explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:3221: Landscape Features

2026-03-19T13:11:18Z

R128:

F1rst P0st!!! [[User:R128|R128]] ([[User talk:R128|talk]]) 17:27, 18 March 2026 (UTC)
:First Times [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 09:14, 19 March 2026 (UTC)

The ???? in New York is probably the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adirondack_Mountains Adirondack Mountains]:

<blockquote>About 10 million years ago, the region began to be uplifted. It has been lifted about 7,000 feet (2,000 m) and is continuing at about 0.08 inches (2 mm) per year, which is greater than the rate of denudation. The cause of the uplift is unknown, but geologists theorize that it is caused by a hot spot in the Earth's crust.[18] A recent study has revealed a column of seismically slow materials about 30 to 50 miles (50 to 80 km) deep beneath the Adirondack Mountains,[20] which was interpreted to be the upwelling asthenosphere contributing to the uplift of the mountains.</blockquote>

[[User:Zzzt|Zzzt]] ([[User talk:Zzzt|talk]]) 17:58, 18 March 2026 (UTC)

Geology being the cause of geological events is a tautology.--[[User:Henke37|Henke37]] ([[User talk:Henke37|talk]]) 18:26, 18 March 2026 (UTC)
:It's only a tautology where the plates are separating. It's a "compressology" where they're colliding, etc. ;) [[Special:Contributions/81.179.199.253|81.179.199.253]] 21:36, 18 March 2026 (UTC)

conterguous* [[Special:Contributions/137.25.230.78|137.25.230.78]] 20:34, 18 March 2026 (UTC)

I wonder if we should have a category for {{w|Isogloss}}. (Whether isoseme or some other variation.) I added in the two others 'of this basic illustrative nature' that I remembered off the top of my head, but I think there might be more. [[Special:Contributions/81.179.199.253|81.179.199.253]] 21:33, 18 March 2026 (UTC)

This page should be in Category: Comics with color [[Special:Contributions/50.47.110.240|50.47.110.240]] 21:05, 18 March 2026 (UTC)

I feel like comic [[3141]] is worth a mention here, but I'm not sure where to put it. [[User:MrCandela|MrCandela]] ([[User talk:MrCandela|talk]]) 22:49, 18 March 2026 (UTC)
:Added to the Adirondock row. [[User:Fephisto|Fephisto]] ([[User talk:Fephisto|talk]]) 00:12, 19 March 2026 (UTC)

This explanation, and working on it, absolutely taught me more about US geology than I learned in school. [[Special:Contributions/2603:800C:1200:596A:7154:D390:7A60:3197|2603:800C:1200:596A:7154:D390:7A60:3197]] 08:29, 19 March 2026 (UTC)

I headered-up the table, to be consistent with the list-subheader. Also rearranged (and bulleted) the list of states (and district, but there are less than 51 lines, so obviously still some 'unstated' (NPI!) ones, not yet sure which) alphabetically, as that's going to be the main referencing reason here (aded "sortable" to the table - mostly for on-demand label-sorting, not so useful in the other columns, but not bothered making them unsortable again). Moved the reference to the other similar comics to the end of the unsubheadered Explanation section (post title-text blurb), as with usual narrative order in such cases.
 You are welcome to (re-)redo, naturally. The by-state list ''could'' easily be a table, too, for resorting purposes (though not much benefit if it's already sorted by its one and only useful 'key' value), or it could be remade as a 'tick grid'/confusion-matrix of 51 'states' against <however many> labels (if you think something like that that helps). ...but probably too much work for too little gain, I think, having already gone through some of these ideas myself, but YMMV. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.237.49|82.132.237.49]] 12:45, 19 March 2026 (UTC)

;Sections to explain

I'm not a geologist, so I don't know how to answer these questions, but I will leave this template here to eventually be copied into the article:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Location
! Description
! Explanation
|-
| Adirondack Mountains
| ???
|
|-
| Most of northern U.S. border
| Glaciers
|
|-
| Appalachian Mountains
| Continents colliding
|
|-
| Mississippi river basin
| Rivers
|
|-
| SE U.S.
| Farming
|
|-
| Southern Florida
| Ongoing disputes between limestone and water
|
|-
| Southern Missouri/Northern Arkansas
| ...geology
|
|-
| Central column of U.S.
| Farming
|
|-
| Central Idaho/Yellowstone
| A supervolcano
|
|-
| Eastern Washington
| A megaflood
|
|-
| West Coast
| ...a plate tectonic speedrun.
|
|-
| SW
| Water and time
|
|-
| Northern Alaska
| ...geology
|
|-
| Aleutians
| Volcanoes
|
|-
| Hawaiian island chain
| Volcanoes
|
|}
[[User:Fephisto|Fephisto]] ([[User talk:Fephisto|talk]]) 18:59, 18 March 2026 (UTC)
:...uh, why don't I just copy it into the article blank for now, actually?[[User:Fephisto|Fephisto]] ([[User talk:Fephisto|talk]]) 19:00, 18 March 2026 (UTC)

New here, and don't know the formatting, but the table is currently missing the Cascade and Sierra Nevada "Vocanoes" region, though it's pretty self-explanatory. {{unsigned ip|136.56.99.85|21:29, 18 March 2026 (UTC)}}
:Got it. [[User:Fephisto|Fephisto]] ([[User talk:Fephisto|talk]]) 00:12, 19 March 2026 (UTC)
:Also missing the “…geology” section surrounding the supervolcano. {{unsigned ip|146.115.160.214|21:58, 18 March 2026}}
::Got it.[[User:Fephisto|Fephisto]] ([[User talk:Fephisto|talk]]) 00:11, 19 March 2026 (UTC)

wow, there are [https://www.desmos.com/calculator/0vijdgrmhz a lot] of geology comics in the past year or so. I think Randall has a new interest [[User:R128|R128]] ([[User talk:R128|talk]]) 13:11, 19 March 2026 (UTC)

3221: Landscape Features

2026-03-18T17:31:28Z

R128: /* Explanation */ early

{{comic
| number = 3221
| date = March 18, 2026
| title = Landscape Features
| image = landscape_features_2x.png
| imagesize = 537x454px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = 'Well, there's speculation that it's due to a mantle hotspot.' --a geologist who's trying to cover up the fact that they didn't hear your question
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created recently. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

This comic is a map of the United States, explaining some of the most significant geologic/human activity in each region. It claims that, in each area, there is one major mechanism (plate tectonics, erosion, vulcanism) which is responsible for the majority of interesting formations and features.

The title text plays off the fact that a large part of geology concerned with activity in the mantle, so explaining that there is speculation something is "due to a mantle hotspot" is not giving much information. Saying this would let a distracted geologist hedge their bets while responding to a missed question.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

Talk:3221: Landscape Features

2026-03-18T17:27:22Z

R128:

Talk:3220: Rotational Gravity

2026-03-18T17:17:59Z

R128:

Beep, Boop! nothing else here yet ;) [[Special:Contributions/216.25.182.141|216.25.182.141]] 03:06, 17 March 2026 (UTC)

Counterpoint the the action park thing; i think its referencing [[2935]] [[User:TheTrainsKid|TheTrainsKid]] ([[User talk:TheTrainsKid|talk]]) 03:26, 17 March 2026 (UTC)
:For sure. It is a direct reference to that comic. I wonder if they should be seen as a two comics series? I think there is a bit too little for it. If there ever comes a third comic where Cueball is fired from a cruise line I would say there should be made a category for it though. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 08:44, 17 March 2026 (UTC)

Is he saying that the ship is rolling? This would not give as much artificial G than pitch or yaw. [[User:SDSpivey|SDSpivey]] ([[User talk:SDSpivey|talk]]) 04:53, 17 March 2026 (UTC)
:It all depends on the rotation speed. It is more likely the ship would survive being rotated along that axis. Of course there would then only be gravity away from the central line of the ship. And of course the ship would not survive such a rotation. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 08:44, 17 March 2026 (UTC)
::I'm sure it could survive a few rotations. More than the people could. :) [[User:SDSpivey|SDSpivey]] ([[User talk:SDSpivey|talk]]) 14:34, 17 March 2026 (UTC)
:::What if it's a catamaran, rotating the main body of the ship like a barbecue spit? [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 18:28, 17 March 2026 (UTC)

I'm wondering if this has to do with the imminent premiere of a science-based movie, Project Hail Mary? [[Special:Contributions/2601:601:D47C:3090:B80E:E250:C231:507A|2601:601:D47C:3090:B80E:E250:C231:507A]] 04:08, 18 March 2026 (UTC)
The next number is prime! I wander if it will be a math one.

At this rate, around comic 3500 there will be enough about getting fired from cruise lines to maybe consider a category of its own [[User:R128|R128]] ([[User talk:R128|talk]]) 17:17, 18 March 2026 (UTC)

Talk:3218: Subduction Retrieval

2026-03-12T18:27:20Z

R128:

I win. {{unsigned ip|2603:7080:5240:fa00:f571:792f:a287:3b07|03:21, 12 March 2026 (UTC)}}
:I lost {{w|The Game (mind game)|The Game}}. [[Special:Contributions/2A04:4E41:320E:C27C:0:0:885F:A27C|2A04:4E41:320E:C27C:0:0:885F:A27C]] 04:47, 12 March 2026 (UTC)
:: @&$! [[Special:Contributions/47.146.30.92|47.146.30.92]] 05:33, 12 March 2026 (UTC)
: Nope - you are disqualified for not signing your post. [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 09:14, 12 March 2026 (UTC)

By some coincidence this article https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy03jw0pwx1o was on the BBC news website Wed 11th March (UK)- the evening before (9pm local time) this was added [[Special:Contributions/2A00:23C7:B524:F801:4041:29F9:A548:6CDE|2A00:23C7:B524:F801:4041:29F9:A548:6CDE]] 06:08, 12 March 2026 (UTC)

I added my first explanation on this website! Please feel free to correct/improve it. [[Special:Contributions/2401:D002:8404:C900:E8CD:26D1:3D16:F675|2401:D002:8404:C900:E8CD:26D1:3D16:F675]] 06:33, 12 March 2026 (UTC)

A rough estimate of how fresh this news is would be 200 years: size of people allows to estimate ring has been carried down 12 m, and then I used 6 cm/year subduction rate. [[Special:Contributions/152.77.153.162|152.77.153.162]] 08:04, 12 March 2026 (UTC)
: This underestimates the time span IMO. Considering the folds in the crust below the crane, work obviously has been going on for quite some time already. The actual time of the ring going underground must be at least one order of magnitude higher, i.e., *ages* ago. Wait a minute ... the guy who claims to have lost the ring, does he go by the name of Sauron, by any chance? [[Special:Contributions/2.201.115.145|2.201.115.145]] 10:28, 12 March 2026 (UTC)
:: Can't be: the PSA is for today only, so maybe they've taken time to set up their stuff but they only started pulling a few hours ago. Now possibly they've actually already ripped out a length of the same order as the distance to the ring, but then it's not sure the ring has been dragged up very efficiently, since it looks like it is sticking out above the plate surface. So I'd stand with my 12m guess, but I expect they'll need to extract much more to get to the ring. [[Special:Contributions/152.77.153.162|152.77.153.162]] 14:29, 12 March 2026 (UTC)

Chances are that the ring melted being down that far. [[User:Dogman15|Dogman15]] ([[User talk:Dogman15|talk]]) 08:58, 12 March 2026 (UTC)
:Depending upon the (unreliable, but article-assumed) scale, not really.
:Gold melts at ~1000°C (any diamond in it would melt at ~4000°C, though any solder/etc used in its construction would presumably do so at lower temperatures). At least before the effects of pressure modify that.
:At a subduction zone, the rock is relatively cool further down, as the 'surface' plate being subducted starts of cool and can soak up a lot of the heat from the 'hot cushion' it's being drawn down into. Even if we assume the humans aren't to scale, the junction should be no more than a few hundred degrees C (an additional 10C° per km of depth is one estimate, with some variation and a lot of unknowns that apply in an active subduction zone).
:Presuming the ring landed in oceanic silt that is 'immediately' inexorably dragged down under the lip of the overlying plate, the effects of temperature would be minimal compared to a mid-plate depth (where it gets uncomfortable for miners). In addition, the water in the sediment would eat up the heat energy, given its extremely high enthalpy of vaporisation, up until the pressure drives that higher than the mineral/metal melting points (if indeed it does), further keeping the ring's neighbourhood cooler than it should be.
:Pressure might be the big thing, depending on if the sediment layer that it lies in acts as a constant matrix to spread the load (i.e. not crush the ring), although you'd expect a mudstone-like process of compression (then metamorphic transition, once enough heat passed into it, probably before the gold suffered from pure temperature effects), so it might he distorted. But if it found itself being dragged through a thin enough faultline that the underlying and overlying bedrock were essentially rubbing together (the soft-stuff significantly squeezed out, but for some reason not the ring), then it'd be more like putting the ring between two millstones (but more so?), and it'd fragment and/or smear the gold ring. Any diamond might last longer before being shattered, however much it might gouge the passing rock away whenever it jammed, depending on how it was actually encased in other material. But various types of granite (as examples of the rock) melt at far less than half the temperature of diamond, lower still in the presence of water and pressure (possibly below gold, in those conditions?), so if a diamond (or even its ring) mechanically survives the process, it's probably going to still last a bit longer than the rock that's clearly still present and solid in the comic.
:But it probably needs the attention of a good jeweler/repairer, at the very least.[[Special:Contributions/82.132.238.116|82.132.238.116]] 13:11, 12 March 2026 (UTC)

Given the vast forces at play here, standing on the section that's being drawn out seems... particularly inadvisable. [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 10:59, 12 March 2026 (UTC)
"I rode a Ferrari last night." "Oh yeah?" ''puts on black glasses''

There's a wedding ring in this cOmment. All comments above are one tectonic plate. and all the ones below are in another. [[Special:Contributions/45.178.0.43|45.178.0.43]] 12:09, 12 March 2026 (UTC)

I thought throwing a ring in a geologically active high-pressure high-temperature structure was the only way to irreversibly lose it? [[Special:Contributions/89.233.195.138|89.233.195.138]]
We’re coming upon the April fools comic soon[[User:Commercialegg|Commercialegg]] ([[User talk:Commercialegg|talk]]) 16:30, 12 March 2026 (UTC)

yet another subduction comic [[User:R128|R128]] ([[User talk:R128|talk]]) 18:27, 12 March 2026 (UTC)

Talk:3141: Mantle Model

2026-02-25T15:14:07Z

R128:

;xkcd outage discussion
The wiki lives! 🥹 [[User:CalibansCreations|'''Caliban''']] ([[User talk:CalibansCreations|talk]]) 21:04, 12 September 2025 (UTC)
FINALLY, WE’RE BACK《プロキシ》(XKCD中毒者) 13:12, 14 September 2025 (UTC)
:So it wasn't just my computer that wouldn't show explain xkcd? [[User:BobcatInABox|BobcatInABox]] ([[User talk:BobcatInABox|talk]]) 21:35, 12 September 2025 (UTC)
::Also: what went wrong and how did they fix it? [[User:BobcatInABox|BobcatInABox]] ([[User talk:BobcatInABox|talk]]) 21:35, 12 September 2025 (UTC)
:::And: do we have a plan in case it happens again? [[User:BobcatInABox|BobcatInABox]] ([[User talk:BobcatInABox|talk]]) 21:35, 12 September 2025 (UTC)
::::It was clearly a server-side issue. (Well, more server-side than Cloudflare, which still covers a lot of ground.( There are a number of different things that could have been wrong, from the server rack-space no longer being paid for (a potentially more permanent death than the domain not being paid for - which we know has been, anyway) to someone having been messing about with the site and caused fatally excessive parsing errors (there's no sign of that, in the page-edit history that we see, although there's always a potential for the person who got the server working 'sensibly' again to have purged the evidence along with the problem).
::::Could also have just been a temporary power-outage/blown-fuse in the apartment of the person who currently lets the server hum away in the background (if that's the server's physical location, which I doubt) ''or'' that person was moving it from one residence to another and so obviously had to unplug it, transport it and plug it back in again to power and network connection (again, from what I know, I doubt that... but it's not an impossible scenario).
::::Unless we get to hear from whoever fixed the problem, we can just keep on guessing.
::::Assuming that any actual person ''did'' fix the problem rather than (for yet another theory...) it being a connectivity issue further along the chain that just happened to catch our server in that, and was just sorted out as a more general restorating of service.
::::I had several 'likely' ideas during the downtime... Well, ''obvious'' they couldn't all be actually likely, as they were mutually exclusive to each other, but a larger share of the divided percentages than some of the more out-there ones... but very little proof of any of them, now we're up and running again. Not ruled out, but without the basic fingerprints that I'd have expected to support their realities. And some of my imagined solutions to the outage were situations where I would not actually have expected the site to return at all, too, and these have obviously been defied/subverted given that we're now talking here about this.
::::The good news (with reservations, at least) is that, the way we've been returned to 'normality', this raises the chances of this issue not being a recurring one. With a side-line chance of ''if'' whatever-it-was recurs, it'll be solved far quicker next time. Whoever/whatever we have to thank for it.
::::The bad news is that I don't think anyone 'active' has anything to do with it (please do let us know, if you did!). Either no direct hands-on fix at all, as described, or someone who ''really'' doesn't want to bother talking to us users and only steps/stepped in for a bit of quiet background fixing that nobody'll properly appreciate. (My kind of person, that, actually. I rather like it when I fix issues so that nobody besides my more immediate colleagues knows they've been fixed... although ideally I'd be doing so before anyone even knew they ''needed'' fixing. And this wasn't my work, of course. With so little access, or even familiarity with the basic setup, you'd have to look elsewhere for any mysterious house-elf who sorted this one out.)
::::TL;DR; - I don't know how to answer your question. I get the idea that nobody will answer your question as long as [[1305: Undocumented Feature|anyone who knows doesn't want to]]. I don't eventhink there's any possible plan that we can devise to deal with it. Even with an 'off-wiki' forum to talk amongst ourselves about things, the next time this happens again. Even if we could [[1810: Chat Systems|agree on where to go]], it'd just end up being a legacy chatroom (like the Euphoria one) once the inevitable day comes when something means that this site goes dark and never lights up again. ''C'est la vie'', etc... [[Special:Contributions/92.17.62.87|92.17.62.87]] 00:28, 13 September 2025 (UTC)
::::: TLDR indeed. >"''the apartment of the person who currently lets the server hum away in the background (if that's the server's physical location, which I doubt)''" Elsewhere this year we learned of a forum which actually sat in the admin's garage. He had a health issue, weeks in hospital then months recovering at a relative's house. Forum went down. His #2 said he got some better and the forum came to life, but went down again. Life is like that. --[[User:PRR|PRR]] ([[User talk:PRR|talk]]) 02:48, 13 September 2025 (UTC)
:I had noticed this issue too. I was actually drafting up an email to [[User:Davidy22]] when I came back on here to get a screenshot and Cloudflare started working again! I had suspected that we were getting DDoSed, since Explain XKCD had some issues with that before and the server was clearly down across multiple devices and networks. Recent Changes also shows a 36+ hour gap between editing, confirming that the server was down across the board. I suggest that we coordinate some other form of communication so that we can share messages with each other and still have points of contact if this goes down. Jeff has proven himself to be flaky and unreliable, and I'm now treating everyday on here like it's my last. Check [[explain xkcd: Community portal/Proposals#Explain XKCD Discord.2FSocial Media Server.3F|the proposals board]] for more info. '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 06:02, 13 September 2025 (UTC)
::This seems to be a recurring feature of many sites at the moment, whether behind Cloudflare or not. My suspicion is that scraping for AI is out of control, acting as a particularly stupid (vibe-coded) and well-funded DDoS. --[[Special:Contributions/81.96.108.67|81.96.108.67]] 06:58, 13 September 2025 (UTC)
:Cloudflare was working on my error page. It looked like it was just the host server with a problem《プロキシ》(XKCD中毒者) 13:12, 14 September 2025 (UTC)

;Comic discussion

La plume de la Terre est sous le bureau de mon oncle. [[User:BunsenH|BunsenH]] ([[User talk:BunsenH|talk]]) 21:33, 12 September 2025 (UTC)

I'm truly shocked that this comic (#3141) didn't have anything (obvious) to do with pi. [[Special:Contributions/2603:3003:BCC:6200:FC4E:5757:BC86:E656|2603:3003:BCC:6200:FC4E:5757:BC86:E656]] 02:03, 13 September 2025 (UTC)
: Off by 0.001 error. Or maybe Randall's sworn off [https://www.dude-n-dude.com/2023/03/14/amoebas-lorica-14-march-icymi/ pi/pee jokes]. Perhaps we'll see when comic 3142 is released to the wild. [[Special:Contributions/2605:59C8:160:DB08:925:A1C6:D2C8:428B|2605:59C8:160:DB08:925:A1C6:D2C8:428B]] 11:51, 13 September 2025 (UTC)
::Only off by 0.001 if we're aware of the additional digits. I choose ignorance. [[Special:Contributions/2603:3003:BCC:6200:98AA:C11E:AA31:F089|2603:3003:BCC:6200:98AA:C11E:AA31:F089]] 15:56, 13 September 2025 (UTC)

I assume those that manage this great resource for those of us that REALLY NEED xckd explained know comic 3139 got missed in the kerfuffle... [[Special:Contributions/209.240.124.28|209.240.124.28]] 02:09, 13 September 2025 (UTC)

Using the {{Citation needed}} tag '''FOUR''' times in a single explanation is not funny. {{Citation needed}} [[User:These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For|These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For]] ([[User talk:These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For|talk]]) 01:13, 14 September 2025 (UTC)
: Counterpoint: Yes it is. [[User:Theclapp|Theclapp]] ([[User talk:Theclapp|talk]]) 19:25, 15 September 2025 (UTC)
:: Synthesis: It could be, but wasn't here. [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 08:30, 16 September 2025 (UTC)
::: 😆 [[User:Theclapp|Theclapp]] ([[User talk:Theclapp|talk]]) 13:00, 22 September 2025 (UTC)

My interpretation of the comic was that it was more of a satire on geology and how it interprets mantle plumes rather than just some random absurd thing. After all, looking at the Wikipedia page for mantle plumes, it lists like 10 totally random things that geologists sometimes attribute to mantle plumes. [[User:Qoiuoiuoiu|Qoiuoiuoiu]] ([[User talk:Qoiuoiuoiu|talk]]) 02:54, 14 September 2025 (UTC)
: There is too much truth in this cartoon, see [https://www.mantleplumes.org] to get an overview over the problems of the competing plume hypotheses. In short, yes geologists made up so many different plume models that this term has become either all-encompassing or meaningless. [[Special:Contributions/87.180.165.87|87.180.165.87]] 07:38, 14 September 2025 (UTC)

I like that the title text seems to also suggest that Mantle should properly be pronounced Mega-antle [[Special:Contributions/2001:1C05:71D:AB00:49C6:27F5:15E6:49C4|2001:1C05:71D:AB00:49C6:27F5:15E6:49C4]] 09:53, 14 September 2025 (UTC)

To my knowledge, D. B. isn't an "alias" of the plane hijacker but more of a cultural nickname. The hijacker named himself "Dan Cooper" (an European comic about a pilot. Relevancy never proved or disproved by the FBI according to Wikipedia) while D. B. Cooper was a random person misnamed by the media? {{unsigned ip|91.181.199.112|12:12, 15 September 2025 (UTC)}}
::Yep, D.B. Cooper is a nickname given by a reporter that stuck, after the composite drawing was released. But back to the comic, this case could have been made much harder in 1980 due to a mantle plume. LOTS of stuff got buried under ash in the Mt. St. Helens eruption in May of 1980.[[User:Seebert|Seebert]] ([[User talk:Seebert|talk]]) 15:47, 15 September 2025 (UTC)

Forgive me if I'm off base here, but isn't this one a joke about Dark Matter? 12:54, 15 September 2025 (UTC)
It seems like a Dark Matter joke to me too [[Special:Contributions/136.62.202.91|136.62.202.91]] 18:18, 15 September 2025 (UTC)

He did this whole comic just so he could do the "antle plumes" pun in the title text, didn't he? [[User:Theclapp|Theclapp]] ([[User talk:Theclapp|talk]]) 19:25, 15 September 2025 (UTC)

I am a bit surprised of the passive/agressive tone of this explanation. Is it simply me not being good enough in english ? {{unsigned ip|66.159.217.128|14:49, 16 September 2025}}

It makes no sense to put [citation needed] on something being unconfirmed. Either say that mantle plumes have no shadow aspect[citation needed] or just leave it as being unconfirmed without the need for citation. [[User:Kapten-N|Kapten-N]] ([[User talk:Kapten-N|talk]]) 14:19, 6 October 2025 (UTC)
:I'm not sure if that was even meant as a [Citation needed] (tongue-in-cheek, for humour) or [Actual citation needed] (the real thing), at least as far as whatever the tag is attached to. I'd be tempted to remove that and/or reword the text to make the intended serious/funny sense more obvious. [[Special:Contributions/81.179.195.93|81.179.195.93]] 18:58, 6 October 2025 (UTC)

Isn't this a riff on the standard model of particle physics seeming adhoc? Some situation comes up and is then explained by a new particle (even if it is rigorous in its addition, it does seem contrived fom far away) [[User:R128|R128]] ([[User talk:R128|talk]]) 15:14, 25 February 2026 (UTC)

Talk:3211: Amperage

2026-02-24T17:28:07Z

R128:

Seems like this would be at least tangentially related to the Cursed Connectors series, although it's just the outlets and cords this time. [[User:Zakator|Zakator]] ([[User talk:Zakator|talk]]) 05:51, 24 February 2026 (UTC)

I would assume that this is related to styropyro's latest video? [[Special:Contributions/142.126.42.193|142.126.42.193]] 05:59, 24 February 2026 (UTC)
: I’ll second the comment about the new styropyro video; it seems very likely that it inspired Randall to make this comic and is probably worth a mention. [[Special:Contributions/2607:FB91:829C:47BD:C826:B8DB:5A5E:913A|2607:FB91:829C:47BD:C826:B8DB:5A5E:913A]] 07:50, 24 February 2026 (UTC)
: I think that's very likely - in literally every single group of nerds (eg xkcd-adjacent) I've seen people talking about it. I'd be very, very surprised if he hasn't at all seen it[[User:R128|R128]] ([[User talk:R128|talk]]) 17:28, 24 February 2026 (UTC)

200 amps is NOT "an amount of electricity power"; The amp is a unit of electrical current, from which power can be derived by multiplying by voltage.[[Special:Contributions/2001:8003:7087:E602:3CBE:B25:5BFC:61BD|2001:8003:7087:E602:3CBE:B25:5BFC:61BD]] 07:41, 24 February 2026 (UTC)

The current explanation seems to assume that Cueball is aware in advance of some of the problems his scheme is likely to cause, and is trying to forestall them. That seems unlikely - it's Cueball after all. It's far more likely that he has ''already'' melted all his wiring (and ruined his carpet), but just considers that a new engineering challenge to overcome. [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 09:28, 24 February 2026 (UTC)

It is amusing or instructional to consider how residential wiring would be engineered if the equipment and circuits were designed with a system that supplied constant current rather than constant voltage. Long ago carbon-arc streetlights were all wired in series and run at perhaps 6 or 8 amps. The "failure" mode is not a short circuit but an open circuit. Protective devices close the offending open. Perhaps Cueball would like to explore such a system, running megavolts at 500 amps, unless he already has. [[Special:Contributions/173.188.198.217|173.188.198.217]] 12:56, 24 February 2026 (UTC)

I understand the theory of it, and it clearly doesn't cause any more electrical fires than home run circuits, but the UK's 32A ring circuits on 14 gauge wire will always make me raise an eyebrow. [[Special:Contributions/64.135.140.145|64.135.140.145]] 13:36, 24 February 2026 (UTC)

xkcd is a good distractor from everything that's going on with the world. Thanks, Randall! --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] (BLM) 13:57, 24 February 2026 (UTC)

Retired electrical engineer from a power distribution manufacturer here... The resistance in the wires doesn't increase all that much with increasing current. The increase in heat generated is proportional to the amount of current flowing through the wires. Double the current and the heat generated doubles. Go from 15 amps to 500 amps and the heat generated by the resistance in the wires increases about 33 times. [[Special:Contributions/2600:1702:7A0:8230:9DBF:A415:F8AF:7799|2600:1702:7A0:8230:9DBF:A415:F8AF:7799]] 17:10, 24 February 2026 (UTC)
:Isn't heat generated proportional to current squared? or is that resistance. maybe im tripping[[User:R128|R128]] ([[User talk:R128|talk]]) 17:28, 24 February 2026 (UTC)

3211: Amperage

2026-02-24T17:24:46Z

R128: /* Explanation */ pretty sure he said this in the video

{{comic
| number = 3211
| date = February 23, 2026
| title = Amperage
| image = amperage_2x.png
| imagesize = 299x410px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = Oh, and do you have any tips on how to vacuum up copper that's melted into your carpet?
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by a 1.2 MEGAWATT SIMILE. Don't remove this notice too soon please.}}
[[Cueball]] explains to [[Ponytail]] how he has modified some parts of his house's wiring to avoid having power to his appliances interrupted on account of overcurrent conditions from running too many appliances at once. In many places around the world there is a main breaker limiting the maximum current available to properties, with common limits being 60A, 100A or 200A. Individual circuits will then have breakers limiting the maximum current, usually to something between 10 and 32 amperes. 15-20A is a common breaker size for circuits powering outlets in the US; 32A is the common breaker size in the UK; and 10-16A is standard in mainland Europe. However, Cueball is somehow managing to draw 10,000 amps from his power company, and has also updated his breaker board to allow his wall sockets to draw 500 amps of power. Both numbers are absurdly high — far more than any consumer appliance could need, and, as Cueball soon admits, enough power to cause fire hazards. This is also emphasized in the title text, which shows that Cueball has actually tried out his new arrangement and it has melted the copper inside the cables and outlets onto the carpet, and he is now looking for ways to clean it up.

Cueball's reasoning for this is equally absurd: he is frustrated by his {{w|circuit breaker}}s. Circuit breakers exist to prevent more current than is expected from flowing through wires. A tripped breaker is caused by either a short circuit down the line or by the user trying to draw too much power at once. A tripped circuit breaker is an easy fix, but it means whatever you were trying to power on that circuit has been interrupted, which is apparently too much for Cueball. Also, simply resetting the breaker may leave the underlying problem unaddressed, resulting in the breaker repeatedly tripping. Preventing a circuit breaker from tripping, either by soldering wire into the {{w|fusebox}} in place of the fuses or (in Cueball's case) by placing breakers rated at excessively high amperages, defeats this safety mechanism, meaning a fault such as a short circuit is much more likely to become a house fire. The end result is that Cueball has designed an extremely dangerous system with a high level of overkill in order to enable more of his own mistakes and prevent minor nuisances from slowing him down. The usual (and much safer) approach is to increase the number of power lines in the house, each with its own breaker, to distribute the possible load, and to not connect too many items to each. If one found that a breaker was being tripped, one would rearrange the devices' connections to the outlets to find a better power distribution.

Additionally, while Cueball has stated he has changed the service he receives from the local utility company and the ratings of his breakers, he has ''not'' stated he has changed the wiring in his house to the outlets. Typical wires for outlets in the US are between 14 and 10 AWG, rated between 15 and 30 amps. In the UK it would likely be a Twin Core and Earth 2.5mm² cable rated for 32A. By drawing anywhere near 500 amps, he will, as he has discovered, most likely melt the wires both inside his walls and inside his appliances and start a fire, even if there is no fault. (Pure copper melts at 1085 °C (1984 °F), and the copper in electrical wiring is fairly pure, so Cueball has demonstrably produced temperatures in excess of that. Such temperatures are well above what's necessary to ignite {{w|Fahrenheit 451|common household items}}.) Rather than treat this as a sign that his plan was ill-conceived and simply put up with normal levels of power, though, Cueball is now trying to find more durable cords and wires that can handle the excessive load.

The amount of electrical power you can use in your house depends on both the voltage and the maximum current you're allowed to draw. The latter is usually protected and limited by multiple breakers both in your home and at the local substation. For example, in the US, where the nominal voltage is 120V, a 15A breaker would get you a maximum of 1800 watts of power (current multiplied by the voltage). In countries where 230V is more common, a similarly sized breaker would get you a maximum of around 3500 watts. If you decrease the voltage you can still get the same power by increasing the current drawn. For example, to get 3500 watts in the US on 120V, you would need to draw around 30A - double the original amount. Higher currents induce higher resistance in lines, meaning they would need a larger wire to safely draw the power without them overheating and catching fire. Transmission lines solve the problem by transforming the power to a higher voltage (a 400kV (400,000 volts) line transmitting a maximum of 10 amps can still theoretically give out 4 million watts of power without needing excessively thick cables). Conversely, decreasing the voltage means that you need more current drawn for the same amount of power (for example, to get 3500 watts from a 12V car battery you need to draw almost 300 amperes, something that would need really thick wires not to overheat). Assuming Cueball lives in the US with 120V mains voltage, his 10,000A will draw 1.2 megawatts of power, equivalent to the usage of a factory or other large facility.

The comic might be a reference to a [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC7sNfNuTNU recent video posted by youtuber styropyro], who connects 400 car batteries and does various experiments, including [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYtCJYhCyzs popping a 6,000 amp fuse]. While the voltage on car batteries is only 12V (or 24V in some cases), they allow drawing very high amounts of current to provide enough power for the starter engine to turn. Drawing 500 amps and more for a short period of time is not uncommon. While these would only amount to around 6kW of power (12V * 500A), the higher current requires the cabling to be thick enough to not overheat even in the short amount of time this draw is used (until the starter engine has turned on the main engine — on a modern car in warm weather this should be around a second at most). In the video, styropyro connects 400 of these into 80 parallel 65V cells, reaching peak currents in excess of 100kA. His setup requires very thick cables and large pieces of solid metal to handle the extremely high current.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

:[Cueball and Ponytail are standing near the corner of a room, with Type B outlets on either wall surrounding the corner at about knee height. Cueball has raised one hand slightly to gesture to one of the outlets.]
:Cueball: I got 10,000 amp service and put each outlet on its own 500 amp breaker, so I never have to worry about overloading a circuit again!
:Ponytail: Clever.
:Cueball: Oh, that reminds me- do you know where to buy cords that don't catch fire?
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

[[Category:Physics]]

3209: Plums

2026-02-20T16:11:57Z

R128: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 3209
| date = February 18, 2026
| title = Plums
| image = plums_2x.png
| imagesize = 251x409px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = My icebox plum trap easily captured William Carlos Williams. It took much less work than the infinite looping network of diverging paths I had to build in that yellow wood to ensnare Robert Frost.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by a rebellious icebox. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
This is a reference to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Carlos_Williams William Carlos Williams] poem [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/56159/this-is-just-to-say This Is Just to Say], in which the narrator gives an apology, possibly insincere,{{acn}} for eating the plums in the icebox. In this comic, the joke is that [[Cueball]], learning that the person out of view has left themselves some plums in the refrigerator for tomorrow, cannot resist eating them as a reference to the poem.

The title text is another joke about trapping poets with situations based on their own poems, it is about another well-known poem, [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44272/the-road-not-taken The Road Not Taken] by Robert Frost, which has been recently referenced in another comic, [[3076: The Roads Both Taken]]. Of course, constructing a network of infinitely branching paths seems physically impossible [[:Category:Strange powers of Beret Guy|for Cueball]], though some kind of circular or looping arrangement might work. Of course, the choice that Frost makes would change over time in such an arrangement, if he always takes the path least-travelled, so this could prove complex.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
:[Cueball is sitting at a desk with a laptop on it. He is looking backward towards someone offscreen.]
:Out of view: I got you the ingredients for dinner tonight.
:Out of view: Oh, and the plums in the fridge drawer are for my yogurt tomorrow; you should just leave them.
:Out of view: Be back later!
:Cueball [thinking]: Oh no.
:Caption: Help. It actually happened. I shouldn't, but how can I not!?

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]

Talk:3209: Plums

2026-02-20T16:09:42Z

R128:

Referencing William Carlos Williams [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/56159/this-is-just-to-say "This is Just To Say"], an apology for eating the plums. [[Special:Contributions/2600:1001:B000:6009:F81B:2869:73B7:339|2600:1001:B000:6009:F81B:2869:73B7:339]] 03:31, 19 February 2026 (UTC)

Robert Frost is my first cousin five times removed. [[User:Pgn674|Pgn674]] ([[User talk:Pgn674|talk]]) 03:36, 19 February 2026 (UTC)

You could easily trap Edgar Allan Poe by training a crow. [[User:Xkdvd|Xkdvd]] ([[User talk:Xkdvd|talk]]) 05:07, 19 February 2026 (UTC)
:You could easily trap Edgar Allan Poe scholars by training an orang-utan [[Special:Contributions/2001:9E8:E129:8700:A4BD:2D19:5AC4:826B|2001:9E8:E129:8700:A4BD:2D19:5AC4:826B]] 13:19, 19 February 2026 (UTC)

I just described the scene in the transcript, it doesn't look quite right to me, I'm pretty sure there's supposed to be brackets or something, could someone fix that if I did it wrong? [[User:Xkdvd|Xkdvd]] ([[User talk:Xkdvd|talk]]) 05:12, 19 February 2026 (UTC)

The characterization of the poem as an apology needs an [actual citation needed] tag. [[Special:Contributions/2001:8004:4E50:6B3:A564:E93B:1878:3634|2001:8004:4E50:6B3:A564:E93B:1878:3634]] 06:00, 19 February 2026 (UTC)
:The words "forgive me" aren't good enough for you? [[Special:Contributions/174.127.214.79|174.127.214.79]] 06:46, 19 February 2026 (UTC)
::They are not. The “apology” is obviously insincere. The narrator is clearly pleased with himself and would do it again. I suppose you could say it is an insincere apology. [[Special:Contributions/185.98.169.32|185.98.169.32]] 07:58, 20 February 2026 (UTC)

Seems pretty simple. Eat the plums for the cred, and then book reservations for a romantic breakfast the next morning. [[Special:Contributions/73.42.229.109|73.42.229.109]] 06:22, 19 February 2026 (UTC)
:Might just make things more awkward if the trapper is just a roommate. [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 09:10, 19 February 2026 (UTC)

Could the caption style also be a reference to the poem? [[User:New editor|New editor]] ([[User talk:New editor|talk]]) 07:08, 19 February 2026 (UTC)
:Yes, although the punctuation and line structure are different, there is the typography, meter, and consonance, {{w|This Is Just to Say#Analysis|as described at Wikipedia}}. [[User:Elizium23|Elizium23]] ([[User talk:Elizium23|talk]]) 09:07, 20 February 2026 (UTC)

It would be much more difficult that Robert Frost if one is to follow Gulzaar's [https://bollywoodtranslations.blogspot.com/2024/10/is-mod-se-jaate-hain-translation-of.html "Is Mod se"] [[User:Mitradranirban|Mitradranirban]] ([[User talk:Mitradranirban|talk]])

Does the joke rely on any connection between Frost's surname and the Icebox? [[Special:Contributions/79.161.109.128|79.161.109.128]] 10:35, 19 February 2026 (UTC)
:Wouldn't say so, given that they're referring to two different poems. If it did rely on that, I would say it didn't work! [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 11:39, 19 February 2026 (UTC)

Tangent here: can someone explains to me how the structure of WCW's poem works? I find neither rythm nor rhyme. --[[Special:Contributions/94.73.51.255|94.73.51.255]]
: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_verse [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 11:36, 19 February 2026 (UTC)

I'm trying to link Category:Strange powers of Beret Guy, but it's not appearing, even if the text is there. Anybody know why? Also, does anybody else find it odd that this is CUEBALL creating the spatial anomalies and not Beret Guy? --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] (BLM) 14:11, 19 February 2026 (UTC)
:You have to put a : before “Category:” when linking to a category because otherwise it puts the page in the category instead of making a link to the category. [[Special:Contributions/2A09:BAC3:88C3:188C:0:0:272:3F|2A09:BAC3:88C3:188C:0:0:272:3F]] 14:23, 19 February 2026 (UTC)
::Ah. Thanks! --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] (BLM) 14:44, 19 February 2026 (UTC)
::The captions and title texts aren't speech bubbles. They aren't necessarily attributed to a particular character, or someone appearing in the comic. In this instance, it seems like the caption reflects Cueball's thoughts, but the title text is more likely to belong to the offscreen speaker. [[User:Elizium23|Elizium23]] ([[User talk:Elizium23|talk]]) 00:29, 20 February 2026 (UTC)

I believe it may be possible to make a network of infinitely branching straight line paths, even in an infinite universe, because the requirement is that if you keep travelling on the path you'll reach no end no mater your choice of branches, i.e. no matter how you choose your branches you'll choose infinitely many, but I can't think of a possible configuration right now. (It's trivial if they can be curved) [[User:Cobl703|Cobl703]] ([[User talk:Cobl703|talk]]) 14:51, 19 February 2026 (UTC)
:The poem explicitly mentions one of the paths bending, so curved paths should presumably be fine. [[Special:Contributions/45.140.184.137|45.140.184.137]] 03:59, 20 February 2026 (UTC)

I'd conjecture that Frost's algorithm (take the path which has been taken fewer times) should fully explore any finite wood and find the exit; he's a pretty tough cookie. [[User:Cjmaloof|Cjmaloof]] ([[User talk:Cjmaloof|talk]]) 21:46, 19 February 2026 (UTC)
:I second this conjecture. Given that the trap has an entrance/exit (assumed to be bidirectional), eventually, any wood would become so travelled that the exit would be the only option. [[User:R128|R128]] ([[User talk:R128|talk]]) 16:09, 20 February 2026 (UTC)

How do I edit my user page? Is there supposed to be an edit button somewhere? [[User:Xkdvd|Xkdvd]] ([[User talk:Xkdvd|talk]]) 02:03, 20 February 2026 (UTC)
:[[explain xkcd:Editor FAQ#Why can't I create my user page and upload images?|Please read this.]] [[User:42.book.addict|tori :3]][[User talk:42.book.addict|talk to me!]] 02:09, 20 February 2026 (UTC)

Unless I'm missing something, it's actually pretty easy to create an infinitely looping network of branching paths, isn't it? The simplest configuration I can think of off the top of my head is three paths arranged in a triangle, with three more paths running inwards from the vertices of the triangle to meet in the center. All the paths are completely straight, and every time you get to a junction you have to pick between two paths that are diverging from one another. All you need to do is eliminate the path Frost used to get into the trap before he gets back to it, which should be relatively easy if the paths are long enough. [[Special:Contributions/45.140.184.137|45.140.184.137]] 03:45, 20 February 2026 (UTC)
:My thoughts went to a curved path a bit like an Infinity symbol, but with the crossing point offset (so you have 2 forks, rather than 1 cross-road). Same as your idea, you’d need to arrange a tripwire or something to close off the path Frost used to enter the infinite path. Still seems pretty achievable even for Cueball. [[Special:Contributions/2A0A:EF40:F62:5201:6863:3656:ED2B:1B1B|2A0A:EF40:F62:5201:6863:3656:ED2B:1B1B]] 07:54, 20 February 2026 (UTC)

3209: Plums

2026-02-20T16:07:03Z

R128: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 3209
| date = February 18, 2026
| title = Plums
| image = plums_2x.png
| imagesize = 251x409px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = My icebox plum trap easily captured William Carlos Williams. It took much less work than the infinite looping network of diverging paths I had to build in that yellow wood to ensnare Robert Frost.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by a rebellious icebox. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
This is a reference to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Carlos_Williams William Carlos Williams] poem [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/56159/this-is-just-to-say This Is Just to Say], in which the narrator is apologizing for eating the plums in the icebox. In this comic, the joke is that [[Cueball]], learning that the person out of view has left themselves some plums in the refrigerator for tomorrow, cannot resist eating them as a reference to the poem.

