https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=Vctr 2026-04-08T04:49:05Z User contributions MediaWiki 1.30.0 https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1060:_Crowdsourcing&diff=93015 2015-05-10T04:29:50Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 1060<br /> | date = May 25, 2012<br /> | title = Crowdsourcing<br /> | image = crowdsourcing.png<br /> | titletext = We don't sell products; we sell the marketplace. And by 'sell the marketplace' we mean 'play shooters, sometimes for upwards of 20 hours straight.'<br /> }}<br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{w|Crowdsourcing}} is the practice of obtaining needed services, ideas, or content by soliciting contributions from a large group of people, and especially from an online community, rather than from traditional employees or suppliers. [[Cueball]] &quot;crowdsources&quot; the process of getting a company and a prospective employee together. Cueball describes it as helping people with ideas find funding, via Kickstarter, but rather than setting up a system to facilitate the process he plans to use social networks (such as Facebook and Twitter). If Cueball's company is crowdsourcing this matchmaking then he's allowing the people to find a company on their own merit, his company is not involved in the process at all. Cueball seems to be describing this process with buzz-words to impress a group of people who could themselves be businesspeople.<br /> <br /> In the title text Cueball states that instead of doing any work they play video games, &quot;shooters&quot; refer to first person shooters, for hours on end.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball is standing in front of a flowchart on a wall, indicating with a pointer. A man and two women are looking on with interest. One woman holds a briefcase.]<br /> :Cueball: We crowdsource the design process, allowing those with the best designs to connect—<br /> :Cueball: via already-in-place social networking infrastructure—<br /> :Cueball: with interested manufacturers, distributors, and marketers.<br /> <br /> :Nobody caught on that our business plan didn't involve ''us'' in any way— it was just a description of other people making and selling products.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1013:_Wake_Up_Sheeple&diff=91641 2015-04-29T14:00:07Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 1013<br /> | date = February 6, 2012<br /> | title = Wake Up Sheeple<br /> | image = wake_up_sheeple.png<br /> | titletext = You will be led to judgement like lambs to the slaughter--a simile whose existence, I might add, will not do your species any favors.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> [[Cueball]] is going through the traditional street-protester refrain about the government having control over our lives and shouts &quot;wake up, sheeple!&quot; through a megaphone. ''{{w|Sheeple}}'' is a {{w|portmanteau}} of ''sheep'' and ''people'' used as a derisive term to describe people who thoughtlessly wander through their daily lives going exactly where they are &quot;herded&quot; by the powers that be.<br /> <br /> However, in this comic, the Sheeple are gigantic humanoid sheep-men who have slumbered beneath the Earth for ten thousand years, and whom Cueball has inadvertently awoken with his repeated mantra (much as in [[555: Two Mirrors]]). The Sheeple appear to be some kind of {{w|Cthulhu_Mythos|eldritch abomination}} who will destroy the human race, and Cueball seems to be the only one unaware of its existence.<br /> <br /> This comic may also be a view on Randall's actual political views; the awakened monster in the comic actually represents all the &quot;sheeple&quot;. Thus, Randall may be saying that if the &quot;sheeple&quot; wake up and realize that the government is controlling them, without an authority figure (i.e. the government) the sheeple would go wild and pandemonium would ensue.<br /> <br /> The title text says the humans will be led &quot;like lambs to the slaughter&quot; which is a phrase that appears many times in older texts, the Bible as an example. The phrase means that someone or something would be led to its destruction without it thinking to escape from the disaster. The Sheeple are likely to take it amiss, because it indicates the uncaring frequency with which humans kill sheep.<br /> <br /> See more Sheeple-related comics at [[:Category:Sheeple]].<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball yells into a megaphone.]<br /> :Cueball: Your government has turned against you! Corporations control your every thought! - Open your eyes!<br /> <br /> :[Head-on view of Cueball.]<br /> :Cueball: Wake up, sheeple! Wake up, sheeple! - '''''WAKE UP, SHEEPLE!!'''''<br /> <br /> :[The man takes the megaphone away from his mouth.]<br /> :''RUMBLE''<br /> <br /> :[A half-sheep half-man creature rises through the cracking earth, holding aloft a gnarled staff.]<br /> :''B-A-A-A-A-A...''<br /> <br /> :[Close-up on the sheep-man's eye.]<br /> :''TEN THOUSAND YEARS WE SLUMBERED... NOW WE RIIIIIIIISE'' baaaaaa<br /> <br /> :[A clearly upset Megan goes up to Cueball, hands held out in front of her plaintively.]<br /> :Megan: OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD ''WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!''<br /> :Cueball: What? But I didn't—<br /> :Out-of-frame #1: He awoke the Sheeple!<br /> :OOF #2: Heaven forgive us!<br /> :OOF #3: All is lost!<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Sheeple]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=898:_Chain_of_Command&diff=90184 2015-04-20T01:40:17Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 898<br /> | date = May 13, 2011<br /> | title = Chain of Command<br /> | image = chain of command.png<br /> | titletext = Themistocles said his infant son ruled all Greece -- &quot;Athens rules all Greece; I control Athens; my wife controls me; and my infant son controls her.&quot; Thus, nowadays the world is controlled by whoever buys advertising time on Dora the Explorer.<br /> }}<br /> ==Explanation==<br /> The President of the United States is at the top of the US Nuclear Chain of Command, but the engineer is ''de facto'' above him because the engineer is in charge of configuring how the button works, and thus could have installed an override so that he could block the President's use of the button and/or use it himself. The &quot;Red Button&quot; is a simplification denoting procedures for the worst-case scenario, i.e. launching all strategic nuclear capabilities.<br /> <br /> This paradoxical situation applies in many other fields. In a major corporation commercially sensitive information is generally hidden from employees at lower levels but available to management, but the systems administrator (who usually sits low on the hierarchy and doesn't manage any other employees) can access not only the sensitive information but the raw data that it's calculated from. Not only that, but the systems administrator is usually responsible for controlling who has access to the information - making him/her the most powerful person in the company (as far as the IT infrastructure is concerned). Many managers think of themselves as being &quot;above&quot; engineers and have trouble coming to grips with this concept.<br /> <br /> {{w|Themistocles}}, mentioned at the title text, was an Ancient Greek politician. In the title text is a similar joke placed at the top of the chain of command, this time in Ancient Greece. It refers to Plutarch's [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Lives/Themistocles*.html#p53 ''Life of Themistocles'']:<br /> Of his son, who lorded it over his mother, and through her over himself, he said, jestingly, that the boy was the most powerful of all the Hellenes; for the Hellenes were commanded by the Athenians, the Athenians by himself, himself by the boy's mother, and the mother by her boy.<br /> <br /> The part about television advertisements is a proposal that, by controlling the &quot;infant sons&quot; of important political figures (as well as the aforementioned Red Button engineer), one could control said political figures, and thus the entire world. ''{{w|Dora the Explorer}}'' is an educational show for young children, something a busy man like the President (or the all-powerful engineer) might turn on for his/her child.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[A flowchart shows the President at the top, with an arrow to the Secretary of Defense, and then fourteen arrows leading to a series of boxes labeled Unified Combat Commanders. On the side, a box with a dotted outline has a dotted arrow leading to the president. It's labeled &quot;Engineer Who Installed the Red Button.&quot;]<br /> :US NUCLEAR CHAIN OF COMMAND<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Charts]]<br /> [[Category:Politics]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=888:_Heaven&diff=90136 2015-04-19T17:30:56Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 888<br /> | date = April 20, 2011<br /> | title = Heaven<br /> | image = heaven.png<br /> | titletext = If you've never had sex, this is what it feels like. Complete with the brief feeling of satisfaction, followed by ennui, followed by getting bored and trying to make it happen again.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> This comic shows the popular video game {{w|Tetris}}, in which you use different shaped pieces to fill in lines to score points. The more lines you fill at a time it results in more points. Normally all pieces are made up of four small squares. This has also been the case for all the pieces at the bottom of the game, however, some parts of some blocks have been erased when a line has been deleted because it was full.<br /> <br /> Heaven, in Tetris, is when you get the perfect piece that fills out all the empty space you have on the board. The next piece here is really odd, but it fits exactly the 18 empty spaces to make it possible to remove 6 lines in a row - compared to the four that is normally possible using the long brown piece of length 4. On top of the heavenly feeling of getting a piece that fits - the top score will also be smashed, as the player was at the moment only one point from reaching it!<br /> <br /> The ''next'' piece, shown to the right, which will come after the special one, is much longer than the normally possible straight brown piece - a normal one can be seen at the bottom right of the game. This next piece seems to be six long as it has he same height as the strange piece - it also seems to be thinner than normal. Such a piece is of course easy to place - but it could also be a part of the joke in the title text. <br /> <br /> An alternative view is that the next piece is actually the size of one full line (on a slightly smaller scale), so by rotating 90 degrees, the player can immediately complete another line.<br /> <br /> The title text compares this experience with sex, complete with an {{w|orgasm}} and the feelings you get right after sex. After &quot;the brief feeling of satisfaction&quot; from the orgasm you are bored, {{w|ennui}} means a feeling of utter weariness and discontent resulting from {{w|satiety}} or lack of interest, but at the end you want more.<br /> <br /> A fan have made a modified version of the classic Tetris game, where at a certain frequency, a 'heaven' perfectly fitting block comes along. The game can be found on. [http://www.gudmagazine.com/games/heaven/ http://www.gudmagazine.com/games/heaven/].<br /> <br /> Also see comic [[724: Hell]], which presents an opposing situation in which the game is impossible to play.<br /> <br /> Choosing to post a comic called Heaven as number {{w|888_(number)#Symbology_and_numerology|888}} is not a coincidence - as in Christian numerology, the number 888 represents Jesus and in Chinese numerology it represents triple fortune.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[The panel shows the display of a Tetris game. A large oddly shaped piece is falling towards the board. The piece fits into the gaps exactly to complete six rows at once. The next piece is simply a very long brick. All the pieces at the bottom are made from possible tetris pieces.]<br /> :Next<br /> :Top <br /> :0002187<br /> :Score <br /> :0002186<br /> :Level<br /> :5<br /> :[Below the panel:]<br /> :'''Heaven'''<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics with color]]<br /> [[Category:Sex]]<br /> [[Category:Video games]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=878:_Model_Rail&diff=90117 2015-04-19T01:57:40Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 878<br /> | date = March 28, 2011<br /> | title = Model Rail<br /> | image = model rail.png<br /> | titletext = I don't know what's more telling--the number of pages in the Wikipedia talk page argument over whether the 1/87.0857143 scale is called &quot;HO&quot; or &quot;H0&quot;, or the fact that within minutes of first hearing of it I had developed an extremely strong opinion on the issue.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> In model rail construction, {{w|HO scale}} refers to the currently most popular scale for modeling railroads, in which 3.5 millimeters in the model corresponds to 1 real-world Imperial foot. As the comic suggests, it works out to a ratio of about 1:87.1. In Europe, the scale is defined as exactly 1:87 instead, to avoid reference to non-metric measurements.<br /> <br /> The (apparently less-experienced) modeller wants to make an HO model layout of his town. However, the more-experienced modeller points out that this is a bad idea, due to nesting. To make it a perfectly accurate model, the modeller would have to include a model of his house, which includes his basement, which includes the model. So, he would have to make a model of the model, which will include a smaller model of the model, and so forth.<br /> <br /> {{w|Matryoshka doll|Matryoshka dolls}} are toys of Russian origin that can be stacked inside one another. Here, the &quot;Matryoshka limit&quot; is the hard barrier that follows as a result of the nesting. Matter is not infinitely divisible; once one gets the level of atoms, it is impossibly difficult to go any smaller (&lt;= I'm not going to change this, I'm going to keep this here for the funnies... I literally rofled at this). The unit shown in the last diagram is the {{w|Angstrom|ångström}}, a preposterously small unit of measurement that was created when humans started discovering preposterously small things, like crystal structures and wavelengths.<br /> <br /> The rules of model train layouts reference the 1999 cult classic ''{{w|Fight Club}}'', where the first rule of Fight Club is &quot;do not talk about Fight Club.&quot; However, while the club instituted the rule because their activities were morally and legally questionable, the rule in the comic was instituted by friends and family members who, apparently, were sick of hearing the train enthusiasts talk about model train layouts all the time.<br /> <br /> The &quot;Philistines&quot; comment is not referring to citizens of ancient Palestine (at least not directly), but rather the philosophy of {{w|Philistinism}}. {{w|Friedrich Nietzsche}} defined a Philistine as someone who is purely negative in how they define style, i.e. they know exactly what they hate and don't really have anything they like. A common stereotype for artists is to refer to anyone who dislikes their work as &quot;Philistines,&quot; thus dismissing their criticism as being part of a larger personality defect on the critic's part rather than any particular failing of the artwork in question.<br /> <br /> The title text references {{w|HO scale}} and, more specifically, whether it should be spelled with the letter &quot;O&quot; or the number zero (0). Such debates often seem petty to the &quot;layman&quot;, yet the people involved in the debates can form ''very'' strong feelings for their side. Randall recognizes &quot;nerdy tendencies&quot; almost immediately when he gets the urge to take a side. The comic [[1167: Star Trek into Darkness]] is about a similar debate on Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :Cueball: I want to build a perfect HO-scale (~1/87) model train layout of my town.<br /> :Friend: In your basement? Bad idea. Never make a layout of the area you're in.<br /> <br /> :Cueball: Why not?<br /> :Friend: Because it'd include a little 10&quot; replica of your house.<br /> <br /> :Cueball: So? That's be cool! I'd make tiny replicas of my rooms, my furniture—<br /> :Friend: —and your train layout?<br /> <br /> :[The comic shows how the models would nest together.]<br /> :[Layer 1: 18 meters across. The two modelers are shown standing next to it.]<br /> :[Layer 2: 21 cm across.]<br /> :[Layer 3: 2.4 mm across. A mosquito is shown for comparison. It stands over roughly half of the town.]<br /> :[Layer 4: 28 μm across. A strand of spider silk is shown for comparison. It is much thicker than the roads.]<br /> :[Layer 5: 320 nm across. A cold virus is shown for comparison. It covers roughly a quarter of the town. At this level the town becomes notably &quot;fuzzy&quot; as individual atoms are discernible.]<br /> :[Layer 6: 37 Å across. The town is simply spheres (atoms) at this point. The large hill near the back is the only noticeable feature, consisting of five atoms jutting out from the mostly flat ground.]<br /> :The Matryoshka limit: It is impossible to nest more than six HO layouts<br /> <br /> :Cueball: My God.<br /> :Friend: Yeah. It's the second rule of model train layouts: No nesting.<br /> <br /> :Cueball: ...What's the first rule?<br /> :Friend: &quot;Do ''not'' talk about model train layouts.&quot; That rule was actually voted in by our friends and families.<br /> :Cueball: Philistines.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=875:_2009_Called&diff=90116 2015-04-19T00:55:08Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 875<br /> | date = March 21, 2011<br /> | title = 2009 Called<br /> | image = 2009 called.png<br /> | titletext = 2017 called, but I couldn't understand what they were saying over all the screams.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> The comic deconstructs a {{w|snowclone}} or common idiom - &quot;X called, they want their Y back.&quot; Usually, X is a year (like 2009 here), and Y is something very popular in that year that is seen as ridiculous in the present day.<br /> <br /> Here, [[Megan]] notices a Three-Wolf Moon t-shirt that [[Cueball]] apparently owns. The {{w|Three Wolf Moon|Three-Wolf Moon}} is a shirt of three wolves howling at the moon that reached meme status when several people posted ironic reviews giving it supernatural powers on {{w|Amazon}} around late 2008.<br /> <br /> Megan says the snowclone, but before she can finish, Cueball pretends to take it literally (that is, that the year 2009 actually called her) and admonishes her for not telling them about {{w|2010 Haiti earthquake|the February 2010 earthquake in Haiti}} and {{w|2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami|the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan}}. In this way, he preempts Megan's attempt to humiliate him, and gives her a pretty good burn. (Or Cueball, being Cueball, actually thinks the future called.) The comic was posted shortly after the latter, so it is reasonable to assume that it was created as a response to the disaster.<br /> <br /> The title text continues the snowclone, implying the end of humanity and/or the world will come about in 2017.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball is at computer. Megan is standing behind him, looking at clothes on the floor.]<br /> :Megan: Is this a three wolf moon shirt?<br /> :Megan: Dude, 2009 called, and they-<br /> :Cueball: ''OH MY GOD!''<br /> :Cueball: ''DID YOU WARN THEM?''<br /> :Cueball: ''ABOUT HAITI AND JAPAN?''<br /> :Megan: What? No, I-<br /> :Cueball: You ''ASSHOLE!''<br /> <br /> ==See also==<br /> *[[102: Back to the Future]]<br /> *[[1072: Seventies]]<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=873:_FPS_Mod&diff=90115 2015-04-19T00:50:03Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 873<br /> | date = March 16, 2011<br /> | title = FPS Mod<br /> | image = fps mod.png<br /> | titletext = Wait, that second one is a woman? ...wait, if that bothers me, then why doesn't... man, this game is no fun anymore.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> FPS stands for {{w|First-person shooter|First Person Shooter}}, which is a type of video game (like {{w|Halo (series)|Halo}} or {{w|Duke Nukem}}) in which you are looking at the world from the first person perspective of the character you are controlling. [[Cueball]] mods the game which is short for &quot;modify&quot;.<br /> <br /> FPS games are controversial for their encouraging killing (especially of human beings). One point of the controversy is that, while virtual enemies are just pixels on a screen, real enemies have actual lives, emotions, and the like. In the games, there is a disconnect between the act and its emotional cost, thus leading to the controversy that FPS encourage wanton killing (or violence in general) to solve problems instead of considering the other party. Cueball makes reference to this by adding a mod that gives biographical snippets of the enemy you shoot in the game, thus giving him the perspective of the enemy he just shot. However, the disconnect between the act and the emotional cost fades away, causing Cueball to feel for the enemies he has shot, thus removing any enjoyment he gets from the game.<br /> <br /> The above can also be a reference towards making games more realistic. Giving the enemies a life above being mere targets definitely makes the game more realistic, but such a game would not be that enjoyable. This has been explored previously in [[772: Frogger]].<br /> <br /> The title text talks about how gender is portrayed in games. It's often more emotionally affecting to kill a woman, as (rightly or wrongly) societal norms suggest that women are the &quot;weaker sex&quot;, and men must protect them. Gender equality is a highly debated topic with many different viewpoints, where one's conscious reasoned views may sometimes stand at odds to subconscious feelings. When a player becomes aware that killing women bothers one more than killing men, it exposes an inconsistency in the player's own logic, one that's very uncomfortable to confront.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball is playing a video game.]<br /> :''BLAM''<br /> :Game: He once built a treehouse.<br /> :''BLAM''<br /> :Game: She has 110 unread emails that she was hoping to get to tonight.<br /> :''BLAM BLAM''<br /> :Game: He was the only one who took care of the plants back at base.<br /> :No one liked my FPS mod that gives you three-second snippets from the bios of people you shoot.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Video games]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:871:_Charity&diff=90114 2015-04-18T21:06:32Z

