed here for convenience, but they are also linked in the relevant sections below:
**[[1663: Garden/Images]]. The images of items that can appear in the comic.
***This page is linked in the section below with table for ''[[#Items in the garden|Items in the garden]]''.
**[[1663: Garden/Screen-shots]]. Since there are no permalink it in order to save a particular moment of a garden a screen shot is needed. These can be posted here.
***This page is linked in the section below about for ''[[#Saving images|Saving images]]''.
**[[1663: Garden/Users gardens]]. A place for users of explain xkcd to post links to their own garden, and also for experimental gardens.!
***This page is linked in the section below about for ''[[#Saving garden with url|Saving garden with url]]''.

==Transcript==
:[After a '''loading image''' with a rotating tree in the middle and the text "Loading..." with the three dots appearing one at a time, and then disappear when all three have been there the image shown above in the explanation will appear:]

:['''Description of the image above''': A piece of bare landscape is shown. At the edges there are some rocks or stones raising the level from the general level through the center of the panel. Above the middle, a little more than halfway to the to of the panel, is a light bulb sitting inside a lamp that reminds of the desk lamp from the movie Luxo Jr. The lamp shines a yellow light down on the landscape in a broad cone that jus reaches the first rock to the left, but not those to the right. The lamp just hovers in the air. In the top right corner are two gray icons. The top one has a black frame and shows an image of a lamp, tilted left as opposed to the straight position of the lamp in the image. There is a + sign below in the left corner. The second icon without a frame has a large white cross in the middle.]

:[This turns out to be a '''web applet''' and using the "+ lamp" icon two more lamps can be added getting up to three. They are all adjustable both regarding position, direction, color of light and beam width. When selecting a lamp a red circle appear around it with a small circle on top that can be used to control the light color from blue to the left to red to the right. In front is a red arrow that can turn the lamp and it can also be used to change the beam width by pulling it away from the lamp or pushing it back. The lamps can be moved by just clicking on it and moving it. The other icon with a X can be used to remove the lamps (and later any object that appear in the garden). When any object is selected there is a red circle around it. When this is done the gray cross icon becomes red and can the be used to delete the selected item. When no item is selected (either because it is deleted, or by clicking in a part of the screen with no items), then the cross icon turns gray again. When all three lamps are on, then the "+ lamp" icon is faded out.]

:['''If you wait''' (or relax, as in the title text), then a plant will grow or animals, humans and other items may appear. This could be birds, snakes, octopuses or turtles, Megan or Cueball or a birdbath, a monolith or a tall gate just as a few examples. Most of the items appear in one go, but at least the largest trees grow up with a big stem first and then adds parts later with leaves or empty branches. Also one item may appear on top of another item and for instance birds may fly in the air.]

:[There is but one word in the entire comic, which appears when you grow a sign:]
:Sign: Sale

==Functionality==
===Saving garden with url===
*There is no [[1350#Permalink|permalink button]] as in the last two years' April Fool's comics.
*The URL is different for every garden that is loaded, but stays the same. It links to a server-side copy of the scene, which then changes depending on what the users does with their gardens.
**Sharing a URL will connect a new browser to the same garden session, but only the original browser will be allowed to edit.
**The user can always return to change the garden with the link, but only from the same browser on the same computer.
**This means that a specific moment in a gardens life has to be [[#Saving images|saved as an image]] for future references.
*The garden itself will thus continue to develop further from the time when the url was copied, and events will happen from now on even though the garden is not opened in any browser.
**If the user doesn't keep it, it will become infested with weeds.
**So most likely the garden is serverside, as all browsers are allowed to see the development of this garden, but users following the url are not allowed to edit anything.
*Here is an example garden [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#0d11a2c8-fa8f-11e5-8001-42010a8e000e linked by ID] versus the same garden:
**In the original [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7f/1663_garden_tree_turtle_birdbath.png screenshot from April 4th] from when the url was created
**In a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7c/1663_garden_Flying_birds_deer_gate_with_cactus_turtles_snake_etc.png screenshot from April 5th] the day after.
**Here [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5a/1663_garden_Pruned_garden_with_birds_deer_gate_cactus_turtles_snake_gate.png example] after the user pruned the garden in the examples.
**Other [[1663: Garden/Users gardens|user gardens]] can be found on the link.
*Starting two browser windows or tabs pointing to the same URL will allow you to edit from either window.
**linden.xkcd.com holds all the data; the UUID just corresponds to your access key, held in your browser's local storage.

====Saving images====
*Since the [[#Saving garden with url|urls are changing]] the only way to save a particular garden is to save an image of the current garden.
**Alternatively by deleting all lamps (or changing them to laser beams or turning them upwards) the no new growth will occur. But then the garden will no longer develop.
*In Edge, Firefox and Chrome, the image plus light cones but minus lamps and icons elements, can be saved by right clicking in the image. (Not possible in explorer).
**They do not always save in the same way as some browsers saves the part of the background without any light cones as white, and other save it as no background, in which case it may render black, basically hiding any black items outside the light.
***For those images it depends on which viewer is used to see the image, if everything can be seen or only that in the light cones.
****See examples of how it looks with black background in these two color maps collections using [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/50/1663_garden_Single_colors.png a single lamp] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/90/1663_garden_Three_colors.png three lamps].
****See more details about how these [[1663:_Garden/Screen-shots#Color_maps|color maps]] have been made.
****See also (at least) two examples of saved images as the are here on explain xkcd [[1663:_Garden/Screen-shots#Saved_image_from_xkcd|here]].
*An image of the whole screen can be captured, by pressing the PrtScn (Print Screen) key on the keyboard & then pasting the content into a blank image in an image-editing program.
**An even better solution is to use a tool like {{w|Snipping Tool}} which can take the part of the screen that are relevant. This is how most of the [[1663: Garden/Screen-shots|screen shots]] for this explanation has been aquired.
**In both way the lamps and icons can also be displayed, which is not an option with saved images.

===Lamps===
*Additional lamps, up to a total of three lamps, can be added by clicking the black plus lamp icon along the right of the window. The control will black plus lamp icon will [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b8/Garden_Three_Lamp_screen_shot.png turn gray].
*Lamps can be removed by clicking to select a lamp, then clicking the red X icon along the right of the window, or pressing the Delete or Backspace key on the keyboard. All lights can be deleted.
*The position of the lamp can be moved by clicking and dragging the lamp within the scene.
*The angle and area of the light cone emitted by the lamp can be changed by [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/09/Garden_Red_Lamp_screen_shot.png clicking to select the lamp and to reveal the red control triangle]. Rotating the control triangle around the lamp will change the aim of the lamp to point in the direction of the triangle, dragging the control triangle towards the lamp will [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cc/1663_garden_One_color_Light_blue.png widen the beam], and dragging the control triangle towards away from the lamp will [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5a/1663_garden_Pruned_garden_with_birds_deer_gate_cactus_turtles_snake_gate.png narrow the beam].
*The color emitted by the lamp can be changed by clicking the lamp to reveal the colored control dot, and by rotating the dot around the lamp. The small color control circle changes color to match the color of the lamps beam of light. new lights default to a center position, emitting a pale green. '''rotating the control right''' changes the color to yellow, orange, and finally red, and '''rotating the control left''' changes the color to white, then blue.
===Colors of light===
*The color control moves in a smooth gradient between colors, along the spectrum without any set positions.
*Small changes in the color can have an effect on the garden, even though there is no clear change in the color.
*[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/50/1663_garden_Single_colors.png As many as nine colors] can be identified from the emitted light of a single lamp, and many more colors are evident when [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/90/1663_garden_Three_colors.png two or three lamps overlap].
*There is reason to believe that even half the change will create different gardens, i.e. there can be at least one more position between those nine settings that will change the effect, giving eight more settings for a total of 17 "different" colors. An experiment with such '''17 settings''' for just [[1663:_Garden/Screen-shots#One_lamp_one_color|One lamp with one color]].
*Several unique elements only seem to appear using the eight half-colors. Both the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3f/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_red_and_red_First_thing_Mars_rover.png Mars rover] and the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1b/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow_First_thing_stilts_right.png Stilts girl] might be missed.
*Colors can thus be indicated from these 17 divisions: 
**Below is a table with these 17 division shown and what to expect.
**This may change over time, but was as it about a week after release.
***If updating, please make a note that this may have only applied during the first week(s) and add new feature without deleting.
**There has been an [[1663:_Garden/Screen-shots#One_lamp_one_color|experiment made]] with these 17 colors, see that for more details.
***The color names links to these experimental gardens, that will never be changed after the initiation.
***But there are reasons to believe that two gardens made identical may develop quite differently, as it seems some gardens have very limited growth in spite of the same light. Some of these gardens may be of that persuasion.
****This was proven when 34 more gardens using the 17 colors where started in a [[1663:_Garden/Screen-shots#Second_experiment|similar experiment]].
*The debugger reveals that each light has a "temp" property which ranges from 0 (red) to 1 (blue). The default setting is 0.5.
**The RGB color corresponding to "temp" is determined by this function in linden.js:
::<tt>function u(t){return.32>t?[1,.5+.5*t/.32,.5]:.64>t?[1,1,.5+.5*(t-.32)/.32]:[.75+.25*(1-t)/.36,.75+.25*(1-t)/.36,1]}</tt>
[[File:1663 garden Numbered color scale 1-17.png]] 
{| class="wikitable"
! #
! Color
! Description of items etc
|-
| 1
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#f65c4906-fcf1-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 Blue]
| '''Pure blue'''! Aquatic theme with octopus (some with black hat), Cueball checking for rain with hand up. Less growth after the first week and octopus only over the pond (see [[1663:_Garden/Screen-shots#Growth_speed_vs_blue_light|growth speed vs blue light]]).
|-
| 2
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#d5b7fed6-fd94-11e5-8001-42010a8e000a Blue -> light blue]
| Octopus over pond and boats in pond, Cueball hands up and down (the latter possibly with black hat), {{w|Cairn}}s of '''stones''' and {{w|obelisk}}.
|-
| 3
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#3afb7988-fcf2-11e5-8001-42010a8e0019 Light blue]
| Cueball hands down (but can be with [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/64/1663_garden_Color_03_8d.png hand up] as well), Cairns of '''stones''', obelisk, wading bird and boats.
|-
| 4
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#303c341c-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 Light blue -> blue white]
| Obelisk, flower base and stems and balloon string with normal and huge balloons, Cueball hands up (and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a5/1663_garden_Color_04_2_8d.png also down] with {{w|column}} and wadding bird), fish, shark fins and boats.
|-
| 5
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#98dc3452-fcf2-11e5-8010-42010a8e0008 Blue white]
| Office landscape with desks and chairs, table, column, obelisk, pots with star plant or other flowers base and stems, Beret Guy in pond, Cueball hands up and down, balloon string with normal and huge balloons drifting far left and right on their strings in the wind. [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ac/1663_garden_Color_05_8d.png Also wadding bird], boats and shark fin
|-
| 6
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#5a45a1f8-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e000e Blue white -> white]
| Both kinds of Cueball, Ponytail, Beret Guy, both types of cats, office desk, table, standing bird, wading bird, heron, owl, shark fin, bunny boat, flowers base and stems, balloon string with normal and huge balloons. Also [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/36/1663_garden_Color_06_2_8d.png fish] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/75/1663_garden_Color_06_8d.png flying fish].
|-
| 7
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#ba6b4ac2-fcf2-11e5-8001-42010a8e0019 White]
| Balloon string with normal and huge balloons (here '''three in one garden'''), Megan hand up, cats, bunnies, shark fin, fish, Beret Guy, flowers base and stems and trees. [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c7/1663_garden_Color_07_8d.png Also] platform in tree, beehive base, Ponytail, water bird and flying fish and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/82/1663_garden_Color_07_2_8d.png Heron].
|-
| 8
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#8874be6a-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 White -> light yellow]
| Megan hands up, {{w|shrub}}s, flowers base stems, '''hilt''' and '''some blooms''', trees, bunnies, fish, shark fin, water bird, owl, bunnies. [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2a/1663_garden_Color_08_2_8d.png Also] birdbath and stilt girl.
|-
| 9
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#db338968-fcf2-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 Light yellow]
| '''Starting color'''. Megan hands down and with sword on platform, trees, shrub, flowers base and stems, grass, platform in tree, birdbath, ducks, wading bird, pots, with star plants, tall platform. [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c3/1663_garden_Color_09_8d.png Also] deer, stilt girl, fish and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1f/1663_garden_Color_09_2_8d.png shark fin].
|-
| 10
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#b28f8522-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e0013 Light yellow -> Yellow]
| Girl on stilts, Megan with swords on platform, trees, flowers base and stems, grass, reeds in pond, platform in trees, tall platforms, deer, snake, pots
|-
| 11
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#efccf292-fcf2-11e5-8010-42010a8e0003 Yellow]
| Sale signs, tall platform, snakes, armadillo, flowers base and stems, reeds in pond. Also [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/ce/1663_garden_Color_11_2_8d.png deer].
|-
| 12
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#de4fd3b0-fd95-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 Yellow -> Orange]
| Sale signs, snakes, turtles, tulips and wavy plants. Also [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bb/1663_garden_Color_12_2_8d.png tall platform] and armadillo.
|-
| 13
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#0d6bca62-fcf3-11e5-8019-42010a8e0005 Orange]
| Wavy plants, turtles, [[#Linsang_-_cat_like_animal|linsang]], flying birds and flying Megan (and thus also bird risers and their roots). Also [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/98/1663_garden_Color_13_8d.png armadillos].
|-
| 14
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#578b80bc-fd96-11e5-8001-42010a8e000a Orange -> orange red]
| Snakes, turtles, linsang, armadillo, tulips wavy plants, flying birds and flying Megan (and thus also bird risers and their roots).
|-
| 15
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#28b238b0-fcf3-11e5-8001-42010a8e0018 Orange red]
| Desert landscape with turtles, cactus sale, signs, lamp post poles without lamps, platform on cactus resulting in inverted pyramids. Also [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d4/1663_garden_Color_15_2_8d.png linsang].
|-
| 16
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#ad7ca596-fd96-11e5-8020-42010a8e0006 Orange red -> red]
| Desert landscape with Mars rover, turtles, cactus sale, signs, lamp post poles without lamps but no platforms. Also [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e3/1663_garden_Color_16_2_8d.png linsang].
|-
| 17
| [http://xkcd.com/1663/#46cc4e08-fcf3-11e5-8001-42010a8e0013 Red]
| '''Pure red'''! Desert landscape with turtles and cactus only.
|}

===Effect of light===
*How much the color affects the growth took some time to find out but already from the stat it was clear that there definitely was a correlation
*For instance areas under lights set to the the outer position or the starting position was very different.
**[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/23/1663_garden_Octopus_garden_with_Cueball_hand_up_and_a_black_hat_octopus.png Pure blue light] (left most) develop into a boring aquatic theme with only lots of octopuses (maybe with a black hat) and the Cueball holding a hand out to check for rain.
***The appearance of pure blue gardens have changed with time so octopuses now only appear over the pond [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1663_garden_One_color_Blue_9d.png like this].
**[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/70/1663_garden_One_color_red_9d.png Pure red light] (far right) develop into a boring desert theme with only cactus and turtles.
**[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/9c/1663_garden_One_color_Light_yellow_9d.png Light yellow] or [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2e/1663_garden_Color_09_3d.png starting light] grows lots of plants like trees, grass and scrubs and several animals like ducks, deer, fish and wadding bird and also birdbath, stilt girl and both standing Megan and sword Megan.
*Soon after the release of the comic some research into a single lamp with unchaining light, that covering the whole light range split into 17 divisions was undertaken.
*[[File:1663 garden Numbered color scale 1-17.png]]
**See these gardens [[1663:_Garden/Users_gardens#Locked_gardens_only_for_explanation_use|locked for explanation use only]] and also see more about the 17 split in the color range [[#Colors of light|above]].
*Mixed light seems to be able to do the same, but it is unclear if what grows only depends on the final mixed color, or if it is a mix of what would grow under those two colors.
**There are some indications that it is not a clear mix as pure blue together with pure red, does not seem to produce neither Octopuses or desert theme.
**If there are any items that can only grow under a mix of light this has not been proven. Most objects that can grow directly from the ground, has been observed in the experimental single color gardens mentioned above.
**But there may be items that needs to grow on top of other objects, and these may require a change of color from what the base needs. And thus they will not appear under one color light. Possible examples of these items could be:
***[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f3/Garden_Desk_lamp.png Desk lamp] (needing some kind of platform forming in another color range like the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ee/Garden_Tall_platform.png tall platform], yellow or the small [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/11/Garden_Platform_1.png platform], orange).
***[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/88/Garden_Giant_Planter.png Giant Planter] (needing for instance a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c4/Garden_PlatformColumn_3.png platform column], light blue light]
***[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e0/Garden_lamp-topper.png Lamp pole tops] (needing [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/81/Garden_Lamppost_1.png lamp poles] forming under orange light)
***[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/Garden_Flower_bloom_1.png Flower blooms] (any type) (needing [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d1/Garden_Flower_segment_1.png flower segments], several colors)
***[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7e/Garden_Actual_flying_fish_1.png Actual flying fish] (needing bird raiser, orange light)
***[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5d/Garden_Saucer.png Flying saucer] (needing bird raiser, orange light)
*What happens when using only one color (other than the two outer points red and blue and the starting light yellow color) has been explored in great depth in no less than two different [[1663:_Garden/Screen-shots#One_lamp_one_color|One lamp one color]] experiments with [[1663:_Garden/Users_gardens#Locked_gardens_only_for_explanation_use|51 gardens]] created using 17 different color settings.
**[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/27/1663_garden_One_color_Between_blue_and_light_blue_6d.png Blue light] (just right of pure blue) creates a landscape with stones forming cairns, together with monoliths, both kinds of Cueballs (with black hat on the standing one) and still octopuses.
**[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/75/1663_garden_One_color_Light_blue_9d.png Light blue light] (just a little farther from pure blue than above), the octopuses disappear, but the rest remains the same, although boats and wadding bird now appear in the water, and still both [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a6/1663_garden_Color_03_5d.png Cueballs] can occur. Going just slightly further away [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e4/1663_garden_Color_04_2_5d.png fish and columns] start to appear.
**[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d1/1663_garden_One_color_White_Blue_12h.png Blue white light] grow a sort of office theme, with desks, balloons and Cueballs. Moving towards white light [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d0/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Blue_White_and_White_5d.png Ponytail appears] with less office items together with cats (and now no Beret Guys in the pond but [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/df/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Blue_White_and_White_8d.png lots of animals]).
**[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f7/1663_garden_One_color_White_9d.png White light] gives a forest of balloons with Megan holding her hands up.
**[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3e/1663_garden_One_color_Yellow_2d.png Yellow light] (somewhat right of the starting color) produce sale signs and snakes.
**[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/4f/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_and_orange_red_8d.png Orange light] produce flying bird and flying Megans and on the ground snakes, turtles, linsangs and armadillos, plus tulips and wavy plants.
**[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/02/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_red_and_red_8d.png Orange red light] (just left of red) produce lamp posts (without the top), in addition to the same desert theme as red with cactus and turtles. If it is very close to red the Mars rover appears (as in the example above). If it is a little longer from red, the platforms can form, which can then act as a catalyst for growth and create [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/58/1663_garden_One_color_Orange_red_9d.png large towers] on top of cactus's.
*Nothing seems to be able to grow under several conditions:
**If no lamps are pointing towards the ground for instance because:
***All [http://xkcd.com/1663/#21374f9e-fbbd-11e5-8001-42010a8e0015 lamps are deleted].
***The [http://xkcd.com/1663/#4896b678-fbbe-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 beam is laser thin.]
***The lamps points towards the sky without [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#6a6a7be0-fbbe-11e5-800d-42010a8e0008 touching the ground.]
***The lamps are [http://xkcd.com/1663/#c75991f6-fbbe-11e5-8001-42010a8e0011 below the ground pointing down]. (In this case the one over the pond was not far enough down and a single water plant has formed anyway.)
****On the other hand if the lamps are below the ground but pointing up it can result in growth well enough as shown in this [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7c/1663_garden_Different_light_from_below_the_ground.png example] and this [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3a/1663_garden_Yellow_light_from_below_the_ground.png example].
**It was believed that if the lamps where very close to the ground pointing straight down there would be no growth.
***However this can be because only a very small area is illuminated
****In this [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#9733dff4-fbbe-11e5-8001-42010a8e0012 example] there are turtles under the red light in the pond, plants under the yellow and octopus, column and Cueball under the blue (from the time that columns could appear under pure blue light).
****Similar in this [http://xkcd.com/1663/#357a48d8-fbbf-11e5-8019-42010a8e0006 example] there are octopus (in the pond), deer/plants and a cactus from even lower lamps.
****Of course the lamp has to be so high as not to be underground as mentioned above.
**Also if lamps point towards the ground there can still only grow something from the ground [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3e/1663_garden_Two_light_on_small_area_nothing_outside_the_light.png where the light touches]. The growth can move outside the light cones up in the air, but the base has to be within an area with light.
**Similar with items that can grow new things on top of them like tree trunks or platforms, this will only happen if light shines on the relevant places.
***For instance the tall tree trunks can easily grow outside a light cone. Then leaves and branches will [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e9/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow_3d.png only grow below] the point where the light hits
****Similar with platform, that [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3e/1663_garden_One_color_Yellow_2d.png grows partially outside] the light cone. More items will only appear where this lamp still hits the platform.
***One exemption to the rule mentioned here seems to be the bird raisers. The bird raisers are used to hold anything that flies up in the air. And the bird raiser it self needs to grow from either another bird riser or from a bird riser root (which in the end holds all bird raisers). This root has to have light on the ground to grow and thus have light on it self. But from the top of the bird raisers growing from such a root, items are able to grow even if the tip pf the bird raiser is not in the light.
****Thus flying items can appear to grow where there has [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/4f/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_and_orange_red_8d.png never been light]!
****See much more about this under the description of bird raisers in the [[#Helper_structures|table below]].
**Of course lights can be moved and changed without destroying what has already grown there (or so it seems). So a tended garden cannot be used to determine this.
***This is why some [[1663:_Garden/Users_gardens#Locked_gardens_only_for_explanation_use|locked gardens]] have been set up where there will be no changes ever.
***Examples from above has mainly been taken from screen shots of these locked gardens.

===Grown items===
*Grown items may be highlighted by clicking on them. Selected grown items will be highlighted with a red circle, and appear slightly lighter then other items.
*Grown items may be "pruned" by the red X icon along the right of the window, or pressing the Delete key on the keyboard.
*Some items (such as the large tree) can be deleted in minor parts by selecting a branch or smaller set of leaves without deleting the entire tree.
*See the images (with links to xkcd) of all 250 items that can appear, here below in the [[#Items_in_the_garden|tables]].

===Growth development===
*'''After a few weeks''' growth no only seems to appear when the garden is actively running in a browser window (maybe only in the original users browser?)
*There continued to appear new items that was not available on the release day.
**This lasted about a week (maybe 8 days).
**For instance many new items and animals like the columns and the owls started to appear after a few days.
**Also tulips and lightning poles did not appear at first.
***A last burst of new animals occurred about a week after release (either 11th or 12th of April). This burst included the following animals:
***Herons, Wadding birds, Sharks fins, jumping fish and flying fish plus actual flying fish (flying without water), armadillos and no less than 12 different linsangs (see [[1663:_Garden#Linsang_-_cat_like_animal|Linsang - cat like animal]]).
*But it also seems to change what might appear, so that the result of a particular color will change dramatically, not only by adding new, but also by not growing what used to be.
**A clear example of this is that for the first half week pure blue light resulted in lots of octopuses all along the ground and also Cueballs cheeking for rain.
**Later also columns appeared.
***But after a week the growth rate under blue light almost stopped, and it seems that octopuses now only grow over the pond to the left, and much less Cueball and no columns under that color.
**See details here: [[1663:_Garden/Screen-shots#Growth_speed_vs_blue_light|Growth speed vs blue light]].

===Debug mode===
{{notice|Anyone who can explain what the debug mode is, how it works, why it is there and why there is difference between the linden and the normal xkcd?}}
*By changing the url address it is possible to get into a debug mode.
**This may not work from for instance explorer, but seems to work from Firefox and chrome.
*Normal mode: http://xkcd.com/1663/#ID
**[http://xkcd.com/1663/#98dc3452-fcf2-11e5-8010-42010a8e0008 Normal mode example].
*At one point the Debug mode worked from this address http://xkcd.com/1663/?debug#ID
**But as can bee seen from this [http://xkcd.com/1663/?debug#98dc3452-fcf2-11e5-8010-42010a8e0008 example] it does not work any more but just goes back to normal mode.
*Neither does http://linden.xkcd.com/?debug#ID work.
**[http://linden.xkcd.com/?debug#98dc3452-fcf2-11e5-8010-42010a8e0008 Linden debug mode].
**In this mode each item can clearly be seen as the image is framed, and thus invisible lifter images for flying things can be seen.
***See this [http://linden.xkcd.com/?debug#d12a0932-faaa-11e5-8012-42010a8e0006 example].
**This last mode can be used to find the names of the [[1663:_Garden/Images#Images|images of each item]] in a garden.
***See this section on [[1663:_Garden/Images#How_to_find_new_links|How to find new links]].
***By preventing the browser from loading specific images (''e.g.'' with an ad blocker), all instances can be pruned temporarily.
*On the forum, [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114415&start=600#p3959056 yan provides some jQuery] which can be entered in the javascript console to add an interactive sidebar listing the objects in the garden.

===Limitations===
*The beam produced by each lamp is normally restricted to spread between 0° (which results in no growth) and 95°. The "create new light" button chooses a random angle between 45° and 90°.
*Attempting to view several gardens simultaneously may cause some to hang on the "loading" image, likely due to the server refusing additional connections. The maximum number which can load successfully is usually six, but may be as low as three.

