https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=141.101.99.4&feedformat=atomexplain xkcd - User contributions [en]2024-03-29T05:45:32ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1511:_Spice_Girl&diff=896651511: Spice Girl2015-04-14T01:09:59Z<p>141.101.99.4: /* Transcript */ Trying again, without messing something up. The point being that there's definite controversy, so it can't be stated as definitive.)</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1511<br />
| date = April 13, 2015<br />
| title = Spice Girl <br />
| image = spice_girl.png<br />
| titletext = Haha, you'll see!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Is there one or more specific postapocalyptic film that has a scene akin to this?}}<br />
[[Randall]] is making a statement against Internet quizzes, such as "[[#See also|What Spice Girl Are You?]]".<br />
<br />
The {{w|Spice Girls}} are a British pop girl group formed in 1994. It consists of five girls who each have a "spice girl" nickname. The five girls with their respective nicknames are:<br />
*{{w|Mel B}} (MB) is "Scary Spice"<br />
*{{w|Mel C}} (MC) is "Sporty Spice"<br />
*{{w|Emma Bunton}} (Em) is "Baby Spice"<br />
*{{w|Geri Halliwell}} (G) is "Ginger Spice"<br />
*{{w|Victoria Beckham}} (V) is "Posh Spice"<br />
<br />
This is one example of a trend of online quizzes that would "identify" the user as one of a group based on a series of personality questions, including most often which member of a band, TV cast or film cast. In this comic, Randall is suggesting that in order to cope with what he considers to be irritating {{w|clickbait}} links to these quizzes, he imagines the link titles as being shouted through a door in a "postapocalyptic dystopia". This is a reference to a trope in movies set in such postapocalyptic settings (which Randall presumably enjoys more) in which the heroes must determine whether an unknown agent is friend or foe, which in some such media occurs by shouting through locked doors.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to the [http://lyrics.wikia.com/Spice_Girls:Wannabe lyrics] from the Spice Girls' debut single, ''{{w|Wannabe (song)|Wannabe}}'' (Listen to ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJLIiF15wjQ Wannabe on YouTube]'') Here below is the relevant excerpt from the song where the letters in the last four lines refer to the spice girls as given above. This rap {{w|bridge (music)|bridge}} is sung by Scary Spice except for the line with Easy V which is sung by Ginger Spice:<br />
:So here's a story from A to Z,<br />
:You wanna get with me You gotta listen carefully<br />
:We got Em in the place who likes it in your face<br />
:You got G like MC who likes it on an<br />
:Easy V doesn't come for free, she's a real lady<br />
:And as for me, '''ha ha, you'll see'''<br />
<br />
These lyrics function as a little introduction to the then less well known girl group. The final line takes on a threat-like tone in this new context of the comic. And it doesn't help that it is Scary Spice who sings it.<br />
<br />
The text may seem a little confusing to understand, especially the line that finishes ''on an''. According to another lyrics-site, which also has [http://genius.com/3134866 explanations] to some parts of the text, it means that G and MC likes it (sex) together with {{w|MDMA|ecstasy}} - as "On an E" is slang for being on ecstasy (see it used in this [https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090518130834AA0QdJD discussion]). They could not sing this directly without resulting in a PG rating, thus they inserted the "E" in the next line as '''E'''asy V, a line which is even sung by another spice girl, Ginger spice, where the rest of this {{w|bridge (music)|bridge}} is sung by Scary spice.<br />
<br />
''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SQYLHWo8TA The Merciful One]'' could be a reference to the song with the same name by {{w|Zohar (band)|Zohar}}, another British music ensemble. This song is very slow and easy compared to ''Wannabe''.<br />
<br />
There are (at least) two ways of interpreting this comic, as it is not initially fully clear whether the "speech line" in the comic is coming from [[Cueball]] or through the wall adjacent to him.<br />
<br />
===The shout comes from outside===<br />
In this interpretation, the question is shouted from outside and Megan is the Spice Girl. The quiz title question is being shouted by an angry agent or crowd through a door in a post-{{w|Apocalypse|apocalyptic}} world at a charged time. Cueball and Megan Spice don't have any intention to answer. In this interpretation "Megan Spice" is preparing for the worst by loading her shotgun to prepare in case whoever is outside gets in.<br />
<br />
===The shout comes from Cueball===<br />
<br />
Note that the four little lines in Cueball's question ''could'' suggest the words come through the wall, and therefore, this interpretation would not be correct. However, they differ in character and possible intention from the through-the-door lines, so the question still remains open whether they just add to the indications of shouting or vocal urgency instead.<br />
<br />
====Cueball shouts and the person thumping is a Spice Girl====<br />
Cueball is shouting the question through a door in a post-{{w|Apocalypse|apocalyptic}} world at a charged time, in order to make sure the one he lets in is not some evil person but a merciful one. The stakes would be higher and each answer would be fraught with dangerous meaning. It would thus also be much more fun taking the quiz! In this comic, [[Megan]] is preparing for the worst by loading her shotgun, while a, possibly dangerous, Spice Girl is knocking on their door.<br />
<br />
====Cueball shouts and Megan is a Spice Girl====<br />
The quiz title question is being shouted by Cueball. In this interpretation we don't know if Megan Spice will attack Cueball (Evil Spice) or will attack the crowd to save Cueball, (Merciful Spice). This would be the most likely interpretation, if it weren't for the word "through" in the comic text. Words are shouted '''through''' a door.<br />
<br />
===Transcript===<br />
:[Cueball is trying to barricade a door with his own body (although it already has a bar in front of it). He is in a room that is deteriorating with Megan who is loading a shotgun while sitting behind some sort of box.]<br />
:Knocking on the door: '''THUMP THUMP'''<br />
:Voice (see interpretations above): '''Which Spice Girl are you?!'''<br />
:Voice: The merciful one, or the one who started this war?<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the frame:]<br />
:'''When I see those quiz titles, I like to imagine they're'''<br />
:'''being shouted through a door in a postapocalyptic dystopia.'''<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
*''What spice girl are you?'' quizzes<br />
**[http://www.buzzfeed.com/lyapalater/which-spice-girl-are-you#.gbkv2p3jDX Buzzfeed]<br />
**[http://www.zimbio.com/quiz/w-MjcRyEoFZ/Which+Spice+Girl+Are+You Zimbio]<br />
*Kidspot, ''[http://www.kidspot.com.au/the-spice-girls-and-10-other-mummy-types-you-might-know/ The Spice Girls and 10 other mummy types you might know];'' Baby Mummy, Sporty Mummy, Scary Mummy, Posh Mummy, Ginger Mummy and 10 others.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Music]]<br />