<p>Vctr: </p> <hr /> <div>What's with the '0 internet arguments' in the title text? I don't get that part. [[User:Runxctry|Runxctry]] ([[User talk:Runxctry|talk]]) 15:04, 11 April 2013 (UTC)<br /> :I did add a small explain on this but I think it's still incomplete.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 18:16, 10 June 2013 (UTC)<br /> <br /> Isn't he only holding one game? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.218|108.162.237.218]] 17:07, 9 April 2014 (UTC)<br /> :I think that is actually a phone, so he could be either browsing a site like gamestop to buy PC/console games, or thinking about buying apps. [[User:Athang|Athang]] ([[User talk:Athang|talk]]) 14:44, 13 June 2014 (UTC)<br /> <br /> How much do the directors of the charity get paid?<br /> <br /> [[User:Weatherlawyer| I used Google News BEFORE it was clickbait]] ([[User talk:Weatherlawyer|talk]]) 00:17, 24 January 2015 (UTC)<br /> <br /> Randall is sexist :P [[User:Vctr|Vctr]] ([[User talk:Vctr|talk]]) 21:06, 18 April 2015 (UTC) Vctr</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=864:_Flying_Cars&diff=89752 2015-04-15T06:24:16Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 864<br /> | date = February 23, 2011<br /> | title = Flying Cars<br /> | image = flying_cars.png<br /> | titletext = It's hard to fit in the backseat of my flying car with my android Realdoll when we're both wearing jetpacks.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> [[Cueball]] is complaining to [[Megan]] over the phone about the lack of flying cars even though it is the year 2011. Megan counters that phone technology has taken off. In the past it was predicted that we would have flying cars and two-way wrist radios by today, for example.[[Citation needed]] The flying car is still not perfected (although there are some awesome prototypes flying today) but the two way wrist radio pales in comparison to the current state of smart phones.<br /> <br /> He chooses to be resentful about the lack of flying cars rather than be amazed at the current state of computers and communication technology. Like many people, he is missing the forest while looking for a particular tree.<br /> <br /> The title text references Realdoll, known as &quot;the world's finest lovedoll&quot;, and jetpacks, another invention that many people were expecting to have by this point in time.<br /> <br /> This strip is quoted at the top of the TvTope article [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/IWantMyJetpack I Want My Jetpack], having a similar theme to the strip.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :Cueball (on telephone): It's 2011. I want my flying car.<br /> :Answer from telephone: Dude.<br /> :Megan (on telephone): You're complaining to me using a phone on which you buy and read books, and which you were using to play a 3D shooter until I interrupted you with what would be a video call if I were wearing a shirt.<br /> :Cueball: Can't I have flying cars, too?<br /> :Answer from telephone: You'd crash it while texting and playing angry birds.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=836:_Sickness&diff=89589 2015-04-13T12:53:21Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 836<br /> | date = December 20, 2010<br /> | title = Sickness<br /> | image = sickness.png<br /> | titletext = At least, with p&lt;0.05 confidence.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> This comic was published 2 months after [[Randall]]'s then fiancée, now wife, was diagnosed with breast cancer (see [[:Category:Cancer]]), which is likely what inspired this comic - even though [[Cueball]] sounds like he is the one afflicted by the sickness. The comic is thus about the existential questions that might arise from such a crisis. The moral could be interpreted as that you shouldn't begrudge your fellow human being, regardless of where they find comfort.<br /> <br /> Also, any sentence is instantly funny if, at the end of it, you address your audience as &quot;bitches&quot;.{{Citation needed}} It may also be a reference to [[54: Science]].<br /> <br /> &quot;Slings and arrows of fortune&quot; is an allusion to the &quot;{{w|To be, or not to be}}&quot; soliloquy in William Shakespeare's ''{{w|Hamlet, Prince of Denmark}}''. Hamlet asks himself whether it is &quot;Nobler in the mind to suffer / The Slings and Arrows of outrageous Fortune&quot; (to resign oneself to one's fate and endure what may come), or to &quot;take Arms against a Sea of troubles, / and by opposing end them&quot; (to commit suicide and end suffering); he ultimately concludes that we would rather face the dangers and pains we know on Earth than whatever unknown new ones may come in the afterlife. Cueball appears to agree with Hamlet, thanking &quot;the people who refused to gracefully accept the ineffability of reality&quot;: Religion and spirituality can give him the moral courage to face his death, but he'd much prefer to not die in the first place, and won't have to, thanks to medical and scientific innovation.<br /> <br /> The title text is a pun based on Cueball's newfound confidence, asserting that his statement &quot;because they work, bitches&quot; has a 95% ''confidence'' interval.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[The three panels are arranged diagonally, upper left to bottom right.]<br /> :[Two people are walking past a tree. One is White Hat.]<br /> :White Hat: So, has this sickness opened you up to looking for answers beyond science?<br /> :Cueball: ...no, not really.<br /> <br /> :[Cueball turns to face White Hat.]<br /> :Cueball: We've groped for comfort before the slings and arrows of fortune for millennia, and I begrudge nobody their sources of solace.<br /> :Cueball: But Science provides ''tools''.<br /> :Cueball: $100 billion a year in scientific studies and medical R&amp;D has bought us some pretty damn powerful slings and arrows of our own.<br /> :Cueball: This world is amazing, and I'm going to live to experience more of it thanks to people who refused to gracefully accept the ineffability of reality.<br /> :Cueball: I find my courage where I can, but I take my weapons from science.<br /> <br /> :Cueball: Because they ''work'', bitches.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]<br /> [[Category:Cancer]]<br /> [[Category:Religion]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=829:_Arsenic-Based_Life&diff=89587 2015-04-13T12:44:37Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 829<br /> | date = December 3, 2010<br /> | title = Arsenic-Based Life<br /> | image = arsenic_based_life.png<br /> | titletext = According to a new paper published in the journal Science, reporters are unable to thrive in an arsenic-rich environment.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{w|Arsenic}} is a chemical element which is known to be poisonous to humans and most other life forms. In 2010 {{w|NASA}} announced the discovery of bacteria {{w|GFAJ-1}} and claimed it to be able to sustain itself when starved of phosphorus, by substituting arsenic for a small percentage of its phosphorus. Like most other scientists [[Randall]] did not believe in this{{<br /> Citation needed}}, and indeed it it was disproved in 2012. {{Citation needed}}<br /> <br /> The scientists are worried that the press conference announcing their bacteria discovery may be seen as unexciting, especially with the reporters hoping for news of life on {{w|Saturn}}'s largest moon, {{w|Titan (moon)|Titan}}. The researchers decide to try and make the event more exciting, but admit that they don't know how to throw a good party. This is probably a dig at scientists, who are often portrayed as being somewhat socially inept. As a result they turn to the internet for advice, and come up with a plan to serve cocktails and {{w|Hors d'oeuvre|hors d'œuvres}} to fit the theme of the event. <br /> <br /> The final panel shows the results of their plans, with the reporters dead or dying, and it becomes clear that in order to fit the theme the researchers have laced the food and drinks with arsenic. This is another joke on the perception that scientist may be extremely clever within their field, but sometimes lack common sense.<br /> <br /> The words &quot;hors d'oerves&quot; at the comic are just a misspelling by Randall for &quot;hors d'oeuvres&quot; (in French ''&quot;hors d'œuvre&quot;'' both singular and plural). The English pronunciation of these words is awr-DURVZ /ɔrˈdɜrvz/, with the R '''before''' the V, not after, which explains the mistake.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hors+d%27oeuvre&lt;/ref&gt; As opposed to the original French pronunciation, where the v and r keep the same order.&lt;ref&gt;http://fr.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/%C5%93uvre&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> The girl with the curly ponytail in this comic is different from the character commonly referred to as [[Ponytail]].<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Three people, two women and a man, stand looking at a laptop screen, which is sitting on a desk. The woman with a ponytail is pointing at the screen.]<br /> :Ponytail: Our arsenic-based DNA discovery is cool, but these reporters are expecting life on Titan! Our press conference will be such a letdown!<br /> <br /> :[Ponytail turns around to face Megan.]<br /> :Ponytail: Okay, we need to make it more exciting for them. How do you make an event entertaining?<br /> :Megan: Dunno, I suck at parties. Music, I guess?<br /> <br /> :[Ponytail girl turns back around and leans over to start typing on the computer, while the other two look on. Megan puts her hand to her chin.]<br /> :Ponytail: WikiHow says you can &quot;serve cocktails and hors d'oerves that fit the theme of your event.&quot;<br /> :Megan: Easy enough!<br /> <br /> :[Ponytail girl stands at a podium on a stage, the man stands amongst the audience with a tray. All the audience members are either dead or dying, having fallen onto the floor or slumped over in their seats.]<br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> &lt;references/&gt;<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Physics]]<br /> [[Category:Biology]]<br /> [[Category:Public speaking]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=829:_Arsenic-Based_Life&diff=89586 2015-04-13T12:44:12Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 829<br /> | date = December 3, 2010<br /> | title = Arsenic-Based Life<br /> | image = arsenic_based_life.png<br /> | titletext = According to a new paper published in the journal Science, reporters are unable to thrive in an arsenic-rich environment.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{w|Arsenic}} is a chemical element which is known to be poisonous to humans and most other life forms. In 2010 {{w|NASA}} announced the discovery of bacteria {{w|GFAJ-1}} and claimed it to be able to sustain itself when starved of phosphorus, by substituting arsenic for a small percentage of its phosphorus. Like most other scientists [[Randall]] did not believe in this{{<br /> Citation needed}}, and indeed it it was disproved in 2012. <br /> <br /> The scientists are worried that the press conference announcing their bacteria discovery may be seen as unexciting, especially with the reporters hoping for news of life on {{w|Saturn}}'s largest moon, {{w|Titan (moon)|Titan}}. The researchers decide to try and make the event more exciting, but admit that they don't know how to throw a good party. This is probably a dig at scientists, who are often portrayed as being somewhat socially inept. As a result they turn to the internet for advice, and come up with a plan to serve cocktails and {{w|Hors d'oeuvre|hors d'œuvres}} to fit the theme of the event. <br /> <br /> The final panel shows the results of their plans, with the reporters dead or dying, and it becomes clear that in order to fit the theme the researchers have laced the food and drinks with arsenic. This is another joke on the perception that scientist may be extremely clever within their field, but sometimes lack common sense.<br /> <br /> The words &quot;hors d'oerves&quot; at the comic are just a misspelling by Randall for &quot;hors d'oeuvres&quot; (in French ''&quot;hors d'œuvre&quot;'' both singular and plural). The English pronunciation of these words is awr-DURVZ /ɔrˈdɜrvz/, with the R '''before''' the V, not after, which explains the mistake.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hors+d%27oeuvre&lt;/ref&gt; As opposed to the original French pronunciation, where the v and r keep the same order.&lt;ref&gt;http://fr.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/%C5%93uvre&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> The girl with the curly ponytail in this comic is different from the character commonly referred to as [[Ponytail]].<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Three people, two women and a man, stand looking at a laptop screen, which is sitting on a desk. The woman with a ponytail is pointing at the screen.]<br /> :Ponytail: Our arsenic-based DNA discovery is cool, but these reporters are expecting life on Titan! Our press conference will be such a letdown!<br /> <br /> :[Ponytail turns around to face Megan.]<br /> :Ponytail: Okay, we need to make it more exciting for them. How do you make an event entertaining?<br /> :Megan: Dunno, I suck at parties. Music, I guess?<br /> <br /> :[Ponytail girl turns back around and leans over to start typing on the computer, while the other two look on. Megan puts her hand to her chin.]<br /> :Ponytail: WikiHow says you can &quot;serve cocktails and hors d'oerves that fit the theme of your event.&quot;<br /> :Megan: Easy enough!<br /> <br /> :[Ponytail girl stands at a podium on a stage, the man stands amongst the audience with a tray. All the audience members are either dead or dying, having fallen onto the floor or slumped over in their seats.]<br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> &lt;references/&gt;<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Physics]]<br /> [[Category:Biology]]<br /> [[Category:Public speaking]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=829:_Arsenic-Based_Life&diff=89585 2015-04-13T12:43:57Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 829<br /> | date = December 3, 2010<br /> | title = Arsenic-Based Life<br /> | image = arsenic_based_life.png<br /> | titletext = According to a new paper published in the journal Science, reporters are unable to thrive in an arsenic-rich environment.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{w|Arsenic}} is a chemical element which is known to be poisonous to humans and most other life forms. In 2010 {{w|NASA}} announced the discovery of bacteria {{w|GFAJ-1}} and claimed it to be able to sustain itself when starved of phosphorus, by substituting arsenic for a small percentage of its phosphorus. Like most other scientists [[Randall]] did not believe in this{{<br /> Citation needed.}}, and indeed it it was disproved in 2012. <br /> <br /> The scientists are worried that the press conference announcing their bacteria discovery may be seen as unexciting, especially with the reporters hoping for news of life on {{w|Saturn}}'s largest moon, {{w|Titan (moon)|Titan}}. The researchers decide to try and make the event more exciting, but admit that they don't know how to throw a good party. This is probably a dig at scientists, who are often portrayed as being somewhat socially inept. As a result they turn to the internet for advice, and come up with a plan to serve cocktails and {{w|Hors d'oeuvre|hors d'œuvres}} to fit the theme of the event. <br /> <br /> The final panel shows the results of their plans, with the reporters dead or dying, and it becomes clear that in order to fit the theme the researchers have laced the food and drinks with arsenic. This is another joke on the perception that scientist may be extremely clever within their field, but sometimes lack common sense.<br /> <br /> The words &quot;hors d'oerves&quot; at the comic are just a misspelling by Randall for &quot;hors d'oeuvres&quot; (in French ''&quot;hors d'œuvre&quot;'' both singular and plural). The English pronunciation of these words is awr-DURVZ /ɔrˈdɜrvz/, with the R '''before''' the V, not after, which explains the mistake.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hors+d%27oeuvre&lt;/ref&gt; As opposed to the original French pronunciation, where the v and r keep the same order.&lt;ref&gt;http://fr.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/%C5%93uvre&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> The girl with the curly ponytail in this comic is different from the character commonly referred to as [[Ponytail]].<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Three people, two women and a man, stand looking at a laptop screen, which is sitting on a desk. The woman with a ponytail is pointing at the screen.]<br /> :Ponytail: Our arsenic-based DNA discovery is cool, but these reporters are expecting life on Titan! Our press conference will be such a letdown!<br /> <br /> :[Ponytail turns around to face Megan.]<br /> :Ponytail: Okay, we need to make it more exciting for them. How do you make an event entertaining?<br /> :Megan: Dunno, I suck at parties. Music, I guess?<br /> <br /> :[Ponytail girl turns back around and leans over to start typing on the computer, while the other two look on. Megan puts her hand to her chin.]<br /> :Ponytail: WikiHow says you can &quot;serve cocktails and hors d'oerves that fit the theme of your event.&quot;<br /> :Megan: Easy enough!<br /> <br /> :[Ponytail girl stands at a podium on a stage, the man stands amongst the audience with a tray. All the audience members are either dead or dying, having fallen onto the floor or slumped over in their seats.]<br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> &lt;references/&gt;<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Physics]]<br /> [[Category:Biology]]<br /> [[Category:Public speaking]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=805:_Paradise_City&diff=89495 2015-04-12T06:29:21Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 805<br /> | date = October 13, 2010<br /> | title = Paradise City<br /> | image = paradise city.png<br /> | titletext = Take me down to the paradise municipality / where the grass is mauve and the girls aren't fromthisreality.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> &quot;{{w|Paradise City}}&quot; is a song by the hard rock band {{w|Guns N' Roses}} which appeared on their debut album ''{{w|Appetite for Destruction}}''. It sings of the fictional Paradise City, an idyllic place whereto the lyrical self longs to return. The location is contrasted with the depressing reality in which the persona is trapped, using for instance the image of a gas chamber.<br /> <br /> In the comic, [[Cueball]] can be seen singing different versions of the chorus. In each panel, the word &quot;City&quot; is substituted by a synonym and the rest of the verse is altered accordingly to keep the rhyme scheme (usually awkwardly because he has chosen difficult words to rhyme with).<br /> <br /> The sequence of stanzas describes the fate of Paradise City. It starts the original version drawing an idyllic picture. In a rather unexpected turn, however, the next stanza has the place pillaged and plundered. Chaos and anarchy reign, the once fresh and green meadows are now burned. Law and order are restored in the next verses and the other extreme starts to prevail: Paradise City has become a totalitarian {{w|dystopia}}. The fourth stanza refers to {{w|George Orwell|George Orwell's}} dystopian novel ''{{w|Nineteen Eighty-Four}}''. The book shows a world in which mind control and omnipresent surveillance render individual thought and action impossible. The concluding verses suggest that the totalitarian government has successfully brainwashed the former rebels and established an effective, yet sterile technocratic society. &quot;Cortical lesions&quot; in this panel could be a reference to the dystopian novel ''{{w|Uglies}}'' by {{w|Scott Westerfeld}}, which describes a society in which extreme plastic surgery is used to turn people &quot;pretty&quot;. (SPOILER ALERT) It is later revealed in the book that this procedure is accompanied by a neurosurgical operation making the patient placid and obedient through a {{w|lobotomy}}.<br /> <br /> The development of the city in Cueball's song reveals that the term &quot;{{w|Paradise}}&quot; can be applied to very different and even oppositional scenarios. While the original song describes the city as a rural Eden, some might refute this conception as a bourgeois or {{w|Agrarianism|agrarian romantic}} ideal. Others would fear that too much individual freedom might be dangerous and opt for {{w|Surveillance state|security through control}}. Especially the picture of the last stanza is a common vision in dystopian literature (e.g. ''{{w|Brave New World}}''): Although the citizens of a future society entirely lack any personal choice or individual freedom, they deem themselves happy because education or thought control present this a necessity for a functioning society.<br /> <br /> <br /> In popular culture, the word &quot;Paradise&quot; is often used to describe a place of bliss and perfect harmony, as in the original religious sense of the term. It is however also frequently linked to the idea of living out one's deepest and darkest desires, therefore in some way to a place of {{w|sin}}. Considering the lifestyle of Guns N' Roses, it can be assumed that the &quot;pretty girls&quot; of the original song are not necessarily chaste.<br /> <br /> The title text suggests that ''Paradise City'' is in fact a drug-induced state of {{w|Ecstasy (emotion)|ecstasy}} with strange and colourful {{w|hallucination|hallucinations}}.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball sits on a box playing a guitar and singing.]<br /> :Cueball: Take me down to the paradise city where the grass is green and the girls are pretty.<br /> :Cueball: Take me down to the paradise village where the grasses burn and those cute girls pillage.<br /> :Cueball: Take me down to the fire-charred counties where the law's restored by Canadian mounties.<br /> :Cueball: Take me down to Orwellian regions where they retrain girls using cortical lesions.<br /> :Cueball: Take me down to the paradise borough where the grass is labeled 'cause the girls are thorough. Ohh, won't you please take me hooome...<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Music]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=796:_Bad_Ex&diff=89260 2015-04-10T04:45:58Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 796<br /> | date = September 22, 2010<br /> | title = Bad Ex<br /> | image = bad ex.png<br /> | titletext = Since the goatee, glasses, and Seltzer &amp; Friedberg DVD collection didn't tip you off, there will be a $20 negligence charge for this service.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> [[Cueball]] has been betrayed by his girlfriend, and later found out that he's not the first one she betrayed. He thinks that the society should provide a service that collects reports about such notorious liars, warning future dates about their true nature.<br /> <br /> Cueball's friend is concerned about the matter of personal integrity, comparing this proposed service to {{w|Sex offender registration|sex offender registries}}. Cueball, though, thinks that there are certain governments who would have no problem with personal integrity infringement.<br /> <br /> In the last panel, we see such a notification being given to a girl at a date. One interpretation of this comic could be that the bearded man is not, in fact, a douchebag, but Cueball is calling him one because he likes the girl, and thus wants to separate them.<br /> <br /> The &quot;State of California&quot; dialog is a reference to {{w|California_Proposition_65_(1986)|California Proposition 65}} which requires specific products to state: &quot;This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.&quot; California is also known to be one of the states where liberal experimentation would occur.<br /> <br /> The title text mentions a few &quot;{{w|douchebag}}&quot; warning signals that the girl should have observed, for instance the boyfriend's interest in the infamous filmmaker duo {{w|Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer}}, known for making shallow parody movies.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball and White Hat are walking.]<br /> :Cueball: It just blows my mind. She seemed so genuine. I had no idea she was such a serial liar.<br /> :Cueball: I just wish I had our six months back.<br /> <br /> :[The view focuses on Cueball.]<br /> :Cueball: Her exes say the same thing happened to them.<br /> :Cueball: Maybe what we need is a terrible-ex tracking and notification service.<br /> <br /> :[Cueball turns, thoughtfully.]<br /> :White Hat: But after all the problems with sex offender registries, who would agree to run it?<br /> :Cueball: Maybe one of the state governments more willing to experiment could try it out...<br /> <br /> :Soon...<br /> :[Megan and a person with glasses and a goatee are sitting at a table, on which sit wine glasses and plates. Cueball approaches them carrying a clipboard and a license.]<br /> :Cueball: Excuse me, ma'am.<br /> :Megan: Yes?<br /> :Cueball: This man is known to the state of California to be a ''total douchebag''.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Romance]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=789:_Showdown&diff=89255 2015-04-10T02:54:07Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 789<br /> | date = September 8, 2010<br /> | title = Showdown<br /> | image = showdown.png<br /> | titletext = The tumbleweed then tried to roll off into the sunset, but due to the Old West's placement north of the subtropical ridge, the prevailing winds were in the wrong direction.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> Shootouts were common in many old {{w|Western (genre)|Western}} films, most famous on {{w|spaghetti Westerns}}. Commonly, to accentuate the silence and dreariness of the scene before the fight, a {{w|tumbleweed}} would roll past the fighters. In this comic, the two gunmen, as per the cliche, stand quietly. The tumbleweed then rolls past, and pulls a pair of revolvers. It then shoots both of the gunfighters, winning the duel unexpectedly.<br /> <br /> The title text refers to a common trope in Westerns to have the tumbleweed roll into the sunset at the conclusion of the film. However, given that prevailing winds go from West to East, that means that the tumbleweed would be unable to tumble into the sunset, thus meaning it cannot reenact this trope no matter how hard it tries.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Two cowboys face off silently in the desert, the blazing sun beating down.]<br /> <br /> :[They exchange steely glares, hands poised to reach their guns, as a tumbleweed rolls into frame.]<br /> :''TUMBLE''<br /> <br /> :[Close-up on the tumbleweed. It draws two guns.]<br /> :''CLICK CLICK''<br /> <br /> :[The tumbleweed shoots both cowboys simultaneously, and they fall backwards.]<br /> :''BLAM BLAM''<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=779:_Anxiety&diff=89232 2015-04-09T14:00:12Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 779<br /> | date = August 13, 2010<br /> | title = Anxiety<br /> | image = anxiety.png<br /> | titletext = Don't need any, thanks. I have a backscattering fetish.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> Some people are upset about airport security policies that mandate the use of {{w|backscatter X-ray}} machines, since the machines can create an image of the subject naked. [[Black Hat]] is selling {{w|Sildenafil|Viagra}} for men as means to thumb their noses (so to speak) at the system by forcing the security guard to see them with erections. The problem with this approach is that the time spent in a line of this length will be far too short for the Viagra to have any effect whatsoever. However, judging by the security guard's thought bubble, he indeed is not looking forward to the images.<br /> <br /> At the title text, one of the people in the line explains has a fetish with getting X-ray scanned, and so thus doesn't need Viagra to achieve the above effect.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[There is an airport security checkpoint where a queue of ten passengers is waiting to go through a backscatter x-ray scanner. Near the back of the line, Black Hat is standing next to a stand which says &quot;Viagra $20&quot;. One passenger next to him is drinking a glass of water, probably after having taken pills; another is contemplating the sign.]<br /> :Security Guard (thinking): Oh god.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br /> [[Category:Physics]]<br /> [[Category:Sex]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=774:_Atheists&diff=89168 2015-04-09T05:06:03Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 774<br /> | date = August 2, 2010<br /> | title = Atheists<br /> | image = atheists.png<br /> | titletext = 'But you're using that same tactic to try to feel superior to me, too!' 'Sorry, that accusation expires after one use per conversation.'<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> In public debates, {{w|Christian fundamentalism|fundamentalist}} {{w|Christian}}s and {{w|atheist}}s, while having different opinions, can behave surprisingly similar. Both can be very {{w|dogmatic}} about their beliefs, and be very disrespectful and accusative towards people of the other standpoint. [[Cueball]] is blaming both parties for being annoying. [[Megan]] sarcastically remarks that Cueball then must feel superior to just about everyone.<br /> <br /> The title text takes this one step further when Cueball realizes that Megan's reply is just as smugly superior as his. Such a superiority argument could go on ad infinitum. But by introducing an arbitrary stop rule &quot;expires after one use per conversation&quot;, Megan tries to resolves this issue and superiorly wins the argument.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball and Megan talking.]<br /> :Cueball: Personally, I find atheists just as annoying as fundamentalist Christians.<br /> :Megan: Well, the important thing is that you've found a way to feel superior to both.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Religion]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=762:_Analogies&diff=88982 2015-04-08T05:31:47Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 762<br /> | date = July 5, 2010<br /> | title = Analogies<br /> | image = analogies.png<br /> | titletext = I just call all of them 'synecdoche'.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> This comic revolves around the similarities (and differences) between the concepts of &quot;Analogy&quot;, &quot;Simile&quot; and &quot;Metaphor&quot; (and &quot;Synecdoche&quot;(and &quot;sandwich&quot;)).<br /> <br /> The dictionary defines a &quot;{{w|metaphor}}&quot; as a figure of speech that uses one thing to mean another and makes a comparison between the two. For example, Shakespeare's line, &quot;All the world's a stage,&quot; is a metaphor comparing the whole world to a theater stage. Metaphors can be very simple, and they can function as most any part of speech. &quot;The spy shadowed the woman&quot; is a verb metaphor. The spy is not literally her shadow, but he follows her so closely and quietly that he resembles one.<br /> <br /> A &quot;{{w|simile}}&quot;, also called an open comparison, is a form of metaphor that compares two different things to create a new meaning. But a simile always uses &quot;like&quot; or &quot;as&quot; within the phrase and the comparison is more explicit than a metaphor. For example, Shakespeare's line could be rewritten as a simile to read: &quot;The world is like a stage.&quot; Another simile would be: &quot;The spy was close as a shadow.&quot; Both metaphor and simile can be used to enhance writing.<br /> <br /> An &quot;{{w|analogy}}&quot; is a bit more complicated. At the most basic level, an analogy shows similarity between things that might seem different — much like an extended metaphor or simile. But analogy isn't just a form of speech. It can be a logical argument: if two things are alike in some ways, they are alike in some other ways as well. Analogy is often used to help provide insight by comparing an unknown subject to one that is more familiar. It can also show a relationship between pairs of things. This form of analogy is often used on standardized tests in the form &quot;A is to B as C is to D&quot;.<br /> <br /> Einstein famously used analogies to explain how radio works: &quot;You see, wire telegraph is a kind of a very, very long cat. You pull his tail in New York and his head is meowing in Los Angeles. Do you understand this? And radio operates exactly the same way: you send signals here, they receive them there. The only difference is that there is no cat.&quot; Unfortunately, nobody was any the wiser after hearing this.{{Citation needed}}<br /> <br /> &quot;{{w|Synecdoche}}&quot; is the naming the whole of something by referring to a part, or vice versa. E.g. using &quot;the Internet&quot; when meaning &quot;the World Wide Web&quot;, which is only a part of it; or using &quot;Band-Aid&quot; when referring to any adhesive bandage. Randall is saying that he doesn't really understand the difference between them, but instead of using one of the names as a placeholder for them all (that is, as a synecdoche), he actually uses the word 'synecdoche'. What a mind he has.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Two men sit in front of the TV, one on the couch, the other on the floor. Megan stands by the TV set.]<br /> :Megan: While I'm up, does anyone want a sandwich?<br /> :Cueball: Is &quot;sandwich&quot; a metaphor?<br /> <br /> :Megan: No, I'm bad at metaphors. But I could try a simile.<br /> :Cueball: I guess that's ''like'' a metaphor. Sure.<br /> <br /> :[As Megan starts to walk away, the men continue to speak.]<br /> :Friend: Well, &quot;a simile is like a metaphor&quot; is a simile.<br /> :Cueball: Is that simile itself a metaphor for something?<br /> :Friend: Maybe it's a metaphor for analogy.<br /> <br /> :[The two men are still sitting in the same place while Megan is out of the panel.]<br /> :Cueball: Similes ''are'' metaphors in that they're both analogies.<br /> :Megan: Analogies are like sandwiches in that I'm making one now.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Language]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=762:_Analogies&diff=88981 2015-04-08T05:31:17Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 762<br /> | date = July 5, 2010<br /> | title = Analogies<br /> | image = analogies.png<br /> | titletext = I just call all of them 'synecdoche'.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> This comic revolves around the similarities (and differences) between the concepts of &quot;Analogy&quot;, &quot;Simile&quot; and &quot;Metaphor&quot; (and &quot;Synecdoche&quot;(and &quot;sandwich&quot;)).<br /> <br /> The dictionary defines a &quot;{{w|metaphor}}&quot; as a figure of speech that uses one thing to mean another and makes a comparison between the two. For example, Shakespeare's line, &quot;All the world's a stage,&quot; is a metaphor comparing the whole world to a theater stage. Metaphors can be very simple, and they can function as most any part of speech. &quot;The spy shadowed the woman&quot; is a verb metaphor. The spy is not literally her shadow, but he follows her so closely and quietly that he resembles one.<br /> <br /> A &quot;{{w|simile}}&quot;, also called an open comparison, is a form of metaphor that compares two different things to create a new meaning. But a simile always uses &quot;like&quot; or &quot;as&quot; within the phrase and the comparison is more explicit than a metaphor. For example, Shakespeare's line could be rewritten as a simile to read: &quot;The world is like a stage.&quot; Another simile would be: &quot;The spy was close as a shadow.&quot; Both metaphor and simile can be used to enhance writing.<br /> <br /> An &quot;{{w|analogy}}&quot; is a bit more complicated. At the most basic level, an analogy shows similarity between things that might seem different — much like an extended metaphor or simile. But analogy isn't just a form of speech. It can be a logical argument: if two things are alike in some ways, they are alike in some other ways as well. Analogy is often used to help provide insight by comparing an unknown subject to one that is more familiar. It can also show a relationship between pairs of things. This form of analogy is often used on standardized tests in the form &quot;A is to B as C is to D&quot;.<br /> <br /> Einstein famously used analogies to explain how radio works: &quot;You see, wire telegraph is a kind of a very, very long cat. You pull his tail in New York and his head is meowing in Los Angeles. Do you understand this? And radio operates exactly the same way: you send signals here, they receive them there. The only difference is that there is no cat.&quot; Unfortunately, nobody was any the wiser after hearing this.{{Citation needed.}}<br /> <br /> &quot;{{w|Synecdoche}}&quot; is the naming the whole of something by referring to a part, or vice versa. E.g. using &quot;the Internet&quot; when meaning &quot;the World Wide Web&quot;, which is only a part of it; or using &quot;Band-Aid&quot; when referring to any adhesive bandage. Randall is saying that he doesn't really understand the difference between them, but instead of using one of the names as a placeholder for them all (that is, as a synecdoche), he actually uses the word 'synecdoche'. What a mind he has.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Two men sit in front of the TV, one on the couch, the other on the floor. Megan stands by the TV set.]<br /> :Megan: While I'm up, does anyone want a sandwich?<br /> :Cueball: Is &quot;sandwich&quot; a metaphor?<br /> <br /> :Megan: No, I'm bad at metaphors. But I could try a simile.<br /> :Cueball: I guess that's ''like'' a metaphor. Sure.<br /> <br /> :[As Megan starts to walk away, the men continue to speak.]<br /> :Friend: Well, &quot;a simile is like a metaphor&quot; is a simile.<br /> :Cueball: Is that simile itself a metaphor for something?<br /> :Friend: Maybe it's a metaphor for analogy.<br /> <br /> :[The two men are still sitting in the same place while Megan is out of the panel.]<br /> :Cueball: Similes ''are'' metaphors in that they're both analogies.<br /> :Megan: Analogies are like sandwiches in that I'm making one now.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Language]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=699:_Trimester&diff=88847 2015-04-07T03:37:44Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number =699<br /> | date =February 8, 2010<br /> | title =Trimester<br /> | image =trimester.png<br /> | titletext =Also, it's not like anyone actually calls up the Nobel committee to double-check things.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> Some pregnancies are different than others, but a universal truth except in cases of {{w|Cesarean section}} is that a baby will always exit a woman's body through the vagina. [[Cueball]] is wearing a white lab coat and holding a clipboard, looking like a doctor, telling [[Megan]] that until the second trimester, the baby may decide instead to exit through the anus or mouth, which in reality can't happen. The use of the word &quot;trimester&quot; (both in comic title and in Cueball's speech) further reinforces the impression of the Cueball being a medical professional, as this word is rarely used outside of the medical field and many lay people tend to learn it only when they encounter pregnancy situation in the course of their lives. It is an example of the use of a technical jargon in order to sound more credible. The caption reveals the truth, that Cueball simply bought the lab coat, he is not a doctor, and is either pranking Megan, or is impersonating a physician for some other reason.<br /> <br /> The expectation that a person in a white coat is a medical expert, or at least a scientist, can be seen in the studies of the placebo effect: people who receive a &quot;sugar pill&quot; from a person who has the authority implied by wearing a lab coat will experience a greater placebo effect than those who receive identical pills from a person in {{w|Mufti (dress)|mufti}} {{Citation needed}}. So doctors wear a white coat in clinic, and the expectation is reinforced. In some medical schools students receive a white coat as part of their graduation and qualification ceremony.<br /> <br /> The title text implies also that in addition to faking being a doctor, he has also faked being a Nobel laureate, on the logic that people will not choose to verify this claim.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :Cueball: Well, until the second trimester, the baby hasn't decided which opening it will exit through.<br /> :Megan: ''What?''<br /> :Cueball: We'll hope for one of the lower ones, so it won't be fighting gravity.<br /> <br /> :Did you know you can just ''BUY'' lab coats?<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=698:_You_Hang_Up_First&diff=88846 2015-04-07T03:36:09Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number =698<br /> | date =February 5, 2010<br /> | title =You Hang Up First<br /> | image =you_hang_up_first.png<br /> | titletext =No, YOU stumble past a series of post-breakup hookups in a daze as you slowly realize what you've lost and how unlikely you are ever to get it back first.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> Telephone conversations can't terminate until ''somebody'' hangs up, even if both participants have run out of things to say. The line &quot;you hang up first&quot; has entered popular culture as an immature thing preteens and teenagers do with their friends and significant others at the end of a phone conversation.<br /> <br /> As xkcd often does, this comic takes the &quot;you hang up first&quot; line to its logical extreme with two adults, [[Cueball]] and [[Megan]], that turn the game into an argument resulting in their breakup. In the title text, one of them notes that they'll never have the same kind of relationship with anyone ever again, no matter how many rebound relationships they have, and it's all because of one of the stupidest arguments possible. (and then tells the other to do that first)<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball is sitting on a bed, on the phone.]<br /> :Cueball: You hang up first.<br /> <br /> :[Megan is lying on a bed, on the phone.]<br /> :Megan: No, ''you'' hang up first.<br /> <br /> :Cueball: No, ''you'' hang up first.<br /> <br /> :Megan: No, ''you'' fucking hang up first!<br /> <br /> :Cueball: You hang up first, or we're ''OVER!''<br /> <br /> :Megan: Then I guess we're fucking ''OVER!''<br /> <br /> :Cueball: FINE!<br /> <br /> :Megan: ...<br /> <br /> :Cueball: ...<br /> <br /> :Megan: ''You'' move on and find somebody else first.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Romance]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=691:_MicroSD&diff=88598 2015-04-06T05:27:08Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 691<br /> | date = January 20, 2010<br /> | title = MicroSD<br /> | image = microsd.png<br /> | titletext = That card holds a refrigerator carton's worth of floppy discs, and a soda can full of those cards could hold the entire iTunes store's music library. Mmmm.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{w|MicroSD}} is one format of the Secure Digital memory card format, used in digital cameras, cell phones, and other devices. It is very small, only 15×11×1 mm, but can hold as much as 200GB of data (as of March 2015).<br /> <br /> The main character in the comic (on the right) thinks about all the ideas that could be expressed by the data in the microSD card, or in a library. He feels not just reverent and intimidated, but sexually aroused by the thought. As he begins to touch it, his friend is disgusted by what might happen if he uses the card as some kind of sex toy, and does not want to help him locate the card if it gets &quot;lost&quot; inside a body cavity.<br /> <br /> The title text seems to be the main character thinking about how much data the card holds, in terms of {{w|floppy disks}} and the {{w|iTunes}} music library, and feeling aroused by these thoughts.<br /> <br /> Randalls claims in the title text do check out. A high density floppy disk with a FAT format holds about 1.4 MB of data, and has dimensions of 90×94×3 mm, for a volume of about 25 cm³. A refrigerator carton is the large cardboard box that fridges are delivered in. A typical refrigerator carton may be 1800×700×700 mm, a volume of about 9 m³. So a fridge carton could hold about 35000 90mm floppies, or roughly 50GB. This is comparable to the storage on a single microSD card. A soda can (1 ml = 1 cm³) could hold 3000 microSD cards, or store 50TB of data. However, the iTunes store claims to hold 26 million songs (as of Summer 2014), and allowing for about 2MB per song gives 50 TB of music. The claim that a soda can could hold the iTunes library seems to be reasonable.<br /> <br /> Related to this topic is [http://what-if.xkcd.com/31/ this xkcd What If blog entry].<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball and a friend approach a table.]<br /> :Cueball: Hey, what's up?<br /> :Friend: Shhhhh.<br /> :Cueball: Hrm?<br /> :Friend: There's a microSD card on your table.<br /> <br /> :[A microSD card sits next to an assortment of coins for size reference.]<br /> :Cueball (out of panel): So?<br /> :Friend (out of panel): I dunno, high storage densities freak me out. A whole aisle of library shelves on something smaller than a dime.<br /> <br /> :[The two people stand near the table, the friend peering at the coins and card on the table.]<br /> :Friend: Libraries are unnerving enough-millions of ideas surrounding you, towering over you. These cards fill me with that same reverence, that same intimidation.<br /> <br /> :[Cueball stands alone.]<br /> :Friend (out of panel): ...that same faint arousal. Maybe I'll just touch it.<br /> :Cueball: If you lose that card I'm &lt;u&gt;NOT&lt;/u&gt; helping you find it.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=691:_MicroSD&diff=88597 2015-04-06T05:26:40Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 691<br /> | date = January 20, 2010<br /> | title = MicroSD<br /> | image = microsd.png<br /> | titletext = That card holds a refrigerator carton's worth of floppy discs, and a soda can full of those cards could hold the entire iTunes store's music library. Mmmm.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{w|MicroSD}} is one format of the Secure Digital memory card format, used in digital cameras, cell phones, and other devices. It is very small, only 15×11×1 mm, but can hold as much as 200GB of data (as of March 2015).<br /> <br /> The main character in the comic (on the right) thinks about all the ideas that could be expressed by the data in the microSD card, or in a library. He feels not just reverent and intimidated, but sexually aroused by the thought. As he begins to touch it, his friend is disgusted by what might happen if he uses the card as some kind of sex toy, and does not want to help him locate the card if it gets lost (inside a body cavity).<br /> <br /> The title text seems to be the main character thinking about how much data the card holds, in terms of {{w|floppy disks}} and the {{w|iTunes}} music library, and feeling aroused by these thoughts.<br /> <br /> Randalls claims in the title text do check out. A high density floppy disk with a FAT format holds about 1.4 MB of data, and has dimensions of 90×94×3 mm, for a volume of about 25 cm³. A refrigerator carton is the large cardboard box that fridges are delivered in. A typical refrigerator carton may be 1800×700×700 mm, a volume of about 9 m³. So a fridge carton could hold about 35000 90mm floppies, or roughly 50GB. This is comparable to the storage on a single microSD card. A soda can (1 ml = 1 cm³) could hold 3000 microSD cards, or store 50TB of data. However, the iTunes store claims to hold 26 million songs (as of Summer 2014), and allowing for about 2MB per song gives 50 TB of music. The claim that a soda can could hold the iTunes library seems to be reasonable.<br /> <br /> Related to this topic is [http://what-if.xkcd.com/31/ this xkcd What If blog entry].<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball and a friend approach a table.]<br /> :Cueball: Hey, what's up?<br /> :Friend: Shhhhh.<br /> :Cueball: Hrm?<br /> :Friend: There's a microSD card on your table.<br /> <br /> :[A microSD card sits next to an assortment of coins for size reference.]<br /> :Cueball (out of panel): So?<br /> :Friend (out of panel): I dunno, high storage densities freak me out. A whole aisle of library shelves on something smaller than a dime.<br /> <br /> :[The two people stand near the table, the friend peering at the coins and card on the table.]<br /> :Friend: Libraries are unnerving enough-millions of ideas surrounding you, towering over you. These cards fill me with that same reverence, that same intimidation.<br /> <br /> :[Cueball stands alone.]<br /> :Friend (out of panel): ...that same faint arousal. Maybe I'll just touch it.<br /> :Cueball: If you lose that card I'm &lt;u&gt;NOT&lt;/u&gt; helping you find it.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=680:_December_25th&diff=88440 2015-04-04T18:27:56Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number =680<br /> | date =December 25, 2009<br /> | title =December 25th<br /> | image =december_25th.png<br /> | titletext =If you're turning 27 and were born in the Northeast, maybe you were conceived in the April blizzard of 1982. Imagine: snowed in, candles, massage oil, your mom sporting nothing but her early 80's haircut and a smile... aren't you glad you read the title-text?<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> On Christmas Day, most kids whose families celebrate the holiday get Christmas presents. And kids who were actually born on the 25th may feel a little put off because they don't get a special day all to themselves like their siblings and friends do. A lot of families alleviate this by celebrating the child's birthday on a day other than the 25th, so the kid will still get his OR HER party.<br /> <br /> In the title text, Randall provided a ''lovely'' image for the people turning 27 on this date (Christmas Day, 2009) that would surely have them reaching for the brain bleach.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[On one side, a family of four gathered around a Christmas tree, the daughter and son looking excitedly at the presents under the tree; on the other, a character wearing a party hat, sitting dejectedly before a birthday cake. The panel edges are decorated with holly and a wreath.]<br /> :Happy Birthday to those of you born on the 25th!<br /> :Sorry you get kinda shafted by the overlap with Christmas.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br /> [[Category:Comics with color]]<br /> [[Category:Christmas]]<br /> [[Category:Your Mom]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:678:_Researcher_Translation&diff=88312 2015-04-04T01:18:06Z

