https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=Mrarch 2026-04-09T21:11:29Z User contributions MediaWiki 1.30.0 https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=995:_Coinstar&diff=55201 2013-12-13T16:10:54Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 995<br /> | date = December 26, 2011<br /> | title = Coinstar<br /> | image = coinstar.png<br /> | titletext = Plus they take like 9%.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete|simplified}}<br /> Chocolate coins are a popular holiday candy. These candies are usually plain chocolate formed in the shape of coins and covered in metallic foil wrappers. {{w|Coinstar}} machines accept all your loose coins, sort them, count them, and then give you the same amount of money in paper currency (less 9 or 10% as it says in the title text). You may find similiar machines in Grocery stores and shopping malls around the US and Canada. <br /> <br /> These machines work by vibrating a box with a series of slots along one side, which each corresponding to the sizes of standard accepted coins. The vibrations move the coins along the different slots. If they pass through the slots the coins are then fed into a mechanism with a counterweight that's balanced to test the weight to ensure that it has captured the appropriate coin. Coins of the right size but wrong weight (such as similarly sized coins of different currencies) are dropped back out into a reject chute to be retrieved by the customer. Coins that do not fit the standard sizes also get rejected in the same way. There are also various anti-theft mechanisms that prevent coins from being counted and then retrieved. Coins that meet the programmed criteria are funneled into internal repositories and are counted towards the total.<br /> <br /> The chocolate coins in the comic appear to have damaged the machine. AS the only property that the candies share with actual currency may be its appearance the machine would not be designed to handle the softer material causing the machine to malfunction and create the unusual noises presented. The chocolate may have fouled initial vibrating tabulator; it may be that the coins are getting caught in the reject chute or are fouling the scales. In any case, the anti-theft system is being triggered, causing the machine to shut down (preventing false totals from registering) and an alarm to sound.<br /> <br /> The title text suggests that the machine would take it's customary 9% from the total of the chocolate coins which is ironic since the reader knows that they candies have no monetary value at all.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[A mischievous, curious person empties a small bag into a whrrring machine.]<br /> <br /> :[Machine makes progressively less happy *kachunk*, *tshhhh*, *clickclickclick* and *grind* noises.]<br /> <br /> :[Machine pops, then beeps one long tone.]<br /> <br /> :Holiday tip: Coinstar does not handle chocolate coins well.<br /> <br /> :Title text: Plus they take like 9%.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=995:_Coinstar&diff=55187 2013-12-13T15:14:26Z

<p>Mrarch: /* Transcript */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 995<br /> | date = December 26, 2011<br /> | title = Coinstar<br /> | image = coinstar.png<br /> | titletext = Plus they take like 9%.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete|explain is chaos, title text ismissing}}<br /> This comic combines the holiday tradition of giving out and consuming chocolate coins, which are chocolate formed in the shape of coins with foil wrappers and the {{w|Coinstar}} vending machines that you see frequently in Grocery stores and shopping malls around the US. The Coinstar machines take all your coins, sort and count them and then give you the amount of money in paper currency (less 9 or 10% as it says in the title text - but if you get the Amazon gift card, you can keep the whole proceeds.)<br /> <br /> These machines work by vibrating a box with a series of slots along one side, which each correspond to the sizes of standard United States coins. The vibrations move the coins along the different slots, where they're then fed into a chamber with a counterweight that's balanced to the appropriate weight of the appropriate coin. Coins of the right size but wrong weight (such as similarly sized coins of different currencies) are then dropped back out into a reject chute which drops the coin into a return cup where it can be retrieved by the customer. Coins that do not fit the standard sizes also get rejected this same way. There are also various anti-theft methods which prevents coins from being counted and then retrieved. Coins that meet the criteria are funneled through to separate chutes where they are deposited into internal repositories and are counted towards the total.<br /> <br /> The joke is that the chocolate coin damages the machine. From the sounds the Coinstar machine is making, it sounds as though the initial vibrating tabulator is getting fouled, though it may be that the coins are getting caught in the reject chute or are fouling the scales. In any case, the antitheft system is being triggered, causing the machine to shut down (preventing false totals from registering) and an alarm to sound.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[A mischievous, curious person empties a small bag into a whrrring machine.]<br /> <br /> :[Machine makes progressively less happy *kachunk*, *tshhhh*, *clickclickclick* and *grind* noises.]<br /> <br /> :[Machine pops, then beeps one long tone.]<br /> <br /> :Holiday tip: Coinstar does not handle chocolate coins well.<br /> <br /> :Title text: Plus they take like 9%.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=872:_Fairy_Tales&diff=55186 2013-12-13T15:09:07Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 872<br /> | date = March 14, 2011<br /> | title = Fairy Tales<br /> | image = fairy tales.png<br /> | titletext = Goldilocks' discovery of Newton's method for approximation required surprisingly few changes.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> <br /> {{w|Eigenvalues and eigenvectors|Eigenvectors}} are a mathematical concepts that can be applied to a {{w|Matrix (mathematics)|matrix}}. A matrix is mostly displayed as an rectangular array of elements used to describe the state of objects in physics. In pure mathematics they can be much more complex. The most important issue to the understanding of the comic is that a matrix can be transformed through various processes. These transformations can include rotation, movement and scaling of the object described by the matrix. An Eigenvector refers to elements of the vector space of the matrix which remain unchanged (except possibly being scaled to be longer or shorter) after the transformation is applied. The prefix 'eigen-' applied to the term is adopted from the German word ''eigen'' for &quot;self-&quot; or &quot;unique to&quot;, &quot;peculiar to&quot;, or &quot;belonging to.&quot; As the eigenvector remains unchanged through the transformation of the matrix it can be used to describe something unique about that matrix.<br /> <br /> The concept of an eigenvector has nothing to do with the fairy tale {{w|Cinderella}}, therefore [[Megan]] confuses [[Cueball]] when she asks whether it occurred in the story of Cinderella.<br /> <br /> The story of Cinderella includes Cinderella going to a ball in disguise, dancing with a prince and then leaving early and quickly, so that she accidentally leaves a glass slipper behind. The prince then uses the shoe to find Cinderella. Megan says that the way she learned it, the prince used an eigenvector and corresponding eigenvalue to match the shoe to its owner. This is a somewhat logical mathematical connection to make as eigenvectors, unchanged properties of mathematical matrices that may allow for mathematical identification of the changed matrix, correspond to the unchangeable property of the shoe (size) that allowed the prince to correctly identify the owner of the shoe even after the shoe was misplaced.<br /> <br /> Megan explains that her mother would talk about her work, math, while she fell asleep in the midst of reading bed time stories. The middle panel refers to the story of {{w|The Ant and the Grasshopper}} with the addition of what is likely a reference to the {{w|Poincaré conjecture}}, a (now-misnamed) theorem in mathematics. Megan also mentions two other story changes. Inductive White and the (''n''−1) Dwarves is a combination of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves with the {{w|Mathematical induction|principle of induction}}, and The lim&lt;sub&gt;''x''→∞&lt;/sub&gt;(''x'') Little Pigs combines the {{w|Three Little Pigs}} with {{w|Limit (mathematics)|mathematical limits}}. It &quot;got weird toward the end&quot; because the number of pigs tends to infinity as the story progresses. Each of the stories has a varied degree of similarity to the mathematical concepts that were mixed in as though the professor began to talk about a mathematical principle that may have been brought to mind while reading the story or already on her mind.<br /> <br /> In the title text, {{w|Newton's method}} for approximation is a method for finding successively better approximations to the zeroes (or roots) of a real-valued function. In {{w|The Story of the Three Bears|Goldilocks}}, the protagonist finds successively better porridge and appropriately sized chairs in a house where three bears lived. In the same way, in the Mom's version of the fairy tale, she would find successively better approximations to zeroes instead of porridge and chairs instead of successively better bowls of porridge.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Megan sits in an armchair, reading a book.]<br /> :Megan: Are there eigenvectors in ''Cinderella''?<br /> :Cueball: ... no?<br /> :Megan: The prince didn't use them to match the shoe to its owner?<br /> :Cueball: What are you ''talking'' about?<br /> :Megan: Dammit.<br /> :[Megan is in bed, mom is sitting on the edge of the bed reading.]<br /> :My mom is one of those people who falls asleep while reading, but keeps talking. She's a math professor, so she'd start rambling about her work.<br /> :Mom:&lt;small&gt;But while the ant gathered food ...&lt;/small&gt;<br /> :Mom:&lt;small&gt;... zzzz ...&lt;/small&gt;<br /> :Mom:&lt;small&gt;... the grasshopper contracted to a point on a manifold that was ''not'' a 3-sphere ...&lt;/small&gt;<br /> :I'm still not sure which versions are real.<br /> :Cueball: You didn't notice the drastic subject changes?<br /> :Megan: Well, sometimes her versions were better. We loved ''Inductive White and the (n−1) Dwarfs''.<br /> :Megan: I guess ''The lim&lt;sub&gt;x→∞&lt;/sub&gt;(x) Little Pigs'' did get a bit weird toward the end...<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}} <br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Math]]<br /> [[Category:Romance]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=User_talk:Mrarch&diff=55110 2013-12-12T23:16:25Z

<p>Mrarch: Blanked the page</p> <hr /> <div></div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=872:_Fairy_Tales&diff=55104 2013-12-12T22:58:30Z

<p>Mrarch: revised for grammar</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 872<br /> | date = March 14, 2011<br /> | title = Fairy Tales<br /> | image = fairy tales.png<br /> | titletext = Goldilocks' discovery of Newton's method for approximation required surprisingly few changes.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete|verification of plain english explanation of eigenvectors for accuracy is required}}<br /> {{w|Eigenvalues and eigenvectors|Eigenvectors}} are a mathematical concepts that can be applied to a {{w|Matrix (mathematics)|matrix}}. A matrix is mostly displayed as an rectangular array of elements used to describe the state of objects in physics. In pure mathematics they can be much more complex. The most important issue to the understanding of the comic is that a matrix can be transformed through various processes. These transformations can include rotation, movement and scaling of the object described by the matrix. An Eigenvector refers to elements of the vector space of the matrix which remain unchanged (except possibly being scaled to be longer or shorter) after the transformation is applied. The prefix 'eigen-' applied to the term is adopted from the German word ''eigen'' for &quot;self-&quot; or &quot;unique to&quot;, &quot;peculiar to&quot;, or &quot;belonging to.&quot; As the eigenvector remains unchanged through the transformation of the matrix it can be used to describe something unique about that matrix.<br /> <br /> The concept of an eigenvector has nothing to do with the fairy tale {{w|Cinderella}}, therefore [[Megan]] confuses [[Cueball]] when she asks whether it occurred in the story of Cinderella.<br /> <br /> The story of Cinderella includes Cinderella going to a ball in disguise, dancing with a prince and then leaving early and quickly, so that she accidentally leaves a glass slipper behind. The prince then uses the shoe to find Cinderella. Megan says that the way she learned it, the prince used an eigenvector and corresponding eigenvalue to match the shoe to its owner. This is a somewhat logical mathematical connection to make as eigenvectors, unchanged properties of mathematical matrices that may allow for mathematical identification of the changed matrix, correspond to the unchangeable property of the shoe (size) that allowed the prince to correctly identify the owner of the shoe even after the shoe was misplaced.<br /> <br /> Megan explains that her mother would talk about her work, math, while she fell asleep in the midst of reading bed time stories. The middle panel refers to the story of {{w|The Ant and the Grasshopper}} with the addition of what is likely a reference to the {{w|Poincaré conjecture}}, a (now-misnamed) theorem in mathematics. Megan also mentions two other story changes. Inductive White and the (''n''−1) Dwarves is a combination of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves with the {{w|Mathematical induction|principle of induction}}, and The lim&lt;sub&gt;''x''→∞&lt;/sub&gt;(''x'') Little Pigs combines the {{w|Three Little Pigs}} with {{w|Limit (mathematics)|mathematical limits}}. It &quot;got weird toward the end&quot; because the number of pigs tends to infinity as the story progresses. Each of the stories has a varied degree of similarity to the mathematical concepts that were mixed in as though the professor began to talk about a mathematical principle that may have been brought to mind while reading the story or already on her mind.<br /> <br /> In the title text, {{w|Newton's method}} for approximation is a method for finding successively better approximations to the zeroes (or roots) of a real-valued function. In {{w|The Story of the Three Bears|Goldilocks}}, the protagonist finds successively better porridge and appropriately sized chairs in a house where three bears lived. In the same way, in the Mom's version of the fairy tale, she would find successively better approximations to zeroes instead of porridge and chairs instead of successively better bowls of porridge.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Megan sits in an armchair, reading a book.]<br /> :Megan: Are there eigenvectors in ''Cinderella''?<br /> :Cueball: ... no?<br /> :Megan: The prince didn't use them to match the shoe to its owner?<br /> :Cueball: What are you ''talking'' about?<br /> :Megan: Dammit.<br /> :[Megan is in bed, mom is sitting on the edge of the bed reading.]<br /> :My mom is one of those people who falls asleep while reading, but keeps talking. She's a math professor, so she'd start rambling about her work.<br /> :Mom:&lt;small&gt;But while the ant gathered food ...&lt;/small&gt;<br /> :Mom:&lt;small&gt;... zzzz ...&lt;/small&gt;<br /> :Mom:&lt;small&gt;... the grasshopper contracted to a point on a manifold that was ''not'' a 3-sphere ...&lt;/small&gt;<br /> :I'm still not sure which versions are real.<br /> :Cueball: You didn't notice the drastic subject changes?<br /> :Megan: Well, sometimes her versions were better. We loved ''Inductive White and the (n−1) Dwarfs''.<br /> :Megan: I guess ''The lim&lt;sub&gt;x→∞&lt;/sub&gt;(x) Little Pigs'' did get a bit weird toward the end...<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}} <br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Math]]<br /> [[Category:Romance]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1246:_Pale_Blue_Dot&diff=55096 2013-12-12T21:28:57Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>To call this a &quot;simple call for funding for space exploration&quot; completely misses the point of the Ba'al theology with which it is intertwined.<br /> <br /> :I think it completely misses all the points of the comic. --[[User:Kronf|Kronf]] ([[User talk:Kronf|talk]]) 11:44, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :This comic makes philosophical claims that cannot be falsified. Randall can't be serious about the soul eater. That's so dark. Theology? Sort of. But quite undeveloped. More like mythology. Does make one wonder: Why is there ''really'' something rather than nothing? ''&amp;mdash; [[User:Tbc|tbc]] ([[User talk:Tbc|talk]]) 12:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)''<br /> <br /> :Took at shot at adding something on this. (Long-time reader, first-time editor. Will create account at some point.) --[[Special:Contributions/173.13.203.241|173.13.203.241]] 14:58, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :(I wrote the following this morning, before anyone else had made any Talk/Discussion points, but then rushed out without saving it properly. Probably now not relevent, but here you are anyway...)<br /> :&quot;This is a simple call for funding of space exploration.&quot;??? I'd say that (whatever Randall, and I, think about the importance of funding space research) it's more an affectionate parody of the &quot;Consider this pale blue dot...&quot; speech, which it subverts by suggesting that arguably the ''most'' intellectually interesting image of the planet is indistinguishable from a manufacturing error in a LCD array (presumably in a computer projector) ''or'' from the kind of photo you get when you don't take the lens-cap off of a digital camera. Or so my take on it, is... [[Special:Contributions/178.98.215.19|178.98.215.19]] 18:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I did a deeper explain later, but Ba'an connects to this sentence. So that has to be explained, too. But in general you are correct.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:19, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> I'm sure Randall is talking about Stargate and the character {{w|Ba'al_(Stargate)#Ba.27al|Ba'al (Stargate)}}. This even does make more sense on the last sentence at the title text. While we have two theories on this the comic is incomplete.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 17:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> : I disagree. I don't believe Ba'al from Stargate was ever called &quot;Ba'al the Annihilator&quot; or &quot;Ba'al, the Eater of Souls&quot;. I think Randall's just making up it up. [[Special:Contributions/76.64.65.200|76.64.65.200]] 17:25, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> : I also disagree, though the description as stands is currently incorrect. &quot;Ba'al&quot; is not a specific deity in the Northwest Semitic pantheon, certainly not one &quot;associated with demonic or otherwise evil forces&quot;, it's a title that had been used for several different deities. However the name is often included in Jewish and Christian demonology where it probably got its &quot;evil&quot; connotation. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 18:30, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I absolutely disagree to you. Randall calls the US Congress for a higher budget, just to enhance our level on space technology. This really does not map to historical religions. And: Ba'an at Stargate is also a Lord. My two NASA budget cents.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:19, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::: My disagreement with your suggestion didn't owe anything to the objections I raised about the historicity of the term &quot;Ba'al&quot;. I don't think that his reference was to any specific deity in any particular pantheon, fictional or otherwise. The whole point of the alt-text is an ironic context for the motivation for space exploration; Sagan especially was an advocate of space exploration for the sake of knowledge and human progress, so the quasi-religious/mystical and nihilistic mantra here is in stark contrast to that (expected) rationale for exploration, and I think it's fitting given the initial premise: the insignificance of Earth against the cosmos. I really don't see the clause &quot;to join with Ba'al&quot; having anything to do with 'leading humans to the same technology level Ba'al' since it assumes Ba'al is a technological entity which only stems from the Stargate interpretation. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 20:23, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::: ^ +1. About Stargate, I can't claim to know what happens in season 9 and 10, but I've seen every episode in 1-8 and I've never seen him referred to as &quot;Ba'al the Annihilator&quot; or &quot;Ba'al, Eater of Souls&quot;. I grant that the Ba'al from Stargate is a System Lord, and a pretty badass one, but how does that help you prove your point? If Randall was trying to allude to Stargate, I think it would be much more obvious, like &quot;Lord Ba'al&quot; or something. The name &quot;Ba'al&quot; has been present in mythology long before Stargate used it. [[Special:Contributions/76.64.65.200|76.64.65.200]] 01:21, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::&quot;Annihilator&quot; and &quot;Eater of Souls&quot; is an invention by Randall, it also does not really match to your mystics. Further more the last sentence of the title text is not about a god, it's about technology we do not have right now. OK, the very last sentence is: Thank you. My 1337 NASA budget cents.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 16:40, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::: It sounds like you are admitting that the only grounds for attributing the reference to Stargate is your interpretation of the penultimate sentence, which as I said before [your interpretation] only makes sense if you believe the reference is to Stargate. I don't find that very convincing. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 21:42, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::First: Sign on here, so I can talk to you!<br /> ::::::Second: I do focus on science, like Randall does, looking for a NASA budget for real exploration.<br /> ::::::Randall is frustrated, like me, about the current funds and policies on space exploration.<br /> ::::::If you don't know {{w|Voyager program|Voyager}}, I can help. My 18 billions NASA budget hell.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:39, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::::::We are talking. Yes, I agree that Randall is an advocate for space exploration (though I don't think that's his point here) and I know all about the Voyager program, but I don't see how any of this makes your Stargate interpretation any more valid. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 23:24, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::::God shave the Queen, I lost my cents. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:53, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> On a completely different track, as is often the case, the main text can work in a contemporary way, as well as with knowledge of the historical reference: In this case, the publication by NASA of shots of Earth from Saturn and Mercury, in a conscious homage to the original &quot;blue spot&quot; picture. Eg [http://www.space.com/22076-earth-photos-saturn-mercury-offer-perspective.html] --[[User:FractalgeekUK|FractalgeekUK]]<br /> :Oh, yeah. I am sure Randall was inspired by this pictures.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:17, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> I have removed the last sentence again which refers to the author calling for the government of the United States of America to increase funding for their space program as part of the explanation of the comic. There is no such text in comic. Some editors of this page have insisted that the author has written this comic to propose or support policy change regarding actual funding for space exploration. Raising awareness for the subject of space exploration may be a motivator for the author to write this comic but I have not spoken with him on the matter and cannot claim to explain his motivations. Without any direct statement from the author regarding his intent I propose that discussion of the author's possible desire for increased spending on actual space exploration be contained here in the discussion page. The explanation as written clearly explains the information contained in the comic and the reader can make their own inference regarding the author's position on space exploration. {{unsigned|Mrarch}}<br /> <br /> ;&quot;I therefore call on Congress to fully fund space exploration...&quot;<br /> I did add the incomplete tag because this part of the title text still has to be explained.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 20:55, 10 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ::This sentence is explained already. I will attempt clarify the explanation further. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 21:16, 10 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :::Now, as I suggested earlier, please let us resolve any additional concerns you have here before we make any further edits to the page. Please let me know if there is anything else you find unclear about the explanation and we can arrive at an agreement on if any more explanation is required. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 21:25, 10 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::First, please do only one indent at each reply, reading is and editing is easier in that way. Second, please do not delete an incomplete tag while you do know other people disagree on this. Third: And that's my point, the Congress is the US-Congress, THANK YOU.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:34, 10 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::::THANK YOU for the advice on indentation. I will in the future make sure to make my edits with ease of reading in mind. We can leave the entry incomplete if you insist. You will not be able to convince anyone by simple repetition of your opinion. Please provide the evidence that I have obviously missed in the comic which shows that the congress mentioned is not the congress of Mexico, Albania, Peru, Micronesia, Ecuador or Bolivia or any other country which has a congress. Please, if you are able, also provide evidence that the congress is not the congress of an imaginary country, organization, or planet. Finally maybe you can illustrate for me what part of the comic any of that information helps to clarify and why you feel the explanation is not complete. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 00:09, 11 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::Helping on indents again..., and [[Randall]] is a citizen of Albania??? YES??? NO, he is just annoyed about some things happen at the Unites States. And I will send this ''two cents'' to NASA, I'm sure Randall does like.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 01:21, 11 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::::::The citizenship of the author does not determine the setting of any written work. Did you know that one of Shakespeare's most famous plays was set in Italy though he was a citizen of England? My point is that the specific congress and space program is left off the comic purposefully. I believe that the author would not specifically limit his desire for further space exploration to one nation and would welcome other nations funding space exploration. By not specifying the nationality of the speaker or the audience the comic is more inclusive. If the author was not specific in the comic than perhaps he was purposefully general. We would be '''interpreting''' the comic and not explaining the comic if we include any discussion of what nation to which he may be referring. That is why I proposed that you outline your '''interpretation''' that this is specific to NASA and The U.S., which is a perfectly valid '''interpretation''', in the discussion page. You have yet even attempted to explain why you feel the explanation is incomplete. Instead you have chosen to include some strange statement about sending coins to NASA and your belief that Randall would enjoy such a thing. I do not understand your point in this. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 18:32, 11 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ;Since we will never come up to an end on this trolling<br /> Any Idea? I don't know.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 01:21, 11 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> :Again I am trying to have a legitimate discussion on this and you are trying to dismiss my efforts as &quot;trolling&quot;. I do not appreciate your implications and will refer this matter to the admins if you continue. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 18:32, 11 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I wanted to give this a day before I checked in again, but it seems things are going to go sour faster than that. Dgbrt, I already said that further offenses will be met with a short block, and you accuse Mrarch of trolling again. Have a day to cool off. '''[[User:Davidy22|&lt;u&gt;{{Color|#707|David}}&lt;font color=#070 size=3&gt;y&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;font color=#508 size=4&gt;²²&lt;/font&gt;]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|&lt;tt&gt;[talk]&lt;/tt&gt;]] 18:39, 11 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> Uhh, you both misunderstood me. I just did try to stop this meaningless discussion, but I'm sorry, the words I did choose were not proper. And an other strange thing is that nobody else does participate this discussion. The major question is still: Is Randall talking about NASA fundings or not? ''&quot;I therefore call on Congress to fully fund space exploration, and to join with Ba'al, the Eater of Souls. Thank you.&quot;'' My 2ct.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 20:59, 12 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> :Its clear that you are not even reading my posts. In order to end what is surely a meaningless discussion if you will not participate I have edited the explanation to be as clear as I can make it. The comic is purposefully general and so am I. I believe that our discussion here presents the matter of specificity in the forum that is most appropriate. If you feel you need to add something about NASA and the U.S. congress it will be to the detriment of the explanation. I will ask that if you do please use the phrase &quot;may be referring to&quot; which is often used in English to show consideration for the value of other interpretations. I will review what you edit and may revise for clarity as you have said that you are not a native English speaker. Then you may remove the incomplete tag whenever you feel ready. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 21:28, 12 December 2013 (UTC)</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1246:_Pale_Blue_Dot&diff=55092 2013-12-12T21:07:43Z

<p>Mrarch: clearer explanation of the last line. incomplete tag still present pending dgbrt agreement</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 1246<br /> | date = August 2, 2013<br /> | title = Pale Blue Dot<br /> | image = pale_blue_dot.png<br /> | titletext = Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves. There is no road out of this oblivion; we must embrace it. We must join with the darkness. Ba'al the Annihilator offers us no happiness, no answers, naught but the cold embrace of the void. To imagine any other end is delusion. We must give in to the will of Ba'al, for he will one day consume us and our world alike. I therefore call on Congress to fully fund space exploration, and to join with Ba'al, the Eater of Souls. Thank you.<br /> }}<br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete|The last two sentences of the title text need an explain.}}<br /> The {{w|Pale Blue Dot}} is a picture of the Earth taken in 1990 by the {{w|Voyager 1}} spacecraft at a distance about 6 billion kilometers (3.7 billion miles). It was part of the {{w|Family Portrait (Voyager)|Family Portrait}}, a series of images of the entire {{w|Solar System}} from beyond it. <br /> <br /> The picture was taken at the request of {{w|Carl Sagan}}, a well known space scientist at that time. In 1994 Sagan wrote the book &quot;{{w|Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space}}&quot; inspired by this picture. In the book, Sagan waxed eloquent about the picture in a widely-quoted passage. The complete passage can be found illustrated in this [http://zenpencils.com/comic/100-carl-sagan-pale-blue-dot/ Zen Pencils comic].<br /> <br /> [[Cueball]] quotes from a condensed version of this passage until he is interrupted by an argument over ''which'' speck in the picture is actually the Earth. When Cueball cries out in exasperation that it doesn't matter, then the entire authenticity of the image is called into question. This pokes fun at the fact that the {{w|Pale Blue Dot}} picture has very little visual attractiveness, apart from the intellectual interest relying on the viewer's knowledge that the central speck is actually our home planet seen from a great distance. <br /> <br /> The first two sentences of the title text are also a quotation from Sagan's paean to the Pale Blue Dot picture, but then the text veers humorously into non-scientific mysticism that starkly contrasts with the attitude and intent of the original work.<br /> <br /> The title text evokes {{w|Cosmicism}}, a philosophy developed and exemplified by the fictional {{w|Cthulhu_mythos|Cthulhu Mythos}}. This Mythos is expounded in fantasy/horror works of H.P. Lovecraft and, later, August Derleth, and features a cosmology in which humanity is depicted as inconsequential within a greater existence that is unknowable and frightening. Cosmicism asserts that humanity is doomed to destruction through the workings of vastly more powerful supernatural forces beyond our understanding. There are many instances in the fiction of H.P. Lovecraft of factions that embrace the destruction of humanity and actively work towards bringing about that end through the invocation of the unknowable and powerful forces that supporters of Cosmicism believe surround everything.<br /> <br /> The text also references {{w|Ba'al}}, originally a Semitic deity that has been since associated with demonic or otherwise evil forces. The name Ba'al, and other variants of the same, has been included in many other fictional works often as a villain or antagonist. For example, the fictional System Lord {{w|Ba'al (Stargate)#Ba.27al|Ba'al}} from the television show {{w|Stargate}}. The title text supplants all of the supernatural forces associated with Cosmicism in the works of other authors with Ba'al. The speaker in the title text is acting as a Cosmicist and is calling on the congress to which he is speaking to fund the space exploration program as a means to join with Ba'al, the Eater of souls. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball stands on a podium, the Pale Blue Dot picture is behind him]<br /> :Cueball: Consider this Pale Blue Dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. Everyone you love, every human being who ever was, every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived out their lives on this mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam. All our -<br /> :[Heckling]: I think that's a stuck pixel. We're the speck on the left.<br /> :Cueball: ...Ok, '''''this''''' Pale Blue Dot is everything you -<br /> :[Heckling]: No, you were right before. ''That'' one is earth.<br /> :Cueball: '''''Look, it doesn't matter!'''''<br /> :[Heckling]: I ''knew'' it!<br /> :[Heckling]: I think this is just a lens cap picture.<br /> <br /> ==Trivia==<br /> *At the time when this comic was published NASA did reveal two other pictures, showing our home planet from a long distance, [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/whycassini/cassini20130722.html Saturn] and [http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/gallery/sciencePhotos/image.php?image_id=1228 Mercury] probes did picture the Earth at the same time. Earth appears as a tiny dot in these images as well as a result of the vast distance between Earth and the probes.<br /> <br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Philosophy]]<br /> [[Category:Science]]<br /> [[Category:Astronomy]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=826:_Guest_Week:_Zach_Weiner_(SMBC)&diff=55081 2013-12-12T18:22:26Z

<p>Mrarch: /* The Hall of Misunderstood Science */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 826<br /> | date = November 26, 2010<br /> | title = Guest Week: Zach Weiner (SMBC)<br /> | image = guest week zach weiner smbc.png<br /> | titletext = Guest comic by Zach Weiner of Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal. When I was stressed out, Zach gave me a talk that was really encouraging and somehow involved nanobots.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete}}<br /> This comic is guest drawn by Zach Weiner, author of the webcomic [http://www.smbc-comics.com/ Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal]. It's interactive, so you'll have to see the [http://www.xkcd.com/826/ original comic].<br /> <br /> The entire comic is a hypothetical &quot;{{w|Smithsonian Museum}} of Dad-Trolling, an entire building dedicated to deceiving children for amusement.&quot; That explains it pretty well.<br /> <br /> === The Hall of Misunderstood Science ===<br /> <br /> Each exhibit is a display set up to reinforce the false answers to typical questions that children may ask their fathers about scientific topics. The answers given involve just enough information that the child may be satisfied with the answer and repeat it to others while maintaining the irony for adults that the answers are obviously misleading or false.<br /> <br /> Basilisk - mythological reptilian monster that was described with the ability to turn other living things to stone with its gaze.<br /> <br /> The magnet exhibit alludes to a loss of sexual desire in adults that while perceived may not be true.<br /> <br /> Jesus' dandruff as snow refers to a common idiom in English that rain is &quot;god's tears&quot; and proposes a humorous and irreverent extension of the saying.<br /> <br /> The sleep exhibit reinforces common fears by accentuating the aspect of vulnerability associated with sleep.<br /> <br /> Water is less dense as a solid than it is when in liquid state. This is an unusual property as most materials are more dense in solid form. The exhibit falsely explains the phenomenon by linking it to a defense mechanism employed by prey species to deter predators. A rhinoceros, though fierce and territorial, is not a predator. <br /> <br /> The anti- in anti matter is a prefix in english which means &quot;the opposite of&quot; referring to the fact that antimatter is made up of oppositely charged particles from regular matter. This is a partial homonym to species of insects commonly called ants.<br /> <br /> The letters associated with DNA are related to the proteins which make up the chains, they are guanine, adenine, thymine, and cytosine. The commonality of the abbreviation disguises the link to the names of the proteins and gives rise questions regarding the letter choices.<br /> <br /> The figure speaking about molecule display is displaying a common trope attributed to elderly men in that they complain about developments that change the way the view or interact with the world. Historically, though it was understood that matter was made up of small particles it was a common misnomer to refer to these particle as atoms.<br /> <br /> === Regrettable Pranks: An Interactive Experience ===<br /> <br /> === Concessions ===<br /> <br /> === Conservatory of Poorly Remembered History ===<br /> <br /> === Rotunda of Uncomfortable Topics ===<br /> <br /> === Miscellaneous ===<br /> The Bathrooms have 3 doors, implying that the Museum may be visited by someone or something that is not male or female, i.e. a hermaphrodite or asexual creature. Or it may be for disabled people.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :In the spirit of xkcd I present a proposal for a new Smithsonian museum:<br /> :The Smithsonian Museum Of Dad-Trolling<br /> :An entire building dedicated to deceiving children for amusement<br /> <br /> :(Click to view exhibits!)<br /> <br /> :The top left room is 'The Hall of Misunderstood Science'. It contains six exhibits.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A giant basilisk looms over children.<br /> :Exhibit label: BASILISKS: Real, deadly, under your bed.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: Four magnets hang from a square arch. A child is touching two of them together.<br /> :Text on the arch: Magnets only leap at each other when they're teenagers. Later, they lose interest.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A child on his dad's shoulders looks up at a looming statue of Jesus behind a lectern. There are flakes falling from Jesus onto them both.<br /> :Exhibit label: Snow is Jesus' dandruff. His scalp gets dry when it's cold.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A child lies asleep, while hands and a scary face reach up around the bed toward him.<br /> :Exhibit label: Sleep: Now you're vulnerable to the boogie man!<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: An ice block sits on a stand in front of pictures of a wolf and rhinoceros looking frightened.<br /> :Exhibit label: Freezing water: Expands to frighten predators.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: An insect on a stick is orbited by a small sphere.<br /> :Exhibit label: Anti-matter: Matter that is more than 50% ants.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A DNA strand with the letters T, A, C, and G hanging around it.<br /> :Exhibit label: DNA only has four letters because the alphabet was smaller back then.<br /> :Dad, to child: Told you so.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A bunch of molecules hang from the ceiling.<br /> :Exhibit label: Molecules? In my day, we only had atoms!<br /> <br /> :The top right room is 'Regrettable Pranks: An Interactive Experience'. There are four exhibits.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: Five balloons float tethered to a table. A child is holding a sixth balloon. The Dad looks alarmed.<br /> :Sign on exhibit: If this helium makes your voice go higher, it's because you're ten seconds from exploding.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: An alien face is shown above an outline of several hands next to a ruler. A child holds his hand up to it.<br /> :Sign on exhibit: Measure your middle finger. If it's longer than the others, you're an alien halfbreed.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: Three cups are on a table. A child is walking away with a fourth cup, the dad's arm around the child's shoulder.<br /> :Exhibit label: Has anyone seen my rabbit brain? It looks like a cherry, and I dropped it in a Jello cup.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A monstrous set of jaws open upward around a bed.<br /> :Sign on exhibit: Make your bed or monsters will know a kid lives there.<br /> <br /> :The center right room is 'Concessions'. There are three booths.<br /> <br /> :Booth: A concession stand is labeled 'KFP', and displays a KFC-style bucket. A dad and child are eating.<br /> :Dad: The &quot;P&quot; is for &quot;phoenix&quot;.<br /> <br /> :Booth: A concession stand.<br /> :Sign on stand: Ground beef: Beef we found on the ground.<br /> :Dad, to child: Told you.<br /> <br /> :Booth: A stand shaped like a giant eye.<br /> :Booth label: EYES CREAM<br /> :Subtitle: How did you think it was spelled?<br /> :Sign on booth: Now with more of the goo in your eyes. Same as every other creamery.<br /> <br /> :The lower left room is 'Conservatory of Poorly Remembered History'. There are five exhibits.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A man is riding a dragon.<br /> :Exhibit label: Genghis Khan: victory through dragons.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A criminal in front of some windows.<br /> :Exhibit label: The Crimean War: The first war against crime.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A castle with flags hanging on it.<br /> :Exhibit label: The Renaissance<br /> :Subtitle: Long story short, the wizards were in control.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit:A man in Jedi-style robes with a fake beard.<br /> :Exhibit label: Star Wars is a documentary. No, seriously.<br /> :Dad, to children: Kids, this man is a veteran.<br /> <br /> :The lower right room is 'Rotunda of Uncomfortable Topics'. There are five exhibits.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A wrestling ring, with a man and woman mostly obscured by the exhibit label.<br /> :Exhibit label: Naked wrestling: perfectly normal. NEVER DO IT.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: a figure sits at a booth in front of a bowl of food. The dad is holding a bottle.<br /> :Exhibit label: Alcohol is poison. I drink to save you from it.<br /> :Dad: You're welcome.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A large bird.<br /> :Exhibit label: Mommies get big tummies before babies come because the stork likes chubby girls.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A rocket ship.<br /> :Sign on exhibit: Grandma's not dead. She just returned to Saturn. For REVENGE.<br /> <br /> :In the areas outside the rooms, there are two more exhibits and restrooms, all clickable.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A dinosaur skeleton.<br /> :Exhibit label: That's right. Dinosaurs were made entirely of BONES.<br /> :Dad, to kid: If you think about it, it makes sense.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A large image hangs on the wall. It is a dense squiggly jumble of lines.<br /> :Dad, to kids: You gotta squint juuust right.<br /> :Sign on exhibit: Magic eye trick that doesn't actually work.<br /> <br /> :Restrooms: There are three doors, each with a sign.<br /> :First door (male logo): Men &amp; Boys<br /> :Second door (female logo): Women &amp; Girls<br /> :Third door (unrecognizable logo): Korgmen &amp; Spangs<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics with color]]<br /> [[Category:Guest Week]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=826:_Guest_Week:_Zach_Weiner_(SMBC)&diff=55079 2013-12-12T17:43:03Z

