explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

750: Book Burning

2013-12-20T16:26:50Z

Kilcun:

{{comic
| number = 750
| date = June 7, 2010
| title = Book Burning
| image = book_burning.png
| titletext = Of course, since their cautionary tale was reported in a print newspaper, no one read it.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}
A group of people wanting to hold a {{w|book burning}} find themselves in a conundrum as they only have one book. Going to an online retailer reveals that the {{w|Amazon Kindle|Kindle}} edition of the book is considerably less expensive than the hardcover edition. Unfortunately for the book-burners, the burning of a Kindle proves fatal because of the toxic fumes from the burning of its plastic shell, internal electronics, and/or the lithium polymer battery that powers it.

One purpose of book burning is to destroy heretical material and thus prevent the spread of those ideas. In this case, where a Kindle version downloaded and the device is burned, no heretical material is destroyed as the electronic version is still available for distribution. Those who survived the incident will then find that their actions did not prevent the spread of the heretical ideas, they have lost dear friends, and have to purchase new electronic devices.

Another purpose for a book burning is to have a public demonstration in protest of the ideas presented in the book. This may have been the purpose of the book burning mentioned in the comic since electronic versions of the book were considered for use. This plan failed, as indicated by the title text, because no one read the newspaper, thus no one was informed of the book burning.

There is also a subtle pun in that "{{w|Firelighting|kindle}}" is a word meaning "to start a fire".

The title text further drives home the point that electronic media is becoming the norm, while print text becomes more obsolete with time.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball holds a book aloft, displaying it to his two friends.]
:Cueball: This book is full of heresy!
:Friend: Let's hold a book burning!
:[They confer more, then one friend runs off.]
:Cueball: I only have one copy.
:Friend #1: I guess we could buy more.
:Friend #2: I'll look online.
:[A screenshot from an online retailer's page displays pricing for the hardcover ($17.99) and Kindle ($9.99) editions of the mentioned book.]

:[The front page of a newspaper, titled "News", is shown above the fold. The first article's headline reads "Eight dead from toxic fume inhalation" and a picture is shown depicting three bodies strewn around a massive plume of tar-black smoke.]

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]

419: Forks and Spoons

2013-12-20T15:58:24Z

Kilcun: added title text to transcript

{{comic
| number = 419
| date = May 5, 2008
| title = Forks and Spoons
| image = forks and spoons.png
| titletext = Their biggest mistake was bringing Rachael Ray and Emeril to tour the lab and sign off on the project. That's when Spielberg caught wind of it.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}
This comic begins like standard sci-fi fare, where amoral scientists request funding from mysterious benefactors. The dialogue of "You're toying with powerful forces here" and "We know what we're doing" is a [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow classic trope], foreshadowing that things will soon [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GoneHorriblyWrong go horribly wrong]. It inevitably leads to the humorous incongruity of a sentient {{w|spork}} on a murderous rampage.

{{w|Rachael Ray}} and {{w|Emeril}} are celebrity chefs, and {{w|Steven Spielberg}} is a famous movie director. The joke seems to be that if the laboratory hadn't hired the two renowned chefs, Spielberg wouldn't have made a movie in which Rachael's and Emeril's characters are killed off horribly.

==Transcript==
:Megan: A spoon crossed with a fork is a spork.
:Off-panel Megan's voice: Our lab has successfully crossed a <u>spork</u> with a spoon. [Diagram showing the fractions of fork and spoon in each item.]
:[Chart showing possible combinations of spoons a forks.]
:Megan, facing audience: With your funding, we could create hybrids in proportions corresponding to ''any binary fraction''.
:[Fork-Spoon Spectrum.]
:Audience member: You're toying with powerful forces here.
:Megan: We know what we're doing.
:Two weeks later:
:[Picture of a destroyed lab with two dead bodies, blood everywhere and a spoon-fork hybrid hopping away.]
:''Hop hop hop.''
:Title Text: Their biggest mistake was bringing Rachael Ray and Emeril to tour the lab and sign off on the project. That's when Spielberg caught wind of it.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics with color]]

