Obscure xkcd reference:

Hehe, are we suggesting that "bird" may be a phase of dihydrogen monoxide? I like that.
--[[User:Stg|Stg]] ([[User talk:Stg|talk]]) 05:11, 15 October 2014 (UTC)

I recommend we keep the answer out of the explain page since it wasn't included in the comic. Birds can google it themselves. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.209|108.162.216.209]] 06:25, 15 October 2014 (UTC)

:Why are you so mean to poor birds? Do you know how hard is to type with beak? -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 11:08, 15 October 2014 (UTC)

::It really is a pain. They have to hunt and peck.[[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.26|108.162.216.26]] 12:25, 15 October 2014 (UTC)

::Especially on a touch screen! [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.209|108.162.216.209]] 13:57, 15 October 2014 (UTC)
:::Really, they only have trouble with the newer capacitive touchscreens - the older resistive ones (used in e.g. Palm Pilot) were much easier to use with a beak-- [[User:Brettpeirce|Brettpeirce]] ([[User talk:Brettpeirce|talk]]) 20:08, 15 October 2014 (UTC)
::::The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homing_pigeon#Navigation iron in pigeon beaks] makes it a bit easier for them to use capacitive screens, but not much. --[[User:Okofish|Okofish]] ([[User talk:Okofish|talk]]) 21:07, 15 October 2014 (UTC)
:::::Just one more thing that makes them man's best friend with rats, I mean wings with friends... umm words with friends... it's a bit too early for me... -- [[User:Brettpeirce|Brettpeirce]] ([[User talk:Brettpeirce|talk]]) 09:36, 16 October 2014 (UTC)

I added the thing about catcher in the rye, but now I think that might not be right.[[User:Cheeselover724|Cheeselover724]] ([[User talk:Cheeselover724|talk]]) 06:28, 15 October 2014 (UTC)

:I haven't read Catcher in the Rye, but I purely read it as Superman & Clark Kent are the same thing, implying that birds and rain are the same thing. --[[User:Pudder|Pudder]] ([[User talk:Pudder|talk]]) 08:34, 15 October 2014 (UTC)

"as Superman & Clark Kent are the same" if you see one you see both not one or the other.
As for birds and rain: In Britain, they all tend to roost facing the approaching weather when fronts form that may bring rain. Similarly when the fronts form that look like the rain is ending they will be roosting in good viewpoints to observe whatever is likely to happen next.
You will see them on trees, wires, chimneys and aerials all watching the weather. Flocks as flocks, families as families and solitary birds as such.[[User:Weatherlawyer|Weatherlawyer]] ([[User talk:Weatherlawyer|talk]]) 19:35, 6 January 2015 (UTC)

Cueball assumes it's a question common to all of internet-accessed humans, making it seem like a beautiful thing. In the end, it turns out those are actually helpless birds asking this question worldwide, not people. I'd advise you add a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Internet,_nobody_knows_you%27re_a_dog On the internet, nobody knows you're a dog] reference.
The ice/catcher in the rye connection is far fetched. Judging by the Clark/Superman comparison, Randall suggests that birds turn into the rain as part of the water/ice phases and not hide from it. Because Clark doesn't go when Superman arrives, he turns into Superman. [[User:Dulcis|Dulcis]] ([[User talk:Dulcis|talk]]) 08:01, 15 October 2014 (UTC)

:Actually, I think Clark will end up on bottom of the phone booth. Superman must assume that noone will steal his disguise while he will do the rescuing ... meanwhile, there is lot of water in birds, but also lot of other molecules, so the transformation wouldn't work. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 11:08, 15 October 2014 (UTC)

::In older continuity, "Clark" (or at least his clothing) would get folded up, compressed and tucked into a pocket on the underside of the cape.... [[Special:Contributions/199.27.128.117|199.27.128.117]] 16:36, 15 October 2014 (UTC)

[https://www.google.com/webhp?q=where%20do%20birds%20go%20when%20it%20rains the google query] [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.100|141.101.98.100]] 08:14, 15 October 2014 (UTC)

Birds can use the internet? Before we know it, they will start tweeting. [[User:Diszy|Diszy]] ([[User talk:Diszy|talk]]) 11:58, 15 October 2014 (UTC)
:ICY what you did there -- [[User:Brettpeirce|Brettpeirce]] ([[User talk:Brettpeirce|talk]]) 12:41, 15 October 2014 (UTC)
:And then they'll move on to Facebeak, [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.26|108.162.216.26]] 15:11, 15 October 2014 (UTC)

How do we know that is a pokedex? It looks more like a tablet to me. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.56.202|173.245.56.202]] 12:05, 15 October 2014 (UTC)

So for the transcript, I'm thinking until the full text in every screen snippet is transcribed and each source result website is identified, it will be technically incomplete - any commentary on this (?) -- [[User:Brettpeirce|Brettpeirce]] ([[User talk:Brettpeirce|talk]]) 12:43, 15 October 2014 (UTC)

: While maybe technically incomplete, surely we have to be sensible, and take the decision to omit text which isn't really relevant to the comic. Take the top right screenshot as an exampe, I would argue that the following should be omitted: Top left word??, Search Replies, Previous Page, Next Page, social media share/like text, Username, Text in geen, UserID: 520655, United States.. --[[User:Pudder|Pudder]] ([[User talk:Pudder|talk]]) 14:19, 15 October 2014 (UTC)
:: Agreed, as I believe I did when creating what is there right now, and as I summarized below at the same time you were writing your reply -- [[User:Brettpeirce|Brettpeirce]] ([[User talk:Brettpeirce|talk]]) 14:31, 15 October 2014 (UTC)
:Alright, well, I did for the first 20 screen snippets what I think would be good to do for the remaining ones (find the source site and page, then quote what seems to be the pertinent question and answer text that is visible in the snippet, disregarding usernames, dates, categories and similar meta data). It could probably also be done for at least ten more with a bit more effort, but I don't wanna waste my time if the community just says "WAYY TOO MUCH! DELETE!!") -- [[User:Brettpeirce|Brettpeirce]] ([[User talk:Brettpeirce|talk]]) 14:29, 15 October 2014 (UTC)

I also kind of think that the transcript should have the links to the source sites (since they are screen snippets), while the explanation should have the translations for any non-english text and any needed explanation for differences in cultural context. Regardless, having links to the source sites seems unnecessary to have in BOTH places, but they're links, so... they don't take up any more room, I suppose... -- [[User:Brettpeirce|Brettpeirce]] ([[User talk:Brettpeirce|talk]]) 14:40, 15 October 2014 (UTC)

: Great job on the transcript. Personally I like the link to original source as you've done, though perhaps other would disagree. I'm tempted to say it should also be in the explanation, as that is where I assume others would expect that type of information to be. I'm actually quite impressed at what a quality page this is after only a matter of hours, especially given that it isn't the simplest comic. Images, tables, translations, original sources... Beautiful! --[[User:Pudder|Pudder]] ([[User talk:Pudder|talk]]) 15:42, 15 October 2014 (UTC)
:: welp, I've done all I think I can do - there's one more under the Japanese one that is almost definitely from a Yahoo! Answers site, but I can't make out enough of it to identify it positively, so, its identity might be lost to Randall's archive forever *sniffle* -- [[User:Brettpeirce|Brettpeirce]] ([[User talk:Brettpeirce|talk]]) 11:34, 16 October 2014 (UTC)

: I could help out with the Dutch translation, and I could make a stub for the German one (It'd probably be wise to have a *real* German check that one though) [[Special:Contributions/108.162.254.86|108.162.254.86]] 16:00, 15 October 2014 (UTC)

I love how this comic will inevitably increase the internet searches and queries for "Where do birds go when it rains." If this weren't the question that united us before, it certainly is now. XKCD making a difference![[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.206|108.162.219.206]] 18:24, 15 October 2014 (UTC)
:Not only will it increase the searches, but since it has a transcription of all of the other searches, it's the top result on Google today, too! -- [[User:Brettpeirce|Brettpeirce]] ([[User talk:Brettpeirce|talk]]) 11:34, 16 October 2014 (UTC)

The pale posting near the bottom that begins "Burung Dapat Bertahan...Hujan ?" is either Malay or Indonesian and means something like "Can birds survive...rain?" [[User:Taibhse|Taibhse]] ([[User talk:Taibhse|talk]]) 23:23, 15 October 2014 (UTC)
: So here is the link: https://id.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101215231444AAAVxSM [[User:Taibhse|Taibhse]] ([[User talk:Taibhse|talk]]) 00:22, 16 October 2014 (UTC)

This search phrase will get a sky high [http://www.google.com/technology/pigeonrank.html Pigeon Rank] [[Special:Contributions/108.162.217.5|108.162.217.5]] 23:41, 15 October 2014 (UTC)
: Well, there's the explanation! -- [[User:Brettpeirce|Brettpeirce]] ([[User talk:Brettpeirce|talk]]) 09:38, 16 October 2014 (UTC)

