explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:1488: Flowcharts

2015-02-18T14:55:47Z

Prometheusmmiv:

A little bit more of 730? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.80.108|141.101.80.108]] 06:53, 18 February 2015 (UTC)
:More along the lines of 94, 210, 518, 627, 844, 845, and 1195, though I see similarities with 730. [[User:Mikemk|Mikemk]] ([[User talk:Mikemk|talk]]) 07:09, 18 February 2015 (UTC)
How should we do the transcript? [[User:Mikemk|Mikemk]] ([[User talk:Mikemk|talk]]) 07:09, 18 February 2015 (UTC)

You could do the transcript as a number list formatted like: "[Title of item] IF YES(GOTO X), IF NO(GOTO Y)" (where "X" and "Y" are the numbers on the list for the corresponding next option). Derek [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.107|108.162.216.107]] 13:25, 18 February 2015 (UTC)

I would just like to say that I find some of the linked spiral-images ''very'' disturbing. Although for some they'd be the same even ''without'' the spirals, admitedly. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.188|141.101.98.188]] 09:47, 18 February 2015 (UTC)

I believe this will end up being one of the most challenging explanations yet (of those that are completely explicable) - got quite a task up ahead... -- [[User:Brettpeirce|Brettpeirce]] ([[User talk:Brettpeirce|talk]]) 10:35, 18 February 2015 (UTC)

Normally (for a flowchart) the Start symbol should not have an input. The electrical circuit is not a rectifier! Sebastian --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.254.103|108.162.254.103]] 10:59, 18 February 2015 (UTC)

OCD comment: There appear to be two lines missing, 1) from scatter plots to data or axis, 2) from the bottom of positive or negative DC terminal to the negative terminal of the battery. Also, I would be happier if the two left hand diodes of the full wave rectifier were reversed.

Either I was really tired this morning, or the spiral was not actually present in the first version of this comic.[[Special:Contributions/108.162.254.98|108.162.254.98]] 13:00, 18 February 2015 (UTC)

It seems like the options for the "Do you like flowcharts?" box should be reversed (only putting someone through the flowchart if they say they like flowcharts). I think it makes less sense to have the first option "annoy" someone with a flowchart option until they say they don't like flowcharts, then put them through a flowchart. Derek [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.107|108.162.216.107]] 13:31, 18 February 2015 (UTC)

I see no evidence that the "time or your happiness" box is asking you to "choose whichever you value more". The graph shows your happiness as a function of time, not "your time" (it's not as if you were asked to choose between, say, more happiness or more spare time for yourself). I think it is just asking you to choose which axis of the graph you want to follow. The flowchart for the line graph and the scatter plot are similar; since "X or Y" is not interpreted as a question about value, why should "time or your happiness" be?
Zetfr 14:00, 18 February 2015 (UTC)

The comment on the Fibonacci and Golden Spirals being the same is not correct. According to Wikipedia{{w|Golden_Spiral|[1]}}{{w|Fibonacci_number|[2]}}: "A Fibonacci spiral '''approximates''' the golden spiral using quarter-circle arcs inscribed in squares of integer Fibonacci-number side." - [[User:Prometheusmmiv|Prometheusmmiv]] ([[User talk:Prometheusmmiv|talk]]) 14:55, 18 February 2015 (UTC)

Talk:1389: Surface Area

2014-07-02T11:41:37Z

Prometheusmmiv:

FYI to whoever writes this: the Seattle reference is the Space Needle. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.65|108.162.221.65]] 05:03, 2 July 2014 (UTC)

Uranus is larger than all of these combined. Of course, it isn't on this map because it is full of gas. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.62.62|173.245.62.62]] 05:50, 2 July 2014 (UTC)
: Just wondering... Does that mean, a spaceship could just fly trough Uranus? (No pun intended.) --[[Special:Contributions/141.101.75.20|141.101.75.20]] 07:16, 2 July 2014 (UTC)
::It'd probably hurt. As an ice-giant, the interior of Uranus is mainly composed of ices and rock. Jupiter and Saturn have cores of liquid metallic hydrogen. Also, the rock/ice isn't considered the surface of Uranus, because most of the planet's mass lies outside the solid inner layers.) [[Special:Contributions/103.22.201.239|103.22.201.239]] 09:28, 2 July 2014 (UTC) P.S. Even if it was only gas, a spaceship would probably find it hard to handle the temperature and pressure at the center of Uranus.