<p>Vctr: </p> <hr /> <div>This does explain a lot, doesn't it? --[[User:Jolbucley|Jolbucley]] ([[User talk:Jolbucley|talk]]) 03:40, 29 January 2014 (UTC)<br /> <br /> Why is this explanation so pessimistic, I don't think this is what Randall was trying to get at. -Vctr</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=663:_Sagan-Man&diff=87481 2015-03-31T01:05:24Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 663<br /> | date = November 16, 2009<br /> | title = Sagan-Man<br /> | image = sagan-man.png<br /> | titletext = They laugh now, but within 10 years the city's entire criminal class will have quit to work on space research.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{w|Carl Sagan}} was an advocate for science, space and {{w|SETI}} (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence). He wrote the book ''Contact'', which was later made into the movie by the same name. While Sagan did not emit anomalous radiation in his lifetime {{Citation needed}}, he did receive acclaim in the field of radiology, namely for using radiation to synthesize amino acids from simpler chemicals.<br /> <br /> This comic is parodying {{w|Spider-Man}}, in which Peter Parker is bitten by a radioactive spider to become Spider-Man. In this comic &quot;a radioactive Carl Sagan&quot; turns the person into &quot;Sagan-Man&quot;. Apparently, Sagan-Man is able to stop thieves in their tracks by blowing their minds with inspiring scientific facts.<br /> <br /> The title text implies that Sagan-Man's vivid imagery inspires the entire &quot;criminal class&quot; to give up their sociopathic ways and turn to space research.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Bitten by a radioactive Carl Sagan in 1995, Sagan-Man possesses the powers and abilities of Carl Sagan.]<br /> :Victim, off-panel: Help! Thief!<br /> :[Sagan-Man spins around. A blue cape appears on his back.]<br /> :[Sagan-Man runs towards the direction of the shout.]<br /> :[He encounters the thief, holding a purse.]<br /> :Sagan-Man: Hey, you!<br /> :Thief: What?<br /> :Sagan-Man: Do you realize just how crazy it is that we've ''BEEN TO THE MOON?''<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring real people]]<br /> [[Category:Comics with color]]<br /> [[Category:Astronomy]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=648:_Fall_Foliage&diff=87270 2015-03-28T17:33:46Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number =648<br /> | date =October 12, 2009<br /> | title =Fall Foliage<br /> | image =fall_foliage.png<br /> | titletext =And I could replace you with older pictures of you, from back when you looked happy.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> [[Cueball]] and [[Megan]] have driven some distance from home, and Megan enjoys the pastime of {{w|leaf peeping}}, happily taking photographs of the beautiful {{w|fall}} or autumn foliage. Cueball points out that they could've stayed home and used {{w|Photoshop}} to alter pictures they've already taken, saving themselves the trouble of going on the trip. The {{w|hue}} control in such image editing programs shifts the colors around the spectrum without altering the brightness; the green leaves in a summer picture could then easily be shifted to yellow or red. (Meanwhile, a blue sky would become green or yellow, though.) Megan simply shushes him in the strip, but the title text is implied to be Megan's retort, saying that Cueball used to be a happier person.<br /> <br /> The comic is also showing how, because of technology, many people are not as &quot;happy&quot; as they once were. Instead of appreciating natural beauty, Cueball simply wishes to &quot;replicate&quot; the experience by using Photoshop; unfortunately, this would deprive him of both the experience of beautiful fall leaves and a shared intimacy with Megan.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball and Megan are standing on a cliff overlooking a forest of gorgeous orange foliage. She's holding up a camera, and he has the case.]<br /> <br /> :Cueball: Instead of driving all this way, we could've just taken our summer pictures and messed with the &quot;hue&quot; slider in Photoshop.<br /> :Megan: Hush.<br /> :''click''<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Comics with color]]<br /> [[Category:Computers]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=647:_Scary&diff=87269 2015-03-28T17:29:38Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 647<br /> | date = October 9, 2009<br /> | title = Scary<br /> | image = scary.png<br /> | titletext = I'm teaching every 8-year-old relative to say this, and every 14-year-old to do the same thing with Toy Story. Also, Pokemon hit the US over a decade ago and kids born after Aladdin came out will turn 18 next year.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> Uncle [[Rob]] is telling his eight-year-old nephew a ghost story, employing such stereotyped devices as a flash light-lit face and stock ghost story endings.<br /> <br /> Rob's nephew thus characterizes the ghost story as &quot;lame,&quot; meaning that it was unimpressive or unconvincingly feeble. His uncle Rob ask him if he can come up with something scarier. Sure he says and offers the much scarier notion that even though he has been born after {{w|9/11}} he is already old enough to be able to have this kind of conversation. <br /> <br /> No hidden meaning here, but this sure is scary for many adults. What's being implied here is that time seems to be moving really quickly and we're getting older faster than we think. Events that seem like they &quot;just happened&quot; have happened long enough ago for a whole other person to come into existence, grow up, and learn to carry on a conversation. Every time we get reminded of this fact, it can be scary, as you then realize that you are now closer to your death...<br /> <br /> 9/11 was a terrorist attack in the United States in 2001, on September 11th. Major events such as the assassination of {{w|Assassination of John F. Kennedy|Kennedy}}, the Moon Landing of {{w|Apollo 11}} or 9/11 are easily memorable. It is often said that &quot;everyone remembers where they were when they first heard...&quot;. In consequence, these events act as milestones in our memory. They are recalled more vividly, and seem more recent. Today this is maybe also topping the {{w|Attack on Pearl Harbor}} happened in 1941.<br /> <br /> The title text mentions that [[Randall]] is teaching his 8 year old relatives to say the same as in the comic — presumably to the annoyance of his older relatives who will be reminded of the fast passage of time. He does not stop here, but teaches the 14 year old's to say they are born after {{w|Toy Story}} — a major block buster hit from {{w|Pixar}} which came out in 1995. A movie many people will remember fondly and feel just came out the other day... He continues with these scary thoughts by mentioning that {{w|Pokémon}} (1996) came out over a decade ago and that kids born after the big {{w|Disney}} hit movie {{w|Aladdin_(1992_Disney_film)|Aladdin}} from 1992 will turn 18 next year (i.e. in 2010 a year after this comic was published).<br /> <br /> [[Randall]] has since this comic tried to make people feel old several times in [[891: Movie Ages]], [[973: MTV Generation]], [[1393: Timeghost]], and [[1477: Star Wars]].<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[First panel: Rob and his nephew are sitting on the ground. Rob is holding a flash-light up to his face.]<br /> :Rob: But they ''never found the ghost's head!''<br /> :Nephew: Lame story, Uncle Rob.<br /> :Rob: And you could do scarier?<br /> :Nephew: Sure.<br /> <br /> :[Second panel: Rob has removed the flash-light from his face.]<br /> :Rob: Try me.<br /> :Nephew: 9/11 happened before I was born, yet I'm old enough to have this conversation with you.<br /> <br /> :[Third panel: Rob has dropped the flash-light.]<br /> <br /> :[Last panel: Rob has curled up and wrapped his arms around himself.]<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Rob]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics to make one feel old]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=626:_Newton_and_Leibniz&diff=87115 2015-03-26T14:31:40Z