The title text is another joke about trapping poets with situations based on their own poems, it is about another well-known poem, [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44272/the-road-not-taken The Road Not Taken] by Robert Frost, which has been recently referenced in another comic, [[3076: The Roads Both Taken]]. Of course, constructing a network of infinitely branching paths seems physically impossible [[:Category:Strange powers of Beret Guy|for Cueball]], though some kind of circular or looping arrangement might work. Of course, the choice that Frost makes would change over time in such an arrangement, if he always takes the path least-travelled, so this could prove complex.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
:[Cueball is sitting at a desk with a laptop on it. He is looking backward towards someone offscreen.]
:Out of view: I got you the ingredients for dinner tonight.
:Out of view: Oh, and the plums in the fridge drawer are for my yogurt tomorrow; you should just leave them.
:Out of view: Be back later!
:Cueball [thinking]: Oh no.
:Caption: Help. It actually happened. I shouldn't, but how can I not!?

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]

3208: SNEWS

2026-02-17T16:33:01Z

R128: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 3208
| date = February 16, 2026
| title = SNEWS
| image = snews_2x.png
| imagesize = 740x321px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = People say setting of fireworks indoors is dangerous, but I looked at their energy release and it's like 10^-40 foe; totally negligible.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by a Type Ia firework display that Ponytail set off. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
[[Ponytail]] is showing [[Hairy]] her bedroom. Hairy asks about the large device on the ceiling, and Ponytail explains that it is part of the {{w|SNEWS}} (SuperNova Early Warning System). This detects {{w|neutrino|neutrinos}} (tiny particles that travel near the speed of light, rarely interacting with matter) to give pre-notice of supernovae, as neutrinos are produced in large quantities during the collapse of the star core, which occurs hours before the main photon production. She explains this gives astronomers warning, allowing them to observe the event with telescopes and other instruments.

Ponytail employs hyperbole, because even if they were all interested in supernovae, not every astronomer or observatory will be immediately situated to view a particular point in the sky. For example, they may need to wait for the Earth's rotation, causing the phenomenon to "rise" in the east. Others may be located at unfavorable latitudes where the object will never appear above the Earth's horizon. And, it may take some time before the supernova reaches an apparent magnitude that is visible during the daytime.

Hairy then asks regarding the nature of the visible equipment mounted on the ceiling, which has several protruding barrels. His first assumption is that it is either detector as part of the SNEWS, or some kind of telescope to be used in the event the SNEWS goes off. Ponytail explains that the device it is in fact a fireworks launcher, for the purposes of waking her up so she can witness the supernova herself. This is a '''very''' bad idea for a multitude of reasons. Reckless usage of fireworks is already known for causing significant property damage and personal injury even when used outdoors; launching fireworks inside the house means causing an explosion in a confined area, guaranteeing that it will hit the building, maximizing the opportunity for the conflagration to ignite something flammable on the structure, and containing and therefore amplifying the sound of the burst (which can already deafen people who are too close).

Some people don't easily wake up to a simple alarm clock, especially if it is in reach and has a "snooze" function where a button will silence the alarm for several minutes before it beeps again. Note the similar sounds of "snooze" and SNEWS may be part of the joke.

Since historical supernovae have been visible from 6 months to nearly 2 years, it would be unlikely that Ponytail sleeps through a new one in its entirety, although there would still be significant cachet for any astronomer lucky enough to be able to legitmately say that they had seen the 'first light' at the earliest opportunity. It would also be difficult for her to ''not'' sleep through part of the supernova, for the same reason.

Understandably, Hairy {{tvtropes|ScrewThisImOuttaHere|leaves to sleep at his own house}}.

The comic title "SNEWS" is an acronym from the beginning of the strip: SuperNova Early Warning System. It is also a play on "news"

The title text is a play on the tremendous amount of energy released by a supernova. The {{w|Foe (unit)|foe}} is an unofficial unit of energy equal to 10^44 Joule (but named directly from initials in the original quantity of "ten to the fifty-one ergs", involving a {{w|Erg|pre-SI}} measurement of energy), which is approximately on the order of the usual amount of energy released by a supernova. In comparison, human-scale amounts of energy — even relatively significant ones such as firework detonations — are negligible. This ignores the fact that energy releases that are "negligible in comparison to a supernova" can still be easily fatal to humans; even the largest man-made nuclear explosion is approximately ''twenty-seven'' orders of magnitude less than the baseline 'foe' value. The described "10-40 foe" is equal to 10 kJ, the energy released by the complete combustion of about 0.6 g of table sugar (sucrose), or the decomposition of about 6 g of nitrocellulose.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
:[Ponytail is walking into her room. The room has a bed, a set of drawers and a large sci-fi device mounted on the ceiling. Hairy is standing in the room, pointing up at the device.]
:Hairy: What's that device?
:Ponytail: Part of the supernova early warning system.
:Ponytail: There hasn't been a Milky Way supernova in over a century.
:Ponytail: Astronomers don't want to miss the next one.

:[Close up of Ponytail, now sitting on the end of the bed]
:Ponytail: 20 years ago, we set up a supernova alert system using neutrino detectors.
:Ponytail: It should give us a few hours' advance notice.

:[In a frame-less panel the view zooms back out, showing Ponytail and Hairy.]
:Ponytail: If it ever goes off, every astronomer on earth will scramble to point their equipment at the sky.
:Hairy: Oh, OK. So is that a detector? Or some kind of telescope?

:[The panel moves to the right, showing Hairy walking away. Ponytail is still on the end of the bed, raising a clenched fist for dramatic effect.]
:Ponytail: Fireworks launcher.
:Ponytail: I '''''refuse''''' to sleep through a supernova.
:Hairy: I think I'll spend the night at my place instead.

==Trivia==
The word "off" is misspelled as "of" in the title text.

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]
[[Category:Astronomy]]

3122: Bad Map Projection: Interrupted Spheres

2026-02-12T17:22:52Z

R128: /* Trivia */

{{comic
| number = 3122
| date = July 30, 2025
| title = Bad Map Projection: Interrupted Spheres
| image = bad_map_projection_interrupted_spheres_2x.png
| imagesize = 740x573px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = During the most recent glacial maximum, it's believed that land bridges extended from the surfaces and connected several of the spheres together.
}}

==Explanation==
This is the ninth comic in the [[:Category:Bad Map Projections|Bad Map Projections series]] displaying Bad Map Projection #194: Interrupted Spheres. It follows [[2999: Bad Map Projection: The United Stralia]], released nine and a half months prior.

There is no perfect way to draw a map of the world on a flat piece of paper. Each one will introduce a different type of distortion, and the best projection for a given situation depends on what the map is used for. As was mentioned in [[977: Map Projections]], a wisecrack to this dilemma is to use a globe - which maps the world onto a ''sphere'', thus minimizing distortion by using {{w|Geoid|roughly}} the same shape as the world itself. This "map projection" goes a step past the wisecrack and proceeds straight into absurdity, by projecting ''each continent'' onto a sphere. This bends entirely too far in the other direction to the dilemma; whereas a typical map projection adds distortion by trying to show the (curved) planet on a flat surface, this "map projection" adds distortion by showing the (relatively flat) continents on a much more sharply-curved sphere than the planet they are actually part of.

The title text refers to {{w|land bridges}}, narrow bits of land between larger landmasses. When glaciers covered much of the Earth, the water locked up in the glaciers meant that sea levels were lower, as well as the overlying icepacks being higher, and things like the {{w|Bering land bridge}} spanned areas between continents that are currently ocean. [[Randall]] suggests that these formed connections in the gaps between the spheres. This implies the absurd idea that the projection reflects an underlying reality where the continents ''actually'' exist on separate spheres, rather than this simply being an attempt at a "better" way to display Earth's landmasses. In this situation the land of the 'bridges' would reach like spires, vertically upwards from the surface of each sphere, until they descend down onto their counterpart neighbouring sphere.

==Transcript==
:[This comic depicts seven circles each representing globes. Above these circles there is the following text:]
:Bad map projection #194:
:'''<big>Interrupted spheres</big>'''
:To avoid the distortion inherent to a single flat world map, each continent is projected onto its own globe.

:[Each of the seven globes has one continent of Earth projected on to it, with a label of said areas name. The globes are arranged in position so their landmasses lies roughly where they would be on a standard map with North America in the upper left and Australia in the lower right part of the picture. The labels on the seven spheres in the three columns they form from left to right are:]
:North America
:South America
:Europe
:Africa
:Asia
:Antarctica
:Australia

==Trivia==
In this comic [[Randall]] indicates that he believes there are seven continents. This is {{w|Continent#Number|up for debate}}, especially with Europe being considered part of the larger Eurasian continent, rather than distinct from Asia, and whether the Americas are two continents or one, temporarily joined via the Caribbean oceanic plate. See for instance {{w|CGP Grey}}'s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uBcq1x7P34 What are Continents?] video for a discussion. (Grey concludes that there are five, in his opinion.)

Several borders between countries are missing, those being the borders between Romania and Bulgaria, Bulgaria and Greece, Albania and Greece, Serbia and Montenegro, Egypt and Sudan, and between Thailand and Malaysia. The border of {{w|Kashmir}}, a disputed territory between Pakistan, India, and China, is done in dashed lines. Although it is implied each continent is projected onto its own globe by itself, a part of the coast of North Africa is visible on the Europe globe.

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

[[Category:Bad Map Projections]]

Talk:3206: Installation

2026-02-12T14:10:40Z

R128:

This is what hiking trails should BE! [[User:Explainyourself|Explainyourself]] ([[User talk:Explainyourself|talk]]) 02:47, 12 February 2026 (UTC)
:no. it would be better with [https://xkcd.com/3147/ waterslides.] (/j) --[[User:Utdtutyabthsc|Utdtutyabthsc]] ([[User talk:Utdtutyabthsc|talk]]) 03:19, 12 February 2026 (UTC)
:Hiking trail pavement needs to be sturdy enough to withstand hikers stomping up and down. It also needs to help their hiking boots grip the trail, or at least not do worse at that than bare dirt would. I am not convinced that carpet fits either of those criteria. [[User:GreatWyrmGold|GreatWyrmGold]] ([[User talk:GreatWyrmGold|talk]]) 04:15, 12 February 2026 (UTC)
::But now you can hike in your socks. [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 09:40, 12 February 2026 (UTC)
::Thick, durable carpet. How hard could it be? [[User:R128|R128]] ([[User talk:R128|talk]]) 14:10, 12 February 2026 (UTC)

I think this strip is a knowing reference to "outside the asylum", the inside-out home of Wonko the Sane in _The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy_.

https://hitchhikers.fandom.com/wiki/The_Outside_of_the_Asylum

https://hitchhikers.fandom.com/wiki/Wonko_the_Sane

[[User:Lproven|Lproven]] ([[User talk:Lproven|talk]]) 09:09, 12 February 2026 (UTC)
:How do you reckon that? Other than the presence of a carpet, how does it uniquely reference Wonko's setup, as opposed to being a coincidence? [[User:Elizium23|Elizium23]] ([[User talk:Elizium23|talk]]) 10:07, 12 February 2026 (UTC)

This invention would go really well with outdoor floor-to-ceiling windows. -flatdurian [[Special:Contributions/138.75.249.122|138.75.249.122]] 11:54, 12 February 2026 (UTC)
: Also with the [[2790:_Heat_Pump|manual heat pump]] [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 12:08, 12 February 2026 (UTC)

This cartoon has made me go look at how I can map the great circle starting at my front door and running through my back door. It looks possible, but less easy than I was hoping for. Guess I know how my day is starting. :D [[Special:Contributions/130.76.187.47|130.76.187.47]] 12:11, 12 February 2026 (UTC)

3206: Installation

2026-02-12T14:09:23Z

R128: /* Transcript */

{{comic
| number = 3206
| date = February 11, 2026
| title = Installation
| image = installation_2x.png
| imagesize = 740x272px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = Do YOU remember the skylight being this big?
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by a house like carpet. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
[[Megan]] and [[Cueball]] are installing wall-to-wall carpeting (also known as {{w|fitted carpet}}), which usually runs from the inner edge of one wall to the inner edge of a facing wall. Somehow, they have managed to mistakenly start laying the carpet against the outer edge of the wall without noticing. Despite encountering unfinished and uneven surfaces, plants, rocks, and other obstructions, they have not been clued in to their error, and have simply continued laying it for an unknown distance. Presumably, they would continue doing so until they encountered the outer wall of another building. Alternatively, if they check whether the wall is actually the other end of their room, they may keep going even then. They may be prevented from doing so, as it appears their last roll of carpet is about to run out.

Eventually, they would be able to reach the other the wall, provided that they have a method of floating the carpet on water or sinking it to the bottom, via
{{w|Circumnavigation|circumnavigation}}. If they hit another building, that could be considered the final wall, ending their adventure early.

According to the title text they have failed to notice another rather large clue to their problem — that there is a big open sky above them. Instead, they have, rather improbably, interpreted this as an extremely large {{w|skylight}} — a window on the ceiling designed to add light to a space of a building.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

[Four side-by-side panels showing Megan and Cueball rolling carpet over rough, outdoors terrain]

[Cueball is pushing a roll, and Megan is pulling the cart.]

[In the third panel, the carpet being pushed runs out, and Megan and Cueball hoist a new one off the cart. One remains.]

[Fourth panel]

:Megan: You're ''sure'' we started installing the wall-to-wall carpet on the right side of the wall?
:Cueball: The other end of the room ''must'' be getting close by now.

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]

3206: Installation

2026-02-12T14:09:07Z

R128: /* Transcript */

{{comic
| number = 3206
| date = February 11, 2026
| title = Installation
| image = installation_2x.png
| imagesize = 740x272px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = Do YOU remember the skylight being this big?
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by a house like carpet. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
[[Megan]] and [[Cueball]] are installing wall-to-wall carpeting (also known as {{w|fitted carpet}}), which usually runs from the inner edge of one wall to the inner edge of a facing wall. Somehow, they have managed to mistakenly start laying the carpet against the outer edge of the wall without noticing. Despite encountering unfinished and uneven surfaces, plants, rocks, and other obstructions, they have not been clued in to their error, and have simply continued laying it for an unknown distance. Presumably, they would continue doing so until they encountered the outer wall of another building. Alternatively, if they check whether the wall is actually the other end of their room, they may keep going even then. They may be prevented from doing so, as it appears their last roll of carpet is about to run out.

Eventually, they would be able to reach the other the wall, provided that they have a method of floating the carpet on water or sinking it to the bottom, via
{{w|Circumnavigation|circumnavigation}}. If they hit another building, that could be considered the final wall, ending their adventure early.

According to the title text they have failed to notice another rather large clue to their problem — that there is a big open sky above them. Instead, they have, rather improbably, interpreted this as an extremely large {{w|skylight}} — a window on the ceiling designed to add light to a space of a building.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
[Four side-by-side panels showing Megan and Cueball rolling carpet over rough, outdoors terrain]
[Cueball is pushing a roll, and Megan is pulling the cart.]
[In the third panel, the carpet being pushed runs out, and Megan and Cueball hoist a new one off the cart. One remains.]
[Fourth panel]
:Megan: You're ''sure'' we started installing the wall-to-wall carpet on the right side of the wall?
:Cueball: The other end of the room ''must'' be getting close by now.

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]

3206: Installation

2026-02-12T13:30:15Z

R128: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 3206
| date = February 11, 2026
| title = Installation
| image = installation_2x.png
| imagesize = 740x272px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = Do YOU remember the skylight being this big?
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by a house like carpet. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
[[Megan]] and [[Cueball]] are installing wall-to-wall carpeting (also known as {{w|fitted carpet}}), which usually runs from the inner edge of one wall to the inner edge of a facing wall. Somehow, they have managed to mistakenly start laying the carpet against the outer edge of the wall without noticing. Despite encountering unfinished and uneven surfaces, plants, rocks, and other obstructions, they have not been clued in to their error, and have simply continued laying it for an unknown distance. Presumably, they would continue doing so until they encountered the outer wall of another building. Alternatively, if they check whether the wall is actually the other end of their room, they may keep going even then. They may be prevented from doing so, as it appears their last roll of carpet is about to run out.

Eventually, they would be able to reach the other the wall, provided that they have a method of floating the carpet on water or sinking it to the bottom, via
{{w|Circumnavigation|circumnavigation}}. If they hit another building, that could be considered the final wall, ending their adventure early.

According to the title text they have failed to notice another rather large clue to their problem — that there is a big open sky above them. Instead, they have, rather improbably, interpreted this as an extremely large {{w|skylight}} — a window on the ceiling designed to add light to a space of a building.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
:Megan: You're ''sure'' we started installing the wall-to-wall carpet on the right side of the wall?
:Cueball: The other end of the room ''must'' be getting close by now.

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]

2737: Weather Station

2026-02-11T17:46:00Z

R128: /* Explanation */ i dont think this is possible normally, cant find research tho

{{comic
| number = 2737
| date = February 13, 2023
| title = Weather Station
| image = weather_station_2x.png
| imagesize = 359x401px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = 'Pour one out for precipitation data integrity,' I say, solemnly upending the glass into the rain gauge.
}}

==Explanation==
{{W|Weather station}}s are usually equipped to measure atmospheric conditions for weather forecasts and studies on the weather and climate. An {{w|anemometer}} is a device often found in such stations that measures wind speed and direction. The anemometer shown in the comic is a typical three-cup anemometer, whose spin rate is proportional to the wind speed. Thus spinning the cups quickly by hand can create an impression of fast winds and thereby excite any computers that happen to be monitoring the data and enjoy extreme weather.

Combining the speed of winds in a F1 tornado (73~112 mph; 117~180 km/h) and the speed ratio of typical three-cup anemometers (1/2~1/3) gives a cup speed of ~16m/s, comparing the diameter of the anemometer to that of Cueball's arm gives an upper estimate of 0.5 meters (~two feet), [https://www.wolframalpha.com/input?i=16m%2Fs%2F%280.5m*pi%29 topping out at roughly 10 turns per second], which is outside of reasonable range for a human.{{actual citation needed}}

The title text continues the trend of messing with weather equipment, this time by messing with {{w|rain gauges}}. "{{w|Libation|Pouring one out}}" usually refers to the act of pouring a liquid, usually alcohol, on the ground as a symbol of reverence for a deceased friend or relative. Thus Cueball is mourning the now destroyed (aka "deceased") integrity of the precipitation data by pouring a glass of liquid into the gauge. However, it is this very act that ruined the integrity of the data.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is standing halfway up a stepladder, with his back to the ladder, on the top of a building. He is leaning over a tall device on a pole with a large rectangular box with a stripe. On top is an anemometer, which he is spinning quickly. Behind him, there is a hatch leading out onto the roof with a small antenna, and two boxy roof vents facing towards him.]
:''SPIN SPIN SPIN''

:[In the lower-right corner of the panel, a medium sized circle shows a different scene. An array of computers are shown on server racks, connected to each other by cables. A sound is coming from one of the computers:]
:''WHEEE!''

:[Caption below the panel:]
:Whenever I see one of those little weather stations, I have to fight the urge to climb up and spin the anemometer real fast to make a computer somewhere think it's in a tornado.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category: Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category: Weather]]
[[Category: Tornadoes]]

1332: Slippery Slope

2026-02-11T17:22:26Z

R128: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1332
| date = February 19, 2014
| title = Slippery Slope
| image = slippery_slope.png
| titletext = Sure, taking a few seconds to be respectful toward someone about something they care about doesn't sound hard. But if you talk to hundreds of people every day and they all start expecting that same consideration, it could potentially add up to MINUTES wasted. And for WHAT?
}}

==Explanation==
In the comic, [[White Hat]] uses a fallacious argument to [[Cueball]] to justify being inconsiderate to people. He argues that if he expends minor effort being considerate to one person, he will be expected to be considerate to everyone he meets, which - he wishes to argue - is an undesirable situation. Thus, he justifies being inconsiderate as a form of avoiding the "slippery slope".

"{{w|Slippery slope}}" argumentation is an informal fallacy that takes the form of "if A happens, then B will follow as a minor but expected consequence. B will lead on to C, C leads onto D, and so on. Each consequence gets progressively worse until an undesirable situation is reached." A slippery slope argument proposes that A should not be allowed, because if it is, then the resulting chain of consequences will inevitably lead to the undesirable situation.

This idea is extended in the title text, where he continues extrapolating the train of thought to conclude that minutes of time would be "wasted". Rather than condemning the slippery slope fallacy per se, [[Randall]]'s point here seems to be more that White Hat's priorities are callous to the point of sociopathy. In everyday life, all people desire to be treated with consideration and respect, and taking a few seconds to acknowledge another's feelings is (for most well-meaning people) a small price to pay for improving that person's day, or at least not making it any worse than it needs to be. As such, these seconds would not be "wasted" at all, but would be actively making the world a friendlier place. White Hat's hyperfixation on not wasting time appears ludicrous given how much good feeling he could contribute to the world for so little of his own time. (White Hat also appears to be discounting the possibility that being considerate towards others will encourage reciprocity, which could result in SAVING him time since they will be more willing to help him out should he ever find himself in need.)

==Transcript==
:[White Hat talking to Cueball.]
:White Hat: Yeah, but if I'm considerate toward one person about one thing, what's next?
:White Hat: Being nice to ''other'' people about ''other'' things?
:White Hat: Where does it ''end?''

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]
[[Category:Logic]]
[[Category:Social interactions]]

Talk:1332: Slippery Slope

2026-02-11T17:21:59Z

R128:

Wow, and I used to think White Hat was well-meaning but stupid; the inverse of Black Hat. I never knew he was such an asshole...
[[Special:Contributions/199.27.128.65|199.27.128.65]] 09:11, 19 February 2014 (UTC)
::My own first thought was "That's a Black Hat Voice...". Then I started wondering what White Beret would have said, in his stead, and that sufficiently distracted me... [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.7|141.101.99.7]] 13:49, 19 February 2014 (UTC)
::Maybe he's being sarcastic?[[Special:Contributions/108.162.249.111|108.162.249.111]] 23:19, 19 February 2014 (UTC)

::I read that as more of an introverted perspective (though to an extreme) than him being an asshole.[[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.57|173.245.54.57]] 16:20, 19 February 2014 (UTC)

::Yeah, I don't really understand what Randall's trying to say by making him a White Hat.--[[User:Ricketybridge|Ricketybridge]] ([[User talk:Ricketybridge|talk]]) 23:43, 19 February 2014 (UTC)

:: I always assume Randal made a mistake and forget to color in the hat, because this is obviously a BlackHat argument.[[Special:Contributions/162.158.83.66|162.158.83.66]] 18:25, 17 May 2016 (UTC)

::Remember that it is this page that has put Cueball and White Hat tags on these persons. Randall does not follow this page... Hence he can change them at will, and especially the Cueball character behaves quite different from comic to comic - sometimes there are more than one Cueball in the same comic. On the other hand, I do believe that Randall uses White Hat as "the same person" every time. However, where White Hat may not wish to go out of his way to be nice - this has nothing in comparison to Black Hat who will go out of his way (a long way) to be mean to everyone. So this is not a typical Black Hat discussion in the comic. [[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 10:54, 20 February 2014 (UTC)

::I also wonder what the deal is here with White Hat. I usually think of him as the proponent of "conventional wisdom," which is often misguided,smug, and self-righteous... but not usually malicious. Black Hat obviously has that one cornered. And yes, I do understand that Randall "doesn't read this site," but that doesn't mean that he isn't saying something by using White Hat here. He's obviously put a sign out there. It's up to us to decode the signifier. [[User:Orazor|Orazor]] ([[User talk:Orazor|talk]]) 06:50, 6 October 2014 (UTC)
::: Malice is active and/or deliberate harmful behavior, not the absence of kindness. So his attitude isn't malicious, it's selfish because he's putting his time far ahead of the wellbeing of others. -Pennpenn [[Special:Contributions/108.162.250.162|108.162.250.162]] 06:07, 11 December 2015 (UTC)

"Where does it end"? - Marriage, obviously. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 10:29, 19 February 2014 (UTC)

;Reminds me of a scene in 3:10 to Yuma (2007) with Russell Crowe and Christian Bale

Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) speaking to Dan Evans (Christian Bale):
"Yeah, that's why I don't mess around with doing anything good, Dan. You do one good deed for somebody... I imagine it's habit-forming. Something decent. See that grateful look in their eyes, imagine it makes you feel like Christ Hisself."

[[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.30|108.162.216.30]] 20:24, 19 February 2014 (UTC)CAM

In the U.S., the satellite company DirectTV has a series of humorous commercials using the Slippery Slope argument as part of their "Get Rid of Cable" campaign. They all start with a person using cable tv, having problems of some sort, and then ending up in a dire situation such as waking up in a roadside ditch, selling your hair to a wig shop, etc. [[Special:Contributions/199.27.128.67|199.27.128.67]] 22:43, 19 February 2014 (UTC)

Am I the only one thinking maybe we might take the literal meaning out of this, too? Seems like every day someone else gets fed up with being a douche.[[Special:Contributions/108.162.249.111|108.162.249.111]] 23:19, 19 February 2014 (UTC)

The classical "slippery slope" argument against cannabis legalization is that if we legalize cannabis, we must also legalize other drugs, eventually leading to legalizing heroin. This also mirrors the slippery slope argument in the comic. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.53.127|173.245.53.127]] 11:44, 20 February 2014 (UTC)

Updated and expanded explanation. Is it sufficient now?[[Special:Contributions/173.245.56.152|173.245.56.152]] 23:49, 29 June 2014 (UTC)

;I perceive a problem.:
Both examples of "slippery slope" arguments provided in the explanation are stereotypically bad arguments taken from a more conservative perspective, and the explanation goes on to criticize these bad arguments for being "largely made out of baseless fear and prejudice."

For one thing, this comic has nothing whatsoever to do with "arguments that are largely made out of baseless fear and prejudice" - furthermore, the criticism is a ''leftist's interpretation'' of the grounds for these perspectives (alleged fear and prejudice) rather than acknowledging whatever legitimacy there may be to actual conservative beliefs on these issues. Certainly, a thinking conservative who encountered this depiction of their beliefs would object strongly that their beliefs are quite warranted, and are not grounded in "baseless fear and prejudice" at all.

One possible solution would be to remove one of the examples and instead present an example of a bad "slippery slope" argument made from a left-leaning perspective: for example, arguing that "outlawing same-sex marriage will inevitably lead to outlawing interracial marriage as well" or "tightening up controls on illegal immigration will result in more onerous restrictions on legal immigration as well."

I am more inclined, however, to simply find a single example that isn't nearly as politically-charged and that anyone can agree to.
I'm thinking of drafting such an example and then making the change at a later date, unless someone finds a reason for me not to? Discussion is welcome. [[User:MeZimm|MeZimm]] ([[User talk:MeZimm|talk]]) 18:54, 22 December 2020 (UTC)
:: Changes made. Let me know if I overstepped or if something needs to be reworked, thanks! [[User:MeZimm|MeZimm]] ([[User talk:MeZimm|talk]]) 18:47, 4 January 2021 (UTC)
:::I removed them all. We do wikipedia links for a reason. [[User:Elektrizikekswerk|Elektrizikekswerk]] ([[User talk:Elektrizikekswerk|talk]]) 10:31, 24 May 2024 (UTC)

There is a simple solution to this. Just stay inside for the whole day, and exercise on a static bike. Luckily, covid means that this is happening (happened in many places) already. [[User:Beanie|Beanie]] [[User talk:Beanie|talk]] 10:44, 17 June 2021 (UTC)

Why is there an actual citation needed on the fact that all people want to be treated well? (In an everyday context, which is implied?) Removing that [[User:R128|R128]] ([[User talk:R128|talk]]) 17:21, 11 February 2026 (UTC)

Talk:3152: Skateboard

2026-02-06T18:22:49Z

R128:

Maybe Randall took inspiration for this comic from the recent Red Bull stunt with Brazilian skater Sandro Dias, who dropped from the side of a building from a height of 70 meters (that's little over 229 ft) on 25 September 2025. [[Special:Contributions/2804:214:4102:575A:D862:C9B6:9505:D740|2804:214:4102:575A:D862:C9B6:9505:D740]] 01:25, 9 October 2025 (UTC)vinnycordeiro
: @vinnycordeiro, I thought of that too. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centro_Administrativo_Fernando_Ferrari] He was able to start in momentary free fall and make a controlled skating descent down the curve of the building (on a smooth skating ramp that had been built to exactly follow the building contour, not directly on the building's normal external surface). Although doing more than twice that height and starting at terminal velocity instead of rest would be extra-impressive. Still, Sandro Dias's achievement shows that a champion skateboarder can keep control of a skateboard with staggeringly large amounts of kinetic energy! [[User:Schoen|Schoen]] ([[User talk:Schoen|talk]]) 03:14, 9 October 2025 (UTC)

Perhaps the “wrong parachute pack” thing is just a common trope, but I was immediately reminded of the example in the Henry Stickmin Collection, where Henry survives the initial fall without a parachute just fine, but is immediately killed by the contents of the backpack falling out and onto his head. [[User:KelOfTheStars!|KelOfTheStars!]] ([[User talk:KelOfTheStars!|talk]]) 01:55, 9 October 2025 (UTC)
: Parachute packs are secured with shoulder AND leg straps, so it's indeed very difficult to mistake them for ordinary backpacks. [[Special:Contributions/194.119.24.136|194.119.24.136]] 08:39, 9 October 2025 (UTC)
:Oh my gosh, how did I not notice that!? I am OBSESSED with THSC. [[User:RadiantRainwing|RadiantRainwing]] ([[User talk:RadiantRainwing|talk]]) 15:32, 9 October 2025 (UTC)
me when i realize that all my fandoms are dead (thsc, xkcd, alan becker.) {{unsigned ip|2.50.0.22|05:23, 12 November 2025}}

Wait, so "gee forces" isn't some kind of weird obscure pun? - [[Special:Contributions/24.177.125.170|24.177.125.170]] 08:51, 9 October 2025 (UTC)
: I wondered that too, but couldn't find any connection, other than that there is a TeamGee that makes electric skateboards, but it doesn't seem to be particularly notable (or even well thought of). [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 09:41, 9 October 2025 (UTC)

Has anyone done the math to see if the duration of the free fall would realistically be around 90 seconds as in the alt text? I want to believe Randall has, but the only way to know is to double-check... [[Special:Contributions/81.1.2.155|81.1.2.155]] 09:06, 9 October 2025 (UTC)
: OK this is me again, I just found an [https://www.omnicalculator.com/physics/free-fall-air-resistance online calculator] and for an 80-kg object, 90s corresponds to a fall of 5000 m, which is apparently a reasonable skydiving altitude. Of course he doesn't call just as he jumps so take 10 more seconds, that's 6000m. [[Special:Contributions/81.1.2.155|81.1.2.155]] 09:13, 9 October 2025 (UTC)
:: But he would only realize his mistake at the moment of opening his parachute, which is typically around 1000-1200 m, leaving only 20-25 seconds before impact. [[Special:Contributions/194.119.24.133|194.119.24.133]] 11:10, 9 October 2025 (UTC)

Terminal velocity in a flat orientation is something like 200 km/hr, or 55 m/s. The 600 ft halfpipe presumably describes the radius, so that's 180 m. Then, acceleration in a circular path is a = v^2/r, so making that turn would be 55^2 / 180 = 17 m/s^2. With 1 g = 10 m/s^2, that's under 2 g. A 300 ft, or 90 m ramp, would be about 3.5 g. Add 1 g when you're at the bottom of the ramp and your rotational acceleration is aligned with gravity, so 4.5 g on a 300 ft ramp. That is indeed at the 4-5 g's where sustained exposure will cause blackout. Note, it will take about 17 s to travel around a 90 m ramp. If Cueball can manage to land lying flat on the board, humans are much more tolerant of transverse g forces, up to 11 g's for 3 minutes, per https://www.goflightmedicine.com/post/pulling-gs-the-effects-of-g-forces-on-the-human-body But that would also probably prevent doing tricks.[[Special:Contributions/163.116.146.119|163.116.146.119]] 14:27, 9 October 2025 (UTC)

I think it's a reference to the new skate. game that's in early access because you commonly do insane stuff off building or while skydiving in the game. [[User:DetmerL|DetmerL]] ([[User talk:DetmerL|talk]]) 14:37, 9 October 2025 (UTC)

"the difference between the 300 ft and 600 ft ramps could be the difference between tragedy and skating immortality"
Whoever wrote this deserves an award. [[User:Fephisto|Fephisto]] ([[User talk:Fephisto|talk]]) 15:10, 9 October 2025 (UTC)

I don't know if this has a beat panel, if Cueball is actually doing something - rotating, putting the skateboard under him (preparing?). Normally a beat panel would be almost identical, rather than just wordless [[User:R128|R128]] ([[User talk:R128|talk]]) 18:22, 6 February 2026 (UTC)

=== Engineering ===
==== Skateboard ====
Assuming a landing speed of about 55 m/s (terminal velocity for a human falling in a spread-eagle position), and 52 mm diameter wheels, the wheels would spin at about 20000 rpm. Whilst that's well within the range for high quality wheels, the rotational acceleration on the wheels would be stressful; [[Cueball]] would need to land closer to upright to account for this initial resistance.
[[User:Kurahaupo|Kurahaupo]] ([[User talk:Kurahaupo|talk]]) 06:07, 16 October 2025 (UTC)

Talk:3202: Groundhog Day Meaning

2026-02-06T18:19:28Z

R128:

I guess it's weirdest because it has two silly associations. But Talk Like a Pirate Day is arguably weirder than either of them. [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 16:50, 2 February 2026 (UTC)
:Yellow pig day?[[User:Lordpishky|Lord Pishky]] ([[User talk:Lordpishky|talk]]) 00:15, 4 February 2026 (UTC)
:Arguably, Talk Like a Pirate Day isn't weird at all, since it means exactly what it sounds like. By contrast, Groundhog Day isn't clear what the groundhog is about, and of course the time loop is completely unrelated [[User:R128|R128]] ([[User talk:R128|talk]]) 18:19, 6 February 2026 (UTC)

Even Stargate SG-1 had a timeloop episode and dropped a Groundhog Day reference in.

: Malikai: Once I've correctly deciphered the symbols on the altar, I will be able to master the time device.

: Jack O'Neill: Why, so you can be king of Groundhog Day?

Damn I miss that show. [[Special:Contributions/135.84.57.36|135.84.57.36]] 17:06, 2 February 2026 (UTC)

third [[Special:Contributions/164.58.172.158|164.58.172.158]] 17:12, 2 February 2026 (UTC)
:quarter [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 09:42, 3 February 2026 (UTC)
:: fifth [[Special:Contributions/66.210.7.66|66.210.7.66]] 15:50, 4 February 2026 (UTC)
::: tritone [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 16:55, 4 February 2026 (UTC)
::: The minor fall, the major lift [[Special:Contributions/24.177.125.170|24.177.125.170]] 01:41, 5 February 2026 (UTC)

It’s curious to see Black Hat being the one who is nonplussed here. Usually he’s the one shocking everyone else with surreal statements and antics. [[User:Pie Guy|Pie Guy]] ([[User talk:Pie Guy|talk]]) 17:28, 2 February 2026 (UTC)
:Yeah I was wondering about that too. Why [[Black Hat]] instead of a more normal character like [[Megan]]? Contrary to his usual behavior, Black Hat isn't doing anything evil here. [[User:DKMell|DKMell]] ([[User talk:DKMell|talk]]) 19:34, 2 February 2026 (UTC)
::I was thinking it might be because of comic [[2174]], where it heavily implies Black Hat comes from a different planet. Maybe he still doesn't have all of our holidays and cultures figured out yet? Sounds like a bit of a stretch, but I think it's a fun interpretation, and I'm going with it. [[User:Willintendo|Willintendo]] ([[User talk:Willintendo|talk]]) 20:24, 2 February 2026 (UTC)
:Yes, that legit freaked me out. I like Willintendo's interpretation, though.[[Special:Contributions/104.32.72.95|104.32.72.95]] 21:02, 2 February 2026 (UTC)
:I came here to say the same. Haven't seen him ni a while so using him instead of White Hat is just confusing, like Randall has decided not to use him as a Classhole anymore. Or maybe he is just messing with us, like when Black Hat got Rick to attend Danish party, [[524: Party]], but he did not sing. Just by letting him be in this comic, we being thinking way too much. ;-) --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 08:56, 3 February 2026 (UTC)

Help, I'm stuck in a time loop. But at least it's going to be sunny for the forseeable future. [[Special:Contributions/76.187.17.7|76.187.17.7]] 18:29, 2 February 2026 (UTC)

We should possibly mention Candlemas and the German traditions surrounding Badgers seeing shadows. [[Special:Contributions/80.41.29.9|80.41.29.9]] 18:34, 2 February 2026 (UTC)
:Badger badger badger badger? [[User:Lordpishky|Lord Pishky]] ([[User talk:Lordpishky|talk]]) 20:05, 2 February 2026 (UTC)
::Or serpents on Imbolc, for that matter [[User:Nekokami|Nekokami]] ([[User talk:Nekokami|talk]]) 02:12, 3 February 2026 (UTC)
:I agree: the earlier traditions regarding badgers are probably what the title text is referring to with "other mustelids" [[Special:Contributions/74.110.98.95|74.110.98.95]] 01:41, 3 February 2026 (UTC)

¿How is it that the whole body resets except the brain? Oftentimes, the loop resets after death. If death is from an head-injury, ¿how does the brain restore without loosing memories or function? {{unsigned ip|67.174.239.209|19:44, 2 February 2026 (UTC)}}
:No time travel story makes sense. It's just a story, not physics.[[User:Nitpicking|Nitpicking]] ([[User talk:Nitpicking|talk]]) 02:10, 3 February 2026 (UTC)
::From your handle, I would have thought this was exactly the kind of comment you'd approve of. [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 10:02, 3 February 2026 (UTC)
:I think many sees the mind as outside the brain, so... It is clearly the same person waking up each morning, but he just has the memories from the day before. This is not a time travel movie. What ever he did the day before has no effect. He can just adjust what he does. There is a new movie using the exact same setting except it always ends with the death of the character: {{w|Boss Level}}. The director Joe Carnahan described it as "Groundhog Day as an action movie". --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 09:00, 3 February 2026 (UTC)
::There's also something like {{w|Edge of Tomorrow}}, in which the character's death is ''required'' to restart the time-loop for the loop-inflicted person.
::But, for them to work, there's either an assumption of mind-body dualism (i.e. (some) memories are somehow separate from the physical structures that might store them) or else there's some kind of a jolt of 'legacy memory reupload' that grants the person(s) undergoing the save-scummed restart process with the hint (or outright knowledge) of what had transpired upon the last cycle (or, cummulatively, ''all'' prior cycles).
::Some versions have everyone practically the same every single time, ''except'' for a lingering sense of deja vu. Or even some other entirely external artefact to hint that it's "not their first rodeo", that might not even belong to themselves but subtly changes the scenario that they're reacting to. [[Special:Contributions/81.179.199.253|81.179.199.253]] 22:28, 3 February 2026 (UTC)
:Outer Wilds had an intesting way of handling it, where information was sent back in time. But they never really explain how the information is captured, sent, and then "retrieved" to the person's mind. It's just sort of handwaved as alien technology. [[Special:Contributions/24.177.125.170|24.177.125.170]] 01:44, 5 February 2026 (UTC)

I'm sure i read this comic yesterday? [[Special:Contributions/89.242.150.153|89.242.150.153]] 20:18, 2 February 2026 (UTC)

The specific individual ground squirrel in Pennsylvania most people agreed to standardize on is now 139 years old. Even Wikipedia confirms the official Phil has been the same forecasting beast since 1887. Personally I'm a little unsure, I wonder if perhaps there may have been some substitutions along the way, however I cannot find any references to that happening... maybe I'm just too untrusting? [[User:Martin|Martin]] ([[User talk:Martin|talk]]) 21:25, 2 February 2026 (UTC)

I think there's one more hidden joke in the fact that it's Cueball explaining this to Black Hat and not the other way around. You'd expect misinformation from Black Hat but in fact what features in the comic is all true. [[Special:Contributions/2A02:8071:60F0:67A0:E9DD:54D9:E9C0:2426|2A02:8071:60F0:67A0:E9DD:54D9:E9C0:2426]] 07:00, 3 February 2026 (UTC)

The German weather lore is solely about the weather on candlemess. The batchers are a later addition. --[[Special:Contributions/2001:638:807:507:D0DD:20BF:E52B:CCC4|2001:638:807:507:D0DD:20BF:E52B:CCC4]] 13:22, 3 February 2026 (UTC)
:The badgers are the particularly German thing. The generic lore around Candlemas* (and even around animals and Candlemas more generally) is much more widespread.
:(*In fact, it likely predates Candlemas, and originates in more pagan lore.) [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 14:15, 3 February 2026 (UTC)

1117: My Sky

2026-02-05T15:09:43Z

R128: /* Trivia */

{{comic
| number = 1117
| date = October 5, 2012
| title = My Sky
| image = my_sky.png
| titletext = According to my mom, my first word was (looking up at the sky) 'Wow!'
}}

==Explanation==
This comic seems to be a follow up to [[1115: Sky]].