<p>Mrarch: /* The Hall of Misunderstood Science */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 826<br /> | date = November 26, 2010<br /> | title = Guest Week: Zach Weiner (SMBC)<br /> | image = guest week zach weiner smbc.png<br /> | titletext = Guest comic by Zach Weiner of Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal. When I was stressed out, Zach gave me a talk that was really encouraging and somehow involved nanobots.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete}}<br /> This comic is guest drawn by Zach Weiner, author of the webcomic [http://www.smbc-comics.com/ Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal]. It's interactive, so you'll have to see the [http://www.xkcd.com/826/ original comic].<br /> <br /> The entire comic is a hypothetical &quot;{{w|Smithsonian Museum}} of Dad-Trolling, an entire building dedicated to deceiving children for amusement.&quot; That explains it pretty well.<br /> <br /> === The Hall of Misunderstood Science ===<br /> <br /> Each exhibit is a display set up to reinforce the false answers to typical questions that children may ask their fathers about scientific topics. The answers given involve just enough information that the child may be satisfied with the answer and repeat it to others while maintaining the irony for adults that the answers are obviously misleading or false.<br /> <br /> === Regrettable Pranks: An Interactive Experience ===<br /> <br /> === Concessions ===<br /> <br /> === Conservatory of Poorly Remembered History ===<br /> <br /> === Rotunda of Uncomfortable Topics ===<br /> <br /> === Miscellaneous ===<br /> The Bathrooms have 3 doors, implying that the Museum may be visited by someone or something that is not male or female, i.e. a hermaphrodite or asexual creature. Or it may be for disabled people.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :In the spirit of xkcd I present a proposal for a new Smithsonian museum:<br /> :The Smithsonian Museum Of Dad-Trolling<br /> :An entire building dedicated to deceiving children for amusement<br /> <br /> :(Click to view exhibits!)<br /> <br /> :The top left room is 'The Hall of Misunderstood Science'. It contains six exhibits.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A giant basilisk looms over children.<br /> :Exhibit label: BASILISKS: Real, deadly, under your bed.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: Four magnets hang from a square arch. A child is touching two of them together.<br /> :Text on the arch: Magnets only leap at each other when they're teenagers. Later, they lose interest.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A child on his dad's shoulders looks up at a looming statue of Jesus behind a lectern. There are flakes falling from Jesus onto them both.<br /> :Exhibit label: Snow is Jesus' dandruff. His scalp gets dry when it's cold.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A child lies asleep, while hands and a scary face reach up around the bed toward him.<br /> :Exhibit label: Sleep: Now you're vulnerable to the boogie man!<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: An ice block sits on a stand in front of pictures of a wolf and rhinoceros looking frightened.<br /> :Exhibit label: Freezing water: Expands to frighten predators.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: An insect on a stick is orbited by a small sphere.<br /> :Exhibit label: Anti-matter: Matter that is more than 50% ants.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A DNA strand with the letters T, A, C, and G hanging around it.<br /> :Exhibit label: DNA only has four letters because the alphabet was smaller back then.<br /> :Dad, to child: Told you so.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A bunch of molecules hang from the ceiling.<br /> :Exhibit label: Molecules? In my day, we only had atoms!<br /> <br /> :The top right room is 'Regrettable Pranks: An Interactive Experience'. There are four exhibits.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: Five balloons float tethered to a table. A child is holding a sixth balloon. The Dad looks alarmed.<br /> :Sign on exhibit: If this helium makes your voice go higher, it's because you're ten seconds from exploding.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: An alien face is shown above an outline of several hands next to a ruler. A child holds his hand up to it.<br /> :Sign on exhibit: Measure your middle finger. If it's longer than the others, you're an alien halfbreed.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: Three cups are on a table. A child is walking away with a fourth cup, the dad's arm around the child's shoulder.<br /> :Exhibit label: Has anyone seen my rabbit brain? It looks like a cherry, and I dropped it in a Jello cup.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A monstrous set of jaws open upward around a bed.<br /> :Sign on exhibit: Make your bed or monsters will know a kid lives there.<br /> <br /> :The center right room is 'Concessions'. There are three booths.<br /> <br /> :Booth: A concession stand is labeled 'KFP', and displays a KFC-style bucket. A dad and child are eating.<br /> :Dad: The &quot;P&quot; is for &quot;phoenix&quot;.<br /> <br /> :Booth: A concession stand.<br /> :Sign on stand: Ground beef: Beef we found on the ground.<br /> :Dad, to child: Told you.<br /> <br /> :Booth: A stand shaped like a giant eye.<br /> :Booth label: EYES CREAM<br /> :Subtitle: How did you think it was spelled?<br /> :Sign on booth: Now with more of the goo in your eyes. Same as every other creamery.<br /> <br /> :The lower left room is 'Conservatory of Poorly Remembered History'. There are five exhibits.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A man is riding a dragon.<br /> :Exhibit label: Genghis Khan: victory through dragons.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A criminal in front of some windows.<br /> :Exhibit label: The Crimean War: The first war against crime.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A castle with flags hanging on it.<br /> :Exhibit label: The Renaissance<br /> :Subtitle: Long story short, the wizards were in control.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit:A man in Jedi-style robes with a fake beard.<br /> :Exhibit label: Star Wars is a documentary. No, seriously.<br /> :Dad, to children: Kids, this man is a veteran.<br /> <br /> :The lower right room is 'Rotunda of Uncomfortable Topics'. There are five exhibits.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A wrestling ring, with a man and woman mostly obscured by the exhibit label.<br /> :Exhibit label: Naked wrestling: perfectly normal. NEVER DO IT.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: a figure sits at a booth in front of a bowl of food. The dad is holding a bottle.<br /> :Exhibit label: Alcohol is poison. I drink to save you from it.<br /> :Dad: You're welcome.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A large bird.<br /> :Exhibit label: Mommies get big tummies before babies come because the stork likes chubby girls.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A rocket ship.<br /> :Sign on exhibit: Grandma's not dead. She just returned to Saturn. For REVENGE.<br /> <br /> :In the areas outside the rooms, there are two more exhibits and restrooms, all clickable.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A dinosaur skeleton.<br /> :Exhibit label: That's right. Dinosaurs were made entirely of BONES.<br /> :Dad, to kid: If you think about it, it makes sense.<br /> <br /> :Exhibit: A large image hangs on the wall. It is a dense squiggly jumble of lines.<br /> :Dad, to kids: You gotta squint juuust right.<br /> :Sign on exhibit: Magic eye trick that doesn't actually work.<br /> <br /> :Restrooms: There are three doors, each with a sign.<br /> :First door (male logo): Men &amp; Boys<br /> :Second door (female logo): Women &amp; Girls<br /> :Third door (unrecognizable logo): Korgmen &amp; Spangs<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics with color]]<br /> [[Category:Guest Week]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=476:_One-Sided&diff=55074 2013-12-12T17:14:59Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 476<br /> | date = September 15, 2008<br /> | title = One-Sided<br /> | image = one-sided.png<br /> | titletext = He continued, &quot;Okay, Bernanke is uncontaminated. Find a crossbow and get him into position behind one of the columns at the Fed entrance. This is gonna get ugly.&quot;<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> <br /> The comic refers to the phenomenon of hearing half a conversation from a stranger on a cell phone and, not noticing the cell phone, imagining that that person is talking to you and responding in kind. The chart gives a plot of the frequency that this occurs against the amount of time that passes before the error is discovered. It also implies that the author's second relationship was in reality just a particularly long instance of this occurrence, which is another joke about relationships between men and women.<br /> <br /> The title text shows how the phone call continues. The name Bernanke as well as the mention of the Fed building alludes to Cueball overhearing details of a fictional conspiracy involving the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke and a crossbow. Some of the conversation may also reference a plot in the video game Fallout 3 to eliminate mutated or &quot;contaminated&quot; denizens of the &quot;Capital Wasteland&quot; setting of the game and take control of the area. Fallout 3 was set in post-apocalyptic Washington D.C. Ben Bernanke does not appear as a character in the game.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Sometimes my conversations with strangers go on for a while before I realize that they're talking on their phones.]<br /> :Guy with backpack: Hi!<br /> :Cueball: Hi.<br /> :Guy with backpack: What's up?<br /> :Cueball: Uh, not a lot...<br /> :Guy with backpack: Shit. Does Bernanke own a crossbow?<br /> :[Background is a graph, with x-axis labelled &quot;Length of Conversation&quot; and y-axis labelled &quot;How Often This Happens&quot;. The graph looks parabolic towards the left-hand side, but as x approaches infinity, y approaches zero. A vertical dashed line runs through the graph, slightly to the right of the peak of the graph. To the right of the dashed line there is an arrow pointing to the right that is labelled &quot;Awkward Zone&quot;. The x-axis has a broken scale, and to the right of the break there is a very small increase in the graph that is parenthetically labelled &quot;My Second Relationship&quot;.]<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Charts]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=476:_One-Sided&diff=55069 2013-12-12T16:49:46Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 476<br /> | date = September 15, 2008<br /> | title = One-Sided<br /> | image = one-sided.png<br /> | titletext = He continued, &quot;Okay, Bernanke is uncontaminated. Find a crossbow and get him into position behind one of the columns at the Fed entrance. This is gonna get ugly.&quot;<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> <br /> The comic refers to the phenomenon of hearing half a conversation from a stranger on a cell phone and, not noticing the cell phone, imagining that that person is talking to you and responding in kind. The chart gives a plot of the frequency that this occurs against the amount of time that passes before the error is discovered. It also implies that the author's second relationship was in reality just a particularly long instance of this occurrence, which is another joke about relationships between men and women.<br /> <br /> The title text shows how the phone call continues. The name Bernanke as well as the mention of the Fed building alludes to Cueball overhearing details of a fictional conspiracy involving the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke and a crossbow. <br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Sometimes my conversations with strangers go on for a while before I realize that they're talking on their phones.]<br /> :Guy with backpack: Hi!<br /> :Cueball: Hi.<br /> :Guy with backpack: What's up?<br /> :Cueball: Uh, not a lot...<br /> :Guy with backpack: Shit. Does Bernanke own a crossbow?<br /> :[Background is a graph, with x-axis labelled &quot;Length of Conversation&quot; and y-axis labelled &quot;How Often This Happens&quot;. The graph looks parabolic towards the left-hand side, but as x approaches infinity, y approaches zero. A vertical dashed line runs through the graph, slightly to the right of the peak of the graph. To the right of the dashed line there is an arrow pointing to the right that is labelled &quot;Awkward Zone&quot;. The x-axis has a broken scale, and to the right of the break there is a very small increase in the graph that is parenthetically labelled &quot;My Second Relationship&quot;.]<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Charts]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=872:_Fairy_Tales&diff=55066 2013-12-12T16:28:47Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 872<br /> | date = March 14, 2011<br /> | title = Fairy Tales<br /> | image = fairy tales.png<br /> | titletext = Goldilocks' discovery of Newton's method for approximation required surprisingly few changes.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete|verification of plain english explanation of eigenvectors for accuracy is required}}<br /> {{w|Eigenvalues and eigenvectors|Eigenvectors}} are a mathematical concepts that can be applied to a matrix. A matrix is a rectangular array of elements often used to describe transformations to objects. These transformations can include rotation, movement and scaling. An Eigenvector refers to elements of the vector space of the matrix which remain unchanged (except possibly being scaled to be longer or shorter) after the transformation is applied. The prefix 'eigen-' applied to the term is adopted from the German word ''eigen'' for &quot;self-&quot; or &quot;unique to&quot;, &quot;peculiar to&quot;, or &quot;belonging to.&quot; As the eigenvector remains unchanged through the transformation of the matrix it can be used to describe something unique about that matix.<br /> <br /> The concept of an eigenvector has nothing to do with the fairy tale {{w|Cinderella}}, therefore [[Megan]] confuses [[Cueball]] when she asks whether it occurred in the story of Cinderella.<br /> <br /> The story of Cinderella includes Cinderella going to a ball in disguise, dancing with a prince and then leaving early and quickly, so that she accidentally leaves a glass slipper behind. The prince then uses the shoe to find Cinderella. [[Megan]] says that the way she learned it, the prince used an eigenvector and corresponding eigenvalue to match the shoe to its owner. This is a somewhat logical mathematical connection to make as eigenvectors, unchanged properties of mathematical matrixes that may allow for mathematical identification of the changed matrix, correspond to the unchangeable property of the shoe (size) that allowed the prince to correctly identify the owner of the shoe even after the shoe was misplaced.<br /> <br /> Megan explains that her mother would talk about her work, math, while she fell asleep in the midst of reading bed time stories. The middle panel refers to the story of {{w|The Ant and the Grasshopper}} with the addition of what is likely a reference to the {{w|Poincaré conjecture}}, a (now-misnamed) theorem in mathematics. Megan also mentions two other story changes. Inductive White and the (''n''−1) Dwarves is a combination of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves with the {{w|Mathematical induction|principle of induction}}, and The lim&lt;sub&gt;''x''→∞&lt;/sub&gt;(''x'') Little Pigs combines the {{w|Three Little Pigs}} with {{w|Limit (mathematics)|mathematical limits}}. It &quot;got weird toward the end&quot; because the number of pigs tends to infinity as the story progresses. Each of the stories has a varied degree of similarity to the mathematical concepts that were mixed in as though the professor began to talk about a mathematical principle that may have been brought to mind while reading the story or already on her mind.<br /> <br /> In the title text, {{w|Newton's method}} for approximation is a method for finding successively better approximations to the zeroes (or roots) of a real-valued function. In {{w|The Story of the Three Bears|Goldilocks}}, the protagonist finds successively better porridge and appropriately sized chairs in a house where three bears lived. In the same way, in the Mom's version of the fairy tale, she would find successively better approximations to zeroes instead of porridge and chairs instead of successively better bowls of porridge.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Megan sits in an armchair, reading a book.]<br /> :Megan: Are there eigenvectors in ''Cinderella''?<br /> :Cueball: ... no?<br /> :Megan: The prince didn't use them to match the shoe to its owner?<br /> :Cueball: What are you ''talking'' about?<br /> :Megan: Dammit.<br /> :[Megan is in bed, mom is sitting on the edge of the bed reading.]<br /> :My mom is one of those people who falls asleep while reading, but keeps talking. She's a math professor, so she'd start rambling about her work.<br /> :Mom:&lt;small&gt;But while the ant gathered food ...&lt;/small&gt;<br /> :Mom:&lt;small&gt;... zzzz ...&lt;/small&gt;<br /> :Mom:&lt;small&gt;... the grasshopper contracted to a point on a manifold that was ''not'' a 3-sphere ...&lt;/small&gt;<br /> :I'm still not sure which versions are real.<br /> :Cueball: You didn't notice the drastic subject changes?<br /> :Megan: Well, sometimes her versions were better. We loved ''Inductive White and the (n−1) Dwarfs''.<br /> :Megan: I guess ''The lim&lt;sub&gt;x→∞&lt;/sub&gt;(x) Little Pigs'' did get a bit weird toward the end...<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}} <br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Math]]<br /> [[Category:Romance]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=872:_Fairy_Tales&diff=55065 2013-12-12T16:27:03Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 872<br /> | date = March 14, 2011<br /> | title = Fairy Tales<br /> | image = fairy tales.png<br /> | titletext = Goldilocks' discovery of Newton's method for approximation required surprisingly few changes.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete|verification of plain english explanation of eigenvectors for accuracy is required}}<br /> {{w|Eigenvalues and eigenvectors|Eigenvectors}} are a mathematical concepts that can be applied to a matrix. A matrix is a rectangular array of elements often used to describe transformations to objects. These transformations can include rotation, movement and scaling. An Eigenvector refers to elements of the vector space of the matrix which remain unchanged (except possibly being scaled to be longer or shorter) after the transformation is applied. The prefix 'eigen-' applied to the term is adopted from the German word [[eigen]] for &quot;self-&quot; or &quot;unique to&quot;, &quot;peculiar to&quot;, or &quot;belonging to.&quot; As the eigenvector remains unchanged through the transformation of the matrix it can be used to describe something unique about that matix.<br /> <br /> The concept of an eigenvector has nothing to do with the fairy tale {{w|Cinderella}}, therefore [[Megan]] confuses [[Cueball]] when she asks whether it occurred in the story of Cinderella.<br /> <br /> The story of Cinderella includes Cinderella going to a ball in disguise, dancing with a prince and then leaving early and quickly, so that she accidentally leaves a glass slipper behind. The prince then uses the shoe to find Cinderella. [[Megan]] says that the way she learned it, the prince used an eigenvector and corresponding eigenvalue to match the shoe to its owner. This is a somewhat logical mathematical connection to make as eigenvectors, unchanged properties of mathematical matrixes that may allow for mathematical identification of the changed matrix, correspond to the unchangeable property of the shoe (size) that allowed the prince to correctly identify the owner of the shoe even after the shoe was misplaced.<br /> <br /> Megan explains that her mother would talk about her work, math, while she fell asleep in the midst of reading bed time stories. The middle panel refers to the story of {{w|The Ant and the Grasshopper}} with the addition of what is likely a reference to the {{w|Poincaré conjecture}}, a (now-misnamed) theorem in mathematics. Megan also mentions two other story changes. Inductive White and the (''n''−1) Dwarves is a combination of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves with the {{w|Mathematical induction|principle of induction}}, and The lim&lt;sub&gt;''x''→∞&lt;/sub&gt;(''x'') Little Pigs combines the {{w|Three Little Pigs}} with {{w|Limit (mathematics)|mathematical limits}}. It &quot;got weird toward the end&quot; because the number of pigs tends to infinity as the story progresses. Each of the stories has a varied degree of similarity to the mathematical concepts that were mixed in as though the professor began to talk about a mathematical principle that may have been brought to mind while reading the story or already on her mind.<br /> <br /> In the title text, {{w|Newton's method}} for approximation is a method for finding successively better approximations to the zeroes (or roots) of a real-valued function. In {{w|The Story of the Three Bears|Goldilocks}}, the protagonist finds successively better porridge and appropriately sized chairs in a house where three bears lived. In the same way, in the Mom's version of the fairy tale, she would find successively better approximations to zeroes instead of porridge and chairs instead of successively better bowls of porridge.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Megan sits in an armchair, reading a book.]<br /> :Megan: Are there eigenvectors in ''Cinderella''?<br /> :Cueball: ... no?<br /> :Megan: The prince didn't use them to match the shoe to its owner?<br /> :Cueball: What are you ''talking'' about?<br /> :Megan: Dammit.<br /> :[Megan is in bed, mom is sitting on the edge of the bed reading.]<br /> :My mom is one of those people who falls asleep while reading, but keeps talking. She's a math professor, so she'd start rambling about her work.<br /> :Mom:&lt;small&gt;But while the ant gathered food ...&lt;/small&gt;<br /> :Mom:&lt;small&gt;... zzzz ...&lt;/small&gt;<br /> :Mom:&lt;small&gt;... the grasshopper contracted to a point on a manifold that was ''not'' a 3-sphere ...&lt;/small&gt;<br /> :I'm still not sure which versions are real.<br /> :Cueball: You didn't notice the drastic subject changes?<br /> :Megan: Well, sometimes her versions were better. We loved ''Inductive White and the (n−1) Dwarfs''.<br /> :Megan: I guess ''The lim&lt;sub&gt;x→∞&lt;/sub&gt;(x) Little Pigs'' did get a bit weird toward the end...<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}} <br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Math]]<br /> [[Category:Romance]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1246:_Pale_Blue_Dot&diff=55018 2013-12-11T18:32:34Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>To call this a &quot;simple call for funding for space exploration&quot; completely misses the point of the Ba'al theology with which it is intertwined.<br /> <br /> :I think it completely misses all the points of the comic. --[[User:Kronf|Kronf]] ([[User talk:Kronf|talk]]) 11:44, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :This comic makes philosophical claims that cannot be falsified. Randall can't be serious about the soul eater. That's so dark. Theology? Sort of. But quite undeveloped. More like mythology. Does make one wonder: Why is there ''really'' something rather than nothing? ''&amp;mdash; [[User:Tbc|tbc]] ([[User talk:Tbc|talk]]) 12:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)''<br /> <br /> :Took at shot at adding something on this. (Long-time reader, first-time editor. Will create account at some point.) --[[Special:Contributions/173.13.203.241|173.13.203.241]] 14:58, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :(I wrote the following this morning, before anyone else had made any Talk/Discussion points, but then rushed out without saving it properly. Probably now not relevent, but here you are anyway...)<br /> :&quot;This is a simple call for funding of space exploration.&quot;??? I'd say that (whatever Randall, and I, think about the importance of funding space research) it's more an affectionate parody of the &quot;Consider this pale blue dot...&quot; speech, which it subverts by suggesting that arguably the ''most'' intellectually interesting image of the planet is indistinguishable from a manufacturing error in a LCD array (presumably in a computer projector) ''or'' from the kind of photo you get when you don't take the lens-cap off of a digital camera. Or so my take on it, is... [[Special:Contributions/178.98.215.19|178.98.215.19]] 18:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I did a deeper explain later, but Ba'an connects to this sentence. So that has to be explained, too. But in general you are correct.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:19, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> I'm sure Randall is talking about Stargate and the character {{w|Ba'al_(Stargate)#Ba.27al|Ba'al (Stargate)}}. This even does make more sense on the last sentence at the title text. While we have two theories on this the comic is incomplete.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 17:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> : I disagree. I don't believe Ba'al from Stargate was ever called &quot;Ba'al the Annihilator&quot; or &quot;Ba'al, the Eater of Souls&quot;. I think Randall's just making up it up. [[Special:Contributions/76.64.65.200|76.64.65.200]] 17:25, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> : I also disagree, though the description as stands is currently incorrect. &quot;Ba'al&quot; is not a specific deity in the Northwest Semitic pantheon, certainly not one &quot;associated with demonic or otherwise evil forces&quot;, it's a title that had been used for several different deities. However the name is often included in Jewish and Christian demonology where it probably got its &quot;evil&quot; connotation. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 18:30, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I absolutely disagree to you. Randall calls the US Congress for a higher budget, just to enhance our level on space technology. This really does not map to historical religions. And: Ba'an at Stargate is also a Lord. My two NASA budget cents.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:19, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::: My disagreement with your suggestion didn't owe anything to the objections I raised about the historicity of the term &quot;Ba'al&quot;. I don't think that his reference was to any specific deity in any particular pantheon, fictional or otherwise. The whole point of the alt-text is an ironic context for the motivation for space exploration; Sagan especially was an advocate of space exploration for the sake of knowledge and human progress, so the quasi-religious/mystical and nihilistic mantra here is in stark contrast to that (expected) rationale for exploration, and I think it's fitting given the initial premise: the insignificance of Earth against the cosmos. I really don't see the clause &quot;to join with Ba'al&quot; having anything to do with 'leading humans to the same technology level Ba'al' since it assumes Ba'al is a technological entity which only stems from the Stargate interpretation. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 20:23, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::: ^ +1. About Stargate, I can't claim to know what happens in season 9 and 10, but I've seen every episode in 1-8 and I've never seen him referred to as &quot;Ba'al the Annihilator&quot; or &quot;Ba'al, Eater of Souls&quot;. I grant that the Ba'al from Stargate is a System Lord, and a pretty badass one, but how does that help you prove your point? If Randall was trying to allude to Stargate, I think it would be much more obvious, like &quot;Lord Ba'al&quot; or something. The name &quot;Ba'al&quot; has been present in mythology long before Stargate used it. [[Special:Contributions/76.64.65.200|76.64.65.200]] 01:21, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::&quot;Annihilator&quot; and &quot;Eater of Souls&quot; is an invention by Randall, it also does not really match to your mystics. Further more the last sentence of the title text is not about a god, it's about technology we do not have right now. OK, the very last sentence is: Thank you. My 1337 NASA budget cents.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 16:40, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::: It sounds like you are admitting that the only grounds for attributing the reference to Stargate is your interpretation of the penultimate sentence, which as I said before [your interpretation] only makes sense if you believe the reference is to Stargate. I don't find that very convincing. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 21:42, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::First: Sign on here, so I can talk to you!<br /> ::::::Second: I do focus on science, like Randall does, looking for a NASA budget for real exploration.<br /> ::::::Randall is frustrated, like me, about the current funds and policies on space exploration.<br /> ::::::If you don't know {{w|Voyager program|Voyager}}, I can help. My 18 billions NASA budget hell.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:39, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::::::We are talking. Yes, I agree that Randall is an advocate for space exploration (though I don't think that's his point here) and I know all about the Voyager program, but I don't see how any of this makes your Stargate interpretation any more valid. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 23:24, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::::God shave the Queen, I lost my cents. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:53, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> On a completely different track, as is often the case, the main text can work in a contemporary way, as well as with knowledge of the historical reference: In this case, the publication by NASA of shots of Earth from Saturn and Mercury, in a conscious homage to the original &quot;blue spot&quot; picture. Eg [http://www.space.com/22076-earth-photos-saturn-mercury-offer-perspective.html] --[[User:FractalgeekUK|FractalgeekUK]]<br /> :Oh, yeah. I am sure Randall was inspired by this pictures.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:17, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> I have removed the last sentence again which refers to the author calling for the government of the United States of America to increase funding for their space program as part of the explanation of the comic. There is no such text in comic. Some editors of this page have insisted that the author has written this comic to propose or support policy change regarding actual funding for space exploration. Raising awareness for the subject of space exploration may be a motivator for the author to write this comic but I have not spoken with him on the matter and cannot claim to explain his motivations. Without any direct statement from the author regarding his intent I propose that discussion of the author's possible desire for increased spending on actual space exploration be contained here in the discussion page. The explanation as written clearly explains the information contained in the comic and the reader can make their own inference regarding the author's position on space exploration. {{unsigned|Mrarch}}<br /> <br /> ;&quot;I therefore call on Congress to fully fund space exploration...&quot;<br /> I did add the incomplete tag because this part of the title text still has to be explained.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 20:55, 10 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ::This sentence is explained already. I will attempt clarify the explanation further. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 21:16, 10 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :::Now, as I suggested earlier, please let us resolve any additional concerns you have here before we make any further edits to the page. Please let me know if there is anything else you find unclear about the explanation and we can arrive at an agreement on if any more explanation is required. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 21:25, 10 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::First, please do only one indent at each reply, reading is and editing is easier in that way. Second, please do not delete an incomplete tag while you do know other people disagree on this. Third: And that's my point, the Congress is the US-Congress, THANK YOU.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:34, 10 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::::THANK YOU for the advice on indentation. I will in the future make sure to make my edits with ease of reading in mind. We can leave the entry incomplete if you insist. You will not be able to convince anyone by simple repetition of your opinion. Please provide the evidence that I have obviously missed in the comic which shows that the congress mentioned is not the congress of Mexico, Albania, Peru, Micronesia, Ecuador or Bolivia or any other country which has a congress. Please, if you are able, also provide evidence that the congress is not the congress of an imaginary country, organization, or planet. Finally maybe you can illustrate for me what part of the comic any of that information helps to clarify and why you feel the explanation is not complete. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 00:09, 11 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::Helping on indents again..., and [[Randall]] is a citizen of Albania??? YES??? NO, he is just annoyed about some things happen at the Unites States. And I will send this ''two cents'' to NASA, I'm sure Randall does like.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 01:21, 11 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::::::The citizenship of the author does not determine the setting of any written work. Did you know that one of Shakespeare's most famous plays was set in Italy though he was a citizen of England? My point is that the specific congress and space program is left off the comic purposefully. I believe that the author would not specifically limit his desire for further space exploration to one nation and would welcome other nations funding space exploration. By not specifying the nationality of the speaker or the audience the comic is more inclusive. If the author was not specific in the comic than perhaps he was purposefully general. We would be '''interpreting''' the comic and not explaining the comic if we include any discussion of what nation to which he may be referring. That is why I proposed that you outline your '''interpretation''' that this is specific to NASA and The U.S., which is a perfectly valid '''interpretation''', in the discussion page. You have yet even attempted to explain why you feel the explanation is incomplete. Instead you have chosen to include some strange statement about sending coins to NASA and your belief that Randall would enjoy such a thing. I do not understand your point in this. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 18:32, 11 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ;Since we will never come up to an end on this trolling<br /> Any Idea? I don't know.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 01:21, 11 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> :Again I am trying to have a legitimate discussion on this and you are trying to dismiss my efforts as &quot;trolling&quot;. I do not appreciate your implications and will refer this matter to the admins if you continue. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 18:32, 11 December 2013 (UTC)</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1246:_Pale_Blue_Dot&diff=54965 2013-12-11T00:09:06Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>To call this a &quot;simple call for funding for space exploration&quot; completely misses the point of the Ba'al theology with which it is intertwined.<br /> <br /> :I think it completely misses all the points of the comic. --[[User:Kronf|Kronf]] ([[User talk:Kronf|talk]]) 11:44, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :This comic makes philosophical claims that cannot be falsified. Randall can't be serious about the soul eater. That's so dark. Theology? Sort of. But quite undeveloped. More like mythology. Does make one wonder: Why is there ''really'' something rather than nothing? ''&amp;mdash; [[User:Tbc|tbc]] ([[User talk:Tbc|talk]]) 12:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)''<br /> <br /> :Took at shot at adding something on this. (Long-time reader, first-time editor. Will create account at some point.) --[[Special:Contributions/173.13.203.241|173.13.203.241]] 14:58, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :(I wrote the following this morning, before anyone else had made any Talk/Discussion points, but then rushed out without saving it properly. Probably now not relevent, but here you are anyway...)<br /> :&quot;This is a simple call for funding of space exploration.&quot;??? I'd say that (whatever Randall, and I, think about the importance of funding space research) it's more an affectionate parody of the &quot;Consider this pale blue dot...&quot; speech, which it subverts by suggesting that arguably the ''most'' intellectually interesting image of the planet is indistinguishable from a manufacturing error in a LCD array (presumably in a computer projector) ''or'' from the kind of photo you get when you don't take the lens-cap off of a digital camera. Or so my take on it, is... [[Special:Contributions/178.98.215.19|178.98.215.19]] 18:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I did a deeper explain later, but Ba'an connects to this sentence. So that has to be explained, too. But in general you are correct.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:19, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> I'm sure Randall is talking about Stargate and the character {{w|Ba'al_(Stargate)#Ba.27al|Ba'al (Stargate)}}. This even does make more sense on the last sentence at the title text. While we have two theories on this the comic is incomplete.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 17:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> : I disagree. I don't believe Ba'al from Stargate was ever called &quot;Ba'al the Annihilator&quot; or &quot;Ba'al, the Eater of Souls&quot;. I think Randall's just making up it up. [[Special:Contributions/76.64.65.200|76.64.65.200]] 17:25, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> : I also disagree, though the description as stands is currently incorrect. &quot;Ba'al&quot; is not a specific deity in the Northwest Semitic pantheon, certainly not one &quot;associated with demonic or otherwise evil forces&quot;, it's a title that had been used for several different deities. However the name is often included in Jewish and Christian demonology where it probably got its &quot;evil&quot; connotation. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 18:30, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I absolutely disagree to you. Randall calls the US Congress for a higher budget, just to enhance our level on space technology. This really does not map to historical religions. And: Ba'an at Stargate is also a Lord. My two NASA budget cents.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:19, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::: My disagreement with your suggestion didn't owe anything to the objections I raised about the historicity of the term &quot;Ba'al&quot;. I don't think that his reference was to any specific deity in any particular pantheon, fictional or otherwise. The whole point of the alt-text is an ironic context for the motivation for space exploration; Sagan especially was an advocate of space exploration for the sake of knowledge and human progress, so the quasi-religious/mystical and nihilistic mantra here is in stark contrast to that (expected) rationale for exploration, and I think it's fitting given the initial premise: the insignificance of Earth against the cosmos. I really don't see the clause &quot;to join with Ba'al&quot; having anything to do with 'leading humans to the same technology level Ba'al' since it assumes Ba'al is a technological entity which only stems from the Stargate interpretation. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 20:23, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::: ^ +1. About Stargate, I can't claim to know what happens in season 9 and 10, but I've seen every episode in 1-8 and I've never seen him referred to as &quot;Ba'al the Annihilator&quot; or &quot;Ba'al, Eater of Souls&quot;. I grant that the Ba'al from Stargate is a System Lord, and a pretty badass one, but how does that help you prove your point? If Randall was trying to allude to Stargate, I think it would be much more obvious, like &quot;Lord Ba'al&quot; or something. The name &quot;Ba'al&quot; has been present in mythology long before Stargate used it. [[Special:Contributions/76.64.65.200|76.64.65.200]] 01:21, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::&quot;Annihilator&quot; and &quot;Eater of Souls&quot; is an invention by Randall, it also does not really match to your mystics. Further more the last sentence of the title text is not about a god, it's about technology we do not have right now. OK, the very last sentence is: Thank you. My 1337 NASA budget cents.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 16:40, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::: It sounds like you are admitting that the only grounds for attributing the reference to Stargate is your interpretation of the penultimate sentence, which as I said before [your interpretation] only makes sense if you believe the reference is to Stargate. I don't find that very convincing. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 21:42, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::First: Sign on here, so I can talk to you!<br /> ::::::Second: I do focus on science, like Randall does, looking for a NASA budget for real exploration.<br /> ::::::Randall is frustrated, like me, about the current funds and policies on space exploration.<br /> ::::::If you don't know {{w|Voyager program|Voyager}}, I can help. My 18 billions NASA budget hell.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:39, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::::::We are talking. Yes, I agree that Randall is an advocate for space exploration (though I don't think that's his point here) and I know all about the Voyager program, but I don't see how any of this makes your Stargate interpretation any more valid. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 23:24, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::::God shave the Queen, I lost my cents. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:53, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> On a completely different track, as is often the case, the main text can work in a contemporary way, as well as with knowledge of the historical reference: In this case, the publication by NASA of shots of Earth from Saturn and Mercury, in a conscious homage to the original &quot;blue spot&quot; picture. Eg [http://www.space.com/22076-earth-photos-saturn-mercury-offer-perspective.html] --[[User:FractalgeekUK|FractalgeekUK]]<br /> :Oh, yeah. I am sure Randall was inspired by this pictures.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:17, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> I have removed the last sentence again which refers to the author calling for the government of the United States of America to increase funding for their space program as part of the explanation of the comic. There is no such text in comic. Some editors of this page have insisted that the author has written this comic to propose or support policy change regarding actual funding for space exploration. Raising awareness for the subject of space exploration may be a motivator for the author to write this comic but I have not spoken with him on the matter and cannot claim to explain his motivations. Without any direct statement from the author regarding his intent I propose that discussion of the author's possible desire for increased spending on actual space exploration be contained here in the discussion page. The explanation as written clearly explains the information contained in the comic and the reader can make their own inference regarding the author's position on space exploration. {{unsigned|Mrarch}}<br /> <br /> ;&quot;I therefore call on Congress to fully fund space exploration...&quot;<br /> I did add the incomplete tag because this part of the title text still has to be explained.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 20:55, 10 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ::This sentence is explained already. I will attempt clarify the explanation further. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 21:16, 10 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :::Now, as I suggested earlier, please let us resolve any additional concerns you have here before we make any further edits to the page. Please let me know if there is anything else you find unclear about the explanation and we can arrive at an agreement on if any more explanation is required. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 21:25, 10 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::First, please do only one indent at each reply, reading is and editing is easier in that way. Second, please do not delete an incomplete tag while you do know other people disagree on this. Third: And that's my point, the Congress is the US-Congress, THANK YOU.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:34, 10 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::THANK YOU for the advice on indentation. I will in the future make sure to make my edits with ease of reading in mind. We can leave the entry incomplete if you insist. You will not be able to convince anyone by simple repetition of your opinion. Please provide the evidence that I have obviously missed in the comic which shows that the congress mentioned is not the congress of Mexico, Albania, Peru, Micronesia, Ecuador or Bolivia or any other country which has a congress. Please, if you are able, also provide evidence that the congress is not the congress of an imaginary country, organization, or planet. Finally maybe you can illustrate for me what part of the comic any of that information helps to clarify and why you feel the explanation is not complete. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 00:09, 11 December 2013 (UTC)</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1246:_Pale_Blue_Dot&diff=54947 2013-12-10T21:25:51Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>To call this a &quot;simple call for funding for space exploration&quot; completely misses the point of the Ba'al theology with which it is intertwined.<br /> <br /> :I think it completely misses all the points of the comic. --[[User:Kronf|Kronf]] ([[User talk:Kronf|talk]]) 11:44, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :This comic makes philosophical claims that cannot be falsified. Randall can't be serious about the soul eater. That's so dark. Theology? Sort of. But quite undeveloped. More like mythology. Does make one wonder: Why is there ''really'' something rather than nothing? ''&amp;mdash; [[User:Tbc|tbc]] ([[User talk:Tbc|talk]]) 12:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)''<br /> <br /> :Took at shot at adding something on this. (Long-time reader, first-time editor. Will create account at some point.) --[[Special:Contributions/173.13.203.241|173.13.203.241]] 14:58, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :(I wrote the following this morning, before anyone else had made any Talk/Discussion points, but then rushed out without saving it properly. Probably now not relevent, but here you are anyway...)<br /> :&quot;This is a simple call for funding of space exploration.&quot;??? I'd say that (whatever Randall, and I, think about the importance of funding space research) it's more an affectionate parody of the &quot;Consider this pale blue dot...&quot; speech, which it subverts by suggesting that arguably the ''most'' intellectually interesting image of the planet is indistinguishable from a manufacturing error in a LCD array (presumably in a computer projector) ''or'' from the kind of photo you get when you don't take the lens-cap off of a digital camera. Or so my take on it, is... [[Special:Contributions/178.98.215.19|178.98.215.19]] 18:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I did a deeper explain later, but Ba'an connects to this sentence. So that has to be explained, too. But in general you are correct.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:19, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> I'm sure Randall is talking about Stargate and the character {{w|Ba'al_(Stargate)#Ba.27al|Ba'al (Stargate)}}. This even does make more sense on the last sentence at the title text. While we have two theories on this the comic is incomplete.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 17:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> : I disagree. I don't believe Ba'al from Stargate was ever called &quot;Ba'al the Annihilator&quot; or &quot;Ba'al, the Eater of Souls&quot;. I think Randall's just making up it up. [[Special:Contributions/76.64.65.200|76.64.65.200]] 17:25, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> : I also disagree, though the description as stands is currently incorrect. &quot;Ba'al&quot; is not a specific deity in the Northwest Semitic pantheon, certainly not one &quot;associated with demonic or otherwise evil forces&quot;, it's a title that had been used for several different deities. However the name is often included in Jewish and Christian demonology where it probably got its &quot;evil&quot; connotation. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 18:30, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I absolutely disagree to you. Randall calls the US Congress for a higher budget, just to enhance our level on space technology. This really does not map to historical religions. And: Ba'an at Stargate is also a Lord. My two NASA budget cents.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:19, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::: My disagreement with your suggestion didn't owe anything to the objections I raised about the historicity of the term &quot;Ba'al&quot;. I don't think that his reference was to any specific deity in any particular pantheon, fictional or otherwise. The whole point of the alt-text is an ironic context for the motivation for space exploration; Sagan especially was an advocate of space exploration for the sake of knowledge and human progress, so the quasi-religious/mystical and nihilistic mantra here is in stark contrast to that (expected) rationale for exploration, and I think it's fitting given the initial premise: the insignificance of Earth against the cosmos. I really don't see the clause &quot;to join with Ba'al&quot; having anything to do with 'leading humans to the same technology level Ba'al' since it assumes Ba'al is a technological entity which only stems from the Stargate interpretation. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 20:23, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::: ^ +1. About Stargate, I can't claim to know what happens in season 9 and 10, but I've seen every episode in 1-8 and I've never seen him referred to as &quot;Ba'al the Annihilator&quot; or &quot;Ba'al, Eater of Souls&quot;. I grant that the Ba'al from Stargate is a System Lord, and a pretty badass one, but how does that help you prove your point? If Randall was trying to allude to Stargate, I think it would be much more obvious, like &quot;Lord Ba'al&quot; or something. The name &quot;Ba'al&quot; has been present in mythology long before Stargate used it. [[Special:Contributions/76.64.65.200|76.64.65.200]] 01:21, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::&quot;Annihilator&quot; and &quot;Eater of Souls&quot; is an invention by Randall, it also does not really match to your mystics. Further more the last sentence of the title text is not about a god, it's about technology we do not have right now. OK, the very last sentence is: Thank you. My 1337 NASA budget cents.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 16:40, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::: It sounds like you are admitting that the only grounds for attributing the reference to Stargate is your interpretation of the penultimate sentence, which as I said before [your interpretation] only makes sense if you believe the reference is to Stargate. I don't find that very convincing. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 21:42, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::First: Sign on here, so I can talk to you!<br /> ::::::Second: I do focus on science, like Randall does, looking for a NASA budget for real exploration.<br /> ::::::Randall is frustrated, like me, about the current funds and policies on space exploration.<br /> ::::::If you don't know {{w|Voyager program|Voyager}}, I can help. My 18 billions NASA budget hell.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:39, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::::::We are talking. Yes, I agree that Randall is an advocate for space exploration (though I don't think that's his point here) and I know all about the Voyager program, but I don't see how any of this makes your Stargate interpretation any more valid. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 23:24, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::::God shave the Queen, I lost my cents. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:53, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> On a completely different track, as is often the case, the main text can work in a contemporary way, as well as with knowledge of the historical reference: In this case, the publication by NASA of shots of Earth from Saturn and Mercury, in a conscious homage to the original &quot;blue spot&quot; picture. Eg [http://www.space.com/22076-earth-photos-saturn-mercury-offer-perspective.html] --[[User:FractalgeekUK|FractalgeekUK]]<br /> :Oh, yeah. I am sure Randall was inspired by this pictures.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:17, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> I have removed the last sentence again which refers to the author calling for the government of the United States of America to increase funding for their space program as part of the explanation of the comic. There is no such text in comic. Some editors of this page have insisted that the author has written this comic to propose or support policy change regarding actual funding for space exploration. Raising awareness for the subject of space exploration may be a motivator for the author to write this comic but I have not spoken with him on the matter and cannot claim to explain his motivations. Without any direct statement from the author regarding his intent I propose that discussion of the author's possible desire for increased spending on actual space exploration be contained here in the discussion page. The explanation as written clearly explains the information contained in the comic and the reader can make their own inference regarding the author's position on space exploration. {{unsigned|Mrarch}}<br /> <br /> ;&quot;I therefore call on Congress to fully fund space exploration...&quot;<br /> I did add the incomplete tag because this part of the title text still has to be explained.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 20:55, 10 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ::This sentence is explained already. I will attempt clarify the explanation further. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 21:16, 10 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ::::Now, as I suggested earlier, please let us resolve any additional concerns you have here before we make any further edits to the page. Please let me know if there is anything else you find unclear about the explanation and we can arrive at an agreement on if any more explanation is required. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 21:25, 10 December 2013 (UTC)</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1246:_Pale_Blue_Dot&diff=54944 2013-12-10T21:20:57Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 1246<br /> | date = August 2, 2013<br /> | title = Pale Blue Dot<br /> | image = pale_blue_dot.png<br /> | titletext = Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves. There is no road out of this oblivion; we must embrace it. We must join with the darkness. Ba'al the Annihilator offers us no happiness, no answers, naught but the cold embrace of the void. To imagine any other end is delusion. We must give in to the will of Ba'al, for he will one day consume us and our world alike. I therefore call on Congress to fully fund space exploration, and to join with Ba'al, the Eater of Souls. Thank you.<br /> }}<br /> ==Explanation==<br /> <br /> The {{w|Pale Blue Dot}} is a picture of the Earth taken in 1990 by the {{w|Voyager 1}} spacecraft at a distance about 6 billion kilometers (3.7 billion miles). It was part of the {{w|Family Portrait (Voyager)|Family Portrait}}, a series of images of the entire {{w|Solar System}} from beyond it. <br /> <br /> The picture was taken at the request of {{w|Carl Sagan}}, a well known space scientist at that time. In 1994 Sagan wrote the book &quot;{{w|Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space}}&quot; inspired by this picture. In the book, Sagan waxed eloquent about the picture in a widely-quoted passage. The complete passage can be found illustrated in this [http://zenpencils.com/comic/100-carl-sagan-pale-blue-dot/ Zen Pencils comic].<br /> <br /> [[Cueball]] quotes from a condensed version of this passage until he is interrupted by an argument over ''which'' speck in the picture is actually the Earth. When Cueball cries out in exasperation that it doesn't matter, then the entire authenticity of the image is called into question. This pokes fun at the fact that the {{w|Pale Blue Dot}} picture has very little visual attractiveness, apart from the intellectual interest relying on the viewer's knowledge that the central speck is actually our home planet seen from a great distance. <br /> <br /> The first two sentences of the title text are also a quotation from Sagan's paean to the Pale Blue Dot picture, but then the text veers humorously into non-scientific mysticism that starkly contrasts with the attitude and intent of the original work.<br /> <br /> The title text evokes {{w|Cosmicism}}, a philosophy developed and exemplified by the fictional {{w|Cthulhu_mythos|Cthulhu Mythos}}. This Mythos is expounded in fantasy/horror works of H.P. Lovecraft and, later, August Derleth, and features a cosmology in which humanity is depicted as inconsequential within a greater existence that is unknowable and frightening. Cosmicism asserts that humanity is doomed to destruction through the workings of vastly more powerful supernatural forces beyond our understanding. There are many instances in the fiction of H.P. Lovecraft of factions that embrace the destruction of humanity and actively work towards bringing about that end through the invocation of the unknowable and powerful forces that supporters of Cosmicism believe surround everything.<br /> <br /> The text also references {{w|Ba'al}}, originally a Semitic deity that has been since associated with demonic or otherwise evil forces. The name Ba'al, and other variants of the same, has been included in many other fictional works often as a villain or antagonist. For example, the fictional System Lord {{w|Ba'al (Stargate)#Ba.27al|Ba'al}} from the television show {{w|Stargate}}. The title text supplants all of the supernatural forces associated with Cosmicism in the works of other authors with Ba'al. The speaker in the title text is acting as a Cosmicist and is calling on the congress to which he is speaking to fund the space exploration program as a means to join with Ba'al, the Eater of souls. <br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball stands on a podium, the Pale Blue Dot picture is behind him]<br /> :Cueball: Consider this Pale Blue Dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. Everyone you love, every human being who ever was, every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived out their lives on this mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam. All our -<br /> :[Heckling]: I think that's a stuck pixel. We're the speck on the left.<br /> :Cueball: ...Ok, '''''this''''' Pale Blue Dot is everything you -<br /> :[Heckling]: No, you were right before. ''That'' one is earth.<br /> :Cueball: '''''Look, it doesn't matter!'''''<br /> :[Heckling]: I ''knew'' it!<br /> :[Heckling]: I think this is just a lens cap picture.<br /> <br /> ==Trivia==<br /> *At the time when this comic was published NASA did reveal two other pictures, showing our home planet from a long distance, [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/whycassini/cassini20130722.html Saturn] and [http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/gallery/sciencePhotos/image.php?image_id=1228 Mercury] probes did picture the Earth at the same time. Earth appears as a tiny dot in these images as well as a result of the vast distance between Earth and the probes.<br /> <br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Philosophy]]<br /> [[Category:Science]]<br /> [[Category:Astronomy]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1246:_Pale_Blue_Dot&diff=54942 2013-12-10T21:16:17Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>To call this a &quot;simple call for funding for space exploration&quot; completely misses the point of the Ba'al theology with which it is intertwined.<br /> <br /> :I think it completely misses all the points of the comic. --[[User:Kronf|Kronf]] ([[User talk:Kronf|talk]]) 11:44, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :This comic makes philosophical claims that cannot be falsified. Randall can't be serious about the soul eater. That's so dark. Theology? Sort of. But quite undeveloped. More like mythology. Does make one wonder: Why is there ''really'' something rather than nothing? ''&amp;mdash; [[User:Tbc|tbc]] ([[User talk:Tbc|talk]]) 12:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)''<br /> <br /> :Took at shot at adding something on this. (Long-time reader, first-time editor. Will create account at some point.) --[[Special:Contributions/173.13.203.241|173.13.203.241]] 14:58, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :(I wrote the following this morning, before anyone else had made any Talk/Discussion points, but then rushed out without saving it properly. Probably now not relevent, but here you are anyway...)<br /> :&quot;This is a simple call for funding of space exploration.&quot;??? I'd say that (whatever Randall, and I, think about the importance of funding space research) it's more an affectionate parody of the &quot;Consider this pale blue dot...&quot; speech, which it subverts by suggesting that arguably the ''most'' intellectually interesting image of the planet is indistinguishable from a manufacturing error in a LCD array (presumably in a computer projector) ''or'' from the kind of photo you get when you don't take the lens-cap off of a digital camera. Or so my take on it, is... [[Special:Contributions/178.98.215.19|178.98.215.19]] 18:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I did a deeper explain later, but Ba'an connects to this sentence. So that has to be explained, too. But in general you are correct.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:19, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> I'm sure Randall is talking about Stargate and the character {{w|Ba'al_(Stargate)#Ba.27al|Ba'al (Stargate)}}. This even does make more sense on the last sentence at the title text. While we have two theories on this the comic is incomplete.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 17:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> : I disagree. I don't believe Ba'al from Stargate was ever called &quot;Ba'al the Annihilator&quot; or &quot;Ba'al, the Eater of Souls&quot;. I think Randall's just making up it up. [[Special:Contributions/76.64.65.200|76.64.65.200]] 17:25, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> : I also disagree, though the description as stands is currently incorrect. &quot;Ba'al&quot; is not a specific deity in the Northwest Semitic pantheon, certainly not one &quot;associated with demonic or otherwise evil forces&quot;, it's a title that had been used for several different deities. However the name is often included in Jewish and Christian demonology where it probably got its &quot;evil&quot; connotation. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 18:30, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I absolutely disagree to you. Randall calls the US Congress for a higher budget, just to enhance our level on space technology. This really does not map to historical religions. And: Ba'an at Stargate is also a Lord. My two NASA budget cents.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:19, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::: My disagreement with your suggestion didn't owe anything to the objections I raised about the historicity of the term &quot;Ba'al&quot;. I don't think that his reference was to any specific deity in any particular pantheon, fictional or otherwise. The whole point of the alt-text is an ironic context for the motivation for space exploration; Sagan especially was an advocate of space exploration for the sake of knowledge and human progress, so the quasi-religious/mystical and nihilistic mantra here is in stark contrast to that (expected) rationale for exploration, and I think it's fitting given the initial premise: the insignificance of Earth against the cosmos. I really don't see the clause &quot;to join with Ba'al&quot; having anything to do with 'leading humans to the same technology level Ba'al' since it assumes Ba'al is a technological entity which only stems from the Stargate interpretation. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 20:23, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::: ^ +1. About Stargate, I can't claim to know what happens in season 9 and 10, but I've seen every episode in 1-8 and I've never seen him referred to as &quot;Ba'al the Annihilator&quot; or &quot;Ba'al, Eater of Souls&quot;. I grant that the Ba'al from Stargate is a System Lord, and a pretty badass one, but how does that help you prove your point? If Randall was trying to allude to Stargate, I think it would be much more obvious, like &quot;Lord Ba'al&quot; or something. The name &quot;Ba'al&quot; has been present in mythology long before Stargate used it. [[Special:Contributions/76.64.65.200|76.64.65.200]] 01:21, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::&quot;Annihilator&quot; and &quot;Eater of Souls&quot; is an invention by Randall, it also does not really match to your mystics. Further more the last sentence of the title text is not about a god, it's about technology we do not have right now. OK, the very last sentence is: Thank you. My 1337 NASA budget cents.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 16:40, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::: It sounds like you are admitting that the only grounds for attributing the reference to Stargate is your interpretation of the penultimate sentence, which as I said before [your interpretation] only makes sense if you believe the reference is to Stargate. I don't find that very convincing. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 21:42, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::First: Sign on here, so I can talk to you!<br /> ::::::Second: I do focus on science, like Randall does, looking for a NASA budget for real exploration.<br /> ::::::Randall is frustrated, like me, about the current funds and policies on space exploration.<br /> ::::::If you don't know {{w|Voyager program|Voyager}}, I can help. My 18 billions NASA budget hell.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:39, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::::::We are talking. Yes, I agree that Randall is an advocate for space exploration (though I don't think that's his point here) and I know all about the Voyager program, but I don't see how any of this makes your Stargate interpretation any more valid. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 23:24, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::::God shave the Queen, I lost my cents. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:53, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> On a completely different track, as is often the case, the main text can work in a contemporary way, as well as with knowledge of the historical reference: In this case, the publication by NASA of shots of Earth from Saturn and Mercury, in a conscious homage to the original &quot;blue spot&quot; picture. Eg [http://www.space.com/22076-earth-photos-saturn-mercury-offer-perspective.html] --[[User:FractalgeekUK|FractalgeekUK]]<br /> :Oh, yeah. I am sure Randall was inspired by this pictures.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:17, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> I have removed the last sentence again which refers to the author calling for the government of the United States of America to increase funding for their space program as part of the explanation of the comic. There is no such text in comic. Some editors of this page have insisted that the author has written this comic to propose or support policy change regarding actual funding for space exploration. Raising awareness for the subject of space exploration may be a motivator for the author to write this comic but I have not spoken with him on the matter and cannot claim to explain his motivations. Without any direct statement from the author regarding his intent I propose that discussion of the author's possible desire for increased spending on actual space exploration be contained here in the discussion page. The explanation as written clearly explains the information contained in the comic and the reader can make their own inference regarding the author's position on space exploration. {{unsigned|Mrarch}}<br /> {{cot}}<br /> :Randall says:<br /> :*&quot;I therefore call on Congress to fully fund space exploration, ... Thank you.&quot;<br /> :So, what's the problem? Randall is, like me, just annoyed about the current US space policy. NASA budget was 4.41% of the entire US Fed Budget in 1966, but today it's only 0.48%. That's the tenth part of the maximum in 1966. At that time NASA did build the [[Up Goer Five]] and today NASA has to build the {{w|Space Launch System|SLS}}, which is simply not possible. Space exploration needs some money, even when it is still a small part at the US Fed Budget. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 21:21, 9 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :: The problem is the ellipsis (...) that handy quoting tool that you think lets you reinterpret the quote however you want. The omitted portion clearly places that comment within the framework of the joke and not as a real world call for funding to NASA or any other operating space program. Whatever your feelings are about the state of funding for any portion of the U.S budget; this comic makes no mention of it. In fact it does not reference NASA or The U.S. at all. There is a generic space exploration program requesting funding that is under review by an unspecified congress. I feel you have projected your interpretation of the author's intent too strongly by including any statement about this in the explanation and are attempting to present your opinions as if they were those of the author. I don't know the author's opinion on space exploration funding and unless you can show me a notarized transcript of the conversation you had with him regarding the subject; I don't believe you know his opinions either. Please feel free to express YOUR opinions on the state of the U.S. budget in any appropriate forum. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 22:04, 9 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::I don't express my feelings, I just cite RANDALL: &quot;I therefore call on Congress to fully fund space exploration, ... THANK YOU.&quot;--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:01, 9 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ::::Since we are such fans of quoting here are a few to consider.<br /> <br /> ::::&quot;I don't express my feelings ...&quot; -dgbrt<br /> <br /> :::: compare to <br /> <br /> ::::&quot;Randall is, '''like me''', just annoyed about the current US space policy&quot; - dgbrt<br /> <br /> ::::&quot;'''I''' do focus on ... looking for a NASA budget for real exploration.&quot; -dbgrt<br /> <br /> ::::&quot;Randall is frustrated, '''like me''', about the current funds and policies on space exploration.&quot; -dgbrt<br /> <br /> ::::Thank-you also for taking the time to discuss this with me instead of mindlessly repeating your point without further explanation or supporting arguments. I am very interested in learning more about the reasoning behind your point of view and humbly ask for further clarification. could you please explain to me why you feel this is referring to NASA and why you keep omitting the portion of the quote that supplies the context? [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 23:34, 9 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :::::Holy crap, my feelings (you don't like) are just a real SMALL sidestep here. PLEASE EXPLAIN THE COMIC, NOT ME!!!--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:51, 9 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::We have explained the comic. I consider it complete. If you will not defend your inclusion of the sentence insisting that this comic is an attempt to influence the budget policy of the U.S. to provide more funding to NASA then please do not continue re-adding it and we can consider the matter closed.[[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 00:01, 10 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::::::&quot;We have explained the comic&quot;, but not me but you. GREAT TROLL! You have to know that I'm working on many other issues here, not only explains and I'm patient to listen on criticisms, I'm doing this discussion seriously, but I'm stopping to talk with trolls. Sorry, my patient comes to an end at this discussion here. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 00:33, 10 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::::I'm stepping in here now that this discussion is getting personal. With the agreement of the both of you, I can delete everything within the collapsed area, or remove the bounds if a civil discussion can be maintained. This also counts as a warning to Dgbrt; name-calling is not conducive to meaningful discussion, and further offenses will be met with a short block. '''[[User:Davidy22|&lt;u&gt;{{Color|#707|David}}&lt;font color=#070 size=3&gt;y&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;font color=#508 size=4&gt;²²&lt;/font&gt;]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|&lt;tt&gt;[talk]&lt;/tt&gt;]] 00:57, 10 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :::::::::::You are right Davidy22. we have gone outside of the area of discussing the comic and I apologize for my part in the matter. dgbrt, I had meant to include you in the we I mentioned earlier as I do recognize that you are an active and valued member of this community and that you have contributed to this explanation as well as other areas of the site. I was simply frustrated that you did not seem to be answering my questions or respond to my suggestion to keep the discussion of the author's intent to the talk page. I am still willing to hear an explanation of your point of view, if you would care to provide it, or we can agree to have a discussion of the author's intent in the talk page. I think that removing the text regarding our personal disagreement from this forum is for the best as it does not show either of us in our best light. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 15:51, 10 December 2013 (UTC) <br /> ::::::::::::Davidy22 and Mrarch, I did extend the collapse area. If Mrarch agrees too that content should be deleted.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 20:55, 10 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> {{cob}}<br /> <br /> ;&quot;I therefore call on Congress to fully fund space exploration...&quot;<br /> I did add the incomplete tag because this part of the title text still has to be explained.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 20:55, 10 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ::This sentence is explained already. I will attempt clarify the explanation further. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 21:16, 10 December 2013 (UTC)</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1253:_Exoplanet_Names&diff=54936 2013-12-10T20:54:23Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 1253<br /> | date = August 19, 2013<br /> | title = Exoplanet Names<br /> | image = exoplanet names.png<br /> | titletext = If you have any ideas, I hear you can send them to &lt;nowiki&gt;iaupublic@iap.fr&lt;/nowiki&gt;.<br /> }}<br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete|all references in the table may not be clearly explained}}<br /> <br /> On the 14th August 2013, the {{w|International Astronomical Union}} (IAU) [http://www.iau.org/science/news/179/ issued a document] about public naming of astronomical objects. It stated, &quot;IAU fully supports the involvement of the general public, whether directly or through an independent organised vote, in the naming of planetary satellites, newly discovered planets, and their host stars.&quot; It also contained, amongst other things, guidelines that suggested names should meet. These include stipulations such as &quot;16 characters or less&quot;, &quot;preferably one word&quot;, being &quot;pronounceable (in as many languages as possible)&quot;, &quot;not too similar to an existing name of an astronomical object&quot;, avoiding commercial names, and being &quot;respectful of intellectual property&quot;. If we go down the list, we can see that many of Randall's suggestions do indeed violate the guidelines. Which is part of the joke as it reflects the tendency of internet submissions to ignore such softly suggested guidelines. <br /> <br /> The randomness and inappropriateness of the suggested names reflects the commonly expected response from anonymous submitters on the internet. Many forums and contests that call for online response and do not apply strict control over the responses receive similar collections of random, inappropriate and obscure submissions that are often only tangentially related to the original subject. For example Greenpeace held a naming contest for one of the whales recently tagged in their research and preservation campaign and even after selecting the finalists the online voting resulted in naming the whale &quot;Mr. Splashypants&quot;. PepsiCo had even less restrictive controls in their marketing campaign that asked the internet to name a new flavour of Mountain Dew. They had to shut down the contest in order to avoid naming the new beverage &quot;Hitler did nothing wrong&quot; which was the current leader at the time and only marginally the most inappropriate of the top ten voted suggestions. <br /> <br /> The document also states that naming suggestions may be sent to the email that Randall included in the title text.<br /> <br /> {| class=&quot;wikitable&quot;<br /> ! Star !! Planet !! Suggested Name !! Explanation<br /> |-<br /> | rowspan=7 | {{w|Gliese 667}} || {{w|Gliese 667 Cb|b}} || Space Planet || A very unoriginal name; every planet is in space.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Gliese 667 Cc|c}} || PILF || Pun of {{w|MILF pornography|MILF}}, i.e. ''Planet I'd Like to Fuck''. Planet c is a relatively hot planet, within the habitable zone.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Gliese 667 Cd|d}} || A Star || &quot;A {{w|Star}}&quot; is obviously a bad name for a planet. A* (pronounced &quot;A star&quot;) is already used in in astronomy, for example the Milky Way's black hole core is {{w|Sagittarius A*}}. &quot;A star&quot; is also the name for the character {{w|asterisk}} and the name of the popular {{w|A* search algorithm}} in computer science.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Gliese 667 Ce|e}} || e'); DROP TABLE PLANETS;-- || A reference to {{w|SQL injection}}, riffing off of [[327|comic 327]], which featured a schoolboy named &lt;code&gt;[[Robert'); DROP TABLE students;--]]&lt;/code&gt;. The idea here is that the IAU would enter the name into their system and promptly lose all of their data pertaining to planets. Note that Planet e is located in the habitable zone of the star system.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Gliese 667 Cf|f}} || Blogosphere || rowspan = 2 | Weird ''{{w|blog}}''-related terms are a recurring theme in xkcd. See, for instance, [[181|comic 181]].<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Gliese 667 Cg|g}} || Blogodrome<br /> |-<br /> |[http://exoplanet.eu/catalog/gj_667c_h/ h] || Earth || Planet candidate h is about the mass of the Earth, and described as &quot;tantalizing&quot;: [http://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/abs/2013/08/aa21331-13/aa21331-13.html A dynamically-packed planetary system around GJ with three super-Earths in its habitable zone]. See also ([[1231: Habitable Zone]]).<br /> |-<br /> | rowspan=5 | {{w|Tau Ceti}} || [http://exoplanet.eu/catalog/tau_cet_b/ b] || Sid Meier's Tau&amp;nbsp;Ceti&amp;nbsp;B || This refers to the game {{w|Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri}}.<br /> |-<br /> | [http://exoplanet.eu/catalog/tau_cet_c/ c] || Giant Dog Planet || {{w|VY Canis Majoris}} is one of the largest known stars at our galaxy and belongs to the constellation {{w|Canis Major}}, Latin for &quot;greater dog&quot;. The constellation further contains {{w|Sirius}}, the brightest star in the night sky, also called &quot;Dog Star&quot;.<br /> |-<br /> |[http://exoplanet.eu/catalog/tau_cet_d/ d] || Tiny Dog Planet || cf. {{w|Canis Minor}}, Latin for &quot;lesser dog&quot;, another constellation.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Tau Ceti e|e}} || Phil Plainet || A reference to {{w|Phil Plait}}, a.k.a. The Bad Astronomer.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Tau Ceti f|f}} || Unicode Snowman || The Unicode character [http://www.fileformat.info/info/unicode/char/2603/index.htm &lt;span style=&quot;font-size:200%&quot;&gt;&amp;#x2603;&lt;/span&gt;] may be a reference to the planet's estimated surface temperature of -40°C (-40°F). However, this name would be pronounced differently (being a symbol, not a word or name) in different languages.<br /> |-<br /> | {{w|Gliese 832}} || {{w|Gliese 832 b|b}} || Asshole Jupiter || This massive planet orbits a {{w|red dwarf}} star at the longest known period of 3416 days at this category.<br /> |-<br /> | rowspan=6 | {{w|Gliese 581}} || {{w|Gliese 581 b|b}} || Waist-deep Cats || {{w|Waist Deep}} is an action film from 2006, and the {{w|Lolcat}} meme does not need explaining. The name may also simply be a reference to being &quot;waist-deep&quot; in (i.e. surrounded by many) cats.<br /> |-<br /> | {{w|Gliese|c}} || Planet #14 || About 200th discovered exoplanet (in 2007); reported to be the first potentially Earth-like planet in the habitable zone of its star, though that is in doubt now. The joke might be that like &quot;Space Planet&quot;, &quot;Planet #14&quot; is a generic and unoriginal name. Also note that this is the 15th entry in the table.<br /> An interesting (?) coincidence is that the 14th and 15th {{w|Definition of planet#Minor planets|Minor planets}} (then called asteroids) were discovered in 1851; see see {{w|List of minor planets: 1–1000}}. If they were to be counted among the planets of the {{w|Solar System}}, as was sometimes done then, the 14th known planetary body would be {{w|7 Iris}} (discovered in 1847, a year before {{w|Neptune}}).<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Gliese 581 d|d}} || Ballderaan || A {{w|wikt:balls|crude pun}} on the planet {{w|Alderaan}} from the ''{{w|Star Wars}}'' universe.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Gliese 581 e|e}} || Eternia Prime || {{w|Eternia}} is a fictional planet, venue of the ''{{w|Masters of the Universe}}'' animated series and toy collection.<br /> |-<br /> | {{w|Gliese 581 f|f}} || Taupe Mars || {{w|Kim Stanley Robinson}}'s award-winning {{w|Mars trilogy}} (''Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars'' after various stages of {{w|terraformation}}). {{w|Taupe}} is a brownish-grey colour.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Gliese|g}} || Jelly-Filled Planet || Possibly a reference to the conjecture that this tidally locked planet has an isolated habitable zone under the substellar point, akin to the pocket of jelly in a jelly doughnut.<br /> |-<br /> | rowspan=2 | {{w|Epsilon Eridani}} || {{w|Epsilon Eridani b|b}} || Skydot || [http://skydot.lanl.gov SkyDOT] is the Sky Database for Objects in Time-Domain run by {{w|LANL}} for the {{w|U.S. Dept. of Energy}} and includes data for [http://skydot.lanl.gov/nsvs/star.php?num=14831575&amp;mask=32004 Epsilon Eridani] that can be used to constrain the orbital parameters of &amp;epsilon; Eri b.<br /> |-<br /> | {{w|Epsilon Eridani c#Planet_c|c}} || Laser Noises || A {{w|Laser}} does not produce {{w|Noise (electronics)|noise}} in the signal sense; it only works at a well defined frequency. In science fiction films, however, laser weapon discharges are usually accompanied by sound. Sun-like Epsilon Eridani became a popular setting for science fiction after its publicity as a target of the {{w|Project Ozma}} experiment.<br /> |-<br /> | rowspan=2 | {{w|Gliese 176}} || {{w|Gliese 176 b|b}} || Pandora || The mythological name {{w|Pandora}} fulfills most of IAU's guidelines and has been popular for planets in science fiction; most recently and famously is {{w|Pandora (Avatar)|the venue}} of James Cameron's ''{{w|Avatar (film)|Avatar}}'' (although actually it is not a planet but just a moon of a gas giant in Alfa Centauri A). It is also a hellish planet from {{w|Frank Herbert}}'s {{w|Frank Herbert bibliography#WorShip novels|WorShip}} series of novels, a jungle planet in Brothers Strugatsky's {{w|Noon Universe}} and the planet used in {{w|Borderlands (video game)|Borderlands Games}}.<br /> |-<br /> | [http://exoplanet.eu/catalog/gj_176_c/ c] || Pantera || Named for the {{w|Pantera|heavy metal band}} - which was named after an Italian sports car, the {{w|De Tomaso Pantera}}.<br /> |-<br /> | Kepler-61 || {{w|Kepler-61b|b}} || GoldenPalace.com || A gambling website, known for {{w|GoldenPalace.com|paying to have their name in unusual places}} (like forehead tattoos, species names...).<br /> |-<br /> ! colspan=4 | (right column)<br /> |-<br /> | rowspan=3 | {{w|Upsilon Andromedae}} || {{w|Upsilon Andromedae c|c}} || Stampy || The name of the elephant from the {{w|Simpsons}} episode {{w|Bart Gets an Elephant}}.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Upsilon Andromedae d|d}} || Moonchild || The name Bastian gives the Childlike Empress in {{w|The Neverending Story}}.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Upsilon Andromedae e|e}} || Ham Sphere || [http://www.hamsphere.com HamSphere] is a {{w|Amateur radio|Ham Radio}} simulator program. Ham radio uses designated radio frequencies for non-commercial exchange of messages and more. A pun of Hemisphere.<br /> |-<br /> | rowspan=3 | {{w|. Eridani|HD 20794}} || [http://exoplanet.eu/catalog/hd_20794_b/ b] || Cosmic Sands || style=&quot;font-family:'Comic Sans MS', 'Comic Sans'&quot; | A {{w|pun}} on the name of the font {{w|Comic Sans}}. (&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:papyrus&quot;&gt;See also: [[590|590: Papyrus]].&lt;/span&gt;)<br /> |-<br /> | [http://exoplanet.eu/catalog/hd_20794_c/ c] || Legoland || {{w|Legoland}} is a chain of {{w|theme park}}s owned by the {{w|Lego Group}}.<br /> |-<br /> |[http://exoplanet.eu/catalog/hd_20794_d/ d] || Planet with Arms || A reference to the [http://www.thecolorsofmysoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/The-Hitchhikers-Guide-to-the-Galaxy.jpg early covers] of {{w|Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy}}?<br /> |-<br /> | {{w|HD 85512}} || {{w|HD 85512 b|b}} || Lax Morality || Possibly a parody of science fiction in which certain planets are suggested to be uniformly... lax in morals (i.e. full of sex, drugs, etc.). See http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Planetville and related.<br /> |-<br /> | rowspan=6 | {{w|HD 40307}} || {{w|HD 40307 b|b}} || Good Planet || Similar to the above, except with good planets. May also be yet another non-descriptive name, like &quot;Space Planet&quot; and &quot;Planet #14&quot;.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|HD|c}} || ProblemLand || See above.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|HD 40307 d|d}} || Slickle || This is a reference to &quot;[http://zdarsky.tumblr.com/post/2837139960 The Petals Fall Twice]&quot;, which was made as a humorous example of bad fan-fiction. The word itself is a portmanteau of &quot;slowly&quot;, &quot;licked&quot;, and &quot;tickled&quot;.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|HD 40307 e|e}} || Spare Parts || This suggests that the planet is &quot;worthless&quot; or &quot;junk&quot;. This is false, of course. May be a reference to the fact it is a planet with nothing much different from the other planets.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|HD 40307 f|f}} || New Jersey VI || Refers to the state of {{w|New Jersey}}; may be an insult to either.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|HD|g}} || How Do I Join the&amp;nbsp;IAU || This implies that the user &quot;got lost&quot; on the IAU website and thought that the &quot;planet name suggestion&quot; input was for general queries.<br /> |-<br /> | rowspan=3 | {{w|Gliese 163}} || [http://exoplanet.eu/catalog/gj_163_b/ b] || Neil Tyson's Mustache || {{w|Neil deGrasse Tyson}} is a famous American astrophysicist and science communicator who does maintain a distinguished mustache.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Gliese|c}} || help@gmail.com || Similar to &quot;How Do I Join the IAU&quot;, this implies that the user confused the &quot;planet suggestion&quot; text box for a new email they are trying to send<br /> |-<br /> |[http://exoplanet.eu/catalog/gj_163_d/ d] || Hair-Covered Planet || Refers to the well-known {{w|Hairy ball theorem}} of topology.<br /> |-<br /> | {{w|Pi Mensae}} || {{w|Pi Mensae b|b}} || Moon Holder || {{w|Jupiter}} has more than 60 discovered moons, and still counting... A planet ten times more massive ''must'' also be a Moon Holder.<br /> |-<br /> | {{w|HD 189733}} || {{w|HD 189733 b|b}} || Permadeath || A well-characterized &quot;{{w|Hot Jupiter}}&quot; at a temperature range of 973 ± 33 K to 1,212 ± 11 K. The name refers to the feature of {{w|Permanent death}} common in many RPGs and roguelikes.<br /> |-<br /> | {{w|Kepler-22}} || {{w|Kepler-22 b|b}} || Blue Ivy || Blue Ivy Carter is the daughter of musicians {{w|Beyoncé}} and {{w|Jay-Z}}.<br /> |-<br /> | Kepler-3284 || b || Blainsley ||<br /> |-<br /> | Kepler-3255 || b || Unicorn Thresher ||<br /> |-<br /> | Kepler-2418 || b || Spherical Discworld || {{w|The Discworld}} is the fictional setting for British author {{w|Terry Pratchett}}'s {{w|Discworld}} series of humorous fantasy novels; it consists of a large disc supported by four elephants themselves standing on top of a turtle flying through space.<br /> |-<br /> | Kepler-1686 || {{w|KOI-1686.01|b}} || Emergency Backup Earth || This candidate planet has an {{w|Earth Similarity Index}} of 0.89, making it one of the most habitable {{w|Kepler object of interest}}. The name suggests that it could be used as a backup in case something happened to our current planet.<br /> |-<br /> | Kepler-3010 || b || Feeeoooooooop || Possibly the onomatopoeia for something getting sucked into a black hole.<br /> |-<br /> | Kepler-4742 || b || Liz || ...Just a regular name (for a person, not a planet). Maybe a reference to the Magic School Bus. <br /> |}<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :August 2013:<br /> :The International Astronomical Union decides to start naming exoplanets, and&amp;mdash;for the first time ever&amp;mdash;asks for suggestions from the general public.<br /> :They immediately regret this decision.<br /> :[Ponytail, Megan, Cueball, and a woman with a bun hairstyle are looking at a computer screen. Ponytail is facepalming.]<br /> :Cueball‏‎: Can't you filter out the worst ones?<br /> :Rightmost Woman: This is '''''after''''' the filter!<br /> :[Table showing a list of planet names is shown.]<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> <br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball‏‎]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br /> [[Category:Astronomy]]<br /> [[Category:Sex]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Little Bobby Tables]]<br /> [[Category:Exoplanets]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1253:_Exoplanet_Names&diff=54935 2013-12-10T20:53:12Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 1253<br /> | date = August 19, 2013<br /> | title = Exoplanet Names<br /> | image = exoplanet names.png<br /> | titletext = If you have any ideas, I hear you can send them to &lt;nowiki&gt;iaupublic@iap.fr&lt;/nowiki&gt;.<br /> }}<br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete|1253: Exoplanet Names}}<br /> <br /> On the 14th August 2013, the {{w|International Astronomical Union}} (IAU) [http://www.iau.org/science/news/179/ issued a document] about public naming of astronomical objects. It stated, &quot;IAU fully supports the involvement of the general public, whether directly or through an independent organised vote, in the naming of planetary satellites, newly discovered planets, and their host stars.&quot; It also contained, amongst other things, guidelines that suggested names should meet. These include stipulations such as &quot;16 characters or less&quot;, &quot;preferably one word&quot;, being &quot;pronounceable (in as many languages as possible)&quot;, &quot;not too similar to an existing name of an astronomical object&quot;, avoiding commercial names, and being &quot;respectful of intellectual property&quot;. If we go down the list, we can see that many of Randall's suggestions do indeed violate the guidelines. Which is part of the joke as it reflects the tendency of internet submissions to ignore such softly suggested guidelines. <br /> <br /> The randomness and inappropriateness of the suggested names reflects the commonly expected response from anonymous submitters on the internet. Many forums and contests that call for online response and do not apply strict control over the responses receive similar collections of random, inappropriate and obscure submissions that are often only tangentially related to the original subject. For example Greenpeace held a naming contest for one of the whales recently tagged in their research and preservation campaign and even after selecting the finalists the online voting resulted in naming the whale &quot;Mr. Splashypants&quot;. PepsiCo had even less restrictive controls in their marketing campaign that asked the internet to name a new flavour of Mountain Dew. They had to shut down the contest in order to avoid naming the new beverage &quot;Hitler did nothing wrong&quot; which was the current leader at the time and only marginally the most inappropriate of the top ten voted suggestions. <br /> <br /> The document also states that naming suggestions may be sent to the email that Randall included in the title text.<br /> <br /> {| class=&quot;wikitable&quot;<br /> ! Star !! Planet !! Suggested Name !! Explanation<br /> |-<br /> | rowspan=7 | {{w|Gliese 667}} || {{w|Gliese 667 Cb|b}} || Space Planet || A very unoriginal name; every planet is in space.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Gliese 667 Cc|c}} || PILF || Pun of {{w|MILF pornography|MILF}}, i.e. ''Planet I'd Like to Fuck''. Planet c is a relatively hot planet, within the habitable zone.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Gliese 667 Cd|d}} || A Star || &quot;A {{w|Star}}&quot; is obviously a bad name for a planet. A* (pronounced &quot;A star&quot;) is already used in in astronomy, for example the Milky Way's black hole core is {{w|Sagittarius A*}}. &quot;A star&quot; is also the name for the character {{w|asterisk}} and the name of the popular {{w|A* search algorithm}} in computer science.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Gliese 667 Ce|e}} || e'); DROP TABLE PLANETS;-- || A reference to {{w|SQL injection}}, riffing off of [[327|comic 327]], which featured a schoolboy named &lt;code&gt;[[Robert'); DROP TABLE students;--]]&lt;/code&gt;. The idea here is that the IAU would enter the name into their system and promptly lose all of their data pertaining to planets. Note that Planet e is located in the habitable zone of the star system.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Gliese 667 Cf|f}} || Blogosphere || rowspan = 2 | Weird ''{{w|blog}}''-related terms are a recurring theme in xkcd. See, for instance, [[181|comic 181]].<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Gliese 667 Cg|g}} || Blogodrome<br /> |-<br /> |[http://exoplanet.eu/catalog/gj_667c_h/ h] || Earth || Planet candidate h is about the mass of the Earth, and described as &quot;tantalizing&quot;: [http://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/abs/2013/08/aa21331-13/aa21331-13.html A dynamically-packed planetary system around GJ with three super-Earths in its habitable zone]. See also ([[1231: Habitable Zone]]).<br /> |-<br /> | rowspan=5 | {{w|Tau Ceti}} || [http://exoplanet.eu/catalog/tau_cet_b/ b] || Sid Meier's Tau&amp;nbsp;Ceti&amp;nbsp;B || This refers to the game {{w|Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri}}.<br /> |-<br /> | [http://exoplanet.eu/catalog/tau_cet_c/ c] || Giant Dog Planet || {{w|VY Canis Majoris}} is one of the largest known stars at our galaxy and belongs to the constellation {{w|Canis Major}}, Latin for &quot;greater dog&quot;. The constellation further contains {{w|Sirius}}, the brightest star in the night sky, also called &quot;Dog Star&quot;.<br /> |-<br /> |[http://exoplanet.eu/catalog/tau_cet_d/ d] || Tiny Dog Planet || cf. {{w|Canis Minor}}, Latin for &quot;lesser dog&quot;, another constellation.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Tau Ceti e|e}} || Phil Plainet || A reference to {{w|Phil Plait}}, a.k.a. The Bad Astronomer.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Tau Ceti f|f}} || Unicode Snowman || The Unicode character [http://www.fileformat.info/info/unicode/char/2603/index.htm &lt;span style=&quot;font-size:200%&quot;&gt;&amp;#x2603;&lt;/span&gt;] may be a reference to the planet's estimated surface temperature of -40°C (-40°F). However, this name would be pronounced differently (being a symbol, not a word or name) in different languages.<br /> |-<br /> | {{w|Gliese 832}} || {{w|Gliese 832 b|b}} || Asshole Jupiter || This massive planet orbits a {{w|red dwarf}} star at the longest known period of 3416 days at this category.<br /> |-<br /> | rowspan=6 | {{w|Gliese 581}} || {{w|Gliese 581 b|b}} || Waist-deep Cats || {{w|Waist Deep}} is an action film from 2006, and the {{w|Lolcat}} meme does not need explaining. The name may also simply be a reference to being &quot;waist-deep&quot; in (i.e. surrounded by many) cats.<br /> |-<br /> | {{w|Gliese|c}} || Planet #14 || About 200th discovered exoplanet (in 2007); reported to be the first potentially Earth-like planet in the habitable zone of its star, though that is in doubt now. The joke might be that like &quot;Space Planet&quot;, &quot;Planet #14&quot; is a generic and unoriginal name. Also note that this is the 15th entry in the table.<br /> An interesting (?) coincidence is that the 14th and 15th {{w|Definition of planet#Minor planets|Minor planets}} (then called asteroids) were discovered in 1851; see see {{w|List of minor planets: 1–1000}}. If they were to be counted among the planets of the {{w|Solar System}}, as was sometimes done then, the 14th known planetary body would be {{w|7 Iris}} (discovered in 1847, a year before {{w|Neptune}}).<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Gliese 581 d|d}} || Ballderaan || A {{w|wikt:balls|crude pun}} on the planet {{w|Alderaan}} from the ''{{w|Star Wars}}'' universe.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Gliese 581 e|e}} || Eternia Prime || {{w|Eternia}} is a fictional planet, venue of the ''{{w|Masters of the Universe}}'' animated series and toy collection.<br /> |-<br /> | {{w|Gliese 581 f|f}} || Taupe Mars || {{w|Kim Stanley Robinson}}'s award-winning {{w|Mars trilogy}} (''Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars'' after various stages of {{w|terraformation}}). {{w|Taupe}} is a brownish-grey colour.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Gliese|g}} || Jelly-Filled Planet || Possibly a reference to the conjecture that this tidally locked planet has an isolated habitable zone under the substellar point, akin to the pocket of jelly in a jelly doughnut.<br /> |-<br /> | rowspan=2 | {{w|Epsilon Eridani}} || {{w|Epsilon Eridani b|b}} || Skydot || [http://skydot.lanl.gov SkyDOT] is the Sky Database for Objects in Time-Domain run by {{w|LANL}} for the {{w|U.S. Dept. of Energy}} and includes data for [http://skydot.lanl.gov/nsvs/star.php?num=14831575&amp;mask=32004 Epsilon Eridani] that can be used to constrain the orbital parameters of &amp;epsilon; Eri b.<br /> |-<br /> | {{w|Epsilon Eridani c#Planet_c|c}} || Laser Noises || A {{w|Laser}} does not produce {{w|Noise (electronics)|noise}} in the signal sense; it only works at a well defined frequency. In science fiction films, however, laser weapon discharges are usually accompanied by sound. Sun-like Epsilon Eridani became a popular setting for science fiction after its publicity as a target of the {{w|Project Ozma}} experiment.<br /> |-<br /> | rowspan=2 | {{w|Gliese 176}} || {{w|Gliese 176 b|b}} || Pandora || The mythological name {{w|Pandora}} fulfills most of IAU's guidelines and has been popular for planets in science fiction; most recently and famously is {{w|Pandora (Avatar)|the venue}} of James Cameron's ''{{w|Avatar (film)|Avatar}}'' (although actually it is not a planet but just a moon of a gas giant in Alfa Centauri A). It is also a hellish planet from {{w|Frank Herbert}}'s {{w|Frank Herbert bibliography#WorShip novels|WorShip}} series of novels, a jungle planet in Brothers Strugatsky's {{w|Noon Universe}} and the planet used in {{w|Borderlands (video game)|Borderlands Games}}.<br /> |-<br /> | [http://exoplanet.eu/catalog/gj_176_c/ c] || Pantera || Named for the {{w|Pantera|heavy metal band}} - which was named after an Italian sports car, the {{w|De Tomaso Pantera}}.<br /> |-<br /> | Kepler-61 || {{w|Kepler-61b|b}} || GoldenPalace.com || A gambling website, known for {{w|GoldenPalace.com|paying to have their name in unusual places}} (like forehead tattoos, species names...).<br /> |-<br /> ! colspan=4 | (right column)<br /> |-<br /> | rowspan=3 | {{w|Upsilon Andromedae}} || {{w|Upsilon Andromedae c|c}} || Stampy || The name of the elephant from the {{w|Simpsons}} episode {{w|Bart Gets an Elephant}}.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Upsilon Andromedae d|d}} || Moonchild || The name Bastian gives the Childlike Empress in {{w|The Neverending Story}}.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Upsilon Andromedae e|e}} || Ham Sphere || [http://www.hamsphere.com HamSphere] is a {{w|Amateur radio|Ham Radio}} simulator program. Ham radio uses designated radio frequencies for non-commercial exchange of messages and more. A pun of Hemisphere.<br /> |-<br /> | rowspan=3 | {{w|. Eridani|HD 20794}} || [http://exoplanet.eu/catalog/hd_20794_b/ b] || Cosmic Sands || style=&quot;font-family:'Comic Sans MS', 'Comic Sans'&quot; | A {{w|pun}} on the name of the font {{w|Comic Sans}}. (&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:papyrus&quot;&gt;See also: [[590|590: Papyrus]].&lt;/span&gt;)<br /> |-<br /> | [http://exoplanet.eu/catalog/hd_20794_c/ c] || Legoland || {{w|Legoland}} is a chain of {{w|theme park}}s owned by the {{w|Lego Group}}.<br /> |-<br /> |[http://exoplanet.eu/catalog/hd_20794_d/ d] || Planet with Arms || A reference to the [http://www.thecolorsofmysoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/The-Hitchhikers-Guide-to-the-Galaxy.jpg early covers] of {{w|Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy}}?<br /> |-<br /> | {{w|HD 85512}} || {{w|HD 85512 b|b}} || Lax Morality || Possibly a parody of science fiction in which certain planets are suggested to be uniformly... lax in morals (i.e. full of sex, drugs, etc.). See http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Planetville and related.<br /> |-<br /> | rowspan=6 | {{w|HD 40307}} || {{w|HD 40307 b|b}} || Good Planet || Similar to the above, except with good planets. May also be yet another non-descriptive name, like &quot;Space Planet&quot; and &quot;Planet #14&quot;.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|HD|c}} || ProblemLand || See above.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|HD 40307 d|d}} || Slickle || This is a reference to &quot;[http://zdarsky.tumblr.com/post/2837139960 The Petals Fall Twice]&quot;, which was made as a humorous example of bad fan-fiction. The word itself is a portmanteau of &quot;slowly&quot;, &quot;licked&quot;, and &quot;tickled&quot;.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|HD 40307 e|e}} || Spare Parts || This suggests that the planet is &quot;worthless&quot; or &quot;junk&quot;. This is false, of course. May be a reference to the fact it is a planet with nothing much different from the other planets.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|HD 40307 f|f}} || New Jersey VI || Refers to the state of {{w|New Jersey}}; may be an insult to either.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|HD|g}} || How Do I Join the&amp;nbsp;IAU || This implies that the user &quot;got lost&quot; on the IAU website and thought that the &quot;planet name suggestion&quot; input was for general queries.<br /> |-<br /> | rowspan=3 | {{w|Gliese 163}} || [http://exoplanet.eu/catalog/gj_163_b/ b] || Neil Tyson's Mustache || {{w|Neil deGrasse Tyson}} is a famous American astrophysicist and science communicator who does maintain a distinguished mustache.<br /> |-<br /> |{{w|Gliese|c}} || help@gmail.com || Similar to &quot;How Do I Join the IAU&quot;, this implies that the user confused the &quot;planet suggestion&quot; text box for a new email they are trying to send<br /> |-<br /> |[http://exoplanet.eu/catalog/gj_163_d/ d] || Hair-Covered Planet || Refers to the well-known {{w|Hairy ball theorem}} of topology.<br /> |-<br /> | {{w|Pi Mensae}} || {{w|Pi Mensae b|b}} || Moon Holder || {{w|Jupiter}} has more than 60 discovered moons, and still counting... A planet ten times more massive ''must'' also be a Moon Holder.<br /> |-<br /> | {{w|HD 189733}} || {{w|HD 189733 b|b}} || Permadeath || A well-characterized &quot;{{w|Hot Jupiter}}&quot; at a temperature range of 973 ± 33 K to 1,212 ± 11 K. The name refers to the feature of {{w|Permanent death}} common in many RPGs and roguelikes.<br /> |-<br /> | {{w|Kepler-22}} || {{w|Kepler-22 b|b}} || Blue Ivy || Blue Ivy Carter is the daughter of musicians {{w|Beyoncé}} and {{w|Jay-Z}}.<br /> |-<br /> | Kepler-3284 || b || Blainsley ||<br /> |-<br /> | Kepler-3255 || b || Unicorn Thresher ||<br /> |-<br /> | Kepler-2418 || b || Spherical Discworld || {{w|The Discworld}} is the fictional setting for British author {{w|Terry Pratchett}}'s {{w|Discworld}} series of humorous fantasy novels; it consists of a large disc supported by four elephants themselves standing on top of a turtle flying through space.<br /> |-<br /> | Kepler-1686 || {{w|KOI-1686.01|b}} || Emergency Backup Earth || This candidate planet has an {{w|Earth Similarity Index}} of 0.89, making it one of the most habitable {{w|Kepler object of interest}}. The name suggests that it could be used as a backup in case something happened to our current planet.<br /> |-<br /> | Kepler-3010 || b || Feeeoooooooop || Possibly the onomatopoeia for something getting sucked into a black hole.<br /> |-<br /> | Kepler-4742 || b || Liz || ...Just a regular name (for a person, not a planet). Maybe a reference to the Magic School Bus. <br /> |}<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :August 2013:<br /> :The International Astronomical Union decides to start naming exoplanets, and&amp;mdash;for the first time ever&amp;mdash;asks for suggestions from the general public.<br /> :They immediately regret this decision.<br /> :[Ponytail, Megan, Cueball, and a woman with a bun hairstyle are looking at a computer screen. Ponytail is facepalming.]<br /> :Cueball‏‎: Can't you filter out the worst ones?<br /> :Rightmost Woman: This is '''''after''''' the filter!<br /> :[Table showing a list of planet names is shown.]<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> <br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball‏‎]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br /> [[Category:Astronomy]]<br /> [[Category:Sex]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Little Bobby Tables]]<br /> [[Category:Exoplanets]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=815:_Mu&diff=54928 2013-12-10T20:22:57Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 815<br /> | date = November 5, 2010<br /> | title = Mu<br /> | image = mu.png<br /> | titletext = As the CoKF approaches 0, productivity goes negative as you pull OTHER people into chair-spinning contests.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> <br /> The title of the comic, &quot;Mu&quot;, refers to the symbol μ. This letter of the Greek alphabet is commonly used in mathematics and physics to denote the {{w|coefficient of friction}} which describes the ratio of the force of friction between two connected bodies.<br /> <br /> Desk chairs usually have the ability to turn and some chairs spin more easily than others. A desk chair which spins easily could be described as having a low coefficient of friction. The horizontal axis of the chart ranges from very easy to spin on the left, to very difficult to spin on the right. The comic shows that if the chair is too difficult to turn it is annoying and impacts productivity. However, if it is too low spinning one's chair becomes more fun than working.<br /> <br /> The title text notes that if your chair spins too easily, you can actually hurt other people's productivity by spinning competitively. This explains why the extreme left of the graph drops to negative productivity.<br /> <br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball spins in circles on a chair next to a desk. A graph of productivity vs Coefficient of friction of desk chair shows a curve that drops off very quickly as the coefficient of friction approaches zero, with the productivity becoming negative at low values. It plateaus in the middle of the graph, and then begins to drop less steeply as coefficient of friction increases above the optimal point.]<br /> :Cueball: Wheeeeeeee<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Charts]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1246:_Pale_Blue_Dot&diff=54891 2013-12-10T15:51:17Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>To call this a &quot;simple call for funding for space exploration&quot; completely misses the point of the Ba'al theology with which it is intertwined.<br /> <br /> :I think it completely misses all the points of the comic. --[[User:Kronf|Kronf]] ([[User talk:Kronf|talk]]) 11:44, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :This comic makes philosophical claims that cannot be falsified. Randall can't be serious about the soul eater. That's so dark. Theology? Sort of. But quite undeveloped. More like mythology. Does make one wonder: Why is there ''really'' something rather than nothing? ''&amp;mdash; [[User:Tbc|tbc]] ([[User talk:Tbc|talk]]) 12:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)''<br /> <br /> :Took at shot at adding something on this. (Long-time reader, first-time editor. Will create account at some point.) --[[Special:Contributions/173.13.203.241|173.13.203.241]] 14:58, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :(I wrote the following this morning, before anyone else had made any Talk/Discussion points, but then rushed out without saving it properly. Probably now not relevent, but here you are anyway...)<br /> :&quot;This is a simple call for funding of space exploration.&quot;??? I'd say that (whatever Randall, and I, think about the importance of funding space research) it's more an affectionate parody of the &quot;Consider this pale blue dot...&quot; speech, which it subverts by suggesting that arguably the ''most'' intellectually interesting image of the planet is indistinguishable from a manufacturing error in a LCD array (presumably in a computer projector) ''or'' from the kind of photo you get when you don't take the lens-cap off of a digital camera. Or so my take on it, is... [[Special:Contributions/178.98.215.19|178.98.215.19]] 18:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I did a deeper explain later, but Ba'an connects to this sentence. So that has to be explained, too. But in general you are correct.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:19, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> I'm sure Randall is talking about Stargate and the character {{w|Ba'al_(Stargate)#Ba.27al|Ba'al (Stargate)}}. This even does make more sense on the last sentence at the title text. While we have two theories on this the comic is incomplete.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 17:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> : I disagree. I don't believe Ba'al from Stargate was ever called &quot;Ba'al the Annihilator&quot; or &quot;Ba'al, the Eater of Souls&quot;. I think Randall's just making up it up. [[Special:Contributions/76.64.65.200|76.64.65.200]] 17:25, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> : I also disagree, though the description as stands is currently incorrect. &quot;Ba'al&quot; is not a specific deity in the Northwest Semitic pantheon, certainly not one &quot;associated with demonic or otherwise evil forces&quot;, it's a title that had been used for several different deities. However the name is often included in Jewish and Christian demonology where it probably got its &quot;evil&quot; connotation. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 18:30, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I absolutely disagree to you. Randall calls the US Congress for a higher budget, just to enhance our level on space technology. This really does not map to historical religions. And: Ba'an at Stargate is also a Lord. My two NASA budget cents.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:19, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::: My disagreement with your suggestion didn't owe anything to the objections I raised about the historicity of the term &quot;Ba'al&quot;. I don't think that his reference was to any specific deity in any particular pantheon, fictional or otherwise. The whole point of the alt-text is an ironic context for the motivation for space exploration; Sagan especially was an advocate of space exploration for the sake of knowledge and human progress, so the quasi-religious/mystical and nihilistic mantra here is in stark contrast to that (expected) rationale for exploration, and I think it's fitting given the initial premise: the insignificance of Earth against the cosmos. I really don't see the clause &quot;to join with Ba'al&quot; having anything to do with 'leading humans to the same technology level Ba'al' since it assumes Ba'al is a technological entity which only stems from the Stargate interpretation. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 20:23, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::: ^ +1. About Stargate, I can't claim to know what happens in season 9 and 10, but I've seen every episode in 1-8 and I've never seen him referred to as &quot;Ba'al the Annihilator&quot; or &quot;Ba'al, Eater of Souls&quot;. I grant that the Ba'al from Stargate is a System Lord, and a pretty badass one, but how does that help you prove your point? If Randall was trying to allude to Stargate, I think it would be much more obvious, like &quot;Lord Ba'al&quot; or something. The name &quot;Ba'al&quot; has been present in mythology long before Stargate used it. [[Special:Contributions/76.64.65.200|76.64.65.200]] 01:21, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::&quot;Annihilator&quot; and &quot;Eater of Souls&quot; is an invention by Randall, it also does not really match to your mystics. Further more the last sentence of the title text is not about a god, it's about technology we do not have right now. OK, the very last sentence is: Thank you. My 1337 NASA budget cents.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 16:40, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::: It sounds like you are admitting that the only grounds for attributing the reference to Stargate is your interpretation of the penultimate sentence, which as I said before [your interpretation] only makes sense if you believe the reference is to Stargate. I don't find that very convincing. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 21:42, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::First: Sign on here, so I can talk to you!<br /> ::::::Second: I do focus on science, like Randall does, looking for a NASA budget for real exploration.<br /> ::::::Randall is frustrated, like me, about the current funds and policies on space exploration.<br /> ::::::If you don't know {{w|Voyager program|Voyager}}, I can help. My 18 billions NASA budget hell.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:39, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::::::We are talking. Yes, I agree that Randall is an advocate for space exploration (though I don't think that's his point here) and I know all about the Voyager program, but I don't see how any of this makes your Stargate interpretation any more valid. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 23:24, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::::God shave the Queen, I lost my cents. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:53, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> On a completely different track, as is often the case, the main text can work in a contemporary way, as well as with knowledge of the historical reference: In this case, the publication by NASA of shots of Earth from Saturn and Mercury, in a conscious homage to the original &quot;blue spot&quot; picture. Eg [http://www.space.com/22076-earth-photos-saturn-mercury-offer-perspective.html] --[[User:FractalgeekUK|FractalgeekUK]]<br /> :Oh, yeah. I am sure Randall was inspired by this pictures.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:17, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> I have removed the last sentence again which refers to the author calling for the government of the United States of America to increase funding for their space program as part of the explanation of the comic. There is no such text in comic. Some editors of this page have insisted that the author has written this comic to propose or support policy change regarding actual funding for space exploration. Raising awareness for the subject of space exploration may be a motivator for the author to write this comic but I have not spoken with him on the matter and cannot claim to explain his motivations. Without any direct statement from the author regarding his intent I propose that discussion of the author's possible desire for increased spending on actual space exploration be contained here in the discussion page. The explanation as written clearly explains the information contained in the comic and the reader can make their own inference regarding the author's position on space exploration. {{unsigned|Mrarch}}<br /> :Randall says:<br /> :*&quot;I therefore call on Congress to fully fund space exploration, ... Thank you.&quot;<br /> :So, what's the problem? Randall is, like me, just annoyed about the current US space policy. NASA budget was 4.41% of the entire US Fed Budget in 1966, but today it's only 0.48%. That's the tenth part of the maximum in 1966. At that time NASA did build the [[Up Goer Five]] and today NASA has to build the {{w|Space Launch System|SLS}}, which is simply not possible. Space exploration needs some money, even when it is still a small part at the US Fed Budget. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 21:21, 9 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :: The problem is the ellipsis (...) that handy quoting tool that you think lets you reinterpret the quote however you want. The omitted portion clearly places that comment within the framework of the joke and not as a real world call for funding to NASA or any other operating space program. Whatever your feelings are about the state of funding for any portion of the U.S budget; this comic makes no mention of it. In fact it does not reference NASA or The U.S. at all. There is a generic space exploration program requesting funding that is under review by an unspecified congress. I feel you have projected your interpretation of the author's intent too strongly by including any statement about this in the explanation and are attempting to present your opinions as if they were those of the author. I don't know the author's opinion on space exploration funding and unless you can show me a notarized transcript of the conversation you had with him regarding the subject; I don't believe you know his opinions either. Please feel free to express YOUR opinions on the state of the U.S. budget in any appropriate forum. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 22:04, 9 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::I don't express my feelings, I just cite RANDALL: &quot;I therefore call on Congress to fully fund space exploration, ... THANK YOU.&quot;--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:01, 9 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ::::Since we are such fans of quoting here are a few to consider.<br /> <br /> ::::&quot;I don't express my feelings ...&quot; -dgbrt<br /> <br /> :::: compare to <br /> <br /> ::::&quot;Randall is, '''like me''', just annoyed about the current US space policy&quot; - dgbrt<br /> <br /> ::::&quot;'''I''' do focus on ... looking for a NASA budget for real exploration.&quot; -dbgrt<br /> <br /> ::::&quot;Randall is frustrated, '''like me''', about the current funds and policies on space exploration.&quot; -dgbrt<br /> <br /> ::::Thank-you also for taking the time to discuss this with me instead of mindlessly repeating your point without further explanation or supporting arguments. I am very interested in learning more about the reasoning behind your point of view and humbly ask for further clarification. could you please explain to me why you feel this is referring to NASA and why you keep omitting the portion of the quote that supplies the context? [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 23:34, 9 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> {{cot}}<br /> :::::Holy crap, my feelings (you don't like) are just a real SMALL sidestep here. PLEASE EXPLAIN THE COMIC, NOT ME!!!--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:51, 9 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::We have explained the comic. I consider it complete. If you will not defend your inclusion of the sentence insisting that this comic is an attempt to influence the budget policy of the U.S. to provide more funding to NASA then please do not continue re-adding it and we can consider the matter closed.[[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 00:01, 10 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::::::&quot;We have explained the comic&quot;, but not me but you. GREAT TROLL! You have to know that I'm working on many other issues here, not only explains and I'm patient to listen on criticisms, I'm doing this discussion seriously, but I'm stopping to talk with trolls. Sorry, my patient comes to an end at this discussion here. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 00:33, 10 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::::I'm stepping in here now that this discussion is getting personal. With the agreement of the both of you, I can delete everything within the collapsed area, or remove the bounds if a civil discussion can be maintained. This also counts as a warning to Dgbrt; name-calling is not conducive to meaningful discouraged, and further offenses will be met with a short block. '''[[User:Davidy22|&lt;u&gt;{{Color|#707|David}}&lt;font color=#070 size=3&gt;y&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;font color=#508 size=4&gt;²²&lt;/font&gt;]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|&lt;tt&gt;[talk]&lt;/tt&gt;]] 00:57, 10 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :::::::::::You are right Davidy22. we have gone outside of the area of discussing the comic and I apologize for my part in the matter. dgbrt, I had meant to include you in the we I mentioned earlier as I do recognize that you are an active and valued member of this community and that you have contributed to this explanation as well as other areas of the site. I was simply frustrated that you did not seem to be answering my questions or respond to my suggestion to keep the discussion of the author's intent to the talk page. I am still willing to hear an explanation of your point of view, if you would care to provide it, or we can agree to have a discussion of the author's intent in the talk page. I think that removing the text regarding our personal disagreement from this forum is for the best as it does not show either of us in our best light. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 15:51, 10 December 2013 (UTC) <br /> {{cob}}</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1246:_Pale_Blue_Dot&diff=54829 2013-12-10T00:01:46Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>To call this a &quot;simple call for funding for space exploration&quot; completely misses the point of the Ba'al theology with which it is intertwined.<br /> <br /> :I think it completely misses all the points of the comic. --[[User:Kronf|Kronf]] ([[User talk:Kronf|talk]]) 11:44, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :This comic makes philosophical claims that cannot be falsified. Randall can't be serious about the soul eater. That's so dark. Theology? Sort of. But quite undeveloped. More like mythology. Does make one wonder: Why is there ''really'' something rather than nothing? ''&amp;mdash; [[User:Tbc|tbc]] ([[User talk:Tbc|talk]]) 12:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)''<br /> <br /> :Took at shot at adding something on this. (Long-time reader, first-time editor. Will create account at some point.) --[[Special:Contributions/173.13.203.241|173.13.203.241]] 14:58, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :(I wrote the following this morning, before anyone else had made any Talk/Discussion points, but then rushed out without saving it properly. Probably now not relevent, but here you are anyway...)<br /> :&quot;This is a simple call for funding of space exploration.&quot;??? I'd say that (whatever Randall, and I, think about the importance of funding space research) it's more an affectionate parody of the &quot;Consider this pale blue dot...&quot; speech, which it subverts by suggesting that arguably the ''most'' intellectually interesting image of the planet is indistinguishable from a manufacturing error in a LCD array (presumably in a computer projector) ''or'' from the kind of photo you get when you don't take the lens-cap off of a digital camera. Or so my take on it, is... [[Special:Contributions/178.98.215.19|178.98.215.19]] 18:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I did a deeper explain later, but Ba'an connects to this sentence. So that has to be explained, too. But in general you are correct.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:19, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> I'm sure Randall is talking about Stargate and the character {{w|Ba'al_(Stargate)#Ba.27al|Ba'al (Stargate)}}. This even does make more sense on the last sentence at the title text. While we have two theories on this the comic is incomplete.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 17:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> : I disagree. I don't believe Ba'al from Stargate was ever called &quot;Ba'al the Annihilator&quot; or &quot;Ba'al, the Eater of Souls&quot;. I think Randall's just making up it up. [[Special:Contributions/76.64.65.200|76.64.65.200]] 17:25, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> : I also disagree, though the description as stands is currently incorrect. &quot;Ba'al&quot; is not a specific deity in the Northwest Semitic pantheon, certainly not one &quot;associated with demonic or otherwise evil forces&quot;, it's a title that had been used for several different deities. However the name is often included in Jewish and Christian demonology where it probably got its &quot;evil&quot; connotation. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 18:30, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I absolutely disagree to you. Randall calls the US Congress for a higher budget, just to enhance our level on space technology. This really does not map to historical religions. And: Ba'an at Stargate is also a Lord. My two NASA budget cents.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:19, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::: My disagreement with your suggestion didn't owe anything to the objections I raised about the historicity of the term &quot;Ba'al&quot;. I don't think that his reference was to any specific deity in any particular pantheon, fictional or otherwise. The whole point of the alt-text is an ironic context for the motivation for space exploration; Sagan especially was an advocate of space exploration for the sake of knowledge and human progress, so the quasi-religious/mystical and nihilistic mantra here is in stark contrast to that (expected) rationale for exploration, and I think it's fitting given the initial premise: the insignificance of Earth against the cosmos. I really don't see the clause &quot;to join with Ba'al&quot; having anything to do with 'leading humans to the same technology level Ba'al' since it assumes Ba'al is a technological entity which only stems from the Stargate interpretation. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 20:23, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::: ^ +1. About Stargate, I can't claim to know what happens in season 9 and 10, but I've seen every episode in 1-8 and I've never seen him referred to as &quot;Ba'al the Annihilator&quot; or &quot;Ba'al, Eater of Souls&quot;. I grant that the Ba'al from Stargate is a System Lord, and a pretty badass one, but how does that help you prove your point? If Randall was trying to allude to Stargate, I think it would be much more obvious, like &quot;Lord Ba'al&quot; or something. The name &quot;Ba'al&quot; has been present in mythology long before Stargate used it. [[Special:Contributions/76.64.65.200|76.64.65.200]] 01:21, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::&quot;Annihilator&quot; and &quot;Eater of Souls&quot; is an invention by Randall, it also does not really match to your mystics. Further more the last sentence of the title text is not about a god, it's about technology we do not have right now. OK, the very last sentence is: Thank you. My 1337 NASA budget cents.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 16:40, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::: It sounds like you are admitting that the only grounds for attributing the reference to Stargate is your interpretation of the penultimate sentence, which as I said before [your interpretation] only makes sense if you believe the reference is to Stargate. I don't find that very convincing. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 21:42, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::First: Sign on here, so I can talk to you!<br /> ::::::Second: I do focus on science, like Randall does, looking for a NASA budget for real exploration.<br /> ::::::Randall is frustrated, like me, about the current funds and policies on space exploration.<br /> ::::::If you don't know {{w|Voyager program|Voyager}}, I can help. My 18 billions NASA budget hell.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:39, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::::::We are talking. Yes, I agree that Randall is an advocate for space exploration (though I don't think that's his point here) and I know all about the Voyager program, but I don't see how any of this makes your Stargate interpretation any more valid. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 23:24, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::::God shave the Queen, I lost my cents. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:53, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> On a completely different track, as is often the case, the main text can work in a contemporary way, as well as with knowledge of the historical reference: In this case, the publication by NASA of shots of Earth from Saturn and Mercury, in a conscious homage to the original &quot;blue spot&quot; picture. Eg [http://www.space.com/22076-earth-photos-saturn-mercury-offer-perspective.html] --[[User:FractalgeekUK|FractalgeekUK]]<br /> :Oh, yeah. I am sure Randall was inspired by this pictures.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:17, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> I have removed the last sentence again which refers to the author calling for the government of the United States of America to increase funding for their space program as part of the explanation of the comic. There is no such text in comic. Some editors of this page have insisted that the author has written this comic to propose or support policy change regarding actual funding for space exploration. Raising awareness for the subject of space exploration may be a motivator for the author to write this comic but I have not spoken with him on the matter and cannot claim to explain his motivations. Without any direct statement from the author regarding his intent I propose that discussion of the author's possible desire for increased spending on actual space exploration be contained here in the discussion page. The explanation as written clearly explains the information contained in the comic and the reader can make their own inference regarding the author's position on space exploration. {{unsigned|Mrarch}}<br /> :Randall says:<br /> :*&quot;I therefore call on Congress to fully fund space exploration, ... Thank you.&quot;<br /> :So, what's the problem? Randall is, like me, just annoyed about the current US space policy. NASA budget was 4.41% of the entire US Fed Budget in 1966, but today it's only 0.48%. That's the tenth part of the maximum in 1966. At that time NASA did build the [[Up Goer Five]] and today NASA has to build the {{w|Space Launch System|SLS}}, which is simply not possible. Space exploration needs some money, even when it is still a small part at the US Fed Budget. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 21:21, 9 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :: The problem is the ellipsis (...) that handy quoting tool that you think lets you reinterpret the quote however you want. The omitted portion clearly places that comment within the framework of the joke and not as a real world call for funding to NASA or any other operating space program. Whatever your feelings are about the state of funding for any portion of the U.S budget; this comic makes no mention of it. In fact it does not reference NASA or The U.S. at all. There is a generic space exploration program requesting funding that is under review by an unspecified congress. I feel you have projected your interpretation of the author's intent too strongly by including any statement about this in the explanation and are attempting to present your opinions as if they were those of the author. I don't know the author's opinion on space exploration funding and unless you can show me a notarized transcript of the conversation you had with him regarding the subject; I don't believe you know his opinions either. Please feel free to express YOUR opinions on the state of the U.S. budget in any appropriate forum. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 22:04, 9 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::I don't express my feelings, I just cite RANDALL: &quot;I therefore call on Congress to fully fund space exploration, ... THANK YOU.&quot;--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:01, 9 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ::::Since we are such fans of quoting here are a few to consider.<br /> <br /> ::::&quot;I don't express my feelings ...&quot; -dgbrt<br /> <br /> :::: compare to <br /> <br /> ::::&quot;Randall is, '''like me''', just annoyed about the current US space policy&quot; - dgbrt<br /> <br /> ::::&quot;'''I''' do focus on ... looking for a NASA budget for real exploration.&quot; -dbgrt<br /> <br /> ::::&quot;Randall is frustrated, '''like me''', about the current funds and policies on space exploration.&quot; -dgbrt<br /> <br /> ::::Thank-you also for taking the time to discuss this with me instead of mindlessly repeating your point without further explanation or supporting arguments. I am very interested in learning more about the reasoning behind your point of view and humbly ask for further clarification. could you please explain to me why you feel this is referring to NASA and why you keep omitting the portion of the quote that supplies the context? [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 23:34, 9 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::::Holy crap, my feelings (you don't like) are just a real SMALL sidestep here. PLEASE EXPLAIN THE COMIC, NOT ME!!!--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:51, 9 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::We have explained the comic. I consider it complete. If you will not defend your inclusion of the sentence insisting that this comic is an attempt to influence the budget policy of the U.S. to provide more funding to NASA then please do not continue re-adding it and we can consider the matter closed.[[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 00:01, 10 December 2013 (UTC)</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1246:_Pale_Blue_Dot&diff=54825 2013-12-09T23:34:39Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>To call this a &quot;simple call for funding for space exploration&quot; completely misses the point of the Ba'al theology with which it is intertwined.<br /> <br /> :I think it completely misses all the points of the comic. --[[User:Kronf|Kronf]] ([[User talk:Kronf|talk]]) 11:44, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :This comic makes philosophical claims that cannot be falsified. Randall can't be serious about the soul eater. That's so dark. Theology? Sort of. But quite undeveloped. More like mythology. Does make one wonder: Why is there ''really'' something rather than nothing? ''&amp;mdash; [[User:Tbc|tbc]] ([[User talk:Tbc|talk]]) 12:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)''<br /> <br /> :Took at shot at adding something on this. (Long-time reader, first-time editor. Will create account at some point.) --[[Special:Contributions/173.13.203.241|173.13.203.241]] 14:58, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :(I wrote the following this morning, before anyone else had made any Talk/Discussion points, but then rushed out without saving it properly. Probably now not relevent, but here you are anyway...)<br /> :&quot;This is a simple call for funding of space exploration.&quot;??? I'd say that (whatever Randall, and I, think about the importance of funding space research) it's more an affectionate parody of the &quot;Consider this pale blue dot...&quot; speech, which it subverts by suggesting that arguably the ''most'' intellectually interesting image of the planet is indistinguishable from a manufacturing error in a LCD array (presumably in a computer projector) ''or'' from the kind of photo you get when you don't take the lens-cap off of a digital camera. Or so my take on it, is... [[Special:Contributions/178.98.215.19|178.98.215.19]] 18:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I did a deeper explain later, but Ba'an connects to this sentence. So that has to be explained, too. But in general you are correct.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:19, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> I'm sure Randall is talking about Stargate and the character {{w|Ba'al_(Stargate)#Ba.27al|Ba'al (Stargate)}}. This even does make more sense on the last sentence at the title text. While we have two theories on this the comic is incomplete.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 17:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> : I disagree. I don't believe Ba'al from Stargate was ever called &quot;Ba'al the Annihilator&quot; or &quot;Ba'al, the Eater of Souls&quot;. I think Randall's just making up it up. [[Special:Contributions/76.64.65.200|76.64.65.200]] 17:25, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> : I also disagree, though the description as stands is currently incorrect. &quot;Ba'al&quot; is not a specific deity in the Northwest Semitic pantheon, certainly not one &quot;associated with demonic or otherwise evil forces&quot;, it's a title that had been used for several different deities. However the name is often included in Jewish and Christian demonology where it probably got its &quot;evil&quot; connotation. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 18:30, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I absolutely disagree to you. Randall calls the US Congress for a higher budget, just to enhance our level on space technology. This really does not map to historical religions. And: Ba'an at Stargate is also a Lord. My two NASA budget cents.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:19, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::: My disagreement with your suggestion didn't owe anything to the objections I raised about the historicity of the term &quot;Ba'al&quot;. I don't think that his reference was to any specific deity in any particular pantheon, fictional or otherwise. The whole point of the alt-text is an ironic context for the motivation for space exploration; Sagan especially was an advocate of space exploration for the sake of knowledge and human progress, so the quasi-religious/mystical and nihilistic mantra here is in stark contrast to that (expected) rationale for exploration, and I think it's fitting given the initial premise: the insignificance of Earth against the cosmos. I really don't see the clause &quot;to join with Ba'al&quot; having anything to do with 'leading humans to the same technology level Ba'al' since it assumes Ba'al is a technological entity which only stems from the Stargate interpretation. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 20:23, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::: ^ +1. About Stargate, I can't claim to know what happens in season 9 and 10, but I've seen every episode in 1-8 and I've never seen him referred to as &quot;Ba'al the Annihilator&quot; or &quot;Ba'al, Eater of Souls&quot;. I grant that the Ba'al from Stargate is a System Lord, and a pretty badass one, but how does that help you prove your point? If Randall was trying to allude to Stargate, I think it would be much more obvious, like &quot;Lord Ba'al&quot; or something. The name &quot;Ba'al&quot; has been present in mythology long before Stargate used it. [[Special:Contributions/76.64.65.200|76.64.65.200]] 01:21, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::&quot;Annihilator&quot; and &quot;Eater of Souls&quot; is an invention by Randall, it also does not really match to your mystics. Further more the last sentence of the title text is not about a god, it's about technology we do not have right now. OK, the very last sentence is: Thank you. My 1337 NASA budget cents.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 16:40, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::: It sounds like you are admitting that the only grounds for attributing the reference to Stargate is your interpretation of the penultimate sentence, which as I said before [your interpretation] only makes sense if you believe the reference is to Stargate. I don't find that very convincing. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 21:42, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::First: Sign on here, so I can talk to you!<br /> ::::::Second: I do focus on science, like Randall does, looking for a NASA budget for real exploration.<br /> ::::::Randall is frustrated, like me, about the current funds and policies on space exploration.<br /> ::::::If you don't know {{w|Voyager program|Voyager}}, I can help. My 18 billions NASA budget hell.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:39, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::::::We are talking. Yes, I agree that Randall is an advocate for space exploration (though I don't think that's his point here) and I know all about the Voyager program, but I don't see how any of this makes your Stargate interpretation any more valid. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 23:24, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::::God shave the Queen, I lost my cents. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:53, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> On a completely different track, as is often the case, the main text can work in a contemporary way, as well as with knowledge of the historical reference: In this case, the publication by NASA of shots of Earth from Saturn and Mercury, in a conscious homage to the original &quot;blue spot&quot; picture. Eg [http://www.space.com/22076-earth-photos-saturn-mercury-offer-perspective.html] --[[User:FractalgeekUK|FractalgeekUK]]<br /> :Oh, yeah. I am sure Randall was inspired by this pictures.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:17, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> I have removed the last sentence again which refers to the author calling for the government of the United States of America to increase funding for their space program as part of the explanation of the comic. There is no such text in comic. Some editors of this page have insisted that the author has written this comic to propose or support policy change regarding actual funding for space exploration. Raising awareness for the subject of space exploration may be a motivator for the author to write this comic but I have not spoken with him on the matter and cannot claim to explain his motivations. Without any direct statement from the author regarding his intent I propose that discussion of the author's possible desire for increased spending on actual space exploration be contained here in the discussion page. The explanation as written clearly explains the information contained in the comic and the reader can make their own inference regarding the author's position on space exploration. {{unsigned|Mrarch}}<br /> :Randall says:<br /> :*&quot;I therefore call on Congress to fully fund space exploration, ... Thank you.&quot;<br /> :So, what's the problem? Randall is, like me, just annoyed about the current US space policy. NASA budget was 4.41% of the entire US Fed Budget in 1966, but today it's only 0.48%. That's the tenth part of the maximum in 1966. At that time NASA did build the [[Up Goer Five]] and today NASA has to build the {{w|Space Launch System|SLS}}, which is simply not possible. Space exploration needs some money, even when it is still a small part at the US Fed Budget. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 21:21, 9 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :: The problem is the ellipsis (...) that handy quoting tool that you think lets you reinterpret the quote however you want. The omitted portion clearly places that comment within the framework of the joke and not as a real world call for funding to NASA or any other operating space program. Whatever your feelings are about the state of funding for any portion of the U.S budget; this comic makes no mention of it. In fact it does not reference NASA or The U.S. at all. There is a generic space exploration program requesting funding that is under review by an unspecified congress. I feel you have projected your interpretation of the author's intent too strongly by including any statement about this in the explanation and are attempting to present your opinions as if they were those of the author. I don't know the author's opinion on space exploration funding and unless you can show me a notarized transcript of the conversation you had with him regarding the subject; I don't believe you know his opinions either. Please feel free to express YOUR opinions on the state of the U.S. budget in any appropriate forum. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 22:04, 9 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::I don't express my feelings, I just cite RANDALL: &quot;I therefore call on Congress to fully fund space exploration, ... THANK YOU.&quot;--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:01, 9 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ::::Since we are such fans of quoting here are a few to consider.<br /> <br /> ::::&quot;I don't express my feelings ...&quot; -dgbrt<br /> <br /> :::: compare to <br /> <br /> ::::&quot;Randall is, '''like me''', just annoyed about the current US space policy&quot; - dgbrt<br /> <br /> ::::&quot;'''I''' do focus on ... looking for a NASA budget for real exploration.&quot; -dbgrt<br /> <br /> ::::&quot;Randall is frustrated, '''like me''', about the current funds and policies on space exploration.&quot; -dgbrt<br /> <br /> ::::Thank-you also for taking the time to discuss this with me instead of mindlessly repeating your point without further explanation or supporting arguments. I am very interested in learning more about the reasoning behind your point of view and humbly ask for further clarification. could you please explain to me why you feel this is referring to NASA and why you keep omitting the portion of the quote that supplies the context? [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 23:34, 9 December 2013 (UTC)</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=815:_Mu&diff=54817 2013-12-09T23:05:57Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 815<br /> | date = November 5, 2010<br /> | title = Mu<br /> | image = mu.png<br /> | titletext = As the CoKF approaches 0, productivity goes negative as you pull OTHER people into chair-spinning contests.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete|may benefit from linking to other physics principles}}<br /> The title of the comic, &quot;Mu&quot;, refers to the symbol μ. This letter of the Greek alphabet is commonly used in mathematics and physics to denote the {{w|coefficient of friction}} which describes the ratio of the force of friction between two connected bodies.<br /> <br /> Desk chairs usually have the ability to turn and some chairs spin more easily than others. A desk chair which spins easily could be described as having a low coefficient of friction. The horizontal axis of the chart ranges from very easy to spin on the left, to very difficult to spin on the right. The comic shows that if the chair is too difficult to turn it is annoying and impacts productivity. However, if it is too low spinning one's chair becomes more fun than working.<br /> <br /> The title text notes that if your chair spins too easily, you can actually hurt other people's productivity by spinning competitively. This explains why the extreme left of the graph drops to negative productivity.<br /> <br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball spins in circles on a chair next to a desk. A graph of productivity vs Coefficient of friction of desk chair shows a curve that drops off very quickly as the coefficient of friction approaches zero, with the productivity becoming negative at low values. It plateaus in the middle of the graph, and then begins to drop less steeply as coefficient of friction increases above the optimal point.]<br /> :Cueball: Wheeeeeeee<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Charts]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1246:_Pale_Blue_Dot&diff=54796 2013-12-09T22:04:13Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>To call this a &quot;simple call for funding for space exploration&quot; completely misses the point of the Ba'al theology with which it is intertwined.<br /> <br /> :I think it completely misses all the points of the comic. --[[User:Kronf|Kronf]] ([[User talk:Kronf|talk]]) 11:44, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :This comic makes philosophical claims that cannot be falsified. Randall can't be serious about the soul eater. That's so dark. Theology? Sort of. But quite undeveloped. More like mythology. Does make one wonder: Why is there ''really'' something rather than nothing? ''&amp;mdash; [[User:Tbc|tbc]] ([[User talk:Tbc|talk]]) 12:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)''<br /> <br /> :Took at shot at adding something on this. (Long-time reader, first-time editor. Will create account at some point.) --[[Special:Contributions/173.13.203.241|173.13.203.241]] 14:58, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :(I wrote the following this morning, before anyone else had made any Talk/Discussion points, but then rushed out without saving it properly. Probably now not relevent, but here you are anyway...)<br /> :&quot;This is a simple call for funding of space exploration.&quot;??? I'd say that (whatever Randall, and I, think about the importance of funding space research) it's more an affectionate parody of the &quot;Consider this pale blue dot...&quot; speech, which it subverts by suggesting that arguably the ''most'' intellectually interesting image of the planet is indistinguishable from a manufacturing error in a LCD array (presumably in a computer projector) ''or'' from the kind of photo you get when you don't take the lens-cap off of a digital camera. Or so my take on it, is... [[Special:Contributions/178.98.215.19|178.98.215.19]] 18:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I did a deeper explain later, but Ba'an connects to this sentence. So that has to be explained, too. But in general you are correct.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:19, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> I'm sure Randall is talking about Stargate and the character {{w|Ba'al_(Stargate)#Ba.27al|Ba'al (Stargate)}}. This even does make more sense on the last sentence at the title text. While we have two theories on this the comic is incomplete.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 17:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> : I disagree. I don't believe Ba'al from Stargate was ever called &quot;Ba'al the Annihilator&quot; or &quot;Ba'al, the Eater of Souls&quot;. I think Randall's just making up it up. [[Special:Contributions/76.64.65.200|76.64.65.200]] 17:25, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> : I also disagree, though the description as stands is currently incorrect. &quot;Ba'al&quot; is not a specific deity in the Northwest Semitic pantheon, certainly not one &quot;associated with demonic or otherwise evil forces&quot;, it's a title that had been used for several different deities. However the name is often included in Jewish and Christian demonology where it probably got its &quot;evil&quot; connotation. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 18:30, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I absolutely disagree to you. Randall calls the US Congress for a higher budget, just to enhance our level on space technology. This really does not map to historical religions. And: Ba'an at Stargate is also a Lord. My two NASA budget cents.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:19, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::: My disagreement with your suggestion didn't owe anything to the objections I raised about the historicity of the term &quot;Ba'al&quot;. I don't think that his reference was to any specific deity in any particular pantheon, fictional or otherwise. The whole point of the alt-text is an ironic context for the motivation for space exploration; Sagan especially was an advocate of space exploration for the sake of knowledge and human progress, so the quasi-religious/mystical and nihilistic mantra here is in stark contrast to that (expected) rationale for exploration, and I think it's fitting given the initial premise: the insignificance of Earth against the cosmos. I really don't see the clause &quot;to join with Ba'al&quot; having anything to do with 'leading humans to the same technology level Ba'al' since it assumes Ba'al is a technological entity which only stems from the Stargate interpretation. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 20:23, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::: ^ +1. About Stargate, I can't claim to know what happens in season 9 and 10, but I've seen every episode in 1-8 and I've never seen him referred to as &quot;Ba'al the Annihilator&quot; or &quot;Ba'al, Eater of Souls&quot;. I grant that the Ba'al from Stargate is a System Lord, and a pretty badass one, but how does that help you prove your point? If Randall was trying to allude to Stargate, I think it would be much more obvious, like &quot;Lord Ba'al&quot; or something. The name &quot;Ba'al&quot; has been present in mythology long before Stargate used it. [[Special:Contributions/76.64.65.200|76.64.65.200]] 01:21, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::&quot;Annihilator&quot; and &quot;Eater of Souls&quot; is an invention by Randall, it also does not really match to your mystics. Further more the last sentence of the title text is not about a god, it's about technology we do not have right now. OK, the very last sentence is: Thank you. My 1337 NASA budget cents.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 16:40, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::: It sounds like you are admitting that the only grounds for attributing the reference to Stargate is your interpretation of the penultimate sentence, which as I said before [your interpretation] only makes sense if you believe the reference is to Stargate. I don't find that very convincing. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 21:42, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::First: Sign on here, so I can talk to you!<br /> ::::::Second: I do focus on science, like Randall does, looking for a NASA budget for real exploration.<br /> ::::::Randall is frustrated, like me, about the current funds and policies on space exploration.<br /> ::::::If you don't know {{w|Voyager program|Voyager}}, I can help. My 18 billions NASA budget hell.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:39, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::::::We are talking. Yes, I agree that Randall is an advocate for space exploration (though I don't think that's his point here) and I know all about the Voyager program, but I don't see how any of this makes your Stargate interpretation any more valid. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 23:24, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::::God shave the Queen, I lost my cents. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:53, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> On a completely different track, as is often the case, the main text can work in a contemporary way, as well as with knowledge of the historical reference: In this case, the publication by NASA of shots of Earth from Saturn and Mercury, in a conscious homage to the original &quot;blue spot&quot; picture. Eg [http://www.space.com/22076-earth-photos-saturn-mercury-offer-perspective.html] --[[User:FractalgeekUK|FractalgeekUK]]<br /> :Oh, yeah. I am sure Randall was inspired by this pictures.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:17, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> I have removed the last sentence again which refers to the author calling for the government of the United States of America to increase funding for their space program as part of the explanation of the comic. There is no such text in comic. Some editors of this page have insisted that the author has written this comic to propose or support policy change regarding actual funding for space exploration. Raising awareness for the subject of space exploration may be a motivator for the author to write this comic but I have not spoken with him on the matter and cannot claim to explain his motivations. Without any direct statement from the author regarding his intent I propose that discussion of the author's possible desire for increased spending on actual space exploration be contained here in the discussion page. The explanation as written clearly explains the information contained in the comic and the reader can make their own inference regarding the author's position on space exploration. {{unsigned|Mrarch}}<br /> :Randall says:<br /> :*&quot;I therefore call on Congress to fully fund space exploration, ... Thank you.&quot;<br /> :So, what's the problem? Randall is, like me, just annoyed about the current US space policy. NASA budget was 4.41% of the entire US Fed Budget in 1966, but today it's only 0.48%. That's the tenth part of the maximum in 1966. At that time NASA did build the [[Up Goer Five]] and today NASA has to build the {{w|Space Launch System|SLS}}, which is simply not possible. Space exploration needs some money, even when it is still a small part at the US Fed Budget. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 21:21, 9 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :: The problem is the ellipsis (...) that handy quoting tool that you think lets you reinterpret the quote however you want. The omitted portion clearly places that comment within the framework of the joke and not as a real world call for funding to NASA or any other operating space program. Whatever your feelings are about the state of funding for any portion of the U.S budget; this comic makes no mention of it. In fact it does not reference NASA or The U.S. at all. There is a generic space exploration program requesting funding that is under review by an unspecified congress. I feel you have projected your interpretation of the author's intent too strongly by including any statement about this in the explanation and are attempting to present your opinions as if they were those of the author. I don't know the author's opinion on space exploration funding and unless you can show me a notarized transcript of the conversation you had with him regarding the subject; I don't believe you know his opinions either. Please feel free to express YOUR opinions on the state of the U.S. budget in any appropriate forum. <br /> [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 22:04, 9 December 2013 (UTC)</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1246:_Pale_Blue_Dot&diff=54785 2013-12-09T20:54:19Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>To call this a &quot;simple call for funding for space exploration&quot; completely misses the point of the Ba'al theology with which it is intertwined.<br /> <br /> :I think it completely misses all the points of the comic. --[[User:Kronf|Kronf]] ([[User talk:Kronf|talk]]) 11:44, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :This comic makes philosophical claims that cannot be falsified. Randall can't be serious about the soul eater. That's so dark. Theology? Sort of. But quite undeveloped. More like mythology. Does make one wonder: Why is there ''really'' something rather than nothing? ''&amp;mdash; [[User:Tbc|tbc]] ([[User talk:Tbc|talk]]) 12:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)''<br /> <br /> :Took at shot at adding something on this. (Long-time reader, first-time editor. Will create account at some point.) --[[Special:Contributions/173.13.203.241|173.13.203.241]] 14:58, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :(I wrote the following this morning, before anyone else had made any Talk/Discussion points, but then rushed out without saving it properly. Probably now not relevent, but here you are anyway...)<br /> :&quot;This is a simple call for funding of space exploration.&quot;??? I'd say that (whatever Randall, and I, think about the importance of funding space research) it's more an affectionate parody of the &quot;Consider this pale blue dot...&quot; speech, which it subverts by suggesting that arguably the ''most'' intellectually interesting image of the planet is indistinguishable from a manufacturing error in a LCD array (presumably in a computer projector) ''or'' from the kind of photo you get when you don't take the lens-cap off of a digital camera. Or so my take on it, is... [[Special:Contributions/178.98.215.19|178.98.215.19]] 18:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I did a deeper explain later, but Ba'an connects to this sentence. So that has to be explained, too. But in general you are correct.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:19, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> I'm sure Randall is talking about Stargate and the character {{w|Ba'al_(Stargate)#Ba.27al|Ba'al (Stargate)}}. This even does make more sense on the last sentence at the title text. While we have two theories on this the comic is incomplete.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 17:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> : I disagree. I don't believe Ba'al from Stargate was ever called &quot;Ba'al the Annihilator&quot; or &quot;Ba'al, the Eater of Souls&quot;. I think Randall's just making up it up. [[Special:Contributions/76.64.65.200|76.64.65.200]] 17:25, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> : I also disagree, though the description as stands is currently incorrect. &quot;Ba'al&quot; is not a specific deity in the Northwest Semitic pantheon, certainly not one &quot;associated with demonic or otherwise evil forces&quot;, it's a title that had been used for several different deities. However the name is often included in Jewish and Christian demonology where it probably got its &quot;evil&quot; connotation. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 18:30, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I absolutely disagree to you. Randall calls the US Congress for a higher budget, just to enhance our level on space technology. This really does not map to historical religions. And: Ba'an at Stargate is also a Lord. My two NASA budget cents.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:19, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::: My disagreement with your suggestion didn't owe anything to the objections I raised about the historicity of the term &quot;Ba'al&quot;. I don't think that his reference was to any specific deity in any particular pantheon, fictional or otherwise. The whole point of the alt-text is an ironic context for the motivation for space exploration; Sagan especially was an advocate of space exploration for the sake of knowledge and human progress, so the quasi-religious/mystical and nihilistic mantra here is in stark contrast to that (expected) rationale for exploration, and I think it's fitting given the initial premise: the insignificance of Earth against the cosmos. I really don't see the clause &quot;to join with Ba'al&quot; having anything to do with 'leading humans to the same technology level Ba'al' since it assumes Ba'al is a technological entity which only stems from the Stargate interpretation. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 20:23, 2 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::: ^ +1. About Stargate, I can't claim to know what happens in season 9 and 10, but I've seen every episode in 1-8 and I've never seen him referred to as &quot;Ba'al the Annihilator&quot; or &quot;Ba'al, Eater of Souls&quot;. I grant that the Ba'al from Stargate is a System Lord, and a pretty badass one, but how does that help you prove your point? If Randall was trying to allude to Stargate, I think it would be much more obvious, like &quot;Lord Ba'al&quot; or something. The name &quot;Ba'al&quot; has been present in mythology long before Stargate used it. [[Special:Contributions/76.64.65.200|76.64.65.200]] 01:21, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::&quot;Annihilator&quot; and &quot;Eater of Souls&quot; is an invention by Randall, it also does not really match to your mystics. Further more the last sentence of the title text is not about a god, it's about technology we do not have right now. OK, the very last sentence is: Thank you. My 1337 NASA budget cents.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 16:40, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::: It sounds like you are admitting that the only grounds for attributing the reference to Stargate is your interpretation of the penultimate sentence, which as I said before [your interpretation] only makes sense if you believe the reference is to Stargate. I don't find that very convincing. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 21:42, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::First: Sign on here, so I can talk to you!<br /> ::::::Second: I do focus on science, like Randall does, looking for a NASA budget for real exploration.<br /> ::::::Randall is frustrated, like me, about the current funds and policies on space exploration.<br /> ::::::If you don't know {{w|Voyager program|Voyager}}, I can help. My 18 billions NASA budget hell.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:39, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::::::We are talking. Yes, I agree that Randall is an advocate for space exploration (though I don't think that's his point here) and I know all about the Voyager program, but I don't see how any of this makes your Stargate interpretation any more valid. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 23:24, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::::God shave the Queen, I lost my cents. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:53, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> On a completely different track, as is often the case, the main text can work in a contemporary way, as well as with knowledge of the historical reference: In this case, the publication by NASA of shots of Earth from Saturn and Mercury, in a conscious homage to the original &quot;blue spot&quot; picture. Eg [http://www.space.com/22076-earth-photos-saturn-mercury-offer-perspective.html] --[[User:FractalgeekUK|FractalgeekUK]]<br /> :Oh, yeah. I am sure Randall was inspired by this pictures.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:17, 3 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> I have removed the last sentence again which refers to the author calling for the government of the United States of America to increase funding for their space program as part of the explanation of the comic. There is no such text in comic. Some editors of this page have insisted that the author has written this comic to propose or support policy change regarding actual funding for space exploration. Raising awareness for the subject of space exploration may be a motivator for the author to write this comic but I have not spoken with him on the matter and cannot claim to explain his motivations. Without any direct statement from the author regarding his intent I propose that discussion of the author's possible desire for increased spending on actual space exploration be contained here in the discussion page. The explanation as written clearly explains the information contained in the comic and the reader can make their own inference regarding the author's position on space exploration.</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=User_talk:Dgbrt&diff=54778 2013-12-09T20:32:51Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>== [[1190: Time]] ==<br /> <br /> It's fine that you're helping with updating [[1190: Time]]. I'm trying to write a script that automatically updates the hashes and uploads the images. In order to test the script, could you, at least for the next image, refrain from doing that? I can then test the script and if it works, you can continue if you want to, but least I know that my script does work.<br /> <br /> Updating the transcript and anything else from the page is still absolutely fine, I cannot do this. --[[User:SlashMe|SlashMe]] ([[User talk:SlashMe|talk]]) 15:56, 2 May 2013 (UTC)<br /> : Ok, seems to work. If you want, you can continue updating, but my script should do this automatically within ~1 minute while I'm online. And if I'm not, it should catch up later. --[[User:SlashMe|SlashMe]] ([[User talk:SlashMe|talk]]) 16:09, 2 May 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :: GREAT, it's really working. My computer is online 24/7 (but not me). Since updates should be done in time maybe my computer is the better machine for your script. I am on Linux and a cron job is downloading at 00,05,20,35,50 each hour, just in case the update frequency will change again. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 16:31, 2 May 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ::: Might be, but I have a folder full of scripting stuff, and I would have to tidy up all that to get the important lines. And I'm not really in the mood for that. ;-) Maybe I will come back to this later. --[[User:SlashMe|SlashMe]] ([[User talk:SlashMe|talk]]) 16:52, 2 May 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> <br /> Thank you for your comment. The reason I said &quot;another&quot; river is because &quot;another&quot; is referencing Megan's quote that &quot;yes. there are other rivers&quot; - implying they have arrived at &quot;another&quot; river, not the one they already knew about. I put quotes because as you point out, we haven't exactly seen them come across the first river. As to the water bottle, if you want to change it to &quot;drinking bottle&quot;, I'm fine with that. The contents being water is an assumption based on what you might expect someone to do going on a long journey. [[User:TheHYPO|TheHYPO]] ([[User talk:TheHYPO|talk]]) 20:18, 2 May 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> : I am not a native English speaker - so thanks for help - but I just want to be correct. And I did edit your edit...<br /> <br /> I think a special page (i.e. &quot;1190: Time: Pictures&quot;) with a table (description | thumb with link) or other form of separator might work. I seem to remember seeing something on using a different thumb file on a picture link. This is my first time editing wiki pages, but the thumbs and smaller images on the upload pages don't appear to be working. As a work around, I just used blind links without thumbs (e.g. :file:fname...). I can create and upload smaller pictures, but will need some help putting it all together. If this sounds good to you, give me a nod on my talk page and I'll start adding content and let the regulars help straighten it out. Also, am I doing something wrong on the uploads or is it just not working? [[User:Galois|Galois]] ([[User talk:Galois|talk]]) 23:52, 5 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> : I'm also relatively new to wiki edits, but I'm a programmer, Linux expert (and more OS's) and also the admin for the wiki at my company. Thumbnails do not work because of a bug in the configuration or missing capabilities at the hoster. I will try to talk to the admins here, maybe I can help. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 16:33, 6 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> == Redirections, and incomplete explanations ==<br /> <br /> Hello there, and thank you for your work! :-)<br /> <br /> One technical thing that you should note, when you create pages that should &lt;u&gt;redirect&lt;/u&gt; directly to a newly created explanation page (for example [[332]] to redirect to [[332: Gyroscopes]]), use the redirection syntax which goes like this: &lt;code&gt;&lt;nowiki&gt;#REDIRECT [[332: Gyroscopes]]&lt;/nowiki&gt;&lt;/code&gt;<br /> <br /> You've done it right for [[447]] / [[Too Old For This Shit]] or [[531]] / [[Friends]] for instance, so try to do it all the time, instead of leaving pages with only a link in it, like {{diff|39258|332}} / {{diff|39259|Gyroscopes}} or {{diff|39251|311}} / {{diff|39252|Action Movies}}. Thanks :-)<br /> <br /> Another thing, not from me, and about content this time: [[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]] left you a couple of message in the changes he made to the pages you created, but it's fairly possible that you didn't get them, so here they are:<br /> * (in response to your comment ''&quot;I am still trying to give every comic a page here. Help me to complete it!&quot;''): {{diff|39262|''&quot;I'd really rather leave those links red for someone to write a proper explanation. With explanations that read like second transcripts, all we really do is take traffic away from xkcd.com without adding value.&quot;''}}<br /> * {{diff|39263|''&quot;Also, incomplete articles are harder to track than nonexistent articles, so I'd rather we just focus on making explanations well instead of making an unsatisfactory shell for every comic. Incomplete explanations make us look kinda bad too.&quot;''}}<br /> * {{diff|39265|''&quot;People on other sites often comment on how our explanations are a wildly mixed bag of quality. I'd rather you put your effort into making a few good substantial explanations instead of loads of summaries and rehashes of the transcript.&quot;''}}<br /> <br /> Try to take that into account also...<br /> <br /> Cheers, [[User:Cos|Cos]] ([[User talk:Cos|talk]]) 10:45, 3 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :Hello [[User:Cos|Cos]], here some comments by me:<br /> ::Redirections - I'm sorry for the missing #REDIRECT tag. I'm using often a text editor for my own copy and paste templates. I am sure I would have figured out that error today by myself. Thanks for your help!<br /> ::Incomplete explanations - I will stop on this even when I think it's good idea to have a page for each comic here and work afterwards on all those incomplete ones. The pages [[Help:How_to_add_a_new_comic_explanation]] and [[List_of_unexplained_comics]] should clarify this issue. Furthermore there are many more incomplete comics not marked as incomplete so you can't find them here: [[:Category:Incomplete explanations|Incomplete explanations]]. I will also send a message to [[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]] about this.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 17:35, 3 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> Speaking of incomplete explanations, do you think you could help add some text to [[266: Choices: Part 3]] and [[267: Choices: Part 4]]? To my knowledge, they are the only articles on the wiki without even a stub for an explanation. In addition, the other three choice articles could use some better explanations. --[[User:Oneforfortytwo|Oneforfortytwo]] ([[User talk:Oneforfortytwo|talk]]) 04:02, 27 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> == Ach nee,... ==<br /> <br /> ...schau mal einer an, noch ein Deutscher! Wollte nur mal 'nen Gruß hinterlassen... ;-) --[[User:SlashMe|SlashMe]] ([[User talk:SlashMe|talk]]) 21:37, 8 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> :Ich grüße zurück! I am greeting you too.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 14:20, 9 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> == Congratulations! ==<br /> <br /> You worked on the last unexplained comic of ''xkcd'' at very much the same time that the article was created! [[User:Greyson|Greyson]] ([[User talk:Greyson|talk]]) 23:41, 18 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> :I was working at the same time to create that explanation. After trying to save I got a warning that it's already there. So I just did add my work there.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 10:40, 19 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::In that case, you also created the last explanation. You two worked on the comic at essentially the same time. [[User:Greyson|Greyson]] ([[User talk:Greyson|talk]]) 18:13, 28 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> == 1190:Time frame renumbering ==<br /> <br /> Apologies if I created confusion, I was under the impression that davidy22 had already made the final decision to renumber the frames. I didn't know there was someone else who made the decision. [[User:Patzer|Patzer]] ([[User talk:Patzer|talk]]) 01:11, 2 July 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> == DgbrtBOT ==<br /> <br /> It took a while for me to notice your request. I think you've been quite the active figure around the wiki, so I've added the bot to the bots group.<br /> <br /> Keep up the work and don't burn out! [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]]&lt;span title=&quot;I'm an admin. I can help.&quot;&gt;_a&lt;/span&gt; ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 16:37, 8 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :Many thanks, my request was mainly for picture uploads to 1190 Time, but maybe I will use this feature in the future. I will be careful, first tests will be done at my local TestWiki.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 18:29, 8 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> == The right place to add 'discussion' ==<br /> <br /> I don't disagree with your comment to [[User:Anon]] (although I'd say &quot;additions&quot; instead of &quot;adds&quot;), or to a number of your edits to their additions, but some of what has been added is not worthy of Trivia sections being added. They should probably have been put into the talk page, or in some cases, left where they were. [[User:Markhurd|Mark Hurd]] ([[User talk:Markhurd|talk]]) 05:39, 15 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> :You are right, I just did not want to delete the additions by this new user. Because I can't move a single line to the talk page by one edit I thought the Trivia section would be the best solution. I don't like links to other comics here when it doesn't explain anything to the actual one. But a sidestep to a similar joke could be worthy to the Trivia section.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 13:36, 15 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> == Explained too much ==<br /> <br /> Hello Dgbrt, I'm sorry I explained too much about comic 1255. I was under the impression that the purpose of this wiki was to explain XKCD comics for those who don't get the references, so I thought it would be helpful to explain the part about sailing in a line tangent to the surface, which wasn't previously touched on in the description. I understand now that what you guys actually do here is to describe and transcribe XKCD comics. That's not something I'm interested in so I'll leave now. Thank you for correcting my misunderstanding. [[User:Rombobjörn|Rombobjörn]] ([[User talk:Rombobjörn|talk]]) 12:47, 25 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> :Hey, this site does not only &quot;transcribe XKCD comics&quot;. The wrong stories about Columbus is the major joke here, Megan did use Tolkien's books, but she also could have used many others. The explain should point on the essentials of the comic, people should be able to read this easy in general.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 15:07, 25 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::Hello. Admin here. I don't comb through and look at every single edit that happens in this wiki, but some things flag up as significant and this scuffle qualifies. Reading the current explanation and your addition, there are a number of unexplained and unreferenced Tolkien-specific terms littered around the place. Valar and Ilúvatar will not be familiar to people who have not read the Silmarillion before. Megan appears to be drawing a direct parallel between Eärendil and Columbus here with the quote &quot;A silmaril on his brow, he wanders the heavens as the morning star.&quot; There is no apparent evidence to show that the reformation of the earth is referenced in this comic; no mention of Akallabêth, Ilúvatar or any hint of Columbus being of elvish descent. If you can link your reference directly to the comic, feel free to add it in.<br /> ::Also, Dgbrt, you only have to reply once to the original talk message. You don't have to leave disjointed messages in other people's talk pages. '''[[User:Davidy22|&lt;u&gt;{{Color|#707|David}}&lt;font color=#070 size=3&gt;y&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;font color=#508 size=4&gt;²²&lt;/font&gt;]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|&lt;tt&gt;[talk]&lt;/tt&gt;]] 17:05, 25 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> == Discussions with Quicksilver ==<br /> <br /> Hello! I have noticed that &quot;In this comic&quot; is a pet peeve to you. As a gift, I have removed it from almost all of the 60 explanations that it started, but there remain some more places where it could be removed. If you wish, you can go ahead and remove the newlines that I left in their wake.<br /> <br /> If you need a general copy-editor for grammar, punctuation, or usage, let me know. I consider myself adequate at it, being a decently educated native American English speaker. (I am not a professional editor, though, so stuff can always be made better.) <br /> <br /> Also, as you definitely have noticed, I can get belligerent over some things, particularly whether a page deserves its &quot;Incomplete&quot; status. I expect some more sparring matches in the coming future. I do hope to work with you on cutting the number of such pages down.<br /> <br /> Anyway, thanks for the intro to the wiki! --[[User:Quicksilver|Quicksilver]] ([[User talk:Quicksilver|talk]]) 21:31, 25 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> :Welcome Quicksilver! I did see that you must be an native American speaker but some of your edits are too offensive, I do reply on this, and we have to discuss until a final solution can be presented. Many updates by you are great, but please check all the links, etc. until removing the incomplete tag. This tag does not mean the explain is wrong. BTW: Please sign your discussions.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:22, 25 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> Now that I have your attention, we can begin discussing things. We have a brewing edit war over the following pages (so far): [[694: Retro Virus]], [[54: Science]], and [[10: Pi Equals]].<br /> <br /> The first one I claim to be complete, while you dispute this. I cannot see how much further we can go into explanations of XP, viruses, Howard Dean, Friendster, or Kazaa. Apart from those, the comic really doesn't have anything else to explain, and its grammar and style are fair. I see no reason that the Incomplete tag should be there.<br /> <br /> In the second one, we have different interpretations of the title text, &quot;Bonus point if you can identify the science in question.&quot; You claim that this somehow means we should challenge science. While I understand that part of the spirit of science is questioning it, this sentence has a fairly straightforward meaning: if you can identify the science in question, you get a bonus point. In other words, if you know where this equation comes from, good for you. Randall is praising his readers who happen to know about the blackbody radiation curve, which would be a good number of them (I'd guess).<br /> <br /> The third one is a simple issue of punctuation. You have argued, via explanations, that &quot;one must close sentences.&quot; While I understand that it may look awkward for the quotation marks in question (those around the name of Mrs Roberts's daughter) to contain a period, not part of the name, and to have the sentence ended by a punctuation mark inside a pair of quotes, this is the English convention on quotation marks. Such a convention can be checked [http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/577/ here]. This usage clashes with that of French, German, and many other languages, but is standard in English.<br /> <br /> As other pages turn into edit wars, I would prefer to discuss them in some central location (such as your wonderful talk page) rather than individual pages. Thank you for your consideration. --[[User:Quicksilver|Quicksilver]] ([[User talk:Quicksilver|talk]]) 22:40, 25 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> :Every comic does have it's own discussion page. Here you can talk about my behave, especial on some few offensive edits I did not accept. And keep short or I will just reply {{w|Wikipedia:Too long; didn't read|tl;dr}}--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:09, 25 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::Very well. Our agenda begins with [[54: Science]]. The other two we will address at some point. --[[User:Quicksilver|Quicksilver]] ([[User talk:Quicksilver|talk]]) 23:14, 25 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> == Allegations concerning [[User:Quicksilver]] ==<br /> <br /> You have in the edit summary field claimed that Quicksilver's edits are offensive. After a quick glance through some of his recent edits, I don't find this to be the case. Do you care to explain yourself? [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]]&lt;span title=&quot;I'm an admin. I can help.&quot;&gt;_a&lt;/span&gt; ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 03:26, 26 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> :200 or 300 edits within a few hours, no one can understand all that comics at this time range. I just did criticized two or three edits he did, but an edit to former content without any understandable explain I can't except. And than he reverts my criticism, that's all.<br /> <br /> :I'm not a spam hunter here, but I like CLEAR and SHORT (meaning, people will be able read) explains here. Look at [[1256: Questions]], just an other hell (nobody will ever read all that masturbation orgasms writers must have - sorry, put this into the sex category.)--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:11, 26 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ::One add: Understand sarcasm, xkcd, romance, math, and language. Randall did publish many sarcastic comics, I just do like to point this out.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:52, 26 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> == Language and writing style ==<br /> Please, please stop reverting and calling editors out on language and writing style. It is not your strong point. Focus on content. When we start work on our german translations, you can go jabbing editors in their talk pages over writing too much. Here, you're only reverting and deterring valuable edits. '''[[User:Davidy22|&lt;u&gt;{{Color|#707|David}}&lt;font color=#070 size=3&gt;y&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;font color=#508 size=4&gt;²²&lt;/font&gt;]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|&lt;tt&gt;[talk]&lt;/tt&gt;]] 02:35, 27 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> :You know I'm not native American, many viewers are too. American English is still strange sometimes, but you are right: It's not my &quot;strong point&quot;. But nevertheless, I always did focus on content in the past, and I will do this in the future. I was just acting on mass updates nobody can review.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 21:01, 27 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> == PyCon ==<br /> <br /> The post saying that Randall was banned was a joke. There is no PyCon issue. See [[Talk:153: Cryptography]]. [[User:gijobarts|gijobarts]] ([[User Talk:gijobarts|talk]]) 20:19, 2 September 2013 (UTC)<br /> :Sure it was joke, so maybe it should be explained, it belongs to this comic.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 21:19, 2 September 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> == [[1270: Functional]] ==<br /> <br /> Would you mind answering my actual concerns regarding [[1270]]? The things you answered are (in my eyes) very minor points, where I would not mind to compromise. However, currently the article does not explain what '''{{w|functional programming}}''' is at all! I wanted to change that which you mostly edited away. I am willing to make my explanations more understandable (preferably if you or anyone else has suggestions what is/might be unclear). --[[User:Chtz|Chtz]] ([[User talk:Chtz|talk]]) 16:11, 30 September 2013 (UTC)<br /> :Hi, I don't like edit wars. I just did try to simplify the explain for non programmer readers. And I think these facts should be mentioned:<br /> :1. Functions return a value, unlike procedures do.<br /> :2. Your wiki link says: &quot;a style of building the structure and elements of computer programs, that treats computation as the evaluation of mathematical functions and avoids state and mutable data.&quot; My sine(x) idea isn't bad according to this.<br /> :3. The part &quot;mutable data&quot; means that each call of the function allocates its own memory, local variables are not viewable or changeable from the outside. Recursions just use this feature.<br /> :4. Tail recursion just means that there is a clearly defined break at the end of the function. The most elegant code should be this (the else statement is removed, braces for a clear code):<br /> factorial(n)<br /> {<br /> if n &gt; 0<br /> {<br /> n * factorial(n-1)<br /> }<br /> return 1<br /> }<br /> :5. The wikipedia pages are a little bit confusing and inaccurate (I would mark them incomplete). But even the first reference at {{w|functional programming}} to this [http://www.dbnet.ece.ntua.gr/~adamo/languages/books/p359-hudak.pdf PDF] is interesting. It's saying (Chapter 4): &quot;Myth 1, that functional programming is the antithesis of conventional imperative programming,...&quot;. <br /> :This programming paradigm definitions are still confusing, but here Randall just mentions a recursion with a break at the tail. I think we have to focus on this first. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:33, 30 September 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I replaced your bullet points by numbers, so I can refer to them, I hope you don't mind.<br /> ::ad 1) I agree, but I don't know why you need to introduce the (imperative) concept of a procedure at all? (There is no such thing in functional programming)<br /> ::ad 2) Yes, sine is a function, also in the functional programming sense. It is not really a function one would implement using a functional language (although it is possible). Also this function is not referred to later, so I don't see any benefit from introducing it. How about using the factorial function as example for a function?<br /> ::ad 3) There is no such thing as a &quot;variable&quot; in functional programming. Variables are mutable data, and mutable data is avoided.<br /> ::ad 4) What I learned is that tail recursion means that the only recursive call happens at the tail of the function (&quot;call&quot; in imperative programming, or substitution in functional programming). Maybe I'm wrong and should study again, and also did not understand what {{w|tail recursion}} wants to say, but I doubt that.<br /> ::ad 5) I agree that it is not very easy to understand, but I don't see any inaccuracy in that article. About the reference: Yes, but that does not mean imperative and functional programming is essentially the same. The section continues and describes that functional programming carries on the evolution from low-level (e.g. Assembler, allowing just simple operations) over high-level (imperative) programming which allows expressions to functional programming which says there are '''only''' expressions. (If and why and when this is useful is another story -- though actually that is essentially what White Hats wants to know from Cueball)<br /> ::And w.r.t your last point: So you would prefer not to explain (or have someone explain) the parts which are confusing to you? Wasn't explaining that the whole idea of this wiki? --[[User:Chtz|Chtz]] ([[User talk:Chtz|talk]]) 20:44, 30 September 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::I don't mind your edit but now I will reply in general. The most important paradigm is {{w|Structured programming|structured programming}} witch did lead to avoid statements like ''GOTO'', but this explain can not be a comprisal on computer since. It's just a small comic mentioning functional programming and tail recursion. But maybe we should try to enhance the English Wikipedia. ;) --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 21:04, 30 September 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::Yes, the article you quoted also says (concluding the Myth 1-section) that functional programming goes further from avoiding [[goto]] to also avoiding assignments and control-flow structures. I'll mostly leave enhancing the English wikipedia to English native speakers, actually {{w|de:Funktionale Programmierung}} is not that badly written. (Sure it also gets complicated towards the end, but ''intuitive and clear'' does not equal ''easy'' ;) ) [[541|Damn you, Randall!]] --[[User:Chtz|Chtz]] ([[User talk:Chtz|talk]]) 21:37, 30 September 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::::The German Wiki is often just a bad translation from English, lacking references. But this part is interesting: {{w|de:Funktionale_Programmierung#Abgrenzung_von_imperativer_Programmierung}} explains the difference of imperative and functional implementations. My example above is functional, NOT imperative, and also includes the the ''tail'' part. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:11, 30 September 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::Ok, you are right, that it is '''also''' functional (at least when written using if ''and'' else and ignoring the syntactic noise of the ''return'' (without the else part, I would consider that control flow: The second return is called ''after'' the if statement)). '''Only''' functional I would call the formula which comes before the implementation (in the de:wiki article), but the implementation is also a valid imperative function. <br /> ::::::I still don't agree that this is tail recursive (I think our definitions of tail-recursion don't match so far). --[[User:Chtz|Chtz]] ([[User talk:Chtz|talk]]) 23:37, 30 September 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> The explain is still not very helpful, and the reason is that {{w|Computer science}} isn't a science like physics or math, it's more like philosophy or something else. An author is defining some theories and statements with no prove as it is done in math. [[User:Chtz|Chtz]], we are both wrong and correct, but Randall is just joking about this ''science''.<br /> <br /> The details about different implementations can be shown below this general classification on computer science. I think this would be the best solution for an explain, different meanings can be shown, just like computer science does. What do you think?--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 21:07, 1 October 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> == Your name ==<br /> <br /> I'm just a random stalker on the Internet reading XKCD, and I see your name alot. I've been reading it as &quot;dogbert&quot;, like as in the Dilbert comics, but now I'm really curious. Where does your username come from?<br /> [[Special:Contributions/173.245.55.215|173.245.55.215]] 02:51, 5 November 2013 (UTC)<br /> :That's just my secret ;) . But you can be sure I was just looking for a unique name without any vowels, like xkcd. You also can find me at the German wiki.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:33, 5 November 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> == 1297: oort cloud: comet nuclei, asteroids, etch ==<br /> <br /> Thanks for your many contributions to explainxkcd! In [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1297:_Oort_Cloud&amp;diff=next&amp;oldid=53963] you changed back some of my edits on the oort cloud. I've commented in the talk page about my reasoning, and tried to come up with less arguable language. If you disagree, let's discuss it on the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1297:_Oort_Cloud talk page]. Cheers, [[User:Nealmcb|Nealmcb]] ([[User talk:Nealmcb|talk]]) 16:56, 1 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> :Uhh, that's two days ago, many edits went on that page after this. If I see my major changes correctly I did remove something like &quot;comet at the Oort Cloud&quot; because an object is only a comet when it's encounter the sun; and the Milky Way itself does not influence the orbit of an possible Oort Cloud object. I'm not native English, so I'm still happy for help on this, but I do know physics and more since very well. And much more sad: It still seems ISON is dead. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 21:28, 1 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> == 1246 ==<br /> Hey Dgbrt,<br /> <br /> we need to have a discussion about the latest edit on 1246. i believe that we should refrain from further edits until we have discussed this in the discussion page.<br /> <br /> [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 20:32, 9 December 2013 (UTC)</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1246:_Pale_Blue_Dot&diff=54774 2013-12-09T20:17:13Z