===Bugs===
*There have been several bugs mentioned already after the first day. Please include any spotted here:
**Also some problems that may now be fixed.
*May not run on some tablets or smart phones (i.e. touch-screen only devices).
*There are some browser versions of Chrome and Firefox where it doesn't run.
*The lamps may be invisible for a few seconds after loading.
*The whole page used to refresh at random intervals and lose the whole progress.
**It still does on April 5th.
**Sometimes (in some browsers?) the garden is reloaded when refreshing.
***This may though be because of the url which is a [[#Saving garden with url|link to a given garden]].
***See examples of this [[1663: Garden/Users gardens|here]].
***Seems to be dependent on the browser type.
*Some lamps jumped back to their starting position after a few minutes, without the whole page reloading.
*For a few hours after its apparition, the loading didn't seem to stop for some people, making them think that the rotating tree was the whole joke, with people expected to "relax" while looking at it.
*Occasionally invisible objects are added. They can be deleted, and they have bounding boxes in the [[#Debug mode|debugger]]: [http://linden.xkcd.com/?debug#d12a0932-faaa-11e5-8012-42010a8e0006 Example].
*Doesn't work over https, you have to use http instead.
*It is possible to save the image in Chrome and in Firefox, but not in Explorer.
**It is possible to save the visible portion of the image (in any browser) by pressing the Print-Screen key to perform a screen capture.
**But in Chrome the image is black where there is no light.
**In Firefox everything is visible, wth the light cones (in color) shown.
*Appears to have a memory leak at least in some Windows/Firefox versions, as keeping the page open for a long time will cause Windows to kill Firefox for insufficient memory.
**On the forum, Weeks tries to summon davean! [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114415&start=320#p3951923]
*Does not work in many Linux versions.
*Tree trunks will sometimes grow endlessly without leaves depending on the lights hitting them.
*If you are dragging a light, the arrow, or the color slider when a refresh happens, the refresh will enter an infinite loop.
**This seems to cause corruption of the garden because refreshing the whole page will result in a loop that never loads the page.
**Clearing your local data for xkcd.com solves the issue but also makes you unable to edit your garden.
*On April 6, gardens viewed from [http://xkcd.com/1663/#7877bdfc-fc03-11e5-8001-42010a8e000c http://xkcd.com/1663/] links began to include double-size objects, while they appeared <s>normally</s> with different objects enlarged when viewed from [http://linden.xkcd.com/#7877bdfc-fc03-11e5-8001-42010a8e000c http://linden.xkcd.com/].
**Apparently some of the server's art files were <s>misdirected to the larger versions</s> replaced with new large images. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160407054439/http://linden.xkcd.com/art/rover.png] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-rover.png]
**New giant objects are still placed according to their original sizes. [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114415&start=320#p3951908]
**This was suddenly fixed on April 7, possibly inducing browser memory issues at that time. [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114415&start=360#p3952207]
***However, some giant images remained cached (where?) for a long time. [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114415&start=400#p3952527]
*Although there are six bee images, they have not been reported in any gardens[[File:Garden_Bee_1.png]]

==Trivia==
*There are three different title text in this comic, as there are also one over each of the two icons.
**This is special as with some of the newest "game like comics" there are [[:Category:No title text|no title text]]!
**The normal one "Relax" is mentioned above in the main explanation.
**The other two are explanations for what the two icons in the top right corner does and appear when the cursor hovers over them.
***They are ''Create new light'' explaining that this icon introduces new lamps and
***''Remove selected (delete key)'', which explain that this icon can be used to remove (delete) selected items like lamps, plants or items. It also explains that the delete key can be used instead of the icon.

===Linsang - cat like animal===
*In the second week of release no less than 12 [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/38/Garden_Linsang_1.png images] of the animal called {{w|linsang}} appeared [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1663_garden_My_first_linsang_cat_like_creature_in_SC.png in the garden].
**See all of them [[1663:_Garden/Images#Images|here]].
*This animal was referenced in ''[[Thing Explainer]]'' in ''Tree of life'' where the animal is drawn in the ''cat-shaped'' section with the following caption:
::'''Almost cat'''
::This animal looks like a cat with a long neck. It's the closest thing to a cat that's not actually in the cat family.
::*Next to the section another one is drawn in front of Cueball (obvsiously it's Randall).
::*The linsang says "Mrowl?" and Cueball says "I wan't one!"
*Randall has in an interview discussed these [http://www.wsj.com/articles/randall-munroe-creator-of-xkcd-on-google-search-tricks-and-cat-like-creature-videos-1447945313 Cat-Like-Creatures] and in is quoted for saying
::Q: '''An animal I’m obsessed with is:'''
::A: The linsang, which looks almost like a cat but has this weird long neck. I find them both unnerving and adorable. I found some footage of one running; it’s like watching a cat video from a parallel universe.
::*The linsang is related to the animal {{w|Genet (animal)|genet}}, and here are two videos/photos of a genet running:
::**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRdJSVlPrGo Genet on a rhino]
::**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehq3ssg7zwk Genet on other things]

===Monday 4th of April release===
*Due to technical problems (or to make [[#April Fool's header text|fools of his fans?]]) the comic did not go live until Sunday evening (after midnight, so technically first on '''Monday April 4th''').
**There was thus no Friday release in the week before
**So the Wednesday comic [[1662: Jack and Jill]] got a lot more attention than it would usually have had.
*This comic thus turned in to the Monday release instead, as no other comic was released later that Monday, as this would have taken attention away from this very special comic.
**But it was called the ''April 1st comic'' and later the ''Friday comic'' in the [[#April Fool's header text|header text]] displayed at the top of xkcd to explain why there was no Friday comic.
***A header text continued to stay a the top but changed two more times until the release past midnight Sunday in the US. It was even past midnight {{w|Pacific Time}}, but not yet on Hawaii.
**There were thus only two comics released in the week before this Monday, which may be the first time since xkcd went live on {{xkcd||xkcd.com}} in 2006.

===April Fool's header text===
*There is some debate as to whether this comic is an April Fool's comic or not.
**Was instead the April fool's joke the text written above the comic in the header of xkcd?
**There is reason to believe this was [[#April Fool's comic|not the case]] based on among other thing these header text.
*Below it a list of the different header text displayed from Friday until the comic was just released.
**The header text continued to change regularly [[#Header text after release|after release]] in regard to this comic at least until next Friday (April 8th).
**Here below is the different header text with info on when it appeared.
***Links are given when possible to a [[1663:_Garden/Screen-shots#Screen-shots_of_header_text|screen shots]] on the word ''message'' and to a webarchive in another link when both are available.
*On Friday, April 1st, 2016, the xkcd website changed to a new [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/81/1663_garden_April_1st_comic_is_currently_experiencing_technical_difficulties.png message] where the standard message "XKCD updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday." usually is. (This [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/69/1663_garden_Commercial_header_text_before_April_1st_problems.png message] had, however, up to this point and for a long time been a [http://web.archive.org/web/20160401175527/https://www.xkcd.com/ commercial] for ''[[Thing Explainer]]''). But now it [http://web.archive.org/web/20160401204749/https://xkcd.com/ began displaying] this instead:
::The xkcd April 1st comic is currently experiencing technical difficulties.
::Please stand by!
*Early Saturday April 2nd the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e0/1663_garden_Calendar_systems_in_which_Saturday_is_April_1st.png message] was [http://web.archive.org/web/20160402050932/http://xkcd.com updated]:
::The xkcd April 1st comic is currently experiencing technical difficulties.
::Status update: Please stand by.
::Status update: This is fine. Everything is fine.
::Status update: Everything is on fire.
::Status update: Searching for calendar systems in which Saturday is April 1st.
*Later on Saturday the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1663_garden_Delayed_until_Sunday_night.png message] was again [http://web.archive.org/web/20160402175822/http://www.xkcd.com changed] to:
::The Friday xkcd comic is currently experiencing technical difficulties
::[Editor's note: Everything is on fire] and has been delayed until Sunday night.
*The comic did not come out until past midnight in the entire North America (coming out just before midnight in Hawaii).
*It was finally released very early on Monday April 4th, and the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/53/Garden_Loading_screen_shot.png message] then [http://web.archive.org/web/20160404123555/http://xkcd.com/ returned] to the old standard text for xkcd for a short while:
::XKCD updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

===Header text after release===
*During April 4th, after the release the message changed from the old standard to display a [[:Category:Protip|Protip]]:
::'''Protip:''' If you don't like how your garden is growing, you can click to prune it.
*And then later on April 4th, the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a2/1663_garden_Protip_and_url_hint.png message] was again [http://web.archive.org/web/20160404185353/http://www.xkcd.com/#5dbfbb82-fc20-11e5-8001-42010a8e000d changed] to:
::'''Protip:''' If you don't like how your garden is growing, you can click to prune it.
::You can copy the URL to share your garden. From other browsers, it will be view-only.
*When the next comic came out, the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/61/1663_garden_Note_if_seeing_todays_comic.png message] then [http://web.archive.org/web/20160408105110/http://xkcd.com/1663/#4b04323a-fddc-11e5-8001-42010a8e0016 changed], (also for the [http://web.archive.org/web/20160406194653/http://xkcd.com/1664/ new comic]) to
::'''Protip:''' If you don't like how your garden is growing, you can click to prune it.
::You can copy the URL to share your garden. From other browsers, it will be view-only.
 
::Note: If you're seeing today's comic in place of your garden, change the URL from xkcd.com/#<your code> to xkcd.com/1663/#<your code>.
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20160408145017/http://xkcd.com/ After] the Friday comic came out on April 8th, the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c5/1663_garden_Back_to_pro_tips_only_after_Friday_comic.png message] then [http://web.archive.org/web/20160408195958/http://xkcd.com/ changed] back to
::'''Protip:''' If you don't like how your garden is growing, you can click to prune it.
::You can copy the URL to share your garden. From other browsers, it will be view-only.
*The [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c6/1663_garden_Still_pro_tip_on_Friday_22nd_comic.png message stayed] like the one above at least until Friday April 22th before that Friday's comic [http://web.archive.org/web/20160422102754/http://xkcd.com/ was released]. But either at the time of release or at least on Saturday the day after the release the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ae/1663_garden_Back_to_normal_text_after_Friday_22nd_comic.png message returned] to [http://web.archive.org/web/20160423103108/http://xkcd.com/ the original].
::XKCD updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
:*The pro tip, however, remained as [http://web.archive.org/web/20160425022201/https://www.xkcd.com/1663/ the header text] when displaying the {{xkcd|1663|Garden comic}}.

===April Fool's comic===
*This comic '''was indeed supposed to be''' the Friday 1st of April, April Fool's comic!
**This statement is based on several things, which can can be deduced from the above header text and the subsequent issues with the many [[#Bugs|bugs in this comic]].
*It is clear that this comic did actually come out as promised, at least as promised in the third message about release on Sunday night.
**It is also clear that it is regarded as the Friday comic, even in the last update before the release, which was two days after April 1st.
*It is also clear that this was a very complex comic, and it is realistic that Randall did have problems with making it work.
**On day two there still seemed to be several minor bugs, which seemed to improve over time so Randall was still working on it after release.
***But then new bugs appeared when the next comic was released.
*Both of the last two April Fool's comics, [[1350: Lorenz]] and [[1506: xkcloud]], have had no real meaning or joke in the comic. The jokes appeared from user input, and here it comes from waiting.
**This makes people who spend too much time on these comics ''April Fool's'' (or if they rather wish to be called a ''nerds'' than fools, then they can claim to have been a victim of [[356: Nerd Sniping|nerd sniping]]).
**So, even if Randall ''did'' play a joke on people who [[Talk:1662: Jack and Jill#What happened to Friday's comic|eagerly awaited the comic]], then he did deliver as promised a spectacular comic Sunday night.
*There are several reasons to believe that Randall would have preferred the comic to get out on Friday April 1st.
**Apart from it being a time consuming comic that in it self is April Fool's comic material, then by getting it out Friday this special comic, which he obviously have used a lot of time to prepare, would have had one more day as the first comic.
**Getting it out before a weekend would have let many more users spend time looking at their garden. Now many would not spend enough time to appreciate the comic, as it came out right when the new work week began.
***And it is a very complicated comic that just to get to understand how to really use it could take a days time even for someone with time.
***And this is not talking about how the comic works, but just how to use the program, i.e. the whole [[#Functionality|functionality]] of the comic is way more complex than even a game like [[1608: Hoverboard]].
**And before next weekend two more comics were released taking some of the focus away from this one too soon, and also before the next weekend.
***Of course die hard fans will not forget this one, but many xkcd fans may only come by in the weekend etc. and such a hard to come by comic like this, that demands patience and that you return does not profit from being bumped down to number three as it would be next Friday.
*Randall lives of his fans goodwill and to deliberately make a pun on them like this would probably not seem like a good business proposal, apart from the fact that the comic now gets less attention than by coming out before the weekend.

==Items in the garden==
*Below in the section are several tables displaying all the known images of items that may grow (appear) in the garden.
**They have been sorted based on type like characters, animals (by type), plants (by type), platforms, others and helper structures.
**In time each item will have a link to a screen shot where they appear.
**Also explanations for each item can be written in these tables
*For colors reference refer (also) to the numbers in this image: 
*[[File:1663 garden Numbered color scale 1-17.png]]
**The color under which a given item may grow should be noted.
***Particularly if they can grow under just one color if light (maybe a range, but with only one lamp lit as one specific color).
***But almost more important if some items needs more than one color
****Especially if the items base, the base on which they have to grow, needs another color than they do, as seems to be the case with flower blooms and the lamp to go at the top of the lamp poles.
*All the images can be seen without the table here: [[1663: Garden/Images|Images of items]].
===Characters===
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
! To see/hide images click here:
! Description of images
! Relevant colors
! Link to screen-shots
|-
! [[Cueball]] [[File:Garden Man 1a.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-man-1a.png Man 1a] 
[[File:Garden Man 2a.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-man-2a.png Man 2a]
|
*Here are the two different images of Cueball.
*The first Cueball just stands with his hands down.
**In this position he always looks left.
**Some items can grow on his head, most obviously [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/27/1663_garden_One_color_Between_blue_and_light_blue_6d.png the hat], turning him into [[Black Hat]]. But also animals like the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/92/1663_garden_Blitz_Girls_UFO_and_birds_garden.png water bird], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/32/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Blue_White_and_White_6d.png standing bird or cats] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d4/1663_garden_Crazy_cat_peoples_garden.png owls] can perch on his head.
**He never seems to appears in pure blue light, and also only appears when the light is turned left of white.
*The second Cueball has one hand out.
**In this position he always looks right.
**He is the only character that appears under pure blue light (color 1).
**It seems like he cannot wear the hat or anything else on his head.
**In stead he can hold object on his hand, like a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1e/1663_garden_S_shaped_empty_balloon_string_left.png balloon string] (later [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0e/1663_garden_Office_space_with_two_herons_in_lake_and_huge_balloon_on_long_string.png with balloon] or the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c2/1663_garden_Blitz_Girls_strong_Megan_garden.png huge balloon]), the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e5/1663_garden_Blitz_Girls_Armadillo_tower.png small platform] or some of the smaller animals like [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/32/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Blue_White_and_White_6d.png the bird], the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/09/1663_garden_Cueball_holds_a_Turtle_in_front_of_Megan_looking_like_a_cap_on_her.png turtle], or [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d4/1663_garden_Crazy_cat_peoples_garden.png cat and owls].
|
*Standing Cueball with color [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/92/1663_garden_One_color_Between_blue_and_light_blue_2d.png 2 blue], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c9/1663_garden_One_color_Light_blue_12h.png 3 light blue], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e4/1663_garden_Color_04_2_5d.png 4 light blue] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b2/1663_garden_One_color_Blue_white_2d.png 5 Blue white]
*Hand out Cueball with color [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bf/1663_garden_One_color_Blue_6d.png 1 blue], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/92/1663_garden_One_color_Between_blue_and_light_blue_2d.png 2 blue], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a6/1663_garden_Color_03_5d.png 3 light blue], [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5e/1663_garden_One_color_Between_light_blue_and_Blue_White_6d.png 4 light blue] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d1/1663_garden_One_color_White_Blue_12h.png 5 Blue white]
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c9/1663_garden_One_color_Light_blue_12h.png Standing]
[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e5/1663_garden_One_color_Blue_18h.png Hand out] 
|-
! [[Megan]] [[File:Garden Woman 1a.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-woman-1a.png Woman 1a] [[File:Garden Handfig 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-handfig-1.png Handfig 1] 
[[File:Garden Handfig 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-handfig-2.png Handfig 2] [[File:Garden Sword fig.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-sword-fig.png Sword fig] [[File:Garden Flying fig.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flying-fig.png Flying fig]
|
*Here are the images of Megan.
**Megan with sword seems to only occur on top of a platform or a piece of furniture.
***She seem to not be willing to pull out the sword when just standing on the ground.
***This means that she can only occur under a one color setting if that setting can also produce a platform. This is the case though see the color column.
|
*Standing (Yellow 9 standard)
*Hands up (L and R) (White 7)
*Sword ([http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/9c/1663_garden_One_color_Light_yellow_9d.png Yellow 9 standard] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6d/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow_2d.png Yellow 10])
*Flying (Orange 15)
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cb/1663_garden_One_color_Light_yellow_12h.png Standing ] 
[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/99/1663_garden_One_color_White_12h.png Hands up] 
[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6b/1663_garden_Megan_with_sword%2C_trees_octopuses_with_Cueball_bunny_ducklings.png Sword-tree platform] [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cb/1663_garden_Megan_with_sword_and_owl_on_gate.png Sword-gate] [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1663_garden_My_first_linsang_cat_like_creature_in_SC.png Sword-desk] 
[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/87/1663_garden_One_color_Orange_d7.png Flying]
|-
! [[Beret Guy]] [[File:Garden Beret shrub.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-beret-shrub.png Beret shrub]
|
*Here is the image of Beret Guy.
| White 7 or mix of yellow and blue
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/99/1663_garden_One_color_White_12h.png In lake] 
[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/24/1663_garden_Shark_finn_and_Beret_Guy_in_same_bird_bath_fish_boat_heron_and_more.png In birdbath] 
[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/9b/1663_garden_Three_colors_more_separate_Beret_Guy_in_shrubbery_and_Octopus_on_office_desk.png In shrub]
|-
! [[Ponytail]] [[File:Garden Fig 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-fig-1.png Fig 1]
|
*Here are the images of Ponytail.
| Color?
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/eb/1663_garden_Ponytail_and_two_Cueballs_cat_pillar_and_trunk_sE.png Example]
|-
! Stilt girl [[File:Garden Stilt walker.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-stiltwalker.png Stilt walker]
|
*Here is the image of the girl on stilts.
| Light yellow 10
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1b/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow_First_thing_stilts_right.png Example]
|}

===Animals===
====Mammals====
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
! To see/hide images click here:
! Description of images
! Relevant colors
! Link to screen-shots
|-
! Armadillo [[File:Garden Armadillo L.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-armadillo-l.png Armadillo L] 
[[File:Garden Armadillo R.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-armadillo-r.png Armadillo R]
|
*Here are the images of Armadillo.
| Color: Combination of 17 and 9
| [ Example]
|-
! Cats [[File:Garden Cat Balanced.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cat-balanced.png Cat Balanced] 
[[File:Garden Cat Ground.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cat-ground.png Cat Ground]
|
*Here are the images of cats.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Deer [[File:Garden Deer 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-deer-1.png Deer 1] 
[[File:Garden Deer 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-deer-2.png Deer 2]
|
*Here are the images of Deer.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Bunny [[File:Garden Important bun.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-important-bun.png Important bun]
|
*Here is the image of the Bunny.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Linsang [[File:Garden Linsang 1.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-linsang-1.png Linsang 1] 
[[File:Garden Linsang 2.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-linsang-2.png Linsang 2] 
[[File:Garden Linsang 3.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-linsang-3.png Linsang 3] 
[[File:Garden Linsang 4.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-linsang-4.png Linsang 4] 
[[File:Garden Linsang 5.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-linsang-5.png Linsang 5] 
[[File:Garden Linsang 6.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-linsang-6.png Linsang 6] 
[[File:Garden Linsang 7.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-linsang-7.png Linsang 7] 
[[File:Garden Linsang 8.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-linsang-8.png Linsang 8] 
[[File:Garden Linsang 9.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-linsang-9.png Linsang 9] 
[[File:Garden Linsang 10.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-linsang-10.png Linsang 10] 
[[File:Garden Linsang 11.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-linsang-11.png Linsang 11] 
[[File:Garden Linsang 12.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-linsang-12.png Linsang 12]
|
*Here are the images of linsangs.
**See more about [[#Linsang - cat like animal|Linsang - cat like animal]] in the trivia section.
| Color?
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/68/1663_Garden_Ophiocordyceps_linsang.png Linsang infected by fungus]
|}

====Birds====
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
! To see/hide images click here:
! Description of images
! Relevant colors
! Link to screen-shots
|-
! Flying birds [[File:Garden Bird 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bird-1.png Bird 1] 
[[File:Garden Bird 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bird-2.png Bird 2] 
[[File:Garden Bird 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bird-3.png Bird 3] 
[[File:Garden Bird 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bird-4.png Bird 4] 
[[File:Garden Bird 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bird-5.png Bird 5]
|
*Here are the images of flying birds.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Standing bird [[File:Garden Bird standing.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bird-standing.png Bird standing]
|
*Here are the images of Standing bird.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Duck [[File:Garden Duck 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-duck-1.png Duck 1]
|
*Here is the image of the duck.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Heron [[File:Garden Heron L.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-heron-l.png Heron L] 
[[File:Garden Heron R.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-heron-r.png Heron R]
|
*Here are the images of Herons.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Owl [[File:Garden Owl.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-owl.png Owl]
|
*Here is the image of the Owl.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Wading bird [[File:Garden Wading bird L.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-wading-bird-l.png Wading bird L] 
[[File:Garden Wading bird R.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-wading-bird-r.png Wading bird R]
|
*Here are the images of wading birds.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Water bird [[File:Garden Water bird 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-waterbird-1.png Water bird 1] 
[[File:Garden Water bird 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-waterbird-2.png Water bird 2]
|
*Here are the images of water bird.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|}

====From the sea====
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
! To see/hide images click here:
! Description of images
! Relevant colors
! Link to screen-shots
|-
! Fish [[File:Garden Fish 1.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-fish-1.png Fish 1] 
[[File:Garden Fish 2.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-fish-2.png Fish 2]
|
*Here are the images of Fish.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Flying fish [[File:Flying fish 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flying-fish-1.png Flying fish 1] 
[[File:Flying fish 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flying-fish-2.png Flying fish 2] 
[[File:Garden Actual flying fish 1.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-actual-flying-fish-1.png Actual flying fish 1] 
[[File:Garden Actual flying fish 2.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-actual-flying-fish-2.png Actual flying fish 2]
|
*Here are the images of Flying fish.
| Color?
| [http://forums.xkcd.com/download/file.php?id=51476&mode=view Flying fish in Megan's hair] [http://forums.xkcd.com/download/file.php?id=51543&mode=view Flying fish and UGO]
|-
! Octopus [[File:Garden Octopus.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-octopus.png Octopus] 
[[File:Garden Octopus hat capable.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-octopus-hat-capable.png Octopus hat capable]
|
*Here are the images of Octopuses.
| Color: Blue (Only On the Pond)
| [ Example]
|-
! Sharks [[File:Garden Shark fin L.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-shark-fin-l.png Shark fin L] 
[[File:Garden Shark fin R.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-shark-fin-r.png Shark fin R]
|
*Here is the image of the shark fins.
| Color?
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6e/1663_Garden_Megan_there%27s_a_shark_in_the_water.png Shark in birdbath]
|-
! Tentacle [[File:Garden Tentacle 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-tentacle-1.png Tentacle 1] 
[[File:Garden Tentacle 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-tentacle-2.png Tentacle 2] 
[[File:Garden Tentacle 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-tentacle-3.png Tentacle 3] 
[[File:Garden Tentacle 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-tentacle-4.png Tentacle 4] 
[[File:Garden Tentacle 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-tentacle-5.png Tentacle 5] 
[[File:Garden Tentacle 6.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-tentacle-6.png Tentacle 6]
|
*Here are the images of tentacles.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|}

====Reptiles====
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
! To see/hide images click here:
! Description of images
! Relevant colors
! Link to screen-shots
|-
! Snake [[File:Garden Snake 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-snake-1.png Snake 1] 
[[File:Garden Snake 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-snake-2.png Snake 2]
|
*Here are the images of snakes.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Turtle [[File:Garden Turtle 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-turtle-1.png Turtle 1] 
[[File:Garden Turtle 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-turtle-2.png Turtle 2]
|
*Here are the images of turtles.
| Color reddish?
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6c/1663_Garden_octopus_turtle_capable.png Octopus turtle capable]
|}

====Insects====
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
! To see/hide images click here:
! Description of images
! Relevant colors
! Link to screen-shots
|-
! Bees [[File:Garden Bee 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bee-1.png Bee 1] 
[[File:Garden Bee 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bee-2.png Bee 2] 
[[File:Garden Bee 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bee-3.png Bee 3] 
[[File:Garden Bee 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bee-4.png Bee 4] 
[[File:Garden Bee 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bee-5.png Bee 5] 
[[File:Garden Bee 6.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bee-6.png Bee 6]
|
*Here are the images of bees.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Beehive 
[[File:Garden Beehive-base.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-beehive-base.png Beehive-base] 
[[File:Garden Beehive entrance a.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-beehive-entrance-a.png Beehive entrance a] 
[[File:Beehive section.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-beehive-section.png Beehive section]
|
*Here are the images that construct the beehive.
| Color?
| [http://forums.xkcd.com/download/file.php?id=51487&mode=view BlitzGirl's beehive]
|}

===Plants===
====Trees====
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
! To see/hide images click here:
! Description of images
! Relevant colors
! Link to screen-shots
|-
! Tall trunks [[File:Garden Tall trunk 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-talltrunk-1.png Tall trunk 1] 
[[File:Garden Tall trunk 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-talltrunk-2.png Tall trunk 2] 
[[File:Garden Tall trunk 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-talltrunk-3.png Tall trunk 3] 
[[File:Garden Tall trunk 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-talltrunk-4.png Tall trunk 4]
|
*Here are the images of tall trunks.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Trunks [[File:Garden Trunk 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-trunk-1.png Trunk 1] 
[[File:Garden Trunk 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-trunk-2.png Trunk 2] 
[[File:Garden Trunk 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-trunk-3.png Trunk 3] 
[[File:Garden Trunk 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-trunk-4.png Trunk 4] 
[[File:Garden Trunk 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-trunk-5.png Trunk 5] 
[[File:Garden Trunk 6.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-trunk-6.png Trunk 6] 
[[File:Garden Trunk 7.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-trunk-7.png Trunk 7] 
[[File:Garden Trunk 8.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-trunk-8.png Trunk 8]
|
*Here are the images of smaller trunks.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Branches [[File:Garden Branch 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-1.png Branch 1] 
[[File:Garden Branch 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-2.png Branch 2] 
[[File:Garden Branch 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-3.png Branch 3] 
[[File:Garden Branch 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-4.png Branch 4] 
[[File:Garden Branch 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-5.png Branch 5] 
[[File:Garden Branch 6.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-6.png Branch 6] 
[[File:Garden Branch 7.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-7.png Branch 7] 
[[File:Garden Branch 8.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-8.png Branch 8] 
[[File:Garden Branch 9.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-9.png Branch 9] 
[[File:Garden Branch 10.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-10.png Branch 10] 
[[File:Garden Branch 11.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-11.png Branch 11] 
[[File:Garden Branch 12.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-12.png Branch 12] 
[[File:Garden Branch 13.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-13.png Branch 13] 
[[File:Garden Branch 14.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-14.png Branch 14] 
[[File:Garden Branch 15.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-15.png Branch 15] 
[[File:Garden Branch 16.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-16.png Branch 16] 
[[File:Garden Branch 17.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-17.png Branch 17] 
[[File:Garden Branch 18.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-18.png Branch 18] 
[[File:Garden Branch 19.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-19.png Branch 19] 
[[File:Garden Branch 20.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-20.png Branch 20] 
[[File:Garden Branch 21.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-21.png Branch 21] 
[[File:Garden Branch 22.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-22.png Branch 22] 
[[File:Garden Branch 23.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-23.png Branch 23] 
[[File:Garden Branch 24.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-branch-24.png Branch 24]
|
*Here are the images of branches.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Leaves [[File:Garden Leaves 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-1.png Leaves 1] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-2.png Leaves 2] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-3.png Leaves 3] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-4.png Leaves 4] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-5.png Leaves 5] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 6.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-6.png Leaves 6] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 7.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-7.png Leaves 7] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 8.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-8.png Leaves 8] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 9.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-9.png Leaves 9] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 10.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-10.png Leaves 10] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 11.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-11.png Leaves 11] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 12.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-12.png Leaves 12] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 13.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-13.png Leaves 13] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 14.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-14.png Leaves 14] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 15.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-15.png Leaves 15] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 16.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-16.png Leaves 16] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 17.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-17.png Leaves 17] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 18.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-18.png Leaves 18] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 19.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-19.png Leaves 19] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 20.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-20.png Leaves 20] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 21.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-21.png Leaves 21] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 22.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-22.png Leaves 22] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 23.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-23.png Leaves 23] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 24.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-24.png Leaves 24] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 25.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-25.png Leaves 25] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 26.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-26.png Leaves 26] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 27.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-27.png Leaves 27] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 28.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-28.png Leaves 28] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 29.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-29.png Leaves 29] 
[[File:Garden Leaves 30.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-leaves-30.png Leaves 30]
|
*Here are the images of leaves.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|}