[[Category:Songs]]</div>141.101.99.4https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1511:_Spice_Girl&diff=896641511: Spice Girl2015-04-14T01:07:41Z<p>141.101.99.4: Undo revision 89663 by 141.101.99.4 (talk) (My own revision, apparently it messed something else up.)</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1511<br />
| date = April 13, 2015<br />
| title = Spice Girl <br />
| image = spice_girl.png<br />
| titletext = Haha, you'll see!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Is there one or more specific postapocalyptic film that has a scene akin to this?}}<br />
[[Randall]] is making a statement against Internet quizzes, such as "[[#See also|What Spice Girl Are You?]]".<br />
<br />
The {{w|Spice Girls}} are a British pop girl group formed in 1994. It consists of five girls who each have a "spice girl" nickname. The five girls with their respective nicknames are:<br />
*{{w|Mel B}} (MB) is "Scary Spice"<br />
*{{w|Mel C}} (MC) is "Sporty Spice"<br />
*{{w|Emma Bunton}} (Em) is "Baby Spice"<br />
*{{w|Geri Halliwell}} (G) is "Ginger Spice"<br />
*{{w|Victoria Beckham}} (V) is "Posh Spice"<br />
<br />
This is one example of a trend of online quizzes that would "identify" the user as one of a group based on a series of personality questions, including most often which member of a band, TV cast or film cast. In this comic, Randall is suggesting that in order to cope with what he considers to be irritating {{w|clickbait}} links to these quizzes, he imagines the link titles as being shouted through a door in a "postapocalyptic dystopia". This is a reference to a trope in movies set in such postapocalyptic settings (which Randall presumably enjoys more) in which the heroes must determine whether an unknown agent is friend or foe, which in some such media occurs by shouting through locked doors.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to the [http://lyrics.wikia.com/Spice_Girls:Wannabe lyrics] from the Spice Girls' debut single, ''{{w|Wannabe (song)|Wannabe}}'' (Listen to ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJLIiF15wjQ Wannabe on YouTube]'') Here below is the relevant excerpt from the song where the letters in the last four lines refer to the spice girls as given above. This rap {{w|bridge (music)|bridge}} is sung by Scary Spice except for the line with Easy V which is sung by Ginger Spice:<br />
:So here's a story from A to Z,<br />
:You wanna get with me You gotta listen carefully<br />
:We got Em in the place who likes it in your face<br />
:You got G like MC who likes it on an<br />
:Easy V doesn't come for free, she's a real lady<br />
:And as for me, '''ha ha, you'll see'''<br />
<br />
These lyrics function as a little introduction to the then less well known girl group. The final line takes on a threat-like tone in this new context of the comic. And it doesn't help that it is Scary Spice who sings it.<br />
<br />
The text may seem a little confusing to understand, especially the line that finishes ''on an''. According to another lyrics-site, which also has [http://genius.com/3134866 explanations] to some parts of the text, it means that G and MC likes it (sex) together with {{w|MDMA|ecstasy}} - as "On an E" is slang for being on ecstasy (see it used in this [https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090518130834AA0QdJD discussion]). They could not sing this directly without resulting in a PG rating, thus they inserted the "E" in the next line as '''E'''asy V, a line which is even sung by another spice girl, Ginger spice, where the rest of this {{w|bridge (music)|bridge}} is sung by Scary spice.<br />
<br />
''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SQYLHWo8TA The Merciful One]'' could be a reference to the song with the same name by {{w|Zohar (band)|Zohar}}, another British music ensemble. This song is very slow and easy compared to ''Wannabe''.<br />
<br />
There are (at least) two ways of interpreting this comic, as it is not initially fully clear whether the "speech line" in the comic is coming from [[Cueball]] or through the wall adjacent to him.<br />
<br />
===The shout comes from outside===<br />
In this interpretation, the question is shouted from outside and Megan is the Spice Girl. The quiz title question is being shouted by an angry agent or crowd through a door in a post-{{w|Apocalypse|apocalyptic}} world at a charged time. Cueball and Megan Spice don't have any intention to answer. In this interpretation "Megan Spice" is preparing for the worst by loading her shotgun to prepare in case whoever is outside gets in.<br />
<br />
===The shout comes from Cueball===<br />
<br />
Note that the four little lines in Cueball's question ''could'' suggest the words come through the wall, and therefore, this interpretation would not be correct. However, they differ in character and possible intention from the through-the-door lines, so the question still remains open whether they just add to the indications of shouting or vocal urgency instead.<br />
<br />
====Cueball shouts and the person thumping is a Spice Girl====<br />
Cueball is shouting the question through a door in a post-{{w|Apocalypse|apocalyptic}} world at a charged time, in order to make sure the one he lets in is not some evil person but a merciful one. The stakes would be higher and each answer would be fraught with dangerous meaning. It would thus also be much more fun taking the quiz! In this comic, [[Megan]] is preparing for the worst by loading her shotgun, while a, possibly dangerous, Spice Girl is knocking on their door.<br />
<br />
====Cueball shouts and Megan is a Spice Girl====<br />
The quiz title question is being shouted by Cueball. In this interpretation we don't know if Megan Spice will attack Cueball (Evil Spice) or will attack the crowd to save Cueball, (Merciful Spice). This would be the most likely interpretation, if it weren't for the word "through" in the comic text. Words are shouted '''through''' a door.<br />
<br />
===Transcript===<br />
:[Cueball is trying to barricade a door with his own body (although it already has a bar in front of it). He is in a room that is deteriorating with Megan who is loading a shotgun while sitting behind some sort of box.]<br />
:Knocking on the door: '''THUMP THUMP'''<br />
:Voice through the door: '''Which Spice Girl are you?!'''<br />
:Voice through the door: The merciful one, or the one who started this war?<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the frame:]<br />
:'''When I see those quiz titles, I like to imagine they're'''<br />
:'''being shouted through a door in a postapocalyptic dystopia.'''<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
*''What spice girl are you?'' quizzes<br />