<p>Vctr: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 626<br /> | date = August 21, 2009<br /> | title = Newton and Leibniz<br /> | image = newton_and_leibniz.png<br /> | titletext = YEEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHH!<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{w|Isaac Newton}} and {{w|Gottfried Leibniz}} both developed {{w|calculus}} independently of each other about 8 years apart, as it says in the comic. {{w|Leibniz–Newton calculus controversy|However}}, although Newton had begun working on calculus before Leibniz, he didn't publish it, and Leibniz was the first to publish it.<br /> <br /> In calculus a {{w|derivative}} is the result of mathematical differentiation: the instantaneous rate of change of a function relative to its argument, and denoted df(x)/dx. Another way to think of the derivative is as a plot of all the slopes of lines tangent to the graph of a function. However, the literary word derivative means developed from something older.<br /> <br /> The pun is that Newton is claiming that Leibniz's mathematical derivative is a derivative, or descendant, from his earlier development of this calculus.<br /> <br /> The comic as a whole is mocking the pattern of corny one-liners that {{w|David Caruso}} often spurts out during the opening scenes of {{w|CSI: Miami}}. The one liner is followed by him dramatically pulling off or putting on his sunglasses and then the show breaks into the title sequence which starts with the word &quot;YEEEEAAAAAAAH.&quot; This has become a [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/csi-4-pane-comics popular Internet meme] and was used frequently with {{w|Michael Jackson}}'s death.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :Newton, 1666<br /> :[Newton with long white hair holds up a sheet of paper.]<br /> :Newton: I've invented calculus!<br /> <br /> :Leibniz, 1674<br /> :[Leibniz with long black hair holds up a sheet of paper.]<br /> :Leibniz: I've invented calculus!<br /> <br /> :Newton: Really? Sounds a little bit...<br /> <br /> :[Newton puts on a pair of sunglasses.]<br /> <br /> :Newton: ...''Derivative.''<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring real people]]<br /> [[Category:Math]]<br /> [[Category:Puts on sunglasses]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=610:_Sheeple&diff=87008 2015-03-25T05:09:19Z

<p>Vctr: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 610<br /> | date = July 15, 2009<br /> | title = Sheeple<br /> | image = sheeple.png<br /> | titletext = Hey, what are the odds -- five Ayn Rand fans on the same train! Must be going to a convention.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> &quot;{{w|Sheeple}}&quot; refers to people as sheep, who blindly follow direction without thinking for themselves. The phrase &quot;[[:Category:Sheeple|Wake up Sheeple]]!&quot; has been used in xkcd other times. In this comic, each person on the train considers themself to be an individual mind (even though four of them are identical [[Cueball]] like characters and only one a [[Ponytail]]), and everyone around them as &quot;sheeple.&quot; Ironically, although each of them thinks about how individual they are, they are all collectively thinking exactly the same thing. The comic can also be taken as a warning to not assume that you have more consciousness than someone else, since for all you know they could think the same about you.<br /> <br /> {{w|Ayn Rand}} was a Russian-born American {{w|novelist}} and activist whose most famous books include, ''{{w|Atlas Shrugged}}'', ''{{w|Anthem (novella)|Anthem}}'', and ''{{w|The Fountainhead}}''. She developed a philsophy known as {{w|Objectivism}}, which promotes individual fulfillment (or so-called &quot;rational self-interest&quot;) at the expense of collective goals and undertakings. Sheeple coordinates with Ayn Rand's novel, ''Anthem'', set in the distant future in which the word &quot;I&quot; has been abolished and the evils of the communal values have created a new dark age.<br /> <br /> A possible further irony can be found in the title text. Rand enthusiasts would seek individualism and independence from social pressures; however, a convention could be interpreted as a social collective of people who have similar interests in a subject. These ideas could arguably be construed to be opposites of each other. However, similar interests does not mean lack of individualism: this can be seen in Ayn Rand's novel &quot;Atlas Shrugged&quot;, which features a society of like-minded people centered around the concepts of individualism and neoliberalism.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[A thought bubble is shared between the five occupants (four Cueballs and one Ponytail) of a subway car.]<br /> :All: Look at these people. Glassy-eyed automatons going about their daily lives, never stopping to look around and think! I'm the only conscious human in a world of sheep.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br /> [[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]<br /> [[Category:Philosophy]]<br /> [[Category:Psychology]]<br /> [[Category:Sheeple]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=588:_Pep_Rally&diff=86791 2015-03-21T05:37:31Z

