https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=162.158.150.82&feedformat=atom
explain xkcd - User contributions [en]
2024-03-28T15:13:00Z
User contributions
MediaWiki 1.30.0
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:530:_I%27m_An_Idiot&diff=170843
Talk:530: I'm An Idiot
2019-03-09T20:50:22Z
<p>162.158.150.82: Because it's comic five hundred thirty or "five thirty".</p>
<hr />
<div>Does this count as a self-nerd-snipe? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.218.101|108.162.218.101]] 02:44, 9 February 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Anyone have an idea how he made his Mac Mini speak? [[Special:Contributions/199.27.133.129|199.27.133.129]] 19:46, 24 September 2014 (UTC)<br />
:Yes. Read the title text. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.83|108.162.216.83]] 03:36, 29 January 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
osascript -e "set volume 7", if anybody is curious --[[User:Okofish|Okofish]] ([[User talk:Okofish|talk]]) 17:34, 1 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I like how the doorbell pops out real obviously in the last panel. like 0_0... [[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.24|173.245.54.24]]<br />
<br />
Explanation seems a bit complicated for such a simple joke. Even the description of a beat panel seems convoluted. [[User:Flewk|flewk]] ([[User talk:Flewk|talk]]) 02:44, 4 January 2016 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Why is this comic confused with Five Thirty? [[User:Halo422|Halo422]] ([[User talk:Halo422|talk]]) 05:16, 18 December 2017 (UTC)<br />
:Because it's comic five hundred thirty or "five thirty". [[Special:Contributions/162.158.150.82|162.158.150.82]] 20:50, 9 March 2019 (UTC)</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1756:_I%27m_With_Her&diff=151363
1756: I'm With Her
2018-01-21T06:48:44Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Character gallery */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1756<br />
| date = November 7, 2016<br />
| title = I'm With Her<br />
| image = im_with_her.png<br />
| titletext = We can do this.<br />
}}<br />
{{TOC}} <br />
==Explanation==<br />
In this serious, ''no joke'', comic released the day before the {{w|2016 United States presidential election}} (which was more contentious than most, due in part to many people finding both candidates unusually distasteful), [[Randall]] urged his American viewership to vote, and showed his {{w|Political endorsement|endorsement}} for {{w|Hillary Clinton}}, the {{w|US Democratic Party|Democratic}} nominee in the election. She was up against the {{w|US Republican Party|Republican}} nominee {{w|Donald Trump}}, who ended up winning. For the sake of completeness, it should be mentioned that there were also nominees from other parties, including {{w|Green Party of the United States|Green Party}} nominee {{w|Jill Stein}}, and {{w|Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian}} nominee {{w|Gary Johnson}}. Neither hoped to garner enough votes to become president, but there was a chance {{w|spoiler candidate|they could affect the result}} in some states (no third-party candidate has ''won'' a state since {{w|United_States_presidential_election,_1968|1968}} - and it did not occur this time either - the closest any came in 2016 was independent candidate {{w|Evan McMullin}} in Utah.)<br />
<br />
It was the second time Randall referred to this election, the first being [[1748: Future Archaeology]] three weeks before the election, but here it was just a wish to know the result using time travel (of course he did not learn the result back then…).<br />
<br />
The "H" with an arrow was {{w|Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016|Clinton's campaign}} logo, and '''I'm with her''' an official slogan that was widely used by her supporters, hence the title. Randall then lists tips to help you cast your vote ([[#How to help|see table below]]) suggesting a personal investment in the election. Clinton herself may be represented by [[Blondie]] sitting on top of the H looking out at the reader as the only of the 11 characters. The only type of joke in the comic is the chosen characters. Two with weapons flank the left and right side looking out ready to defend against Trump. Both are from earlier comic. Especially [[Ponytail]] with a ray gun (the one she also wielded in [[322: Pix Plz]]). The gun is for melting computers of persons that make snide remarks at women, clearly a reference to {{w|Donald_Trump_sexual_misconduct_allegations|Donald Trump's sexual harassment of women}} in general and especially to his ''grab them by the pussy'' {{w|Donald Trump and Billy Bush recording|comment}}. [[Cueball]] with his weapon is from [[303: Compiling]]. See more details in the [[#Character gallery|character gallery]] below.<br />
<br />
This is the first time Randall has used a comic to directly support a presidential campaign, although he did [https://blog.xkcd.com/2008/01/28/obama/ endorse] {{w|Barack Obama}} in 2008 on his [[Blag]]. He wrote himself later that it was very controversial when he endorsed Obama, but that it was not the most [[388:_Fuck_Grapefruit#Controversy|controversial comic he had published]] at that time. This comic might take that prize now, given that this was one of the most discussed elections up to its time. This is particularly noteworthy outside the US - for example, some European leaders openly opposed Trump, while others supported him. There were also reports of Russian hackers attempting to influence the election.<br />
<br />
Randall's support for Hillary Clinton may have been due in part to Donald Trump {{w|Donald_Trump#Healthcare.2C_education_and_environment|being a prominent}} {{w|climate change denier}}. Randall has published comics opposing climate change denial such as this: [[1732: Earth Temperature Timeline]], published less than two month before the election, as well as several other [[:Category:Climate change|comics on climate change]]. Also Trump beating Clinton made Randall's [[1313: Regex Golf|regex that matches the last names of elected US presidents but not their opponents]] impossible to update.<br />
<br />
All the information on the bottom half of the comic includes sites, numbers, info, etc., current as of 2016, that are intended to help US voters to vote, regardless of whom they vote for. Including this information can assist voters who don't understand the process, don't feel that it's worth it, or feel intimidated or threatened. In general, these sites and numbers were likely included to help boost voter turnout.<br />
<br />
The title text, which states that "We can do this" refers to Randall's desire to unite Democratic voters and elect Hillary Clinton to the White House instead of Trump. It is possible to [https://www.lookhuman.com/design/86542-hillary-clinton-we-can-do-it/tshirt buy t-shirts] with the famed {{w|We Can Do It!}} logo from the "Rosie the Riveter" wartime poster, but with Hillary Clinton in the famed position. However this is not quite the same "We can do this" sentence that Randall uses. "We can do this" (or in German, "[https://www.dict.cc/?s=Wir+schaffen+das+%5BAngela+Merkel%5D Wir schaffen das]") was also the catchphrase of the German Chancellor {{w|Angela Merkel}} during the recent influx of refugees from the Syrian War — like Clinton, Merkel was fighting against {{w|Pegida|a populist nativist movement}} that wanted to close the country's borders.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately for Randall, these efforts were in vain, as {{w|Donald Trump}} (another populist nativist who wants to close the country's borders) was elected on Tuesday, November 8, falsifying the title-text. This result became a fact less than two week before the first ([[1761: Blame]]) of [[#Sad comics|several sad comics]] that all seemed related to the election of Donal Trump.<br />
<br />
===How to help===<br />
The list of things that can help is all about getting people to vote. While Randall is likely to have wanted to boost voter turnout regardless of political leanings, it's clear from his endorsement of Clinton that he believed increased turnout would have helped her win the race. There is general evidence that certain more heavily Democratic-leaning demographics are less likely to vote, and in this election in particular, the various political issues that had been raised against Hillary (such as the {{w|Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI's}} public disclosures of its investigation into her use of a private email server) were shown to have reduced enthusiasm among Democrats. But all these issues aside, both Republicans and Democrats alike agree on encouraging everyone to vote, and Randall is likely to have agreed with that sentiment as well.<br />
<br />
Here is Randall's list of suggestions for how to help Hillary Clinton win the election:<br />
{|class="wikitable"<br />
!What to do<br />
!How to do it<br />
!Explanation<br />
|-<br />
|Vote<br />
|[https://iwillvote.com/ iwillvote.com]<br />
|A site to look up polling locations, ID requirements, etc.<br />
|-<br />
|Get a ride to the polls: <br />
|[http://www.drive2vote.org/ drive2vote.org]<br />
|For voters in Douglas and Sarpy County, Nebraska, who needed a ride to the polls from {{w|Warren Buffett}} or his friends.<br />
|-<br />
|If you're having problems voting<br />
|[http://www.866ourvote.org/ 866-OUR-VOTE]<br />
|Racism or other biases on the part of people running polling places is a real issue for minorities. Though it is illegal, people may lie or deny rights to would-be-voters who they believe will not vote for the candidate they agree with. In some instances, voters may require backup from someone with legal understanding to get to vote, which is a service this phone number provides. Since Donald Trump has suggested that unofficial {{w|poll watchers}} should patrol voting stations - which has been described as potential [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/05/election-day-violence-donald-trump-poll-watchers voter intimidation] - this has been an especially widely discussed topic in this election. The phone number written out as numbers is (866) 687-8683<br />
|-<br />
|Experimental social turnout project <br />
|[http://www.civicinnovation.com/ civicinnovation.com]<br>App Store: VoteWithMe <br />
|An app which "gives you a list of the top 10 highest-impact potential voters in your address book to get in touch with -- based on the likelihood that they support progressive candidates, and that they live in states with the most competitive races". This app is for Android and iOS, with the App Store ID as "VoteWithMe". The "VoteWithMe" app is created by Civic Innovation Works and "uses publicly available voter records to predict which of your contacts are likely to support Democratic candidates, but might not have a plan to vote", as it says on its [https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/votewithme/id1170104517/ App Store Page].<br />
|-<br />
|Reminder: <br />
|If you're in line when the polls close, they have to let you vote. <br />
|This is correct, as is printed on most election pamphlets as part of the ''Voters' Bill of Rights'', as well as being cited on numerous sources online (eg [http://votersedge.kqed.org/en/ca/ballot/election/area/42/section/voting-info?id=statewide-42-ca#section-my-rights-as-a-voter here].) Being turned down for trying to vote after the polling place is officially closed (if you were already in line ''when'' the polls closed) might be an instance where you want to use the phone number mentioned above.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Character gallery===<br />
The comic shows a gallery of 11 xkcd characters including all the main characters from xkcd (except [[Hairy]]), which stand united behind Randall and Clinton despite their lack of agreement in many other comics. <br />
<br />
*From left to right on the left side of the H are: <!--AS THIS INFORMATION IS ALSO RELEVANT FOR OTHER COMICS LINKING HERE PLEASE LEAVE IT BOTH HERE AND ABOVE EVEN THOUGH IT IS A REPETITION--><br />
**[[Ponytail]] with a ray gun (the one she also wielded in [[322: Pix Plz]], a comic where she was named Joanna). The gun is for melting computers of persons that make snide remarks at women, clearly a reference to {{w|Donald_Trump_sexual_misconduct_allegations|Donald Trump's sexual harassment of women}} in general and especially to his Grab Pussy comment. <br />
**[[Black Hat]] (who was the one introducing Joanna/Ponytail in the mentioned comic)<br />
**[[Danish]] (Black Hat's girlfriend setting up a kite for him, although it could be Megan, but she is also shown later with her regular shorter hair). However it has mainly been Megan in comics with kites, like [[235: Kite]] and [[1614: Kites]]. Kites are a [[:Category:Kites|recurring theme]] on xkcd. <br />
**[[White Hat]] looking at the kite. <br />
*On top of the H are: <br />
**[[Blondie]] (looking out at us, maybe representing Clinton herself)<br />
**[[Megan]] (next to Cueball)<br />
**[[Cueball]] (forming the standard couple in xkcd with Megan) <br />
**[[Hairbun]] with glasses (so specifically not the one from the previous comic [[1755: Old Days]], but rather like in [[1637: Salt Mine]]). <br />
*On the right side of the H are:<br />
**[[Science Girl]] (The adult version of her, is holding her hand out towards a cute squirrel. Of course she could also be the girl from [[635: Locke and Demosthenes]] where the squirrel is poisoned...)<br />
**[[Beret Guy]] is holding a squirrel out towards Science Girl. (The first time squirrels was mentioned was actually when Beret Guy found them in a tree in [[167: Nihilism]] and since then they have become a [[:Category:Squirrels|recurring theme]] on xkcd and a similar squirrel can for instance be seen in [[1503: Squirrel Plan]]. Beret Guy has not been seen together with a squirrel before, but has been shown to care for animals, for instance in [[614: Woodpecker]]). <br />
**[[:Category:Multiple Cueballs|Another Cueball]] is standing on an office chair wielding a sword as he was shown in [[303: Compiling]]. (Interestingly enough the previous comic [[1755: Old Days]] was about Cueball asking Hairbun about {{w|compiling}} in the old days. Seems realistic that Randall has this comic ready for this Monday before the election for some time, and when finding this 9 year old version of Cueball in the old comics, he may have gotten inspired to make a comic about compiling in the old days).<br />
<br />
Note that the two characters at either side of the comic wields weapons pointing out defending the other nine. Those next to the characters with weapons are doing recreational things like kiting and admiring adorable squirrels, both are recurring subjects in xkcd.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Eleven characters are drawn left, right and on top of a huge H with an arrow as the horizontal bar connecting the two vertical towers. The arrow breaks the right part of the H. It represents the logo from Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign for 2016. From left to right on the left side of the H are Ponytail with an exotic looking futuristic ray gun like weapon looking to the left away from the H and the others. Behind her is Black Hat who looks at a girl that might be Danish or Megan (but with longer hair than Megan typically has). She is setting up a kite that flies above the first two characters. Behind her and looking up at the kite is White Hat. The H is right behind him, and on top of the left tower of the H sits Blondie looking straight out at the reader with her legs dangling over the edge and her arms resting on her knees. On the arrow between the two H towers sits Megan leaning against the left H tower, also dangling her legs over the edge and arms resting on her knees. Cueball is standing to her right, just left of the right H tower. On top of the right H towers sits Hairbun with glasses looking straight right with her legs dangling over the edge one arm resting on a knee and leaning back on the other arm. On the right side of the H is an adult version of Science Girl holding a hand out towards the squirrel which Beret Guy is holding out in both arms towards her. Behind them is another Cueball standing on an office chair holding a sword high up in front of him to the right away from the others. He keeps his balance by holding his other arm out behind him. Below the H there is a large caption.]<br />
:<big><big><big>H</big></big></big><br />
: <big><big>I'm with her.</big></big> <br />
<br />
:[Below the panel there are several lines of text. The first header line refers to the next four lines with solutions to problems, title/problem on one side then a long dash and the web-link or other information on the right side of that. Below those there is a reminder.]<br />
:<big><u>How to help</u></big> <br />
:Vote - iwillvote.com<br />
:Get a ride to the polls - drive2vote.org<br />
:If you're having problems voting - 866-OUR-VOTE<br />
:Experimental social turnout project - civicinnovation.com App Store: VoteWithMe<br />
<br />
:<big>Reminder:</big> <br />
:If you're in line when the polls close, they have to let you vote.<br />
<br />
==Trivia==<br />
*Despite securing more votes, Hillary Clinton lost the election in the {{w|Electoral college (United States)|electoral college}}. <br />
**She did win in {{w|Massachusetts}} (Randall's home state), but that was never really in any doubt.<br />
*The fact that Trump was elected instead is likely the reason for several comics with a bad mood released after this and until at least just past the day Trump was inaugurated. See [[#Sad comics|below]].<br />
<br />
===Sad comics===<br />
<!-- Please do not delete this trivia as it is referenced by other sad comics. If you dislike the phrasing then change it but keep the references to the sad comics here! --><br />
*After this comic there have been a clear trend that '''[[Randall]] has had sad thoughts''' after the {{w|United States presidential election, 2016|election}} of Trump in 2016. <br />
**Over the next few months after the election (at least up till just after Donald Trump’s {{w|Inauguration of Donald Trump|inauguration}}) Randall has posted (at least) five comics that could be interpreted as him being sad/angry or that people around him are acting in such a way. <br />
*Not since Randall's wife's [[:Category:Cancer|cancer diagnosis]] has there been so many sad/negative or depressing comics.<br />
**During a two year span there were only five decidedly sad cancer comics.<br />
**There has now been more "sad" comics in a little more than three months (November 18th 2016 to February 24th 2017), and they continued longer.<br />
***As a comparison the year before the first sad comic there where no really sad, and only one (for real) scary comic: [[1732: Earth Temperature Timeline]]. <br />
***That comic has just been made more scary as it now seems the doing nothing is no longer the worst case scenario given That Randall did not expect Trump to win. And his policy of denying climate change, will probably make it even worse than if we did nothing. <br />
***So this is another good reason why Randall would begin to post sad comics after the election. He is likely really scared the climate will be beyond saving once Trump leaves office. And it may be for a good reason. See about the comic [[#Sad|Sad]] below from after Trump became president.<br />
**Hopefully Randall is not so depressed for real as the comics below could suggest.<br />
*Note that none of these sad comics, also including this one, directly mentions Trump at all. <br />
**But this comic indirectly references him as the opponent of the one Randall is with, and all the other comics could be interpreted as being about something that could have come about because of this election result.<br />
**But the connection is not only inferred from the mood. Three comics where released close to some important day on Donald Trump's way to becoming president and another was the New Year comic, thus representing going into the year where Trump actually becomes president. And the fifth was during the days when the first executive order of Trump was overruled (see more below under [[#Focus Knob|Focus Knob]]).<br />
*If more related comics appear they can be listed below; then update the above section regarding dates and number of comics. <br />
**These comics are collected here because they are not easily collected under a specific category. <br />
**Since the connection to Trump and the election is circumstantial in the sad comics, this trivia has been put on this comics page. Though this is not in itself one of the really sad comics, this comic definitely relates to Trump and Randall's stance regarding him becoming president. <br />
**After April 2017 the sad comics related to the election stopped, but in August 2017, a week before the solar Eclipse, the election was mentioned in [[1876: Eclipse Searches]].<br />
**Another few comics came out later with reference to the election: for instance [[#October 2017|October 2017]] (at that time) and, in January 2018, about two weeks before Trump had been president for a year, a comic which clearly tried to show that he was not the popular vote winner: [[#2016 Election Map|2016 Election Map]].<br />
*Here below follows a list of the comics related to these sad comics.<br />
**Relations (if any) between the release day and the comics will also be listed.<br />
**The links points here below to an explanation why each comic is listed here:<br />
*[[#I'm With Her|I'm With Her]] (not one of the sad, thus not numbered)<br />
#[[#Blame|Blame]]<br />
#[[#Negativity|Negativity]]<br />
#[[#2017|2017]]<br />
#[[#Sad|Sad]]<br />
#[[#Focus Knob|Focus Knob]]<br />
#[[#Phone|Phone]]<br />
#[[#Location Reviews|Location Reviews]]<br />
#[[#Vomiting Emoji|Vomiting Emoji]]<br />
#[[#Flag|Flag]]<br />
#[[#Security Advice|Security Advice]]<br />
#[[#Identification Chart|Identification Chart]]<br />
#[[#Eclipse Searches|Eclipse Searches]]<br />
#[[#October 2017|October 2017]]<br />
#[[#2016 Election Map|2016 Election Map]]<br />
<br />
====I'm With Her====<br />
*[[1756: I'm With Her]] (This comic) <br />
**2016-11-07: The day before the election:<!--AS THIS INFORMATION IS ALSO RELEVANT FOR OTHER COMICS LINKING HERE PLEASE LEAVE IT BOTH HERE AND ABOVE EVEN THOUGH IT IS A REPETITION--><br />
***It all began when Randall urged his American viewership to vote in the election the day after this comic was released. <br />
***Here he clearly showed his {{w|Political endorsement|endorsement}} for {{w|Hillary Clinton}}, the {{w|US Democratic Party|Democratic}} nominee in the election. <br />
***Although this is not directly sad, he included two weapon carrying defenders on either side of the comic.<br />
***One of these was [[Ponytail]] with a ray gun (the one she also wielded in [[322: Pix Plz]]). The gun is for melting computers of persons that make snide remarks at women, clearly a reference to {{w|Donald_Trump_sexual_misconduct_allegations|Donald Trump's sexual harassment of women}} in general and especially to his ''grab them by the pussy'' {{w|Donald Trump and Billy Bush recording|comment}}.<br />
***Randall has often made comics against women harassment before (see for a great example in [[1027: Pickup Artist]]).<br />
<br />
====Blame====<br />
*[[1761: Blame]] <br />
**2016-11-18: Ten days after the election.<br />
***This is the first really sad comic in which [[Cueball]] actually begins by stating that: ''I feel sad!'' a clear relation to [[1790: Sad]] (the fourth sad comic after I'm With Her, see below).<br />
***This is likely due to all the angry and scared comments of Cueball’s Facebook friends, and he thus decides to blame them rather than what they are angry about.<br />
***It took some days before Randall posted anything that could be said to have relation to the election, but the defeat of Hillary may have taken some time to digest. <br />
***Also the reactions to Trump’s victory on Facebook needed to build up over time before this comic.<br />
***Furthermore there was also some uncertainty to begin with if some states would call for a re-vote etc.<br />
***Still it was only the fifth comic after his campaign for Hillary failed.<br />
<br />
====Negativity====<br />
*[[1773: Negativity]]<br />
**2016-12-16: Three days before the {{w|U.S. Electoral College}} voted for {{w|Donald Trump}} to become the 45th president of the United States.<br />
***The first comic with a really negative title. (Like ''Sad'' (see below), although ''Blame'' is of course a negatively loaded word, the comic did not need to be so sad as it was).<br />
***This comic and ''Blame'' could be seen as a small series as Cueball blames his friends on Facebook in the first comic, and then goes outside to avoid all the negativity online in the second, probably worsened for him after he blamed his Facebook friends because: ''Bad thing are happening''.<br />
***Only it does not work because even the grass is after him.<br />
***At the time of the comics release there was still some rumors/hopes that the {{w|Faithless electors in the United States presidential election, 2016|some of the electors would not vote for Trump}}. (But only two changed away from Trump!)<br />
<br />
====2017====<br />
*[[1779: 2017]] <br />