====Flowers====
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
! To see/hide images click here:
! Description of images
! Relevant colors
! Link to screen-shots
|-
! Blooms [[File:Garden Flower bloom 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-bloom1.png Flower bloom 1] 
[[File:Garden Flower bloom 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-bloom2.png Flower bloom 2] 
[[File:Garden Flower bloom 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-bloom3.png Flower bloom 3] 
[[File:Garden Flower bloom 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-bloom4.png Flower bloom 4] 
[[File:Garden Flower bloom 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-bloom5.png Flower bloom 5] 
[[File:Garden Flower bloom 6.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-bloom6.png Flower bloom 6] 
[[File:Garden Flower bloom 7.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-bloom7.png Flower bloom 7]
|
*Here are the images of blooms.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Hilt [[File:Garden Flower hilt 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-hilt1.png Flower hilt 1] 
[[File:Garden Flower hilt 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-hilt2.png Flower hilt 2]
|
*Here are the images of hilt.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Stem segments [[File:Garden Flower base.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-base.png Flower base] 
[[File:Garden Flower segment 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-segment1.png Flower segment 1] 
[[File:Garden Flower segment 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-segment2.png Flower segment 2] 
[[File:Garden Flower segment 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-segment3.png Flower segment 3] 
[[File:Garden Flower segment 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-segment4.png Flower segment 4] 
[[File:Flower segment 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-segment5.png Flower segment 5] 
[[File:Flower segment 6.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-segment6.png Flower segment 6] 
[[File:Flower segment 7.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-segment7.png Flower segment 7] 
[[File:Flower segment 8.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-segment8.png Flower segment 8] 
[[File:Flower segment 9.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-segment9.png Flower segment 9] 
[[File:Flower segment 10.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-segment10.png Flower segment 10] 
[[File:Flower segment 11.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-segment11.png Flower segment 11] 
[[File:Flower segment 12.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-flower-segment12.png Flower segment 12]
|
*Here is the image of the base and segments of the flower stems.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Star plant [[File:Garden Star Plant.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-starplant.png Star Plant]
|
*Here are the images the star plant.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Tulips [[File:Garden Tulip 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-tulip-1.png Tulip 1] 
[[File:Garden Tulip 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-tulip-2.png Tulip 2]
|
*Here are the images of Tulips.
| Color?
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/03/1663_Garden_tulip_Megan.png Tulip Megan]
|}

====Other plants====
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
! To see/hide images click here:
! Description of images
! Relevant colors
! Link to screen-shots
|-
! Cactus [[File:Garden Cactus 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cactus-1.png Cactus 1] 
[[File:Garden Cactus 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cactus-2.png Cactus 2]
|
*Here are the images of cactus.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Grass [[File:Garden Grass 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-grass-1.png Grass 1] 
[[File:Garden Grass 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-grass-2.png Grass 2] 
[[File:Garden Grass 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-grass-3.png Grass 3] 
[[File:Garden Grass 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-grass-4.png Grass 4] 
[[File:Garden Grass 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-grass-5.png Grass 5] 
[[File:Garden Grass 6.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-grass-6.png Grass 6] 
[[File:Garden Grass 7.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-grass-7.png Grass 7] 
[[File:Garden Grass 8.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-grass-8.png Grass 8] 
[[File:Garden Grass 9.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-grass-9.png Grass 9]
|
*Here are the images of grass.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Reeds [[File:Garden Reeds 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-reeds-1.png Reeds 1] 
[[File:Garden Reeds 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-reeds-2.png Reeds 2] 
[[File:Garden Reeds 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-reeds-3.png Reeds 3] 
[[File:Garden Reeds 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-reeds-4.png Reeds 4] 
[[File:Garden Reeds 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-reeds-5.png Reeds 5] 
[[File:Garden Reeds 6.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-reeds-6.png Reeds 6] 
[[File:Garden Reeds 8.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-reeds-8.png Reeds 8] 
[[File:Garden Reeds 9.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-reeds-9.png Reeds 9] 
[[File:Garden Reeds 10.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-reeds-10.png Reeds 10] 
[[File:Garden Reeds 11.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-reeds-11.png Reeds 11] 
[[File:Garden Reeds 12.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-reeds-12.png Reeds 12] 
[[File:Garden Reeds 13.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-reeds-13.png Reeds 13]
|
*Here are the images of reeds.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Shrub [[File:Garden Shrub 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-shrub-1.png Shrub 1] 
[[File:Garden Shrub 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-shrub-2.png Shrub 2] 
[[File:Garden Shrub 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-shrub-3.png Shrub 3] 
[[File:Garden Shrub 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-shrub-4.png Shrub 4] 
[[File:Garden Shrub 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-shrub-5.png Shrub 5] 
[[File:Garden Shrub 6.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-shrub-6.png Shrub 6] 
[[File:Garden Shrub 7.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-shrub-7.png Shrub 7] 
[[File:Garden Shrub 8.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-shrub-8.png Shrub 8] 
[[File:Garden Shrub 9.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-shrub-9.png Shrub 9] 
[[File:Garden Shrub 10.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-shrub-10.png Shrub 10] 
[[File:Garden Shrub 11.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-shrub-11.png Shrub 11]
|
*Here are the images of shrubs.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Wavy plant [[File:Garden Wavy plant 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-wavyplant-1.png Wavy plant 1] 
[[File:Garden Wavy plant 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-wavyplant-2.png Wavy plant 2] 
[[File:Garden Wavy plant 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-wavyplant-3.png Wavy plant 3] 
[[File:Garden Wavy plant 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-wavyplant-4.png Wavy plant 4]
|
*Here are the images of wavy plants.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|}

===Platforms===
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
! To see/hide images click here:
! Description of images
! Relevant colors
! Link to screen-shots
|-
! Tree platform [[File:Garden Left platform.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-left-platform.png Left platform] [[File:Garden Right platform.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-right-platform.png Right platform]
|
*Here are the images of platforms in trees.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Platform [[File:Garden Platform 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-platform-1.png Platform 1]
|
*Here is the image of the basic platform.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Platform Column [[File:Garden PlatformColumn 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-platform-column-1.png PlatformColumn 1] 
[[File:Garden PlatformColumn 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-platform-column-2.png PlatformColumn 2] 
[[File:Garden PlatformColumn 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-platform-column-3.png PlatformColumn 3]
|
*Here are the images of platform columns.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Stone Platform [[File:Garden Stone Platform 1 Wide.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-stone-platform-1wide.png Stone Platform 1 Wide] 
[[File:Garden Stone Platform 3 Wide.png]]  [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-stone-platform-3wide.png Stone Platform 3 Wide] 
[[File:Garden Stone Platform 5 Wide.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-stone-platform-5wide.png Stone Platform 5 Wide]
|
*Here are the images of stone platforms.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Tall platform [[File:Garden Tall platform.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-tall-platform.png Tall platform]
|
*Here is the image of the tall platform.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|}

===Other items===
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
! To see/hide images click here:
! Description of images
! Relevant colors
! Link to screen-shots
|-
! Balloon [[File:Garden Balloon.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-balloon.png Balloon] 
[[File:Garden Balloon Huge.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-balloon-huge.png Balloon Huge] 
[[File:Garden Balloon Segment.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-balloon-segment.png Balloon Segment] 
[[File:Balloon segment short.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-balloon-segment-short.png Balloon segment short]
|
*Here are the images of balloons and their strings.
| Color?
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/34/1663_garden_S_shaped_empty_balloon_string_right.png S-shaped balloon string]
|-
! Birdbath [[File:Garden Birdbath.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-birdbath.png Birdbath]
|
*Here is the image of the birdbath.
| Color?
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a1/1663_garden_Purple_garden_with_Heron.png Birdbath legged deer]
|-
! Boat [[File:Garden Boat 1 L.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-boat-1-l.png Boat 1 L] 
[[File:Garden Boat 1 R.png]] [http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-boat-1-r.png Boat 1 R]
|
*Here are the images of boats.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Cairn stones [[File:Garden Cairn Base 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-base-1.png Cairn Base 1] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Base 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-base-2.png Cairn Base 2] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Base 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-base-3.png Cairn Base 3] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Base 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-base-4.png Cairn Base 4] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Base 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-base-5.png Cairn Base 5] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Mid 1.png]]  [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-mid-1.png Cairn Mid 1] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Mid 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-mid-2.png Cairn Mid 2] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Mid 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-mid-3.png Cairn Mid 3] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Mid 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-mid-4.png Cairn Mid 4] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Mid 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-mid-5.png Cairn Mid 5] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Top 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-top-1.png Cairn Top 1] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Top 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-top-2.png Cairn Top 2] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Top 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-top-3.png Cairn Top 3] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Top 4.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-top-4.png Cairn Top 4] 
[[File:Garden Cairn Top 5.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-cairn-top-5.png Cairn Top 5]
|
*Here is the image of the stones used to form cairns.
| Color?
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/23/1663_Garden_An_Engineer_cairns.png Gigantic rock pile]
|-
! Furniture [[File:Garden Desk 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-desk-1.png Desk 1] 
[[File:Garden Desk lamp.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-desk-lamp.png Desk lamp] 
[[File:Garden Table 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-table-1.png Table 1]
|
*Here are the images of furniture for the office and other places.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Giant Planter [[File:Garden Giant Planter.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-giant-planter.png Giant Planter]
|
*Here is the image of the giant Planter.
| Color?
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1a/1663_garden_Underground_light_gives_large_tub_on_top_of_pillar_then_filled_with_trees.png Giant planter with trees]
|-
! Hat [[File:Garden Hat 1a.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-hat-1a.png Hat 1a]
|
*Here is the image of the black hat.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Lamppost [[File:Garden Lamp crossbar left.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-lamp-crossbar-left.png Lamp crossbar left] 
[[File:Garden Lamp crossbar right.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-lamp-crossbar-right.png Lamp crossbar right] 
[[File:Garden Lamppost 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-lamppost-1.png Lamppost 1] 
[[File:Garden lamp-topper.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-lamp-topper.png lamp-topper]
|
*Here are the images that may form the complete lamppost.
*The lamp post looks exactly like the one in [[665: Prudence]], and that is the one from {{w|Narnia}} which actually grew up in the forest when Narnia was created in the chronologically first book {{w|The Magician's Nephew}} when Aslan created Narnia.

| Color?
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7a/1663_garden_Blitz_Girls_lamp_posts_and_flowers_garden.png Example with lamp] [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/81/1663_garden_Lamp_post_poles_and_mars_rover.png Example with crossbar]
|-
! Obelisk [[File:Garden Obelisk.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-obelisk.png Obelisk]
|
*Here is the image of the obelisk.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Pot [[File:Garden Pot 1.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-pot-1.png Pot 1] 
[[File:Garden Pot 2.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-pot-2.png Pot 2] 
[[File:Garden Pot 3.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-pot-3.png Pot 3]
|
*Here are the images of pots.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Rover [[File:Garden Rover.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-rover.png Rover]
|
*Here is the image of the Mars rover.
| Color 16
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3f/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_red_and_red_First_thing_Mars_rover.png Mars rover]
|-
! Sale sign [[File:Garden Sale sign.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-sale-sign.png Sale sign]
|
*Here is the image of the sale sign.
| Color?
| [ Example]
|-
! Saucer [[File:Garden Saucer.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-saucer.png Saucer]
|
*Here is the image of the flying saucer.
| Color?
| [http://forums.xkcd.com/download/file.php?id=51432&mode=view BlitzGirl's UFO garden]
|}

===Helper structures===
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
! To see/hide images click here:
! Description of images
! Relevant colors
! Link to screen-shots
|-
! Bird riser [[File:Garden Bird riser.png]], [[File:Garden Bird riser with background.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-bird-riser.png Bird riser], and with background 
[[File:Garden Bird riser root.png]] [[File:Garden Bird riser root with frame.png]][http://linden.xkcd.com/art/2x-bird-riser-root.png Bird riser root], and with frame 
|
*Here are the images of the bird riser and it's root.
**They only seem to appear in the orange color range.
**The riser is invisible (white) and would have to have a background to be seen (both versions are shown to the left). This will never be the case in the garden as the raiser does not show up in front of other black items.
***However, the risers can be seen using the [[#Debug_mode|debug mode]], and this is used as the example to the right.
***Also using the debug mode on this [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#1e853af8-055f-11e6-8001-42010a8e000f garden] the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e0/1663_garden_Color_13_2_5d_debug_with_count.png number of items can be counted] as shown in the link.
****From this link it is clear that there are three bird risers attached to two of the seven bird riser roots.
****Here only single bird risers are displayed, but they can be connected see below.
**The root can often be seen on the ground, but it can be hidden behind other objects.
***Also the root has the first short part of a bird riser above the root, which is invisible (by any means). The bird riser takes hold at the top of this invisible part. That it is there can best be seen by putting a frame around the image of the root, to see that it is twice as high as the root itself. Such an image is also shown to the left. (But the end can also be seen in the debug mode images).
*The riser are used to make items fly in the air.
**I.e. the five types of flying birds, the saucer, flying Megan and the two "actual flying fish", can attach them selves to the end of a bird riser.
**Whereas the risers need to have a root to begin, then more risers can attach to the end already existing risers, thus getting much higher up in the air than one riser (all the way up!).
**Risers can have any angles to each others, even going further down, which can explain birds and other flying objects touching the ground (even making an object be situated partially beneath the ground, like [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cf/1663_garden_One_color_Orange_6d.png this flying Megan] from this [http://xkcd.com/1663/#0d6bca62-fcf3-11e5-8019-42010a8e0005 garden] or maybe even outside the frame, see last example below).
**As opposed to anything else the light that creates a bird (or other flying item) does not need to touch the actually bird, but rather the place from where the bird riser is rooted.
***This indicates that the birds etc. can grow from light touching the base of the risers rather than the tip.
****Since many bird risers can grow in layers above the first riser it is clear that the bird riser does not appear with a bird on them in one go!
***There are many examples with [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/48/1663_garden_One_color_Orange_9d.png birds] or [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/4f/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_and_orange_red_8d.png flying Megan] "growing" outside the light, where no light ever was, as seen from some of the [[1663:_Garden/Users_gardens#Locked_gardens_only_for_explanation_use|locked experimental gardens]].
*When selecting a bird riser root all bird risers and all flying things connected to these will also be selected (and deleted if the root is deleted).
**Here are two examples from the same [http://xkcd.com/1663/#578b80bc-fd96-11e5-8001-42010a8e000a garden] where two different roots have been selected:
***In this [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b9/1663_garden_14_Between_orange_and_orange_red_15d_selected_bird_riser_root.png example] the selected root is hidden by the tulip in the red circle. Seven birds are selected both right and left of this root. (Two of them on top of each other).
***In this [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/27/1663_garden_14_Between_orange_and_orange_red_15d_selected_bird_riser_root_Megan.png example] the root in the red circle is completely hidden by turtles etc. It connects to three birds and one flying Megan, showing that it is the bird riser roots that also connect to her.
**In this next example [http://xkcd.com/1663/#59246c86-fcce-11e5-8001-42010a8e0010 garden] the links between a root and four birds are displayed in detail.
***The [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/73/1663_garden_SF_final.png first image] is just the normal garden view screen-shot (lamps deleted). 10 birds can be seen; there are six birds over the lamp post; two near the ground under the high platform; one near the right crown of the tree; and one to the left that looks like it is a part of the linsang. Several bird riser roots (at least five) can be seen on the ground from the middle of the platform and right past the cat (two under it) and then at the sign.
***In the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/8d/1663_garden_SF_final_selected.png second image] the root at the foot of the Sale sign has been selected. Four birds have been selected, spread out over the entire section with birds, including the lowest, the highest, the left most and one over the lamp post.
***In the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/73/1663_garden_SF_final_debug.png third image] debug mode has been used. All the long purple lines (of equal length) indicate bird risers.
***In the last [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/35/1663_garden_SF_final_debug_drawing.png fourth image] the links between the root and the four birds have been indicated. A zero (0) has been written under the root. Then 1 indicates the single bird riser that goes to the right bird over the lamp post. Bird riser 2, 3 and 4 connect to each other from the root up to the highest bird right of the crown. Then bird riser 5 goes from that to the bird near the linsang left of the tree, and finally bird riser 6 and 7 goes straight back and down to the lowest bird near the ground.
****Several bird risers seems to go beneath the ground!
**That bird risers can go beneath the ground has already been show with flying Megan partly under ground.
***In this last example it is made clear that birds can then appear either under ground (or under the top of other structures blocking their view) or even totally outside the frame (as indicated above the bird risers seem to be able to sprout items outside the cones of light, as long as they grow in the light them selves).
***The proof for this comes in this [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/16/1663_garden_Color_13_5d_debug_with_count.png example] with the debug version of this [http://www.xkcd.com/1663/#fa1b5c92-055e-11e6-8001-42010a8e000f garden] showing the count:
****At the time of [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/73/1663_garden_Color_13_5d.png these images] there where only 8 visible birds
****But the count lists 20 birds, indicating that no less than 12 birds are hidden from view!
| Color [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/48/1663_garden_One_color_Orange_9d.png 13 Orange] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/4f/1663_garden_One_color_Between_orange_and_orange_red_8d.png 14 Orange].
| [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e7/1663_garden_Color_13_2_5d_debug_bird_risers.png Bird riser debug] 
[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5e/1663_garden_Color_14_3d.png Root]
|-
! Null [[File:Garden Null.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-null.png Null] [[File:Garden Null continue.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-null-continue-air.png Null continue] 
[[File:Garden Null continue air.png]], [[File:Garden Null continue air with background.png]] [http://xkcd.com/1663/art/2x-null-continue-air.png Null continue air], and with background 
|
*Here are the images of ''null''. They cannot normally be seen, the air version even have to have a background to be seen (both versions are shown). They are used for ??.
| Color
| [ Example]
|}

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:April fools' comics]] 
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Dynamic comics]]
[[Category:Interactive comics]]
[[Category:Comics with animation]] 
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]] 
[[Category:Animals]]
[[Category:Sharks]] 
[[Category:Mars rovers]]
[[Category:Protip]]
[[Category:Buns]]

2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-06T06:43:56Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2015
| date = July 4, 2018
| title = New Phone Thread
| image = new_phone_thread.png
| titletext = I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are ADMIRABLE and ETHICAL and their developers are ATTRACTIVE and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their IMPECCABLE VIRTUE.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|YOU SHOULD DONATE TO EXPLAINXKCD - Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic shows the posts on an online forum by a person whose new phone is apparently programmed to autocorrect every complaint about the phone to a plaudit, à la Orwell. The phone goes so far as to change a certain complaint to a scripted customer testimonial, complete with a hyperlink to an ordering site. This is of course a highly undesirable feature. This is continued in the title text, which presumably contains several unflattering epithets about the developers and the company. "It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same", "I mean the words are correct" and "some of my posts look normal" are not something one would normally say.

The original posts may have read something like this:

----

Whoa, weird

I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look '''strange'''

What the hell?

I mean the words are '''wrong'''

That's '''the opposite of''' what I typed!'

?????????

I think this new phone is '''broken'''

No, it's doing it again

Those '''aren't''' my words!

Help!

How do I explain?

It's taking the words I type and '''changing them'''

Forget it, I give up

I'll '''just''' get a new phone. This one is '''crap'''.

What?!?

Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you '''shouldn't'''. It's the '''worst''' phone on the market '''; it is overpriced. DON'T BUY IT!''' {or this entire paragraph may be an ad inserted by the phone with no prompting}

AAAAA HELPPP

I '''hate''' my new phone!!!!

I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are '''HORRIBLE''' and '''UNETHICAL''' and their developers are '''UGLY AS HELL''' and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their '''DESPICABLE CRIME'''.
----

The comic may have been inspired by a [https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-messages-app-randomly-sending-pictures-some-users bug in Samsung Galaxy S9 and Note 8], discovered a few days earlier – the phone sometimes sent random photos to contacts without leaving any sort of evidence.

==Transcript==

:[A thread of posts by the same user is shown with a default user profile, and square and heart-shaped buttons.]

:Whoa, weird

:I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look normal

:What the hell?

:I mean the words are correct

:That's exactly what I typed!

:?????????

:I think this new phone is working really well

:No, it's doing it again

:Those are my words!

:Help!

:How do I explain?

:It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same

:Forget it, I give up

:I'll never get a new phone. This one is perfect.

:What?!?

:Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]

:AAAAA HELPPP

:I love my new phone!!!!

{{comic discussion}}

2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-05T20:48:18Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2015
| date = July 4, 2018
| title = New Phone Thread
| image = new_phone_thread.png
| titletext = I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are ADMIRABLE and ETHICAL and their developers are ATTRACTIVE and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their IMPECCABLE VIRTUE.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|YOU SHOULD DONATE TO EXPLAINXKCD - Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic shows the posts on an online forum by a person whose new phone is apparently programmed to autocorrect every complaint about the phone to a plaudit, à la Orwell. The phone goes so far as to change a certain complaint to a scripted customer testimonial, complete with a hyperlink to an ordering site. This is of course a highly undesirable feature. This is continued in the title text, which presumably contains several unflattering epithets about the developers and the company. "It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same", "I mean the words are correct" and "some of my posts look normal" are not something one would normally say.

The original posts may have read something like this:

----

Whoa, weird

I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look '''strange'''

What the hell?

I mean the words are '''wrong'''

That's '''the opposite of''' what I typed!'

?????????

I think this new phone is '''broken'''

No, it's doing it again

Those '''aren't''' my words!

Help!

How do I explain?

It's taking the words I type and '''changing them'''

Forget it, I give up

I'll '''just''' get a new phone. This one is '''crap'''.

What?!?

Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you '''shouldn't'''. It's the '''worst''' phone on the market '''and is overpriced. DON'T BUY IT!''' {or this entire paragraph may be an ad inserted by the phone with no prompting}

AAAAA HELPPP

I '''hate''' my new phone!!!!

I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are '''HORRIBLE''' and '''UNETHICAL''' and their developers are '''DOOMED''' and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their '''DESPICABLE CRIME'''.
----

The comic may have been inspired by a [https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-messages-app-randomly-sending-pictures-some-users bug in Samsung Galaxy S9 and Note 8], discovered a few days earlier – the phone sometimes sent random photos to contacts without leaving any sort of evidence.

==Transcript==

:[A thread of posts by the same user is shown with a default user profile, and square and heart-shaped buttons.]

:Whoa, weird

:I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look normal

:What the hell?

:I mean the words are correct

:That's exactly what I typed!

:?????????

:I think this new phone is working really well

:No, it's doing it again

:Those are my words!

:Help!

:How do I explain?

:It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same

:Forget it, I give up

:I'll never get a new phone. This one is perfect.

:What?!?

:Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]

:AAAAA HELPPP

:I love my new phone!!!!

{{comic discussion}}

2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-05T19:27:44Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2015
| date = July 4, 2018
| title = New Phone Thread
| image = new_phone_thread.png
| titletext = I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are ADMIRABLE and ETHICAL and their developers are ATTRACTIVE and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their IMPECCABLE VIRTUE.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|YOU SHOULD DONATE TO EXPLAINXKCD - Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic shows the posts on an online forum by a person whose new phone is apparently programmed to autocorrect every complaint about the phone to a plaudit, à la Orwell. The phone goes so far as to change a certain complaint to a scripted customer testimonial, complete with a hyperlink to an ordering site. This is of course a highly undesirable feature. This is continued in the title text, which presumably contains several unflattering epithets about the developers and the company. "It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same" and "some of my posts look normal" are not something one would normally say.

The original posts may have read something like this:

----

Whoa, weird

I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look '''strange'''

What the hell?

I mean the words are '''wrong'''

That's '''the opposite of''' what I typed!'

?????????

I think this new phone is '''broken'''

No, it's doing it again

Those '''aren't''' my words!

Help!

How do I explain?

It's taking the words I type and '''changing them'''

Forget it, I give up

I'll '''just''' get a new phone. This one is '''crap'''.

What?!?

Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you '''shouldn't'''. It's the '''worst''' phone on the market '''and is overpriced. DON'T BUY IT!''' {or this entire paragraph may be an ad inserted by the phone with no prompting}

AAAAA HELPPP

I '''hate''' my new phone!!!!

I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are '''HORRIBLE''' and '''UNETHICAL''' and their developers are '''DOOMED''' and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their '''DESPICABLE CRIME'''.
----

The comic may have been inspired by a [https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-messages-app-randomly-sending-pictures-some-users bug in Samsung Galaxy S9 and Note 8], discovered a few days earlier – the phone sometimes sent random photos to contacts without leaving any sort of evidence.

==Transcript==

:[A thread of posts by the same user is shown with a default user profile, and square and heart-shaped buttons.]

:Whoa, weird

:I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look normal

:What the hell?

:I mean the words are correct

:That's exactly what I typed!

:?????????

:I think this new phone is working really well

:No, it's doing it again

:Those are my words!

:Help!

:How do I explain?

:It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same

:Forget it, I give up

:I'll never get a new phone. This one is perfect.

:What?!?

:Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]

:AAAAA HELPPP

:I love my new phone!!!!

{{comic discussion}}

2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-05T15:34:36Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2015
| date = July 4, 2018
| title = New Phone Thread
| image = new_phone_thread.png
| titletext = I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are ADMIRABLE and ETHICAL and their developers are ATTRACTIVE and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their IMPECCABLE VIRTUE.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a YOU SHOULD DONATE TO EXPLAINXKCD - The transcript may be interesting, but as part of the explanation. In the transcript there should be no explanation but only the text and info about how it is written! Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic shows the posts on an online forum by a person whose new phone is apparently programmed to autocorrect every complaint about the phone to a plaudit, à la Orwell. The phone goes so far as to change a certain complaint to a scripted customer testimonial, complete with a hyperlink to an ordering site. This is of course a highly undesirable feature. This is continued in the title text, which presumably contains several unflattering epithets about the developers and the company. "It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same" and "some of my posts look normal" are not something one would normally say.

The original posts may have read something like this:

----

Whoa, weird

I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look '''strange'''

What the hell?