1304: Glass Trolling

2013-12-16T14:06:37Z

Kilcun:

{{comic
| number = 1304
| date = December 16, 2013
| title = Glass Trolling
| image = glass_trolling.png
| titletext = Plus, when someone finally grabs your glasses and stomps on them, it costs way less than $1,500 to replace them.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Is there really much to say?}}
Cueball is wearing normal glasses, but he says "OK, glass" like someone wearing {{w|Google_Glass|Google glasses}} would say to give a [https://support.google.com/glass/answer/3079305 voice command]. Saying "Ok, Glass" while wearing normal {{w|glasses}} is not going to do anything other than probably annoying bystanders, as the by-stander outside the frame says. Eventually you may become so annoying -- whether using Google Glasses or regular glasses -- that you may provoke somebody to take the drastic action of pulling off your glasses and stomping on them, as suggested by the title-text. While Google Glasses are relatively expensive, regular glasses cost only a fraction as much.

The Google search app on Android 4.1+ devices and the Google Chrome browser (with the Voice Search extension) both use a similar method of accepting user commands (but with the phrase "OK, Google"). This would probably also annoy by-standers, because talking aloud in public without a visible partner is usually considered rude.

This is another strip in the [[My Hobby]] series.

==Transcript==
:My Hobby:
:Cueball: Ok, Glass, check tomorrow's weather.
:Cueball: Ohh, snow!
:Off-frame-bystander: Oh my god, it's somehow even ''more'' annoying than if you had it.
:Saying "Ok, Glass" before everything while wearing regular glasses.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:My Hobby]]

19: George Clinton

2013-11-22T16:33:17Z

Kilcun: Pseudologia fantastica, may need correction

{{comic
| number = 19
| date = October 12, 2005
| title = George Clinton
| image = George_clinton.jpg
| titletext = I still wish it were true.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}

{{w|George Clinton (musician)|George Clinton}} is an American musician most famous for his funk music and wild hair style.

As Randall says, he had attempted to spread around an {{w|urban legend}} that George Clinton had a {{w|Bachelor of Arts}} degree in mathmatics. However, the more Randall thought about this rumor, the more he found himself believing it was true. This behavior is related to {{w|Pseudologia fantastica}}, which is more commonly known as pathological or compulsive lying. This comic references the associated behavior that an "individual may be aware they are lying, or may believe they are telling the truth, being unaware that they are relating fantasies." These individuals may eventually stop the lie as demonstrated by the title text, which indicates that at some later time the individual realized that the rumor was not true, but wishes it to be so.

The equations on the board are {{w|Laplace transforms}} of functions.

==Transcript==
:I once tried to start the urban legend that George Clinton has a B.A. in mathematics
:[George Clinton indicates equations on a blackboard.]
:...but I wanted it to be true so badly that I started believing it myself.

==Trivia==
*This is the eighteenth comic posted to livejournal. The previous was [[18: Snapple]]. The next was [[20: Ferret]].

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]
[[Category:Comics posted on livejournal]]
[[Category:Math]]

200: Bill Nye

2013-11-19T15:11:24Z

Kilcun: link to website, more title text description

{{comic
| number = 200
| date = December 22, 2006
| title = Bill Nye
| image = bill_nye.png
| titletext = You could at least not wear the lab coat everywhere, dude.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}
{{w|Bill Nye}} is a scientist well known in the United States for his science-focused television show targeted to elementary school children ([http://www.billnye.com/ website]). His abrupt dismissal of the mother in the comic is antithetical to his television persona, where he is consistently enthusiastic about science and keen to take any opportunity to teach the viewer.

Ice pops and cracks when dropped in a glass of water because of thermal expansion, where the (relatively) hot water causes the ice to expand unevenly, cracking it.

The title text contains another joke. He eats a meal in public where he does not want to be recognized or harassed with questions, however, he wears a lab coat. Regardless of this being Bill Nye's iconic and recognizable appearance, wearing a lab coat in public will probably draw the gazes and curiosity of others no matter who is wearing it.