**2016-12-30: The [[:Category:New Year|New Year comic]] – a transition to the year when Donald Trump would become president.<br />
***Even the comic "celebrating" New Year was depressive and it was the first time that a New Year comic had such a depressive mood. <br />
***Cueball and [[Megan]] discuss if 2016 could end up as having been better than 2017 since all the bad thing happening in 2016 would first really take effect in 2017.<br />
***The biggest of these would be Trump becoming president, but also {{w|Brexit}} and a lot of {{w|2016#Deaths|dead famous people}} would be troublesome. None of these events (or any other specifically bad event of 2016 are cited in the comic).<br />
***Randall tries to make a happy twist by saying that maybe some unexpected good would come in 2017 as most of the sad events (just mentioned) was not expected to happen.<br />
***But hopping for this in the face of what awaits is difficult so he retorts to just hoping ''they'' won’t cancel the {{w|Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017|2017 solar eclipse}}.<br />
***Fearing (for real) that astronomical events like this being canceled would call for you to be very depressed. Of course Randall doesn’t fear for this in real life, but it puts a perspective on the other parts of the comic.<br />
***Although the eclipse will certainly happen on August 21st 2017 Randall may still miss it, even if he is in the right place, as the weather could always be overcast and then ruin the experience. <br />
***So the worry that he will miss it is real and had also been mentioned three years earlier in [[1302: Year in Review]].<br />
<br />
====Sad====<br />
*[[1790: Sad]]<br />
**2017-01-25: Five days after Donald Trump’s {{w|Inauguration of Donald Trump|inauguration}}.<br />
***This was the comic that sparked this section, with the title really being ''[[#Sad comics|Sad]]''.<br />
***The title "Sad" is a common interjection in Trump's tweets. The time-frame of "the past few months" from the first panel is consistent with this, as the election was on November 8, 2016, and the comic was posted on January 25, 2017 four days after Donald Trump's inauguration as 45th president of the United States on January 20, 2017. <br />
***This was only the second comic released after the inauguration the Friday before this comics Wednesday release.<br />
***Although it could be said that Trump first took office Monday (before this Wednesday comic) he already began signing {{w|Decree|decrees}} (or {{w|Executive order|executive orders}}) on Friday January 20th {{w|First_100_days_of_Donald_Trump's_presidency#Immediate_regulatory_freeze_pending_review|within a few hours}} after becoming president. <br />
****{{w|First_100_days_of_Donald_Trump's_presidency#Policy|Most of these}} would make it even worse for those already sad about him becoming president, because they could now see that he really meant all the things he promised (which is not always the case in politics!) <br />
****Up to the day this comic was released (January 25th) it would already be drastic things like the {{w|First_100_days_of_Donald_Trump's_presidency#Mexican_border_wall|Mexican border wall}} (on the day of the comics release), the {{w|First_100_days_of_Donald_Trump's_presidency#Withdrawal_of_Affordable_Care_Act|withdrawal of Affordable Care Act}}, the approval of the {{w|First_100_days_of_Donald_Trump's_presidency#Dakota_Access_and_the_Keystone_XL_pipelines|Dakota Access and the Keystone XL pipelines}} (which would be troublesome for an [[:Category:Climate change|environmentalist]] as Randall as {{w|Dakota_Access_Pipeline#Environmental_concerns|both}} {{w|Pipeline_transport#Oil_and_natural_gas|oil pipes}} {{w|Keystone_Pipeline#Environmental_issues|have}} environmental issues) and the {{w|First_100_days_of_Donald_Trump's_presidency#Mexico_City_Policy|Mexico City Policy}} regarding stopping any help to poor women abroad with regards to information or any other way helping with {{w|abortion}}. <br />
***The actual reasons for Ponytail's frustrations and depression aren't dwelt on and the focus is on her retreat into video games and the damage it's doing to her work projects.<br />
****The video game she plays is referenced again only seven comics later in [[1797: Stardew Valley]], thus showing this game is on Randall's mind, and that he might be using this to avoid thinking of the things that makes him sad.<br />
****This fits with the [[#Focus Knob|next sad comic]] mentioned below, coming out just before ''Stardew Valley'', where Randall focuses on his e-mail settings rather than the big picture.<br />
***It might appear to be non-political, the reference to {{w|PolitiFact.com|PolitiFact}}, however, makes it clear that she is thinking on politics, and the fact checking of most of Trump's claims <br />
****This is another indication that one of her troubles is Trump's leniency with the truth in both election campaign and after, to the point where lies are now on a daily basis just called {{w|alternative facts}} or {{w|Post-truth_politics#United_States|post-truth}}.<br />
****His statements would often turns out to be ''Pants on Fire!'' on the PolitiFact scale.<br />
****See more on Politifact.com the earlier comic [[1712: Politifact]] from during the election campaign<br />
*****By the way apart from the ''Politifact'' comic and ''I’m with Her'' then the only other direct reference to the election during the {{w|United_States_presidential_election,_2016#General_election_campaign|election campaign}} was in [[1748: Future Archaeology]], where Randall expressed interest in knowing the result of the election in advance.<br />
***Seeing that this comic is about Ponytail being sad, the woman who in the first comic on this list was standing with a weapon to defend herself against condescending men (like Trump) and that one of the first decrees Trump signed, was regarding removal of support for abortion abroad, she can see that she still have good reason (especially as a woman) to being sad as she has been these past few months.<br />
<br />
====Focus Knob====<br />
*[[1796: Focus Knob]]<br />
**2017-02-08: Less than three weeks after Donald Trump’s inauguration, only six comics after the previous Sad comic.<br />
***Although this comic may look like an easy joke, there is ''panic and existential paralysis'' if you turn your focus more than two thirds towards the big picture (of the world).<br />
****For instance during the days just before this comics release an {{w|Legal_challenges_to_Executive_Order_13769#State_of_Washington_v._Trump|American judge}} (February 3rd) and two days later {{w|Legal_challenges_to_Executive_Order_13769#Proceedings in the Ninth Circuit|several big companies}} went against {{w|Executive Order 13769|Trump's decision}} of banning people from seven countries from entering USA. <br />
****There have thus been many reasons to panic since his inauguration if one follows the news in any way.<br />
***In the comic the detail oriented side is indicated to be a focus on his e-mail settings. But as it was shown already in the next comic [[1797: Stardew Valley]], there are also video games that can help you take your mind off the real world. <br />
****This also relates back to [[#Sad|Sad]] where the same game was mentioned a week before.<br />
<br />
====Phone====<br />
*[[1802: Phone]]<br />
**2017-02-22: During the days before this comic, Trump has promised to make a {{w|Executive_Order_13769#Proposed_related_Executive_Order|related Executive Order}} regarding the banning of people from the same seven countries from entering USA, as was ruled illegal around the time of the [[#Focus Knob|last]] of these comics.<br />
***The sadness is not so clear in this comic, but the conclusion in the title text that it is both bad to hear all the scary news and to disconnect in order avoid them seems rather sad. It is a lose/lose situation. <br />
****This also seems related to the problem of finding the right balance mentioned in [[#Focus Knob|Focus Knob]].<br />
***The idea of going for a walk with the phone, thus not avoiding the news feed, is the exact opposite idea of [[#Negativity|Negativity]], where going outside was to avoid the negativity on the internet. Neither of the idea seems to work.<br />
<br />
====Location Reviews====<br />
*[[1803: Location Reviews]]<br />
**2017-02-24: Second comic in a row, this one could be a reaction to the cold relationship between Russia and the United States, that became worse a few weeks before this comic. <br />
***Two weeks prior to this comics release [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/14/world/europe/russia-cruise-missile-arms-control-treaty.html?_r=0 Russia Deploys Missile, Violating Treaty and Challenging Trump].<br />
***In this comic a Nuclear Launch Facility is reviewed on a Google Map and the last of the reviewers pleads ''Please don't launch these''. Another notices the lack of security as there is a hole in the fence. (See more in the [[1803:_Location_Reviews#Reviews|reviews explanation]] and [[1803:_Location_Reviews#Politics|here]]).<br />
<br />
====Vomiting Emoji====<br />
*[[1813: Vomiting Emoji]]<br />
**2017-03-20: The day of this comics release [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/20/public-editor/trump-russia-fbi-liz-spayd-public-editor.html?_r=0 stories] about Trump's connection with Russia and the word treason was mentioned, and the stories got [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/23/opinion/theres-a-smell-of-treason-in-the-air.html worse] during the week that followed.<br />
***In this comic six vomiting emoji has been created. Most of them can be connected to the situation in USA.<br />
***A vomiting cowboy, could represents the Americans that votes for Trump but now has regretted it. <br />
***Vomiting Statue of Liberty speaks for it self...<br />
***Vomiting peace dove a clear reference to the fear of Nuclear War, as is the rocket below<br />
***Vomiting Moon, the only one that is not clearly connected in any way with this situation. Although Randall has expressed fear that the moon will be gone before the Eclipse this summer, see [[#2017|above]].<br />
***Vomiting rocket ship, see peace dove above.<br />
***Vomiting Hand, could be a reference to the way Trump always holds up his hand in a special way, which is likely to cause nausea in those that really detest what he stands for. <br />
<br />
====Flag====<br />
*[[1815: Flag]]<br />
**2017-03-24: On this day {{w|Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act#2017|Trump failed}} to get a vote through for removing/changing {{w|Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act|Obamacare}} which was expected. But had it succeeded Randall might have wished for a departure from Trumps states (see below).<br />
***The comic depicts a flag similar in style to the {{w|Flag of the United States|Stars and Stripes}}, and explains he was asked to create it for a new country.<br />
***This seems like a reference to the fact that some have talked about states leaving the USA due to the election of Trump ({{w|California}} for [http://www.yescalifornia.org/ instance]).<br />
***This flag with three stars could thus be Randall's thoughts on this, maybe the three small states in New England; {{w|Massachusetts}}, where he lives, {{w|Connecticut}} and {{w|Rhode Island}} could break free and form their own small state union.<br />
<br />
====Security Advice====<br />
*[[1820: Security Advice]]<br />
**2017-04-05: No special event seems related.<br />
***There are two references to what to do when crossing a border, and especially that last tip could be related to the increasing border control caused by Donald Trump's election:<br />
***''If a border guard asks to examine your laptop, you have a legal right to challenge them to a chess game for your soul.''<br />
<br />
====Identification Chart====<br />
*[[1824: Identification Chart]]<br />
**2017-04-17: No special event seems related.<br />
***Once again reference to the military like in [[#Location Reviews|Location Reviews]].<br />
***In the title text hostility between fighter-plane like birds that are territorial are mentioned.<br />
<br />
====Eclipse Searches====<br />
*[[1876: Eclipse Searches]]<br />
**2017-08-14: A week before the total {{w|solar eclipse}} occurring on Monday, {{w|Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017|August 21, 2017}}.<br />
***This is not a sad comic, but it refers directly to the election day regarding media interest and searches on Google, which makes it the first in almost four month referring back to the election or the result of said election.<br />
***For that reason alone it is included here. It seems that Randall has stopped focusing on Trump and his actions.<br />
<br />
====October 2017====<br />
*[[1898: October 2017]]<br />
**2017-10-04: A month before the similar titles comic [[1757: November 2016]], released the day after the election, both of which had the subject [[:Category:Comics to make one feel old|to make one feel old]].<br />
***The comic mentions a movie that is already 7 years old, to make one feel old.<br />
***But in the title text it refers directly to the election stating that so much has happened (because of this) that it is hard to believe that not even a year has passed since the election itself. However Election 2016 includes the active campaigning which led up to it, starting well before the first state primary election in February 2016.<br />
***It thus still seems that Randall can be sad about the election results, although it was only the second reference to it in almost half a year.<br />
<br />
====2016 Election Map====<br />
*[[1939: 2016 Election Map]]<br />
**2018-01-08: Release close to a year after Trumps inauguration. Could be related to the news that [https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/03/us/politics/trump-voter-fraud-commission.html Trump Disbands Commission on Voter Fraud], five days before this comics release.<br />
***The comic displays the distribution of voters across the US in much more detail than the {{w|Choropleth map}} used during the election, which makes large states with small population seem more important and also removes any sign that a state is more of less split in half between red and blue.<br />
***Thus the comic displays that Trump did not win many states by a large margin, and it has been known by everyone except Trump that Hillary got the most votes, in spite of the allegations of Russian involvement in the election trying to get Trump the win.<br />
***Randall is clearly still sad about the election results, almost a year after Trump became president.<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Danish]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Blondie]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairbun]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Science Girl]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring politicians]] <!--Hillary is directly referenced with the H logo --><br />
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]<br />
[[Category:Politics]]<br />
[[Category:Kites]]<br />
[[Category:Squirrels]]</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=252:_Escalators&diff=151362
252: Escalators
2018-01-21T06:38:20Z
<p>162.158.150.82: grammar</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 252<br />
| date = April 23, 2007<br />
| title = Escalators<br />
| image = escalators.png<br />
| titletext = The one time I tried, I got hit by a slinky going down at double speed.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This comic shows two simple line graphs on the same chart. One shows society's expectations, the other what [[Randall]] actually felt. The visual joke is that the societal expectation graph is treated like an actual down-moving escalator, with people on it.<br />
<br />
An {{w|escalator}} is a continuously moving mechanized stairway that travels in a particular direction, either up or down. Traditionally, people stop walking when riding the escalator and simply stand (perhaps holding the hand-rail) until they reach the destination and then step off. However, if you are in a hurry or impatient, it is possible to also climb the stairs manually, increasing your effective speed of ascent or descent.<br />
<br />
Young children are typically fascinated by escalators, and they will often want to run up and down them just for fun. A variation is to travel the escalators in the opposite to the intended direction. Running up the down escalator is type of physical challenge, especially for younger children, as they are fighting gravity and the downward motion of the escalator to reach the top. If they pause or cannot keep up sufficient speed, the escalator will impersonally return them to their starting position.<br />
<br />
The curved graph on the chart shows how the urge to run up the down escalator is expected to peak at about age 7 and then decline steeply as you approach adulthood, although never quite reaching zero. For Randall (it seems to be Randall who is speaking), the urge has not diminished in any way, and it even seems to be showing an upward trend as the graph approaches 24 years of age.<br />
<br />
He does not appear to have acted upon this urge very often - in fact he claims only once.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to the {{w|Slinky}} toy, a coiled spring that is designed to go down stairs by itself in an amusing manner. Since the Slinky is moving ''with the flow'', its effective speed is increased. A normal Slinky is very small and would not be able to halt an average human being through its inertia, but it could tangle up in their feet or otherwise trip them up, and it would at least be a surprising encounter.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Graph with y-axis titled "Urge to try running up the down escalator," with "weak" by the bottom and "strong" by the top. The x-axis has every two years labeled and every year signified by a smaller mark, which stops at 24. A red line with "What I was supposed to feel" with points at every line rises, peaks at 7 years old, then falls "tangent graph" shaped until the end. Along this line are shown various stick-figures at 12, 14, 20, and 24. A second red line runs "What I've actually felt," which stays consistently high.]<br />
<br />
==Trivia==<br />
Escalators were also the subject of the later comic [[954: Chin-Up Bar]], a rather more sinister take on those funny devices.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Line graphs]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=954:_Chin-Up_Bar&diff=151361
954: Chin-Up Bar
2018-01-21T06:36:39Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Trivia */ grammar</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 954<br />
| date = September 21, 2011<br />
| title = Chin-Up Bar<br />
| image = chin up bar.png<br />
| titletext = Those few who escaped found the emergency cutoff box disabled. The stampede lasted two hours and reached the bottom three times.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
[[Black Hat]] has a plan to block traffic on the {{w|Escalator#Longest individual escalators|longest single-tier escalator}} in the Western hemisphere. At the time of the comic's publishing, that placed the comic in the {{w|Wheaton (WMATA station)|Wheaton station}} in {{w|Washington D.C.}}'s {{w|Washington Metro}} subway system, where the 70-meter (230-foot) escalator is. An {{w|escalator}} is a motorized stairway. It's clear that Black Hat knows it is the longest and that this is the reason he has chosen this exact escalator for his evil plan.<br />
<br />
Black Hat carries a {{w|chin-up bar}} over his shoulder up the escalator, resulting in a conversation with his friend [[Cueball]], riding up behind him, about Black Hat's motives for doing such. Black Hat uses sly conversing methods to avoid saying his true motives. First he counters the question with another question: ''Why aren't you wearing a hat?'' Cueball's reply is a normal ''I'm not really a hat person'', whereas Black Hat's copy reply is not a real answer; ''I'm not really a not-carrying-a-chin-up-bar person'', which is probably a sentence never used before this comic. It takes Cueball a second to process this answer, but he doesn't give up and asks why again. Black Hat continues deflecting his questions by stating that he's ''not a psychologist'', although he clearly is aware of his own motives and intentions. <br />
<br />
After this they reach the top and once they get off Black Hat quickly turns around and locks the bar in place at about waist height (i.e. as high up as possible on an escalator), just before the moving part of the escalator ends.<br />
<br />
Chin-up bars are typically capable of holding up a 300&nbsp;pound (130&nbsp;kg) person without moving, and a bar like Black Hat has brought with him can be [https://www.amazon.com/Sunny-Health-Fitness-Door-Chin/dp/B0016BNDXI/ref=sr_1_6?s=sports-and-fitness&ie=UTF8&qid=1470541509&sr=1-6&keywords=chin+up+bar installed easily in a doorway], or in the opening of an escalator…<br />
<br />
The unexpected appearance of a solidly attached bar at the top of a crowded escalator could be disastrous. The first people would probably stumble backward to avoid it or hit it and topple backwards, and collide with the passengers immediately behind them, knocking them off their feet and likely creating a {{w|domino effect}} all the way down. Indeed, this is exactly what happens and is depicted in the last panel. Black Hat and Cueball are seen on the descending escalator in the background, but Black Hat pays no attention to the chaos he has just created. Cueball is not so detached and has turned around looking at the scene and displaying worry about what Black Hat has done. Although it might be possible, the two are fairly lucky to be unscathed, as they could have been hit by someone in the pileup falling all the way over in their side of the escalator. Since they are most likely on the way down to a subway, the traffic should make it easy for them to get away on the next train, before anyone has a chance to try and find the perpetrator, so Black Hat gets away with his schemes once again.<br />
<br />
In the title text it is made clear that the few people that actually escaped the moving stairs were unable to use the emergency shutdown because Black Hat had disabled the system, presumably before ascending in the first place. This is stated to have caused the {{w|stampede}} to last for two hours and waves of falling people would end up reaching the bottom three times, before ascending with the stairs again. The reason for this extended mayhem could be that only the very first people at the top of this domino effect who actually hit the chin-up-bar know what caused the problem to begin with. Since they are likely among those people too hurt to explain anything in time, the next group of people trying to get out after the first wave of falling people might just proceed to run into the same problem at the top once again. The problem is exacerbated by the disabled shutoff, so even if someone sees the chin-up-bar and knows how to escape, he would either be pulled back into the crowd of traffic or be free but unable to help. This helps to explain why the cycle of crowd collapse happened three times, and the use of the word "stampede" connotes the panicked, unorganized behavior of the trapped people that serves to make the problem worse.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Black Hat is in the middle of on an escalator with five other people as it ascends. He carries something like a a pole.]<br />
<br />
:[Zoom in on Black Hat and Cueball.]<br />
:Cueball: This is a long escalator.<br />
:Black Hat: 70 meters. Longest in the country.<br />
<br />
:[Black Hat goes upwards holding his pole.]<br />
<br />
:[Cueball is still behind Black Hat.]<br />
:Cueball: Why're you carrying a chin-up bar?<br />
:Black Hat: Why aren't you wearing a hat?<br />
<br />
:[The view returns to the original view only showing the six people ascending, only shifted so they are all a bit longer to the right.]<br />
:Cueball: I'm not really a hat person.<br />
:Black Hat: And I'm not really a not-carrying-a-chin-up-bar person.<br />
<br />
:[Close up on Cueball on the escalator.]<br />
<br />
:[Zoom out. Black Hat still has the pole in his hands.]<br />
:Cueball: Seriously, why did you bring it?<br />
:Black Hat: How should I know? I'm not a psychologist.<br />
<br />
:[Zoom in on the top of the escalator where Black Hat steps off and installs the chin-up bar on the exit of the escalator.]<br />
:''Twist'' ''Click'' ''Click''<br />
<br />
:[View from above towards both ascending and descending escalators. Black Hat and Cueball are on the descending escalator.]<br />
<br />
:[The final panel takes up two entire rows and shows all people falling down.]<br />
<br />
==Trivia==<br />
It would appear that the man behind Cueball with glasses and a goatee is the psychologist from [[435: Purity]], and then Megan next to him could be the sociologist from the same comic. This gives new meaning to Black Hat's line about not being a psychologist.<br />
<br />
Escalators were also the subject of the earlier comic [[252: Escalators]], a rather more funny take on these dangerous devices.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]<br />
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]<br />
[[Category:Psychology]]</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1918:_NEXUS&diff=148092
Talk:1918: NEXUS
2017-11-20T13:14:45Z
<p>162.158.150.82: </p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