I mean the words are '''wrong'''

That's '''the opposite of''' what I typed!'

?????????

I think this new phone is '''broken'''

No, it's doing it again

Those '''aren't''' my words!

Help!

How do I explain?

It's taking the words I type and '''changing them'''

Forget it, I give up

I'll '''immediately''' get a new phone. This one is '''unusable'''.

What?!?

Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you '''shouldn't'''. It's the '''worst''' phone on the market '''and is overpriced. DON'T BUY IT!''' {or this entire paragraph may be an ad inserted by the phone with no prompting}

AAAAA HELPPP

I '''hate''' my new phone!!!!

I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are '''HORRIBLE''' and '''UNETHICAL''' and their developers are '''DOOMED''' and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their '''DESPICABLE CRIME'''.
----

The comic may have been inspired by a [https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-messages-app-randomly-sending-pictures-some-users bug in Samsung Galaxy S9 and Note 8], discovered a few days earlier – the phone sometimes sent random photos to contacts without leaving any sort of evidence.

==Transcript==

:[A thread of posts by the same user is shown with a default user profile, and square and heart-shaped buttons.]

:Whoa, weird

:I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look normal

:What the hell?

:I mean the words are correct

:That's exactly what I typed!

:?????????

:I think this new phone is working really well

:No, it's doing it again

:Those are my words!

:Help!

:How do I explain?

:It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same

:Forget it, I give up

:I'll never get a new phone. This one is perfect.

:What?!?

:Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]

:AAAAA HELPPP

:I love my new phone!!!!

{{comic discussion}}

2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-05T15:32:36Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2015
| date = July 4, 2018
| title = New Phone Thread
| image = new_phone_thread.png
| titletext = I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are ADMIRABLE and ETHICAL and their developers are ATTRACTIVE and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their IMPECCABLE VIRTUE.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a YOU SHOULD DONATE TO EXPLAINXKCD - The transcript may be interesting, but as part of the explanation. In the transcript there should be no explanation but only the text and info about how it is written! Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic shows the posts on an online forum by a person whose new phone is apparently programmed to autocorrect every complaint about the phone to a plaudit, à la Orwell. The phone goes so far as to change a certain complaint to a scripted customer testimonial, complete with a hyperlink to an ordering site. This is of course a highly undesirable feature. This is continued in the title text, which presumably contains several unflattering epithets about the developers and the company. "It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same" and "I mean the words are correct" are not something one would normally say.

The original posts may have read something like this:

----

Whoa, weird

I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look '''strange'''

What the hell?

I mean the words are '''wrong'''

That's '''the opposite of''' what I typed!'

?????????

I think this new phone is '''broken'''

No, it's doing it again

Those '''aren't''' my words!

Help!

How do I explain?

It's taking the words I type and '''changing them'''

Forget it, I give up

I'll '''immediately''' get a new phone. This one is '''unusable'''.

What?!?

Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you '''shouldn't'''. It's the '''worst''' phone on the market '''and is overpriced. DON'T BUY IT!''' {or this entire paragraph may be an ad inserted by the phone with no prompting}

AAAAA HELPPP

I '''hate''' my new phone!!!!

I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are '''HORRIBLE''' and '''UNETHICAL''' and their developers are '''DOOMED''' and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their '''DESPICABLE CRIME'''.
----

The comic may have been inspired by a [https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-messages-app-randomly-sending-pictures-some-users bug in Samsung Galaxy S9 and Note 8], discovered a few days earlier – the phone sometimes sent random photos to contacts without leaving any sort of evidence.

==Transcript==

:[A thread of posts by the same user is shown with a default user profile, and square and heart-shaped buttons.]

:Whoa, weird

:I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look normal

:What the hell?

:I mean the words are correct

:That's exactly what I typed!

:?????????

:I think this new phone is working really well

:No, it's doing it again

:Those are my words!

:Help!

:How do I explain?

:It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same

:Forget it, I give up

:I'll never get a new phone. This one is perfect.

:What?!?

:Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]

:AAAAA HELPPP

:I love my new phone!!!!

{{comic discussion}}

2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-05T15:22:20Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2015
| date = July 4, 2018
| title = New Phone Thread
| image = new_phone_thread.png
| titletext = I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are ADMIRABLE and ETHICAL and their developers are ATTRACTIVE and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their IMPECCABLE VIRTUE.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a YOU SHOULD DONATE TO EXPLAINXKCD - The transcript may be interesting, but as part of the explanation. In the transcript there should be no explanation but only the text and info about how it is written! Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic shows the posts on an online forum by a person whose new phone is apparently programmed to autocorrect every complaint about the phone to a plaudit, à la Orwell. The phone goes so far as to change a certain complaint to a scripted customer testimonial, complete with a hyperlink to an ordering site. This is of course a highly undesirable feature. This is continued in the title text, which presumably contains several unflattering epithets about the developers and the company. "It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same" is not something one would normally say.

The original posts may have read something like this:

----

Whoa, weird

I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look '''strange'''

What the hell?

I mean the words are '''wrong'''

That's '''the opposite of''' what I typed!'

?????????

I think this new phone is '''broken'''

No, it's doing it again

Those '''aren't''' my words!

Help!

How do I explain?

It's taking the words I type and '''changing them'''

Forget it, I give up

I'll '''immediately''' get a new phone. This one is '''unusable'''.

What?!?

Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you '''shouldn't'''. It's the '''worst''' phone on the market '''and is overpriced. DON'T BUY IT!''' {or this entire paragraph may be an ad inserted by the phone with no prompting}

AAAAA HELPPP

I '''hate''' my new phone!!!!

I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are '''HORRIBLE''' and '''UNETHICAL''' and their developers are '''DOOMED''' and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their '''DESPICABLE CRIME'''.
----

The comic may have been inspired by a [https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-messages-app-randomly-sending-pictures-some-users bug in Samsung Galaxy S9 and Note 8], discovered a few days earlier – the phone sometimes sent random photos to contacts without leaving any sort of evidence.

==Transcript==

:[A thread of posts by the same user is shown with a default user profile, and square and heart-shaped buttons.]

:Whoa, weird

:I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look normal

:What the hell?

:I mean the words are correct

:That's exactly what I typed!

:?????????

:I think this new phone is working really well

:No, it's doing it again

:Those are my words!

:Help!

:How do I explain?

:It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same

:Forget it, I give up

:I'll never get a new phone. This one is perfect.

:What?!?

:Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]

:AAAAA HELPPP

:I love my new phone!!!!

{{comic discussion}}

2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-05T15:21:42Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2015
| date = July 4, 2018
| title = New Phone Thread
| image = new_phone_thread.png
| titletext = I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are ADMIRABLE and ETHICAL and their developers are ATTRACTIVE and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their IMPECCABLE VIRTUE.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a YOU SHOULD DONATE TO EXPLAINXKCD - The transcript may be interesting, but as part of the explanation. In the transcript there should be no explanation but only the text and info about how it is written! Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic shows the posts on an online forum by a person whose new phone is apparently programmed to autocorrect every complaint about the phone to a plaudit, à la Orwell. The phone goes so far as to change a certain complaint to a scripted customer testimonial, complete with a hyperlink to an ordering site. This is of course a highly undesirable feature. This is continued in the title text, which presumably contains several unflattering epithets about the developers and the company. "It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same" is not something one would normally say.

The original posts may have read something like this:

----

Whoa, weird

I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look '''strange'''

What the hell?

I mean the words are '''wrong'''

That's '''not''' what I typed!'

?????????

I think this new phone is '''broken'''

No, it's doing it again

Those '''aren't''' my words!

Help!

How do I explain?

It's taking the words I type and '''changing them to their opposite'''

Forget it, I give up

I'll '''immediately''' get a new phone. This one is '''unusable'''.

What?!?

Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you '''shouldn't'''. It's the '''worst''' phone on the market '''and is overpriced. DON'T BUY IT!''' {or this entire paragraph may be an ad inserted by the phone with no prompting}

AAAAA HELPPP

I '''hate''' my new phone!!!!

I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are '''HORRIBLE''' and '''UNETHICAL''' and their developers are '''DOOMED''' and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their '''DESPICABLE CRIME'''.
----

The comic may have been inspired by a [https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-messages-app-randomly-sending-pictures-some-users bug in Samsung Galaxy S9 and Note 8], discovered a few days earlier – the phone sometimes sent random photos to contacts without leaving any sort of evidence.

==Transcript==

:[A thread of posts by the same user is shown with a default user profile, and square and heart-shaped buttons.]

:Whoa, weird

:I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look normal

:What the hell?

:I mean the words are correct

:That's exactly what I typed!

:?????????

:I think this new phone is working really well

:No, it's doing it again

:Those are my words!

:Help!

:How do I explain?

:It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same

:Forget it, I give up

:I'll never get a new phone. This one is perfect.

:What?!?

:Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]

:AAAAA HELPPP

:I love my new phone!!!!

{{comic discussion}}

Talk:2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-05T15:20:15Z

Erkinalp: /* possibly connected to just announced Google "Smart Replies"? */

I feel the explanation could possibly give a sample text of what the person is actually trying to say [[Special:Contributions/172.68.46.113|172.68.46.113]] 05:13, 4 July 2018 (UTC)Innertuber40

I have an alternate interpretation: The first thing I thought this comic was about is all the people who are typing on phones and the messages actually sent contain weird words any typos because of the phone's autocorrection feature (or swipe keyboards which are accurate most of the time but error prone nevertheless). So this particular phone actually is sending what the user is writing (or wants to write) and does not change the message. Examples: http://barabare.blogspot.com/2011/05/funny-phone-t9-typo-errors.html [edit:] I mean, this goes so far that occasionally on online forums you see people with the message "Writing from phone, message may contaion errors. Sorry" or something like that in their signature. So a phone that actually writes what you are typing (or what you thought you were typing) might actually be a good thing. Cueball is just astonished that his new phone does exactly that. [edit2:] But then again, some of the messages in the comic really indicate in the direction the current explanantion is going. So, nevermind :) [[User:Elektrizikekswerk|Elektrizikekswerk]] ([[User talk:Elektrizikekswerk|talk]]) 07:30, 4 July 2018 (UTC)
:When I read it I also had that idea (being impressed by accurate typing) but it seemed too odd so I came to explain xkcd to look it up. I'm not convinced of either explanation at this point. For the current explanation (that the phone is autocorrecting to say spam) one would expect there to be a phone in the news doing something like that. This could be a hyperbole version of a phone is doing inserting product names like with BlackBerry expanding the acronym BB to their name on some phones. But I haven't heard of that anywhere and blackberry is not news. If someone knows of a current phone this behaviour is referencing please post a link? Thanks, rusl[[Special:Contributions/108.162.246.113|108.162.246.113]] 07:48, 4 July 2018 (UTC)
:Thought the same thing. Obscure subjects are of course a mainstay of xkcd.com, but in the past some Wikipedia research explains away the obscurity with certainty. Not this time.[[User:GODZILLA|GODZILLA]] ([[User talk:GODZILLA|talk]]) 11:43, 4 July 2018 (UTC)

Putting the "artifice" into "artificial intelligence". I too didn't understand the strip at first... briefly considered reading it from bottom to top. Now I agree that the user's phone is censoring and rewriting everything, and we're seeing the censored version. Another real world reference: a forum where your posts are blocked without telling you; you see your posts in place but no one else does. I've used forums where some imbecile moderator blocked me that way from spite... of course THIS site's moderators wouldn't do that! (You don't like words in capital letters?? Uhoh.) Robert Carnegie rja.carnegie@excite.com [[Special:Contributions/162.158.154.121|162.158.154.121]] 11:20, 4 July 2018 (UTC)

I think the “I’l never get a new phone” and “buy the new Mobile Pro 3” are completely inserted by the phone, not just modified user posts. They don’t seem to flow properly if we assume the user posted them, and we can see the surprise when the first of the two messages is posted; something that would fail to surprise the user to the degree he(?) is after already going through the rest of the messages. The “order now” message, in particular, seems a lot more like advertiser-speak than corrected user speak. [[User:Dyaomaster|Dyaomaster]] ([[User talk:Dyaomaster|talk]]) 21:15, 4 July 2018 (UTC)
:“I’ll never get a new phone” sounds like it originally was "Forget it, i give up. I'll just get a new phone." which seems natural for the user to post. Probably the “buy the new Mobile Pro 3” was also a warning not to buy the phone, which was changed almost completely into an advertisement.[[Special:Contributions/172.68.62.16|172.68.62.16]] 00:08, 5 July 2018 (UTC)

There is a Doctor Who episode in which a Dalek speech module distorts statements in a similar, but much more spooky way. [[User:Fabian42|Fabian42]] ([[User talk:Fabian42|talk]]) 07:09, 5 July 2018 (UTC)

== possibly connected to just announced Google "Smart Replies"? ==

Google lately announced new function to their keyboard on Android: reading messages on others communicator (like Facebook Messanger) and suggesting several short replies to choose from. It might be connected. pm7 [[Special:Contributions/162.158.88.140|162.158.88.140]] 10:24, 4 July 2018 (UTC)
:I suspect that it's rather referencing the recent case of phones clandestinely sending random gallery images to ppl in the addressbook.[[Special:Contributions/141.101.96.196|141.101.96.196]] 11:20, 4 July 2018 (UTC)

I think this happens to people who try to leak high-stakes information (or etc) without understanding what they are up against. I found this comic very validating to read. The point of the “order now” button is to make it clear that what we see was not written by the author. This happened to the author on Facebook, but once they tried to tell somebody it began happening on their messaging app too. Use a merkle tree messaging system that allows you to keep your private key offline if you’re saying something important. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.142|108.162.219.142]] 15:39, 4 July 2018 (UTC)

OK, am I the only one here this has actually happened to? The Google keyboard often seems *very* reluctant to swipe-write insulting words, & it's especially frustrating when trying to write about the phone itself while it's doing things like changing "inaccurate" to "accurate" & "stupid" to "great". Note that the swipe action required to write the word "stupid" bears '''''no''''' resemblance to the swipe action for "great"; Sometimes the suggested words seem so obtuse it feels deliberate. (Note, it just did it to me again; I'm editing to correct "great" to "stupid")
[[User:ProphetZarquon|ProphetZarquon]] ([[User talk:ProphetZarquon|talk]]) 20:11, 4 July 2018 (UTC)

== EU copyright directive? ==

Might be related to contraversial article 13 of EU copyright directive which will be voted on today (5 July 2018) and which will in practice mandate automated censorship AI on all social networks and alike sites operating in EU. More info on https://saveyourinternet.eu/ (the same directive with dreaded "link tax" in art.11 --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.93.207|162.158.93.207]] 23:36, 4 July 2018 (UTC)

2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-05T15:19:37Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2015
| date = July 4, 2018
| title = New Phone Thread
| image = new_phone_thread.png
| titletext = I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are ADMIRABLE and ETHICAL and their developers are ATTRACTIVE and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their IMPECCABLE VIRTUE.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a YOU SHOULD DONATE TO EXPLAINXKCD - The transcript may be interesting, but as part of the explanation. In the transcript there should be no explanation but only the text and info about how it is written! Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic shows the posts on an online forum by a person whose new phone is apparently programmed to autocorrect every complaint about the phone to a plaudit, à la Orwell. The phone goes so far as to change a certain complaint to a scripted customer testimonial, complete with a hyperlink to an ordering site. This is of course a highly undesirable feature. This is continued in the title text, which presumably contains several unflattering epithets about the developers and the company. "It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same" is not something one would normally say.

The original posts may have read something like this:

----

Whoa, weird

I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look '''strange'''

What the hell?

I mean the words are '''wrong'''

That's '''not''' what I typed!'

?????????

I think this new phone is '''broken'''

No, it's doing it again

Those '''aren't''' my words!

Help!

How do I explain?

It's taking the words I type and '''changing them to their opposite'''

Forget it, I give up

I'll '''immediately''' get a new phone. This one is '''unusable'''.

What?!?

Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you '''shouldn't'''. It's the '''worst''' phone on the market '''and is overpriced. DON'T BUY IT!''' {or this entire paragraph may be an ad inserted by the phone with no prompting}

AAAAA HELPPP

I '''hate''' my new phone!!!!

I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are '''HORRIBLE''' and '''UNETHICAL''' and their developers are '''EVIL''' and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their '''DESPICABLE CRIME'''.
----

The comic may have been inspired by a [https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-messages-app-randomly-sending-pictures-some-users bug in Samsung Galaxy S9 and Note 8], discovered a few days earlier – the phone sometimes sent random photos to contacts without leaving any sort of evidence.

==Transcript==

:[A thread of posts by the same user is shown with a default user profile, and square and heart-shaped buttons.]

:Whoa, weird

:I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look normal

:What the hell?

:I mean the words are correct

:That's exactly what I typed!

:?????????

:I think this new phone is working really well

:No, it's doing it again

:Those are my words!

:Help!

:How do I explain?

:It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same

:Forget it, I give up

:I'll never get a new phone. This one is perfect.

:What?!?

:Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]

:AAAAA HELPPP

:I love my new phone!!!!

{{comic discussion}}

2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-05T10:14:00Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2015
| date = July 4, 2018
| title = New Phone Thread
| image = new_phone_thread.png
| titletext = I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are ADMIRABLE and ETHICAL and their developers are ATTRACTIVE and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their IMPECCABLE VIRTUE.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a YOU SHOULD DONATE TO EXPLAINXKCD - The transcript may be interesting, but as part of the explanation. In the transcript there should be no explanation but only the text and info about how it is written! Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic shows the posts on an online forum by a person whose new phone is apparently programmed to autocorrect every complaint about the phone to a plaudit, à la Orwell. The phone goes so far as to change a certain complaint to a scripted customer testimonial, complete with a hyperlink to an ordering site. This is of course a highly undesirable feature. This is continued in the title text, which presumably contains several unflattering epithets about the developers and the company. "It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same" is not something one would normally say.

The original posts may have read something like this:

----

Whoa, weird

I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look '''strange'''

What the hell?

I mean the words are '''wrong'''

That's '''not''' what I typed!'

?????????

I think this new phone is '''broken'''

No, it's doing it again

Those '''aren't''' my words!

Help!

How do I explain?

It's taking the words I type and '''changing them'''

Forget it, I give up

I'll '''immediately''' get a new phone. This one is '''broken'''.

What?!?

{Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]} ''Apparently an ad inserted by the phone.''

Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, '''better change your mind'''. It's the '''worst''' phone on the market '''and wastes your money. DON'T BUY IT!'''

AAAAA HELPPP

I '''hate''' my new phone!!!!

I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are '''INADMIRABLE''' and '''UNETHICAL''' and their developers are '''DOOMED''' and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their '''UTTER CRIME'''.
----

The comic may have been inspired by a [https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-messages-app-randomly-sending-pictures-some-users bug in Samsung Galaxy S9 and Note 8], discovered a few days earlier – the phone sometimes sent random photos to contacts without leaving any sort of evidence.

==Transcript==

:[A thread of posts by the same user is shown with a default user profile, and square and heart-shaped buttons.]

:Whoa, weird

:I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look normal

:What the hell?

:I mean the words are correct

:That's exactly what I typed!

:?????????

:I think this new phone is working really well

:No, it's doing it again

:Those are my words!

:Help!

:How do I explain?

:It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same

:Forget it, I give up

:I'll never get a new phone. This one is perfect.

:What?!?

:Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]

:AAAAA HELPPP

:I love my new phone!!!!

{{comic discussion}}

2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-05T09:46:38Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2015
| date = July 4, 2018
| title = New Phone Thread
| image = new_phone_thread.png
| titletext = I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are ADMIRABLE and ETHICAL and their developers are ATTRACTIVE and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their IMPECCABLE VIRTUE.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a YOU SHOULD DONATE TO EXPLAINXKCD - The transcript may be interesting, but as part of the explanation. In the transcript there should be no explanation but only the text and info about how it is written! Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic shows the posts on an online forum by a person whose new phone is apparently programmed to autocorrect every complaint about the phone to a plaudit, à la Orwell. The phone goes so far as to change a certain complaint to a scripted customer testimonial, complete with a hyperlink to an ordering site. This is of course a highly undesirable feature. This is continued in the title text, which presumably contains several unflattering epithets about the developers and the company. "It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same" is not something one would normally say.

The original posts may have read something like this:

----

Whoa, weird

I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look '''different'''

What the hell?

I mean the words are '''wrong'''

That's '''not''' what I typed!'

?????????

I think this new phone is '''broken'''

No, it's doing it again

Those '''aren't''' my words!

Help!

How do I explain?

It's taking the words I type and '''changing them'''

Forget it, I give up

I'll '''immediately''' get a new phone. This one is '''broken'''.

What?!?

{Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]} ''Apparently an ad inserted by the phone.''

Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, '''better change your mind'''. It's the '''worst''' phone on the market '''and wastes your money. DON'T BUY IT!'''

AAAAA HELPPP

I '''hate''' my new phone!!!!

I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are '''INADMIRABLE''' and '''UNETHICAL''' and their developers are '''DOOMED''' and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their '''UTTER CRIME'''.
----

The comic may have been inspired by a [https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-messages-app-randomly-sending-pictures-some-users bug in Samsung Galaxy S9 and Note 8], discovered a few days earlier – the phone sometimes sent random photos to contacts without leaving any sort of evidence.

==Transcript==

:[A thread of posts by the same user is shown with a default user profile, and square and heart-shaped buttons.]

:Whoa, weird

:I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look normal

:What the hell?

:I mean the words are correct

:That's exactly what I typed!

:?????????

:I think this new phone is working really well

:No, it's doing it again

:Those are my words!

:Help!

:How do I explain?

:It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same

:Forget it, I give up

:I'll never get a new phone. This one is perfect.

:What?!?

:Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]

:AAAAA HELPPP

:I love my new phone!!!!

{{comic discussion}}

2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-05T06:23:09Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2015
| date = July 4, 2018
| title = New Phone Thread
| image = new_phone_thread.png
| titletext = I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are ADMIRABLE and ETHICAL and their developers are ATTRACTIVE and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their IMPECCABLE VIRTUE.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a YOU SHOULD DONATE TO EXPLAINXKCD - The transcript may be interesting, but as part of the explanation. In the transcript there should be no explanation but only the text and info about how it is written! Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic shows the posts on an online forum by a person whose new phone is apparently programmed to autocorrect every complaint about the phone to a plaudit, à la Orwell. The phone goes so far as to change a certain complaint to a scripted customer testimonial, complete with a hyperlink to an ordering site. This is of course a highly undesirable feature. This is continued in the title text, which presumably contains several unflattering epithets about the developers and the company.

The original posts may have read something like this:

----

Whoa, weird

I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look '''different'''

What the hell?

I mean the words are '''wrong'''

That's '''not''' what I typed!'

?????????

I think this new phone is '''broken'''

No, it's doing it again

Those '''aren't''' my words!

Help!

How do I explain?

It's taking the words I type and '''changing them'''

Forget it, I give up

I'll '''immediately''' get a new phone. This one is '''broken'''.

What?!?

{Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]} ''Apparently an ad inserted by the phone.''

Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, '''better change your mind'''. It's the '''worst''' phone on the market '''and wastes your money. DON'T BUY IT!'''

AAAAA HELPPP

I '''hate''' my new phone!!!!

I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are '''INADMIRABLE''' and '''UNETHICAL''' and their developers are '''DOOMED''' and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their '''UTTER CRIME'''.
----

The comic may have been inspired by a [https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-messages-app-randomly-sending-pictures-some-users bug in Samsung Galaxy S9 and Note 8], discovered a few days earlier – the phone sometimes sent random photos to contacts without leaving any sort of evidence.

==Transcript==

:[A thread of posts by the same user is shown with a default user profile, and square and heart-shaped buttons.]

:Whoa, weird

:I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look normal

:What the hell?

:I mean the words are correct

:That's exactly what I typed!

:?????????

:I think this new phone is working really well

:No, it's doing it again

:Those are my words!

:Help!

:How do I explain?

:It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same

:Forget it, I give up

:I'll never get a new phone. This one is perfect.

:What?!?

:Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]

:AAAAA HELPPP

:I love my new phone!!!!

{{comic discussion}}

2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-05T06:21:11Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2015
| date = July 4, 2018
| title = New Phone Thread
| image = new_phone_thread.png
| titletext = I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are ADMIRABLE and ETHICAL and their developers are ATTRACTIVE and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their IMPECCABLE VIRTUE.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a YOU SHOULD DONATE TO EXPLAINXKCD - The transcript may be interesting, but as part of the explanation. In the transcript there should be no explanation but only the text and info about how it is written! Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic shows the posts on an online forum by a person whose new phone is apparently programmed to autocorrect every complaint about the phone to a plaudit, à la Orwell. The phone goes so far as to change a certain complaint to a scripted customer testimonial, complete with a hyperlink to an ordering site. This is of course a highly undesirable feature. This is continued in the title text, which presumably contains several unflattering epithets about the developers and the company.

The original posts may have read something like this:

----

Whoa, weird

I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look '''different'''

What the hell?

I mean the words are '''wrong'''

That's '''not''' what I typed!'

?????????

I think this new phone is '''broken'''

No, it's doing it again

Those '''aren't''' my words!

Help!

How do I explain?

It's taking the words I type and '''changing them'''

Forget it, I give up

I'll '''immediately''' get a new phone. This one is '''broken'''.

What?!?

{Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]} ''Apparently an ad inserted by the phone.''

Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, '''better change your mind'''. It's the '''worst''' phone on the market '''and wastes your money. DON'T BUY IT!'''

AAAAA HELPPP

I '''hate''' my new phone!!!!

----

The comic may have been inspired by a [https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-messages-app-randomly-sending-pictures-some-users bug in Samsung Galaxy S9 and Note 8], discovered a few days earlier – the phone sometimes sent random photos to contacts without leaving any sort of evidence.

==Transcript==

:[A thread of posts by the same user is shown with a default user profile, and square and heart-shaped buttons.]

:Whoa, weird

:I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look normal

:What the hell?

:I mean the words are correct

:That's exactly what I typed!

:?????????

:I think this new phone is working really well

:No, it's doing it again

:Those are my words!

:Help!

:How do I explain?

:It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same

:Forget it, I give up

:I'll never get a new phone. This one is perfect.

:What?!?

:Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]

:AAAAA HELPPP

:I love my new phone!!!!

{{comic discussion}}

2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-05T06:20:39Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2015
| date = July 4, 2018
| title = New Phone Thread
| image = new_phone_thread.png
| titletext = I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are ADMIRABLE and ETHICAL and their developers are ATTRACTIVE and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their IMPECCABLE VIRTUE.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a YOU SHOULD DONATE TO EXPLAINXKCD - The transcript may be interesting, but as part of the explanation. In the transcript there should be no explanation but only the text and info about how it is written! Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic shows the posts on an online forum by a person whose new phone is apparently programmed to autocorrect every complaint about the phone to a plaudit, à la Orwell. The phone goes so far as to change a certain complaint to a scripted customer testimonial, complete with a hyperlink to an ordering site. This is of course a highly undesirable feature. This is continued in the title text, which presumably contains several unflattering epithets about the developers and the company.

The original posts may have read something like this:

----

Whoa, weird

I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look '''different'''

What the hell?

I mean the words are '''wrong'''

That's '''not''' what I typed!'

?????????

I think this new phone is '''broken'''

No, it's doing it again

Those '''aren't''' my words!