**[http://www.buzzfeed.com/lyapalater/which-spice-girl-are-you#.gbkv2p3jDX Buzzfeed]<br />
**[http://www.zimbio.com/quiz/w-MjcRyEoFZ/Which+Spice+Girl+Are+You Zimbio]<br />
*Kidspot, ''[http://www.kidspot.com.au/the-spice-girls-and-10-other-mummy-types-you-might-know/ The Spice Girls and 10 other mummy types you might know];'' Baby Mummy, Sporty Mummy, Scary Mummy, Posh Mummy, Ginger Mummy and 10 others.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Music]]<br />
[[Category:Songs]]</div>141.101.99.4https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1511:_Spice_Girl&diff=896631511: Spice Girl2015-04-14T01:05:39Z<p>141.101.99.4: It's still far from clear whether it's "Voice through the door(/wall)" or "Voice of Cueball".</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1511<br />
| date = April 13, 2015<br />
| title = Spice Girl <br />
| image = spice_girl.png<br />
| titletext = Haha, you'll see!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Is there one or more specific postapocalyptic film that has a scene akin to this?}}<br />
[[Randall]] is making a statement against Internet quizzes, such as "[[#See also|What Spice Girl Are You?]]".<br />
<br />
The {{w|Spice Girls}} are a British pop girl group formed in 1994. It consists of five girls who each have a "spice girl" nickname. The five girls with their respective nicknames are:<br />
*{{w|Mel B}} (MB) is "Scary Spice"<br />
*{{w|Mel C}} (MC) is "Sporty Spice"<br />
*{{w|Emma Bunton}} (Em) is "Baby Spice"<br />
*{{w|Geri Halliwell}} (G) is "Ginger Spice"<br />
*{{w|Victoria Beckham}} (V) is "Posh Spice"<br />
<br />
This is one example of a trend of online quizzes that would "identify" the user as one of a group based on a series of personality questions, including most often which member of a band, TV cast or film cast. In this comic, Randall is suggesting that in order to cope with what he considers to be irritating {{w|clickbait}} links to these quizzes, he imagines the link titles as being shouted through a door in a "postapocalyptic dystopia". This is a reference to a trope in movies set in such postapocalyptic settings (which Randall presumably enjoys more) in which the heroes must determine whether an unknown agent is friend or foe, which in some such media occurs by shouting through locked doors.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to the [http://lyrics.wikia.com/Spice_Girls:Wannabe lyrics] from the Spice Girls' debut single, ''{{w|Wannabe (song)|Wannabe}}'' (Listen to ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJLIiF15wjQ Wannabe on YouTube]'') Here below is the relevant excerpt from the song where the letters in the last four lines refer to the spice girls as given above. This rap {{w|bridge (music)|bridge}} is sung by Scary Spice except for the line with Easy V which is sung by Ginger Spice:<br />
:So here's a story from A to Z,<br />
:You wanna get with me You gotta listen carefully<br />
:We got Em in the place who likes it in your face<br />
:You got G like MC who likes it on an<br />
:Easy V doesn't come for free, she's a real lady<br />
:And as for me, '''ha ha, you'll see'''<br />
<br />
These lyrics function as a little introduction to the then less well known girl group. The final line takes on a threat-like tone in this new context of the comic. And it doesn't help that it is Scary Spice who sings it.<br />
<br />
The text may seem a little confusing to understand, especially the line that finishes ''on an''. According to another lyrics-site, which also has [http://genius.com/3134866 explanations] to some parts of the text, it means that G and MC likes it (sex) together with {{w|MDMA|ecstasy}} - as "On an E" is slang for being on ecstasy (see it used in this [https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090518130834AA0QdJD discussion]). They could not sing this directly without resulting in a PG rating, thus they inserted the "E" in the next line as '''E'''asy V, a line which is even sung by another spice girl, Ginger spice, where the rest of this {{w|bridge (music)|bridge}} is sung by Scary spice.<br />
<br />
''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SQYLHWo8TA The Merciful One]'' could be a reference to the song with the same name by {{w|Zohar (band)|Zohar}}, another British music ensemble. This song is very slow and easy compared to ''Wannabe''.<br />
<br />
There are (at least) two ways of interpreting this comic, as it is not fully clear whether the "speech line" in the comic is coming from [[Cueball]] or through the wall adjacent to him.<br />
<br />
===Cueball shouts and the person thumping is a Spice Girl===<br />
<br />
Cueball is shouting the question through a door in a post-{{w|Apocalypse|apocalyptic}} world at a charged time, in order to make sure the one he lets in is not some evil person but a merciful one. The stakes would be higher and each answer would be fraught with dangerous meaning. It would thus also be much more fun taking the quiz! In this comic, [[Megan]] is preparing for the worst by loading her shotgun, while a, possibly dangerous, Spice Girl is knocking on their door.<br />
<br />
Note that the four little lines in Cueball's question actually suggest the words come through the wall, and therefore, this interpretation would not be correct.<br />
<br />
===The question is shouted from outside and Megan is the Spice Girl===<br />
The quiz title question is being shouted by an angry agent or crowd through a door in a post-{{w|Apocalypse|apocalyptic}} world at a charged time. Cueball and Megan Spice don't have any intention to answer. In this interpretation "Megan Spice" is preparing for the worst by loading her shotgun to prepare in case whoever is outside gets in.<br />
<br />
===Transcript===<br />
:[Cueball is trying to barricade a door with his own body (although it already has a bar in front of it). He is in a room that is deteriorating with Megan who is loading a shotgun while sitting behind some sort of box.]<br />
:Knocking on the door: '''THUMP THUMP'''<br />
:Voice (see interpretation notes above): '''Which Spice Girl are you?!'''<br />
:Voice: The merciful one, or the one who started this war?<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the frame:]<br />
:'''When I see those quiz titles, I like to imagine they're'''<br />
:'''being shouted through a door in a postapocalyptic dystopia.'''<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
*''What spice girl are you?'' quizzes<br />
**[http://www.buzzfeed.com/lyapalater/which-spice-girl-are-you#.gbkv2p3jDX Buzzfeed]<br />
**[http://www.zimbio.com/quiz/w-MjcRyEoFZ/Which+Spice+Girl+Are+You Zimbio]<br />
*Kidspot, ''[http://www.kidspot.com.au/the-spice-girls-and-10-other-mummy-types-you-might-know/ The Spice Girls and 10 other mummy types you might know];'' Baby Mummy, Sporty Mummy, Scary Mummy, Posh Mummy, Ginger Mummy and 10 others.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Music]]<br />
[[Category:Songs]]</div>141.101.99.4https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1511:_Spice_Girl&diff=896621511: Spice Girl2015-04-14T01:00:35Z<p>141.101.99.4: /* The shout comes from Cueball */ I'm still open to either interpretation, but the differences in possible intention need to be acknowledged.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1511<br />