The non-capitalization of the German nouns in the given example is perhaps caused by the input device. I can never write proper German on my Nokia cell phone, for example, as it only capitalizes after a period/full stop. [[User:Gearoid|Gearoid]] ([[User talk:Gearoid|talk]]) 10:57, 16 October 2014 (UTC)
:Usually there is a shift-key type function somewhere - is this a smart phone? -- [[User:Brettpeirce|Brettpeirce]] ([[User talk:Brettpeirce|talk]]) 11:34, 16 October 2014 (UTC)
:::- and are you a smart user? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.161|141.101.104.161]] 13:41, 21 October 2014 (UTC)
::On some phones it is indeed a pain in the ass to capitalize mid-sentence words (as on mine), but I'm not aware of any where it's impossible to do so. Based upon that assumption it has to be classified as "laziness", I think. And as Gearoid said: "it" capitalizes. I'm quite sure you could do it manually by yourself in some way or another.[[Special:Contributions/141.101.64.65|141.101.64.65]] 12:17, 16 October 2014 (UTC)

I don't know whether birds use Google, but they certainly . ;-){{unsigned ip|108.162.229.201}}

One of the screenshots is from Fairfax Underground? I live in Fairfax County! (Not underground though.) :) [[User:Flarn2006|Flarn2006]] ([[User talk:Flarn2006|talk]]) 23:12, 17 October 2014 (UTC)

This is all wrong! We know where we go when it rains, we just want to know where people think we go... [[Special:Contributions/108.162.240.55|108.162.240.55]] 01:41, 18 October 2014 (UTC)

Has anyone seen a bird in rain? Show pic please! {{unsigned|SilverMagpie}}

I don't think that you need a table for the Non-English languages. I will change this unless anyone objects.--[[User:Obscure xkcd reference|Obscure xkcd reference]] ([[User talk:Obscure xkcd reference|talk]]) 17:47, 7 November 2021 (UTC)

Sorry for the bad formatting. Will solve soon.--[[User:Obscure xkcd reference|Obscure xkcd reference]] ([[User talk:Obscure xkcd reference|talk]]) 18:07, 7 November 2021 (UTC)

1434: Where Do Birds Go

2021-11-07T18:05:27Z

Obscure xkcd reference: See previous edit.

{{comic
| number = 1434
| date = October 15, 2014
| title = Where Do Birds Go
| image = where_do_birds_go.png
| titletext = Water/ice has a lot of weird phases. Maybe asking 'where do birds go when it rains' is like asking 'where does Clark Kent go whenever Superman shows up?'
}}

==Explanation==
Cueball searches [http://lmgtfy.com/?q=where+do+birds+go+when+it+rains%3F Google] to find out where birds go when it rains. He finds that the question is asked worldwide, across many different languages and websites. A variety of screenshots are shown of different websites and forums where users have asked where birds go when it rains, with at least nine languages shown. The bottom of this panel fades to white, suggesting that the occurrence of these questions stretches on and on. Cueball expresses delight at the idea that this question is the one to which everyone wants to know the answer; worrying about birds getting wet is "the thing that unites us".

Later in the comic, a bird in the rain is also searching on the Internet for where birds go when it rains. This is humorously implying that a significant set of these questions are being typed by birds looking for a dry place after being caught in the rain, and not humans. This would make Cueball wrong; worrying about birds getting wet would not unite us. In reality, as the comic states, birds look for shelter so they can stay dry. On a rainy day you can usually find birds in leafy trees, caves or other kinds of cover.

In the {{w|Superman}} comics, Clark Kent ''is'' Superman, so you never observe both Clark Kent and Superman simultaneously. By analogy, the title text whimsically suggests that a possible inference from the observation that you never see birds and rain together is that birds ''are'' the rain. Perhaps birds are an unknown {{w|Phase (matter)|phase}} of water. In addition to its familiar phases of {{w|ice}}, {{w|water vapor|vapor}}, and {{w|water|liquid water}}, water has more exotic phases such as {{w|Ice#Phases|low-temperature and high-pressure ices}} and {{w|Supercritical fluid|supercritical gases}}; why not birds?

The title text imbues the question with more philosophical significance than it warrants (prompted, perhaps, by Cueball's earlier hyperbole), and points up the irrationality of the implication that a question must be deep simply because a lot of people ask it, and that such questions demand a complex, radical answer.

===Websites shown in image===
*English
**https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110223085537AAiOFTk
**http://www.enature.com/expert/expert_show_question.asp?questionID=23847
**http://activerain.trulia.com/blogsview/1452078/where-do-birds-go-when-it-rains-
**http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message979308/pg1
**http://randomthoughtsfrommidlife.wordpress.com/2011/11/22/where-do-the-birds-go-when-it-rains/
==Non-English==
===French===
Où se cachent les oiseaux quand il pleut?: Where do the birds hide themselves when it rains?
https://fr.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110327100813AAMj2hy
===German===
Was passiert jetzt eigentlich mit den vögeln, die bei dem wetter in den bäumen sitzen?: What actually happens with the birds that are sitting in the trees in this weather?
http://www.gutefrage.net/frage/was-passiert-jetzt-eigentlich-mit-den-voegeln-die-bei-dem-wetter-in-den-baeumen-sitzen
<ref>In proper German, all nouns should be capitalized. The author leaves them uncapitalized, characteristic of lazy/hurried typing.</ref>

Was machen Vögel bei schlechtem Wetter?: What do birds do in bad weather?
http://www.vogel.info/schlechtes_wetter.htm

Wohin gehen Vögel?: Where do birds go?
http://www.gutefrage.net/frage/wohin-gehen-voegel

=== Spanish===
¿Qué pasa con las aves durante un huracán?: What happens to the birds during a hurricane?
|[http://noticias.lainformacion.com/ciencia-y-tecnologia/ciencias-meteorologicas/que-pasa-con-las-aves-durante-un-huracan_g1DV8AL9LSG6Bzy7q5G8s7/]

¿A donde se van los pajaritos cuando llueve?: Where do the little birds go when it rains?
[https://espanol.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120525145152AABvmOq]
|<ref>In proper Spanish, the word "donde" in this context should have an accent (dónde). This is a rule that even some newspapers manage to get wrong.</ref>

===Dutch===
Waar blijven de vogels als het heel hard stormt?: Where do birds stay when it is storming very hard?
|[http://www.willemwever.nl/vraag_antwoord/dieren-en-planten/waar-blijven-de-vogels-als-het-heel-hard-stormt]

===Finnish===
Minne linnut menevät sateella: Where do the birds go when it rains?
|[http://ihmepuu.vuodatus.net/lue/2014/05/minne-linnut-menevat-sateella?]

===Chinese (simplified)===
下雨时鸟儿往哪躲: When it rains, where do birds go to hide?
|[http://wenwen.sogou.com/z/q55741469.htm]

下雨的时候小鸟住在哪里？: When it rains, where do the birds go?
|[http://zhidao.baidu.com/question/270774126.html]

为什么鸟儿下雨的时候在天上飞不会因为淋湿掉下来?: When it rains, why do birds not fall down from getting soaked?
|[http://wenwen.sogou.com/z/q145038794.htm]

===Japanese===
【雑学】暴風雨の時、鳥はどこに避難してるの？: Miscellaneous Knowledge: Where do birds take shelter during a rainstorm?
|[http://matome.naver.jp/odai/2136533586764388601]

===Malay (Indonesian)===
Burung Dapat Bertahan Terbang Berapa Lama Disaat Hujan ?: How Long Can Birds Survive Flying In the Rain ?
|[https://id.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101215231444AAAVxSM]

<references/>

==Transcript==
:[The comic is separated into three sections, with Cueball and Megan having a discussion in the first section, websites found through Google search results depicted in the second, and a bird depicted in the third.]

:;[First Section - Cueball is sitting at his computer.]
:Cueball: "Where do birds go when it rains?" is my new favorite Google search.
:Megan [off screen]: Why?

:Cueball: It gives the answer, but also shows you an endless torrent of other people asking the same question. Pages and pages of them across regions and cultures.
:[Megan enters the frame and shows interest in the computer.]

:Cueball: I love the idea that somehow this is the universal question, the thing that unites us. When it rains, we wonder where the birds go, and hope they're staying dry.

:;[Second Section - A collage of screen snippets.]

:[https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110223085537AAiOFTk from Yahoo! Answers]: '''Where do the birds go when it rains?''' I've noticed I rarely see birds flying around or in trees or on power lines when it's raining, So where do they go?

:[http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message979308/pg1 from Godlike Productions]: '''Where do birds go when it rains really hard?'''
Ok, maybe I'm an idiot for asking this, but during the slew of several storms in California the last couple weeks, I began to wonder where the poor birds go to stay dry? The ducks, seagulls, owls, sparrows, hummingbirds, hawks, etc...I see them all the ti[...]

:[http://randomthoughtsfrommidlife.wordpress.com/2011/11/22/where-do-the-birds-go-when-it-rains/ from Random Thoughts From Midlife]: Where do the birds go when it rains?

:[http://www.answers.com/Q/Where_do_birds_go_when_it_rains from Answers.com]: Where do birds go when it rains?

:[https://espanol.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120525145152AABvmOq from Yahoo! Respuestas]: ¿A donde se van los pajaritos cuando llueve?