My first idea -- this is so draft I'm not even going to submit it into the Explanation: Could Cueball be associating NEXUS with the FernGully villain Hexxus? And the Cisco company/brand of IT products with Commander/Captain Benjamin Sisko from ''ST:DS9'' and Crisco vegetable shortening? I don't have time to look into the other things referenced, and I don't immediately recognize them, but feel free to build on this if you want. Or don't; I don't have time to care right now. '''--BigMal''' // 13:00, 20 November 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
But Sisko saved Deep Space Nine! [[Special:Contributions/141.101.105.18|141.101.105.18]] 13:02, 20 November 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Ciscoes are a whitefish in the Salmonid family --13:08, 20 November 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The "Thong Song" is sang by an artist named "Sisqo". And ''The Caballero's Way'' written by O.Henry features a character named "the Cisco Kid". [[Special:Contributions/162.158.150.82|162.158.150.82]] 13:14, 20 November 2017 (UTC)</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1918:_NEXUS&diff=148091
Talk:1918: NEXUS
2017-11-20T13:11:36Z
<p>162.158.150.82: </p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
My first idea -- this is so draft I'm not even going to submit it into the Explanation: Could Cueball be associating NEXUS with the FernGully villain Hexxus? And the Cisco company/brand of IT products with Commander/Captain Benjamin Sisko from ''ST:DS9'' and Crisco vegetable shortening? I don't have time to look into the other things referenced, and I don't immediately recognize them, but feel free to build on this if you want. Or don't; I don't have time to care right now. '''--BigMal''' // 13:00, 20 November 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
But Sisko saved Deep Space Nine! [[Special:Contributions/141.101.105.18|141.101.105.18]] 13:02, 20 November 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Ciscoes are a whitefish in the Salmonid family --13:08, 20 November 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The "Thong Song" is sang by an artist named "Sisqo".</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1904:_Research_Risks&diff=146810
1904: Research Risks
2017-10-18T16:32:20Z
<p>162.158.150.82: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1904<br />
| date = October 18, 2017<br />
| title = Research Risks<br />
| image = research_risks.png<br />
| titletext = The 1919 Great Boston Molasses Flood remained the deadliest confectionery containment accident until the Canadian Space Agency's 2031 orbital maple syrup delivery disaster.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
This is a comparison of the possibility of the subjects of various sciences being a threat to humanity. It can either be an autonomous threat to the local population (i.e. by escape from a lab), or as part of a supervillain's scheme to rule the world. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBkT19uH2RQ]<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable"<br />
! Risk of Breaking Free !! Risk of Supervillain !! Research field !! Comments<br />
|-<br />
| 1 very low || very high || Prosthetics || Cyborgs<br />
|-<br />
| 2 low || high || Neuroscience || Mind Control<br />
|-<br />
| 1 very low || high || Laser Optics || Sharks with Frickin' Laser Beams<br />
|-<br />
| 3 medium low || high || Pharmacology || <br />
|-<br />
| 2 low || high || Materials Science ||<br />
|-<br />
| 2 low || medium high || Sociology ||<br />
|-<br />
| 1 very low || medium high || History ||<br />
|-<br />
| 3 medium low || medium high || Psychology ||<br />
|-<br />
| high || very high || Robotics ||<br />
|-<br />
| high || very high || Genetic Engineering ||<br />
|-<br />
| medium high || high || Chemistry ||<br />
|-<br />
| very high || high || Microbiology ||<br />
|-<br />
| 1 very low || medium low || Geology ||<br />
|-<br />
| 1 very low || medium low || Linguistics ||<br />
|-<br />
| 2 low || low || Paleontology ||<br />
|-<br />
| 1 very low || very low || Astronomy ||<br />
|-<br />
| 3 medium low || very low || Molasses Storage ||<br />
|-<br />
| 1 very low || very low || Dentistry ||<br />
|-<br />
| medium high || medium low || Botany ||<br />
|-<br />
| high || medium low || Entomology ||<br />
|-<br />
| medium high || low || Mycology ||<br />
|-<br />
| very high || low || Marine Biology || Sharknado<br />
|-<br />
| medium high || very low || Ornithology ||<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
:[A chart with two crossing lines with double arrows. Each arrow is labeled:]<br />
:X axis left: Low<br />
:X axis right: High<br />
:Y axis top: High<br />
:Y axis bottom: Low<br />
<br />
:[To the side of each of the axes, they are labeled:}<br />
:X axis: Risk of the thing you're studying breaking free from your facility and threatening the local population<br />
:Y axis: Risk of your research being used by a supervillian for world domination<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1608:_Hoverboard&diff=145934
1608: Hoverboard
2017-09-27T12:27:46Z
<p>162.158.150.82: There was an incorrect value for the normal jump</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1608<br />
| date = November 24, 2015<br />
| title = Hoverboard<br />
| image = hoverboard.png<br />
<!--DO NOT ADD the title text: Return to the play area. This is not shown in the comic. See trivia--><br />
}}<br />
{{TOC}} <br />
*To experience the interactivity of this game, visit the {{xkcd|1608|original comic}}.<br />
==Explanation==<br />
The "comic" is actually a {{w|browser game}} made to celebrate the release of [[Randall|Randall's]] new book, ''[[Thing Explainer]]'', which was released on the same day as this comic: ''Tuesday'' November 24, 2015. The comic thus appeared on a Tuesday, replacing that week's normal Wednesday release to coincide with the release day.<br />
<br />
The title refers to a {{w|hoverboard}} (which resembles a hovering skateboard without wheels) which has been most [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1ZdMOMUgXE prominently featured] in the movie {{w|Back to the Future Part II}}, which took place in the future, until a little more than a month before this comic was released. {{w|Marty McFly}} traveled to the future in this second installment, more precisely to [https://www.facebook.com/October212015BTTF 2015-10-21], and this comic was released just over one month later 2015-11-24. Hoverboards are just one of many things predicted in Back to the Future Part II that [http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-33785285 h][https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HI137m7XA4 a][https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLwNGBB_Yb0 v] [http://www.wired.com/2016/03/hendo-2-hoverboard/ e] come to pass before reaching the date from the movie, but are more uncommon in our world, along with other inventions like [http://www.terrafugia.com/ flying] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-1pXbW5wVg cars] and [http://www.soundandvision.com/content/wear-your-music-thinkgeeks-soundtrack-shirt#jo8J1DassbWxlptj.97 musical clothing]. Randall is known to have had [[:Category:Electric skateboard|electric skateboards]], which is also thematically related, although another type of hoverboard would be mentioned just five weeks later in [[1623: 2016 Conversation Guide]].<br />
<br />
Given Randall's enjoyment of movies and time travel it is very likely that this game is also a tribute to the {{w|Back to the Future}} movies. But the release day of the game has been used to promote his new book (as is clear with the text in the start screen of the game), and this explains why it was not released on the Back to the Future date. Apart from the date of release and the text about the book, the game does not seem to have any direct relation to the book; there are, however, several scenes in the game that could be seen as [[#Reference to Thing Explainer|references to ''Thing Explainer'']]. Instead the main part of the game is all the references to several movies and other stuff that has often been featured in xkcd as well as many of the other comics.<br />
<br />
===The game feature===<br />
The game features an {{w|animated}} [[Cueball]] riding on a hoverboard which can take [[#Animation|several different positions]]. The controls are the left, up, and right arrows, as written on the start screen until you begin the game, after which the text disappears. There are alternatives as explained in the [[#Controls|Controls]] section. The player can jump repeatedly mid-jump to reach increasing heights, and can move left and right both while jumping and descending (see more under controls).<br />
<br />
The player begins in a line-drawing maze (called the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a9/All_play_area_hanging_all_coins.PNG Play Area]) with 17 gold coins located throughout and a "deposit" terminal. The ostensible goal of the game is to collect as many coins as possible and return them to the deposit in the fastest possible time, which returns [[#Messages in Play Area|text messages]] describing the result. Players consumed with obtaining the best possible time result for collecting the coins may not realize there is anything more to the game.<br />
<br />
The best way to enjoy this comic is to {{xkcd|1608|play the game!}} If you didn't do that already, '''reading anything below''' will spoil you from truly enjoying the comic, and maybe making some interesting discoveries yourself! So:<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
'''Spoiler alert'''<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
Beyond the maze on either side (just far enough that players who remain within the maze will not see) are [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/8b/1680_Play_Area_Full_Size_Coins_Hoverboard_and_View.png tall walls seemingly designed to contain the player]. However, the walls have a finite height and, combined with the ability to multi-jump, the player can leave the purported "play area" either to the sides or above the initial maze. This returns a flashing red [[#Messages in Play Area|error message]]: "'''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ae/Return_to_the_play_area.PNG Return to the Play Area]'''".<br />
<br />
But if the player overcomes the desire to comply and return to the play area and disregards this message, he can take hoverboard Cueball outside beyond the tall walls surrounding the initial play area. And here he will discover an entire world that can be explored left and right (and above), including numerous points of interest and {{w|Easter egg (media)|Easter eggs}} similar in style to comic [[1110: Click and Drag]]. There are also many more [[#Coins|coins]] to collect, 169 coins all in all, so 152 more than those from the play area.<br />
<br />
Although this game is reminiscent of Click and Drag, this was the first time an actual game, where the user moves an object in front of the drawing, has been released on xkcd. In previous "games" this has not been the case. In Click and Drag the user only moves the drawing into the view section. And in for instance the two previous [[:Category:April fools' comics|April fools' comics]], [[1350: Lorenz]] and [[1506: xkcloud]], the user does not move anything, but only supplies choices, text and drawings. However, already on the next {{w|April Fools' Day}} a new game, [[1663: Garden]], was released where the users also actively moved items around on the screen and could make items disappear (like taking coins in this game.)<br />
<br />
===The main themes===<br />
There are many themes and references throughout the game, but the two main themes are '''{{w|Star Wars}}''' and '''{{w|The Lord of the Rings}}'''. Below there is a [[#List of details and references|table]] listing all references to both of these movies and much more. For instance there are 19 references to SW and 6 to LOTR.<br />
<br />
The largest part of the game is located on the '''right side''' of the play area and is mainly a world dominated by references to ''Star Wars''. Most noticeable is a recreation of [https://youtu.be/yHfLyMAHrQE?t=112 the opening scene] in the {{w|Star Wars (film)|first film}}, where {{w|Princess Leia|Princess Leia's}} space ship ''{{w|Tantive IV}}'' also known as ''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/82/1608_1015x1078y_Entire_Rebel_Blockade_Runner_zoom_out.png The Rebel Blockade Runner]'' is flying over [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/33/1608_1015x1073y_Ponytail_in_the_dunes_zoom_out.png the desert] planet {{w|Tatooine}}. Here it is followed by the {{w|Star Destroyer}}, ''[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Devastator Devastator]''. The [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/04/1608_1015x1078y_Entire_Rebbel_Blockade_Runner_zoom_out_to_torpedoes_and_ground.png desert ground with these two space ships] above is the first you find to the right. Although in the game they are located inside the atmosphere, not as in the movie out in space, a fact that is [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1608_1049x1090y_Atmosphere_worry_and_car_room_at_bottom_of_hull.png commented on] by [[Megan]] who looks out from an opening in the bottom of the Destroyers hull. <br />
:Megan: Is this ship designed to fly in the atmosphere like this? <br />
<br />
Both ships are high above the ground level, but there are three [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/76/1608_1014x1076y_Entire_wires_from_ground_to_Runner.png wires from the ground] that connect (and thus guide you) up to ''The Runner'' and from there [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/87/1608_1023x1085y_Entire_torpedoes_rain_from_Runner_to_Destroyer.png 100+ torpedoes], which are fired [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f1/1608_1018x1079y_Top_rear_end_of_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png down on the Runner] coming [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5f/1608_1034x1091y_Torpedo_canon_below_Destroyer.png from the Destroyer] above, gives away the location of the Destroyer itself. The Destroyer is so high up in the air, that you would not be likely to find it by chance without these leads (or at least some of the several other hints from people on the ground [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f2/1608_1010x1073y_Cliff_with_rock_and_cactus.png looking up and reacting] or like [[White Hat]] looking from the tip of the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/21/1608_0995x1079y_Entire_Washington_monument_extra_zoom_out.png Washington Monument] and reacting [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6f/1608_0995x1083y_Tip_of_Washington_monument.png by saying]: "Uh, what the heck is ''that?!''.").<br />
<br />
One of the main points (The Joke) of the entire game is the extreme size of [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cd/1608_Entire_Star_Destroyer.png such a Destroyer]. It takes up more space than the rest of the game (and most of the coins are located there). Inside the Destroyer there are many many rooms, long corridors and deep shafts, even a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/58/1608_Entire_Cave.png huge cave] with trees and animals. At [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c7/1608_Vader_twice_and_emperor_on_and_near_bridge.png the bridge] we meet both {{w|Darth Vader}} and the Emperor himself, {{w|Palpatine}}. There are many other jokes related both to Star Wars and other movies and xkcd comics inside the Destroyer. For instance, Darth Vader discusses {{w|Steven Universe}}, bringing up Rose Quartz and Steven himself ([http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1608_1031x1095y_Steven_Universe_family_and_ice_cream_prediction.png who can be found with the Crystal Gems] in a different part of the Destroyer).<br />
:Darth Vader: But Steven's ''mother'' is a Crystal Gem...<br />
There are also interesting things and references along the ground beneath the Destroyer, some of these are also Star Wars related like [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c9/1608_1038x1073y_Wedding_and_picnic.png the wedding scene] where {{w|Jabba the Hutt}} is mentioned. <br />
<br />
To the '''left side''' is an entirely different world, although much smaller (shorter) than the one to the right. Here the main theme is ''The Lord of the Rings'' mainly with the presence of a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6a/Entire_Volcano_zoom_out.png volcano] where for instance [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/77/1608_0952x1087y_Ring_of_power_and_lave_floor_at_the_right_crater_top.png Megan tries to throw] in {{w|One Ring|''rings'' of power}}, as in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXpF3SUFaDw the scene] from the {{w|The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King|last LOTR film}} where {{w|Frodo Baggins|Frodo}} fails and {{w|Gollum}} attacks inside the volcano {{w|Mount Doom}}, thus making it clear that the volcano in the game represents this volcano. Both Frodo, {{w|Sauron}} and {{w|Gandalf}} are mentioned in the game. The first two by name in the text. Two {{w|Eagle (Middle-earth)|great eagles}} are [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cb/1608_0956x1088y_Eagles_over_right_crater_top.png talking about Frodo] and {{w|J. R. R. Tolkien|Tolkien}}, Sauron's name is [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/66/1608_0964x1078y_Megan_reading_for_children_about_Saurons_ring.png read up by Megan from a book], and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a5/1608_0944x1083y_Rock_with_Gandalf_in_Lava_lake.png Gandalf is drawn as a wizard figure] in the crater and also his name is used in the [[#Messages in Play Area|message]] you receive if you collect [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f7/169_coins_fastest_way.PNG all possible coins]. <br />
<br />
The two worlds do conflict though, as an {{w|X-wing fighter}} is [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/44/1608_0982x1077y_Gas_station_with_x-wing.png parked at a gas station] to the left in LOTR world, and Gandalf's famous quote ''You shall not pass!'' from his fight against the {{w|Balrog}} is modified by [[Cueball]] who is [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ad/1608_1026x1093y_Shall_not_not_pass_room_and_parachutes_at_one_of_two_ledges_at_bottom_of_hull.png ''not'' trying to block your path] to a coin inside a room in the Destroyer. This conflict could very well be a reference to the fact that {{w|Andy Serkis}} who played {{w|Gollum}} in LOTR, now plays the {{w|Supreme Leader Snoke}} in the new Star Wars movie, and [http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/villains/images/6/64/Supremeleader.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/270?cb=20151223201852 his appearance] as Snoke is not that much different from Gollum's. Snoke also delivers a line in the movie (about "bringing someone to me") that reminds allot of Gollum when he talks about "the ring coming to me". Of course Randall would not have know this last part at the time this comic were released. But he would likely be aware of Andy Serkis involvement.<br />
<br />
Other themes are related to other movies, like a [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/star-wars-the-force-awakens/star-trek-fans-rivalry-george-lucas-roddenberry/ naughty reference] to {{w|Star Trek}} from inside [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bc/1608_1012x1078y_Bridge_on_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png the bridge] of the Rebel Blockade Runner where a long-haired woman (maybe [[Danish]] since she obviously does this to annoy Star Wars fans and [[Hairbun]] behind her, which could represent Princess Leia with her [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1b/Princess_Leia%27s_characteristic_hairstyle.jpg special hair style]) delivers the following line taken from the Star Trek universe: <br />
:Long haired woman: Captain's log, stardate November 24th, 2015...<br />
:Hairbun: ''Augh!'' No!<br />
<br />
Also references to video games are seen, best shown with the maze towards the back end of the Destroyer which are an almost [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e2/1608_Comparing_Prince_of_Persia_maze_with_real_level_1.png complete depiction] of ''[http://cdn.wikimg.net/strategywiki/images/a/a2/Princeofpersia_dos_level1.png Level 1]'' of the computer game ''{{w|Prince of Persia}}'' down to the three coins being in the place of three items to take in that game, and at least two of the opposing sword fighters in the correct places as well. <br />
<br />
The comic/game and book were released only 3 weeks before the 7th Star Wars movie ''{{w|Star Wars: The Force Awakens}}'' was released on December 14, 2015. And this movie had already been referenced by Randall 7½ weeks earlier in [[1585: Similarities]], when another movie ({{w|The Martian (film)|The Martian}}) were released. It was a reference in the title text to the new robot ''BB-8'' that are featured in the Force Awakens. That the Star Wars section is thus so much larger than the LOTR section could be a hint to the fact that it is now 12 years ago that the last of those films were released, and although {{w|the Hobbit}} has been released as {{w|The Hobbit (film series)|three films}} over the previous three Christmases it was Star Wars that dominated the Christmas a month after this comics release.<br />
<br />
===Reference to Thing Explainer===<br />
Some of the scenes in this game are references to pictures in the new book that it celebrates. Here are some examples:<br />
*The original comic that was the impetus for ''[[Thing Explainer]]'' in the first place, [[1133: Up Goer Five]], is also included in the book. These are both referenced in this game by the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e2/1608_0976x1079y_Space_capsule_with_parachutes.png space capsule] used for reentry by the astronauts that flew to the moon using the {{w|Saturn V|Saturn Five}} rocket. This capsule is floating down over the plateau before the volcano to the left. <br />
*In ''Sky Toucher'', the last entry explaining a sky scraper, there are several references to the game, one of these being the space capsule just mentioned above. Other references:<br />
**Ponytail throwing a paper plane out, which she also does [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/20/1608_1077x1107y_Tarkin_on_the_bridge_and_Ponytail_with_paper_plane.png below the bridge] of the Destroyer. (This is also a reference to [http://explainxkcd.com/1110 Click and Drag] where [http://imgs.xkcd.com/clickdrag/6n2w.png Cueball does the same], here even from a skyscraper).<br />
**Cueball is setting up a kite and Ponytail is crawling up in the line. In the comic a small girl looking like Megan [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ae/1608_0970x1077y_Kite_and_weird_bug.png also has a kite]. Being up in a kite is also referenced in both [[235: Kite]] and in the title text of [[1614: Kites]] (from just a few weeks after the release of this comic.)<br />
**There is a floor in the middle of the building with trees, just like there is a cave inside the Destroyer [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/75/1608_1053x1093y_Lake_with_tree_birds_and_puma_on_rock_at_exit_in_the_bottom_left_side_of_the_cave.png with a tree "inside"].<br />
**Cueball is holding a fishing rod out over the side of the building letting the hook hand in the air. The same [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/58/1608_1014x1078y_Three_wires_and_reaching_up_to_anchors_in_Runner.png can be seen] under the Rebel Blockage Runner.<br />
**Megan is using a skateboard in a strange ellipsoid-shaped room. This can be a reference both to where Megan is seen on a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/89/1608_1038x1095y_Hamsterball_and_stilts_room.png skate board inside a hamster ball] and to the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7b/1608_1078x1111y_Globe_of_Death_at_the_top_of_the_Destroyer.png globe of death] at the top of the bridge on the Destroyer.<br />
**There is a car in the top section of the tower (long away from the parking cellar in the basement). There are two [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1608_1049x1090y_Atmosphere_worry_and_car_room_at_bottom_of_hull.png cars inside] the Destroyer, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d4/1608_1048x1099y_Cueball_on_hood_of_car_room_and_a_giant_step_with_coins_at_top_of_hull.png one of them] deep inside with no easy access to the outside.<br />
**Two people are standing on a cloud, one of them (Megan) jumps out from it. This is similar to the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/92/1608_0993x1112y_Top_of_floating_rock_island_with_base_jumpers.png two base jumpers] on the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1608_0994x1110y_Entire_floating_rock_island_zoom_out.png rock island].<br />
*In the ''Red world space car'' explaining (about the {{w|Curiosity Rover}} on {{w|Mars}}) there are two references to the scenes around the Rebel Blockade Runner:<br />
**Curiosity toasts a marshmallow over a fire as does Megan and Cueball over the exhaust pipe at [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f1/1608_1018x1079y_Top_rear_end_of_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png the rear of the Runner].<br />
**When Curiosity is set down on Mars by the {{w|Mars Science Laboratory}} (MSL), lowered down in wires below the MSL, the wires were released once the rover was down and then it flies away. In the book Megan is hanging from one of these wires when it flies away. This is similar to [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/76/1608_1014x1076y_Entire_wires_from_ground_to_Runner.png Megan hanging in one of the anchor lines] going from the ground up to the Runner.<br />
*In ''The USS Laws of the Land'' about the ship called {{w|USS Constitution}} (named after the {{w|United States Constitution}} which is explained in the entry just before this one), there are two references to this comic:<br />