<p>Mrarch: Undo revision 54562 by Dgbrt (talk)</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 1246<br /> | date = August 2, 2013<br /> | title = Pale Blue Dot<br /> | image = pale_blue_dot.png<br /> | titletext = Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves. There is no road out of this oblivion; we must embrace it. We must join with the darkness. Ba'al the Annihilator offers us no happiness, no answers, naught but the cold embrace of the void. To imagine any other end is delusion. We must give in to the will of Ba'al, for he will one day consume us and our world alike. I therefore call on Congress to fully fund space exploration, and to join with Ba'al, the Eater of Souls. Thank you.<br /> }}<br /> ==Explanation==<br /> <br /> The {{w|Pale Blue Dot}} is a picture of the Earth taken in 1990 by the {{w|Voyager 1}} spacecraft at a distance about 6 billion kilometers (3.7 billion miles). It was part of the {{w|Family Portrait (Voyager)|Family Portrait}}, a series of images of the entire {{w|Solar System}} from beyond it. <br /> <br /> The picture was taken at the request of {{w|Carl Sagan}}, a well known space scientist at that time. In 1994 Sagan wrote the book &quot;{{w|Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space}}&quot; inspired by this picture. In the book, Sagan waxed eloquent about the picture in a widely-quoted passage. The complete passage can be found illustrated in this [http://zenpencils.com/comic/100-carl-sagan-pale-blue-dot/ Zen Pencils comic].<br /> <br /> [[Cueball]] quotes from a condensed version of this passage until he is interrupted by an argument over ''which'' speck in the picture is actually the Earth. When Cueball cries out in exasperation that it doesn't matter, then the entire authenticity of the image is called into question. This pokes fun at the fact that the {{w|Pale Blue Dot}} picture has very little visual attractiveness, apart from the intellectual interest relying on the viewer's knowledge that the central speck is actually our home planet seen from a great distance. <br /> <br /> The first two sentences of the title text are also a quotation from Sagan's paean to the Pale Blue Dot picture, but then the text veers humorously into non-scientific mysticism that starkly contrasts with the attitude and intent of the original work.<br /> <br /> The title text evokes {{w|Cosmicism}}, a philosophy developed and exemplified by the fictional {{w|Cthulhu_mythos|Cthulhu Mythos}}. This Mythos is expounded in fantasy/horror works of H.P. Lovecraft and, later, August Derleth, and features a cosmology in which humanity is depicted as inconsequential within a greater existence that is unknowable and frightening. Cosmicism asserts that humanity is doomed to destruction through the workings of vastly more powerful supernatural forces beyond our understanding. There are many instances in the fiction of H.P. Lovecraft of factions that embrace the destruction of humanity and actively work towards bringing about that end through the invocation of the unknowable and powerful forces that supporters of Cosmicism believe surround everything.<br /> <br /> The text also references {{w|Ba'al}}, originally a Semitic deity that has been since associated with demonic or otherwise evil forces. The name Ba'al, and other variants of the same, has been included in many other fictional works often as a villain or antagonist. For example, the fictional System Lord {{w|Ba'al (Stargate)#Ba.27al|Ba'al}} from the television show {{w|Stargate}}. The title text supplants all of the supernatural forces associated with Cosmicism in the works of other authors and jokingly advocates for research funding for space exploration to invoke Ba'al, the Eater of Souls, and bring about the end of humanity.<br /> <br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball stands on a podium, the Pale Blue Dot picture is behind him]<br /> :Cueball: Consider this Pale Blue Dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. Everyone you love, every human being who ever was, every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived out their lives on this mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam. All our -<br /> :[Heckling]: I think that's a stuck pixel. We're the speck on the left.<br /> :Cueball: ...Ok, '''''this''''' Pale Blue Dot is everything you -<br /> :[Heckling]: No, you were right before. ''That'' one is earth.<br /> :Cueball: '''''Look, it doesn't matter!'''''<br /> :[Heckling]: I ''knew'' it!<br /> :[Heckling]: I think this is just a lens cap picture.<br /> <br /> ==Trivia==<br /> *At the time when this comic was published NASA did reveal two other pictures, showing our home planet from a long distance, [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/whycassini/cassini20130722.html Saturn] and [http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/gallery/sciencePhotos/image.php?image_id=1228 Mercury] probes did picture the Earth at the same time. Earth appears as a tiny dot in these images as well as a result of the vast distance between Earth and the probes.<br /> <br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Philosophy]]<br /> [[Category:Science]]<br /> [[Category:Astronomy]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1246:_Pale_Blue_Dot&diff=54558 2013-12-06T23:32:50Z