:[http://activerain.trulia.com/blogsview/1452078/where-do-birds-go-when-it-rains- from Active Rain]: '''Where do Birds go When it Rains?''' I'm no youngster...and I have no answer for this. I've talked to alot of people about the likelihood of where birds go when it rains and everyone has a different perspective.

:[http://ask.metafilter.com/27499/Where-do-the-birds-go-when-it-rains from Ask MetaFilter]: '''Where do the birds go when it rains?''' BirdFeederFilter: When it's gloomy and rainy, I don't see any birds at my birdfeeder for days on end. Then as soon as it's sunny, they're all over the place. What gives? What do they do on rainy days, just forage near their nest?

:[http://snippets.com/where-do-city-birds-go-when-it-rains.htm from Snippets]: Where do city birds go when it rains?

:[http://wenwen.sogou.com/z/q55741469.htm from http://wenwen.sogou.com/]: 下雨时鸟儿往哪躲
没有大树,没有屋檐,怎么办

:[http://www.enature.com/expert/expert_show_question.asp?questionID=23847 from eNature.com]: '''Storm shelter''' ''In Florida, where I live, we get many thunderstorms, but I never see the birds in trees during the storms. We recently had a tropical storm and I did not see any birds in the trees. Where do birds go when it rains or storms?'' Just like at night, birds will seek shelter during storms. I remember watching a flock of American robins dive into[...]

:[https://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110730055427AApJlDb from Yahoo! Answers]: When it is raining heavily, where do the birds go...i don't see them on the trees, where do they take shelter?

:[https://fr.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110327100813AAMj2hy from Yahoo! Questions Réponses]: Où se cachent les oiseaux quand il pleut? De ma fenêtre, je n'en aperçois plus un!!!...Les pies semblent avoir abandonné leurs nids...

:[http://www.gutefrage.net/frage/was-passiert-jetzt-eigentlich-mit-den-voegeln-die-bei-dem-wetter-in-den-baeumen-sitzen from gutefrage.net]: '''was passiert jetzt eigentlich mit den vögeln, die bei dem wetter in den bäumen sitzen?''' bei uns regnet es heftig und der orkanartige wind wechelst ständig richtung und geschwindigkeit. können sich die vögel da in den bäumen halten? retten sie sich instinktiv vorher irgendwohin, wo sie windgeschützt sind?

:[https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20140607171044AAwamou from Yahoo! Answers]: Where do birds go when it rains? I never see any out...?

:[http://noticias.lainformacion.com/ciencia-y-tecnologia/ciencias-meteorologicas/que-pasa-con-las-aves-durante-un-huracan_g1DV8AL9LSG6Bzy7q5G8s7/ from lainformacion.com]: ¿Qué pasa con las aves durante un huracán?

:[http://zhidao.baidu.com/question/270774126.html from Baidu]: '''下雨的时候小鸟住在哪里？''' 下雨的时候小鸟住在哪里？如果是在春天夏天那还好，有树叶遮挡着，但是到了秋天冬天下雨小鸟住在哪里？还住在在树上搭的窝里吗？不怕冻坏自己和小幼崽吗？如果躲雨那就在哪里躲雨呢？怎么没见过它们躲雨？谢谢。

:[http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/forum/read/40/219540.html from Fairfax Underground]: '''What do birds do when it rains?''' Recently I installed a bird feeder outside my bedroom window. It is so wonderful the diversity of our feathered friends that frequent the feeder! I love it. My question that I haven't found an answer to is this: What do the little birdies do when it rains? I mean, do they stay put in the trees that they find themselves in,

:[http://ihmepuu.vuodatus.net/lue/2014/05/minne-linnut-menevat-sateella from a blog on vuodatus.net]: '''Minne linnut menevät sateella?''' Tänään satoi rankasti. Kuljin metsän halki. Kuulin linnun laulavan. Yksinäinen, mutta itsenäinen ja vahva, tulkitseva ääni. Kaunis. Minne linnut menevät sateella? En ole koskaan nähnyt lintuja rankkasateessa. Luulen, että ne yrittävät löytää suojan. Kuusien ja mäntyjen oksistossa on varmaan suojaisaa. Kallioiden koloihin ja pieniin luolastoihin voi ehkä lintukin hiipiä. Rohkeille löytyy pihoilta suojapaikkoja. Ehkä linnulla oli oma pesäkolo. Siellä oli lämmintä ja kuivaa. Sieltä saattoi rauhassa katsella sateen vierailua metsässä. Siellä saattoi jopa iloita sateesta ja laulaa.

:[https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110530163957AAaw1S3 from Yahoo! Answers]: '''What do the birds do when it RAINS like crazy?''' I live in upstate new york and just moved here and there are so many many birds here especially where I live, the other day I saw a broken egg on the ground in the drive way from a [...show more link] '''Update''': I know they get wet btw but was wondering if they did anything extra to [...show more link] '''Best Answer''' Well... it depends on the species of bird, for one. Some are more adapted for rain then others.

:[http://www.willemwever.nl/vraag_antwoord/dieren-en-planten/waar-blijven-de-vogels-als-het-heel-hard-stormt from Willem Wever]: '''Waar blijven de vogels als het heel hard stormt?''' Bij hevige stormen zoekt een vogel de beschutting die bij hem past. Er zijn een aantal vogels die met storm wel vliegen. Maar bij een echte hevige storm schuilen [...]

:[http://wenwen.sogou.com/z/q145038794.htm from http://wenwen.sogou.com/] '''为什么鸟儿下雨的时候在天上飞不会因为淋湿掉下来?''' 刚刚下很大的雨,却还看到有几只鸟一直在天上飞.为什么鸟儿下雨的时候在天上飞不会因为淋湿掉下来? '''补充'''：有照片的加分

:[http://forums.speedguide.net/showthread.php?147357-Where-do-birds-go-when-it-rains from speed guide forums]: '''Where do birds go when it rains?''' Do they just sit in their trees as it rains getting drenched? Or do they seek shelter?

:[http://books.google.com/books?id=c9gTAwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_atb#v=onepage&q&f=false from Google books]: '''Where Do All The Birds Go When It Rains?''' By Misty Hoopman

:[Screen snippets begin to noticeably fade to white at this point.]

:[http://vimeo.com/54433164 from vimeo]: '''WHERE DO BIRDS GO WHEN IT RAINS?''' One young magpie will give its own story. Barring the thunder and heavy rain, all the sounds on this movie are from this one young maggie. Amazing

:[https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071130121113AA0IjwA from Yahoo! Answers]: '''Where do birds go during wind and rain storms?''' Where do birds go during wind and rain storms?

:[https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080609181529AAid1nN from Yahoo! Answers]: '''Where do birds go when it rains?''' I mean, they can't keep dry in their nests...They have to go somewhere.

:[https://id.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101215231444AAAVxSM from Yahoo! Answers]: Burung Dapat Bertahan Terbang Berapa Lama Disaat Hujan?

:[http://www.vogel.info/schlechtes_wetter.htm from vogel.info]: '''Was machen Vögel bei schlechtem Wetter?''' Zunächst mal, was sie nicht machen: Sie verkriechen sich nicht etwa in ihr Nest, denn das Vogelnest dient der Brutpflege, es ist nicht etwa eine Wohnung. Es stellt sich aber ja auch die Frage, was eigentlich unter schlechtem Wetter zu verstehen ist: Es gibt Vögel, die leiden unter zuviel Sonne und[...]

:[http://www.gutefrage.net/frage/wohin-gehen-voegel from gutefrage.net]: '''Wohin gehen Vögel?''' Hallo zusammen! Heute als es so richtige Gewitter gab, hab ich mir überlegt wohin alle Vögel verschwinden. Haben alle Vögel Nester in die sie sich zurückziehen können? [link to view complete question.]

:[https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080808130433AAE8b3B from Yahoo! Answers]: '''Where do birds go when it rains?''' Well, yesterday it was raining...I was bored so i started staring out the window, and i say a empty birds nest and i was wondering, where do birds go when it rains?

:[http://diolungroup.com/blog/2014/02/19/where-do-birds-go-when-it-rains-or-snows/ from Diolún Designs Blog]: Where do Birds go when it rains or snows?

:[http://www.andalusiastarnews.com/2014/04/05/where-do-birds-go-when-it-rains/ from The Andalusia Star-News]: '''Where do birds go when it rains?''' I haven’t fed birds in my back yard for a long time, but I still enjoy the few I see perching on top of poles, an electric wire, tree branches, or scooting across the [...]

:[http://besgroup.blogspot.com/2006/12/where-do-birds-go-when-it-rains-and.html from Bird Ecology Study Group (blog)]: '''Where do birds go when it rains? And what do they do then?''' It has been raining on and off these few weeks and the birds have not been around. Have you ever wondered what happened to them when it

:[http://matome.naver.jp/odai/2136533586764388601 from Naver Matome]: '''【雑学】暴風雨の時、鳥はどこに避難してるの？''' 人間が歩くのも困難な暴風雨。その時、一番影響を受けるのは空を飛んでいる鳥達ですよね。彼らはどのように風雨を凌いでいるのか？ずーっと気になっていた事を調べてみました！

:[At this point, at the bottom of the section, screen snippets are extremely faded.]

