explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

740: The Tell-Tale Beat

2013-10-25T16:12:03Z

Nkorth: /* Explanation */ I don't think Cueball was a character in The Tell-Tale Heart.

{{comic
| number = 740
| date = May 14, 2010
| title = The Tell-tale Beat
| image = the_tell_tale_beat.png
| titletext = You fancy me mad. Could a madman have outsmarted the greatest electronica/techno artists of our era? Next to fall will be Roderick Usher's house/trance band.
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Daft Punk}} is a French electronic music group. The beat used in electronic music can be vocalized or spelled as "unn-tss". '{{w|The Tell-Tale Heart}}' is a short story by {{w|Edgar Allan Poe}}, in which the narrator tries to appear sane while describing how he killed a man and hid his body in the floorboards. Eventually, he imagines he hears the dead man's heartbeat through the floorboards.

[[Cueball]] narrates that he killed Daft Punk and hid their bodies under the floorboards, as the narrator of 'The Tell-Tale Heart' did. (Having to outsmart a band named [[wiktionary:daft|Daft]] Punk is quite ironic.) He says he has been haunted by the sound of the band's beats.

In the title text, the narrator continues trying to assert his sanity. He then insinuates that he will kill Roderick Usher's band; however, Roderick Usher was only a character in '{{w|Fall of the House of Usher}}', another story by Edgar Allan Poe, making a pun on 'house', a sub-genre of techno.

==Transcript==
:The three panels show portions of a single scene. Although the characters are still stick figures, the artwork style is heavily crosshatched and shaded.))
:[In the first panel there is a desk with monitor on it, and a painting of a woman above that. Next to it is a bookshelf.]
:Ever since I murdered Daft Punk

:[There is a fireplace, with no fire. A rug lies before it. At the left end of the mantelpiece are two bottles, one tall, one round. Another photograph of a woman is in a frame at the right end. The bookshelf continues from the previous panel.]
:And hid their bodies beneath the floorboards, I've been haunted

:[The narrator is clutching his head and leaning forward. A grandfather clock is behind him, next to a doorway. Above the doorway is a pallid bust of Pallas.]
:By this ''pounding''.
:[White text on black.]
:Unn-Tss
:Unn-Tss
:Unn-Tss

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

727: Trade Expert

2013-10-25T14:55:25Z

Nkorth: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 727
| date = April 14, 2010
| title = Trade Expert
| image = Trade_expert.png
| titletext = I mean, it's been almost twenty years. Now, it's possible you're simply embedding Windows directory paths in your URIs, but in that case you need more than just a short lecture.
}}

==Explanation==
The {{w|Slash (punctuation)|forward slash}} (/) is the correct way to separate distinct parts of a web address (for example, the web address 'en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slash_(punctuation)'). Similarly, the slash serves as a separator in file paths on UNIX-like operating systems. Often, the part of the web address after the first slash ('wiki/Slash_(punctuation)' in the previous example) will correspond to a file with the same path on a web server (the previous example could have the path '/var/www/en/wiki/Slash_(punctuation)'). Newscasters who say "backslash" could be doing so because they don't know the difference between a forward slash and backslash; they are also being somewhat overzealous by trying to specify forward- or backslash since just saying "slash" would be sufficient.

As referenced in the title text, the {{w|backslash}} serves as a separator in file paths on the Windows operating system. Thus a windows file path encoded in a URI would contain the backslash character. It is worth noting, however, that if a URI contains a windows path, that URI would probably only be accessible from the machine that locally stores the file. Sharing such a URI on a news show would be useless, as nobody would be able to access the file.

==Transcript==
:[Anchorman sitting at newsdesk.]
:Anchor: (to camera) And for more on the summit, we turn to trade expert Dr. Steven Berlee. Steven?

:[Dr. Steven Berlee is sitting to the right of Anchor at newsdesk.]
:DSB: I'm not actually a doctor or a trade expert. I'm just a programmer who lies to get on news shows.

:[Close-up on DSB.]
:Anchor: (off camera) What? Why?
:DSB: To share a message with newscasters.

:[Pull back to shot of both men.]
:Anchor: Which is?
:DSB: Every time you say "backslash" as part of a web address on air, I die a little.

