explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:358: Loud Party

2017-12-14T06:31:09Z

Jelsemium:

Its easy to get down from a tree like that.. Pass your laptop to your partner, you climb down, then pass the laptops to the person on the ground, then SHE comes down.

[[Special:Contributions/98.144.105.195|98.144.105.195]] 18:36, 3 June 2013 (UTC)

:No, you can't leave both laptops with one person, because then the fox will eat both of them. {{unsigned ip|118.209.55.156}}
::Unless you are Russian, meaning there is a rather insignificant chance that the fox MAY be tame. {{unsigned ip|208.54.86.193}}[[Special:Contributions/208.54.86.193|208.54.86.193]] 02:17, 20 February 2014 (UTC)
:Getting down from any tree is very, very easy. Physics wil help you. Unless you mean getting down unharmed?--[[Special:Contributions/162.158.86.119|162.158.86.119]] 09:10, 29 August 2016 (UTC)

I don't really understand this comic, even after the explanation. What are they doing on their laptops? And why do they need to go to a beautiful and isolated setting together to do it? Also, which is more typical behavior, teen or otherwise; to be enjoying a wild party, or sitting quietly with a laptop? Hint: guess which one I'm doing now? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.223|108.162.219.223]] 20:41, 3 January 2014 (UTC)

btw love the 'fox' comment...the most insightful thing on this page! {{unsigned ip|108.162.219.223}}

January '14, in January '04, the laptop usage was still a bit nerdy. And in 2015... why aren't those dorks using an "iPad"[tablet] or just their phones up in that tree?[[Special:Contributions/108.162.245.116|108.162.245.116]] 14:53, 6 October 2015 (UTC)

Ok, I don't get the impression that the comic is implying that these two are special or anything, they'd just rather be elsewhere, doing something else. Something which I can appreciate. I mean, maybe they're introverted a bit, but whatever. -Pennpenn [[Special:Contributions/108.162.250.162|108.162.250.162]] 06:07, 14 October 2015 (UTC)

I hate loud parties more because of the "loud" part than the "party" part. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.43|108.162.221.43]] 02:24, 17 December 2015 (UTC)

So, are those two sitting in a tree daydreaming of being at a party, or are they at a party daydreaming they're in a tree? [[User:Jelsemium|Jelsemium]] ([[User talk:Jelsemium|talk]]) Jelsemium

Talk:419: Forks and Spoons

2017-12-14T03:46:45Z

Jelsemium:

What could the title text be about? [[Special:Contributions/208.120.153.144|208.120.153.144]] 05:45, 4 September 2013 (UTC)

Rachael Ray and Emeril are two celebrity cooks in America; he has a TV show (or did at the time this was drawn); she has her own magazine. Spielberg is presumably the movie guy. {{unsigned ip|24.61.10.104}}

Speilberg is definitely "the movie guy" and most relevantly the director of ''Jurassic Park'', with which Randall has a well-documented obsession ([[87:_Velociraptors]], [[135:_Substitute]], and many others.) The overall plot -- disaster brought about by cocky scientists "toying with powerful forces" -- is the same as this comic's. Rachel Ray and Emeril would presumably be the stand-ins for ''JP'''s Drs. Sattler and Grant. --[[Special:Contributions/66.114.70.139|66.114.70.139]] 17:38, 28 October 2013 (UTC)
It looks more like a spoork (stage 2 spork) in the last panel[[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.215|141.101.99.215]] 09:16, 24 January 2014 (UTC)

could it be a knife at the last panel? [[User:Imanton1|Imanton1]] ([[User talk:Imanton1|talk]]) 03:39, 26 January 2014 (UTC)

It does look like a knife; one edge is completely straight and one is rounded. [[User:LogicalOxymoron|LogicalOxymoron]] ([[User talk:LogicalOxymoron|talk]]) 20:18, 11 March 2014 (UTC)

