explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

1792: Bird/Plane/Superman

2017-01-31T10:45:23Z

Moshe: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1792
| date = January 30, 2017
| title = Bird/Plane/Superman
| image = bird_plane_superman.png
| titletext = You can apply special translucent films to your windows to help keep birds/Superman from accidentally flying into them.
}}

==Explanation==

This comic is a logical comparison of observations to resolve the classic catchphrase of comic book bystanders: "Look, up in the sky... It's a bird!... It's a plane!... It's {{w|Superman}}!" Superman, a comic book character created in 1933, is an alien with superpowers, including the power of unaided flight; hence the catchphrase exclaiming their amazement. Taking the random citizens' declarations at face value -- a quite exaggerated position -- this comic aims to help such clueless folks identify the airborne object.

The observations compared range from the mundane to the bizarre.

{| class="wikitable"
! !! Bird !! Plane !! Superman !! Explanation
|-
| Carries people || || ✓ || ✓ || Some birds are capable of carrying a small human, but this happens extremely rarely (although hoax stories are often reported). Most planes are created specifically designed to carry human passengers, although many are cargo planes with humans only acting as crew, and autonomous drones without humans also exist. Superman often carries other people with him, such as girlfriends or rescued victims of various villains.
|-
| Often flies in groups || ✓ || ✓ || || Many types of birds fly in flocks, particularly during long-range migrations. Planes sometimes fly in group formation, particularly when engaged in military operations where mutual support is tactically useful (or when conducting practice maneuvers for such operations). Superman is a unique person, and thus does not fly in groups of Supermen. While Superman occasionally operates alongside other flying superheroes, and in some stories is duplicated or split into multiple beings, Randall apparently considers these circumstances too unusual to meet the "often" qualifier.
|-
| Created in 20th century || || ✓ || ✓ || Birds evolved from dinosaurs, appearing as early as the Late Jurassic period, roughly 150 million years ago. The first successful flight of a powered heavier-than-air craft took place on December 17, 1903. Superman first appeared in ''Action Comics'' #1, published on April 18, 1938.
|-
| Uses magnetic navigation || ✓ || ✓ || || Some types of birds use {{w|magnetoreception}} to navigate using the earth's magnetic field as a guide. Artificial magnetic compasses, along with other navigational equipment, are used by planes. Superman, while possessing a plethora of super-senses, does not appear to be particularly sensitive to magnetism.
|-
| Enthusiast community obsesses over small coloration details || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || Bird-watchers identify bird species by a range of characteristics, including the bird's color pattern. Similarly, airplane hobbyists take note of the colors of a plane's paint job and insignia. Comics fans can similarly identify the artist and date of a depiction of Superman by the coloration and configuration of his costume.
|-
| Preyed on by cats || ✓ || || || Cats kill several billion birds a year, often - but not always - eating them. There has never been a case of a cat successfully catching and eating either a plane or Superman.{{Citation needed}}
|-
| Occasional mid-air sex || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || Birds sometimes have sex in flight. Mid-air sex involving planes usually invovles passengers (and potentially air crew), not the plane itself. However, this could also be a metaphorical reference to in-flight refueling (such as the depiction, set to romantic music, in the opening scene of the movie ''Dr. Strangelove''), or to this incident where one plane landed atop another in mid-air: http://avstop.com/news/plantcity.html. As for Superman, there have been occasional moments in the comics which indicate or at least imply that he sometimes engages in mid-air sex.
|-
| Eaten during seasonal feasts || ✓ || || || {{w|Turkey (bird)|Turkeys}}, a type of bird, are eaten by Americans during {{w|Thanksgiving}}, a "seasonal feast" held on the fourth Thursday of November of each year. Britons eat Turkey or Goose at Christmas. It is unlikely that normal humans are able or willing to eat either a plane or Superman. But see http://www.themarysue.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/power-girl-22.jpg