**There is both a giant octopus arm (marked as ''not real'') and a very large octopus under the ship. The shape of the octopus is the same as the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b5/1608_1038x1094y_Giant_octopus_in_Destroyer.png silhouette of a giant octopus] inside the Destroyer. <br />
***Octopuses like this are often used in xkcd, and they are also included in the explanation about ''Writing sticks'' (as the source of ink for the pens), as a motive in ''Picture taker'' and in ''Tree of life''. As an example from another xkcd comic with octopuses see for instance [[435: Purity]].<br />
**There is also a bowling alley in the hull of the ship - a reference to the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/53/1608_0987x1075y_Hamsterball_bowling.png hamster ball bowling] in the left part of the world.<br />
***Bowling is also used two other places in the book, namely on the suspension of the longest bridge in ''Tall roads'' and an bowling alley is used for measuring length in ''How to count things''. <br />
*Ants are used three times in the book. A zoom in on an ant is used to indicate size in ''Earth's past'' about geological ages of the Earth, and under the ''Tree'' in that explanation there is an ant colony where one ant is much bigger than the others; an ant queen, a clear reference to the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d2/1608_1078x1095y_Ant_Queen_in_Destroyer.png ant queen] in the Destroyer. They are of course also in the ''Tree of life''.<br />
*Basketball is shown twice in this comic ([http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1608_0936x1084y_Basketball_on_the_volcano.png left of volcano] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1608_1067x1104y_Basket_ball_on_top_of_Destroyer.png on top of Destroyer]). In the book the size of different ''Playing Fields'' is one of the stories, and it included the field for basketball (i.e. ''circle ball'').<br />
*The [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d0/1608_1046x1074y_Huge_foot.png huge foot] before the pyramid look like the foot used in the explanation for ''How to count things'' to describe the wight "one kilo" using a picture labeled ''one foot'' (i.e. not the length one foot, as the length is given in meters). A similar experience to the one in [[526: Converting to Metric]].<br />
*The [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d2/1608_1084x1090y_Giant_light_bulb_room.png giant light bulb] towards the bottom rear end of the Destroyer is a reference to the entry on {{w|tungsten}} in the explanation for ''The pieces everything is made of'' (i.e. the {{w|periodic table}}). In the book a {{w|Incandescent_light_bulb|light bulb}} is shown and then an arrow points to the {{w|Incandescent_light_bulb#Filament|filament}} which is made of tungsten in the typical {{w|Thomas Edison|Edison}} light bulbs.<br />
*In the explanation for ''Box that cleans food holders'' (Dishwasher) Ponytail yells ''Wheee!'' as she slides through a pipe inside the machine on her stomach (bottom left). This is similar to her position and movement in the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c6/1608_Entire_Corridor_peristalsis_and_colon.png colon like structure] inside the Destroyer and Cueball also sliding in this colon yells ''Wheee!''<br />
*In the explanation for ''Bending computer'' Ponytail comes racing on her bike with a laptop on top of the handlebars. She is also seen [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cd/1608_0958x1083y_Ponytail_racing_down_the_steep_slope_on_a_bike.png racing a bike down the slope of the volcano].<br />
<br />
===Reference to other comics===<br />
There are also many references to other xkcd comics, like the room at the front end of the Destroyer [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a7/1608_1004x1095y_Very_front_with_playpen_balls_pit_at_top_of_hull.png ball pit] filled with '''[[:Category:Playpen balls|playpen balls]]''', and two adults playing in it, like in [[150: Grownups]]. Also [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2e/1608_0980x1075y_Entire_well_zoom_out.png the well] in the left part of the world with [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/82/1608_0980x1073y_Well_bottom.png a girl and a coin] at the bottom is likely a reference to the movie ''The Ring'', which has been referenced before in xkcd. Wells have also come up in xkcd in the early '''[[:Category:Well|Well series]]'''.<br />
<br />
There have been many comics with electric skateboards as mentioned, which do not appear in this comic, but there is one example of a normal '''skateboard'''. This is [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/89/1608_1038x1095y_Hamsterball_and_stilts_room.png used by Megan] in a room in the Destroyer, while she is inside a {{w|hamster ball}}. There is also [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/53/1608_0987x1075y_Hamsterball_bowling.png another hamster ball], with a kid (looking like Megan) inside. It is used in a more than human sized {{w|ten pin bowling}} game to the left. '''Hamster balls''' is another item that has been [[:Category:Hamster Ball|prominently featured]] in xkcd.<br />
<br />
In the weeks before, and especially the weeks after there were also other comics that had a subject which could refer back to Hoverboard in some ways. Maybe these comics were either influenced by the game, or the other way around so that relevant items were added to the game because of these other comics:<br />
*[[1600: MarketWatch]] - the {{w|Washington Monument}} (an obelisk) is part of the skyline depicted, and this monument is the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/21/1608_0995x1079y_Entire_Washington_monument_extra_zoom_out.png first that is encountered] in the picture when going left from the play area, plus a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/dc/1608_0994x1074y_Base_of_Washington_monument.png comment at the base] of the monument to make sure we know it is the Washington monument, and another [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6f/1608_0995x1083y_Tip_of_Washington_monument.png comment at the top] of the monument referring to the {{w|Washington_Monument#Aluminum_apex|aluminum apex}} that constitutes the very tip of the monument, which was very expensive at the time it was installed in 1884, when aluminum was a rare metal as valuable as silver. Today it would not make anyone rich from the metal alone, although the tip would be worth a lot for other historical reasons, but this is not what Cueball's comment is about.<br />
::Cueball to Megan at the bottom: Honestly, it doesn't even look that much like Washington.<br />
::Cueball to White Hat at the tip: Look at that- solid aluminum! We´re gonna be rich! <br />
*[[1610: Fire Ants]] - in this game there is a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d2/1608_1078x1095y_Ant_Queen_in_Destroyer.png giant ant queen] inside the Destroyer talking with Cueball about laying eggs.<br />
**See also [[1641: Hot Dogs]] where Cueball has a similar style conversation, with the same ''Eww'' ending as with the ant queen:<br />
::Cueball: What's up?<br />
::Ant queen: The usual. Poopin' out ants.<br />
::Cueball: Eww.<br />
*[[1611: Baking Soda and Vinegar]] - this is about super volcanoes, vs. [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6a/Entire_Volcano_zoom_out.png the Volcano], Mount Doom in the game as indicated by Megan [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/77/1608_0952x1087y_Ring_of_power_and_lave_floor_at_the_right_crater_top.png throwing rings into the lava]: <br />
::Megan at the edge of the volcano crater: One of these is probably a ring of power or whatever.<br />
*[[1614: Kites]] - Megan is seen with a kite, and in this comics a small girl looking like Megan [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ae/1608_0970x1077y_Kite_and_weird_bug.png also has a kite] to the left towards Mount Doom.<br />
*[[1620: Christmas Settings]] - another Star Wars reference to {{w|lightsaber}} noises in the title text. Lightsabers are featured twice in this comic, with [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bc/1608_1012x1078y_Bridge_on_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png Ponytail practicing] on the Rebel Blockade Runner, and with a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/20/1608_1006x1095y_Pinata_and_Cueball_with_lightsaber_at_top_of_hull.png kid about to hit a Piñata] in the Destroyer.<br />
*[[1623: 2016 Conversation Guide]] - a direct hoverboard reference, and complaint that they are not real yet (only [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/01/1608_1048x1095y_Two_hoverboards_room.png in this game]).<br />
*[[1630: Quadcopter]] - in this comic three quadcopters act together to abduct Cueball. Thus making them sentient, like the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7c/1608_0950x1084y_Quadcopters_over_lava_lake_right.png quadcopter who is speaking to another] over the lava lake in the Mount Doom crater to the left.<br />
::Right quadcopter: Remember: There's no such thing as good volcano footage taken by a quadcopter that survived. <br />
*[[1632: Palindrome]] - a reference to the famous palindrome about the Panama canal: "''A Man, A Plan, A Canal: Panama''", and thus also to the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0d/1608_1026x1073y_Ruins_with_Cueball_singing_of_Spiders_and_Panama.png song that Cueball sings] at the ruin to the right, where the first four lines is mashup of the palindrome and {{w|Spider-Man_(theme_song)|the Spider-Man theme song}} (see this [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUtziaZlDeE video]):<br />
::Cueball singing: <br />
:::Spider-man <br />
::::Spider-plan<br />
:::Spider-canal<br />
::::Spider-Panama<br />
:::Gates let in<br />
::::Spider boats<br />
:::Flood the locks<br />
::::Spiders float<br />
:::''Look out!''<br />
:::Spiders in both oceans.<br />
<br />
Reference to 735:Floor when pretending lava to be the floor instead of floor as lava in 735?<br />
<br />
===Characters===<br />
Almost all main [[:Category:Characters|characters]] in the xkcd gallery are used more than once, especially there are three characters that are used several times. Number one is of course [[Cueball]] (with close to 90 appearances) who is already shown at the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6c/1608_1000x1074y_The_Play_Area.png starting point]. He is also the first character seen when walking both [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c0/1608_1004x1074y_Cueball_outside_play_area.png right] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/dc/1608_0994x1074y_Base_of_Washington_monument.png left] (where he speaks the first line to the left).<br />
<br />
Then follows [[Megan]] with at least 40 appearances, she is even shown twice in the same location three times, one of these three even occurs within one of the [http://xkcd.com/1608/1090:-1088+s.png small images]. She is also shown with Cueball in his first appearance to the left, and she is the first to speak a line to the right [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f2/1608_1010x1073y_Cliff_with_rock_and_cactus.png here]. <br />
<br />
Also [[Ponytail]] is well represented with 26 appearances (for instance [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1608_0947x1073y_Antenna_cave_in_lair.png here)]. <br />
<br />
[[Hairy]] (with different hair styles) is used 7 times (for instance [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/54/1608_Actual_Bridge_with_Vader_and_Tarkin.png here]) and [[Hairbun]] is used 5 times (for instance [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e4/1608_1054x1099y_Corridor_peristalsis_and_two_coin_rooms_at_top_of_hull.png here)]. <br />
<br />
Two of the main characters are used twice: [[Beret Guy]] ([http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/4f/1608_0990x1074y_If_loving_you_is_wrong_I_dont_want_to.png here] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/21/1608_1020x1083y_Torpedoes_two_steps_above_Runner_with_Beret_Guy.png here]) and [[White Hat]] ([http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6f/1608_0995x1083y_Tip_of_Washington_monument.png here] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d9/1608_1093x1074y_White_Hat_hiding_in_the_grass.png here]).<br />
<br />
The only exception is that the main villain of xkcd [[Black Hat]] who is very hard to find. He is only [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/68/1608_1069x1093y_Deer_and_exit_below_lamp_coin_and_Black_Hat_in_the_bottom_right_side_of_the_cave.png shown once] in the comic where he very uncharacteristically just sits and snores at the right wall in the cave inside the Destroyer (is it really him...?). The only other hint that he is not forgotten is that his hat can be seen [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bc/1608_1073x1074y_Ponytail_and_bird_black_hat_on_a_stick_and_Cueball_whistling.png on a stick] under the Destroyer after the three large T-like structures. And this is not that kind of stick characters Randall usually draws. But at least we now know where Danish has hidden it from him this time (see [[405: Journal 3]]). Given that his hat is stuck there, he could also be any of the Cueballs close by…<br />
<br />
Also [[Blondie]] seems to be only represented once, while in her reporter mode while discovering a bug before the volcano as can be seen [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ae/1608_0970x1077y_Kite_and_weird_bug.png here]. <br />
<br />
There are also several characters that are not recognizable as either any of the standard xkcd characters or in any other way (see for instance a few of the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a6/1037x1073y_Wedding.png wedding guests]). But there are possibly some of the minor characters are used like [[Danish]] at the bridge in the Blockade Runner ([http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bc/1608_1012x1078y_Bridge_on_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png here]) but this cannot be confirmed, she just looks like her and has some similarities teasing the Star Wars fan.<br />
<br />
Several places in the comic it is clear from the size and the behavior that some of the characters are kids, see for instance the Blondie image mentioned above, where two kids looking like Megan and Hairy stand behind her, but they would in principle not be Megan or Hairy despite appearance, as these named characters are adults.<br />
<br />
There are also many fictive people from different movies, books, and shows; for instance Darth Vader ([http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fa/1608_1077x1109y_Darth_Vaders_talks_about_Steven_Universe_on_the_bridge_Megan_adjust_antenna.png here]), Gandalf ([http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a5/1608_0944x1083y_Rock_with_Gandalf_in_Lava_lake.png here]) and Steven Universe ([http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1608_1031x1095y_Steven_Universe_family_and_ice_cream_prediction.png here]) all three mentioned above, and at least one real person: {{w|Elon Musk|Elon Musk}} who has a [[#Secret passages and hidden places|hidden lair]] under the Volcano (see [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/73/1608_0945x1074y_Elon_Musks_cave_in_lair.png here]).<br />
<br />
Furthermore, there are many animals (like [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b0/1608_1067x1094y_Gazebo_puma_deer_Cueball_with_bow_and_talk_of_Palpatine_in_the_middle_of_the_cave.png the puma and the deer]) in the cave, some even rather big like this [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b5/1608_1038x1094y_Giant_octopus_in_Destroyer.png octopus] or even gigantic like this [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d2/1608_1078x1095y_Ant_Queen_in_Destroyer.png ant queen] (all three from inside the Destroyer). There are also a couple of small Star Wars robots, one in a corridor in each space ship ([http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/df/1608_1034x1091y_Photon_canon_Tetris_piece_and_mini_robot_at_bottom_of_hull.png here from the Destroyer]).<br />
<br />
===Extra Hoverboard pages===<br />
*Since this comic is so big and complicated extra pages have been created to include much more information than is wished for on this main page (which is already of considerable size).<br />
*These pages are listed here for convenience, but they are also listed in the relevant sections below:<br />
**[[1608: Hoverboard/Transcript]] - The full transcript of the entire comic, as if you played the game can be found here. It is linked from the [[#Transcript|Transcript]] section.<br />
**[[1608: Hoverboard/The whole image]] - A collection of different compilations of the whole Image. It is linked from the [[#Whole Image|Whole Image]] section.<br />
**[[1608: Hoverboard/Images of secret passages]] - Images with an overview of the secret passages in the game. It is linked from the [[#Secret passages and hidden places|Secret passages and hidden places]] section.<br />
**[[1608: Hoverboard/All image links]] It is linked from the [[#All images|All images]] section.<br />
**[[1608: Hoverboard/Images coins]] It is linked from the [[#Coins|Coins]] section.<br />
**[[1608: Hoverboard/Screen-shots]] It can be linked from several sections, but among others from the [[#Messages in Play Area|Messages in Play Area]] section.<br />
**[[1608: Hoverboard/Images of individual scenes]] It will be linked from the [[#List of details and references|List of details and references]] section which will be using these images in the explanation.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[This transcript only covers the starting page as shown on xkcd: {{xkcd|1608}}. A full transcript of the entire comic can be found on this [[1608: Hoverboard/Transcript|page]].]<br />
<!-- There is also an official transcript here: https://xkcd.com/1608/info.0.json on xkcd. But on Explain xkcd these xkcd transcripts are not used. This transcript covers what is on the first image you see when opening the comic on xkcd --><br />
<br />
:[Cueball is shown on a hoverboard in the center of the comic. Around him is a simple maze with 12 yellow coins. Another Cueball without hoverboard is shown standing on one of the platforms to the right. The bottom half of the window is black. Right of where Cueball stands is a ramp. Behind the ramp is a terminal. There is lots of space left of the maze, outside the maze. Text is only written in white below in the black area. The first part of the text is written below Cueball on hoverboard. Then there is an arrow pointing to the terminal and a label. Finally there is a line of text at the bottom of the black area.]<br />
<br />
:[Under Cueball:]<br />
:My new book,<br />
:''Thing Explainer,''<br />
:comes out today!<br />
:To celebrate, here's<br />
:a small game.<br />
<br />
:[Under the arrow below the terminal.]<br />
:Deposit<br />
:coins here<br />
<br />
:[At the bottom:]<br />
:Use the arrow keys to move<br />
<br />
:['''For the full transcript of the entire comic as it could be played see [[1608: Hoverboard/Transcript]].''']<br />
:['''For a transcript only of the text for the scenes with text in the comic see the [[#Table with references|table]] below.''']<br />
<br />
==Trivia==<br />
*There is as usual [[:Category:No title text|no title text]] for these interactive comics. But there is actually one listed in the [http://xkcd.com/1608/info.0.json info page] on xkcd. But this text: "Return to the play area", is never shown as a normal title text. But it will erroneously be shown in the unofficial mobile versions of the site. <br />
**This is actually the [[#Messages in Play Area|text that is shown blinking red]] at the bottom of the screen when leaving the Play Area.<br />
<br />
==Viewers==<br />
*{{xkcd|1608|1608: Hoverboard}} (native game, use arrows)<br />
<br />
'''''Warning:''' apart from using one of the a full maps below there are also other [[#Cheats and Exploits|cheating possibilities]] where people (or the game) have implemented ways to explore the game world more easily!. The best way to enjoy this comic, however, is to play the game, explore the comic's world the way you're supposed to, get lost in the caves or in the sky, be startled by unexpected things or happy when finding some people or a coin after lengthy exploration through a repetitive landscape. If you didn't do that already, '''reading any below will spoil you from truly enjoying the comic.''''' So go back to the link above and try that out first.<br />
<br />
*Though you can download the full view, the easiest way to browse it is through a {{w|Zooming user interface}}:<br />
**[http://1101b.com/xkcd1608/ Fully zoomable map w/ toggleable coins and passages]. '''[Recommended]''' - includes all of the game, zoom-able and with toggle-able passages and coins. Courtesy of [https://www.reddit.com/user/lanzaa lanzaa] on this [https://www.reddit.com/r/xkcd/comments/3u4sy1/xkcd_1608_hoverboard/cxbyn86 reddit thread]<br />
**[http://codepen.io/KyleDavidE/full/605dc87b614ff6b2bd716f4c6f640203/ Quickly hacked overview]. Missing the rock island in the sky. Courtesy of [https://www.reddit.com/user/kyledavide kyledavide] on the same [https://www.reddit.com/r/xkcd/comments/3u4sy1/xkcd_1608_hoverboard/cxbyn86 reddit thread].<br />
*Below are several examples of full pictures:<br />
**[http://paste.click/DsPuSL Full-size-png-map]. '''Do not open this directly in the browser!''' It might take a few minutes to download. Full resolution picture of the entire game (also without coins) - courtesy of [https://www.reddit.com/user/0x90-0x90 0x90-0x90] on the same reddit [https://www.reddit.com/r/xkcd/comments/3u4sy1/xkcd_1608_hoverboard/cxbyn86 thread].<br />
**[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/92/thumb_1608.jpg Incomplete compilation] of the entire game area (note the missing pinnacle of the Washington Monument. It also missed the floating island above the monument).<br />
**[https://i.imgur.com/uYryxss.png Full png-map]. Simple picture of the entire game without coins - courtesy of [https://www.reddit.com/user/luke_in_the_sky luke_in_the_sky] on the same reddit [https://www.reddit.com/r/xkcd/comments/3u4sy1/xkcd_1608_hoverboard/cxbyn86 thread].<br />
**[https://i.imgur.com/rNU9ZgN.png Full png-map green for non existing tiles]. Here's the transparent spaces in green - also courtesy of [https://www.reddit.com/user/luke_in_the_sky luke_in_the_sky] on the another [https://www.reddit.com/r/xkcd/comments/3u4sy1/xkcd_1608_hoverboard/cxc1245 reddit thread].<br />
**[https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/content_link/6wIRprxQ7rh3EQGEPer7zCdiaCDeXFM3m2tW9aDd3ECJu9Kgz4s5LPLjjHnJN6SR/file Black areas that you can walk through in red]. This includes the walls and ceilings or other surfaces that you can stand on or hit into. So not only the secret passages are in red.<br />
*See also under the [[#Whole Image|Whole Image]].<br />
**And see also the collection of different versions of [[1608: Hoverboard/The whole image|the whole image]]!<br />
<br />
===Standalone application===<br />
*Standalone cross-platform open source remake of hoverboard is available, with some extra features:<br />
** Off-line play<br />
** Arbitrary game window size<br />
** Persistent games state on exit<br />
** Ability to save up to 10 locations and teleport to them at will<br />
** Explorable world map<br />
* Links:<br />
** [https://github.com/AMDmi3/hoverboard-sdl Project on GitHub]<br />
** [https://github.com/AMDmi3/hoverboard-sdl/releases Downloads] (Windows binaries available)<br />
<br />
===Metroid XK===<br />
*Satirical crossover with the classic game Super Metroid. Explore the world as Samus in search of powerups and secrets, while encountering danger at every turn.<br />
[[File:1608_MetroidXK.png]]<br />
* [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=113083&start=120#p3913102 more information]<br />
* [http://www.xeloh.com/Releases#MetroidXK download]<br />
<br />
==Messages in Play Area==<br />
*Different amounts of coins collected in the play area, will give different messages in yellow on the black part at the bottom of the screen when delivered to the coin collector.<br />
*Below is a table with examples of what may be written depending on the number of coins. The time (and the amount when there is a range with similar rating) is just chosen at random (although in a realistic range). To get above 17 you of course have to leave the play area and come back again... <br />
**In Chrome and Firefox there is not message for those above 9 coins, except 17, 42 and 169. But in Internet Explorer there is still a message for those cases: "Undefined".<br />
**See [[1608: Hoverboard/Screen-shots#Coin collecting messages|screen-shots]] or click on the links from the number of coins in the table below:<br />
<br />
:{| class="wikitable"<br />
!# coins<br />
!Text when depositing this number of coins<br />
"X" is the number of coins collected<br />