And of course the earth is not correctly displayed: we have water which - in most cases - is not solid. -- jesterchen [[Special:Contributions/141.101.75.19|141.101.75.19]] 07:23, 2 July 2014 (UTC)
: Water still has surface area. Edit: oh, I see what you mean now, from the title in the comic. I guess you have a point, but it's mainly there for comparison so it's not necessarily a mistake. --[[User:NeatNit|NeatNit]] ([[User talk:NeatNit|talk]]) 06:14, 2 July 2014 (UTC)
:: Under the water there is solid bottom --[[User:JakubNarebski|JakubNarebski]] ([[User talk:JakubNarebski|talk]]) 07:01, 2 July 2014 (UTC)
::: But then it is not "surface" anymore... but you two have a point. I focused mainly on the title, not the image text... So forget my comment :) -- jesterchen [[Special:Contributions/141.101.75.19|141.101.75.19]] 09:12, 2 July 2014 (UTC)
:::: Water indeed has a surface, while gas doesn't. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.47|141.101.104.47]] 11:13, 2 July 2014 (UTC)Martin

There is also small section named "''All human skin''" (between Earth and Titan)... if you think about thread and needle... ugh... --[[User:JakubNarebski|JakubNarebski]] ([[User talk:JakubNarebski|talk]]) 07:01, 2 July 2014 (UTC)

This seems to be an island floating on something, maybe it's floating on the sun's plasma? --[[User:BelgianAtheist|BelgianAtheist]] ([[User talk:BelgianAtheist|talk]]) 08:24, 2 July 2014 (UTC)

So, what's the area surrounding Earth's landmass? It's not named, or am I blind? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.218|141.101.99.218]] 09:46, 2 July 2014 (UTC)

Don't think it is strictly accurate to say that earth is included 'for scale' -- surely it is included because it qualifies to be on the map. Otherwise it's a bit like saying that Belgium is included in maps of Europe 'for scale' (as 'the size of Belgium' is a well-known unit of land area as in 'Amazonian rainforest the size of Belgium is cut down every week') -- Devonian Earache

The map of Earth doesn't look like the Waterman Butterfly projection. If it did, the continents would be angled in toward each other, and Australia would be up in the corner. The only thing that is even similar is that Antarctica is shown in "normal" proportions rather than stretched across the bottom. [[User:Prometheusmmiv|Prometheusmmiv]] ([[User talk:Prometheusmmiv|talk]]) 11:41, 2 July 2014 (UTC)

1383: Magic Words

2014-06-20T00:39:13Z

Prometheusmmiv: According to several dictionaries (see my comment), the stress is on the first syllable of anapest, thus making it a dactyl.

{{comic
| number = 1383
| date = June 18, 2014
| title = Magic Words
| image = magic_words.png
| titletext = 'And then whisper 'anapest' in my ear as you hold me?'
}}

==Explanation==
Typically the term "{{w|Foot fetishism|foot fetish}}" refers to a sexual attraction to people's feet. Here, though, [[Megan]] is a linguist, so for her the term "foot" refers not to the body part but to the term's meaning in {{w|Prosody (linguistics)|prosody}}. In this context, {{w|Foot (prosody)|"foot"}} means, per Wikipedia, "the basic metrical unit that generates a line of verse in most Western traditions of poetry," and thus "foot fetish" means an attraction to words that follow such a format.