Here, Beret Guy claims ownership of the sky, which contains or "stores" the clouds. Last panel is a pun on {{w|cloud computing}} and specifically {{w|cloud storage}}, and looks like a follow up to [[1032: Networking]]. The obvious joke is that, instead of “cloud” (Internet-based) storage, [[Beret Guy]]'s business is literally storage ''of'' clouds.

The title text is a further statement, that his first words came while looking up at the sky. This relates to the first panel, where Beret Guy is shown hanging to the grass ceiling of an upside-down panel; the joke is that from an outside perspective not only would Beret Guy appear upside-down, but so would his written-out speech. As a child, Beret Guy would be looking up at his mom, and with a similar flipping of his speech his first word "MOM" would appear as "WOW".

There are some connections with both [[908: The Cloud]] and the title text of [[1444: Cloud]].

==Transcript==
:[The panel is upside-down. Beret Guy is holding onto the "ceiling", there is an upside-down cloud at the bottom of the panel.]
:Beret guy [to the solitary cumulus cloud.]: Oh—Hello down there! Welcome to My Sky!

:[The panel is now oriented in the conventional sense with the ground at the bottom. Beret Guy is standing on his feet too, and the sky now shows a second cloud.]
:Beret guy: It's pretty good. I like it. It's not the same color as ''anything''.

:[The sky is now blanketed by alto-cirrus clouds.]
:Beret guy: "Wow! There are a ''lot'' of you! Good thing it's so big.

:[The scene now depicts a party, where Beret Guy is talking to Ponytail.]
:Ponytail: "And what do ''you'' do?"
:Beret Guy: "I'm in the cloud storage business."

==Trivia==
This comic was referenced in [[2765: Escape Speed]].

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Beret Guy's Business]]

1029: Drawing Stars

2026-02-05T15:05:26Z

R128: /* Explanation */ 3203 ref

{{comic
| number = 1029
| date = March 14, 2012
| title = Drawing Stars
| image = drawing_stars.png
| titletext = Screw these 36-degree angles. I'm converting to Judaism.
}}

==Explanation==
[[Randall]] attempts to draw a {{w|five-pointed star}}; the <s>easiest</s> traditional way to do this free-hand is by drawing a {{w|pentagram}}, the simplest regular star figure in geometry. Once you've seen it done, you can usually draw a pentagram in one continuous motion. Unfortunately, while drawing the star Randall gets self-conscious and messes up, similar to how many attempts to draw the star go, especially when trying to remember how.

The correct way to draw a pentagram is to start like the first two panels, draw a line from the top point to the left leg, then from the left leg to the right arm. However, instead of drawing the next line upwards as Randall did, you need to draw it parallel to the "ground". After that, you go down to the right leg, then finish off with the top point.

In the title text, Randall takes the most extreme reaction to the problem by converting to {{w|Judaism}} just so he can use its {{w|Star of David| six-pointed star}} symbol, which he hopes is easier to draw because it is composed of two {{w|equilateral triangle}}s. This is completely absurd, as no sane human would change their entire religious beliefs just so they could more easily draw a star. {{Citation needed}}

A series of similar failed attempts at drawing a five-pointed star can later be seen in the inside cover of some editions of Randall's book, [[What If? (book)|What If?]]. The five-pointed star is one subject of [[3203: Binary Star]].

==Transcript==
:HOW TO DRAW A STAR:
:[A slightly curved line is drawn, starting with a point near the top center of the panel, and going downward and to the left at approximately a 23-degree angle, with an arrow at the end.]

:[Another slightly curved line goes up and to the right, creating a 34-degree angle with the first line.]
:So far so good...

:[A third line goes up and to the left, creating a 58-degree angle with the last line. The drawing now sort of resembles a tent being blown over in the wind.]
:Steady as she goes...

:[The fourth line goes down and to the right, creating an approximately 47-degree angle with the last line, and our star is beginning to look a bit askew.]
:...uh oh.

:''Shitshitshit''

:[The fifth line comes up at a 48-degree angle, completely missing the first point by a mile, and our star has failed spectacularly.]
:''ABORT!''
:''ABORT!''

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Geometry]]
[[Category:Comics with a Spanish translation]]

3203: Binary Star

2026-02-05T15:04:18Z

R128: /* Explanation */ add 1029 ref

{{comic
| number = 3203
| date = February 4, 2026
| title = Binary Star
| image = binary_star_2x.png
| imagesize = 353x365px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = The discovery of a fully typographical star system comes with a big asterisk.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by a TV star. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
While a {{w|Main Sequence|main sequence star}} is a real celestial object, a five-pointed star is how stars are often drawn. The comic uses a drawn star shape to be a part of a celestial star system. {{w|Binary star|Binary star systems}} are common throughout the universe, where two stars orbit each other. In some cases, these are different types of stars, such as a neutron star orbiting a main sequence star. The comic depicts a binary system of a real star and a drawn star.

In reality, pointed stars do not actually exist. The points often seen in the night sky around stars are just optical illusions caused by the {{w|diffraction spike}} effect.

Drawing a star as a pentagram, as shown in the comic, is referenced in [[1029: Drawing Stars]].

The title text similarly uses the * symbol (an asterisk - meaning little star), which is sometimes called a star, to be another real celestial star. A "big asterisk" is used as a metaphor for a rather large caveat, symbolizing a long footnote. The title text says "big asterisk" to mean a physically very large (astronomical scale) punctuation symbol.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
:[Graphical depiction of a binary star system. The orbits are shown with dashed lines. One star is revolving circularly close to the center of mass and is shown as a filled circle. The other has a very elliptic orbit further out. It is currently close to its furthest point from the other star. This star is depicted as a pentagram.]
:[Caption below the image:]
:Space news: astronomers have found the first known system with a main-sequence star orbited by a five-pointed one.
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

[[Category:Comics with inverted brightness]]
[[Category:Astronomy]]

3203: Binary Star

2026-02-05T15:02:44Z

R128: /* Transcript */

{{comic
| number = 3203
| date = February 4, 2026
| title = Binary Star
| image = binary_star_2x.png
| imagesize = 353x365px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = The discovery of a fully typographical star system comes with a big asterisk.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by a TV star. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
While a {{w|Main Sequence|main sequence star}} is a real celestial object, a five-pointed star is how stars are often drawn. The comic uses a drawn star shape to be a part of a celestial star system. {{w|Binary star|Binary star systems}} are common throughout the universe, where two stars orbit each other. In some cases, these are different types of stars, such as a neutron star orbiting a main sequence star. The comic depicts a binary system of a real star and a drawn star.

In reality, pointed stars do not actually exist. The points often seen in the night sky around stars are just optical illusions caused by the {{w|diffraction spike}} effect.

The title text similarly uses the * symbol (an asterisk - meaning little star), which is sometimes called a star, to be another real celestial star. A "big asterisk" is used as a metaphor for a rather large caveat, symbolizing a long footnote. The title text says "big asterisk" to mean a physically very large (astronomical scale) punctuation symbol.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
:[Graphical depiction of a binary star system. The orbits are shown with dashed lines. One star is revolving circularly close to the center of mass and is shown as a filled circle. The other has a very elliptic orbit further out. It is currently close to its furthest point from the other star. This star is depicted as a pentagram.]
:[Caption below the image:]
:Space news: astronomers have found the first known system with a main-sequence star orbited by a five-pointed one.
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

[[Category:Comics with inverted brightness]]
[[Category:Astronomy]]

3203: Binary Star

2026-02-05T15:00:14Z

R128: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 3203
| date = February 4, 2026
| title = Binary Star
| image = binary_star_2x.png
| imagesize = 353x365px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = The discovery of a fully typographical star system comes with a big asterisk.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by a TV star. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
While a {{w|Main Sequence|main sequence star}} is a real celestial object, a five-pointed star is how stars are often drawn. The comic uses a drawn star shape to be a part of a celestial star system. {{w|Binary star|Binary star systems}} are common throughout the universe, where two stars orbit each other. In some cases, these are different types of stars, such as a neutron star orbiting a main sequence star. The comic depicts a binary system of a real star and a drawn star.

In reality, pointed stars do not actually exist. The points often seen in the night sky around stars are just optical illusions caused by the {{w|diffraction spike}} effect.

The title text similarly uses the * symbol (an asterisk - meaning little star), which is sometimes called a star, to be another real celestial star. A "big asterisk" is used as a metaphor for a rather large caveat, symbolizing a long footnote. The title text says "big asterisk" to mean a physically very large (astronomical scale) punctuation symbol.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
:[Graphical depiction of a binary star system. One star is revolving circularly close to the center of mass and is shown as a dot. The other has a visibly elliptic orbit located further and is currently close to its apastron. It's depicted as a pentagram.]
:[Caption below the image:]
:Space news: astronomers have found the first known system with a main-sequence star orbited by a five-pointed one.
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

[[Category:Comics with inverted brightness]]
[[Category:Astronomy]]

Talk:3201: Proof Without Content

2026-01-30T17:58:59Z

R128:

First. Would be funny to have an explanation along the lines of "It is possible to give an explanation with no content. Here's how:" [[User:R128|R128]] ([[User talk:R128|talk]]) 17:44, 30 January 2026 (UTC)

Proof without Content seems to be a play of words for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proof_without_words]Proof without Words

The comic pokes fun at a common situation found in mathematics books. The students sees a statement with a very short proof that doesn't make sense since it's been summarized in a way that is helpful for people already familiar with the theorem. For instance: "prime numbers larger than 2 are odd". Proof: "even numbers are divisible by 2". The student is expected to know that a number divisible by 2 is not prime, but that's most likely something that comes up later in the same book, or sometimes not explained at all.
In the comic the "short" proof is taken to the absurd level of being completely empty. What mathematical statement can be proven with a completely empty proof? The fact that there exists comics which have statements with empty proofs. It is both a joke about difficult to understand proof in math books and also a meta-mathematics joke as the proof is talking about itself.
The title text pokes even more fun at maths books where many important theorems are stated and are given to the students as useful facts but with no proof, stating that demonstrating the truth of the statement is so easy it is "left as an exercise for the reader". This common scenario frustrates students because in some cases the "exercise" is extremely difficult to do.
The only "proof without content of a conjecture without content" is a blank page altogether, which clearly exists, so the statement is true, even if meaningless.

I really do not get that title text. I put an attempt at understanding it down but it may have gone over my head [[User:R128|R128]] ([[User talk:R128|talk]]) 17:58, 30 January 2026 (UTC)

3201: Proof Without Content

2026-01-30T17:57:22Z

R128: /* Transcript */

{{comic
| number = 3201
| date = January 30, 2026
| title = Proof Without Content
| image = proof_without_content_2x.png
| imagesize = 259x353px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = There's also a proof without content of a conjecture without content, but it's left as an exercise for the reader.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created as an exercise for the reader. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

This comic refers to a {{w|Proof without words|proofs without words}}, which rely on images or other geometric tools to visually demonstrate a concept without further explanation. The comic gives an example of a proof without any content at all, which proves its own existence.

This proof requires the conjecture to be stated, which could be construed as content.

The title text refers to another proof without content, that a conjecture without content could exist. This would imply a conjecture-proof pair with no content whatsoever. This could only be discussed indirectly, which is why it is mentioned and left as an {{w|Proof by Intimidation|exercise for the reader}}.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

[Within a panel, two boxes stacked vertically. Each one has a label above it.]

Conjecture:

[Within the box]

It's possible to construct a convincing proof without words, pictures, or content of any kind.

[The next label]

Proof:

[The box underneath this label is empty.]

[Underneath the panel]

Proofs without words are cool, but we can go further.

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

3201: Proof Without Content

2026-01-30T17:56:40Z

R128: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 3201
| date = January 30, 2026
| title = Proof Without Content
| image = proof_without_content_2x.png
| imagesize = 259x353px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = There's also a proof without content of a conjecture without content, but it's left as an exercise for the reader.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created as an exercise for the reader. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

This comic refers to a {{w|Proof without words|proofs without words}}, which rely on images or other geometric tools to visually demonstrate a concept without further explanation. The comic gives an example of a proof without any content at all, which proves its own existence.

This proof requires the conjecture to be stated, which could be construed as content.

The title text refers to another proof without content, that a conjecture without content could exist. This would imply a conjecture-proof pair with no content whatsoever. This could only be discussed indirectly, which is why it is mentioned and left as an {{w|Proof by Intimidation|exercise for the reader}}.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

[Two boxes stacked vertically. Each one has a label above it.]

Conjecture:

[Within the box]

It's possible to construct a convincing proof without words, pictures, or content of any kind.

[The next label]

Proof:

[The box underneath this label is empty.]

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

3201: Proof Without Content

2026-01-30T17:50:51Z

R128: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 3201
| date = January 30, 2026
| title = Proof Without Content
| image = proof_without_content_2x.png
| imagesize = 259x353px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = There's also a proof without content of a conjecture without content, but it's left as an exercise for the reader.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created as an exercise for the reader. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

This comic refers to proofs without words, which rely on images or other geometric tools to visually demonstrate a concept without further explanation. The comic gives an example of a proof without any content at all, which proves its own existence.

This proof requires the conjecture to be stated, which could be construed as content.

The title text refers to another proof without content, that a conjecture without content could exist. 

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

[Two boxes stacked vertically. Each one has a label above it.]

Conjecture:

[Within the box]

It's possible to construct a convincing proof without words, pictures, or content of any kind.

[The next label]

Proof:

[The box underneath this label is empty.]

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

3201: Proof Without Content

2026-01-30T17:46:36Z

R128: /* Transcript */

Talk:3201: Proof Without Content

2026-01-30T17:44:09Z

R128:

3197: Cost Savings

2026-01-22T16:13:01Z

R128: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 3197
| date = January 21, 2026
| title = Cost Savings
| image = cost_savings_2x.png
| imagesize = 303x461px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = Unfortunately, my scheme to trick NASA has now taken over a decade longer than planned and has run way over budget.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by an OVER-BUDGET ORBITER. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
This comic depicts a ridiculous scheme, concocted by Cueball, to dupe various representatives at NASA into doing a menial task for him; specifically, he wants them to build an ordinary shed in his yard. NASA, being the National Aeronautic and Space Administration, is not associated with {{w|Spruce Goose|hobbyist carpentry}} and certainly cannot be conventionally ordered to build a shed on a needy citizen's property{{Citation needed}}. Thus, Cueball takes a sly approach, trying to mask his true intentions in a long-winded cost-cutting presentation about a proposed satellite launch. Initially, it appears he is suggesting various ways to improve the cost/hassle of launching a satellite into orbit, but soon the suggestions become less about making the satellite's construction and launch more efficient and more about constructing a random structure on the ground, each one getting closer and closer to "Ditch the satellite idea and build a shed in my yard."

The title text is a humorous reference to the many, many project delays and unforeseen expenses that arise during the process of sending a rocket into space. It implies that Cueball has been attempting this scheme for long enough that it mirrors the setbacks a team would experience if they were actually sending a satellite into orbit. The {{w|Timeline_of_the_James_Webb_Space_Telescope|James Webb Telescope}} is one such satellite which was very delayed, as already mentioned in prior comics, notably [[2014|xkcd 2014]].

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
:[Cueball is standing in front of a framed graph on a wall, pointing at it with a short stick. The graph is a bar graph with steadily decreasing bar heights. Hairy and Megan, seated, are looking on from behind a desk.]
:Cueball: By lowering the planned satellite orbit, we can reduce the size of the launch vehicle required.
:Cueball: We can reduce costs further by eliminating the satellite entirely in favor of an aerial platform.
:Cueball: Some equipment could be moved to a ground-based facility, reducing required aircraft time.
:Cueball: Additional savings could be...

:[Caption below the panel:]
:I'm trying to get NASA to build a shed in my backyard.

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Space]]

3194: 16 Part Epoxy

2026-01-15T13:37:33Z

R128: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 3194
| date = January 14, 2026
| title = 16 Part Epoxy
| image = 16_part_epoxy_2x.png
| imagesize = 511x595px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = Some surfaces may seem difficult to glue. But if you research the materials, find tables of what adhesives work on them, and prepare your surfaces carefully, you can fail to glue them in a fun NEW way that fills your house with dangerous vapors.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by a bot that likes the taste of salty glue. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

This comic refers to {{w|Epoxy|epoxy}}, substances used as adhesives, sealants, and coatings. Many types of epoxy are multi-part, where the components, such as resin and a hardener, are stored separately. For ease of use, this can be in parallel syringes (of equal volume, or suitably different where a mixing ratio of 2:1 or 3:2 might be desired) such that the user simultaneously squeezes out the isolated chemicals by depressing both syringes at once. They are then mixed together on the target surface, so that the combined epoxy quickly cures into the desired solid, binding whatever surfaces upon which it is applied and then brought into contact with. This comic presents a fictitious 16-part epoxy, with the same apparent logic of parallel deposition in mind, with many components that are implausible or make fun of common problems people have when using epoxy in real life.

The title text references how not all epoxies and glues work on every material, and that applying them on some can require special techniques or products. Some industrial or industrial-grade adhesives contain solvents (e.g. {{w|tetrachloroethylene}}, which is used in E6000 glue) that release harmful vapors as they cure. If used improperly, this can result in the release of chemical vapors in an enclosed space along other dangerous side-effects, while also not working as a glue as intended.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Type
!Real?
!Explanation
|-
|Resin
|{{Yes}}
|A liquid which turns into a polymer when mixed with a hardener.
|-
|Hardener
|{{Yes}}
|A thick liquid which is mixed with resin to create a durable polymer which is commonly used as a glue.
|-
|Filler
|{{Yes}}
|An optional addition to the hardener and resin which changes the properties of the polymer.

Some epoxies are sold as products known as 'fillers', used to repair and cover cracks, holes, and imperfections.
|-
|Softener
|{{Yes}}
|A substance which is added to polymer to soften the polymer and increase its impact resistance.
|-
|Rosin
|{{Yes}}
|While this looks like a joke entry, this is actually an alternative to resin which is extracted naturally rather than synthesized from other chemicals. Rosin is frequently applied to the bows of string instruments like violins or cellos to improve the sound, as immortalized in the famous song "The Devil Went Down to Georgia".
|-
|Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else
|{{No}}
|One key annoyance with sticky substances is the difficulty of removing them when they bond to skin. In this case, the polymer bonds solely to skin instead of anything else, making it mostly only really useful for a practical joke. Some epoxies are specifically designed for gluing skin, usually for medical purposes, but none are known to bond to skin exclusively.{{acn}} The most common kinds are moisture-activated, which means they will not easily bond to fully dried surfaces, where often most non-skin surfaces are dry.{{acn}}
|-
|Stuff that will crack and turn white over a few days, for decorative appearance
|{{No|Not effective as epoxy}}
|'Crackle effect' is a real thing for crafters, and can be created by mixing paint and glue, but is not recommended if you want two surfaces to adhere, since most paint is made to be non-adherent in order to be durable{{acn}}. Poor finish can be a frustrating problem when applying such mixtures to visible surfaces, especially when the problem only appears some time after you've congratulated yourself on a job well-done.
|-
|Placebo
|{{No|Not in the field of adhesives}}
|The {{w|placebo effect}} happens when somebody is told that something has a certain effect, when in reality there is no effect. This is commonly used in medical studies to determine whether a medication actually does something as opposed to simply having a {{w|psychosomatic effect}}. Using this term to describe a type of polymer suggests it would make someone believe it is gluing things together without actually doing anything, which is highly unlikely. Alternatively, this could refer to a component or filler that claims to serve a specific purpose while having no true benefit, causing the perception of benefit to the consumer (presumably causing better reviews).
|-
|Minced duct tape
|{{No}}
|Randall is pretending that having very small pieces of sticky {{w|duct tape}} would make a good adhesive. In fact, cutting duct tape into small pieces would weaken it and make it ''less'' effective at sticking things together. In the UK, the word 'minced' can also mean 'made worthless', which would also not augur well for the adhesive.
|-
|Acetone fragrance
|{{No}}
|Acetone is a volatile solvent used in a number of glues and paints (incl. nail polish), but it weakens epoxy and can even be used to remove uncured epoxy. It has a strong, distinctive, very unpleasant smell, and is actually toxic, meaning that fragrance is an odd reason for adding it to any product.
|-
|Powdered bar magnets
|{{No}}
|This might still work if the pieces could somehow be aligned correctly, as each tiny piece of magnet would still be a magnet in its own right, capable of attracting the other tiny magnets, and thus resisting tension forces. However, it would be much worse than a normal bar magnet, since the magnetic force would be weaker than those that held the original bar together. In any case, it's much more likely that each piece would end up randomly orientated, and therefore as likely to repel as attract each other.
|-
|Polyethylvinylesteracetate
|{{Maybe|Not in epoxy}}
|This appears to be a reference to {{w|ethylene-vinyl acetate|Poly (ethylene-vinyl acetate)}}, some formulations of which can be used as the adhesive in hot-glue guns. Vinyl acetate is an ester, so the inclusion of that term is redundant. The cadence of the constructed word may also be a reference to the television episode {{w|Lucy Does a TV Commercial}} and its memorable product "Vitameatavegamin". It also resembles the kind of thing often seen in ingredients lists for common household products such as soaps and cleaners, which are fairly meaningless to the average person buying them.
|-
|2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate
|{{Maybe|Unclear}}
|This sounds almost exactly the same as the above item, but {{w|2-Polyprenyl-6-hydroxyphenol methylase|a name with a "2-" prefix}} generally indicates that the initial bit of the name is a {{w|functional group}} attached to the ''second'' position along a chemical chain (often being the carbon-carbon 'spine' of a molecule, in large-molecule organic chemistry), rather than attached to its end. Because the molecule name is (possibly deliberately) malformed, it's hard to tell what is supposed to be attached to the second carbon of what subunit.
|-
|Salt and pepper to taste
|{{Maybe|Not for taste, but salt can be useful}}
|Salt and pepper are two incredibly popular condiments which are used to enhance a dish's flavor. But the taste of your epoxy should not be your concern. Do not eat epoxy. But salt or sand or other fine grains are sometimes recommended to add a bit of grit to an adhesive. Generally glues or epoxies need the bonded materials to be firmly held together while the glue cures. But when first pressed together, any excess glue is squeezed out and can cause the surfaces to slip around and need to be re-aligned. Any extra friction in the epoxy can help alleviate that.
|-
|Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas
|{{No}}
|{{w|Gorilla Glue}} is a popular brand of superglue which uses {{w|gorillas}} as its mascot. In this case, the blood of the gorillas would be extracted and placed in the polymer, which would not be any more efficacious than any other gorilla's blood, because they're depicted as regular gorillas that just happen to carry glue everywhere. Extracting and consuming the blood of a creature or person in an attempt to inherit some of the qualities of the 'donor' is a common trope, so this may be suggesting that including this will give the epoxy 'the strength of a gorilla', commonly considered a powerful animal.

Blood has been [https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/blood-glue historically used in glue], though not typically that of gorillas.
|-
|Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours
|{{No}}
|Another common annoyance when using an adhesive is that each glue type only forms an adhesive bond with certain materials. In this case, the polymer would bond with every material except for the one you were using, causing great distress and leaving you in a fix.
|}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

Standard 16-Part Epoxy

[An epoxy applicator with a single push bar and sixteen differently-colored chambers, each labeled]

Resin

Hardener

Filler

Softener

Rosin

Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else

Stuff that will turn white and crack over a few days, for decorative appearance

Placebo

Minced duct tape

Acetone Fragrance

Powdered bar magnets

Polyethylvinylesteracetate

2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate

Salt and pepper to taste

Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas

Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

[[Category:Comics with color]]

3194: 16 Part Epoxy

2026-01-15T13:37:03Z

R128: /* Explanation */ gorilla blood

{{comic
| number = 3194
| date = January 14, 2026
| title = 16 Part Epoxy
| image = 16_part_epoxy_2x.png
| imagesize = 511x595px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = Some surfaces may seem difficult to glue. But if you research the materials, find tables of what adhesives work on them, and prepare your surfaces carefully, you can fail to glue them in a fun NEW way that fills your house with dangerous vapors.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by a bot that likes the taste of salty glue. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

This comic refers to {{w|Epoxy|epoxy}}, substances used as adhesives, sealants, and coatings. Many types of epoxy are multi-part, where the components, such as resin and a hardener, are stored separately. For ease of use, this can be in parallel syringes (of equal volume, or suitably different where a mixing ratio of 2:1 or 3:2 might be desired) such that the user simultaneously squeezes out the isolated chemicals by depressing both syringes at once. They are then mixed together on the target surface, so that the combined epoxy quickly cures into the desired solid, binding whatever surfaces upon which it is applied and then brought into contact with. This comic presents a fictitious 16-part epoxy, with the same apparent logic of parallel deposition in mind, with many components that are implausible or make fun of common problems people have when using epoxy in real life.

The title text references how not all epoxies and glues work on every material, and that applying them on some can require special techniques or products. Some industrial or industrial-grade adhesives contain solvents (e.g. {{w|tetrachloroethylene}}, which is used in E6000 glue) that release harmful vapors as they cure. If used improperly, this can result in the release of chemical vapors in an enclosed space along other dangerous side-effects, while also not working as a glue as intended.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Type
!Real?
!Explanation
|-
|Resin
|{{Yes}}
|A liquid which turns into a polymer when mixed with a hardener.
|-
|Hardener
|{{Yes}}
|A thick liquid which is mixed with resin to create a durable polymer which is commonly used as a glue.
|-
|Filler
|{{Yes}}
|An optional addition to the hardener and resin which changes the properties of the polymer.

Some epoxies are sold as products known as 'fillers', used to repair and cover cracks, holes, and imperfections.
|-
|Softener
|{{Yes}}
|A substance which is added to polymer to soften the polymer and increase its impact resistance.
|-
|Rosin
|{{Yes}}
|While this looks like a joke entry, this is actually an alternative to resin which is extracted naturally rather than synthesized from other chemicals. Rosin is frequently applied to the bows of string instruments like violins or cellos to improve the sound, as immortalized in the famous song "The Devil Went Down to Georgia".
|-
|Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else
|{{No}}
|One key annoyance with sticky substances is the difficulty of removing them when they bond to skin. In this case, the polymer bonds solely to skin instead of anything else, making it mostly only really useful for a practical joke. Some epoxies are specifically designed for gluing skin, usually for medical purposes, but none are known to bond to skin exclusively.{{acn}} The most common kinds are moisture-activated, which means they will not easily bond to fully dried surfaces, where often most non-skin surfaces are dry.{{acn}}
|-
|Stuff that will crack and turn white over a few days, for decorative appearance
|{{No|Not effective as epoxy}}
|'Crackle effect' is a real thing for crafters, and can be created by mixing paint and glue, but is not recommended if you want two surfaces to adhere, since most paint is made to be non-adherent in order to be durable{{acn}}. Poor finish can be a frustrating problem when applying such mixtures to visible surfaces, especially when the problem only appears some time after you've congratulated yourself on a job well-done.
|-
|Placebo
|{{No|Not in the field of adhesives}}
|The {{w|placebo effect}} happens when somebody is told that something has a certain effect, when in reality there is no effect. This is commonly used in medical studies to determine whether a medication actually does something as opposed to simply having a {{w|psychosomatic effect}}. Using this term to describe a type of polymer suggests it would make someone believe it is gluing things together without actually doing anything, which is highly unlikely. Alternatively, this could refer to a component or filler that claims to serve a specific purpose while having no true benefit, causing the perception of benefit to the consumer (presumably causing better reviews).
|-
|Minced duct tape
|{{No}}
|Randall is pretending that having very small pieces of sticky {{w|duct tape}} would make a good adhesive. In fact, cutting duct tape into small pieces would weaken it and make it ''less'' effective at sticking things together. In the UK, the word 'minced' can also mean 'made worthless', which would also not augur well for the adhesive.
|-
|Acetone fragrance
|{{No}}
|Acetone is a volatile solvent used in a number of glues and paints (incl. nail polish), but it weakens epoxy and can even be used to remove uncured epoxy. It has a strong, distinctive, very unpleasant smell, and is actually toxic, meaning that fragrance is an odd reason for adding it to any product.
|-
|Powdered bar magnets
|{{No}}
|This might still work if the pieces could somehow be aligned correctly, as each tiny piece of magnet would still be a magnet in its own right, capable of attracting the other tiny magnets, and thus resisting tension forces. However, it would be much worse than a normal bar magnet, since the magnetic force would be weaker than those that held the original bar together. In any case, it's much more likely that each piece would end up randomly orientated, and therefore as likely to repel as attract each other.
|-
|Polyethylvinylesteracetate
|{{Maybe|Not in epoxy}}
|This appears to be a reference to {{w|ethylene-vinyl acetate|Poly (ethylene-vinyl acetate)}}, some formulations of which can be used as the adhesive in hot-glue guns. Vinyl acetate is an ester, so the inclusion of that term is redundant. The cadence of the constructed word may also be a reference to the television episode {{w|Lucy Does a TV Commercial}} and its memorable product "Vitameatavegamin". It also resembles the kind of thing often seen in ingredients lists for common household products such as soaps and cleaners, which are fairly meaningless to the average person buying them.
|-
|2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate
|{{Maybe|Unclear}}
|This sounds almost exactly the same as the above item, but {{w|2-Polyprenyl-6-hydroxyphenol methylase|a name with a "2-" prefix}} generally indicates that the initial bit of the name is a {{w|functional group}} attached to the ''second'' position along a chemical chain (often being the carbon-carbon 'spine' of a molecule, in large-molecule organic chemistry), rather than attached to its end. Because the molecule name is (possibly deliberately) malformed, it's hard to tell what is supposed to be attached to the second carbon of what subunit.
|-
|Salt and pepper to taste
|{{Maybe|Not for taste, but salt can be useful}}
|Salt and pepper are two incredibly popular condiments which are used to enhance a dish's flavor. But the taste of your epoxy should not be your concern. Do not eat epoxy. But salt or sand or other fine grains are sometimes recommended to add a bit of grit to an adhesive. Generally glues or epoxies need the bonded materials to be firmly held together while the glue cures. But when first pressed together, any excess glue is squeezed out and can cause the surfaces to slip around and need to be re-aligned. Any extra friction in the epoxy can help alleviate that.
|-
|Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas
|{{No}}
|{{w|Gorilla Glue}} is a popular brand of superglue which uses {{w|gorillas}} as its mascot. In this case, the blood of the gorillas would be extracted and placed in the polymer, which would not be any more efficacious than any other gorilla's blood, because they're depicted as regular gorillas that just happen to carry glue everywhere. Extracting and consuming the blood of a creature or person in an attempt to inherit some of the qualities of the 'donor' is a common trope, so this may be suggesting that including this will give the epoxy 'the strength of a gorilla', commonly considered a powerful animal.

Blood has been [https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/blood-glue historically used in glue], though typically that of gorillas.
|-
|Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours
|{{No}}
|Another common annoyance when using an adhesive is that each glue type only forms an adhesive bond with certain materials. In this case, the polymer would bond with every material except for the one you were using, causing great distress and leaving you in a fix.
|}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

Standard 16-Part Epoxy

[An epoxy applicator with a single push bar and sixteen differently-colored chambers, each labeled]

Resin

Hardener

Filler

Softener

Rosin

Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else

Stuff that will turn white and crack over a few days, for decorative appearance

Placebo

Minced duct tape

Acetone Fragrance

Powdered bar magnets

Polyethylvinylesteracetate

2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate

Salt and pepper to taste

Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas

Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

[[Category:Comics with color]]

3194: 16 Part Epoxy

2026-01-15T13:24:42Z

R128: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 3194
| date = January 14, 2026
| title = 16 Part Epoxy
| image = 16_part_epoxy_2x.png
| imagesize = 511x595px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = Some surfaces may seem difficult to glue. But if you research the materials, find tables of what adhesives work on them, and prepare your surfaces carefully, you can fail to glue them in a fun NEW way that fills your house with dangerous vapors.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by a bot that likes the taste of salty glue. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

This comic refers to {{w|Epoxy|epoxy}}, substances used as adhesives, sealants, and coatings. Many types of epoxy are multi-part, where the components, such as resin and a hardener, are stored separately. For ease of use, this can be in parallel syringes (of equal volume, or suitably different where a mixing ratio of 2:1 or 3:2 might be desired) such that the user simultaneously squeezes out the isolated chemicals by depressing both syringes at once. They are then mixed together on the target surface, so that the combined epoxy quickly cures into the desired solid, binding whatever surfaces upon which it is applied and then brought into contact with. This comic presents a fictitious 16-part epoxy, with the same apparent logic of parallel deposition in mind, with many components that are implausible or make fun of common problems people have when using epoxy in real life.

The title text references how not all epoxies and glues work on every material, and that applying them on some can require special techniques or products. Some industrial or industrial-grade adhesives contain solvents (e.g. {{w|tetrachloroethylene}}, which is used in E6000 glue) that release harmful vapors as they cure. If used improperly, this can result in the release of chemical vapors in an enclosed space along other dangerous side-effects, while also not working as a glue as intended.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Type
!Real?
!Explanation
|-
|Resin
|{{Yes}}
|A liquid which turns into a polymer when mixed with a hardener.
|-
|Hardener
|{{Yes}}
|A thick liquid which is mixed with resin to create a durable polymer which is commonly used as a glue.
|-
|Filler
|{{Yes}}
|An optional addition to the hardener and resin which changes the properties of the polymer.

Some epoxies are sold as products known as 'fillers', used to repair and cover cracks, holes, and imperfections.
|-
|Softener
|{{Yes}}
|A substance which is added to polymer to soften the polymer and increase its impact resistance.
|-
|Rosin
|{{Yes}}
|While this looks like a joke entry, this is actually an alternative to resin which is extracted naturally rather than synthesized from other chemicals. Rosin is frequently applied to the bows of string instruments like violins or cellos to improve the sound, as immortalized in the famous song "The Devil Went Down to Georgia".
|-
|Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else
|{{No}}
|One key annoyance with sticky substances is the difficulty of removing them when they bond to skin. In this case, the polymer bonds solely to skin instead of anything else, making it mostly only really useful for a practical joke. Some epoxies are specifically designed for gluing skin, usually for medical purposes, but none are known to bond to skin exclusively.{{acn}} The most common kinds are moisture-activated, which means they will not easily bond to fully dried surfaces, where often most non-skin surfaces are dry.{{acn}}
|-
|Stuff that will crack and turn white over a few days, for decorative appearance
|{{No|Not effective as epoxy}}
|'Crackle effect' is a real thing for crafters, and can be created by mixing paint and glue, but is not recommended if you want two surfaces to adhere, since most paint is made to be non-adherent in order to be durable{{acn}}. Poor finish can be a frustrating problem when applying such mixtures to visible surfaces, especially when the problem only appears some time after you've congratulated yourself on a job well-done.
|-
|Placebo
|{{No|Not in the field of adhesives}}
|The {{w|placebo effect}} happens when somebody is told that something has a certain effect, when in reality there is no effect. This is commonly used in medical studies to determine whether a medication actually does something as opposed to simply having a {{w|psychosomatic effect}}. Using this term to describe a type of polymer suggests it would make someone believe it is gluing things together without actually doing anything, which is highly unlikely. Alternatively, this could refer to a component or filler that claims to serve a specific purpose while having no true benefit, causing the perception of benefit to the consumer (presumably causing better reviews).
|-
|Minced duct tape
|{{No}}
|Randall is pretending that having very small pieces of sticky {{w|duct tape}} would make a good adhesive. In fact, cutting duct tape into small pieces would weaken it and make it ''less'' effective at sticking things together. In the UK, the word 'minced' can also mean 'made worthless', which would also not augur well for the adhesive.
|-
|Acetone fragrance
|{{No}}
|Acetone is a volatile solvent used in a number of glues and paints (incl. nail polish), but it weakens epoxy and can even be used to remove uncured epoxy. It has a strong, distinctive, very unpleasant smell, and is actually toxic, meaning that fragrance is an odd reason for adding it to any product.
|-
|Powdered bar magnets
|{{No}}
|This might still work if the pieces could somehow be aligned correctly, as each tiny piece of magnet would still be a magnet in its own right, capable of attracting the other tiny magnets, and thus resisting tension forces. However, it would be much worse than a normal bar magnet, since the magnetic force would be weaker than those that held the original bar together. In any case, it's much more likely that each piece would end up randomly orientated, and therefore as likely to repel as attract each other.
|-
|Polyethylvinylesteracetate
|{{Maybe|Not in epoxy}}
|This appears to be a reference to {{w|ethylene-vinyl acetate|Poly (ethylene-vinyl acetate)}}, some formulations of which can be used as the adhesive in hot-glue guns. Vinyl acetate is an ester, so the inclusion of that term is redundant. The cadence of the constructed word may also be a reference to the television episode {{w|Lucy Does a TV Commercial}} and its memorable product "Vitameatavegamin". It also resembles the kind of thing often seen in ingredients lists for common household products such as soaps and cleaners, which are fairly meaningless to the average person buying them.
|-
|2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate
|{{Maybe|Unclear}}
|This sounds almost exactly the same as the above item, but {{w|2-Polyprenyl-6-hydroxyphenol methylase|a name with a "2-" prefix}} generally indicates that the initial bit of the name is a {{w|functional group}} attached to the ''second'' position along a chemical chain (often being the carbon-carbon 'spine' of a molecule, in large-molecule organic chemistry), rather than attached to its end. Because the molecule name is (possibly deliberately) malformed, it's hard to tell what is supposed to be attached to the second carbon of what subunit.
|-
|Salt and pepper to taste
|{{Maybe|Not for taste, but salt can be useful}}
|Salt and pepper are two incredibly popular condiments which are used to enhance a dish's flavor. But the taste of your epoxy should not be your concern. Do not eat epoxy. But salt or sand or other fine grains are sometimes recommended to add a bit of grit to an adhesive. Generally glues or epoxies need the bonded materials to be firmly held together while the glue cures. But when first pressed together, any excess glue is squeezed out and can cause the surfaces to slip around and need to be re-aligned. Any extra friction in the epoxy can help alleviate that.
|-
|Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas
|{{No}}
|{{w|Gorilla Glue}} is a popular brand of superglue which uses {{w|gorillas}} as its mascot. In this case, the blood of the gorillas would be extracted and placed in the polymer, which would not be any more efficacious than any other gorilla's blood, because they're depicted as regular gorillas that just happen to carry glue everywhere. Extracting and consuming the blood of a creature or person in an attempt to inherit some of the qualities of the 'donor' is a common trope, so this may be suggesting that including this will give the epoxy 'the strength of a gorilla', commonly considered a powerful animal.
|-
|Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours
|{{No}}
|Another common annoyance when using an adhesive is that each glue type only forms an adhesive bond with certain materials. In this case, the polymer would bond with every material except for the one you were using, causing great distress and leaving you in a fix.
|}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

Standard 16-Part Epoxy

[An epoxy applicator with a single push bar and sixteen differently-colored chambers, each labeled]

Resin

Hardener

Filler

Softener

Rosin

Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else

Stuff that will turn white and crack over a few days, for decorative appearance

Placebo

Minced duct tape

Acetone Fragrance

Powdered bar magnets

Polyethylvinylesteracetate

2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate

Salt and pepper to taste

Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas

Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

[[Category:Comics with color]]

3194: 16 Part Epoxy

2026-01-14T20:08:48Z

R128: /* Transcript */ initial transcript

3194: 16 Part Epoxy

2026-01-14T20:05:18Z

R128: /* Explanation */ initial explanation

3187: High Altitude Cooking Instructions

2026-01-08T18:39:43Z

R128: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 3187
| date = December 29, 2025
| title = High Altitude Cooking Instructions
| image = high_altitude_cooking_instructions_2x.png
| imagesize = 389x370px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = 1,300,000-1,400,000 ft: Ask a crew member to show you how to use the ISS food warmer.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by a crew member using the ISS food warmer. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
At very low air pressures, typical of higher altitudes, cooking involves extra complications. This was previously mentioned in [[2153: Effects of High Altitude]]. This comic imagines food preparation instructions with additional caveats specifically for high-altitude cooking. These types of instructions are relatively common in the real world for certain kinds of products, such as cake mixes, but the comic involves extreme extrapolation of the concept.

As air pressure decreases, the boiling point of water also decreases. Such a pressure decrease would be caused by any increase in altitude, but the effect isn't usually significant except for locations that are high up on mountains or highly elevated plateaus. This has two major effects on food cooking. If the food is cooked by boiling in water, that will be happening at a lower temperature than usual. The lower temperature means that to fully cook the food, it will be necessary to cook it for longer than at sea level. Lower pressure means that water will evaporate more easily, and for foods that aren't being boiled, longer cooking times will also give any moisture in the food more time to evaporate. This would leave the food relatively dried out. In this case, it will be necessary to add more water to begin with, so that the amount of moisture left at the end of the cooking process is correct.