|-
| Propelled by flapping || ✓ || || || Birds fly by flapping their wings. Planes have fixed wings, and fly by maintaining forward velocity and exploiting the aerodynamic effects of air flowing over the upper and lower wing surfaces, which are shaped and angled to produce lift. Superman flies using superpowers which require neither wings nor flapping.
|-
| Sometimes loses ability to fly, needs to sunbathe to regain it || ✓ || || ✓ || Birds can "lose" the ability to fly, if their wings are weighed down by water from swimming. One way for birds to dry out their wings is to [http://birding.about.com/od/birdbehavior/a/Bird-Sunning.htm sunbathe]. One of Superman's superhero abilities is the ability to fly. However, he may lose this ability with prolonged exposure to Kryptonite. Superman's ability to fly is a superpower caused by "electromagnetic radiation from the rays of a yellow sun", so he could regain his strength and superhuman abilities through sunbathing. An airplane can lose its ability to fly, but no issues occurring in modern aircraft can be fixed by sunbathing, except in some {{w|Solar Impulse|experimental solar-powered aircraft}}.
|-
| Can take a punch || || ✓ || ✓ || Birds are generally small, fragile creatures, whose bone structures are meant to be light in order to fly, and thus are not very durable. If you punched, say, a pigeon, you would probably break/dislocate most of its bones, either killing it immediately or leaving it in a state from which it will probably not ever recover. However, there are definitely some big, flightless birds that could take a punch from a human such as ostriches or emus, but since both are large creatures that would probably react by fighting back, it would not be wise to try. Randall is plainly ignoring these. Planes are usually massive, or at least big enough to carry a human, and have to be made of materials durable enough to withstand hurtling through the sky at hundreds of miles an hour reliably on a regular basis. You could definitely punch one safely. (Meaning safe for the plane, not your hand.) One of Superman's trademark abilities is his near indestructibility; a punch from any regular human would not hurt him.
|-
| Mating behaviour often observed by a hidden David Attenborough || ✓ || || Not that we know of || {{w|David Attenborough}} is an English broadcaster and naturalist, who produced a documentary series ''{{w|The Life of Birds}}''. Included in the series is an episode entitled "Finding Partners", which discussed mating rituals of birds. The comic clarifies that we don't know for sure if he is also interested on the mating rituals of Superman.
|-
| Capable of intentionally releasing poop mid-flight || ✓ || || ✓ || Birds often poop during flight; it is arguably more important to shed excess mass while flying, to increase efficiency. Unlike mammals who pee urea, bird poop contains white uric acid. Not peeing reduces water loss. Some planes may be able to intentionally purge their septic tanks mid-flight, depending on the design of the waste interlocks, especially assuming the controls are inside the cockpit or cabin. As the TV show ''MythBusters'' has shown, a leaky septic disposal system can unintentionally lose liquid waste and cause a "blue ice" sighting on the ground. Superman, being more or less human, is certainly capable of pooping during flight, but this would generally result in unnecessary drycleaning bills.
|-
| Chases and eats bugs || ✓ || || Only when bored || Many bird species prey on insects and similar-sized animals. Planes often fly into and kill insects (as well as birds), but this is unintentional and doesn't provide them with nutritional value. Superman is not known for eating insects, but Randall implies that he does sometimes, but only when he's bored.
|-
|}
The title text refers to stickers used to enhance the visibility of clear glass windows or doors. These stickers often portray a spider web pattern which birds have an instinct to avoid - though it is cheaper to simply draw a spider web using a marker. At ground level, these reduce the risk of people accidentally walking into them; at any level, they serve to warn birds (or Superman) away. They are not known to affect the risk of airplanes flying into the building -- except for dragonfly shaped helicopters.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