Common types of feet (which are all referenced in this comic) include:
*"{{w|trochee}}" – is a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable (demonstrated in the first set of words: "'''sto'''-ry", "'''wa'''-ter", "'''pa'''-per", "'''door'''-way") (see also [[856: Trochee Fixation]]).
*"{{w|iamb (poetry)|iamb}}" – is a short syllable followed by a long syllable '''or''' it is an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (as seen in the second set: "dis-'''arm'''", "A-'''dele's'''", "gi-'''raffe'''", "gre-'''nade'''") (perhaps the best-known foot, due to {{w|iambic pentameter|its use}} by {{w|William Shakespeare}}) (see also [[79: Iambic Pentameter]]).
*"{{w|dactyl (poetry)|dactyl}}" – is a long syllable followed by two short syllables '''or''' it is a stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables (used in the third set: "'''straw'''-ber-ry", "'''scor'''-pi-on", "'''po'''-et-ry").
*"{{w|anapest}}" – (referenced in the title text) consist of two short syllables followed by a long syllable '''or''' it consists of two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable - it is thus the reverse of a dactyl (see the [[#Trivia|trivia section]]). Note that the word "anapest" - according to the [http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/anapaest pronunciation] from [http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/ Oxford Dictionaries]: "'''a'''-na-pest" - is itself a dactyl, not an anapest, because the stress is on the first syllable. So it is an instance of a {{w|heterological word}}.

Megan thus wished that [[Cueball]] first uses a "trochee" during foreplay, then switch to an "iamb" during her main stimulation phase (intercourse or some other type that still enables Cueball to speak freely), and finally switching to a "dactyl" as she orgasms. According to the title text, after sex she wishes for him to hold her while he whispers the word "anapest" in her ear. But for a linguist like Megan, this is just four different types of foot "stimulation" - thus she can be called a woman with a foot fetish.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball and Megan are in a bed.]
:Megan: Can you repeat "Story Water Paper Doorway" at the start, then switch to "Disarm Adele's Giraffe Grenade" as we get going, and finally "Strawberry Scorpion Poetry" as I finish?
:[Below the frame]
:Linguist with a foot fetish

==Trivia==
*There is (at the moment) some controversy as to which syllable should be stressed when pronouncing anapest. Should it be "a-na-'''pest'''" or "'''a'''-na-pest"? According to the second definition, anapest would only be an anapest with the stress on the last syllable. In the second case (with the stress on the first syllable) it would actually be a dactyl. In that case, anapest would be an instance of a {{w|heterological word}}. It could be that UK and US English disagrees on the pronunciation - first of all there is an extra "a" in the UK version of "anap'''a'''est". See this and listen to the UK [http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/anapaest pronunciation] from the [http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/ Oxford Dictionaries]. It is likely that [[Randall]], being an American, has used anapest because he interprets it as being an anapest - so he intentionally uses four different types of poetry foot in his comic - and leaves the best for last. [[356|Or else he is aware that this kind of debate could arise from such a small word...]]

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

Talk:1383: Magic Words

2014-06-20T00:39:02Z

Prometheusmmiv:

In this comic, Mr. Munroe makes a joke. As of yet, it is unclear what this joke IS, specifically, but it can be assumed that it's a funny one. {{unsigned ip|‎108.162.215.120}}

the clue was in "anapest"... for those more ambitious to explain and understand [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_%28prosody%29] [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.83|108.162.221.83]] 04:13, 18 June 2014 (UTC)

Each sequence has four words with the same stress pattern, which makes them the same type of poetic foot (the first group is all iambs, the second is all trochees, the third is bacchius). Basically it's a pun. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.185|173.245.54.185]] 04:25, 18 June 2014 (UTC)

Is Cueball really as much of a ''cunning linguist'' as Megan makes him out to be? If not, she is going to be extremely unsatisfied in bed. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.208.25|108.162.208.25]] 08:36, 18 June 2014 (UTC)

Ha! Cunning linguist! *snicker* [[Special:Contributions/108.162.254.157|108.162.254.157]] 08:42, 18 June 2014 (UTC)

Before the explanation, I was wondering where "correct horse battery staple" was... {{unsigned ip|141.101.98.219}}

Hmmm - surely there is some role the choice of words plays in this, beyond having a particular meter. Any ideas? [[User:Nealmcb|Nealmcb]] ([[User talk:Nealmcb|talk]]) 12:19, 18 June 2014 (UTC)