|-<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e3/0_coins.PNG 0 coins]<br />
|style="background-color:black;"| <font color="yellow">'''You got 0 coins in 1 second'''<br>You successfully avoided all the coins.</font><br />
|-<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/00/1_coin.PNG 1 coin]<br />
|style="background-color:black;"| <font color="yellow">'''You got a single coin in 1 second'''<br>It's a start.</font><br />
|-<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/83/2_coins.PNG 2]-[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/05/4_coins.PNG 4 coins]<br />
|style="background-color:black;"| <font color="yellow">'''You got X coins in 3 seconds'''<br>Not bad!</font> <br />
|-<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fc/5_coins.PNG 5]-[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/30/9_coins.PNG 9 coins]<br />
|style="background-color:black;"| <font color="yellow">'''You got X coins in 12 seconds'''<br>Terrific!</font><br />
|-<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/74/10_coins.PNG 10]-[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/55/16_coins.PNG 16 coins]<br />
|style="background-color:black;"| <font color="yellow">'''You got X coins in 10 seconds'''</font><br />
|-<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7e/17_coins.PNG 17 coins]<br />
|style="background-color:black;"| <font color="yellow">'''You got 17 coins in 15 seconds'''<br>You found all the coins! Great job!</font><br />
|-<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bd/18_coins.PNG 18-41 coins]<br />
|style="background-color:black;"| <font color="yellow">'''You got X coins in 430 seconds'''</font><br />
|-<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/42_coins.PNG 42 coins]<br />
|style="background-color:black;"| <font color="yellow">'''You got 42 coins in 460 seconds'''<br>No answers here.</font><br />
|-<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d8/45_coins.PNG 43-168 coins]<br />
|style="background-color:black;"| <font color="yellow">'''You got X coins in 460 seconds'''</font><br />
|-<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f7/169_coins_fastest_way.PNG All 169 coins]<br />
|style="background-color:black;"| <font color="yellow">'''You got 169 coins in 1457 seconds'''<br>Are you Gandalf?</font><br />
|}<br />
<br />
*Once you leave the area you get a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ae/Return_to_the_play_area.PNG flashing warning message] in red letters at the bottom of the screen:<br />
:{| class="wikitable"<br />
|style="background-color:black;"| <font color="red">'''Return to the play area'''</font><br />
|}<br />
*This message flashes three times over 1.2 seconds (the message only disappears for about 150 ms each time)<br />
*Then there is a pause for about 1.3 seconds and then this repeats for a total of 5 repetitions, a total of 15 flashes in just about 11.3 second seconds. <br />
*The message will stop immediately if you re-enter the play area during this period. <br />
*If you re-enter later it will flash once you leave again.<br />
*For the program the play area is anything within and below the walls just outside the maze you start in. <br />
**More precisely you first leave the play area if you pass over the middle part at the top of the walls<br />
**Or if you make one jump from standing on top of the walls.<br />
<br />
==Animation==<br />
*There have before been several interactive comics and also a few with animations. But these animations have typical been something along the lines of flashing text or changing lights.<br />
**This comic is the first with a character that is specifically changing position in animation style.<br />
**Apart from this there are also flashing text when leaving the play-area and text that appears and disappears when handing in coins at the terminal as described above under [[#Messages in Play Area|Messages in Play Area]].<br />
**This also happens with the text written to begin with explaining how to play the game: ''Use the arrow keys to move'' which disappears when touching the keys.<br />
*Here are two images showing two kinds of animation of the hoverboard Cueball. <br />
**The first image shows the eight standard animation that can easily be seen. They are<br />
***Standing still facing right (starting position)<br />
***Standing still facing left<br />
***Moving left along flat ground (lifting arms)<br />
***Moving right along flat ground (lifting arms)<br />
***Jumping while facing left looking up with hoverboard pointing down<br />
***Jumping while facing right looking up with hoverboard pointing down<br />
***Falling while facing left looking down with hoverboard pointing up<br />
***Falling while facing right looking down with hoverboard pointing up<br />
[[File:1608 Hoverboard Cueball standard animation.png]]<br />
*But there are several in between drawings of the hoverboard Cueball turning from left to right and even more from right to left. <br />
**The second image shows eight in between animations (together with four from above)-<br />
**Not all possible positions are necessarily caught in this collage here, but there is only a limited amount of them and none of them last for more than a split second.<br />
**They have been sorted so it could look like Cueball has just turned to the right standing still, then jumping while turning right, then turning right while in jump, to finish the turn while falling. <br />
**Image 2, 3, 5 and the last are the same used in the image of standard animations<br />
[[File:1608 Hoverboard Cueball turning animation.png]]<br />
<br />
==Whole Image==<br />
[[File:1608 full tiny.png|none|frame|Whole Image zoomed very much out, without coins. The part visible at the beginning is marked red.]]<br />
*See also a collection of different versions of [[1608: Hoverboard/The whole image|the whole image]]!<br />
<br />
==Secret passages and hidden places==<br />
There are many places where you can disappear behind black areas, as not all of these are solid. Some of these places even hide secret passages or hidden rooms.<br />
<br />
One notable hidden area is {{w|Elon Musk|Elon Musk's}} volcano lair, which is located beneath the lava in the crater of Mount Doom. It can be difficult to find your way in here even if you know it is there. (For more details, see [[1608: Hoverboard/Images of secret passages|secret passages]].)<br />
<br />
Another hidden place is the floating rock island that floats high above the {{w|Washington Monument}}, which is located just outside the left edge of the play area. This island is almost impossible to find by chance, as it takes around 30 seconds of repeatedly pressing the Up Arrow key to reach it from the top of the Monument. (The [[#Viewers|maps]] can help you if you're having trouble finding it.)<br />
<br />
As there are two coins on the floating rock island and four coins in the lair below the lava, it is very hard to find all the coins. There are even several coins that are hard to find because they just float in the air nowhere near any drawn things, or at least no things you can see before seeing the coin. They may hang in the air a few jumps above the ground, or in one case more than a seconds drop below the Destroyer. So getting all coins without help from a map would truly make you a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f7/169_coins_fastest_way.PNG Gandalf-like wizard]. (See more regarding [[#Coins|coins]] below.)<br />
<br />
==Boundaries==<br />
The larger game world is physically bounded in the left, right, and down directions, with invisible walls to each side and the ground binding you from going any further down than the deepest depression or hidden caves... In the upward direction, there is in principle also an invisible wall, but while jumping up Cueball on his hoverboard will appear to continue upwards as long as you press to jump, in addition, the longer the up arrow is pressed repeatedly, the longer it will take for [[Cueball]] to fall down again once the button is released. So although there are no new things above, you can keep jumping as high as you like and will then fall proportionally longer to get back to where you started out. Until maps were created it could be possible that there could be some hidden unexplored parts, but the [[#Viewers|maps]] created already within the first few days covers the entire game.<br />
<br />
To the far right is a platform at the top of a high pole. This platform turns out to be a nest (like a stork nest). Above the three eggs are ten coins (the most collected in one place outside the play area, and these are closer together).<br />
<br />
To the far left is a blond haired woman with a hair bun looking right. In front of her are four coins on a row. She tells about the Destroyer (should you have gone this way without finding it yet).<br />
:Woman: In the sky, beyond the mountain, I saw a starship.<br />
<br />
Regarding the highest part you find the highest straight rise up in the air to something other than white, under the Rock Island just left of and very high above the Washington monument. Standing on the large rock on top of this floating rock island you are standing almost as high up as possible. There is a coin here one step down from the top of this large rock. This is the highest located coin in the game. Going over the edge also represents the largest possible drop in the game. However this is not the highest point where you can stand, as the very top of the bridge on the Destroyer is just a tat higher. But there is no coin there. Also this is not close enough to the end of the Destroyer that you can jump down to the ground, so the drop from the rock is by far the longest possible.<br />
<br />
The deepest part of the lair should have been the lowest point, but as this lair's entrance is up in the volcano crater, it does not reach down to become the lowest part of the image. There is also a deep well (half way left to the Volcano) with a girl at the bottom, that goes just as deep. But the deepest part where you can stand is in the ocean below the Destroyer where a rouge wave is talking to Cueball:<br />
:Wave: I know rogue waves seem implausible, but we're a straightforward consequence of the equations of fluid dynamics.<br />
:Cueball: ...But you can talk?<br />
:Wave: The equations are really complicated.<br />
When standing under this wave you cannot get any lower. There are coins in all three locations, but as the coin is above the top of the high wave, it may be that it is the coin in the well that is the deepest. The coin under the lava is not at the bottom of the room so that is not so low.<br />
<br />
Taking a route that takes the hoverboard through all the extremes mentioned above, that is the lowest, highest, left and rightmost coins and solid positions within the game can be done in about 9 minutes and 30 seconds. See a picture here of the coin delivery after such a trip that [[1608: Hoverboard/Screen-shots#Reaching all the boundaries|reached all the boundaries]].<br />
<br />
==All images==<br />
*Coordinates for the images are given in (X, Y) coordinates with the starting point at [http://xkcd.com/1608/1000:-1074+s.png (1000, 1074)]. <br />
*In total there are 3440 images on xkcd that can be accessed via links of this format: http://xkcd.com/1608/1000:-1074+s.png [This link is for the (1000, 1074) starting point image.]<br />
**'''Here is a page with a table of all the links to images: [[1608: Hoverboard/All image links|All image links]].'''<br />
**'''Note:''' This is a large page which may take some time to load.<br />
*The individual images are so small, and cut of at "random" so they do often go straight down through a person, and you can rarely see both a person and the (full) text belonging to them in the same image.<br />
**See for instance this [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a6/1037x1073y_Wedding.png wedding scene] to the right under the Destroyer, which only makes sense when these four images are put together (as they are in the link): <br />
***[http://xkcd.com/1608/1037:-1073+s.png (1037, 1073)]<br />
***[http://xkcd.com/1608/1037:-1074+s.png (1037, 1074)]<br />
***[http://xkcd.com/1608/1038:-1073+s.png (1038, 1073)]<br />
***[http://xkcd.com/1608/1038:-1074+s.png (1038, 1074)]<br />
**It will thus not make sense to make a transcript of all individual images, but instead, only of a complete setting (or maybe a part of a setting.)<br />
*Maximum possible number of images in the x-direction is 180.<br />
**Going left will decrease X down to 928 (so 82 pictures left of the starting point in X-direction)<br />
**Going right will increase X up to 1107 (so 107 pictures left of the starting point in X-direction)<br />
*Total number of (possible) images in the y-direction is 44. <br />
**Going down will decrease Y down to 1069 (so 5 pictures down from the starting point in Y-direction)<br />
**Going up will increase Y up to 1112 (so 38 pictures up from the starting point in Y-direction)<br />
***The "(possible)" is included because the number of possible active Y-images depends on the X-coordinate, as there are several non-existing images that are not just totally white (i.e. blank images), but which does not even have a number/or active link on xkcd. <br />
***But the top active image over the floating island and over the top of the bridge section of the Destroyer all have Y coordinate 1112. There are only 20 active images at this Y-coordinate.<br />
***The same by the way also goes for the x coordinate. Above X=1076 there are also many non existing images with not active link.<br />
* All possible images are thus spread over a 180 x 44 grid, with a possible 7920 images. But 4480 of these images are non existing on xkcd, but you can travel through them in the game, as they are just shown as completely blank/white empty air in the game.<br />
**If you try to load one of the completely blank images like [http://xkcd.com/1608/1000:-1077+s.png (1000, 1077)], three images above the starting point, you will get an error message. There are only 76 (vs 180) images at this Y-coordinate.<br />
***Note there are several completely empty/white images that are active, but those can be loaded on xkcd like the one below the missing picture mentioned above: [http://xkcd.com/1608/1000:-1076+s.png (1000, 1076)].<br />
**There are no blank images in completely black areas, like inside structures or under ground. And below Y = 1077 all 180 possible Y-images exist for all X-coordinates, from Y = 1069 to 1076. <br />
***For instance the image below the starting point is completely black [http://xkcd.com/1608/1000:-1073+s.png (1000, 1073)], and so are the next three below. <br />
***The bottom images at Y = 1069 has a white border at the bottom: [http://xkcd.com/1608/1000:-1069+s.png (1000, 1069)]. <br />
***All the images at Y = 1069 are the same except the one at the very right edge because at this edge there is also a white border to the right [http://xkcd.com/1608/1107:-1069+s.png (1107, 1069)] (this is not the case to the far left at [http://xkcd.com/1608/928:-1069+s.png (928, 1069)]).<br />
***You will never see the images at Y = 1069 in the game. Actually you will neither see anything of the images with Y = 1070 or 1071. And there is nothing that is not completely black for Y = 1069 to 1072. First from Y = 1073 are there active images which includes white. <br />
***This picture with the wave at [http://xkcd.com/1608/1022:-1073+s.png (1022, 1073)] gives the lowest point where the hoverboard Cueball can actually stand. <br />
***Since you will sink into the water here, you are almost standing on the top of the Y = 1072 image: [http://xkcd.com/1608/1022:-1072+s.png (1022, 1072)], which is of course completely black. <br />
***In places where you can stand in a low position on Y = 1073 images you will actually see some part of the images with Y = 1072, not that it makes any difference since they are all black.<br />
*Here is a list of the places where there are most images at a given X coordinate:<br />
**At X = 1078, right under the highest point of the Destroyers bridge [http://xkcd.com/1608/1078:-1112+s.png (1078, 1112)] there are 36 active images. Thus even here 8 images are missing between the bottom active image below the Destroyer and the first active near the ground level at Y=1076. (Y = 1077 to 1084 are missing).<br />
**These missing Y coordinates are active in other places, for instance under the torpedo rain at X = 1020 where all Y images are active up until 1100 - 32 images. But since the last 12 images above this are missing it is still 4 less than under the bridge.<br />
**Under the floating island, where there are active images at the top Y = 1112, like [http://xkcd.com/1608/990:-1112+s.png (990, 1112)], there is also the Washington monument below which goes high up, but still there are only 20 active Y images, as there are no active images between 1084 and 1109 (24 missing in between).<br />
**Over the volcano's edges the highest images directly connecting to solid ground is found at Y = 1087. One image above this is also active making the height here going up to 1088, thus also making it 20 active Y images. The only '''not''' completely white image over the volcano at Y = 1088 is the one with the eagles [http://xkcd.com/1608/956:-1088+s.png (956, 1088)].<br />
<br />
==Dimensions==<br />
{{incomplete|Here should be an overview of how large the picture is (physical distances and time to traverse it. Speed of hoverboard etc.) Could be based on know monuments sizes.}}<br />
*It takes 1 minute 52 s to reach from the starting point to the left edge<br />
<br />
==List of details and references==<br />
{{incomplete|The table with references should be filled out with explanations. Some explanations need to be reviewed}}<br />
*On this page [[1608: Hoverboard/Images of individual scenes]], images covering all individual scenes (in full size and with coins) has been saved and uploaded to be used for reference in the [[#Table with references|table]] below from where they are linked directly.<br />
**There are also several overviews in smaller resolution<br />
**Almost all these images have been made using this [http://1101b.com/xkcd1608/ Fully zoomable map w/ toggleable coins and passages] which includes all of the game, zoom-able and with toggle-able passages and coins. <br />
***Courtesy of [https://www.reddit.com/user/lanzaa lanzaa] on this [https://www.reddit.com/r/xkcd/comments/3u4sy1/xkcd_1608_hoverboard/cxbyn86 reddit thread]<br />
<br />
===Explanation of the table===<br />
*The contents of the comic are documented in the [[#Table with references|table]] below.<br />
**It first goes through the entire image from left to right along the ground<br />
***I.e. going up the volcano and down in the lair, down the well and up to the top of the Washington Monument. Only exception so far is that it here goes to the rocky island in the sky. Then it continues right along the ground, only following the wires up to the bottom of the Rebel Runner and then after going over the pyramid it ends up at the far right<br />
**Then it goes back to the Rebel Runner, and after that follows the torpedoes up to the Star Destroyer-<br />
**Finally it goes through the Star Destroyer from tip to rear in four sections, taking everything within each section top to bottom, before moving on to the next section.<br />
**The table can be sorted on all columns, so the above is only valid until any sorting takes place.<br />
*In the table are the following columns:<br />
**Descriptions of the scene depicted in the overview links.<br />
***If the scene is a zoomed out overview that covers the images below this scene's description has been written in '''bold text'''.<br />
***This can be used as a guide to where in the image the scenes are located.<br />
***That is, until any sorting begins.<br />
**Transcript.<br />
***Any text has only been transcribed once. If some scenes overlap, the text has only been written in the first or the one where the text is most central.<br />
***Also any overview that has been zoomed out never has any transcript - these have been listed as (N/A)<br />
***Scenes with no text has written (None) in the transcript. <br />
***The use of parenthesis for those with no transcript makes it possible to sort on the transcript to get all the scenes with text to the top.<br />
**Overview links.<br />
***There can be more than one, even many, but the first will always be the overview.<br />
***If there are secret passages or other situations where it will be interesting to see why the hoverboard can disappear beneath the surface (like in the ocean) then two versions of the images have been included. <br />
***The second version is called ''Hidden passages in red'' as it has these passages changed to appear in red instead of black.<br />
**Tile images on xkcd.<br />
***For those images that are zoomed to 100% (i.e. not the zoomed out overviews) there is also a link to the defining image tile on xkcd.<br />
***In cases where there are more than one interesting image tile in one scene (maybe because there is actually two or more distinct scenes), there can be one more link in the ''Other'' tile column.<br />
**References.<br />
***Three things are referenced many times, and each has their own column so the table can be sorted on these<br />
****SW: Star Wars<br />
****LOTR: The Lord of the Rings<br />
****TE: Thing Explainer<br />
***Other. There is also a column for "other" types of references so they can also be sorted, without drowning in the three recurring types of references.<br />
****These have some further sorting by starting with Comics: or Movies: etc.<br />
**Explanations is in the last column.<br />
***So far lots of scenes still miss explanations, and some are not complete. <br />
***Red text has been used to make this clear. <br />
***If updating this and making a good enough explanation delete the red text.<br />
<br />
===Table with references===<br />
*See [[#Explanation of the table|explanation of the table]] above.<br />
**Hint: Open the overview links in a new window and return to this one for the next image and for reading the text.<br />
*Abbreviations:<br />
**'''SW''': Star Wars<br />
**'''LOTR''': The Lord of the Rings<br />
**'''TE''': Thing Explainer<br />
{|class="wikitable sortable"<br />
! <br />
! <br />
! <br />
! colspan="2"|Tiles (X, Y)<br />
! colspan="4"|References<br />
! <br />
|-<br />
! Description<br />
! Transcript<br />
! Overview links<br />
! Defining<br />
! Other<br />
! S<br>W<br />
! L<br>O<br>T<br>R<br />
! T<br>E<br />
! Other<br />
! Explanation<br />
|-<br />
|'''Everything Left of play area.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d4/1608_Everything_Left_of_play_area.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e4/1608_Everything_Left_of_play_area_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Section of the image revealed when going left of the starting point.<br />
|-<br />
|Entire Volcano plateau.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d5/1608_Entire_Volcano_plateau_zoom_out_extra.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3d/1608_Entire_Volcano_plateau_zoom_out_extra_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|About halfway from the Play Area to the volcanos slope, there is a steep plateau. This is the part left of this plateau.<br />
|-<br />
|Woman with white hair bun at the left end of world looking right.<br />
|<br />
:Woman: In the sky,<br />
:Woman: beyond the mountain,<br />
:Woman: I saw a starship.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/63/1608_0928x1082y_At_the_end_of_all_things.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/928:-1082+s.png (928, 1082)]<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The woman at the left end of the world tells about the Star Destroyer in the right part of the world. There are four coins in front of her to anyone coming this far.<br />
|-<br />
|Coin and boulders.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/63/1608_0933x1083y_Coin_and_boulders.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/933:-1083+s.png (933, 1083)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/935:-1083+s.png (935, 1083)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|A single coin hangs in the air above the rocky ground with giant boulders.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Volcano.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6a/Entire_Volcano_zoom_out.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/01/1608_Entire_Volcano_zoom_out_red.png Hidden&nbsp;passages&nbsp;in&nbsp;red]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|Comic: [[1611: Baking Soda and Vinegar]]<br />
|The comic released a week after this one is about a super volcano made in a science fair experiment. As can be seen there is a lair beneath the lava lake. The entrance is revealed by the other link that turns the hidden passages to red. It is for sure possible to get stuck in the lava lake, as everything becomes black in the game when going beneath the surface.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Left Volcano Top.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/4e/1608_0943x1087y_Left_Volcano_Top_zoom_out.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|A zoom out of the left rim of the volcanic crater.<br />
|-<br />
|Basketball on the volcano.<br />
|<br />