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

725: Literally

2013-10-25T14:48:42Z

Nkorth: /* Explanation */ explained title text

{{comic
| number = 725
| date = April 9, 2010
| title = Literally
| image = literally.png
| titletext = The chemistry experiment had me figuratively -- and then shortly thereafter literally -- glued to my seat.
}}

==Explanation==
The words {{w|Literal and figurative language|literally and figuratively}} are often confused, although they represent opposite concepts. The adverb "literally" implies that the action it describes actually happened, while "figuratively" is used when the action it describes is being used as a figure of speech, and is not a representation of what actually happened.

In this comic, one of the two people (we'll call him [[Cueball]] for now) accidentally mentions he was ''literally'' glued to his seat (they had presumably just left a theater), at which point a crazy man off-panel loudly corrects him. The crazy man mentions that he has been stalking Cueball for eighteen years since an incident in seventh grade, where the crazy man (as a kid) incorrectly uses "literally" and young Cueball corrects him. He felt humiliated, overreacting to young Cueball's simple correction, and began to follow Cueball everywhere, vowing to be present when he makes the same mistake the crazy man had made in seventh grade.

When Cueball tells him that he is "literally the craziest person" he's ever met, the crazy man thinks that he incorrectly used the word "literally" again; however, Cueball reassures him that he did not misuse it, meaning that the crazy man actually is the craziest person he has ever met.

The title text points out that a chemistry experiment gone wrong is one of the few things that could cause someone to ''literally'' be glued to their seat (having previously been figuratively glued to their seat in fascination.)

==Transcript==
:[Cueball and a friend walking together. Cueball turns to the friend.]
:Cueball: I was literally glued to my seat through the entire-
:Crazy man [off-panel]: HAH! You mean "figuratively"!

:[Crazy man walks into the panel. He has messy hair and a messy beard. The other people stop walking.]
:Cueball: Who are you?
:Crazy man: Eighteen years I've watched you! Waiting!

:Crazy man: Ever since that day in seventh grade when you humiliated me.
:[Short flashback panel. 4 kids are standing around talking to each other.]
:Kid #2 [Crazy man]: I told him and he literally exploded!
:Cueball: Uh, unless he physically ''burst'', you mean "figuratively".
:Friend: Hah.
:Crazy man [outside of flashback panel]: Remember?

:Crazy man: I knew one day you'd slip, and I vowed I'd be there to see you fall. ''How does it feel?''
:Cueball: You are literally the craziest person I've ever met.
:Crazy man: You did it again!
:Cueball: No, I didn't.

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

442: xkcd Loves the Discovery Channel

2013-10-12T03:20:18Z

Nkorth: /* Explanation */ Explained some panels that are not references to previous xkcds

{{comic
| number = 442
| date = June 27, 2008
| title = xkcd Loves the Discovery Channel
| image = xkcd_loves_the_discovery_channel.png
| titletext = I love the title-text!
}}

==Explanation==
This comic is a parody of the {{w|Discovery Channel}} commercial showing various clips of people singing a song with the chorus line [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at_f98qOGY0 'Boom De Yada']. The comic is divided into a grid of 4 by 6 panels, each depicting a character or situation from a previous XKCD strip. In each panel is written a part of a song similar to the song from the Discovery Channel commercial."

The campaign from the {{w|Discovery Channel}} was not called "Boom De Yada", but {{w|I Love The World}}. It's possible that the title "xkcd Loves the Discovery Channel" is in reference to that.

Most of the panels are references to previous xkcd strips. However, some are not:

* The 6th panel is a reference to the /b/ ("Random") forum on {{w|4chan}}, which is in fact home to plenty of "messed-up folks".
* The 8th panel is a reference to [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/robe-and-wizard-hat this (nsfw)].
* The 17th panel is a pun on the song {{w|Rock Me Amadeus}} and US president {{w|Barack Obama}}.
* The 18th panel has Cueball's crotch replaced with the (similar-looking) icon used for a {{w|transistor}} in a circuit diagram.

==Transcript==
:[The comic is in parody of the Discovery Channel commercial showing various clips of people singing a song with the chorus line "Boom De Yada."]
:[The comic is divided into a grid of 4 by 6 panels, each depicting a character or situation from a previous XKCD strip.]
:[In each panel is written a part of a song similar to the song from the Discovery Channel commercial.]