The first line of the explanation suggests that the spoon-spork hybrids are produced in manner "similar to Mendelian inheritance" is incorrect. In fact the process is far more similar to non-Mendelian inheritance. [[User:LordofMarzipan|LordofMarzipan]] ([[User talk:LordofMarzipan|talk]]) 06:46, 25 June 2014 (UTC)

Might be going too deep into the charts... --[[User:Flewk|flewk]] ([[User talk:Flewk|talk]]) 16:26, 28 December 2015 (UTC)

"Should'a just stayed with the fork'n knife"
"Huh?! What kind'a knife?" [[User:NerillDP|NerillDP]] ([[User talk:NerillDP|talk]]) 19:28, 1 April 2016 (UTC)Nerill
:A sponife! 1/2 spoon and 1/2 knife! You don't need spoons anymore! Weirdly enough, I have a weird utensil that is a fork and knife on one side, and a spoon on the other side. It can be kind of weird to eat with it because you have to be careful to not cut yourself while using the spoon.

"I don't use a spoon or fork, i use a spork!" (Jurassic Park music starts playing)[[User:Dontknow|Dontknow]] ([[User talk:Dontknow|talk]]) 00:08, 3 May 2017 (UTC)

Look up grapefruit spoons, those things are vicious! [[User:Jelsemium|Jelsemium]] ([[User talk:Jelsemium|talk]]) Jelsemium

Talk:421: Making Hash Browns

2017-12-14T03:37:11Z

Jelsemium:

He could hit his friend with the potato who could then fall back onto his fork. [[Special:Contributions/98.229.99.185|98.229.99.185]] 20:09, 7 June 2013 (UTC)

He could dice the potato but not propel the freshly-made hash browns forward; they would instead fall on head. [[Special:Contributions/24.145.48.25|24.145.48.25]] 18:31, 4 September 2013 (UTC)

Because a potato getting dirty from the ground is totally one of the worst things that could happen. Newsflash: Potatoes come from the ground, and these ones don't look like they've been washed anyway. [[User:Alcatraz ii|Alcatraz ii]] ([[User talk:Alcatraz ii|talk]]) 00:06, 8 November 2013 (UTC)

That's probably not a glass of orange juice but a cardboard container in which the french fries are delivered at the fast-food restaurant, painted on the outside and white inside, of the characteristic shape with a cut-out on the front side. What can be more appropriate to catch the fries with? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.246.5|108.162.246.5]] 00:45, 31 January 2014 (UTC)
I think the "orange juice" looks like frying oil. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.45|108.162.221.45]] 08:10, 17 February 2014 (UTC)

I would have thought one of the ways it could go wrong would be if the glass of juice was literally half-empty. [[Special:Contributions/199.27.128.141|199.27.128.141]] 19:42, 1 November 2014 (UTC)

I feel it is important to include suspension of disbelief, such that we are assuming the tennis racket method has been devised properly and they can indeed fry and dice the potato with the tools they have aquired. Thusly, the searing hot potato could land on his friends face instead.
[[Special:Contributions/173.245.56.189|173.245.56.189]] 01:56, 10 January 2015 (UTC)

I agree that there are a lot of ways the hypothetical flaming potato could cause more problems. I would also like to point out that he is clearly trying to “serve” hash browns the same way he would serve a tennis ball. --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.214.65|108.162.214.65]] 09:04, 11 December 2015 (UTC)

Really, this unjustified prejudice toward fork/spoon cross breeds still irks me. Anyone dealing with utensils should know good and well that the breed doesn't matter, but rather the environment and people around them. Raised properly, a spork mutt is just as kind and gentle as any purebred fork or spoon. I swear, they make one movie and it instills years of prejudice. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.74.99|162.158.74.99]] 10:59, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

The flaming potato could hit the platter, scattering burning hash browns on the friend. This could ignite the contents of the glass as it gets flung back to the server. Randall Munroe, meet Rube Goldberg. [[User:Jelsemium|Jelsemium]] ([[User talk:Jelsemium|talk]]) 03:37, 14 December 2017 (UTC) Jelsemium