People who live at high altitudes and cook frequently are often aware of the kinds of adjustments to instructions that they need to make to have their cooking come out "right", but it's useful to have the adjustments given explicitly. This is especially true for foods of a kind likely to be used by people who will be cooking at unfamiliar altitudes, such as dehydrated foods for backpackers and amateur explorers. This comes at a "cost" of giving non-high-altitude people more instructions to read, which can appear daunting at first glance, and occupying more space on the food's packaging, leaving less for pretty pictures or other inducements to buy the product. Or the instructions can be printed in a smaller font, making them harder to read for some users.

At the top of this comic, there are a part of these instructions that can only partly be seen; presumably, these are the "sea level" instructions. What can be seen for sure is "remove from" and "for 3 minutes before serving." A qualified guess is that it says "remove from heat and let stand for 3 minutes before serving," but as nothing above this is visible, it is impossible to tell what the meal is, and the original cook time and temperature can only be guessed at. Below follows the separate High Altitude version, which lists instructions for three different heights above sea level.

While the first two sections are reasonable accommodations, given the lower boiling point of water under less pressure, for altitudes of 3,500-6,500 ft (1-2 km) and 6,500-9,500 ft (2-3 km), the instructions - as is typical for xkcd - soon veer into absurdity.

At an altitude of 250,000-450,000 ft (approximately 76-137 km), the instructions assume the user is partaking in some kind of controlled spaceflight. The "cooking instructions", therefore, are instead instructions for reentry; basically, telling the user "You can wait until you get home". Once back on the ground it tells you to use the sea level cooking instructions.

In this range of altitudes, you are ''highly'' likely to actively be either on the way down or, perhaps, still on the way up to space; cooking shouldn't be your primary concern in either case. The air-launched {{w|North American X-15|X-15}} and the later {{w|SpaceShipOne}} ultimately 'flew' at around 350,000 ft, though (as with rockets, re-entry capsules or {{w|Project HARP|projectiles}}) there is no real capability to loiter at these altitudes, being well above even the unmanned balloon-flight record or that of any {{w|AeroVironment Helios Prototype#Records|sustained level flight}}. Only in the latter might you even expect to be a passenger — not too busy to enjoy a light pre-prepared snack — already cooked, as necessary, at ground level. Additionally, these altitudes are [https://www.freemars.org/jeff/speed/index.htm too low to orbit], being subject to high atmospheric drag.

The title text goes a step further and assumes that the user is in orbit — specifically, on the {{w|International Space Station}} — at an altitude of 1,300,000-1,400,000 (396-426 km) (the ISS is between 413-422 km above Earth's surface). Anyone on an orbiting space station is presumably going to be there for an extended period, so they cannot wait until after they return to Earth for a meal, so the "cooking instructions" simply direct the user to someone who can show them how to use the on-board facilities. Even if the pressure is one atmosphere, cooking with boiling water in a microgravity environment (as one might experience on a free-falling space station) is likely not the best of ideas, so it's better to ask someone for directions.

Interestingly, ''just'' below the 1,300,000 feet limit, you may instead be able to ask a Taikonaut how to use their {{w|Tiangong space station#Food and personal hygiene|microwave or recently installed air-fryer}}.

In 2022, spaceman extraordinaire Scott Manley uploaded a rigorously scientific presentation titled [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwf0RWXx8BY Can You Cook a Turkey by Dropping It From Space?]. A similar question was discussed in the 2013 [[what if? (blog)|What if]] blog post, "{{What If|28|Steak Drop}}".

==Transcript==
:[Two notes, of black writing on white background, are printed upon an item of grey packaging that is shown in closeup, slightly inclined and rotated within the comic panel. Only the latter parts of the top note are visible — because of the slant, only the first few characters of the penultimate line, and the entire final line of text, can be read. The bottom note is fully visible, as the bottom of the board is all within view.]

:[The readable part of the top note's two lines:]
:Remove fro[m heat]
:for 3 minutes before serving.

:[The bottom note:]
:'''High altitude cooking instructions:'''
:'''3,500-6,500 ft''': Add ½ cup water, increase cook time to 12 minutes
:'''6,500-9,500 ft''': Add 1¼ cups water, increase cook time to 18 minutes
:'''250,000-450,000 ft''': Orient reentry vehicle for aerodynamic stability. Deploy parachutes at 10,000 ft. Descend, keeping crew capsule tightly covered, for 3-4 minutes. After splashdown, follow sea level cooking instructions

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>
[[Category: Food]]
[[Category: Space]]

3191: Superstition

2026-01-08T16:23:32Z

R128: /* Trivia */

{{comic
| number = 3191
| date = January 7, 2026
| title = Superstition
| image = superstition_2x.png
| imagesize = 275x393px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = It's important to teach yourself to feel responsible for random events, because with great responsibility comes great power. That's what my wise Uncle Ben told me right before he died; he might still be alive today if only I'd said rabbit rabbit that year!
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by people who will edit this wiki or else it is their fault. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
This comic references the 'superstition', which is known to have existed as far back as 1909, of saying "{{W|rabbit rabbit rabbit|rabbit rabbit}}" on the first day of a month in order to have good luck. There are many 'superstitions' about actions that either cause bad luck (e.g. "step on a crack, break your mother's back", walking under a ladder, breaking a mirror) or protect against bad luck (e.g. carrying a rabbit's foot, throwing salt over your shoulder after spilling some).

When asked to explain it, [[Cueball]] reveals that, rather than being subject to {{W|magical thinking}}, he is fully aware that the act has no real direct power, and thus in his case this isn't really a superstition, but merely a cultural artefact. However, he suggests that acts like these have a psychological effect by making people feel guilty over random unpleasant events over which they have no control by implying that there must have been some unrelated act which could have prevented them.

"{{W|Uncle Ben}}" is a reference to Spider-Man, whose uncle, Ben, told him that "with great power comes great responsibility". He was not actually aware of Peter Parker's developing super-powered abilities, his aphorism being about far more mundane abilities to improve people's lives, but this still became the central guiding tenet for the superhero's philosophy. The title text flips this and implies that by taking on a great responsibility one will gain the concomitant degree of extra power. The adherence to superstitions to control our fate implies that we all have great powers, however, and we must therefore use them responsibly.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

:[Blondie, Cueball and a child (Hairy) are walking from left to right. The child is turning towards Cueball.]

:Cueball: Oops, I forgot to say "rabbit rabbit" on January first!

:Hairy: Why do you do that?

:Cueball: Just a superstition.

:Hairy: What's a superstition?

:Cueball: It's a way to train yourself to feel like any bad thing that happens is your fault.

==Trivia==

* On January 7th, 2026, both the 1x and 2x version of this comic had no anti-aliasing applied (1-bit black and white). It was fixed later that day.

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Blondie]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]
[[Category:Language]]

Header text

2026-01-08T16:21:13Z

R128: /* 2025-01-07 - Back to standard text */ typos?

<noinclude>{{xkcd.com}}[[File:xkcd_header.png|thumb|right|250px|The [[Design of xkcd.com#Header section|Header section]] is one of the [[Design of xkcd.com|four main sections]] of the [https://xkcd.com xkcd.com] website.]]The '''header text''' is usually updated when [[Randall]] has news to share or wants to add information about a specific comic. The default header text states:

</noinclude><div style="font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: 500; font-size: 16px; width: 760px; line-height: 150%;" class="plainlinks">
:xkcd updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.</div><noinclude>

Usually, changes to the header text show up in all comics. However, for certain comics, its header text is changed permanently, which means that comic's page won't be affected by changes to the global header text like the rest of the comics. You can see the list of these [[#Comic-specific header text|Comic-specific header texts]] below.

Usually, the global header text is changed back to the default once the novelty of the news ends. Recently, the default header text has not been used for extended periods of time. The most recent header text change can be found at the top of the [[#Global header text|Global header text section]].

{{incomplete|Someone has created a full list of comic-specific header texts! We have only explained 23 so far, and '''33 are missing'''. [[Talk:Header_text#anc|The full list in on the Talk page!]]. (Also, if you have ''infinite'' spare time, please remove the bullet points on the page and use normal paragraphs.)}}

Use this list to quickly jump to a specific header text, or [[#Comic-specific header text|click here]] to jump to the most recent one.
:{{TOC}}
==Comic-specific header text==
When editing the section, list the changes chronologically with the date of the web archive link and hyperlink each date. Include an internal link to the comic at the time of each change and describe the modifications with relevant information. Place the most recent changes at the top.


===[[2957: A Crossword Puzzle]]===
*This comic's header mentions that it has been inspired by an old comic (by accident, i.e. originally Randall was not aware of his inspiration).
**It was on the front page from from Thursday [https://web.archive.org/web/20240711100451/https://xkcd.com/ 2024-07-11] until the next comic to come out Friday [ 2024-07-12]. [ASSUMPTION]
*The text:
**Today's comic accidentally inspired by [https://www.buttersafe.com/2011/02/17/crosswords/ this Buttersafe comic] from 2011!
*It makes it clear that Randall did not wish to take credit for this old idea
**Although it seems like he did not know where he got the idea from at first, when he posted it.
**Because the addition of this header text was not posted together with the comic, when it was released on Wednesday 2024-07-10 and it was still not there in the early morning of Thursday [https://web.archive.org/web/20240711000851/https://xkcd.com/ 2024-07-11].
**That he is a fan of Buttersafe is made clear at the bottom of the xkcd page where it is on Randall's list of the [[Design_of_xkcd.com#Comics_I_enjoy|Comics I enjoy]].
*As a special situation this special header did not replace the current header text, but was added below the active header text at the time about [[#2024-05-15_-_Special_10th_anniversary_edition_of_WHAT_IF.3F|10th anniversary for what if?]].
**This has not been the normal way to add comic-specific header text. So it will be interesting to see what happens when the next comic is released [UPDATE]
*Since this header was related only to explain the inspiration for this comic, it was removed from the frontpage header, when the next comic was released. [ASSUMPTION!!!]
**But it stayed up as one of the permanent different headers on this comic, as seen [SOME] days after it stopped being on the front page on [?? 2022-07-13???].


===[[2916: Machine]]===
*This comic's header mentions the people who helped put it together.
**It was on the front page from Saturday [https://web.archive.org/web/20240406163326/https://xkcd.com/ 2024-04-06] (although it was supposed to have been a Friday release according to the xkcd archives) until the next comic to come out Monday 2024-04-08, but the earliest archived version of the next comic is from Tuesday [http://web.archive.org/web/20240409060444/https://xkcd.com/ 2024-04-09].
***It probably changed late on Monday the 8th, but Machine was still up late on [https://web.archive.org/web/20240408225854/https://xkcd.com/ 2024-04-08].
***It may be like previous years because this was an April fools' Day comic, and Randall wished it to stay on the front page longer?
**When [[2917: Types of Eclipse Photo]] was released the front page returned to normal header.
**The previous comic [[2915: Eclipse Clouds]] was still on the front page Saturday [https://web.archive.org/web/20240406053609/https://xkcd.com/ 2024-04-06]. So a very late Friday release...
*The text:
**Today's comic was created with [https://chromakode.com/ Max Goodhart], [https://github.com/spyhi Ed White], [https://twitter.com/uh_oh_thats_bad Alex Garcia], [https://twitter.com/cotrone Kevin Cotrone], [http://burningcandle.io/ Conor & Ami Stokes], [https://liranuna.com/ Liran Nuna], [https://www.instagram.com/fading_interest/ Patrick], [https://manishearth.github.io/ Manish Goregaokar], [https://github.com/benley Benjamin Staffin], [https://github.com/ayust Amber], and [https://github.com/dyfrgi Michael Leuchtenburg] with physics by [https://rapier.rs/ Rapier].
*It thanks those that helped Randall create that years [[April Fools' Day comics|April Fools' Day comic]].
**All have a link to their name, either to Instagram page or X or their own home pages. Some of them have also helped with the two previous [[April Fools' Day comics|April Fools' Day comic]], see below, but there are many more involved in this one than any of the previous.
**Also the Fast 2D and 3D physics engine for the Rust programming language, Rapier, is mentioned as standing for the physics of the comic.
*Since this header was related only to the Fools' comic, it was removed from the frontpage header, when the next comic was released.
**But it stayed up as one of the permanent different headers on this comic, as seen two days after it stopped being on the front page on [https://web.archive.org/web/20240409010518/https://xkcd.com/2916/ 2022-04-09].


===[[2765: Escape Speed]]===
*This comic's header mentions the people who helped put it together.
**It was on the front page from Thursday [https://web.archive.org/web/20230420203744/https://xkcd.com/ 2023-04-20] (although it was supposed to have been a Wednesday release according to the xkcd archives) until Friday [https://web.archive.org/web/20230421082400/https://xkcd.com/ 2023-04-21], when the next new comic was released (very late, possibly because this was an April fools' Day comic, and Randall wished it to stay on the front page longer?)
***When [[2766: Helium Reserve]] was released the front page returned to normal header. This seems to have not happened until Saturday as the earliest archive is form [https://web.archive.org/web/20230422121650/https://xkcd.com/ 2023-04-22] with the new comic.
*The text:
**Today's comic was put together with help from [https://chromakode.com/ Max Goodhart], [https://www.instagram.com/fading_interest/ Patrick Clapp], [https://amberyu.st/ Amber], [https://twitter.com/cotrone Kevin], [https://twitter.com/bstaffin Benjamin Staffin], and [https://www.aiweirdness.com/ Janelle Shane].
*It thanks those that helped Randall create that years [[April Fools' Day comics|April Fools' Day comic]].
**All have a link to their name, either to Instagram page or Twitter or their own home pages. Most of them have also helped with the two previous April Fools' Day comic, see below.
*Since this header was related only to the Fools' comic, it was removed from the frontpage header, when the next comic was released.
**But it stayed up as one of the permanent different headers on this comic, as seen two days after it stopped being on the front page on [https://web.archive.org/web/20230423150206/https://xkcd.com/2765/ 2022-04-23].


===[[2601: Instructions]]===
*This comic's header mentions the people who helped put it together.
**It was on the front page from Friday [https://web.archive.org/web/20220401210146/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-04-01] until Tuesday [https://web.archive.org/web/20220405031003/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-04-05], when the next new comic was released (very late, possibly because Instructions was an April fools' Day comic, and Randall wished it to stay on the front page longer?)
***When [[2602: Linguistics Degree]] was released the front page returned to normal header This seems to have not happened until Tuesday as the earliest archive is form [https://web.archive.org/web/20220405125644/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-04-05] with the new comic.
*The text:
**Today's comic was created with [https://twitter.com/fadinginterest Patrick], [https://twitter.com/Aiiane Amber], [https://twitter.com/chromakode @chromakode], [https://twitter.com/dyfrgi Michael], [https://twitter.com/wirehead2501 Kat], [https://twitter.com/xDirtyPunkx Conor], [https://twitter.com/zigdon @zigdon], and [https://twitter.com/bstaffin Benjamin Staffin].
*It thanks those that helped Randall create that years [[April Fools' Day comics|April Fools' Day comic]].
**All have a link to their name, the first with an Instagram page, the other seven with a link to their Twitter account. Five of those also helped with the previous April Fools' Day comic, see below.
*Since this header was related only to the Fools' comic, it was removed from the frontpage header, when the next comic was released.
**But it stayed up as one of the permanent different headers on this comic, as seen two days after it stopped being on the front page on [https://web.archive.org/web/20220406021357/https://xkcd.com/2601/ 2022-04-06].


===[[2445: Checkbox]]===
*This comic's header mentions the people who helped put it together.
**It was on the front page from Thursday [https://web.archive.org/web/20210401232108/https://xkcd.com/ 2021-04-01] until Monday [https://web.archive.org/web/20210405130031/http://xkcd.com/ 2021-04-05], until the new comic was released on Monday.
*The text:
**This comic was put together by [https://chromakode.com/ Max Goodhart], [https://twitter.com/fadinginterest Patrick], [https://twitter.com/Aiiane Amber], [https://twitter.com/bstaffin Benjamin Staffin], [https://twitter.com/cotrone Kevin Cotrone], [https://twitter.com/wirehead2501 Kat], and [https://twitter.com/dyfrgi Michael Leuchtenburg].
*It thanks those that helped Randall create that years [[April Fools' Day comics|April Fools' Day comic]].
**All have a link to their name, the first with a personal home page, the other six with a link to their Twitter account. Five of those also helped with the previous April Fools' Day comic, see below.
*Since this header was related only to the Fools' comic, it was removed from the front page header, when the next comic was released, here from the day after that release Tuesday [https://web.archive.org/web/20210406143023/http://xkcd.com/ 2021-04-06].
*But it stayed up as one of the permanent different headers on this comic, as seen two days later on [https://web.archive.org/web/20210407203547/https://xkcd.com/2445/ 2021-04-07].


===[[2288: Collector's Edition]]===
This comic's header mentions the people who helped put it together.
* It was on the front page only for about a day around April 3rd and [https://web.archive.org/web/20200404014814/http://xkcd.com/#-370,-277vApril 4th 2020].
The text:
* Today's comic was put together by [https://chromakode.com/ Max Goodhart], [https://twitter.com/Aiiane Amber], [https://twitter.com/bstaffin Benjamin Staffin], [https://twitter.com/cotrone Kevin], [https://www.instagram.com/fading_interest/ @fading_interest], [https://twitter.com/wirehead2501 Kat], [https://twitter.com/zigdon @zigdon], and Christopher Night.
** All names have links except the last.
It thanks those that helped Randall create the 2020 [[April Fools' Day comics|April Fools' Day comic]], which had taken two extra days before it was released due to the complex nature of the comic.
Due to the delay the next comic, [[2289: Scenario 4]], was released already the day after the Fool's comic, even though it was thus [[2289:_Scenario_4#Trivia|on a Saturday]]!
Since this header was related only to the Fools' comic, it was removed from the front page header, when the next comic was released, but it stayed up as one of the permanent different headers on this comic


===[[1928: Seven Years]]===
[http://web.archive.org/web/20171214171157/https://xkcd.com/ 2017-12-14]
It was released as a response to another cancer diagnosis, this is explained in the [[Design_of_xkcd.com#Header_text|Header text]] which has replaced the standard ''xkcd updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.'' The new one is this one, with the active link included:
The text (with link):
* Becky Beaton, sister of fellow cartoonist Kate Beaton, has also been diagnosed with cancer. You can support her treatment [https://www.youcaring.com/beckybeaton-1008390 here].
{{w|Kate Beaton}} is the creator of the web comic [http://www.harkavagrant.com/ Hark! A Vagrant].
* Although this comic is not one on Randall's list of ''[[Design_of_xkcd.com#Comics_I_enjoy|Comics I enjoy]]'', he is clearly much influenced by another cancer diagnosis among someone in his own creative field.below.
On [https://web.archive.org/web/20190817141450/https://www.xkcd.com/1928/ 2019-08-17], close to two years later, the message was still there and also [https://web.archive.org/web/20211226120634/https://xkcd.com/1928/ 2021-12-26] just past four years later.
* There was the possibility that it would be removed, when the support page was discontinued...
* But as that already happened before [http://web.archive.org/web/20181106124430/https://www.youcaring.com/beckybeaton-1008390 2018-11-06] it seems like it will be there to stay.
* Last archived version was from [http://web.archive.org/web/20180305022301/https://www.youcaring.com/beckybeaton-1008390 2018-03-05].
* Randall has previously done something similar for another friend, Emily, but [[#2014-11-27_-_Help_Emily|that header]] was not made permanent.



===[[1830: ISS Solar Transit 2]]===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20170428041338/https://xkcd.com/ 2017-04-28]
This header links back to [[1828: ISS Solar Transit]], a comic with the same joke setup released on the Monday of the same week


===[[1723: Meteorite Identification]]===
Randall realized that his comic was almost a copy of some other person. And he has since then acknowledged this on the comics specific page see more [[1723: Meteorite Identification#Trivia|here]].
At the time of this post, in the newest saved version on the archive from [http://web.archive.org/web/20161010215516/http://xkcd.com/1723/ 2016-10-10] it is still there and says:
* Note: Jolyon, founder of [http://www.mindat.org/ mindat.org], made a similar chart way before me!


===[[1679: Substitutions 3]]===
This was the third installment of Substitutions and as he did with [[#Substitutions 2|the second]] linking to the first and telling about browser extensions for this he did the same with this one:
The text:
* (Previously: {{xkcd|1288|Substitutions}} and {{xkcd|1625|Substitutions 2}})
* Note: There are various [https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/replacerator/gaajhenbcclienfnniphiiambbbninnp?hl=en browser extensions] for this.
It was on the main page while the comic was up, for instance here on [https://web.archive.org/web/20160512102325/http://xkcd.com/ 2016-05-12].


===[[1663: Garden]]===
This comic had a header text to help people use the comic when it came out.
For some time this text was the main header text, but after a while is disappeared from the main header, but remained as the header for Garden.
* See more [[xkcd_Header_text#2016-04-04_-_Protip_on_Garden|below]] or on the Garden page [[Garden#Header_text_after_release|here]]
Today and as of the newest saved version on the archive from [http://web.archive.org/web/20161231231600/http://xkcd.com/1663/ 2016-12-31] it is still there and says:
* Protip: If you don't like how your garden is growing, you can click to prune it.
* You can copy the URL to share your garden. From other browsers, it will be view-only.


===[[1625: Substitutions 2]]===
This was the second installment of Substitutions and Randall links to the first and tells about browser extensions for this:
The text:
* (Previously: {{xkcd|1288|Substitutions}})
* Note: There are various [https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/xkcd-substitutions/jkgogmboalmaijfgfhfepckdgjeopfhk?hl=en browser extensions] for this.
** He did the same when [[xkcd_Header_text#Substitutions_3|Substitutions 3]] came out, linking to the two previous.
It was on the main page while the comic was up, for instance here on [https://web.archive.org/web/20160104171722/http://xkcd.com/ 2016-01-04].


===[[1079: United Shapes]]===
The header was unique for this comic on the day it came out: [https://web.archive.org/web/20120709045709/http://xkcd.com:80/ 2012-07-09].
The text:
* There's a larger version of this map [http://xkcd.com/1079/large/ here] (Colorado is [http://xkcd.com/1079/colorado/ here]).
* It's also available as a [https://web.archive.org/web/20120709045709/http://store.xkcd.com/xkcd/#StateMap poster].
The text was never on other pages:
* Before US was released, also on [https://web.archive.org/web/20120709004956/http://www.xkcd.com/ 2012-07-09] the comic [[1078: Knights]] was on the main page, with the previous [[xkcd_Header_text#2012-04-09 -_Standard_text_plus_store_link|promotion of the store]].
* The US version was still on the front the day after [https://web.archive.org/web/20120710063424/http://xkcd.com/ 2012-07-10].
* But the same day [https://web.archive.org/web/20120710114846/http://xkcd.com/1078/ 2012-07-10] the page for Knights did show a new header, which may only have been active on other pages than the front on this day... See details here [[xkcd_Header_text#2012-07-10_-_New:_what-if.xkcd.com|New:_what-if.xkcd.com]]
** Here is another page from [https://web.archive.org/web/20120710095644/http://xkcd.com/1070/ 2012-07-10] with [[1070: Words for Small Sets]], that was also saved that day, so this was on the top of all other comics, except the front page.
There are simply no version of the front page from the 11th and 12th of July 2012. But from other pages it can be shown that from the 11th there was a difference.
* On [https://web.archive.org/web/20120711223349/http://xkcd.com/1078/ 2012-07-11] on the page for Knights and for instance from the same day on page number [https://web.archive.org/web/20120711223339/http://xkcd.com:80/1077 1077] [[1077: Home Organization]] there is the same but new header, different than the one Knights had both two days before and the other one from the day before.
* And also on [https://web.archive.org/web/20120711123734/http://xkcd.com:80/1079/ 2012-07-11] the numbered page {{xkcd|1079}} for US displays a mix of this new and the unique version of the header text.
** It left our the part about Colorado and moved the bottom line up so the unique part is written in one line (that may still take up two lines as the text will spill over, (maybe just in some browsers?)
** And then it added the two lines of header text that was on all the other pages (presumably also the front page, but that was first proved with the version from [https://web.archive.org/web/20120713154207/http://xkcd.com/ 2012-07-13]).
** And this is the version still shown on {{xkcd|1079}} today, even though the bottom lines was a normal header that was supposed to disappear.
The final text that is still on US today:
* There's a larger version of this map [http://xkcd.com/1079/large/ here]! It's also available as a [https://store.xkcd.com/collections/posters/products/united-shapes-poster poster].
* New: [https://what-if.xkcd.com/1/ what-if.xkcd.com]: abusing science to answer hypothetical questions.
* I'll answer a new reader question every Tuesday.
** Here above the link has been updated to the one in the current version, where as the above link in the original version, that is now a dead link, has been directed to an archived version of the stores poster.
** The link the new part is to the very first ''[[what if? (blog)|what if?]]'' article ''{{what if|1|Relativistic Baseball}}'' which was released on 2012-07-10, the day after US was released, but before the next comic [[1080: Visual Field]] was released on 2012-07-11.
*** There are no version of comic {{xkcd|1080}} archived while it was on the front page, so it is not possible to tell what the front page looked like on the 11th and 12th of July. But best guess is that it looked like that on Knight shown above from the 11th.
The first version was on the main page while the comic was up.
* Maybe there was a time with the final version on the front page, but seems like Randall put the new header text there in hand, and forgot to delete it after, so he probably first changed it when the new comic came out.
* Since the new header was important, promoting his new ''what if'' blog, he likely did not wish to have a fairly new page (maybe even on the front page on the 10th) without the reference. Also he did not wish to remove the link to the poster in the store.
* But this makes it a special unique header, as a relic from the past header text is left together with the text that was supposed to be permanent. It should have been deleted when the link to ''what if'' 1 was removed.


===[[1047: Approximations]]===
It has a permanent text saying that many people emailed Randall about another approximation for one year than the one given in the comic.
* As it was already there from the release day on [https://web.archive.org/web/20120425220409/http://xkcd.com:80/ 2012-04-25] it seems unlikely that he actually received those e-mails before changing the header text for this comic!
The unique text:
* Lots of emails mention the physicist favorite, 1 year = pi x 107 seconds.
* 75^4 is a hair more accurate, but it's hard to top 3,141,592's elegance.
There was a different header on other comics even while this comic was on the front page with the unique text. See [[#2012-04-09_-_Standard_text_plus_store_link|Plus store link]].


===[[1037: Umwelt]]===
It has a permanent promotion of the store already from the release day on [https://web.archive.org/web/20120401151639/http://xkcd.com:80/ 2012-04-01]:
The unique text:
* You can get posters, prints, and t-shirts in the [https://store.xkcd.com/ xkcd store].
It stayed on the front page while this comic was the most recent, so for instance also two days later on [https://web.archive.org/web/20120403223453/http://www.xkcd.com/ 2012-04-03]
* There was a different header on other comics even while this comic was on the front page with the unique text. See [[xkcd_Header_text#2012-03-28_-_Visiting_Newport_News|Visiting Newport News]].


===[[1031: s/keyboard/leopard/]]===
In response to the idea of having you browser replace keyboard with leopard a reader made a script that could do just that.
Randall seem to have gotten this script before release (or at least on the day of release) as it was already the header text on [https://web.archive.org/web/20120319130702/http://xkcd.com/ 2012-03-19] the day the comic was released.
The unique text is:
* A helpful reader has provided an [https://userscripts.org/scripts/show/128626 s/keyboard/leopard/ user script].
** The link does not go anywhere useful any longer, but here is the archived version of the link from two days after the release of the comic on [https://web.archive.org/web/20120321174019/http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/128626 2012-03-21]
It was never changed on the other comics so was only on the front while this comic was up until 2012-03-21
* Here also shown on the second day it was up on its own page on [https://web.archive.org/web/20120320143916/http://xkcd.com:80/1031/ 2012-03-20].
The next comic [[1032: Networking]] came out on [https://web.archive.org/web/20120321205835/http://xkcd.com:80/ 2012-03-21] and here the header text has returned to what it was before the leopard comic: [[xkcd_Header_text#2012-03-12_-_xkcd_Holistic_Browser|xkcd Holistic Browser]].
* Here are examples from dates around this showing it was not used on other pages:
** The last archived version of the front page from before the 19th was this version from [https://web.archive.org/web/20120317121834/http://xkcd.com:80/ 2012-03-17], but here is an example from [https://web.archive.org/web/20120318153256/http://xkcd.com:80/1030/ 2012-03-18] (from comic [[1030: Keyed]]), the day before leopard comic came out.
** Both on [https://web.archive.org/web/20120319174700/http://xkcd.com/1030/ 2012-03-19] (from comic [[1030: Keyed]]) and on [https://web.archive.org/web/20120320191039/http://xkcd.com:80/1012 2012-03-20] (from comic [[1012: Wrong Superhero]]) during the time leopard was up, the header text currently in used was still shown.


===[[996: Making Things Difficult]]===
Randall links to a blog post about cancer as related to this cancer comic
The unique text:
* Some context for the cancer comics:
* [https://blog.xkcd.com/2011/06/30/family-illness/ https://blog.xkcd.com/2011/06/30/family-illness/]
** The link is for post on his [[Blag]].
** It is on the oldest stored version from [https://web.archive.org/web/20111229043804/http://xkcd.com:80/ 2011-12-29] when it was on the header.


===[[980: Money]]===
Randall notes his thoughts about making it and makes a promotion of the poster.
The unique text:
* This one was fun (and exhausting) to make.
* There's a poster of it in the [https://store.xkcd.com/products/money-poster store]!
** It is both at the oldest stored version from [https://web.archive.org/web/20120404110059/http://xkcd.com:80/980 2012-04-04] and the newest at time of editing [https://web.archive.org/web/20220108132250/https://xkcd.com/980/ 2022-01-08].


===[[977: Map Projections]]===
Randall notes that a person had birthday on the release of this comic about maps, and this guy has maps on his homepage
The unique text:
* It turns out Monday was Steve Waterman's birthday. His [https://web.archive.org/web/20111118003418/http://www.watermanpolyhedron.com/ site] has posters of his map, plus maybe the world's only Winkel Tripel-critiquing poetry.
** The link goes to [http://www.watermanpolyhedron.com/ Waterman project] home page. Above the link goes to an archived version from around the time of release of the header text.
** It is at the oldest stored version with the comic on the front page on [https://web.archive.org/web/20111115231643/http://xkcd.com:80/ 2011-11-15].


===[[851: Na]]===
After Randall made this comic, he realized he could have "made it better" and changed the header text to:
* I can't ''believe'' I forgot Hey Jude.
* I don't get do-overs, but I couldn't resist making [https://xkcd.com/851_make_it_better/ a fixed version].
See more about it in that comics [[851:_Na#Trivia|trivia section]].


===[[739: Malamanteau]]===
Randall notes that he has changed this comics license, so it can be used on Wikipedia.
The text:
* At Wikipedia's request, I release this comic under a [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/us/ cc-by-sa] license.
** The link is to the page regarding {{w|Creative Commons license}} in the US.
** Specifically for Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 United States (CC BY-SA 3.0 US)
*** Usually xkcd is [[Design_of_xkcd.com#License_and_copyright|shared under]] [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License]. This does not allow commercial use, But the 3.0 does.
When the comic came out it had the normal header text from that time, as seen here two days after release on [https://web.archive.org/web/20100514072436/http://xkcd.com/ 2010-05-14].
* First archived version with the unique text is from [https://web.archive.org/web/20100913003146/http://xkcd.com/739/ 2010-09-13], but the previous archived version of this comic is from [https://web.archive.org/web/20100713160533/http://xkcd.com:80/739/ 2010-07-13].
* So it happened somewhere in the two months in between. But at least it was not there the first two months after release, but there before four month after release.



===[[488: Steal This Comic]]===
Randall is tired of {{w|DRM}}, an acronym standing for Digital Rights Management. This comic displays this. He thus make a promotion of Amazon that sells music without DRM.
The text:
* Note: the [https://www.amazon.com/MP3-Music-Download/b?ie=UTF8&node=163856011 Amazon.com MP3 store] sells DRM-free music. Kudos.
** The link is to Amazon MP3 music. Here is an archived version from [https://web.archive.org/web/20081001083843/http://www.amazon.com/MP3-Music-Download/b?ie=UTF8&node=163856011 2008-10-01], two weeks prior to the release of the comic.
The header text was on the comic from the release day, here seen the day after on the first archived version from [https://web.archive.org/web/20081014232952/http://xkcd.com/ 2008-10-14].


===[[472: House of Pancakes|472: House of Pancakes]]===
This comic's header notes its status as a parody:
* (Today's comic is a parody of [https://www.amazon.com/House-Leaves-Mark-Z-Danielewski/dp/0375703764 House of Leaves].)
Only on the days this comic was the newest was this header featured on the front page of xkcd for instance as seen here the day after release on [https://web.archive.org/web/20080906103932/http://www.xkcd.com/ 2008-09-06].
* But it was only on this comic. The commercial for his new t-shirt was on all the other pages, also on [https://web.archive.org/web/20080906103932/http://www.xkcd.com/ 2008-09-06] and presumably returned to the front page with the next comic. But there is a gap in the archive after this comic.

==Global header text==
When editing the section, list the changes chronologically with the date of the web archive link and hyperlink each date. Include an internal link to the newest comic at the time of each change and describe the modifications with relevant information. Position the last comic displaying the header text below the other data and place the most recent change at the top.

===2026-01-07 - Back to standard text===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20260107215729/https://xkcd.com/3190/ 2026-01-07].
* [[3190: Tensegrity]] was still up when the header changed.
* The text returned to the standard xkcd header:
** xkcd updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
* This was the first time since [[#2022-01-08_-_Back_to_standard_text|2022-01-08]] that the text had changed back to that, so exactly four years.
**Last time it only lasted a few days before the [[#2022-01-10_-_Standard_text_with_countdown|countdown]] started.
*It was also the first time since December 5th, 2024 that the header text had changed, a span of more than a year (13 months) making it by far the longest time the header text had been left unchanged.

===2024-12-05 - Special 10th anniversary edition of WHAT IF? - order===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20241205201038/https://xkcd.com/ 2024-12-05].
* [[3020: Infinite Armada Chess]] came out when the header changed.
* The text:
** [https://xkcd.com/what-if/ Special 10th anniversary edition of WHAT IF?]—revised and
** annotated with brand-new illustrations and answers to important
** questions you never thought to ask—Out now. Order it here! [https://bit.ly/WhatIf10th here]!
* The first link goes to the page for the what if? book on xkcd and the other link is to the HarperCollins page for the 10th anniversary edition of the book.
* Only difference in this header compared to the previous version is the last part after the final hypen.
* This header stayed up for exactly 13 months. See link at the bottom.
* With the [[#2024-05-15_-_Special_10th_anniversary_edition_of_WHAT_IF.3F_-_preorder|preorder]] version coming out in mid May 2024 the 10th anniversary edition ended up been in the header text almost 1 year and 7 month (except the month of [[#2024-10-16 - Promotion of Kamala Harris for president|endorsing Harris]]), thus it was on the header for 1,5 year in total.
* And before that what if? has been part of the header back to [[#2022-01-31 - What if? 2|2022-01-31]], when what if? 2 was announced.
* And three weeks before that the [[#2022-01-10 - Standard text with countdown|countdown]] for what if? 2 began. Of course there was no what if? word on that header as it was a surprise. But it turned out this was also a promotion for what if?
* And up until the day before the countdown (when there was one day with the old standard text) there was promotion for the first what if? book starting on [[#2021-12-20 - What If in stock|2021-12-20]].
** To sum it up, the header has been used to promote what if? continuously from December 2021 until at least the start of January 2026 (except one month with endorsing Harris and three weeks countdown that was for what if?) So more than 4 years in a row, only with a month for something political and the 3 weeks of countdown was also a promotion for what if?
* It was up until [https://web.archive.org/web/20260106150417/https://xkcd.com/3190/ 2026-01-06] when [[3190: Tensegrity]] was on the front page.
**It had then been up for more than 13 months in a row by a day. There had been no change to the header text at all during 2025.

===2024-11-16 - Special 10th anniversary edition of WHAT IF? - preorder===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20241116184702/https://xkcd.com/ 2024-11-16].
* [[3012: The Future of Orion]] was on the front page when the text changed.
* It returned to the exact same header text as before: [[#2024-05-15_-_Special_10th_anniversary_edition_of_WHAT_IF.3F_-_preorder|2024-05-15 - Special 10th anniversary edition of WHAT IF? - preorder]].
* It was up until [https://web.archive.org/web/20241204160618/https://xkcd.com/ 2024-12-04] when [[3019: Advent Calendar Advent Calendar]] was on the front page.
** The only change was that the last part after the last hyphen changed from when you had to preorder to now that you could order the book.

===2024-10-16 - Promotion of Kamala Harris for president===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20241017002108/https://xkcd.com/ 2024-10-17]
* For some reason the web archive failed to upload xkcd on the day it change, but that it did change a day before can be seen in this other archive [https://web.archive.org/web/20241116184702/https://xkcd.com/ 2024-11-16].
* [[2999: Bad Map Projection: The United Stralia]] came out when this header was changed.
* Instead of text, it is a three part comic. In the first panel, [[Cueball]] (probably representing [[Randall]]) is shown walking, carrying a sign. In the second panel, he is seen hitting the sign with a hammer into the ground. In the third, Cueball is gone, and the front of the sign can be seen:
** <big>Harris for president</big>
* This is in reference to the 2024 presidential elections and shows that Randall endorses Harris.
* Randall posted the same image on his [https://x.com/xkcd/status/1853098106667114801 Twitter (formally X)] and [https://bsky.app/profile/xkcd.com/post/3la2jku6ace2f Bluesky] accounts on November 3rd, 2024, two days before the presidential election.
* It was up for a month until [https://web.archive.org/web/20241115181146/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2024-11-15] when [[3012: The Future of Orion]] was on the front page. It changed while that comic was still up back to the one from before.

===2024-05-15 - Special 10th anniversary edition of WHAT IF? - preorder===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20240515200351/https://xkcd.com/ 2024-05-15]
* [[2933: Elementary Physics Paths]] came out when the header changed.
* The text:
** [https://xkcd.com/what-if/ Special 10th anniversary edition of WHAT IF?]—revised and
** annotated with brand-new illustrations and answers to important
** questions you never thought to ask—coming from November 2024. Preorder [https://bit.ly/WhatIf10th here]!
* The first link goes to the page for the what if? book on xkcd and the other link is to the HarperCollins page for the 10th anniversary edition of the book.
* It was up until [https://web.archive.org/web/20241015192147/https://xkcd.com/ 2024-10-15] while [[2998: Ravioli-Shaped Objects]] was on the front page.
After a month of endorsing endorses Harris the heder text returned to this again, see [[#2024-11-16_-_Special_10th_anniversary_edition_of_WHAT_IF.3F_-_preorder|2024-110-16 - Special 10th anniversary edition of WHAT IF? -preorder]].

===2024-03-20 - What If? is on YouTube!===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20240320173158/https://xkcd.com/ 2024-03-20]
* [[2909: Moon Landing Mission Profiles]] came out when the header changed.
The only text version from the previous header was trimmed having some words removed taking it down from four to three lines (and solving the bad alignment that happened five days before at the end of the previous header text).
* The text:
** [https://what-if.xkcd.com/ What If?] is on YouTube! The first video answers
** “[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LSyizrk8-0 What if we aimed Hubble at Earth?]” Follow the
** [https://www.youtube.com/@xkcd_whatif What If?] channel to be notified about new videos.
* The first link goes to the what if? page on xkcd and the other two links are to the YouTube channel and to its very first video.
The promotion of the what if? franchise continues for the second year running. A few words were taken off as the YouTube channel was no longer new at this point.
This version ended on [https://web.archive.org/web/20240514034349/https://xkcd.com/ 2024-05-14], while [[2932: Driving PSA]] was on the front page. But the what if? promotion continued

===2023-11-29 - What If? is now on YouTube!===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20231129184009/https://xkcd.com/ 2023-11-29]
* [[2861: X Value]] came out when the header changed.
There was only text this time.
* The text:
** [https://what-if.xkcd.com/ What If?] is now on YouTube!
** Check out the first video for the answer to
** “[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LSyizrk8-0 What if we aimed the Hubble Telescope at Earth?]”
** and follow [https://www.youtube.com/@xkcd_whatif xkcd’s What If? The Video Series channel] to be notified about each new video.
* The links goes to the what if page on xkcd and the other two links is to the new YouTube channel with videos of some of the what if articles and to the very first video.
This is thus not a promotion of the what if? 2 book but still promotion of the what if? franchise.
A small change happened on [https://web.archive.org/web/20240314113602/https://xkcd.com/ 2024-03-14], as the first two lines became one line which made the alignment worse. So it seemed strange to do this. It looked like normal up until [https://web.archive.org/web/20240313113429/https://xkcd.com/ 2024-03-13]. But it only lasted five days before a change was made that made it into a new although very similar header text.
This version ended on [https://web.archive.org/web/20240319134138/https://xkcd.com/ 2024-03-19], while [[2908: Moon Armor Index]] was on the front page, but was replaced by a very similar what if? header.

===2023-08-31 - What if? 2 is now available in paperback in the UK!===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20230831200321/https://xkcd.com/ 2023-08-31]
* [[2822: *@gmail.com]] came out when the header changed.
* The image to the right stayed, but after more than a half year with no text, text was added to the left of the picture because the paper back was available in the UK.
** As opposed to the previous headers this was plain text and not a picture.
** The image is taken from the front cover of the new book, with red background, showing a passenger plane taking off with the wheels still down. On top of it a Tyrannosaurus Rex has begun eating its way into the plane. Below the plane is the book title in white text.
* The text:
** What if? 2 is [https://xkcd.com/what-if-2/#UK now available] in paperback in the UK!
** what if? 2
* The link goes to https://xkcd.com/what-if-2/#UK, the page on xkcd about the What if? 2 book, and directing to the UK order links where there now also it a paper back version.
This version was still up in the middle of November 2023 when this segment was updated.
This version ended on [https://web.archive.org/web/20231128174224/https://xkcd.com/ 2023-11-28], while [[2860: Decay Modes]] was on the front page, but was replaced by another What If? header.
* Although it was not specifically related to the new book. Thus it ended a more than 22 month long constant promotion of the book since the [[#2022-01-10_-_Standard_text_with_countdown|countdown]] began in January 2022.