What about Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious? =8o) [[User:Jarod997|Jarod997]] ([[User talk:Jarod997|talk]]) 12:44, 18 June 2014 (UTC)

I did not initially state that "a-na-'''pest''' is an anapest. But now I have tripple checked amongst other with a school teacher and the dictionary that I link to in the link. I have thus correct this back again. Please do not change it back! [[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 15:01, 18 June 2014 (UTC)
:There seem to be some '''disagreement''' about the '''pronunciation''' of the word '''anapest''' - or at least what it means to stress a syllable. I'm no expert, but had two other hear the word from the link to the pronunciation given in the explain. There is now two different people who have written that anapest is an anapest (I'm one of them) and two others who have changed it back to being a dactyl, without commenting down here... The last who did it wrote that I had misread how the stress was in the dictionary. But I cannot see where this is defined? I just listened to the word. If someone can post a link to how the word is pronounced, and can explain to me how to read it, (so it can be made clear what is correct instead of starting an editing war...) that would be great. In case it is the first syllable that is stressed then the two definitions on Wikipedia for what an anapest is will give two different conclusions for the word. This I have now included in the anapest explanation. [[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 09:18, 19 June 2014 (UTC)
::'Anapest' is definitely an anapest, by BOTH definitions, when I pronounce it. What's more, when I intentionally try to pronounce it as a dactyl, it is very difficult for me to do so--it feels unnatural. California-raised with a Master's in English from an Ivy League school, if anyone cares. Anyway, my experience in both the world and the classroom lead me to believe that 'anapest' is an anapest for American English. If it can also be a dactyl, I'd say that's a British pronunciation. I'm pretty sure whatever any of us think, Randall thinks 'anapest' is an anapest... [[Special:Contributions/173.245.48.196|173.245.48.196]] 14:34, 19 June 2014 (UTC)
:::Thanks for the input. From this I have rephrased the anapest discussion an moved it into a trivia section. [[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 20:14, 19 June 2014 (UTC)
::'Anapest' is a dactyl because the stress is on the first syllable, according to [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/anapest Dictionary.com] (in bold), [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anapest Merriam-Webster], and [http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/anapaest?q=anapest Oxford Dictionaries] (notice the accent mark at the beginning of the word). The inflection of the pronunciation also indicates stress on the first syllable. For example, compare the way you say "'''an'''apest" to "an '''ap'''ple", and how your voice rises at the beginning of the former but the middle of the latter. I haven't seen any examples showing the stress on the last syllable, so unless someone has one, I'm going to revert back to the correct explanation. [[User:Prometheusmmiv|Prometheusmmiv]] ([[User talk:Prometheusmmiv|talk]]) 00:39, 20 June 2014 (UTC)

Also, note that all these phrases are grammatically correct, but semantically nonsensical, Chomsky-style: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorless_green_ideas_sleep_furiously {{unsigned ip|141.101.104.41}}

I don't think "story water paper doorway" is gramatically correct. Whether you take water or paper to be the verb, both the noun and the object would need to be plural and they're not.

Also, there's nothing nonsensical about "strawberry scorpion poetry"

The strawberry scorpion's sweet 
Though juicy you never should eat- 
In case you get stung 
Just call 911 
And try your best to stay upbeat {{unsigned ip}}

Does anyone else think these words were chosen because they have whispering qualities would produce an 'autonomous sensory meridian response'? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_sensory_meridian_response {{unsigned ip|199.27.128.207}}

This is certainly contro-verse-ial. {{unsigned ip|108.162.216.6}}

As a linguist who dreams word-play, this comic is fantastic on so many levels. Thanks, Randall! [[User:Clumsy|Clumsy]] ([[User talk:Clumsy|talk]]) 21:34, 18 June 2014 (UTC)

Holy crap, I had no freaking idea what was going on in this one. The cool thing is it's funny enough to still give me a chuckle after reading the explanation. Most jokes die a painful death if they have to be explained. Also, I have no idea how to properly sign my posts so I'm ignorantly copying others, likely incorrectly. [[User:jakeepooh|jakeepooh]]

I read the comic and the explanation, and I still have no clue. Guess no poetic foot fetish action for me. {{unsigned ip|108.162.216.34}}

I agree with the opinion that anapest is an anapest, and I've seen no comments to the contrary so unless there's other evidence to support it being a dactyl, it should remain anapest.
Also, apparently the last person to change it didn't even read the entire sentence, because they left it as an autological word and not a heterological word. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.60|108.162.216.60]] 19:46, 19 June 2014 (UTC)

1383: Magic Words

2014-06-18T11:49:33Z

Prometheusmmiv: Anapest is a dactyl, not actually an anapest itself.