:Panel 1: [[162|(Reference Comic 162)]]
:[Megan spinning around.]
:I love momentum.

:Panel 2: [[413|(Reference Comic 413)]]
:[Megan laying on floor tinkering with EEE PC hamster ball robot.]
:I love to engineer.

:Panel 3: [[434|(Reference Comic 434)]]
:[Beret Guy standing in bakery holding a loaf of bread in each hand, sign with "PIE!" in background.]
:I love this bakery!

:Panel 4: [[239|(Reference Comic 239)]]
:[Cory Doctorow in goggles and red cape flying superman-style.]
:I love the blogosphere!

:Panel 5: [[152|(Reference Comic 152)]]
:[Cueball running in large hamster ball.]
:I love the whole world

:Panel 6:
:[Depiction of 4chan's /b/-Random.]
:And all its messed-up folks.

:Panel 7: [[150|(Reference Comic 150)]]
:[Cueball and Megan immersed in playpen balls.]
:Boom De Yada
:Boom De Yada

:Panel 8:
:[Mass of playpen balls with speech "I put on my robe and wizard hat" originating from it.]
:Boom De Yada
:Boom De Yada

:Panel 9: [[72|(Reference Comic 72)]]
:[Black Hat taking gift away from kid with party hat.]
:I love your suffering.

:Panel 10: [[153|(Reference Comic 153)]]
:[Diagram showing RSA fingerprint authentication between two people.]
:I love cryptography.

:Panel 11: [[230|(Reference Comic 230)]]
:[Cueball and Megan in bed covered by red sheet.]
:I love entangled sheets.

:Panel 12: (Blag or [[235|Reference Comic 235)]]
:[Cueball hanging from kite string holding camera.]
:And kite photography.

:Panel 13: [[256|(Reference Comic 256)]]
:[Map of the internet.]
:I love the whole world

:Panel 14: [[8|(Reference Comic 8)]]
:[Cube with red spider on top.]
:And all its mysteries.

:Panel 15: [[303|(Reference Comic 303)]]
:[Two people sword-fighting on rolling office chairs.]
:Boom De Yada
:Boom De Yada

:Panel 16: [[263|(Reference Comic 263)]]
:[Classroom with two students and Mrs. Lenhart.]
:Boom De Yada
:Boom De Yada

:Panel 17:
:[Cueball saying "Barack me Obamadeus!" to another man speaking energetically at a podium.]
:I love elections.

:Panel 18:
:[Cueball holding schematic diagram of a transistor in front of his crotch.]
:I love transistors.

:Panel 19: (Reference Comic [[69]], [[214]])
:[Cueball and Megan in bed, Cueball saying "There ''must'' be taft slash fiction."]
:I love weird pillow talk.

:Panel 20: (Reference Comic [[49]], [[279]], [[317]])
:[Cueball speaking to Megan.]
:I love your sister.

:Panel 21: [[249|(Reference Comic 249)]]
:[Roller coaster with Cueball in front car holding chess board and thinking about a move.]
:I love the whole world.

:Panel 22: [[167|(Reference Comic 167)]]
:[Beret Guy standing in the midst of leafless trees.]
:The future's pretty cool!

:Panel 23: [[108|(Reference Comic 108)]]
:[Megan doing the MC Hammer slide towards Cueball.]
:Boom De Yada
:Boom De Yada

:Panel 24: [[409|(Reference Comic 409)]]
:[Cueball and Megan on an electric skateboard.]
:Boom De Yada
:Boom De Yada

==Trivia==
*This comic was enacted by Olga Nunes and various famous people as [http://www.olganunes.com/xkcd ''We Love xkcd''].

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cory Doctorow]]
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Playpen balls]]
[[Category:Red Spiders]]
[[Category:Songs]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Miss Lenhart]]
[[Category:Electric skateboard]]

308: Interesting Life

2013-10-10T00:44:53Z

Nkorth:

{{comic
| number = 308
| date = August 27, 2007
| title = Interesting Life
| image = interesting_life.png
| titletext = Quick, fashion a climbing harness out of a cat-6 cable and follow me down.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}
[[Megan]] climbs down an office building using a rope. She is not a window cleaner; she is just doing this for fun. And when she reaches the office of [[Cueball]] she invites him to come with her on that great adventure.