===2023-02-17 - What if? 2 picture only===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20230217185629/https://xkcd.com/ 2023-02-17]
* [[2739: Data Quality]] came out when the header changed.
* For the first time in a very long time there is no real header text. Only the small red picture with the plane and the title of the what if? 2 book in the right section of the header. As it has been since [[#2022-01-10 - Standard text with countdown|the countdown]] stopped.
** The image is taken from the front cover of the new book, with red background, showing a passenger plane taking off with the wheels still down. On top of it a Tyrannosaurus Rex has begun eating its way into the plane. Below the plane is the book title in white text.
* The text:
** what if? 2
This version ended on [https://web.archive.org/web/20230830064414/https://xkcd.com/ 2023-08-30], while [[2821: Path Minimization]] was on the front page, but was replaced by another What If? 2 header.

===2022-09-23 - What if? 2 Instant New York Times Bestseller===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20220923182825/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-09-23]
* [[2675: Pilot Priority List]] was on the front page when the header changed.
** The header celebrates that the new what if? 2 book has become an instant New York Times bestseller.
* The header kept the same layout as the previous and thus still consist of two parts. With the right picture the window also used in [[#2022-01-10 - Standard text with countdown|the countdown]], but with the image that appeared in it after the count down ended.
** The image is taken from the front cover of the new book, with red background, showing a passenger plane taking off with the wheels still down. On top of it a Tyrannosaurus Rex has begun eating its way into the plane. Below the plane is the book title in white text.
* The new image to the left has a black border. To the left is still the picture of the new what if? 2 book. It has the same image as in the picture to the right, but showing the entire front of the book, with details of those looking up at the plane from the ground. The title and the author name can be read in white on the red book. There are also unreadable white text above the plane and below the author name. The spine of the book can also be seen, as the book is seen a bit from the side. Here are also unreadable white text. To the right of the book there are two lines of text, with the first line in very large bold letters.
* The text:
** what if? 2
** Randall Munroe
** What if? 2
** Instant New York Times bestseller.
** what if? 2
*** Both images are links that goes to a dedicated page on xkcd about [https://xkcd.com/what-if-2/ what if? 2: the book].
This version ended on [https://web.archive.org/web/20230216181705/https://xkcd.com/ 2023-02-16], while [[2738: Omniknot]] was on the front page, but was replaced by another What If? 2 header,

===2022-09-13 - What if? 2 is available now===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20220913142432/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-09-13]
* [[2672: What If? 2 Flowchart]] was released as the header changed, even though it was a Tuesday.
** The header and the comic celebrates the release of the new what if? 2 book, that came out on this day.
* The header kept the same layout as the previous and thus still consist of two parts. With the right picture the window also used in [[#2022-01-10 - Standard text with countdown|the countdown]], but with the image that appeared in it after the count down ended.
** The image is taken from the front cover of the new book, with red background, showing a passenger plane taking off with the wheels still down. On top of it a Tyrannosaurus Rex has begun eating its way into the plane. Below the plane is the book title in white text.
* The new image to the left has a black border. To the left is still the picture of the new what if? 2 book. It has the same image as in the picture to the right, but showing the entire front of the book, with details of those looking up at the plane from the ground. The title and the author name can be read in white on the red book. There are also unreadable white text above the plane and below the author name. The spine of the book can also be seen, as the book is seen a bit from the side. Here are also unreadable white text. To the right of the book there are two lines of text, with the first line in very large bold letters
* The text:
** what if? 2
** Randall Munroe
** What if? 2 is available now!
** what if? 2
*** Both images are links that goes to a dedicated page on xkcd about [https://xkcd.com/what-if-2/ what if? 2: the book].
This thus ended the pre-release promotion of the book, that began on [[#xkcd_Header_text#2022-01-31_-_What_if.3F_2|2022-01-31]], plus of course the three weeks of [[#2022-01-10 - Standard text with countdown|countdown]] before. For a sum total of 8 months and three days.
* It will be interesting to see how long before any reference to what if? 2 will disappear from the header text.
This version ended on [https://web.archive.org/web/20220922150042/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-09-22], but was replaced by another What If? 2 header, while [[2675: Pilot Priority List]] was on the front page.

===2022-09-12 - One day to What if? 2 comes out===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20220912125617/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-09-12]
* This was while [[2670: Interruption]] was still up.
* The header is the same layout as the previous and thus still consist of two parts. With the right picture the window also used in [[#2022-01-10 - Standard text with countdown|the countdown]], but with the image that appeared in it after the count down ended.
** The image is taken from the front cover of the new book, with red background, showing a passenger plane taking off with the wheels still down. On top of it a Tyrannosaurus Rex has begun eating its way into the plane. Below the plane is the book title in white text.
* The new image to the left has a black border. To the left is still the picture of the new what if? 2 book. It has the same image as in the picture to the right, but showing the entire front of the book, with details of those looking up at he plane from the ground. The title and the author name can be read in white on the red book. There are also unreadable white text above the plane and below the author name. The spine of the book can also be seen, as the book is seen a bit from the side. Here are also unreadable white text. To the right of the book there are three lines of text. With the first line written in large bold letters. This also has a footnote star. And the footnote is then written to the right in smaller font over five lines of text.
* The text:
** what if? 2
** Randall Munroe
** One dayuntil what if? 2 comes out!
** <nowiki></nowiki>I'm going to spend the day with that Les Mis song stuck in my head, aren't I.
** what if? 2
*** Both images are links that goes to a dedicated page on xkcd about [https://xkcd.com/what-if-2/ what if? 2: the book].
* The foot note refers to the [[2636: What If? 2 Countdown]]. For the date where the header changed 2022-09-12 it was ''F(99) where F(N) means sing all the verses of N Bottles of Beer On the wall followed by F(N-1)'' to release day.
** It is thus for certain this song Randall mentions will now be stuck in his head.
** Les mis song, referring to a song from the musical les miserables titled "One Day More", he now has stuck in his head.
* The header stayed the same until [https://web.archive.org/web/20220913134002/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-09-13].
** This was while [[2671: Rotation]] was still up, early on the release day of the new book.

===2022-09-12 - Three days to What if? 2 comes out===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20220911102450/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-09-11]
* This was while [[2670: Interruption]] was still up.
* The header is the same layout as the previous and thus still consist of two parts. With the right picture the window also used in [[#2022-01-10 - Standard text with countdown|the countdown]], but with the image that appeared in it after the count down ended.
** The image is taken from the front cover of the new book, with red background, showing a passenger plane taking off with the wheels still down. On top of it a Tyrannosaurus Rex has begun eating its way into the plane. Below the plane is the book title in white text.
* The new image to the left has a black border. To the left is still the picture of the new what if? 2 book. It has the same image as in the picture to the right, but showing the entire front of the book, with details of those looking up at he plane from the ground. The title and the author name can be read in white on the red book. There are also unreadable white text above the plane and below the author name. The spine of the book can also be seen, as the book is seen a bit from the side. Here are also unreadable white text. To the right of the book there are three lines of text. With the first line written in large bold letters. This also has a footnote star. And the footnote is then written to the right in smaller font over five lines of text.
* The text:
** what if? 2
** Randall Munroe
** Three daysuntil what if? 2 comes out!
** <nowiki></nowiki>Assuming it's still Saturday. I'm a static png image and can't perceive time.
** what if? 2
*** Both images are links that goes to a dedicated page on xkcd about [https://xkcd.com/what-if-2/ what if? 2: the book].
* The header only stayed the same for one day and [[2670: Interruption]] was still up when it changed to the next.

===2022-09-07 - Less than one week to What if? 2 comes out===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20220907211736/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-09-07]
* This was while [[2668: Artemis Quote]] was still up.
* The header still consist of two parts. With the right picture the window also used in [[#2022-01-10 - Standard text with countdown|the countdown]], but with the image that appeared in it after the count down ended.
** The image is taken from the front cover of the new book, with red background, showing a passenger plane taking off with the wheels still down. On top of it a Tyrannosaurus Rex has begun eating its way into the plane. Below the plane is the book title in white text.
* The new image to the left has a black border. To the left is still the picture of the new what if? 2 book. It has the same image as in the picture to the right, but showing the entire front of the book, with details of those looking up at he plane from the ground. The title and the author name can be read in white on the red book. There are also unreadable white text above the plane and below the author name. The spine of the book can also be seen, as the book is seen a bit from the side. Here are also unreadable white text. To the right of the book there are four lines of text. With the middle line written in large bold letters. This also has a footnote star. And the footnote is then written to the right in smaller font over four lines of text.
* The text:
** what if? 2
** Randall Munroe
** Less than one weekuntil what if? 2 comes out!
** <nowiki></nowiki>Oh no, now I have that song stuck in my head.
** what if? 2
*** Both images are links that goes to a dedicated page on xkcd about [https://xkcd.com/what-if-2/ what if? 2: the book].
* The foot note refers to the [[2636: What If? 2 Countdown]]. For the date where the header changed 2022-09-07 it was ''one pico-universe-lifetime'' to release day. But the next day 2022-09-08 it was ''The Baby Shark chorus for a family of 50,000 sharks''.
** It is thus for certain this song Randall mentions will now be stuck in his head.
* The header stayed the same until [https://web.archive.org/web/20220910024549/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-09-10].
** This was while [[2670: Interruption]] was up.

===2022-08-27 - Preorder What if? 2 - with image - again===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20220827232205/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-08-27]
* [[2664: Cloud Swirls]] came out when it changed.
* The header [[#2022-08-16 - Preorder What if? 2 - with image|changed back]] to the preorder image from the previous header, when Randall's book tour ended. See the link.
It ended on [https://web.archive.org/web/20220906191403/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-09-06].
* This was while [[2668: Artemis Quote]] was up.

===2022-08-17 - What if? 2 book tour===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20220817161136/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-08-17]
* [[2659: Unreliable Connection]] was out when it changed.
* The header still consist of two parts. With the right picture the window also used in [[#2022-01-10 - Standard text with countdown|the countdown]], but with the image that appeared in it after the count down ended.
** The image is taken from the front cover of the new book, with red background, showing a passenger plane taking off with the wheels still down. On top of it a Tyrannosaurus Rex has begun eating its way into the plane. Below the plane is the book title in white text.
* The new image to the left has a black border. Inside this there is text to the left. Then Cueball is seen flying by holding on to a single balloon (like in [[1110: Click and Drag]]). He flies over five mountain peaks with snow, with three clouds and three distant birds in front of him, as he drifts to the right, as shown with movements lines behind him. In front of him is a dark feature at the bottom of the frame. Above this is a blue square (like a button) with white text.
* The text:
** I'm going on a what if? 2 book tour!
** Click to see where
** what if? 2
*** The image to the left is a link to [https://xkcd.com/events/ randall munroe: events] page on xkcd. Which at the time showed the calendar with the planned stop for his book tour, which covered the US and London.
*** As always the link button in blue is not the only part of the image that is a link, as he just mentioned in the [[#2022-08-11 - Preorder What if? 2 - with image|previous header text]], and several times before...
*** The right image is a link that goes to a dedicated page on xkcd about [https://xkcd.com/what-if-2/ what if? 2: the book].
This header thus continues the promotion of the new book, which was at the time was only 27 days away (or [[2636:_What_If%3F_2_Countdown|6 dog months]]).
* It will be interesting to see how long it takes before promotion for the book disappears from the header. It may still take months.
The header stayed the same until [https://web.archive.org/web/20220826202043/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-08-26].
* This was while [[2663: Tetherball Configurations]] was up.

===2022-08-11 - Preorder What if? 2 - with image===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20220811055445/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-08-11]
* [[2657: Complex Vowels]] came out as it changed.
The message in the header was not really changed, but the meaning of the text from the previous header was now written in an image, although the text did change somewhat.
* The header thus still consist of two parts. To the left the new image with an picture of the book and text. And to the right the window also used in [[#2022-01-10 - Standard text with countdown|the countdown]], but with the image that appeared in it after the count down ended.
** The image is taken from the front cover of the new book, with red background, showing a passenger plane taking off with the wheels still down. On top of it a Tyrannosaurus Rex has begun eating its way into the plane. Below the plane is the book title in white text.
* The new image to the left has a black border. Inside this to the right is the new text. To the left is a picture of the new what if? 2 book. It has the same image as in the picture to the right, but showing the entire front of the book, with details of those looking up at he plane from the ground. The title and the author name can be read in white on the red book. There are also unreadable white text above the plane and below the author name. The spine of the book can also be seen, as the book is seen a bit from the side. Here are also unreadable white text.
* The text:
** what if? 2
** Randall Munroe
** Preorder what if? 2 and enter for a chance to win a comic inspired by your question! Click here to learn more. Or click wherever. This whole image is a link because html is hard.
** what if? 2
*** In the left image there is a blue link font on the word "here" in click here. However the entire left image is a link to the [https://sites.prh.com/whatif2 what if 2 contest]. As explained he did not only make the word a link because html is hard! This is something Randall [[xkcd_Header_text#2014-07-23_-_what_if.3F_book_tour|often comments on]].
**** The link in the text goes to a contest page that starts with the words:
**** [https://web.archive.org/web/20220718171904/https://sites.prh.com/whatif2 Want Randall Munroe to answer you What If? question?]
**** Here above the web archive version of the link, in case the link from the text goes dead in the future.
*** The right image is a link that goes to a dedicated page on xkcd about [https://xkcd.com/what-if-2/ what if? 2: the book].
* The header stayed the same until [https://web.archive.org/web/20220816124823/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-08-16].
** This was while [[2659: Unreliable Connection]] was up.

===2022-07-19 - Preorder What if? 2===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20220719153239/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-07-19]
* [[2647: Capri Suns]] came out as it changed.
The header looked a lot like the previous one, only part of the text changed.
* The header thus still consist of two part. To the left a line of text (split up, most likely over four lines for most users). And to the right the window also used in [[#2022-01-10 - Standard text with countdown|the countdown]], but with the image that appeared in it after the count down ended.
** The image is taken from the front cover of the new book, with red background, showing a passenger plane taking off with the wheels still down. On top of it a Tyrannosaurus Rex has begun eating its way into the plane. Below the plane is the book title in white text.
* The text:
** Preorder What If? 2 (all US preorders eligible) and [https://sites.prh.com/whatif2 enter our contest] for a chance to win a dedicated comic and What If blog post!
** what if? 2
*** The image is a link that goes to a dedicated page on xkcd about [https://xkcd.com/what-if-2/ what if? 2: the book].
** The link in the text goes to a contest page that starts with the words:
*** [https://web.archive.org/web/20220718171904/https://sites.prh.com/whatif2 Want Randall Munroe to answer you What If? question?]
*** Here above the web archive version of the link, in case the link from the text goes dead in the future.
* The header stayed the same until [https://web.archive.org/web/20220810034709/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-08-10].
** This was while [[2656: Scientific Field Prefixes]] was up.

===2022-01-31 - What if? 2===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20220201000434/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-02-01]
* [[2575: What If? 2]] came out as it changed, and then it [https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/36/Countdown_in_header_text_page_when_what_if_comic_came_out.png looked like this] already on 2022-01-31. But there is no archived version from that day after the header changed.
** This was what [[#2022-01-10 - Standard text with countdown|the countdown]] had been counting down to.
** An announcement that Randall had written a sequel to the first ''[[What If? (book)|What If?]]'' book, based on his blog.
* The header consist of two part. To the left a line of text (split up, most likely over three lines for most users). And to the right the window also used in the countdown, but with the image that appeared in it after the count down ended.
** The image is taken from the front cover of the new book, with red background, showing a passenger plane taking off with the wheels still down. On top of it a Tyrannosaurus Rex has begun eating its way into the plane. Below the plan ia the book title in white text.
* The text:
** What If? 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions comes out 9/13. Preorder [https://xkcd.com/what-if-2/ here!]
** What If? 2:
*** The link goes to a dedicated page on xkcd about what if? 2: the book. The image is also a link to this page.
*** The entire comic that came out along with the new header text is also a link to that page.
* At the same time the [[Design_of_xkcd.com#xkcd_links|xkcd links]] in the top left section of xkcd also changed to include links to books, and especially this new book.
It will be interesting to see how long this version of the promotion for the new books stays up. But most likely there will be promotion for the book until release, and then more after the release.
* The header stayed the same until [https://web.archive.org/web/20220718145816/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-07-18], for more than 5,5 month. This was while [[2646: Minkowski Space]] was up.
** The change was rather small, but part of the text changed. The promotion continued though.

===2022-01-10 - Standard text with countdown===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20220110183238/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-01-10].
* [[2565: Latency]] was still up when the [[Countdown in header text]] was added.
* The text was still the standard xkcd header: xkcd updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
* But a countdown was added. This was inserted in a rectangular box, placed at the end of the standard header text.
** In some browsers the box forces the last word "Friday" to jump down to the next line.
* Inside the box the following time was displayed in the version in the link:
** 20d 20h 27m
*** This clock will also count down every minute, although it will return to the time at the time of archive when reloaded!
*** While this was edited into this wiki the time had changed to 20d 19h 12m. So it was a very fresh download in the web archive, only about 1 hour old when it was updated to this wiki.
*** The minutes change without refreshing the page, and follows this editors computers clock exactly, so it will end at 59 minutes, not at a full hour.
** It looks like it started on [https://munvoseli.github.io/xkcd-countdown/ 01-10 17:00 UTC].
*** A calculation shows that this countdown will reach zero on Monday 2022-01-31 at 14:59 (2:59 PM) {{w|UTC}}.
*** This will be at 9:59 (9:59 AM) in [[Randall]]'s home town
**** The last ten minutes it switched to seconds for the last minute so it made the switch 15:00 UTC 10:00 in Boston!
*** From that it can be deduced that the count started at 20d 22h 0m
**** The first image on the archive thus came 1h 33m after the count began.
* At [https://web.archive.org/web/20220111153818/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-01-11] a diagonal black bar appeared in the lower left-hand corner of the countdown box.
** After that the [[Countdown in header text]] page was created and any further development on the count down will be mentioned on that page.
It was last up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20220131124817/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-01-31] when [[2574: Autoresponder]] was on the front page.
* This archived version was when the counter was at 0d 2h 11m, and the last normal frame was already up at this time.
** It stayed like this until the [https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/17/Countdown_in_header_text_page_0_seconds.png counter ran out].
*** Then for a few minutes the final frame, that revealed that all this was a promotion for Randall's new book what if? 2 was up [https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/48/Countdown_in_header_text_page_just_after_countdown.png while the Friday comic was still up].
*** Then when the new Monday comic came out with the promotion for what if? 2, the header changed.

===2022-01-08 - Back to standard text===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20220108044654/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-01-08].
* [[2565: Latency]] came out around the time the new header text appeared, on a Friday!
* The text returned to the standard xkcd header:
** xkcd updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
* This was the first time since [[#2018-11-07 - Back to standard text|2018-11-07]] that the text had changed back to that, and at that time it lasted until 2019-02-05.
** That is 1067 days (less than a month short of three years) without the standard text! (Can it be called standard anymore?)
* It was only left in the complete standard version until [https://web.archive.org/web/20220109030513/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-01-09] when Latency was still on the front page.
** Then the next day a [[#2022-01-10 - Standard text with countdown|countdown]] was added to it.
*** That was after the weekend on Monday but before the Monday comic came up.
*** So only during the weekend was it normal standard header text.

===2021-12-20 - What If in stock===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20211220211220/https://xkcd.com/ 2021-12-20].
* [[2557: Immunity]] came out around the time the new header text appeared.
* The text:
** For anyone trying to find What If? this year, it's in stock at [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-if-serious-scientific-answers-to-absurd-hypothetical-questions-randall-munroe/1118864093 Barnes & Noble], [https://m.booksamillion.com/p/What-If/Randall-Munroe/9780544272996 Books-a-Million], and [https://bookshop.org/books/what-if-serious-scientific-answers-to-absurd-hypothetical-questions-9781483041827/9780544272996 Bookshop]
* Each store name is a link to the corresponding store's page for ''[[What If? (book)|What If?]]''.
It was last seen on [https://web.archive.org/web/20220106100957/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-01-06] when [[2564: Sunshield]] was up.

===2020-06-03 - Black Lives Matter===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20200604003700/https://xkcd.com/ 2020-06-03].
* [[2315: Eventual Consistency]] came out as a new header text was finally inserted after almost two months without one.
* Cueball is standing to the left and speaks a single line of text: "Black Lives Matter"
* To the right is a gray link button with text: "[https://www.joincampaignzero.org/ How To Help]."
* As always, the entire image (which is only below the xkcd logo) is a link
** The button is thus not needed, but it will also work when clicking the location of the button.
* The link goes to [https://www.joincampaignzero.org/ Join Campaign Zero].
** {{w|Black Lives Matter}} is a loose, grassroots, decentralized confederation of groups and individuals advocating for racial justice. It arose in 2013 after the acquittal of {{w|George Zimmerman}}, who took the life of {{w|Trayvon Martin}}.
** Randall's featuring Black Lives Matter came on the heels of the {{w|Killing of George Floyd}} on May 25th 2020, which had sparked {{w|George Floyd protests|protest in the US}}
** Floyd died while saying "{{w|I can't breathe}}," which was already used due to other Black men's killings, the first was from the {{w|Killing of Eric Garner}}, back in 2014.
It stayed like this until [https://web.archive.org/web/20200616114945/https://xkcd.com/ 2020-06-16] when [[2320: Millennium Problems]] was up.
* Then on [https://web.archive.org/web/20200617131438/https://xkcd.com/ 2020-06-17] the link changed to [https://blacklivesmatter.com/ Black Lives Matter]. [[2320: Millennium Problems]] was still on the front page on that day.
On April 1st 2021 the front page header changed to mention who made the April Fools' Day comic.
* But this was only for this comic [[#Checkbox|Checkbox]].
* The rest of the pages kept the BLM header and it returned to this on the front page once the next comic was released on April 5th. At that time it will have been up for 13 months, making it the longest header different from the standard header.
It was last up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20211219202204/https://xkcd.com/ 2021-12-19] when [[2556: Turing Complete]] was on the front page.
* At that time it had been up for 564 days or 1,5 year plus 16 days! This is most likely a record.

===2020-04-05 - Empty header===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20200405042955/https://xkcd.com/ 2020-04-05].
* [[2289: Scenario 4]] came out and the header belonging to the previous comic was removed.
* But no new header was inserted. Not even the go to [[#Header text|Header text]] about the release days of xkcd.
** Since the previous header was related only to the [[April Fools' Day comics|April Fools' Day comic]] [[2288: Collector's Edition]], and that had stopped the promotion of the [[How To]] book, after first experiencing problems with its release, it seems Randall forgot what he usually put in the header.
It stayed empty like this until [https://web.archive.org/web/20200602213017/https://xkcd.com/ 2020-06-02] when [[2314: Carcinization]] was on the front page.
* So almost two month without a header. This had not happened before.

===2020-04-04 - Put together by===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20200404014814/https://xkcd.com/ 2020-04-04].
* [[2288: Collector's Edition]] came out and the header changed.
* The text:
** Today's comic was put together by [https://chromakode.com/ Max Goodhart], [https://twitter.com/Aiiane Amber], [https://twitter.com/bstaffin Benjamin Staffin], [https://twitter.com/cotrone Kevin], [https://www.instagram.com/fading_interest/ @fading_interest], [https://twitter.com/wirehead2501 Kat], [https://twitter.com/zigdon @zigdon], and Christopher Night.
*** All names have links except the last.
* It thanks those that helped Randall create this years [[April Fools' Day comics|April Fools' Day comic]], which had taken two extra days before it was released due to the complex nature of the comic.
Due to the delay the next comic, [[2289: Scenario 4]], was released already the day after the Fool's comic, even though it was thus [[2289:_Scenario_4#Trivia|on a Saturday]]!
* Since this header was related only to the Fool's comic, it was thus removed from the general header, but it stayed up as [[#Collector.27s_Edition|one of]] the permanent [[#Unique_header_text|unique header texts]].
** However, when it was removed from the general header, the header was left empty.
** Unlike some other headers that stayed on a given comic, this one was on all comics for the duration of the time it stayed on the front page, see for instance the previous comic on [https://web.archive.org/web/20200403232031/https://xkcd.com/2287/ 2020-04-03].

===2020-04-02 - Technical Reasons===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20200402234828/https://xkcd.com/ 2020-04-02].
* [[2287: Pathogen Resistance]] was up when the header changed.
Randall turned out to, again, have problems with his complicated and interactive [[April Fools' Day comics|April Fools' Day comic]] for 2020.
* The text:
** Note: For technical reasons Wednesday's comic will be posted Thursday instead. Apologies for the delay!
This finally stopped the promotion of the [[How To]] book.
* It had then been part of the header for well over a year since [https://web.archive.org/web/20190206060904/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-02-06].
It stayed up a day longer than planed as the fool's comic, [[2288: Collector's Edition]] was first released on Friday, so the note was still up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20200403012612/https://xkcd.com/ 2020-04-03].
* [[2287: Pathogen Resistance]] thus stayed two extra day on the front page, and the third comic of that week, [[2289: Scenario 4]] was released already the day after the Fool's comic, even though it was thus [[2289:_Scenario_4#Trivia|on a Saturday]]!

===2020-01-16 - How To explores - again===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20200116190038/https://xkcd.com/ 2020-01-16].
* [[2255: Tattoo Ideas]] was still up when the header changed.
* The ongoing promotion of the book continued but here more than three weeks after Christmas the reference to Christmas was removed.
* The header then returned to the one from before Christmas:
** [[#2019-11-22 - How To explores|How To explores]] - see that for all other details.
It was last up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20200401221435/https://xkcd.com/ 2020-04-01] when [[2287: Pathogen Resistance]] was on the front page.
* It was the problems with [[April Fools' Day comics|April Fools' Day comic]] of 2020 that finally stopped the promotion of the [[How To]] book.
* It had then been part of the header for well over a year since [https://web.archive.org/web/20190206060904/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-02-06].

===2019-12-02 - Into Science===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20191202223745/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-12-02].
* [[2236: Is it Christmas?]] came out when the header changed. Fitting as the change is about Christmas list.
* Still promoting the new [[How To]] book, continuing to make the image a link to the [https://xkcd.com/how-to/ How To book] page on xkcd.
** The links below to order are the same as in the previous header.
** Actually most of the header stays the same with the same four images and the same layout. But the text above has changed completely and the two main text sections between the drawings has changed but only slightly. The description of the images is thus left out, see below. Only new thing is that there are now two red circles connected with a red arrow. The first circle is around the word How To at the end of the first text with the arrow going from that circle to the second circle drawn around the picture of the book.
* The text:
** Is there someone on you Christmas list who's into science? They might like my new book '''''How To'''''
** It explores ridiculous ideas for applying scientific research to everyday problems...
** ...And illustrates what would happen if you tried them.
** ''Boom''
** You can get it here:
** [https://www.amazon.com/How-Absurd-Scientific-Real-World-Problems/dp/0525537090/ Amazon], [https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/2/trackingcode/PRH5522E62429 B&N], [https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/6/trackingcode/penguinrandom IndieBound], [https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/how-to/id1451461524?mt=11 Apple], [https://www.audible.com/search?advsearchKeywords=How+To+Randall+Munroe&source_code=COMA0213WS031709&SID=PRHA9A5E24CFB--9780525635680 Audible], [https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/23/trackingcode/PRH3D17167A3B Target]
It was last up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20200115155040/https://xkcd.com/ 2020-01-15] when [[2255: Tattoo Ideas]] was on the front page.

===2019-11-22 - How To explores===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20191122214439/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-11-22].
* [[2232: Hotel Room Party]] was up when the header changed. It most likely changed when the comic appeared. Earlier on that day it was the previous header over the previous comic.
* Still promoting the new [[How To]] book, here again making the image a link to the [https://xkcd.com/how-to/ How To book] page on xkcd, after it previously was a link to where to listen to the audio book.
** The links below to order returns to the same as in the header before the previous header with links to audio books, except that the link to an exclusive edition has been removed.
** The header consist of an image with text above five small drawings with two text parts in between them. To the left is the closed How To book which is black with a blue readable title, How To, and unreadable white text below this as well as below the unreadable blue author name, which are below the image. The image shows Cueball putting in a light-bulb with drones under each foot while Megan, holding a ladder, and White/Black Hat are looking up at him. To the right of the book is a drawing of Ponytail pole-vaulting with two black helium filled balloons. Next to her is the first text segment. Then after that is the drawing, seen before in the header text, of a truck towing a house up a steep hill. This truck goes above the second text segment, with Cueball somersaulting above the text. Furthest right, above and just right of the text is an explosion with the sound written inside. Below the header image is some black text and then the links to where to get it as regular blue link text.
* The text:
** My new book '''''How To''''' explores the science behind spacecraft heat shields, butterfly metabolisms, and land border surveys...
** ...By imagining ridiculous ideas for applying the research to you everyday life...
** ...And illustrating what would happen if you tried them.
** ''Boom''
** You can get it here:
** [https://www.amazon.com/How-Absurd-Scientific-Real-World-Problems/dp/0525537090/ Amazon], [https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/2/trackingcode/PRH5522E62429 B&N], [https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/6/trackingcode/penguinrandom IndieBound], [https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/how-to/id1451461524?mt=11 Apple], [https://www.audible.com/search?advsearchKeywords=How+To+Randall+Munroe&source_code=COMA0213WS031709&SID=PRHA9A5E24CFB--9780525635680 Audible], [https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/23/trackingcode/PRH3D17167A3B Target]
It was last up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20191201191025/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-12-01] when [[2235: Group Chat Rules]] was on the front page.

===2019-11-06 - Audio clip===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20191106204314/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-11-06].
* [[2224: Software Updates]] was still up when the header changed, but the first archive version was first from after the next comic came out [[2225: Voting Referendum]].
* Still promoting the new [[How To]] book, here making the image a link to the How To book on Penguin Random House's audio book, where an audio clip read by Wil Wheaton can be sampled.
** The links below to order have now changed to those with audio books.
** The header consist of an image with text, with a "blue link", above the How To book that is being folded out from closed; to partially open; to opened up on two full pages; this takes three images. The closed book is the black book with a blue readable title, How To, and unreadable white text below this as well as below the unreadable blue author name, which are below the image. The image shows Cueball putting in a light-bulb with drones under each foot while Megan, holding a ladder, and White/Black Hat are looking up at him. The partly open book still has this cover partly visible, but unreadable, as well as come unreadable text in the open side. The open book shows two pages with lots of unreadable text and three figures (maybe one is a table). Next to the open book there is an arrow to the right pointing at an audio icon with three audio lines in front. Below the header image are the links as regular text.
* The text:
** You can click here to hear a clip from the audio version of '''''How To''''', read by Wil Wheaton.
** [https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/how-to-absurd-scientific-advice-for-common-real-world/id1475319694 Apple], [https://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/how-to-absurd-scientific-advice-for-common-real-world-problems/369279 Audiobooks], [https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/How-To-Audiobook/1473680360?qid=1574679523&sr=1-1&pf_rd_p=c6e316b8-14da-418d-8f91-b3cad83c5183&pf_rd_r=DX3EZ14M14CFQPP9GHJY&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1 Audible], [https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Randall_Munroe_How_To?id=LzSGDwAAQBAJ Google Play], and [https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9780525635680 Libro.fm]
* The entire image is a link to the [https://www.penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/book/576760/how-to/ How To book on Penguin Random House] page, where the audio clip can he played.
** As always it is the entire picture that is a link, and not only the blue underlined text that says click here!
It was last on the archive on [https://web.archive.org/web/20191122044456/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-11-22] when [[2231: the Time Before And After Land]] was on the front page. But it was most likely still up when [[2232: Hotel Room Party]] came out. But then changed during the next day.

===2019-10-02 - Horse vs football team===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20191002005854/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-10-02].
* [[2210: College Athletes]] was up when the header changed.
* Still promoting the new [[How To]] book, but seeing this is no longer close to the release day the focus has changed. This time the image seems to be from one of the How To explanations in the book.
** The links below to order are the same as the previous header.
** But new text is added after the links to promote two events with Randall in New York the two days after this header came up.
*** These links disappeared after a week leaving only the picture and the link to buy the book. See below.
** The header consist of an image with Cueball riding bareback on a horse. He comes from the left holding an American football. Running towards him from the right are eight American football players with helmets with three stars on the back of the helmet. Two of the players at the back are almost hidden by players in front of them. Beneath them is a line of text that belongs to the image, the period at the end of the sentence hangs in height with the center line of the last letter E... Then below the image follows the link and promotion of the NY events, these are written in regular.
* The text:
** My new book ''How To'' is out now! You can get it here.
** [https://www.amazon.com/How-Absurd-Scientific-Real-World-Problems/dp/0525537090/ Amazon], [https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/2/trackingcode/PRH5522E62429 B&N], [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-randall-munroe/1130494832?ean=9780525686910#/ B&N Exclusive Edition], [https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/6/trackingcode/penguinrandom IndieBound], [https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/how-to/id1451461524?mt=11 Apple], [https://www.audible.com/search?advsearchKeywords=How+To+Randall+Munroe&source_code=COMA0213WS031709&SID=PRHA9A5E24CFB--9780525635680 Audible], [https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/23/trackingcode/PRH3D17167A3B Target] I'll be at New York Comic Con! I'm giving [https://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/Explore/Panels/Panels-And-Screenings/#/event/how-todo-anything-with-randall-munroe-creator-of-xkcd a talk on Thursday], and on
** Friday [https://smbc-comics.com/ Zach Weinersmith] and I will be hosting [https://www.caveat.nyc/event/how-to--absurd-scientific-advice-for-common-real-world-problems-10-4-2019 an event at Caveat NYC].
* The image is a link to the [https://xkcd.com/how-to/ How To book page] on xkcd.
** The link to Target still seems to go the main page rather than to [https://intl.target.com/p/how-to-by-randall-munroe-hardcover/-/A-76508342 their How To book page]... Probably a still undiscovered error on Randall's part?
This header changed, but so slightly that the changes will only be mentioned here rather than in a new section:
* The first link was last active on [https://web.archive.org/web/20191004014438/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-10-04]
* Then the day after only the second link remained from [https://web.archive.org/web/20191005041539/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2019-10-05]. [[2211: Hours Before Departure]] came out when it changed.
** But the text of this link changed as it had been a continues text from one to the other link. Also it was not entirely on it's own line, thus not as with the first link whose text was directly connected to the line with the links to buy the book.
** The new text of that link was:
*** [https://smbc-comics.com/ Zach Weinersmith] and I will be hosting [https://www.caveat.nyc/event/how-to--absurd-scientific-advice-for-common-real-world-problems-10-4-2019 an event] Friday night at Caveat NYC!
*** The last link was the same, but now it only covered two words not the entire end of the sentence.
** This other link was last active on [https://web.archive.org/web/20191007042707/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-10-07].
* And then the last link was gone by [https://web.archive.org/web/20191008053609/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-10-08], when [[2212: Cell Phone Functions]] came out.
It ended on [https://web.archive.org/web/20191105164001/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-11-05] when [[2224: Software Updates]] was up.

===2019-09-30 - Tons of fun===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20190930234245/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-09-30].
* [[2209: Fresh Pears]] was up when the header changed.
* Still promoting the new [[How To]] book, but seeing this is no longer close to the release day the focus has changed to how much fun it was for Randall to write it and how proud he is of the result. Randall, as Cueball, is saying this in the new header image.
** The links below to order are the same, except a new has been added at the end.
** The header consist of an image with Cueball standing to the left of the book, shown as tall as he is. The book is opened up on two pages with lots of unreadable text as well as three drawings, only one of these, with a circle diagram, can clearly be seen. Cueball is speaking, and the text is above him and the book. Two words are blue with a line under as if they where a link. But as always the entire image is a link. Beneath the image is the links on where to order the book.
* The text:
** Writing my new book '''''How To''''' was tons of fun and I'm so proud of the result. It's out now-Click Here to order!
** Order: [https://www.amazon.com/How-Absurd-Scientific-Real-World-Problems/dp/0525537090/ Amazon], [https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/2/trackingcode/PRH5522E62429 B&N], [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-randall-munroe/1130494832?ean=9780525686910#/ B&N Exclusive Edition], [https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/6/trackingcode/penguinrandom IndieBound], [https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/how-to/id1451461524?mt=11 Apple], [https://www.audible.com/search?advsearchKeywords=How+To+Randall+Munroe&source_code=COMA0213WS031709&SID=PRHA9A5E24CFB--9780525635680 Audible], [https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/23/trackingcode/PRH3D17167A3B Target]
* The image is a link to the [https://xkcd.com/how-to/ How To book page] on xkcd.
** The new link to Target seems to go the main page rather than to [https://intl.target.com/p/how-to-by-randall-munroe-hardcover/-/A-76508342 their How To book page]... Probably an error on Randall's part.
It ended on October 2nd while [[2210: College Athletes]] where up. But there is no archived versions from the 1st of October and the one from the 2nd is with the next version. But the editor of this was making changes to the explanation of College Athletes before the next header change came along.

===2019-09-11 - How To available===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20190911053115/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-09-11].
* [[2200: Unreachable State]] was still up when the header changed.
* The release day part of the promotion was changed to telling that the new [[How To]] book was available. With teasers about what is in the book below the heading. On either side of the text a picture of the book is still shown. Also the links below changed, adding three new and removing one old.
** The header consist of an image with the book shown both left and right of some text. Both books have blue title and author name, and white unreadable title and white drawing of Cueball flying on two quadcopters to put in a light-bulb in a ceiling lamp, while White/Black? Hat is watching together with Megan, who is holding a ladder. Beneath the image is the links on where to order it.
** Between the two books are two sections of text above each other, the lover with smaller font.
* The text:
** How To is available now!
** Learn how to open bottles with nuclear weapons and how to be on time for meetings by altering the Earths rotation. The book also features advice from real-life experts including Chris Hadfield and Serena Williams.
** Order: [https://www.amazon.com/How-Absurd-Scientific-Real-World-Problems/dp/0525537090/ Amazon], [https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/2/trackingcode/PRH5522E62429 B&N], [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-randall-munroe/1130494832?ean=9780525686910#/ B&N Exclusive Edition], [https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/6/trackingcode/penguinrandom IndieBound],[https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/how-to/id1451461524?mt=11 Apple], [https://www.audible.com/search?advsearchKeywords=How+To+Randall+Munroe&source_code=COMA0213WS031709&SID=PRHA9A5E24CFB--9780525635680 Audible]
* The image is a link to the [https://xkcd.com/how-to/ How To book page] on xkcd.
* {{w|Serena Williams}} is a famous tennis player who was also featured in one of the [[:Category:Book promotion|promotion comics]] for How To: [[2190: Serena Versus the Drones]]
* {{w|Chris Hadfield}} is a Canadian retired astronaut, engineer, and former Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot. The first Canadian to walk in space, Hadfield has flown two Space Shuttle missions and served as commander of the International Space Station.
** The new link to audible probably needs the user to be signed up, else it will go to the front page and ask yo to sign up. But from the archive the page can be seen [https://web.archive.org/web/20190923004816/https://www.audible.com/search?advsearchKeywords=How+To+Randall+Munroe&source_code=COMA0213WS031709&SID=PRHA9A5E24CFB--9780525635680 here].
Up till [https://web.archive.org/web/20190922143253/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-09-22] it looked like this.
* Then on [https://web.archive.org/web/20190923145251/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-09-23] and extra link was added after Audible:
** [https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/23/trackingcode/PRH3D17167A3B Target].
* [[2205: Types of Approximation]] was up when this change occurred during a weekend.
It ended on [https://web.archive.org/web/20190929223547/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-09-29] when [[2208: Drone Fishing]] was up.

===2019-09-04 - Happy Release Day - bookstore===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20190904051509/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-09-04].
* [[2198: Throw]] was already up when the header changed slightly, as the text below Happy release day changed.
Most of the header stayed the same as the [[#2019-09-03 - Happy Release Day - calendar|day before]], but the reference to the Gregorian/Julian calendar was changed.
* The header consist of an image with the book shown both left and right of some text.Both books have blue title and author name, and white unreadable title and white drawing of Cueball flowing on two quadcopters to put in a light-bulb in a ceiling lamp, while White/Black? Hat is watching together with Megan comes who is holding a ladder. Beneath the image is the link on where to order it, now the preorder has been changed to order.
** Between the two books are two sections of text above each other, the lover with smaller font and in brackets.
* The text:
** Happy How To release day!
** Available wherever books are sold.
** (Mostly bookstores, I assume but you can always try your luck at Wendy's.)
* See below for any other details.
It ended on [https://web.archive.org/web/20190909211737/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-09-09] when [[2200: Unreachable State]] was up.