| date = April 13, 2015<br />
| title = Spice Girl <br />
| image = spice_girl.png<br />
| titletext = Haha, you'll see!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Is there one or more specific postapocalyptic film that has a scene akin to this?}}<br />
[[Randall]] is making a statement against Internet quizzes, such as "[[#See also|What Spice Girl Are You?]]".<br />
<br />
The {{w|Spice Girls}} are a British pop girl group formed in 1994. It consists of five girls who each have a "spice girl" nickname. The five girls with their respective nicknames are:<br />
*{{w|Mel B}} (MB) is "Scary Spice"<br />
*{{w|Mel C}} (MC) is "Sporty Spice"<br />
*{{w|Emma Bunton}} (Em) is "Baby Spice"<br />
*{{w|Geri Halliwell}} (G) is "Ginger Spice"<br />
*{{w|Victoria Beckham}} (V) is "Posh Spice"<br />
<br />
This is one example of a trend of online quizzes that would "identify" the user as one of a group based on a series of personality questions, including most often which member of a band, TV cast or film cast. In this comic, Randall is suggesting that in order to cope with what he considers to be irritating {{w|clickbait}} links to these quizzes, he imagines the link titles as being shouted through a door in a "postapocalyptic dystopia". This is a reference to a trope in movies set in such postapocalyptic settings (which Randall presumably enjoys more) in which the heroes must determine whether an unknown agent is friend or foe, which in some such media occurs by shouting through locked doors.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to the [http://lyrics.wikia.com/Spice_Girls:Wannabe lyrics] from the Spice Girls' debut single, ''{{w|Wannabe (song)|Wannabe}}'' (Listen to ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJLIiF15wjQ Wannabe on YouTube]'') Here below is the relevant excerpt from the song where the letters in the last four lines refer to the spice girls as given above. This rap {{w|bridge (music)|bridge}} is sung by Scary Spice except for the line with Easy V which is sung by Ginger Spice:<br />
:So here's a story from A to Z,<br />
:You wanna get with me You gotta listen carefully<br />
:We got Em in the place who likes it in your face<br />
:You got G like MC who likes it on an<br />
:Easy V doesn't come for free, she's a real lady<br />
:And as for me, '''ha ha, you'll see'''<br />
<br />
These lyrics function as a little introduction to the then less well known girl group. The final line takes on a threat-like tone in this new context of the comic. And it doesn't help that it is Scary Spice who sings it.<br />
<br />
The text may seem a little confusing to understand, especially the line that finishes ''on an''. According to another lyrics-site, which also has [http://genius.com/3134866 explanations] to some parts of the text, it means that G and MC likes it (sex) together with {{w|MDMA|ecstasy}} - as "On an E" is slang for being on ecstasy (see it used in this [https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090518130834AA0QdJD discussion]). They could not sing this directly without resulting in a PG rating, thus they inserted the "E" in the next line as '''E'''asy V, a line which is even sung by another spice girl, Ginger spice, where the rest of this {{w|bridge (music)|bridge}} is sung by Scary spice.<br />
<br />
''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SQYLHWo8TA The Merciful One]'' could be a reference to the song with the same name by {{w|Zohar (band)|Zohar}}, another British music ensemble. This song is very slow and easy compared to ''Wannabe''.<br />
<br />
There are (at least) two ways of interpreting this comic, as it is not initially fully clear whether the "speech line" in the comic is coming from [[Cueball]] or through the wall adjacent to him.<br />
<br />
===The shout comes from outside===<br />
In this interpretation, the question is shouted from outside and Megan is the Spice Girl. The quiz title question is being shouted by an angry agent or crowd through a door in a post-{{w|Apocalypse|apocalyptic}} world at a charged time. Cueball and Megan Spice don't have any intention to answer. In this interpretation "Megan Spice" is preparing for the worst by loading her shotgun to prepare in case whoever is outside gets in.<br />
<br />
===The shout comes from Cueball===<br />
<br />
Note that the four little lines in Cueball's question ''could'' suggest the words come through the wall, and therefore, this interpretation would not be correct. However, they differ in character and possible intention from the through-the-door lines, so the question still remains open whether they just add to the indications of shouting or vocal urgency instead.<br />
<br />
====Cueball shouts and the person thumping is a Spice Girl====<br />
Cueball is shouting the question through a door in a post-{{w|Apocalypse|apocalyptic}} world at a charged time, in order to make sure the one he lets in is not some evil person but a merciful one. The stakes would be higher and each answer would be fraught with dangerous meaning. It would thus also be much more fun taking the quiz! In this comic, [[Megan]] is preparing for the worst by loading her shotgun, while a, possibly dangerous, Spice Girl is knocking on their door.<br />
<br />
====Cueball shouts and Megan is a Spice Girl====<br />
The quiz title question is being shouted by Cueball. In this interpretation we don't know if Megan Spice will attack Cueball (Evil Spice) or will attack the crowd to save Cueball, (Merciful Spice). This would be the most likely interpretation, if it weren't for the word "through" in the comic text. Words are shouted '''through''' a door.<br />
<br />
===Transcript===<br />
:[Cueball is trying to barricade a door with his own body (although it already has a bar in front of it). He is in a room that is deteriorating with Megan who is loading a shotgun while sitting behind some sort of box.]<br />
:Knocking on the door: '''THUMP THUMP'''<br />
:Voice through the door: '''Which Spice Girl are you?!'''<br />
:Voice through the door: The merciful one, or the one who started this war?<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the frame:]<br />
:'''When I see those quiz titles, I like to imagine they're'''<br />
:'''being shouted through a door in a postapocalyptic dystopia.'''<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
*''What spice girl are you?'' quizzes<br />
**[http://www.buzzfeed.com/lyapalater/which-spice-girl-are-you#.gbkv2p3jDX Buzzfeed]<br />
**[http://www.zimbio.com/quiz/w-MjcRyEoFZ/Which+Spice+Girl+Are+You Zimbio]<br />
*Kidspot, ''[http://www.kidspot.com.au/the-spice-girls-and-10-other-mummy-types-you-might-know/ The Spice Girls and 10 other mummy types you might know];'' Baby Mummy, Sporty Mummy, Scary Mummy, Posh Mummy, Ginger Mummy and 10 others.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Music]]<br />
[[Category:Songs]]</div>141.101.99.4https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1511:_Spice_Girl&diff=89637Talk:1511: Spice Girl2015-04-13T15:26:04Z<p>141.101.99.4: </p>
<hr />