Talk:444: Macgyver Gets Lazy

2017-12-13T23:29:40Z

Jelsemium:

The wikipedia article mentioned in the comic no longer exists, but an old version of it is still viewable here: [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_problems_solved_by_MacGyver&oldid=258219690 List of problems solved by MacGyver] [[Special:Contributions/75.186.140.173|75.186.140.173]] 23:39, 18 April 2013 (UTC)

The explanation: "MacGyver was adamantly against the use of guns and never used one (at least, not for its intended purpose) in the entire run of the series."
Is wrong. In the pilot episode, MacGyver rescues a downed pilot from hostile soldiers. He first uses a captured gun as a distraction, then another one to actually fire at approaching soldiers (As is required at the time, but he hands the gun off to the wounded man as fast as possible, showing his dislike for them. He also does not use the gun for the intended purpose (To kill), but blind fires at the ground to stop the guards and force them to take cover.)
[[Special:Contributions/173.245.56.210|173.245.56.210]] 16:36, 1 April 2015 (UTC)

And there is no mention of murdoc...[[Special:Contributions/141.101.105.205|141.101.105.205]]

The 2016 version, starring Lucas Till is also fun. It's particularly good because it shows Mac with a team of friends instead of being a loner. [[User:Jelsemium|Jelsemium]] ([[User talk:Jelsemium|talk]]) 23:29, 13 December 2017 (UTC) Jelsemium.

Talk:492: Scrabble

2017-12-13T19:11:04Z

Jelsemium:

Does anyone know the points for "Ostrich", "Historic", and "Coistril"? I know the game but I don't have it at home.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 18:25, 24 June 2013 (UTC)

:Not sure what double word type modifiers they have but here are the base scores:

clitoris 10 + 50
coistril 10
ostrich 12
historic 13

:Choosing '''historic''' would be the best family friendly option, but is a far less desirable choice. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 05:43, 7 July 2013 (UTC)

:: The only placement for ''historic'' would get it onto the triple word score with one doubled letter, making 42. Still nowhere near ''coistril'' or ''clitoris'', though (which can both get the 50 point bonus and the double letter score for the C). [[Special:Contributions/94.13.166.227|94.13.166.227]] 21:25, 9 July 2013 (UTC)

Please do a separate post and do not destroy the former discussions.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:49, 5 September 2013 (UTC)

Update by ‎67.0.215.76:
clitoris 60
coistril 60
ostrich 12
historic 42
:{{unsigned ip|‎67.0.215.76}}

:The best option would be ''lictors'' and ''hic'', scoring 71 points. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.254.85|108.162.254.85]] 14:48, 12 May 2014 (UTC)
::Any prove? --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:19, 12 May 2014 (UTC)

Randall uses the word "Ostrich" as an alternate word, but "Historic" or "[http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/coistril Coistril]" would gain more points. {{unsigned|Matchup}}

Top 17 Options taking into account what of the board opens up.
[Hic/Lictors 71points], [Lictors/Chi, 69 points], [Hit/Lictors, 69 points], [His/Lictors, 69 points],
[Lictors/Sh, 69 points], [Lictors/Li, 69points], [Trochils, 64 points], [Clitoris, 63 points]x2,
[Coistril, 63]x2, [Historic, 42], [Col/Oh/Li, 17 points], [Hic/Col, 15 points], [Hit/Lotic, 21 points],
[Chi/Col, 14 points], [Li, 3 points]
Top 14 Scoring words
[Lictors, 64-69]x6, [Trochils, 64], [Clitoris, 63]x2, [Coistril, 63]x2, [Historic, 42], [Lotic,21],
[Lictor,18-20]x3, [Colts,19], [Cots,18]x2, [Cost,18]x2, [Colt,18], [Cols,18], [Cist,18], [Scot,18]
Ostrich is a bad plan either way. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.99|141.101.98.99]]