1383: Magic Words

2014-06-18T04:46:03Z

Prometheusmmiv: Show syllables and accents

{{comic
| number = 1383
| date = June 18, 2014
| title = Magic Words
| image = magic_words.png
| titletext = 'And then whisper 'anapest' in my ear as you hold me?'
}}

==Explanation==
This comic is making a play on words with the word "foot", in this case referring to (according to Wikipedia) "the basic metrical unit that generates a line of verse in most Western traditions of poetry."

Common types of feet include:
*"trochee" - stressed syllable followed by an unstressed one (demonstrated in the first set of words: "'''sto'''-ry", "'''wa'''-ter", "'''pa'''-per", "'''door'''-way") (see also [[856|comic 856]])
*"iamb" - a short syllable followed by a long (as seen in the second set: "dis-'''arm'''", "A-'''dele's'''", "gi-'''raffe'''", "gre-'''nade'''")
*"dactyl" - long syllable followed by two short syllables (used in the third set: "'''straw'''-ber-ry", "'''scor'''-pi-on", "'''po'''-et-ry")
*"anapest" - two short syllables followed by a long one (referenced in the title text)

==Transcript==

Women in bed: Can you repeat "Story Water Paper Doorway" at the start,

then switch to "Disarm Adele's Giraffe Grenade" as we get going,

and finally "Strawberry Scorpion Poetry" as I finish?

[Text below the frame]

Linguist with a foot fetish

{{comic discussion}}

1383: Magic Words

2014-06-18T04:35:38Z

Prometheusmmiv: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1383
| date = June 18, 2014
| title = Magic Words
| image = magic_words.png
| titletext = 'And then whisper 'anapest' in my ear as you hold me?'
}}

==Explanation==
This comic is making a play on words with the word "foot", in this case referring to (according to Wikipedia) "the basic metrical unit that generates a line of verse in most Western traditions of poetry."

Common types of feet include:
*"trochee" - stressed syllable followed by an unstressed one (demonstrated in the first set of words: "story", "water", "paper", "doorway") (see also [[856|comic 856]])
*"iamb" - a short syllable followed by a long (as seen in the second set: "disarm", "Adele's", "giraffe", "grenade")
*"dactyl" - long syllable followed by two short syllables (used in the third set: "strawberry", "scorpion", "poetry")
*"anapest" - two short syllables followed by a long one (referenced in the title text)

==Transcript==

Women in bed: Can you repeat "Story Water Paper Doorway" at the start,

then switch to "Disarm Adele's Giraffe Grenade" as we get going,

and finally "Strawberry Scorpion Poetry" as I finish?

[Text below the frame]

Linguist with a foot fetish

{{comic discussion}}

1210: I'm So Random

2013-05-10T11:25:09Z

Prometheusmmiv:

{{comic
| number = 1210
| date = May 10, 2013
| title = I'm So Random
| image = im so random.png
| titletext = In retrospect, it's weird that as a kid I thought completely random outbursts made me seem interesting, given that from an information theory point of view, lexical white noise is just about the opposite of interesting by definition.
}}

=Explanation=
[[Hairy]] walks up to [[Black Hat]] and proclaims that he is "so random". "Monkey tacos" is a trochee (two syllable word with an accent on the first), which is a reference to [[856: Trochee Fixation]]. Black Hat, being the mean and rather bullying person that he is, replies that he is also random, proving this by pouring forth a massive amount of numbers that knocks Hairy to the ground. Black Hat regains his posture at the computer, as if nothing has happened. The title elaborates on "random text", stating that he believes that it is what [[Black Hat]] does to the young character (that is, random outbursts) make him interesting while the definition of "interesting" means the opposite. {{w|White noise}} is essentially random sounds.