:[http://dailyapple.blogspot.com/2010/01/apple-431-birds-in-rain.html from The Daily Apple]: '''Apple #431: Birds in the Rain'''
:Forgot until late tonight that I meant to make a new post. Since I didn't leave [...]

:[https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20140522193215AAawPNF from Yahoo! answers]: Where does birds go when it rains?

:;[Third section - A bird on a wire fence.]
:[A bird sits on a wire fence with no rain falling.]

:[Zoomed in on the bird as it looks at a rain drop splashing on the fence wire.]

:[Zoomed out on the bird looking at the rain as it increases in intensity.]

:[The bird flies down to an small smart-phone-shaped object lying on the ground, as the rain increases in intensity even more.]

:[The bird lands on the object, with puddles increasing in size around the object.]

:[The bird pecks at the object, ostensibly typing.] W... H... E... R... E...   D... O...   B... I... R... D... S...

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

1434: Where Do Birds Go

2021-11-07T17:53:55Z

Obscure xkcd reference: See discussion (unfinished)

{{comic
| number = 1434
| date = October 15, 2014
| title = Where Do Birds Go
| image = where_do_birds_go.png
| titletext = Water/ice has a lot of weird phases. Maybe asking 'where do birds go when it rains' is like asking 'where does Clark Kent go whenever Superman shows up?'
}}

==Explanation==
Cueball searches [http://lmgtfy.com/?q=where+do+birds+go+when+it+rains%3F Google] to find out where birds go when it rains. He finds that the question is asked worldwide, across many different languages and websites. A variety of screenshots are shown of different websites and forums where users have asked where birds go when it rains, with at least nine languages shown. The bottom of this panel fades to white, suggesting that the occurrence of these questions stretches on and on. Cueball expresses delight at the idea that this question is the one to which everyone wants to know the answer; worrying about birds getting wet is "the thing that unites us".

Later in the comic, a bird in the rain is also searching on the Internet for where birds go when it rains. This is humorously implying that a significant set of these questions are being typed by birds looking for a dry place after being caught in the rain, and not humans. This would make Cueball wrong; worrying about birds getting wet would not unite us. In reality, as the comic states, birds look for shelter so they can stay dry. On a rainy day you can usually find birds in leafy trees, caves or other kinds of cover.

In the {{w|Superman}} comics, Clark Kent ''is'' Superman, so you never observe both Clark Kent and Superman simultaneously. By analogy, the title text whimsically suggests that a possible inference from the observation that you never see birds and rain together is that birds ''are'' the rain. Perhaps birds are an unknown {{w|Phase (matter)|phase}} of water. In addition to its familiar phases of {{w|ice}}, {{w|water vapor|vapor}}, and {{w|water|liquid water}}, water has more exotic phases such as {{w|Ice#Phases|low-temperature and high-pressure ices}} and {{w|Supercritical fluid|supercritical gases}}; why not birds?

The title text imbues the question with more philosophical significance than it warrants (prompted, perhaps, by Cueball's earlier hyperbole), and points up the irrationality of the implication that a question must be deep simply because a lot of people ask it, and that such questions demand a complex, radical answer.

===Websites shown in image===
*English
**https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110223085537AAiOFTk
**http://www.enature.com/expert/expert_show_question.asp?questionID=23847
**http://activerain.trulia.com/blogsview/1452078/where-do-birds-go-when-it-rains-
**http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message979308/pg1
**http://randomthoughtsfrommidlife.wordpress.com/2011/11/22/where-do-the-birds-go-when-it-rains/
==Non-English==
===French===
Où se cachent les oiseaux quand il pleut?: Where do the birds hide themselves when it rains?
https://fr.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110327100813AAMj2hy
===German===
Was passiert jetzt eigentlich mit den vögeln, die bei dem wetter in den bäumen sitzen?: What actually happens with the birds that are sitting in the trees in this weather?
http://www.gutefrage.net/frage/was-passiert-jetzt-eigentlich-mit-den-voegeln-die-bei-dem-wetter-in-den-baeumen-sitzen
<ref>In proper German, all nouns should be capitalized. The author leaves them uncapitalized, characteristic of lazy/hurried typing.</ref>

Was machen Vögel bei schlechtem Wetter?: What do birds do in bad weather?
http://www.vogel.info/schlechtes_wetter.htm

|[http://www.gutefrage.net/frage/wohin-gehen-voegel Wohin gehen Vögel?]
|Where do birds go?
|-
|rowspan="2"|Spanish
|[http://noticias.lainformacion.com/ciencia-y-tecnologia/ciencias-meteorologicas/que-pasa-con-las-aves-durante-un-huracan_g1DV8AL9LSG6Bzy7q5G8s7/ ¿Qué pasa con las aves durante un huracán?]
|What happens to the birds during a hurricane?
|-
|[https://espanol.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120525145152AABvmOq ¿A donde se van los pajaritos cuando llueve?]
|Where do the little birds go when it rains?<ref>In proper Spanish, the word "donde" in this context should have an accent (dónde). This is a rule that even some newspapers manage to get wrong.</ref>
|-
|Dutch
|[http://www.willemwever.nl/vraag_antwoord/dieren-en-planten/waar-blijven-de-vogels-als-het-heel-hard-stormt Waar blijven de vogels als het heel hard stormt?]
|Where do birds stay when it is storming very hard?
|-
|Finnish
|[http://ihmepuu.vuodatus.net/lue/2014/05/minne-linnut-menevat-sateella Minne linnut menevät sateella?]
|Where do the birds go when it rains?
|-
|rowspan="3"|Chinese (simplified)
|[http://wenwen.sogou.com/z/q55741469.htm 下雨时鸟儿往哪躲]
|When it rains, where do birds go to hide?
|-
|[http://zhidao.baidu.com/question/270774126.html 下雨的时候小鸟住在哪里？]
|When it rains, where do the birds go?
|-
|[http://wenwen.sogou.com/z/q145038794.htm 为什么鸟儿下雨的时候在天上飞不会因为淋湿掉下来?]
|When it rains, why do birds not fall down from getting soaked?
|-
|Japanese
|[http://matome.naver.jp/odai/2136533586764388601 【雑学】暴風雨の時、鳥はどこに避難してるの？]
|Miscellaneous Knowledge: Where do birds take shelter during a rainstorm?
|-
|Malay (Indonesian)
|[https://id.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101215231444AAAVxSM Burung Dapat Bertahan Terbang Berapa Lama Disaat Hujan ?]
|How Long Can Birds Survive Flying In the Rain ?
|}
<references/>

==Transcript==
:[The comic is separated into three sections, with Cueball and Megan having a discussion in the first section, websites found through Google search results depicted in the second, and a bird depicted in the third.]

:;[First Section - Cueball is sitting at his computer.]
:Cueball: "Where do birds go when it rains?" is my new favorite Google search.
:Megan [off screen]: Why?

:Cueball: It gives the answer, but also shows you an endless torrent of other people asking the same question. Pages and pages of them across regions and cultures.
:[Megan enters the frame and shows interest in the computer.]

:Cueball: I love the idea that somehow this is the universal question, the thing that unites us. When it rains, we wonder where the birds go, and hope they're staying dry.

:;[Second Section - A collage of screen snippets.]

:[https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110223085537AAiOFTk from Yahoo! Answers]: '''Where do the birds go when it rains?''' I've noticed I rarely see birds flying around or in trees or on power lines when it's raining, So where do they go?

:[http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message979308/pg1 from Godlike Productions]: '''Where do birds go when it rains really hard?'''
Ok, maybe I'm an idiot for asking this, but during the slew of several storms in California the last couple weeks, I began to wonder where the poor birds go to stay dry? The ducks, seagulls, owls, sparrows, hummingbirds, hawks, etc...I see them all the ti[...]

:[http://randomthoughtsfrommidlife.wordpress.com/2011/11/22/where-do-the-birds-go-when-it-rains/ from Random Thoughts From Midlife]: Where do the birds go when it rains?

:[http://www.answers.com/Q/Where_do_birds_go_when_it_rains from Answers.com]: Where do birds go when it rains?

:[https://espanol.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120525145152AABvmOq from Yahoo! Respuestas]: ¿A donde se van los pajaritos cuando llueve?

:[http://activerain.trulia.com/blogsview/1452078/where-do-birds-go-when-it-rains- from Active Rain]: '''Where do Birds go When it Rains?''' I'm no youngster...and I have no answer for this. I've talked to alot of people about the likelihood of where birds go when it rains and everyone has a different perspective.

:[http://ask.metafilter.com/27499/Where-do-the-birds-go-when-it-rains from Ask MetaFilter]: '''Where do the birds go when it rains?''' BirdFeederFilter: When it's gloomy and rainy, I don't see any birds at my birdfeeder for days on end. Then as soon as it's sunny, they're all over the place. What gives? What do they do on rainy days, just forage near their nest?