---
How can you get "historic" from the tiles shown? The player doesn't have an "h" and has only one "i." [[User:Jelsemium|Jelsemium]] ([[User talk:Jelsemium|talk]]) Jelsemium

Talk:508: Drapes

2017-12-13T18:42:27Z

Jelsemium:

Or it turns out she is Beret Guys sister and thought Cueball meant the interior design of her apartment.[[Special:Contributions/99.102.154.28|99.102.154.28]] 21:08, 13 August 2013 (UTC)

----

From my own image development work, the 3D effect of the hair in the comic can be achieved one of two ways. A layer consisting of the hair must exist on its own and then be duplicated on a new layer. The coloured layer must be in front of the noncoloured (original) layer:

:Simple method: desaturate (and darken as necessary) the original layer (its Z order causes it to be behind the coloured layer), offsetting it as desired. Then merge.

:Emboss method: desaturate and emboss the old layer (it should be behind the coloured layer as in the Simple method), and set the opacity of the new layer to 50%. Merge both layers together - as the desaturation and 50% opacity results in a 50% desaturation of the merged layer, adjust the saturation to restore the colour. [[User:Thokling|Thokling]] ([[User talk:Thokling|talk]]) 08:56, 25 September 2013 (UTC)

"[T]he woman's hair [...] is orange[.]" Seems blonde to me. --[[User:Troy0|Troy0]] ([[User talk:Troy0|talk]]) 04:47, 25 July 2014 (UTC)

'''/!\WARNING/!\
The fourth wall may have been broken!!!
''' {{unsigned ip|173.245.56.180}}

And then, it turns out that the woman in the comic is a werewolf and was talking about her fur during the full moon (no I don't think it is, I'm just being silly). -Pennpenn [[Special:Contributions/108.162.250.162|108.162.250.162]] 01:59, 30 June 2015 (UTC)

----
I think she's slapping him down by talking about interior decorating instead of hair color. Whether her drapes, carpet and upholstery match doesn't actually matter. [[User:Jelsemium|Jelsemium]] ([[User talk:Jelsemium|talk]]) Jelsemium

Talk:505: A Bunch of Rocks

2017-12-13T18:41:04Z

Jelsemium:

;Weird thing with lines in it
Could it have something to do with time dilatation? something like "real" time vs "observed" time (my first comment, hope I did it right) [[Special:Contributions/108.162.241.82|108.162.241.82]] 20:49, 18 May 2017 (UTC)108.162.241.82

probably has something to do with relativity -- two objects moving, arriving at different points at the same time, or maybe a diagram of spacetime. [[Special:Contributions/66.202.132.250|66.202.132.250]] 16:44, 10 June 2013 (UTC)

It's a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feynman_diagram Feynman Diagram] [[Special:Contributions/206.174.12.203|206.174.12.203]] 19:24, 10 June 2013 (UTC) Toby Ovod-Everett

:I did add the incomplete tag because this comic and also the explain is still really complex. More important: People without a proper physics background never will understand. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 21:01, 10 June 2013 (UTC)

There is a short story called "SOLE SOLUTION" by Eric Frank Russell which is quite similar to the one in the story. Just in case that matters.{{unsigned|Maob}}

Re Rule 34 - the point is that this comic _is_ cellular automaton porn (as are the YouTube videos of Minecraft calculators and the like). Rule 34 works, bitches! {{unsigned ip|141.101.98.241}}

Not sure what's incomplete about the explain. <small>[[User:MrGameZone|0100011101100001011011010110010101011010011011110110111001100101]] ([[User talk:MrGameZone|talk page]])</small> 22:56, 11 February 2014 (UTC)

Yo ''calculus'' is the latin word for pebble! I learned this and had to come straight to this page! ahhh connections! [[Special:Contributions/173.245.50.88|173.245.50.88]] Sawyer Biddle