=Transcript=
:[Hairy approaches Black Hat, who is at a computer.]
:Hairy: Monkey Tacos! I'm so random.
:Black Hat: Yeah, me too.
:[A massive speech bubble comes out of Black Hat's mouth, filled with random numbers, knocking Hairy to the ground.]
:[Black Hat resumes work at his computer, as if nothing has happened.]

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

1198: Geologist

2013-04-12T11:25:22Z

Prometheusmmiv: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1198
| date = April 12, 2013
| title = Geologist
| image = geologist.png
| titletext = 'It seems like it's still alive, Professor.' 'Yeah, a big one like this can keep running around for a few billion years after you remove the head.'
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Geology}} is the study of the physical and chemical makeup of the Earth.

Hunters, after killing an especially difficult or rare beast, sometimes remove its head and hang it up on a wall as a prize. [[Cueball]], as a geologist, "kills the Earth" by shooting at it. He removes its "head" (actually just a chunk of rock) and hangs it up on his office wall.

The title text is probably a reference to a chicken running around with its head cut off.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is wearing earmuffs and goggles, armed with a gun and a pickaxe. There are rocks nearby. There is a van in the background labeled "Dept. of Geology".]

:[Cueball shoots three holes in the ground.]
:BLAM BLAM BLAM

:[Cueball hacks away at the top of a nearby rock.]
:Clink Clink

:[Cueball in his office. Behind him on a wall is a rock, labeled "Earth" and "4,500,000,000 BCE - April 12, 2013".]

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

Talk:1188: Bonding

2013-03-20T22:06:40Z

Prometheusmmiv:

The aim method results in an infinite loop/stack overflow, note that ball is an exception of type Ball. This results in a logical flow of aim, "throw," "catch," repeat, though this is only logical by word choice, and is nonsensical from a programming perspective.

Pretty sure the code is also intentionally hard to follow. {{unsigned|‎108.48.215.61}}

The try/catch parts are just for show, they cancel each other out.
The structure is that you have a parent and a child instance (of class P), each has a 'target' pointed to the other.
Then calling aim with a ball will call the others aim with the ball, which will call the firsts aim with the ball. Etc etc.

I guess after about a 1000 aims the jvm will throw you out, stating stack overflow, and the bonding game is over. {{unsigned|212.214.117.162}}

Nice catch game :)
I had to test it:
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.StackOverflowError
in my setup with default VM settings after 6612 iterations (I added a static counter variable).
The game could get even more "exciting" by using more than two Ps and adding randomization in who is aimed at. And maybe a miss block ;) (need to hack the compiler and VM for that though...)
[[Special:Contributions/134.106.146.36|134.106.146.36]] 09:31, 20 March 2013 (UTC)

:I don't think any parent will last so long. On the other hand, if you always catch the ball, one iteration doesn't take so long, it's the missing which makes the game long ... -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 09:56, 20 March 2013 (UTC)

Hmmm "Eclipse: The Codex Persona" is also a d20 gaming system which offers enormous customization of characters. The mention of building character and Eclipse in the same sentence just brought that to the front of my mind. No idea if that has relation to the comic. --[[Special:Contributions/50.0.36.182|50.0.36.182]] 07:38, 20 March 2013 (UTC)

Did anyone else have a D'AWWWWWW moment when you realized what was happening? I knew it was a pun on throw and catch, but it took till the end for me to realize it was a parent and a child playing catch.[[Special:Contributions/74.14.31.164|74.14.31.164]] 12:53, 20 March 2013 (UTC)

The one problem with this is that the way the try/catch is set up, they aren't actually throwing to each other. Parent throws the ball, then catches it themselves, then child does the same thing. It's still clever though. [[User:Prometheusmmiv|Prometheusmmiv]] ([[User talk:Prometheusmmiv|talk]]) 11:38, 20 March 2013 (UTC)