<p>Vctr: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number =588<br /> | date =May 25, 2009<br /> | title =Pep Rally<br /> | image =pep_rally.png<br /> | titletext =You know, pep rallies weirded me out in high school, and they've only gotten creepier in retrospect.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> Any American who went to high school remembers the convocations they had during football or basketball season, in which class would be interrupted and everyone was crowded into the gymnasium for a pep rally. Cheerleaders would cheer, they'd play the school fight song, the cheerleaders might do a routine, and the team would be introduced.<br /> <br /> This is used to inspire school spirit and get people excited about attending the games, so that they'd come to the games and spend money on tickets and concessions. A common boast at pep rallies is &quot;Our school is the best!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But wait,&quot; says one of the students, quite logically. Why is ''our'' school the best? The student population is simply made up of students living in the general ZIP code of the school's location. There's no intrinsic reason why ''this'' school is any better than the rest of them in any way that really matters in real life. And even having the #1 basketball team in the state doesn't mean the students there are any &quot;better&quot; than anyone else.<br /> <br /> This comic subverts the usual expectation of unanimous agreement with the cheerleader's sentiment, and reminds you that people who go to other schools, root for other teams, aren't ''bad people'' — and [[Randall]] would no doubt argue that this is the same of people who follow a different religion than you, are a different ethnicity, or have a different political party affiliation.<br /> <br /> The title text says that Randall was weirded out by pep rallies growing up, and now that he's older, finds them even ''more'' creepy. Really, if you think about it, pep rallies are a less extreme example of ''any'' cult of personality gathering. There are (very) arguably a lot of parallels between a high school pep rally and, say, a military rally under a brutal dictatorship.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Ponytail stands in front of crowded bleachers, waving pompoms.]<br /> :Ponytail: Lakeview High is the best!<br /> :Crowd: Yeah!<br /> :Someone: Wait, why?<br /> <br /> :Ponytail: What?<br /> :Voice: A guy on the North High football team helped me rebuild my deck. It seems ungrateful to presume we're better.<br /> <br /> :Voice: I mean, school districts are just based on zip codes.<br /> :Voice #2: Their principal donated a kidney to my dad.<br /> <br /> :Voice: I'm texting with my friend there now. He says it's okay, and we're invited to their events if we want. But he sounded kind of hurt.<br /> :Voice #2: Why are we doing this, rally, again?<br /> :[Ponytail looks dejected.]<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=540:_Base_System&diff=86512 2015-03-17T14:18:36Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 540<br /> | date = February 6, 2009<br /> | title = Base System<br /> | image = base system.png<br /> | titletext = I once got to second base with a basketball player. She was so confused.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> This comic comes in two parts and is a pun on the {{w|Baseball metaphors for sex|baseball metaphor}} used to describe how far a date went regarding erotic actions. Many different versions of the baseball metaphor exist, with varying degrees of complexity. But none as complex as the one described by [[Randall]] here-{citation needed}<br /> <br /> ===First part - the comic strip===<br /> In the first part, a four frame strip along the top, [[Ponytail]] and [[Cueball]] discuss how Cueball's date went. When Cueball answers Ponytail's question with &quot;second base&quot;, Ponytail asks what that means exactly. They fumble around with the definition in panel two where Ponytail ask ''is that Below the waist, but... not under the clothes?'' Cueball tries to put this into the base system and suggest that this could be compared to the difficult {{w|shortstop}} position in baseball. This fits with the position of [[#The diamond|Hands on the pants]] metaphor from the picture below the comic strip. Then Ponytail begins with yet another base analogy by mentioning crossing the {{w|Baseball_field#Pitcher.27s_mound|pitcher's mound}}, but then suddenly she brings two more, very different, sports into the metaphor: {{w|American football}} (with the 50 yard line) and {{w|bowling}} (with the {{w|ten-pin}}). It certainly sounds tricky, as Cueball says. Ponytail then brings up a ''third'' sport in her elaboration; her reference to getting a &quot;red flag&quot; could refer to different sports, as {{w|Flag#In sports|many sports use flags}}, some of them red. It is, however, most likely a reference to {{w|Racing_flags#Red_flag|racing in motor sport}} as the red flag is displayed when conditions are too dangerous to continue the session. This makes sense when looking at the &quot;translation&quot; here below. Cueball, however, has not got a clue which he expresses when Ponytail asks him ''If you know what I mean.''<br /> <br /> Here is a '''translation''' of Ponytails comment:<br /> ::Original: You should try crossing the '''pitcher's mound'''. Then down the '''50-yard line''', and right past her '''ten-pin'''. <br /> ::Translation: You should try crossing her '''{{w|Mons pubis|pubic mound}}''', then down the '''{{w|Bikini_waxing#The_Landing_Strip|landing strip}}''', and right past her '''{{w|clitoris}}'''.<br /> :::Original: Last time I tried it, '''I got a red flag'''.<br /> :::Translation: Last time I tried it, '''she had her {{w|Menstruation|period}}'''.<br /> <br /> This would mean that Ponytail was about to {{w|Cunnilingus|go down}} on another girl, while this girl had her period. Many people would find it disgusting to go down on a girl while she was menstruating, explaining Ponytails reaction to Cueball's ''Sounds tricky'' reply.<br /> <br /> ===Second part - the baseball diamond===<br /> The second part, the diagram, depicts a much more complex version of the baseball metaphor, where baseball terms and jargon are used to describe the many and varied things human beings like to do in the bedroom. Explanations have been separated by position. In order to understand the terms used, one may want to consult this picture:<br /> <br /> [[File:540baseballdiamond.jpg|The baseball diamond and surrounding areas]]<br /> :Note that Randall did not include any features from within the diamond; the pitchers mound or plate.<br /> <br /> ====The diamond====<br /> <br /> The &quot;{{w|Baseball field|diamond}}&quot; is the geometric pattern formed by the four bases - first, second, third, and {{W|Baseball_field#Home_plate|home plate}}. After the ball is hit by the batter, and is in the air, players have a chance to move to the next base in line, from first, to second, to third, and finally to home plate (scoring only if they make it to home plate), only being removed from play if they are touched by a player carrying the ball in an attempt to move between bases. Thus there is a &quot;progression&quot; from one base to the next of sexual activity in the metaphor, until climax is achieved (getting to 'home plate' and 'scoring a point')<br /> <br /> The entries in this section are ordered roughly from home plate to first, to second, to third, and then to home plate again, in the counterclockwise direction that the players move.<br /> <br /> *Eye contact is placed just alongside the initial stage where the 'player' has just stepped off the home plate and is starting to move towards first. This is a deliberate setup for the 'thigh contact' pun later just before home plate. First eye, then thigh contact. First then can the sex begin and you have finally scored by reaching the home plate.<br /> *Passing notes refers to a common method of communication in the classroom in school, often used by students as a form of courtship. It is placed halfway between the start and first base - the point at which communication has begun.<br /> *First base is kissing. This is one of the most common assigned meanings for what the 'first base' is in the baseball metaphor - as in, &quot;getting to first base&quot;.<br /> *The boring zone is the point between kissing and sexual teasing or activity - the point where intimacy has become normal but sexual behaviors have not been accepted yet. This is boring for many (stereotypical this goes especially for men). It can also be the point at which a workup is attempted from kissing to gentle stroking and finally to the overt sexual teasing that is found by the time you have gotten to second base.<br /> *Second base is licking or hands under the shirt. Overt sexual teasing, in an attempt to get the other person aroused.<br /> *'Hands on the pants' and 'hands in the pants' are two activities that happen in a very short distance of each other during an average sexual encounter. They are also separated by the 'orgasm line', indicating that teasing has stopped and actual sexual activity has begun.<br /> *Third base is oral sex. Oral sex is often used to prepare or arouse another person in preparation for intercourse, although it can be performed until one or both climax. In older versions of the baseball metaphor, third base was &quot;hands in the pants&quot; instead, which has been moved to earlier on the line in this new, &quot;modern&quot; version - or at least, Randall's conception of it.<br /> *The Virginity line, which is also named, in brackets, after the {{w|Maginot Line}}, a series of French fortifications that were thought to be impenetrable during the lead-up to {{w|World War II}}. This line provides a direct &quot;barrier&quot; to the path between third base and a home run. The Maginot Line was thought to be completely impenetrable until it was bypassed by the German army during WW2 through the {{w|Ardennes forest}}, whereupon it was encircled and destroyed. Virginity is often seen as an impenetrable barrier, or an unwillingness, up until arousal and desire conspire to make it go away rapidly.<br /> *Teens, naturally, having a propensity for hormone-driven sex, bypass the Virginity line with ease.<br /> *Sharing root PWs (passwords) is placed very close to home plate. As a {{w|system administrator}}, the one thing you never, ever do is give anyone the {{w|root password|root (core) password}} to a file system, because anyone with the password is able to get unlimited access to the system to do whatever they please. Sharing a root password with another person is a nerdy way of saying that you trust them on an intimate, deep level. In other words, it requires more trust than oral sex.<br /> *Finally, there is home plate. In this diagram, it is unlabeled, but in all versions of the baseball metaphor, the home plate signifies sexual intercourse and climax. Scoring a &quot;home run&quot; with a sexual partner means you &quot;took it all the way&quot; and &quot;scored a point&quot;; i.e. got laid.<br /> <br /> ====Within the diamond and around the orgasm line====<br /> Inside the diamond, at the center of the mound, is the pitcher. Several odd positions are placed here in Randall's diagram.<br /> *The Orgasm Line, which passes through almost every other play field, seems to be a divider that runs throughout the entire map that separates teasing and arousing behavior from overt sexual behavior intended to pleasure others. <br /> **Using the scroll thingy on that one Apple mouse is presumably here because the small, rounded scroll button can be imagined to be a clitoris. But it does not even get close to cross the orgasm line. (See also [[243: Appropriate Term]].)<br /> **Fursuits (arousing, to some) become crotchless fursuits (overtly a sexual tool) when they cross the orgasm line. <br /> **Hands on the pants and hands in the pants are two related but different activities - hands on the pants is arousing but not past the orgasm line, wheras hands in the pants can give pleasure enough to cross the orgasm line.<br /> **Dry humping is the activity of humping (thrusting against) a partner without one or both of them removing their clothes, in order to arouse or gain sexual satisfaction. The location is probably a combination of the fact that it lies somewhere between hands on/in the pants, is definitely not an activity that is considered &quot;out there&quot; (in the outfield), hasn't quite made it to 3rd base, but at least it crosses the orgasm line.<br /> <br /> ====Infield====<br /> <br /> The {{w|Infield#Baseball|infield}} is a series of catchers stationed immediately outside or just within the diamond, with the goal of receiving the ball from the outfield (or catching it themselves) and using it to tag any running opposing teammates to foil their attempts at moving to the next base on the diamond. Players within the diamond, such as the shortstop, will also be doing this as well - they often receive the ball from the infield. As such, the infield is still &quot;out there&quot;, away from the &quot;usual&quot; sexual interactions in the diamond, but they are things you might pass upon the way.<br /> <br /> *Napoleon's Forces is a cartography joke, one making a comment that all of this complicated positioning makes the image look like a map depicting military maneuvers - or possibly simply a visual gag meant to evoke the image of Napoleon's army marching through a land of sexual behaviors.<br /> *Fursuits are anthropmorphic animal costumes worn by some members of the {{w|Furry Fandom}}, people who are fans of anthropomorphized (human-like) animals. Fursuiters are a small fraction of the entire fandom, but are sometimes used in sexual play.<br /> *Fursuits (crotchless) are fursuits with no fabric or covering on the groin (crotch) of the wearer, and as such are specifically intended for sexual play. They are placed slightly further &quot;out there&quot; on the field due to this being more unusual, and across the orgasm line.<br /> *Standing anywhere near Peaches is referring to the musician {{w|Peaches (musician)|Peaches}} who is known for her heavy use of sexual imagery.<br /> <br /> ====Outfield====<br /> <br /> The &quot;{{w|Outfield#In_cricket_and_baseball|outfield}}&quot; is a group of players who are there to catch the ball if it goes away from the main play area (anything outside the upper curving line) and return it to play in a manner advantageous to their team. As they separated away from the main play area, the things in the outfield are often references to sexual behaviors that are &quot;kinky&quot; and &quot;out there&quot;.<br /> <br /> *2outfielders1glove is a reference to the infamous {{w|2girls1cup}} scatological site and associated meme.<br /> *The [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=retrograde%20wheelbarrow Retrograde Wheelbarrow] is a sex position, one referenced previously in [[300: Facebook]], making this a callback.<br /> *Eye contact from {{w|Janeane Garofalo}} is a tie-in to the &quot;eye contact&quot; entry positioned near home base. It's possible that this is placed in the outfield because fantasizing about celebrities like Janeane Garofalo is a behavior that is often considered unusual, even though many people do it.<br /> <br /> ====Foul ball====<br /> <br /> A {{w|foul ball}} occurs when a ball ends up in foul territory which is outside the foul line extending from either side of the diamond, the area is &quot;out of play&quot;. Anyone who takes the ball into this area has committed a foul, and as such breached one of the acceptable rules of sexual conduct in the metaphor.<br /> <br /> *Anal sex is a pun on the term &quot;foul ball&quot;, as the anus is where fecal matter collects. The position is placed just outside the foul line.<br /> *Downloading Star Trek fanfiction and replacing Riker's name with your crush is a reference to {{w|Star Trek: The Next Generation}}. Riker, the First Officer of the Enterprise-D, is often a subject of sexual desire among the fandom, and so taking a piece of fanfiction (fan-written, noncanon stories written about a piece of fiction) and replacing Riker's name with that of your crush is an ultra-nerdy way of indicating that they are attractive - so ultra-nerdy, it's creepy.<br /> *The binary (i.e. base 2) numbers are an {{w|ASCII}} representation of the characters &quot;base 2&quot;. The base of a number system is the number of unique digits required to represent numbers in that system. Binary is therefore a &quot;base 2&quot; system. This seems to be a little nerd sniping: wasting the time of anyone familiar enough with computing to know how to decode it.<br /> *&quot;Your base&quot; is a reference to the original &quot;base&quot; metaphor mixed with a reference to the Zero Wing {{w|All Your Base}} meme. It is most likely a reference to {{w|masturbation}} (i.e. solo sex or you-sex and is in the foul area). First you make eye contact with a gorges girl (boy) and then you go home and satisfy yourself with a fantasy about all the tings you would like to do with her (him). It's possible that this being here is also a stealth insult towards the reader - the reader's own base (him/herself) is &quot;out of play&quot; and thus undesirable.<br /> <br /> ====Title text====<br /> If you are together with a {{w|basketball}} player, kisses her, and then tells her that you are now ''at second base'', she might become very confused. Also there is the joke that basketball players never get laid because they always jump before they score.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[At the top there is a four panel regular comic strip.]<br /> :[Cueball and Ponytail are talking; Ponytail is sitting on the back of a chair with her feet on the seat, and Cueball is sitting on the floor facing her.]<br /> :Ponytail: So how far did you get with her?<br /> :Cueball: Second base?<br /> <br /> :[Zoom in on Ponytail on the chair.]<br /> :Ponytail: Wait, which one is that? Below the waist, but... not under the clothes?<br /> :Cueball (off-panel): I think that's... shortstop?<br /> <br /> :[Cueball now almost lies down and Ponytail is sitting on the armrest of the chair.]<br /> :Ponytail: You should try crossing the pitcher's mound. Then down the 50-yard line, and right past her ten-pin.<br /> :Cueball: Sounds tricky.<br /> <br /> :[Again a zoom in on Ponytail now on the armrest.]<br /> :Ponytail: Yeah. Last time I tried it, I got a red flag. If you know what I mean.<br /> :Cueball (off-panel): I really don't.<br /> <br /> :[Below the strip there is a large frame with a diagram of a baseball diamond.]<br /> :[At the bottom left there is a box with tis text:]<br /> :'''The &quot;Base&quot; Metaphor Explained'''<br /> <br /> :[Bases are pointed too with thick black arrows (except home plate) and there are also arrows pointing to different parts of the diagram. All arrows and points marked with &quot;x&quot; have a description, as do the dashed lines covering the field. Below they will be listed anti-clockwise from the home plate.]<br /> <br /> :[Along the line towards first base is the following five items in the order they appear:]<br /> ::[x slightly right of home plate:]<br /> ::Eye contact<br /> ::[Black arrow pointing to a base half way to first base outside the line:]<br /> ::Your Base<br /> ::[x inside the line opposite your base]<br /> ::Passing notes<br /> ::[Black arrow pointing to a base further along and outside the line:]<br /> ::0110 0010 0110 0001<br /> ::0111 0011 0110 0101<br /> ::0010 0000 0011 0010<br /> ::[x Slightly before first base:]<br /> ::Downloading Star Trek fanfiction and replacing Riker's name with your crush's.<br /> <br /> :[Black arrow pointing to first base:]<br /> ::First base: Kissing<br /> <br /> :[Further along the line past the first base is one x point in the right outfield:]<br /> ::Eye contact from Janeane Garofalo.<br /> <br /> :[On the way towards second base there are the following two items:]<br /> ::[A region along the line from first to second has been marked off by a dotted line. It has the following text written inside:]<br /> ::The boring zone.<br /> ::[x some way inside the line next to the boring zone:]<br /> ::Using the scroll thingy on that one Apple mouse<br /> <br /> :[Black arrow pointing to second base:]<br /> ::Second base: Hands under the shirt and/or licking<br /> <br /> :[On the route from second to third base are eight items:]<br /> ::[A dotted line traveling from near the outfield above second base, then crossing the second baseline about 1/3 of the way to third base, snaking its way almost down to the home plate ending close to the third baseline. The following text is written along the dotted line inside the diamond:]<br /> ::The orgasm line<br /> ::[Above second base a large black arrow crosses the orgasm line near the outfield:]<br /> ::Napoleon's forces<br /> ::[x below the Napoleon arrow right before crossing the orgasm line:]<br /> ::Fursuits<br /> ::[Two arrows points to the second base line on each side of the orgasm line:]<br /> ::Hands on the pants<br /> ::Hands in the pants<br /> ::[x some way into the diamond just past the orgasm line:]<br /> ::Dry humping<br /> ::[x same distance down the second base line as dry humping, but equally far outside the line still infield:]<br /> ::Fursuits (crotchless)<br /> ::[x almost at the extension of the 3rd base line close to the outfield:]<br /> ::Standing anywhere near Peaches<br /> <br /> :[In the left outfield there are two x points:]<br /> ::[x in the outfield halfway along the second base line:]<br /> ::Retrograde wheelbarrow<br /> ::[x in the outfield almost at the extension of the third base line:]<br /> ::2outfielders1glove.<br /> <br /> :[Foul of the third base line just left of where the grass line divides the in- and outfield:]<br /> ::Anal sex (fill in your own &quot;foul ball&quot; pun here.)<br /> <br /> :[Black arrow pointing to third base:]<br /> ::Third base: Oral sex (formerly &quot;hands in the pants&quot;)<br /> <br /> :[On the route from third to home plate there are four items:]<br /> ::[Between third base and home there is a dotted line that makes a curve from right outside the third base line and ends right afer it has crossed the orgasm line. The text is written inside the diamond with the first word above and the other two below the dotted line:]<br /> ::&quot;Virginity&quot; (Maginot) line<br /> ::[A large black arrow curves around the end of the &quot;Virginity&quot; line outside of the diamond:]<br /> ::Teens<br /> ::[A large black arrow points from outside the diamond to a point right between home plate and the virginity line:] <br /> ::Sharing root PWs<br /> ::[x just before home plate at the end of the orgasm line inside the diamond:]<br /> ::Thigh contact<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Sex]]<br /> [[Category:Furries]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=540:_Base_System&diff=86511 2015-03-17T14:18:09Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 540<br /> | date = February 6, 2009<br /> | title = Base System<br /> | image = base system.png<br /> | titletext = I once got to second base with a basketball player. She was so confused.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> This comic comes in two parts and is a pun on the {{w|Baseball metaphors for sex|baseball metaphor}} used to describe how far a date went regarding erotic actions. Many different versions of the baseball metaphor exist, with varying degrees of complexity. But none as complex as the one described by [[Randall]] here-{{citation needed}}<br /> <br /> ===First part - the comic strip===<br /> In the first part, a four frame strip along the top, [[Ponytail]] and [[Cueball]] discuss how Cueball's date went. When Cueball answers Ponytail's question with &quot;second base&quot;, Ponytail asks what that means exactly. They fumble around with the definition in panel two where Ponytail ask ''is that Below the waist, but... not under the clothes?'' Cueball tries to put this into the base system and suggest that this could be compared to the difficult {{w|shortstop}} position in baseball. This fits with the position of [[#The diamond|Hands on the pants]] metaphor from the picture below the comic strip. Then Ponytail begins with yet another base analogy by mentioning crossing the {{w|Baseball_field#Pitcher.27s_mound|pitcher's mound}}, but then suddenly she brings two more, very different, sports into the metaphor: {{w|American football}} (with the 50 yard line) and {{w|bowling}} (with the {{w|ten-pin}}). It certainly sounds tricky, as Cueball says. Ponytail then brings up a ''third'' sport in her elaboration; her reference to getting a &quot;red flag&quot; could refer to different sports, as {{w|Flag#In sports|many sports use flags}}, some of them red. It is, however, most likely a reference to {{w|Racing_flags#Red_flag|racing in motor sport}} as the red flag is displayed when conditions are too dangerous to continue the session. This makes sense when looking at the &quot;translation&quot; here below. Cueball, however, has not got a clue which he expresses when Ponytail asks him ''If you know what I mean.''<br /> <br /> Here is a '''translation''' of Ponytails comment:<br /> ::Original: You should try crossing the '''pitcher's mound'''. Then down the '''50-yard line''', and right past her '''ten-pin'''. <br /> ::Translation: You should try crossing her '''{{w|Mons pubis|pubic mound}}''', then down the '''{{w|Bikini_waxing#The_Landing_Strip|landing strip}}''', and right past her '''{{w|clitoris}}'''.<br /> :::Original: Last time I tried it, '''I got a red flag'''.<br /> :::Translation: Last time I tried it, '''she had her {{w|Menstruation|period}}'''.<br /> <br /> This would mean that Ponytail was about to {{w|Cunnilingus|go down}} on another girl, while this girl had her period. Many people would find it disgusting to go down on a girl while she was menstruating, explaining Ponytails reaction to Cueball's ''Sounds tricky'' reply.<br /> <br /> ===Second part - the baseball diamond===<br /> The second part, the diagram, depicts a much more complex version of the baseball metaphor, where baseball terms and jargon are used to describe the many and varied things human beings like to do in the bedroom. Explanations have been separated by position. In order to understand the terms used, one may want to consult this picture:<br /> <br /> [[File:540baseballdiamond.jpg|The baseball diamond and surrounding areas]]<br /> :Note that Randall did not include any features from within the diamond; the pitchers mound or plate.<br /> <br /> ====The diamond====<br /> <br /> The &quot;{{w|Baseball field|diamond}}&quot; is the geometric pattern formed by the four bases - first, second, third, and {{W|Baseball_field#Home_plate|home plate}}. After the ball is hit by the batter, and is in the air, players have a chance to move to the next base in line, from first, to second, to third, and finally to home plate (scoring only if they make it to home plate), only being removed from play if they are touched by a player carrying the ball in an attempt to move between bases. Thus there is a &quot;progression&quot; from one base to the next of sexual activity in the metaphor, until climax is achieved (getting to 'home plate' and 'scoring a point')<br /> <br /> The entries in this section are ordered roughly from home plate to first, to second, to third, and then to home plate again, in the counterclockwise direction that the players move.<br /> <br /> *Eye contact is placed just alongside the initial stage where the 'player' has just stepped off the home plate and is starting to move towards first. This is a deliberate setup for the 'thigh contact' pun later just before home plate. First eye, then thigh contact. First then can the sex begin and you have finally scored by reaching the home plate.<br /> *Passing notes refers to a common method of communication in the classroom in school, often used by students as a form of courtship. It is placed halfway between the start and first base - the point at which communication has begun.<br /> *First base is kissing. This is one of the most common assigned meanings for what the 'first base' is in the baseball metaphor - as in, &quot;getting to first base&quot;.<br /> *The boring zone is the point between kissing and sexual teasing or activity - the point where intimacy has become normal but sexual behaviors have not been accepted yet. This is boring for many (stereotypical this goes especially for men). It can also be the point at which a workup is attempted from kissing to gentle stroking and finally to the overt sexual teasing that is found by the time you have gotten to second base.<br /> *Second base is licking or hands under the shirt. Overt sexual teasing, in an attempt to get the other person aroused.<br /> *'Hands on the pants' and 'hands in the pants' are two activities that happen in a very short distance of each other during an average sexual encounter. They are also separated by the 'orgasm line', indicating that teasing has stopped and actual sexual activity has begun.<br /> *Third base is oral sex. Oral sex is often used to prepare or arouse another person in preparation for intercourse, although it can be performed until one or both climax. In older versions of the baseball metaphor, third base was &quot;hands in the pants&quot; instead, which has been moved to earlier on the line in this new, &quot;modern&quot; version - or at least, Randall's conception of it.<br /> *The Virginity line, which is also named, in brackets, after the {{w|Maginot Line}}, a series of French fortifications that were thought to be impenetrable during the lead-up to {{w|World War II}}. This line provides a direct &quot;barrier&quot; to the path between third base and a home run. The Maginot Line was thought to be completely impenetrable until it was bypassed by the German army during WW2 through the {{w|Ardennes forest}}, whereupon it was encircled and destroyed. Virginity is often seen as an impenetrable barrier, or an unwillingness, up until arousal and desire conspire to make it go away rapidly.<br /> *Teens, naturally, having a propensity for hormone-driven sex, bypass the Virginity line with ease.<br /> *Sharing root PWs (passwords) is placed very close to home plate. As a {{w|system administrator}}, the one thing you never, ever do is give anyone the {{w|root password|root (core) password}} to a file system, because anyone with the password is able to get unlimited access to the system to do whatever they please. Sharing a root password with another person is a nerdy way of saying that you trust them on an intimate, deep level. In other words, it requires more trust than oral sex.<br /> *Finally, there is home plate. In this diagram, it is unlabeled, but in all versions of the baseball metaphor, the home plate signifies sexual intercourse and climax. Scoring a &quot;home run&quot; with a sexual partner means you &quot;took it all the way&quot; and &quot;scored a point&quot;; i.e. got laid.<br /> <br /> ====Within the diamond and around the orgasm line====<br /> Inside the diamond, at the center of the mound, is the pitcher. Several odd positions are placed here in Randall's diagram.<br /> *The Orgasm Line, which passes through almost every other play field, seems to be a divider that runs throughout the entire map that separates teasing and arousing behavior from overt sexual behavior intended to pleasure others. <br /> **Using the scroll thingy on that one Apple mouse is presumably here because the small, rounded scroll button can be imagined to be a clitoris. But it does not even get close to cross the orgasm line. (See also [[243: Appropriate Term]].)<br /> **Fursuits (arousing, to some) become crotchless fursuits (overtly a sexual tool) when they cross the orgasm line. <br /> **Hands on the pants and hands in the pants are two related but different activities - hands on the pants is arousing but not past the orgasm line, wheras hands in the pants can give pleasure enough to cross the orgasm line.<br /> **Dry humping is the activity of humping (thrusting against) a partner without one or both of them removing their clothes, in order to arouse or gain sexual satisfaction. The location is probably a combination of the fact that it lies somewhere between hands on/in the pants, is definitely not an activity that is considered &quot;out there&quot; (in the outfield), hasn't quite made it to 3rd base, but at least it crosses the orgasm line.<br /> <br /> ====Infield====<br /> <br /> The {{w|Infield#Baseball|infield}} is a series of catchers stationed immediately outside or just within the diamond, with the goal of receiving the ball from the outfield (or catching it themselves) and using it to tag any running opposing teammates to foil their attempts at moving to the next base on the diamond. Players within the diamond, such as the shortstop, will also be doing this as well - they often receive the ball from the infield. As such, the infield is still &quot;out there&quot;, away from the &quot;usual&quot; sexual interactions in the diamond, but they are things you might pass upon the way.<br /> <br /> *Napoleon's Forces is a cartography joke, one making a comment that all of this complicated positioning makes the image look like a map depicting military maneuvers - or possibly simply a visual gag meant to evoke the image of Napoleon's army marching through a land of sexual behaviors.<br /> *Fursuits are anthropmorphic animal costumes worn by some members of the {{w|Furry Fandom}}, people who are fans of anthropomorphized (human-like) animals. Fursuiters are a small fraction of the entire fandom, but are sometimes used in sexual play.<br /> *Fursuits (crotchless) are fursuits with no fabric or covering on the groin (crotch) of the wearer, and as such are specifically intended for sexual play. They are placed slightly further &quot;out there&quot; on the field due to this being more unusual, and across the orgasm line.<br /> *Standing anywhere near Peaches is referring to the musician {{w|Peaches (musician)|Peaches}} who is known for her heavy use of sexual imagery.<br /> <br /> ====Outfield====<br /> <br /> The &quot;{{w|Outfield#In_cricket_and_baseball|outfield}}&quot; is a group of players who are there to catch the ball if it goes away from the main play area (anything outside the upper curving line) and return it to play in a manner advantageous to their team. As they separated away from the main play area, the things in the outfield are often references to sexual behaviors that are &quot;kinky&quot; and &quot;out there&quot;.<br /> <br /> *2outfielders1glove is a reference to the infamous {{w|2girls1cup}} scatological site and associated meme.<br /> *The [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=retrograde%20wheelbarrow Retrograde Wheelbarrow] is a sex position, one referenced previously in [[300: Facebook]], making this a callback.<br /> *Eye contact from {{w|Janeane Garofalo}} is a tie-in to the &quot;eye contact&quot; entry positioned near home base. It's possible that this is placed in the outfield because fantasizing about celebrities like Janeane Garofalo is a behavior that is often considered unusual, even though many people do it.<br /> <br /> ====Foul ball====<br /> <br /> A {{w|foul ball}} occurs when a ball ends up in foul territory which is outside the foul line extending from either side of the diamond, the area is &quot;out of play&quot;. Anyone who takes the ball into this area has committed a foul, and as such breached one of the acceptable rules of sexual conduct in the metaphor.<br /> <br /> *Anal sex is a pun on the term &quot;foul ball&quot;, as the anus is where fecal matter collects. The position is placed just outside the foul line.<br /> *Downloading Star Trek fanfiction and replacing Riker's name with your crush is a reference to {{w|Star Trek: The Next Generation}}. Riker, the First Officer of the Enterprise-D, is often a subject of sexual desire among the fandom, and so taking a piece of fanfiction (fan-written, noncanon stories written about a piece of fiction) and replacing Riker's name with that of your crush is an ultra-nerdy way of indicating that they are attractive - so ultra-nerdy, it's creepy.<br /> *The binary (i.e. base 2) numbers are an {{w|ASCII}} representation of the characters &quot;base 2&quot;. The base of a number system is the number of unique digits required to represent numbers in that system. Binary is therefore a &quot;base 2&quot; system. This seems to be a little nerd sniping: wasting the time of anyone familiar enough with computing to know how to decode it.<br /> *&quot;Your base&quot; is a reference to the original &quot;base&quot; metaphor mixed with a reference to the Zero Wing {{w|All Your Base}} meme. It is most likely a reference to {{w|masturbation}} (i.e. solo sex or you-sex and is in the foul area). First you make eye contact with a gorges girl (boy) and then you go home and satisfy yourself with a fantasy about all the tings you would like to do with her (him). It's possible that this being here is also a stealth insult towards the reader - the reader's own base (him/herself) is &quot;out of play&quot; and thus undesirable.<br /> <br /> ====Title text====<br /> If you are together with a {{w|basketball}} player, kisses her, and then tells her that you are now ''at second base'', she might become very confused. Also there is the joke that basketball players never get laid because they always jump before they score.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[At the top there is a four panel regular comic strip.]<br /> :[Cueball and Ponytail are talking; Ponytail is sitting on the back of a chair with her feet on the seat, and Cueball is sitting on the floor facing her.]<br /> :Ponytail: So how far did you get with her?<br /> :Cueball: Second base?<br /> <br /> :[Zoom in on Ponytail on the chair.]<br /> :Ponytail: Wait, which one is that? Below the waist, but... not under the clothes?<br /> :Cueball (off-panel): I think that's... shortstop?<br /> <br /> :[Cueball now almost lies down and Ponytail is sitting on the armrest of the chair.]<br /> :Ponytail: You should try crossing the pitcher's mound. Then down the 50-yard line, and right past her ten-pin.<br /> :Cueball: Sounds tricky.<br /> <br /> :[Again a zoom in on Ponytail now on the armrest.]<br /> :Ponytail: Yeah. Last time I tried it, I got a red flag. If you know what I mean.<br /> :Cueball (off-panel): I really don't.<br /> <br /> :[Below the strip there is a large frame with a diagram of a baseball diamond.]<br /> :[At the bottom left there is a box with tis text:]<br /> :'''The &quot;Base&quot; Metaphor Explained'''<br /> <br /> :[Bases are pointed too with thick black arrows (except home plate) and there are also arrows pointing to different parts of the diagram. All arrows and points marked with &quot;x&quot; have a description, as do the dashed lines covering the field. Below they will be listed anti-clockwise from the home plate.]<br /> <br /> :[Along the line towards first base is the following five items in the order they appear:]<br /> ::[x slightly right of home plate:]<br /> ::Eye contact<br /> ::[Black arrow pointing to a base half way to first base outside the line:]<br /> ::Your Base<br /> ::[x inside the line opposite your base]<br /> ::Passing notes<br /> ::[Black arrow pointing to a base further along and outside the line:]<br /> ::0110 0010 0110 0001<br /> ::0111 0011 0110 0101<br /> ::0010 0000 0011 0010<br /> ::[x Slightly before first base:]<br /> ::Downloading Star Trek fanfiction and replacing Riker's name with your crush's.<br /> <br /> :[Black arrow pointing to first base:]<br /> ::First base: Kissing<br /> <br /> :[Further along the line past the first base is one x point in the right outfield:]<br /> ::Eye contact from Janeane Garofalo.<br /> <br /> :[On the way towards second base there are the following two items:]<br /> ::[A region along the line from first to second has been marked off by a dotted line. It has the following text written inside:]<br /> ::The boring zone.<br /> ::[x some way inside the line next to the boring zone:]<br /> ::Using the scroll thingy on that one Apple mouse<br /> <br /> :[Black arrow pointing to second base:]<br /> ::Second base: Hands under the shirt and/or licking<br /> <br /> :[On the route from second to third base are eight items:]<br /> ::[A dotted line traveling from near the outfield above second base, then crossing the second baseline about 1/3 of the way to third base, snaking its way almost down to the home plate ending close to the third baseline. The following text is written along the dotted line inside the diamond:]<br /> ::The orgasm line<br /> ::[Above second base a large black arrow crosses the orgasm line near the outfield:]<br /> ::Napoleon's forces<br /> ::[x below the Napoleon arrow right before crossing the orgasm line:]<br /> ::Fursuits<br /> ::[Two arrows points to the second base line on each side of the orgasm line:]<br /> ::Hands on the pants<br /> ::Hands in the pants<br /> ::[x some way into the diamond just past the orgasm line:]<br /> ::Dry humping<br /> ::[x same distance down the second base line as dry humping, but equally far outside the line still infield:]<br /> ::Fursuits (crotchless)<br /> ::[x almost at the extension of the 3rd base line close to the outfield:]<br /> ::Standing anywhere near Peaches<br /> <br /> :[In the left outfield there are two x points:]<br /> ::[x in the outfield halfway along the second base line:]<br /> ::Retrograde wheelbarrow<br /> ::[x in the outfield almost at the extension of the third base line:]<br /> ::2outfielders1glove.<br /> <br /> :[Foul of the third base line just left of where the grass line divides the in- and outfield:]<br /> ::Anal sex (fill in your own &quot;foul ball&quot; pun here.)<br /> <br /> :[Black arrow pointing to third base:]<br /> ::Third base: Oral sex (formerly &quot;hands in the pants&quot;)<br /> <br /> :[On the route from third to home plate there are four items:]<br /> ::[Between third base and home there is a dotted line that makes a curve from right outside the third base line and ends right afer it has crossed the orgasm line. The text is written inside the diamond with the first word above and the other two below the dotted line:]<br /> ::&quot;Virginity&quot; (Maginot) line<br /> ::[A large black arrow curves around the end of the &quot;Virginity&quot; line outside of the diamond:]<br /> ::Teens<br /> ::[A large black arrow points from outside the diamond to a point right between home plate and the virginity line:] <br /> ::Sharing root PWs<br /> ::[x just before home plate at the end of the orgasm line inside the diamond:]<br /> ::Thigh contact<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Sex]]<br /> [[Category:Furries]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=539:_Boyfriend&diff=86506 2015-03-17T05:55:39Z