===2019-09-03 - Happy Release Day - calendar===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20190903051503/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-09-03]
* [[2197: Game Show]] was still up when the header changed, but it was for sure to coincide with [[2198: Throw]] which came out later on the release day while it still looked like in this version.
* Randall celebrated the release day of [[How To]], coming out the day the header changed.
** The comic is also a reference to a chapter in the book on how to throw things. A very complicated interactive comic where different persons or other living things can be chosen to throw dead or living things. The trow will then be shown below with distance measured in two units, normal and special. That is if the thrower can actually manage to throw the thing.
* The header consist of an image with the book shown both left and right of some text. The two black books have red stars around them, five on the outer side of the image and 6 on the inner, the stars are mirrored around left and right book. Both books have blue title and author name, and white unreadable title and white drawing of Cueball flying on two quadcopters to put in a light-bulb in a ceiling lamp, while White/Black? Hat is watching together with Megan, who is holding a ladder. Beneath the image is the link on where to order it, now the preorder has been changed to order.
** Between the two books are two sections of text above each other, the lover with smaller font and in brackets.
* The text:
** How To Randall Munroe
** Happy How To release day!
** (Gregorian calendar. The Julian edition doesn't come out for 13 more days.)
** How To Randall Munroe
** Order: [https://www.amazon.com/How-Absurd-Scientific-Real-World-Problems/dp/0525537090/ Amazon],[https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/2/trackingcode/PRH5522E62429 Barnes & Noble],[https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/6/trackingcode/penguinrandom IndieBound],[https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/how-to/id1451461524?mt=11 Apple Books]
* The image is a link to the [https://xkcd.com/how-to/ How To book page] on xkcd.
* Most of the world uses the {{w|Gregorian calendar}}, but before it was taken into use, the {{w|Julian calendar}} was in use.
** The Julian calendar does not take into account that every 100 years a leap year should be passed as in the Gregorian calendar, and thus it is at the moment 13 days behind, as it has has this many February 29th too many. Since there should actually be a leap year every 400 year, and the last of those was 2000, then it has been 13 days since 1900, and will stay like this until 2100 when it will become 14 days.
** The image is a link to the [https://xkcd.com/how-to/ How To book page] on xkcd.
* Already the next day the part of the header below happy release day about the Gregorian calendar changed. See [[#2019-09-04 - Happy Release Day - bookstore|above]].

===2019-08-27 - Out in a week===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20190827082224/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-08-27].
* [[2194: How to Send a File]] was up when the header changed.
* Randall continues to promote his new book, [[How To]], coming out a week from this header.
** It is only three lines of text
* The text:
** My new book, How To, comes out next week!
** Read an exclusive excerpt about transmission [https://blog.xkcd.com/2019/08/26/how-to-send-a-file/ here].
** [Four links in gray blue are given with the first words in black:] Preorder ''How To'': [https://www.amazon.com/How-Absurd-Scientific-Real-World-Problems/dp/0525537090/ Amazon],[https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/2/trackingcode/PRH5522E62429 Barnes & Noble],[https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/6/trackingcode/penguinrandom IndieBound],[https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/how-to/id1451461524?mt=11 Apple Books]
* Later [https://web.archive.org/web/20190827184229/https://xkcd.com/2194/ on the same day], (and here for the next day [https://web.archive.org/web/20190828095401/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-08-27] for the front page), more text and links where added, plus the order of the text was changed.
* The later text was:
** My new book, [https://xkcd.com/how-to/ How To], comes out in a week! ([https://blog.xkcd.com/2019/08/23/book-tour-and-contest-winner/ Book tour info])
** You can preorder it now to get a copy when it's released:
** [https://www.amazon.com/How-Absurd-Scientific-Real-World-Problems/dp/0525537090/ Amazon],[https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/2/trackingcode/PRH5522E62429 Barnes & Noble],[https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/6/trackingcode/penguinrandom IndieBound],[https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/how-to/id1451461524?mt=11 Apple Books]
** You can also read an exclusive excerpt about file transfers [https://blog.xkcd.com/2019/08/26/how-to-send-a-file/ here].
* The link to the book tour also include the winner of the [[#2019-06-25 - People with books|contest]] to get Randall to add "your" city to his book tour.
** The winner was {{w|Juneau, Alaska}}.
It ended on the release day 2019-09-03, so this was last on the page on [https://web.archive.org/web/20190902042108/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-09-02].

===2019-08-06 - Win a sketch===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20190806052948/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-08-06].
* [[2185: Cumulonimbus]] was up when the header changed.
** Most likely the header changed when that comic came out on 2019-08-05. But the previous header was also out during that day.
* Randall continues to promote his new book, [[How To]], now making a competition where you can win a stick figure sketch of yourself. (Although only for US residents!)
** The image shows Hairy, with a cat at his feet and Megan (or Danish?) with a samurai sword. They are standing with their backs towards each other, the cat on the left, Megan facing right with the sword towards the words.
** Below the drawing are links to places to preorder the book.
* The text:
** Want to win a sketch of yourself as a stick figure? [https://blog.xkcd.com/2019/08/05/win-an-xkcd-sketch/ Click here] to find out how!
** [Four links in gray blue are given with the first words in black:] Preorder ''How To'': [https://www.amazon.com/How-Absurd-Scientific-Real-World-Problems/dp/0525537090/ Amazon],[https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/2/trackingcode/PRH5522E62429 Barnes & Noble],[https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/6/trackingcode/penguinrandom IndieBound],[https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/how-to/id1451461524?mt=11 Apple Books]
*** The entire picture is a [https://blog.xkcd.com/2019/08/05/win-an-xkcd-sketch/ link] to a [[Blag]] post: ''Win an xkcd sketch''
*** That is even though only the click here part of the text is in blue, like a link.
*** Cause as he often has written: I still haven't figured out HTML imagemaps, most recently in the [[#2019-07-09 - Drawings from How To|2019-07-09]] header.
The header stayed like this until [https://web.archive.org/web/20190826062701/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2019-08-26] when [[2193: Well-Ordering Principle]] was up.

===2019-08-03 - First look inside===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20190803222711/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-08-03].
* [[2184: Unpopular Opinions]] was up when the header changed.
* Randall continues to promote his new book, [[How To]], now stating that it comes out next month.
** Set to be released on September 3rd 2019, this update was made exactly one month before.
** The image shows text to the left of three drawings of the book: First the closed book showing the black front cover with blue and white text and white drawings, then the book is partly opened, and finally it lays opened up showing two pages, with a readable heading on the right page.
** Below the drawing are links to places to preorder the book.
* The text:
** My new book comes out next month. Click here for a first look inside!
** [On the books front cover only two thins can be read:]
*** How To
*** Randal Munroe.
** [These two words can also partly be read on the opening book.]
** [Only the large heading can be read on the right page of the open book:]
*** How to Dig a Hole.
** [These two pages also became part of a special comic relased during the weekend when this header was up: [[Disappearing Sunday Update]].]
** [The [[Disappearing_Sunday_Update#Transcript|transcript of that comic]] describes the images in the open book.]
** [Four links in gray blue are given with the first word in black:] Preorder:[https://www.amazon.com/How-Absurd-Scientific-Real-World-Problems/dp/0525537090/ Amazon],[https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/2/trackingcode/PRH5522E62429 Barnes & Noble],[https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/6/trackingcode/penguinrandom IndieBound],[https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/how-to/id1451461524?mt=11 Apple Books]
*** The entire picture is a [https://blog.xkcd.com/2019/08/02/how-to-chapter-list-and-introduction/ link] to a [[Blag]] post: ''How To: Chapter list and introduction''.
It stayed up like this while the special [[Disappearing Sunday Update]] came out on Sunday 2019-08-04, and was there still on Monday [ https://web.archive.org/web/20190805050812/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2019-08-05], at least during the time that the Sudan Update was still up.
* When the next comic came out late that Monday, it probably disappeared along with the Disappearing comic, but the first update with the next header is from Tuesday [https://web.archive.org/web/20190806052948/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-08-06], but the Monday comic [[2185: Cumulonimbus]] was still on the front page at that time,.

===2019-07-23 - Back to previous header===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20190723205152/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-07-23].
* [[2179: NWS Warnings]] was up when the header changed.
It returned to the previous header from before the ComicCon header, see [[#2019-07-10 - Adding links|2019-07-10]]
It stayed up until [https://web.archive.org/web/20190802192259/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-08-02] while [[2184: Unpopular Opinions]] was up. The day after when it changed that comic was still up.

===2019-07-15 - ComiCon===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20190715181016/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-07-15].
* [[2176: How Hacking Works]] was up when the header changed.
Randall tells that he will be at ComicCon and links to his plans there.
* The text:
** Going to San Diego Comic Con this week? I'll [https://blog.xkcd.com/2019/07/15/san-diego-comic-con/ see you there]!
*** The link is to a [[Blag]] post about his plans for the ComicCon
* Randall appeared in a couple of panels, and gave a talk.
* Finally he also handed out signed copies of his new [[How To]] book more than a month before official release.
** So still promoting the book, also in this header...
It stayed up until [https://web.archive.org/web/20190722192637/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2019-07-22] the day after the ComiCon ended, while [[2178: Expiration Date High Score]] was up.
* Then it returned to the previous header from before the ComicCon announcement when [[2179: NWS Warnings]] came out.

===2019-07-10 - Adding links===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20190710165920/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-07-10].
* [[2173: Trained a Neural Net]] was still up when the header changed slightly from that fro the day before.
* Only change was that beneath the picture, see [[#2019-07-09 - Drawings from How To|2019-07-09]], there is now a list of four links to companies where the book can be preordered.
* The extra text:
** [Four links in gray blue are given with the first word in black:] Preorder:[https://www.amazon.com/How-Absurd-Scientific-Real-World-Problems/dp/0525537090/ Amazon],[https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/2/trackingcode/PRH5522E62429 Barnes & Noble],[https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/6/trackingcode/penguinrandom IndieBound],[https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/how-to/id1451461524?mt=11 Apple Books]
Note that the day after this change, [https://web.archive.org/web/20190711172451/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-07-11], a link to [[How To]] was added to the [[Design_of_xkcd.com#xkcd_links|links]] in the top left corner of xkcd.
The header stayed like this until [https://web.archive.org/web/20190714175710/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-07-14] when [[2175: Flag Interpretation]] was up. When it changed the day after [[2176: How Hacking Works]] was up.

===2019-07-09 - Drawings from How To===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20190709162102/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-07-09].
* [[2173: Trained a Neural Net]] was up when the header changed.
* Randall continues to promote his new book, [[How To]].
** The image shows a small picture of his book with text on either side.
** Below are what appears to be three drawings from the book. [[Ponytail]] pole vaultig with three baloons in one hand, then text, then a truck with a house behind it speeding fast up a hill then text and finally [[Cueball]] somersaulting towards an explosion.
** To the right there is a big blue button to click for preorder, with text below.
* The text:
** New book [Arrow points to book. Title can be read: How To]
** How To: Absurd Scientific Answers to Common Real-world Problems
** It's a guide to bad ways to do things...
** ...And what would happen if you tried them.
** ''Boom''
** Click here to preorder
** Or click anywhere. I still haven't figured out HTML imagemaps.
*** The entire picture is a [https://xkcd.com/how-to/ link] to the official [[How To]] page on xkcd: https://xkcd.com/how-to/
*** See [[1572: xkcd Survey]] where Randall mentions that he cannot make imagemaps.
It stayed up like this only for a day, then an extra line of links was added the day after while the same comic was still up, see [[#2019-07-10 - Adding links|2019-07-10]].
* But the general header stayed up first for five days, and then it returned again for 10 more days after a break to announce a [[#2019-07-15 - ComiCon|ComiCon visit]].
* So a total of 16 days with this drawing.

===2019-06-25 - People with books===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20190625190843/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-06-25].
* [[2167: Motivated Reasoning Olympics]] was up when the header changed.
* Randall continues to promote his new book, [[How To]], and his book tour.
** The image now shows 15 people standing side by side each holding a book up in front of them with unreadable titles.
** From left: [[Megan]], [[Cueball]], a man with blonde hair, [[Jill]], [[Blondie]], [[Hairy]], another Hairy, [[White Hat]], a kid with curly hair, [[Hairbun]], another Cueball, another Megan, a guy with a knit cap, [[Ponytail]], and [[Beret Guy]].
** Above them is a text message.
* The text:
** Want to bring me to your town for my '''''How To''''' book tour? Click to find out how to enter the challenge!
*** The entire picture is a [https://blog.xkcd.com/2019/06/10/book-tour-announcement/ link] to the official book tour announcement posted on the [[Blag]], with all cities and dates listed with details.
*** In the link it is explained how to enter a competition on how to bring Randall to your city.
*** Make a story using only book titles and get the books used to be held up by different individuals.
*** A longer sentence will improve your chances.
**** This is indeed what this header picture shows.
The header stayed like this until [https://web.archive.org/web/20190708155517/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-07-08] when [[2172: Lunar Cycles]] was up. When it changed the day after [[2173: Trained a Neural Net]] was up.

===2019-06-15 - Adding dates===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20190615100645/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-06-15]
* [[2163: Chernobyl]] was up when the header changed.
* Randall only made a small change to the one that had been up for four days at this time.
* The text only changed by adding a line below the first line:
** Announcing the '''''How To''''' book tour:
** [Click here for dates and tickets]
*** The rest of the header is exactly the same as on [[#2019-06-11 - Book tour|2019-06-11]], except everything is a bit smaller to make room in the same place for the extra line.
*** The link is not located on the blue part of the text and it was already there before this update.
*** Best guess is that not many clicked through and Randall then made it obvious that there was a link.
*** The entire picture is a [https://blog.xkcd.com/2019/06/10/book-tour-announcement/ link] to the official book tour announcement posted on the [[Blag]], with all cities and dates listed with details.
*** Randall has previously made it clear, in [[1572: xkcd Survey]], that he knows how to make an image a link, but not how to put the link only where he says to click. But it is easier to make a place for people to click than tell them this...
The header stayed like this until 2019-06-25, when it changed while [[2167: Motivated Reasoning Olympics]] was up. But this one was still up when that comic came out the day before [https://web.archive.org/web/20190624162740/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-06-24].

===2019-06-11 - Book tour===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20190611031920/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-06-11]
* [[2161: An Apple a Day]] was up when the header changed.
** '''Note''' when this change happened two new links was added to the [[Design_of_xkcd.com#xkcd_links|xkcd links]] section of xkcd.
* Randall changed the header text to announce the official book tour for his newest book ''[[How To]]'' to be released 3 months later.
* The text:
** Announcing the '''''How To''''' book tour:
** [Below this header is a map of the mainland USA with 14 labeled black dots indicates the 14 cities that the book tour will take Randall to. One red dot with five red question marks above is located beneath the map to the left, indicating a 15th city to be chosen in a contest. Above the map to the right is a small picture of the book with the blue title on the black cover. Above the book is the release date and with an arrow pointing down to the book.]
** September 3rd
** How to
** Seattle
** Portland
** San Francisco
** Santa Cruz
** Los Angeles
** Salt Lake City
** Kansas City
** Ann Arbor
** Cincinnati
** Louisville
** Cambridge
** New York
** D.C.
** Raleigh
** ????? (Chosen by readers)
** [The entire picture is a [https://blog.xkcd.com/2019/06/10/book-tour-announcement/ link] to the official book tour announcement posted on the [[Blag]], with all cities and dates listed with details.]
*** In the link it is explained how to enter a competition on how to bring Randall to your city.
*** Make a story using only book titles and get the books used to be held up by different individuals.
*** Only US cities can apply.
* The header only stayed exactly like this for three days, and was still up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20190614094729/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-06-14] when [[2162: Literary Opinions]] was on the front page.
** Then it changed slightly to indicate that the picture was a link which was not clear before. See above.

===2019-05-17 - Back to previous header===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20190517103928/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-05-17]:
* [[2150: XKeyboarCD]] was still up when the header changed.
It changed back to the exact same heading as before the one with Google reader here below.
* See [[#2019-02-06 - How to book|2019-02-06]] below for all details.
* It stayed up for more than three weeks and was still up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20190610055519/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2019-06-10], while [[2160: Ken Burns Theory]] was still up on the day the next comic [[2161: An Apple a Day]] was to be released (where the new header could be found at least the next day, but maybe from the release of that comic?). Then it changed to announce the book tour for his new book.

===2019-04-23 - Google Reader===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20190423155458/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-04-23]:
* [[2140: Reinvent the Wheel]] came out when it changed, ending a more than two and half month long [[#2019-02-06 - How to book|promotion]] of Randall's new book [[How To]].
* Randall changed the header text to ask if the reader still mourned the loss of {{w|Google Reader}} which closed on 2013-07-01, almost 6 years before this comic..
** He offers the possibility to sign up to receive the newest comic by e-mail.
* The comic may have relation to this, as some where using Google reader for different purposes when they closed it, without any chance of [https://www.google.com/reader/about/ getting your data out].
** The comic "Reinvent the Wheel" mentions that using external dependencies carry risks, such as Google closing down a feature. given the fact that the comic came out as the header changed it is probably not a coincidence.
* The text:
** Still mourning the demise of Google Reader? You can sign up to get new comics delivered by email [https://xkcd.com/newsletter/ here].
* The link is to https://xkcd.com/newsletter, where it is possible to submit your e-mail address and press a subscribe button.
** the following text is written above it:
** To receive the comic and news postings in your inbox, subscribe here.
* It stayed up for more than three weeks and was still up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20190516100403/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-05-16], when [[2150: XKeyboarCD]] was up. Then it changed back to the promotion of his new book.

===2019-02-06 - How to book===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20190206060904/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-02-06]:
* [[2107: Launch Risk]] was up at the time when it changed, having been up since Monday the 4th of February.
** Here it can be seen being on the front of xkcd on [https://web.archive.org/web/20190205050302/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-02-05], without the new text. This was also the last time the standard header text was used in several months.
** [[2108: Carbonated Beverage Language Map]] came up later on the day the header changed.
* Randall changed the header text to promote his newest book ''[[How To]]'' to be released 7 months later.
** He added an image of the book with large text next to it regarding the release and links on how to preorder it.
** There was no direct relation to the comics released at the time, except of course that he kind of launched his new book with all the risk it involves, while having a comic called launch risk up. It was though a very different and more real type of launch risk (of a human carrying space rocket) in the comic.
* The text:
** [The book is shown to the left as a black rectangle with large blue text and smaller gray text. On the book cover, in white drawings, are seen Megan with a ladder and either Black or White Hat (hard to say on black background). Both are looking up on Cueball who is floating in the air with a quadcopter beneath either leg, trying to plug in an electric light bulb in a naked lamp hanging down near him. It seems he has already removed the broken light bulb, as he has one in both hands. And now he tries to put in the new one. He could have let Megan use the ladder...]
** [The header in blue above it all:] How To.
** [Sub header in gray to the left of Cueball:] Absurd Scientific Answers to Common Real-world Problems
** [Author name in blue below the drawing:] Randall Munroe
** [Sub header to this below in gray:] Creator of xkcd
** [Sub header to this below in gray:] Author of what if? and Thing Explainer
** [Next to this book image are the following text:]
** [Large heading:] HOW TO
** [Normal size sub header:] Absurd Scientific Answers to Common Real-world Problems
** [In smaller gray font below:] Available September 3, 2019.
** [Four links in gray blue are given with the first word still in gray:] Preorder:[https://www.amazon.com/How-Absurd-Scientific-Real-World-Problems/dp/0525537090/ Amazon],[https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/2/trackingcode/PRH5522E62429 Barnes & Noble],[https://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780525537090/siteID/8001/retailerid/6/trackingcode/penguinrandom IndieBound],[https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/how-to/id1451461524?mt=11 Apple Books]
* It stayed up for more than two and a half month and was still up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20190422030324/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-04-22], when [[2139: Email Settings]] was up. Then it finally changed to a new header without going back to the standard.

===2018-11-07 - Back to standard text===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20181107144453/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2018-11-07]
* The text returned to the standard xkcd header:
** xkcd updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
* It stayed like this until [[2107: Launch Risk]] was up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20190205050302/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-02-05], so two days less than three months.
** After this it did not return to the standard text for almost three years, but just short of a month before the third year without it, it returned on [[#2022-01-08 - Back to standard text|2022-01-08]].

===2018-11-06 - Election Day===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20181106122850/https://xkcd.com/ 2018-11-06]:
* [[2068: Election Night]] (on election day the day after this comic was released).
** It added a larger comic above the two links from the previous header. Those links of the previous header text was still up the day before [https://web.archive.org/web/20181105105855/https://xkcd.com/ 2018-11-05], when [[2067: Challengers]] was still up.
* Randall changed the xkcd header once more to try to make more people vote, and in this case help others to vote.
** Once again directly related to the new comic about election night.
* The text:
** [A line of altering blue and red stars, blue first and last of two rows of nine starts around of the heading:]
** Election Day!
** [Below Black Hat and Ponytail to the left and Megan to the right of Cueball is checking their smart phones. Cueball is addressing the reader:]
** Cueball: The biggest thing you can do th help is to check in with friends and family and make sure they know when and where they're voting.
** [Below these four characters there is the following text with two arrows pointing left and right. Both are turning up to text/links on either side of the four:]
** Use these links to answer questions
** [To the left:] Where and how to vote: [https://www.vote.org/ Vote-org]
** [To the right:] What's on your ballot: [https://www.ballotready.org/ BallotReady.org]
** [Below was the two links from the previous header:]
** Find out where to vote: [https://www.vote.org/ vote.org].
** See what's on your ballot: [https://www.ballotready.org/ BallotReady.org]
* It was only up one day and thus on ended the day after [https://web.archive.org/web/20181107144453/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2018-11-07] when the next comic [[2069: Wishlist]] came out.
** The text then returned to the standard xkcd header: xkcd updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
*** It stayed like this until [[2107: Launch Risk]] was up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20190205050302/https://xkcd.com/ 2019-02-05].

===2018-11-02 - Where to vote===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20181103021059/https://xkcd.com/ 2018-11-02]:
* [[2067: Challengers]] (on the Friday, it was released).
** It added another link to the previous header text. That text was still up the day before on Thursday [https://web.archive.org/web/20181102015102/https://xkcd.com/ 2018-11-01].
** That was while comic [[2066: Ballot Selfies]] was still up.
* Randall changed the xkcd header to let people know who is on their voting ballot, and as before there is also a link on how to register for voting.
** This is also directly related to the new comic that came out that day, about helping people to decide who to vote for, i.e. who is on their ballot.
* The text:
** Find out where to vote: [https://www.vote.org/ vote.org].
** See what's on your ballot: [https://www.ballotready.org/ BallotReady.org]
* This was done at this moment because the {{w|United States midterm election}} was held on {{w|United States elections, 2018|Tuesday, November 6, 2018}}, four days after the release of this comic.
* It was still up the day before the election day, [https://web.archive.org/web/20181105105855/https://xkcd.com/ 2018-11-05], and then it changed with the next comic.

===2018-10-22 - Register for voting===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20181022120935/https://xkcd.com/ 2018-10-22]:
* [[2061: Tectonics Game]] (on a Monday, the 3rd day after release of this Friday comic)
** The standard text was still up Sunday [https://web.archive.org/web/20181021141446/https://xkcd.com/ 2018-10-21].
** The comic [[2062: Barnard's Star]] was released later that day.
* Randall changed the xkcd header to try to get people to register for voting.
* The text:
** Check your registration and find your polling place at [https://www.vote.org/ vote.org].
* This was done at this moment because the {{w|United States midterm election}} was held on {{w|United States elections, 2018|Tuesday, November 6, 2018}}, about two weeks after the release of this comic.
** It is generally believed that many of those not voting would have chosen democrats on election day, and thus Randall has an interest in getting as many as possible to register, see [[1756: I'm With Her]] (apart from the fact that he also most likely thinks that it is important to use the right to vote).
* It ended on [https://web.archive.org/web/20181103021059/https://xkcd.com/ 2018-11-02], when [[2067: Challengers]] came out.
** It was still there while [[2066: Ballot Selfies]] was still up the day before on [https://web.archive.org/web/20181102015102/https://xkcd.com/ 2018-11-01].

===2018-09-13 - NY votes today===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20180913133544/https://xkcd.com/ 2018-09-13]
* [[2045: Social Media Announcement]] (the day after the release of the comic.)
** It was not up when the comic was released on [https://web.archive.org/web/20180912131437/https://xkcd.com/ 2018-09-12].
* It was a short lived reminder that NY votes today below the usual standard text.
* The text:
** xkcd updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
** NY votes today! Find your polling place [https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/ here]. (Zephyr Teachout for AG!)
* It ended with [[2046: Trum-]], the very next comic, on [https://web.archive.org/web/20180914175605/https://xkcd.com/ 2018-09-14], returning to the standard text.

===2017-11-26 - Christmas gifts===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20171126130857/https://xkcd.com/ 2017-11-26]
* [[1920: Emoji Sports]] had been up two days [https://web.archive.org/web/20171125125648/https://xkcd.com/ 2017-11-25] before the message changed from the normal version. But it changed the day before the next comic came up.
** It was changed to a commercial for Christmas shopping with a code for getting 5$ of the price with a codes for different online shops.
* The text:
** To anyone looking for Christmas gifts: Until Monday you can get $5 off
** [https://www.amazon.com/What-International-Scientific-Hypothetical-Questions/dp/0544456866 What If?] and [https://www.amazon.com/Thing-Explainer-Complicated-Stuff-Simple/dp/0544668251 Thing Explainer] on Amazon with coupon code GIFTBOOK17.
** At Barnes & Noble, until Sunday you can get 20% off [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-if-serious-scientific-answers-to-absurd-hypothetical-questions-randall-munroe/1118864093 What If?] and [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thing-explainer-randall-munroe/1121864432 Thing Explainer] using code GIVETHANKS.
* It was only up a few days and ended with [[1922: Interferometry]] on [https://web.archive.org/web/20171130150053/https://xkcd.com/ 2017-11-30] where it returned to the standard text.
** But it was still up when the comic in between [[1921: The Moon and the Great Wall]] was up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20171129140033/https://xkcd.com/ 2017-11-29].

===2017-09-22 - Visiting the UK===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20170922232616/https://xkcd.com/ 2017-09-22]:
* [[1893: Thread]] (with its release).
** It was not up on the previous comic [[1892: USB Cables]], on the day they changed [https://web.archive.org/web/20170922025204/https://xkcd.com/ 2017-09-22].
* It was an announcement that Randall would visit the UK next week.
* The text:
** I'll be visiting the UK next week! You can join me in London from September 30-October 2 (at [https://live.newscientist.com/speakers/randall-munroe New Scientist Live], [https://www.rigb.org/whats-on/events-2017/october/public-lunchtime-talk--randall-munroe The Royal Institution], and [https://www.intelligencesquared.com/events/randall-munroe-on-making-complicated-stuff-simple/ Intelligence Squared]), then from October 3-6 in [https://www.stpetersyork.org.uk/public_lectures/randall_munroe_thing_explainer York], [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/thing-explaining-with-randall-munroe-tickets-37832289396 Edinburgh], [https://www.toppingbooks.co.uk/events/ely/randall-murray-thing-explainer/ Cambridge and Ely], [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/randall-munroe-book-signing-thing-explainer-tickets-38041072873 Oxford], and [https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature/whats-on/2017/randall-munroe/ Cheltenham].
* Ended with [[1900: Jet Lag]] on [https://web.archive.org/web/20171010045802/https://xkcd.com/ 2017-10-10] when the text returned to normal.
** But it was still up the day before with [[1899: Ears]] on [https://web.archive.org/web/20171009040109/https://xkcd.com/ 2017-10-09].

===2017-07-31 - Thank you===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20170731021227/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2017-07-31]:
* [[1869: Positive and Negative Reviews]] (3rd day after release of this Friday comic)
** The comic [[1870: Emoji Movie Reviews]] was released later that day.
** Megan is holding hand with Cueball and next to them is two words above each other: Thank you.
** The image is also a link.
*** The link goes to [https://web.archive.org/web/20170801042453/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/07/25/us/politics/senate-votes-repeal-obamacare.html How Each Senator Voted on Obamacare Repeal Proposals], an article showing the senate votes. (here in an archived version).
* Ended with [[1872: Backup Batteries]] on [https://web.archive.org/web/20170804152509/https://xkcd.com/ 2017-08-04], but was still up when [[1871: Bun Alert]] was up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20170803124342/https://xkcd.com/ 2017-08-03].

===2017-07-25 - Vote against health care bill===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20170725103104/https://xkcd.com/ 2017-07-25]:
* [[1867: Physics Confession]] (2nd day after release of the comic, it was not up on the first day: [https://web.archive.org/web/20170724095252/https://xkcd.com/ 2017-07-24]).
* Randall modified the xkcd header to ask readers to support voting against Donald Trump's new health care bill.
** The header was replaced with an image which is available in an archived version [https://web.archive.org/web/20170726150959im_/https://imgs.xkcd.com/notes/call-senate.png here].
** The image is also a link (and you can click anywhere on it to go to the link that is mentioned).
*** The link goes to [https://web.archive.org/web/20170729003307/https://www.trumpcareten.org/daily TrumpCare Ten] (here in an archived version).
*** Randall has previously made it clear, in [[1572: xkcd Survey]], that he knows how to make an image a link, but not how to put the link only where he says to click.
** Transcript of the image:
*** [Megan is holding hand with Cueball next to three lines of large text, the same height as they are:]
*** Please tell your senators to vote against this health care bill. It will hurt people.
*** [After these three lines there is a phone number in a very large bold font with a line of text below:]
*** 202-224-3121
*** Or click here for more info
*** [Below the above is a gray line which is split in the middle with gray text, and below that four state names in white text inside black boxes:]
*** Know anyone in these states? Ask them to call, too.
*** Alaska Maine Nevada Ohio West Virginia
* Ended while [[1869: Positive and Negative Reviews]] was up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20170731164828/https://xkcd.com/ 2017-07-31], when it was replaced by a ''Thank you''.
** That comic came out already [https://web.archive.org/web/20170728124230/https://xkcd.com/ three days before] (Friday comic), but was still up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20170730141019/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2017-07-30]) when the message changed sometimes between Sunday 30th and Monday 31st (where [[1870: Emoji Movie Reviews]] was released).

===2017-01-21 - Update on previous===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20170122003124/https://xkcd.com/ 2017-01-21]:
* [[1788: Barge]]
* It came up almost a month after Christmas but did not really change the sales pitch of the previous. It just removed the link image with the large red text, see previous version below.
* The text:
** There are [https://store.xkcd.com/collections/featured four new shirts] in [https://store.xkcd.com/ the xkcd store],
** along with [https://store.xkcd.com/collections/posters posters] and [https://store.xkcd.com/collections/everything lots of other stuff]!
* Ended with [[1867: Physics Confession]] on [https://web.archive.org/web/20170725103104/https://xkcd.com/ 2017-07-25].
** That comic came up [https://web.archive.org/web/20170724095252/https://xkcd.com/ the day before] the above version of the header appeared.
** So the first day after release it was still the T-shirt commercial.
** And it did not return to the standard version in between.

===2016-11-28 - Christmas sale===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20161128153015/https://xkcd.com 2016-11-28]
* [[1765: Baby Post]]
* This came up in time for the Christmas sale of 2016.
* The text was
** There are [https://store.xkcd.com/collections/featured four new shirts] in [https://store.xkcd.com/ the xkcd store],
** along with [https://store.xkcd.com/collections/posters posters] and [https://store.xkcd.com/collections/everything lots of other stuff]!
** Above the text there was an image with two black t-shirts with white print on the chest. They were located at either end of a large red text written in the text type used in the comic. This text said New xkcd shirts.
** The entire image was a link to the [https://store.xkcd.com/ xkcd store].
* Ended with [[1788: Barge]] [https://web.archive.org/web/20170121114423/https://xkcd.com/ 2017-01-21]

===2016-04-23 - Back to standard text===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20160423103108/https://xkcd.com/ 2016-04-23]
* When [[1671: Arcane Bullshit]] came out (probably 2016-04-22, but no earlier archived versions exist) the text returned to the standard xkcd header:
** xkcd updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
* It stayed like this for more than 7 months until [[1764: XKCDE]] was up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20161128093459/https://xkcd.com/ 2016-11-28].

===2016-04-04 - Protip on Garden===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20160404185353/https://www.xkcd.com/#5dbfbb82-fc20-11e5-8001-42010a8e000d 2016-04-04]
* Because of the complexity of the [[April Fools' Day comics|April Fools' Day comic]] [[1663: Garden]], Randall needed to give people some advice, hence a [[:Category:Protip|protip]] was added.
** This came in several versions, not all managed to be documented in the archive. See more in the trivia for garden regarding the [[1663:_Garden#Header_text_after_release|Header text after release]].
* The header text became a protip with the following text (the first version not documented only had the first line):
** '''Protip''': If you don't like how your garden is growing, you can click to prune it.
** You can copy the URL to share your garden. From other browsers, it will be view-only.
* When the next comic, [[1664: Mycology]], was released two days later on [https://web.archive.org/web/20160406194653/https://xkcd.com/1664/ 2016-04-06], an extra line of text was added, due to the issues caused by Garden not being on the front page {{xkcd}} but only on the numbered page {{xkcd|1663}}.
** This change was first documented on the front page the day after on [https://web.archive.org/web/20160407010635/https://xkcd.com/ 2016-04-07]
** The change was of course also on and all the other comic and thus also on the Garden comic from [https://web.archive.org/web/20160406192530/https://xkcd.com/1663/ 2016-04-06].
* Text added below the other two lines:
** Note: If you're seeing today's comic in place of your garden, change the URL from xkcd.com/#<your code> to xkcd.com/1663/#<your code>.
*** This extra line was only there until next time the comic change, so last day was [https://web.archive.org/web/20160408145017/https://xkcd.com/ 2016-04-08].
* On [https://web.archive.org/web/20160408195958/https://xkcd.com/ 2016-04-08] when [[1665: City Talk Pages]] was released the extra line was removed leaving the two written first here above.
** This was also the case on the Garden comic (and all other comics) from [https://web.archive.org/web/20160408204740/https://xkcd.com:80/1663/ 2016-04-08].
* The Protip stayed in the main header text until [https://web.archive.org/web/20160422102754/https://xkcd.com/ 2016-04-22] when [[1670: Laws of Physics]] was up.
** But even though it disappeared from main header and thus from all other comic it stayed on the Garden comic, also on [https://web.archive.org/web/20160423182630/https://xkcd.com:80/1663/ 2016-04-23].
** And it has then turned out to become one of the permanent [[xkcd_Header_text#Garden|Unique header texts]].

===2016-04-04 - Back to standard text as Garden came up===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20160404123555/https://xkcd.com/ 2016-04-04]
* For a brief period of time, when [[1663: Garden]] was finally released, the Header text returned to the standard xkcd header:
** xkcd updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
* But this lasted less than 13 hours. (Time between the previous and next archived version is 13 hours and 7 minutes).
** As people needed guidance to the new complicated comic.

===2016-04-01 - April 1st comic - technical difficulties===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20160401204749/https://xkcd.com/ 2016-04-01]
* When Randall had problem releasing [[1663: Garden]] several [[1663:_Garden#April_Fools.27_header_text|April Fools' header text]] arrived in short succession while [[1662: Jack and Jill]] was still up.
* Each of these where simple text.
** The first from the link abve:
*** The xkcd April 1st comic is currently experiencing technical difficulties.
*** Please stand by!
** The next from [https://web.archive.org/web/20160402125723/https://xkcd.com:80/ 2016-04-02] at 12:57:
*** The xkcd April 1st comic is currently experiencing technical difficulties.
*** Status update: Please stand by.
*** Status update: This is fine. Everything is fine.
*** Status update: Everything is on fire.
*** Status update: Searching for calendar systems in which Saturday is April 1st.
** The next from [https://web.archive.org/web/20160402175822/https://www.xkcd.com 2016-04-02] at 17:58:
*** The Friday xkcd comic is currently experiencing technical difficulties
*** [Editor's note: Everything is on fire] and has been delayed until Sunday night.
* It stayed like the third version until [https://web.archive.org/web/20160404054612/https://xkcd.com/ 2016-04-04] three days after the April Fools' Day comic was supposed to come out, so Jack and Jill was up until it changed.
This was what was needed to stop more than 10 months of promotion of the [[Thing Explainer]] book, see below.

===2015-12-13 - Thing Explainer is available===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20151213194534/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-12-13]
* [[1615: Red Car]] was still up when the header changed.
** The change was that the promotion for where Randall was last week where removed and left only the promotion the book [[Thing Explainer]]:
* The text:
** Thing Explainer is available at: [https://www.amazon.com/Thing-Explainer-Complicated-Stuff-Simple/dp/0544668251 Amazon], [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thing-explainer-randall-munroe/1121864432?ean=9780544668256#/ Barnes & Noble], [https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780544668256 Indie Bound], [https://www.hudsonbooksellers.com/thingexplainer Hudson]
* It was last up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20160401125621/https://xkcd.com/ 2016-04-01] while [[1662: Jack and Jill]] was on the front page.
** This was the last time that Thing Explainer was [[:Category:Book promotion|promoted]] in the header text.
*** The first time was [[xkcd_Header_text#2015-05-14_-_New_book_Thing_Explainer|2015-05-14]], so it had been part of the header text for almost ten and a half month. That is a record!

===2015-12-05 - Thing Explainer is available and Next week===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20151205070539/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-12-05]
* [[1612: Colds]] was up when the header changed.
** This was also at this time the [[2015-11-24 - Pages from my new book Thing Explainer|previous header texts image] was moved below the comic.
* Randall goes back to a simple promotion of the book [[Thing Explainer]] listing where to boy it.'
** But he adds a line about where he will be next week, first to a book shop on Illinois and then later in Toronto, where the host was {{w|Ryan North}} from [https://qwantz.com/ Dinosaur comics], one of the [[Design_of_xkcd.com#Comics_I_enjoy|comics Randall enjoys]].
* The text:
** Thing Explainer is available at: [https://www.amazon.com/Thing-Explainer-Complicated-Stuff-Simple/dp/0544668251 Amazon], [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thing-explainer-randall-munroe/1121864432?ean=9780544668256#/ Barnes & Noble], [https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780544668256 Indie Bound], [https://www.hudsonbooksellers.com/thingexplainer Hudson]
** I'll be in [https://web.archive.org/web/20151211002159/https://www.andersonsbookshop.com/event/naperville-reads-randall-munroe Naperville, IL] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20151205205714/https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/indigo-exclusive-randall-munroe-tickets-18694384407 Toronto, ON] (with [https://qwantz.com/ Ryan North]!) next week.
* It was last up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20151212133400/https://xkcd.com:80/ 2015-12-12] while [[1615: Red Car]] was on the front page.

===2015-11-24 - Pages from my new book Thing Explainer===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20151203234149/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-12-03]
* [[1611: Baking Soda and Vinegar]] was still up when the header changed.
** This was a special one comic header text consisting of a large image with pages and excerpts from the book [[Thing Explainer]].
** The image was larger than most comics, and took away the focus of today's comic.
** So already two days after, when [[1612: Colds]] was released, the image was relegated to the being below the comic, but inside the [[Design_of_xkcd.com#Main_comic|main comic]] segment, thus not a part of the [[Design_of_xkcd.com#Bottom_segment|bottom segment]].
*** But it was displayed in the header for all comics, here [https://web.archive.org/web/20151204030024/https://xkcd.com/1609/ an example] from the comic released two comics before 1611, [[1609: Food Combinations]].
*** See more (and the image) [[Thing_Explainer#Promotion_at_the_xkcd_home_page|here]] on the page for Thing Explainer.
* Description of the image:
** At the top are shown four pages from the book. Two mainly blue, left and right, with white text and large images and between them two mainly white pages with blue text and smaller images. None of the text is readable, but the two blue pages pictures can be understood even in this size.
*** The first page is number 2 about an animal cell: ''Tiny bags of water you’re made of''. It shows a detailed drawing of a human cell, with text at the top, and then several labels with text beneath that have arrows pointing to different parts of the cell.
*** The second page is number 31 about the cockpit of an airplane: ''Stuff you touch to fly a sky boat''. It shows the inside of a cockpit with view out of the four windows, with lots of buttons in the ceiling, and blue screens and instruments at the bottom. Out the windows can be seen clouds and Cueball hanging from a balloon (a reference to [[1110: Click and Drag]]).
**** A zoom in on this page is shown beneath the four pages, see more below.
*** The third page is page 27. What is on this page is a bit difficult to see, as there are no big drawings with clear meaning. It is the second page in a two page section on Data centers, with the second page focusing on the Computer: ''Computer building''. The pictures shows the data racks, to the right, and the individual computer components put into these, to the top left, with the wiring shown below to the left. Lots of text with arrows to different parts.
*** The fourth page is page 23 about Trees: ''Tree''. It clearly shows the silhouette of a white tree on blue background. Several animal live on, in and beneath it. Cueball is standing on the ground. All the text are beneath labels that points to parts of the tree or the tree dwellers.
** In between the two time two pages there is a readable text, split over five lines, with two arrow at the top going from the corners of the text to the near corners of the white pages to either side. And below three arrows, with two pointing similarly as the two top arrows, but starting at the bottom of the text, and one arrow pointing straight down from the middle of the text to the large image below.
** Beneath all this is a large image which shows a zoom in on the left part of the cockpit from the second page above. The zoom is focused on the two front windows, but only the left is entirely in the picture, and the balloon hanging Cueball, cannot be seen in this part of the right window.
*** At this zoom level, most of the text van be read (that is labels written on things or having arrows pointing to them). Clouds can bee seen out of both windows and in the background a rocket launch with smoke plume below the rocket is visible. The horizon line is well defines across both windows. Some of the instruments can be seen below the windows with text written on them. And some blue areas, mainly screens can be seen.
** Beneath this picture is a line with links to where the book can be ordered, like the one from the previous header text.
* The text:
** Pages from my new book, ''Thing Explainer'': Complicated stuff in simple words.
** [Labels in the cockpit]:
*** Sky
*** Ground (This should be below the sky. If it's above the sky, you're either having a big problem or doing something ''really'' fun.)
*** Use this stuff to tell the sky boat to fly itself.
*** Fly
*** How fast it feels IAS 172
*** Direction HDG 240
*** Fall or rise
*** How high 2500
*** Fly
*** Helpful screen
*** Where the ground is
*** You are: Flying
*** Look here if there is a problem
** Below this image is a line of text with the first word in black and the other are four links to where to order the book:
*** Order: [https://www.amazon.com/Thing-Explainer-Complicated-Stuff-Simple/dp/0544668251 Amazon], [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thing-explainer-randall-munroe/1121864432?ean=9780544668256#/ Barnes & Noble], [https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780544668256 Indie Bound], [https://www.hudsonbooksellers.com/thingexplainer Hudson]
** The image is a link to [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0544668251/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0544668251&linkCode=as2&tag=thekcs-20&linkId=S4XRZJJKSMHOWEQU Thing Explainer on Amazon].
* It was only part of the header for two days until [https://web.archive.org/web/20151204050419/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-12-04].
** It was then moved below the comics as mentioned above from [https://web.archive.org/web/20151205070539/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-12-05] when the next comic [[1612: Colds]] came out.