<p>Mrarch: redundant. see previous sentence.</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 1246<br /> | date = August 2, 2013<br /> | title = Pale Blue Dot<br /> | image = pale_blue_dot.png<br /> | titletext = Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves. There is no road out of this oblivion; we must embrace it. We must join with the darkness. Ba'al the Annihilator offers us no happiness, no answers, naught but the cold embrace of the void. To imagine any other end is delusion. We must give in to the will of Ba'al, for he will one day consume us and our world alike. I therefore call on Congress to fully fund space exploration, and to join with Ba'al, the Eater of Souls. Thank you.<br /> }}<br /> ==Explanation==<br /> <br /> The {{w|Pale Blue Dot}} is a picture of the Earth taken in 1990 by the {{w|Voyager 1}} spacecraft at a distance about 6 billion kilometers (3.7 billion miles). It was part of the {{w|Family Portrait (Voyager)|Family Portrait}}, a series of images of the entire {{w|Solar System}} from beyond it. <br /> <br /> The picture was taken at the request of {{w|Carl Sagan}}, a well known space scientist at that time. In 1994 Sagan wrote the book &quot;{{w|Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space}}&quot; inspired by this picture. In the book, Sagan waxed eloquent about the picture in a widely-quoted passage. The complete passage can be found illustrated in this [http://zenpencils.com/comic/100-carl-sagan-pale-blue-dot/ Zen Pencils comic].<br /> <br /> [[Cueball]] quotes from a condensed version of this passage until he is interrupted by an argument over ''which'' speck in the picture is actually the Earth. When Cueball cries out in exasperation that it doesn't matter, then the entire authenticity of the image is called into question. This pokes fun at the fact that the {{w|Pale Blue Dot}} picture has very little visual attractiveness, apart from the intellectual interest relying on the viewer's knowledge that the central speck is actually our home planet seen from a great distance. <br /> <br /> The first two sentences of the title text are also a quotation from Sagan's paean to the Pale Blue Dot picture, but then the text veers humorously into non-scientific mysticism that starkly contrasts with the attitude and intent of the original work.<br /> <br /> The title text evokes {{w|Cosmicism}}, a philosophy developed and exemplified by the fictional {{w|Cthulhu_mythos|Cthulhu Mythos}}. This Mythos is expounded in fantasy/horror works of H.P. Lovecraft and, later, August Derleth, and features a cosmology in which humanity is depicted as inconsequential within a greater existence that is unknowable and frightening. Cosmicism asserts that humanity is doomed to destruction through the workings of vastly more powerful supernatural forces beyond our understanding. There are many instances in the fiction of H.P. Lovecraft of factions that embrace the destruction of humanity and actively work towards bringing about that end through the invocation of the unknowable and powerful forces that supporters of Cosmicism believe surround everything.<br /> <br /> The text also references {{w|Ba'al}}, originally a Semitic deity that has been since associated with demonic or otherwise evil forces. The name Ba'al, and other variants of the same, has been included in many other fictional works often as a villain or antagonist. For example, the fictional System Lord {{w|Ba'al (Stargate)#Ba.27al|Ba'al}} from the television show {{w|Stargate}}. The title text supplants all of the supernatural forces associated with Cosmicism in the works of other authors and jokingly advocates for research funding for space exploration to invoke Ba'al, the Eater of Souls, and bring about the end of humanity.<br /> <br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball stands on a podium, the Pale Blue Dot picture is behind him]<br /> :Cueball: Consider this Pale Blue Dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. Everyone you love, every human being who ever was, every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived out their lives on this mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam. All our -<br /> :[Heckling]: I think that's a stuck pixel. We're the speck on the left.<br /> :Cueball: ...Ok, '''''this''''' Pale Blue Dot is everything you -<br /> :[Heckling]: No, you were right before. ''That'' one is earth.<br /> :Cueball: '''''Look, it doesn't matter!'''''<br /> :[Heckling]: I ''knew'' it!<br /> :[Heckling]: I think this is just a lens cap picture.<br /> <br /> ==Trivia==<br /> *At the time when this comic was published NASA did reveal two other pictures, showing our home planet from a long distance, [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/whycassini/cassini20130722.html Saturn] and [http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/gallery/sciencePhotos/image.php?image_id=1228 Mercury] probes did picture the Earth at the same time. Earth appears as a tiny dot in these images as well as a result of the vast distance between Earth and the probes.<br /> <br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Philosophy]]<br /> [[Category:Science]]<br /> [[Category:Astronomy]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=893:_65_Years&diff=54557 2013-12-06T23:02:06Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 893<br /> | date = May 2, 2011<br /> | title = 65 Years<br /> | image = 65 years.png<br /> | titletext = The universe is probably littered with the one-planet graves of cultures which made the sensible economic decision that there's no good reason to go into space--each discovered, studied, and remembered by the ones who made the irrational decision.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> <br /> {{incomplete|Needs to add and fill two columns to table for 5 percentile and 95 percentile from actuary tables}}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> Over 65 years [[Randall]] is projecting the number of living humans who have walked on another world, counting the Moon as a 'world'. He is using {{w|actuarial table}}s or life tables which shows for each age the probability that a certain person will be alive by their next birthday. Although not named, the graph refers to the 12 {{w|List of Apollo astronauts#Apollo astronauts who walked on the Moon|Apollo astronauts}} who landed on the Moon between 1969 and 1972. <br /> <br /> In particular, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed in July 1969. Pete Conrad and Alan Bean landed in November. Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell: February '71. David Scott and James Irwin: July '71. John W. Young and Charles Duke: April '72. Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt: December '72.<br /> <br /> Irwin died in '91. Shepard and Conrad died in '98 and '99 respectively, making the total 9 as of the date this comic was published. Armstrong died in '12, so the current number is 8. The oldest living person to have landed on the moon is Aldrin, 83. There are two 82-year-olds, two 80s, one 78 and two 77s.<br /> <br /> The chart assumes that no other humans will go to walk on another world within the time-frame plotted and the title text implies that this is primarily an economically determined decision. While noting that not exploring space is a justifiable and sensible decision which may also be made by many hypothetical cultures on other worlds, the text implies a grandness to a civilization that would be given the opportunity to discover, study and memorialize the 'one-world graves' of other civilizations by choosing to explore space despite the economic difficulty. High five for exoplanet archaeology.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[A graph titled 'Number of Living Humans Who Have Walked on Another World' -- its y-axis is numbered 5, 10, 15, its x-axis increments every ten years from 1960-2040. The line of the graph has a bracket above it that says '65 Years', starting at 1969, ending in 2034.<br /> :The line starts at 1969 and increases steeply to 12 by 1972. It then plateaus until the early nineties declines gradually to 9 between 1991-1999, and then plateaus again.<br /> :From 2011-2035, which is labeled 'Projected Actuarial Tables', the line branches into three and begins to decline more steeply to zero. The area between the first and second branch is shaded and labeled '5th percentile' and the area between the second and third branch is shaded and labeled '95th percentile.']<br /> <br /> ==Trivia==<br /> *The theme of actuarial projections was explored earlier in [[493: Actuarial]]; Randall's morbid python script for both was given in [http://blog.xkcd.com/2012/07/12/a-morbid-python-script/ the blag].<br /> <br /> {| class=&quot;wikitable&quot;<br /> |+Table of men who walked the moon<br /> |- style=&quot;background:#ccc;&quot;<br /> | style=&quot;width:20px;&quot;|<br /> | '''Name'''<br /> | '''Born'''<br /> | '''Died'''<br /> | '''Age at&lt;br&gt;first step'''<br /> | '''Mission'''<br /> | '''Lunar dates'''<br /> | '''Service'''<br /> | '''Alma Mater'''<br /> |- style=&quot;background:#def;&quot;<br /> | 1. || {{w|Neil Armstrong}}|| 1930-08-05 || 2012-08-25 || 38y&amp;nbsp;11m&amp;nbsp;15d<br /> |rowspan=&quot;2&quot;| {{w|Apollo&amp;nbsp;11}} ||rowspan=&quot;2&quot;| July&amp;nbsp;21,&amp;nbsp;1969 || {{w|NASA}} || {{w|Purdue University}}, {{w|University of Southern California}}<br /> |- style=&quot;background:#def;&quot;<br /> | 2. || {{w|Buzz Aldrin}}|| 1930-01-20 || || 39y 6m 0d || {{w|United States Air Force|Air Force}} || {{w|United States Military Academy}}, {{w|MIT}}<br /> |- style=&quot;background:#ffe8e8;&quot;<br /> | 3. || {{w|Pete Conrad}} || 1930-06-02 || 1999-07-08 || 39y 5m 17d<br /> |rowspan=&quot;2&quot;| {{w|Apollo 12}} ||rowspan=&quot;2&quot;| November&amp;nbsp;19–20,&amp;nbsp;1969 || {{w|United States Navy|Navy}} || {{w|Princeton University}}<br /> |- style=&quot;background:#ffe8e8;&quot;<br /> | 4. || {{w|Alan Bean}}|| 1932-03-15 || || 37y 8m 4d || {{w|United States Navy|Navy}} || {{w|University of Texas, Austin}}<br /> |- style=&quot;background:#def;&quot;<br /> | 5. || {{w|Alan Shepard}} || 1923-11-18 || 1998-07-21 || 47y 2m 18d<br /> |rowspan=&quot;2&quot;| {{w|Apollo 14}} ||rowspan=&quot;2&quot;| February 5–6, 1971 || {{w|United States Navy|Navy}} || {{w|United States Naval Academy}}<br /> |- style=&quot;background:#def;&quot;<br /> | 6. || {{w|Edgar Mitchell}}|| 1930-09-07 || || 40y 4m 19d || {{w|United States Navy|Navy}} || {{w|Carnegie Mellon University}}, {{w|Naval Postgraduate School}}, {{w|MIT}}<br /> |- style=&quot;background:#ffe8e8;&quot;<br /> | 7. || {{w|David Scott}} || 1932-06-06 || || 39y 1m 25d<br /> |rowspan=&quot;2&quot;| {{w|Apollo 15}} ||rowspan=&quot;2&quot;| July&amp;nbsp;31&amp;nbsp;-&amp;nbsp;August&amp;nbsp;2,&amp;nbsp;1971 || {{w|United States Air Force|Air Force}} || {{w|University of Michigan}} (freshman year, and later, an honorary doctorate), {{w|United States Military Academy}}, {{w|MIT}}<br /> |- style=&quot;background:#ffe8e8;&quot;<br /> | 8. || {{w|James Irwin}} || 1930-03-17 || 1991-08-08 || 41y 4m 14d || {{w|United States Air Force|Air Force}} || {{w|United States Naval Academy}}, {{w|University of Michigan}}<br /> |- style=&quot;background:#def;&quot;<br /> | 9. || {{w|John Young (astronaut)|John W. Young}}|| 1930-09-24 || || 41y 6m 28d<br /> |rowspan=&quot;2&quot;| {{w|Apollo 16}} ||rowspan=&quot;2&quot;| April 21–23, 1972 || {{w|United States Navy|Navy}} || {{w|Georgia Institute of Technology}}<br /> |- style=&quot;background:#def;&quot;<br /> | 10. || {{w|Charles Duke}} || 1935-10-03 || || 36y 6m 18d || {{w|United States Air Force|Air Force}} || {{w|United States Naval Academy}}, {{w|MIT}}<br /> |- style=&quot;background:#ffe8e8;&quot;<br /> | 11. || {{w|Eugene Cernan}} || 1934-03-14 || || 38y 9m 7d<br /> |rowspan=&quot;2&quot;| {{w|Apollo 17}} ||rowspan=&quot;2&quot;| December 11–14, 1972 || {{w|United States Navy|Navy}} || {{w|Purdue University}}, {{w|Naval Postgraduate School}}<br /> |- style=&quot;background:#ffe8e8;&quot;<br /> | 12. || {{w|Harrison Schmitt}} || 1935-07-03 || || 37y 5m 8d || {{w|NASA}} || {{w|Caltech}}, {{w|University of Oslo}} (exchange), {{w|Harvard University}}<br /> |}<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Charts]]<br /> [[Category:Math]]<br /> [[Category:Science]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:893:_65_Years&diff=54549 2013-12-06T21:43:12Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>I wonder if it would be possible to identify ''individual people'' who are behind those vertical jumps in the graph (in the not projected part)... --[[User:JakubNarebski|JakubNarebski]] ([[User talk:JakubNarebski|talk]]) 19:18, 14 December 2012 (UTC)<br /> *Glad you asked! &lt;/Information Hen&gt; Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed in July 1969; that's two. Pete Conrad and Alan Bean joined the group that November; that's four. Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell in February '71; that's six. David Scott and James Irwin in July '71; that's eight. John W. Young and Charles Duke in April '72; that's ten. Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt in December '72; that's twelve. Irwin died in '91, dropping it to 11. Shepard and Conrad died in '98 and '99 respectively, making it 9 as of the date this comic was published. Armstrong died in '12, so our current number is 8. The oldest living person to have landed on the moon is Aldrin, 83. There are two 82-year-olds, two 80s, one 78 and two 77s. [[User:Ekedolphin|Ekedolphin]] ([[User talk:Ekedolphin|talk]]) 13:28, 27 January 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> Almost prophetic and very, very sad. RIP Neil Armstrong ------<br /> <br /> <br /> Can we add the 5% and 95% columns to the table? [[User:Spongebog|Spongebog]] ([[User talk:Spongebog|talk]])<br /> ::i dont feel like this would add to the explanation of the comic and would require us to know a great deal about the author's calculations. rather than attempt to redo the actuarial calculations performed to make the chart and assign this to the individuals in the table we should rather explain the concepts behind the 5% and 95% and preserve the intention of actuarial information as applying to demographic groups. 5% of people in the demographic the author selected live to _ age 95% of those people live to _ age and how this affects our subject population. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 21:43, 6 December 2013 (UTC)</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1246:_Pale_Blue_Dot&diff=54547 2013-12-06T21:22:12Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 1246<br /> | date = August 2, 2013<br /> | title = Pale Blue Dot<br /> | image = pale_blue_dot.png<br /> | titletext = Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves. There is no road out of this oblivion; we must embrace it. We must join with the darkness. Ba'al the Annihilator offers us no happiness, no answers, naught but the cold embrace of the void. To imagine any other end is delusion. We must give in to the will of Ba'al, for he will one day consume us and our world alike. I therefore call on Congress to fully fund space exploration, and to join with Ba'al, the Eater of Souls. Thank you.<br /> }}<br /> ==Explanation==<br /> <br /> The {{w|Pale Blue Dot}} is a picture of the Earth taken in 1990 by the {{w|Voyager 1}} spacecraft at a distance about 6 billion kilometers (3.7 billion miles). It was part of the {{w|Family Portrait (Voyager)|Family Portrait}}, a series of images of the entire {{w|Solar System}} from beyond it. <br /> <br /> The picture was taken at the request of {{w|Carl Sagan}}, a well known space scientist at that time. In 1994 Sagan wrote the book &quot;{{w|Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space}}&quot; inspired by this picture. In the book, Sagan waxed eloquent about the picture in a widely-quoted passage. The complete passage can be found illustrated in this [http://zenpencils.com/comic/100-carl-sagan-pale-blue-dot/ Zen Pencils comic].<br /> <br /> Cueball quotes from a condensed version of this passage until he is interrupted by an argument over ''which'' speck in the picture is actually the Earth. When Cueball cries out in exasperation that it doesn't matter, then the entire authenticity of the image is called into question. This pokes fun at the fact that the {{w|Pale Blue Dot}} picture has very little visual attractiveness, apart from the intellectual interest relying on the viewer's knowledge that the central speck is actually our home planet seen from a great distance. <br /> <br /> The first two sentences of the title text are also a quotation from Sagan's paean to the Pale Blue Dot picture, but then the text veers humorously into non-scientific mysticism that starkly contrasts with the attitude and intent of the original work.<br /> <br /> The title text evokes {{w|Cosmicism}}, a philosophy developed and exemplified by the fictional {{w|Cthulhu_mythos|Cthulhu Mythos}}. This Mythos is expounded in fantasy/horror works of H.P. Lovecraft and, later, August Derleth, and features a cosmology in which humanity is depicted as inconsequential within a greater existence that is unknowable and frightening. Cosmicism asserts that humanity is doomed to destruction through the workings of vastly more powerful supernatural forces beyond our understanding. There are many instances in the fiction of H.P. Lovecraft of factions that embrace the destruction of humanity and actively work towards bringing about that end through the invocation of the unknowable and powerful forces that supporters of Cosmicism believe surround everything.<br /> <br /> The text also references {{w|Ba'al}}, originally a Semitic deity that has been since associated with demonic or otherwise evil forces. The name Ba'al, and other variants of the same, have been included in many other fictional works often as a villain or antagonist. For example, the fictional System Lord {{w|Ba'al (Stargate)#Ba.27al|Ba'al}} from the television show {{w|Stargate}}. The title text supplants all of the supernatural forces associated with Cosmicism in the works of other authors and jokingly advocates for research funding for space exploration to invoke Ba'al, the Eater of Souls, and bring about the end of humanity.<br /> <br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball stands on a podium, the Pale Blue Dot picture is behind him]<br /> :Cueball: Consider this Pale Blue Dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. Everyone you love, every human being who ever was, every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived out their lives on this mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam. All our -<br /> :[Heckling]: I think that's a stuck pixel. We're the speck on the left.<br /> :Cueball: ...Ok, '''''this''''' Pale Blue Dot is everything you -<br /> :[Heckling]: No, you were right before. ''That'' one is earth.<br /> :Cueball: '''''Look, it doesn't matter!'''''<br /> :[Heckling]: I ''knew'' it!<br /> :[Heckling]: I think this is just a lens cap picture.<br /> <br /> ==Trivia==<br /> *At the time when this comic was published NASA did reveal two other pictures, showing our home planet from a long distance, [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/whycassini/cassini20130722.html Saturn] and [http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/gallery/sciencePhotos/image.php?image_id=1228 Mercury] probes did picture the Earth at the same time. Earth appears as a tiny dot in these images as well as a result of the vast distance between Earth and the probes.<br /> <br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Philosophy]]<br /> [[Category:Science]]<br /> [[Category:Astronomy]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1242:_Scary_Names&diff=54160 2013-12-03T00:37:55Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>;Zero Halliburton<br /> What is &quot;A Zero Halliburton briefcase&quot;? [[Special:Contributions/212.232.24.57|212.232.24.57]] 13:24, 24 July 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :Zero Halliburton is a luggage brand name, with a line of aluminum attache cases. Not connected to the big company Halliburton, associated with former US Vice President Cheney and the war in Iraq. [[User:Wrybred|Wrybred]] ([[User talk:Wrybred|talk]]) 13:57, 24 July 2013 (UTC)wrybred<br /> <br /> ::The history of Zero Halliburton luggage does intersect with the founder of Halliburton Company, Erle P. Halliburton. He needed rugged cases, so he started a company to produce them. He sold it to Zero Corporation. [http://www.zerohalliburton.com/about-our-company.html]. ''&amp;mdash; [[User:Tbc|tbc]] ([[User talk:Tbc|talk]]) 14:26, 24 July 2013 (UTC)''<br /> <br /> ;Military Aide/Secret Service Agent<br /> Isn't the nuclear football carried by a military aide, not a Secret Service agent? [[Special:Contributions/167.165.238.254|167.165.238.254]] 14:18, 24 July 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :Probably. I don't really know what I'm talking about. If you think you can improve on what I wrote, go for it! [[User:RouterIncident|RouterIncident]] ([[User talk:RouterIncident|talk]]) 14:24, 24 July 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ::Yes. &quot;Cheney noted that the president is accompanied at all times by a military aide carrying a 'football' that contains launch codes for nuclear weapons. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/21/AR2008122100869.html] ''&amp;mdash; [[User:Tbc|tbc]] ([[User talk:Tbc|talk]]) 14:26, 24 July 2013 (UTC)''<br /> <br /> :::I assume it's called 'football' because in the USA footballs are usually carried by hand. --[[User:Chtz|Chtz]] ([[User talk:Chtz|talk]]) 15:16, 24 July 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ::::Early plans for nuclear war against the Soviets were codenamed &quot;Dropkick&quot;. [[Special:Contributions/193.67.17.36|193.67.17.36]] 16:23, 24 July 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ;Helvetica Scenario<br /> I think the &quot;Helvetica Scenario&quot; explanation is wrong, but I don't know enough about it to feel comfortable editing. Here's an article I found that makes more sense. http://enigmauniversity.wikia.com/wiki/Helvetica_Scenario (I didn't watch the Youtube clip since I'm at work, so maybe that's what the clip refers to. It should be explained in the article instead.) [[User:Trek7553|Trek7553]] ([[User talk:Trek7553|talk]]) 14:45, 24 July 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :To the best of my knowledge, the page you linked to is a work of fiction on a role-playing wiki. The references to calcium imply that it is based off of the Look Around You segment, but with its own added elements for the sake of role-playing. [[User:RouterIncident|RouterIncident]] ([[User talk:RouterIncident|talk]]) 14:53, 24 July 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ::I changed this section. The video is correct, but the horror scene is just showing a possible result of the Helvetica experiment.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 16:19, 25 July 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :::That sounds much better now. [[User:RouterIncident|RouterIncident]] ([[User talk:RouterIncident|talk]]) 18:06, 25 July 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :::: I know what you mean but I like the statement &quot;...the page you linked to is a work of fiction...&quot; - the Helvetica Scenario is a work of fiction! But yes, that is a derivative work, the original source being Look Around You.<br /> <br /> :::: Having just looked at the edits, Dgbrt is getting seriously confused. The Helvetica Scenario is not real, and is completely made up by the TV program Look Around You. Urban dictionary is entirely based on the original invention by L.A.Y. It is not a real thing!<br /> <br /> ;Arbitrary Scariness Formatting<br /> I have a slight issue with the artificial percentage scale given for entries in the chart. First of all it assumes a linear chart that is measured in percentages. Secondly, it assumes Flesh-eating Bacteria is 100% scariest thing and scariest-sounding thing existant. Just because it's the highest on the chart doesn't make it &quot;100%&quot; (again, percentage seems like an arbitrary scale to assign) [[User:TheHYPO|TheHYPO]] ([[User talk:TheHYPO|talk]]) 16:22, 24 July 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :I disagree on your second point. The explanation expresses the scariness of something as a percentage of Flesh-eating Bacteria BECAUSE it is an arbitrary scale. It doesn't imply that the bacteria is the scariest possible thing. I think this is the best way; it's better than saying &quot;Grey goo isn't as scary sounding, but is scarier than...&quot; for all possible combinations of every item.&lt;br&gt;Also on your first point, it doesn't assume the chart is measured in percentages (although it does assume linearity). [[Special:Contributions/174.88.154.131|174.88.154.131]] 12:30, 25 July 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ::How about we just give the pixel coordinates and point out that the scale is arbitrary (or not defined by the comic). Percentage would suggest that the scale is in some way linear, which you actually cannot conclude from the graph. --[[User:Chtz|Chtz]] ([[User talk:Chtz|talk]]) 13:08, 25 July 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ::Initially I had written out &quot;Not very scary&quot;, &quot;Somewhat scary&quot;, &quot;Fairly scary&quot;, etc. but it seemed simpler and much easier to read and sort to simply use arbitrary percentages. [[User:RouterIncident|RouterIncident]] ([[User talk:RouterIncident|talk]]) 14:55, 25 July 2013 (UTC)<br /> :As there are no values or units listed, Randall's dots are fairly arbitrary, probably plotted relative to each other and to a roughly-equal apparent-to-actual-scariness line. So isn't it a little silly to argue about the listing of an arbitrary scale for these arbitrary values? [[Special:Contributions/138.162.8.57|138.162.8.57]] 15:57, 25 July 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ::In my opinion the percentages are over interpreting the comic. But since it is here it should be explained as position on the graph relative to zero.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 16:19, 25 July 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :::The percentages are perfectly fine. They just need to be interpreted as what they are: percentages of scary, relative to flesh eating bacteria. Flesh eating bacteria = 1 unit of scary. In this situation 110% isn't just a metaphor. If the bacteria was the scariest thing nothing would be off the chart. [[User:Db|db]] ([[User talk:Db|talk]]) 06:11, 17 November 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> Really I think the point of the comic is how superficial perception and reality fail to correlate. That's what is so notable about flesh eating bacteria. It lives up to it's name. A rare thing indeed. [[User:Db|db]] ([[User talk:Db|talk]]) 06:11, 17 November 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> What is missing about the transcript? It describes the comic panel perfectly. there is no dialogue to include. could you please be more specific about what you feel is missing from the transcript? @dgbrt [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 00:37, 3 December 2013 (UTC)</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1225:_Ice_Sheets&diff=54159 2013-12-03T00:28:27Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>The original paper [https://notendur.hi.is//~oi/AG-326%202006%20readings/Canadian%20Arctic/Dyke_QSR2002.pdf] Sebastian --[[Special:Contributions/178.26.118.249|178.26.118.249]] 07:38, 14 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> It is commonly stated that EVERY sequel is worse that the original film (exceptions are few and often disputed). And very few producents are able to stop filming sequels sooner that they produce sequel worse that all previous. If you see a series with every film better that the previous, then producent is already preparing next one ... or died. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 09:20, 14 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> *However, going to the bottom of the Wikipedia page for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Age_(film_series)#Critical_reaction Ice Age] shows that Rotten Tomatoes strongly agrees that the sequels were not better [[User:Odysseus654|Odysseus654]] ([[User talk:Odysseus654|talk]]) 16:34, 14 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> For those of us who do not live in one of these four cities, does anyone have a more comprehensive set of data for the rest of the continent? Or specifically NYC? ;)<br /> <br /> Striations on the rocks in Central Park are evidence that a glacier did reach as far south as New York City and in the referenced article on page 21, Figure 4 shows a map of the extent of the glacier just reaching NYC and Long Island and is labeled as somewhere between 0 and 600 meters thick. This page on the City of New York Parks and Recreation site [http://www.nycgovparks.org/about/history/geology] says the glacier in NYC was about 1000 feet thick which is about 300 meters. I should add that the Freedom Tower being built on the WTC site will be 1776 feet high (counting the broadcast antenna) and the Empire State building is 1454 feet high, so some of the current buildings would have poked out of the ice.<br /> <br /> Was just curious, is this a jab at &quot;Global Warming&quot; and the fact that Glaciers have always been melting and getting thinner?--[[Special:Contributions/65.215.93.238|65.215.93.238]] 13:36, 14 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> :I don't think so, just because someone finds it amazing how deep the ice during the last glaciation was, doesn't imply anything about their opinion on the causes of changes in climate over the few centuries. By the way, the glaciers have {{w|Timeline_of_glaciation|melted and refrozen lots of times}}, they haven't always been melting.[[User:NHSavage|NHSavage]] ([[User talk:NHSavage|talk]]) 18:44, 14 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ;Global Warming<br /> The actual climate discussion is still not solved. But we do know very well that the ocean sea level was 130 Meters lower than today at that time. At the end of that period the sea level was growing fast, but then it did raise slower later, and that raise didn't stop until today. Randall is only showing ICE levels, not more.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:17, 14 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> <br /> I've read and re-read both comic and explanation (and, moreover, the above comments) and I just can't agree with the current third and final paragraph of the explanation (&quot;But the joke ... (see Sea level rise).&quot;). It is, to my mind, merely ''interesting'' that at a time of ice-age there was far more depth of ice pressing down upon sites than there currently are famous heights of buildings above the present day, and ice-less, horizons at these particular locales, as depicted. The sole joke, to my mind, is in the title-text, with the direct swapping of the common Ice Age film series's prefix for the souce paper's title. (Which is jolly funny!) And is in line with some of Randall's other largely &quot;informative&quot; strips, jokes sneaking in only as captions and labels.<br /> <br /> It is indeed also interesting to note, as a side-issue, that glaciation (and thus deglaciation) relates somewhat to sea level (but note also {{w|Post-glacial rebound}} as a significant effect in some areas, both reinforcing ''and'' opposing sea-level changes, depending on locale). However, there's not even any mention of relative sea-level in the images. This ''could'' perhaps have been implemented as an arrow tacked onto the side of each depth-extended cross-section, pointing base to point (or vice-versa) between the axial position of the historic Mean Sea Level (if known) and that relating to the current state of affairs, in perfect scale against the column of sky-line and ice. But right now there's no reference at all to support this thought, and thus hardly asks for any such 'explanation' or reference. (There's similarly no invocation of the &quot;climate discussion&quot;, unsolved or otherwise, outside of our combined commentary on the comic.)<br /> <br /> Mayhap are people being confused by the (admitedly) water-like appearance of the depiction of ice-layer? Possibly thinking that these diagrams are of ''submerged'' cities (''a la'' representations in various /The Day After Tomorrow/, /A.I. Artificial Intelligence/ or /2012/-ish films), not ones figuratively transplanted back back into the ancient ice-mass... Or are people inadvertently trolling their personal pro/anti-Climate Change views here (esp. w.r.t. Human impact)? Perhaps subconciously reading more (potentially pro- ''or'' anti-!) into the comic than (so far as I can see) was ever intended. If you'll forgive my hopefully 'neutralist' stance on the issue (i.e. divorced of my semi-moderate stance on the issue, which is in whatever direction it is that I lean... but which I have deliberately tried to have kept unstated).<br /> <br /> Add to this that Randall shows only Leftpondian locations (and upper-Leftpondian ones, at that, due to the specialised scope of the source paper) this also makes me wonder why Europe and Asia are mentioned in that para, (unless it's meant to say &quot;Ice Ages didn't just happen to North American, but also to similar latitudes in a circumpolar fashion&quot;, in which case could we also add anything we know about the southern hemisphere as well?). But that's a minor niggle I have in a paragraph that (obviously, from the length I've been taking pains to discuss all this within) I just can't get a handle on in the first place. But perhaps I'm missing something so, rather than editing and excising the main article, here I ramble on about it. Perhaps to pursuade some prior contributor to re-explain their particular contributions. (We now return you to your regularly scheduled programme...) [[Special:Contributions/178.107.249.215|178.107.249.215]] 22:32, 16 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ;The end of the explanation<br /> <br /> It seems to suggest that the comic shows European and Asian glaciers, which is ... clearly false. What's that bit about?<br /> :Well ''maybe'' that's {{w|Boston, Lincolnshire}} or {{w|Montreal, Catalonia}}. Or even the respective ones in the Philippines/Jordan. But I still doubt it. ;) Anyway, as per the TL;DR; mess of my prior comment 'contribution' I still don't like that ending. But that could just be me misreading. [[Special:Contributions/178.107.249.215|178.107.249.215]] 11:49, 17 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::Nope, those are definitely the North American cities. The skylines are accurate - you can clearly see Hancock Place and the Prudential Tower in the Boston skyline, and Mount Royal in the Montreal drawing.[[Special:Contributions/24.114.255.99|24.114.255.99]] 15:41, 24 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::I did edit this section a week ago. It should be clear now that only North American cities are shown on the comic (see below).--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 18:21, 24 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :Apart from the end of the explanation being written ambiguously, as to lead to your confusion, I think it is unnecessary to even include it as there is no mention of sea levels in the comic at all. --[[User:Dangerkeith3000|Dangerkeith3000]] ([[User talk:Dangerkeith3000|talk]]) 15:49, 17 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I did an update to this section. My former edit was in fact ambiguous; the comic shows only four major cities from North America. But I think that sea level issue is a direct result and should be mentioned here.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 17:10, 17 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::FWIW, I like that version much better. (And addresses my point, and hopeully DK3k's, about no mention of sea levels in the comic by now ''relating'' the indicated ice with global sea levels as an off-comic exemplar.) A final remaining bit of 'picky' is that it still puts the subordinate title-text joke as primary with the meaning of the comic image as a 'by the way', but that's minor semantics in comparison. Good show. [[Special:Contributions/178.107.249.215|178.107.249.215]] 19:16, 17 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::The title text is the joke here. The comic image is simply a bit of information found in a paper on glacial action in north america overlaid with another bit of information on the heights of buildings in metropolitan areas. This visual juxtaposition adds interest to both sets of data by correlating two topics that we don't often think about together that are already linked through location and displaced in time. The title text joke further strengthens reader interest in the paper by humorously comparing the act of writing scientific papers to the creation, review and marketing of movies in north american culture. By asserting that the original paper is better than the fictitious sequels we get a brilliant satire of north american entertainment culture and an appeal to readers to seek more entertainment in learning of and thinking about interesting data. As the above comment mentions this is another example of interesting data presented in a visual way with a masterfully subtle satirical joke in the title text. <br /> <br /> ::::There is no need to bring any discussion of glacial melt, sea level change or any other implications of glacial action into the explanation of the comic. I propose that the third paragraph be removed from the explanation and the explanation considered complete. <br /> ::::[[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 17:15, 2 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::::The title text is well covered in paragraph two, but an explain showing the consequences should also explained here. Any other suggestions? If this issue is solved the incomplete tag has to be removed.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 21:11, 2 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::If it must remain it should be rephrased as part of the context regarding the ice sheet. more information on the particulars of sea levels and other effects of the ice sheet are not required here. If readers want to know more they can refer to the paper cited in the comic.[[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 22:47, 2 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::::::And I'm sorry, but the sea level did not raise at that times.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:43, 2 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::::::But I don't like edit wars, just a small enhancement will be done. PEACE and &quot;live long and prosper&quot;. &lt;- STAR TREK --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:51, 2 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::::i still don't see the reason to include any reference to sea levels as it does not help to explain the comic in any way. I dont like the edit war either so i'm fine to leave it as you wrote it though i think it could be improved by leaving out the part about how much the sea level was effected.</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1250:_Old_Accounts&diff=54158 2013-12-03T00:20:11Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 1250<br /> | date = August 12, 2013<br /> | title = Old Accounts<br /> | image = old accounts.png<br /> | titletext = If you close an account while it's still friends with people, it contributes to database linkage accumulation slowdown, which is a major looming problem for web infrastructure and definitely not a thing I just made up.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete|discussion items not resolved}}<br /> [[Cueball]] is very slowly following the described process of removing himself from a {{w|Social networking service|social network}}. Such actions are not necessary on any well-designed website, and actively unfriending people individually could be perceived rude or antisocial.<br /> <br /> The ''reverse order'' to unfriend people could refer to the correct {{w|Memory management|memory allocation and deallocation}} processes in {{w|programming language|programming languages}} like {{w|C (programming language)|C}}. When allocating a memory block ''A'', the {{w|Pointer (computer programming)|pointer}} ''a-&gt;'' will save the starting address of this memory block. The next memory blocks ''B'', ''C'', and ''D'' may use pointers saved inside of block ''A''. If ones starts the deallocation process at Block ''A'', one loses all information about the other blocks and thus can not deallocate them. If the process repeats over and over, its memory usage will accumulate and will eventually result in an {{w|out of memory}} error.<br /> <br /> The comic may alternately refer to {{w|database|databases}} and the query language {{w|SQL}}. Modern web sites are always saved in such databases by using references from one entity to another. A entity in this context is a thing in the modeled world; in this case, Cueball and his &quot;friends&quot;. Using the {{w|Entity–relationship model|entity–relationship model}}, the ''friends'' will still have a relationship to the nonexistent user Cueball, and the links are orphaned.<br /> <br /> Alternate explanation: There are dozens of social media websites and forums (e.g. Orkut and Hi5) that have faded into obscurity, either because they have outlived their usefulness, or because no one uses them. But even though one may not have visited them for years, they are still sitting there, gathering one's &quot;friends'&quot; statuses. It is often surprising to receive an email from a forum or social media website one has not visited for years. The comic is saying that one should always unfriend everyone when leaving a group, so that one does not keep getting statuses for &quot;friends&quot; one no longer cares about. The reverse order is because one unfriends the people one has known for the shortest period first.<br /> <br /> In the title text, &quot;database linkage accumulation slowdown&quot; really is a thing that [[Randall]] just made up. This may be a satire of popular fears of made-up technological problems, often held by those who are not technologically savvy.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball sits at a desk, using a laptop.]<br /> :The internet is filled with derelict accounts aggregating news about friends long forgotten.<br /> :&lt;nowiki&gt;*&lt;/nowiki&gt;Click*<br /> : Uhh, is everything OK?<br /> :&lt;nowiki&gt;*&lt;/nowiki&gt;Click*<br /> : Dude, what the hell?<br /> :&lt;nowiki&gt;*&lt;/nowiki&gt;Click*<br /> :When you find yourself drifting away from a community, remember to clean up after yourself by slowly unfriending everyone, one by one, in the reverse order that you added them.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Computers]]<br /> [[Category:Social networking]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1250:_Old_Accounts&diff=54157 2013-12-03T00:17:30Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>Kind of reminds me of all these movies where someone deletes something from a computer by dramatically backspacing everything. Like in Daredevil, for example. [[Special:Contributions/95.35.60.227|95.35.60.227]] 07:34, 12 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :Ugh. I hated that scene. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]]&lt;span title=&quot;I'm an admin. I can help.&quot;&gt;_a&lt;/span&gt; ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 08:49, 12 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :Ugh. I hated that movie. [[User:DreamingDaemon|DD]] ([[User talk:DreamingDaemon|talk]]) 10:14, 12 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ::I hate it when CTRL+Backspace doesn't work as expected, or starts adding non-printable characters instead. [[User:Saibot84|Saibot84]] ([[User talk:Saibot84|talk]]) 12:42, 12 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> It wouldn't surprise me if FB kept a list of all the people who unfriended you. I know that they don't delete accounts that have been deleted. [[User:Hax|Hax]] ([[User talk:Hax|talk]]) 14:45, 12 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> The reference to defriending in reverse order could be a joke about memory management in programming: You free up memory in reverse of the order you allocated it --[[User:Eqdw|Eqdw]] ([[User talk:Eqdw|talk]]) 16:49, 12 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :I agree with Eqdw on the memory management reference; the title text especially seems to reference memory leak problems. Unfortunately, I lack sufficient technical knowledge to provide a good explanation of this for the description. [[User:Thegreatsasquatch|TheGreatSasquatch]] ([[User talk:Thegreatsasquatch|talk]]) 17:15, 12 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I did a first simple try.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:17, 12 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> I remember using Noroom's List Manager to clean up my block/allow lists after a person has removed me from their contact list in good old MSN with good old MSG Plus! (with good old ***ware) [[Special:Contributions/84.225.4.214|84.225.4.214]] 19:06, 12 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> Some bullshit on the page. Not sure if it could be edited to something that makes sense, if not it probably should be erased: &quot;''But it also may refer to databases and the query language SQL. Modern web sites are always saved in such databases and using references from one entity to an other. A entity in this context is a thing in the modeled world, in this case Cueball and his friends. By using the entity–relationship model the friends will still have a relationship to the nonexistent user Cueball, the links are orphaned.''&quot;. Problems: 1) Modern web sites tend to shift from SQL to No-SQL databases, especially sites like social networks; 2) The described behavior is not a problem in a properly designed SQL database, since absence of orphaned links is ensured by foreign constraints. [[Special:Contributions/213.251.211.65|213.251.211.65]] 07:08, 14 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> :I disagree. At the title text Randall mentions ''a major looming problem'' belonging to databases. And all modern websites like wordpress, or even this wiki, using SQL databases in the background. No-SQL is an alternative, but still rarely used.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 10:27, 14 August 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> Anything that needs to scale significantly gets away from SQL. It is not rarely used, it is the only option beyond a certain size. Facebook makes extensive use of No-SQL. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.246.117|108.162.246.117]] 02:41, 1 November 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> Nevermind the language used to implement current or historical database type websites. This detail is inconsequential to the comic. No program or database would rely on the actions of the everyday user to maintain the integrity of the system. All system maintenance required surrounding account deletion would be handled by separate systems and processes. The looming problem of 'database linkage accumulation' is obvious fiction dressed in technical language to fool the uninitiated. The joke is that Cueball is using a fallacious argument centered in a knowledge of good programming practice to justify a rude behaviour that he finds enjoyable as it provokes reactions in other users. <br /> <br /> Paragraph two of the explanation should be edited to describe good programming practice centering around memory management. re: de-allocation and ordering <br /> paragraph three and four can be deleted in favour of explanation on why relying on user input to maintain the health of the system is foolish and would not be considered in such an implementation and the confirmation of d.b.a.s. as a false problem made up to justify Cueball's provocative behavior. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 00:17, 3 December 2013 (UTC)</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1252:_Increased_Risk&diff=54147 2013-12-02T23:38:40Z