:[http://snippets.com/where-do-city-birds-go-when-it-rains.htm from Snippets]: Where do city birds go when it rains?

:[http://wenwen.sogou.com/z/q55741469.htm from http://wenwen.sogou.com/]: 下雨时鸟儿往哪躲
没有大树,没有屋檐,怎么办

:[http://www.enature.com/expert/expert_show_question.asp?questionID=23847 from eNature.com]: '''Storm shelter''' ''In Florida, where I live, we get many thunderstorms, but I never see the birds in trees during the storms. We recently had a tropical storm and I did not see any birds in the trees. Where do birds go when it rains or storms?'' Just like at night, birds will seek shelter during storms. I remember watching a flock of American robins dive into[...]

:[https://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110730055427AApJlDb from Yahoo! Answers]: When it is raining heavily, where do the birds go...i don't see them on the trees, where do they take shelter?

:[https://fr.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110327100813AAMj2hy from Yahoo! Questions Réponses]: Où se cachent les oiseaux quand il pleut? De ma fenêtre, je n'en aperçois plus un!!!...Les pies semblent avoir abandonné leurs nids...

:[http://www.gutefrage.net/frage/was-passiert-jetzt-eigentlich-mit-den-voegeln-die-bei-dem-wetter-in-den-baeumen-sitzen from gutefrage.net]: '''was passiert jetzt eigentlich mit den vögeln, die bei dem wetter in den bäumen sitzen?''' bei uns regnet es heftig und der orkanartige wind wechelst ständig richtung und geschwindigkeit. können sich die vögel da in den bäumen halten? retten sie sich instinktiv vorher irgendwohin, wo sie windgeschützt sind?

:[https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20140607171044AAwamou from Yahoo! Answers]: Where do birds go when it rains? I never see any out...?

:[http://noticias.lainformacion.com/ciencia-y-tecnologia/ciencias-meteorologicas/que-pasa-con-las-aves-durante-un-huracan_g1DV8AL9LSG6Bzy7q5G8s7/ from lainformacion.com]: ¿Qué pasa con las aves durante un huracán?

:[http://zhidao.baidu.com/question/270774126.html from Baidu]: '''下雨的时候小鸟住在哪里？''' 下雨的时候小鸟住在哪里？如果是在春天夏天那还好，有树叶遮挡着，但是到了秋天冬天下雨小鸟住在哪里？还住在在树上搭的窝里吗？不怕冻坏自己和小幼崽吗？如果躲雨那就在哪里躲雨呢？怎么没见过它们躲雨？谢谢。

:[http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/forum/read/40/219540.html from Fairfax Underground]: '''What do birds do when it rains?''' Recently I installed a bird feeder outside my bedroom window. It is so wonderful the diversity of our feathered friends that frequent the feeder! I love it. My question that I haven't found an answer to is this: What do the little birdies do when it rains? I mean, do they stay put in the trees that they find themselves in,

:[http://ihmepuu.vuodatus.net/lue/2014/05/minne-linnut-menevat-sateella from a blog on vuodatus.net]: '''Minne linnut menevät sateella?''' Tänään satoi rankasti. Kuljin metsän halki. Kuulin linnun laulavan. Yksinäinen, mutta itsenäinen ja vahva, tulkitseva ääni. Kaunis. Minne linnut menevät sateella? En ole koskaan nähnyt lintuja rankkasateessa. Luulen, että ne yrittävät löytää suojan. Kuusien ja mäntyjen oksistossa on varmaan suojaisaa. Kallioiden koloihin ja pieniin luolastoihin voi ehkä lintukin hiipiä. Rohkeille löytyy pihoilta suojapaikkoja. Ehkä linnulla oli oma pesäkolo. Siellä oli lämmintä ja kuivaa. Sieltä saattoi rauhassa katsella sateen vierailua metsässä. Siellä saattoi jopa iloita sateesta ja laulaa.

:[https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110530163957AAaw1S3 from Yahoo! Answers]: '''What do the birds do when it RAINS like crazy?''' I live in upstate new york and just moved here and there are so many many birds here especially where I live, the other day I saw a broken egg on the ground in the drive way from a [...show more link] '''Update''': I know they get wet btw but was wondering if they did anything extra to [...show more link] '''Best Answer''' Well... it depends on the species of bird, for one. Some are more adapted for rain then others.

:[http://www.willemwever.nl/vraag_antwoord/dieren-en-planten/waar-blijven-de-vogels-als-het-heel-hard-stormt from Willem Wever]: '''Waar blijven de vogels als het heel hard stormt?''' Bij hevige stormen zoekt een vogel de beschutting die bij hem past. Er zijn een aantal vogels die met storm wel vliegen. Maar bij een echte hevige storm schuilen [...]

:[http://wenwen.sogou.com/z/q145038794.htm from http://wenwen.sogou.com/] '''为什么鸟儿下雨的时候在天上飞不会因为淋湿掉下来?''' 刚刚下很大的雨,却还看到有几只鸟一直在天上飞.为什么鸟儿下雨的时候在天上飞不会因为淋湿掉下来? '''补充'''：有照片的加分

:[http://forums.speedguide.net/showthread.php?147357-Where-do-birds-go-when-it-rains from speed guide forums]: '''Where do birds go when it rains?''' Do they just sit in their trees as it rains getting drenched? Or do they seek shelter?

:[http://books.google.com/books?id=c9gTAwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_atb#v=onepage&q&f=false from Google books]: '''Where Do All The Birds Go When It Rains?''' By Misty Hoopman

:[Screen snippets begin to noticeably fade to white at this point.]

:[http://vimeo.com/54433164 from vimeo]: '''WHERE DO BIRDS GO WHEN IT RAINS?''' One young magpie will give its own story. Barring the thunder and heavy rain, all the sounds on this movie are from this one young maggie. Amazing

:[https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071130121113AA0IjwA from Yahoo! Answers]: '''Where do birds go during wind and rain storms?''' Where do birds go during wind and rain storms?

:[https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080609181529AAid1nN from Yahoo! Answers]: '''Where do birds go when it rains?''' I mean, they can't keep dry in their nests...They have to go somewhere.

:[https://id.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101215231444AAAVxSM from Yahoo! Answers]: Burung Dapat Bertahan Terbang Berapa Lama Disaat Hujan?

:[http://www.vogel.info/schlechtes_wetter.htm from vogel.info]: '''Was machen Vögel bei schlechtem Wetter?''' Zunächst mal, was sie nicht machen: Sie verkriechen sich nicht etwa in ihr Nest, denn das Vogelnest dient der Brutpflege, es ist nicht etwa eine Wohnung. Es stellt sich aber ja auch die Frage, was eigentlich unter schlechtem Wetter zu verstehen ist: Es gibt Vögel, die leiden unter zuviel Sonne und[...]

:[http://www.gutefrage.net/frage/wohin-gehen-voegel from gutefrage.net]: '''Wohin gehen Vögel?''' Hallo zusammen! Heute als es so richtige Gewitter gab, hab ich mir überlegt wohin alle Vögel verschwinden. Haben alle Vögel Nester in die sie sich zurückziehen können? [link to view complete question.]

:[https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080808130433AAE8b3B from Yahoo! Answers]: '''Where do birds go when it rains?''' Well, yesterday it was raining...I was bored so i started staring out the window, and i say a empty birds nest and i was wondering, where do birds go when it rains?

:[http://diolungroup.com/blog/2014/02/19/where-do-birds-go-when-it-rains-or-snows/ from Diolún Designs Blog]: Where do Birds go when it rains or snows?

:[http://www.andalusiastarnews.com/2014/04/05/where-do-birds-go-when-it-rains/ from The Andalusia Star-News]: '''Where do birds go when it rains?''' I haven’t fed birds in my back yard for a long time, but I still enjoy the few I see perching on top of poles, an electric wire, tree branches, or scooting across the [...]

:[http://besgroup.blogspot.com/2006/12/where-do-birds-go-when-it-rains-and.html from Bird Ecology Study Group (blog)]: '''Where do birds go when it rains? And what do they do then?''' It has been raining on and off these few weeks and the birds have not been around. Have you ever wondered what happened to them when it

:[http://matome.naver.jp/odai/2136533586764388601 from Naver Matome]: '''【雑学】暴風雨の時、鳥はどこに避難してるの？''' 人間が歩くのも困難な暴風雨。その時、一番影響を受けるのは空を飛んでいる鳥達ですよね。彼らはどのように風雨を凌いでいるのか？ずーっと気になっていた事を調べてみました！

:[At this point, at the bottom of the section, screen snippets are extremely faded.]

:[http://dailyapple.blogspot.com/2010/01/apple-431-birds-in-rain.html from The Daily Apple]: '''Apple #431: Birds in the Rain'''
:Forgot until late tonight that I meant to make a new post. Since I didn't leave [...]

:[https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20140522193215AAawPNF from Yahoo! answers]: Where does birds go when it rains?

:;[Third section - A bird on a wire fence.]
:[A bird sits on a wire fence with no rain falling.]

:[Zoomed in on the bird as it looks at a rain drop splashing on the fence wire.]