:I thought exactly the same. Here's a modified version where they actually throw to each other:
class Ball extends Throwable{}

class P{
P target;
Ball ballInTow;

P(P target, Ball ball) {
this.target = target;
this.ballInTow = ball;
}
void tease() {
try {
target.youDontDare();
}
catch(Ball b){
ballInTow = b;
target.tease();
}
}
void youDontDare() throws Ball {
throw ballInTow;
}
public static void main(String [] args) {
P parent = new P(null, new Ball());
P child = new P(parent, null);
parent.target = child;
child.tease();
}
}

[[Special:Contributions/88.9.44.85|88.9.44.85]] 15:41, 20 March 2013 (UTC)
:: I was thinking about how do this correctly, with the throw bubbling up to the other person. And I realized that in order for the recursion to work, there would have to be a double method where the catcher asks (or "teases") the thrower to throw, then catches it in that method. I was going to write up a version like this, but I had to leave for work. But I'm glad that somebody else was thinking like me and was able to write up a correct version :) [[User:Prometheusmmiv|Prometheusmmiv]] ([[User talk:Prometheusmmiv|talk]]) 22:06, 20 March 2013 (UTC)

The code is an odd way of making a loop in Java -- creating two objects (of class P, called "parent" and "child") which repeatedly throw and catch another object (of class Ball) between one another. The sole purpose of this is to create the pun referred to in the title: it's a real-life cliché that a parent and child may "bond" by playing catch. [[Special:Contributions/81.31.112.212|81.31.112.212]] 07:14, 20 March 2013 (UTC)

Title text talks about "to build character" in the way usually a father tries to help a child to define "attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual"[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/character], so I suppose that the "confusing Eclipse" is a pun itself. Perhaps it is a reference to Eclipse novel by Stephenie Meyer (the kind of book that raises a lot of moral dilemma in a young adult).
--[[User:Andcoz|Andcoz]] ([[User talk:Andcoz|talk]]) 12:49, 20 March 2013 (UTC)

I think there is another pun in it: The class "Ball" is a child-class of "Throwable" which makes sense because you can throw a ball. But "Throwable" is also the main exception-class from which the real exception classes like "Exception" or "Error" inherit. --[[User:DaB.|DaB.]] ([[User talk:DaB.|talk]]) 12:50, 20 March 2013 (UTC)

I think it's sad that this family always dies in a most unfortunate crash. Here's an alternate ending in which they try just a little bit harder, so they return home for dinner when they're out because they didn't catch the ball:
class Ball extends Throwable {}
class P{
P target;
P(P target) {
this.target = target;
}
void aim (Ball ball) {
try {
throw ball;
}
catch (Ball B) {
try {
target.aim(B);
}
catch(Error made) {
return;
}
}
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
P parent = new P(null);
P child = new P(parent);
parent.target = child;
parent.aim(new Ball());
System.out.println("Dinner's ready!");
}
}
[[User:Jfresen|Jfresen]] ([[User talk:Jfresen|talk]]) 14:10, 20 March 2013 (UTC)

Talk:1188: Bonding

2013-03-20T11:38:15Z

Prometheusmmiv:

1171: Perl Problems

2013-02-08T12:19:07Z

Prometheusmmiv: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1171
| date = February 8, 2013
| title = Perl Problems
| image = perl problems.png
| titletext = To generate #1 albums, 'jay --help' recommends the -z flag.
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Perl}} is a scripting language that makes heavy use of {{w|Regular expression|regular expressions}}, which are good for dealing with large amounts of text quickly. In the comic, the man wearing sunglasses parodies the song "{{w|99 Problems}}" in which the rapper {{w|Jay-Z}} says:

:If you're havin' girl problems
:I feel bad for you, son-
:I got 99 problems,
:But a bitch ain't one.

In the comic however, the rapper tries to solve his problems with Perl’s regular expressions, and ends up only creating another problem for himself, which is a reference to a [http://regex.info/blog/2006-09-15/247 famous quote by Jamie Zawinski]: “Some people, when confronted with a problem, think ‘I know, I'll use regular expressions.’ Now they have two problems.”