<div>Not being shouted (from without, at either cueball or his female companion) by a post-apocalyptic crowd, surely, but by Cueball (from within, at the post-apocalyptic person of whom he is currently trying to deny entry whilst possibly necessary weaponry is being loaded)... Or so I read it. If that makes sense. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.4|141.101.99.4]] 05:43, 13 April 2015 (UTC)<br />
:It does look like that, but the caption states "through a door". -- microslayer<br />
::The little lines around the origin point of the speech "bubble" is usually used in XKCD to indicate that the sound is coming through the surface or offscreen (see Writers Strike (360) and Time Vulture (926)). -Pennpenn [[Special:Contributions/108.162.250.155|108.162.250.155]] 06:52, 13 April 2015 (UTC)<br />
:::Except that I read the ''caption'' as meaning "through a door" by our Cueball, i.e. what someone like him would be shouting ''out'', plosively. (It's "through the wall", anyway, if that's a 'through something' speech-bubble-originator-indicator (like the "THUMP"s are) rather than 'rather loudly' emphasis that I'd expect to be associated with Cueball. They are shown differently, with the non-THUMP indicator not really having the same appearance as all the other ones otherwise mentioned. Even in the very same panel.) Anyway, just my POV. Needs an Official Transcript to be sure, I suppose. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.4|141.101.99.4]] 07:12, 13 April 2015 (UTC)<br />
::::The speak line clearly shows it is Cueball who shouts this quiz title through a door. No question is it like this, so I have corrected the transcript accordingly.--[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 08:54, 13 April 2015 (UTC)<br />
:::::I disagree. It's not that clear. The marks around the end of the speech line indicate the question is being shouted from the other side of the wall, and I think - but can't be certain - that the line terminates near Cue Ball's head looks like to me like ambiguous drawing by the cartoonist. That, and the "through the door" make me think that Cue Ball is just silently holding the door shut against the rampaging hoards, who are doing all the shouting.<br />
<br />
::::::I agree that it is unclear. See comic [[1493]]. Randall has used those little "blast" lines USUALLY to denote off-screen speech, but in that comic (the first example I found going backwards), he uses it directly on Cueball. That said, most uses are for sound effects or off-screen/through wall speech. I expected to find it used for "shouting", but Cueball isn't even shouting in that comic. Not sure why Randall used it. Another example is [[1393]]. I initially read this comic as Cueball speaking, otherwise Randally would have drawn the line over Cueball's head to the door, but I don't think the other interpretation is necessarily wrong. I do think the third one had to go though. Cueball shouting to Megan doesn't line up with the caption of "through the door". [[User:TheHYPO|TheHYPO]] ([[User talk:TheHYPO|talk]]) 14:28, 13 April 2015 (UTC)<br />
:::::::I also find it to be confusing. I first thought it was Cueball that was doing the shouting but after reading this page I now see that the little marks around the speech line are usually used when the speaker is off panel or inside of something (car or coming from PC, etc). I went looking through back comics to see if any yelling was indicated differently and found one where the character was not yelling but the speech line has the same little marks (First panel of Fundamental Forces http://xkcd.com/1489/). In that case it looks like a small mistake, but in this comic it just leaves me unsure who is speaking. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.171|108.162.221.171]] 14:39, 13 April 2015 (UTC)Agent0013<br />
::::::: I am satisfied with the two different explanations currently being shown, given the controversy. However, to continue to support 'my' interpretation, do note the difference between the *THUMP* origins (unidirectionally starred lines, definitely on the door) and the question's origins (splayed lines, and an origin on the surface of a wall... ''coincidentally'' in the right place to be confused with originating from Cueball's mouth?). I'd accept that there's argument (before anyone else gives it) that because of Cueball's head being where it is one might not see the leftward-sloping asterism lines, but I don't think it's close enough to have obscured this (and could have been easily drawn to ''avoid'' such an illustration problem, as might a way to have drawn it to be unconfusingly not associated with Cueball's head at all). Tell you what, let's see if we can get it via the 3d.xkcd.com interface... ''Then'' we might know... ;) [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.4|141.101.99.4]] 15:26, 13 April 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:: [[Special:Contributions/108.162.250.155|108.162.250.155]] and [[Special:Contributions/108.162.229.123|108.162.229.123]] are correct, the shouting is coming from outside the room. Randall/Cueball imagines he is hearing quiz titles "being shouted," he is not imagining shouting them himself. [[User:Pesthouse|Pesthouse]] ([[User talk:Pesthouse|talk]]) 11:56, 13 April 2015 (UTC)<br />
::: Furthermore, ''"in order to make sure the one you '''let in''' is not some scary person but a merciful one"'' makes no sense because the Spice Girl in question is clearly meant to be the girl loading the gun behind the box. She's already in the room.<br />
:::: Hmm, or maybe not. I thought the hair was too different from Megan's usual style, but it could be her. So now I'm about 50/50 on this one. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.229.123|108.162.229.123]] 12:28, 13 April 2015 (UTC)<br />
::::There is no such character as Megan. Please see [[Megan]]. I quote ""Megan" does not necessarily always represent the same character from comic to comic. She is essentially the female equivalent of Cueball, representing the every-woman to his everyman.". [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.201|108.162.221.201]] 13:08, 13 April 2015 (UTC)<br />
I don't know much about the Spice Girls, but the comic seems to be referring to two; Is there a "merciful" Spice Girl? Is there one likely to "start a war"? And is there a "war" that is specifically to do with the Spice Girls? -[[Special:Contributions/141.101.106.95|141.101.106.95]] 08:01, 13 April 2015 (UTC)<br />
What about Camp Spice??<br />
<br />
<br />
The comic is clearly inventing new Spice Girls: the original Spice Girls didn't have a merciful one, or an evil one. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.201|108.162.221.201]] 13:10, 13 April 2015 (UTC)<br />
:Disagree. In real life, there has not been a war started by ANY spice girl. This is clearly fantasy. It is just as likely that Randall is imagining the Spice Girls rise to power and in their newfound power, become associated with new traits (e.g. one is a merciful and one starts a war - in Cueball's fantasy scenario, there are only two spice girls left, or two who could possibly be at the door). There is no basis to assume this is a reference to invented new spice girls.<br />