<p>Mrarch: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 1252<br /> | date = August 16, 2013<br /> | title = Increased Risk<br /> | image = increased_risk.png<br /> | titletext = You may point out that strictly speaking, you can use that statement to prove that all risks are tiny--to which I reply HOLY SHIT WATCH OUT FOR THAT DOG!<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete|consider complete?}}<br /> The panel satirises the common misunderstanding of the concept of percentage. Quoting a percentage change without mentioning the base probability that this ratio acts on is meaningless (outside of arithmetic for arithmetic's sake). Most everyday communication, however, succumbs to such incompleteness. In the aftermath of this ambiguity, people tend to conflate relative and absolute changes.<br /> <br /> If the probability of a shark attack at the North beach is 5 per million, then the probability of shark attack at the South beach is still not more than 6 per million. The difference between these values is not enough to normally justify choosing one beach over the other, even though a &quot;20% greater&quot; chance sounds significant when stated out of this larger context.<br /> <br /> [[Cueball]] parodies the concern by noting that by going to a beach three times instead of two, their chances of attack by dogs with handguns in their mouths (a ludicrous and unrealistic scenario) increases by 50%. If the chance of the dog attack is one per billion on each visit to the beach, then the chance of attack increases over multiple visits regardless. (It's still one in a billion for any specific visit.) This does not change the overall improbability of there ever being a dog swimming with a gun in its mouth.<br /> <br /> [[Beret Guy]] misunderstands Cueball's probability, exhibiting the {{w|Gambler's fallacy}} by believing that since they haven't been attacked in their first two trips, the chance of attack by dogs with handguns is higher on their third outing.<br /> <br /> This is a common misunderstanding of statistics. While the overall probability of an attack in three trips would be higher than in a single trip, it doesn't change the fact that in each individual trip, the probability is still the same; whether or not they managed to avoid being attacked in their first two trips, the results of these trips do not factor into the probability equation of the third trip.<br /> <br /> This also can be illustrated by coin flips: if one flips a coin 10 times in a row, no matter what the result of each previous flip is (even if it were nine heads in a row), the odds of getting heads on the next coin flip remains 50%. In other words, past experience does not impact subsequent flips. <br /> <br /> The title text discusses the argument that the statement &quot;A 50% increase in a tiny risk is still tiny,&quot; if taken at face value, can be used to prove that all risks are tiny. This can be compared to the {{w|Sorites paradox}} (the &quot;paradox of the heap&quot;), which involves a &quot;heap&quot; of sand from which grains of sand are removed individually. If one assumes that, after removing a single grain, a heap of sand is still considered a heap of sand, and that there are a limited number of grains of sand in the heap, then one is forced to accept the conclusion that it can still be considered a heap of sand even if there is only a single grain of sand (or even none at all).<br /> <br /> The title text mocks this paradox by suggesting that even the implausible scenario of an attack by a dog with a handgun is just as likely as all other possible scenarios. If the probability of any scenario is &quot;tiny&quot;, then (given a vague enough definition of &quot;tiny&quot;) all scenarios become equally likely, so the otherwise ludicrous scenario of a dog with a handgun becomes no longer negligible.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Three figures are standing around. Two have beach towels. Ponytail is looking at her cell phone. One of them is Beret Guy.]<br /> :Ponytail: We should go to the north beach. Someone said the south beach has a 20% higher risk of shark attacks.<br /> :Cueball: Yeah, but statistically, taking three beach trips instead of two increases our odds of getting shot by a swimming dog carrying a handgun in its mouth by '''''50%!'''''<br /> :Beret Guy: Oh no! This is our third trip!<br /> :Reminder: A 50% increase in a tiny risk is ''still tiny''.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]<br /> [[Category:Math]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1252:_Increased_Risk&diff=54144 2013-12-02T23:29:17Z