As it turns out, Rule 110 seems to be a ''really bad'' way to simulate a universe- you would be much better off using a {{w|Tag_system|Cyclic tag system}}, since Rule 110 takes dozens of generations and potentially hundreds of cells to simulate one step in such a system, or a more sophisticated cellular automaton, such as {{w|Wireworld.}} --[[User:Someone Else 37|Someone Else 37]] ([[User talk:Someone Else 37|talk]]) 05:12, 9 March 2014 (UTC)

To whoever objected to panel number references, does what I did with first words fix that? {{unsigned ip|199.27.128.99}}

Well, that's a pretty unfair comparison in the last panel, the protag is immortal after all, if I'm immortal I might do the same thing, but hey we got a much shorter life to live {{unsigned ip|103.22.201.168}}

The diagram to the right of the Epitaph of Stevinus looks like a system of coupled pendula, often used in math physics courses to illustrate Lagrangian mechanics. Also may relate to elasticity theory. See for example here: http://demonstrations.wolfram.com/ThreePendulumsConnectedByTwoSprings. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.96|108.162.221.96]] 03:23, 12 November 2014 (UTC)
:If this is true (which seems like the most probable solution so far) then what do the symbols inside the boxes represent?{{unsigned ip|108.162.216.209}}
:: Spring constants, masses, lengths, etc [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.220|108.162.221.220]] 18:11, 12 November 2014 (UTC)
::: The symbols on the top seem to be K and the bottom W. W is often used for angular momentum and K for potential energy. If you are not exactly right you are very close to being so.[[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.209|108.162.216.209]] 13:45, 1 December 2014 (UTC)
:The "diagram to the right of the Epitaph of Stevinus", also described as "A weird diagram with lines in it", or "partitioning of phase space into fundamental cells", or " system of coupled pendula, often used in math physics courses to illustrate Lagrangian mechanics", can be described more literally: ''There is are two horizontal rulers with divisions 13 pixels apart and 17 pixels apart, respectively; and diagonal lines showing the correspondence between the first four markings of the upper ruler with those on the lower. The intervals seem to be labeled.'' Returning to speculation, I think this suggests an illustration of '''Length contraction (Lorentz coordinate transformation) in Special Relativity'''. [[User:Mrob27|Mrob27]] ([[User talk:Mrob27|talk]]) 20:22, 28 November 2014 (UTC)
:: That seems highly unlikely due to the top labels on this graph. In your explanation they can’t represent anything relevant. Also if this diagram is used to represent spatial contraction, it does not do a good job of it. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.209|108.162.216.209]] 13:45, 1 December 2014 (UTC)
::: I imagined the labels were, top row: O', x', (2x)'; bottom row: O, x, 2x, Δv; or perhaps top row: Δx₁', Δx₂', Δx₃'; bottom row Δx₁, Δx₂, Δx₃, 0.7c. I don't think Randall put enough thought into those tiny squiggles for us to be able to use pixel-counting as a hint to which labels interpretation is more likely… but what of it? We can make up labels that fit any interpretation. I did say "Length contraction (Lorentz...)" was just ''speculation''. I do like the "four pendulums coupled by springs" idea, though the horizontals look too ruler-like to me. It might be better just to say "two horizontal ruled lines linked by some diagonals" ! [[User:Mrob27|Mrob27]] ([[User talk:Mrob27|talk]]) 17:00, 1 December 2014 (UTC)
:::: You are totally right, this one may always be pure speculation. Though I am pretty sure the bottom points are labeled w, the top is by no means clear. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.209|108.162.216.209]] 20:46, 1 December 2014 (UTC)
::::: I propose that we change it again, from (current text: "A depiction of length contraction, with two lines of the same length locally but different lengths as one is viewed in motion") to something like ''"A depiction of length contraction with two rulers in relative motion, or of several pendulums coupled by springs"''. Or mention the pendula idea first, I don't want to decide. [[User:Mrob27|Mrob27]] ([[User talk:Mrob27|talk]]) 02:20, 2 December 2014 (UTC)
:::::: Though it's in panel before that one, there's the text "and then some" referencing going beyond what we currently know in a field - could it ''possibly'' be that this is supposed to represent something we haven't derived yet? -- [[User:Brettpeirce|Brettpeirce]] ([[User talk:Brettpeirce|talk]]) 10:44, 2 December 2014 (UTC)
:Also, I'd like to point out that all three diagrams unify the theme of "working out the kinks in quantum mechanics and relativity": The first illustrates a region of the bell curve where a particle might occasionally fall if it is about to exhibit quantum tunneling; the second relates to perpetual motion, thus hinting at general questions like "does quantum mechanics or relativity allow us to violate the laws of thermodynamics in any way?", and the third is from special relativity. [[User:Mrob27|Mrob27]] ([[User talk:Mrob27|talk]]) 20:22, 28 November 2014 (UTC)
:: Having studied (and knowing the fundamentals about what profile is needed to create a device that performs quantum tunneling) I have never seen this graph as a representation of this, and frankly it makes no sense. If this diagram was an energy band the hole or electron would have no need to tunnel to go up or down the energy band as it is a gradual slope. If a device had a profile like this, it would not result in a significant number of tunneling events, especially at the positions that are marked on the diagram. For this to occur there would need to be a peak between the two points, and the points would need to be at similar heights (energy levels). [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.209|108.162.216.209]] 13:06, 1 December 2014 (UTC)
::: Yes, you're right: all we know is that it's a bell curve (normal distribution), and mentioning "tunneling" might make the reader think we were saying it is a potential function. I was reading a bit much into it. Why are there two vertical dotted lines at roughly +σ and +2σ? I thought they indicated a "range" as if the graph were illustrating some discussion of things that fall within that range. I also incorrectly remembered what the Epitaph of Stevinus was about, so thanks for the corrections :-) [[User:Mrob27|Mrob27]] ([[User talk:Mrob27|talk]]) 16:57, 1 December 2014 (UTC)
:::: I think we could reasonably add that the function represents a probability distribution of a partial, therefore tying in the quantum aspects. with a minor explanation of the probibility of 1 and 2 sigma. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.209|108.162.216.209]] 20:46, 1 December 2014 (UTC)
::::: I do think it was okay without the extra text referencing quantum mechanics. I was just trying to find a way to relate the image to the words… but there are so many ways to relate the normal distribution to anything in science :-) [[User:Mrob27|Mrob27]] ([[User talk:Mrob27|talk]]) 02:20, 2 December 2014 (UTC)