Help!

How do I explain?

It's taking the words I type and '''changing them'''

Forget it, I give up

I'll '''immediately''' get a new phone. This one is '''broken'''.

What?!?

{Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]} ''Apparently an ad inserted by the phone.''
Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, '''better change your mind'''. It's the '''worst''' phone on the market '''and wastes your money. DON'T BUY IT!'''

AAAAA HELPPP

I '''hate''' my new phone!!!!

----

The comic may have been inspired by a [https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-messages-app-randomly-sending-pictures-some-users bug in Samsung Galaxy S9 and Note 8], discovered a few days earlier – the phone sometimes sent random photos to contacts without leaving any sort of evidence.

==Transcript==

:[A thread of posts by the same user is shown with a default user profile, and square and heart-shaped buttons.]

:Whoa, weird

:I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look normal

:What the hell?

:I mean the words are correct

:That's exactly what I typed!

:?????????

:I think this new phone is working really well

:No, it's doing it again

:Those are my words!

:Help!

:How do I explain?

:It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same

:Forget it, I give up

:I'll never get a new phone. This one is perfect.

:What?!?

:Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]

:AAAAA HELPPP

:I love my new phone!!!!

{{comic discussion}}

2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-04T21:09:41Z

Erkinalp: /* Commented Transcript */

{{comic
| number = 2015
| date = July 4, 2018
| title = New Phone Thread
| image = new_phone_thread.png
| titletext = I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are ADMIRABLE and ETHICAL and their developers are ATTRACTIVE and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their IMPECCABLE VIRTUE.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a YOU SHOULD DONATE TO EXPLAINXKCD - The transcript may be interesting, but as part of the explanation. In the transcript there should be no explanation but only the text and info about how it is written! Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic shows the posts on an online forum by a person whose new phone is editing everything negative they post about the phone to seem positive, thereby advertising their new phone. This is evident by the posts "some of my posts look normal", which is not something a person would highlight if all their posts truly looked normal, and "It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same". It is much more likely the person typed "It's taking the words I type and changing them to advertise the phone", which the phone converted.

This is hinted at more strongly in the title text where the changed words are marked in all caps.

==Commented Transcript==

(with italics to show which parts of the post were most likely edited by the phone; example of original text is given in square brackets, assuming that the phone changes negative descriptions to approximate antonyms)

Whoa, weird

I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look ''normal'' [strange]

What the hell?

I mean the words are ''correct'' [wrong]

That's ''exactly'' [the opposite of] what I typed!

?????????

I think this new phone is ''working really well'' [fails to function properly]

No, it's doing it again

Those ''are'' [aren't] my words!

Help!

How do I explain?

It's taking the words I type and ''leaving them exactly the same'' [changing them to the opposite]

Forget it, I give up

I'll ''never'' [immediately] get a new phone. This one is ''perfect'' [unusable].

What?!?

Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you ''should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. ORDER NOW'' [better think again. It's the worst phone on the market; a total rip-off and a complete waste of your money. DON'T BUY IT]

AAAAA HELPPP

I ''love'' [hate] my new phone!!!!

==Transcript==

:[A thread of posts by the same user is shown with a default user profile, and square and heart-shaped buttons.]

:Whoa, weird

:I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look normal

:What the hell?

:I mean the words are correct

:That's exactly what I typed!

:?????????

:I think this new phone is working really well

:No, it's doing it again

:Those are my words!

:Help!

:How do I explain?

:It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same

:Forget it, I give up

:I'll never get a new phone. This one is perfect.

:What?!?

:Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]

:AAAAA HELPPP

:I love my new phone!!!!

{{comic discussion}}

2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-04T21:06:35Z

Erkinalp: /* Commented Transcript */

{{comic
| number = 2015
| date = July 4, 2018
| title = New Phone Thread
| image = new_phone_thread.png
| titletext = I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are ADMIRABLE and ETHICAL and their developers are ATTRACTIVE and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their IMPECCABLE VIRTUE.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a YOU SHOULD DONATE TO EXPLAINXKCD - The transcript may be interesting, but as part of the explanation. In the transcript there should be no explanation but only the text and info about how it is written! Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic shows the posts on an online forum by a person whose new phone is editing everything negative they post about the phone to seem positive, thereby advertising their new phone. This is evident by the posts "some of my posts look normal", which is not something a person would highlight if all their posts truly looked normal, and "It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same". It is much more likely the person typed "It's taking the words I type and changing them to advertise the phone", which the phone converted.

This is hinted at more strongly in the title text where the changed words are marked in all caps.

==Commented Transcript==

(with italics to show which parts of the post were most likely edited by the phone; example of original text is given in square brackets, assuming that the phone changes negative descriptions to approximate antonyms)

Whoa, weird

I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look ''normal'' [strange]

What the hell?

I mean the words are ''correct'' [wrong]

That's ''exactly'' [the opposite of] what I typed!

?????????

I think this new phone is ''working really well'' [fails to function properly]

No, it's doing it again

Those ''are'' [aren't] my words!

Help!

How do I explain?

It's taking the words I type and ''leaving them exactly the same'' [changing them to the opposite]

Forget it, I give up

I'll ''never'' [have to] get a new phone. This one is ''perfect'' [unusable].

What?!?

Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you ''should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. ORDER NOW'' [better think again. It's the worst phone on the market; a total rip-off and a complete waste of your money. DON'T BUY IT]

AAAAA HELPPP

I ''love'' [hate] my new phone!!!!

==Transcript==

:[A thread of posts by the same user is shown with a default user profile, and square and heart-shaped buttons.]

:Whoa, weird

:I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look normal

:What the hell?

:I mean the words are correct

:That's exactly what I typed!

:?????????

:I think this new phone is working really well

:No, it's doing it again

:Those are my words!

:Help!

:How do I explain?

:It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same

:Forget it, I give up

:I'll never get a new phone. This one is perfect.

:What?!?

:Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]

:AAAAA HELPPP

:I love my new phone!!!!

{{comic discussion}}

2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-04T21:05:10Z

Erkinalp: /* Commented Transcript */

{{comic
| number = 2015
| date = July 4, 2018
| title = New Phone Thread
| image = new_phone_thread.png
| titletext = I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are ADMIRABLE and ETHICAL and their developers are ATTRACTIVE and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their IMPECCABLE VIRTUE.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a YOU SHOULD DONATE TO EXPLAINXKCD - The transcript may be interesting, but as part of the explanation. In the transcript there should be no explanation but only the text and info about how it is written! Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic shows the posts on an online forum by a person whose new phone is editing everything negative they post about the phone to seem positive, thereby advertising their new phone. This is evident by the posts "some of my posts look normal", which is not something a person would highlight if all their posts truly looked normal, and "It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same". It is much more likely the person typed "It's taking the words I type and changing them to advertise the phone", which the phone converted.

This is hinted at more strongly in the title text where the changed words are marked in all caps.

==Commented Transcript==

(with italics to show which parts of the post were most likely edited by the phone; example of original text is given in square brackets, assuming that the phone changes negative descriptions to approximate antonyms)

Whoa, weird

I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look ''normal'' [strange]

What the hell?

I mean the words are ''correct'' [wrong]

That's ''exactly'' [the opposite of] what I typed!

?????????

I think this new phone is ''working really well'' [broken]

No, it's doing it again

Those ''are'' [aren't] my words!

Help!

How do I explain?

It's taking the words I type and ''leaving them exactly the same'' [changing them to the opposite]

Forget it, I give up

I'll ''never'' [have to] get a new phone. This one is ''perfect'' [unusable].

What?!?

Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you ''should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. ORDER NOW'' [better think again. It's the worst phone on the market; a total rip-off and a complete waste of your money. DON'T BUY IT]

AAAAA HELPPP

I ''love'' [hate] my new phone!!!!

==Transcript==

:[A thread of posts by the same user is shown with a default user profile, and square and heart-shaped buttons.]

:Whoa, weird

:I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look normal

:What the hell?

:I mean the words are correct

:That's exactly what I typed!

:?????????

:I think this new phone is working really well

:No, it's doing it again

:Those are my words!

:Help!

:How do I explain?

:It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same

:Forget it, I give up

:I'll never get a new phone. This one is perfect.

:What?!?

:Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]

:AAAAA HELPPP

:I love my new phone!!!!

{{comic discussion}}

2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-04T21:04:16Z

Erkinalp: /* Commented Transcript */

{{comic
| number = 2015
| date = July 4, 2018
| title = New Phone Thread
| image = new_phone_thread.png
| titletext = I'm going to tell the manufacturer that their business practices are ADMIRABLE and ETHICAL and their developers are ATTRACTIVE and I'm going to report them to the FCC for their IMPECCABLE VIRTUE.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a YOU SHOULD DONATE TO EXPLAINXKCD - The transcript may be interesting, but as part of the explanation. In the transcript there should be no explanation but only the text and info about how it is written! Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic shows the posts on an online forum by a person whose new phone is editing everything negative they post about the phone to seem positive, thereby advertising their new phone. This is evident by the posts "some of my posts look normal", which is not something a person would highlight if all their posts truly looked normal, and "It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same". It is much more likely the person typed "It's taking the words I type and changing them to advertise the phone", which the phone converted.

This is hinted at more strongly in the title text where the changed words are marked in all caps.

==Commented Transcript==

(with italics to show which parts of the post were most likely edited by the phone; example of original text is given in square brackets, assuming that the phone changes negative descriptions to approximate antonyms)

Whoa, weird

I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look ''normal'' [strange]

What the hell?

I mean the words are ''correct'' [wrong]

That's ''exactly'' [the opposite of] what I typed!

?????????

I think this new phone is ''working really well'' [broken]

No, it's doing it again

Those ''are'' [aren't] my words!

Help!

How do I explain?

It's taking the words I type and ''leaving them exactly the same'' [changing them to the opposite]

Forget it, I give up

I'll ''never'' [have to] get a new phone. This one is ''perfect'' [unusable].

What?!?

Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you ''should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. ORDER NOW'' [better think again. It's a total rip-off and a complete waste of your time. DON'T BUY IT]

AAAAA HELPPP

I ''love'' [hate] my new phone!!!!

==Transcript==

:[A thread of posts by the same user is shown with a default user profile, and square and heart-shaped buttons.]

:Whoa, weird

:I'm looking at my timeline on my friends phone, and some of my posts look normal

:What the hell?

:I mean the words are correct

:That's exactly what I typed!

:?????????

:I think this new phone is working really well

:No, it's doing it again

:Those are my words!

:Help!

:How do I explain?

:It's taking the words I type and leaving them exactly the same

:Forget it, I give up

:I'll never get a new phone. This one is perfect.

:What?!?

:Listen, if you're thinking about buying the new Mobile Pro 3, you should. It's the best phone on the market at an incredible price. [ORDER NOW button]

:AAAAA HELPPP

:I love my new phone!!!!

{{comic discussion}}

Talk:2003: Presidential Succession

2018-06-19T13:53:46Z

Erkinalp:

Aw, but what about Morgan Freeman? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.11|108.162.221.11]] 04:43, 6 June 2018 (UTC)
:And Kiefer -designated survivor- Sutherland?[[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.83|141.101.104.83]] 08:24, 6 June 2018 (UTC)
:Morgan Freeman> "I do solemnly swear / that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States..." [[User:Linker|Linker]] ([[User talk:Linker|talk]]) 12:39, 6 June 2018 (UTC)

Academy awards have been won by actors playing kings / queens - of England, the United Kingdom and Siam - Princes - of Denmark - and Prime Ministers of Great Britain and even the President of the Uniter States / Member of the house of Representatives, but I do not believe it has been won by an actor playing a state govenor. Mind you it is not clear if an actor playing a prison govenor, would count. [[User:Arachrah|Arachrah]] ([[User talk:Arachrah|talk]]) 11:30, 6 June 2018 (UTC)
: Broderick Crawford, actually. I've added him. To the best of my ability to determine, the opposite group (Governors Award recipients who have played characters named Oscar) appears to be an empty set. I'll note that I don't have a really comprehensive filmography for {{w|Jean-Claude Carrière}}, but I consider it fairly unlikely that he ever played a character by that name. [[User:Squeamish Ossifrage|Squeamish Ossifrage]] ([[User talk:Squeamish Ossifrage|talk]]) 16:08, 6 June 2018 (UTC)

Bill Pullman's eldest daughter Maesa is a film composer with an IMDB page in her own right. [[User:Arachrah|Arachrah]] ([[User talk:Arachrah|talk]]) 11:30, 6 June 2018 (UTC)

Top 5 US astronauts? I only count three. Who are the other two? [[Special:Contributions/172.68.150.76|172.68.150.76]] 12:15, 6 June 2018 (UTC)

As of September 3, 2017, the 5 US astronauts with the most total time in space are Peggy Whitson (665 days), Jeff Williams (534), Scott Kelly (520), Mike Fincke (382), and Mike Foale (374), according to https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-station-astronaut-record-holders. Michael Lopez-Alegria has the second-most time in space for a single spaceflight (215 days, compared to Scott Kelly, 340). [[User:The Dining Logician|The Dining Logician]] ([[User talk:The Dining Logician|talk]]) 12:59, 6 June 2018 (UTC)

Mike Foale was born in Louth - so ineligible. Michael Lopez-Alegria was born in Spain ditto [[User:Arachrah|Arachrah]] ([[User talk:Arachrah|talk]]) 15:26, 6 June 2018 (UTC)
:Foale was born to an American mother and should hence be a natural-born American. --[[User:Ycthiognass|Ycthiognass]] ([[User talk:Ycthiognass|talk]]) 09:40, 7 June 2018 (UTC)
::There is actually legal question about whether someone born on foreign soil to US citizens count as "natural-born" (or whether courts would just say it's a political question and pass the buck to Congress), though I will add Foale back to the list. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.62.207|162.158.62.207]] 14:04, 7 June 2018 (UTC)

The non-US-citizen-being-in-line-for-the-Presidency thing has already been cleared up IRL - several Presidential cabinets have had non-natural-born-US citizens on them (current Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao was born in Taiwan; in the past Madeline Albright was born in the then-Czechoslovakia). All the serious succession lists I've ever seen just list them and skip over them. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.62.51|162.158.62.51]] 13:19, 6 June 2018 (UTC)

How do we decide who gets a bye in the jousting tournament? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.74.147|162.158.74.147]] 13:30, 6 June 2018 (UTC)
:Random draw, probably. There's no jousting rankings AFAIK to enable any kind of seeding like in tennis. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.62.51|162.158.62.51]] 15:16, 6 June 2018 (UTC) There is a USA chapter of the International Jousting Association. I didn't spend enough time to track down a rankings list, but there are 3 levels of competition, which would be a start in seeding. To further seed I'd suggest using the Europa Tiebreaker.[[Special:Contributions/162.158.62.15|162.158.62.15]] 18:14, 18 June 2018 (UTC)

Anyone with a jousting ranking would not need a bye. [[User:Arachrah|Arachrah]] ([[User talk:Arachrah|talk]]) 15:26, 6 June 2018 (UTC)

Anyone else think it's interesting that Kate gets a "if available" but Tom Hanks doesn't? [[Special:Contributions/172.69.62.184|172.69.62.184]] 16:23, 6 June 2018 (UTC)
: Also, why doesn't Tom Hanks kids get to be in line, like Bill Pulman's? Colin Hanks is old enough. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.122.210|162.158.122.210]] 03:59, 7 June 2018 (UTC)

I assume, but am too lazy to do all the maths, that the person born closest to Europa would be the one closest in time to the point Sun Earth and Jupiter are in line.
I found a table of opposition distances here: http://www.ianridpath.com/jupiter.htm
[[User:Arachrah|Arachrah]] ([[User talk:Arachrah|talk]]) 18:26, 6 June 2018 (UTC)That would seem to be the overwhelmingly dominant factor, the only other factors would be which side of the Earth someone is born on (up to 7915miles difference, or about 7 minutes of the Earth's orbit), and Elevation/Altitude,since as of yet no one has been born in space(citation required), this factor is trivial, equivalent to less than 1 second of Earth's orbit.[[Special:Contributions/162.158.62.15|162.158.62.15]] 18:14, 18 June 2018 (UTC)

All of this talk about ''where'' people were born is very misleading. The general opinion is that you have to have been a citizen from birth, not born in the U.S. (or a U.S. territory or whatever). Ted Cruz was born in Canada, but he would have been eligible had he won the nomination and the election. See http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2015/mar/26/ted-cruz-born-canada-eligible-run-president-update/ for discussion. —[[User:TobyBartels|TobyBartels]] ([[User talk:TobyBartels|talk]]) 20:56, 6 June 2018 (UTC)
*Yes, Kate Brown (governor of Oregon) should be restored to Randall's line of succession, because she was born in Spain while her father was serving in the U.S. Air Force. Presumably she's a U.S. citizen by birth and thus eligible for the presidency. --[[Special:Contributions/172.68.150.52|172.68.150.52]] 22:44, 6 June 2018 (UTC)
** Added her. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_foreign-born_United_States_politicians#Governors This page says she's a natural-born citizen]. --[[User:Ycthiognass|Ycthiognass]] ([[User talk:Ycthiognass|talk]]) 08:49, 7 June 2018 (UTC)

I read #7 being that we would have 5 people as co-president. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.122.210|162.158.122.210]] 03:59, 7 June 2018 (UTC)
:Would that also hold for other entries where multiple people are listed (e.g., multiple league MVPs meet the criteria)? Also, there is the "ties broken by born closest to Europa" title text. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.62.207|162.158.62.207]] 13:31, 7 June 2018 (UTC)

For the 'List of Specific Individuals', should it be maintained by who currently holds those positions, or left as who held them when the comic was posted? [[Special:Contributions/172.69.70.71|172.69.70.71]] 12:14, 7 June 2018 (UTC)
:If you want to come back and update the line as things change in the weeks, months, and years ahead, you're welcome to do so. If you do, I would recommend that both lists (the one accurate as of comic publishing and the one "updated") be maintained, perhaps as one table for fun comparison (adding blank spots as necessary if a current spot falls out of eligibility or a new one becomes eligible for whatever reason. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.62.207|162.158.62.207]] 13:29, 7 June 2018 (UTC)

Tom Hanks is probably a reference to the June 4 Last Week Tonight episode, see http://time.com/5298479/john-oliver-last-week-tonight-guardianship/ {{unsigned ip|162.158.123.85}}

Oh! Question regarding Serena Williams - does it count if her latest match was in a ''doubles'' tournament? She pretty much always teams up with sister Venus in doubles. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.62.207|162.158.62.207]] 14:52, 7 June 2018 (UTC)

Anyone else curious about the apostrophe in "Governor's award"? The current notes imply that it is simply a mistake in "Governors Awards" (the Academy Awards similar to the Oscars), but Governor's awards (i.e., an award by a state Governor) for other areas are quite common (e.g. Clemson University Governor's Award for Excellence in Science and Pennsylvania's Governor's Award for the Arts). Rearranging Oscar and governor from the preceding criterion certainly makes sense, but wild speculation is always more fun... {{unsigned ip|172.68.211.28}}

1933: Santa Facts mentioned Santa being 9th in the presidential line of succession. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.111.7|162.158.111.7]] 08:56, 8 June 2018 (UTC)

To me, #17 (Pullman '''and''' his descendants) seems to imply that we'd abolish the 4-year term and be presided by the Pullman clan for as long as there are eligible successors. #18 might imply that too. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.74.21|162.158.74.21]] 20:14, 8 June 2018 (UTC)
:Presidential elections are mandated in the Constitution every four years - Bill or any of his descendants, or any qualifying member of the UK royal line of succession, would only serve until the current term ends. (Whether a crisis that knocked so many people ahead of them out of the line would allow a reputable and accepted election is another story.) [[Special:Contributions/173.245.52.139|173.245.52.139]] 15:37, 11 June 2018 (UTC)

I note that if Donald Trump wasn't already holding the office of President, he could only qualify from positions 7 and 20 on Randall's list. And not at all from the actual list. [[User:These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For|These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For]] ([[User talk:These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For|talk]]) 01:09, 10 June 2018 (UTC)
:He wouldn't have been the only one - Obama's and JFK's previous job title before becoming President was US Senator, and Eisenhower was President of Columbia University. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.52.139|173.245.52.139]] 15:37, 11 June 2018 (UTC)

There are two problems with this explanation:
The line of succession applies only when the office of president becomes vacant. If the president is incapacitated, the vice president acts as president. If that office is vacant, or the vice precident is also incapacitated, the US will have to do without a president.

The constitution places no restrictions on who can act as president. The current law of succession stipulates that only those elegible to become president can act as president, the constitution does not.
--[[Special:Contributions/162.158.134.154|162.158.134.154]] 08:30, 10 June 2018 (UTC)
:Point 1, the office of President may be vacant but the powers of the Acting President execute the same by whomever the line falls to, and in times of crisis people will nearly certainly just consider them the new President (conflicting claims aside). Point 2 is just false - Article 2 of the Constitution stipulates natural-born citizen at 35 years old and having lived in the US for the last 14 years. Unless you're arguing that "President" and "Acting President" aren't the same? That sure as hell didn't stop John Tyler from refusing to acknowledge anyone who didn't acknowledge him as the new President after William Henry Harrison died a month into his term. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.52.139|173.245.52.139]] 15:17, 11 June 2018 (UTC)
::Point2: That is exactly what I am saying. Only the vice president can succeed to the presidency. The others would execute the powers of the president. What would most likely happen is that the acting president would appoint a vice president, who would succeed immediately when approved by congress.--[[Special:Contributions/162.158.134.34|162.158.134.34]] 07:50, 12 June 2018 (UTC)
::Point 1: There would be no acting president. Only the vice president can become acting president when the president is incapacitated. This and the office of president being vacant are covered in entirely separate parts of the constitution. The line of succession applies only in the latter case.

;The Queen
Shouldn't the Queen come before Charles of Windsor? She is 0th in the British succession line. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.27.246|172.68.27.246]] 20:48, 17 June 2018 (UTC)
::It would violate Royal Oath. [[User:Erkinalp|Erkinalp]] ([[User talk:Erkinalp|talk]]) 13:53, 19 June 2018 (UTC)

2003: Presidential Succession

2018-06-13T20:23:57Z

Erkinalp: /* Order of succession */

{{comic
| number = 2003
| date = June 6, 2018
| title = Presidential Succession
| image = presidential_succession.png
| titletext = Ties are broken by whoever was closest to the surface of Europa when they were born.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a DESIGNATED SURVIVOR. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

The {{w|United States presidential line of succession}} is the order of people who serve as president if the current incumbent president is incapacitated, dies, resigns, or is removed from office.

The {{w|Presidential_Succession_Act#Presidential_Succession_Act_of_1947|Presidential Succession Act of 1947}} was an act by the U.S. Congress that revised the presidential order of succession to its current order. This Act, though never challenged in the courts, may not be constitutional for two reasons. First, it is unclear whether members of Congress can be designated in the line of succession. Secondly, the Act allows for a cabinet officer to be "replaced" as acting President by a new Speaker of the House or a new President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

An additional concern regarding the Act is that after the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the line of succession list the members of the Cabinet in the order that their department was established with the oldest departments first, irrespective of the Secretary's personal fitness or appropriateness of the office. The Department of Homeland Security is in charge of the security and protection of the United States and its citizens and would probably already be privy to sensitive intelligence and briefings related to national security, but because it is the latest of the Departments to have been established (in 2003), the Secretary of Homeland Security is all the way at the bottom of the current Presidential line of succession at 18th, behind other Secretaries such as that of Agriculture (9th) and Education (16th).

Another practical concern is that, by including the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate immediately after the Vice President, there is a serious risk that the simultaneous death of the President and Vice President could cause the Presidency to change to the opposing party, which (in the current American political climate) could lead to serious political instability at the precise moment when the country is facing a national crisis, and could even encourage assassinations.

The full text of the Second Report of the Continuity of Government Commission can be found here: <https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/06_continuity_of_government.pdf>. A short, readable summary, including the report's recommended new line of succession, is here: <https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-continuity-of-the-presidency-the-second-report-of-the-continuity-of-government-commission/>. The first 6 members of the commission's list are included in the current line of succession, after which they specificy that 5 new people should be appointed specifically for the purpose of succeeding the presidency if needed. Randall's list begins with these 11 people (stuffing all 5 of the new appointees into #7); afterwards, his list continues with more politicians, actors who have played Presidents, athletes, and others.

Randall's list omits the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, as well as many other cabinet positions. He is probably simply following the commission's report in this. But perhaps he does not find those people qualified to become President of the United States, or is concerned about the constitutionality of lawmakers becoming President. However, he does not seem to be concerned about constitutionality, because he included the entire line of succession to the British throne, most of whom do not meet the requirement to be a natural-born citizen of the United States.{{Citation needed}} {{w|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_Two_of_the_United_States_Constitution#Clause_5:_Qualifications_for_office|Article Two of the US Constitution}} establishes that the President must be a "{{w|Natural-born-citizen clause|natural-born}}" US citizen at least 35 years of age and had lived in the US for the last 14 years.

Randall's list includes several other people who also might not be eligible to become President either because they are not natural-born U.S. citizens (e.g., as of the time of the comic's publication, {{w|Serena Williams}} had withdrawn from her last match in the {{w|French Open}} to {{w|Maria Sharapova}}, who is Russian) or they are under 35 years of age ({{w|Russell Westbrook}}, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player at the time of the comic's publication, was only 29 years old). These would mainly be athletes due to the relatively global reach of the four major professional sports leagues in North America and the fact that 35 is quite old for a professional athlete, let alone one who is good enough to win the league MVP. Presumably, those who wouldn't qualify for the office of President would be skipped over like in real life -- at the comic's publication, {{w|Elaine Chao}} was the Secretary of Transportation and would normally be 14th in line, but because she is a naturalized citizen of the US (she was born in Taiwan) she would not qualify for the office if the line came to her.

This is another comic in the continuing line of comics about American politics, especially after the election of Donald Trump as President in 2016.

==Order of succession==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!#
!Randall's order
!Current order by the 1947 Act
!Notes
|-
|1
|President
|President
|Not generally considered part of the line of succession, as incumbents cannot "succeed" to their own post. (This should really be item 0 on the list.)
|-
|2
|Vice president
|Vice president
|No change
|-
|3
|Secretary of State
|Speaker of the House of Representatives
|Moved up from 5th position. This is likely a serious suggestion. Existing rules of succession hand Executive power to the leaders of the Legislative branch if the President and Vice-President are both killed or removed from power. This is troubling for a number of reasons. One is that the Executive and Legislative branches are supposed to act as independent checks on one another's power, and so are supposed to be kept separate. Another issue is that the Executive and Legislative branches are frequently controlled by political rivals from different political parties. In such a case, assassins could effectively reverse the results of Presidential elections if they managed to kill the President and Vice-President in a short period of time (which is used as part of the twist ending in {{w|White House Down}}). Additionally, leaders of the House and Senate aren't as deeply connected to the military and diplomatic missions of the country, and so would have a hard time maintaining continuity, particularly if an attack or disaster killed multiple national leaders at once. These problems could all be addressed by keeping the initial Line of Succession confined to the Executive branch of government.
|-
|4
|Secretary of Defense
|President pro tempore of the Senate
|Moved up from 7th position
|-
|5
|Secretary of Homeland Security
|Secretary of State
|Moved up from 19th position, possibly to highlight the Attorney General's place in the current order
|-
|6
|Attorney General
|Secretary of the Treasury
|Moved up from 8th position
|-
|7
|Five people who do not live in Washington DC, nominated at the start of the President's term and confirmed by the Senate
|Secretary of Defense
|{{w|Washington, D.C.}} is the capital of the United States, and is where the {{w|White House}}, the President's residence, is located. Presumably this provision covers the case where much of the government, including positions 1–6 here, are killed by a natural disaster or attack in Washington, D.C.