{| class="wikitable"
! !! Bird !! Plane !! Superman
|-
| Carries people || || ✓ || ✓
|-
| Often flies in groups || ✓ || ✓ ||
|-
| Created in 20th century || || ✓ || ✓
|-
| Uses magnetic navigation || ✓ || ✓ ||
|-
| Enthusiast community obsesses over small coloration details || ✓ || ✓ || ✓
|-
| Preyed on by cats || ✓ || ||
|-
| Occasional mid-air sex || ✓ || ✓ || ✓
|-
| Eaten during seasonal feasts || ✓ || ||
|-
| Propelled by flapping || ✓ || ||
|-
| Sometimes loses ability to fly, needs to sunbathe to regain it || ✓ || || ✓
|-
| Can take a punch || || ✓ || ✓
|-
| Mating behaviour often observed by a hidden David Attenborough || ✓ || || Not that we know of
|-
| Capable of intentionally releasing poop mid-flight || ✓ || || ✓
|-
| Chases and eats bugs || ✓ || || Only when bored
|-
|}

{{comic discussion}}

1792: Bird/Plane/Superman

2017-01-31T10:39:56Z

Moshe: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1792
| date = January 30, 2017
| title = Bird/Plane/Superman
| image = bird_plane_superman.png
| titletext = You can apply special translucent films to your windows to help keep birds/Superman from accidentally flying into them.
}}

==Explanation==

This comic is a logical comparison of observations to resolve the classic catchphrase of comic book bystanders: "Look, up in the sky... It's a bird!... It's a plane!... It's {{w|Superman}}!" Superman, a comic book character created in 1933, is an alien with superpowers, including the power of unaided flight; hence the catchphrase exclaiming their amazement. Taking the random citizens' declarations at face value -- a quite exaggerated position -- this comic aims to help such clueless folks identify the airborne object.

The observations compared range from the mundane to the bizarre.