<p>Vctr: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 539<br /> | date = February 4, 2009<br /> | title = Boyfriend<br /> | image = boyfriend.png<br /> | titletext = ...okay, but because you said that, we're breaking up.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> In statistics, {{w|statistical significance}} is used to measure how well a set of data demonstrates a particular hypothesis or statement. In particular, it makes judgement about how likely that the observed effect is real, and not just the result of a sampling anomaly. The term {{w|significant other}} is used to refer to a person's intimate relation, typically a spouse or a long-term boyfriend or girlfriend. They are the &quot;significant other&quot; person in their life, apart from themselves.<br /> <br /> [[Megan]] asserts her claim that [[Cueball]] is her boyfriend by presenting the time that he had spend with people in the form of a {{w|box plot}}, with her data point lying far ahead of the rest of the chart. Cueball accepts her claim, and she responds with a monumental pun that combines the phrases &quot;statistically significant&quot; and &quot;significant other&quot;.<br /> <br /> The title text illustrates the low esteem in which bad puns are commonly held: even though she proved her point, Cueball takes the only option left to him, which is to break up with her.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Megan is on the phone.]<br /> :Megan: Can my boyfriend come along?<br /> :Cueball: I'm not your boyfriend!<br /> :Megan: You totally are.<br /> :Cueball: I'm casually dating a number of people.<br /> :[Megan points to a chart.]<br /> :Megan: But you spend twice as much time with me as with anyone else. I'm a clear outlier.<br /> :Cueball: Your math is irrefutable.<br /> :Megan: Face it—I'm your statistically significant other.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Math]]<br /> [[Category:Romance]]<br /> [[Category:Charts]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=538:_Security&diff=86505 2015-03-17T05:54:05Z