This suggestion establishes no qualifications for these people, but the fact that they'd need to be confirmed by the Senate suggests that they would be chosen to be competent for the role. It is also unclear if an order is determined among these five or if they take up a joint presidency. This suggestion is taken from the Second Report of the Continuity of Government Commission as a potential mechanism to ensure members of succession are not in Washington DC during a catastrophic attack.
|-
|8
|{{w|Tom Hanks}}
|Attorney General
|Academy Award-winning American actor. This is the first unambiguously unserious suggestion.{{Citation needed}} Tom Hanks is very popular and considered exceptionally likeable by many Americans, but has never served in public office or displayed any particular affinity for politics. He has also never played a president, though he has received a {{w|Presidential Medal of Freedom}}, and appeared in a {{w|Last Week Tonight with John Oliver}} [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyPRssh2rk0 skit], where he rallies five (wax) presidents to action. The implication is that Mr. Hanks would be easily accepted as a leader, based solely on his personal charm.
|-
|9
|State Governors, in descending order of state population at last census
|Secretary of the Interior
|Also taken from Second Report of the Continuity of Government Commission. At the time of publication, the last {{w|United States Census}} was the 2010 Census. As California is the most populous state, Gov {{w|Jerry Brown}} would be first in line.

See also the {{w|2010_United_States_Census#State_rankings|state population rankings}} and the {{w|list of current United States governors}}. As worded, this criterion would exclude territorial governors (and the Mayor of Washington, D.C.).
|-
|10
|Anyone who won an Oscar for playing a governor
|Secretary of Agriculture
|Oscars, or {{w|Academy Awards}}, are annual film awards awarded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. At the time of publication, the only Oscar awarded for playing a governor was {{w|Broderick Crawford}}'s 1949 Best Actor award for the fictional Willie Stark in ''{{w|All the King's Men (1949 film)|All the King's Men}}'' (a character based on {{w|Huey Long}}). However, Crawford died in 1986, so would be unable to serve as President.

May be a reference to the {{w|Political career of Arnold Schwarzenegger}}: a highly-lauded actor who became governor of California, but did not win an Oscar or play a governor before being elected. (As a naturalized citizen, he is also ineligible for the Presidency.)
|-
|11
|Anyone who won a Governor's award for playing someone named Oscar
|Secretary of Commerce
|The {{w|Governors Awards}} are an annual award ceremony hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to present lifetime achievement awards within the film industry. As this award is a lifetime achievement award, it does not seem possible that an actor could win this award for simply playing someone named Oscar. Notwithstanding the nature of the award, at the time of publication, no recipient of a Governors Award has played a character named Oscar.

Obviously, the joke is that changing the order of the words from the previous proposal produces something that could actually exist.
|-
|12
|{{w|Kate McKinnon}}, if available
|Secretary of Labor
|Comedic actress famous for being a cast member on {{w|Saturday Night Live}}. She is known for her character work and celebrity impressions. She has recently done impersonations of members of the Trump administration including Spokeswoman {{w|Kellyanne Conway}} and Attorney General {{w|Jeff Sessions}}. She also played {{w|Hillary Clinton}} during the 2016 campaign and presumably would have played her when she was President had she won; but since Clinton lost, McKinnon has not actually played a President.
|-
|13
|Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Singles artists #1 through #10 (for groups, whoever is credited first in name, liner notes, etc)
|Secretary of Health and Human Services
|The {{w|Billboard Hot 100}} is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for singles, published weekly by Billboard magazine. The weekly data is aggregated into a cumulative {{w|Billboard Year-End}} (based on a "year" that ends the third week of November, in order to meet December publication deadlines). At the time of publication, the most recent such list was the {{w|Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2017}}.

Based on that list, the artists considered for the presidential succession would be: {{w|Ed Sheeran}}, {{w|Luis Fonsi}}, {{w|Bruno Mars}}, {{w|Kendrick Lamar}}, Alex Pall (of {{w|The Chainsmokers}}), {{w|Quavo|Quavoius Keyate Marshall}} (of {{w|Migos}}), {{w|Sam Hunt}}, {{w|Dan Reynolds}} (of {{w|Imagine Dragons}}), and {{w|Post Malone}}. There are only nine names instead of ten because The Chainsmokers had two of the top 10 singles in 2017. Of these, only Luis Fonsi (40 years old, born in Puerto Rico) is legally eligible for the office; Sheeran is from the UK, and the other seven are too young.
|-
|14
|The top 5 US astronauts in descending order of total spaceflight time
|Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
|Astronauts are highly respected and rigorously selected, but most have little involvement in politics. According to [https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-station-astronaut-record-holders NASA], the top 5 US astronauts by cumulative space time are: {{w|Peggy Whitson}}, {{w|Jeffrey Williams (astronaut)|Jeff Williams}}, {{W|Scott Kelly (astronaut)|Scott Kelly}}, {{w|Mike Fincke}}, and {{w|Mike Foale}}. However, it isn't clear whether Foale would qualify as a natural-born citizen as he was born in the UK and his father is British but his mother is American.
|-
|15
|{{w|Serena Williams}} (or, if she lost her most recent match, whoever beat her)
|Secretary of Transportation
|As of the time of publication, Serena Williams was the top female tennis player (though not the world #1 ranking, because she took time off for pregnancy). She is arguably the greatest female tennis player of all-time, winning 39 {{w|Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam}} titles, including 23 women's singles titles. At the time of publication Serena Williams did win her most recent match (2018 French Open, third round, on June 2nd), although she withdrew from her next match against Maria Sharapova (which perhaps should count as a loss, especially if she withdrew in order to preserve her place in the line of succession and led the terrorist attack that killed everybody in place ahead of her).

If her most recent defeat was to a non-US player, presumably she would be skipped over in line although this is not explicitly stated (the current succession list skips over anyone who would not normally qualify for not being a natural-born US citizen).
|-
|16
|The most recent season NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL MVPs
|Secretary of Energy
|MVP stands for {{w|Most Valuable Player}}. The 4 listed leagues are the major sports leagues in the United States, the {{w|National Basketball Association}} (NBA), the {{w|National Football League}} (NFL), {{w|Major League Baseball}} (MLB), and the {{w|National Hockey League}} (NHL). We're assuming that Randall meant the regular season MVPs of each league, as each league also awards MVPs for their respective championships (or in the case of the NHL's {{w|Conn Smythe Trophy}}, their entire playoffs).

As of the time of publication, the most recent MVPs for the listed sports were {{w|Russell Westbrook}} (NBA), {{w|Tom Brady}} (NFL), {{w|José Altuve}} and {{w|Giancarlo Stanton}} (MLB has two, one for the American League and one for the National League), and {{w|Connor McDavid}} (NHL). Of these, only Brady would qualify for the list - Altuve and McDavid are not US citizens (the former is from Venezuela and the latter from Canada), and Westbrook (29) and Stanton (28) are too young.
|-
|17
|{{w|Bill Pullman}} and his descendants by absolute primogeniture
|Secretary of Education
|American actor, known for playing President Thomas J. Whitmore in the 1996 film ''{{w|Independence Day (1996 film)|Independence Day}}''.

Absolute primogeniture is a form of succession where the oldest direct descendant regardless of gender receives the title. This is contrasted to {{w|Male-preference primogeniture}}, in which males come before females in the order of the throne, whether the males were born first or not. This may be a reference to the British law {{w|Succession to the Crown Act 2013}}, which changed the order of the throne from male-preference primogeniture to absolute primogeniture. This act allows {{w|Princess Charlotte of Cambridge|Princess Charlotte}} to retain her place in line before {{w|Prince Louis of Cambridge|Prince Louis}}.

As of the present, Pullman's immediate descendants consist of three children, with Maesa Pullman being the oldest at age 29, so all are currently too young for the presidency.
|-
|18
|The entire line of succession to the British throne
|Secretary of Veterans Affairs
|According to the Constitution, only a natural-born citizen of the United States can become President, which means that at least most of the line of succession to the British throne is ineligible. However, it is possible that someone in the line of succession to the British throne either is a dual citizen (especially one who is a U.S. citizen based on place of birth and a British citizen based on having a parent who was a British citizen descended from {{w|Sophia of Hanover}}) or is not British (a person from outside of Britain can become King; for example, some, including George I, were from what is now Germany).

The first 57 names on the list are {{w|Succession_to_the_British_throne#Current_line_of_succession|here}}, as of the time of publication. [https://lineofsuccession.co.uk/?date=2018-06-06 British Line of Succession on 6 June 2018] shows the list as it was at the comic's publication. American citizens [http://articles.latimes.com/1988-02-11/news/vw-42233_1_royal-house have, at times] been on the list, but no natural-born Americans are currently in the top 100. In theory, however, the full British succession list includes several thousand people (living descendants of {{w|Sophia of Hanover}} who are not Roman Catholic or otherwise disqualified), and it is possible that one or more such people would also be eligible to be President of the United States.

The humor here derives from the fact that the United States was established by declaring independence from the United Kingdom, with rejection of the British monarchy being a basic founding principle, and a core principle of US governance. To appoint the British monarchy to the American presidency would contradict the basic goals of American independence. Alternatively, it may reference the recent wedding of {{w|Prince Harry}} to {{w|Meghan Markle}}, although she is not in the order of succession to the British throne (and she is planning to give up her U.S. citizenship in favour of British citizenship, so her children (who would come immediately after Harry in the British line of succession) would not be born U.S. citizens either). A similar sequence of events was the plotline of the comedy film ''{{w|King Ralph}}'', which saw an American become the British monarch after the death of the royal family.
|-
|19
|The current champion of the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating contest
|Secretary of Homeland Security
|The {{w|Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest}} is an annual American hot dog competitive eating competition sponsored by {{w|Nathan's Famous}} held on July 4th. As of the time of publication, the most recent men's winner is {{w|Joey Chestnut}} and the women's winner is {{w|Miki Sudo}}. Neither is currently old enough to assume the office.
|-
|20
|All other US citizens, chosen by a 29-round single-elimination Jousting tournament
|''None''
|Effective for a population up to 536,870,912 individuals (2^29) which would be enough to cover the entire US population (estimated at around 325 million at time of publication), although additional rounds can be added should the population grow further.

This is probably a reference to the {{w|Matter of Britain}} (e.g., {{w|The Sword in the Stone (film)|The Sword in the Stone}}), where, after the death of Uther Pendragon, with no known successor to the throne of England for years, it is decided that the winner of a jousting tournament shall be crowned. However, Arthur, the Wart, pulls the Sword from the Stone.
|}

The title text mentions whoever was closest to the surface of {{w|Europa}} when they were born. Europa is a moon of Jupiter, so most people would be very far from its surface when they were born. However, depending on the relative positions of Earth and Jupiter when you were born, you could easily have been tens of millions of kilometers closer. Alternatively, Randall could be playing on how Europa sounds like Europe.

===List of specific individuals===
Based on the comic's defined criteria for the order of succession, these are the specific individuals in that order, including only people who are otherwise eligible to be President of Untied states (35 year old and natural born US citizens who lived in US for last 14 years) as of the date the comic was published:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Order
!Name
!Reason
!Notes
|-
|1
|{{w|Donald Trump}}
|{{w|President of the United States}}
|
|-
|2
|{{w|Mike Pence}}
|{{w|Vice President of the United States}}
|
|-
|3
|{{w|Mike Pompeo}}
|{{w|United States Secretary of State}}
|
|-
|4
|{{w|Jim Mattis}}
|{{w|United States Secretary of Defense}}
|
|-
|5
|{{w|Kirstjen Nielsen}}
|{{w|United States Secretary of Homeland Security}}
|
|-
|6
|{{w|Jeff Sessions}}
|{{w|United States Attorney General}}
|
|-
|7
|{{w|Tom Hanks}}
|Tom Hanks
|As Donald Trump did not appoint anyone to fill position #7 on Randall's line of succession, Hanks immediately follows after Sessions.
|-
|8
|{{w|Jerry Brown}}
|Governor of California
|
|-
|9
|{{w|Greg Abbott}}
|Governor of Texas
|
|-
|10
|{{w|Andrew Cuomo}}
|Governor of New York
|
|-
|11
|{{w|Rick Scott}}
|Governor of Florida
|
|-
|12
|{{w|Bruce Rauner}}
|Governor of Illinois
|
|-
|13
|{{w|Tom Wolf}}
|Governor of Pennsylvania
|
|-
|14
|{{w|John Kasich}}
|Governor of Ohio
|
|-
|15
|{{w|Rick Snyder}}
|Governor of Michigan
|
|-
|16
|{{w|Nathan Deal}}
|Governor of Georgia
|
|-
|17
|{{w|Roy Cooper}}
|Governor of North Carolina
|
|-
|18
|{{w|Phil Murphy}}
|Governor of New Jersey
|
|-
|19
|{{w|Ralph Northam}}
|Governor of Virginia
|
|-
|20
|{{w|Jay Inslee}}
|Governor of Washington
|
|-
|21
|{{w|Charlie Baker}}
|Governor of Massachusetts
|
|-
|22
|{{w|Eric Holcomb}}
|Governor of Indiana
|
|-
|23
|{{w|Doug Ducey}}
|Governor of Arizona
|
|-
|24
|{{w|Bill Haslam}}
|Governor of Tennessee
|
|-
|25
|{{w|Mike Parson}}
|Governor of Missouri
|
|-
|26
|{{w|Larry Hogan}}
|Governor of Maryland
|
|-
|27
|{{w|Scott Walker (politician)|Scott Walker}}
|Governor of Wisconsin
|
|-
|28
|{{w|Mark Dayton}}
|Governor of Minnesota
|
|-
|29
|{{w|John Hickenlooper}}
|Governor of Colorado
|
|-
|30
|{{w|Kay Ivey}}
|Governor of Alabama
|
|-
|31
|{{w|Henry McMaster}}
|Governor of South Carolina
|
|-
|32
|{{w|John Bel Edwards}}
|Governor of Louisiana
|
|-
|33
|{{w|Matt Bevin}}
|Governor of Kentucky
|
|-
|33
|{{w|Kate Brown}}
|Governor of Oregon
|Born in Spain to a member of the US Air Force, should be considered a natural-born citizen until proven otherwise.
|-
|35
|{{w|Mary Fallin}}
|Governor of Oklahoma
|
|-
|36
|{{w|Dannel Malloy}}
|Governor of Connecticut
|
|-
|37
|{{w|Kim Reynolds}}
|Governor of Iowa
|
|-
|38
|{{w|Phil Bryant}}
|Governor of Mississippi
|
|-
|39
|{{w|Asa Hutchinson}}
|Governor of Arkansas
|
|-
|40
|{{w|Jeff Colyer}}
|Governor of Kansas
|
|-
|41
|{{w|Gary Herbert}}
|Governor of Utah
|
|-
|42
|{{w|Brian Sandoval}}
|Governor of Nevada
|
|-
|43
|{{w|Susana Martinez}}
|Governor of New Mexico
|
|-
|44
|{{w|Jim Justice}}
|Governor of West Virginia
|
|-
|45
|{{w|Pete Ricketts}}
|Governor of Nebraska
|
|-
|46
|{{w|Butch Otter}}
|Governor of Idaho
|
|-
|47
|{{w|David Ige}}
|Governor of Hawaii
|
|-
|48
|{{w|Paul LePage}}
|Governor of Maine
|
|-
|49
|{{w|Chris Sununu}}
|Governor of New Hampshire
|
|-
|50
|{{w|Gina Raimondo}}
|Governor of Rhode Island
|
|-
|51
|{{w|Steve Bullock (American politician)|Steve Bullock}}
|Governor of Montana
|
|-
|52
|{{w|John Carney (politician)|John Carney}}
|Governor of Delaware
|
|-
|53
|{{w|Dennis Daugaard}}
|Governor of South Dakota
|
|-
|54
|{{w|Bill Walker (U.S. politician)|Bill Walker}}
|Governor of Alaska
|
|-
|55
|{{w|Doug Burgum}}
|Governor of North Dakota
|
|-
|56
|{{w|Phil Scott (politician)|Phil Scott}}
|Governor of Vermont
|
|-
|57
|{{w|Matt Mead}}
|Governor of Wyoming
|
|-
|58
|{{w|Kate McKinnon}}
|Kate MicKinnon
|If she is available. Entries #10 and 11 on Randall's list have no eligible members.
|-
|59
|{{w|Luis Fonsi}}
|Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2017, #2 artist
|Fonsi is the only eligible individual under the Billboard criterion.
|-
|60
|{{w|Peggy Whitson}}
|Astronaut, 665 days in space
|
|-
|61
|{{w|Jeffrey Williams (astronaut)|Jeff Williams}}
|Astronaut, 534 days in space
|
|-
|62
|{{w|Scott Kelly}}
|Astronaut, 520 days in space
|
|-
|63
|{{w|Mike Fincke}}
|Astronaut, 382 days in space
|
|-
|64
|{{w|Mike Foale}}
|Astronaut, 374 days in space
|Foale was born in the UK but his mother is an American, and he holds dual citizenship with both countries. It isn't clear legally whether this situation would qualify him as being a "natural-born" citizen as US courts have never definitively ruled on what the term means, so similar to Governor Kate Brown his name is included in the list until further notice.
|-
|65
|{{w|Serena Williams}}
|Serena Williams
|Serena's place on this list assumes that you do not count her withdrawal against Maria Sharapova as a ''loss''; if that counts as a loss, then subsequent entries move up one position (as Sharapova is ineligible).
|-
|66
|{{w|Tom Brady}}
|{{w|National Football League Most Valuable Player Award|NFL MVP}}
|The MVPs of all other listed sports leagues are ineligible for the office.
|-
|67
|{{w|Bill Pullman}}
|Bill Pullman
|None of his children are old enough to become President at this time.
|-
|68
|{{w|Prince Charles|Charles Windsor}}
|1st successor to British throne
|US citizenship and residency is ignored in this and succeeding entries for British royalty.
|-
|69
|{{w|Prince William, Duke of Cambridge|William Windsor-Cambridge}}
|2nd successor to British throne
|
|-
|70
|{{w|Prince Andrew|Andrew Windsor}}
|7th successor to British throne
|Successors of order 3 to 6 are too young to be serve as President.
|-
|71
|{{w|Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex|Edward Windsor-Wessex}}
|10th successor to British throne
|
|-
|
|''everyone else''
|Jousting tournament
|Assumes that no eligible member of the British order of succession exists. The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating champions are too young to hold the office.
|}

==Transcript==
: A proposal for a new presidential line of succession
: Current politics aside, most experts agree the existing process is flawed. The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 is probably unconstitutional on several counts, and there are many practical issues with the system as well.
: (For more, see the surprisingly gripping ''Second Report of the Continuity of Government Commission'', June 2009.)
: Proposed line of succession:
:# President
:# Vice president
:# Secretary of State
:# Secretary of Defense
:# Secretary of Homeland Security
:# Attorney General
:# Five people who do not live in Washington DC, nominated at the start of the president's term and confirmed by the Senate
:# Tom Hanks
:# State Governors, in descending order of state population at last census
:# Anyone who won an Oscar for playing a governor
:# Anyone who won a Governor's award for playing someone named Oscar
:# Kate McKinnon, if available
:# Billboard year-end Hot 100 singles artists #1 through #10 (for groups, whoever is credited first in name, liner notes, etc)
:# The top 5 US astronauts in descending order of total spaceflight time
:# Serena Williams (or, if she lost her most recent match, whoever beat her)
:# The most recent season NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL MVPs
:# Bull Pullman and his descendants by absolute primogeniture
:# The entire line of succession to the British throne
:# The current champion of the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating contest
:# All other US citizens, chosen by a 29-round single-elimination Jousting tournament

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Politics]]

2003: Presidential Succession

2018-06-13T18:48:38Z

Erkinalp: /* List of specific individuals */

{{comic
| number = 2003
| date = June 6, 2018
| title = Presidential Succession
| image = presidential_succession.png
| titletext = Ties are broken by whoever was closest to the surface of Europa when they were born.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a DESIGNATED SURVIVOR. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

The {{w|United States presidential line of succession}} is the order of people who serve as president if the current incumbent president is incapacitated, dies, resigns, or is removed from office.

The {{w|Presidential_Succession_Act#Presidential_Succession_Act_of_1947|Presidential Succession Act of 1947}} was an act by the U.S. Congress that revised the presidential order of succession to its current order. This Act, though never challenged in the courts, may not be constitutional for two reasons. First, it is unclear whether members of Congress can be designated in the line of succession. Secondly, the Act allows for a cabinet officer to be "replaced" as acting President by a new Speaker of the House or a new President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

An additional concern regarding the Act is that after the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the line of succession list the members of the Cabinet in the order that their department was established with the oldest departments first, irrespective of the Secretary's personal fitness or appropriateness of the office. The Department of Homeland Security is in charge of the security and protection of the United States and its citizens and would probably already be privy to sensitive intelligence and briefings related to national security, but because it is the latest of the Departments to have been established (in 2003), the Secretary of Homeland Security is all the way at the bottom of the current Presidential line of succession at 18th, behind other Secretaries such as that of Agriculture (9th) and Education (16th).

Another practical concern is that, by including the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate immediately after the Vice President, there is a serious risk that the simultaneous death of the President and Vice President could cause the Presidency to change to the opposing party, which (in the current American political climate) could lead to serious political instability at the precise moment when the country is facing a national crisis, and could even encourage assassinations.

The full text of the Second Report of the Continuity of Government Commission can be found here: <https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/06_continuity_of_government.pdf>. A short, readable summary, including the report's recommended new line of succession, is here: <https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-continuity-of-the-presidency-the-second-report-of-the-continuity-of-government-commission/>. The first 6 members of the commission's list are included in the current line of succession, after which they specificy that 5 new people should be appointed specifically for the purpose of succeeding the presidency if needed. Randall's list begins with these 11 people (stuffing all 5 of the new appointees into #7); afterwards, his list continues with more politicians, actors who have played Presidents, athletes, and others.

Randall's list omits the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, as well as many other cabinet positions. He is probably simply following the commission's report in this. But perhaps he does not find those people qualified to become President of the United States, or is concerned about the constitutionality of lawmakers becoming President. However, he does not seem to be concerned about constitutionality, because he included the entire line of succession to the British throne, most of whom do not meet the requirement to be a natural-born citizen of the United States.{{Citation needed}} {{w|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_Two_of_the_United_States_Constitution#Clause_5:_Qualifications_for_office|Article Two of the US Constitution}} establishes that the President must be a "{{w|Natural-born-citizen clause|natural-born}}" US citizen at least 35 years of age and had lived in the US for the last 14 years.

Randall's list includes several other people who also might not be eligible to become President either because they are not natural-born U.S. citizens (e.g., as of the time of the comic's publication, {{w|Serena Williams}} had withdrawn from her last match in the {{w|French Open}} to {{w|Maria Sharapova}}, who is Russian) or they are under 35 years of age ({{w|Russell Westbrook}}, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player at the time of the comic's publication, was only 29 years old). These would mainly be athletes due to the relatively global reach of the four major professional sports leagues in North America and the fact that 35 is quite old for a professional athlete, let alone one who is good enough to win the league MVP. Presumably, those who wouldn't qualify for the office of President would be skipped over like in real life -- at the comic's publication, {{w|Elaine Chao}} was the Secretary of Transportation and would normally be 14th in line, but because she is a naturalized citizen of the US (she was born in Taiwan) she would not qualify for the office if the line came to her.

This is another comic in the continuing line of comics about American politics, especially after the election of Donald Trump as President in 2016.

==Order of succession==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!#
!Randall's order
!Current order by the 1947 Act
!Notes
|-
|1
|President
|President
|Not generally considered part of the line of succession, as incumbents cannot "succeed" to their own post. (This should really be item 0 on the list.)
|-
|2
|Vice president
|Vice president
|No change
|-
|3
|Secretary of State
|Speaker of the House of Representatives
|Moved up from 5th position. This is likely a serious suggestion. Existing rules of succession hand Executive power to the leaders of the Legislative branch if the President and Vice-President are both killed or removed from power. This is troubling for a number of reasons. One is that the Executive and Legislative branches are supposed to act as independent checks on one another's power, and so are supposed to be kept separate. Another issue is that the Executive and Legislative branches are frequently controlled by political rivals from different political parties. In such a case, assassins could effectively reverse the results of Presidential elections if they managed to kill the President and Vice-President in a short period of time (which is used as part of the twist ending in {{w|White House Down}}). Additionally, leaders of the House and Senate aren't as deeply connected to the military and diplomatic missions of the country, and so would have a hard time maintaining continuity, particularly if an attack or disaster killed multiple national leaders at once. These problems could all be addressed by keeping the initial Line of Succession confined to the Executive branch of government.
|-
|4
|Secretary of Defense
|President pro tempore of the Senate
|Moved up from 7th position
|-
|5
|Secretary of Homeland Security
|Secretary of State
|Moved up from 19th position, possibly to highlight the Attorney General's place in the current order
|-
|6
|Attorney General
|Secretary of the Treasury
|Moved up from 8th position
|-
|7
|Five people who do not live in Washington DC, nominated at the start of the President's term and confirmed by the Senate
|Secretary of Defense
|{{w|Washington, D.C.}} is the capital of the United States, and is where the {{w|White House}}, the President's residence, is located. Presumably this provision covers the case where much of the government, including positions 1–6 here, are killed by a natural disaster or attack in Washington, D.C.

This suggestion establishes no qualifications for these people, but the fact that they'd need to be confirmed by the Senate suggests that they would be chosen to be competent for the role. It is also unclear if an order is determined among these five or if they take up a joint presidency. This suggestion is taken from the Second Report of the Continuity of Government Commission as a potential mechanism to ensure members of succession are not in Washington DC during a catastrophic attack.
|-
|8
|{{w|Tom Hanks}}
|Attorney General
|Academy Award-winning American actor. This is the first unambiguously unserious suggestion.{{Citation needed}} Tom Hanks is very popular and considered exceptionally likeable by many Americans, but has never served in public office or displayed any particular affinity for politics. He has also never played a president, though he has received a {{w|Presidential Medal of Freedom}}, and appeared in a {{w|Last Week Tonight with John Oliver}} [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyPRssh2rk0 skit], where he rallies five (wax) presidents to action. The implication is that Mr. Hanks would be easily accepted as a leader, based solely on his personal charm.
|-
|9
|State Governors, in descending order of state population at last census
|Secretary of the Interior
|Also taken from Second Report of the Continuity of Government Commission. At the time of publication, the last {{w|United States Census}} was the 2010 Census. As California is the most populous state, Gov {{w|Jerry Brown}} would be first in line.