===2015-11-24 - Thing Explainer is out today===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20151124201602/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-11-24]
* [[1607: Supreme Court]] was still up, but [[1608: Hoverboard]] most have come out close to the change.
** See both [https://web.archive.org/web/20151125001228/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-11-25 00:12] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20151125230753/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-11-25 23:07].
** Since this new "comic" was actually a {{w|browser game}} made to celebrate the release of Randall's new book, ''[[Thing Explainer]]'', which was released on the same day as this comic: Tuesday, November 24, 2015. The comic thus appeared on a Tuesday, replacing that week's normal Wednesday release to coincide with the release day.
** Hence it is a shame that there is no archived versions on the 24th showing Hoverboard on the front page. Even though the new version of the Header text is shown on the 24th, but on the previous comic.
* Cause all the header text is about is the release day of Thing Explainer!
** The top part is text with a line with large letters and a line below in brackets and using smaller letters. Below that there is a line dividing the text from the next part.
** Below follows the same header that was up as early as [[#2015-05-15 - Thing Explainer details|2015-05-15]] with the open book and three lines of text.
* The text:
** My new book, [https://blog.xkcd.com/2015/05/13/new-book-thing-explainer/ Thing Explainer], is out today!
** (If you're in NYC, you can also [https://web.archive.org/web/20150925015809/https://stores.barnesandnoble.com:80/author/11170358 come see me]!)
** A picture of the open book is shown with diagrams of a human cell on the left page and suspension bridges on the right. All held in blue nuances. And arrow goes from the first word of the text to the right to the book on the left. The text is also blue except the title of the book which is in red:
*** New book: Thing Explainer
*** Up Goer Five-style diagrams of things (explained in the ten-hundred most common words)
** Below this image is a line of text with the first word in black and the other are four links to where to order the book:
*** Order: [https://www.amazon.com/Thing-Explainer-Complicated-Stuff-Simple/dp/0544668251 Amazon], [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thing-explainer-randall-munroe/1121864432?ean=9780544668256#/ Barnes & Noble], [https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780544668256 Indie Bound], [https://www.hudsonbooksellers.com/thingexplainer Hudson]
** The image above the order line is a link to the [[Blag]] post [https://blog.xkcd.com/2015/05/13/new-book-thing-explainer/ New book: Thing Explainer].
* Already the day after [https://web.archive.org/web/20151125001228/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-11-25], when [[1608: Hoverboard]] was up, an extra line (a link) was added below the above. A line was separating it from the links above:
** [https://blog.xkcd.com/2015/11/24/a-puzzle-for-the-uk/ A puzzle for UK readers]
*** This was to a blag post with A puzzle for the UK because he could not go to UK in person. So this was a kind of bonus for those who could solve it. (We need an entry on that here on xkcd...)
* On [https://web.archive.org/web/20151127114432/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-11-27] is still looked like this but then when the next comic, [[1609: Food Combinations]], came out on [https://web.archive.org/web/20151128130851/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-11-28] the line about seeing him in New York was removed.
* The version with the puzzle, but without the New York line, was then up until [https://web.archive.org/web/20151201222148/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-12-01] when [[1610: Fire Ants]] was up.
* Then on [https://web.archive.org/web/20151202225254/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2015-12-02] the line with the puzzle at the bottom was changed to:
** I'm doing a [https://www.facebook.com/AndyWeirAuthor/ live Q&A;] at 2:30pm PT with The Martian author Andy Weir.
*** The link is to {{w|Andy Weir}}'s Facebook page. And the Q&A can likely not be seen anymore.
*** Randall has made no less than two comics about the movie {{w|The Martian (film)|The Martian}}, [[1536: The Martian]] and [[1585: Similarities]].
** It only lasted that day, and this became the last day with this header text, so it ended while [[1611: Baking Soda and Vinegar]] was up.

===2015-10-22 - World Polio Day===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20151022200022/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-10-22]
* [[1593: Play-By-Play]] was up when the header changed.
** Randall mentions World Polio Day and the comic he drew for Bill Gates' blog, [[XKCD Marks the Spot]].
** Although he still keeps mentioning the release date for [[Thing Explainer]].
* The text:
** We've [https://slate.com/technology/2015/08/no-new-polio-in-africa-for-one-year-gates-epidemiologist-on-vaccines-and-surveillance.html almost eradicated polio]. For World Polio Day, I drew a comic
** about the eradication efforts. You can see it on [https://www.gatesnotes.com/Health/XKCD-Marks-the-Spot Bill Gates's blog].
** My [https://blog.xkcd.com/2015/05/13/new-book-thing-explainer/ new book] of complex diagrams and simple words comes out Nov 24th.
*** The last line is split from the Polio announcement with a line.
* Was there until [[1607: Supreme Court]] was up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20151124065108/https://xkcd.com:80/ 2015-11-24].
** That was the day that the book was released, and when the next comic [[1608: Hoverboard]] came out, it was a celebration of the book.

===2015-09-23 - Book trip and tool===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20150923044724/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-09-23]:
* [[1580: Travel Ghost]] was up when the header changed.
** Announcing the book trip for the [[Thing Explainer]] book as well as linking to a Thing Explainer word checker tool! Two lines of text with links.
* The text:
** News: Announcing my Thing Explainer [https://blog.xkcd.com/2015/09/22/im-going-on-a-book-trip/ book trip]. Come say hi!
** Other news: Announcing the Thing Explainer [https://blog.xkcd.com/2015/09/22/a-thing-explainer-word-checker/ word checker] tool!
*** Both links are to the [[Blag]], the first a schedule for his book trip, and the second telling about Randall's new [https://xkcd.com/simplewriter/ Simple Writer] that could help you ''Write Like Up Goer Five and Thing Explainer''.
* Was there until [[1593: Play-By-Play]] was up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20151021164208/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-10-21].

===2015-09-06 - New links===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20150906181550/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-09-06]:
* [[1573: Cyberintelligence]] was still up when the header changed.
** The promotion of the book, [[Thing Explainer]], stayed the same with a picture above links to preorder it, but the links was reduced from four to two, the amazon link changed and a new company was added for the second link removing the other three.
** See [[#2015-05-15 - Thing Explainer details|2015-05-15]] below for all details on the image.
* The new link text:
** Preorder: [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thing-Explainer-Randall-Munroe/dp/1473620910 Amazon.co.uk}, [https://www.waterstones.com/book/thing-explainer/9781473620919 Waterstones]
* Was there until [[1579: Tech Loops]] was up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20150919220105/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-09-22].

===2015-08-09 - Back to previous header===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20150809230825/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-08-09]:
* [[1561: Water Phase Diagram]] was still up when the header changed.
** It changed back to the exact same heading as before the one with other news here below.
*** See [[#2015-05-15 - Thing Explainer details|2015-05-15]] below for all details.
* Stayed like this until [[1573: Cyberintelligence]] was out on [https://web.archive.org/web/20150905154014/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-09-05], but the only change was that the links to preorder changed from four to only two.

===2015-06-06 - Other news===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20150606084120/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2015-06-06]
* Changed while [[1534: Beer]] was still up.
** This was just adding some "Other news", but leaving the promotion of [[Thing Explainer]] unchanged as in the [[#2015-05-15 - Thing Explainer details|previous header]], but adding two news stories in text below the link to preorder.
* The new text:
** In other news, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygrdAvmr-MA Space Weird Thing] is delightful, and I feel surprisingly invested in [https://web.archive.org/web/20150720074919/https://twitter.com/xkcdbracket @xkcdbracket's] results.
*** The link to Space Weird Thing is a YouTube video with a simple words version of {{w|David Bowie|David Bowie's}} [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYYRH4apXDo Space Oddity] music video, using only the top then hundred words. The creators contributes the idea to the [[1133: Up Goer Five]] diagram which also inspired the book Thing Explainer, also promoted in this header text.
*** The other link is referring to [[1529: Bracket]] released 12 days before this update, as a twitter user made a survey going through all the brackets all the way to a winner was found. Seems Randall became interested in who won. See more on the comics page.
* Was there until [[1561: Water Phase Diagram]] was up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20150807181044/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-08-07]. Then it returned back to the previous header with only the promotion of the book.

===2015-05-15 - Thing Explainer details===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20150515060322/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2015-05-15]
* [[1525: Emojic 8 Ball]]
* This was a more detailed promotion for Randall's new book: [[Thing Explainer]] to be published in November 2015, more than half a year after the announcement, compared to the previous change which was just a line and a link.
* The text:
** A picture of the open book is shown with diagrams of a human cell on the left page and suspension bridges on the right. All held in blue nuances. And arrow goes from the first word of the text to the right to the book on the left. The text is also blue except the title of the book which is in red:
*** New book: Thing Explainer
*** Up Goer Five-style diagrams of things (explained in the then hundred most common words)
** Below this image is a line of text with the first word in black and the other are four links to where to preorder the book:
*** Preorder: [https://www.amazon.com/Thing-Explainer-Complicated-Stuff-Simple/dp/0544668251 Amazon], [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thing-explainer-randall-munroe/1121864432?ean=9780544668256#/ Barnes & Noble], [https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780544668256 Indie Bound], [https://www.hudsonbooksellers.com/thingexplainer Hudson]
** The image above the preorder line is a link to the [[Blag]] post [https://blog.xkcd.com/2015/05/13/new-book-thing-explainer/ New book: Thing Explainer].
* Changed while [[1534: Beer]] was up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20150605082643/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-06-05], but only to add other information. The main promotion of the book stayed the same.

===2015-05-14 - New book Thing Explainer===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20150514053623/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2015-05-14]
* [[1524: Dimensions]] was up.
** A single line announced the new [[Thing Explainer]] book, with link to the [[Blag]] post from the day before.
* The text:
** New book: [https://blog.xkcd.com/2015/05/13/new-book-thing-explainer/ Thing Explainer!]
The [[:Category:Book promotion|promotion of the book]] stayed up with some changes for [[xkcd_Header_text#2015-12-13_-_Thing_Explainer_is_available|more than 10 month]] first stopping when Randall had [[xkcd_Header_text#2016-04-01_-_The_xkcd_April_1st_comic_is_currently_experiencing_technical_difficulties|problems with his April Fools' Day comic]] in 2016... It is a record length.
* The first came already the day after so this short announcement was only up on this day and ended with the next comic. See above.
* See more details on the promotion of the book on the Thing Explainer page [[Thing_Explainer#Promotion_at_the_xkcd_home_page|here]].

===2015-02-11 - Back to standard text===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20150211154103/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-02-11]
* When [[1485: Friendship]] came out the text returned to the standard xkcd header:
** xkcd updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
* It stayed like this until [[1523: Microdrones]] was up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20150512184622/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-05-12], so just a day more than three months.

===2015-02-04 - Valentine cards only===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20150204051152/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-02-04]
* [[1482: NowPlaying]] came out as it changed.
** After the last day of ordering t-shirt had passed it changed back to the picture with the Valentine cards from the previous header, but without the t-shirt picture.
** See that [[#2015-01-29 - Valentine cards and shirt|header change]], but only the first picture described.
* Ended while [[1484: Apollo Speeches]] was up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20150210005540/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-02-10].

===2015-02-02 - Last day shirt===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20150202092804/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-02-02]
* [[1481: API]] came out as it changed.
** Just letting people know it is the last chance to order the binary t-shirt.
** There was just a line of text:
* The text was:
** Today is the last day to order the limited-run [https://web.archive.org/web/20150202092804/https://teespring.com/xkcdbinaryheart binary heart shirt]!
** The last words is link to the shirt in the shop.
* Ended before the next comic was up, but still the day after, when it was too late to order: [https://web.archive.org/web/20150203022036/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-02-03].

===2015-01-29 - Valentine cards and shirt===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20150129183442/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-01-29]
* [[1479: Troubleshooting]] was up when it changed.
** It was to tell about both the two previous updates in the same header- Both about the collaboration to make science themed Valentine's Day cards and his new Valentine t-shirt.
** There where two pictures, with a promotion of the two products and a link to them in the shop.
** On the left was text about the cards with a small drawing to the right of the text showing the four cards.
*** An ant talking to an aphids; Earth rotating about the sun but locked so one side melts; an ant with a fungus growing from it's head with a heart, and a Velociraptor skeleton where the last bit of the tail is put on by a person. The text on the cards are unreadable, but they can be seen via the link.
** The text (in three lines) was:
*** Webcomic science Valentine card collaboration
*** The [https://web.archive.org/web/20150127161237/https://store.xkcd.com/products/webcomic-science-valentines link to the cards] from the picture.
** The picture on the left shows binary numbers 0 and 1 in white on a black background. The middle of the three lines of those have message in red text.
** The text:
*** 0 1 0 1 0 Binary heart 1 1 1
*** 1 1 1 Valentine shirt 0 1
*** 0 0 0 1 [limited run] 0 0 1
*** The [https://web.archive.org/web/20150125080756/https://teespring.com/xkcdbinaryheart link to the shirt] from the picture.
* Ended while [[1480: Super Bowl]] was up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20150201015913/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-02-01].

===2015-01-27 - Valentine's Day cards===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20150127161237/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-01-27]
* [[1478: P-Values]] was up when it changed.
** It was to tell that about a collaboration to make science themed Valentine's Day cards.
** There was just two lines of text:
* The text was:
** I've teamed up with three other webcomic artists
** to make [https://web.archive.org/web/20150127161237/https://store.xkcd.com/products/webcomic-science-valentines a set of science-themed Valentine's Day cards]!
* There was a link to the cards on the store.
* Ended while [[1479: Troubleshooting]] was up [https://web.archive.org/web/20150128172147/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-01-28].

===2015-01-24 - Get shirts in store===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20150124110707/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-01-24]
* [[1477: Star Wars]] came out as it changed.
** It was to tell about a new type of t-shirt for Valentine Day.
** There was just two lines of text:
* The text was:
** For Valentine's Day, you can get a binary heart shirt
** (from {{xkcd|99|comic #99!}}) in [https://web.archive.org/web/20150125080756/https://teespring.com/xkcdbinaryheart a limited run on TeeSpring]
* There was a link to [[99: Binary Heart]] and to the relevant t-shirt on the [https://teespring.com/ Teespring] home page.
* Ended while [[1478: P-Values]] was up [https://web.archive.org/web/20150126133139/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-01-26].

===2014-12-22 - Get shirts in store===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20141222233233/https://xkcd.com/ 2014-12-22]
* [[1463: Altitude]] came out as it changed.
** After the Christmas sale deadline there was still merchandise in the [https://store.xkcd.com/ xkcd store].
** There was just a line of text:
* The text was:
** You can get xkcd shirts, prints, and posters in the [https://shop.xkcd.com/ store]!
* The word store was a link to the shop.
* Ended while [[1476: Ceres]] was up [https://web.archive.org/web/20150123102318/https://xkcd.com/ 2015-01-23].

===2014-12-19 - Back to previous header===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20141219092349/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2014-12-19]:
* [[1462: Blind Trials]] came out as it changed.
It changed back to the exact same heading as before the one with order now here below.
* See [[#2014-12-17 - Christmas deadline|2014-12-17]] below for all details.
* Ended while [[1462: Blind Trials]] was still up [https://web.archive.org/web/20141221172450/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2014-12-21].

===2014-12-18 - Order now===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20141218090650/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2014-12-18]
* [[1461: Payloads]] was still up when it changed.
** It was to alert that the deadline for shipping before Christmas from the [https://store.xkcd.com/ xkcd store] was Friday and that it was rapidly approaching. This was a follow up on the [[#2014-12-17 - Christmas deadline|Wednesdays announcement]] the day before.
** The image was just four lines of text with several red and blue words.
* The text was:
** The xkcd store Christmas shipping deadline is Friday!
** Once it passes, there is no going back. The arrow of time drags us all
** Inexorably forward toward decay and disorder. toward the end of all things.
** Towards the empty silence of the grave. Order now!
* The entire drawing was a link to the [https://store.xkcd.com/ xkcd store], not just the blue text.
* Ended a day later while [[1461: Payloads]] was still up [https://web.archive.org/web/20141216084107/https://xkcd.com/ 2014-12-16].

===2014-12-17 - Christmas deadline===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20141217085320/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2014-12-17]
* [[1461: Payloads]] came out as it changed.
** It was to alert that the deadline for shipping before Christmas from the [https://store.xkcd.com/ xkcd store] was Friday. This was announced Wednesday two days before the deadline.
** The image was just text with the last word in each line in red and the xkcd store blue as a link.
* The text was:
** Looking for a gift?
** xkcd store Christmas shipping deadline is Friday!
* The entire drawing was a link to the [https://store.xkcd.com/ xkcd store], not just the blue text
* Ended a day later while [[1461: Payloads]] was still up!

===2014-12-03 - Christmas shopping===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20141203132024/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2014-12-03]
* [[1455: Trolley Problem]] came out as it changed.
** It was to announce the start of the Christmas shopping on the [https://store.xkcd.com/ xkcd store]
** Four boxes with shipping details are shown. Two green and two red, alternating from green. Between them are three text messages in two, two and three lines.
* The text was:
** xkcd store
** Christmas shopping
** I will probably not ship you a bobcat.
* The entire drawing was a link to the [https://store.xkcd.com/ xkcd store].
* The bobcat is a reference to [[325: A-Minus-Minus]].
* Ended while [[1460: SMFW]] was up [https://web.archive.org/web/20141216084107/https://xkcd.com/ 2014-12-16].

===2014-11-29 - Thanks - Emily===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20141129211604/https://xkcd.com/ 2014-11-29]
* [[1453: fMRI]] was still up when it changed.
** It was to thanks for all the help his friend Emily with cancer got through among other his previous header text [[#2014-11-27 - Help Emily| Help Emily]].
** That only needed to be up two days before the goal was met.
* The text was:
** Thank you for helping my friend Emily.
** It means so much.
* Ended three days later while [[1454: Done]] was up [https://web.archive.org/web/20141202065133/https://xkcd.com/ 2014-12-02].

===2014-11-27 - Help Emily===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20141127005239/https://xkcd.com/ 2014-11-27]
* [[1452: Jurassic World]] came out as it changed.
** It was to help a friend who got cancer by raising money for her.
* The text was:
** Hey all. My friend Emily—the economist who helped
** me with my {{xkcd|980|money chart}}—has been fighting cancer. She's
** having a rough time and could use some [https://web.archive.org/web/20141128183414/https://www.gofundme.com/e07dqk help]. Thank you.
* There are two links, one to the [[980: Money]] comic she helped Randall create, and one for her Go Fund Me page to raise money for her cancer cure.
** The help link above is to the archived version from that time, but the link was still active in August 2019: [https://www.gofundme.com/e07dqk Helping Emily Fight Cancer].
* Ended while [[1453: fMRI]] was up [https://web.archive.org/web/20141128070838/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2014-11-28].
** She did thus not get a permanent header as did Becky on the [[#Seven_Years|Seven Years]] comic.

===2014-10-02 - what if? bestseller===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20141002211139/https://xkcd.com/ 2014-10-02]
* [[1428: Move Fast and Break Things]] was up when it changed from the [[#2014-09-02 - what if? book out|book is out]].
* This was a month after the ''[[What If? (book)|What If?]]'' book came out.
** It added a line of red text beneath the previous header to announce that the book was the #1 New York bestseller.
* The text was:
** My book is out!
** (#1 New York bestseller!)
* The entire image was a link to the [https://whatif.xkcd.com/book/ The Book] page on the [https://whatif.xkcd.com/ what if?] page on xkcd. post.
* Ended while [[1451: Background Screens]] was up [https://web.archive.org/web/20141125234520/https://xkcd.com/ 2014-11-25].

===2014-09-04 - what if? book out===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20140904150600/https://xkcd.com/ 2014-09-04]
* [[1416: Pixels]] was up when it changed from the [[#2014-09-02 - what if? book out today|book is out today]].
* This was two days after the ''[[What If? (book)|What If?]]'' book came out.
** It only removed to today from the previous header, that had only been up two days.
* The text was:
** My book is out!
* The entire image was a link to the [https://whatif.xkcd.com/book/ The Book] page on the [https://whatif.xkcd.com/ what if?] page on xkcd. post.
* Ended while [[1428: Move Fast and Break Things]] was up [https://web.archive.org/web/20141001130827/https://xkcd.com/ 2014-09-01].

===2014-09-02 - what if? book out today===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20140902125802/https://xkcd.com/ 2014-09-02]
* [[1415: Ballooning]] was up when it changed from the [[#2014-07-23 - what if? book tour|book tour header]].
* This was the day the ''[[What If? (book)|What If?]]'' book came out. [[Cueball]] standing to the left of the text with arms raised shouts this out.. The word Book is underlined and blue to indicate a link.
* The text was:
** My book is out today!
* The entire image was a link to the [https://whatif.xkcd.com/book/ The Book] page on the [https://whatif.xkcd.com/ what if?] page on xkcd. post.
* Ended while [[1416: Pixels]] was still [https://web.archive.org/web/20140903134518/https://xkcd.com/ 2014-09-03].

===2014-07-23 - what if? book tour===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20140723180600/https://xkcd.com/ 2014-07-23]
* [[1398: Snake Facts]]
* This was a promotion of his book tour for the ''[[What If? (book)|What If?]]'' book made by [[Cueball]] standing to the left of the text with arms raised. Several parts of the text was underlined and blue to indicate links.
* The text was:
** I'm going on a book tour! click here for a list of stops.
** Or click anywhere-this whole image is one link because I've never gotten the hang of HTML imagemaps.
* The entire image was a link to the [[Blag]] post: [https://blog.xkcd.com/2014/07/22/what-if-book-tour/ What If book tour!].
** Later Randall commented on this lacking ability in the comic: [[1572: xkcd Survey]].
** He also mentions it in one of the [[#xkcd_Header_text#2019-07-09_-_Drawings_from_How_To|promotions]] for his [[How To]] book.
** He much later he again mentions that html is hard, thus explaining why the entire image is a link instead of the actual blue highlighted link in one of the promotions for [[xkcd_Header_text#2022-08-11_-_Preorder_What_if.3F_2_-_with_image|what if? 2]].
* Ended while [[1415: Ballooning]] was still up [https://web.archive.org/web/20140901113916/https://xkcd.com/ 2014-09-01].

===2014-03-13 - what if? announced===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20140313070951/https://xkcd.com/ 2014-03-13]
* [[1341: Types of Editors]] was up.
* This was the first promotion of Randall's new ''[[What If? (book)|What If?]]'' book which is shown next to two lines of text.
* The text was:
** News:
** I'm publishing a ''what if'' book!
* The entire image was a link to the [[Blag]] post: [https://blog.xkcd.com/2014/03/12/what-if-i-wrote-a-book/ What if I wrote a book?]
* Ended while [[1397: Luke]] was up [https://web.archive.org/web/20140722142115/https://xkcd.com/ 2014-07-22].

===2014-01-09 - Back to standard text===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20140109190927/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2014-01-09]
* When [[1314: Photos]] was still up when the text returned to the standard xkcd header:
** xkcd updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
* It stayed until [https://web.archive.org/web/20140312070248/https://xkcd.com/ 2014-03-12] when [[1340: Unique Date]] was up, a bit more than two months.

===2013-12-21 - Deadline for Christmas shipping has passed===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20131221043417/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2013-12-21]
* It changed when [[1306: Sigil Cycle]] came out.
* This came up when it was too close to Christmas in 2013 for shipping to arrive in time for Christmas. And Randall makes a note of this, but lets people know that they could still buy presents...
* The text was
** The deadline for guaranteed Christmas shipping has passed, but if you order something from the [https://store.xkcd.com/ xkcd store], we'll get it to you as fast as possible!
* Ended when [[1314: Photos]] was up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20140108181520/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2014-01-08].

===2013-12-06 - Empty header===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20131206213503/https://xkcd.com/ 2013-12-06]
* It changed when [[1300: Galilean Moons]] came out.
** There was no header text. This happened next on [[Header_text#2020-04-05 - Empty header|2020-04-05]]. It looks really weird.
* Ended when [[1305: Undocumented Feature]] was up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20131220005306/https://xkcd.com/ 2013-12-20].

===Changes not documented yet 3===
More changes will for sure be here between this and the one below.

Just put the link here with a date and maybe a short note:
[https://web.archive.org/web/20131205202730/https://xkcd.com/ 2013-12-05]: Xmas sale before above
[https://web.archive.org/web/20130315162227/https://xkcd.com:80/ 2013-03-15]: Empty follows below

===2013-03-15 - Empty header===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20130315162227/https://xkcd.com:80/ 2013-03-15]
* It changed while [[1186: Bumblebees]] was on the front page.
** After the text saying a comic would be delayed disappeared no text replaced this.
** So the header was left empty!
* This lasted until [https://web.archive.org/web/20130318072820/https://xkcd.com/ 2013-03-18] while [[1187: Aspect Ratio]] was up.

===2013-03-13 - Comic will be delayed===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20130313133631/https://xkcd.com/ 2013-03-13]
* It changed when [[1184: Circumference Formula]] came out, likely because the next comic was delayed.
** But there is a gap of three days before where no archived version exist, so cannot say if there where more than a few hours with this text.
* The text:
** The comic will be delayed until late morning EDT.
* Ended when [[1185: Ineffective Sorts]] was up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20130313175306/https://xkcd.com:80/ 2013-03-13].
** That was later same day as the first archived version. But could have been longer as mentioned above.

===2012-11-26 - xkcd store===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20121126235628/https://xkcd.com/1138/ 2012-11-26]
* It changed while [[1138: Heatmap]] was up.
** Notice that the above link is not from the main page, but from {{xkcd|1138}}.
** There was a gap of five days in the archive of the main page.
** The first day that it was archived from the front page was on [https://web.archive.org/web/20121201111432/https://xkcd.com/ 2012-12-01], while [[1141: Two Years]] was up.
* The standard header text is replaced with an image that makes it seem like a rip is being torn in the white region where the text used to be. Beneath the white material that has now been ripped, some text can partly be seen. It is possible to read it.
* The text:
** xkcd store
*** The image is a link to the [https://store.xkcd.com/ xkcd store] (tadaaa!)
* Ended when [[1183: Rose Petals]] was up on [https://web.archive.org/web/20130311073948/https://xkcd.com:80/1183/ 2013-03-11]
** The above link is from {{xkcd|1183}}.
** Last time the front page was archived with it was though on [https://web.archive.org/web/20130309010403/https://xkcd.com/ 2013-03-09].

===2012-10-24 - Back to standard text===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20121024082017/https://xkcd.com:80/ 2012-10-24]
* While [[1124: Law of Drama]] was on the front the header returned to the standard xkcd header:
** xkcd updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
* It stayed until [https://web.archive.org/web/20121126035129/https://xkcd.com:80/ 2012-11-26] when [[1138: Heatmap]] was up, a few days more than a month.

===2012-10-17 - New What-If - Lightning===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20121017232102/https://xkcd.com/1121/ 2012-10-17]
* Probably while [[1122: Electoral Precedent]] was up.
** But the link above showing it was up on the 2012-10-17 is from the previous comics page {{xkcd|1121}} [[1121: Identity]].
** But the first version archived with this header is saved on [https://web.archive.org/web/20121018082304/https://xkcd.com/ 2012-10-18]
* Randall promotes another New What-If article.
** See the ''[[what if? (blog)|what if?]]'' article ''{{what if|16|Today's topic: Lightning}}''.
* The text
** New What-If article:
** [https://what-if.xkcd.com/16/ What if lightning struck while you were ...]
* This lasted until [https://web.archive.org/web/20121023023404/https://xkcd.com/1121/ 2012-10-23] when [[1124: Law of Drama]] was on the front page
** This link is though from {{xkcd|1121}}.
** The last this version was archived on the front page was the day before on [https://web.archive.org/web/20121022120008/https://xkcd.com:80/ 2012-10-22].

===2012-10-10 - New What-If - Mariana Trench Explosion===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20121010003837/https://xkcd.com/ 2012-10-10]
* [[1118: Microsoft]] was still up at this time.
* Randall promotes another New What-If article.
** See the ''[[what if? (blog)|what if?]]'' article ''{{what if|15|Mariana Trench Explosion}}''.
* The text
** New What-If article:
** [https://what-if.xkcd.com/15/ What if you set off a nuclear bomb in the Mariana Trench?].
* This lasted until [https://web.archive.org/web/20121016055538/https://xkcd.com:80/ 2012-10-16] when [[1121: Identity]] was up.

===2012-10-02 - This week's What-If - Short Answer Section===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20121002231724/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2012-10-02]
* [[1115: Sky]] was still up at this time.
* Randall promotes another New What-If article.
** See the ''[[what if? (blog)|what if?]]'' article ''{{what if|14|Short Answer Section}}''.
* The text
** In this week's What-If article I [https://what-if.xkcd.com/14/ answer multiple reader questions].
* This lasted until [https://web.archive.org/web/20121008112434/https://xkcd.com/ 2012-10-08] when [[1118: Microsoft]] was up.

===2012-09-26 - New What-If - Laser Pointer===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120926163111/https://xkcd.com/1108/ 2012-09-26]
* [[1113: Killed in Action]] was up at this time.
** The link above showing it happened on the 26th is from {{xkcd|1108}}
** The first day this version was archived on the front page was on [https://web.archive.org/web/20120928003838/https://xkcd.com:80/ 2012-09-28]
* Randall promotes another New What-If article.
** See the ''[[what if? (blog)|what if?]]'' article ''{{what if|13|Laser Pointer}}''.
* The text
** New What-If article:
** [https://what-if.xkcd.com/13/ If everyone aimed a laser pointer at the Moon at once, would it change color?]
* This lasted until [https://web.archive.org/web/20121001080517/https://xkcd.com/ 2012-10-01] when [[1115: Sky]] was up.

===2012-09-18 - what-if.xkcd.com - Raindrop===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120918143653/https://www.xkcd.com/1108/ 2012-09-18]
* [[1109: Refrigerator]] was still up at this time.
** The link above showing it happened on the 18th is from {{xkcd|1108}}
** The first day this version was archived on the front page was on [https://web.archive.org/web/20120919015232/https://xkcd.com/ 2012-09-19]
* Randall promotes another What-If article on the what-if page.
** See the ''[[what if? (blog)|what if?]]'' article ''{{what if|12|Raindrop}}''.
* The text
** what-if.xkcd.com: [https://what-if.xkcd.com/12/ What if all of a storm's water fell in a single raindrop?].
* This lasted until [https://web.archive.org/web/20120925090123/https://xkcd.com:80/ 2012-09-25] when [[1112: Think Logically]] was up.

===Changes not documented yet 2===
The above is the last documented.
* There will for sure be more changes earlier than this.

Just put the link here with a date and maybe a short note:
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120917052827/https://xkcd.com:80/ 2012-09-17]: What if Droppings ends.
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120718231719/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2012-07-18] Next stores header text

===2012-07-10 - New: what-if.xkcd.com===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120710114846/https://xkcd.com/1078/ 2012-07-10]
* This was a special change happening over a few days. The above "new" header text from the given date is actually shown on the previous comic [[1078: Knights]].
** Another example from [https://web.archive.org/web/20120710072249/https://xkcd.com:80/1070 2012-07-10] is shown for [[1070: Words for Small Sets]].
* The comic on the main page released on [https://web.archive.org/web/20120709045709/https://xkcd.com:80/ 2012-07-09] was [[1079: United Shapes]], but that comic had a [[xkcd_Header_text#United_Shapes|unique header text]] upon its release.
** So both on the 9th as shown above and on [https://web.archive.org/web/20120710114846/https://xkcd.com/1078/ 2012-07-10] the header text was different on the front than on all other pages.
*** As can be read in the link above, the new header text actually got incorporated into the unique text, so that after the next comic was released on [https://web.archive.org/web/20120711234408/https://xkcd.com/1079/ 2012-07-11] the current new header text and a smaller version of the original unique header text was now shown on the Unites Shapes page.
*** {{xkcd|1079|And it was never changed back}}.
* The first version of the new text from the 10th was only active one day:
** The text:
*** New site: what-if.xkcd.com, where I abuse science to answer hypothetical questions. I'll answer a new question every Tuesday.
**** The link was not an active link. And this was never shown on the front page, but on all other comics.
* Already on [https://web.archive.org/web/20120711223349/https://xkcd.com/1078/ 2012-07-11] when [[1080: Visual Field]] was released the new header changed a bit
** At this time it most have been shown on the front page, but the link above is again from [[1078: Knights]].
*** For some reason the front page was not saved on either the 11th or 12th, so no version of the front page with Visual Field exist
*** The first archived version of the front page with this new header text was from [https://web.archive.org/web/20120713154207/https://xkcd.com/ 2012-07-13] when [[1081: Argument Victory]] was on the front page.
* The final text:
** New: [https://what-if.xkcd.com/1/ what-if.xkcd.com]: abusing science to answer hypothetical questions.
** I'll answer a new reader question every Tuesday.
*** This time the link was active and directs to the new ''[[what if? (blog)|what if?]]'' blog and its first entry {{what if|1|Relativistic Baseball}}
* The whole idea was that Randall released the new what if? blog on the 10th of July 2012. And thus would like to make a promotion of it.
** And then he timed it so poorly that the front page had a different header than the rest of the comics.
** It was so annoying for him that he actually changed the header for Unites Shapes manually so that page also showed the new link. Maybe even before it left the front page, but that has not been documented in the archive.
** And then he forgot about it when the header changed for all the other comics, so it is now a relic of the promotion of his first what if release.
* The what if promotion continued for a long time, but the final version from above only lasted until 17th at the latest. There is again no archived versions of the front page from the 15th, 16th or 17th.
** The last time it was archived on the front page was [https://web.archive.org/web/20120714062857/https://xkcd.com/ 2012-07-14], when [[1081: Argument Victory]] was still up.
** But on [https://web.archive.org/web/20120715070938/https://xkcd.com:80/1081/ 2012-07-15] it was still shown on the page for Argument Victory and same for [https://web.archive.org/web/20120716235458/https://www.xkcd.com/998/ 2012-07-16] on [[998: 2012]]
*** So seemed it stayed up while [[1082: Geology]] was up on the 16-17/7.

===2012-04-09 - Standard text plus store link===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120409190952/https://xkcd.com/1026/ 2012-04-09]
* It changed when [[1040: Lakes and Oceans]] came up.
** The above link to prove this is though from comic {{xkcd|1026}} [[1026: Compare and Contrast]] the first to be found that where archived on the 9th.
** The first archived version on the main page is from [https://web.archive.org/web/20120411053543/https://xkcd.com/ 2012-04-11] when [[1041: Whites of Their Eyes]] was up.
** There where no archived version of the front page on the 9th or 10th while Lake and Oceans was up. So it was also first on the 11th that this new text could be seen, but only when it had moved to its own page number [https://web.archive.org/web/20120411052948/https://xkcd.com/1040/ 1040].
*** The change probably came because of this special comic, which may became a [https://store.xkcd.com/collections/posters/products/lakes-oceans-poster poster].
* The update was to add a promotion for the store under the standard header text.
* The text
** XKCD updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
** You can get prints, posters, and t-shirts in the [https://store.xkcd.com/ store].
* This lasted until [https://web.archive.org/web/20120709004956/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2012-07-09] when [[1078: Knights]] was up, exactly three months, so although not only the standard text, the standard text was first for three months and three days, see [[#2012-04-05 - Back to standard text|below]].

===2012-04-05 - Back to standard text===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120405195956/https://www.xkcd.com/1021/ 2012-04-05]
* While [[1038: Fountain]] was on the front the header returned to the standard xkcd header:
** xkcd updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
* The link above to prove the date is seen on [[1021: Business Plan]].
** The first archived version on front page is from [https://web.archive.org/web/20120406111048/https://xkcd.com/ 2012-04-06], when [[1039: RuBisCO]] was up.
** A version showing Fountain with this can be found on it's own page {{xkcd|1038}} on [https://web.archive.org/web/20120406085618/https://xkcd.com:80/1038/ 2012-04-06].
*** When it was archived while on the front page it still had the previous header on [https://web.archive.org/web/20120404210927/https://xkcd.com:80/ 2012-04-05].
* It stayed up, unchanged, until [https://web.archive.org/web/20120408200414/https://xkcd.com:80/ 2012-04-08] when [[1039: RuBisCO]] was up. So only three days.
** But [[#2012-04-09- Standard text plus store link|the change]] did not remove the standard text but just added a link to the store. And this version, still with the standard text at the top stayed for three more months.

===2012-03-28 - Visiting Newport News===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120328103319/https://xkcd.com/ 2012-03-28]
* [[1035: Cadbury Eggs]] was on the front when it changed.
** From the end of March 2012, there is a problem with the archived versions of xkcd, so they do not load properly and do not include the comic picture.
* It was to announce a talk Randall gave at his old school.
* The text:
** I'm [https://blog.xkcd.com/2012/03/22/im-visiting-cnu-on-april-4th/ visiting] Newport News, VA next week, where I'll be speaking at CNU, my old school. If you want to come, reserve a seat [https://web.archive.org/web/20120329214411/https://www.cnu.edu/pcs/xkcd/index.asp here]!
*** The first link it to a post in the [[Blag]]: [https://blog.xkcd.com/2012/03/22/im-visiting-cnu-on-april-4th/ I’m visiting CNU on April 4th].
*** The other link is no longer working, but the link above goes to an archived version.
* There was a special situation with this header text. For three days it was not on the front page, as the [[April Fools' Day comics|April Fools' Day comic]] [[1037: Umwelt]] came out and stayed from April 1st to April 3rd on the front page.
** This comic had it's own [[#Unique header text|unique header text]] from the start, one that has [[#Umwelt|stayed like this]] since!
*** So from [https://web.archive.org/web/20120401151639/https://xkcd.com:80/ 2012-04-01] to [https://web.archive.org/web/20120403223453/https://www.xkcd.com/ 2012-04-03] the front page had another header:
**** You can get posters, prints, and t-shirts in the [https://store.xkcd.com/ xkcd store].
** But all the other comics kept the Visiting header on all three days as shown here:
*** [https://web.archive.org/web/20120401214214/https://xkcd.com:80/1036/ 2012-04-01] from[[1036: Reviews]].
*** [https://web.archive.org/web/20120402150258/https://xkcd.com/1019 2012-04-02] from [[1019: First Post]].
*** [https://web.archive.org/web/20120403164523/https://xkcd.com:80/1036/ 2012-04-03] from [[1036: Reviews]].
**** The one from the 2nd of April was hardest to find, but the most important, because that was clearly in the time period where Umwelt was up, thus definitely proving that the other pages had a different header than the front page. This is rare.
* It returned to the front page on [https://web.archive.org/web/20120404210927/https://xkcd.com:80/ 2012-04-04] and stayed up until [https://web.archive.org/web/20120405195956/https://www.xkcd.com/1021/ 2012-04-05] when [[1038: Fountain]] was up.
** The link from the 5th though is from {{xkcd|1021}} [[1021: Business Plan]], the only comic archived on the 5ht to be found.
*** The previous link was the last time it was archived while on the front page.

===2012-03-12 - xkcd Holistic Browser===
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120312185125/https://xkcd.com/ 2012-03-12]
* [[1028: Communication]] was up at the time.
** From here the archive doesn't load the page properly so it is really boring to document. This goes for both first and last day of this text.
* The text:
** New: [https://web.archive.org/web/20120318153220/https://holistic.xkcd.com/ holistic.xkcd.com], the least useful web navigation tool ever.
*** The link is now dead, but the link above is to an archived version.
*** On that page there is the following text:
**** The XKCD Holistic Browser
**** Because we are all one.
**** Type a web address
**** and you'll be taken to one
**** typed by someone else.
**** URL:
**** Warning: This allows strangers to direct your browser!
**** They may send you to pages containing
**** porn, viruses, or Justin Bieber fanfiction.
**** At the very least, turn on private browsing.
* During the time this header was active the comic [[1031: s/keyboard/leopard/]] came out.
** It had its own [[xkcd_Header_text#Unique_header_text|unique header text]] which thus replaced this text on the front page for two days.
** But it did not replace it on all the other pages so this was the active header text during the entire period, see more here: [[xkcd_Header_text#s.2Fkeyboard.2Fleopard.2F|s/keyboard/leopard/]]
* This lasted till [https://web.archive.org/web/20120327050311/https://xkcd.com/1033 2012-03-27] while [[1034: Share Buttons]] was up.
* But the last archived version with this on the front page was the day before [https://web.archive.org/web/20120326180811/https://xkcd.com// 2012-03-26].
** The link from 27th is from an archived version of [[1033: Formal Logic]].

===Changes not documented yet 1===
The above is the last documented.
* There will for sure be more changes earlier than this.
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120311135259/https://xkcd.com/ 2012-03-11] Text before. For next entry below...