:[Zoomed out on the bird looking at the rain as it increases in intensity.]

:[The bird flies down to an small smart-phone-shaped object lying on the ground, as the rain increases in intensity even more.]

:[The bird lands on the object, with puddles increasing in size around the object.]

:[The bird pecks at the object, ostensibly typing.] W... H... E... R... E...   D... O...   B... I... R... D... S...

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

Talk:1434: Where Do Birds Go

2021-11-07T17:47:17Z

Obscure xkcd reference:

User talk:Lcarsos

2021-11-07T17:35:32Z

Obscure xkcd reference:

User talk:Lcarsos

2021-11-06T20:30:04Z

Obscure xkcd reference: /* User page */ new section

Talk:1947: Night Sky

2021-11-06T18:26:13Z

Obscure xkcd reference:

''The attempt on Nordberg's life left me shaken and disturbed, and all the questions kept coming up over and over again, like bubbles in a case of club soda. Who was this character in the hospital? And why was he trying to kill Nordberg? And for whom? Did Ludwig lie to me? I didn't have any proof, but somehow, I didn't entirely trust him either. Why was the 'I Luv You' not listed in Ludwig's records? And if it was, did he know about it? And if he didn't, who did? And where the hell was I?'' [[Special:Contributions/141.101.76.46|141.101.76.46]] 17:43, 26 January 2018 (UTC)
:I don't think this is relevant. Are you a bot?--[[User:Obscure xkcd reference|Obscure xkcd reference]] ([[User talk:Obscure xkcd reference|talk]]) 18:24, 6 November 2021 (UTC)
:Looks like the cows have come home to roost. [[User:ProphetZarquon|ProphetZarquon]] ([[User talk:ProphetZarquon|talk]]) 20:05, 26 January 2018 (UTC)

Ironically, the mountain lion's Macbook is running Snow Leopard. [[User:ProphetZarquon|ProphetZarquon]] ([[User talk:ProphetZarquon|talk]]) 20:08, 26 January 2018 (UTC)

I feel the Mountain Lion question is to point out that if they had their phones they could look up the answer to this question, find out if they should be on the lookout for them. [[User:NiceGuy1|NiceGuy1]] ([[User talk:NiceGuy1|talk]]) 04:54, 30 January 2018 (UTC)

Talk:1947: Night Sky

2021-11-06T18:24:59Z

Obscure xkcd reference:

''The attempt on Nordberg's life left me shaken and disturbed, and all the questions kept coming up over and over again, like bubbles in a case of club soda. Who was this character in the hospital? And why was he trying to kill Nordberg? And for whom? Did Ludwig lie to me? I didn't have any proof, but somehow, I didn't entirely trust him either. Why was the 'I Luv You' not listed in Ludwig's records? And if it was, did he know about it? And if he didn't, who did? And where the hell was I?'' [[Special:Contributions/141.101.76.46|141.101.76.46]] 17:43, 26 January 2018 (UTC)
:I don't think this is relevan. Are you a bot?--[[User:Obscure xkcd reference|Obscure xkcd reference]] ([[User talk:Obscure xkcd reference|talk]]) 18:24, 6 November 2021 (UTC)
:Looks like the cows have come home to roost. [[User:ProphetZarquon|ProphetZarquon]] ([[User talk:ProphetZarquon|talk]]) 20:05, 26 January 2018 (UTC)

Ironically, the mountain lion's Macbook is running Snow Leopard. [[User:ProphetZarquon|ProphetZarquon]] ([[User talk:ProphetZarquon|talk]]) 20:08, 26 January 2018 (UTC)

I feel the Mountain Lion question is to point out that if they had their phones they could look up the answer to this question, find out if they should be on the lookout for them. [[User:NiceGuy1|NiceGuy1]] ([[User talk:NiceGuy1|talk]]) 04:54, 30 January 2018 (UTC)

1947: Night Sky

2021-11-06T18:23:15Z

Obscure xkcd reference: /* Explanation */ This is more clear

{{comic
| number = 1947
| date = January 26, 2018
| title = Night Sky
| image = night_sky.png
| titletext = There's a mountain lion nearby, but it didn't notice you because it's reading Facebook.
}}

==Explanation==
With the increasing ubiquity of connected devices in people's lives have come concerns about the social and mental effects this is having. A common trend in lifestyle advice is the idea of "{{w|Digital detox|unplugging}}" and getting away from technology, with the idea that this can improve one's sense of wellbeing, and allow a focus on the important things in life, such as asking the {{w|Meaning of life|"big" existential questions}}.

[[Cueball]] and [[Megan]] are taking one such activity: a nighttime walk without their phones. However, rather than being grandiose, the questions they ask are increasingly immediate to their current situation. Far from finding the experience liberating, they find it first frustrating, as they no longer have access to useful features of their phones, such as mapping with GPS, which would help them find their way, and a flashlight, which would let them see where they were going, and then unsettling, as without their devices to distract them they begin to imagine dangers, such as {{w|cougar|mountain lions}}, lurking in the darkness.

The fact that Megan enthusiastically affirms that those really ''are'' the "big questions" of life reveals that they are sarcastically teasing each other about their regrettable decision.

The reference to mountain lions might be related to the declaration that eastern cougars were [http://www.courier-tribune.com/news/20180126/once-common-in-nc-eastern-cougar-declared-extinct-last-sighting-80-years-ago officially declared extinct] the day before this comic was published.

The title text claims that technology is so omnipresent that even the threatening mountain lion has a phone and is reading Facebook (and, therefore, is not so threatening, since it now can not notice them). Alternatively, either Cueball or Megan might be teasing the other.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball and Megan are walking under the night sky.]
:Megan: The internet is so overwhelming for me these days. It feels like everyone I know is yelling all the time.

:[Frame is zoomed out. Stars are visible in the sky.]
:Megan: That's why it's so nice to unplug. Leave the phones at home, go for a walk, and look up at the stars.
:Megan: It helps you focus on what really matters.

:[Frame is zoomed in again.]
:Cueball: Like "Where the hell are we?"
:Megan: And "Why did I leave my phone at home? It has my map and flashlight."
:Cueball: "Are there mountain lions around here? Did you hear a twig break?"
:Megan: Yeah, the big questions!

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics with inverted brightness]]

2259: Networking Problems

2021-11-06T10:19:49Z

Obscure xkcd reference: This quote needs a citation

{{comic
| number = 2259
| date = January 24, 2020
| title = Networking Problems
| image = networking_problems.png
| titletext = LOOK, THE LATENCY FALLS EVERY TIME YOU CLAP YOUR HANDS AND SAY YOU BELIEVE
}}

==Explanation==
Computer problems are frequent and can be difficult to solve {{Citation needed}}. Networking problems in particular can puzzle even seasoned people and sometimes seem to have arbitrary issues causing them. {{w|Network packet|Packets}} are units of data transfer used in computer networking, and one measure of network performance is ''lag'', the amount of time it takes for data to travel from one point to another (and perhaps back); saying a packet's transmission is 'laggy' means it is unacceptably slow.

Lag in packet transmission and other network performance measures can appear quite random. Just to start with, your ISP may be engaged in traffic shaping, which can do very weird things indeed to your packets (making the first megabyte of a transfer faster than any other, for example); now imagine that your ISP's ISP (usually known as an "Upstream Provider") is engaged in something similar, and you begin to see the scale of the problem. Wireless latency can relate to things as unexpected as where people are standing, what they are touching, the weather, viruses and other system compromises, network activity by other unseen users, and so on. Because humans are wired to perceive patterns, they will {{w|Apophenia|find them even in random data}}, a fallacy that Cueball is probably suffering from here. He variously attributes the network behavior he sees to the packet number being even vs. odd, packet arrival time being before vs. after noon, and packet arrival day being today vs. yesterday. Such a pattern would make sense if it were merely "every other packet" regardless of odd or evenness, but that still leaves unexplained the other "patterns" Cueball is seeing.

These non-existent patterns that Cueball is 'finding' are driving him mad, so much so that he says he believes in ghosts now. The statement of belief in ghosts may be a reference to the intermittent or fluctuating nature of the network issues being caused by mischievous or malevolent spirits. Ghosts generally are not concerned with expressions of belief, but there are some religious traditions that include group clapping and chanting. Many works of fiction depict a future or alternate history where {{tvtropes|MachineWorship|machines are worshiped as gods or spirits}}, such as the Adeptus Mechanicus of ''{{w|Warhammer 40,000}}''. Some of this terminology can be found in present-day IT and other support personnel, including references to "{{w|Daemon (computing)|daemons}}" and "[http://catb.org/jargon/html/B/black-magic.html black magic]". Another possible reference Randall may be making is to the {{w|Ghost_in_the_machine|Ghost in the machine}}, a term describing AI. A third possibility is that Cueball's brain had stopped working, as Randall had suggested in his chart. it may also be a reference to [[1316: Inexplicable]], in which Megan concludes Cueball's computer is haunted.