The bigger picture that's missing on this explains it that this comic seems to suggest that Cueball is God, as in being stuck in Eternity who happened to build a simulated universe, which we all live in. Seeing how he addresses the reader "So if you see a mote of dust vanish from your vision in a little flash or something I'm sorry. I must have misplaced a rock sometime in the last few billions and billions of millennia." {{[[Special:Contributions/141.101.105.238|141.101.105.238]] 10:25, 12 November 2014 (UTC)}}
: I understand that English might not be your first language, but please clarify. The explanation covers Cueball being godlike. How can we add something that is already covered? Do you require further detail? Are you disagreeing with this assessment? Are you considering this observation irrelevant as your summary for your first comment "added not about Cueball being God" seems to imply? If so why?[[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.209|108.162.216.209]] 17:57, 12 November 2014 (UTC)
:: nm. I blatantly overlooked the exisiting sentence in the explanation. i blame the layout of this page. inline text that spans the whole available screen width is not pleasant to read on large displays ;) ...as for my English... the confusion stems from my bad keyboard/typing. it was meant to read "added notE about Cueball" for instance, or "as in A being stuck". [[Special:Contributions/141.101.105.233|141.101.105.233]] 08:15, 13 November 2014 (UTC)
:::you could shrink your window and display narrower lines of text(?) -- I guess it comes down to preference for masochism(?)... idunno. I think one of the most confusing parts of your question (and which may have contributed most to the ESL idea) is "missing on this explains it that...". Also, "as in being stuck" makes more sense than "as in a being stuck", though it seems you're suggesting otherwise (?) and I don't see any text mentioning added not(E) about Cueball) -- oh wait; is this a troll? -- [[User:Brettpeirce|Brettpeirce]] ([[User talk:Brettpeirce|talk]]) 15:14, 14 November 2014 (UTC)