<p>Mrarch: /* Transcript */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 1252<br /> | date = August 16, 2013<br /> | title = Increased Risk<br /> | image = increased_risk.png<br /> | titletext = You may point out that strictly speaking, you can use that statement to prove that all risks are tiny--to which I reply HOLY SHIT WATCH OUT FOR THAT DOG!<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete}}<br /> The panel satirises the common misunderstanding of the concept of percentage. Quoting a percentage change without mentioning the base probability that this ratio acts on is meaningless (outside of arithmetic for arithmetic's sake). Most everyday communication, however, succumbs to such incompleteness. In the aftermath of this ambiguity, people tend to conflate relative and absolute changes.<br /> <br /> If the probability of a shark attack at the North beach is 5 per million, then the probability of shark attack at the South beach is still not more than 6 per million. The difference between these values is not enough to normally justify choosing one beach over the other, even though a &quot;20% greater&quot; chance sounds significant when stated out of this larger context.<br /> <br /> [[Cueball]] parodies the concern by noting that by going to a beach three times instead of two, their chances of attack by dogs with handguns in their mouths (a ludicrous and unrealistic scenario) increases by 50%. If the chance of the dog attack is one per billion on each visit to the beach, then the chance of attack increases over multiple visits regardless. (It's still one in a billion for any specific visit.) This does not change the overall improbability of there ever being a dog swimming with a gun in its mouth.<br /> <br /> [[Beret Guy]] misunderstands Cueball's probability, exhibiting the {{w|Gambler's fallacy}} by believing that since they haven't been attacked in their first two trips, the chance of attack by dogs with handguns is higher on their third outing.<br /> <br /> This is a common misunderstanding of statistics. While the overall probability of an attack in three trips would be higher than in a single trip, it doesn't change the fact that in each individual trip, the probability is still the same; whether or not they managed to avoid being attacked in their first two trips, the results of these trips do not factor into the probability equation of the third trip.<br /> <br /> This also can be illustrated by coin flips: if one flips a coin 10 times in a row, no matter what the result of each previous flip is (even if it were nine heads in a row), the odds of getting heads on the next coin flip remains 50%. In other words, past experience does not impact subsequent flips. <br /> <br /> The title text discusses the argument that the statement &quot;A 50% increase in a tiny risk is still tiny,&quot; if taken at face value, can be used to prove that all risks are tiny. This can be compared to the {{w|Sorites paradox}} (the &quot;paradox of the heap&quot;), which involves a &quot;heap&quot; of sand from which grains of sand are removed individually. If one assumes that, after removing a single grain, a heap of sand is still considered a heap of sand, and that there are a limited number of grains of sand in the heap, then one is forced to accept the conclusion that it can still be considered a heap of sand even if there is only a single grain of sand (or even none at all).<br /> <br /> The title text mocks this paradox by suggesting that even the implausible scenario of an attack by a dog with a handgun is just as likely as all other possible scenarios. If the probability of any scenario is &quot;tiny&quot;, then (given a vague enough definition of &quot;tiny&quot;) all scenarios become equally likely, so the otherwise ludicrous scenario of a dog with a handgun becomes no longer negligible.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Three figures are standing around. Two have beach towels. Ponytail is looking at her cell phone. One of them is Beret Guy.]<br /> :Ponytail: We should go to the north beach. Someone said the south beach has a 20% higher risk of shark attacks.<br /> :Cueball: Yeah, but statistically, taking three beach trips instead of two increases our odds of getting shot by a swimming dog carrying a handgun in its mouth by '''''50%!'''''<br /> :Beret Guy: Oh no! This is our third trip!<br /> :Reminder: A 50% increase in a tiny risk is ''still tiny''.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]<br /> [[Category:Math]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1257:_Monster&diff=54143 2013-12-02T23:21:11Z