The title text continues Cueball's maniacal attempts at self-assurance, with him alluding to J.M. Barrie's play ''{{w|Peter Pan}}'' by saying that latency falls every time you "CLAP YOUR HANDS AND SAY YOU BELIEVE". In the play, Peter Pan says, "If you believe in fairies, wave your handkerchiefs and clap your hands."[citation needed] A more mundane explanation of the network behavior Cueball is experiencing might be that it is random but he's seeing a pattern anyway, or that there is a loose connection or trace and the vibration of clapping and speaking in the vicinity of the equipment in question closes the connection.

Similar superstition regarding computer devices was used previously in [[1457: Feedback]].

==Transcript==
:[A chart is shown with one horizontal line with 13 ticks (the first larger) and ending in an arrow. There are three labels along the line, at the start in the middle an towards the end before the arrow. Below are two clouds in gray with labels. The first cloud is long and it is getting thinner towards the right. It goes between the first and second label above the chart. The second blob is smaller and of equal thickness and it goes from the last label towards right. Above the chart is a heading and a subheading:]
:<big>Types of Computer Problems</big>
:By how much debugging them makes your brain stop working

:[The three labels above and the two in the clouds:]
:None
:Some
:A lot
:Normal problems
:Networking problems

:[Below the chart, only in the right part of the comic is a comic drawing. Cueball is kneeling before a rack of servers. One of the server blades is extended and connected by a cable to a laptop sitting on a box, which Cueball is using. Behind Cueball, there is a wireless router sitting on a stool, which is connected by a cable to another wireless router sitting on the floor, which is connected to another laptop. From behind him to the right an off-panel voice emanates from a starburst at the edge of the panel.]
:Cueball: '''''Before''''' noon, '''''odd'''''-numbered packets were laggy, but ''after'' noon, '''''even'''''-numbered ones are! It's the '''''opposite''''' of yesterday!
:Off-panel voice: Are you sure you're okay?
:Cueball: '''''I'm fine and I believe in ghosts now!'''''

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Charts]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Cueball Computer Problems]]

Talk:1245: 10-Day Forecast

2021-11-05T19:36:45Z

Obscure xkcd reference:

You might think Tuesday's image could be anything, even cacti. I did, until I read these comments and zoomed in. Now I think it looks like Jamiroquai's mascot, the guy with the horned helmet. {{unsigned|101.162.84.101}}

Can't believe multi mention of apocalypse but no mention of my first guess (due to -), that place below.
[[User:Monteletourneau|Monteletourneau]] ([[User talk:Monteletourneau|talk]]) 07:00, 1 August 2013 (UTC)

Any possible significance of people seeming having longer legs that usuall on "monday" frame? Also, why should that "tuesday" figure be {{w|antichrist}}? Looks more like {{w|Loki_(comics)|Loki}} to me (although if it SHOULD be Loki he would probably look even more similar). And "sunday" frame looks more like {{w|Bee}}s that {{w|Locust}}, but it's true I never heard of plague of bees :-). (On the other hand, if {{w|Plagues of Egypt|Plague of locusts}} would be referenced, one would expect the other plagues as well.) Also note that if that should reference {{w|Book of Revelation|Christian Apocalypse}}, it should include more horses. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 09:16, 31 July 2013 (UTC)
:I think the "legs" thing is indicating they're floating up due to the {{w|Rapture}}. --[[User:Druid816|Druid816]] ([[User talk:Druid816|talk]]) 10:26, 31 July 2013 (UTC)
:It's also possible that we're looking at a reference to the Doctor Who episodes "The Impossible Planet" and "The Satan Pit" in which the Tenth Doctor encounters "the devil" on the remnant of a planet orbiting a black hole. If that's the case, we could be looking at some spaghettification on Monday. --[[User:NHBradson|NHBradson]] ([[User talk:NHBradson|talk]]) 16:41, 5 August 2013 (UTC)
I think that we should remove the 'the rapture' explaination because they don't look like the illustrations on Wikipedia which are angels carrying people to heaven and this is people's legs growing very long i.e not the same.[[User:Obscure xkcd reference|Obscure xkcd reference]] ([[User talk:Obscure xkcd reference|talk]])

Also, WHY negative zip codes? -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 09:53, 31 July 2013 (UTC)
:It may be a reference to [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MinusWorld Minus Worlds], implying that the ZIP codes are levels in a video game and the negative ones are glitches, although that's a stretch. [[Special:Contributions/38.108.195.69|38.108.195.69]] 13:41, 31 July 2013 (UTC)

The person in the tuesday picture reminded me of the Rabbit "Frank" from Donnie Darko / S. Darko. --[[Special:Contributions/95.33.125.63|95.33.125.63]] 10:33, 31 July 2013 (UTC)
:If he is, it may mean that negative zip codes are located in a [http://www.donniedarko.org.uk/explanation/ Tangent Universe] --[[User:Danroa|Danroa]] ([[User talk:Danroa|talk]]) 11:02, 31 July 2013 (UTC)
:To me he looks more like Hellboy with horns (in apocalypse mode). His right hand seems to also be larger than his left.[[Special:Contributions/37.130.227.133|37.130.227.133]] 17:02, 5 August 2013 (UTC)

I think that it's actually Megan that says the title text, and not Cueball, mainly because the title text is agreeing with what Cueball said ("Oh, definitely not"). If Cueball were to confirm his own sentence, it wouldn't make sense. {{User:Grep/signature|11:20, 31 July 2013}}

Isn't Sunday a plague of flies? And, judging by the curvature of the earth (I assume) on Tuesday One, wouldn't the character be the size of Galactus? With horns like Galactus? I think it makes sense that it's Galactus. And Monday is just a weird day, just like in my zip code. [[Special:Contributions/67.60.145.86|67.60.145.86]] 13:36, 31 July 2013 (UTC)

: I assume he's just standing on a hill.[[Special:Contributions/153.31.113.20|153.31.113.20]] 18:53, 31 July 2013 (UTC)

What's a zip code? [[Special:Contributions/80.2.179.200|80.2.179.200]] 14:15, 31 July 2013 (UTC)
: Seriously? See {{w|ZIP code}}. [[User:Wwoods|Wwoods]] ([[User talk:Wwoods|talk]]) 15:09, 31 July 2013 (UTC)
:: Not so off-the-wall. The zip code is an American-only thing. Might be worth a mention for non-American readers. [[User:Vyzen|Vyzen]] ([[User talk:Vyzen|talk]]) 16:21, 31 July 2013 (UTC)
:::Strongly disagree with that statement. I live in Israel and we have and use zip codes. [[Special:Contributions/95.35.56.169|95.35.56.169]] 17:42, 31 July 2013 (UTC)
::::Well, here in the UK we use {{w|Postcodes_in_the_United_Kingdom|Postcodes}} that are alphanumeric in nature but pretty much have the same purpose behind them. Although thanks to US imports on TV/films I think most people know that the US call theirs ZIP Codes, even if not that it's a simple number (like I believe most of European postcodes are). However, it doesn't harm to give the link referencing it (as has been done) for anyone who really doesn't know or just appreciates a push towards a bit of [[214|Wikicreep]]. (Which I've just self-inflicted on myself by reading down the Postcode article... Forsooth! Hoist by my own {{w|petard}}!) [[Special:Contributions/178.98.215.19|178.98.215.19]] 19:19, 31 July 2013 (UTC)
:::::Uhhh, your Postcodes are a horror for programmers, just because the length vary. The first official implementation for this was during {{w|WWII}} in Germany, the UK did implement this in the range of 1959-1974, and the US did start this system in 1963. But there are still many countries not using this system (like Ireland), which is just a double horror for programmers.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 20:18, 31 July 2013 (UTC)
::::::Start with "m/(\w+) (\w+)/" and then subdivide into branches according to $1's further matching? At each stage checked for more specific validity (and even existence!). If not that, "m/[A..Z]{1,2}\d{1,2}[A..Z]? \d[A..Z]{2}/i" should work if you want just a single test (with ()s around elements for the geographic validation checking part). Ok, so it's not "\d{howevermany}", then check it exists on the database, but it'd do for starters, and personally I relish such programming challenges... ;) [[Special:Contributions/178.98.215.19|178.98.215.19]] 11:36, 1 August 2013 (UTC)

:Something like "YKK". [[Special:Contributions/121.72.110.10|121.72.110.10]] 23:30, 31 July 2013 (UTC)

Doesn't the Monday guy sort of look like ''{{w|The Scream}}''?
[[User:Wwoods|Wwoods]] ([[User talk:Wwoods|talk]]) 15:09, 31 July 2013 (UTC)

Did anyone else try to put in a negative zipcode because of this? I think Google should use this as one of the easter eggs they're so fond of. [[Special:Contributions/138.162.8.57|138.162.8.57]] 16:14, 31 July 2013 (UTC)
: at weather.com a negative ZIP code gets you a "can't find" type result with Cancun, Mazatlan and Amsterdam offered as suggestions for where you were interested in. (I tried ZIPs from 10012 to 98072, same result for all I tried). Google Maps just ignores the negative and gives correct results. [[Special:Contributions/67.51.59.66|67.51.59.66]] 17:48, 31 July 2013 (UTC)