<br />
: I also think that if Randall intended to have the quiz's answers make sense, it would have to be the latter, since the quiz won't have an "evil" or "merciful" spice. That said, given Randall's comment about needing to make the link titles less irritating, it's unlikely he would actually do the quiz. He just wants to be less annoyed while skimming his, Facebook feed (for example) [[User:TheHYPO|TheHYPO]] ([[User talk:TheHYPO|talk]]) 14:33, 13 April 2015 (UTC)</div>141.101.99.4https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1511:_Spice_Girl&diff=89538Talk:1511: Spice Girl2015-04-13T07:12:42Z<p>141.101.99.4: </p>
<hr />
<div>Not being shouted (from without, at either cueball or his female companion) by a post-apocalyptic crowd, surely, but by Cueball (from within, at the post-apocalyptic person of whom he is currently trying to deny entry whilst possibly necessary weaponry is being loaded)... Or so I read it. If that makes sense. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.4|141.101.99.4]] 05:43, 13 April 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
It does look like that, but the caption states "through a door". -- microslayer<br />
<br />
The little lines around the origin point of the speech "bubble" is usually used in XKCD to indicate that the sound is coming through the surface or offscreen (see Writers Strike (360) and Time Vulture (926)). -Pennpenn [[Special:Contributions/108.162.250.155|108.162.250.155]] 06:52, 13 April 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:Except that I read the ''caption'' as meaning "through a door" by our Cueball, i.e. what someone like him would be shouting ''out'', plosively. (It's "through the wall", anyway, if that's a 'through something' speech-bubble-originator-indicator (like the "THUMP"s are) rather than 'rather loudly' emphasis that I'd expect to be associated with Cueball. They are shown differently, with the non-THUMP indicator not really having the same appearance as all the other ones otherwise mentioned. Even in the very same panel.) Anyway, just my POV. Needs an Official Transcript to be sure, I suppose. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.4|141.101.99.4]] 07:12, 13 April 2015 (UTC)</div>141.101.99.4https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1511:_Spice_Girl&diff=89526Talk:1511: Spice Girl2015-04-13T05:43:06Z<p>141.101.99.4: Created page with "Not being shouted (from without, at either cueball or his female companion) by a post-apocalyptic crowd, surely, but by Cueball (from within, at the post-apocalyptic person of..."</p>
<hr />
<div>Not being shouted (from without, at either cueball or his female companion) by a post-apocalyptic crowd, surely, but by Cueball (from within, at the post-apocalyptic person of whom he is currently trying to deny entry whilst possibly necessary weaponry is being loaded)... Or so I read it. If that makes sense. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.4|141.101.99.4]] 05:43, 13 April 2015 (UTC)</div>141.101.99.4https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1496:_Art_Project&diff=85875Talk:1496: Art Project2015-03-09T14:14:47Z<p>141.101.99.4: </p>
<hr />
<div>What is "Cutie"? If we're introducing a new character name, I'd say it would be the last "Megan". Her hair is longer and therefore not the prototypical Megan. Should the names be switched? [[User:Azule|Azule]] ([[User talk:Azule|talk]]) 06:19, 9 March 2015 (UTC)<br />
:Someone on the internet is wrong - so I'm switching things around. Megan is number 2, and Danish is number 4. [[User:Pmw57|Pmw57]] ([[User talk:Pmw57|talk]]) 07:33, 9 March 2015 (UTC)<br />
:Not convinced. I think number 2 is a character we haven't seen before, and number 4 is Megan. Her hair's not much longer than usual, and a LOT shorter than Danish's.[[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.4|141.101.99.4]] 14:14, 9 March 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The first one looks like a selfie?--[[Special:Contributions/108.162.250.144|108.162.250.144]] 06:43, 9 March 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The art projects all appear to be examples of narcissism, as the artists are only showing themselves. {{unsigned ip|108.162.216.190}}<br />
<br />
This comic is obviously poking fun at those projects of people taking a photo of themselves every day for several months/years and upload the resulting video to YouTube. --[[User:NeatNit|NeatNit]] ([[User talk:NeatNit|talk]]) 08:13, 9 March 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The last seems to be a reference to "Andy Warhol eating a Hamburger" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ejr9KBQzQPM <br />
[[Special:Contributions/108.162.254.30|108.162.254.30]] 08:38, 9 March 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Isn't it (partially) satire on "Boyhood"? --[[User:JakubNarebski|JakubNarebski]] ([[User talk:JakubNarebski|talk]]) 08:42, 9 March 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The first art project also reminds me of the performance of John Cage's A(s)SL(ow)(a)SP(ossible) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As_Slow_as_Possible) in Halberstadt which has a sceduled duration of 639 years.--[[Special:Contributions/108.162.254.32|108.162.254.32]] 10:01, 9 March 2015 (UTC)</div>141.101.99.4https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1490:_Atoms&diff=84971Talk:1490: Atoms2015-02-23T14:12:33Z<p>141.101.99.4: Another comment on the ordering of the elements</p>
<hr />
<div>I believe that the "Too Much Zinc?" - is an answer to what might be wrong with him, not a retort to Megan's tone. In fact, zinc is linked to eyesight, see for instance https://www.nei.nih.gov/news/pressreleases/101201 and other sources, and this "zinc overdose" might be believed by white beret guy to relate to his "super-human" eyesight? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.80.53|141.101.80.53]]<br />
<br />
<br />
"My dad FORM the dog"? Typo in the actual comic or just the wiki?<br />
[[Special:Contributions/199.27.128.240|199.27.128.240]] 05:47, 23 February 2015 (UTC)Anonymous<br />
: The actual comment, the wiki just grabs what the website has listed.--[[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.24|108.162.216.24]] 05:56, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
plutonium = radiation exposure, or pacemaker?<br />
: Radiation exposure wouldn't give you plutonium, maybe the byproducts of its fission. I'm thinking that, whatever it is, it mutated Beret Guy in the womb, hence why he has this strange superpower.--[[User:Druid816|Druid816]] ([[User talk:Druid816|talk]]) 06:52, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
: Referencing Pink Floyd's 1970 album 'Atom Heart Mother' I think.--[[Special:Contributions/108.162.225.122|108.162.225.122]] 07:25, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
this guy sees by which elements are contained, not by which visible light?<br />