<p>Mrarch: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 1257<br /> | date = August 28, 2013<br /> | title = Monster<br /> | image = monster.png<br /> | titletext = It was finally destroyed with a nuclear weapon carrying the destructive energy of the Hiroshima bomb.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> <br /> <br /> This comic is a parody on the opening scene of the science fiction monster movie Pacific Rim (2013). In the film, huge monsters called Kaiju entered the world through an inter-dimensional portal under the Pacific ocean and attacked coastal cities. The first city to be attacked by a Kaiju was San Francisco, which killed tens of thousands of people before its death after six days. In the comic, officials and police are evidently trying to describe the extraordinary qualities of a huge monster by comparing it with everyday objects instead of numbers, which is a recurring theme on xkcd ([[526: Converting to Metric]], [[1047: Approximations]]) and a [http://blog.xkcd.com/2013/05/15/dictionary-of-numbers/ blog article] where Randall says &quot;I don’t like large numbers without context.&quot; <br /> <br /> This comic pokes fun at how common it is in the media to compare things of extraordinary qualities to a certain narrow set of well-known objects. The comic features people discussing a fictional monster which - apparently - can be only described by these overused comparisons. The caption and the title text take this joke further by comparing the nuclear bomb to the bomb dropped on Hiroshima at the end of the second world war, an oft-used reference for explosive devices, and implying that it is the frequently-made-comparison quality of the bomb that destroyed the monster.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[4 figures are standing around a table-top crisis planning model. Cueball and Ponytail are wearing police-style hats; Megan holds a clipboard.]<br /> :Megan: It's as long as a football field. Runs as fast as a cheetah.<br /> :Cueball: Weighs as much as a blue whale.<br /> :Blonde: Can we negotiate with it?<br /> :Ponytail: No. It has the intelligence of a two-year-old child.<br /> :By the time the Frequently-Made Comparisons Monster was finally defeated, it had eaten enough people to fill a stadium and devastated an area the size of Rhode Island.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> <br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br /> [[Category:Language]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1225:_Ice_Sheets&diff=54141 2013-12-02T22:47:51Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>The original paper [https://notendur.hi.is//~oi/AG-326%202006%20readings/Canadian%20Arctic/Dyke_QSR2002.pdf] Sebastian --[[Special:Contributions/178.26.118.249|178.26.118.249]] 07:38, 14 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> It is commonly stated that EVERY sequel is worse that the original film (exceptions are few and often disputed). And very few producents are able to stop filming sequels sooner that they produce sequel worse that all previous. If you see a series with every film better that the previous, then producent is already preparing next one ... or died. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 09:20, 14 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> *However, going to the bottom of the Wikipedia page for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Age_(film_series)#Critical_reaction Ice Age] shows that Rotten Tomatoes strongly agrees that the sequels were not better [[User:Odysseus654|Odysseus654]] ([[User talk:Odysseus654|talk]]) 16:34, 14 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> For those of us who do not live in one of these four cities, does anyone have a more comprehensive set of data for the rest of the continent? Or specifically NYC? ;)<br /> <br /> Striations on the rocks in Central Park are evidence that a glacier did reach as far south as New York City and in the referenced article on page 21, Figure 4 shows a map of the extent of the glacier just reaching NYC and Long Island and is labeled as somewhere between 0 and 600 meters thick. This page on the City of New York Parks and Recreation site [http://www.nycgovparks.org/about/history/geology] says the glacier in NYC was about 1000 feet thick which is about 300 meters. I should add that the Freedom Tower being built on the WTC site will be 1776 feet high (counting the broadcast antenna) and the Empire State building is 1454 feet high, so some of the current buildings would have poked out of the ice.<br /> <br /> Was just curious, is this a jab at &quot;Global Warming&quot; and the fact that Glaciers have always been melting and getting thinner?--[[Special:Contributions/65.215.93.238|65.215.93.238]] 13:36, 14 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> :I don't think so, just because someone finds it amazing how deep the ice during the last glaciation was, doesn't imply anything about their opinion on the causes of changes in climate over the few centuries. By the way, the glaciers have {{w|Timeline_of_glaciation|melted and refrozen lots of times}}, they haven't always been melting.[[User:NHSavage|NHSavage]] ([[User talk:NHSavage|talk]]) 18:44, 14 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ;Global Warming<br /> The actual climate discussion is still not solved. But we do know very well that the ocean sea level was 130 Meters lower than today at that time. At the end of that period the sea level was growing fast, but then it did raise slower later, and that raise didn't stop until today. Randall is only showing ICE levels, not more.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:17, 14 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> <br /> I've read and re-read both comic and explanation (and, moreover, the above comments) and I just can't agree with the current third and final paragraph of the explanation (&quot;But the joke ... (see Sea level rise).&quot;). It is, to my mind, merely ''interesting'' that at a time of ice-age there was far more depth of ice pressing down upon sites than there currently are famous heights of buildings above the present day, and ice-less, horizons at these particular locales, as depicted. The sole joke, to my mind, is in the title-text, with the direct swapping of the common Ice Age film series's prefix for the souce paper's title. (Which is jolly funny!) And is in line with some of Randall's other largely &quot;informative&quot; strips, jokes sneaking in only as captions and labels.<br /> <br /> It is indeed also interesting to note, as a side-issue, that glaciation (and thus deglaciation) relates somewhat to sea level (but note also {{w|Post-glacial rebound}} as a significant effect in some areas, both reinforcing ''and'' opposing sea-level changes, depending on locale). However, there's not even any mention of relative sea-level in the images. This ''could'' perhaps have been implemented as an arrow tacked onto the side of each depth-extended cross-section, pointing base to point (or vice-versa) between the axial position of the historic Mean Sea Level (if known) and that relating to the current state of affairs, in perfect scale against the column of sky-line and ice. But right now there's no reference at all to support this thought, and thus hardly asks for any such 'explanation' or reference. (There's similarly no invocation of the &quot;climate discussion&quot;, unsolved or otherwise, outside of our combined commentary on the comic.)<br /> <br /> Mayhap are people being confused by the (admitedly) water-like appearance of the depiction of ice-layer? Possibly thinking that these diagrams are of ''submerged'' cities (''a la'' representations in various /The Day After Tomorrow/, /A.I. Artificial Intelligence/ or /2012/-ish films), not ones figuratively transplanted back back into the ancient ice-mass... Or are people inadvertently trolling their personal pro/anti-Climate Change views here (esp. w.r.t. Human impact)? Perhaps subconciously reading more (potentially pro- ''or'' anti-!) into the comic than (so far as I can see) was ever intended. If you'll forgive my hopefully 'neutralist' stance on the issue (i.e. divorced of my semi-moderate stance on the issue, which is in whatever direction it is that I lean... but which I have deliberately tried to have kept unstated).<br /> <br /> Add to this that Randall shows only Leftpondian locations (and upper-Leftpondian ones, at that, due to the specialised scope of the source paper) this also makes me wonder why Europe and Asia are mentioned in that para, (unless it's meant to say &quot;Ice Ages didn't just happen to North American, but also to similar latitudes in a circumpolar fashion&quot;, in which case could we also add anything we know about the southern hemisphere as well?). But that's a minor niggle I have in a paragraph that (obviously, from the length I've been taking pains to discuss all this within) I just can't get a handle on in the first place. But perhaps I'm missing something so, rather than editing and excising the main article, here I ramble on about it. Perhaps to pursuade some prior contributor to re-explain their particular contributions. (We now return you to your regularly scheduled programme...) [[Special:Contributions/178.107.249.215|178.107.249.215]] 22:32, 16 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ;The end of the explanation<br /> <br /> It seems to suggest that the comic shows European and Asian glaciers, which is ... clearly false. What's that bit about?<br /> :Well ''maybe'' that's {{w|Boston, Lincolnshire}} or {{w|Montreal, Catalonia}}. Or even the respective ones in the Philippines/Jordan. But I still doubt it. ;) Anyway, as per the TL;DR; mess of my prior comment 'contribution' I still don't like that ending. But that could just be me misreading. [[Special:Contributions/178.107.249.215|178.107.249.215]] 11:49, 17 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::Nope, those are definitely the North American cities. The skylines are accurate - you can clearly see Hancock Place and the Prudential Tower in the Boston skyline, and Mount Royal in the Montreal drawing.[[Special:Contributions/24.114.255.99|24.114.255.99]] 15:41, 24 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::I did edit this section a week ago. It should be clear now that only North American cities are shown on the comic (see below).--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 18:21, 24 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :Apart from the end of the explanation being written ambiguously, as to lead to your confusion, I think it is unnecessary to even include it as there is no mention of sea levels in the comic at all. --[[User:Dangerkeith3000|Dangerkeith3000]] ([[User talk:Dangerkeith3000|talk]]) 15:49, 17 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I did an update to this section. My former edit was in fact ambiguous; the comic shows only four major cities from North America. But I think that sea level issue is a direct result and should be mentioned here.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 17:10, 17 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::FWIW, I like that version much better. (And addresses my point, and hopeully DK3k's, about no mention of sea levels in the comic by now ''relating'' the indicated ice with global sea levels as an off-comic exemplar.) A final remaining bit of 'picky' is that it still puts the subordinate title-text joke as primary with the meaning of the comic image as a 'by the way', but that's minor semantics in comparison. Good show. [[Special:Contributions/178.107.249.215|178.107.249.215]] 19:16, 17 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::The title text is the joke here. The comic image is simply a bit of information found in a paper on glacial action in north america overlaid with another bit of information on the heights of buildings in metropolitan areas. This visual juxtaposition adds interest to both sets of data by correlating two topics that we don't often think about together that are already linked through location and displaced in time. The title text joke further strengthens reader interest in the paper by humorously comparing the act of writing scientific papers to the creation, review and marketing of movies in north american culture. By asserting that the original paper is better than the fictitious sequels we get a brilliant satire of north american entertainment culture and an appeal to readers to seek more entertainment in learning of and thinking about interesting data. As the above comment mentions this is another example of interesting data presented in a visual way with a masterfully subtle satirical joke in the title text. <br /> <br /> ::::There is no need to bring any discussion of glacial melt, sea level change or any other implications of glacial action into the explanation of the comic. I propose that the third paragraph be removed from the explanation and the explanation considered complete. <br /> ::::[[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 17:15, 2 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::::The title text is well covered in paragraph two, but an explain showing the consequences should also explained here. Any other suggestions? If this issue is solved the incomplete tag has to be removed.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 21:11, 2 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::::If it must remain it should be rephrased as part of the context regarding the ice sheet. more information on the particulars of sea levels and other effects of the ice sheet are not required here. If readers want to know more they can refer to the paper cited in the comic.[[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 22:47, 2 December 2013 (UTC)</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1242:_Scary_Names&diff=54140 2013-12-02T22:42:55Z