==Transcript==
:[A restaurant. A mother and two children sit at one table; a man in a white lab coat sits in another.]
:THE TRIBULATIONS of BILL NYE
:Mother: Hey, kids, see how the ice cracks and pops in your water? I wonder what causes that...
:Mother: *AHEM* I said, I wonder what--
:Bill Nye: Know what? Maybe I just wanna enjoy my goddamn meal.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]

1292: Pi vs. Tau

2013-11-18T14:26:54Z

Kilcun: /* Changed, made major mistake, used undo, did this */

{{comic
| number = 1292
| date = November 17, 2013
| title = Pi vs. Tau
| image = pi vs tau.png
| titletext = Conveniently approximated as e+2, Pau is commonly known as the Devil's Ratio (because in the octal expansion, '666' appears four times in the first 200 digits while no other run of 3+ digits appears more than once.)
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}

This is yet another of Randall's compromise comics. A few mathematicians argue as to whether to use pi, which is the ratio between a circle's diameter and its circumference, or tau, which is the ratio between a circle's radius and its circumference. Randall is suggesting using pau, which is a portmanteau between pi and tau, and is a number situated halfway between pi and tau. This number would be effectively useless, as there are currently no commonly used formulas that involve 1.5 pi or 0.75 tau.

Some consider pi has being the wrong convention in favor of tau (see the [http://tauday.com/tau-manifesto Tau Manifesto]). Some consider proponents of tau to be foolish and remain loyal to pi (see the [http://www.thepimanifesto.com Pi Manifesto]). Occasionally, the argument is that the food, pi(e), is the whole thing, not half and have made a [http://www.piday.org/ day about it]. Others say on tau day you get twice as much pi(e).

The inspiration for pi is wrong is found [http://www.math.utah.edu/~palais/pi.html here].

The trivial nature of the argument is made plain in this comic! Regardless of which convention is used, the fundamental mathematics will remain unaltered

The title text for the comic is also incorrect. The first 200 digits of 'pau' in octal are:
<pre>
4.5545743763144164432362345144750501224254715730156503147633545270030431677126116550546747570313312523403514716576464333172731124310201076447270723624573721640220437652155065544220143116155742515634462
</pre>
The sequence '666' does not occur at all. Both '2362' and '4376' occur twice, while both '362' and '431' occur three times. 39 other 3 digit sequences occur twice.

The "Devil's Ratio" may be a cross-reference to the "Devil's Interval", aka tritone, augmented fourth, or diminished fifth. This note is situated halfway between octaves, and is named for its dissonant quality.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}
:(π, 'Pi', crossed out) (1.5 π, 'Pau') (2 π, 'Tau', also crossed out)
:A compromise solution to the Pi/Tau dispute
{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Math]]

1292: Pi vs. Tau

2013-11-18T14:25:39Z

Kilcun: Undo revision 53019 by Kilcun (talk)

{{comic
| number = 1292
| date = November 17, 2013
| title = Pi vs. Tau
| image = pi vs tau.png
| titletext = Conveniently approximated as e+2, Pau is commonly known as the Devil's Ratio (because in the octal expansion, '666' appears four times in the first 200 digits while no other run of 3+ digits appears more than once.)
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}

This is yet another of Randall's compromise comics. A few mathematicians argue as to whether to use pi, which is the ratio between a circle's diameter and its circumference, or tau, which is the ratio between a circle's radius and its circumference. Randall is suggesting using pau, which is a portmanteau between pi and tau, and is a number situated halfway between pi and tau. This number would be effectively useless, as there are currently no commonly used formulas that involve 1.5 pi or 0.75 tau.

Some naively consider pi has having the "wrong" value because multiplying by the radius gives only half the circumference, they consider the 2 in (2 * pi * r) inconvenient. This ignores the convenience of the area being (pi * r^2). Also occasionally the argument is that the food, pi(e), is the whole thing, not half. Once again, when we eat pie it is not the crust we want, but the area! Note that the pi(e) justification for pi being half as big as it should be occurs only in English. And why cannot those who consider the conventions of maths wrong use (pi * D) for circumference. http://www.math.utah.edu/~palais/pi.html

Anyway, the trivial nature of the argument is made plain in this comic! Were 'pau' used all the maths still works, proponents of 'tau' should do some real maths instead. Only the illiterate complain about "weird" spellings, similarly ... !

The title text for the comic is also incorrect. The first 200 digits of 'pau' in octal are:
<pre>
4.5545743763144164432362345144750501224254715730156503147633545270030431677126116550546747570313312523403514716576464333172731124310201076447270723624573721640220437652155065544220143116155742515634462
</pre>
The sequence '666' does not occur at all. Both '2362' and '4376' occur twice, while both '362' and '431' occur three times. 39 other 3 digit sequences occur twice.

The "Devil's Ratio" may be a cross-reference to the "Devil's Interval", aka tritone, augmented fourth, or diminished fifth. This note is situated halfway between octaves, and is named for its dissonant quality.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}
:(π, 'Pi', crossed out) (1.5 π, 'Pau') (2 π, 'Tau', also crossed out)
:A compromise solution to the Pi/Tau dispute
{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Math]]

1292: Pi vs. Tau

2013-11-18T14:21:44Z

Kilcun: /* Major bias in favor of Pi removed. Added links for descriptions to each argument */

{{comic
| number = 1292
| date = November 17, 2013
| title = Pi vs. Tau
| image = pi vs tau.png
| titletext = Conveniently approximated as e+2, Pau is commonly known as the Devil's Ratio (because in the octal expansion, '666' appears four times in the first 200 digits while no other run of 3+ digits appears more than once.)
}}

{{comic
| number = 1292
| date = November 17, 2013
| title = Pi vs. Tau
| image = pi vs tau.png
| titletext = Conveniently approximated as e+2, Pau is commonly known as the Devil's Ratio (because in the octal expansion, '666' appears four times in the first 200 digits while no other run of 3+ digits appears more than once.)
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}

This is yet another of Randall's compromise comics. A few mathematicians argue as to whether to use pi, which is the ratio between a circle's diameter and its circumference, or tau, which is the ratio between a circle's radius and its circumference. Randall is suggesting using pau, which is a portmanteau between pi and tau, and is a number situated halfway between pi and tau. This number would be effectively useless, as there are currently no commonly used formulas that involve 1.5 pi or 0.75 tau.

Some consider pi has being the wrong convention in favor of tau (see the [http://tauday.com/tau-manifesto Tau Manifesto]). Some consider proponents of tau to be foolish and remain loyal to pi (see the [http://www.thepimanifesto.com Pi Manifesto]). Occasionally, the argument is that the food, pi(e), is the whole thing, not half and have made a [http://www.piday.org/ day about it]. Others say on tau day you get twice as much pi(e).

The inspiration for pi is wrong is found [http://www.math.utah.edu/~palais/pi.html here].

The trivial nature of the argument is made plain in this comic! Regardless of which convention is used, the fundamental mathematics will remain unaltered

The title text for the comic is also incorrect. The first 200 digits of 'pau' in octal are:
<pre>
4.5545743763144164432362345144750501224254715730156503147633545270030431677126116550546747570313312523403514716576464333172731124310201076447270723624573721640220437652155065544220143116155742515634462
</pre>
The sequence '666' does not occur at all. Both '2362' and '4376' occur twice, while both '362' and '431' occur three times. 39 other 3 digit sequences occur twice.

The "Devil's Ratio" may be a cross-reference to the "Devil's Interval", aka tritone, augmented fourth, or diminished fifth. This note is situated halfway between octaves, and is named for its dissonant quality.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}
:(π, 'Pi', crossed out) (1.5 π, 'Pau') (2 π, 'Tau', also crossed out)
:A compromise solution to the Pi/Tau dispute
{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Math]]

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}
:(π, 'Pi', crossed out) (1.5 π, 'Pau') (2 π, 'Tau', also crossed out)
:A compromise solution to the Pi/Tau dispute
{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Math]]