<p>Vctr: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 538<br /> | date = February 2, 2009<br /> | title = Security<br /> | image = security.png<br /> | titletext = Actual actual reality: nobody cares about his secrets. (Also, I would be hard-pressed to find that wrench for $5.)<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> The &quot;crypto nerd&quot; would be concerned with strongly encrypting data on their personal machine. This would conceivably come in handy when &quot;villains&quot; attempt to steal information on his computer. The crypto nerd imagines that due to his or her advanced encryption, the hackers will be ultimately defeated. [[Randall]] suggests that in the real world, people with the desire to access this information would simply {{w|Rubber-hose cryptanalysis|use torture}} to coerce the nerd to give them the password. Both panels also reference the amount of money used to access the data. In the first the villain is willing to use millions of dollars to construct a {{w|TWIRL|super computer}}, while in the second, he simply uses a $5 wrench. The comic effectively states, completely accurately, that the weakest part of computer security is not the computer, but the user.<br /> <br /> {{w|RSA (algorithm)|RSA}} is a commonly used, public key encryption method. Current standards typically use 1024, 2048, and (more recently) 4096 {{w|Key size|bit keys}}. These encryption methods are not yet (feasibly) breakable. A 4096-bit key will remain unbreakable for the foreseeable future.<br /> <br /> The title text pokes fun at typical users, who do not have data that would be worth anything to anyone but themselves. Therefore, it is unlikely that the above situation would ever occur. Additionally, the wrench used in the second panel is large, and presumably more than the $5 referenced by the thug.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :A Crypto nerd's imagination:<br /> :[Cueball is holding a laptop, and his friend is examining it.]<br /> :Cueball: His laptop's encrypted. Let's build a million-dollar cluster to crack it.<br /> :Friend: No good! It's 4096-bit RSA!<br /> :Cueball: Blast! Our evil plan is foiled!<br /> <br /> :What would actually happen:<br /> :[Cueball is holding a piece of paper and giving his friend a wrench.]<br /> :Cueball: His laptop's encrypted. Drug him and hit him with this $5 wrench until he tells us the password.<br /> :Friend : Got it.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Cryptography]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:538:_Security&diff=86504 2015-03-17T05:53:01Z

<p>Vctr: </p> <hr /> <div>I was in a flea market one time when I saw a booth who sold wrenches. They were priced starting at $2. There were even $5 wrenches!<br /> Yes; I did this in response to this comic strip. No; I did not buy one. (I have no need to &quot;crack&quot; a computer. I just wanted to prove that there is a $5 wrench.)<br /> [[User:Greyson|Greyson]] ([[User talk:Greyson|talk]]) 02:15, 3 November 2012 (UTC)<br /> (Oops... I forgot to log on... I feel... scared.)<br /> [[User:Greyson|Greyson]] ([[User talk:Greyson|talk]]) 02:15, 3 November 2012 (UTC)<br /> <br /> Remember the other comic, talking about how much does your time spent to pick up a penny cost? This applies here too! It's not just $5 for the wrench, there is also the time of the guy who will be hitting with it! Although of course the wrench is amortizable over multiple secret extraction sessions, unless it gets bent too much out of shape. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.246.5|108.162.246.5]] 20:57, 31 January 2014 (UTC)<br /> <br /> I went to the flea market and bought a $5 wrench, then used it to beat the password out of 2^5 nerds. I just wanted to prove that there is a $5 wrench and that it's reasonable to amortize it over multiple extraction sessions. The wrench is still in good shape, even to use as a wrench. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.215.115|108.162.215.115]] 18:26, 28 January 2015 (UTC)<br /> <br /> Why does everyone imagine that the &quot;crypto nerd&quot; will be a &quot;him&quot;? This gendered language is simply reinforcing the sexist stereotypes that serve as the cultural foundation for rape and other symptoms of this sexist worldview. I'm changing this to &quot;him or her&quot;...</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=532:_Piano&diff=86500 2015-03-17T03:45:25Z

<p>Vctr: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 532<br /> | date = January 19, 2009<br /> | title = Piano<br /> | image = piano.png<br /> | titletext = Good thing he didn't make it smaller, or it'd need someone three inches tall to play it.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> The joke here is the reverse of an old joke that appeared in [http://www.netfunny.com/rhf/jokes/old90/304.html rec.humor.funny]. In the original, the punchline reveals that a small ''pianist'' is the result of a man's wish for a twelve-inch (one foot or 30.5 cm) ''penis'' which was misheard by a {{w|genie}}. In this version, [[Cueball]] wished for the twelve-inch pianist to a hard-of-hearing genie, with the implication that he instead received a twelve-inch penis. This piques [[Megan]]'s interest.<br /> <br /> A long-debated subject in human sexuality is whether sexual activity is more pleasurable for a woman when the man has a larger penis (and therefore whether woman desire men with larger penises). Although opinions on the subject seem to vary in surveys, a common stereotype is that women prefer or even seek out men with large penises, or at very least are turned off by men with small penises. Penis size has become associated with virility and &quot;manliness&quot;, and another common generalization is that men would choose to have the largest penis, if it were possible to choose. The punchline of the original joke plays on the fact that wishing for a tiny pianist is a very unusual, interesting and specific wish, until the punchline reveals that the subject's wish was far more expected.<br /> <br /> The title text is implying that, since Cueball's wish was misheard as referencing penis size, had the piano been even smaller, it would have only needed a three-inch (7.6 cm) pianist. This would imply that Cueball's misheard wish would have resulted in his being given a three-inch penis, which is below average and therefore, following the same generalizations as above, is seen as undesirably small.<br /> <br /> Genies (or magic lamps) are mentioned in at least three other comics:<br /> *[[152: Hamster Ball]]<br /> *[[879: Lamp]] (where Randall also manages to make a penis related joke)<br /> *[[1391: Darkness]]<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball is holding a box with an open lid. A miniature piano is inside. Megan is looking at it]<br /> :Cueball: My hobby is making miniatures. Check this out — it's a fully-functional grand piano.<br /> :Megan: Woah — beautiful.<br /> <br /> :[Cueball looks at the miniature piano.]<br /> :Cueball: Sadly, I've never heard what proper music sounds like on it—the keys are too small to play.<br /> <br /> :[Cueball closes lid to the piano.]<br /> :Cueball: I once asked a genie for someone who could play it for me, but I think he misheard.<br /> :Megan: ...are you doing anything later?<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Penis]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=529:_Sledding_Discussion&diff=86499 2015-03-17T02:29:22Z

<p>Vctr: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 529<br /> | date = January 12, 2009<br /> | title = Sledding Discussion<br /> | image = sledding_discussion.png<br /> | titletext = If you get your hands on that one, it's the worst place to have a breaking-up conversation.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> [[Cueball]] and [[Megan]] have a perfectly normal sled ride down a perfectly normal hill (engaging in what's traditionally a children's pastime) while Cueball is complaining that he has grown too old for certain things - like learning another language fluently (but not for taking a sleigh ride - although he does not really seem to enjoy it though). There is a theory, called {{w|Critical period hypothesis}}, that you can only learn a language fluently before a certain age. <br /> <br /> Cueball hates that ''options are closed'' to him and feels like he has ''given up a life that was once possible''. The joke is that this reminds Megan about their anniversary coming up. This means that she feels that she has given up a life that was once possible by staying so long with Cueball. Actually this may be the time when they are going to break up.<br /> <br /> The reader would thus have expected something ironic to happen at the end of the trip but instead, the only humor in the last frame arises from their commentary on the {{w|meta humor|''lack'' of humor}}.<br /> <br /> Calvin and Hobbes is an acclaimed newspaper comic strip that ran from 1985 to 1995. Calvin is a six-year-old child with an active imagination, and Hobbes is his stuffed tiger who Calvin perceives to be alive through his imagination. The two frequently had philosophical conversations, [http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/2012/12/30 often while sledding]. Calvin sledded on densely-wooded hills near where he lived, and the ride would often serve as a perfect parallel to the conversation they were having; for example, in one strip, Calvin talks about how seemingly mundane decisions can nonetheless have lasting consequences, by pointing out how all of the things they see as they continue down the hill (and eventually crash into a ravine) are a direct result of him having taken a particular fork early on.<br /> <br /> The title text notes that if you did have Calvin and Hobbes toboggan it would be the worst place to have a breaking-up conversation, because then the sled itself would literally ''break-up'' during the journey, with potentially dangerous consequences. This is also the clue to the fact that the comic is in fact about a break-up situation.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Megan looks out window through blinds.]<br /> :Megan: It's snowing!<br /> :Cueball: [from off-screen] Sled time!<br /> <br /> :[Megan and Cueball outside with sled, at the top of a hill.]<br /> :Cueball: It depresses me that I'm too old to learn another language fluently. My brain's solidified.<br /> <br /> :[Megan and Cueball sledding down the hill.]<br /> :Megan: Is there one you wish you knew?<br /> :Cueball: No, I just hate having options closed to me. Like I've given up a life that was once possible.<br /> <br /> :[At the bottom of the hill, sled has stopped.]<br /> :Megan: Yeah. Which reminds me - our anniversary is coming up.<br /> <br /> :Megan: Man, that ride failed to be a metaphor for our conversation.<br /> :Cueball: Guess this isn't the Calvin &amp; Hobbes-model toboggan.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] <br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Romance]]<br /> [[Category:Language]]<br /> [[Category:Philosophy]]<br /> [[Category:Calvin and Hobbes]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=527:_Keynote&diff=86498 2015-03-17T02:25:55Z

<p>Vctr: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 527<br /> | date = January 7, 2009<br /> | title = Keynote<br /> | image = keynote.png<br /> | titletext = He should be better soon -- now that the Apple Store is getting rid of DRM, Cory Doctorow will get rid of his Steve Jobs voodoo doll.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> According to this comic, {{w|Steve Jobs}}, the founder of the Apple company, lost a lot of weight due to a hormonal problem. Weight loss is, in some cultures, considered an aesthetically good thing, though such is due to its context being a deliberate action in order to remove obesity, which does not seem to be the case here. [[Black Hat]] then mentions that Apple was probably excited to announce its thinnest and lightest CEO in the industry. This comment is a parody of Apple's tendency to release thinner and lighter iterations of its products. Steve Jobs' weight loss would certainly make him a thinner and lighter CEO.<br /> <br /> The title text refers to {{w|Cory Doctorow}}, a blogger, journalist and science-fiction author. Doctorow is opposed to the technology called {{w|Digital rights management}} (DRM for short). DRM is designed to protect copyright owner, but often has negative consequenses for consumers. Randall (jokingly) proposes that Steve Jobs is only sick because Doctorow was torturing him with {{w|Voodoo doll}}s for Apple's use of DRM.<br /> <br /> Steve Jobs died on October 5, 2011 and the day after [[Randall]] released [[961: Eternal Flame]].<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Black Hat talking to Cueball sitting at computer.]<br /> :Cueball: Huh - Steve Jobs isn't doing a keynote this year, citing massive weight loss due to some hormonal problem.<br /> :Black Hat: Too bad. I bet Apple was excited about unveiling the thinnest and lightest CEO in the industry.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Steve Jobs]]<br /> [[Category:Sarcasm]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cory Doctorow]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=522:_Google_Trends&diff=86397 2015-03-16T04:35:43Z

<p>Vctr: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 522<br /> | date = December 26, 2008<br /> | title = Google Trends<br /> | image = google_trends.png<br /> | titletext = Obama has been writing Lincoln/Obama erotic fan fiction on his secret livejournal. Excerpt: Lincoln lay back on the bed, nude save for his trademark stovepipe hat. 'Tell me,' he purred seductively, as he and Obama formed a more perfect union. 'When you come, is it 10% ethanol?'<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> Google keeps track of which searches are most popular in which regions as part of more general data mining to improve their service. For the enjoyment/education of others, they release select, non-personal parts of this data under the banner &quot;[http://www.google.com/trends/ Google Trends].&quot;<br /> <br /> The first statistic - that &quot;Men kissing&quot; was popular in Utah, a state normally opposed to homosexuality - is real. The others are made up for the sake of the joke. In order:<br /> <br /> *{{w|Ubuntu}} is a Linux distribution; Redmond, WA is home to {{w|Microsoft}}, the company that makes rival operating system Windows.<br /> *2010 was not a presidential election year in the United States; Wasilla, AK is home to {{w|Sarah Palin}}, a politician known for making such gaffes.<br /> *{{w|Abraham Lincoln}} was the US president from 1861 to his assassination in 1865; Chicago, IL is home to {{w|Barack Obama}}, who apparently reads (presumably erotic) fanfiction about the former president.<br /> *{{w|Velociraptors}} is a favorite xkcd topic; There are also frequently references to Back to the Future as with the {{w|hoverboards}} here. Somerville, MA is home to [[Randall Munroe]]. The speed of a ''Raptor on Hoverboard'' is given in [[526: Converting to Metric]].<br /> *&quot;How is babby formed?&quot; was the title (and most of the content) of an infamous Yahoo! Answers question (see the title text of [[481: Listen to Yourself]]). Wasilla, AK is, again, home to {{w|Sarah Palin}}; a few months prior to this comic's release, Sarah Palin revealed that her daughter, Bristol Palin, was pregnant.<br /> *Mountain View, CA is home to Google headquarters. The implication is that Google employees are putting &quot;I hate this website&quot; into Google.<br /> <br /> With regards to the excerpt Randall provides in the title text:<br /> <br /> *The &quot;more perfect union&quot; line comes from the preamble to the US Constitution: &quot;We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union...&quot;<br /> *{{w|Ethanol}} is the more scientific name for alcohol, as in, the stuff they serve in a bar that you have to be 21 years of age or older to drink. With regards to the title-text, &quot;10% ethanol&quot; refers to automotive gasoline that includes, well, 10% ethanol (usually made from corn or other vegetables), with the hopes of reducing the dependence on oil for fuel.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :Bloggers were recently amused to discover that,<br /> :according to Google Trends, the search term:<br /> :&quot;men kissing&quot; is most popular in conservative Utah.<br /> :A few other embarrassing correlations:<br /> <br /> :{| class=&quot;wikitable&quot;<br /> !Search Term||Top City<br /> |-<br /> |Installing Ubuntu||Redmond, WA<br /> |-<br /> |Running for President in 2010||Wasilla, AK<br /> |-<br /> |Lincoln Fan Fiction||Chicago, IL<br /> |-<br /> |Raptors on Hoverboards||Somerville, MA<br /> |-<br /> |How is babby formed?||Wasilla, AK<br /> |-<br /> |I hate this website||Mountain View, CA<br /> |}<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Linux]]<br /> [[Category:Velociraptors]]<br /> [[Category:Google Search]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=501:_Faust_2.0&diff=86220 2015-03-13T02:33:49Z