<p>Mrarch: /* Transcript */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 1242<br /> | date = July 24, 2013<br /> | title = Scary Names<br /> | image = scary_names.png<br /> | titletext = Far off to the right of the chart is the Helvetica Scenario.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete|incomplete because that references still look strange}}<br /> The chart shows that things toward the right are scary, while things toward the top &lt;em&gt;sound&lt;/em&gt; scary, without &lt;em&gt;necessarily&lt;/em&gt; being scary. <br /> <br /> This humorously explores the how things are often named colloquially and without regard to accuracy in correlating actual scariness with apparent scariness. It is interesting to note how people react to the items near the bottom right of the chart &quot;scary things with not-very-scary names&quot; when compared to how they may react to items in the upper right &quot;not-very-scary things with scary names&quot;. Some of the entries on the chart are especially interesting examples considering that portions of the names that are associated with significant historical or cultural events and themes. IE: Chernobyl Packet, Demon Core. <br /> <br /> <br /> {| class=&quot;wikitable sortable&quot;<br /> ! scope=&quot;col&quot; class=&quot;unsortable&quot;| Name<br /> ! scope=&quot;col&quot; class=&quot;headerSortUp&quot;| Apparent Scariness&lt;sup id=&quot;ref_note-1&quot;&gt;[[#cite_note-1|1]]&lt;/sup&gt;<br /> ! scope=&quot;col&quot;| True Scariness&lt;sup&gt;[[#cite_note-1|1]]&lt;/sup&gt;<br /> ! scope=&quot;col&quot; class=&quot;unsortable&quot;|Description<br /> |-<br /> |{{Nowrap|[http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/C/Chernobyl-packet.html Chernobyl Packet]}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|k !}}95%}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|a !}}4%}}<br /> |A network packet that induces a broadcast storm or network meltdown.<br /> |-<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{w|Calorimeter#Bomb calorimeters|Bomb Calorimeters}}}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|h !}}67%}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|b !}}28%}}<br /> |A device for measuring heat of combustion of a reaction in a pressure vessel.<br /> |-<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{w|Sulfur mustard|Mustard Gas}}}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|f !}}47%}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|c !}}50%}}<br /> |A chemical warfare agent which causes blisters and severe irritation on skin and lung tissue.<br /> |-<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{w|Kessler syndrome|Kessler Syndrome}}}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|k !}}87%}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|d !}}53%}}<br /> |A hypothetical scenario where low Earth orbit objects collide, creating space debris which increases the risk of more collisions, leading to a cascade effect which could severely hinder space exploration and satellite technologies for many years.<br /> |-<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{w|Soil liquefaction|Soil Liquefaction}}}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|c !}}16%}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|e !}}54%}}<br /> |A phenomenon where wet soil loses its strength, leading to potholes, road and terrain damage, and even building collapses, especially after earthquakes or torrential rains. Liquefaction can cause landslides; landslides can cause more liquefaction.<br /> |-<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{w|Grey goo|Grey Goo}}}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|b !}}5%}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|f !}}68%}}<br /> |A hypothetical end-of-world scenario where self-replicating nanobots consume all matter.<br /> |-<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{w|Avian influenza virus|Bird Flu}}}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|h !}}57%}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|g !}}72%}}<br /> |An illness caused by strains of influenza adapted for birds, which is generally very deadly in humans. Should the virus adapt for human to human transmission, a pandemic can quickly result. Since birds can travel great distances quickly, it is generally already widespread and difficult to contain.<br /> |-<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{w|Demon core|Demon Core}}}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|j !}}90%}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|h !}}73%}}<br /> |A subcritical mass of plutonium that was involved in two separate fatal incidents at Los Alamos laboratory in 1945 and 1946. In both cases, the core was accidentally placed into a configuration where it went supercritical and exposed an experimenter to fatal doses of radiation. The second is more notable, where Louis Slotin held two halves of a beryllium neutron reflector apart with a flat head screwdriver which slipped, suddenly causing the contained plutonium core to become supercritical and delivering a fatal dose of radiation.<br /> |-<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{w|Criticality accident|Criticality Incident}}}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|d!}}22%}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|i !}}74%}}<br /> |An uncontrolled nuclear reaction. This occurs when a system running at exact criticality experiences an increase of one dollar of criticality (a term devised by Louis Slotin, as seen above).<br /> |-<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{w|Antibiotic resistance|Superbug}}}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|e !}}39%}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|j !}}83%}}<br /> |Antibiotic resistant bacteria. The growing use of antibiotics has caused some bacteria to evolve to become resistant to the antibiotics. A superbug refers to a scenario where a bacteria evolves to become resistant to all antibiotics, for example, {{w|MRSA}}.<br /> |-<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{w|Nuclear football|Nuclear Football}}}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|g !}}52%}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|k !}}94%}}<br /> |An aluminum Zero Halliburton briefcase which is used by the President of the United States to authorize nuclear attack. A military aide carrying the football is always near the president.<br /> |-<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{w|Necrotizing fasciitis|Flesh-eating bacteria}}}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|m !}}100%}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|l !}}100%}}<br /> |As the name suggests, bacteria that eats (or more accurately, releases toxins that destroy) your skin and muscle.<br /> |-class=&quot;sortbottom&quot;<br /> |Helvetica Scenario&lt;br&gt;(Title Text)<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|z !}}N/A}}<br /> |{{Hs|m !}}Literally Off-The-Chart<br /> |This scenario is also in the title text of [[683: Science Montage]]: &quot;...We have a Helvetica scenario!&quot;. The scenario is a fictional experiment, presented in Switzerland (Helvetica), which assumes that removing only the nucleus (the center of an atom) of a calcium molecule in one's skin, but still leaving the electron shell at its position, would cause a massive reaction ending up in heavy mutations.&lt;sup id=&quot;ref_note-2&quot;&gt;[[#cite_note-2|2]]&lt;/sup&gt; The Helvetica scenario was made up by the BBC comedy show {{w|Look Around You}} in the pilot episode, which can be seen [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZPTM0PGQPE&amp;feature=player_detailpage&amp;t=389 here (at 6:29)]. The fact that the term {{w|Helvetica}} is more commonly known as referring to a very-commonly-used modern typeface makes the name sound like it should refer to a much less serious situation.<br /> |}<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> <br /> <br /> A scatter plot is drawn, x-axis &quot;Scariness of thing name refers to&quot;, y-axis &quot;Scariness of name&quot;.<br /> <br /> Items within the scatter plot are listed in the table above.<br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> &lt;div style=&quot;padding:10px 10px 10px 0;border-radius: 3px;margin-right:1em;margin-bottom:1em;&quot;&gt;<br /> #&lt;span style=&quot;padding: 3px 5px 0px 5px;border-radius: 5px;&quot; id=&quot;cite_note-1&quot;&gt;[[#ref_note-1|^]]&lt;/span&gt; Note: Values in the chart are given as a percentage of the values of &quot;Flesh-eating bacteria&quot;, which is the upper-right-most entry in the chart.<br /> #&lt;span style=&quot;padding: 3px 5px 0px 5px;border-radius: 5px;&quot; id=&quot;cite_note-2&quot;&gt;[[#ref_note-2|^]]&lt;/span&gt; [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=The%20Helvetica%20Scenario Helvetica Scenario at Urban Dictionary].<br /> &lt;/div&gt;<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> <br /> [[Category:Charts]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1297:_Oort_Cloud&diff=54139 2013-12-02T22:41:30Z

<p>Mrarch: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 1297<br /> | date = November 29, 2013<br /> | title = Oort Cloud<br /> | image = oort_cloud.png<br /> | titletext = ... I wanna try. Hang on, be right back.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete|Some issues from the discuss page have to be solved.}}<br /> The {{w|Oort cloud}} is a hypothesized sphere containing material old as our solar system is, reaching out to roughly 50,000 {{w|Astronomical unit|AU (astronomical units)}} or nearly one {{w|Light-year|light-year}} from the sun. It contains many {{w|small Solar System bodies}}, consisting of unknown material. Gravitational forces from passing stars or collisions with other objects sometimes perturb one of these bodies enough to let it fall into the inner solar system. When it gets closer to the Sun (which is just a bright dot at that far distance) it warms up, and some of its mass is lost as gas and dust, making it more visible as an object commonly refered to as a comet. A new {{w|comet}} is born, and if it gets close enough to the sun it may break up entirely.<br /> <br /> Though definition of objects far from our position in the solar system is difficult and subject to dispute, a comet can be defined as a celestial object consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust and, when near the sun, a ‘tail’ of gas and dust particles pointing away from the sun.<br /> <br /> The comet pictured here upon its return strangely resembles the unusual asteroid {{w|P/2013 P5}}. It sported six comet-like tails, but it's still not a comet. In that case the six comet-like tails were suspected to be caused by rapid spinning of that object.<br /> <br /> {{w|C/2012 S1|Comet ISON}} came from the Oort cloud and reached its closest approach to the sun ({{w|Apsis|perihelion}}) on the day before this comic was published. The comet passed very close to the sun, at a distance of 1,860,000 kilometers or 1,150,000 miles from the centre of the sun. It was thus within one sun-diameter of the surface of the sun itself (diameter of sun = 1,391,000 km). At that distance the temperature, at approx. 2,700 degrees Celsius, vaporizes rock as well as ice and can break the comet apart entirely.<br /> <br /> The broken-up object here is presumed to be ISON, and is labeled as such in the transcript, even though Randall hasn't unambiguously identified it. Note that it is not realistic that ISON still would have a tail so far away.<br /> <br /> The closest approach of ISON, or its remains, to Earth will be on December 27, 2013 but it's not clear how visible the comet will be. <br /> December 2, 2013 NASA has released a statement that ISON did not survive its close perihelion with the sun.<br /> <br /> This video shows an animation of the encounter at the sun: [http://stereo-ssc.nascom.nasa.gov/browse/2013/11/28/ahead_20131128_cor2_rdiff_512.mpg ISON 28.11.2013].<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Three asteroids float in space.]<br /> :ISON: Have you noticed that bright dot in the distance?<br /> :Asteroid: Yeah. What's the deal with it?<br /> <br /> :ISON: Dunno. I'm gonna go check it out.<br /> <br /> :[Pause while ISON checks it out off screen.]<br /> <br /> :ISON (appears burnt): Wow. Do NOT go over there.<br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Astronomy]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1225:_Ice_Sheets&diff=54138 2013-12-02T22:17:44Z

<p>Mrarch: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 1225<br /> | date = June 14, 2013<br /> | title = Ice Sheets<br /> | image = ice sheets.png<br /> | titletext = Data adapted from 'The Laurentide and Innuitian ice sheets during the Last Glacial Maximum' by A.S. Dyke et. al., which was way better than the sequels 'The Laurentide and Innuitian ice sheets during the Last Glacial Maximum: The Meltdown' and 'The Laurentide and Innuitian ice sheets during the Last Glacial Maximum: Continental Drift'.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> <br /> The comic shows the ice levels at major North American cities at the {{w|Last_Glacial_Maximum|peak of the last ice age}}, 21000 years ago. During this period a vast amount of frozen water covered North America. So much ice that it effected the global sea level(see {{w|Sea level rise}}). <br /> <br /> Toronto and Montreal are both Canadian cities, while Boston and Chicago are in the US. The skylines of each city are shown at the bottom of the ice sheet, to scale; the tallest structure shown is the CN Tower in Toronto, the tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere, at a height of 553 m. Each pixel is about 12.4 metres.<br /> <br /> The title text references the &quot;[https://notendur.hi.is//~oi/AG-326%202006%20readings/Canadian%20Arctic/Dyke_QSR2002.pdf The Laurentide and Innuitian ice sheets during the Last Glacial Maximum (PDF)],&quot; an actual series of scientific papers about the ice sheet (see figure 4). But it also refers to the animated film series {{w|Ice_Age_(film_series)|Ice Age}}. It is commonly stated that the first Ice Age film was way better than the sequels, and it is criticised for the number of films made (4 as of 2012).<br /> ''Ice Age: the Meltdown'', and ''Ice Age: Continental Drift'' are the second and fourth Ice Age movies. People often say that the first film/book in a series is better than its sequel(s).<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :Thickness of the ice sheets at various locations 21,000 years ago compared with modern skylines.<br /> :[The skylines of four major metropolises are superimposed against an ice sheet of the proper thickness for the aforementioned time period.]<br /> :Toronto: 2100m<br /> :Chicago: 900m<br /> :Boston: 1250m<br /> :Montreal: 3300m<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> <br /> [[Category:Charts]]<br /> [[Category:Comics with color]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1242:_Scary_Names&diff=54113 2013-12-02T17:47:30Z

<p>Mrarch: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 1242<br /> | date = July 24, 2013<br /> | title = Scary Names<br /> | image = scary_names.png<br /> | titletext = Far off to the right of the chart is the Helvetica Scenario.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete|may be complete}}<br /> The chart shows that things toward the right are scary, while things toward the top &lt;em&gt;sound&lt;/em&gt; scary, without &lt;em&gt;necessarily&lt;/em&gt; being scary. <br /> <br /> This humorously explores the how things are often named colloquially and without regard to accuracy in correlating actual scariness with apparent scariness. It is interesting to note how people react to the items near the bottom right of the chart &quot;scary things with not-very-scary names&quot; when compared to how they may react to items in the upper right &quot;not-very-scary things with scary names&quot;. Some of the entries on the chart are especially interesting examples considering that portions of the names that are associated with significant historical or cultural events and themes. IE: Chernobyl Packet, Demon Core. <br /> <br /> <br /> {| class=&quot;wikitable sortable&quot;<br /> ! scope=&quot;col&quot; class=&quot;unsortable&quot;| Name<br /> ! scope=&quot;col&quot; class=&quot;headerSortUp&quot;| Apparent Scariness&lt;sup id=&quot;ref_note-1&quot;&gt;[[#cite_note-1|1]]&lt;/sup&gt;<br /> ! scope=&quot;col&quot;| True Scariness&lt;sup&gt;[[#cite_note-1|1]]&lt;/sup&gt;<br /> ! scope=&quot;col&quot; class=&quot;unsortable&quot;|Description<br /> |-<br /> |{{Nowrap|[http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/C/Chernobyl-packet.html Chernobyl Packet]}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|k !}}95%}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|a !}}4%}}<br /> |A network packet that induces a broadcast storm or network meltdown.<br /> |-<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{w|Calorimeter#Bomb calorimeters|Bomb Calorimeters}}}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|h !}}67%}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|b !}}28%}}<br /> |A device for measuring heat of combustion of a reaction in a pressure vessel.<br /> |-<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{w|Sulfur mustard|Mustard Gas}}}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|f !}}47%}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|c !}}50%}}<br /> |A chemical warfare agent which causes blisters and severe irritation on skin and lung tissue.<br /> |-<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{w|Kessler syndrome|Kessler Syndrome}}}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|k !}}87%}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|d !}}53%}}<br /> |A hypothetical scenario where low Earth orbit objects collide, creating space debris which increases the risk of more collisions, leading to a cascade effect which could severely hinder space exploration and satellite technologies for many years.<br /> |-<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{w|Soil liquefaction|Soil Liquefaction}}}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|c !}}16%}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|e !}}54%}}<br /> |A phenomenon where wet soil loses its strength, leading to potholes, road and terrain damage, and even building collapses, especially after earthquakes or torrential rains. Liquefaction can cause landslides; landslides can cause more liquefaction.<br /> |-<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{w|Grey goo|Grey Goo}}}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|b !}}5%}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|f !}}68%}}<br /> |A hypothetical end-of-world scenario where self-replicating nanobots consume all matter.<br /> |-<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{w|Avian influenza virus|Bird Flu}}}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|h !}}57%}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|g !}}72%}}<br /> |An illness caused by strains of influenza adapted for birds, which is generally very deadly in humans. Should the virus adapt for human to human transmission, a pandemic can quickly result. Since birds can travel great distances quickly, it is generally already widespread and difficult to contain.<br /> |-<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{w|Demon core|Demon Core}}}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|j !}}90%}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|h !}}73%}}<br /> |A subcritical mass of plutonium that was involved in two separate fatal incidents at Los Alamos laboratory in 1945 and 1946. In both cases, the core was accidentally placed into a configuration where it went supercritical and exposed an experimenter to fatal doses of radiation. The second is more notable, where Louis Slotin held two halves of a beryllium neutron reflector apart with a flat head screwdriver which slipped, suddenly causing the contained plutonium core to become supercritical and delivering a fatal dose of radiation.<br /> |-<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{w|Criticality accident|Criticality Incident}}}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|d!}}22%}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|i !}}74%}}<br /> |An uncontrolled nuclear reaction. This occurs when a system running at exact criticality experiences an increase of one dollar of criticality (a term devised by Louis Slotin, as seen above).<br /> |-<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{w|Antibiotic resistance|Superbug}}}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|e !}}39%}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|j !}}83%}}<br /> |Antibiotic resistant bacteria. The growing use of antibiotics has caused some bacteria to evolve to become resistant to the antibiotics. A superbug refers to a scenario where a bacteria evolves to become resistant to all antibiotics, for example, {{w|MRSA}}.<br /> |-<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{w|Nuclear football|Nuclear Football}}}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|g !}}52%}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|k !}}94%}}<br /> |An aluminum Zero Halliburton briefcase which is used by the President of the United States to authorize nuclear attack. A military aide carrying the football is always near the president.<br /> |-<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{w|Necrotizing fasciitis|Flesh-eating bacteria}}}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|m !}}100%}}<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|l !}}100%}}<br /> |As the name suggests, bacteria that eats (or more accurately, releases toxins that destroy) your skin and muscle.<br /> |-class=&quot;sortbottom&quot;<br /> |Helvetica Scenario&lt;br&gt;(Title Text)<br /> |{{Nowrap|{{Hs|z !}}N/A}}<br /> |{{Hs|m !}}Literally Off-The-Chart<br /> |This scenario is also in the title text of [[683: Science Montage]]: &quot;...We have a Helvetica scenario!&quot;. The scenario is a fictional experiment, presented in Switzerland (Helvetica), which assumes that removing only the nucleus (the center of an atom) of a calcium molecule in one's skin, but still leaving the electron shell at its position, would cause a massive reaction ending up in heavy mutations.&lt;sup id=&quot;ref_note-2&quot;&gt;[[#cite_note-2|2]]&lt;/sup&gt; The Helvetica scenario was made up by the BBC comedy show {{w|Look Around You}} in the pilot episode, which can be seen [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZPTM0PGQPE&amp;feature=player_detailpage&amp;t=389 here (at 6:29)]. The fact that the term {{w|Helvetica}} is more commonly known as referring to a very-commonly-used modern typeface makes the name sound like it should refer to a much less serious situation.<br /> |}<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> No official transcript.<br /> <br /> A scatter plot is drawn, x-axis &quot;Scariness of thing name refers to&quot;, y-axis &quot;Scariness of name&quot;. Items within the scatter plot are listed in the table above.<br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> &lt;div style=&quot;padding:10px 10px 10px 0;border-radius: 3px;margin-right:1em;margin-bottom:1em;&quot;&gt;<br /> #&lt;span style=&quot;padding: 3px 5px 0px 5px;border-radius: 5px;&quot; id=&quot;cite_note-1&quot;&gt;[[#ref_note-1|^]]&lt;/span&gt; Note: Values in the chart are given as a percentage of the values of &quot;Flesh-eating bacteria&quot;, which is the upper-right-most entry in the chart.<br /> #&lt;span style=&quot;padding: 3px 5px 0px 5px;border-radius: 5px;&quot; id=&quot;cite_note-2&quot;&gt;[[#ref_note-2|^]]&lt;/span&gt; [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=The%20Helvetica%20Scenario Helvetica Scenario at Urban Dictionary].<br /> &lt;/div&gt;<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> <br /> [[Category:Charts]]</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1225:_Ice_Sheets&diff=54101 2013-12-02T17:15:01Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>The original paper [https://notendur.hi.is//~oi/AG-326%202006%20readings/Canadian%20Arctic/Dyke_QSR2002.pdf] Sebastian --[[Special:Contributions/178.26.118.249|178.26.118.249]] 07:38, 14 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> It is commonly stated that EVERY sequel is worse that the original film (exceptions are few and often disputed). And very few producents are able to stop filming sequels sooner that they produce sequel worse that all previous. If you see a series with every film better that the previous, then producent is already preparing next one ... or died. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 09:20, 14 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> *However, going to the bottom of the Wikipedia page for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Age_(film_series)#Critical_reaction Ice Age] shows that Rotten Tomatoes strongly agrees that the sequels were not better [[User:Odysseus654|Odysseus654]] ([[User talk:Odysseus654|talk]]) 16:34, 14 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> For those of us who do not live in one of these four cities, does anyone have a more comprehensive set of data for the rest of the continent? Or specifically NYC? ;)<br /> <br /> Striations on the rocks in Central Park are evidence that a glacier did reach as far south as New York City and in the referenced article on page 21, Figure 4 shows a map of the extent of the glacier just reaching NYC and Long Island and is labeled as somewhere between 0 and 600 meters thick. This page on the City of New York Parks and Recreation site [http://www.nycgovparks.org/about/history/geology] says the glacier in NYC was about 1000 feet thick which is about 300 meters. I should add that the Freedom Tower being built on the WTC site will be 1776 feet high (counting the broadcast antenna) and the Empire State building is 1454 feet high, so some of the current buildings would have poked out of the ice.<br /> <br /> Was just curious, is this a jab at &quot;Global Warming&quot; and the fact that Glaciers have always been melting and getting thinner?--[[Special:Contributions/65.215.93.238|65.215.93.238]] 13:36, 14 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> :I don't think so, just because someone finds it amazing how deep the ice during the last glaciation was, doesn't imply anything about their opinion on the causes of changes in climate over the few centuries. By the way, the glaciers have {{w|Timeline_of_glaciation|melted and refrozen lots of times}}, they haven't always been melting.[[User:NHSavage|NHSavage]] ([[User talk:NHSavage|talk]]) 18:44, 14 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ;Global Warming<br /> The actual climate discussion is still not solved. But we do know very well that the ocean sea level was 130 Meters lower than today at that time. At the end of that period the sea level was growing fast, but then it did raise slower later, and that raise didn't stop until today. Randall is only showing ICE levels, not more.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:17, 14 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> <br /> I've read and re-read both comic and explanation (and, moreover, the above comments) and I just can't agree with the current third and final paragraph of the explanation (&quot;But the joke ... (see Sea level rise).&quot;). It is, to my mind, merely ''interesting'' that at a time of ice-age there was far more depth of ice pressing down upon sites than there currently are famous heights of buildings above the present day, and ice-less, horizons at these particular locales, as depicted. The sole joke, to my mind, is in the title-text, with the direct swapping of the common Ice Age film series's prefix for the souce paper's title. (Which is jolly funny!) And is in line with some of Randall's other largely &quot;informative&quot; strips, jokes sneaking in only as captions and labels.<br /> <br /> It is indeed also interesting to note, as a side-issue, that glaciation (and thus deglaciation) relates somewhat to sea level (but note also {{w|Post-glacial rebound}} as a significant effect in some areas, both reinforcing ''and'' opposing sea-level changes, depending on locale). However, there's not even any mention of relative sea-level in the images. This ''could'' perhaps have been implemented as an arrow tacked onto the side of each depth-extended cross-section, pointing base to point (or vice-versa) between the axial position of the historic Mean Sea Level (if known) and that relating to the current state of affairs, in perfect scale against the column of sky-line and ice. But right now there's no reference at all to support this thought, and thus hardly asks for any such 'explanation' or reference. (There's similarly no invocation of the &quot;climate discussion&quot;, unsolved or otherwise, outside of our combined commentary on the comic.)<br /> <br /> Mayhap are people being confused by the (admitedly) water-like appearance of the depiction of ice-layer? Possibly thinking that these diagrams are of ''submerged'' cities (''a la'' representations in various /The Day After Tomorrow/, /A.I. Artificial Intelligence/ or /2012/-ish films), not ones figuratively transplanted back back into the ancient ice-mass... Or are people inadvertently trolling their personal pro/anti-Climate Change views here (esp. w.r.t. Human impact)? Perhaps subconciously reading more (potentially pro- ''or'' anti-!) into the comic than (so far as I can see) was ever intended. If you'll forgive my hopefully 'neutralist' stance on the issue (i.e. divorced of my semi-moderate stance on the issue, which is in whatever direction it is that I lean... but which I have deliberately tried to have kept unstated).<br /> <br /> Add to this that Randall shows only Leftpondian locations (and upper-Leftpondian ones, at that, due to the specialised scope of the source paper) this also makes me wonder why Europe and Asia are mentioned in that para, (unless it's meant to say &quot;Ice Ages didn't just happen to North American, but also to similar latitudes in a circumpolar fashion&quot;, in which case could we also add anything we know about the southern hemisphere as well?). But that's a minor niggle I have in a paragraph that (obviously, from the length I've been taking pains to discuss all this within) I just can't get a handle on in the first place. But perhaps I'm missing something so, rather than editing and excising the main article, here I ramble on about it. Perhaps to pursuade some prior contributor to re-explain their particular contributions. (We now return you to your regularly scheduled programme...) [[Special:Contributions/178.107.249.215|178.107.249.215]] 22:32, 16 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ;The end of the explanation<br /> <br /> It seems to suggest that the comic shows European and Asian glaciers, which is ... clearly false. What's that bit about?<br /> :Well ''maybe'' that's {{w|Boston, Lincolnshire}} or {{w|Montreal, Catalonia}}. Or even the respective ones in the Philippines/Jordan. But I still doubt it. ;) Anyway, as per the TL;DR; mess of my prior comment 'contribution' I still don't like that ending. But that could just be me misreading. [[Special:Contributions/178.107.249.215|178.107.249.215]] 11:49, 17 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::Nope, those are definitely the North American cities. The skylines are accurate - you can clearly see Hancock Place and the Prudential Tower in the Boston skyline, and Mount Royal in the Montreal drawing.[[Special:Contributions/24.114.255.99|24.114.255.99]] 15:41, 24 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::I did edit this section a week ago. It should be clear now that only North American cities are shown on the comic (see below).--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 18:21, 24 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> :Apart from the end of the explanation being written ambiguously, as to lead to your confusion, I think it is unnecessary to even include it as there is no mention of sea levels in the comic at all. --[[User:Dangerkeith3000|Dangerkeith3000]] ([[User talk:Dangerkeith3000|talk]]) 15:49, 17 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::I did an update to this section. My former edit was in fact ambiguous; the comic shows only four major cities from North America. But I think that sea level issue is a direct result and should be mentioned here.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 17:10, 17 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::FWIW, I like that version much better. (And addresses my point, and hopeully DK3k's, about no mention of sea levels in the comic by now ''relating'' the indicated ice with global sea levels as an off-comic exemplar.) A final remaining bit of 'picky' is that it still puts the subordinate title-text joke as primary with the meaning of the comic image as a 'by the way', but that's minor semantics in comparison. Good show. [[Special:Contributions/178.107.249.215|178.107.249.215]] 19:16, 17 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::The title text is the joke here. The comic image is simply a bit of information found in a paper on glacial action in north america overlaid with another bit of information on the heights of buildings in metropolitan areas. This visual juxtaposition adds interest to both sets of data by correlating two topics that we don't often think about together that are already linked through location and displaced in time. The title text joke further strengthens reader interest in the paper by humorously comparing the act of writing scientific papers to the creation, review and marketing of movies in north american culture. By asserting that the original paper is better than the fictitious sequels we get a brilliant satire of north american entertainment culture and an appeal to readers to seek more entertainment in learning of and thinking about interesting data. As the above comment mentions this is another example of interesting data presented in a visual way with a masterfully subtle satirical joke in the title text. <br /> <br /> There is no need to bring any discussion of glacial melt, sea level change or any other implications of glacial action into the explanation of the comic. I propose that the third paragraph be removed from the explanation and the explanation considered complete. <br /> [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 17:15, 2 December 2013 (UTC)</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1297:_Oort_Cloud&diff=54094 2013-12-02T16:18:36Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>Reading the Wikipedia page on the Oort Cloud didn't help me understand the joke. I don't know if it has anything to do with comets, or the asteroids getting smashed up by them. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.117|108.162.238.117]] 05:15, 29 November 2013 (UTC)<br /> :The asteroid becomes a cost after being severely burnt by the sun. It warns the other asteroid not to go over there. {{unsigned ip|108.162.221.55}}<br /> ::Which, the title text indicates, is a warning that's utterly ignored... (Also being &quot;right back&quot; indicates a slower perceived thought process. As is probably the case for anything out there in such cold(-ish) depths of space.) [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.229|141.101.99.229]] 11:05, 29 November 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::: What does &quot;becomes a cost&quot; mean? is that a slang expression? 12:02, 29 November 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::: I think it's supposed to be &quot;comet&quot;. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.52.228|173.245.52.228]] 14:09, 29 November 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::: No, I think he means ghost. All thats left is a faint image after all. {{unsigned ip|141.101.99.214}}<br /> At least according to my freshman year science teacher, the Oort Cloud is just a theory, and hasn't been proven. Perhaps that should be made more clear?{{unsigned|Wasda}}<br /> ::::::@Wasda, A theory is something which is proven, if not its a hypothesis or a speculation. Mocking on &quot;theories&quot; is typical for laymen. 15:12, 30 November 2013 (UTC)~<br /> :Theory is the wrong term. Gravity is a theory. Evolution is a theory. The oort cloud is &quot;hypothesized&quot;. {{User:Omega/sig}} 06:21, 30 November 2013 (UTC)<br /> ----<br /> What's here looks exactly in line with current comet theory: A comet is &quot;perturbed&quot; by interactions with other objects out there, and at that distance the sun is a very bright dot, no more. On return (chancy, based on both/either burning up or being in a no return hyperbolic orbit), what has come back is fragmented and with two tails. What I'm not seeing is the second level joke - it's in the movie &quot;I'm going to check out x&quot; form, but I don't get the specific quote. [[User:FractalgeekUK|FractalgeekUK]] ([[User talk:FractalgeekUK|talk]]) 13:55, 29 November 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ----<br /> According to http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/timeline-of-comet-ison-s-dangerous-journey, ISON's journey to earth from the Oort cloud started &quot;At least a million years ago.&quot; So I'm going to edit &quot;many thousand years later&quot; to &quot;several million years later&quot;. In other news, I recently played &quot;Das Rad&quot; (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-7y3B8DjGw) for my kids and this comic really reminded me of that Oscar-nominated short. I hate lichen! :-) [[User:Tovodeverett|Tovodeverett]] ([[User talk:Tovodeverett|talk]]) 15:10, 29 November 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ----<br /> What's with the &quot;Several million years later&quot; context in the transcription?!? The distances might be vast and all, but i doubt the timeframe is ''that'' long... -- [[Special:Contributions/173.245.51.210|173.245.51.210]]<br /> :See the comment right above yours. [[User:Diszy|Diszy]] ([[User talk:Diszy|talk]]) 18:03, 29 November 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::You are discussing editorial elements included in the transcription that have no relationship to the original comic. Regardless of any implied passage of time the comic does not directly state a time-frame that passes and the transcript should only include information contained in the original comic. Any discussion of time-frame should take place in the explanation. The panels imply a pause of unspecific time. The transcript should read the same. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 16:18, 2 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> ----<br /> ;A comic I did predict yesterday<br /> Uhhh, while I observed that close encounter of ISON at the sun yesterday live I was sure Randall would do a comic on this matter. And he did. That's just funny for me. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 21:28, 29 November 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ;When is a comet a comet?<br /> <br /> Wikipedia says &quot;A {{w|comet}} is an icy small Solar System body that, when passing close to the Sun, heats up and begins to outgas, displaying a visible atmosphere or coma, and sometimes also a tail.&quot; I see no clear suggestion on Wikipedia that a {{w|small Solar System body}} might change from being an asteroid to being a comet each time it passes by the sun and starts to outgas. It seems to me that SSSB's that contain ices and other volatiles that would outgas given enough heat are comets, but I haven't seen that question really addressed clearly by any authoritative sources. For now I'm switching the references to distant comets from &quot;asteroid&quot; to &quot;comet nucleus&quot;, which is used on wikipedia and seems like a neutral term for an icy object that would show a cometary atmosphere and tail when close to the sun. Also, the oort cloud is hypothesized to have both a spherical and a disk-like structure, and is part of the solar system. Please discuss further related changes here. Thanks! [[User:Nealmcb|Nealmcb]] ([[User talk:Nealmcb|talk]]) 16:34, 1 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> :The most false understanding is: A comet is a dirty snowball. In fact it's just a snowy rock, most of it is still rock, otherwise it would break up at a distance between Earth and Venus. And all the frozen gases are not only H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O. Furthermore a comet is a comet when we can see its shape, unless that tail is shown it's just a small object at our solar system, not more.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:17, 1 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::The wikipedia references in the article talk of objects out in the Oort cloud as &quot;comet nuclei&quot;. Unless you can find better sources, that's what we should go with. [[User:Nealmcb|Nealmcb]] ([[User talk:Nealmcb|talk]]) 14:56, 2 December 2013 (UTC)</div>

Mrarch https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1297:_Oort_Cloud&diff=54091 2013-12-02T16:17:38Z

<p>Mrarch: </p> <hr /> <div>Reading the Wikipedia page on the Oort Cloud didn't help me understand the joke. I don't know if it has anything to do with comets, or the asteroids getting smashed up by them. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.117|108.162.238.117]] 05:15, 29 November 2013 (UTC)<br /> :The asteroid becomes a cost after being severely burnt by the sun. It warns the other asteroid not to go over there. {{unsigned ip|108.162.221.55}}<br /> ::Which, the title text indicates, is a warning that's utterly ignored... (Also being &quot;right back&quot; indicates a slower perceived thought process. As is probably the case for anything out there in such cold(-ish) depths of space.) [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.229|141.101.99.229]] 11:05, 29 November 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::: What does &quot;becomes a cost&quot; mean? is that a slang expression? 12:02, 29 November 2013 (UTC)<br /> :::: I think it's supposed to be &quot;comet&quot;. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.52.228|173.245.52.228]] 14:09, 29 November 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::::: No, I think he means ghost. All thats left is a faint image after all. {{unsigned ip|141.101.99.214}}<br /> At least according to my freshman year science teacher, the Oort Cloud is just a theory, and hasn't been proven. Perhaps that should be made more clear?{{unsigned|Wasda}}<br /> ::::::@Wasda, A theory is something which is proven, if not its a hypothesis or a speculation. Mocking on &quot;theories&quot; is typical for laymen. 15:12, 30 November 2013 (UTC)~<br /> :Theory is the wrong term. Gravity is a theory. Evolution is a theory. The oort cloud is &quot;hypothesized&quot;. {{User:Omega/sig}} 06:21, 30 November 2013 (UTC)<br /> ----<br /> What's here looks exactly in line with current comet theory: A comet is &quot;perturbed&quot; by interactions with other objects out there, and at that distance the sun is a very bright dot, no more. On return (chancy, based on both/either burning up or being in a no return hyperbolic orbit), what has come back is fragmented and with two tails. What I'm not seeing is the second level joke - it's in the movie &quot;I'm going to check out x&quot; form, but I don't get the specific quote. [[User:FractalgeekUK|FractalgeekUK]] ([[User talk:FractalgeekUK|talk]]) 13:55, 29 November 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ----<br /> According to http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/timeline-of-comet-ison-s-dangerous-journey, ISON's journey to earth from the Oort cloud started &quot;At least a million years ago.&quot; So I'm going to edit &quot;many thousand years later&quot; to &quot;several million years later&quot;. In other news, I recently played &quot;Das Rad&quot; (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-7y3B8DjGw) for my kids and this comic really reminded me of that Oscar-nominated short. I hate lichen! :-) [[User:Tovodeverett|Tovodeverett]] ([[User talk:Tovodeverett|talk]]) 15:10, 29 November 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ----<br /> What's with the &quot;Several million years later&quot; context in the transcription?!? The distances might be vast and all, but i doubt the timeframe is ''that'' long... -- [[Special:Contributions/173.245.51.210|173.245.51.210]]<br /> :See the comment right above yours. [[User:Diszy|Diszy]] ([[User talk:Diszy|talk]]) 18:03, 29 November 2013 (UTC)<br /> :You are discussing editorial elements included in the transcription that have no relationship to the original comic. Regardless of any implied passage of time the comic does not directly state a time-frame that passes and the transcript should only include information contained in the original comic. Any discussion of time-frame should take place in the explanation. The panels imply a pause of unspecific time. The transcript should read the same. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 16:17, 2 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> ----<br /> ;A comic I did predict yesterday<br /> Uhhh, while I observed that close encounter of ISON at the sun yesterday live I was sure Randall would do a comic on this matter. And he did. That's just funny for me. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 21:28, 29 November 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> ;When is a comet a comet?<br /> <br /> Wikipedia says &quot;A {{w|comet}} is an icy small Solar System body that, when passing close to the Sun, heats up and begins to outgas, displaying a visible atmosphere or coma, and sometimes also a tail.&quot; I see no clear suggestion on Wikipedia that a {{w|small Solar System body}} might change from being an asteroid to being a comet each time it passes by the sun and starts to outgas. It seems to me that SSSB's that contain ices and other volatiles that would outgas given enough heat are comets, but I haven't seen that question really addressed clearly by any authoritative sources. For now I'm switching the references to distant comets from &quot;asteroid&quot; to &quot;comet nucleus&quot;, which is used on wikipedia and seems like a neutral term for an icy object that would show a cometary atmosphere and tail when close to the sun. Also, the oort cloud is hypothesized to have both a spherical and a disk-like structure, and is part of the solar system. Please discuss further related changes here. Thanks! [[User:Nealmcb|Nealmcb]] ([[User talk:Nealmcb|talk]]) 16:34, 1 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> :The most false understanding is: A comet is a dirty snowball. In fact it's just a snowy rock, most of it is still rock, otherwise it would break up at a distance between Earth and Venus. And all the frozen gases are not only H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O. Furthermore a comet is a comet when we can see its shape, unless that tail is shown it's just a small object at our solar system, not more.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:17, 1 December 2013 (UTC)<br /> ::The wikipedia references in the article talk of objects out in the Oort cloud as &quot;comet nuclei&quot;. Unless you can find better sources, that's what we should go with. [[User:Nealmcb|Nealmcb]] ([[User talk:Nealmcb|talk]]) 14:56, 2 December 2013 (UTC)</div>

Mrarch