See also the {{w|2010_United_States_Census#State_rankings|state population rankings}} and the {{w|list of current United States governors}}. As worded, this criterion would exclude territorial governors (and the Mayor of Washington, D.C.).
|-
|10
|Anyone who won an Oscar for playing a governor
|Secretary of Agriculture
|Oscars, or {{w|Academy Awards}}, are annual film awards awarded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. At the time of publication, the only Oscar awarded for playing a governor was {{w|Broderick Crawford}}'s 1949 Best Actor award for the fictional Willie Stark in ''{{w|All the King's Men (1949 film)|All the King's Men}}'' (a character based on {{w|Huey Long}}). However, Crawford died in 1986, so would be unable to serve as President.

May be a reference to the {{w|Political career of Arnold Schwarzenegger}}: a highly-lauded actor who became governor of California, but did not win an Oscar or play a governor before being elected. (As a naturalized citizen, he is also ineligible for the Presidency.)
|-
|11
|Anyone who won a Governor's award for playing someone named Oscar
|Secretary of Commerce
|The {{w|Governors Awards}} are an annual award ceremony hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to present lifetime achievement awards within the film industry. As this award is a lifetime achievement award, it does not seem possible that an actor could win this award for simply playing someone named Oscar. Notwithstanding the nature of the award, at the time of publication, no recipient of a Governors Award has played a character named Oscar.

Obviously, the joke is that changing the order of the words from the previous proposal produces something that could actually exist.
|-
|12
|{{w|Kate McKinnon}}, if available
|Secretary of Labor
|Comedic actress famous for being a cast member on {{w|Saturday Night Live}}. She is known for her character work and celebrity impressions. She has recently done impersonations of members of the Trump administration including Spokeswoman {{w|Kellyanne Conway}} and Attorney General {{w|Jeff Sessions}}. She also played {{w|Hillary Clinton}} during the 2016 campaign and presumably would have played her when she was President had she won; but since Clinton lost, McKinnon has not actually played a President.
|-
|13
|Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Singles artists #1 through #10 (for groups, whoever is credited first in name, liner notes, etc)
|Secretary of Health and Human Services
|The {{w|Billboard Hot 100}} is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for singles, published weekly by Billboard magazine. The weekly data is aggregated into a cumulative {{w|Billboard Year-End}} (based on a "year" that ends the third week of November, in order to meet December publication deadlines). At the time of publication, the most recent such list was the {{w|Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2017}}.

Based on that list, the artists considered for the presidential succession would be: {{w|Ed Sheeran}}, {{w|Luis Fonsi}}, {{w|Bruno Mars}}, {{w|Kendrick Lamar}}, Alex Pall (of {{w|The Chainsmokers}}), {{w|Quavo|Quavoius Keyate Marshall}} (of {{w|Migos}}), {{w|Sam Hunt}}, {{w|Dan Reynolds}} (of {{w|Imagine Dragons}}), and {{w|Post Malone}}. There are only nine names instead of ten because The Chainsmokers had two of the top 10 singles in 2017. Of these, only Luis Fonsi (40 years old, born in Puerto Rico) is legally eligible for the office; Sheeran is from the UK, and the other seven are too young.
|-
|14
|The top 5 US astronauts in descending order of total spaceflight time
|Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
|Astronauts are highly respected and rigorously selected, but most have little involvement in politics. According to [https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-station-astronaut-record-holders NASA], the top 5 US astronauts by cumulative space time are: {{w|Peggy Whitson}}, {{w|Jeffrey Williams (astronaut)|Jeff Williams}}, {{W|Scott Kelly (astronaut)|Scott Kelly}}, {{w|Mike Fincke}}, and {{w|Mike Foale}}. However, it isn't clear whether Foale would qualify as a natural-born citizen as he was born in the UK and his father is British but his mother is American.
|-
|15
|{{w|Serena Williams}} (or, if she lost her most recent match, whoever beat her)
|Secretary of Transportation
|As of the time of publication, Serena Williams was the top female tennis player (though not the world #1 ranking, because she took time off for pregnancy). She is arguably the greatest female tennis player of all-time, winning 39 {{w|Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam}} titles, including 23 women's singles titles. At the time of publication Serena Williams did win her most recent match (2018 French Open, third round, on June 2nd), although she withdrew from her next match against Maria Sharapova (which perhaps should count as a loss, especially if she withdrew in order to preserve her place in the line of succession and led the terrorist attack that killed everybody in place ahead of her).

If her most recent defeat was to a non-US player, presumably she would be skipped over in line although this is not explicitly stated (the current succession list skips over anyone who would not normally qualify for not being a natural-born US citizen).
|-
|16
|The most recent season NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL MVPs
|Secretary of Energy
|MVP stands for {{w|Most Valuable Player}}. The 4 listed leagues are the major sports leagues in the United States, the {{w|National Basketball Association}} (NBA), the {{w|National Football League}} (NFL), {{w|Major League Baseball}} (MLB), and the {{w|National Hockey League}} (NHL). We're assuming that Randall meant the regular season MVPs of each league, as each league also awards MVPs for their respective championships (or in the case of the NHL's {{w|Conn Smythe Trophy}}, their entire playoffs).

As of the time of publication, the most recent MVPs for the listed sports were {{w|Russell Westbrook}} (NBA), {{w|Tom Brady}} (NFL), {{w|José Altuve}} and {{w|Giancarlo Stanton}} (MLB has two, one for the American League and one for the National League), and {{w|Connor McDavid}} (NHL). Of these, only Brady would qualify for the list - Altuve and McDavid are not US citizens (the former is from Venezuela and the latter from Canada), and Westbrook (29) and Stanton (28) are too young.
|-
|17
|{{w|Bill Pullman}} and his descendants by absolute primogeniture
|Secretary of Education
|American actor, known for playing President Thomas J. Whitmore in the 1996 film ''{{w|Independence Day (1996 film)|Independence Day}}''.

Absolute primogeniture is a form of succession where the oldest direct descendant regardless of gender receives the title. This is contrasted to {{w|Male-preference primogeniture}}, in which males come before females in the order of the throne, whether the males were born first or not. This may be a reference to the British law {{w|Succession to the Crown Act 2013}}, which changed the order of the throne from male-preference primogeniture to absolute primogeniture. This act allows {{w|Princess Charlotte of Cambridge|Princess Charlotte}} to retain her place in line before {{w|Prince Louis of Cambridge|Prince Louis}}.

As of the present, Pullman's immediate descendants consist of three children, with Maesa Pullman being the oldest at age 29, so all are currently too young for the presidency.
|-
|18
|The entire line of succession to the British throne
|Secretary of Veterans Affairs
|According to the Constitution, only a natural-born citizen of the United States can become President, which means that at least most of the line of succession to the British throne is ineligible. However, it is possible that someone in the line of succession to the British throne either is a dual citizen (especially one who is a U.S. citizen based on place of birth and a British citizen based on having a parent who was a British citizen descended from {{w|Sophia of Hanover}}) or is not British (a person from outside of Britain can become King; for example, some, including George I, were from what is now Germany).

The first 57 names on the list are {{w|Succession_to_the_British_throne#Current_line_of_succession|here}}, as of the time of publication. [https://lineofsuccession.co.uk/?date=2018-06-06 British Line of Succession on 6 June 2018] shows the list as it was at the comic's publication. American citizens [http://articles.latimes.com/1988-02-11/news/vw-42233_1_royal-house have, at times] been on the list, but no natural-born Americans are currently in the top 100. In theory, however, the full British succession list includes several thousand people (living descendants of {{w|Sophia of Hanover}} who are not Roman Catholic or otherwise disqualified), and it is possible that one or more such people would also be eligible to be President of the United States.

The humor here derives from the fact that the United States was established by declaring independence from the United Kingdom, with rejection of the British monarchy being a basic founding principle, and a core principle of US governance. To appoint the British monarchy to the American presidency would contradict the basic goals of American independence. Alternatively, it may reference the recent wedding of {{w|Prince Harry}} to {{w|Meghan Markle}}, although she is not in the order of succession to the British throne (and she is planning to give up her U.S. citizenship in favour of British citizenship, so her children (who would come immediately after Harry in the British line of succession) would not be born U.S. citizens either). A similar sequence of events was the plotline of the comedy film ''{{w|King Ralph}}'', which saw an American become the British monarch after the death of the royal family.
|-
|19
|The current champion of the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating contest
|Secretary of Homeland Security
|The {{w|Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest}} is an annual American hot dog competitive eating competition sponsored by {{w|Nathan's Famous}} held on July 4th. As of the time of publication, the most recent men's winner is {{w|Joey Chestnut}} and the women's winner is {{w|Miki Sudo}}. Neither is currently old enough to assume the office.
|-
|20
|All other US citizens, chosen by a 29-round single-elimination Jousting tournament
|''None''
|Effective for a population up to 536,870,912 individuals (2^29) which would be enough to cover the entire US population (estimated at around 325 million at time of publication), although additional rounds can be added should the population grow further.

This is probably a reference to the {{w|Matter of Britain}} (e.g., {{w|The Sword in the Stone (film)|The Sword in the Stone}}), where, after the death of Uther Pendragon, with no known successor to the throne of England for years, it is decided that the winner of a jousting tournament shall be crowned. However, Arthur, the Wart, pulls the Sword from the Stone.
|}

The title text mentions whoever was closest to the surface of {{w|Europa}} when they were born. Europa is a moon of Jupiter, so most people would be very far from its surface when they were born. However, depending on the relative positions of Earth and Jupiter when you were born, you could easily have been tens of millions of kilometers closer. Alternatively, Randall could be playing on how Europa sounds like Europe.

===List of specific individuals===
Based on the comic's defined criteria for the order of succession, these are the specific individuals in that order, including only people who are otherwise eligible to be President of Untied states (35 year old and natural born US citizens who lived in US for last 14 years) as of the date the comic was published:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Order
!Name
!Reason
!Notes
|-
|1
|{{w|Donald Trump}}
|{{w|President of the United States}}
|
|-
|2
|{{w|Mike Pence}}
|{{w|Vice President of the United States}}
|
|-
|3
|{{w|Mike Pompeo}}
|{{w|United States Secretary of State}}
|
|-
|4
|{{w|Jim Mattis}}
|{{w|United States Secretary of Defense}}
|
|-
|5
|{{w|Kirstjen Nielsen}}
|{{w|United States Secretary of Homeland Security}}
|
|-
|6
|{{w|Jeff Sessions}}
|{{w|United States Attorney General}}
|
|-
|7
|{{w|Tom Hanks}}
|Tom Hanks
|As Donald Trump did not appoint anyone to fill position #7 on Randall's line of succession, Hanks immediately follows after Sessions.
|-
|8
|{{w|Jerry Brown}}
|Governor of California
|
|-
|9
|{{w|Greg Abbott}}
|Governor of Texas
|
|-
|10
|{{w|Andrew Cuomo}}
|Governor of New York
|
|-
|11
|{{w|Rick Scott}}
|Governor of Florida
|
|-
|12
|{{w|Bruce Rauner}}
|Governor of Illinois
|
|-
|13
|{{w|Tom Wolf}}
|Governor of Pennsylvania
|
|-
|14
|{{w|John Kasich}}
|Governor of Ohio
|
|-
|15
|{{w|Rick Snyder}}
|Governor of Michigan
|
|-
|16
|{{w|Nathan Deal}}
|Governor of Georgia
|
|-
|17
|{{w|Roy Cooper}}
|Governor of North Carolina
|
|-
|18
|{{w|Phil Murphy}}
|Governor of New Jersey
|
|-
|19
|{{w|Ralph Northam}}
|Governor of Virginia
|
|-
|20
|{{w|Jay Inslee}}
|Governor of Washington
|
|-
|21
|{{w|Charlie Baker}}
|Governor of Massachusetts
|
|-
|22
|{{w|Eric Holcomb}}
|Governor of Indiana
|
|-
|23
|{{w|Doug Ducey}}
|Governor of Arizona
|
|-
|24
|{{w|Bill Haslam}}
|Governor of Tennessee
|
|-
|25
|{{w|Mike Parson}}
|Governor of Missouri
|
|-
|26
|{{w|Larry Hogan}}
|Governor of Maryland
|
|-
|27
|{{w|Scott Walker (politician)|Scott Walker}}
|Governor of Wisconsin
|
|-
|28
|{{w|Mark Dayton}}
|Governor of Minnesota
|
|-
|29
|{{w|John Hickenlooper}}
|Governor of Colorado
|
|-
|30
|{{w|Kay Ivey}}
|Governor of Alabama
|
|-
|31
|{{w|Henry McMaster}}
|Governor of South Carolina
|
|-
|32
|{{w|John Bel Edwards}}
|Governor of Louisiana
|
|-
|33
|{{w|Matt Bevin}}
|Governor of Kentucky
|
|-
|33
|{{w|Kate Brown}}
|Governor of Oregon
|Born in Spain to a member of the US Air Force, should be considered a natural-born citizen until proven otherwise.
|-
|35
|{{w|Mary Fallin}}
|Governor of Oklahoma
|
|-
|36
|{{w|Dannel Malloy}}
|Governor of Connecticut
|
|-
|37
|{{w|Kim Reynolds}}
|Governor of Iowa
|
|-
|38
|{{w|Phil Bryant}}
|Governor of Mississippi
|
|-
|39
|{{w|Asa Hutchinson}}
|Governor of Arkansas
|
|-
|40
|{{w|Jeff Colyer}}
|Governor of Kansas
|
|-
|41
|{{w|Gary Herbert}}
|Governor of Utah
|
|-
|42
|{{w|Brian Sandoval}}
|Governor of Nevada
|
|-
|43
|{{w|Susana Martinez}}
|Governor of New Mexico
|
|-
|44
|{{w|Jim Justice}}
|Governor of West Virginia
|
|-
|45
|{{w|Pete Ricketts}}
|Governor of Nebraska
|
|-
|46
|{{w|Butch Otter}}
|Governor of Idaho
|
|-
|47
|{{w|David Ige}}
|Governor of Hawaii
|
|-
|48
|{{w|Paul LePage}}
|Governor of Maine
|
|-
|49
|{{w|Chris Sununu}}
|Governor of New Hampshire
|
|-
|50
|{{w|Gina Raimondo}}
|Governor of Rhode Island
|
|-
|51
|{{w|Steve Bullock (American politician)|Steve Bullock}}
|Governor of Montana
|
|-
|52
|{{w|John Carney (politician)|John Carney}}
|Governor of Delaware
|
|-
|53
|{{w|Dennis Daugaard}}
|Governor of South Dakota
|
|-
|54
|{{w|Bill Walker (U.S. politician)|Bill Walker}}
|Governor of Alaska
|
|-
|55
|{{w|Doug Burgum}}
|Governor of North Dakota
|
|-
|56
|{{w|Phil Scott (politician)|Phil Scott}}
|Governor of Vermont
|
|-
|57
|{{w|Matt Mead}}
|Governor of Wyoming
|
|-
|58
|{{w|Kate McKinnon}}
|Kate MicKinnon
|If she is available. Entries #10 and 11 on Randall's list have no eligible members.
|-
|59
|{{w|Luis Fonsi}}
|Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2017, #2 artist
|Fonsi is the only eligible individual under the Billboard criterion.
|-
|60
|{{w|Peggy Whitson}}
|Astronaut, 665 days in space
|
|-
|61
|{{w|Jeffrey Williams (astronaut)|Jeff Williams}}
|Astronaut, 534 days in space
|
|-
|62
|{{w|Scott Kelly}}
|Astronaut, 520 days in space
|
|-
|63
|{{w|Mike Fincke}}
|Astronaut, 382 days in space
|
|-
|64
|{{w|Mike Foale}}
|Astronaut, 374 days in space
|Foale was born in the UK but his mother is an American, and he holds dual citizenship with both countries. It isn't clear legally whether this situation would qualify him as being a "natural-born" citizen as US courts have never definitively ruled on what the term means, so similar to Governor Kate Brown his name is included in the list until further notice.
|-
|65
|{{w|Serena Williams}}
|Serena Williams
|Serena's place on this list assumes that you do not count her withdrawal against Maria Sharapova as a ''loss''; if that counts as a loss, then subsequent entries move up one position (as Sharapova is ineligible).
|-
|66
|{{w|Tom Brady}}
|{{w|National Football League Most Valuable Player Award|NFL MVP}}
|The MVPs of all other listed sports leagues are ineligible for the office.
|-
|67
|{{w|Bill Pullman}}
|Bill Pullman
|None of his children are old enough to become President at this time.
|-
|68
|{{w|Prince Charles|Charles Windsor}}
|1st successor to British throne
|
|-
|69
|{{w|Prince William, Duke of Cambridge|William Windsor-Cambridge}}
|2nd successor to British throne
|
|-
|70
|{{w|Prince Andrew|Andrew Windsor}}
|7th successor to British throne
|
|-
|71
|{{w|Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex|Edward Windsor-Wessex}}
|10th successor to British throne
|
|-
|
|''everyone else''
|Jousting tournament
|Assumes that no eligible member of the British order of succession exists. The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating champions are too young to hold the office.
|}

==Transcript==
: A proposal for a new presidential line of succession
: Current politics aside, most experts agree the existing process is flawed. The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 is probably unconstitutional on several counts, and there are many practical issues with the system as well.
: (For more, see the surprisingly gripping ''Second Report of the Continuity of Government Commission'', June 2009.)
: Proposed line of succession:
:# President
:# Vice president
:# Secretary of State
:# Secretary of Defense
:# Secretary of Homeland Security
:# Attorney General
:# Five people who do not live in Washington DC, nominated at the start of the president's term and confirmed by the Senate
:# Tom Hanks
:# State Governors, in descending order of state population at last census
:# Anyone who won an Oscar for playing a governor
:# Anyone who won a Governor's award for playing someone named Oscar
:# Kate McKinnon, if available
:# Billboard year-end Hot 100 singles artists #1 through #10 (for groups, whoever is credited first in name, liner notes, etc)
:# The top 5 US astronauts in descending order of total spaceflight time
:# Serena Williams (or, if she lost her most recent match, whoever beat her)
:# The most recent season NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL MVPs
:# Bull Pullman and his descendants by absolute primogeniture
:# The entire line of succession to the British throne
:# The current champion of the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating contest
:# All other US citizens, chosen by a 29-round single-elimination Jousting tournament

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Politics]]

2003: Presidential Succession

2018-06-08T13:21:40Z

Erkinalp: /* List of specific individuals */

{{comic
| number = 2003
| date = June 6, 2018
| title = Presidential Succession
| image = presidential_succession.png
| titletext = Ties are broken by whoever was closest to the surface of Europa when they were born.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a DESIGNATED SURVIVOR - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

The {{w|United States presidential line of succession}} is the order of people who serve as president if the current incumbent president is incapacitated, dies, resigns, or is removed from office.

The {{w|Presidential_Succession_Act#Presidential_Succession_Act_of_1947|Presidential Succession Act of 1947}} was an act by the U.S. Congress that revised the presidential order of succession to its current order. This Act, though never challenged in the courts, may not be constitutional for two reasons. First, it is unclear whether members of Congress can be designated in the line of succession. Secondly, the Act allows for a cabinet officer to be "replaced" as acting President by a new Speaker of the House or a new President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

An additional concern regarding the Act is that after the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the line of succession list the members of the Cabinet in the order that their department was established with the oldest departments first, irrespective of the Secretary's personal fitness or appropriateness of the office. The Department of Homeland Security is in charge of the security and protection of the United States and its citizens and would probably already be privy to sensitive intelligence and briefings related to national security, but because it is the latest of the Departments to have been established (in 2003), the Secretary of Homeland Security is all the way at the bottom of the current Presidential line of succession at 18th, behind other Secretaries such as that of Agriculture (9th) and Education (16th).

The full text of the Second Report of the Continuity of Government Commission can be found here: <https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/06_continuity_of_government.pdf>. A short, readable summary, including the report's recommended new line of succession, is here: <https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-continuity-of-the-presidency-the-second-report-of-the-continuity-of-government-commission/>. The first 6 members of the commission's list are included in the current line of succession, after which they specificy that 5 new people should be appointed specifically for the purpose of succeeding the presidency if needed. Randall's list begins with these 11 people (stuffing all 5 of the new appointees into #7); afterwards, his list continues with more politicians, actors who have played Presidents, athletes, and others.

Randall's list omits the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, as well as many other cabinet positions. He is probably simply following the commission's report in this. But perhaps he does not find those people qualified to become President of the United States, or is concerned about the constitutionality of lawmakers becoming President. However, he does not seem to be concerned about constitutionality, because he included the entire line of succession to the British throne, most of whom do not meet the requirement to be a natural-born citizen of the United States.{{Citation needed}} {{w|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_Two_of_the_United_States_Constitution#Clause_5:_Qualifications_for_office|Article Two of the US Constitution}} establishes that the President must be a "natural-born" US citizen at least 35 years of age and had lived in the US for the last 14 years.

Randall's list includes several other people who also might not be eligible to become President either because they are not natural-born U.S. citizens (e.g., as of the time of the comic's publication, {{w|Serena Williams}} had withdrawn from her last match in the {{w|French Open}} to {{w|Maria Sharapova}}, who is Russian) or they are under 35 years of age ({{w|Russell Westbrook}}, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player at the time of the comic's publication, was only 29 years old). These would mainly be athletes due to the relatively global reach of the four major professional sports leagues in North America and the fact that 35 is quite old for a professional athlete, let alone one who is good enough to win the league MVP. Presumably, those who wouldn't qualify for the office of President would be skipped over like in real life -- at the comic's publication, {{w|Elaine Chao}} was the Secretary of Transportation and would normally be 14th in line, but because she is a naturalized citizen of the US (she was born in Taiwan) she would not qualify for the office if the line came to her.

This is another comic in the continuing line of comics about American politics, especially after the election of Donald Trump as President in 2016.

==Order of succession==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!#
!Randall's order
!Current order by the 1947 Act
!Notes
|-
|1
|President
|President
|Not generally considered part of the line of succession, as incumbents cannot "succeed" to their own post. (This should really be item 0 on the list.)
|-
|2
|Vice president
|Vice president
|No change
|-
|3
|Secretary of State
|Speaker of the House of Representatives
|Moved up from 5th position. This is likely a serious suggestion. Existing rules of succession hand Executive power to the leaders of the Legislative branch if the President and Vice-President are both killed or removed from power. This is troubling for a number of reasons. One is that the Executive and Legislative branches are supposed to act as independent checks on one another's power, and so are supposed to be kept separate. Another issue is that the Executive and Legislative branches are frequently controlled by political rivals from different political parties. In such a case, assassins could effectively reverse the results of Presidential elections if they managed to kill the President and Vice-President in a short period of time (which is used as part of the twist ending in {{w|White House Down}}). Additionally, leaders of the House and Senate aren't as deeply connected to the military and diplomatic missions of the country, and so would have a hard time maintaining continuity, particularly if an attack or disaster killed multiple national leaders at once. These problems could all be addressed by keeping the initial Line of Succession confined to the Executive branch of government.
|-
|4
|Secretary of Defense
|President pro tempore of the Senate
|Moved up from 7th position
|-
|5
|Secretary of Homeland Security
|Secretary of State
|Moved up from 19th position, possibly to highlight the Attorney General's place in the current order
|-
|6
|Attorney General
|Secretary of the Treasury
|Moved up from 8th position
|-
|7
|Five people who do not live in Washington DC, nominated at the start of the President's term and confirmed by the Senate
|Secretary of Defense
|{{w|Washington, D.C.}} is the capital of the United States, and is where the {{w|White House}}, the President's residence, is located. Presumably this provision covers the case where much of the government, including positions 1–6 here, are killed by a natural disaster or attack in Washington, D.C.

This suggestion establishes no qualifications for these people, but the fact that they'd need to be confirmed by the Senate suggests that they would be chosen to be competent for the role. It is also unclear if an order is determined among these five or if they take up a joint presidency. This suggestion is taken from the Second Report of the Continuity of Government Commission as a potential mechanism to ensure members of succession are not in Washington DC during a catastrophic attack.
|-
|8
|{{w|Tom Hanks}}
|Attorney General
|Academy Award-winning American actor. This is the first unambiguously unserious suggestion.{{Citation needed}} Tom Hanks is very popular and considered exceptionally likeable by many Americans, but has never served in public office or displayed any particular affinity for politics. He has also never played a president, though he has received a {{w|Presidential Medal of Freedom}}, and appeared in a {{w|Last Week Tonight with John Oliver}} [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyPRssh2rk0 skit], where he rallies five (wax) presidents to action. The implication is that Mr. Hanks would be easily accepted as a leader, based solely on his personal charm.
|-
|9
|State Governors, in descending order of state population at last census
|Secretary of the Interior
|Also taken from Second Report of the Continuity of Government Commission. At the time of publication, the last {{w|United States Census}} was the 2010 Census. As California is the most populous state, Gov {{w|Jerry Brown}} would be first in line.

See also the {{w|2010_United_States_Census#State_rankings|state population rankings}} and the {{w|list of current United States governors}}. As worded, this criterion would exclude territorial governors (and the Mayor of Washington, D.C.).
|-
|10
|Anyone who won an Oscar for playing a governor
|Secretary of Agriculture
|Oscars, or {{w|Academy Awards}}, are annual film awards awarded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. At the time of publication, the only Oscar awarded for playing a governor was {{w|Broderick Crawford}}'s 1949 Best Actor award for the fictional Willie Stark in ''{{w|All the King's Men (1949 film)|All the King's Men}}'' (a character based on {{w|Huey Long}}). However, Crawford died in 1986, so would be unable to serve as President.

May be a reference to the {{w|Political career of Arnold Schwarzenegger}}: a highly-lauded actor who became governor of California, but did not win an Oscar or play a governor before being elected. (As a naturalized citizen, he is also ineligible for the Presidency.)
|-
|11
|Anyone who won a Governor's award for playing someone named Oscar
|Secretary of Commerce
|The {{w|Governors Awards}} are an annual award ceremony hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to present lifetime achievement awards within the film industry. As this award is a lifetime achievement award, it does not seem possible that an actor could win this award for simply playing someone named Oscar. Notwithstanding the nature of the award, at the time of publication, no recipient of a Governors Award has played a character named Oscar.

Obviously, the joke is that changing the order of the words from the previous proposal produces something that could actually exist.
|-
|12
|{{w|Kate McKinnon}}, if available
|Secretary of Labor
|Comedic actress famous for being a cast member on {{w|Saturday Night Live}}. She is known for her character work and celebrity impressions. She has recently done impersonations of members of the Trump administration including Spokeswoman {{w|Kellyanne Conway}} and Attorney General {{w|Jeff Sessions}}. She also played {{w|Hillary Clinton}} during the 2016 campaign and presumably would have played her when she was President had she won; but since Clinton lost, McKinnon has not actually played a President.
|-
|13
|Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Singles artists #1 through #10 (for groups, whoever is credited first in name, liner notes, etc)
|Secretary of Health and Human Services
|The {{w|Billboard Hot 100}} is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for singles, published weekly by Billboard magazine. The weekly data is aggregated into a cumulative {{w|Billboard Year-End}} (based on a "year" that ends the third week of November, in order to meet December publication deadlines). At the time of publication, the most recent such list was the {{w|Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2017}}.