:Ponytail: OK, as soon as it erupts, go for the dunk. Our sweet moves will be preserved for all eternity!<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1608_0936x1084y_Basketball_on_the_volcano.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/936:-1084+s.png (936, 1084)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|This is a reference to {{w|Pompeii}} a Roman town-city near modern Naples, which has become famous when it was discovered that it had been preserved in the ash when it was mostly destroyed and buried under 4 to 6&nbsp;m (13 to 20&nbsp;ft.) of volcanic ash in the eruption of {{w|Mount Vesuvius}} in AD 79. When it was {{w|Pompeii#Rediscovery|found again}} it turned out that people had been surprised by the ash, and thus buried alive. During the excavation, plaster was used to fill in the voids in the ash layers that once held human bodies. This allowed one to see the exact position the person was in when he or she died. This is what Ponytail wishes for her and Megan, when the volcano they are standing on erupts, a rather morbid wish. She wants their sweet basketball moves to be preserved for eternity. In ''Playing Fields'' in TE basketball is mentioned. It is also played on top of the Destroyer close to the bridge. In this case the coin is on top of the basket, but too large to go into the hoop.<br />
|-<br />
|Old man walking up the volcano.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5d/1608_0937x1085y_Old_man_walking_up_the_volcano.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/937:-1085+s.png (937, 1085)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Is it an old man who just walks up a mountain, or a young man using a walking stick? It makes quite a difference to how this scene is viewed.<br />
|-<br />
|Duck at the left crater top.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/41/1608_0940x1087y_Duck_at_the_left_crater_top.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/940:-1087+s.png (940, 1087)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|A duck is sitting at the top of the crater. There are several birds in this comic. Another duck looking the other way is found on top of the flag pole near the base of the Washington Monument.<br />
|-<br />
|Megan’s treasure hoard.<br />
|<br />
:Megan: Gooooold!<br />
:Megan: Goold!<br />
:Bags: $ $<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/43/1608_0941x1084y_Megans_treassure_hoarde.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/941:-1084+s.png (941, 1084)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/941:-1083+s.png (941, 1083)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|In the side of the crater there is a small cave where Megan has found a treasury hoard and she is celebrating all the gold she has found, including two coins.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Lava lake.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b1/1608_0946x1083y_Entire_Lava_lake_zoom_out.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/09/1608_0946x1083y_Entire_Lava_lake_zoom_out_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f4/1608_0942x1081y_Lava_lake_left.png Zoom in left part]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/82/1608_0942x1081y_Lava_lake_left_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/02/1608_0943x1083y_Left_Lava_lake_zoom_out.png Entire left part]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/75/1608_0943x1083y_Left_Lava_lake_zoom_out_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d6/1608_0946x1080y_Lava_lake_Upper_shaft_red.png Shaft in lake in red]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/94/1608_0947x1081y_Lava_lake_center.png Zoom in central part]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/25/1608_0947x1081y_Lava_lake_center_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f7/1608_0949x1083y_Right_Lava_lake_zoom_out.png Entire Right part]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/ba/1608_0949x1083y_Right_Lava_lake_zoom_out_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3f/1608_0944x1076y_Lava_lake_very_bottom_of_shaft_and_shaft_in_lair.png Shaft into lair below]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c0/1608_0944x1076y_Lava_lake_very_bottom_of_shaft_and_shaft_in_lair_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|These images only cover the part beneath the surface where there is actually still lava, as can be seen in the images where ''Hidden passages in red''. Only the top of the lair below is shown here. From the hidden passage it is here possible to see how to enter this lair. In the images that shows the hidden part the two loose boulders that float (or are outcrops) in the right part of the lake can be seen as well as the two other holes in the lava lakes floor, which all explain why it is easy to get stuck in the lake once you go below the surface and move around. Since everything is black, you do not even know if the game still works and many people may have given up, maybe reloading after not being able to get on with the game. There is no place in the lake where you can get really stuck, as long as you just push upwards while changing direction from left to right, you are bound to get out sooner or later.<br />
|-<br />
|Rock with Gandalf in Lava lake.<br />
|<br />
:Megan: If you breathe out through you nose a little as you jump in, it can keep you from getting lava in you nasal passages.<br />
:Cueball: Artex!<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a5/1608_0944x1083y_Rock_with_Gandalf_in_Lava_lake.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fa/1608_0944x1083y_Rock_with_Gandalf_in_Lava_lake_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/944:-1083+s.png (944, 1083)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|Film: {{w|The Neverending Story}}<br />
|The wizard on the rock represents Gandalf from LOTR. What Megan tells Cueball works fine with water, not so much with lava. The horse Artax (pronounced Artex in the film) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y688upqmRXo drowns in the swamp of sadness] while Atreyu tries to save it and yells its name. Drowning in a swamp sucks, but doing so in lava will make death swifter. Both situations, however, indicate that you can actually go into the lava. If playing for the first time and becoming uncertain what would happen if the hoverboard touched the lava, the player might actually not even try to go into the lava, thus for certain would miss finding the lair beneath the lava.<br />
|-<br />
|Quadcopters over lava lake right.<br />
|<br />
:Right quadcopter: Remember: There's no such thing as good volcano footage taken by a quadcopter that survived.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7c/1608_0950x1084y_Quadcopters_over_lava_lake_right.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b2/1608_0950x1084y_Quadcopters_over_lava_lake_right_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/950:-1084+s.png (950, 1084)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Comics: [[1630: Quadcopter]] and in general those about [[:Category:Robots|Robots]] and [[:Category:Artificial Intelligence|AI]]<br />
|The comic was released shortly after this one, and is about AI quadcopters that abduct Cueball. One of these {{w|quadcopters}} tells the other that no one will think much of their volcano footage if they actually survive. I.e. they have to get too close to the bubbling surface to survive before they actually obtain the footage wished for. It sounds like it tries to instill courage in them to perform this deadly task. There is a coin below the left copter. Drones has become a [[:Category:Drones|recurrent subject]] xkcd.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Lava lair.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/69/1608_0946x1075y_Entire_Lava_lair_zoom_out.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e0/1608_0946x1075y_Entire_Lava_lair_zoom_out_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The three rooms of the volcanic lair (and the entrance haft in the image with hidden passages in red).<br />
|-<br />
|Trending on twitter cave in lair and Lava lake bottom shaft.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: What news of the world above? Please, tell me- what's hot and viral? ''What's trending on Twitter?!!''<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6e/1608_0944x1079y_Trending_on_twitter_cave_in_lair_and_Lava_lake_bottom_shaft.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2a/1608_0944x1079y_Trending_on_twitter_cave_in_lair_and_Lava_lake_bottom_shaft_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/944:-1079+s.png (944, 1079)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/945:-1079+s.png (945, 1079)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Comics with [[:Category:Social networking|Social networking]]<br />
|Cueball has been stuck below the lava for some times without access to the internet, and he now craves news from the world above. But it is not really news stories he craves but only the hot and viral videos and what is trending on {{w|Twitter}}. To be addicted to social networks and viral videos is probably a real infliction and it is a pain for Cueball to not be able to get on-line. Two coins are behind him.<br />
|-<br />
|Elon Musk’s cave in lair.<br />
|<br />
:Left Cueball: I always assumed Elon Musk's volcano lair would be like... Tropical. And ...Well, ''pleasant''.<br />
:Elon Musk in the high chair: Back to your desks, swine!<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/73/1608_0945x1074y_Elon_Musks_cave_in_lair.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/945:-1074+s.png (945, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/946:-1074+s.png (946, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Comics with [[:Category:Comics featuring Elon Musk|Elon Musk]]<br />
|It turns out that this is {{w|Elon Musk's}} lair. Having a secret lair with a hidden entrance is an often uses trope in films. Often it would be the villain (like in a {{w|James Bond}} film) that has such a place, but also heroes, like {{w|Batman}}, uses such hiding places. The joke here is that Cueball has assumed that Elon Musk, a very rich and enterprising man, that could be one of these megalomaniacs that might end up being a super villain, would have a bit more class over his secret lair. It also turns out that Elon sits in the cave and shouts at his workers to get back to work, even calling them names. There is also a coin here.<br />
|-<br />
|Ground symbol in lair.<br />
|<br />
:Ponytail: So ''this'' is where it is.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1608_0947x1073y_Antenna_cave_in_lair.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/947:-1073+s.png (947, 1073)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The antenna looking item hanging from the ceiling is the embodiment of the {{w|Ground_%28electricity%29#Electronics|Earth ground symbol}} commonly used in circuit diagrams for electronics. So this is where the Earth is grounded in "real life" and finally Ponytail has found it. To protect themselves i their long search for this Ponytail and Megan seem to be wearing {{w|Antistatic_wrist_strap|antistatic wrist straps}}. <br />
|-<br />
|'''Right Volcano Top'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/70/1608_0953x1087y_Right_Volcano_Top_zoom_out.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b8/1608_0953x1087y_Right_Volcano_Top_zoom_out_extra.png Extra zoom out]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/75/1608_0953x1087y_Right_Volcano_Top_zoom_out_extra_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|A zoom out of the right rim of the volcanic crater. In the extra zoom out the eagles can be seen as well, they are high enough to be missed entirely when moving along the crater surface.<br />
|-<br />
|Ring of power and lave floor at the right crater top.<br />
|<br />
:Megan: One of these is probably a ring of power or whatever.<br />
:Girl with hair bun: Let's play a game where the lava is the floor of a house.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/77/1608_0952x1087y_Ring_of_power_and_lave_floor_at_the_right_crater_top.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/952:-1087+s.png (952, 1087)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/953:-1087+s.png (953, 1087)]<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Megan tells Cueball that one of the many rings she throws into the crater is probably a {{w|One Ring|''ring'' of power}}, a reference to [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXpF3SUFaDw the scene] from the {{w|The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King|last LOTR film}} where {{w|Frodo Baggins|Frodo}} fails and {{w|Gollum}} attacks inside the volcano {{w|Mount Doom}}, thus making it clear that the volcano in the game represents this volcano. From her last comment, ''or whatever'', it seems she doesn't care too much, which make it clear, from the LOTR universe, that neither of these rings in the one ring. It would not have be this easy throwing them into the lava if it had been. There seems to be 16 rings, which is less than the other rings that are ruled by the one ring, the 9 for the humans, the 7 for the dwarfs and the 3 for the elves (19 plus the one ring 20 rings in total). <br><br>The two girls are playing a dangerous game, the exact opposite of the normal version of the children’s game {{w|Hot lava (game)|Hot lava}}, where they pretend the floor in the house is made out of lava, and that you die if you touch it. However, in this version of the game they pretend to play that the lava is the floor in a house, and they may then just walk out into the lava pool, where they would die.<br />
|-<br />
|Megan sliding down slope on snow sleigh.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/15/1608_0956x1085y_Megan_sliding_down_slope_on_snow_sleigh.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/956:-1085+s.png (956, 1085)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/956:-1086+s.png (956, 1086)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Megan is sliding fast down the crater side. She will hit a jump near the coin, and would probably fly a considerable distance given the speed she seems to have.<br />
|-<br />
|Eagles over right crater top.<br />
|<br />
:Left eagle: Tolkien said Frodo left the cloak somewhere over here.<br />
:Right eagle: Can't ''he'' just fix it?<br />
:Left eagle: He doesn't want to rewrite that chapter.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cb/1608_0956x1088y_Eagles_over_right_crater_top.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/956:-1088+s.png (956, 1088)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Did Frodo loose his cloak in the books? Is this a reference to any real plot holes (not just using eagles) about the cloak being lost somewhere but then back later? If you can dismiss this, then make a note below. If there is something please explain</font> Two of the {{w|Eagle (Middle-earth)|great eagles}} from LOTR flies above the right crater top. In this situation the eagles are being used to find {{w|Frodo|Frodo's}} cloak, with one eagle complaining that "he", meaning {{w|J. R. R. Tolkien}} the author of LOTR, should just fix the issue without the eagles. This is a reference to the eagles use in LOTR as a {{w|Deus ex machina|deus ex machina}} and the [http://periannath.com/feature/why-doesnt-frodo-just-ride-an-eagle-to-mount-doom/ supposed plot hole] of the eagles not [http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Eagles#Flying_the_Ring_to_Mount_Doom flying the ring to mordor]. However, this was of course not possible before Sauron and his ringwraiths were defeated. <br />
|-<br />
|Ponytail racing down the steep slope on a bike.<br />
|<br />
:Ponytail: 114 mph!<br />
:Ponytail: Suck it, previous downhill volcano record-holder!<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cd/1608_0958x1083y_Ponytail_racing_down_the_steep_slope_on_a_bike.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/958:-1083+s.png (958, 1083)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Ponytail is trying to break the world record for downhill race on a bike on a volcano. The {{w|Cycling_records#History_of_downhill_records|record}} at the time of this comic was from 2002 and was 107&nbsp;mph (172&nbsp;km/h) easily beaten by the 114&nbsp;mph (183&nbsp;km/h) that Ponytail reaches as she mocks the previous record holder. There were two different records, one for prototype bike by {{w|Éric Barone}} (the 107&nbsp;mph (172&nbsp;km/h)) and one for serial production bicycle (102.5&nbsp;mph (164.95&nbsp;km/h) set in 2011 by {{w|Markus Stöckl}}). She beat them both and it looks like a very ordinary bike she rides. The all-time record for downhill racing is not using the ashy slopes on volcanos but from racing on snow, and here the record is not in danger from Ponytail as it is a staggering 138&nbsp;mph (222&nbsp;km/h) again with a lesser record for serial produced bikes of 130&nbsp;mph (210&nbsp;km/h). She will soon hit a rock outcrop so hopefully she has very good brakes...<br />
|-<br />
|Tell my wife why you left me there, and Megan and Cueball with a device<br />
|<br />
:Right Cueball: If I don't make it back...<br />
:Right Cueball: ...Tell my wife...<br />
:Right Cueball: ...Where I am...<br />
:Right Cueball: ...And why you left me there…<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/ce/1608_0960x1081y_Tell_my_wife_why_you_left_me_there.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/960:-1081+s.png (960, 1081)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/961:-1081+s.png (961, 1081)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|''If I don't make it back'' is a common [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/IfIDoNotReturn trope] in films and books used when the speaker is about to make a noble sacrifice. The speaker will then usually tell the other to go tell his wife that he died bravely or that his friends should remember him. There is even a [https://vimeo.com/58319575 song] with the same title by {{w|Tracy Lawrence}}. In Cueball's case, both him and his companion are attempting to scale a dangerous mountain and neither are inclined to sacrifice their own lives for the other. Cueball appears to be struggling, climbing on all fours while his friend is standing. Subverting the trope, he attempts to guilt trip his friend into helping him. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Also here are Megan with some kind of device and Cueball on top of a large boulder. Maybe they are investigating the environment on the volcanic slope. Cueball has just discovered the coin hanging above them.<br />
|-<br />
|It becomes a V7 if the volcano erupts and Ponytail and Cueball on the slope<br />
|<br />
:Megan: This is currently a V2, but it becomes a V7 if the volcano erupts.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/75/1608_0962x1080y_It_becomes_a_V7_if_the_volcano_erupts.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/962:-1080+s.png (962, 1080)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/963:-1079+s.png (963, 1079)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Megan and Cueball climb a very steep part of the mountain slope. In {{w|bouldering}}, the relative difficulty of a bouldering problem is graded using the {{w|Grade (bouldering)|V scale}}. She exclaims that at the moment the climb is only a V2, but if the volcano erupts this would increase to V7. The joke is that the shaking ground and the lava resulting from the eruption would obviously make it harder to complete the bouldering problem without getting killed. In reality, passing environmental conditions do not affect the grade that a bouldering problem receives.<br />
|-<br />
|Megan reading for children about Sauron’s ring.<br />
|<br />
:Megan: ”The time has come” the Walrus said, and put on a Sauron's ring…<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/66/1608_0964x1078y_Megan_reading_for_children_about_Saurons_ring.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/964:-1078+s.png (964, 1078)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/964:-1079+s.png (964, 1079)]<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The line "”The time has come” the Walrus said, to talk of many things" is from the poem {{w|The Walrus and the Carpenter}} by {{w|Lewis Carroll}}'s book {{w|Through the Looking-Glass}}, the sequel to {{w|Alice's Adventures in Wonderland}}. {{w|Sauron}} is the main enemy in LOTR, the one who has made the ring, and now needs it to gain his powers back. In this mixed poem the second line is changed but follows the same rhyme scheme. But although ''rings'' would have rhymed with ''things'', it of course have to ''ring'' as the {{w|walrus}} can only put the {{w|One Ring|one ring of power}} on, while uttering the now much more ominous sounding phrase ''The time has come''. Megan is reading this poem/story at the base of the volcano Mount Doom where the ring was created and later destroyed. Like Frodo, Sauron is one of the characters from LOTR who is only mentioned, not shown, in the comic.<br />
|-<br />
|Vaping Earth.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: The Earth is vaping.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bd/1608_0969x1077y_Vaping_Earth.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/969:-1077+s.png (969, 1077)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/968:-1077+s.png (968, 1077)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|{{w|Vaping}} is a term used instead of smoking for the use of electronic cigarettes. There is even a game called the {{w|Vaping game}} for blowing extra large clouds of vapor out while using these substitutes for cigarettes. Cueball remarks that here it is the Earth that does so, due to the volcanic activity of the nearby volcano.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Left of play area to Kite.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a9/1608_Left_of_play_area_to_Kite.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/80/1608_Left_of_play_area_to_Kite_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|This is the area from below the volcano's slope and towards the play area. There are several hidden places and pools that can be seen in the second image link.<br />
|-<br />
|Kite and weird bug.<br />
|<br />
:Mom: Check out this one weird bug, discovered by a local mom.<br />
:Girl: Oh my God, mom, stop saying everything like that.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ae/1608_0970x1077y_Kite_and_weird_bug.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1608_0970x1077y_Kite_and_weird_bug_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/970:-1077+s.png (970, 1077)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/972:-1077+s.png (972, 1077)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|Comic [[1614: Kites]] and in general the [[:Category:Kites|kite category]]. Also the [[:Category:Clickbait|Clickbait category]]<br />
|The comic was released only two weeks after this game, and although it is clearly a girl in this comic, she looks like Megan who sets up the kite in the next comic. There is also a kite in ''Sky Toucher'' in TE and kites is a recurring theme in xkcd.<br><br>The mother that discovers the bug is [[Blondie]]. She talks like she is one of the {{w|clickbait}} headlines used for getting people to click in on the link generally aimed at generating online advertising revenue, which fits nicely with her recurring theme of as a news anchor. Her daughter is tired of this, especially as it seems like the mother speaks like that all the time. The girl may be embarrassed by this, especially if she is with a friend rather than a brother. Maybe the mother has been reading too many clickbait news on-line? As noted in the other references ''clickbait'' is a recurring theme in xkcd. The mother is near a small lake, so it is likely that there is plenty of insects and other bugs. It is possible to sink into the lake as can be seen in the second image with the hidden parts shown in red.<br />
|-<br />
|Space capsule with parachutes.<br />
|<br />
:Bird thinking: I don't remember laying these but ''wow'' they're already flying. Gonna be awesome when they hatch.<br />
<br />
:Cueball: Yes! My phone has a signal.<br />
:Voice from inside: How many new likes did we get during reentry?<br />
:Cueball: I'm checking!<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e2/1608_0976x1079y_Space_capsule_with_parachutes.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/976:-1079+s.png (976, 1079)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/976:-1080+s.png (976, 1080)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|Comic : [[1133: Up Goer Five]]<br />
|The book TE was based on the comic ''Up Goer Five'' which was about the rocket that took this space capsule to the moon. When it lands it uses three large parachutes to slow down after the main brake-down during reentry. On top of these sits a bird looking like a hen. It is a hen that can think, but it is still not very clever. It believes that this is three eggs, and is amazed that they are already flying before they hatch, which is of course ridiculous, but they do float in the air...<br><br>The astronauts inside (two at least, but there should be three if it was one of the moon landing missions) has just been waiting to get close enough to Earth again that they can get a signal on their smart phones. Cueball is even opening the hatch during descend to increase this chance, which would be highly dangerous. Also normally they would land in water (which will though not be the case this time). The reason he does this is that they wish to know how many more likes they (and their mission) has received during the reentry. This would have been relevant if the moon landings had taken place today. There where no social media or internet back in 1969. This is similar to the Cueball who is trapped in the lava lair without connection to Twitter.<br />