Does anyone agree that Randall is playing with the fact that 10day forecast are very inaccurate. We can trust 3, max 4 days of accuracy. After that, is pretty meaningless since the divergence of the models is a likely scenario. No?[[User:Claudionico|cinico]] ([[User talk:Claudionico|talk]])
: Agree [[Special:Contributions/153.31.113.20|153.31.113.20]] 18:53, 31 July 2013 (UTC)
: I often say that the "five day forecast" is fiction after two days. --[[User:Mr. I|Mr. I]] ([[User talk:Mr. I|talk]]) 19:17, 31 July 2013 (UTC)

The forecast shows much more than expected from a normal "weather forecast". I like that. Sebastian --[[Special:Contributions/178.26.118.249|178.26.118.249]] 19:34, 31 July 2013 (UTC)

What happens to time, when the world ends? It is a 10-day-forecast. That coincides with 10 image frames. We have the days of the week at the bottom of the frames, which are an independent scale, because there is more than one frame for Tuesday. Interpretation/Assumption: 10 days (the forecast) is subjective for the people being in each location (here: ZIP code). Days of week and generally dates are a global reference time. So in these hells time locally stretches for eternity and this day will never end. But from an outside view time goes on normally.
Megan says they are all like that. That does not sound like it would be a special occasion to be there, when the world ends, or having found a ZIP number, where the world ends some days from now. Possible solution: Like a function with several poles the world could end at every location with negative ZIP about every week. Sebastian --[[Special:Contributions/178.26.118.249|178.26.118.249]] 19:49, 31 July 2013 (UTC)

:The fact that the "negative ZIP" universe ends while the normal one keeps going, points again to my theory (above) that this is a reference to Donnie Darko, Frank the rabbit (not the antichrist), and where negative ZIPs are for [http://www.donniedarko.org.uk/explanation/ Tangent Universes]. However I'm not a Donnie Darko expert (I think I started to understand it now reading that website, and the one time I watched it was in theaters...) and I'm not able to provide a theory for the bees/locusts... --[[User:Danroa|Danroa]] ([[User talk:Danroa|talk]]) 12:47, 1 August 2013 (UTC)

What about negative people, or negative areas where everyone is negative. Doom and Gloom, end of the world type of deal. Seems like a lot of negative people are always talking about the end of the world, and that negative zip code and what's occurring sounds exactly like how the end of the world is pictured. She says all negative zip codes are like that.{{unsigned|Glitch}}

Do certain zip codes not have Amazon Prime? [[User:Bugefun|Bugefun]] ([[User talk:Bugefun|talk]]) 01:45, 1 August 2013 (UTC)
: From the [http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/?nodeId=201118050 website]: Nearly all addresses in the continental U.S. are eligible. Explicitly excluded are Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, P.O. Boxes, APO/FPO addresses. [[User:Odysseus654|Odysseus654]] ([[User talk:Odysseus654|talk]]) 03:19, 1 August 2013 (UTC)
:Amazon needs to add "Negative ZIP codes excluded" on that page. --13:59, 1 August 2013 (UTC)

"Megan, however, assumes that the negative zip code represents an actual geographical location, and that the weather forecaster is showing an accurate forecast for the area. She further states that, since all negative zip codes produce similar forecasts, that all negative zip codes represent actual geographical locations for which the weather is like that."
: I think that's reading too much in the comic; I wouldn't say she's making such an assumption. [[Special:Contributions/84.197.94.196|84.197.94.196]] 21:11, 1 August 2013 (UTC)

Is it necessarily a reference to the rapture? I mean, it seems to me that it could be poking fun at the twilight zone, or maybe parodying horror in general. --[[User:AlixeTiir|the amazing alixetiir]] ([[User talk:AlixeTiir|talk]]) 03:18, 2 August 2013 (UTC)

Is it just me or can you kinda see a demonic face with horns in the static for the second "Tuesday"? --[[Special:Contributions/208.84.194.188|208.84.194.188]] 03:24, 2 August 2013 (UTC)

:That's probably just {{w|Pareidolia|Pareidolia}}. --[[User:AlixeTiir|the amazing alixetiir]] ([[User talk:AlixeTiir|talk]]) 03:59, 2 August 2013 (UTC)

It might be related to something someone said above, about long-term forecasts being inaccurate, the impossible nature of the integer (entered in the zip code) might cause the prediction function to go wild. This inaccurate forecast theory would be supported by how the first few days appear normal, where as the further it goes, the crazier it gets. My rendition of the comic would be that when entering a negative zip code, being an impossible value, it would render a prediction for a chaos-filled world. No end-of-the-world, no Antichrist, just pure chaos. Think of being present in a day where such a massive lightning-filled lightning storm goes on (zapping the ground every few moments), followed by a day where hoards of bees come by in masses, followed by some impossible to imagine occurrence that causes people to be so deformed (as far as you can tell, the could be deformed like that all the time in the chaotic universe). Then the day after some mysterious creature shows on the horizon, like in a horror film... I think this is supported by the Monday and (fire) Tuesday panels showing a bit too specific scenarios, as if someone took pictures of the occurrences.
But I do come to think it's either the prediction function going haywire the further it gets, or that Minus World thing [[Special:Contributions/38.108.195.69|38.108.195.69]] mentioned (which isn't very far-fetched). After all, Randall knows his computing and maths and it would be assumed he simply made references to such instances of giving a function wrong input and receiving a crazily unpredictable output. [[Special:Contributions/79.179.106.35|79.179.106.35]] 08:34, 2 August 2013 (UTC)

The person on the second Tuesday is supposed to be the Antichrist? I thought it was just a girl with really long pigtails like some kind of Pipi Long-stocking sort of thing where they have a mind of their own or something. I also thought the gravity was just turned off on Monday. I had the feeling There was some kind of apocalypse thing going on though.[[Special:Contributions/72.193.171.120|72.193.171.120]] 08:05, 4 August 2013 (UTC)

The hover text mentioning "...they don't have Amazon Prime" is probably a comedic extrapolation that, since there are no negative prime numbers, there couldn't be an Amazon Prime in a negative zip code. [[Special:Contributions/24.217.105.50|24.217.105.50]] 05:49, 5 August 2013 (UTC)
: A negative prime number is just ðe oppoſite of a prime hth. Oðerwise, ðe fact ðat -2*-1 = 2 becomes a problem. Unleſs you just ignore negatives entirely, whiĉ is ðe reaſonable approaĉ. [[User:Hppavilion1|Hppavilion1]] ([[User talk:Hppavilion1|talk]]) 01:59, 14 September 2016 (UTC)

Personaly i see one of the angels from evangelion on earth surface into the Tuesday box. Not seeing this obvious référence in this thread make me write amoung far more clever comentaries...{{unsigned|82.245.232.105}}

At least in part, this is a Jurassic Park reference. In the book, they discuss how the origin of chaos theory began with the inability to predict weather beyond three days. Given that the weather gets crazy after three days, this just makes sense!{{unsigned ip|75.75.1.95}}

IMO the Tuesday guy is obviously HellBoy in his stick-man form as the world is destroyed. I do not see his crown however.--[[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.18|108.162.219.18]] 20:45, 21 May 2014 (UTC)

I þink it'd be beſt to rewrite ðis article wiþout ſtatiŋ ðat it's probably juſt a prank by ðe programmers- it defeats ðe humor too muĉ, and it'd be more entertainiŋ(/horrifyiŋ) if it is properly interpreted to be a correct forecaſt, just of ðe wrong place. Beſides, xkcd has ʃown us ðat its world is a bit more bizarre and ſupernatural ðan ours on /more/ ðan one occaʒon; haviŋ a world where weaðer is simple, predictable, ðere aren't ſwarms of fleʃ-mites, water (I aſſume ðat's just normal O^2H) falls from ðe sky, and days don't repeat after cataſtrofic occurrences like ðe recent Siksþ Return in Hexadectober 1443+194i [[User:Hppavilion1|Hppavilion1]] ([[User talk:Hppavilion1|talk]]) 01:59, 14 September 2016 (UTC)
:What??? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.214.58|162.158.214.58]] 17:51, 18 July 2017 (UTC)
:: Allow me to try a quick translation of whatever [[User:Hppavilion1|Hppavilion1]] is talking about: "I think it'd be best to rewrite this article without stating that it's just a prank by the programmers, it defeats the humor too much and it'd be more entertaining/horrifying if it is properly interpreted to be a correct forecast just of the wrong place. Besides, xkcd has shown us that its world is a bit more bizarre and supernatural than ours on more (emphasized) than one occasion; having a world where weather is simple, there aren't swarms of flesh-mites, water (I assume that's just normal H20) falls from the sky and days don't repeat after catastrophic occurences like the recent ???? Return in Hexadectober" no idea what a Siksb is nor why he believes there is a sixteenth month--[[User:Lackadaisical|Lackadaisical]] ([[User talk:Lackadaisical|talk]]) 18:38, 18 July 2017 (UTC)

== What is Monday ==

Monday doesn't seem like the rapture to me.[[Special:Contributions/172.68.189.139|172.68.189.139]] 18:32, 18 November 2019 (UTC)