Based on that list, the artists considered for the presidential succession would be: {{w|Ed Sheeran}}, {{w|Luis Fonsi}}, {{w|Bruno Mars}}, {{w|Kendrick Lamar}}, Alex Pall (of {{w|The Chainsmokers}}), {{w|Quavo|Quavoius Keyate Marshall}} (of {{w|Migos}}), {{w|Sam Hunt}}, {{w|Dan Reynolds}} (of {{w|Imagine Dragons}}), and {{w|Post Malone}}. There are only nine names instead of ten because The Chainsmokers had two of the top 10 singles in 2017. Of these, only Luis Fonsi (40 years old, born in Puerto Rico) is legally eligible for the office; Sheeran is from the UK, and the other seven are too young.
|-
|14
|The top 5 US astronauts in descending order of total spaceflight time
|Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
|Astronauts are highly respected and rigorously selected, but most have little involvement in politics. According to [https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-station-astronaut-record-holders NASA], the top 5 US astronauts by cumulative space time are: {{w|Peggy Whitson}}, {{w|Jeffrey Williams (astronaut)|Jeff Williams}}, {{W|Scott Kelly (astronaut)|Scott Kelly}}, {{w|Mike Fincke}}, and {{w|Mike Foale}}. However, it isn't clear whether Foale would qualify as a natural-born citizen as he was born in the UK and his father is British but his mother is American.
|-
|15
|{{w|Serena Williams}} (or, if she lost her most recent match, whoever beat her)
|Secretary of Transportation
|As of the time of publication, Serena Williams was the top female tennis player (though not the world #1 ranking, because she took time off for pregnancy). She is arguably the greatest female tennis player of all-time, winning 39 {{w|Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam}} titles, including 23 women's singles titles. At the time of publication Serena Williams did win her most recent match (2018 French Open, third round, on June 2nd), although she withdrew from her next match against Maria Sharapova (which perhaps should count as a loss, especially if she withdrew in order to preserve her place in the line of succession and led the terrorist attack that killed everybody in place ahead of her).

If her most recent defeat was to a non-US player, presumably she would be skipped over in line although this is not explicitly stated (the current succession list skips over anyone who would not normally qualify for not being a natural-born US citizen).
|-
|16
|The most recent season NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL MVPs
|Secretary of Energy
|MVP stands for {{w|Most Valuable Player}}. The 4 listed leagues are the major sports leagues in the United States, the {{w|National Basketball Association}} (NBA), the {{w|National Football League}} (NFL), {{w|Major League Baseball}} (MLB), and the {{w|National Hockey League}} (NHL). We're assuming that Randall meant the regular season MVPs of each league, as each league also awards MVPs for their respective championships (or in the case of the NHL's {{w|Conn Smythe Trophy}}, their entire playoffs).

As of the time of publication, the most recent MVPs for the listed sports were {{w|Russell Westbrook}} (NBA), {{w|Tom Brady}} (NFL), {{w|José Altuve}} and {{w|Giancarlo Stanton}} (MLB has two, one for the American League and one for the National League), and {{w|Connor McDavid}} (NHL). Of these, only Brady would qualify for the list - Altuve and McDavid are not US citizens (the former is from Venezuela and the latter from Canada), and Westbrook (29) and Stanton (28) are too young.
|-
|17
|{{w|Bill Pullman}} and his descendants by absolute primogeniture
|Secretary of Education
|American actor, known for playing President Thomas J. Whitmore in the 1996 film ''{{w|Independence Day (1996 film)|Independence Day}}''.

Absolute primogeniture is a form of succession where the oldest direct descendant regardless of gender receives the title. This is contrasted to {{w|Male-preference primogeniture}}, in which males come before females in the order of the throne, whether the males were born first or not. This may be a reference to the British law {{w|Succession to the Crown Act 2013}}, which changed the order of the throne from male-preference primogeniture to absolute primogeniture. This act allows {{w|Princess Charlotte of Cambridge|Princess Charlotte}} to retain her place in line before {{w|Prince Louis of Cambridge|Prince Louis}}.

As of the present, Pullman's immediate descendants consist of three children, with Maesa Pullman being the oldest at age 29, so all are currently too young for the presidency.
|-
|18
|The entire line of succession to the British throne
|Secretary of Veterans Affairs
|According to the Constitution, only a natural-born citizen of the United States can become President, which means that at least most of the line of succession to the British throne is ineligible. However, it is possible that someone in the line of succession to the British throne either is a dual citizen (especially one who is a U.S. citizen based on place of birth and a British citizen based on having a parent who was a British citizen descended from {{w|Sophia of Hanover}}) or is not British (a person from outside of Britain can become King; for example, some, including George I, were from what is now Germany).

The first 57 names on the list are {{w|Succession_to_the_British_throne#Current_line_of_succession|here}}, as of the time of publication. [https://lineofsuccession.co.uk/?date=2018-06-06 British Line of Succession on 6 June 2018] shows the list as it was at the comic's publication. American citizens [http://articles.latimes.com/1988-02-11/news/vw-42233_1_royal-house have, at times] been on the list, but no natural-born Americans are currently in the top 100. In theory, however, the full British succession list includes several thousand people (living descendants of {{w|Sophia of Hanover}} who are not Roman Catholic or otherwise disqualified), and it is possible that one or more such people would also be eligible to be President of the United States.

The humor here derives from the fact that the United States was established by declaring independence from the United Kingdom, with rejection of the British monarchy being a basic founding principle, and a core principle of US governance. To appoint the British monarchy to the American presidency would contradict the basic goals of American independence. Alternatively, it may reference the recent wedding of {{w|Prince Harry}} to {{w|Meghan Markle}}, although she is not in the order of succession to the British throne (and she is planning to give up her U.S. citizenship in favour of British citizenship, so her children (who would come immediately after Harry in the British line of succession) would not be born U.S. citizens either). A similar sequence of events was the plotline of the comedy film ''{{w|King Ralph}}'', which saw an American become the British monarch after the death of the royal family.
|-
|19
|The current champion of the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating contest
|Secretary of Homeland Security
|The {{w|Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest}} is an annual American hot dog competitive eating competition sponsored by {{w|Nathan's Famous}} held on July 4th. As of the time of publication, the most recent men's winner is {{w|Joey Chestnut}} and the women's winner is {{w|Miki Sudo}}. Neither is currently old enough to assume the office.
|-
|20
|All other US citizens, chosen by a 29-round single-elimination Jousting tournament
|''None''
|Effective for a population up to 536,870,912 individuals (2^29) which would be enough to cover the entire US population (estimated at around 325 million at time of publication), although additional rounds can be added should the population grow further.

This is probably a reference to the {{w|Matter of Britain}} (e.g., {{w|The Sword in the Stone (film)|The Sword in the Stone}}), where, after the death of Uther Pendragon, with no known successor to the throne of England for years, it is decided that the winner of a jousting tournament shall be crowned. However, Arthur, the Wart, pulls the Sword from the Stone.
|}

The title text mentions whoever was closest to the surface of {{w|Europa}} when they were born. Europa is a moon of Jupiter, so most people would be very far from its surface when they were born. However, depending on the relative positions of Earth and Jupiter when you were born, you could easily have been tens of millions of kilometers closer. Alternatively, Randall could be playing on how Europa sounds like Europe.

===List of specific individuals===
Based on the comic's defined criteria for the order of succession, these are the specific individuals in that order, including only people who are otherwise eligible to be President of Untied states (35 year old and natural born US citizens who lived in US for last 14 years) as of the date the comic was published:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Order
!Name
!Reason
!Notes
|-
|1
|{{w|Donald Trump}}
|{{w|President of the United States}}
|
|-
|2
|{{w|Mike Pence}}
|{{w|Vice President of the United States}}
|
|-
|3
|{{w|Mike Pompeo}}
|{{w|United States Secretary of State}}
|
|-
|4
|{{w|Jim Mattis}}
|{{w|United States Secretary of Defense}}
|
|-
|5
|{{w|Kirstjen Nielsen}}
|{{w|United States Secretary of Homeland Security}}
|
|-
|6
|{{w|Jeff Sessions}}
|{{w|United States Attorney General}}
|
|-
|7
|{{w|Tom Hanks}}
|Tom Hanks
|As Donald Trump did not appoint anyone to fill position #7 on Randall's line of succession, Hanks immediately follows after Sessions.
|-
|8
|{{w|Jerry Brown}}
|Governor of California
|
|-
|9
|{{w|Greg Abbott}}
|Governor of Texas
|
|-
|10
|{{w|Andrew Cuomo}}
|Governor of New York
|
|-
|11
|{{w|Rick Scott}}
|Governor of Florida
|
|-
|12
|{{w|Bruce Rauner}}
|Governor of Illinois
|
|-
|13
|{{w|Tom Wolf}}
|Governor of Pennsylvania
|
|-
|14
|{{w|John Kasich}}
|Governor of Ohio
|
|-
|15
|{{w|Rick Snyder}}
|Governor of Michigan
|
|-
|16
|{{w|Nathan Deal}}
|Governor of Georgia
|
|-
|17
|{{w|Roy Cooper}}
|Governor of North Carolina
|
|-
|18
|{{w|Phil Murphy}}
|Governor of New Jersey
|
|-
|19
|{{w|Ralph Northam}}
|Governor of Virginia
|
|-
|20
|{{w|Jay Inslee}}
|Governor of Washington
|
|-
|21
|{{w|Charlie Baker}}
|Governor of Massachusetts
|
|-
|22
|{{w|Eric Holcomb}}
|Governor of Indiana
|
|-
|23
|{{w|Doug Ducey}}
|Governor of Arizona
|
|-
|24
|{{w|Bill Haslam}}
|Governor of Tennessee
|
|-
|25
|{{w|Mike Parson}}
|Governor of Missouri
|
|-
|26
|{{w|Larry Hogan}}
|Governor of Maryland
|
|-
|27
|{{w|Scott Walker (politician)|Scott Walker}}
|Governor of Wisconsin
|
|-
|28
|{{w|Mark Dayton}}
|Governor of Minnesota
|
|-
|29
|{{w|John Hickenlooper}}
|Governor of Colorado
|
|-
|30
|{{w|Kay Ivey}}
|Governor of Alabama
|
|-
|31
|{{w|Henry McMaster}}
|Governor of South Carolina
|
|-
|32
|{{w|John Bel Edwards}}
|Governor of Louisiana
|
|-
|33
|{{w|Matt Bevin}}
|Governor of Kentucky
|
|-
|33
|{{w|Kate Brown}}
|Governor of Oregon
|Born in Spain to a member of the US Air Force, should be considered a natural-born citizen until proven otherwise.
|-
|35
|{{w|Mary Fallin}}
|Governor of Oklahoma
|
|-
|36
|{{w|Dannel Malloy}}
|Governor of Connecticut
|
|-
|37
|{{w|Kim Reynolds}}
|Governor of Iowa
|
|-
|38
|{{w|Phil Bryant}}
|Governor of Mississippi
|
|-
|39
|{{w|Asa Hutchinson}}
|Governor of Arkansas
|
|-
|40
|{{w|Jeff Colyer}}
|Governor of Kansas
|
|-
|41
|{{w|Gary Herbert}}
|Governor of Utah
|
|-
|42
|{{w|Brian Sandoval}}
|Governor of Nevada
|
|-
|43
|{{w|Susana Martinez}}
|Governor of New Mexico
|
|-
|44
|{{w|Jim Justice}}
|Governor of West Virginia
|
|-
|45
|{{w|Pete Ricketts}}
|Governor of Nebraska
|
|-
|46
|{{w|Butch Otter}}
|Governor of Idaho
|
|-
|47
|{{w|David Ige}}
|Governor of Hawaii
|
|-
|48
|{{w|Paul LePage}}
|Governor of Maine
|
|-
|49
|{{w|Chris Sununu}}
|Governor of New Hampshire
|
|-
|50
|{{w|Gina Raimondo}}
|Governor of Rhode Island
|
|-
|51
|{{w|Steve Bullock (American politician)|Steve Bullock}}
|Governor of Montana
|
|-
|52
|{{w|John Carney (politician)|John Carney}}
|Governor of Delaware
|
|-
|53
|{{w|Dennis Daugaard}}
|Governor of South Dakota
|
|-
|54
|{{w|Bill Walker (U.S. politician)|Bill Walker}}
|Governor of Alaska
|
|-
|55
|{{w|Doug Burgum}}
|Governor of North Dakota
|
|-
|56
|{{w|Phil Scott (politician)|Phil Scott}}
|Governor of Vermont
|
|-
|57
|{{w|Matt Mead}}
|Governor of Wyoming
|
|-
|58
|{{w|Kate McKinnon}}
|Kate MicKinnon
|If she is available. Entries #10 and 11 on Randall's list have no eligible members.
|-
|59
|{{w|Luis Fonsi}}
|Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2017, #2 artist
|Fonsi is the only eligible individual under the Billboard criterion.
|-
|60
|{{w|Peggy Whitson}}
|Astronaut, 665 days in space
|
|-
|61
|{{w|Jeffrey Williams (astronaut)|Jeff Williams}}
|Astronaut, 534 days in space
|
|-
|62
|{{w|Scott Kelly}}
|Astronaut, 520 days in space
|
|-
|63
|{{w|Mike Fincke}}
|Astronaut, 382 days in space
|
|-
|64
|{{w|Mike Foale}}
|Astronaut, 374 days in space
|Foale was born in the UK but his mother is an American, and he holds dual citizenship with both countries. It isn't clear legally whether this situation would qualify him as being a "natural-born" citizen as US courts have never definitively ruled on what the term means, so similar to Governor Kate Brown his name is included in the list until further notice.
|-
|65
|{{w|Serena Williams}}
|Serena Williams
|Serena's place on this list assumes that you do not count her withdrawal against Maria Sharapova as a ''loss''; if that counts as a loss, then subsequent entries move up one position (as Sharapova is ineligible).
|-
|66
|{{w|Tom Brady}}
|{{w|National Football League Most Valuable Player Award|NFL MVP}}
|The MVPs of all other listed sports leagues are ineligible for the office.
|-
|67
|{{w|Bill Pullman}}
|Bill Pullman
|None of his children are old enough to become President at this time.
|-
|68
|''everyone else''
|Jousting tournament
|Assumes that no eligible member of the British order of succession exists. The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating champions are too young to hold the office.
|}

==Transcript==
: A proposal for a new presidential line of succession
: Current politics aside, most experts agree the existing process is flawed. The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 is probably unconstitutional on several counts, and there are many practical issues with the system as well.
: (For more, see the surprisingly gripping ''Second Report of the Continuity of Government Commission'', June 2009.)
: Proposed line of succession:
:# President
:# Vice president
:# Secretary of State
:# Secretary of Defense
:# Secretary of Homeland Security
:# Attorney General
:# Five people who do not live in Washington DC, nominated at the start of the president's term and confirmed by the Senate
:# Tom Hanks
:# State Governors, in descending order of state population at last census
:# Anyone who won an Oscar for playing a governor
:# Anyone who won a Governor's award for playing someone named Oscar
:# Kate McKinnon, if available
:# Billboard year-end Hot 100 singles artists #1 through #10 (for groups, whoever is credited first in name, liner notes, etc)
:# The top 5 US astronauts in descending order of total spaceflight time
:# Serena Williams (or, if she lost her most recent match, whoever beat her)
:# The most recent season NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL MVPs
:# Bull Pullman and his descendants by absolute primogeniture
:# The entire line of succession to the British throne
:# The current champion of the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating contest
:# All other US citizens, chosen by a 29-round single-elimination Jousting tournament

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Politics]]

1897: Self Driving

2018-05-22T20:11:21Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1897
| date = October 2, 2017
| title = Self Driving
| image = self_driving.png
| titletext = "Crowdsourced steering" doesn't sound quite as appealing as "self driving."
}}

==Explanation==
This comic references the approach of using {{w|CAPTCHA}}<nowiki>s</nowiki> input to solve problems, particularly those involving image classification, which are not solvable by computers, specifically ReCaptcha v2 fallback puzzle which is based on identifying road features and vehicles for self driving. ReCaptcha version of this puzzle would ask "check all squares containing a STOP SIGN".

Such an approach can serve to create the learning set as the basis for training an {{w|artificial intelligence}} (AI) to better recognize or respond to similar stimuli. This approach was used by Google to identify house numbers for Google Street View, and nowadays Google also uses CAPTCHAs to identify street signs and objects in pictures. This might be a reasonable way to help improve the performance of the AI in a self-driving car that responds to video input, by reviewing images it might encounter and flagging road signs, etc. that it should respond to.

However, the temptation might be to simply sidestep the hard problem of AI by having all instances 'solved' by "offloading [the] work onto random strangers" through CAPTCHAs. For example, this has been used to defeat CAPTCHAs themselves; people were asked to solve CAPTCHAs to unlock pornographic images in a computer game, while the solution for the CAPTCHA was relayed to a server belonging to cybercriminals. (See [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7067962.stm PC stripper helps spam to spread] and [https://doi.org/10.1016/S1353-4858(08)70036-9 Humans + porn = solved Captcha]).

Alarmingly, the developers of this '{{w|Self-driving car|self driving}}' car seem to have gone for the lazy approach. Instead of teaching an AI, the CAPTCHA answer is used in real time to check whether the "self-driving" car is about to arrive at an intersection with a stop sign. This information is pretty critical, as failing to mark the stop could cause an accident. The user is unlikely to respond to the CAPTCHA in time to avert disaster, not to mention that any interruption to the car's internet connection could prove fatal. [[:Category:Self-driving cars|Self driving cars]] has become a recurrent theme on xkcd.

The system depicted is a {{w|Wizard of Oz experiment}} (as is the "Mechanical Turk" which a popular crowdworking system is named after) whereas actual self-driving cars, to the extent that they can use (Re-) CAPTCHA-style human detection systems, would involve an asynchronous decision system. Other synchronous decision systems which actually exist are political voting and money as a token of the exchange value of trade.

The title text explains that this method could be called "crowdsourced steering", {{w|crowdsourcing}} meaning sending the data on the internet to let several users provide their ideas and input on a problem. People would naturally suspect that this is considerably less safe than a car which is actually capable of self-driving; if the internet can barely [[1333: First Date|collectively steer a videogame character]], what chance do they have steering an actual, physical vehicle?

This also suggests that [[Randall]] is a bit skeptical of the current stage of AI, as this doubts whether the AI technology really is working in the way that we expect. It also comments on how what we call 'progress' actually is putting our work onto other people.

==Transcript==
:[Inside a frame there is the following text above an image:]
:To complete your registration, please tell us whether or not this image contains a stop sign:

:[The square image is a drawing of a road leading up to a sign post with a hard to read word at the top part of the eight-sided sign. The sign also has two smaller signs left and right with unreadable text. The image is of poor quality, but trees and other obstacles next to the road can be seen. Darkness around the edges of the image could indicate that it is night and the landscape is only lit up by a cars head lights.]
:Sign: Stop

:[Beneath the image there are two large gray buttons with a word in each:]
:No Yes

:[Beneath the buttons are the following text:]
:Answer quickly – our self-driving car is almost at the intersection.

:[Caption beneath the frame:]
:So much of "AI" is just figuring out way to offload work onto random strangers.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Self-driving cars]]
[[Category:Artificial Intelligence]]

1897: Self Driving

2018-05-22T09:20:32Z

Erkinalp:

{{comic
| number = 1897
| date = October 2, 2017
| title = Self Driving
| image = self_driving.png
| titletext = "Crowdsourced steering" doesn't sound quite as appealing as "self driving."
}}

==Explanation==
This comic references the approach of using {{w|CAPTCHA}}<nowiki>s</nowiki> input to solve problems, particularly those involving image classification, which are not solvable by computers, specifically ReCaptcha v2 fallback puzzle which is based on identifying road features and vehicles for self driving.

Such an approach can serve to create the learning set as the basis for training an {{w|artificial intelligence}} (AI) to better recognize or respond to similar stimuli. This approach was used by Google to identify house numbers for Google Street View, and nowadays Google also uses CAPTCHAs to identify street signs and objects in pictures. This might be a reasonable way to help improve the performance of the AI in a self-driving car that responds to video input, by reviewing images it might encounter and flagging road signs, etc. that it should respond to.

However, the temptation might be to simply sidestep the hard problem of AI by having all instances 'solved' by "offloading [the] work onto random strangers" through CAPTCHAs. For example, this has been used to defeat CAPTCHAs themselves; people were asked to solve CAPTCHAs to unlock pornographic images in a computer game, while the solution for the CAPTCHA was relayed to a server belonging to cybercriminals. (See [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7067962.stm PC stripper helps spam to spread] and [https://doi.org/10.1016/S1353-4858(08)70036-9 Humans + porn = solved Captcha]).

Alarmingly, the developers of this '{{w|Self-driving car|self driving}}' car seem to have gone for the lazy approach. Instead of teaching an AI, the CAPTCHA answer is used in real time to check whether the "self-driving" car is about to arrive at an intersection with a stop sign. This information is pretty critical, as failing to mark the stop could cause an accident. The user is unlikely to respond to the CAPTCHA in time to avert disaster, not to mention that any interruption to the car's internet connection could prove fatal. [[:Category:Self-driving cars|Self driving cars]] has become a recurrent theme on xkcd.

The system depicted is a {{w|Wizard of Oz experiment}} (as is the "Mechanical Turk" which a popular crowdworking system is named after) whereas actual self-driving cars, to the extent that they can use (Re-) CAPTCHA-style human detection systems, would involve an asynchronous decision system. Other synchronous decision systems which actually exist are political voting and money as a token of the exchange value of trade.

The title text explains that this method could be called "crowdsourced steering", {{w|crowdsourcing}} meaning sending the data on the internet to let several users provide their ideas and input on a problem. People would naturally suspect that this is considerably less safe than a car which is actually capable of self-driving; if the internet can barely [[1333: First Date|collectively steer a videogame character]], what chance do they have steering an actual, physical vehicle?

This also suggests that [[Randall]] is a bit skeptical of the current stage of AI, as this doubts whether the AI technology really is working in the way that we expect. It also comments on how what we call 'progress' actually is putting our work onto other people.

==Transcript==
:[Inside a frame there is the following text above an image:]
:To complete your registration, please tell us whether or not this image contains a stop sign:

:[The square image is a drawing of a road leading up to a sign post with a hard to read word at the top part of the eight-sided sign. The sign also has two smaller signs left and right with unreadable text. The image is of poor quality, but trees and other obstacles next to the road can be seen. Darkness around the edges of the image could indicate that it is night and the landscape is only lit up by a cars head lights.]
:Sign: Stop

:[Beneath the image there are two large gray buttons with a word in each:]
:No Yes

:[Beneath the buttons are the following text:]
:Answer quickly – our self-driving car is almost at the intersection.

:[Caption beneath the frame:]
:So much of "AI" is just figuring out way to offload work onto random strangers.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Self-driving cars]]
[[Category:Artificial Intelligence]]

1935: 2018

2017-12-31T08:55:54Z

Erkinalp: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1935
| date = December 29, 2017
| title = 2018
| image = 2018.png
| titletext = We should really start calculating it earlier, but until the end of December we're always too busy trying to figure out which day Christmas will fall on.
}}

==Explanation==

In this [[:Category:New Year|New Year comic]], [[Megan]] wonders if 2018 will be a {{w|Leap year|leap year}}. [[Cueball]] thinks 2018 will not be a leap year, and Megan responds that she "doubts anyone knows at this point." This appears to be a jab at the complexity of the leap year system. As Cueball says, leap years occur every four years (though there are a few exceptions), adding an extra day to account for the fact that Earth takes a bit longer than 365 days to orbit the Sun. Therefore, most years that are a multiple of four are leap years. As Megan says, this is easy for odd-numbered years, since no odd numbers are divisible by four. However, for even-numbered years, it isn't always obvious.

The last panel expresses a misunderstanding of modern public-key {{w|Cryptography|cryptography}}, which relies on the fact that it is difficult to factorize large numbers. Megan is applying this concept to the year, claiming that it is hard to determine whether or not 2018 is a multiple of four and hence is a leap year. In reality, factorization is not needed here, since we already know the factor, which is four. Megan states that if it were possible to factor large numbers with a calculator, modern cryptography would collapse. While true, it is only true for truly large numbers (hundreds of digits), and no factorization is needed in this case.

At the end of the strip, Megan hopes the answer can be {{w|Brute-force attack|brute-forced}} by February. Brute force is a method of breaking cryptography by trying every possible option until one works. This is a misdirection upon misdirection, in that even if we needed to factorize 2018 (which we don't), the simplest brute forcing algorithm would only need to try 43 numbers - from 2 to square root of 2018 (44). In cryptography, the algorithms use numbers much, much bigger than 2018 -- on the order of hundreds (or even thousands) of digits.

The title text refers to calculating which day of the week {{w|Christmas}} (in western countries) will fall on. Given that any calendar will easily tell you, this is not a difficult thing to calculate. Also it always falls on December 25th, and not like, for instance, Easter which date jumps from year to year. But nevertheless December 25th is either the 359th or the 360th (leap years) day of the year and so the day of the week could be different.

==Transcript==

:[Megan is walking.]
:Megan: I wonder if 2018 will be a leap year.

:[Now it turns out that Cueball walks behind Megan.]
:Cueball: ...it won't be, right?
:Megan: I doubt anyone knows at this point.

:[Same scene in a frame-less panel.]
:Cueball: No, it's definitely not. Leap years are divisible by 4.
:Megan: Right, and for odd numbers, that's easy.
:Megan: But 2018 is even.
:Megan: 50/50 chance.

:[Zoomed-out view with both walking in silhouette on a dark slightly curved ground.]
:Cueball: I can settle this with a calculator.
:Megan: No way. If it were easy to factor large numbers like that, modern cryptography would collapse.
:Cueball: I see.
:Megan: I just hope we manage to brute-force it by February.

==Trivia==
*Released on Friday, December 29, this is the last comic of 2017. The next scheduled comic will be on New Year's Day of 2018.

*Every year that is exactly divisible by four is a leap year, except for years that are exactly divisible by 100, but these centurial years are leap years if they are exactly divisible by 400. For example, the years 1700, 1800, and 1900 were not leap years, but the years 1600 and 2000 were.

*Since 100 is divisible by 4, only the last two digits of a number are needed to determine if that number is divisible by 4. So to determine if 2018 is divisible by 4, we only need to check whether 18 is divisible by 4, which is easy.

*2018 is not divisible by 4, so the year is not a leap year. 2016 and 2020 are leap years. Assuming your calendar is Gregorian! A year is roughly 365.2422 days long. (Actually, also the case if it is 2018 on the old Julian calendar. The century year rules for leap years are different on the Gregorian calendar from the Julian, but the non-century year rules are the same).

*{{w|Eastern Christian Churches}} celebrate Christmas also on December 25 but of the older Julian calendar, which currently corresponds to January 7 in the Gregorian calendar.

*This is the third year in a row with New Year's comics with only the year used as the title, before that there were two more comics with such titles, but those two (and thus the first three) were only released in the even years: [[998: 2012]] in 2012, [[1311: 2014]] in 2014, [[1624: 2016]] in 2016 and [[1779: 2017]] in 2017.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:New Year]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics sharing name|2017]]
[[Category:Math]]
[[Category:Time]]
[[Category:Cryptography]]