|-<br />
|Girl running to other girl and small forest.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/30/1608_0978x1077y_Girl_running_to_other_girl_and_small_forrest.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/978:-1077+s.png (978, 1077)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/976:-1077+s.png (976, 1077)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Just two young girls playing near a forest of low trees. But with the space capsule above the forest.<br />
|-<br />
|Entire well - zoom out.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2e/1608_0980x1075y_Entire_well_zoom_out.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1608_0980x1075y_Entire_well_zoom_out_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Comics in the [[:Category:Well|Well series]].<br />
|There are many similarities in this well to the well series. Someone is looking into a well that has the same general appearance and there is a person inside which turned out to be the case in [[568: Well 2]]. People throw coins into it and there is a coin at the bottom in the game (although above the water.)<br />
|-<br />
|Well top.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/70/1608_0980x1077y_Well_top.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/980:-1077+s.png (980, 1077)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Cueball looks into the deep well.<br />
|-<br />
|Well bottom.<br />
|<br />
:Girl: I'm not a ghost. I just like wells.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/82/1608_0980x1073y_Well_bottom.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/aa/1608_0980x1073y_Well_bottom_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/980:-1073+s.png (980, 1073)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|At the bottom of the well in the water (see also the hidden passages image) is a girl. Above to the left of her is a coin. Maybe thrown in by Cueball at the top. Ghost living in wells is a common theme, for instance there is a Japanese movie {{w|Banchō Sarayashiki}} whose [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0202946/releaseinfo English title] is ''Ghost in the Well''. So this is why this real girl explains that she is actually not a ghost, she just like wells and thus likes to sit in the cold water at the bottom of wells. This could be very dangerous, and she will probably have a hard time getting up. It is also a very deep well, so falling into this well might very well be lethal. There are also many stories (in this case also real stories like the one about {{w|Jessica McClure}}) about kids that fall into wells, some of them surviving being stuck for several days in the wells. Also in movies this story is often used, for instance in {{w|Batman Begins}} the young Bruce Wayne falls down a dry well and is attacked by a swarm of bats, subsequently developing a fear of bats.<br />
|-<br />
|Entire gas station with birds above<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b3/1608_0982x1079y_Gas_station_with_birds_above_with_coin_on_string.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/83/1608_0982x1079y_Gas_station_with_birds_above_without_coin_on_string.png Without coin]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The two birds with a coin between them flying above the gas station is way too high up, to be discovered when just moving normally over the gas station, even jumping once up from the highest spot. This is thus one of several coins that are easily missed. There are more explanation this scene where these two individual scenes are described.<br />
|-<br />
|Gas station with x-wing.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/44/1608_0982x1077y_Gas_station_with_x-wing.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/982:-1077+s.png (982, 1077)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/983:-1077+s.png (983, 1077)]<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Megan has managed to land her {{w|x-wing}} fighter from the rebel fleet in Star Wars right next to a standard gas station. And she has planned to fill her space ship up. That it could run on petrol for cars seems highly unlikely. The question is if she has already filled it up and is heading back with the handle to the gas stander, or if she has just discovered that the hose is not long enough to reach all the way under the wing to the fighter. It will have taken considerable skills to land this close to the station without hitting the cover over the stander. Ponytail is sitting in the shop with a coin. This is the first coin to be discovered when going left from the play-area. There is a long stretch without coins to begin with. The coins on the rock island in the sky it on this stretch, but so far above that most people would miss them altogether. There is also a coin with two birds straight above the right wing on the X-wing. But about three jumps up, so it is easy to miss. the To get into the shop you need to go over the stander and back. Why Cueball have crawled up in the roof is not clear. But maybe he is enjoying the view over the cliff that is to the right of the station. There is a stop sign to the left, but there seems to be no road that way. Maybe that is why you should stop...<br />
|-<br />
|Birds with coin.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7e/1608_0982x1079y_Birds_with_coin.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/9e/1608_0982x1079y_Birds_without_coin.png Without coin]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/982:-1079+s.png (982, 1079)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Film: {{w|Monty Python and the Holy Grail}}<br />
|In the film it is discussed if two swallows could carry a coconut between them on a string as the two birds do with the coin here. First when the coin has been taken, can the string between the birds be seen (see the other image). The birds are three jumps above the X-wing below, and this coin is thus easily missed by the players. In the film the horses are simulated with the sound of two coconuts shells being hit together. Someone asks how they happened to be in England and there is discussion about migratory birds like {{w|swallows}} and the possibility that they have brought the coconuts along with them. But the consensus is that they cannot do this by themselves the coconut being to heavy, but then it is suggested that two swallows could carry it on a string between them. Later in the film someone is seen actually tying two birds together to a coconut. In this comic, we now know how the coins have been transported through the image...<br />
|-<br />
|Our kingdom from a cliff.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: Everything the light touches is our kingdom.<br />
:Girl: What's with the shadowy place over there?<br />
:Cueball: That is beyond our borders.<br />
:Girl: No, I mean what object casts a shadow over a whole region?<br />
:Cueball: Oh, that's god. He lives over there.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a0/1608_0986x1076y_Our_kingdom_from_a_cliff.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/986:-1076+s.png (986, 1076)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/986:-1075+s.png (986, 1075)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Film: {{w|The Lion King}} and comic: [[1504: Opportunity]] as well as [[:Category:The Lion King|The Lion King category]]<br />
|Cueballs lines is from The Lion King and has been used directly before in the comic Opportunity. Randall has made several references to the film in xkcd, and it is obvious that he was very affected by this film that came out when he was just the right age.<br><br>Cueball is talking to a child version of Ponytail, whose mother may be the one climbing up the cliff side below. The first three lines of the quote goes as in the film, but then it turns out that the girl is properly referring to the Star Destroyer that would be clearly visible from this cliff as it covers almost the entire right part of this world from just beyond the play-area. (They do not look high enough to see the rock island in the sky, and it would also not cast shadow over an entire region.) As it is not certain players coming here have already been to the right to see the Destroyer it is not necessarily clear that the reply from Cueball should apply to the Destroyer. But if it does then it would be the Emperor Palpatine that he reefers to as God. The emperor is on board the Destroyer near the bridge at the very top rear end of the space ship and has God like powers. It could however also just be a general reference to the {{w|God}} and thus be inferred as if God cast a shadow over an entire region (country). Maybe just in general as if he has a place in the sky that cast a shadow (like sitting on a cloud). Alternatively it could be the people who believe too much in any God, that can be viewed as living under a shadow, as they will not try to see any reality if it does not fit with their religious beliefs.<br />
|-<br />
|Hamster ball bowling.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/53/1608_0987x1075y_Hamsterball_bowling.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/987:-1075+s.png (987, 1075)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/989:-1074+s.png (989, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|Comics: [[:Category:Hamster Ball|Hamster Ball category]]<br />
|There have been several xkcd comics with human sized hamster balls, and there is even one more in this comic up in the Destroyer. In this scene it is two young girls that use the hamster ball as a bowling ball in a human sized {{w|ten pin bowling}} game. Hopefully the little girl with the hair bun behind the pins get away in time if it is a strike. It is the first time hamster ball and bowling has been matched, but in TE there are bowling alleys both on the ship ''The USS Laws of the Land'' and on the suspension of the longest bridge in ''Tall roads'' and such an alley is also used for measuring length in ''How to count things''. One of the many large trees that are found in the drawing is standing alone in this scene. Most other places there are more than one tree together.<br />
|-<br />
|If loving you is wrong I don’t want to and Beret Guy following insects<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: If loving you is wrong, I don't want to.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/4f/1608_0990x1074y_If_loving_you_is_wrong_I_dont_want_to.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/990:-1074+s.png (990, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/991:-1074+s.png (991, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Song (or quote): {{w|(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right}}<br />
|A reference to either the [http://krexy.com/if-loving-you-is-wrong general love quote] or maybe more likely to the song [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvJj7SN9EWI performed most notably] by {{w|Luther Ingram}}. Recently (2014), there has also been a TV series produced called {{w|If Loving You Is Wrong (TV series)|If Loving You Is Wrong}}.<br><br>The quote is very romantic, because the speaker is stating that if it is wrong to love a specific person, the speaker chooses to be in love and does not wish to be right. However, Cueball twist the quote quite a lot, saying instead that if it is wrong to love Ponytail then he does not want to love her at all - taking all romance out of the statement.<br><br>Also in this scene is one of only two instances where Beret Guy appears. Typical of his past appearances, he seems to be occupied by following a small flying insect through the tall grass.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Washington monument'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/21/1608_0995x1079y_Entire_Washington_monument_extra_zoom_out.png Overview] <br />
[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ae/1608_0995x1079y_Entire_Washington_monument_extra_zoom_out_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7a/1608_0995x1078y_Middle_of_Washington_monument_zoom_out.png Central hidden passage]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6d/1608_0995x1078y_Middle_of_Washington_monument_zoom_out_red.png Hidden passages in red] <br />
<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Comic: [[1600: MarketWatch]]<br />
|The tallest man made structure on the ground in this game is the {{w|Washington Monument}} which recently before the release of this comic was refereed to in the mentioned comic. As can be seen in the hidden passages images there are two secret passages, one at the bottom (see this scene for more) and one in the middle of the monument. The one in the central part of the monument is actually quite large, and as can be seen in the images zooming in on the central part there is also a fault line in the monument at the base of this hidden passage. But it doesn't really lead to anywhere interesting. The fault line could be a reference to the {{w|Washington_Monument#2011_earthquake_damage|earthquake damage}} from 2011 where several stones cracked.<br />
|-<br />
|Base of Washington monument with Cueball and Megan<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: Honestly, it doesn't even look that muck like Washington.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/dc/1608_0994x1074y_Base_of_Washington_monument.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/16/1608_0994x1074y_Base_of_Washington_monument_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/994:-1074+s.png (994, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/995:-1074+s.png (995, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|At the base of the Washington Monument Megan and Cueball is looking up at it, and Cueball complains that it doesn't even look like {{w|Washington, D.C.|Washington}}. If he is referring to the city or to the monument is a bit unclear. Of course since this is the only Washington based building in the game it is true that the place doesn't look like the city. If he refers to the monument then it can be questioned if this is because the monument is not an exact replica (in proportions and/or scale). It could also just be Cueball who is not happy about it. In any case it is clearly meant as an indicator that this is supposed to look like the monument, and with the tips apex being made of aluminum (see that scene) as on the real monument, there can be no doubt what is referenced. But it is possible to get to the left side of the monument without going up to see the tip, if the player immediately understands the sign with the white arrow that actually points to a hidden passage through the base of the monument, as can be seen in the second image with the hidden passages shown in red.<br><br>To the left of the monument there is a flag pole with a blown out flag. It is all black, but it should be the {{w|Flag of the United States|the Stars and Stripes}} as there are fifty flag poles with the US flag (one for each [[1653: United States Map|state]]) surrounding the monument in a circle. On top of the pole there sits a duck looking left. Towards the end of the world to the left on top of the left volcanic rim there also sits a similar duck looking right.<br />
|-<br />
|Tip of Washington monument with Cueball and White Hat<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: Look at that- Solid aluminum!<br />
:Cueball: We´re gonna be rich!<br />
:White Hat: Uh, what the heck is ''that?!''<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6f/1608_0995x1083y_Tip_of_Washington_monument.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/995:-1083+s.png (995, 1083)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/995:-1084+s.png (995, 1084)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The tip of the monument is actually {{w|Washington_Monument#Aluminum_apex|made of solid aluminum}} and at the time this {{w|aluminum}} apex was installed it was a rare metal as valuable as {{w|silver}}, but today it is maybe about 1/300 as valuable as silver. So Cueball and White Hat will not become rich based on the metal value. Of course if they did steal the tip of such a famous monument, they might actually be able to sell it to a scrupulous collector at a value comparable to if was just a lump of silver of that weight.<br><br>White Hat looking over his shoulder spots the Star Destroyer and thus help guide a player that has started going left towards the Destroyer to the right. How they have managed the climb, getting the ropes over the tip, or how Cueball intends to get down with the tip is left to the readers imagination...<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire floating rock island.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1608_0994x1110y_Entire_floating_rock_island_zoom_out.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Film: {{w|Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar}}<br />
|This floating rock island may be a reference to the film Avatar where floating rocks is part of the scenery of the fictive moon {{w|Fictional_universe_of_Avatar#Astronomy_and_geology|Pandora}}. The rock in the game is very hard to find by chance, it is kind of unobtainable, which may be a further reference to the film since the reason the rocks do float is a combination of a weak gravity, a strong magnetic field and a mineral whose {{w|Superconductivity|superconductive properties}} allow it to float in magnetic fields. Of course the levitating Hallelujah Mountains in the film contain significant quantities of the mineral which is called {{w|Unobtanium}}. Only thing pointing towards it is the Washington Monument and even if you go up from there, pushing the up arrow continuously for more than half a minute you may almost miss it, as only the far right girl would move through the view. And with two coins around this island it is important to find it in order to get all coins. Apart from the coins and the surprise there is little of interest here, and not even any spoken text.<br><br>To the right just beneath the rear end of the Destroyer there is a small lump of earth that has floated up from the ground, hovering over the corresponding hole in the ground. Maybe this is caused by the same force that have created this floating island.<br />
|-<br />
|Top left of floating rock island with coin.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f5/1608_0989x1112y_Top_of_floating_rock_island_with_coin.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/990:-1112+s.png (990, 1112)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/990:-1111+s.png (990, 1111)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The large rock on top of the floating island is one of only two places where there is anything at a coordinate of Y=1112. On top of the globe of Death over the bridge of the destroyer, there are three images at the top of this that enters 1112. And there [http://xkcd.com/1608/1078:-1112+s.png the very top] is just slightly higher up. But there is no coin there, so the coin that would be in the tile used for main reference here that holds the coin is the highest location for any coin in the game, as the Globe of Death has its coin in its center below the top.<br />
|-<br />
|Top right of floating rock island with base jumpers.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/92/1608_0993x1112y_Top_of_floating_rock_island_with_base_jumpers.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/994:-1111+s.png (994, 1111)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|In ''Sky Toucher'' in TE two people jump of a cloud, like the base jumpers Megan and Ponytail does here from the floating rock, but at least these two girls do have parachutes on (as opposed to the cloud jumpers in TE). How they got here is a good question, but of course they could have flown here in for instance the X-wing from below at the gas station.<br />
|-<br />
|Bottom of floating rock island with coin.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1608_0992x1109y_Bottom_middle_of_floating_rock_island_with_coin.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/992:-1109+s.png (992, 1109)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/993:-1109+s.png (993, 1109)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|At the bottom of the island several small and large boulders can be seen hanging only loosely on to the bottom. At the center the largest rock can be seen, but even this is slipping a little as can be seen by the small white speck high over the very bottom of this boulder. Right of this is the other coin that belongs to this hidden place in the sky.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Play Area - zoom out.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7b/1608_1001x1074y_Entire_Play_Area_Zoom_out.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/8b/1680_Play_Area_Full_Size_Coins_Hoverboard_and_View.png With starting view]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The entire play area with the walls and their outer foundation. See also the insert with the starting view shown in red in the second image link and see more about the buildup of scenes from the individual image tiles using the [[#Play Area used as example|play area down below]]. It is easy to see how a player of the game, with no knowledge of Randall's way of thinking, may not even think about exploring outside this area, even if they do try to go outside the maze. Because it is possible to jump around in the maze without discovering that you can actually fly rather than just jump. If you only jump once you cannot see the too op the walls. On top of this there is the large [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ae/Return_to_the_play_area.PNG red warning letters] telling you to go back if you try to leave the confines of the wall.<br />
|-<br />
|The Play Area.<br />
|<br />
:My new book,<br />
:''Thing Explainer,''<br />
:comes out today!<br />
:To celebrate, here's<br />
:a small game.<br />
<br />
:Deposit coins here<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6c/1608_1000x1074y_The_Play_Area.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/30/1608_1000x1074y_The_Play_Area_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1000:-1074+s.png (1000, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1000:-1075+s.png (1000, 1075)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|This is the starting area where the game begins. There is even some extra text telling you to ''Use arrow keys to move'' but as soon as you do, this text disappears, just like the [[#Messages in Play Area|message you can receive]] below in the view depending on your action in this area. The text below the starting point of the hoverboard Cueball that you control, explains that the game is released on this day to celebrate the release of Randall's new book [[Thing Explainer]] and thus directly references the book. And also explains why this comic has been made, and furthermore why it was released on a Tuesday rather than the usual Wednesday release, which was then skipped this week. It also explains that if you collect coins you can deposit them at the terminal, and when you do it list the score (number of coins and the time used) and rates your achievement. By noting that [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7e/17_coins.PNG you got all the coins] if you collect all 17 coins in the play area maze, then it is one more trick to try to make you stay inside the walls of the maze. There is only one small feature that can be spotted from within the maze that breaks the symmetry and may give away the clue of the game. And that is the small stone that lies on the ground to the left. Because why should it be there, if this was just a platform/maze game. The walls cannot be seen if you stay in or just around the outer wall of the maze. But if you go to them you may think this is the end. Another detail about the game to be learned already here is that there can be "solid" black parts of the surroundings which are not solid at all. This can be seen in the image showing the hidden passages in red. Here it can be seen that the ledge beneath the two inverted parenthesis " )( " is not solid, and that you can fall or jump up through this section. This could forewarn you of the hidden passages, especially to the lair beneath the volcano which are the only real hidden place based on hidden passages, but also for those in the Washington Monument and in the cotton trap in the Destroyer and the glitch floor also on the Destroyer.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Everything Right of Washington monument.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/66/1608_Everything_Right_of_washington_monument.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Most of the details in the image is found to the right of the play-area, mainly in the form of the rooms in the Destroyer. On the ground only a few artifacts are large enough to be seen in this zoomed out version. The three T's and the forest, and then of course the pyramid. Interestingly enough there are almost more to be seen inside the Destroyer with the two large rooms (the cave and the Glitch floor room) both being large enough to [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bf/1608_Entire_Cave_With_entire_pyramid_for_scale.png accommodate the entire pyramid].<br />