Who or what is Nugui and why is it relivent.[[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.209|108.162.216.209]] 17:57, 12 November 2014 (UTC)

is randall not assuming that his universe (and by implication ours) is finite? if not, one iteration of the machine would still take infinite time. --[[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.201|141.101.98.201]] 12:42, 26 November 2014 (UTC)
: I think it's good enough to assume that the universe is finite, but really really huge. Hypothesizing that adding one particle to the model requires twice as many cells in the cellular automaton, that means that Cueball's cellular automata rows could be about 2^(10^80) cells long, allowing simulation of a physics system containing 10^80 particles. Of course, each planck-time would require 2^(10^80) steps of simulation in the CA. If 10^80 isn't big enough for you, then just make it 10^1000 or Graham's number, or anything finite. [[User:Mrob27|Mrob27]] ([[User talk:Mrob27|talk]]) 16:57, 1 December 2014 (UTC)
:: Don't forget that Rule 110 has 000 -> 0. Cueball can just add columns on either side as his universe expands, consequently taking more and more time to compute steps as the number of columns increases. {{unsigned ip|108.162.216.42}}

Did anyone notice that the binary numbers pointing to the particle are both 42? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.241.16|108.162.241.16]] 19:26, 27 November 2014 (UTC)
:I did now. :) But, somewhere, he left out the towel. [[User:Jarod997|Jarod997]] ([[User talk:Jarod997|talk]]) 14:33, 1 December 2014 (UTC)

Just as a curiosity -- there is a somewhat similar concept in "Permutation City", a book by Greg Egan. {{unsigned ip|141.101.88.211}}
:And dust is probably a reference to Dust Theory: http://gregegan.customer.netspace.net.au/PERMUTATION/FAQ/FAQ.html {{unsigned ip|141.101.98.187}}

I don't understand how it's possible to simulate a universe this way. Assuming that quantum mechanics is correct, and some forms of particle decay are truly random, wouldn't it be impossible to simulate this with a purely deterministic system? [[User:KingSupernova|KingSupernova]] ([[User talk:KingSupernova|talk]]) 15:30, 1 December 2015 (UTC)
: The universe Cueball is simulating would have to conform to [[wikipedia:Digital physics|digital physics]]. I can't speak about the fine points of quantum mechanics, but observably random events in a simulated universe could be the result of a pseudorandom number generator with a very large state. [[User:Srimech|Srimech]] ([[User talk:Srimech|talk]]) 23:37, 16 February 2016 (UTC)

This is definitely my favorite comic. I just really love it - I wish there was a book or something about it that was more in depth. --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.5|108.162.219.5]] 14:32, 5 June 2016 (UTC)
:Yeah. Wow. Just... Wow. I would be so interested if this were somehow true. I just wish he could occasionally figure out how to mess with our retinas by spontaneously flipping bits in order to make us see a representation of him. That would be awesome, right? If I can make my own universe, well... I would do that. Also, I love this guy, real or not. [[User:Jacky720|That's right, Jacky720 just signed this]] ([[User talk:Jacky720|talk]] | [[Special:Contributions/Jacky720|contribs]]) 16:10, 5 January 2017 (UTC)

----
I was thinking the whole "eternity in a wasteland" was just a Calvin and Hobbes type fantasy that the bored student conjured up to describe how he felt about this class. ~~ Jelsemium

Talk:508: Drapes

2017-12-13T18:17:52Z

Jelsemium: