explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

1333: First Date

2014-02-21T12:09:46Z

LotharW: added Category:Pokémon using HotCat

{{comic
| number = 1333
| date = February 21, 2014
| title = First Date
| image = first_date.png
| titletext = I sympathize with the TPP protagonist because I, too, have progressed through a surprising number of stages of life despite spending entire days stuck against simple obstacles.
}}

==Explanation==
'TPP,' or '{{w|Twitch Plays Pokémon}},' was the first of a creative and radical new variant of streaming gameplay videos created in early 2014.

With the increasing popularity of watching video games be played (usually by 'popular' gamers known for entertaining gameplay), streaming sites dedicated to streaming gameplay were created; twitch.tv was one such site.

Whereas traditional video game streams involved the channel broadcaster or other personality playing the game, the channel "Twitch Plays Pokémon" recorded a bot playing an emulated Pokemon game. The game was given inputs by the bot based on players' messages in the video stream itself; meaning that for all intents and purposes, the watchers of the stream were playing the game, using chat "commands." The player behaved incredibly erratically, frequently getting "stuck against simple obstacles" (as mentioned in the title-text) and moving about in a strange manner ("Why are you up there?"/"Bye...Okay, coming back now"). TPP surged in popularity rapidly from its inception, reaching 80K channel viewers within a mere 5 days. Derivative channels (such as 'TwitchPlayers') soon arose, turning "Twitch Plays..." into an idea rather than a single channel - the idea of crowd-sourcing a task, such as controlling a single person (as in the Pokémon games) for erratic and often hilarious results. The stream has reached [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/twitch-plays-pokemon memetic status], and as of this writing it is still ongoing; you can participate right now.

In the above comic, Cueball and Megan are on a date, however, Megan is behaving very erratically. Cueball determines that Megan is being "controlled by Twitch," as her behavior matches well with that of the "TPP Protagonist" (whose name, canonically, is Red). Megan loudly declares at one point that she is "SAVING" her 'game progress.' Her fascination with the "cool spiral" is an allusion to TPP players' fascination with the "Helix Fossil," an in-game item regarded with a near-religious reverence by TPP players for its constant appearance (because user input often leads to the checking of the in-game backpack, where the Helix fossil and other items resided, the players jokingly decided that the protagonist was "looking to the Helix for guidance;" this quickly led to its regard as a "religious symbol.")

The title-text, as explained above, simply is a light-hearted joke from xkcd, empathizing with TPP as he has also "spent days stuck against simple obstacles."

==Transcript==
:[Cueball and Megan are sitting at a table.]
:Cueball: So, did you grow up around here?
:Megan: I love you.
:Cueball: ...Huh?
:Megan: Waiter! One of everything on the menu.

:[Megan is now standing on her chair.]
:Cueball: Why are you up there?
:Megan: I'm stuck. This plate looks delicious. Aaaoogaoag.

:[Megan has left the panel.]
:Megan (off-screen): Bye. Ok. Coming back now.

:[Megan is sitting in her chair again, now holding a Helix Fossil.]
:Cueball: You're being controlled by Twitch, aren't you?
:Megan: Check out this cool spiral!
:Cueball: It's—
:Megan: '''SAVING.'''

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Internet]]
[[Category:Pokémon]]

1076: Groundhog Day

2014-02-20T15:25:14Z

LotharW: /* Explanation */ Typos

{{comic
| number = 1076
| date = July 2, 2012
| title = Groundhog Day
| image = groundhog_day.png
| titletext = If you closely examine the cosmic background radiation, you can pick up lingering echoes of 'I Got You Babe'.
}}

==Explanation==
''{{w|Groundhog Day (film)|Groundhog Day}}'' is a philosophical comedy film from 1993. The main character Phil, portrayed by {{w|Bill Murray}}, finds himself in a time loop, which forces him to relive the same day (February 2) over and over again. This date is the titular {{w|Groundhog Day}}, which is celebrated in {{w|Punxsutawney}}, Pennsylvania, where the film is set. The folklore ritual consists in removing a {{w|groundhog}} from its burrow. If the sun is shining and the groundhog can see its own shadow, the winter is asumed to continue for six more weeks.

During the course of the film, Phil makes more and more drastic attempts to end the time loop, but not even suicide can prevent his waking up every morning on February 2 with the clock radio on his nightstand invariably playing ''{{w|I Got You Babe}}'' by {{w|Sonny & Cher}}. Eventually, his character improves and he finds himself increasingly attached to a woman named Rita (portrayed by {{w|Andie MacDowell}}). The pair gets closer, and in the end they sleep with each other. This breaks the time loop, and Murray's character can finally wake up on February 3. However, this final scene is disputed, as Phil is still wearing the same clothes as the night before, and the radio clock still plays the same wake-up tune. It is therefore left in doubt if Phil really managed to escape the loop. ([[Randall]] was apparently not aware of this and [http://blog.xkcd.com/2012/07/02/groundhog-day-correction/ apologised] for it.)

The comic assumes that the loop was indeed not broken, and that Phil and Rita simply had sex night after night for all eternity. It is then stated that ''not even forever is forever''. This is a reference to the mathematical set theory developed by {{w|Georg Cantor}}. Cantor distinguished between {{w|transfinite numbers}}, which are larger than all finite numbers, yet not {{w|infinite}}, and the concept of {{w|Absolute Infinity}}, which he equalled with {{w|God}}. It was a common concern in Cantors time to preserve the consistency between mathematics and Christian belief. Cantor's philosophical conception of infinity would allow the comic's scenario to eventually reach the transfinite date of February 3.

The last panel references the {{w|Ussher chronology|chronology of the history of the world}} of Archbishop {{w|James Ussher}}. Ussher deduced the age of the world from the timeline of the {{w|Old Testament}} and calculated the date of {{w|Genesis creation myth|Creation}} to have been nightfall preceding 23 October, 4004 BC. The comic observes that October 23 is exactly 264 days after February 3, which correspondents to the average length of pregnancy. This calculation draws on Ussher's own methodology, which was basically to add the lifespans of the Old Testament genealogy. Although modern science unanimously believes the universe to be much older than 6000 years, chronologies like Ussher's can sometimes be found in the argumentations of {{w|Young Earth Creationism}}. The comic might therefore be seen as a sideswipe to these theories by introducing ''Groundhog Day'' as a possible creation myth. The {{w|creation myth}}s of many cultures claim that Earth was born by some sort {{w|Mother goddess|primordial mother}}. Here, this role would be assumed by Rita.

The title text refers to the {{w|Cosmic microwave background|cosmic microwave background radiation}}, which is often called the ''lingering sound'' of the {{w|Big Bang}} and regarded as a strong proof for it. If the universe were indeed the offspring of the film's protagonists, we might hear the faint echo of Murray's radio clock lingering in the cosmic background.

Interestingly, the comic mentions Bill Murray by his own name, and not by his character's (''Phil''), whereas Andie MacDowell is mentioned as ''Rita''. This could be subconsciously done, since Murray is mostly remembered for his role in this film, although he has had many other successful ones.

==Transcript==
:''Groundhog Day'' really didn't end that way. When Bill Murray finally slept with Rita, it '''didn't''' break the loop.
:[Phil Connors and Rita gettin' busy under the covers of his bed.]
:They just kept having sex, night after night,
:[Bed containing Phil and Rita repeats.]
:February 2nd after February 2nd...
:[Calendar page repeats.]
:..forever
:But nothing is forever. Not even forever
:And the day '''''after''''' that sexual infinity
:[Calendar page shows '''Feb 3.''']
:was February 3rd.
:264 days later (the length of a pregnancy) was October 23rd —
:[An enormous explosion in space.]
:Bishop Ussher's date for the birth of our world.
{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Sex]]
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]

1076: Groundhog Day

2014-02-20T15:23:11Z

LotharW: Completely rewritten, added reference to Cantor's concept of infinity and creation myths.

{{comic
| number = 1076
| date = July 2, 2012
| title = Groundhog Day
| image = groundhog_day.png
| titletext = If you closely examine the cosmic background radiation, you can pick up lingering echoes of 'I Got You Babe'.
}}

==Explanation==
''{{w|Groundhog Day (film)|Groundhog Day}}'' is a philosophical comedy film from 1993. The main character Phil, portrayed by {{w|Bill Murray}}, finds himself in a time loop, which forces him to relive the same day (February 2) over and over again. This date is the titular {{w|Groundhog Day}}, which is celebrated in {{w|Punxsutawney}}, Pennsylvania, where the film is set. The folklore ritual consists in removing a {{w|groundhog}} from its burrow. If the sun is shining and the groundhog can see its own shadow, the winter is asumed to continue for six more weeks.

During the course of the film, Phil makes more and more drastic attempts to end the time loop, but not even suicide can prevent his waking up every morning on February 2 with the clock radio on his nightstand invariably playing ''{{w|I Got You Babe}}'' by {{w|Sonny & Cher}}. Eventually, his character improves and he finds himself increasingly attached to a woman named Rita (portrayed by {{w|Andie MacDowell}}). The pair gets closer, and in the end they sleep with each other. This breaks the time loop, and Murray's character can finally wake up on February 3. However, this final scene is disputed, as Phil is still wearing the same clothes as the night before, and the radio clock still plays the same wake-up tune. It is therefore left in doubt, if Phil really managed to escape the loop. ([[Randall]] was apparently not aware of this and [http://blog.xkcd.com/2012/07/02/groundhog-day-correction/ apologised] for it.)

The comic assumes that the loop was indeed not broken, and that Phil and Rita simply had sex night after night for all eternity. It is then stated that ''not even forever is forever''. This is a reference to the mathematical set theory developed by {{w|Georg Cantor}}. Cantor distinguished between {{w|transfinite numbers}}, which are larger than all finite numbers, yet not {{w|infinite}}, and the concept of {{w|Absolute Infinity}}, which he equalled with {{w|God}}. It was a common concern in Cantors time to preserve the consistency between mathematics and Christian belief. Cantor's philosophical conception of infinity would allow the comic's scenario to eventually reach the transfinite date of February 3.

The last panel references the {{w|Ussher chronology|chronology of the history of the world}} of Archbishop {{w|James Ussher}}. Ussher deducted the age of the world from the timeline of the {{w|Old Testament}} and calculated the date of {{w|Genesis creation myth|Creation}} to have been nightfall preceding 23 October, 4004 BC. The comic observes that October 23 is exactly 264 days after February 3, which correspondents to the average length of pregnancy. This calculation draws on Ussher's own methodology, which was basically to add the lifespans of the Old Testament genealogy. Although modern science unanimously believes the universe to be much older than 6000 years, chronologies like Ussher's can sometimes be found in the argumentations of {{w|Young Earth Creationism}}. The comic might therefore be seen as a sideswipe to these theories by introducing ''Groundhog Day'' as a possible creation myth. The {{w|creation myth}}s of many cultures claim that Earth was born by some sort {{w|Mother goddess|primordial mother}}. Here, this role would be assumed by Rita.

The title text refers to the {{w|Cosmic microwave background|cosmic microwave background radiation}}, which is often called the ''lingering sound'' of the {{w|Big Bang}} and regarded as a strong proof for it. If the universe were indeed the offspring of the film's protagonists, we might hear the faint echo of Murray's radio clock lingering in the cosmic background.

Interestingly, the comic mentions Bill Murray by his own name, and not by his character's (''Phil''), whereas Andie MacDowell is mentioned as ''Rita''. This could be subconsciously done, since Murray is mostly remembered for his role in this film, although he has had many other successful ones.

==Transcript==
:''Groundhog Day'' really didn't end that way. When Bill Murray finally slept with Rita, it '''didn't''' break the loop.
:[Phil Connors and Rita gettin' busy under the covers of his bed.]
:They just kept having sex, night after night,
:[Bed containing Phil and Rita repeats.]
:February 2nd after February 2nd...
:[Calendar page repeats.]
:..forever
:But nothing is forever. Not even forever
:And the day '''''after''''' that sexual infinity
:[Calendar page shows '''Feb 3.''']
:was February 3rd.
:264 days later (the length of a pregnancy) was October 23rd —
:[An enormous explosion in space.]
:Bishop Ussher's date for the birth of our world.
{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Sex]]
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]

563: Fermirotica

2014-02-20T13:41:41Z

LotharW:

{{comic
| number = 563
| date = April 1, 2009
| title = Fermirotica
| image = fermirotica.png
| titletext = I love how Google handles dimensional analysis. Stats are ballpark and vary wildly based on time of day and whether your mom is in town.
}}

==Explanation==
The {{w|Fermi paradox}} describes the contradiction between the high probability of {{w|extraterrestrial life}} and the lack of empirical evidence thereof. Age and size of the universe suggest that intelligent life should have occurred somewhere, and that some alien civilizations should have developed technology for {{w|interstellar travel}}. Therefore, one might expect the universe full of life. However, no evidence for any lifeforms on other planets has yet been found by humans. This inconsistency was first noted by {{w|Enrico Fermi}} in 1950 when he posed the question "Where is everybody?". The phenomenon, often called ''The Great Silence'', was later examined more thoroughly in a paper by {{w|Michael H. Hart}}.

A decade after Fermi's observation, {{w|Frank Drake}} formulated the {{w|Drake equation}}, which aims at estimating the number of active, communicative extraterrestrial civilizations in the {{w|Milky Way}} galaxy. The formula presents itself as the product of several probabilistic factors which would be required for such a civilization to exist. Several parameters are unknown and the equation assumes that all factors are weighed equally, therefore the equation is not useful for computing any actual result.

The comic presents a somewhat related equation which computes the average distance from the observer wherein a couple can be found copulating. (The example parameters given in the comic yield 139 metres.) The implication of the equation is that we are surrounded by sex in our everyday lives. Nevertheless, we rarely encounter couples during the act itself. Borrowing from the Fermi paradox, the ''Fermirotica'' paradox poses the question: "Where is everybody having sex?". Of course, the lack of empirical evidence of couples having sex can easily explained by the fact that most couples only have intercourse in privacy. A similar approach might also offer an explanation to the original problem: Alien species might conceal themselves from our observations, e.g. in order to {{w|Prime directive|avoid interfering in the development of civilizations}}. This answer to the Fermi Paradox is commonly called {{w|zoo hypothesis}}.

The second panel has [[Cueball]] sexually aroused by the statistical probability of a couple practising intercourse. This fantasy of his is termed ''statistical {{w|voyeurism}}'' by an off-frame speaker.

The title text refers to the {{w|Goggle search#calculator|Google calculator}} and praises its capabilities of {{w|dimensional analysis}}, and more specifically {{w|unit conversion}}. [[Randall]] assumes that most readers will enter the equation with the example parameters into the {{w|Google}} search engine. The built-in calculator will output the result in the correct {{w| SI unit}} ''metre'', although the population density was given as ''people per square mile''. The second part of the title text states that the examples are nothing more than an educated guess, and that the equation is simplified. In reality, more parameters must be taken into account, e.g. the time of day, since most people will have sex in the evening or night. The insulting suggestion that the probability of sex rises when the reader's (supposedly promiscuous) mother is in town represents a ''{{w|Yo Mama joke}}''.

Even though this comic was published on April 1, there is no evidence of it being a designated {{w|April Fool's joke}}.

==Transcript==
:Pd Regional Population Density (e.g. 18,600/mi²)
:Xf Average Person's Frequency of Sex (e.g. 80/Year)
:Xd Average Duration of Sex (e.g. 30 Minutes)
:r=sqrt(2/(π*Pd*Xf*Xd))
:On average, someone within distance r of you is having sex.
:[Cueball standing at easel.]
:Cueball: Mmm, That probable couple 150 meters away is so hot. Oh yeah, theoretically work it, baby.
:From out of frame: Hey! No statistical voyeurism!
{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Sex]]
[[Category:Math]]
[[Category:April fool's comics]]

1281: Minifigs

2013-10-23T16:05:40Z

LotharW: Revised the article. I still have some ideas for the explanation, so I will leave the incomplete-tag.

{{comic
| number = 1281
| date = October 23, 2013
| title = Minifigs
| image = minifigs.png
| titletext = The LEGO Group is already the world's largest tire manufacturer.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}

{{w|Lego minifigure}}s (often abbreviated as ''minifigs'') are tiny plastic people designed by the Danish toy manufacturer {{w|Lego Group|Lego}} as part of their construction toy sets. Since 1978, over four billion minifigures have been sold. The figures resemble simplified humans with a yellow skin colour and feature interchangeable body parts.

The graph depicted in the comic extrapolates the total number of minifigures and compares it to the growth of the {{w|world population}}, which reached 7 billion in March 2012. By the calculations of the comic, Lego minifigures will outnumber the human population by 2019. The extrapolation of statistical data has appeared in various xkcd comics, e.g. in #[[605]]. However, unlike the other extrapolated scenarios, the prognosis of this comic seems quite likely.

Since Lego is designed to resemble nature and civilization on a miniaturized scale, some sets also contain Lego cars as vehicles for the minifigures. With over 381 million {{w|Lego tire}}s produced for these miniature cars, Lego is already the world's largest manufacturer of tires. This fact is addressed in the title text.

==Transcript==
:[Graph: X-axis, 1980, 1990, 2010, 2020; Y-axis 8 Billion]
:[Plot-line 1: Number of people in the world. Plot-line 2: Number of Lego People in the world. Label on Line from X-axis reads "Today."]

:By 2019, Humans will be outnumbered.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Charts]]

1279: Reverse Identity Theft

2013-10-18T19:40:59Z

LotharW: Added link.

{{comic
| number = 1279
| date = October 18, 2013
| title = Reverse Identity Theft
| image = reverse identity theft.png
| titletext = I asked a few friends whether they'd had this happen, then looked up the popularity of their initials/names over time. Based on those numbers, it looks like there must be at least 750,000 people in the US alone who think 'Sure, that's probably my email address' on a regular basis.
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Identity theft}} is the criminal method of assuming the identity of an unsuspecting person, usually to get credit in their name. While this is done deliberately, the comic introduces the idea of ''reverse'' identity theft: An older person with little knowledge of computers involuntarily uses another person's {{w|email address}} because he or she supposed it to be their own. Since most email addresses follow a generic pattern, they simply adapt the pattern to conform with their own name, unaware that someone with the same initial and last name already owns the address.

Most internet users face at some point the message that their desired email address is "already taken". Because email addresses must be unique and only a limited set of characters is allowed, people with common names usually add numbers to their name. The comic suggests that elder people might easily forget that they had to take, for instance, <code>rebeccamunroe42@gmail.com</code> when they signed up. Instead, the person would tell everyone that their address was <code>rmunroe@gmail.com</code>, since that follows the generic pattern and is the most intuitive assumption for them. They are in complete ignorance that the address belongs, in fact, to whoever claimed it first. (In this case, the address belongs to [[Randall]] himself.)

The comic has [[Cueball]] call an older person, who apparently gave Cueball's email address to the phone company, which now emails Cueball the bills. The person is not able to understand why this is not their email address (as it corresponds with their name) and is also very confused how Cueball got their phone number. The latter reveals a major problem of reverse identity theft: Using another person's email address for your own business matters exposes your own identity. The owner of the address could easily take advantage of the situation, leading to a scenario of regular identity theft. (Fortunately, Cueball seems to be more honest; Black Hat probably would not have given any warning.)

Due to the sheer mass of people online, nearly all simple nicknames are already taken; and the number of possible combinations is further diminished by services like e.g. {{w|GMail}}, which ignores the dot sign altogether and does not allow the use of hyphens or underscores. This policy is designed to prevent fraud, but it forces users to add numbers or other unique identifiers to their names. Apart from the scenario addressed in the comic, another subsequent problem is the use of wrong email addresses by third parties. Someone sending sensitive personal information to the wrong recipient can just as easily expose a person's identity as the person himself.

In the end, there is no practical solution to the problems arising from the uniqueness of usernames and email addresses. Instead, it is simply the consequence of naming itself: While a {{w|Personal name|name}} were originally intended to distinguish its bearer from a limited number of people (e.g. the rest of the village), the Internet makes it necessary to distinguish ourselves from the entire rest of the world (or at least everybody online).

Note that {{w|GMail}} ignores everything behind a plus sign. This is used as a way to create {{w|email alias}}es. The plus sign in the formula used in the comic should therefore considered to be only an indicator for concatenation, not a literal character in the address.

==Transcript==
:If your email address is [First initial]+[Last name]@gmail.com you gradually get to know lots of older people who have the same name pattern

:Cueball: Yes, I know it would make '''''sense''''' if that were your email address, but it's not.
:Person on the phone: But how did you get my number?
:Cueball: Your phone bill.

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

1279: Reverse Identity Theft

2013-10-18T19:36:15Z

LotharW: Revised most of the article because it has become a bit of a patchwork.

{{comic
| number = 1279
| date = October 18, 2013
| title = Reverse Identity Theft
| image = reverse identity theft.png
| titletext = I asked a few friends whether they'd had this happen, then looked up the popularity of their initials/names over time. Based on those numbers, it looks like there must be at least 750,000 people in the US alone who think 'Sure, that's probably my email address' on a regular basis.
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Identity theft}} is the criminal method of assuming the identity of an unsuspecting person, usually to get credit in their name. While this is done deliberately, the comic introduces the idea of ''reverse'' identity theft: An older person with little knowledge of computers involuntarily uses another person's {{w|email address}} because he or she supposed it to be their own. Since most email addresses follow a generic pattern, they simply adapt the pattern to conform with their own name, unaware that someone with the same initial and last name already owns the address.

Most internet users face at some point the message that their desired email address is "already taken". Because email addresses must be unique and only a limited set of characters is allowed, people with common names usually add numbers to their name. The comic suggests that elder people might easily forget that they had to take, for instance, <code>rebeccamunroe42@gmail.com</code> when they signed up. Instead, the person would tell everyone that their address was <code>rmunroe@gmail.com</code>, since that follows the generic pattern and is the most intuitive assumption for them. They are in complete ignorance that the address belongs, in fact, to whoever claimed it first. (In this case, the address belongs to [[Randall]] himself.)

The comic has [[Cueball]] call an older person, who apparently gave Cueball's email address to the phone company, which now emails Cueball the bills. The person is not able to understand why this is not their email address (as it corresponds with their name) and is also very confused how Cueball got their phone number. The latter reveals a major problem of reverse identity theft: Using another person's email address for your own business matters exposes your own identity. The owner of the address could easily take advantage of the situation, leading to a scenario of regular identity theft. (Fortunately, Cueball seems to be more honest; Black Hat probably would not have given any warning.)

Due to the sheer mass of people online, nearly all simple nicknames are already taken; and the number of possible combinations is further diminished by services like e.g. {{w|GMail}}, which ignores the dot sign altogether and does not allow the use of hyphens or underscores. This policy is designed to prevent fraud, but it forces users to add numbers or other unique identifiers to their names. Apart from the scenario addressed in the comic, another subsequent problem is the use of wrong email addresses by third parties. Someone sending sensitive personal information to the wrong recipient can just as easily expose a person's identity as the person himself.

In the end, there is no practical solution to the problems arising from the uniqueness of usernames and email addresses. Instead, it is simply the consequence of naming itself: While a name were originally intended to distinguish its bearer from a limited number of people (e.g. the rest of the village), the Internet makes it necessary to distinguish ourselves from the entire rest of the world (or at least everybody online).

Note that {{w|GMail}} ignores everything behind a plus sign. This is used as a way to create {{w|email alias}}es. The plus sign in the formula used in the comic should therefore considered to be only an indicator for concatenation, not a literal character in the address.

==Transcript==
:If your email address is [First initial]+[Last name]@gmail.com you gradually get to know lots of older people who have the same name pattern

:Cueball: Yes, I know it would make '''''sense''''' if that were your email address, but it's not.
:Person on the phone: But how did you get my number?
:Cueball: Your phone bill.

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

1279: Reverse Identity Theft

2013-10-18T17:07:39Z

LotharW: Not a case of reverse identity theft (see talk). Also not addressed in the comic.

Talk:1279: Reverse Identity Theft

2013-10-18T17:06:01Z

LotharW:

My first attempt at an explanation. I have actually received emails designed for someone else because we had the same name and the sender missed a crucial difference between my email address and the intended recipient. [[User:Grahame|Grahame]] ([[User talk:Grahame|talk]]) 05:39, 18 October 2013 (UTC)Grahame
:This must be the one of the few times where we have such an well written and complete explanation this early in the day -- well done [[User:Spongebog|Spongebog]] ([[User talk:Spongebog|talk]])

AFAIK if you have adress name@gmail.com, then gmail delivers all mails in shape name+anything@gmail.com to your box. So the trick is to make address like J@gmail.com, then heavily use J+Brown@gmail.com to the point, that other people catch up an for example Joe Smith instead correct Smith@gmail.com will write J+Smith@gmail.com - which would end in your mailbox then. {{unsigned ip|89.176.232.253}}

:Good explanation, except gmail only allowes usernames between 6 and 30 characters (and doesn't allow + in username). I would assume that this was true even before this strip and it's not so hard to verify, so Randal probably speaks about addresses like JoeSmith@gmail.com being mistakenly used by other Joe Smiths. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 08:55, 18 October 2013 (UTC)

I don't get this. When you're creating an account, every e-mail service provider checks to see if the username is available, and only lets you create an account if your username's unique. This kind of issue can happen if you then go around and enter a wrong e-mail ID whenever you sign up for something, or if the company automatically assumes an e-mail ID without asking you (I don't think the latter happens). It shouldn't matter if a provider (GMail for instance) ignores everything after a certain character (+) while determining recepient, or even if it ignores an entire character (.) - all this should've been taken care of when you signed up in the first place. [[Special:Contributions/220.224.246.97|220.224.246.97]] 08:50, 18 October 2013 (UTC)

:Exactly, it's about entering wrong e-mail ID. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 08:55, 18 October 2013 (UTC)

I'm pretty sure the "+" in the comic refers to a simple concatenation of first initial and last name (e.g., <code>rmunroe@gmail.com</code>), not a literal <code>+</code> character (as in <code>r+munroe@gmail.com</code>). [[Special:Contributions/130.225.98.201|130.225.98.201]] 09:04, 18 October 2013 (UTC)
:No, because then it should be ''<code>[First initial][Last name]@gmail.com</code>'' instead of ''<code>[First initial]+[Last name]@gmail.com</code>''.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 10:20, 18 October 2013 (UTC)
::Taking the plus sign as a literal character does not make very much sense. GMail would ignore ''<code>[Last name]</code>'' behind it and deliver the message to ''<code>[First initial]@gmail.com</code>'', which is no valid address at all due to the limit of 6 characters. Also, it is fairly uncommon to use a plus sign in an email address, and the joke of the comic relies on the pattern being generic. [[User:LotharW|LotharW]] ([[User talk:LotharW|talk]]) 11:28, 18 October 2013 (UTC)

The point of the comic is that old people forget their email address and regularly give other people the wrong email address. So when they register for something, like online notifications of a phone bill, Joe Smith puts down JSmith@gmail.com even though his email address is a different variation on that. [[Special:Contributions/69.143.178.218|69.143.178.218]]
:Some of them might not even ''have'' an email address. They might easily believe that email addresses are assigned automatically, somewhat like street addresses or telephone numbers. Which is not so very far-fetched, since in the early days of the Internet your provider gave you an email address when you signed up for an Internet connection. Many might also think that an email address is reserved for the person with the corresponding name, instead of their having to claim it. [[User:LotharW|LotharW]] ([[User talk:LotharW|talk]]) 12:17, 18 October 2013 (UTC)

[First Initial]+[Last Name] is the same as [ FIailnrst]+[ LNaemst]. Then he is clearly referring to names such as IrinaN or FanniL. [[User:Xhfz|Xhfz]] ([[User talk:Xhfz|talk]]) 13:24, 18 October 2013 (UTC) This is a joke, and the plus sign means concatenation.

The plus sign is clearly an indication of concatenation and not meant as a literal character. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 14:29, 18 October 2013 (UTC)

This sentence is false, and I deleted it:
:The problem is intensified by the fact that providers like {{w|Google Mail}}, which has become synonymous with email services, regard certain alterations as variations of the same address. For example, Google Mail ignores the dot character and does not allow hyphens and underscores, although they are valid characters for email addresses. Ironically, these restrictions are supposed to prevent fraud, but instead lead to problems like the one described in the comic.
If the addresses jsmith@gmail.com, j.smith@gmail.com, j-smith@gmail.com and j_smith@gmail.com belonged to different persons the problem exposed in the comic would be increased, not decreased. [[User:Xhfz|Xhfz]] ([[User talk:Xhfz|talk]]) 15:04, 18 October 2013 (UTC)
:You should consider the context: The sentence you deleted appeared after
::Most internet users face at some point the message that their desired email address is "already taken". [...]
:And ''that'' problem is made worse by not allowing any variation in the address. [[User:LotharW|LotharW]] ([[User talk:LotharW|talk]]) 16:56, 18 October 2013 (UTC)

The second scenario presented in the explanation has nothing to do with ''reverse identity theft''. The idea is that the victim is exposing their own identity by assuming someone else's address. A third party sending emails to the wrong recipient (thus exposing the victim) is very unfortunate, but there is nothing '''reverse''' about it. [[User:LotharW|LotharW]] ([[User talk:LotharW|talk]]) 17:06, 18 October 2013 (UTC)

Talk:1279: Reverse Identity Theft

2013-10-18T16:56:49Z

LotharW:

explain xkcd:Community portal/Coordination

2013-10-18T12:40:42Z

LotharW: /* Trivia section for the early comics? */ new section

<noinclude>{{Community portal}}</noinclude>

== Issue dates ==

Hi Jeff,

As i'm creating pages I struggle with the issue dates of comics. I've added a comment to all pages that contain the (unknown/incorrect) dates. Is there a way to research those dates? --[[User:Rikthoff|Rikthoff]] ([[User talk:Rikthoff|talk]])
: [http://xkcd.com/archive/] if you mouse over the comic name, it will have the date. --[[User:Jeff|Jeff]] ([[User talk:Jeff|talk]]) 18:26, 3 August 2012 (EDT)

- if you mouse over comic name in "Archive" section of xkcd.com. Older comics(1-44 or so) might be found in [http://liveweb.archive.org/http://xkcd-drawings.livejournal.com/?skip=40 livejournal archive][[User:Bpothier|B. P.]] ([[User talk:Bpothier|talk]]) 18:35, 3 August 2012 (EDT)

Should we consider using "2012-08-03" style dates and letting localization "do the right thing"? Most pages so far use "August 3, 2012" style dates, with a few incorrectly doing "August 3rd, 2012"... Presumably the template could do the localizing/localising...--[[User:Bpothier|B. P.]] ([[User talk:Bpothier|talk]]) 18:39, 3 August 2012 (EDT)

: The date is also available with the [http://xkcd.com/json.html JSON API], which I'm going to use for the [[User_talk:Jeff#Automatic_Import|import]]. I use <nowiki>{{#dateformat: year-month-day}}</nowiki>, MediaWiki should figure out the correct way to display it based on your preferences. --[[User:SlashMe|SlashMe]] ([[User talk:SlashMe|talk]]) 18:47, 3 August 2012 (EDT)
Moved from [[User talk:Jeff]]. --''[[User:Philosopher|Philosopher]]'' [[User talk:Philosopher|Let us reason together.]] 00:15, 4 August 2012 (EDT)

== Date? ==

How do I find the date a comic was first posted (to put in the comic header here?) [[User:TheHYPO|TheHYPO]] ([[User talk:TheHYPO|talk]]) 12:26, 3 August 2012 (EDT)

Moved from [[Talk:Main Page]]. --''[[User:Philosopher|Philosopher]]'' [[User talk:Philosopher|Let us reason together.]] 00:43, 4 August 2012 (EDT)

Original posting date is listed on xkcd's [[http://xkcd.com/archive/ archive page]] as hover-text for each post. The first 44 comics are all listed as 2006-01-01. Many of these were previously posted on the [[http://liveweb.archive.org/http://xkcd-drawings.livejournal.com/?skip=40 livejournal site]], and some dates can be found/inferred by checking there.--[[User:Bpothier|B. P.]] ([[User talk:Bpothier|talk]]) 17:49, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

== To do list ==

I suggest a todo list to be added here so newcomers will have an idea of concrete things they can do to help. I'll start by moving some items I've been collecting on my user page. Feel free to add more :)

'''Things to do'''
* Complete all entries from the [[List of all comics]]
* [[Special:WantedPages]] lists pages that have links to them but haven't been created yet.
* More topics that could be covered here besides the comics themselves:
** our [https://twitter.com/explainxkcd twitter account]
** the xkcd irc channel (and [http://wiki.xkcd.com its wiki])
** the xkcd blag
** the xkcd forum
** other sites explaining xkcd ([http://xkcdexplained.com/], [http://xkcd.wikia.com], [http://xkcdexplained.wikia.com], [http://xkcdexplainedexplained.tumblr.com/archive], maybe invite members+content of the other wikis in once we're established?)

'''Maintenance'''
* Redirects should be created from the "File:number.png" format to the "File:title.png" format.
* categorization (make sure these lists are empty):
** [[Special:UncategorizedCategories]]
** [[Special:UncategorizedFiles]]
** [[Special:UncategorizedPages]]
** [[Special:WantedCategories]]
* building the web of links:
** [[Special:DeadendPages]] (pages with no links to other pages)
** [[Special:LonelyPages]] (pages that aren't linked to by any others)
* other
** [[Special:DoubleRedirects]]
**: (Took a chunk out of these the good ol' fashioned way, but there's got to be a wiff of Perl or Python to automate this... ? -- [[User:IronyChef|IronyChef]] ([[User talk:IronyChef|talk]]) 14:44, 9 August 2012 (UTC))
**:: Well, there's [https://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/mwclient/ mwclient], a Python interface to the mediawiki API which I've used to move the comics to the new names. We could certainly create scripts to perform maintenance tasks and share the snippets here on the wiki. Automated tools will be useful while we establish standards early on. If you'd like help getting started, let me know. --[[User:Waldir|Waldir]] ([[User talk:Waldir|talk]]) 19:40, 9 August 2012 (UTC)
** convert [[Special:LinkSearch/en.wikipedia.org|wikipedia links]] to the <nowiki>{{w|Lorem ipsum}}</nowiki> format
** use lowercase xkcd everywhere on the wiki (see [http://xkcd.com/about/ How do I write "xkcd"?])

There are more maintenance reports at [[Special:SpecialPages]], for inspiration :) --[[User:Waldir|Waldir]] ([[User talk:Waldir|talk]]) 06:45, 6 August 2012 (EDT)

:: I'd love one of these "To Do" lists for admins as well! :) I'm always forgetting what I need to do! --[[User:Jeff|Jeff]] ([[User talk:Jeff|talk]]) 02:35, 12 August 2012 (UTC)
::: There actually isn't much to do that needs admin permissions around here. Right I can think of only a handful of admin-specific tasks:
:::* Keeping an eye on [[explain xkcd:Community portal/Admin requests]] for stuff other editors might need
:::* Keeping an eye on [[:Category:Pages to delete]] (currently populated by {{tl|spam}}), delete the pages, block the spammers
:::* Updating the main page and watching
:::* Implementing any changes, agreed by the community, that require editing Mediawiki pages
:::Maybe others will have other items to add to the list, but for the most part, the things that need to be done are available to all editors: adding the missing comic explanations, describing characters, categorizing, etc. --[[User:Waldir|Waldir]] ([[User talk:Waldir|talk]]) 19:13, 12 August 2012 (UTC)

== Date categories ==
I'm not sure the "[[:Category:Comics by month|Comics by month]]", by weekday, etc. Will be much useful, unless for those interested in running some stats. It might be more interesting to have specific months, such as [[:Category:Comics from May 2011]] and so on. What do you think? --[[User:Waldir|Waldir]] ([[User talk:Waldir|talk]]) 06:45, 6 August 2012 (EDT)
: That was actually next for me: #time:year-month, but I wanted to study the globalization implications. I prefer over-categorizing rather than under-categorizing, since it's comparatively cheap. The assumption is that categories are the same as tags on the old site, and that mediawiki affords us some extra ways to automatically categorize pages in addition to the manual forms starting to emerge (by character, by subject, etc.) To paraphrase an old prof: you can't study what you don't measure; I've been wanting to see if, for example, Monday comics deal certain subjects, while Friday comics deal with another, etc. Not everybody's cup of tea, but of value perhaps to some, and insanely cheap to support both mentally and for the software. -- [[User:IronyChef|IronyChef]] ([[User talk:IronyChef|talk]]) 13:51, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

I also used it to find some date typos for Saturday/Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday comics, which should usually be empty - except for some early entries from livejournal... --[[User:Bpothier|B. P.]] ([[User talk:Bpothier|talk]]) 21:50, 17 August 2012 (UTC)

It does make it look a bit messy down by the categories... maybe we can skip one or two of these date categories, if people don't still find them useful? [[User:St.nerol|St.nerol]] ([[User talk:St.nerol|talk]]) 21:22, 23 November 2012 (UTC)

== Page names ==

I think we should use the comic number '''and''' the title as the page name. Like so: "112: Baring My Heart". This would allow comics to be sorted by order in categories, but the pages would still have human-readable names for those of us who don't memorize all xkcd comic numbers ;) Thoughts? --[[User:Waldir|Waldir]] ([[User talk:Waldir|talk]]) 07:23, 6 August 2012 (EDT)

:I agree, for another reason: for instance [[YouTube]] could be either the title of a page explaining how YouTube is referenced in xkcd, or the title of the explanation for comic #202 (titled "YouTube"). I don't know if I'm being clear here, but as we do not control the titles of the comics, that could create confusion with other pages. So using something like [[202: YouTube]] would ensure disambiguation without being really complicated or awkward... And actually prefixing the comic title with its number seems quite relevant to me.
:Additionally, that would solve potential problems such as [[Exoplanets]]: comic [[786]] or [[1071]]?
:[[User:Cos|Cos]] ([[User talk:Cos|talk]]) 14:33, 6 August 2012 (UTC)
::Beat me to the punch; agreed. Numbers are unique and sequential, but not altogether that meaningful. Names are meaningful but (as we've seen) not unique. Some combination of both would be called for. We'd need to have the plain numbers redirect to the new topic (some double-redirects would need to be fixed up?) and the names would too (with at least one disambiguation page for now, and who knows: maybe more to come?) -- [[User:IronyChef|IronyChef]] ([[User talk:IronyChef|talk]]) 13:55, 7 August 2012 (UTC)
::Following up on the YouTube discussion above, I'm wondering if we should leverage namespaces more: main:topic is implicitly ''xkcd:topic'' (ie ''main:YouTube'' discusses the xkcd comic, while ''ref:YouTube'' is the place where the pop-culture reference of YouTube is discussed.) Either that, or some other name decoration, such as ''YouTube Explained'', or ... -- [[User:IronyChef|IronyChef]] ([[User talk:IronyChef|talk]]) 13:59, 7 August 2012 (UTC)
::: Agreed. Number and the name together. --[[User:Jeff|Jeff]] ([[User talk:Jeff|talk]]) 16:08, 7 August 2012 (UTC)
:::: Looks like we have consensus. I'll move the pages (I've been meaning to learn how to use [https://sourceforge.net/projects/mwclient mwclient] anyway :D) --[[User:Waldir|Waldir]] ([[User talk:Waldir|talk]]) 18:01, 7 August 2012 (UTC)
:::: {{done}}, all current pages have been moved. However, I am not sure whether we should keep a space after the colon. What do you guys think? Should it be "112: Baring My Heart" or "112:Baring My Heart"? --[[User:Waldir|Waldir]] ([[User talk:Waldir|talk]]) 18:20, 7 August 2012 (UTC)
::::: Also, I just realized MediaWiki doesn't allow colons in image Filenames. One solution could be using something like [[:File:786. Exoplanets.png]] or [[:File:786-Exoplanets.png]], but then perhaps we'd have to change the pages name too, for consistency? I'll try to investigate what is the reasoning behind this restriction. --[[User:Waldir|Waldir]] ([[User talk:Waldir|talk]]) 18:50, 7 August 2012 (UTC)
:::::: Ok, it seems like it's a matter of setting <code><nowiki>$wgIllegalFileChars = '';</nowiki></code> in LocalSettings.php (because it is set as <code>$wgIllegalFileChars = ':';</code> in DefaultSettings.php). <s>Jeff, could you do that please?</s> --[[User:Waldir|Waldir]] ([[User talk:Waldir|talk]]) 19:13, 7 August 2012 (UTC)
:::::::: Nevermind, we will probably use a different naming pattern instead. --[[User:Waldir|Waldir]] ([[User talk:Waldir|talk]]) 20:05, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

::::::: I guess this is my bad for not ciming in on this discussion earlier, but I frankly think that the #: Name is a worse way of doing it just for the reasons of system resources. #:Name is fine from a user standpoint with the '''caveat''' that # and Name both redirect to #:Name. The problem is that this requires 2 redirects minimum for every comic, and the redirect itself takes a bit more time for each article to load, and (as I understand from wikipedia and its dislike of double redirects), every redirect adds to the system load. So if every article lookup by users (who will undoubtedly type either the number or the name, but rarely both) is a redirect, the system load is going to go up.

::::::: As an aside, assuming Jeff is able to install the Cite Extension to add citation referencing (and even if he doesn't), I was expecting to try to create some sort of template in the concept of {{tl|cite comic}} where you could basically pass a single variable (e.g. the comic number) and it would create a proper citation for that comic. Similarly, this naming format will perhaps require a template something like {{tl|comicno}} with a comic number field just to create a quick link that is visibly appealing and links properly to the comic with that number. (ie: {comicno|18} would produce a link like "[[18: Snapple|Snapple]]" or something). I'm wondering though if anyone has any coding ideas for how we might accomplish this other than the hardcode all the titles into a template. [[User:TheHYPO|TheHYPO]] ([[User talk:TheHYPO|talk]]) 19:26, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

::::::: PS: I did some mild digging on another wiki, ''Star Trek'''s Memory Alpha wiki, and although all of its episode articles are now titled "episode title (episode)" to avoid disambiguation, which allows you to an episode template by calling the title (which template appends "(episode)" to every entry), they DO have a title-display template: [http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Template:Titles Template:Titles] - with a template subpage for every single episode setting out how the mouseover text should be displayed. It would be possible to do such a template for xkcd just so that comic numbers can be crossreferenced to titles... [[User:TheHYPO|TheHYPO]] ([[User talk:TheHYPO|talk]]) 20:30, 7 August 2012 (UTC)
:::::::: (Hoping this is the right number of colons for proper indentation... ;-) Redirects are one thing, and while probably resulting in possibly two page serves (isn't it really just two hits to the db?) they're natively supported by mediawiki. Even so, if performance is proven to be a real (not just conjectured) problem, can we do something clever, perhaps, with transclusion? Either the number transcludes the title, or vice versa? Might be a case of pre-optimization, though; in the back of my mind, it seems that the rendering engine puts as much effort into transcluding to expand templates as it would to expand a redirect in situ: either case is just a query to the DB to expand the contents of said item. (Enough rambling; anybody have any concrete metrics on this?) -- [[User:IronyChef|IronyChef]] ([[User talk:IronyChef|talk]]) 06:23, 9 August 2012 (UTC)
:::::::::Hi folks. Just thought I'd state that redirects are completely safe. They don't add any noticeable loading time for the users and the extra resources used by the server are so minor that it's akin to the resources used to type a character in notepad. Pages are also aggressively cached (by default, anyway). If you're interested, the way redirects work in Mediawiki isn't like most other sites handle redirects. It's not loading a page that makes you load another page. Rather, all content is stored in an SQL database. The content is stored under a certain name (eg, "#: Hello World!"). A redirect simply tells Mediawiki to look for the content under a different name. Slightly more work for the server (don't worry, they can handle it), but the page is delivered to the user in roughly the same period of time (if we want to be technical, the page will be slightly larger, due to the "Redirected from whatever" line added to the page (which is mostly there for the purpose of making it easier to fix incorrect redirects). I don't have metrics, but can assure you that it's almost no difference in the end result. {{User:Omega/sig}} 09:11, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

I've been thinking about this some more, and I believe we should choose a different pattern for the page names.
* First, use another separator between comic number and name, since colon is forbidden in files. A simple alternative would be "Comic title (number)", as in [[Michael Phelps (1092)]]. This would additionally allow us to use the {{w|Help:Pipe trick|pipe trick}} when linking to a comic, since content in parenthesis is automatically stripped out: <nowiki>[[Michael Phelps (1092)|]]</nowiki> results in [[Michael Phelps (1092)|Michael Phelps]]. Another effect of this is that by dropping the colon naming scheme we would remove ambiguity with the namespace system, which also uses colons to separate namespaces from pagenames.
* Second, we should probably follow IronyChef's suggestion above and move them to a specific namespace, such as [[Comic:Michael Phelps (1092)]]. Other namespaces could be added for more topics, such as [[Character:Cueball]], [[xkcd:Randall]] (or [[Meta:Randall]]), [[Topic:Velociraptors]], etc. Not only we would be able to generate lists of pages without resorting to categories (which have to be added manually), but we would get lot's of "Random X" for free (random comic, random character, random topic, etc.)
What do you guys think? --[[User:Waldir|Waldir]] ([[User talk:Waldir|talk]]) 14:29, 9 August 2012 (UTC)
:P.s. - Proper category sorting of the comics would be dealt with by the {{tl|comic}} template, which would also pad the numbers with zeroes to ensure 100 comes after 2, etc.

::+1 on the parens... (but does that mean my recent double-redirect-fixups have been for naught? {{xkcd|541|(grin)}}) ... I couldn't put my finger on it and didn't articulate it earlier, but the fact that colon needed special attention by the software left me a bit uneasy (there must be a reason for them doing that, like namespaces perhaps) so using parentheses-es-es (as {{xkcd|297|long}} as we {{xkcd|859|close}} them {{explain|312|properly}}) seems more the mediawiki way. -- [[User:IronyChef|IronyChef]] ([[User talk:IronyChef|talk]]) 15:03, 9 August 2012 (UTC) (I know you folks don't like my propensity to (over?)categorize, but <nowiki>[[Category:Parentheses]]</nowiki> is just too irresistible... ;-)

:I think, that all of this seem unnecessary complication to me. I don't see any problem with the current system. I think something like [[1092: Michael Phelps]] flows well, is quite readable and easy to insert "as is" in the text (see the links to other comics in [[1048: Emotion]] for instance). As I understand, we would want the image files to be titled exactly the same way as their corresponding article; why, where is the need for that? (to me the simplest way, and most relevant maybe, would be to name them exactly as they are on xkcd.com; maybe with a prefix, like "xkcd - ", so that it cannot mess with other existing images such as from Commons).
:I don't see the point of creating namespaces such as "Character", "Topic", etc.; what is the problem with [[Beret Guy]], [[Randall Munroe]], [[Velociraptors]], and such? with namespaces one will have to put each topic in one box (and one only), where will you put things like [[Stick figure]] or [[My Hobby]] or any other thing that will pop up without clearly belonging to one of these boxes? ''[[1077: Home Organization|just give up]]!'' :-)
:About the "Random X", I like the idea that on xkcd.com, you can get a random ''comic'' (because that's all what is there), but in here you can get a random whatever: you may get a comic explanation, a character, a topic or anything, because in here there is all that.
:I don't think the colon in the comic page names will pose any problem, it cannot mess with anything as long as it is preceded by a number only.
:''In the end,'' I think that adding the number in the comic page names was a good choice, because there would have been real issues otherwise, but for now I would say : "don't fix what is not broken", KISS, and "just give up". :-)
:[[User:Cos|Cos]] ([[User talk:Cos|talk]]) 16:14, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

:: I have to agree with this. The existing page names are fine in my book, and I don't see any benefits of renaming them all (again). Concerning the random, though, I mentioned an extension in proposals that would allow us to choose a "random page in a category". I don't really care one way or another about character topics. Seem like a lot of maintenance when we don't even have a quarter of the comics explained yet, but whatever. Concerning the image names, I think that simply using the same name as it appears on xkcd is fine. Images are a bit of a "backend", that people don't usually search for (rather, they'd search for the comic and find the image on that page). As well, since all images are hosted on xkcd, they won't be any file name conflicts amongst the comics. {{User:Omega/sig}} 18:04, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

::: Good points (and puns!), all of you. I'd like to address a few specific points (I'll highlight the key takeaways for your convenience):
:::* '''I still prefer parenthesis''' for the simple reason that colons mess with the concept of namespaces (not that it has any effect on the software, which can cope quite well; I'm speaking from a user point of view). Besides, one of the reasons I proposed for having the number first was automatic category sorting, but that backfired (cf. #2 vs. #100).
:::* Re rationale for having image files titled like the comics is that it would allow automatic image inclusion via the {{tl|comic}} template. However, having the prefix is not crucial for that (hadn't thought of this before), so I'll go ahead and remove my suggestion above to allow colons in filenames.
:::* Note that there's no problem with "conflicts" with Commons images: an image uploaded here simply takes precedence regarding an image uploaded to commons under the same name (e.g. [[:File:Irony.jpg]] vs. [[commons:File:Irony.jpg]]). That said, while external conflicts aren't a problem, internal ones are (e.g. [[Exoplanets]]). That, coupled with the "it's just a backend" point made by Omega, is a good argument to '''use the original filenames''' (also, less overhead when uploading a new comic)
:::* I understand the argument against a single primary way to classify a page using namespaces. The category system is more flexible as it allows many-to-many relationships. However, I must point out that the examples you give are no problem at all: [[Meta:Stick figure]] and [[Topic:My Hobby]] ;) So '''I'm still not convinced that using custom namespaces is a bad idea''' or a lost cause or that it won't scale up well. Besides, it makes it very clear what a reader will find on that page (explainxkcd.com/wiki/Topic:Velociraptors is a pretty self-explanatory url). And again, it allows us to use the random feature that is natively implemented on mediawiki, rather than an extension. And "random whatever" is still available, of course :)
:::* IronyChef, by all means, please create [[:Category:Parentheses]] :D
::: --[[User:Waldir|Waldir]] ([[User talk:Waldir|talk]]) 20:05, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

:::If we're going to use the numbers in the titles, it seems logical to have the number come first so that comics are essentially sortable by number rather than alphabetically by title; although this probably can be taken care of by changing the sort title, thoug this could be tedious.

:::I don't support new namespaces for comics and characters and whatnot. I don't see what it adds to the wiki, and it just makes the links to each comic page ''even longer'' (no one will EVER correctly search for '''Comic:Snapple (18)''' on their first attempt).

:::I am not claiming to be an expert on redirects. My comment was based on wikipedia pages like {{w|Wikipedia:Double redirects}} where it clearly suggests in the lead that double redirects "waste server resources". I assume this applies (at to a lesser degree) to single redirects. They may not be needless waste like double redirects, but they they do use resources. Granted wikipedia has far larger servers and much more traffic, so it may be more relevant to them than here, but it still would appear to be a resource issue; Database queries are still resource hogs, even if they are simple ones. Not suggesting they aren't safe, but if every comic load is basically a redirect, that is still two queries every time instead of just the occasional one. I'm fine with it; I'm just pointing out the issue. [[User:TheHYPO|TheHYPO]] ([[User talk:TheHYPO|talk]]) 16:20, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

::::The reason that double redirects are bad is that linking a redirect to another redirect (a double redirect) causes the first redirect to simply display the content of the second redirect (rather than actually redirecting the page). This appears as simply an arrow and a link (a soft redirect). It uses more system resources because an actual page has to be loaded and displayed, forcing the user to manually click the link and display the proper page (whereas a single redirect would load the correct page and display it). So in other words, a double redirect forces two pages to be loaded, while a single redirect only loads one page, more or less the same as if you went to the actual page title. {{User:Omega/sig}} 21:35, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

::::: Also, regarding the sorting argument for using numbers first: I was the one who originally proposed that, but I overlooked the fact that sorting won't work unless we use padding (e.g. "0001: Comic title"), which is kind of a hack. MediaWiki supports category sort keys natively, so we should be taking advantage of them rather than relying on a specific page title format to achieve the same effect.
::::: As for the namespaces, I think I've presented my arguments for that above; let me know if any of them are unclear. I accept that one may disagree with them, but not that there ''aren't'' any benefits. Note that '''nobody''' will correctly seach for whatever page title we use, unless we use only the numbers as the final title, which I think we all agree is not desirable. --[[User:Waldir|Waldir]] ([[User talk:Waldir|talk]]) 11:25, 11 August 2012 (UTC)

::::::Thanks for the double-redirect explanation, Omega. To Waldir; I think people would also correctly search for Comic Titles, at times. Some more than others, for sure. But if you are on XKCD reading a comic that has a title printed, and you want to come here and read the explanation, You would most likely search for either the number or the title that is displayed at xkcd.com. That said, if it's not a resource hog, and we can find a GOOD way to create links to comics easily (ie: I can type in {explain|123} and actually get a proper looking link to that comic's page, I'm cool with that. I really think it will add a lot of time to the edit process to have to manually type in 123: Title for every link to another comic. [[User:TheHYPO|TheHYPO]] ([[User talk:TheHYPO|talk]]) 14:32, 13 August 2012 (UTC)

== Comic Display - another new template ==

I see that the latest comics have changed over to {{tl|comicbox}} from {{tl|comic}}. This might be in response to today's tall narrow comic. I don't see any recent discussions about the {{tl|comicbox}} template. We really need to come to some form of consensus on the comic display issue. I am really not a fan of the {{tl|comicbox}} template, as I arrive at the homepage today and I don't understand what I'm seeing. There is no indication that the text on the right is the Explanation. I wasn't sure if part of it was title text or not. I figured it out, but it's not the easiest thing to see. I also don't think the navbuttons jutting right up against the top of the comic display box looks good.

Eithe way, where I'm going with this is that I think we need to come to a consensus on the form and template used for comic pages. If we choose comicbox, or comic or some other template, it's all good; but we should be editing ONE template to get it working and looking the way we want; rather than bouncing between many templates and creating new ones. [[User:TheHYPO|TheHYPO]] ([[User talk:TheHYPO|talk]]) 16:26, 10 August 2012 (UTC)
:Yeah, I was really confused at first, and scrambled through the discussions trying to find what happened. To be honest, I'm more of a fan of the {{tl|comic}} template, with the explanation under a header explaining so. Not to mention with {{tl|comicbox}}, I'm suddenly unsure of what to do with the transcripts. For comparison, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1093:_Forget&oldid=6199 here] is the {{tl|comic}} template, while [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1093:_Forget&oldid=6209 here] is the {{tl|comicbox}} template. At any rate, no matter what template we're using (I personally prefer {{tl|comic}}, but don't really care that much provided all comics use the same template), I agree that we need some kind of consensus to determine how we're formatting the page. {{User:Omega/sig}} 21:31, 10 August 2012 (UTC)
::Ditto on the confusion (augmented by the confusion of finding where the pertinent discussion has gotten off to; they seem to slip from page to page between visits... ) Anyway, I'm guessing this is a ''de-gustibus'' matter, but regardless of the respective virtues of either template, to my eye the template today's comic was changed to has {{explain|1070|a couple}} cosmetic shortcomings:
::* The typeface is larger than normal. Just a personal preference, but it should be scaled 100% vs adjacent normal wiki text; readers can change the level of zoom if that's too small. Also,
::* the image is vertically centered, so in the case of a disproportionately long explanation (like today's) it appears too far down the page; it really needs to be top-aligned, with the title text close underneath it. Further,
::* for this vertical layout, there's a lot of wasted vertical space when the explanation is so much longer than the image. Rather than having two rigid columns, have we considered '''float:left''' or '''float:right''' style attributes on the image, so that whatever text is left flows to fill the entire space below the image?
:: Finally, to tie this all up with a bow, (and perhaps raising an issue that may have been raised before; I don't recall, because of the shifting locations of discussions hereabouts) ... Is there a need for images to always be shown at 100% size, especially for the more extremely sized ones? Seems to me that the images here really only need to fulfill a refresher role, and clicks through the image should take the reader to the full-sized image on xkcd.com. Legally, I know we have the right to host the images here. But morally, it seems like we shouldn't be taking too much traffic away from xkcd.com as it is RM's bread and butter. Our value-add is the in the form of explanations: long as we can visually tie these explanations with the comic (by having something bigger than a thumbnail, but somewhat smaller than full size, especially for odd-shaped ones) I think we're on the positive side. Thotz? -- [[User:IronyChef|IronyChef]] ([[User talk:IronyChef|talk]]) 05:23, 11 August 2012 (UTC)
:::I agree with you on all points, although I'm really not a fan of having the text either beside or under the comic. I'd rather it be the same in all cases. In which case, having the text beside the comic won't do, as wide comics wouldn't be very supportive of that. Also, if the explanation is considerably longer than the comic, it just looks a bit strange to me. Float left/right would fix that, but would be a bit harder to implement with the title text (eg, if the title text and image are inside a float left div, does that div have a fixed width or does a long title text push it over?). All in all, I'd rather the text always be below the comic. It's consistent and less problematic. Regarding the size of comics, I'd rather we use the full size in all cases except the "large" comics (defined as the comics that are shown at a reduced size on xkcd itself, such as [[1079: United Shapes]]). Why? Because when I'm reading an explanation to a comic I don't understand, I'm constantly referencing the explanation with the comic itself. Having to open a new tab each time would make that a bit less convenient. {{User:Omega/sig}} 06:38, 11 August 2012 (UTC)
::::For visual experimentation, I've made the theoretically uncontroversial changes of text size (it's now expressed as relative percentage rather than absolute px) and I made the image top-aligned, so comics like {{explain|1093}} show the image near the top of the explanation, despite the explanation being many multiples of that image's height; we can change that back if we don't like them. There are other changes I'd like to make (see above) but I'll wait for general agreement on that (not to mention which template to use.) -- [[User:IronyChef|IronyChef]] ([[User talk:IronyChef|talk]]) 15:39, 12 August 2012 (UTC)

:::::To respond to all of the previous comments; I echo IronyChef's thought - I built into {{tl|comic}} an imagesize attribute because I believe that the comic should be a managable size on this site; generally not more than say 400px; this creates a "click to enlarge" link which takes the user to the imgae's page. Although I previously thought that a balance needs to be kept because people may start coming to the wiki to read xkcd in the first instance instead of xkcd.com, I also agree with Omega's point that it's potentially unfair to Randall to entice traffic away from xkcd.com. This strengthens my belief that larger comics should be kept to a reasonable size.

:::::Not sure if I said it in this thread, I think we have to look at the purpose of the box itself. In my eyes, the box is designed (like an infobox) to basically show the user the basic facts. Not user-added material or encyclopedia text. The box, in my view, is there to present all of the info about the comic that actually comes from xkcd. The image, the alt text, the title, date and number. Adding the explanation in the box basically makes the explanation look official as part of the comic. The primary content of this site is the explanations. If anything should go under proper wiki-format headers, it's that (in my opinion). The transcript is technically official content, but as I've said elsewhere, in my view, the transcript is secondary info that the comic already contains; it doesn't need to be in the infobox. IronyChef has indentified and fixed a lot of my minor cosmetic issues with the comicbox template, and there are others I don't like either (the title font is a little too weak and the top of the box is touching the bottom of the nav buttons. Don't like those, but again, easily fixable).

::::: I also think while there may be instances like the "Forget" comic which is a list-form comic where having a long vertical list explanation works, a long vertical list is often harder to read and follow than a full-page-width explanation. (even "Forget" has each line of explanation end up being several lines long in {{tl|comicbox}} format.) Worse, the potential to want to fit in the box may limit users from adding to explanations which we shouldn't encourage. If the explanation is twice as long as the comic, there's nothing wrong with that, and it shouldn't look bad by going inside the template. I appreciate the attempt that the verticle comicbox makes to not waste space (using the two-column method) but I don't think this is the way to do it. I think shrinking the comic (and accepting that there will be space on either side) is the best way. As I say, 375px or 400px seem like logical limiters for most comics. This is explainxkcd, so you shouldn't have to scroll way down to get to the explanation. I too sometimes like to view the comic and explain at the same time to check notes as Omega suggests, but I can do that by control+click or shift+clicking the image to enlarge, and comparing in separate windows by tiling them or just switching back and forth - with a larger comic, you'd have to scroll up and down to read both the comic and the explanation anyway. I find I lose my place in the text when I do that. alt+Tabbing for me generally is easier to keep my place in both windows.

:::::The one thing from {{tl|comicbox}} that I do like is that the box is shaded slightly bluegray. I like the separation that creates; on the other hand, xkcd.com has comics posted on white; does it hurt the integrity of any comics to have them posted on blue-grey instead of white? I'd consider changing the background of {{tl|comic}} to a blue-gray (though perhaps lighter than the one on comicbox) if people like that. That's my thoughts[[User:TheHYPO|TheHYPO]] ([[User talk:TheHYPO|talk]]) 15:10, 13 August 2012 (UTC)

{{outdent|:::::}}
{{tl|ComicBox}} just got a major redesign. It looks more like {{tl|comic}}, but with the addition of a vertical comic mode. Also, bear in mind that {{tl|comic}} doesn't use white for the background. For comics like "Forget", take a look at [[Forget comicbox]]. Looks ok?  [[User:Grep|grep]][[User_talk:Grep|talk]] 15:27, 20 August 2012 (UTC)

:As noted on [[explain xkcd:Community portal/Proposals#Comic Templates]], there is no need to start a new thread there there there is already a thread on the topic here (which you've posted to). Also, if your post was "which template should we use when?" it's not really a "proposal" for the proposals page, and better fits here under coordination.

:That said, I thought this topic was fairly well resolved. Jeff endorsed {{tl|Comic}} in the [[#Header_template]] discussion on this page, and this subsequent discussion seemed to resolve as well with no real consensus that a change from {{tl|comic}} was necessary or beneficial. I don't see the benefit of continuing to build new templates that basially duplicate existing templates with one extra function (vertical mode). That could have been built into the existing template, if it were deemed necessary.

:I personally think there are still pluses and minuses to doing things vertically; It looks a little cluttered to have the comic up on one size and the explanation on the other. If you don't have a high-resolution desktop or you want a non-maximized window, there may not be much space for the explanation which may end up with two or three words per line and be hard to read and annoying. "Forget" was a comic featuring a long list; this made for a very long listed explanation. Most long comics will not have explanations longer than the comic, and we'll have a lot of whitespace to the right of the comic. It just looks cluttered to me. I like having the navbar centered above the comic, not the page (and also in the enclosed comic box). That's personal preference though. I think the better design for vertical comics (is just to reduce their size and put them in the standard box. They otherwise take up too much space. [[User:TheHYPO|TheHYPO]] ([[User talk:TheHYPO|talk]]) 16:48, 20 August 2012 (UTC)

*I am not a fan of the discontinuity that comicbox creates as the explanation runs longer than the image. I also feel that we should focus on improving the existing {{tl|comic}} instead of further developing new templates. - [[User:Shine|Shine]] ([[User talk:Shine|talk]]) 21:38, 20 August 2012 (UTC)

== Template for New Comics ==

To clarify, I'm not talking about a template like {{tl|comic}} or {{tl|comicbox}}, but rather a form to cut/paste for new comics. I'm rather new to large editing of MediaWiki pages, so I'm interested in learning of better ways of doing things.

Recently, I've been copy/pasting [[User:Blaisepascal/newcomictemplate]] to set up the basic form of the page, then editing the various sections. This ensures I get the major bits. I still have to copy/paste the transcript from xkcd.com, fill in the {{tl|comic}} template, and make the number and title redirects by hand.

Is there a better way? Is there anything my template is missing? [[User:Blaisepascal|Blaisepascal]] ([[User talk:Blaisepascal|talk]]) 14:06, 21 August 2012 (UTC)

:I've created a ruby script that can be given a comic number and it will spit out a text file with the comic template filled out, the transcript, and the comic discussion template. I've finally gotten it to the point that it is usable, so that's why I'm talking about it. It still doesn't pull explanations from the blog, but that's a whole ball of wax in and of itself. I'm on Linux so it's easy to run it and have it spit out files, I assume on Windows if you have ruby installed there is a way to run ruby scripts from the command prompt. Can't tell you where things will pop out, probably in the directory you run it in, but I haven't tested it on Windows yet. I'm also continuing to work on it, so don't assume that any version you download is the final product. Oh, it also spits out the redirect line you put in the number and title pages so you can just copy/paste that.
:I made it because I was going to drive myself insane making hundreds of pages without some kind of automation. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]] ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 07:24, 25 August 2012 (UTC)

::{{tl|create}} was created as a template for the comic list so that it could be autoloaded into comics by linking from [[List of all comics]]. That functionality doesn't seem to be working, unfortunately. For that reason, I added a "transcript" of the create text as documentation on that template. If you goto {{tl|create}}, you will find a template for new comic creation. [[User:TheHYPO|TheHYPO]] ([[User talk:TheHYPO|talk]]) 20:20, 27 August 2012 (UTC)

== The name of the ponytail character ==

I remember the community having a name for the female ponytail character (I don't recall if there is a male ponytail character, but in the interest of being complete). Was it simply Ponytail?

In any case, she seems to recur enough to deserve her own Category:Comics featuring ... page. But I don't want to go create it without knowing what we can agree on is her name. So, pony (wow, didn't intend that pun) up your 2 cents. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]] ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 17:28, 20 August 2012 (UTC)

:This comic http://xkcd.com/322/ calls a ponytail'ed female Joanna. Is this the same character as ponytail? She might be different. Community input please. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]] ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 01:26, 23 August 2012 (UTC)
::It sounds plausible. Few of the characters are named, and it looks like Ponytail (compare, for example, Elaine Roberts as an adult, who has light hair, but doesn't wear it in a ponytail). The one concern is that in 322, she is clearly acquainted with Black Hat, and in 405 she appears to be friends with Danish, yet Black Hat and Danish don't know each other -- unless he tracked her down via Joanna... [[User:Blaisepascal|Blaisepascal]] ([[User talk:Blaisepascal|talk]]) 04:41, 23 August 2012 (UTC)

== The name of Black Hat's girlfriend ==

[[Black Hat]] has a girlfriend, introduced in [[377: Journal 2]]. She has thicker hair than Megan, and is seen (in [[405: Journal 3]] to be friends with [[Ponytail]]. Is there community-accepted name for her?
:: No, not yet. She seems to have a personality similar to [[Black Hat]] himself --[[User:Jeff|Jeff]] ([[User talk:Jeff|talk]]) 15:48, 22 August 2012 (UTC)
:::I don't really want to create a "Category:Comics featuring Black Hat's girlfriend" if there is a better solution, that's all. [[User:Blaisepascal|Blaisepascal]] ([[User talk:Blaisepascal|talk]]) 15:57, 22 August 2012 (UTC)
::::In my own head I've been calling her Summer because she looks like how Randall draws Summer Glau (not a good argument, granted), and in some of the comics she shows up she reminds me of Summer's characters. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]] ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 17:41, 22 August 2012 (UTC)
:::::Or we could call her Dearest or Darling or Danish http://xkcd.com/515/ [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]] ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 20:32, 22 August 2012 (UTC)
::::::OK, I've gone with [[Danish]]. [[User:Blaisepascal|Blaisepascal]] ([[User talk:Blaisepascal|talk]]) 22:18, 22 August 2012 (UTC)
:::::::P.S. I love you for that. You have my eternal respect. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]] ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 22:35, 22 August 2012 (UTC)

Also, now someone needs to update the Characters nav box to include Danish. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]] ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 22:51, 22 August 2012 (UTC)
:I found the template on my own (aren't I a [[1032|grown up professional]]?) and updated it. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]] ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 22:53, 22 August 2012 (UTC)

== Can we turn off page creation for non-logged in users ==

I'm not very familiar with mediawiki, so I don't know if this would be hard or not. But, it would stop the drive-by spam attacks (the ones that don't create accounts anyway, such nice bots).

My secondary goal in doing this would be to get [[Special:Contributions/‎72.252.145.183|‎72.252.145.183]] and [[Special:Contributions/‎207.204.86.3|‎207.204.86.3]] to make accounts so that there is a way to get a hold of them, give them some feedback, and have them stop adding/spamming spurious categories. Both of them are creating pages with poor/non-existent explanations, sections for the transcript but missing the transcript, haphazardly adding pre-existing categories and adding tons of one-off categories which do nothing to enhance explain xkcd.

[[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]] ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 19:02, 13 September 2012 (UTC)
:Tag any such comics with {{[[Template:Comic-stub|Comic-stub]]}} and you or someone else can fix it ^^--[[User:Relic|Relic]] ([[User talk:Relic|talk]]) 00:01, 24 September 2012 (UTC)

::I guess you succeeded then ;) I have learned from my mistakes that I made as an anon ([[Special:Contributions/Btx40|take a look]])

::Why didn't you post on [[User talk:72.252.145.183]] or [[User talk:207.204.86.3]] (IPs have talk pages too)? I would have noticed it on either of them. It made me think that this community was more hostile than Wikipedia, which I also have [[wikipedia:User:Btx40|an account]] for --[[User:Btx40|Btx40]] ([[User talk:Btx40|talk]]) 21:14, 11 April 2013 (UTC)

== Tagline categories! ==

It finally struck me that there's that great line sitting top-right on the xkcd site. Yes the [[tagline]]. So, I've created pages for [[:Category:Language|Language]], [[:Category:Romance|Romance]], [[:Category:Math|Math]] already existed. But, I don't have time right now to go hunting down examples of [[:Category:Sarcasm|Sarcasm]]. Can I enlist the help of all the beautiful editors here to go tagging crazy? (Ok, not crazy like insane, but please do comb through everything for these) [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]] ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 19:47, 22 October 2012 (UTC)

== Image updates on xkcd ==

Once in a while, Randall changes the image of a particular comic (usually after someone here spotted an error!); for instance, that is the case for [http://xkcd.com/1122/ xkcd 1122 on Electoral Precedents]. It would be nice to still be able to see the original image(s) here as well as the updated version, as the discussion usually references the previous version(s) and therefore sometimes doesn't make sense without the original image in those cases. Also, consider this as a mild suggestion to update the mentioned image on its explanation page. Sorry if I've put this in the wrong place... --[[User:Jay|Jay]] ([[User talk:Jay|talk]]) 14:54, 29 October 2012 (UTC)

:For these most recent comics, someone usually uploads the version that goes public at midnight, and then corrections are uploaded on top of that. As part of the MediaWiki software, you can click on the image, which will take you to its file page, which allows you to see all the versions of the image back to its first creation. I, personally, am not sure if it's possible to link directly to a previous version, but it is there at least.

:Unfortunately, due to an image resizing bug, (that we all hope is being worked on, but it's been months with no progress and no word of work or progress, so hope is dwindling) for larger images you won't be able to see it, until you click on the broken file link which will just take you to the image.

:Hope that helps some. --[[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]] ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 16:35, 29 October 2012 (UTC)

== The Great Spam Attack Of Thanksgiving 2012 ==

I believe I have now dealt with all the spam that has accumulated on the wiki. I've gone through Recent Changes and personally checked every anonymous edit since 5 this morning, and looked through every new page created. If I've missed something, please edit the page and put {{tl|spam}} at the top. Thank you to all the new editors that stepped up and went to work in the trenches while the rest of us were off stuffing our faces. I think special thanks goes out to [[User:St.nerol|St.nerol]] and [[User:TheOriginalSoni|TheOriginalSoni]]. I believe what happened is, the first major attack was met with a tepid response of about a month's temp block for all the IPs. But this time, for the flagrant vandalizers they are now on an indefinite ban.

Please, as you continue to notice spam or vandalization, use the {{tl|spam}} template, or add [[:Category:Pages to delete]] to the page (in the event that it's a newly created page). Leave a comment in your edit summary about vandalization clean up and someone with the power to, will deal with it.

--[[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]]_a ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 06:38, 24 November 2012 (UTC)

:Marked a wee bit that you missed. Typical, I take a day-long trip into China and an unholy mess of spam happens. May I suggest captchas for all anonymous edits for now? I would also like to get all the explanations done, or at least the ones from the blog, so that we can get the /wiki/ out of the URL to throw some of the spammers. The wall-of-text spammers all seem to include links to spam on other poor abused wikis, and I've noticed that all of those wikis also have a /wiki/ somewhere in there URL. It probably won't stop the new anon spammer, but we could probably restrict page creation to registered users only once we're done filling in all the old XKCD pages to cull those twats out too. [[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]][[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>(talk)</tt>]] 09:27, 24 November 2012 (UTC)

:I have again dealt with the second wave of spam this Thanksgiving holiday (in the U.S. It's the only thing I can think that would be the cause.) and protected a few pages that seem to be repeat targets. If this is any indication of what major US holidays are like we need to get the administration (*ahem* Jeff) to delegate more controls to more users, and more A.I. spam fighting than we currently have (none). There has to be tricks that Wikipedia is using to fight spam. If we get this much, I can't imagine what the wikipedia servers have to daily stand up against, they must have spam fighting tricks, and not just hordes of people that can delete new pages that anonymous spam bots create. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]]_a ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 07:13, 25 November 2012 (UTC)

::Wikipedia has cluebot, which looks at page blanking and text insertion by anonymous users and reverts suspicious behavior automagically. I could ask cluebot's creator if we could lift the code for use here. It'll be like XERXES.ai, except it'll look for spam instead of spelling errors. [[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]][[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>(talk)</tt>]] 07:16, 25 November 2012 (UTC)

::Aight, so Cluebot runs off a [https://github.com/cluenet/cluebotng core engine] with a dataset of previous vandalism to work from. We can set the files up on a raspberry pi or something, leave it running and connected to the web and feed it a backlog of past spam to teach it what to look for. Gonna do it after this hellish pile of work is over, unless someone wants to ninja me again. [[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]][[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>(talk)</tt>]] 07:50, 25 November 2012 (UTC)

:::Cluebot sounds like a wonderful thing to have around here. When I have free time I might try to develop a basic bot that catches the basic kinds of spam and vandals we see here. (Spammers create a user account, create a random page and link to a random page on the internet; Vandals almost always leave an 18 character mixed lower/upper alphanumeric comment and are anonymous, that's unique enough it should be easily catchable)

==Trivia and transcript placement==
The placement of the trivia sections are not consistent on the wiki; sometimes they are placed above the transcript and sometimes below.

The trivia sections are often fun to read, and a good complement to the explanation. On the other hand I have a hard time imagining people coming here to read transcripts (I remember someone suggested collapsable boxes for them). I'm afraid trivia sections below the transcript "disappears" and sometimes won't be noticed at all (especially if the transcript is long). Therefore I propose that trivia sections should follow the explanation, and that the transcripts should be at the bottom of the page.

Another reason for this is that the dividing line between explanation and trivia is not always clear. The end of the explanations tend to accumulate trivia-like information. The natural thing is to just "crop off" a trivia section, where deemed appropriate, and not to move stuff to and fro around the block of transcript. –St.nerol (talk) 15:15, 6 March 2013 (UTC)

:I agree that trivia sections, if present, should come before the transcript. By the way, I think this thread would be more appropriate for the Coordination section of the community portal. If you agree, please move it there. Waldir (talk) 16:32, 6 March 2013 (UTC)
::Moved from Proposals to Coordination! –[[User:St.nerol|St.nerol]] ([[User talk:St.nerol|talk]]) 23:02, 6 March 2013 (UTC)

:If an explanation contains trivia, that's an issue with the trivia being in the wrong place. Trivia is supposed to contain information that's only tangentially relevant to the comic at hand, and should be kept to the end of the page to keep the rest of the page free of clutter. Also, the comic discussion is at the bottom of every explanation page, but that doesn't seem to have deterred anyone from finding in. We could fix up some kind of collapse box for the transcripts though, since they do tend to be unneeded for most comics. '''[[User:Davidy22|Davidy²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 00:16, 7 March 2013 (UTC)
:Alright, I've done a mockup for what the transcript collapse box could look like. It's in our sandbox, like?'''[[User:Davidy22|Davidy²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 01:16, 7 March 2013 (UTC)

::It looks good!
::I'm not sure it is so easy to differentiate between tangentially relevant, more relevant, and explanatory information. I think there will always be a hazy zone of borderline examples. (By the way, should the explanation/trivia division be based on how ''relevant'' the information is, or on how ''explanatory'' it is?)
::Now that we're getting a collapsible box; where should we place it? I still don't think it is logical to have it between explanation and trivia (if present), but it will matter less. Maybe we should move it up to the top again? –[[User:St.nerol|St.nerol]] ([[User talk:St.nerol|talk]]) 10:24, 8 March 2013 (UTC)
:::Trivia in most wikis is reserved for all the junk that doesn't add value to the main purpose of the article. In our case, that would be information that doesn't serve to explain comics, which is what people who visit the site come here looking for. The transcript is useful for cases where an image is ambiguous or easily mistaken, although it's not entirely needed for every comic. If the trivia section ever contains anything that enhances the comic explanation more than the transcript does, it's in the wrong section.
:::The transcript template is probably going to have to get OK'ed by all the other editors round here before we make it a thing. It's quite a big change to make, and we'll have to change every existing page if we want to add it. We'd probably put it where we usually put the transcript if we do add it in though. '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|purple|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 10:44, 8 March 2013 (UTC)
::::Yeah, I hope that the other guys turns up and says something too. Still, the trivia/transcript placement is not standardized, so we need to decide together what's more natural.
::::*Do we want the transcript in a box?
::::*Do we want it on the bottom of the page, or directly below the explanation, or on the top of the page?

::::It ''is'' a borderland between explaining a comic and giving background information, connections to other comics, etc. There's no borderland between those and transcript. Also, all trivia sections I've seen so far has enhanced the explanations more than the transcript. (Probably because I didn't feel need to read it). –[[User:St.nerol|St.nerol]] ([[User talk:St.nerol|talk]]) 16:10, 8 March 2013 (UTC)

::::If one actually needs/wants to read the transcript, one presumably wants to compare it directly with how the comic looks. That would be the good reason to place the box close to the comic. –[[User:St.nerol|St.nerol]] ([[User talk:St.nerol|talk]]) 16:12, 8 March 2013 (UTC)

::::<strike>Sorry I dropped off the face of the planet for a while there. The run up to Spring Break nearly killed me (that's not as figurative as you'd think). I'll write a proper response in the morning, or late afternoon, after I've had enough sleep to recover from ~2 weeks of ~3 hours of sleep a night. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]]_a ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 08:58, 9 March 2013 (UTC)</strike>

::::I think that Trivia belongs at the bottom of the page. We didn't start with putting transcripts on the explanation page, so there isn't a law passed down from the founders to let us know how to slaughter our sheep as sacrifice (wait, that's something else). However, in keeping with Wikipedia's tradition, we put tangentially related information into its own category at the bottom of the page.

::::What defines tangentially related? Well, most of our editors seem to have a good grasp on it, so I didn't think it was necessary to spell out hard and fast rules. I think the group of people that read xkcd frequently are also prone to become draconian, pedantic, rules lawyers, so I hesitate to suggest that we need to impose too much more structure than what we can glean from Wikipedia's many years of existence. This is how I categorize it:
::::*The explanation, which is the main point of the site, should explain all cultural, technological, mathematical, scientific, visual, and linguistic gags that Randall includes.
::::*The transcript, which helps to ensure that people aren't mis-reading the comic. This is also valuable for accessibility, as blind people cannot read images (not yet, OCR isn't that good), which is why I think Randall should publish transcript data as he posts the comics. So, I support the creation of a transcript when the comic first posts, but about a week later someone should go back and replace it with the transcript that Randall publishes so that anything we interpret incorrectly will be corrected.
::::*Discussion. Since we transclude the discussion onto the explanation page anything that comes up as a result of the comic will often be commented on here. E.g. "Did you guys see Reddit blew up after Randall called them out in this comic? [link]"
::::*And lastly trivia. My template test for this one is "Is this really important trivia, but it doesn't add one hoot to the explanation? Then it should go here." What jumps to my mind every time I think of this is [[Click and Drag]]. That is a prime example of a trivia section. It doesn't explain the comic, but it is meta-information about the comic.

::::Why last? Because if the community cares about the points of trivia someone will bring it up. So that content already exists on the page. Duplicating that and putting it up higher makes no sense. What's even worse is having an Explanation, content directly about the comic; Trivia, an interlude with some information that's fun to know and you can stump people at xkcd meet-ups but otherwise useless; and Transcripts, which is directly about the comic again.

::::I would say that Trivia should actually go at the bottom of the page, but the transclusion of the discussion page makes that ugly to my eye. But it should go underneath the Transcript. Not all of the world are "fully functional" "Average" (capital 'A' Average) and "Normal" (capital 'N' Normal) humans, and consideration needs to be spent on them. And the transcript is more relevant information about the comic than any trivia is. If there is trivia that is more relevant than the transcript, it should be worked into the explanation. If a transcript gets long and you believe scrolling is a tedious, laborious task that only proto-humans had to deal with, then add a <code><nowiki>__TOC__</nowiki></code> (the TOC is ugly because of the comic discussion template, which is another discussion) underneath the comic template.

::::--[[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]]_a ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 12:02, 14 March 2013 (UTC)

:: I think the transcript could be integrated into [[template:comic]], instead of being a separate template, and use a softer and more neutral color (light gray, for example) in the heading. Apart from these details, I agree with the collapsing of the transcript, and being collapsed, its placement isn't really problematic. Right under the comic sounds ok to me. --[[User:Waldir|Waldir]] ([[User talk:Waldir|talk]]) 02:04, 10 March 2013 (UTC)

:::I think this would be a good option. If the transcript were in the comic template, such that it was comic image, title text, transcript, this would be a good option for screen readers, so that the explanation would be read after the transcript. I am quite in favor of this. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]]_a ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 12:02, 14 March 2013 (UTC)
::::I made a couple of halfhearted attempts at doing that box integration, but it's not as easy as copypasting it into the right place. Will get it done when I'm less busy. '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|purple|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 13:29, 14 March 2013 (UTC)

== Trivia section for the early comics? ==

I noticed that the early xkcd comics that were [[:Category:Comics posted on livejournal|posted on livejournal]] sometimes have no real explanation (since there is really nothing much to explain), but feature a separate trivia section that mentions the original order, an alternative title text and/or a quote by Randall. Number [[7]] is a good example for it. I was wondering if it were not more practical to integrate the trivia section into the explanation text. Of course, it is strictly speaking not an explanation of the comic's ''contents'', but other explanations give meta information about the comic as well. As somebody in the section above has already mentioned: It is a thin line. I think, a separate trivia section only makes sense when there is 1) a full explanation of the comic that would otherwise be cluttered and 2) the trivia section contains technical meta information that does not add to the understanding of the comic (see [[1110]] for example). I think it more to the point to remove the trivia sections for the early comics altogether, but I thought I ask before anybody has to revert everything ;) -- [[User:LotharW|LotharW]] ([[User talk:LotharW|talk]]) 12:40, 18 October 2013 (UTC)

Talk:1279: Reverse Identity Theft

2013-10-18T12:17:19Z

LotharW:

19: George Clinton

2013-10-18T12:06:03Z

LotharW: Incomplete

{{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, which we see depicted in the comic.

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]]

Talk:1279: Reverse Identity Theft

2013-10-18T11:28:18Z

LotharW:

351: Trolling

2013-10-18T11:08:46Z

LotharW: Expansion

{{comic
| number = 351
| date = November 30, 2007
| title = Trolling
| image = trolling.png
| titletext = And I was really impressed with how they managed to shock the Goatse guy.
}}

==Explanation==
The term ''{{w|Trolling}}'' is used to describe provoking, destructive or annoying behaviour on the {{w|Internet}}. Especially common are Internet pranks of the {{w|bait-and-switch}} type. One of these pranks is the so called {{w|Rickrolling}}. It involves placing a {{w|hyperlink|link}} that is supposed to contain interesting or funny material, but instead directs to the music video of the 1987 {{w|Rick Astley}} song ''{{w|Never Gonna Give You Up}}''. The prank first occurred in May 2007 on the popular {{w|imageboard}} {{w|4chan}} and has since become a widespread {{w|internet meme}}.

The comic has [[Black Hat]] and [[Cueball]] digging into the ground and splicing Black Hat's computer into the TV cables of {{w|Rick Astley}}'s house. They are feeding the video of ''{{w|Never Gonna Give You Up}}'' into Astley's TV signal, who can be seen sitting in his living room and wondering why CNN has been replaced by his own video. The idea of Rickrolling Rick Astley himself is declared to be a "great moment in Trolling".

It should be noted that in the original prank, the victims voluntarily click on the link instead of having the video forced upon them. Therefore, the scene depicted in the comic is (arguably) no ''Rickrolling'' in the classical sense. Also, since Rick Astley is not the originator of the prank, this is no pay-back scenario.

The title text mentions {{w|Goatse.cx}} (prounced ''goat sex''), a former shock website that was used in a similar prank. People clicking on the feigned link would instead see the disturbing picture of a man holding open his anus. The title text suggests that [[Black Hat]] and [[Cueball]] somehow made the (unknown) founder of the site click on an even more shocking link.

==Transcript==
:[Black Hat and Cueball are in Rick Astley's yard, hacking into his cable TV connection and replacing the signal. Rick Astley is sitting in a chair in his house, watching TV.]
:TV: CNN has obtained this exclusive footage of the riot-torn-- ''*CZZZHT*'' ♫ Never gonna give you up... ♪
:Rick Astley: What the hell?

:[Caption:]
:GREAT MOMENTS in TROLLING:
:Rick Astley is successfully Rickrolled

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

1279: Reverse Identity Theft

2013-10-18T09:07:00Z

LotharW: Expansion

{{comic
| number = 1279
| date = October 18, 2013
| title = Reverse Identity Theft
| image = reverse identity theft.png
| titletext = I asked a few friends whether they'd had this happen, then looked up the popularity of their initials/names over time. Based on those numbers, it looks like there must be at least 750,000 people in the US alone who think 'Sure, that's probably my email address' on a regular basis.
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Identity theft}} is the criminal method of assuming the identity of an unsuspecting person, usually to get credit in their name. While this is done deliberately, the comic introduces the idea of ''reverse'' identity theft: An older person with little knowledge of computers involuntarily uses another person's {{w|email address}} because he (or she) supposed it to be their own. Since most email addresses follow a generic pattern, they simply adapted the pattern to conform with their own name, unaware that someone with the same initial and last name already owns the address.

The comic has [[Cueball]] call an elder person, who apparently gave Cueball's email address to the phone company, which now sends Cueball the bills. The person is not able to comprehend why this is not their email address (as it corresponds with their name) and is also very confused how Cueball got their phone number. The latter reveals a major problem of reverse identity theft: Using another person's email address for your own business matters exposes your own identity. The owner of the address can easily take advantage from the situation, leading to a scenario of regular identity theft.

Most internet users face at some point the message that their desired email address is "already taken". Because email addresses must be unique and only a limited set of characters is allowed, people with common names usually add numbers to their name. The problem is intensified by the fact that providers like {{w|Google Mail}}, which has become synonymous with email services, regard certain alterations as variations of the same address. For example, Google Mail ignores the dot character and does not allow hyphens and underscores, although they are valid characters for email addresses. Ironically, these restrictions are supposed to prevent fraud, but instead lead to problems like the one described in the comic.

Note that Google Mail ignores everything behind a plus sign. This is used as a way to create {{w|email aliases}}. The plus sign in the formula used in the comic should therefore considered to be only an indicator for combination, not a literal character in the address.

==Transcript==
:If your email address is [First initial]+[Last name]@gmail.com you gradually get to know lots of older people who have the same name pattern

:Cueball: Yes, I know it would make '''''sense''''' if that were your email address, but it's not.
:Person on the phone: But how did you get my number?
:Cueball: Your phone bill.

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

1278: Giraffes

2013-10-16T16:52:52Z

LotharW: Small grammatical error I missed

{{comic
| number = 1278
| date = October 16, 2013
| title = Giraffes
| image = giraffes.png
| titletext = If you fund my Kickstarter...
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Genetic engineering}} is the scientific approach towards altering and modifying the {{w|genome}} of organisms. In the process, DNA material is extracted from a source organism and then inserted into the genome of a host organism. It is thus possible to create {{w|transgenetic|hybrids}} between species that would not crossbreed naturally. The technique is also applied in order to expedite the sometimes lengthy process of {{w|selective breeding}}.

The comic suggests the creation of genetically modified {{w|giraffes}}. Following the [[:Category:Dinosaurs|recurring theme]] in the comics that dinosaurs and dinosaur-like traits make life more interesting, [[Randall]] expresses his desire to see genetic engineers insert DNA from extinct {{w|sauropods}} into the giraffe's genome, resulting in giraffes with very large and thick tails.

The idea of extracting and reproducing DNA material of dinosaurs appears most prominently in the 1993 motion picture ''{{w|Jurassic Park}}''. The concept is regarded by scientists as rather implausible because DNA disintegrates soon after the death of the organism and would not be preserved in fossils.

Furthermore, the science of genetic engineering is not yet able to accomplish major alterations in complex genomes. While mice and other small vertebrates have successfully been modified for research purposes, the daily use of genetic engineering is limited to plants and monads. The difficulty also increases when the species crossed are only distantly related to each other. The idea of adding dinosaur tails to giraffes can therefore be considered as fairly utopical.

In general, genetic engineering is a highly controversial topic with regards to the responsibility of science. While some praise the scientific progress and welcome the possibilities it brings, others fear that genetic science might enable man to alter the ways of nature and to presume the role of an almighty creator. The creation of hybrid animals (so called ''{{w|Chimera|Chimeras}}'') is often regarded as the ultimate {{w|hubris}} and the climax of moral decay. Some countries have therefore installed strong legal restrictions for the modification of genetic material extracted from humans and animals.

The title text refers to {{w|Kickstarter}}, a funding platform for creative projects. Any person who wants to start a creative project, but lacks the resources to do so, can create a Kickstarter campaign where donors can contribute donations. Usually, the owner of the Kickstarter promises exclusive benefits to donors of certain tiers. For example, the title text could well be finished to say ''If you fund my Kickstarter with a donation of $20 or more, I will give you exclusive access to my weekly blog on the development stages of the giraffosaurus. If you donate $100 or more, you can receive a life-sized cardboard cut-out of the giraffosaurus. Donations of $10,000 or more will earn your name in a raffle for ownership of the first three giraffosaurus.''

While dinosaurs are a recurring trope since the beginning of xkcd, giraffes have been featured in some of the more recent [http://what-if.xkcd.com what-if] articles as a measurement of height.

Interestingly enough, there seems to have been a species of sauropod dinosaur that bore a certain likeness to the modern giraffe and has therefore been christened ''{{w|Giraffatitan}}''.

==Transcript==
:My Hobby:
:[Silhouette of a giraffe with a sauropod's tail.]
:Convincing genetic engineers that giraffes would look better if they had sauropod tails

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

1278: Giraffes

2013-10-16T16:42:09Z

LotharW: Expansion of article, background information

{{comic
| number = 1278
| date = October 16, 2013
| title = Giraffes
| image = giraffes.png
| titletext = If you fund my Kickstarter...
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Genetic engineering}} is the scientific approach towards altering and modifying the {{w|genome}} of organisms. In the process, DNA material is extracted of a source organism and then inserted into the genome of a host organism. It is thus possible to create {{w|transgenetic|hybrids}} between species that would not crossbreed naturally. The technique is also applied in order to expedite the sometimes lengthy process of {{w|selective breeding}}.

The comic suggests the creation of genetically modified {{w|giraffes}}. Following the [[:Category:Dinosaurs|recurring theme]] in the comics that dinosaurs and dinosaur-like traits make life more interesting, [[Randall]] expresses his desire to see genetic engineers insert DNA from extinct {{w|sauropods}} into the giraffe's genome, resulting in giraffes with very large and thick tails.

The idea of extracting and reproducing DNA material of dinosaurs appears most prominently in the 1993 motion picture ''{{w|Jurassic Park}}''. The concept is regarded by scientists as rather implausible because DNA disintegrates soon after the death of the organism and would not be preserved in fossils.

Furthermore, the science of genetic engineering is not yet able to accomplish major alterations in complex genomes. While mice and other small vertebrates have successfully been modified for research purposes, the daily use of genetic engineering is limited to plants and monads. The difficulty also increases when the species crossed are only distantly related to each other. The idea of adding dinosaur tails to giraffes can therefore be considered as fairly utopical.

In general, genetic engineering is a highly controversial topic with regards to the responsibility of science. While some praise the scientific progress and welcome the possibilities it brings, others fear that genetic science might enable man to alter the ways of nature and to presume the role of an almighty creator. The creation of hybrid animals (so called ''{{w|Chimera|Chimeras}}'') is often regarded as the ultimate {{w|hubris}} and the climax of moral decay. Some countries have therefore installed strong legal restrictions for the modification of genetic material extracted from humans and animals.

The title text refers to {{w|Kickstarter}}, a funding platform for creative projects. Any person who wants to start a creative project, but lacks the resources to do so, can create a Kickstarter campaign where donors can contribute donations. Usually, the owner of the Kickstarter promises exclusive benefits to donors of certain tiers. For example, the title text could well be finished to say ''If you fund my Kickstarter with a donation of $20 or more, I will give you exclusive access to my weekly blog on the development stages of the giraffosaurus. If you donate $100 or more, you can receive a life-sized cardboard cut-out of the giraffosaurus. Donations of $10,000 or more will earn your name in a raffle for ownership of the first three giraffosaurus.''

While dinosaurs are a recurring trope since the beginning of xkcd, giraffes have been featured in some of the more recent [http://what-if.xkcd.com what-if] articles as a measurement of height.

Interestingly enough, there seems to have been a species of sauropod dinosaur that bore a certain likeness to the modern giraffe and has therefore been christened ''{{w|Giraffatitan}}''.

==Transcript==
:My Hobby:
:[Silhouette of a giraffe with a sauropod's tail.]
:Convincing genetic engineers that giraffes would look better if they had sauropod tails

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

636: Brontosaurus

2013-10-16T15:16:40Z

LotharW:

{{comic
| number = 636
| date = September 14, 2009
| title = Brontosaurus
| image = brontosaurus.png
| titletext = Well, sex is like a velociraptor: despite your movie-fueled lifelong neurotic obsession, unlikely to be found in your house.
}}

==Explanation==
Megan describes her relationship to Cueball with the simile "our love is like a turtle," a comparison often made when referring to a shy and slowly developing yet steady sort of romance. However, Cueball thinks the {{w|Brontosaurus}} the better impersonation. His explanation refers to the fact that remains of {{w|Apatosaurus}} were by mistake believed to be a different species which the paleontologist {{w|Othniel Charles Marsh|O.C. Marsh}} named ''Brontosaurus''. It was later discovered that the two species should be classified as one, with the older name prevailing according to convention. The term Brontosaurus is therefore a scientific redundancy.

Applied to the scenario in the comic, Cueball apparently considers the relationship without any emotional foundation and only continues it out of nostalgic motives. This conclusion counteracts the initial romantic tone adopted by the turtle simile, as comparing a romance with a falsely classified fossil is one of the least charming statements imaginable.

The title text aims at Randall's well-known enthusiasm for {{w|Velociraptors}} which he mockingly compares to the obsession others might cherish for sex.

Randall has previously mentioned the Brontosaurus name change in [[460: Paleontology]]. The Apatosaurus also appears in [[15: Just Alerting You]] and [[650: Nowhere]].

==Transcript==
:[Cueball and Megan are sitting at a bench. Megan is holding a turtle.]
:Megan: Our love is like a turtle.
:[Megan sets down the turtle and turns to Cueball. They hold hands.]
:Megan: Humble and simple, enduring by virtue of perfect design.
:Cueball: Our love is like a brontosaurus.
:Cueball: Recognized as a mistaken combination long ago, lingering only out of misplaced affection for an imagined past.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Velociraptors]]
[[Category:Romance]]
[[Category:Apatosaurus]]

636: Brontosaurus

2013-10-16T15:15:31Z

LotharW: Typos: proper names of dinosaurs

{{comic
| number = 636
| date = September 14, 2009
| title = Brontosaurus
| image = brontosaurus.png
| titletext = Well, sex is like a velociraptor: despite your movie-fueled lifelong neurotic obsession, unlikely to be found in your house.
}}

==Explanation==
Megan describes her relationship to Cueball with the simile "our love is like a turtle," a comparison often made when referring to a shy and slowly developing yet steady sort of romance. However, Cueball thinks the {{w|Bwrontosaurus}} the better impersonation. His explanation refers to the fact that remains of {{w|Apatosaurus}} were by mistake believed to be a different species which the paleontologist {{w|Othniel Charles Marsh|O.C. Marsh}} named ''Brontosaurus''. It was later discovered that the two species should be classified as one, with the older name prevailing according to convention. The term Brontosaurus is therefore a scientific redundancy.

Applied to the scenario in the comic, Cueball apparently considers the relationship without any emotional foundation and only continues it out of nostalgic motives. This conclusion counteracts the initial romantic tone adopted by the turtle simile, as comparing a romance with a falsely classified fossil is one of the least charming statements imaginable.

The title text aims at Randall's well-known enthusiasm for {{w|Velociraptors}} which he mockingly compares to the obsession others might cherish for sex.

Randall has previously mentioned the Brontosaurus name change in [[460: Paleontology]]. The Apatosaurus also appears in [[15: Just Alerting You]] and [[650: Nowhere]].

==Transcript==
:[Cueball and Megan are sitting at a bench. Megan is holding a turtle.]
:Megan: Our love is like a turtle.
:[Megan sets down the turtle and turns to Cueball. They hold hands.]
:Megan: Humble and simple, enduring by virtue of perfect design.
:Cueball: Our love is like a brontosaurus.
:Cueball: Recognized as a mistaken combination long ago, lingering only out of misplaced affection for an imagined past.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Velociraptors]]
[[Category:Romance]]
[[Category:Apatosaurus]]

1274: Open Letter

2013-10-07T11:39:13Z

LotharW: Undo revision 50123 by LotharW (talk)

{{comic
| number = 1274
| date = October 7, 2013
| title = Open Letter
| image = open_letter.png
| titletext = Are you ok? Do you need help?
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}
Under some circumstances, the United States Federal Government {{w|Government_shutdown_in_the_United_States|can temporarily shut down}} pending budget legislation from the United States Congress. These shutdowns are typically due to political disagreements between the President, the House of Representatives, and the Senate.

Over the years, various conspiracy theories have been proposed claiming that the United States Government is not controlled by publicly-elected officials, but rather by one or more organizations that secretly control the actions of the government (sometimes termed a {{w|Shadow_government_(conspiracy)|"shadow government"}}).

[[Randall]] jokes on the {{w|United_States_federal_government_shutdown_of_2013|US government shutdown in 2013}}, that has been ongoing for a week and is still current as of the time of this comic, by writing a letter to the shadow government, telling them that this situation is embarrassing and asking them to fix the problem.

This comic may also be subtly arguing against the plausibility of the aforementioned conspiracy theories if one assumes that a shadow-controlled government would be more likely to operate with a singular purpose and therefore be less susceptible to paralyzing political disagreements. That is to say, if an outside organization were controlling the US government, then it would demonstrate more competence than the US government is currently exhibiting. Randall previously alluded to this in the title text to [[1081|comic 1081]]: "Really, the comforting side in most conspiracy theory arguments is the one claiming that anyone who's in power has any plan at all." This is one of several comics in which Randall expresses dismay at how many intelligent people can fall for absurd conspiracy theories; see comics [[258]] and [[690]], among others.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Addressee !! Brief Description
|-
| {{w|Freemasonry|The Freemasons }}|| Fraternity claiming the legacy of medieval stonemasons. Organised in local groups, the so called ''Lodges''.
|-
| {{w|Illuminati}} || Secret society formed in Bavaria to further the ideas of {{w|enlightenment}}. Although officially banned in 1785, many conspiracy theorists believe the organisation might have survived and is still secretly exerting influence.
|-
| {{w|Church of Scientology|Scientology}} || Self-proclaimed church founded by science-fiction writer {{w|L. Ron Hubbard}}. Often criticised for alleged {{w|brainwashing}} of its members and accused of hiding commercial interests behind religious claims.
|-
| {{w|Federal_Emergency_Management_Agency|FEMA}} || Agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, that has been granted extensive authorisations in cases of emergency and is therefore believed to act as an entity independent of governmental control.
|-
| {{w|New_World_Order_(conspiracy_theory)|The New World Order}} || Not a secret organisation itself, but rather the concept of establishing a totalitarian system controlled by any elitist group in this list.
|-
| {{w|Federal_Reserve_System|The Federal Reserve}} || Central state bank system of the United States, therefore to some degree able to control the monetary circulation of the {{w|US Dollar}}.
|-
| {{w|Citigroup}} || One of the four biggest American financial service corporations. Considered by the {{w|Financial Stability Board}} to be a {{w|Too big to fail|"systemically important financial institution"}}.
|-
| {{w|Halliburton}} || International corporation offering technical services, especially in the field of oil and gas production. Also a major supplier for the {{w|US military}}. Halliburton was in the headlines for unethical business practise and connections to the {{w|Dick Cheney|former US Vize President}}.
|-
| {{w|Google}} || Corporation offering Internet services, most notably the Google search engine. Known for collecting massive amounts of data about its users in order to sell personalised advertisement. The idea of secret plans of Google has been mentioned in comic {792}.
|-
| {{w|Holy See|The Vatican}} || Central government of the {{w|Catholic Church}} and residence of the {{w|pope}}. Historically important not only as a religious authority, but also as a {{w|Papal States|secular political power}}.
|-
| {{w|Bilderberg_Group|Bilderburg (correctly: ''Bilderberg'')}} || Annual conference of important politicians, bankers, directors of major corporations and other {{w|List of Bilderberg participants|people of influence}}, therefore considered the quintessential elitist meeting.
|-
| {{w|Walmart}} || American retail corporation, best known for the eponymous chain of warehouse stores. As of January 2013, Walmart is the world's largest public corporation by revenue.
|-
| {{w|Rothschild_family|The Rothschilds}} || Family of Jewish financiers that was later elevated into European nobility. Believed to exercise influence through considerable wealth.
|-
| {{w|Knights Templar}} || Originally a medieval Christian military order of considerable influence, the Knights Templar were inspiration for many successive (secret) organisations that are sometimes believed to undermine governmental authorities. There is also an {{w|The Knights Templar (Freemasonry)|eponymous order}} affiliated with Freemasonry.
|-
| {{w|High_Frequency_Active_Auroral_Research_Program#Conspiracy_theories|HAARP}} || Ionospheric research project of the US military. Believed by some conspiracy theorists to conceal attempts to control the weather and trigger catastrophes.
|-
| {{w|United_Nations|The UN}} || Large intergovernmental organization; most countries in the world are members. It has little direct power unless its member states choose to cooperate (except for its invisible {{w|black helicopter}} squadrons).
|-
| {{w|Skull_and_Bones|Skull & Bones}} || A secret society at the {{w|Yale University}} that has many influential American politicians amongst its members, including former President {{w|George W. Bush}}.
|-
| {{w|Bohemian_Grove|Bohemian Grove}} || Campground of the private {{w|Bohemian Club}} in San Francisco, known for hosting an annual encampment of club members and selected guests who are among the most powerful men in the world.
|-
| {{w|Political_activities_of_the_Koch_brothers|The Koch Brothers}} || The owners of the second-largest private company in the United States and advocates of {{w|free market}} ideals. Known for contributions to libertarian and conservative political campaigns.
|-
| {{w|George Soros}} || Business magnate and investor, who is well-known for supporting liberal political causes.
|-
| {{w|Sovereign_Military_Order_of_Malta|The Knights of Malta}} ||
|-
| {{w|Council_on_Foreign_Relations|The CFR}} ||
|-
| {{w|ExxonMobil|Exxon Mobil}} ||
|-
| {{w|Zionism|The Zionists}} || Political movement favouring the creation of a Jewish homeland, a goal achieved with the creation of the state of {{w|Israel}}. In a conspiracy-theory context, it references the belief that wealthy and powerful Jews (such as the above-referenced Rothschilds) control political and social institutions, as presented e.g. in the (fake) {{w|Protocols of Zion}}.
|-
| {{w|Vril#Vril_society|The Vril Society}} ||
|-
| {{w|Reptilians|The Lizard People}} || Secret snake-men, similar to the aliens from {{w|V (TV series)}}. This is probably a reference to the conspiracy theories of {{w|David Icke}}, which include the idea that an ancient race of god-like, shapeshifting Lizards have interbred with humans, and that these half-bloods now secretly control the world.
|-
| and everyone else who secretly controls the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_government_of_the_United_States US Government] ||
|}

==Transcript==
:[The picture shows a letter.]
:October 7th 2013
:To: The Freemasons, the Illuminati, Scientology, FEMA, the New World Order, the Federal Reserve, Citigroup, Halliburton, Google, the Vatican, Bilderburg, Walmart, the Rothschilds, the Knights Templar, HAARP, the UN, Skull & Bones, Bohemian Grove, the Koch Brothers, George Soros, the Trilateral Commision, the Knights of Malta, the CFR, Exxon Mobil, the Zionists, the Vril Society, the Lizard People, and everyone else who secretly controls the US government
:Can you please get your shit together?
:This is embarrassing.
:Sincerely,
:A Concerned Citizen

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Politics]]

1274: Open Letter

2013-10-07T11:34:22Z

LotharW:

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}
Under some circumstances, the United States Federal Government {{w|Government_shutdown_in_the_United_States|can temporarily shut down}} pending budget legislation from the United States Congress. These shutdowns are typically due to political disagreements between the President, the House of Representatives, and the Senate.

Over the years, various conspiracy theories have been proposed claiming that the United States Government is not controlled by publicly-elected officials, but rather by one or more organizations that secretly control the actions of the government (sometimes termed a {{w|Shadow_government_(conspiracy)|"shadow government"}}).

[[Randall]] jokes on the {{w|United_States_federal_government_shutdown_of_2013|US government shutdown in 2013}}, that has been ongoing for a week and is still current as of the time of this comic, by writing a letter to the shadow government, telling them that this situation is embarrassing and asking them to fix the problem.

This comic may also be subtly arguing against the plausibility of the aforementioned conspiracy theories if one assumes that a shadow-controlled government would be more likely to operate with a singular purpose and therefore be less susceptible to paralyzing political disagreements. That is to say, if an outside organization were controlling the US government, then it would demonstrate more competence than the US government is currently exhibiting. Randall previously alluded to this in the title text to [[1081|comic 1081]]: "Really, the comforting side in most conspiracy theory arguments is the one claiming that anyone who's in power has any plan at all." This is one of several comics in which Randall expresses dismay at how many intelligent people can fall for absurd conspiracy theories; see comics [[258]] and [[690]], among others.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Addressee !! Brief Description
|-
| {{w|Freemasonry|The Freemasons }}|| Fraternity claiming the legacy of medieval stonemasons. Organised in local groups, the so called ''Lodges''.
|-
| {{w|Illuminati}} || Secret society formed in Bavaria to further the ideas of {{w|enlightenment}}. Although officially banned in 1785, many conspiracy theorists believe the organisation might have survived and is still secretly exerting influence.
|-
| {{w|Church of Scientology|Scientology}} || Self-proclaimed church founded by science-fiction writer {{w|L. Ron Hubbard}}. Often criticised for alleged {{w|brainwashing}} of its members and accused of hiding commercial interests behind religious claims.
|-
| {{w|Federal_Emergency_Management_Agency|FEMA}} || Agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, that has been granted extensive authorisations in cases of emergency and is therefore believed to act as an entity independent of governmental control.
|-
| {{w|New_World_Order_(conspiracy_theory)|The New World Order}} || Not a secret organisation itself, but rather the concept of establishing a totalitarian system controlled by any elitist group in this list.
|-
| {{w|Federal_Reserve_System|The Federal Reserve}} || Central state bank system of the United States, therefore to some degree able to control the monetary circulation of the {{w|US Dollar}}.
|-
| {{w|Citigroup}} || One of the four biggest American financial service corporations. Considered by the {{w|Financial Stability Board}} to be a {{w|Too big to fail|"systemically important financial institution"}}.
|-
| {{w|Halliburton}} || International corporation offering technical services, especially in the field of oil and gas production. Also a major supplier for the {{w|US military}}. Halliburton was in the headlines for unethical business practise and connections to the {{w|Dick Cheney|former US Vize President}}.
|-
| {{w|Google}} || Corporation offering Internet services, most notably the Google search engine. Known for collecting massive amounts of data about its users in order to sell personalised advertisement. The idea of secret plans of Google has been mentioned in comic {792}.
|-
| {{w|Holy See|The Vatican}} || Central government of the {{w|Catholic Church}} and residence of the {{w|pope}}. Historically important not only as a religious authority, but also as a {{w|Papal States|secular political power}}.
|-
| {{w|Bilderberg_Group|Bilderburg (correctly: ''Bilderberg'')}} || Annual conference of important politicians, bankers, directors of major corporations and other {{w|List of Bilderberg participants|people of influence}}, therefore considered the quintessential elitist meeting.
|-
| {{w|Walmart}} || American retail corporation, best known for the eponymous chain of warehouse stores. As of January 2013, Walmart is the world's largest public corporation by revenue.
|-
| {{w|Rothschild_family|The Rothschilds}} || Family of Jewish financiers that was later elevated into European nobility. Believed to exercise influence through considerable wealth.
|-
| {{w|Knights Templar}} || Originally a medieval Christian military order of considerable influence, the Knights Templar were inspiration for many successive (secret) organisations that are sometimes believed to undermine governmental authorities. There is also an {{w|The Knights Templar (Freemasonry)|eponymous order}} affiliated with Freemasonry.
|-
| {{w|High_Frequency_Active_Auroral_Research_Program#Conspiracy_theories|HAARP}} || Ionospheric research project of the US military. Believed by some conspiracy theorists to conceal attempts to control the weather and trigger catastrophes.
|-
| {{w|United_Nations|The UN}} || Large intergovernmental organization; most countries in the world are members. It has little direct power unless its member states choose to cooperate (except for its invisible {{w|black helicopter}} squadrons).
|-
| {{w|Skull_and_Bones|Skull & Bones}} || A secret society at the {{w|Yale University}} that has many influential American politicians amongst its members, including former President {{w|George W. Bush}}.
|-
| {{w|Bohemian_Grove|Bohemian Grove}} || Campground of the private {{w|Bohemian Club}} in San Francisco, known for hosting an annual encampment of club members and selected guests who are among the most powerful men in the world.
|-
| {{w|Political_activities_of_the_Koch_brothers|The Koch Brothers}} || The owners of the second-largest private company in the United States and advocates of {{w|free market}} ideals. Known for contributions to libertarian and conservative political campaigns.
|-
| {{w|George Soros}} || Business magnate and investor, who is well-known for supporting liberal political causes.
|-
| {{w|Sovereign_Military_Order_of_Malta|The Knights of Malta}} ||
|-
| {{w|Council_on_Foreign_Relations|The CFR}} ||
|-
| {{w|ExxonMobil|Exxon Mobil}} ||
|-
| {{w|Zionism|The Zionists}} || Political movement favouring the creation of a Jewish homeland, a goal achieved with the creation of the state of {{w|Israel}}. In a conspiracy-theory context, it references the belief that wealthy and powerful Jews (such as the above-referenced Rothschilds) control political and social institutions, as presented e.g. in the (fake) {{w|Protocols of Zion}}.
|-
| {{w|Vril#Vril_society|The Vril Society}} ||
|-
| {{w|Reptilians|The Lizard People}} || Secret snake-men, similar to the aliens from {{w|V (TV series)}}. This is probably a reference to the conspiracy theories of {{w|David Icke}}, which include the idea that an ancient race of god-like, shapeshifting Lizards have interbred with humans, and that these half-bloods now secretly control the world.
|-
| and everyone else who secretly controls the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_government_of_the_United_States US Government] ||
|}

1274: Open Letter

2013-10-07T09:50:45Z

LotharW: /* Explanation */

300: Facebook

2013-06-29T12:07:08Z

LotharW: /* Explanation */ typo

{{comic
| number = 300
| date = August 8, 2007
| title = Facebook
| image = facebook.png
| titletext = 'Here, I'll put my number in your cell pho -- wait, why is it already here?'
}}

==Explanation==
This comic approaches how {{w|Social Networks}} have changed the ways of human interaction. With everyone placing their personal interests on their {{w|Facebook}} profile pages, it has become fairly easy to gather a lot of information about people. In the comic, [[Cueball]] uses this information to his advantage: He ascertained [[Megan|Megan's]] musical preferences beforehand in order to create the illusion of their sharing mutual interests. Megan is led to believe that he is {{w|soulmate|like-minded}}, thus making it easier for Cueball to persuade her into having sex with him. Here the comic takes at the fact that many people use Facebook as a hunting ground for sexual contacts.

Apparently, Megan did not only mention her favourite bands in her profile, but also her preferred {{w|sex position}}. This can be read as a sideswipe at what intimate details some people are willing to share on the internet. (Although mentioning sexual preferences is hyperbolic here.)

Megan's taste in both fields can be regarded as outside the mainstream. ''{{w|Regina Spektor}}'' and ''{{w|The Polyphonic Spree}}'' are representatives of the {{w|Indie Pop}} genre. The [http://www.menshealth.com/sex-position-playbook/wheelbarrow-standing ''Wheelbarrow''] features the man standing behind the woman and holding her legs, while she props up in a wheelbarrow-like position. The retrograde variant has the woman facing upwards. Unusual sex positions are also mentioned in comics [[414]] and [[487]].

The title text suggests that Cueball did not stop at reading Megan's Facebook profile, but also somehow obtained her phone and placed his own number there. It is implied that some of the "mildly sleazy" uses of Facebook can border on the verge of {{w|stalking}}.

==Transcript==
:Mildy sleazy uses of Facebook, part 14:
:Looking up someone's profile before introducing yourself so you know which of your favorite bands to mention
:Cueball: Favorite bands? Hmm...
:Cueball: Maybe Regina Spektor or the Polyphonic Spree.
:Megan: Whoa, those are two of my favorites, too!
:Megan: Clearly, we should have sex.
:Cueball: Okay! My favorite position is the retrograde wheelbarrow.
:[Megan raises arms.]
:Megan: Ohmygod, mine too!

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

300: Facebook

2013-06-29T12:05:55Z

LotharW:

{{comic
| number = 300
| date = August 8, 2007
| title = Facebook
| image = facebook.png
| titletext = 'Here, I'll put my number in your cell pho -- wait, why is it already here?'
}}

==Explanation==
This comic approaches how {{w|Social Networks}} have changed the ways of human interaction. With everyone placing their personal interests on their {{w|Facebook}} profile pages, it has become fairly easy to gather a lot of information about people. In the comic, [[Cueball]] uses this information to his advantage: He ascertained [[Megan|Megan's]] musical preferences beforehand in order to create the illusion of their sharing mutual interests. Megan is led to believe that he is {{w|soulmate|like-minded}}, thus making it easier for Cueball to persuade her into having sex with him. Here the comic takes at the fact that many people use Facebook as a hunting ground for sexual contacts.

Apparently, Megan did not only mentioned her favourite bands in her profile, but also her preferred {{w|sex position}}. This can be read as a sideswipe at what intimate details some people are willing to share on the internet. (Although mentioning sexual preferences is hyperbolic here.)

Megan's taste in both fields can be regarded as outside the mainstream. ''{{w|Regina Spektor}}'' and ''{{w|The Polyphonic Spree}}'' are representatives of the {{w|Indie Pop}} genre. The [http://www.menshealth.com/sex-position-playbook/wheelbarrow-standing ''Wheelbarrow''] features the man standing behind the woman and holding her legs, while she props up in a wheelbarrow-like position. The retrograde variant has the woman facing upwards. Unusual sex positions are also mentioned in comics [[414]] and [[487]].

The title text suggests that Cueball did not stop at reading Megan's Facebook profile, but also somehow obtained her phone and placed his own number there. It is implied that some of the "mildly sleazy" uses of Facebook can border on the verge of {{w|stalking}}.

==Transcript==
:Mildy sleazy uses of Facebook, part 14:
:Looking up someone's profile before introducing yourself so you know which of your favorite bands to mention
:Cueball: Favorite bands? Hmm...
:Cueball: Maybe Regina Spektor or the Polyphonic Spree.
:Megan: Whoa, those are two of my favorites, too!
:Megan: Clearly, we should have sex.
:Cueball: Okay! My favorite position is the retrograde wheelbarrow.
:[Megan raises arms.]
:Megan: Ohmygod, mine too!

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

805: Paradise City

2013-06-29T10:52:35Z

LotharW: /* Explanation */ Typo

{{comic
| number = 805
| date = October 13, 2010
| title = Paradise City
| image = paradise city.png
| titletext = Take me down to the paradise municipality / where the grass is mauve and the girls aren't fromthisreality.
}}

==Explanation==
''{{w|Paradise City}}'' is a song by the hard rock band {{w|Guns N' Roses}} which appeared on their début album ''{{w|Appetite for Destruction}}''. It sings of the fictional Paradise City, an idyllic place whereto the lyrical self longs to return. The location is contrasted with the depressing reality in which the persona is trapped, using for instance the image of a gas chamber.

In the comic, [[Cueball]] can be seen singing different versions of the chorus. In each panel, the word "City" is substituted by a synonym and the rest of the verse is altered accordingly to keep the rhyme scheme.

The sequence of stanzas describes the fate of Paradise City. It starts the original version drawing an idyllic picture. In a rather unexpected turn, however, the next stanza has the place pillaged and plundered. Chaos and anarchy reign, the once fresh and green meadows are now burned. Law and order are restored in the next verses and the other extreme starts to prevail: Paradise City has become a totalitarian {{w|dystopia}}. The fourth stanza refers to {{w|George Orwell|George Orwell's}} dystopian novel ''{{w|Nineteen Eighty-Four}}''. The book shows a world in which mind control and omnipresent surveillance render individual thought and action impossible. The concluding verses suggest that the totalitarian government has successfully brainwashed the former rebels and established an effective, yet sterile technocratic society.

The development of the city in Cueball's song reveals that the term "{{w|Paradise}}" can be applied to very different and even oppositional scenarios. While the original song describes the city as a rural Eden, some might refute this conception as a bourgeois or {{w|Agrarianism|agrarian romantic}} ideal. Others would fear that too much individual freedom might be dangerous and opt for {{w|Surveillance state|security through control}}. Especially the picture of the last stanza is a common vision in dystopian literature (e.g. ''{{w|Brave New World}}''): Although the citizens of a future society entirely lack any personal choice or individual freedom, they deem themselves happy because education or thought control present this a necessity for a functioning society.

"Cortical lesions" in panel four could be a reference to the dystopian novel ''{{w|Uglies}}'' by {{w|Scott Westerfeld}}, which describes a society in which extreme plastic surgery is used to turn people "pretty". It is later revealed in the book that this procedure is accompanied by a neurosurgical operation making the patient placid and obedient through a {{w|lobotomy}}.

In popular culture, the word "Paradise" is often used to describe a place of bliss and perfect harmony, as in the original religious sense of the term. It is however also frequently linked to the idea of living out one's deepest and darkest desires, therefore in some way to a place of {{w|sin}}. Considering the lifestyle of Guns N' Roses, it can be assumed that the "pretty girls" of the original song are not necessarily chaste.

The title text suggests that ''Paradise City'' is in fact a drug-induced state of {{w|Ecstasy (emotion)|ecstasy}} with strange and colourful {{w|hallucination|hallucinations}}.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball sits on a box playing a guitar and singing.]
:Cueball: Take me down to the paradise city where the grass is green and the girls are pretty.
:Cueball: Take me down to the paradise village where the grasses burn and those cute girls pillage.
:Cueball: Take me down to the fire-charred counties where the law's restored by Canadian mounties.
:Cueball: Take me down to Orwellian regions where they retrain girls using cortical lesions
:Cueball: Take me down to the paradise borough where the grass is labeled 'cause the girls are thorough. Ohh, won't you please take me hooome...

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

805: Paradise City

2013-06-29T10:51:56Z

LotharW: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 805
| date = October 13, 2010
| title = Paradise City
| image = paradise city.png
| titletext = Take me down to the paradise municipality / where the grass is mauve and the girls aren't fromthisreality.
}}

==Explanation==
''{{w|Paradise City}}'' is a song by the hard rock band {{w|Guns N' Roses}} which appeared on their début album ''{{w|Appetite for Destruction}}''. It sings of the fictional Paradise City, an idyllic place whereto the lyrical self longs to return. The location is contrasted with the depressing reality in which the persona is trapped, using for instance the image of a gas chamber.

In the comic, [[Cueball]] can be seen singing different versions of the chorus. In each panel, the word "City" is substituted by a synonym and the rest of the verse is altered accordingly to keep the rhyme scheme.

The sequence of stanzas describes the fate of Paradise City. It starts the original version drawing an idyllic picture. In a rather unexpected turn, however, the next stanza has the place pillaged and plundered. Chaos and anarchy reign, the once fresh and green meadows are now burned. Law and order are restored in the next verses and the other extreme starts to prevail: Paradise City has become a totalitarian {{w|dystopia}}. The fourth stanza refers to {{w|George Orwell|George Orwell's}} dystopian novel ''{{w|Nineteen Eighty-Four}}''. The book shows a world in which mind control and omnipresent surveillance render individual thought and action impossible. The concluding verses suggest that the totalitarian government has successfully brainwashed the former rebels and established an effective, yet sterile technocratic society.

The development of the city in Cueball's song reveals that the term "{{w|Paradise}}" can be applied to very different and even oppositional scenarios. While the original song describes the city as a rural Eden, some might refute this conception as a bourgeois or {{w|Agrarianism|agrarian romantic}} ideal. Others would fear that too much individual freedom might be dangerous and opt for {{w|Surveillance state|security through control}}. Especially the picture of the last stanza is a common vision in dystopian literature (e.g. ''{{w|Brave New World}}''): Although the citizens of a future society entirely lack any personal choice or individual freedom, the deem themselves happy because education or thought control present this a necessity for a functioning society.

"Cortical lesions" in panel four could be a reference to the dystopian novel ''{{w|Uglies}}'' by {{w|Scott Westerfeld}}, which describes a society in which extreme plastic surgery is used to turn people "pretty". It is later revealed in the book that this procedure is accompanied by a neurosurgical operation making the patient placid and obedient through a {{w|lobotomy}}.

In popular culture, the word "Paradise" is often used to describe a place of bliss and perfect harmony, as in the original religious sense of the term. It is however also frequently linked to the idea of living out one's deepest and darkest desires, therefore in some way to a place of {{w|sin}}. Considering the lifestyle of Guns N' Roses, it can be assumed that the "pretty girls" of the original song are not necessarily chaste.

The title text suggests that ''Paradise City'' is in fact a drug-induced state of {{w|Ecstasy (emotion)|ecstasy}} with strange and colourful {{w|hallucination|hallucinations}}.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball sits on a box playing a guitar and singing.]
:Cueball: Take me down to the paradise city where the grass is green and the girls are pretty.
:Cueball: Take me down to the paradise village where the grasses burn and those cute girls pillage.
:Cueball: Take me down to the fire-charred counties where the law's restored by Canadian mounties.
:Cueball: Take me down to Orwellian regions where they retrain girls using cortical lesions
:Cueball: Take me down to the paradise borough where the grass is labeled 'cause the girls are thorough. Ohh, won't you please take me hooome...

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

275: Thoughts

2013-06-27T09:39:42Z

LotharW:

{{comic
| number = 275
| date = June 11, 2007
| title = Thoughts
| image = thoughts.png
| titletext = And now I might never get to again.
}}

==Explanation==
This comic relates to the situation of getting introduced to the parents of one's girlfriend, which is often felt to be rather awkward. The parents tend to scrutinise and question the aspirant in order to find out if he is a good catch. A particularly delicate issue is the fact that the suitor has sexual intercourse with their daughter. This topic is almost never openly addressed, but can sometimes be felt in the subtext of the conversation. This makes the scenario somewhat susceptible to a so called {{w|Freudian slip}}. The term describes a common psychological phenomenon where a subconscious thought bursts through and induces e.g. a slip of tongue.

In the comic, [[Cueball]] tries to repress any thoughts of sexual nature while talking to the parents. He promptly utters the sentence "I have licked your daughter's nipples." and thus involuntarily addresses the topic he tried to avoid.

The title text suggests that either the parents do not want their daughter to meet him again, or that the girlfriend interdicts his licking her nipples again because of the embarrassing scene.

==Transcript==
:When meeting a girlfriend's family, I have to suppress the weirdest thoughts.

:[Cueball talking with his girlfriend's parents.]
:Cueball: Hi!
:Mother: Hi! It's so nice to finally meet you!
:Cueball: I have licked your daughter's nipples.

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

805: Paradise City

2013-06-27T08:57:07Z

LotharW:

{{comic
| number = 805
| date = October 13, 2010
| title = Paradise City
| image = paradise city.png
| titletext = Take me down to the paradise municipality / where the grass is mauve and the girls aren't fromthisreality.
}}

==Explanation==
''{{w|Paradise City}}'' is a song by the hard rock band {{w|Guns N' Roses}} which appeared on their début album ''{{w|Appetite for Destruction}}''. It sings of the fictional Paradise City, an idyllic place whereto the lyrical self longs to return. The location is contrasted with the depressing reality in which the persona is trapped, using for instance the image of a gas chamber.

In the comic, [[Cueball]] can be seen singing different versions of the chorus. In each panel, the word "City" is substituted by a synonym and the rest of the verse is altered accordingly to keep the rhyme scheme.

The sequence of stanzas describes the fate of Paradise City. It starts the original version drawing an idyllic picture. In a rather unexpected turn, however, the next stanza has the place pillaged and plundered. Chaos and anarchy reign, the once fresh and green meadows are now burned. Law and order are restored in the next verses and the other extreme starts to prevail: Paradise City has become a totalitarian {{w|dystopia}}. The fourth stanza refers to {{w|George Orwell|George Orwell's}} dystopian novel ''{{w|Nineteen Eighty-Four}}''. The book shows a world in which mind control and omnipresent surveillance render individual thought and action impossible. The concluding verses suggest that the totalitarian government has successfully brainwashed the former rebels and established an effective, yet sterile technocratic society.

The development of the city in Cueball's song reveals that the term "{{w|Paradise}}" can be applied to very different and even oppositional scenarios. While the original song describes the city as a rural Eden, some might refute this conception as a bourgeois or {{w|Agrarianism|agrarian romantic}} ideal. Others would fear that too much individual freedom might be dangerous and opt for {{w|Surveillance state|security through control}}. Especially the picture of the last stanza is a common vision in dystopian literature (e.g. ''{{w|Brave New World}}''): Although the citizens of a future society entirely lack any personal choice or individual development, the deem themselves happy because education or thought control present this a necessity for a functioning society.

"Cortical lesions" in panel four could be a reference to the dystopian novel ''{{w|Uglies}}'' by {{w|Scott Westerfeld}}, which describes a society in which extreme plastic surgery is used to turn people "pretty". It is later revealed in the book that this procedure is accompanied by a neurosurgical operation making the patient placid and obedient through a {{w|lobotomy}}.

In popular culture, the word "Paradise" is often used to describe a place of bliss and perfect harmony, as in the original religious sense of the term. It is however also frequently linked to the idea of living out one's deepest and darkest desires, therefore in some way to a place of {{w|sin}}. Considering the lifestyle of Guns N' Roses, it can be assumed that the "pretty girls" of the original song are not necessarily chaste.

The title text suggests that ''Paradise City'' is in fact a drug-induced state of {{w|Ecstasy (emotion)|ecstasy}} with strange and colourful {{w|hallucination|hallucinations}}.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball sits on a box playing a guitar and singing.]
:Cueball: Take me down to the paradise city where the grass is green and the girls are pretty.
:Cueball: Take me down to the paradise village where the grasses burn and those cute girls pillage.
:Cueball: Take me down to the fire-charred counties where the law's restored by Canadian mounties.
:Cueball: Take me down to Orwellian regions where they retrain girls using cortical lesions
:Cueball: Take me down to the paradise borough where the grass is labeled 'cause the girls are thorough. Ohh, won't you please take me hooome...

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

Talk:590: Papyrus

2013-05-14T13:54:16Z

LotharW:

For reasons that should be obvious, I've put the whole page in a certain much-hated font. *Cackles maniacally.* [[User:PinkAmpersand|PinkAmpersand]] ([[User talk:PinkAmpersand|talk]]) 11:15, 14 May 2013 (UTC)

:I rather doubt whether this is really helpful. In my opinion, the purpose of this wiki is to deliver background information about the comics, not to ruminate its jokes. Besides, the page uses some Serif font for me (as I do not have Papyrus installed) which is stylistically inconsistent. If we should reach consent that this page MUST absolutely be in Papyrus, we should at least provide some appropriate fallback font. [[User:LotharW|LotharW]] ([[User talk:LotharW|talk]]) 12:46, 14 May 2013 (UTC)
::[[1167: Star Trek into Darkness]] '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|#707|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 13:04, 14 May 2013 (UTC)
:::I must say I do not particularly like that page either. I think it looks childish and nonserious. Also, a second example does not necessarily justify the first. But as you see, I did not revert or change anything. If it be so, we should at least do it correctly. In the current state, the page looks simply strange to anyone who does not have the font. (As far as I know, it was included only in some versions of Microsoft Office.) Does anybody know whether the license allows web embedding? [[User:LotharW|LotharW]] ([[User talk:LotharW|talk]]) 13:54, 14 May 2013 (UTC)

Talk:590: Papyrus

2013-05-14T12:46:20Z

LotharW:

518: Flow Charts

2013-05-14T12:35:32Z

LotharW:

{{comic
| number = 518
| date = December 17, 2008
| title = Flow Charts
| image = flow_charts.png
| titletext = At 8 drinks, you switch the torrent from FreeBSD to Microsoft Bob. C'mon, it'll be fun!
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Flowchart|Flowcharts}} are diagrams that represent processes in a graphical form. While predominantly used in {{w|computer programming}} to visualise the structure of source code, flowcharts can in theory be used to depict any real or virtual procedure. In this comic, this idea is subverted by employing a flowchart to explain flowcharts itself. As for reading the flowchart prior knowledge on how to read a flowchart is required, the comic induces a {{w|deadlock|deadlocked}} situation.

Moreover, the functionality of flowcharts is quite intuitive, thus rendering the attempted self-description in the comic obsolete. In fact, due to the self-explanatory nature of flowcharts, the one provided in the comic does not even explain the manner of functioning: It only confirms their capability to those who already know how to use it. Someone who contradicts himself by claiming he does not see the arrows albeit following them is left with the message "I hate you" in End-Box 2b. For everyone else, the chart inevitably leads to the "Let's go drink" box, which gives rise to the assumption that the whole chart was only a pretence for drinking.

{{w|FreeBSD}} is a {{w|unixoid}} operating system for computers which is generally considered to require advanced skills. The question whether {{w|Linux}} or (Free)BSD is the preferable operating system is a question of belief to some. The comic takes sides against FreeBSD by implying that one would only install it in a state of insobriety.

The title text mentions {{w|Microsoft Bob}}, a software package published in 1995 by {{w|Microsoft}}. The product was targeted towards beginners and therefore provides the user with a cartoon-style interface instead of a productive environment. While being a commercial failure, the system serves as an insider joke between IT professionals until the present day.

==Transcript==
:A guide to UNDERSTANDING FLOW CHARTS presented in flow chart form.
:Box 0: Start
::[Arrow to Box 1.]
:Box 1: Do you understand flow charts?
::[Arrow to Box 2.] Yes
::[Arrow to Box 4.] No
:Box 2: Good
::[Arrow to Box 3.] Yes
:Box 3: Let's go drink.
::[Arrow to Final Box.] 6 Drinks
:Box 4: Okay. You see the line labeled "Yes"?
::[Arrow to Box 6.] Yes
::[Arrow to Box 5.] No
:Box 5: But you see the ones labeled "No".
::[Arrow to End-Box 1.] Yes
::[Arrow to End-Box 2a.] No
:End-Box 1: Wait, what?
::[No Arrows.]
:End-Box 2a: Listen.
::[Arrow to End-Box 2b.]
:End-Box 2b: I hate you.
::[No Arrows.]
:Box 6: ...and you can see the ones labeled "No"?
::[Arrow to Box 3.] Yes
::[Arrow to Box 7.] No
:Box 7: But you just followed them twice!
::[Arrow to Box 8a.] Yes
::[Arrow to Box 8b.] No
:Box 8a: (That wasn't a question.)
::[Arrow to Box 8b.]
:Box 8b: Screw it.
::[Arrow to Box 3.]
:Final Box: Hey I should try installing FreeBSD!

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Charts]]
[[Category:Programming]]
[[Category:Computers]]

Flow Charts

2013-05-14T09:48:19Z

LotharW: Redirected page to 518: Flow Charts

#REDIRECT [[518: Flow Charts]]

518

2013-05-14T09:47:56Z

LotharW: Redirected page to 518: Flow Charts

#REDIRECT [[518: Flow Charts]]

518: Flow Charts

2013-05-14T09:46:52Z

LotharW: Created page with "{{comic | number = 518 | date = December 17, 2008 | title = Flow Charts | image = flow_charts.png | titletext = At 8 drinks, you switch the torrent from FreeBS..."

{{comic
| number = 518
| date = December 17, 2008
| title = Flow Charts
| image = flow_charts.png
| titletext = At 8 drinks, you switch the torrent from FreeBSD to Microsoft Bob. C'mon, it'll be fun!
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Flowchart|Flowcharts}} are diagrams that represent processes in a graphical form. While predominantly used in {{w|computer programming}} to visualise the structure of source code, flowcharts can in theory be used to depict any real or virtual procedure. In this comic, this idea is subverted by employing a flowchart to explain flowcharts itself. As for reading the flowchart prior knowledge on how to read a flowchart is required, the comic induces a {{w|deadlock|deadlocked}} situation.

Moreover, the functionality of flowcharts is quite intuitive, thus rendering the attempted self-description in the comic obsolete. In fact, due to the self-explanatory nature of flowcharts, the one provided in the comic does not even explain the manner of functioning: It only confirms their capability to those who already know how to use it. Someone who contradicts himself by claiming he does not see the arrows albeit following them is left with the message "I hate you" in End-Box 2b. For everyone else, the chart inevitably leads to the "Let's go drink" box, which gives rise to the assumption that the whole chart was only a pretence for drinking.

{{w|FreeBSD}} is a {{w|unixoid}} operating system for computers which is generally considered to require advanced skills. The question wether {{w|Linux}} or (Free)BSD is the preferable operating system is a question of belief to some. The comic takes sides against FreeBSD by implying that one would only install it in a state of insobriety.

The title text mentions {{w|Microsoft Bob}}, a software package published in 1995 by {{w|Microsoft}}. The product was targeted towards beginners and therefore provides the user with a cartoon-style interface instead of a productive environment. While being a commercial failure, the system serves as an insider joke between IT professionals until the present day.

==Transcript==
:A guide to UNDERSTANDING FLOW CHARTS presented in flow chart form.
:Box 0: Start
::[Arrow to Box 1]
:Box 1: Do you understand flow charts?
::[Arrow to Box 2] Yes
::[Arrow to Box 4] No
:Box 2: Good
::[Arrow to Box 3] Yes
:Box 3: Let's go drink.
::[Arrow to Final Box] 6 Drinks
:Box 4: Okay. You see the line labeled "Yes"?
::[Arrow to Box 6] Yes
::[Arrow to Box 5] No
:Box 5: But you see the ones labeled "No".
::[Arrow to End-Box 1] Yes
::[Arrow to End-Box 2a] No
:End-Box 1: Wait, what?
::[No Arrows]
:End-Box 2a: Listen.
::[Arrow to End2b.Box]
:End-Box 2b: I hate you.
::[No Arrows]
:Box 6: ...and you can see the ones labeled "No"?
::[Arrow to Box 3] Yes
::[Arrow to Box 7] No
:Box 7: But you just followed them twice!
::[Arrow to Box 8a] Yes
::[Arrow to Box 8b] No
:Box 8a: (That wasn't a question.)
::[Arrow to Box 8b]
:Box 8b: Screw it.
::[Arrow to Box 3]
:Final Box: Hey I should try installing FreeBSD!

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Charts]]
[[Category:Programming]]
[[Category:Computers]]

521: 2008 Christmas Special

2013-05-14T08:24:25Z

LotharW: Fixed link

{{comic
| number = 521
| date = December 24, 2008
| title = 2008 Christmas Special
| image = 2008_christmas_special.png
| titletext = 'How could you possibly think typing 'import skynet' was a good idea?'
}}

==Explanation==
This comic is the xkcd Christmas Special from the year 2008. The prologue states that due to the {{w|2008 financial crisis}}, only very few images of the strip could be produced. It is therefore left to the reader to reconstruct the whole story based on the given images. While it is claimed that the reconstruction should be rather easy, the complicated and abstruse plotline makes it nearly impossible to fill the gaps. Any attempt at infering the missing images would therefore be largely guesswork. The comic features the well-known xkcd characters getting involved in a strange fight with cyborgs and raptors on christmas eve.

The line "We apologise for the inconvenience." is possibly a reference to the famous book series {{w|The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy}} by {{w|Douglas Adams}}. It appears there as God's Final Message to His Creation, written in letters of fire on the side of the Quentulus Quazgar Mountains.

'''Panel 2:''' [[Megan]] strives to outdo some christmas lights she has seen on YouTube.

'''Panel 3:''' Dissatisfied with her work, Megan is thinking about alternative ways improve her light arrangement. The idea of firing {{w|Sodium}} pellets into snow is probably a bad one, as Sodium reacts exothermically with water and may, in large amounts, induce explosions.

'''Panel 5:''' Probably still obsessed with the idea of creating a large and impressive light display, Megan has constructed an electronic device with an {{w|Arduino}} processor, perhaps to make the light chain show patterns. However, the amount of energy she used was apparently too high, causing one of the control boards to vaporise.

'''Panel 7:''' Megan's device has developed {{w|artificial intelligence}}, allowing it to feel. This common trope in science-fiction works usually leads to the system's attempting to eradicate its creator. [[Cueball]] attributes the emergence of a personality to flaws in the programming language {{w|Python (programming language|Python}}.

'''Panel 11:''' Out of context, this panel introduces the idea of {{w|Santa Claus}} being a {{w|muslim}}. This notion is rather obscure as Christmas is obviously a Christian holiday. However, the theory probably relates to the fact the Santa Claus is usually displayed with a large beard, which is sometimes also sported by conservative muslims.

'''Panel 13:''' At this point the self-conscious christmas light control systems has apparently released {{w|cyborgs}} that tried to kill Megan and Cueball. In order to repel the cyborgs, they have cloned {{w|velociraptors}}. Cueball expresses doubt wether that was really a good idea. Velociraptors appear frequently in xkcd, cf. comics [[87]], [[135]] and [[292]].

'''Panel 17:''' As predicted, the raptors have gone wild, but Megan, Cueball and the two smaller characters (perhaps their children) managed to cage the dinosaurs. They believe themselves safe unless the raptors learn how to build {{w|lightsabers}}.

'''Panel 19:''' The raptors have indeed succeeded with constructing lightsabers and must now be fought.

'''Panel 23:''' IT billionaire {{w|Bill Gates}} has mistakenly killed Santa Claus, possibly in a sword fight. He claims to have taken him for {{w|Richard Stallman}}, a prominent {{w|free software}} activist. (Gates strongly opposes the idea of free software and is therefore considered a antagonist by many of its supporters.) The most striking resemblance between Stallman and Santa Claus is probably the long and untamed beard. Comic [[225]] is one of the most famous xkcd comics and features Stallman involved in a sword fight.

'''Panel 29:''' Megan asks [[Black Hat]] where he obtained the enormously large {{w|christmas tree}} that can be seen on the right side of the picture. It is implied that he logged {{w|Yggdrasil}}, a giant ash tree in Norse mythology. According to tradition, Yggdrasil is the world tree representing the whole creation and holding together the cosmological structure.

'''Panel 31:''' [[Randall]] wishes Merry Christmas to all xkcd readers.

The title text refers to panel 7. In Python, modules are imported using the "import ''module''" syntax. {{w|Skynet (Terminator)|Skynet}} is a self-conscious artificial intelligence system featured in the {{w|Terminator}} film series as the main antagonist. Importing the skynet module might therefore account for Megan's system's developing an evil personality.

Note that this comic was first published in another version that had panel 29 as panel 27 and the "Merry Christmas from xkcd" message at the bottom. As 27 is not a {{w|prime number}}, the current version was published in lieu of the erroneous one. The original version can be found [[:File:2008_christmas_special_original.png|here]] for the sake of completeness.

It has been observed that the top left nine panels form a {{w|Glider (Conway's life)|Glider}} in {{w|Conway's Game of Life}}, although rotated by 90 degrees. The glider is sometimes used as an emblem representing {{w|hacker subculture}}. It remains however unclear wether the occurrence in the comic is intentional or owed to the prime number pattern.

==Transcript==
:The 2008 XKCD Christmas Special
:Due to the slowing economy, we could only afford to produce the prime-numbered panels.
:You should be able to infer the missing parts of the story easily enough.
:We apologize for the inconvenience.
:[The first panel is blank]
:[Megan carrying Christmas lights and Cueball watching]
:Megan: I'm going to one-up those Christmas light displays on YouTube.
:[Megan thinking]
:Megan: Hmm. Needs more flair. Do you know what happens when you fire sodium pellets into a snowbank?
:Cueball: No.
:Megan: Me neither.
:[The next panel is blank]
:[Megan sitting in front of a console]
:Megan: Whoops, one of the Arduino control boards sublimated.
:Megan: If only I could make it self-repairing...
:[The next panel is blank]
:Megan: Shit. The system has become sentient.
:Cueball: Friggin' Python.
:System: GRAAARR!
:[The next three panels are blank]
:[Megan showing laptop to Cueball]
:Megan: But according to this email forward, Santa is secretly a Muslim!
:Cueball: It explains everything!
:[The next panel is blank]
:Megan: Okay, the cloned raptors are hunting the last of the cyborgs. We're safe.
:Cueball: Are you sure you thought this through?
:[The next three panels are blank]
:[Two couples appear in this next panel]
:Cueball: Are the raptors contained?
:Girl: Sure. Unless they figure out how to build lightsabers.
:[The next panel is blank]
:[Guy with hat fighting with a raptor using lightsabers]
:Cueball: It's all right. I've got her.
:[Lightsaber appears from behind]
:Snap-hiss!
:Cueball: ...Clever girl.
:[The next three panels are blank]
:[Bill Gates is holding a weapon over Santa's body. The two girls are watching]
:Megan: Great. Bill Gates kills Santa.
:Bill Gates: I thought it was Stallman with a dyed beard.
:[The next five panels are blank]
:[Megan and Black Hat are looking at a tree]
:Megan: Where did you get this Christmas tree?
:Black Hat: Nowhere.
:Megan: Did you cut down the Yggdrasil?
:Black Hat: ...Maybe.
:[The next panel is blank]
:[Megan and Cueball holding hands and looking at reader]
:Merry Christmas from XKCD <3
:[The last panel is blank]

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]
[[Category:Christmas]]
[[Category:Programming]]
[[Category:Star Wars]]
[[Category:Velociraptors]]

1211: Birds and Dinosaurs

2013-05-14T08:21:51Z

LotharW:

{{comic
| number = 1211
| date = May 13, 2013
| title = Birds and Dinosaurs
| image = birds and dinosaurs.png
| titletext = Sure, T. rex is closer in height to Stegosaurus than a sparrow. But that doesn't tell you much; 'Dinosaur Comics' author Ryan North is closer in height to certain dinosaurs than to the average human.
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Bird}}s are commonly considered to be a separate {{w|class (biology)|class}} of {{w|tetrapods}}. However, this classification is false according to {{w|phylogenetic taxonomy}}. Taking into account that birds developed around {{w|Late Jurassic|150 million years ago}} out of small {{w|theropod}} dinosaurs, birds are indeed the last representatives of the {{w|Archosauria|dinosaur clade}}. (This premise appeared also in comic [[867]].)

This relation between birds and dinosaurs is depicted in the comic in a {{w|cladogram}} which shows that ''{{w|Tyrannosaurus rex}}'' is more closely related to the common {{w|sparrow}} than to ''{{w|Stegosaurus}}''. Not only do the former share a phylogenetic branch, but ''T. rex'' also lived around 80 million years ''after'' ''Stegosaurus''. (In popular culture, the concurrence of both species is a widespread error.) ''T. rex'' is also much more alike to modern birds than to other dinosaurs in terms of physiognomy.

The comic draws the conclusion that if birds must in fact be considered modern dinosaurs, the hunting practice of birds of prey (specifically, the {{w|Peregrine Falcon}}) is consequently a dinosaur fight. For an inveterate dinosaur aficionado like [[Randall]], this fact must make the modern world much more attractive.

The line "This is a good world." could also possibly refer to a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znxFrgql5dc famous scene] from the {{w|Serenity (Firefly episode)|pilot episode}} of the television series ''{{w|Firefly}}'' featuring two plastic dinosaurs in a somewhat philosophic dialogue. Randall is known to be a {{w|Browncoat|fan of the series}}.

The title text is a sidesweep to the webcomic ''[http://www.qwantz.com Dinosaur Comics]'' drawn by Ryan North, who stands 6'6" (198 cm) tall. The title text of the ''Dinosaur Comics'' [http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=2420 strip] from the same day as this comic, in turn, refers to Randall and ''xkcd''.

==Transcript==
:By any reasonable definition, ''T. rex'' is more closely related to sparrows than to ''Stegosaurus''.
:[Diagram showing that ''Stegosaurus'' came earlier than ''T. rex'', along with it showing that ''T. rex'' came closer in time to sparrows. Evaluation criteria "separation by time", "phylogenetic distance" and "physical similarity" are highlighted in red.]
:Birds aren't ''descended'' from dinosaurs, they ''are'' dinosaurs.
:Which means that the fastest animal alive today is a small carnivorous dinosaur, ''Falco peregrinus''.
:[A picture of two birds is shown.]
:It preys mainly on other dinosaurs, which it strikes and kills in midair with its claws.
:[In red:] This is a good world.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Charts]]
[[Category:Firefly]]

2008 Christmas Special

2013-05-14T08:10:01Z

LotharW: Redirected page to 521: 2008 Christmas Special

#REDIRECT [[521: 2008 Christmas Special]]

521

2013-05-14T08:09:56Z

LotharW: Redirected page to 521: 2008 Christmas Special

#REDIRECT [[521: 2008 Christmas Special]]

521: 2008 Christmas Special

2013-05-14T08:09:16Z

LotharW: Created page with "{{comic | number = 521 | date = December 24, 2008 | title = 2008 Christmas Special | image = 2008_christmas_special.png | titletext = 'How could you possibly t..."

{{comic
| number = 521
| date = December 24, 2008
| title = 2008 Christmas Special
| image = 2008_christmas_special.png
| titletext = 'How could you possibly think typing 'import skynet' was a good idea?'
}}

==Explanation==
This comic is the xkcd Christmas Special from the year 2008. The prologue states that due to the {{w|2008 financial crisis}}, only very few images of the strip could be produced. It is therefore left to the reader to reconstruct the whole story based on the given images. While it is claimed that the reconstruction should be rather easy, the complicated and abstruse plotline makes it nearly impossible to fill the gaps. Any attempt at infering the missing images would therefore be largely guesswork. The comic features the well-known xkcd characters getting involved in a strange fight with cyborgs and raptors on christmas eve.

The line "We apologise for the inconvenience." is possibly a reference to the famous book series {{w|The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy}} by {{w|Douglas Adams}}. It appears there as God's Final Message to His Creation, written in letters of fire on the side of the Quentulus Quazgar Mountains.

'''Panel 2:''' [[Megan]] strives to outdo some christmas lights she has seen on YouTube.

'''Panel 3:''' Dissatisfied with her work, Megan is thinking about alternative ways improve her light arrangement. The idea of firing {{w|Sodium}} pellets into snow is probably a bad one, as Sodium reacts exothermically with water and may, in large amounts, induce explosions.

'''Panel 5:''' Probably still obsessed with the idea of creating a large and impressive light display, Megan has constructed an electronic device with an {{w|Arduino}} processor, perhaps to make the light chain show patterns. However, the amount of energy she used was apparently too high, causing one of the control boards to vaporise.

'''Panel 7:''' Megan's device has developed {{w|artificial intelligence}}, allowing it to feel. This common trope in science-fiction works usually leads to the system's attempting to eradicate its creator. [[Cueball]] attributes the emergence of a personality to flaws in the programming language {{w|Python}}.

'''Panel 11:''' Out of context, this panel introduces the idea of {{w|Santa Claus}} being a {{w|muslim}}. This notion is rather obscure as Christmas is obviously a Christian holiday. However, the theory probably relates to the fact the Santa Claus is usually displayed with a large beard, which is sometimes also sported by conservative muslims.

'''Panel 13:''' At this point the self-conscious christmas light control systems has apparently released {{w|cyborgs}} that tried to kill Megan and Cueball. In order to repel the cyborgs, they have cloned {{w|velociraptors}}. Cueball expresses doubt wether that was really a good idea. Velociraptors appear frequently in xkcd, cf. comics [[87]], [[135]] and [[292]].

'''Panel 17:''' As predicted, the raptors have gone wild, but Megan, Cueball and the two smaller characters (perhaps their children) managed to cage the dinosaurs. They believe themselves safe unless the raptors learn how to build {{w|lightsabers}}.

'''Panel 19:''' The raptors have indeed succeeded with constructing lightsabers and must now be fought.

'''Panel 23:''' IT billionaire {{w|Bill Gates}} has mistakenly killed Santa Claus, possibly in a sword fight. He claims to have taken him for {{w|Richard Stallman}}, a prominent {{w|free software}} activist. (Gates strongly opposes the idea of free software and is therefore considered a antagonist by many free software supporters.) The most striking resemblance between Stallman and Santa Claus is probably the long and untamed beard. Comic [[225]] is one of the most famous xkcd comics and features Stallman involved in a sword fight.

'''Panel 29:''' Megan asks [[Black Hat]] where he obtained the enormously large {{w|christmas tree}} that can be seen on the right side of the picture. It is implied that he logged {{w|Yggdrasil}}, a giant ash tree in Norse mythology. According to tradition, Yggdrasil is the world tree representing the whole creation and holding together the cosmological structure.

'''Panel 31:''' [[Randall]] wishes Merry Christmas to all xkcd readers.

The title text refers to panel 7. In Python, modules are imported using the "import ''module''" syntax. {{w|Skynet (Terminator)|Skynet}} is a self-conscious artificial intelligence system featured in the {{w|Terminator}} film series as the main antagonist. Importing the skynet module might therefore account for Megan's system's developing an evil personality.

Note that this comic was first published in another version that had panel 29 as panel 27 and the "Merry Christmas from xkcd" message at the bottom. As 27 is not a {{w|prime number}}, the current version was published in lieu of the erroneous one. The original version can be found [[:File:2008_christmas_special_original.png|here]] for the sake of completeness.

It has been observed that the top left nine panels form a {{w|Glider (Conway's life)|Glider}} in {{w|Conway's Game of Life}}, although rotated by 90 degrees. The glider is sometimes used as an emblem representing {{w|hacker subculture}}. It remains however unclear wether the occurrence in the comic is intentional or owed to the prime number pattern.

==Transcript==
:The 2008 XKCD Christmas Special
:Due to the slowing economy, we could only afford to produce the prime-numbered panels.
:You should be able to infer the missing parts of the story easily enough.
:We apologize for the inconvenience.
:[The first panel is blank]
:[Megan carrying Christmas lights and Cueball watching]
:Megan: I'm going to one-up those Christmas light displays on YouTube.
:[Megan thinking]
:Megan: Hmm. Needs more flair. Do you know what happens when you fire sodium pellets into a snowbank?
:Cueball: No.
:Megan: Me neither.
:[The next panel is blank]
:[Megan sitting in front of a console]
:Megan: Whoops, one of the Arduino control boards sublimated.
:Megan: If only I could make it self-repairing...
:[The next panel is blank]
:Megan: Shit. The system has become sentient.
:Cueball: Friggin' Python.
:System: GRAAARR!
:[The next three panels are blank]
:[Megan showing laptop to Cueball]
:Megan: But according to this email forward, Santa is secretly a Muslim!
:Cueball: It explains everything!
:[The next panel is blank]
:Megan: Okay, the cloned raptors are hunting the last of the cyborgs. We're safe.
:Cueball: Are you sure you thought this through?
:[The next three panels are blank]
:[Two couples appear in this next panel]
:Cueball: Are the raptors contained?
:Girl: Sure. Unless they figure out how to build lightsabers.
:[The next panel is blank]
:[Guy with hat fighting with a raptor using lightsabers]
:Cueball: It's all right. I've got her.
:[Lightsaber appears from behind]
:Snap-hiss!
:Cueball: ...Clever girl.
:[The next three panels are blank]
:[Bill Gates is holding a weapon over Santa's body. The two girls are watching]
:Megan: Great. Bill Gates kills Santa.
:Bill Gates: I thought it was Stallman with a dyed beard.
:[The next five panels are blank]
:[Megan and Black Hat are looking at a tree]
:Megan: Where did you get this Christmas tree?
:Black Hat: Nowhere.
:Megan: Did you cut down the Yggdrasil?
:Black Hat: ...Maybe.
:[The next panel is blank]
:[Megan and Cueball holding hands and looking at reader]
:Merry Christmas from XKCD <3
:[The last panel is blank]

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]
[[Category:Christmas]]
[[Category:Programming]]
[[Category:Star Wars]]
[[Category:Velociraptors]]

133: The Raven

2013-05-13T14:08:57Z

LotharW: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 133
| date = July 26, 2006
| title = The Raven
| image = the_raven.jpg
| titletext = Yes, Eminem is wearing a sleeveless hoodie. What of it?
}}

==Explanation==
The comic's title is a reference to the well-known poem {{w|The Raven}} by {{w|Edgar Allan Poe}}, one of the most popular pieces of poetry in the English language. The comic quotes the first eight lines of the work, in which the {{w|poetic persona}} perceives a strange knocking on his door in the middle of the night. Unlike the original, the comic reveals the nocturnal visitor to be the rapper {{w|Eminem}}.

This unexpected turn reflects the ambiguity of the verb "to rap" in English. According to the [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rap Merriam-Webster Dictionary], the word was used in the original sense of "to strike" as early as the 14th century. The meaning of the word was later extended to "talking freely and frankly". In this purport, it was especially employed by the {{w|Black rights movement}} during the 1960s (cp. for example the nom de guerre of {{w|H. Rap Brown}}). The {{w|hip-hop}} subculture, which had its roots in the aforemetioned movement, finally adopted the term in the sense of "rhythmic speaking or chanting". Today, the word is almost exclusively used with the latter meaning.

It is thus implied that the poetic persona in the comic hears Eminem performing a rap song, rather than someone knocking on the door as in the original. Note also that rap music is usually considered fairly aggressive, which seems to contradict the poem's description of a "gentle" sound.

Beyond a linguistic interpretation of the comic, it may be added that rap music and poetry bear a lot of similarities: Some of the more advanced rap lyrics feature classical {{w|stylistic device|stylistic devices}} like alliterations or inline rhymes as well as a more or less complex metrical structure. The {{w|metre (poetry)|metre}} of a classical poem, on the other hand, gives the piece a distinct, almost musical rhythm, albeit it is not accompanied by any instruments. (For a comparison between the verbal capabilities of Edgar Allan Poe and Eminem, see [http://thequietus.com/articles/04918-the-curious-similarities-betwixt-edgar-allan-poe-the-rapper-eminem this article].)

"The Raven" is heavily {{w|The Raven in popular culture|referenced}} in popular culture. Interestingly enough, the webcomic [http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=805 Dinosaur Comics] had a reference to Edgar Allan Poe three weeks before the xkcd comic was published. There is also a [http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2011/04/13 Penny Arcade] version of the "Raven" trope.

The title text, besides defending the graphic style of the drawing, also lampshades at the somewhat peculiar taste of fashion found in the hip-hop subculture. In the picture, Eminem wears a sleeveless hoodie. While the aesthetic value of such garment might be disputed, it certainly defeats the purpose of keeping its bearer warm.

==Transcript==
:Once upon a midnight dreary
:While I pondered, weak and weary,
:Over many a quaint and curious
:Volume of forgotten lore
:While i nodded, nearly napping,
:Suddenly there came a tapping
:As if someone gently rapping
:Rapping at my chamber door...
:[A door opens, revealing Eminem wearing a hoodie.]
:''click''
:''creak''
:Eminem: Yo.

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

133: The Raven

2013-05-13T13:57:32Z

LotharW: Complete revision of the article

{{comic
| number = 133
| date = July 26, 2006
| title = The Raven
| image = the_raven.jpg
| titletext = Yes, Eminem is wearing a sleeveless hoodie. What of it?
}}

==Explanation==
The comic's title is a reference to the well-known poem {{w|The Raven}} by {{w|Edgar Allan Poe}}, one of the most popular pieces of poetry in the English language. The comic quotes the first eight lines of the work, in which the {{w|poetic persona}} perceives a strange knocking on his door in the middle of the night. Unlike the original, the comic reveals the nocturnal visitor to be the rapper {{w|Eminem}}.

This unexpected turn reflects the ambiguity of the verb "to rap" in English. According to the [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rap Merriam-Webster Dictionary], the word was used in the original sense of "to strike" as early as the 14th century. The meaning of the word was later extended to "talking freely and frankly". In this purport, it was especially employed by the {{w|Black rights movement}} during the 1960s (cp. for example the nom de guerre of {{w|H. Rap Brown}}). The {{w|hip-hop}} subculture, which had its roots in the aforemetioned movement, finally adopted the term in the sense of "rhythmic speaking or chanting". Today, the word is almost exclusively used with the latter meaning.

It is thus implied that the poetic persona in the comic hears Eminem performing a rap song, rather than someone knocking on the door as in the original. Note also that rap music is usually considered fairly aggressive, which seems to contradict the poem's description of a "gentle" sound.

Beyond a linguistic interpretation of the comic, it may be added that rap music and poetry bear a lot of similarities: Some of the more advanced rap lyrics feature classical {{w|stylistic device|stylistic devices}} like alliterations or inline rhymes as well as a more or less complex metrical structure. The {{w|metre (poetry)|metre}} of a classical poem, on the other hand, gives the piece a distinct, almost musical rhythm, albeit it is not accompanied by any instruments. (For a comparison between the verbal capabilities of Edgar Allan Poe and Eminem, see [http://thequietus.com/articles/04918-the-curious-similarities-betwixt-edgar-allan-poe-the-rapper-eminem this article].)

Besides defending the graphic style of the drawing, the title text also lampshades at the somewhat peculiar taste of fashion found in the hip-hop subculture. In the picture, Eminem wears a sleeveless hoodie. While the aesthetic value of such garment might be disputed, it certainly defeats the purpose of keeping its bearer warm.

==Transcript==
:Once upon a midnight dreary
:While I pondered, weak and weary,
:Over many a quaint and curious
:Volume of forgotten lore
:While i nodded, nearly napping,
:Suddenly there came a tapping
:As if someone gently rapping
:Rapping at my chamber door...
:[A door opens, revealing Eminem wearing a hoodie.]
:''click''
:''creak''
:Eminem: Yo.

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

1211: Birds and Dinosaurs

2013-05-13T12:41:36Z

LotharW: /* Explanation */ Fixed and added links.

{{comic
| number = 1211
| date = May 13, 2013
| title = Birds and Dinosaurs
| image = birds and dinosaurs.png
| titletext = Sure, T. rex is closer in height to Stegosaurus than a sparrow. But that doesn't tell you much; 'Dinosaur Comics' author Ryan North is closer in height to certain dinosaurs than to the average human.
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Birds}} are commonly considered to be a separate {{w|class (biology)|class}} of {{w|tetrapods}}. However, this classification is false according to {{w|phylogenetic taxonomy}}. Taking into account that birds developed around {{w|Late Jurassic|150 mio. years ago}} out of small {{w|theropod}} dinosaurs, birds are indeed the last representatives of the {{w|Archosauria|dinosaur clade}}. (This premise appeared also in comic [[867]].)

This relation between birds and dinosaurs is depicted in the comic in a {{w|cladogram}} which proves that {{w|Tyrannosaurus Rex}} is closer related to the common {{w|sparrow}} than to {{w|Stegosaurus}}. Not only do the former share a phylogenetic branch, but T. Rex did also live around 80 mio. years ''after'' stegosaurus. (In popular culture, the concurrence of both species is a widespread error.) T. Rex is also much more alike to modern birds than to other dinosaurs in terms of physiognomy.

The comic draws the conclusion that if birds must in fact be considered modern dinosaurs, the hunting practice of birds of prey is consequently a dinosaur fight. For an inveterate dinosaur aficionado like [[Randall]], this fact must make the modern world much more attractive.

The line "This is a good world." could also possibly refer to a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znxFrgql5dc famous scene] from the {{w|Serenity (Firefly episode)|pilot episode}} of the television series {{w|Firefly}} featuring two plastic dinosaurs in a somewhat philosophic dialogue. [[Randall]] is known to be a {{w|Browncoat}}, i.e. a fan of the series.

The title text is a sidesweep to the webcomic [http://www.qwantz.com Dinosaur Comics] drawn by Ryan North, who stands 6" 6' (198cm) tall.

==Transcript==
:By any reasonable definition, T. Rex is more closely related to sparrows than to Stegosaurus.
:[Diagram showing that Stegosaurus came earlier than T. Rex, along with it showing that T.Rex came at the same time as sparrows. Evaluation criteria "separation by time", "phylogenetic distance" and "physical similarity" are highlighted in red.]
:Birds aren't ''descended'' from dinosaurs, they ''are'' dinosaurs.
:Which means that the fastest animal alive today is a small carnivorous dinosaur, ''Falco Peregrinus''.
:[A picture of two birds is shown.]
:It preys mainly on other dinosaurs, which it strikes and kills in midair with its claws.
:[In red:] This is a good world.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Charts]]

1211: Birds and Dinosaurs

2013-05-13T12:35:19Z

LotharW: /* Explanation */ Integrated reference to #867 into main text, instead of having it as a foreword.

{{comic
| number = 1211
| date = May 13, 2013
| title = Birds and Dinosaurs
| image = birds and dinosaurs.png
| titletext = Sure, T. rex is closer in height to Stegosaurus than a sparrow. But that doesn't tell you much; 'Dinosaur Comics' author Ryan North is closer in height to certain dinosaurs than to the average human.
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Birds}} are commonly considered to be a separate {{w|class (biology)|class}} of {{w|tetrapods}}. However, this classification is false according to {{w|phylogenetic taxonomy}}. Taking into account that birds developed around {{w|late jurassic|150 mio. years ago}} out of small theropod dinosaurs, birds are indeed the last representatives of the {{w|Archosauria|dinosaur clade}}. (This premise appeared also in comic [[867]].)

This relation between birds and dinosaurs is depicted in the comic in a {{w|cladogram}} which proves that {{w|Tyrannosaurus Rex}} is closer related to the common {{w|sparrow}} than to {{w|Stegosaurus}}. Not only do the former share a phylogenetic branch, but T. Rex did also live around 80 mio. years ''after'' stegosaurus. (In popular culture, the concurrence of both species is a widespread error.) T. Rex is also much more alike to modern birds than to other dinosaurs in terms of physiognomy.

The comic draws the conclusion that if birds must in fact be considered modern dinosaurs, the hunting practice of birds of prey is consequently a dinosaur fight. For an inveterate dinosaur aficionado like [[Randall]], this fact must make the modern world much more attractive.

The line "This is a good world." could also possibly refer to a famous scene from the {{w|Serenity (Firefly episode)|pilot episode}} of the television series {{w|Firefly}} featuring two plastic dinosaurs in a somewhat philosophic dialogue. [[Randall]] is known to be a {{w|Browncoat}}, i.e. a fan of the series.

The title text is a sidesweep to the webcomic [http://www.qwantz.com Dinosaur Comics] drawn by Ryan North, who stands 6" 6' (198cm) tall.

==Transcript==
:By any reasonable definition, T. Rex is more closely related to sparrows than to Stegosaurus.
:[Diagram showing that Stegosaurus came earlier than T. Rex, along with it showing that T.Rex came at the same time as sparrows. Evaluation criteria "separation by time", "phylogenetic distance" and "physical similarity" are highlighted in red.]
:Birds aren't ''descended'' from dinosaurs, they ''are'' dinosaurs.
:Which means that the fastest animal alive today is a small carnivorous dinosaur, ''Falco Peregrinus''.
:[A picture of two birds is shown.]
:It preys mainly on other dinosaurs, which it strikes and kills in midair with its claws.
:[In red:] This is a good world.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Charts]]

1211: Birds and Dinosaurs

2013-05-13T08:34:02Z

LotharW: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1211
| date = May 13, 2013
| title = Birds and Dinosaurs
| image = birds and dinosaurs.png
| titletext = Sure, T. rex is closer in height to Stegosaurus than a sparrow. But that doesn't tell you much; 'Dinosaur Comics' author Ryan North is closer in height to certain dinosaurs than to the average human.
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Birds}} are commonly considered to be a seperate {{w|class (biology)|class}} of {{w|tetrapods}}. However, this classification is false according to {{w|phylogenetic taxonomy}}. Taking into account that birds developed around {{w|late jurassic|150 mio. years ago}} out of small theropod dinosaurs, birds are indeed the last representatives of the {{w|Archosauria|dinosaur clade}}.

This relation between birds and dinosaurs is depicted in the comic in a {{w|cladogram}} which proves that {{w|Tyrannosaurus Rex}} is closer related to the common {{w|sparrow}} than to {{w|Stegosaurus}}. Not only do the former share a phylogenetic branch, but T. Rex did also live around 80 mio. years ''after'' stegosaurus. (In popular culture, the concurrence of both species is a widespread error.) T. Rex is also much more alike to modern birds than to other dinosaurs in terms of physiognomy.

The comic draws the conclusion that if birds must in fact be considered modern dinosaurs, the hunting practise of birds of prey is consequently a dinosaur fight. For an inveterate dinosaur aficionado like [[Randall]], this fact must make the modern world much more attractive.

The line "This is a good world." could also possibly refer to a famous scene from the {{w|Serenity (Firefly episode)|pilot episode}} of the television series {{w|Firefly}} featuring two plastic dinosaurs in a somewhat philosophic dialogue. [[Randall]] is known to be a {{w|Browncoat}}, i.e. a fan of the series.

The title text is a sidesweep to the webcomic [http://www.qwantz.com Dinosaur Comics] drawn by Ryan North, who stands 6" 6' (198cm) tall.

==Transcript==
:By any reasonable definition, T. Rex is more closely related to sparrows than to Stegosaurus.
:[Diagram showing that Stegosaurus came earlier than T. Rex, along with it showing that T.Rex came at the same time as sparrows. Evaluation criteria "separation by time", "phylogenetic distance" and "physical similarity" are highlighted in red.]
:Birds aren't ''descended'' from dinosaurs, they ''are'' dinosaurs.
:Which means that the fastest animal alive today is a small carnivorous dinosaur, Falco Peregrinus.
:[A picture of two birds is shown.]
:It preys mainly on other dinosaurs, which it strikes and kills in midair with its claws.
:[In red:] This is a good world.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Charts]]

1211: Birds and Dinosaurs

2013-05-13T08:31:47Z

LotharW: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1211
| date = May 13, 2013
| title = Birds and Dinosaurs
| image = birds and dinosaurs.png
| titletext = Sure, T. rex is closer in height to Stegosaurus than a sparrow. But that doesn't tell you much; 'Dinosaur Comics' author Ryan North is closer in height to certain dinosaurs than to the average human.
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Birds}} are commonly considered to be a seperate {{w|class (biology)|class}} of {{w|tetrapods}}. However, this classification is false according to {{w|phylogenetic taxonomy}}. Taking into account that birds developed around {{w|late jurassic|150 mio. years ago}} out of small theropod dinosaurs, birds are indeed the last representatives of the {{w|Archosauria|dinosaur clade}}.

This relation between birds and dinosaurs is depicted in the comic in a {{w|cladogram}} which proves that {{w|Tyrannosaurus Rex}} is closer related to the common {{w|sparrow}} than to {{w|Stegosaurus}}. Not only do the former share a phylogenetic branch, but T. Rex did also live around 80 mio. years ''after'' stegosaurus. (In popular culture, the concurrence of both species is a widespread error.) T. Rex is also much more alike to modern birds than to other dinosaurs in terms of physiognomy.

The comic draws the conclusion that if birds must in fact be considered modern dinosaurs, the hunting practise of birds of prey is consequently a dinosaur fight. For an inveterate dinosaur aficionado like {{w|Randall}}, this fact must make the modern world much more attractive.

The line "This is a good world." could also possibly refer to a famous scene from the {{w|Serenity (Firefly episode)|pilot episode}} of the television series {{w|Firefly}} featuring two plastic dinosaurs in a somewhat philosophic dialogue. {{w|Randall}} is known to be a {{w|Browncoat}}, i.e. a fan of the series.

The title text is a sidesweep to the webcomic [http://www.qwantz.com Dinosaur Comics] drawn by Ryan North, who stands 6" 6' (198cm) tall.

==Transcript==
:By any reasonable definition, T. Rex is more closely related to sparrows than to Stegosaurus.
:[Diagram showing that Stegosaurus came earlier than T. Rex, along with it showing that T.Rex came at the same time as sparrows. Evaluation criteria "separation by time", "phylogenetic distance" and "physical similarity" are highlighted in red.]
:Birds aren't ''descended'' from dinosaurs, they ''are'' dinosaurs.
:Which means that the fastest animal alive today is a small carnivorous dinosaur, Falco Peregrinus.
:[A picture of two birds is shown.]
:It preys mainly on other dinosaurs, which it strikes and kills in midair with its claws.
:[In red:] This is a good world.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Charts]]

1211: Birds and Dinosaurs

2013-05-13T08:29:51Z

LotharW: /* Transcript */

{{comic
| number = 1211
| date = May 13, 2013
| title = Birds and Dinosaurs
| image = birds and dinosaurs.png
| titletext = Sure, T. rex is closer in height to Stegosaurus than a sparrow. But that doesn't tell you much; 'Dinosaur Comics' author Ryan North is closer in height to certain dinosaurs than to the average human.
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Birds}} are commonly considered to be a seperate {{w|class (biology)|class}} of {{w|tetrapods}}. However, this classification is false according to {{w|phylogenetic taxonomy}}. Taking into account that birds developed around {{w|late jurassic|150 mio. years ago}} out of small theropod dinosaurs, birds are indeed the last representatives of the {{w|Archosauria|dinosaur clade}}.

This relation between birds and dinosaurs is depicted in the comic in a {{w|cladogram}} which proves that {{w|Tyrannosaurus Rex}} is closer related to the common {{w|sparrow}} than to {{w|Stegosaurus}}. Not only do the former share a phylogenetic branch, but T. Rex did also live around 80 mio. years ''after'' stegosaurus. (In popular culture, the concurrence of both species is a widespread error.) T. Rex is also much more alike to modern birds than to other dinosaurs in terms of physiognomy.

The comic draws the conclusion that if birds must in fact be considered modern dinosaurs, the hunting practise of birds of prey is consequently a dinosaur fight. For an inveterate dinosaur aficionado like {{w|Randall}}, this fact makes the modern world much more attractive.

The line "This is a good world." could also possibly refer to a famous scene from the {{w|Serenity (Firefly episode)|pilot episode}} of the television series {{w|Firefly}} featuring two plastic dinosaurs in a somewhat philosophic dialogue. {{w|Randall}} is known to be a {{w|Browncoat}}, i.e. a fan of the series.

The title text is a sidesweep to the webcomic [http://www.qwantz.com Dinosaur Comics] drawn by Ryan North, who stands 6" 6' (198cm) tall.

==Transcript==
:By any reasonable definition, T. Rex is more closely related to sparrows than to Stegosaurus.
:[Diagram showing that Stegosaurus came earlier than T. Rex, along with it showing that T.Rex came at the same time as sparrows. Evaluation criteria "separation by time", "phylogenetic distance" and "physical similarity" are highlighted in red.]
:Birds aren't ''descended'' from dinosaurs, they ''are'' dinosaurs.
:Which means that the fastest animal alive today is a small carnivorous dinosaur, Falco Peregrinus.
:[A picture of two birds is shown.]
:It preys mainly on other dinosaurs, which it strikes and kills in midair with its claws.
:[In red:] This is a good world.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Charts]]

1211: Birds and Dinosaurs

2013-05-13T08:23:04Z

LotharW: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1211
| date = May 13, 2013
| title = Birds and Dinosaurs
| image = birds and dinosaurs.png
| titletext = Sure, T. rex is closer in height to Stegosaurus than a sparrow. But that doesn't tell you much; 'Dinosaur Comics' author Ryan North is closer in height to certain dinosaurs than to the average human.
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Birds}} are commonly considered to be a seperate {{w|class (biology)|class}} of {{w|tetrapods}}. However, this classification is false according to {{w|phylogenetic taxonomy}}. Taking into account that birds developed around {{w|late jurassic|150 mio. years ago}} out of small theropod dinosaurs, birds are indeed the last representatives of the {{w|Archosauria|dinosaur clade}}.

This relation between birds and dinosaurs is depicted in the comic in a {{w|cladogram}} which proves that {{w|Tyrannosaurus Rex}} is closer related to the common {{w|sparrow}} than to {{w|Stegosaurus}}. Not only do the former share a phylogenetic branch, but T. Rex did also live around 80 mio. years ''after'' stegosaurus. (In popular culture, the concurrence of both species is a widespread error.) T. Rex is also much more alike to modern birds than to other dinosaurs in terms of physiognomy.

The comic draws the conclusion that if birds must in fact be considered modern dinosaurs, the hunting practise of birds of prey is consequently a dinosaur fight. For an inveterate dinosaur aficionado like {{w|Randall}}, this fact makes the modern world much more attractive.

The line "This is a good world." could also possibly refer to a famous scene from the {{w|Serenity (Firefly episode)|pilot episode}} of the television series {{w|Firefly}} featuring two plastic dinosaurs in a somewhat philosophic dialogue. {{w|Randall}} is known to be a {{w|Browncoat}}, i.e. a fan of the series.

The title text is a sidesweep to the webcomic [http://www.qwantz.com Dinosaur Comics] drawn by Ryan North, who stands 6" 6' (198cm) tall.

==Transcript==
:By any reasonable definition, T.Rex is more closely related to sparrows than to Stegosaurus.
:[Diagram showing that Stegosaurus came earlier than T.Rex, Along with it showing that T.Rex came at the same time as Sparrows.]
:Birds aren't ''descended'' from dinosaurs, they ''are'' dinosaurs.
:Which means that the fastest animal alive today is a small carnivorous dinosaur, Falco Peregrinus.
:[A picture of two birds is shown.]
:It preys mainly on other dinosaurs, Which it strikes and kills in midair with it's claws.
:This is a good world

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Charts]]

1211: Birds and Dinosaurs

2013-05-13T08:08:02Z

LotharW: /* Transcript */

{{comic
| number = 1211
| date = May 13, 2013
| title = Birds and Dinosaurs
| image = birds and dinosaurs.png
| titletext = Sure, T. rex is closer in height to Stegosaurus than a sparrow. But that doesn't tell you much; 'Dinosaur Comics' author Ryan North is closer in height to certain dinosaurs than to the average human.
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Birds}} are commonly considered to be a seperate {{w|class (biology)|class}} of {{w|tetrapods}}. However, his classification is false according to {{w|phylogenetic taxonomy}}. Taking into account that birds developed around {{w|late jurassic|150 mio. years ago}} out of small theropod dinosaurs, birds are indeed the last representatives of the {{w|Archosauria|dinosaur clade}}.

This relation between birds and dinosaurs is depicted in the comic in a {{w|cladogram}} which proves that {{w|Tyrannosaurus Rex}} is closer related to the common {{w|sparrow}} than to {{w|Stegosaurus}}. Not only do the former share a phylogenetic branch, but T. Rex did also live around 80 mio. years ''after'' stegosaurus. In popular culture, the concurrence of both species is a widespread error. T. Rex is also much more alike to modern birds than to other dinosaurs in terms of physiognomy.

The comic therefore draws the conclusion that birds must in fact be considered modern dinosaurs. The hunting practise of birds of prey is consequently a fight between dinosaurs. For an inveterate dinosaur aficionado like {{w|Randall}}, this fact makes the modern world much more attractive.

The line "This is a good world" could also possibly refer to a famous scene from the pilot episode of the series {{w|Firefly}} featuring two plastic dinosaurs. {{w|Randall}} is known to be a {{w|Browncoat}}, i.e. a fan of the series.

The title text is a sidesweep to the webcomic [http://www.qwantz.com Dinosaur Comics] drawn by Ryan North, who stands 6" 6' (198cm) tall.

==Transcript==
:By any reasonable definition, T.Rex is more closely related to sparrows than to Stegosaurus.
:[Diagram showing that Stegosaurus came earlier than T.Rex, Along with it showing that T.Rex came at the same time as Sparrows.]
:Birds aren't ''descended'' from dinosaurs, they ''are'' dinosaurs.
:Which means that the fastest animal alive today is a small carnivorous dinosaur, Falco Peregrinus.
:[A picture of two birds is shown.]
:It preys mainly on other dinosaurs, Which it strikes and kills in midair with it's claws.
:This is a good world

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Charts]]

1211: Birds and Dinosaurs

2013-05-13T08:07:31Z

LotharW: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1211
| date = May 13, 2013
| title = Birds and Dinosaurs
| image = birds and dinosaurs.png
| titletext = Sure, T. rex is closer in height to Stegosaurus than a sparrow. But that doesn't tell you much; 'Dinosaur Comics' author Ryan North is closer in height to certain dinosaurs than to the average human.
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Birds}} are commonly considered to be a seperate {{w|class (biology)|class}} of {{w|tetrapods}}. However, his classification is false according to {{w|phylogenetic taxonomy}}. Taking into account that birds developed around {{w|late jurassic|150 mio. years ago}} out of small theropod dinosaurs, birds are indeed the last representatives of the {{w|Archosauria|dinosaur clade}}.

This relation between birds and dinosaurs is depicted in the comic in a {{w|cladogram}} which proves that {{w|Tyrannosaurus Rex}} is closer related to the common {{w|sparrow}} than to {{w|Stegosaurus}}. Not only do the former share a phylogenetic branch, but T. Rex did also live around 80 mio. years ''after'' stegosaurus. In popular culture, the concurrence of both species is a widespread error. T. Rex is also much more alike to modern birds than to other dinosaurs in terms of physiognomy.

The comic therefore draws the conclusion that birds must in fact be considered modern dinosaurs. The hunting practise of birds of prey is consequently a fight between dinosaurs. For an inveterate dinosaur aficionado like {{w|Randall}}, this fact makes the modern world much more attractive.

The line "This is a good world" could also possibly refer to a famous scene from the pilot episode of the series {{w|Firefly}} featuring two plastic dinosaurs. {{w|Randall}} is known to be a {{w|Browncoat}}, i.e. a fan of the series.

The title text is a sidesweep to the webcomic [http://www.qwantz.com Dinosaur Comics] drawn by Ryan North, who stands 6" 6' (198cm) tall.

==Transcript==
:By any reasonable definition, T.Rex is more closely related to sparrows than to Stegosaurus.
:[Diagram showing that Stegosaurus came earlier than T.Rex, Along with it showing that T.Rex came at the same time as Sparrows.]
:Birds aren't ''descended'' from dinosaurs, they ''are'' dinosaurs.
:Which means that the fastest animal alive today is a small carnivorous dinosaur, Falco Peregrinus.
:[A picture of two birds is shown.]
:It preys mainly on other dinosaurs, Which it strikes and kills in midair with it's claws.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Charts]]