The title text refers to {{w|Cat6}} cable, which is more commonly known as Ethernet cable. It would be easily found in an office building, since it is used to connect computers to a network.

==Transcript==
:[On the left hand side of the panel is a cutaway of several floors of an office, in gray. On the right side a blue sky with clouds, and green hills. Hanging from a cable is Megan, clearly having rappelled down the side of the building.]
:Megan: You know how some people consider "May you have an interesting life" to be a curse?
:Cueball at the office: Yeah...
:Megan: Fuck those people. Wanna have an adventure?

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

662: iPhone or Droid

2013-10-06T05:29:53Z

Nkorth: /* Explanation */ Less technical, explains "is there an app for that?" reference

{{comic
| number = 662
| date = November 13, 2009
| title = iPhone or Droid
| image = iphone_or_droid.png
| titletext = It may be a fundamentally empty experience, but holy crap the Droid's 265 ppi screen is amazing.
}}

==Explanation==
The comic starts to set up a joke about the "phone wars" between the {{w|iPhone}} and phones that run the {{w|Android (operating system)|Android}} system (in this case the {{w|Motorola Droid}}), but instead just brings up a serious point criticizing the {{w|consumerism}} this "war" stems from. (In the last line of panel 2, Cueball is referencing the slogan "There's an app for that" from Apple's iPhone marketing.)

Then the third panel makes a joke anyway, at Apple's expense: apparently, this "enlightenment app" was rejected from Apple's app store, which is the only supported way to put software on an iPhone. (Apple has also become infamous for rejecting apps from their app store without adequately explaining why.) Android devices, on the other hand, are not limited to an app store and can install software from any origin.

==Transcript==
:[Megan sitting at her computer is talking to Cueball standing behind her.]
:Megan: Well, it depends what you want. The iPhone wins on speed and polish, but the Droid has that gorgeous screen and physical keyboard.

:Cueball: What if I want something more than the pale facsimile of fulfillment brought by a parade of ever-fancier toys? To spend my life restlessly producing instead of sedately consuming?
:Cueball: Is there an app for THAT?

:Megan: Yeah, on both.
:Megan: Wait, no, looks like it was rejected from the iPhone store.
:Cueball: Droid it is, then.

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

129: Content Protection

2013-10-06T04:55:50Z

Nkorth: /* Explanation */ Better description of HDCP, the analog hole, and the comic's Orwellian implications

{{comic
| number = 129
| date = July 17, 2006
| title = Content Protection
| image = content_protection.png
| titletext = If you think the purveyors of DRM simply want to protect artists, check out chapters 13 and 14 in Free Culture, by Lawrence Lessig. Their goal is the elimination of all culture they don't control.
}}

==Explanation==

This comic is a commentary on {{w|HDCP}}, a media standard which requires all the devices from player to cable to display to be "approved" to carry HDCP content. HDCP is intended to protect media encrypted with {{w|Digital rights management|DRM}} from being intercepted between the player and the display. Interestingly, however, it is literally impossible for DRM advocates to completely prevent copying (even with such drastic measures) because of the {{w|analog hole}}: since the content must be shown in a human-perceptible form, it can be captured by analog means, such as recording the display with a video camera.

In addition to illustrating the absurdity of HDCP, the comic presents the darker idea that when your devices control what information you are exposed to, the controlling companies can act as "{{w|thought police}}" and ensure that your mind only contains "approved content".

With the title text [[Randall]] is referring again to {{w|Digital rights management|DRM}}. The {{w|Students for Free Culture|Free Culture}} movement ({{w|Lawrence Lessig}} being one of their activists) are fighting for free content. DRM advocates claim that their technology "protects" artists by preventing piracy, while in reality DRM is more effective as a means of giving media companies control over devices than it is at preventing piracy.

==Transcript==
:Content Protection System:
:[Megan sits on a couch watching a large flat-panel television, connected to a box labeled HDMI.
:The screen is labeled with "Approved screen"
:The cable is labeled with "Approved connection"
:The HDMI box is labeled with "Approved player"
:Megan's head is labeled with "Approved content".]

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