[[Category:Design of xkcd.com]]{{xkcdmeta}}

Talk:3190: Tensegrity

2026-01-07T16:25:30Z

R128:

here in the first 2 minutes and before before the explanation [[User:Qwertyuiopfromdefly|Qwertyuiopfromdefly]] ([[User talk:Qwertyuiopfromdefly|talk]]) 03:52, 6 January 2026 (UTC)
:congrats, i was just 3 seconds away (also don't know correctly how to reply to a comment) [[User:King Pando|King Pando]] ([[User talk:King Pando|talk]]) 04:00, 6 January 2026 (UTC)
::Put a colon at the beginning of your remark to indent it. [[Special:Contributions/76.187.17.7|76.187.17.7]] 04:56, 6 January 2026 (UTC)
:::Like what I've done for you. And to reply to one with one colon, put two colons, etc. [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 14:39, 6 January 2026 (UTC)
::::In short, start your line(s) with ''one more colon'' than the line(s) you're replying to.
::::(In long, there are reasons to stay at "the same colon level", e.g. because you're replying to the thing that at least one other person has already been replying to (although you'd need to double-linefeed if you're claiming the 'zero level' with no colons before at all). And there are also obscure reasons for adding more than one (more) colon, to try to be ''less'' confusing than otherwise, though it doesn't always work ... ;) ) [[Special:Contributions/92.23.2.208|92.23.2.208]] 17:29, 6 January 2026 (UTC)

I'm wondering if there is a connection to [[wikipedia:Ruth Asawa|Ruth Asawa]], who studied under Buckminster Fuller. Some of Asawa's works were described as "earrings for a giraffe."[https://ethicaldative.com/2025/12/24/earrings-for-a-giraffe/] [[Special:Contributions/76.187.17.7|76.187.17.7]] 04:59, 6 January 2026 (UTC)

Those legs looks like something AI would come up with. --[[User:Coconut Galaxy|Coconut Galaxy]] ([[User talk:Coconut Galaxy|talk]]) 08:29, 6 January 2026 (UTC)
:Some people are AI obsessed.
:Tell me about your mother. [[Special:Contributions/92.23.2.208|92.23.2.208]] 17:29, 6 January 2026 (UTC)

Giraffe necks are supported by an elastic nuchal ligament attached to the vertebrae[https://scatterfeed.wordpress.com/2014/06/21/you-can-take-a-giraffe-to-water/]. Thus, a giraffe doesn't need to use muscle to keep its head and neck up; to _lower_ their heads they need to stretch the ligament with muscle. A structure whose weight is supported by an elastic band attached to a fixed bone seems to fit the real definition of tensegrity, but I'm not sure if that's part of the joke here or Randall was not aware of real giraffe anatomy. [[Special:Contributions/104.185.183.165|104.185.183.165]] 11:37, 6 January 2026 (UTC)ben
:The joke here is about the legs, not the neck. {{unsigned|Barmar|15:38, 6 January 2026}}
:I don't know (I'm also not a bio guy) if that would count in the same way, since the weight is also being passed through the spine, which I assume is compressive rather than tensional as in the ligament. Still would be good to include probably, since that is pretty cool. Might fit in Trivia, idk [[User:R128|R128]] ([[User talk:R128|talk]]) 16:25, 7 January 2026 (UTC)

''"This page was created by a string. "'' ...Well, you're not wrong. --[[User:Utdtutyabthsc|Utdtutyabthsc]] ([[User talk:Utdtutyabthsc|talk]]) 03:13, 7 January 2026 (UTC)

I'm trying to figure out whether the giraffe as drawn would actually stand. It kinda looks to me like it wouldn't but I could be wrong. [[Special:Contributions/193.42.0.156|193.42.0.156]] 16:16, 7 January 2026 (UTC)

1887: Two Down, One to Go

2026-01-05T18:06:00Z

R128: /* Trivia */ i may be daft

{{comic
| number = 1887
| date = September 8, 2017
| title = Two Down, One to Go
| image = two_down_one_to_go.png
| titletext = The third row will probably have to wait until 2034, and maybe longer. If I see a daytime supernova, I'll replace the meteor storm with that and consider it 3/3.
}}

==Explanation==
In this comic, [[Randall]] lists three of the most spectacular astronomical sights: a {{w|Solar eclipse|total solar eclipse}}, an {{w|aurora}} (Aurora Borealis in the northern hemisphere and Aurora Australis in the south), and a {{w|Meteor shower|meteor storm}}. In 2017, the first two of these phenomena happened within weeks of each other for observers in much of the US - a coincidence that Randall celebrates.

* '''Total solar eclipse''': The {{w|Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017|total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017}} was the first seen for decades in the {{w|contiguous United States}}. Randall already made [[:Category:Total Solar Eclipse 2017|several comics about this eclipse]] and had traveled to Missouri to witness this for himself as shown in this comic: [[1880: Eclipse Review]].

* '''Aurora''': The aurora borealis is rarely visible from the continental USA. Randall bemoaned the fact he'd never seen one back in [[1302: Year in Review]] in 2013 - which also mentioned the 2017 eclipse. Randall likely finally saw it due to the [https://gizmodo.com/huge-solar-flare-disrupts-gps-satellites-1801838410 giant solar flares] in the week leading up to this comic probably without any need of traveling.

* '''Meteor storm''': A meteor storm is more than just a shower - while the best (or worst, depending on how you look at it) typical shower gives you a meteor or two per every minute, a storm gives you meteors every few ''seconds'' or better (or worse). The {{w|Great Meteor Storm of 1833}} produced hundreds of thousands of meteors per hour.

In the title text, Randall suggests the next meteor storm could be 2034, probably because this is predicted to be [http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/2007JIMO...35....5M a good year for Leonids].

Randall then continues by saying that if he manages to see a {{w|supernova}} during the daytime, he will drop the goal for the meteor storm and call it 3 of 3. This is because such an event is so unlikely that he hasn't even included it in his bucket list, and he would be happy to switch between the two types of events if he had the chance. A few stars, when they turn supernova, could be so bright that they can be seen during the day time here on Earth. The brightest supernova recorded in human history was {{w|SN 1006}} which was sixteen times brighter than {{w|Venus}} but still not bright as the full moon. {{w|SN 1054}} is an other example. When such an extremely rare event might happen is impossible to predict. There is a [http://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/betelgeuse-will-explode-someday (very small) chance] that the giant star {{w|Betelgeuse}} will go supernova within Randall's lifetime, allowing him to tick this off the list too. Randall even mentioned that this could not happen soon enough in [[1644: Stargazing]]. Note that if you could see it during the day time, it would be one of the brightest objects in the night sky after the Moon. Also keep in mind that if Betelgeuse were to go supernova in Randall's lifetime, he wouldn't see it since it's over 600 light years away. For Randall to see it during his lifetime, it must have already gone supernova some 600 odd years ago, and we won't know that until we actually see it 613-881 years after it happened.

==Transcript==
:[There are three rows equally filled with squares and above are year dates beginning from 2002 until 2017. The first year (2002) is cut on the left and the color is light gray. It fades in to black, which it becomes in in 2005. To the left of the three rows the text reads:]
:Total eclipse
:Aurora
:Meteor storm
:[Below the year 2017 the squares in the first two rows are checked.]

==Trivia==
;Astronomical backgrounds
* This particular ''aurora borealis'' happened because the coronal mass ejection (CME) headed directly toward Earth causing Northern Lights spreading more south than common. That solar flare was first detected by the {{w|Solar Dynamics Observatory|Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)}} just eight minutes after it happened at the Sun. This [https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2017/nasa-s-sdo-captures-image-of-mid-level-flare animation] shows what the probe SDO has seen on Sept. 4, 2017 in the early evening. While light, and x-rays as well, travel at light speed the mass ejected did only move at a speed of 500-1,000 km/s. It was [http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/shock-arrival-6-sep-2308-utc-4-september-cme first detected] by {{w|Deep Space Climate Observatory|DSCOVR}} two days later, still 1,5 Mio. to reach Earth or just 30 minutes before the --non critical-- impact. And at this [http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/g3-watch-7-through-9-september-2017-due-cme-effects aurora forecast] the prediction showed that the northern United States were lucky.

* Betelgeuse is estimated to be in a range between 613 and 881 {{w|light-year}}s from Earth, which means that its light takes more than 600 years to reach Earth. That incident must have already happened when it should reach us in the next few decades. Since no information can travel {{w|Faster-than-light|faster than light}}, there is no way to confirm this.
* Something about the brightness of celestial objects:
** The Sun is the brightest object at a {{w|Apparent magnitude|magnitude}} of −26.74
** The next object is the full moon at −12.90
** Venus is at −4.89 on maximum brightness, bright enough to be (barely) [http://www.fourmilab.ch/images/venus_daytime/ visible in the daytime]
** The mentioned supernovae SN 1006 and SN 1054 were at −7.50 and −6.00 respectively
** The brightness of the supernova from Betelgeuse is hard to predict. Because it's closer than both the other supernovae it could become brighter than Venus but definitely not than the full moon.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Total Solar Eclipse 2017]]
[[Category:Astronomy]]
[[Category:Solar eclipses]]

1887: Two Down, One to Go

2026-01-05T18:05:26Z

R128: /* Trivia */ add source

{{comic
| number = 1887
| date = September 8, 2017
| title = Two Down, One to Go
| image = two_down_one_to_go.png
| titletext = The third row will probably have to wait until 2034, and maybe longer. If I see a daytime supernova, I'll replace the meteor storm with that and consider it 3/3.
}}

==Explanation==
In this comic, [[Randall]] lists three of the most spectacular astronomical sights: a {{w|Solar eclipse|total solar eclipse}}, an {{w|aurora}} (Aurora Borealis in the northern hemisphere and Aurora Australis in the south), and a {{w|Meteor shower|meteor storm}}. In 2017, the first two of these phenomena happened within weeks of each other for observers in much of the US - a coincidence that Randall celebrates.

* '''Total solar eclipse''': The {{w|Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017|total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017}} was the first seen for decades in the {{w|contiguous United States}}. Randall already made [[:Category:Total Solar Eclipse 2017|several comics about this eclipse]] and had traveled to Missouri to witness this for himself as shown in this comic: [[1880: Eclipse Review]].

* '''Aurora''': The aurora borealis is rarely visible from the continental USA. Randall bemoaned the fact he'd never seen one back in [[1302: Year in Review]] in 2013 - which also mentioned the 2017 eclipse. Randall likely finally saw it due to the [https://gizmodo.com/huge-solar-flare-disrupts-gps-satellites-1801838410 giant solar flares] in the week leading up to this comic probably without any need of traveling.

* '''Meteor storm''': A meteor storm is more than just a shower - while the best (or worst, depending on how you look at it) typical shower gives you a meteor or two per every minute, a storm gives you meteors every few ''seconds'' or better (or worse). The {{w|Great Meteor Storm of 1833}} produced hundreds of thousands of meteors per hour.

In the title text, Randall suggests the next meteor storm could be 2034, probably because this is predicted to be [http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/2007JIMO...35....5M a good year for Leonids].

Randall then continues by saying that if he manages to see a {{w|supernova}} during the daytime, he will drop the goal for the meteor storm and call it 3 of 3. This is because such an event is so unlikely that he hasn't even included it in his bucket list, and he would be happy to switch between the two types of events if he had the chance. A few stars, when they turn supernova, could be so bright that they can be seen during the day time here on Earth. The brightest supernova recorded in human history was {{w|SN 1006}} which was sixteen times brighter than {{w|Venus}} but still not bright as the full moon. {{w|SN 1054}} is an other example. When such an extremely rare event might happen is impossible to predict. There is a [http://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/betelgeuse-will-explode-someday (very small) chance] that the giant star {{w|Betelgeuse}} will go supernova within Randall's lifetime, allowing him to tick this off the list too. Randall even mentioned that this could not happen soon enough in [[1644: Stargazing]]. Note that if you could see it during the day time, it would be one of the brightest objects in the night sky after the Moon. Also keep in mind that if Betelgeuse were to go supernova in Randall's lifetime, he wouldn't see it since it's over 600 light years away. For Randall to see it during his lifetime, it must have already gone supernova some 600 odd years ago, and we won't know that until we actually see it 613-881 years after it happened.

==Transcript==
:[There are three rows equally filled with squares and above are year dates beginning from 2002 until 2017. The first year (2002) is cut on the left and the color is light gray. It fades in to black, which it becomes in in 2005. To the left of the three rows the text reads:]
:Total eclipse
:Aurora
:Meteor storm
:[Below the year 2017 the squares in the first two rows are checked.]

==Trivia==
;Astronomical backgrounds
* This particular ''aurora borealis'' happened because the coronal mass ejection (CME) headed directly toward Earth causing Northern Lights spreading more south than common. That solar flare was first detected by the {{w|Solar Dynamics Observatory|Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)}} just eight minutes after it happened at the Sun. This [https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2017/nasa-s-sdo-captures-image-of-mid-level-flare animation] shows what the probe SDO has seen on Sept. 4, 2017 in the early evening. While light, and x-rays as well, travel at light speed the mass ejected did only move at a speed of 500-1,000 km/s. It was [http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/shock-arrival-6-sep-2308-utc-4-september-cme first detected] by {{w|Deep Space Climate Observatory|DSCOVR}} two days later, still 1,5 Mio. to reach Earth or just 30 minutes before the --non critical-- impact. And at this [http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/g3-watch-7-through-9-september-2017-due-cme-effects aurora forecast] the prediction showed that the northern United States were lucky.

* Betelgeuse is estimated to be in a range between 613 and 881 {{w|light-year}}s from Earth, which means that its light takes more than 600 years to reach Earth. That incident must have already happened when it should reach us in the next few decades. Since no information can travel {{w|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faster-than-light|faster than light}}, there is no way to confirm this.
* Something about the brightness of celestial objects:
** The Sun is the brightest object at a {{w|Apparent magnitude|magnitude}} of −26.74
** The next object is the full moon at −12.90
** Venus is at −4.89 on maximum brightness, bright enough to be (barely) [http://www.fourmilab.ch/images/venus_daytime/ visible in the daytime]
** The mentioned supernovae SN 1006 and SN 1054 were at −7.50 and −6.00 respectively
** The brightness of the supernova from Betelgeuse is hard to predict. Because it's closer than both the other supernovae it could become brighter than Venus but definitely not than the full moon.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Total Solar Eclipse 2017]]
[[Category:Astronomy]]
[[Category:Solar eclipses]]

2325: Endorheic Basin

2026-01-05T16:46:17Z

R128: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2325
| date = June 26, 2020
| title = Endorheic Basin
| image = endorheic_basin.png
| titletext = My biggest fear is that colonial engineers will try to flood me to generate electricity. My biggest hope is that I'll develop sailing stones.
}}

==Explanation==
Yet another comic with one of [[Beret Guy|Beret Guy's]] [[:Category:Strange powers of Beret Guy|strange powers]]. This time he attracts water so it flows to him rather than running out towards the nearby oceans. He thus claims he is an {{w|endorheic basin}}, hence the title.

An endorheic basin is a limited drainage basin that normally retains water and allows no outflow to other external bodies of water, such as rivers or oceans, but converges instead into lakes or swamps, permanent or seasonal, that equilibrate through evaporation. The {{w|Caspian Sea}} in Asia is the largest such basin. It is debated if it is a lake or a sea (it is salty, but not connected to the oceans). If it is a lake then it is the world's largest lake.

Real-life endorheic basins do not attract water in any unusual ways. Rather, they form when low-lying, inland areas receive water from rivers and streams, but not enough to flood them completely and allow the water to overflow into an ocean. As the surface of the lake grows, so do the rate of evaporation and seepage into the ground, until they're equivalent to the inflow of water (at least, on a yearly average). Obviously, Beret Guy's inexplicable effect on water is distinct from the way actual endorheic basins function.

The panel showing Beret Guy after a shower looks similar to what could happen in a space station if you have liquid water in zero gravity. [https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/General_Chemistry/Map%3A_A_Molecular_Approach_(Tro)/11%3A_Liquids_Solids_and_Intermolecular_Forces/11.01%3A_Water_in_Zero_Gravity The water in this environment] sticks to any surface it encounters. See for instance the start of this video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeDJABZpVlI Water in zero gravity] and this one [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8TssbmY-GM Wringing out Water on the ISS - for Science!] to see how water reacts to human skin in zero gravity. It is thus almost impossible for him to dry off after a shower. It seems like the water that is attracted to him is still somewhat subject to gravity, as it pools downwards upon him; presumably he knows to finish showering before it floods over his face.

In fact he needs someone to come with a {{w|siphon}} to get rid of the water. A siphon is a hose or u-shaped pipe, where the downward pipe is longer than the upward section. Thus the water falling in the downward section creates a pull lifting the water in the upward section up to the highest point, from which it will flow down pulling more water up. As the endorheic basin caused by Beret Guy seems to have a limited reach, placing one end of the pipe sufficiently far outside creates a similar effect: The water outside Beret Guy's area of effect flows down under the influence of gravity, creating a pull lifting the water near him "up" out of the endorheic basin. Randall made a ''[[what if? (blog)|what if?]]'' article about siphons called ''[https://what-if.xkcd.com/143/ Europa Water Siphon]''.

As with real endorheic basins, if the water is allowed to sit, it will eventually evaporate, but he notes that he'll "develop salt flats". Water from rivers carry salts, typically in low concentrations, and if a lake lacks outflows, the salts build up over time, as the water evaporates. If a salt lake evaporates completely, it can create {{w|Salt pan (geology)|salt flats}} (or salt pans), like those near {{w|Salt Lake City}} in {{w|Utah}}, e.g. the {{w|Bonneville Salt Flats}}. These salts come in a variety of forms, including minerals. Sometimes, endorheic basins have high enough concentrations of dissolved minerals to be worth extracting, which is presumably what he means by "let me know if you need any minerals".

There may also be a contrived pun here, in that "flats" is a description of various types of footwear (among them: women's shoes that are not high-heeled and ballet shoes not specifically reinforced for advanced 'pointe' dancing), and the water would clearly leave the 'flats' on his feet.

In the title text, Beret Guy mentions his "biggest fear" due to his water attracting abilities is being flooded to by "colonial engineers" in order for them to use him and the water to generate electricity. This may be a reference to the {{w|Qattara Depression Project}}. The Qattara depression is a low-lying region near the Egyptian coast. For nearly a century, there have been proposals to dig a canal from the sea to flood this depression, deliberately creating a huge endorheic basin. By placing {{w|hydroelectric dam}}s along the canal, the proposals hoped to generation huge amounts of electricity. At least one proposal included the use of nuclear explosions to create the canal, which may help to explain why he considers this his biggest fear.

He then mentions that his "biggest hope", due to his ability, is that he will generate {{w|sailing stones}}. Sailing stones (also known as sliding rocks, walking rocks, rolling stones, and moving rocks), are a geological phenomenon where rocks move and inscribe long tracks along a smooth valley floor without human or animal intervention. The movement of the rocks occurs when large ice sheets a few millimeters thick and floating in an ephemeral winter pond start to break up during sunny days. Frozen during cold winter nights, these thin floating ice panels are driven by wind and shove rocks at speeds up to 5 meters per minute. The {{w|Racetrack Playa}}, an endorheic basin in Death Valley, is one of the most famous locations for sailing stones.

This comic came out just a bit more than a month after the previous comic with one of Beret Guy's strange powers, [[2310: Great Attractor]], in which strange forces exerted a pull on Beret Guy. It does not appear that he himself is drawn to water, and we cannot determine if the Great Attractor is drawn to him, so Newton's Third Law may be constantly being broken, along with the more obvious scientific impossibilities that surround Beret Guy.

==Transcript==
:[Megan, holding a glass of water up in one hand, is talking to Beret Guy, who has water surrounding his feet, with small droplets falling off the two small water triangles that cover his feet. The water in her glass is leaning towards Beret Guy.]
:Megan: Why are your feet wet?
:Beret Guy: I'm an endorheic basin!

:[Megan looks down at her glass as the water in it is flying out towards Beret Guy's arm, which he has stretched out towards the glass.]
:Megan: Huh?
:Beret Guy: Nearby water flows toward me, not the ocean.
:Beret Guy: See?
:Megan: Oh, cool.

:[At the top of this panel is a box with text being said by Beret Guy to Megan. Beneath it is a depiction of what he is explaining to Megan. Beret Guy is shown standing in a bathroom, with a towel around his waist. Almost his entire body is covered completely in water, except most of his head above mouth level, and both his feet are beneath the water bubble. He yells to someone outside the bathroom. A shower-tray or partially sunken bathtub can be seen to the left with a closed shower curtain across it. To the right of him is the sink with mirror above it. Further right is the door. The floor is tiled.]
:Beret Guy - narrating: The most annoying part is drying off after a shower.
:Beret Guy: Can someone bring me the siphon?

:[Back to the situation from the first panel, although Megan has lowered her glass a bit. The glass seems to be as full as in the first panel though, even though Beret Guy now also has water on his arm where it was pulled out off Megan's glass in panel 2.]
:Beret Guy: But I have to get rid of it or I'll develop salt flats.
:Beret Guy: Anyway, let me know if you need any minerals!

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]
[[Category:Strange powers of Beret Guy]]
[[Category:Geology]]
[[Category:Geography]]

2041: Frontiers

2026-01-05T16:03:12Z

R128: /* Explanation */ add a source for ocean exploration

{{comic
| number = 2041
| date = September 3, 2018
| title = Frontiers
| image = frontiers.png
| titletext = Star Trek V is a small part of the space frontier, but it’s been a while since that movie came out so I assume we’ve finished exploring it by now.
}}

==Explanation==
This comic refers to four remaining “final frontiers” of human discovery, according to popular usage—perhaps analyzed using an Internet search engine. It seems to imply that other fields of research aren’t a challenge anymore.

Outer '''space''' is so vast in size that it’s impossible for humans to discover even just the stars in our galaxy within a lifetime, as astronomers estimate that there are 100 to 400 billion stars in the {{w|Milky Way}}. Space travel is also very difficult and expensive.

'''The oceans''' are very deep. The vast majority of the deeper oceans hasn’t been visited by humans, and there is still much we don’t know about the living beings in the deep sea. [https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/ocean-fact/explored/ Very little] of the oceans have been explored or mapped.

'''The human mind''' is not only very complex, but also often seems irrational, which makes it harder to investigate. Its relation to the brain is also somewhat mysterious: {{w|philosophy of mind}} is split on whether the mind is ultimately material (materialism) or immaterial (dualism/idealism). Further, certain philosophical systems have trouble explaining its relation to the body, in what is termed the {{w|mind–body problem}}.

'''Alaska''' is the state of largest area in the U.S., and also the most sparsely populated. Many places in Alaska have only been partially explored to this day. Randall was probably inspired by the TV series ''{{w|Alaska: The Last Frontier}}'', which plays off of the state’s official nickname of “The Last Frontier”.

The humor from this comic comes from the fact that Alaska seems comparably of less important than the other “Final Frontiers”. It is not as hard or expensive to explore as the ocean bottom and outer space, and it is much smaller. While one's own human mind is much more easily accessible than the other three locations, its nature is a substantial frontier in human knowledge. Furthermore, minds other than one’s own are very hard to access.

The title text refers to the movie ''{{w|Star Trek V: The Final Frontier}}'', released in 1989. “Final frontier” is a recurring motif in the ''Star Trek'' franchise (coming from the opening narration for ''{{w|Star Trek: The Original Series}}''), and is used to describe the exploration of outer space, which remains a notable frontier to humans, both in real life and within ''Star Trek''. [[Randall]], however, jokingly posits that the frontier to be explored is the film itself, and assumes that, because this movie has been out for a while—nearly thirty years—it ought to be fully and comprehensively explored by now.

==Transcript==
:[In a single framed picture a hand drawn rhomboid is shown. At the inside a few small arrows pointing to the four sides. The text in the middle reads:]
:Human achievement so far

:[Text above the top left side:]
:Space
:[Text above the top right side:]
:The oceans
:[Text below the bottom left side:]
:The human mind
:[Text below the bottom right side:]
:Alaska

:[Caption below the frame:]
:Final remaining “frontiers,” according to popular usage

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Science]]

1579: Tech Loops

2026-01-05T15:55:44Z

R128: /* Description of the boxes */ add source/clarify (not a windows guy, might need to be changed)

{{comic
| number = 1579
| date = September 18, 2015
| title = Tech Loops
| image = tech_loops.png
| titletext = And when I think about it, a lot of "things I want to do" are just learning about and discussing new tools for tinkering with the chain.
}}

==Explanation==
The comic is about how much time a geek might spend on a computer just to maintain the system itself, rather than actually using it for something relevant. This can in the worst cases go all the way up to the point where maintaining the system becomes the main goal. Often the operating system (OS) needs periodic updates, which might break some apps which in turn need to be updated; apps themselves might need to be updated, which can create all sort of incompatibilities which the geek then needs to spend time fixing. One term for this is "{{W|dependency hell}}".

Most people consider computers as tools to achieve something else — e.g. to surf the web, play games, read news or balance their bank account — and they would rather not have to spend lots of time on maintaining the OS or the computer if they can avoid it. Here, however, [[Randall]] finds he's spending most of the time using his computer just for the sake of maintaining the OS or the hardware on said computer. It's tools for the sake of tooling, rather than tools as helpers to build something else. A hardware equivalent would be the {{w|RepRap Project}}: get a 3D printer and end up spending all the time printing 3D parts for itself instead of creating something else like toys or art.

An alternative interpretation is how a simple task can get maddeningly tricky because of the inherent complexity of the system. An example of this appears in [[949: File Transfer]], where the simple task of sending a file from one computer to another gets practically impossible despite having all kinds of {{w|Cloud computing|cloud}} tools available, many of them designed to perform much more complex tasks with one simple click. In this view, the box labeled "things I actually want to use my computer for" could refer to simple actions like transferring a file and all the rest of the graph are unsuccessful tiring attempts to solve the problem by installing increasingly complex tools which end up not solving the simple problem properly. This is similar to this [http://www.pfccheatsheet.com/fnpgmr90.htm traditional programming joke]. Other comics about the same concept are [[349: Success]] and [[763: Workaround]].

In the title text Randall realizes that what he really wishes to do it often only to learn about and discussing new tools to improve the chain. So in this way it is for sure only a system to support itself. But on the other hand, then the box with things he actually wishes to use the computer for, is then not disconnected from the rest, but an integral part of it all.

==Description of the boxes==
There are 18 boxes in the chart, but only 12 different texts. 16 of the boxes are interconnected. Two are not connected to any other boxes.

Here is a list of all the items explained individually:
*Tool: In this context, a tool is mostly any general purpose computer program. Typical tools are text editors and calendar applications. Randall is presumably spending all his time installing and maintaining tools but never using them for their intended purpose.
**There are two tools which both are related to the updater and both have one entry and one exit. The first tool has an entry from the most active library (most arrows) and the second has an exit to the VM.
*Updater: An application designed to automatically download and install new versions of an already installed program. Referenced in [[1197: All Adobe Updates]]. The time spent in updating an application can't be used to get productive work from the application.
**The updater has one entry from a tool, but also exits to another tool. Two other exits goes to the most active library (most arrows) and to the repository which is the only box without exits.
*{{w|Repository (version control)|Repository}}: For programmers a repository is a database where programs are stored. All modifications of the programs are preserved for posterity, in the same way as the Wikipedia {{w|Help:Page history|View history}} tab.
**There are three entries, but this box has no exits. Thus the information stored here never leaves; this means the programs stored in the repository are not used.
*{{w|Library (computing)|Library}}: In this context, a library is a part of a computer program which is developed separately, with the idea that the library will be used for more than one program and therefore saving effort, as the library has to be developed only once. Often, programs require specific versions of specific libraries that can or can not be available. A typical example of a library often required and not always available is Microsoft's {{w|Framework Class Library}}, more known as {{w|.NET Framework}}.
**There are six libraries. Four of them has one entry and one exit arrow and twice one library exits only to another library. The top left is the most active with two entries and three exits making it the second busiest box in the chart. But most important is the bottom right library that starts everything since this is the only of the interconnected boxes that does not itself have any entry. From this library you can reach all the other connected boxes starting from its only connection: Awful hack from 2009.
*VM: A {{w|Virtual machine}} is a computer program designed to emulate a complete computer. Probably a reference to [[1305: Undocumented Feature]], combined with the next item "Chat client".
**It has two entries as it obviously both need a tool and a hardware workaround to function. It exits to the chat client already mentioned.
*Chat client: an {{w|Online chat}} program, probably a reference to [[1305: Undocumented Feature]], combined with the previous item "VM".
**It has two entries, one from the most active library (most arrows) and one from the already mentioned VM. It exits to the repository which is the only box without exits.
*IRC for some reason: {{w|Internet Relay Chat}}.
**It is connected in a loop (entry and exit) only with Awful hack from 2009.
*Custom settings: Some programs (and especially web sites) assume a fixed setup in the user's computer. Many web pages even state plainly that they are only intended to work in one single browser with some settings enabled. This is a nuisance for users, and it becomes helplessly burdensome when the user must install several programs requiring different settings.
**Is connecting two libraries, exiting to the most active library (most arrows).
*Hardware workaround: Sometimes a problem can be solved by hardware changes. Removing TV tuner or telephone modem cards, changing an USB device from one port to another, opening and closing the CD tray, etc. are operations that, in many cases, have led to solving a problem; most of the time with no one knowing exactly why such an operation should or could have any effect in the computer's behavior.
**Has one entry from the most active library (most arrows) and two exits to VM and Awful hack from 2009
*Awful {{w|Kludge|hack}} from 2009: An example of an awful hack can be found in [[1479: Troubleshooting]]. When an awful hack is necessary, it is often because less awful alternatives do not exist; so awful hacks tend to remain useful for many years. An example can be the 256-character limit in the Windows path for a file, inherited from old versions of Windows and only [https://www.howtogeek.com/266621/how-to-make-windows-10-accept-file-paths-over-260-characters/ recently able to be bypassed].
**This is the most busy box with three entries and three exits. It has an entry from the only box that does not it self have any entries, the bottom right library. Another entry is from the Hardware workaround. It also form a simple entry exit loop with IRC for some reason, that box is not connected to any other boxes. And finally it exits to two libraries. One of these leads to the most active library (most arrows). From this hack all connected boxes can be reached, except the library that only has entry into the hack.
*{{w|Dynamic-link library|DLL}} needed by something: Although "DLL" is a term used by Microsoft Windows, all modern operating systems use dynamic libraries, each with its own name. A dynamic library is a part of a program which is not loaded when the program starts, but rather it's attached "dynamically" to the running process when it is needed. This has the advantage that the dynamic library is not loaded at all if it's not needed, and also several processes which need the same dynamic library can share the same copy in memory.
**This box only leads to two question marks, and not to any of the other items. Modern computers have thousands of DLL files, the actual use of which is not often obvious even to tech-savvy people.
*Things I actually want to use my computer for: All the other stuff is thus only there to make it possible to use the computer for these purposes.
**But this box is not in any way related to all the tools libraries etc. mentioned here above. Which are thus in reality not needed at all.

==The tech loops==
:The flow chart described:
:→ means supports (key)
: 
:Things I actually want to use my computer for [isolated box with no links into or out of, by any of the following]
:
:DLL needed by something → ? [two exits to unknowns]
:
:Library (1) → Awful hack from 2009 →
::Awful hack from 2009 → IRC for some reason → Awful hack from 2009 → (Loop)
::Awful hack from 2009 → Library (2) → Library (3) → Repository
::Awful hack from 2009 → Library (4) → Library (5) → Custom Settings → Library (6) →
:::Library (6) → Chat Client → Repository
:::Library (6) → Hardware Workaround →
::::Hardware Workaround → VM → Chat Client → Repository
::::Hardware Workaround → Awful hack from 2009 → (Loop)
:::Library (6) → Tool (1) → Updater →
::::Updater → Repository
::::Updater → Library (6) → (Loop)
::::Updater → Tool (2) → VM → Chat Client → Repository
:
:(Note the Repository node leads to nowhere)

==Transcript==
:[A flow chart 18 boxes linked (or not) with arrows going in several different directions. At the top is an arrow pointing to the right with text under. The rest of the text in the chart is written inside the boxes.]
:[Under arrow:]
:Supports

:[Going from the top below the tip of the arrow and reading left to right and top to bottom the following text is written in the boxes that all are in some way connected with each other. The number of arrows going in and out of each box is noted behind the text in square brackets as [in, out]:]
:Updater [1, 3]
:Tool [1, 1]
:Tool [1, 1]
:Repository [3, 0]
:Library [1, 1]
:Library [2, 3]
:Library [1, 1]
:Chat Client [2, 1]
:VM [2, 1]
:IRC for some reason [1, 1]
:Custom Settings [1, 1]
:Hardware Workaround [1, 2]
:Library [1, 1]
:Awful hack from 2009 [3, 3]
:Library [1, 1]
:Library [0, 1]

:[The last box in the lower middle is not connected to any other boxes but has two exit arrows pointing to two questionmarks.]
:DLL needed by something [0, 2]
:?
:?

:[Box alone at the top right corner, with no connections:]
:Things I actually want to use my computer for [0, 0]

:[Caption below the panel:]
:Every now and then I realize I'm maintaining a huge chain of technology solely to support itself.

==Trivia==
In the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/archive/2/2b/20150921141046%21tech_loops.png original version of this comic], Randall wrote "soley" instead of "solely" in the caption. This was corrected later on the same day.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Flowcharts]]
[[Category:Programming]]
[[Category:Logic]]
[[Category:Computers]]
[[Category:Philosophy]]
[[Category:Comics edited after their publication]]

Talk:3189: Conic Sections

2026-01-05T15:41:47Z

R128:

Isn't the base of a cone, just a circle? How would this have "corners"? [[User:SDSpivey|SDSpivey]] ([[User talk:SDSpivey|talk]]) 01:41, 3 January 2026 (UTC)
:The cone upon which a conic section exists doesn't actually ''have'' a base, it's just arbitrarily large (possibly infinitely so) in order for the section to only ever lay along the 'curve' of the cone part.
:But, here, the base is wwhere you give up on plotting how far 'down the cone' you go, of the sufficiently large ellipse (or possibly parabolic/hyperbolic curve), which is indeed round but has an sharp (i.e. acute) angle between its flat (and incidentally circular) plane-section and the 'wrapped' pseudo-euclidean plane of the conic-section it intersects with. [[Special:Contributions/92.23.2.208|92.23.2.208]] 01:50, 3 January 2026 (UTC)

Bring a jacket and spoon for orbits that go through the ice cream.[[User:Lordpishky|Lord Pishky]] ([[User talk:Lordpishky|talk]]) 01:43, 3 January 2026 (UTC)

I'm pretty sure this is the shape of the flat bottom of a cake cone. [[Special:Contributions/71.212.56.254|71.212.56.254]] 03:02, 3 January 2026 (UTC)
:They REALLY hate the flat-bottom cone orbits and the waffle cones make for a bumpy ride.[[User:Lordpishky|Lord Pishky]] ([[User talk:Lordpishky|talk]]) 18:57, 3 January 2026 (UTC)

It appears to be a cut-off section of an ellipse, so basically a regular orbit with a sharp line. ([https://www.desmos.com/3d/xnaihdegst Desmos]) [[User:Tanner07|Tanner07]] ([[User talk:Tanner07|talk]]) 04:29, 3 January 2026 (UTC)

https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/D5622AQH3CYoPXy1cqg/feedshare-shrink_2048_1536/feedshare-shrink_2048_1536/0/1727242249609?e=1769040000&v=beta&t=UdAX9TH3joo-vpvj4pRWXoCQyF6JVUPVmyONWghcj5E --[[User:PRR|PRR]] ([[User talk:PRR|talk]]) 05:06, 3 January 2026 (UTC)

I feel like there needs to some explicit acknowledgement that the cone in question is an ice cream cone.[[Special:Contributions/99.239.23.54|99.239.23.54]] 00:11, 4 January 2026 (UTC)
:But ice-cream cones have the 'flat bit' (actually the opening; give or take the scoop of ice-cream, which is a ball, or else the soft-served 'twirly-dollop', which another more convoluted form of inverted cone) at the top. Which just really doesn't fit with ''anything'' the comic says about the conic. Unless you see some obscure connection that I'm just not getting out of it. (Beyond that both are considered 'cones', which is as tenuous as if I suggested traffic cones was the ultimate reference, for example.)
:But if you can give any better referencing connection, you look like you should know how to edit things to enlighten those of us who are missing it. Explain away, as that's the point of this site... [[Special:Contributions/82.132.236.68|82.132.236.68]] 01:39, 4 January 2026 (UTC)
:It's not obvious to me why anybody would think an ice cream cone is implied. Ice cream cones do not have flat bases - there's a hole to put the ice cream in. Furthermore, they are significantly smaller than the Earth. [[User:Jeremyp|Jeremyp]] ([[User talk:Jeremyp|talk]]) 14:18, 5 January 2026 (UTC)

Shouldn't the people from the title text also be following the same orbit? [[User:Cobl703|Cobl703]] ([[User talk:Cobl703|talk]]) 18:35, 4 January 2026 (UTC)
:Might depends on if they share the same precise centre of gravity (the Explanation goes into some detail about that sort of thing).
:Or if the effective orbit obeys the idential 'cone-based' rules. At any given time (depending on where you last positioned yourself), you might effectively be floating in a very similar elliptical orbit (could be the same period, same semi-major, same semi-minor, same periapsis, same periapsis, inclination, etc, but in a ''very'' slightly rotated orientation), so hit the change to the 'conic-baseline' section at a different time.
:That's if the orbit equation defines the location of the transition into the conic-base (e.g. effectively when hitting the "semi-parameter" 'width', but on the non-focuse side of the original ellipse), or there's always some particular definite absolute (or proportional?) distance between the hypothetical cone's tip and when the normal orbital effect 'runs out'.
:Too many little questions need to be asked about what is forcing the orbit to be off-elliptical. And if it's not a mere function of reality, but a deliberate manoeuvre by the craft, then ''of course'' the occupants will feel the sudden change in motion that the accompanying thruster-kick invokes. [[Special:Contributions/92.23.2.208|92.23.2.208]] 21:03, 4 January 2026 (UTC)

How far the cone extends and where these effect occur depends on the units of distance used and the number of digits & format used to represent the length of the cone on the computer. Larger units avoid cone-end effects but make for a bumpier ride, especially when the exponent changes.[[User:Lordpishky|Lord Pishky]] ([[User talk:Lordpishky|talk]]) 05:58, 5 January 2026 (UTC)

Kinda reminds me of [https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-1778 SCP-1778]. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 14:08, 5 January 2026 (UTC)

Very nice, handy etc figure. might be good to label which conic section is which, even though it may be clear-ish, not everyone knows what a hyperbola is for example (although this is xkcd, lol) [[User:R128|R128]] ([[User talk:R128|talk]]) 15:41, 5 January 2026 (UTC)

Talk:3187: High Altitude Cooking Instructions

2025-12-30T19:02:05Z

R128:

Okay, but now I am imagining an inverse package labelling for ISS foodstuffs. [[Special:Contributions/209.52.88.130|209.52.88.130]] 01:17, 30 December 2025 (UTC)
:I think ISS qualifies as "sea level": the key is the atmospheric pressure, height per se does nothing to food [[Special:Contributions/185.36.194.156|185.36.194.156]] 01:44, 30 December 2025 (UTC)
::The ISS maintains pretty much sea level atmosphere, and seems to also maintain similar composition, but there's definitely going to be complications with microgravity. Now I want to see what boiling water and steam look like in a zero g atmosphere [[User:R128|R128]] ([[User talk:R128|talk]]) 08:48, 30 December 2025 (UTC)
:::"...throughout the duration of cooking, hold cooker at arm's length and spin at roughly 30rpm, or as low as 5rpm if free-floating..." [[Special:Contributions/82.132.244.242|82.132.244.242]] 13:13, 30 December 2025 (UTC)

You try cooking on the ISS the way you cook at sea level, you're gonna have several cups of boiling water in microgravity. [[Special:Contributions/207.195.86.104|207.195.86.104]] 04:55, 30 December 2025 (UTC)

I am editing the transcription and confused where the notes are attached. Now that the higher note reads ‘remove from heat [...] for 3 minutes before serving’, it may be food packaging, but the paint is too thin for it to be used for that purpose. And the space is seemingly inadequate for typical food labels (nutrition, ingredients, manufacturer, etc). [[User:物灵|物灵]] ([[User talk:物灵|talk]]) 05:10, 30 December 2025 (UTC)
:The higher note might just be the ‘sea level cooking instructions’, reading:
:;Sea level cooking instructions:
::[... ... ... ...]
::remove from heat [...]
::for 3 minutes before serving.
[[User:物灵|物灵]] ([[User talk:物灵|talk]]) 09:01, 30 December 2025 (UTC)
:It may be a box of pasta or similar, which can be shaped pretty thin - I have spaghetti boxes which are maybe an inch thick and quite large. The nutritional information, etc could be higher up on the board/box shown in the comic [[User:R128|R128]] ([[User talk:R128|talk]]) 09:53, 30 December 2025 (UTC)
:::I think it may say from heat, but I also think that is just good guessing. And it seems there is more further on. Could be something else like remove from what ever. I have removed it from the transcript after fro, as it is not clear on the drawing. Anything that needs an explanation do not belong in the transcript. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:46, 30 December 2025 (UTC)
::::I mean arguably, the o in fro could be a u, so that's not guaranteed... the f and r are both distinguishable, but the o isn't strictly speaking. Definitely pedantry, but might be worth changing the transcript as you said [[User:R128|R128]] ([[User talk:R128|talk]]) 19:02, 30 December 2025 (UTC)

I don't think Randall did it deliberately, but from a mere ''five km'' below his tidily rounded-by-feet "ask in the ISS" range (30km allocated, within which the ISS normally only uses 9 km, apogee to perigee) you'd find the Chinese space station (never more than 10 km below 1.3 Mft, and at least 21 km above the 1.2 Mft level, if you'll excuse my unusual mixing of units!). And they quite recently showcased the cooking skills with their new air-fryer, as many space-obsessives (like I might be) might recall... Perhaps that was at the back of his mind, but I can't actually imagine that he took conscious inspiration from that and then 'refused' to in any way acknowledge it (even in parody). At most, a totally forgotten bit of info that trickled into the spark for this. The core fact, of which, I've just made a note of in the explanation. But this is by way of an expanded note of how near he was to either having to acknowledge Tiangong or else have many pedants pointedly pointing out a potential inaccuracy/omission... ;) [[Special:Contributions/82.132.244.242|82.132.244.242]] 18:08, 30 December 2025 (UTC)