{| class="wikitable"
! !! Bird !! Plane !! Superman !! Explanation
|-
| Carries people || || ✓ || ✓ || Some birds are capable of carrying a small human, but this happens extremely rarely (although hoax stories are often reported). Most planes are created specifically designed to carry human passengers, although many are cargo planes with humans only acting as crew, and autonomous drones without humans also exist. Superman often carries other people with him, such as girlfriends or rescued victims of various villains.
|-
| Often flies in groups || ✓ || ✓ || || Many types of birds fly in flocks, particularly during long-range migrations. Planes sometimes fly in group formation, particularly when engaged in military operations where mutual support is tactically useful (or when conducting practice maneuvers for such operations). Superman is a unique person, and thus does not fly in groups of Supermen. While Superman occasionally operates alongside other flying superheroes, and in some stories is duplicated or split into multiple beings, Randall apparently considers these circumstances too unusual to meet the "often" qualifier.
|-
| Created in 20th century || || ✓ || ✓ || Birds evolved from dinosaurs, appearing as early as the Late Jurassic period, roughly 150 million years ago. The first successful flight of a powered heavier-than-air craft took place on December 17, 1903. Superman first appeared in ''Action Comics'' #1, published on April 18, 1938.
|-
| Uses magnetic navigation || ✓ || ✓ || || Some types of birds use {{w|magnetoreception}} to navigate using the earth's magnetic field as a guide. Artificial magnetic compasses, along with other navigational equipment, are used by planes. Superman, while possessing a plethora of super-senses, does not appear to be particularly sensitive to magnetism.
|-
| Enthusiast community obsesses over small coloration details || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || Bird-watchers identify bird species by a range of characteristics, including the bird's color pattern. Similarly, airplane hobbyists take note of the colors of a plane's paint job and insignia. Comics fans can similarly identify the artist and date of a depiction of Superman by the coloration and configuration of his costume.
|-
| Preyed on by cats || ✓ || || || Cats kill several billion birds a year, often - but not always - eating them. There has never been a case of a cat successfully catching and eating either a plane or Superman.{{Citation needed}}
|-
| Occasional mid-air sex || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || Birds sometimes have sex in flight. Mid-air sex involving planes usually invovles passengers (and potentially air crew), not the plane itself. However, this could also be a metaphorical reference to in-flight refueling (such as the depiction, set to romantic music, in the opening scene of the movie ''Dr. Strangelove''), or to this incident where one plane landed atop another in mid-air: http://avstop.com/news/plantcity.html. As for Superman, there have been occasional moments in the comics which indicate or at least imply that he sometimes engages in mid-air sex.
|-
| Eaten during seasonal feasts || ✓ || || || {{w|Turkey (bird)|Turkeys}}, a type of bird, are eaten by Americans during {{w|Thanksgiving}}, a "seasonal feast" held on the fourth Thursday of November of each year. Britons eat Turkey or Goose at Christmas. It is unlikely that normal humans are able or willing to eat either a plane or Superman. But see [http://www.themarysue.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/power-girl-22.jpg]
|-
| Propelled by flapping || ✓ || || || Birds fly by flapping their wings. Planes have fixed wings, and fly by maintaining forward velocity and exploiting the aerodynamic effects of air flowing over the upper and lower wing surfaces, which are shaped and angled to produce lift. Superman flies using superpowers which require neither wings nor flapping.
|-
| Sometimes loses ability to fly, needs to sunbathe to regain it || ✓ || || ✓ || Birds can "lose" the ability to fly, if their wings are weighed down by water from swimming. One way for birds to dry out their wings is to [http://birding.about.com/od/birdbehavior/a/Bird-Sunning.htm sunbathe]. One of Superman's superhero abilities is the ability to fly. However, he may lose this ability with prolonged exposure to Kryptonite. Superman's ability to fly is a superpower caused by "electromagnetic radiation from the rays of a yellow sun", so he could regain his strength and superhuman abilities through sunbathing. An airplane can lose its ability to fly, but no issues occurring in modern aircraft can be fixed by sunbathing, except in some {{w|Solar Impulse|experimental solar-powered aircraft}}.
|-
| Can take a punch || || ✓ || ✓ || Birds are generally small, fragile creatures, whose bone structures are meant to be light in order to fly, and thus are not very durable. If you punched, say, a pigeon, you would probably break/dislocate most of its bones, either killing it immediately or leaving it in a state from which it will probably not ever recover. However, there are definitely some big, flightless birds that could take a punch from a human such as ostriches or emus, but since both are large creatures that would probably react by fighting back, it would not be wise to try. Randall is plainly ignoring these. Planes are usually massive, or at least big enough to carry a human, and have to be made of materials durable enough to withstand hurtling through the sky at hundreds of miles an hour reliably on a regular basis. You could definitely punch one safely. (Meaning safe for the plane, not your hand.) One of Superman's trademark abilities is his near indestructibility; a punch from any regular human would not hurt him.
|-
| Mating behaviour often observed by a hidden David Attenborough || ✓ || || Not that we know of || {{w|David Attenborough}} is an English broadcaster and naturalist, who produced a documentary series ''{{w|The Life of Birds}}''. Included in the series is an episode entitled "Finding Partners", which discussed mating rituals of birds. The comic clarifies that we don't know for sure if he is also interested on the mating rituals of Superman.
|-
| Capable of intentionally releasing poop mid-flight || ✓ || || ✓ || Birds often poop during flight; it is arguably more important to shed excess mass while flying, to increase efficiency. Unlike mammals who pee urea, bird poop contains white uric acid. Not peeing reduces water loss. Some planes may be able to intentionally purge their septic tanks mid-flight, depending on the design of the waste interlocks, especially assuming the controls are inside the cockpit or cabin. As the TV show ''MythBusters'' has shown, a leaky septic disposal system can unintentionally lose liquid waste and cause a "blue ice" sighting on the ground. Superman, being more or less human, is certainly capable of pooping during flight, but this would generally result in unnecessary drycleaning bills.
|-
| Chases and eats bugs || ✓ || || Only when bored || Many bird species prey on insects and similar-sized animals. Planes often fly into and kill insects (as well as birds), but this is unintentional and doesn't provide them with nutritional value. Superman is not known for eating insects, but Randall implies that he does sometimes, but only when he's bored.
|-
|}
The title text refers to stickers used to enhance the visibility of clear glass windows or doors. These stickers often portray a spider web pattern which birds have an instinct to avoid - though it is cheaper to simply draw a spider web using a marker. At ground level, these reduce the risk of people accidentally walking into them; at any level, they serve to warn birds (or Superman) away. They are not known to affect the risk of airplanes flying into the building -- except for dragonfly shaped helicopters.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