<p>Vctr: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 501<br /> | date = November 7, 2008<br /> | title = Faust 2.0<br /> | image = faust_20.png<br /> | titletext = The only blood these contracts are signed in is from me cutting my hand trying to open the goddamn CD case.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> E.U.L.A. is short for {{w|End-user license agreement}}, a license that software makers often attach to their software but people do not usually read. Agreement to a E.U.L.A. is assumed when a user uses the software or service that the E.U.L.A. is attached to, which has led a case where users have unknowingly [http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2010/04/15/online-shoppers-unknowingly-sold-souls/ actually agreed to give away their immortal souls] because of a clause in a E.U.L.A. However, in the European Union, all provisions of these agreements that aren't already codified in law actually are not legally enforceable, unless they could be read and agreed to before purchase and first use.<br /> <br /> A {{w|Faustian deal}} is done by someone who sells his soul to the devil for something desired in this life, a textbook example of wanting instant gratification. The mortal will get the things he wanted, but when he dies, have to suffer eternal torment. As the span of a human lifetime is an eyeblink compared to the lifetime of the universe, this is a really stupid thing to do. It is named after the folkloric character Faust, whose story has been the subject of numerous adaptations.<br /> <br /> In this instance, Cueball turns a E.U.L.A. around on {{w|Mephistopheles}}, the demon from Christopher Marlowe's version of Faust, by posting a sign saying that anyone entering the room agrees to turn over their ''own'' immortal soul rather than negotiate with Cueball for his. It is unknown whether this clause applies only to demons, or to ''everyone''.<br /> <br /> The title text makes reference to how easy it is to cut open one's own hand while trying to open a newly-bought CD case. Incidentally, a pen works just fine, though the blood is referencing how Satanic contracts are signed in blood.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :Mephistopheles: Mortal! I come offering a deal-<br /> :Cueball: Read the sign.<br /> :Mephistopheles: &quot;By entering this room, you agree to forfeit your own soul rather than negotiate with the mortal residing therein...&quot; Wait, you can't-<br /> :Cueball: Too late.<br /> :Caption: Mephistopheles encounters the E.U.L.A.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=486:_I_am_Not_a_Ninja&diff=86170 2015-03-12T04:50:15Z

<p>Vctr: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number =486<br /> | date =October 8, 2008<br /> | title =I am Not a Ninja<br /> | image =i_am_not_a_ninja.png<br /> | titletext ='The sad thing is that I just wanted to talk about your poor smoke-bomb techniques.'<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> In a romantic relationship, some of the most horrifying words are arguably &quot;We need to talk.&quot; They often stereotypically signal the beginning of a conversation that the speaker knows will cause the listener to become upset.<br /> <br /> In this comic, Cueball is so horrified by hearing those words that he tries the ol' &quot;[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SmokeOut ninja smoke vanish]&quot; technique, only to have it fail miserably when the pellet provides insufficient visual cover to perform the trick, yet still sets off the smoke detector and then he can't get the window open to either leave the scene or just clear the less than useful cloud. Megan simply facepalms and leaves.<br /> <br /> The title text jokes that Megan simply wanted to talk to Cueball about his poor smoke-bomb techniques. Arguably, then, this instance was actually a qualified success in issue avoidance.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball and Megan are in the same panel.]<br /> :Megan: We need to talk.<br /> :[Pans back to a panel with a window, which Cueball looks back at.]<br /> :[Cueball throws grenade.]<br /> :''POW''<br /> :[Grenade fizzles, Cueball and Megan both look down at it.]<br /> :''sssss''<br /> :Megan: [puts her hand to her face.]<br /> :''cough''<br /> :[Alarm above them starts beeping.]<br /> :[Cueball and Megan look up.]<br /> :BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP-<br /> :[Cueball and Megan look down at the grenade again.]<br /> :[Cueball slowly walks away as the alarm continues to beep.]<br /> :[Cueball opens the window.]<br /> :''Rattle rattle''<br /> :[Pans back to the full view, the alarm is still beeping and Cueball looks back at Megan, who is face-palming.]<br /> :[Megan walks away, Cueball looks at window.]<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=480:_Spore&diff=86030 2015-03-11T07:12:47Z

<p>Vctr: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 480<br /> | date = September 24, 2008<br /> | title = Spore<br /> | image = spore.png<br /> | titletext = Way to not support the GMA 950 under OS X, Spore. :(<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> '{{w|Spore (2008 video game)|Spore}}' is a game that was released in 2008. It was $50 when it first came out so many people could not afford it at the time. Spore starts you off as a small little water bug and when you become smart enough you leave the water for land and start growing. To begin with the scale of your interest is thus very small as you are only concerned with your spot of water. During the next two stages the scale grows to being the entire continent. Once you start building cities you get to view the entire planet. The last stage (and scale) is space, where you get to first travel your own solar system, then the entire galaxy.<br /> <br /> Since Cueball can't yet afford Spore (which is now only about $15) he instead is recreating the experience by playing older games, starting off with small scale games. In the comic Cueball had just beaten the game '{{w|Populous}}' which is on a planet scale, so now he can go on to the galactic scale with the game '{{w|Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri|Alpha Centauri}}'.<br /> <br /> The following three games could for instance have been played before the ones mentioned: starting with '{{w|SimAnt}}' (ant scale) then moving up to '{{w|The Sims}}' (human scale) and then proceeding with '{{w|SimCity}}' (city scale). <br /> <br /> The title text refers to the game not being able to run on the Mac using a {{w|GMA 950}} which is a type of Intel integrated graphics processor. It was first supported in OSX 10.4. It lacked hardware support for vertex shader 2.0, which some games required.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball sitting at computer desk, surrounded by game boxes.]<br /> :Cueball: Sweet, beat ''Populous''. Now, on to ''Alpha Centauri''.<br /> :Until I can afford ''Spore'', I'm just playing through all my old games in order of scale.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Video games]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=479:_Tones&diff=86027 2015-03-11T06:57:56Z

<p>Vctr: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number =479<br /> | date =September 22, 2008<br /> | title =Tones<br /> | image =tones.png<br /> | titletext =I need a lawn, so I can yell at kids to stay off it.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> Cellular phone users can set darn near ''anything'' as their ringtone; even the default rings on new phones are a short string of notes put together, and serve a dual purpose as a company's trademark. [[Cueball]] is saying that there's one thing in his life he's never compromised on: When someone calls his phone, it makes a ''ringing'' sound. Of course, this is a rather minor thing on which to make a stand.<br /> <br /> The comic also seems to begin very seriously, and thus the comic relief is provided by the turn to the inconsequential; this is mirrored in the zooming-in to the cell phone.<br /> <br /> To continue the comic's theme of Cueball-as-crochety-old-man, the title text says that he needs a lawn, so he can yell at kids to stay off of it — a stereotypical &quot;old man&quot; {{w|You_kids_get_off_my_lawn!|behavior}}.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball is standing in room next to round table, looking out a window. Blue and orange sunset visible outside the window. There is a phone on the table.]<br /> :I haven't lived a perfect life.<br /> :Made plenty of mistakes.<br /> :Got my share of regrets.<br /> <br /> :[Viewpoint zooms in onto Cueball and table.]<br /> :But there's one thing of which I'm proud.<br /> :One stand on which I've never wavered.<br /> <br /> :[Viewpoint zooms in onto cell phone on table.]<br /> :When someone calls my phone,<br /> :it makes a goddamn &lt;u&gt;ringing&lt;/u&gt; sound.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics with color]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=479:_Tones&diff=86026 2015-03-11T06:57:31Z

<p>Vctr: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number =479<br /> | date =September 22, 2008<br /> | title =Tones<br /> | image =tones.png<br /> | titletext =I need a lawn, so I can yell at kids to stay off it.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> Cellular phone users can set darn near ''anything'' as their ringtone; even the default rings on new phones are a short string of notes put together, and serve a dual purpose as a company's trademark. [[Cueball]] is saying that there's one thing in his life he's never compromised on: When someone calls his phone, it makes a ''ringing'' sound. Of course, this is a rather minor thing on which to make a stand.<br /> <br /> The comic also seems to begin very seriously, and thus the comic relief is provided by the turn to the inconsequential; this is mirrored in the zooming-in to the cell phone, as opposed to the more expected philosophical symbol, the sunset.<br /> <br /> To continue the comic's theme of Cueball-as-crochety-old-man, the title text says that he needs a lawn, so he can yell at kids to stay off of it — a stereotypical &quot;old man&quot; {{w|You_kids_get_off_my_lawn!|behavior}}.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball is standing in room next to round table, looking out a window. Blue and orange sunset visible outside the window. There is a phone on the table.]<br /> :I haven't lived a perfect life.<br /> :Made plenty of mistakes.<br /> :Got my share of regrets.<br /> <br /> :[Viewpoint zooms in onto Cueball and table.]<br /> :But there's one thing of which I'm proud.<br /> :One stand on which I've never wavered.<br /> <br /> :[Viewpoint zooms in onto cell phone on table.]<br /> :When someone calls my phone,<br /> :it makes a goddamn &lt;u&gt;ringing&lt;/u&gt; sound.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics with color]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=478:_The_Staple_Madness&diff=86024 2015-03-11T06:40:53Z

<p>Vctr: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 478<br /> | date = September 19, 2008<br /> | title = The Staple Madness<br /> | image = the_staple_madness.png<br /> | titletext = Staple guns: because duct tape can't make that 'kaCHUNK' noise.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> Optimistic [[Beret Guy]] can never take life seriously. He loves to play with everything, and nothing is more exciting than {{w|Staple gun|a tool that sticks things together with an impressive ''kaCHUNK'' sound}} when he pulls the trigger, even on things that (definitely) shouldn't be stapled.{{Citation needed}}<br /> <br /> Installing Debian is a pun on the installation of software, and the installation of real life things by attaching them to things. <br /> <br /> This comic may reference an engineering truism describing a similar scenario: &quot;When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail&quot;. The truism's actual meaning refers to the scenario where when a novice has only learned to use one tool (such as one programming language), they may attempt to solve all problems using only that tool, which may end badly.<br /> <br /> From just reading the comic by itself, one may presume that in the last panel, [[Cueball]] has been stapled to the ceiling (as obvious evidence to [[Megan]] that Beret Guy has indeed been abusing her staple gun). According to the comic's official transcript, however, it is in fact God who is speaking. <br /> <br /> {{w|Duct tape}}, thanks to its combination of tensile and adhesive strength, is commonly regarded as the ultimate do-it-yourself repair tool. Like a staple gun, it can also be used to stick things together. Although it does make a nice sound when pulling a strip out quickly, it does not make a loud ''kaCHUNK'' sound upon fixing two objects together.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Beret Guy and Cueball standing.]<br /> :Beret Guy: [holding up a staple gun] I found Megan's staple gun!<br /> :Cueball: [facepalming] Oh no.<br /> <br /> :[Beret Guy kneeling over a laptop on the floor.]<br /> :Cueball: [from outside panel] Oh God, what are you--<br /> :Beret Guy: [stapling a DVD to the laptop] Installing Debian! ''kaCHUNK''<br /> <br /> :[Beret Guy standing over a table.]<br /> :Beret Guy: [staples a sandwich together] Sandwiches! ''kaCHUNK kaCHUNK''<br /> <br /> :[Beret Guy running with the staple gun.]<br /> :Beret Guy: Must affix everything to everything!<br /> <br /> :''kaCHUNK kaCHUNK kaCHUNK kaCHUNK kaCHUNK kaCHUNK''<br /> <br /> :[Megan enters, holding a tote bag.]<br /> :Megan: ...Have you been abusing my staple gun?<br /> :Beret Guy: No.<br /> &lt;!-- God is correct, as per official transcript --&gt;<br /> :God: [as voice from above] YES!<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=478:_The_Staple_Madness&diff=86023 2015-03-11T06:40:11Z

<p>Vctr: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 478<br /> | date = September 19, 2008<br /> | title = The Staple Madness<br /> | image = the_staple_madness.png<br /> | titletext = Staple guns: because duct tape can't make that 'kaCHUNK' noise.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> Optimistic [[Beret Guy]] can never take life seriously. He loves to play with everything, and nothing is more exciting than {{w|Staple gun|a tool that sticks things together with an impressive ''kaCHUNK'' sound}} when he pulls the trigger, even on things that (definitely) shouldn't be stapled.<br /> <br /> Installing Debian is a pun on the installation of software, and the installation of real life things by attaching them to things. <br /> <br /> This comic may reference an engineering truism describing a similar scenario: &quot;When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail&quot;. The truism's actual meaning refers to the scenario where when a novice has only learned to use one tool (such as one programming language), they may attempt to solve all problems using only that tool, which may end badly.<br /> <br /> From just reading the comic by itself, one may presume that in the last panel, [[Cueball]] has been stapled to the ceiling (as obvious evidence to [[Megan]] that Beret Guy has indeed been abusing her staple gun). According to the comic's official transcript, however, it is in fact God who is speaking. <br /> <br /> {{w|Duct tape}}, thanks to its combination of tensile and adhesive strength, is commonly regarded as the ultimate do-it-yourself repair tool. Like a staple gun, it can also be used to stick things together. Although it does make a nice sound when pulling a strip out quickly, it does not make a loud ''kaCHUNK'' sound upon fixing two objects together.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Beret Guy and Cueball standing.]<br /> :Beret Guy: [holding up a staple gun] I found Megan's staple gun!<br /> :Cueball: [facepalming] Oh no.<br /> <br /> :[Beret Guy kneeling over a laptop on the floor.]<br /> :Cueball: [from outside panel] Oh God, what are you--<br /> :Beret Guy: [stapling a DVD to the laptop] Installing Debian! ''kaCHUNK''<br /> <br /> :[Beret Guy standing over a table.]<br /> :Beret Guy: [staples a sandwich together] Sandwiches! ''kaCHUNK kaCHUNK''<br /> <br /> :[Beret Guy running with the staple gun.]<br /> :Beret Guy: Must affix everything to everything!<br /> <br /> :''kaCHUNK kaCHUNK kaCHUNK kaCHUNK kaCHUNK kaCHUNK''<br /> <br /> :[Megan enters, holding a tote bag.]<br /> :Megan: ...Have you been abusing my staple gun?<br /> :Beret Guy: No.<br /> &lt;!-- God is correct, as per official transcript --&gt;<br /> :God: [as voice from above] YES!<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=450:_The_Sea&diff=85926 2015-03-10T04:15:32Z

<p>Vctr: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 450<br /> | date = July 16, 2008<br /> | title = The Sea<br /> | image = the_sea.png<br /> | titletext = And then a second one, to drain the sea.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> [[Cueball]] becomes introspective when contemplating the sea. The straightforward reading of &quot;how small I really am&quot; means he feels humbled by the sea and recognizes his insignificance on this planet. This is a common sentiment expressed in poetry, literature, and blogs.<br /> <br /> In English, the sentences ''I'm small'' and ''I'm big'' can, however, also mean ''my penis is small'' and ''[http://es.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=big&amp;defid=3086531 my penis is big]''.<br /> <br /> The final line in the comic: ''I should get one of those pumps''; could thus be understood to reference a {{w|penis pump}}, a device that is alleged to permanently increase the size of the male member.<br /> <br /> Even if Cueball is not literally saying that he has a small penis, men very commonly associate their own self-image with the size of their organ. Therefore, enlarging it would improve his self-image and make him feel less small.<br /> <br /> The title text is referencing a pump to drain the ocean. Cueball is unsatisfied with the sea intimidating him, and is turning his attention to &quot;putting the sea in its place&quot;. Of course this is probably impossible as the only place on Earth that will hold all that water is the sea itself.<br /> <br /> There's a bit of subversive humor, as most people will think of a ''water pump'' before a ''penis pump''; by specifying in the title text that the first pump is not for the sea, [[Randall]] is ensuring that it is possible for some people (with the right mindset) to understand the full joke.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Cueball stands on a beach at night, staring out across the moonlit ocean.]<br /> :Cueball: The sea always makes me realize<br /> :Cueball: How small I really am.<br /> :Cueball: I should get one of those pumps.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics with color]]<br /> [[Category:Penis]]</div>

Vctr https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=418:_Stove_Ownership&diff=85826 2015-03-08T04:53:53Z

<p>Vctr: </p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number =418<br /> | date =May 2, 2008<br /> | title =Stove Ownership<br /> | image =stove_ownership.png<br /> | titletext =Although maybe it's just a phase, like freshman year of college when I realized I could just buy frosting in a can.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> <br /> This comic is a subtle statement on the epiphany many have when they reach adulthood and are on their own for the first time: No one will tell you what to do! Nobody will, however, stop you from making those poor decisions you were refrained from prior to that independence. Eating bacon whenever one wants is among them. <br /> <br /> This line graph depicts [[Randall|Randall's]] health as a function of time after he gets to own a {{w|Kitchen stove|stove}} (or oven). The joke is that his health goes into an immediate deterioration the moment he realized that he could just cook bacon on his stove whenever he wants. When he says &quot;he could have bacon&quot;, he means he has both the will AND means, since the stove is now his own. Before the bacon revelation his health was actually improving - this may be explained because he was now cooking his own, healthy, food rather than getting pizza delivered or having other pre-made foods/junk food.<br /> <br /> {{w|Icing_(food)|Frosting}} (or icing) is something you use to decorate cakes. Many children enjoy frosting so much that they eat it off the cake and leave the rest behind. Frosting in a can, as mentioned in a title text is convenient because it is instant and not necessary to make from scratch. When Randall came to college he still had a very sweet tooth, so when he discovered frosting in a can, his health curve at the time also went into decline. However, that turned out to be a phase - he got over it - and he hopes it will be the same with cooking bacon.<br /> <br /> There is now also similarly instant, pre-made bacon that can be eaten right out of the box, eliminating the need to put in any effort to prepare it. The sudden drop in health, obviously, is due to the fact that most bacon is pork belly fat and, while high in protein, its irresistible flavor cannot compare to its high fat and cholesterol content. It is one of the unhealthiest things a person can binge on.{{Citation needed}} However, this is somewhat controversial. (Google &quot;Paleo Diet&quot;) In addition, porkless bacon made from turkey meat is also available in some places.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[A hand-drawn graph is shown.]<br /> :[On the y-axis:]<br /> :My overall health<br /> :[On the x-axis:]<br /> :Time<br /> :[The graph is generally steady rising through 3/4 of the x-axis, where it begins a steady decline. A stapled line marks the start of this decline. Below where the line crosses the x axis this decline is labeled:]<br /> :The day I realized I could cook bacon ''whenever I wanted''.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Charts]]<br /> [[Category:Comics with color]]</div>

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