--[[Special:Contributions/199.27.128.172|199.27.128.172]] 06:14, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Are the elements actually representing their atomic symbols? Be, O, S, Z? Not sure what the metal-in-the-face comment is about.<br />
<br />
--[[Special:Contributions/108.162.250.156|108.162.250.156]] 07:47, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
: A deliberate BeOS reference? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.4|141.101.99.4]] 14:12, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
: Metal in the face might be a comment on braces, and how uncomfortable people are about having noticable ones. --<br />
[[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.41|141.101.104.41]] 08:37, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
: (Dental) fillings are explicitly mentioned as a possible source of metal. --[[Special:Contributions/188.114.102.75|188.114.102.75]] 09:26, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
Perhaps the plutonium is coming from his mother smoking? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.102|141.101.99.102]] 08:51, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unethical_human_experimentation_in_the_United_States#Plutonium_experiments [[User:Andries|Andries]] ([[User talk:Andries|talk]]) 09:02, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I read it as both his mother and him beeing a robot or cyborg, which she never told him. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.75.77|141.101.75.77]] 09:30, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
: Yes, I rather thought it might be a Terminator 2 reference (based on the scene in which the T-1000 replaces John Connor's mother.) [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.4|141.101.99.4]] 14:12, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
-- did the radiation give him those superpowers? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.222.204|108.162.222.204]] 11:05, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
He can't distinguish Dad and Dog, so he wasn't a genious back then. So what if the Plutonium wasn't a super complex mysterium, just one of the most important things for an infant, her breasts (in this case maby big ons).<br />
[[Special:Contributions/141.101.92.108|141.101.92.108]] 11:44, 23 February 2015 (UTC) Pietro<br />
<br />
I agree with 141.101.80.53. Beret Guy is answering Megan's question about what is wrong with him, not being arrogant. Arrogant would be out of character for Beret Guy, but giving an unusual answer to a rhetorical question would be true to character. [[User:Mwburden|mwburden]] ([[User talk:Mwburden|talk]]) 12:42, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Perhaps too oddball a theory, but maybe his mom was actually a spacecraft powered by plutonium (e.g. [[Wikipedia:Galileo (spacecraft)#Electrical_power | Galileo(spacecraft)]]), making his father a planet and the dog a moon.<br />
[[Special:Contributions/173.245.56.182|173.245.56.182]] 12:43, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
:Wouldn't the dog need to be a dwarf planet? :) [[Special:Contributions/108.162.250.156|108.162.250.156]] 12:54, 23 February 2015 (UTC)</div>141.101.99.4https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1490:_Atoms&diff=84969Talk:1490: Atoms2015-02-23T14:08:01Z<p>141.101.99.4: Theory about the mouseover text</p>
<hr />
<div>I believe that the "Too Much Zinc?" - is an answer to what might be wrong with him, not a retort to Megan's tone. In fact, zinc is linked to eyesight, see for instance https://www.nei.nih.gov/news/pressreleases/101201 and other sources, and this "zinc overdose" might be believed by white beret guy to relate to his "super-human" eyesight? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.80.53|141.101.80.53]]<br />
<br />
<br />
"My dad FORM the dog"? Typo in the actual comic or just the wiki?<br />
[[Special:Contributions/199.27.128.240|199.27.128.240]] 05:47, 23 February 2015 (UTC)Anonymous<br />
: The actual comment, the wiki just grabs what the website has listed.--[[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.24|108.162.216.24]] 05:56, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
plutonium = radiation exposure, or pacemaker?<br />
: Radiation exposure wouldn't give you plutonium, maybe the byproducts of its fission. I'm thinking that, whatever it is, it mutated Beret Guy in the womb, hence why he has this strange superpower.--[[User:Druid816|Druid816]] ([[User talk:Druid816|talk]]) 06:52, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
: Referencing Pink Floyd's 1970 album 'Atom Heart Mother' I think.--[[Special:Contributions/108.162.225.122|108.162.225.122]] 07:25, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
this guy sees by which elements are contained, not by which visible light?<br />
--[[Special:Contributions/199.27.128.172|199.27.128.172]] 06:14, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Are the elements actually representing their atomic symbols? Be, O, S, Z? Not sure what the metal-in-the-face comment is about.<br />
<br />
--[[Special:Contributions/108.162.250.156|108.162.250.156]] 07:47, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
: Metal in the face might be a comment on braces, and how uncomfortable people are about having noticable ones. --<br />
[[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.41|141.101.104.41]] 08:37, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
: (Dental) fillings are explicitly mentioned as a possible source of metal. --[[Special:Contributions/188.114.102.75|188.114.102.75]] 09:26, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
Perhaps the plutonium is coming from his mother smoking? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.102|141.101.99.102]] 08:51, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unethical_human_experimentation_in_the_United_States#Plutonium_experiments [[User:Andries|Andries]] ([[User talk:Andries|talk]]) 09:02, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I read it as both his mother and him beeing a robot or cyborg, which she never told him. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.75.77|141.101.75.77]] 09:30, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Yes, I rather thought it might be a Terminator 2 reference (based on the scene in which the T-1000 replaces John Connor's mother.) (not sure what my IP address is to type it here.)<br />
<br />
-- did the radiation give him those superpowers? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.222.204|108.162.222.204]] 11:05, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
He can't distinguish Dad and Dog, so he wasn't a genious back then. So what if the Plutonium wasn't a super complex mysterium, just one of the most important things for an infant, her breasts (in this case maby big ons).<br />
[[Special:Contributions/141.101.92.108|141.101.92.108]] 11:44, 23 February 2015 (UTC) Pietro<br />
<br />