{| class="wikitable"
! !! Bird !! Plane !! Superman
|-
| Carries people || || ✓ || ✓
|-
| Often flies in groups || ✓ || ✓ ||
|-
| Created in 20th century || || ✓ || ✓
|-
| Uses magnetic navigation || ✓ || ✓ ||
|-
| Enthusiast community obsesses over small coloration details || ✓ || ✓ || ✓
|-
| Preyed on by cats || ✓ || ||
|-
| Occasional mid-air sex || ✓ || ✓ || ✓
|-
| Eaten during seasonal feasts || ✓ || ||
|-
| Propelled by flapping || ✓ || ||
|-
| Sometimes loses ability to fly, needs to sunbathe to regain it || ✓ || || ✓
|-
| Can take a punch || || ✓ || ✓
|-
| Mating behaviour often observed by a hidden David Attenborough || ✓ || || Not that we know of
|-
| Capable of intentionally releasing poop mid-flight || ✓ || || ✓
|-
| Chases and eats bugs || ✓ || || Only when bored
|-
|}

{{comic discussion}}

187: The Familiar

2015-07-13T09:21:35Z

Moshe: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 187
| date = November 22, 2006
| title = The Familiar
| image = the familiar.png
| titletext = When I say we should do something sometime, I'm secretly hoping you'll say 'Why not now?'
}}

==Explanation==
A guy asks his friend to go with him to view the sunrise over the ocean. The friend refuses by giving a list of excuses including the statement that "rationalizing the familiar is easy." This statement is amusing because the friend is acknowledging the fact that he is making excuses and seems to refuse going out on the basis that rationalizing going to see the sunrise would require much more effort. This criticizes some people's tendency of not trying new things or going out with friends even though one would likely get more fulfillment by doing these things.
The computer with the egg-shaped profile looks like an iMac G3, sold from 1998 until 2003. It seems that rationalizing the familiar has made this guy resistant to upgrading his computer long beyond it's obsolescence date.

The title text indicates [[Randall|Randall's]] frustration with this mentality and his hope that when he wants to make plans with someone they are just as eager.

==Transcript==
:[A guy is standing behind his friend who sits at a computer. Both looks like Cueball.]
:Guy: Let's go see sunrise over the ocean.
:[The friend turns and replies:]
:Friend: That's a long drive, it's cold, I'm tired, and rationalizing the familiar is easy.
:[The guy leaves leaves and in the next two frames the friend remains at his computer alone.]

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

187: The Familiar

2015-07-13T09:18:56Z

Moshe: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 187
| date = November 22, 2006
| title = The Familiar
| image = the familiar.png
| titletext = When I say we should do something sometime, I'm secretly hoping you'll say 'Why not now?'
}}

==Explanation==
A guy asks his friend to go with him to view the sunrise over the ocean. The friend refuses by giving a list of excuses including the statement that "rationalizing the familiar is easy." This statement is amusing because the friend is acknowledging the fact that he is making excuses and seems to refuse going out on the basis that rationalizing going to see the sunrise would require much more effort. This criticizes some people's tendency of not trying new things or going out with friends even though one would likely get more fulfillment by doing these things.
The computer with the egg-shaped profile looks like an iMac G3, sold from 1998 until 2003. It seems that rationalizing the familiar has made this guy resistant to upgrading his computer for at least 12 years.

The title text indicates [[Randall|Randall's]] frustration with this mentality and his hope that when he wants to make plans with someone they are just as eager.

==Transcript==
:[A guy is standing behind his friend who sits at a computer. Both looks like Cueball.]
:Guy: Let's go see sunrise over the ocean.
:[The friend turns and replies:]
:Friend: That's a long drive, it's cold, I'm tired, and rationalizing the familiar is easy.
:[The guy leaves leaves and in the next two frames the friend remains at his computer alone.]

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