“program --help” is a common way to ask a program to show documentation on its usage and supported parameters; which, for some program, could include a “-z” command-line argument (“flag”). In this case, it is just an obvious play on the rapper’s name.

==Transcript==
:[Man with sunglasses and Cueball talking.]
:Sunglasses: If you're havin' perl problems I feel bad for you, son-

:Sunglasses: I got 99 problems,

:Sunglasses: So I used regular expressions.

:Sunglasses: Now I have 100 problems.

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

1125: Objects In Mirror

2012-10-24T14:49:46Z

Prometheusmmiv: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1125
| date = October 24, 2012
| title = Objects In Mirror
| image = objects in mirror.png
| imagesize =
| titletext = Universes in mirror, like those in windshield, are larger than they appear.
}}

==Explanation==
This is a reference to the phenomena known as redshift/blueshift. Due to the Doppler effect, objects that are moving toward an observer appear bluer than they actually are (known as blueshift). Objects moving away from the observer (e.g. objects viewed in the rear-view mirror of a moving vehicle) appear redder than they actually are (known as redshift), and thus the objects are in reality bluer than they appear. This is generally relevant only in terms of high speed motion such as observation of the expansion of the universe in astrophysics. The joke is that the relative speed of any object visible in a rear-view mirror would create an insignificant and unobservable blueshift.

Edwin Hubble was an astronomer credited with "Hubble's Law," which states that a Doppler shift can be observed for objects in space moving with relative velocity to Earth.

The title text may be a reference to comic [[1110: Click and Drag]].

==Transcript==
:View of a car mirror that reads "Objects in mirror are bluer than they appear," with caption "Edwin Hubble's car"

{{comic discussion}}

1125: Objects In Mirror

2012-10-24T14:41:16Z

Prometheusmmiv: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1125
| date = October 24, 2012
| title = Objects In Mirror
| image = objects in mirror.png
| imagesize =
| titletext = Universes in mirror, like those in windshield, are larger than they appear.
}}

==Explanation==
This is a reference to the phenomena known as redshift/blueshift. Due to the Doppler effect, objects that are moving toward an observer appear bluer than they actually are (known as blueshift). Objects moving away from the observer (e.g. objects viewed in the rear-view mirror of a moving vehicle) appear redder than they actually are (known as redshift), and thus the objects are in reality bluer than they appear. This is generally relevant only in terms of high speed motion such as observation of the expansion of the universe in astrophysics. The joke is that the relative speed of any object visible in a rear-view mirror would create an insignificant and unobservable blueshift.

Edwin Hubble was an astronomer credited with "Hubble's Law," which states that a Doppler shift can be observed for objects in space moving with relative velocity to Earth.

The title text may be a reference to comic 1110: Click and Drag.

==Transcript==
:View of a car mirror that reads "Objects in mirror are bluer than they appear," with caption "Edwin Hubble's car"

{{comic discussion}}

1125: Objects In Mirror

2012-10-24T14:37:34Z

Prometheusmmiv: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1125
| date = October 24, 2012
| title = Objects In Mirror
| image = objects in mirror.png
| imagesize =
| titletext = Universes in mirror, like those in windshield, are larger than they appear.
}}

==Explanation==
This is a reference to the phenomena known as redshift/blueshift. Due to the Doppler effect, objects that are moving toward an observer appear bluer than they actually are (known as blueshift).
Objects moving away from the observer (e.g. objects viewed in the rear-view mirror of a moving vehicle) appear redder than they actually are (known as redshift), and thus the objects are in reality bluer than they appear.

Edwin Hubble was an astronomer credited with "Hubble's Law," which states that a Doppler shift can be observed for objects in space moving with relative velocity to Earth.

==Transcript==
:View of a car mirror that reads "Objects in mirror are bluer than they appear," with caption "Edwin Hubble's car"

{{comic discussion}}

1125: Objects In Mirror

2012-10-24T14:29:55Z

Prometheusmmiv: Created page with "{{comic | number = 1125 | date = October 24, 2012 | title = Objects In Mirror | image = objects in mirror.png | imagesize = | titletext = Universes in mirror,..."