I agree with 141.101.80.53. Beret Guy is answering Megan's question about what is wrong with him, not being arrogant. Arrogant would be out of character for Beret Guy, but giving an unusual answer to a rhetorical question would be true to character. [[User:Mwburden|mwburden]] ([[User talk:Mwburden|talk]]) 12:42, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Perhaps too oddball a theory, but maybe his mom was actually a spacecraft powered by plutonium (e.g. [[Wikipedia:Galileo (spacecraft)#Electrical_power | Galileo(spacecraft)]]), making his father a planet and the dog a moon.<br />
[[Special:Contributions/173.245.56.182|173.245.56.182]] 12:43, 23 February 2015 (UTC)<br />
:Wouldn't the dog need to be a dwarf planet? :) [[Special:Contributions/108.162.250.156|108.162.250.156]] 12:54, 23 February 2015 (UTC)</div>141.101.99.4https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1481:_API&diff=839001481: API2015-02-02T08:37:07Z<p>141.101.99.4: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1481<br />
| date = February 2, 2015<br />
| title = API<br />
| image = api.png<br />
| titletext = ACCESS LIMITS: Clients may maintain connections to the server for no more than 86,400 seconds per day. If you need additional time, you may contact IERS to file a request for up to one additional second.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete}}<br />
<br />
The comic describes {{w|Application programming interface|API}} (application programming interface) documentation for a website. Normally, an API is intended to be used from a program, so both input and output are meant to be easily machine-readable. The documentation then explains how to use the API from your program.<br />
<br />
However, in this case, the documentation is explaining (in an obtuse way) that the website itself can be used as a [inefficient and hard to develop for) API. Presumably, the XML mentioned is {{w|XHTML}}. The "requested data" are the actual content (e.g. a blog post) and the "documentation describing how the data is organized spatially" is CSS.<br />
<br />
The API keys section is a literal description of setting up a TLS session. Normally, the browser or HTTP library does this behind the scenes, so application-layer programmers do not need to know these details.<br />
<br />
The access limits section (in the title text) says that the API can be used for 86,400 seconds each day. This is the total number of seconds in each normal day. After that, it notes that you can contact {{w|International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service}} (IERS) to request an additional second. IERS decides on when to add {{w|leap seconds}}. These account for slight anomalies in the Earth's rotation speed as compared to the {{w|mean solar day}} (normally, the true day length is slightly longer than 86,400 SI seconds).<br />
<br />
Or, explained in the same style as the comic:<br />
<br />
This comic pokes fun at how any sufficiently convoluted text arrangement in the pursuit of making a meaning will misdirect persons from their original assumption of the intent of said text arrangement.<br />
<br />
The title text specifies the absolute maximal limit which any object may be in interaction with another object for the duration of a single terrestrial rotation, and what processes must be observed should one wish to increase this limit.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
API Guide<br />
Request URL format:<br />
<nowiki>http://---.com/<username>/<item ID> </nowiki><!-- nowiki tags to avoid linking to a non-existent website --><br />
<br />
Server will return an HTML document which contains:<br />
- The requested data.<br />
- Documentation describing how the data is organized spatially.<br />
<br />
API Keys<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>141.101.99.4https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1460:_SMFW&diff=80792Talk:1460: SMFW2014-12-15T13:26:13Z<p>141.101.99.4: </p>
<hr />
<div>Reading this is like listening to the video of that lady who imitates the sound patterns of different languages, but without actually saying any real words! --[[User:Elipongo|Elipongo]] ([[User talk:Elipongo|talk]]) 05:34, 15 December 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
It would sound more natural if it were "''SMFW '''as''' an acronym almost makes sense''". Is the fact that "as" was omitted from that sentence supposed to give us a hint as to what "SMFW" might mean? [[User:Nicksh|Nicksh]] ([[User talk:Nicksh|talk]]) 07:16, 15 December 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
: As "the Internet is for porn", in many contexts SFW, lit. Safe for Work, can be taken to mean sex-free content, while NSFW, Not Safe for Work, would mean sex-positive content, then SMFW might be interpreted to me SM For Work, where SM would be humorously interpreted as some graphically explicit sex-positive content, perhaps SadoMachoism, which outside of paperwork is generally classified NSFW. [[Special:Contributions/199.27.133.29|199.27.133.29]] 10:31, 15 December 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:: And "wtfw it's like smho tbfh, imdb." might be a defensive reaction to those what would not find humour of SM For Work. "what the fooking wut? It's like stick my humble opinion, to be fooking honest, in my dead body. (or database)." [[Special:Contributions/199.27.133.29|199.27.133.29]] 10:38, 15 December 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:: Additional evidence of SM For Work, would be the posture in the task chair with respect to the desk and laptop (hunched over, feet not resting on ground, etc) seems the opposite of ergonomic advice which might lead to muscle strain, pain and fatigue -- the type of unsexy, self-inflicted torments that workers do to themselves "for work"<br />
<br />
<br />
I thought of So Much For Work as a possible meaning. {{unsigned ip|173.245.50.178}}<br />
<br />
I think "SMFW" is a mixture of SMF and MFW: "So Much Fun When". It fits the sentence. The only thing is that Cueball doesn't look like he's having fun.<br />
<br />
Smoke more fucking weed could be a replacement for something like "Bloody hell" or "Shit the bed".<br />
[[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.252|141.101.98.252]] 09:05, 15 December 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
So why doesn't "xkcd" appear on the acronyms list? --[[User:Koveras|Koveras]] ([[User talk:Koveras|talk]]) 09:47, 15 December 2014 (UTC)<br />
: Because xkcd isnt an acronym. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.61|108.162.216.61]] 09:56, 15 December 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I would like to add STFW ("Search the fucking web", [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/STFW]) as an acronym that SMFW is close to (same except for the second letter)...but there might be enough examples? [[User:Aquaplanet|Aquaplanet]] ([[User talk:Aquaplanet|talk]]) 11:07, 15 December 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
<br />
SMFW makes perfect sense. Shaking my face when (SMH+MFW) an acronym almost makes sense.<br />
<br />
See My Face When an acronym almost makes sense... makes perfect sense. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.4|141.101.99.4]] 13:26, 15 December 2014 (UTC)</div>141.101.99.4