|-<br />
|Cueball outside play area.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c0/1608_1004x1074y_Cueball_outside_play_area.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1004:-1074+s.png (1004, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1003:-1074+s.png (1003, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Typically reading direction would lead a player to this location first after escaping the play area. Is this is indeed the case then the grass and after that Cueball is the first hint that something more is going to happen in this game. Apart from the Cueball standing inside the play area, this is the closest person to the play area. He is just standing there doing nothing, so it is still not clear how big this is going to be.<br />
|-<br />
|Megan points at Runner after forest.<br />
|<br />
:Megan: Wow.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/53/1608_1008x1074y_Megan_points_at_Runner_after_forest.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1008:-1074+s.png (1008, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1006:-1074+s.png (1006, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The small forest with two large trees and several small ones is the first really interesting to show up if exiting the play area to the right for the first time and finally a person actually speaking shows up (although Cueball at the base of the Washington Monument to the right would be closer). Megan is not saying much, but she is clearly reacting to something. It could be to one or both the space ships above her. Since the Destroyer is already on top of her, as the front end of that ship is just short of being above the right wall of the play area, then it could also be the Rebel Runner she is pointing out. No matter what, following her arm going up and right it is likely that the runner will enter the view, but it is possible to miss it, in which case there would be a long way up to the Destroyer. Megan and Cueball is standing on the edge of a cliff, offering them an excellent view. Stepping down on the plateau below the cliff takes the player close to the lowest possible level to be at in the game. There are no tiles with any white below that level (1073). But the lowest point is first in the Ocean.<br />
|-<br />
|Cliff with rock and cactus.<br />
|<br />
:(None, or rather the text has been written in the previous scene)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f2/1608_1010x1073y_Cliff_with_rock_and_cactus.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c4/1608_1010x1073y_Cliff_with_rock_and_cactus_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1010:-1073+s.png (1010, 1073)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1008:-1073+s.png (1008, 1073)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|After the grassy ground and the forest above the cliff to the left this marks the beginning of a long stretch of barren land ending in a dessert before reaching the ocean. Here a cactus and two large boulders display this inhospitable terrain. It seems like something is sitting on top of the smaller boulder, this could be a lizard, but it is too small to be certain. But that it is not part of the rock can be seen in the other image showing the parts of the image that you can walk through in red. And this small "lizard" is obviously sitting on top of the boulder.<br />
|-<br />
|Entire wires from ground to Runner.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/76/1608_1014x1076y_Entire_wires_from_ground_to_Runner.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Here is the first direct link from the ground to the Destroyer. This specific link takes the player from the ground level up along one of the three wires to the bottom of the hull of the Rebel Runner. If you went straight for the runner without going further right, the first coin you would find to the right would be one of the three at the runner. Else the first coin to the right (along the ground) would be in the dunes before Ponytail to the right.As can be seen the three wires are held by people and are then attached with anchors to the hull. Megan is climbing up the last of the three wires. See more in the specific scenes. <br />
|-<br />
|Three wires and people holding on on the ground<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c9/1608_1013x1073y_Three_wires_and_people_holding_on.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1013:-1073+s.png (1013, 1073)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1011:-1073+s.png (1011, 1073)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Three pairs of people are trying to hold on the three wires going straight up. Cueball and Megan holds on leaning left on the left wire, another Cueball and Hairy hold on to each side of the middle wire and finally yet a Cueball holds on to the last, while a small girl with a hair bun steps on the end of the wire, like she would be able to walk it like a tightrope. This should not be physically possible as the ropes do not seem to be attached to the ground, at least not the one to the left. But there can be no doubt that the drawing shows her standing with both feet on the rope. She is thus not helping Cueball. From here it is not yet know to the player that it is the Rebel Runner they have caught (with anchors) above, but when this becomes clear it will also be clear that they have no chance of holding on to the space ship. But here it seems they are doing a great job. The ground is barren between these wires and a {{w|tumbleweed}} is blowing along to make this even more clear. This part of a plant was also mentioned in a toast in [[1645: Toasts]].<br />
|-<br />
|Three wires Megan hanging on that reaches up to three anchors in the bottom hull of the Runner.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/58/1608_1014x1078y_Three_wires_and_reaching_up_to_anchors_in_Runner.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1015:-1076+s.png (1015, 1076)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1014:-1078+s.png (1014, 1078)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|Megan tries to climb up the last of the wires going from the ground, and it turns out that it leads up to the bottom of the hull of the Rebel Runner. Not to a really good spot in her wires case, as there seems to be nothing to help her get inside the runner from there. The other two wires comes up to a canon close to an entrance, where Cueball is fishing birds with a crumb of bread or a cracker on the end of the hook. (The bird fishing scene is also depicted when going through the Runner [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bc/1608_1012x1078y_Bridge_on_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png down below]). All three wires ends in anchors that are here used the reverse way of a normal anchor, with the anchor attached to the ship instead of to the bottom of the sea (or at least the ground below an air ship). In ''Red world space car'' in TE, Megan is also seen hanging on to a rope like this.<br />
|-<br />
|Ponytail in the dunes - zoom out.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/33/1608_1015x1073y_Ponytail_in_the_dunes_zoom_out.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Ponytail is standing in the dunes of the desert that continues after the barren landscape to the left of the desert. Here a zoom out of the entire desert with the first three coins along the ground to the right. The Rebel Runner flying above this dune landscape is a reference to the desert planet {{w|Tatooine}} where the opening scene is taking place.<br />
|-<br />
|Ponytail in the dunes.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c4/1608_1015x1073y_Ponytail_in_the_dunes.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1015:-1073+s.png (1015, 1073)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1016:-1073+s.png (1016, 1073)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Ponytail is standing in the desert on top of a small dune, as these get increasingly higher further right into the desert. The coin to the left of her at the tip of a dune is the first along the ground when going right. It is soon followed by a second one at the base of the largest dune in desert.<br />
|-<br />
|The largest dune.<br />
|<br />
:(None - the text is written in the scene centered on the ocean)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0a/1608_1017x1073y_The_largest_dune.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1017:-1073+s.png (1017, 1073)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1018:-1073+s.png (1018, 1073)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The largest dune in the desert, also shown partly in the scene with Ponytail, also has a coin at the other base. After this there is only one smaller dune and then the desert stops at the shore of a small sea or ocean.<br />
|-<br />
|Entire ocean.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0e/1608_1022x1073y_Entire_ocean.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0c/1608_1022x1073y_Entire_ocean_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The sea/ocean consist of a rather large body of water with a tall wave in the center. It is quite deep as can be seen in the other image with the water shown in red. Where the sea is deepest, is also the point that is the lowest hoverboard Cueball can get in the entire image. It is the closest that anything other than completely black comes to the level with Y=1072.<br />
|-<br />
|Megan rates the Sea.<br />
|<br />
:Megan: This is an OK sea.<br />
:Megan:★★☆☆☆<br />
:[She actually rates 2½ stars which cannot be transcribed].<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/99/1608_1019x1073y_Megan_rates_the_Sea.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c8/1608_1019x1073y_Megan_rates_the_Sea_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1019:-1073+s.png (1019, 1073)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|It is very unusually to rate a sea, like you would a film or book, or a restaurant or museum. But today it is also common to rate anything you have used on-line like an internet shop or a company you have used. So this may be a jab at all the people that rate everything in stars. According to [[1098: Star Ratings]] 2½ stars as an online star ratings means that the sea is a crap sea, so this indicates that Megan's rating should not be viewed as such, since she also exclaims that it is an OK sea, as in a acceptable. All in all another joke about online behavior, like the reference to Twitter and likes in the volcanic lair and the space shuttle respectively.<br />
|-<br />
|Rouge wave.<br />
|<br />
:Wave: I know rogue waves seem implausible, but we're a straightforward consequence of the equations of fluid dynamics.<br />
:Cueball: ...But you can talk?<br />
:Wave: The equations are really complicated.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/11/1608_1022x1073y_Rouge_wave.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bf/1608_1022x1073y_Rouge_wave_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1022:-1073+s.png (1022, 1073)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1023:-1073+s.png (1023, 1073)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Comic: [[1315: Questions for God]]<br />
|{{w|Fluid dynamics}} is a complex subdiscipline of {{w|fluid mechanics}} that deals with fluid flow. Although it is not their main target they can also be used for {{w|surface waves}} which would be like the {{w|rogue wave}} in this scene. This kind of waves is also known as freak waves, monster waves etc. They are large and spontaneous surface waves that occur far out in open water, and can be extremely dangerous. But as the wave describes to Cueball these big waves can be predicted from the equations in fluid dynamics. Of course Cueball is less afraid of the wave (even though it is {{w|Rogue (vagrant)|rouge}}), than he is fascinated by the fact that it speaks. The wave just replies that the equations are really complicated. That this is the case was for instance part of [[1315: Questions for God]] where a famous quote regarding turbulent motion of fluids is mentioned. {{w|Turbulence}} is also described by fluid dynamics, so they are part of the equations and the {{w|Horace_Lamb#Career| quote}} by {{w|Horace Lamb}} was: "I am an old man now, and when I die and go to heaven there are two matters on which I hope for enlightenment. One is {{w|quantum electrodynamics}}, and the other is the turbulent motion of fluids. And about the former I am rather optimistic." He turned out to be correct as nowadays we have a much clearer understanding of QED, while our understanding of turbulence has improved little. {{w|Richard Feynman}}, who was himself largely responsible for explaining QED, famously {{w|Turbulence|described turbulence}} as "the most important unsolved problem of classical physics". So who knows if these formulas could describe a talking wave? A coin crowns the wave.<br />
|-<br />
|Ruins with Cueball singing of Spiders and Panama.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball singing:<br />
::Spider-man <br />
:::Spider-plan<br />
::Spider-canal<br />
:::Spider-Panama<br />
::Gates let in<br />
:::Spider boats<br />
::Flood the locks<br />
:::Spiders float<br />
::''Look out!''<br />
::Spiders in both oceans.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0d/1608_1026x1073y_Ruins_with_Cueball_singing_of_Spiders_and_Panama.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1026:-1073+s.png (1026, 1073)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1027:-1073+s.png (1027, 1073)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Comic: [[1632: Palindrome]] and the [[:Category:Spiders|Spiders category]]<br />
|<font color="red">Any explanation for the ruin?</font> The palindrome comic was released shortly after this and used a palindrome about the {{w|Panama canal}} which is the first four lines with ''Spider-'' changed with "A" the first three times and then with nothing before Panama as in ''"A Man, A Plan, A Canal: Panama''. The song is inspired by the {{w|Spider-Man (theme song)|Spider-Man theme song}} (see this [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUtziaZlDeE video]), but takes it in a rather different direction. Spiders have been a recurring theme and as the rest of the song tells that the spiders have now breached through the Panama canal using spider-boats and by flooding the gates (in the canal) so now there are spiders in both oceans. If they came from the {{w|Atlantic ocean}} to the {{w|Pacific ocean}} or the other way around is not clear, but there are now spiders on both sides of the {{w|Central America|Central American}} strip of land. If the line ''Spiders float'' refer to actually floating spiders or just because they float on their boat is unclear. But we are forewarned about these spreading spiders with a '''''Look out!''''' (another lyric from the Spider-Man theme song). This threat continues the theme of the [[:Category:Red Spiders|Red Spiders]] especially those from [[126: Red Spiders Cometh]].<br><br>There is a coin inside the ruin beneath Cueball who sits on top of the ruin and both sings the song and plays the guitar. Megan just stands inside the ruin at ground level and listens. It is not difficult to get to the coin, but there is only entrance into the little coin room between the ledge under Cueball and the ceiling of the lower room. But it is possible to walk directly in their from the left. Maybe the ruin is in this state of affair because the spiders have crossed the ocean just to the left, the shore of this can be seen at the edge of the scene. But there is no indication of any spiders anywhere else in the comic, in spite of the many animals throughout the comic.<br />
|-<br />
|Ponytail flying.<br />
|<br />
:Ponytails arms: Flap Flap Flap Flap Flap Flap Flap<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3b/1608_1029x1073y_Ponytail_flying.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1029:-1073+s.png (1029, 1073)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1030:-1073+s.png (1030, 1073)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Ponytail manages to fly by just flapping her arms violently, a feat that is of course not possible. It keeps he above the coin on the ground, so the player can get to it first... In the Destroyer another Ponytail seems to be [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/76/1608_1053x1091y_Ponytail_flying_up_a_shaft_towards_a_coin.png flying straight up in a shaft] towards a coin this time without using her arms as wings. So her flying is a small theme in the game. (It is not close to being directly above the Ponytail on the ground as the Ponytail in the Destroyer is just past the pyramid on the ground).<br />
|-<br />
|Entire forest - zoom out.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3a/1608_1032x1074y_Entire_forest_zoom_out.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|This is the largest collection of such tall trees, and if all smaller trees are counted probably also the largest collection of trees in general. In the left part of the world there is a scene with lots of trees, but they are all smaller than even the two medium-sized trees besides the five really large. the last tree to the right somehow belongs more to the wedding scene just right of it, but there are smaller trees all the way up to it, making it part of this forest. Drawing trees like this is often used in xkcd and in particularly also allot in ''click and drag''.<br />
|-<br />
|Left part of forest.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1608_1032x1074y_Left_part_of_forest.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1032:-1074+s.png (1032, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1033:-1074+s.png (1033, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The left part of the forest has the largest trees and also the two coins, one in the fork of the first big trees and another some way above the first substantial tree to the left. It is just high enough that it will be missed by just sliding along the ground, and even when jumping to get the other coin it will still not necessarily enter into the viewing frame, so it can be considered one of the slightly hidden coins in the game.<br />
|-<br />
|Right part of forest.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/37/1608_1034x1073y_Right_part_of_forest.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1034:-1073+s.png (1034, 1073)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1035:-1073+s.png (1035, 1073)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The right part of the forest has the last two trees in the clump of four large ones, and then small to tiny trees continue the "forest" until the final tree, just beyond which the wedding takes place, and this tree also seems to be part of that scene.<br />
|-<br />
|Wedding and picnic.<br />
|<br />
:Priest: And if any here can give cause why these two should not be wed,<br />
:Priest: The Great Jabba the Hutt will now listen to your pleas.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c9/1608_1038x1073y_Wedding_and_picnic.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1038:-1073+s.png (1038, 1073)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1040:-1074+s.png (1040, 1074)]<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Megan, in a black wedding dress, and Cueball, with a tie, is married by a female priest in front of a crowd of five sitting in chairs in front of them. In the crowd there is yet another Cueball, Hairy and Ponytail, but the last two it not familiar in xkcd one has a cap on backwards and then a person (M/W?) with black. Just before a {{w|wedding}} it is sometimes customary to ask if any in the crowd has could give a cause why these two people should not be wed. What is not customary is to threaten those who do have any objections that they would then have to plea these in front of the great gangster boss from Star Wars, {{w|Jabba the Hutt}}. In case he has condoned this wedding then you may end up pleading for him to kill you mercifully if you did object anyway. The normal way of saying what the priest does goes more [http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/marriage.pdf like this]: "If any of you can show just cause why they may not lawfully be married, speak now; or else for ever hold your peace." (See the top of page 4 of the pdf file in the link (page 424) and a discussion about this sentences use [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=635317 in real life]).<br><br>Beyond the wedding another Megan is sitting on a large boulder facing the wedding, and behind her a third Cueball is having a picnic with a second Ponytail. The question here is if Megan looks at the wedding or turns her back to the picnic. Depending if the player went right along the ground to begins with and saw the wedding first or went through the Destroyer and came back the other way and saw the picnic first the players preconceptions on this questions may be completely different. In either case it still looks like Megan would have liked to be with Cueball (either the one in the tie or the one at the picnic. Of course with characters drawn "randomly" in many places she may bot even belong to either scene. Standing on the rock with Megan hoverboard Cueball cannot see either of the scenes, but standing between Megan and either scene, she can be seen together with either of the relevant Cueball and another girl. In the first case with the wedding, she might have wished she had the courage to speak up in spite of the Jabba threat. In the other case she may feel rejected by the happy picnic couple and has turned her back to them. Poor Megan. Ponytail and Cueball seems to enjoy their picnic lunch in the open air though.<br />
|-<br />
|Cemetery.<br />
|<br />
:Megan: They're inscribed with our family motto, ”Cur ego committitur dictar latinae,” which means ”Why did I just start speaking Latin?”<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7b/1608_1042x1074y_Cemetary.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1042:-1074+s.png (1042, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1043:-1074+s.png (1043, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Someone with better Latin knowledge than using Google translate would be most welcome to chip in here</font> It is so common to have your motto translated in to the dead language {{w|Latin}} that there even is an entire category for {{w|Category:Latin mottos|Latin mottos}} on Wikipedia. Since no one really speaks the language anymore, and only few learn it well enough to just read any sentence, by doing so you actually hide this motto that you probably would like to tell people about. Of course if it is famous then many will now the meaning just from the Latin words like for instance {{w|Carpe diem}} (seize the day). However, most of the time, like the one Megan is explaining to her friend, it would make much more sense to just write it in your native language (English in this case), but then of course there would be no need for a motto, where you ask yourself why you suddenly again changed into Latin. So it is a very Meta joke. There is also a cemetery in Click and Drag.<br><br>The Latin in the motto is not correct, but close, and it could both be Randall that just tried his best, or on purpose as there are probably many "private" mottoes out there that has not been checked by a professor in Latin. The original sentence ''Cur ego committitur dictar latinae'' cannot be translated by for instance {{w|Google Translate}} as the word ''dictar'' does not mean anything in Latin. But if it had meant speaking it would be close as the Google translation comes up with ''Why did I start '''dictar''' Latin''. Also the word ''just'' is completely missing, but could have been included by using ''iustus''. However, this part could have been added when Megan translated her already ''silly'' motto. ''Dictar'' is, however, not that far from some words that do make sense in the context. For instance ''dicta'' without the "R" means ''statements'' and ''dicti'' means ''said''. ''To speak'' is ''dicere'' (still relatively close to dictar), but ''speaking'' generally translates to ''loquitur'' but also dicere can be used here. Going the other way by just putting the English sentence into the translator ''Why did I just start speaking Latin'' gives this: ''Cur ego solum Latine loquantur'' (but only if the question mark is not used???) This, however, then translates back to ''Why did I only speak Latin'' so it makes no sense. The best Latin sentence seems to be ''Cur ego iustus committitur loquitur Latinae?'' which Google translates directly to the correct ''Why did I just start speaking Latin?'' sentence. However, by using dicere (which should be interchangeable with loquitur) as in ''Cur ego iustus committitur dicere Latinae'' this translates (again only without the questions mark???) to ''Why did I just start to speak Latin''. As the meaning is the same as the previous sentence and since dicere is at least close to dictar, and since ''just'' is not really needed then the sentence: ''Cur ego committitur dicere Latinae?'' comes close enough to real Latin and the quote and the meaning as Google translates this into ''Why did I start to speak Latin?''<br><br>'''Cur''' - Why<br>'''Ego''' - I am (or am I)<br>'''Committitur''' - start<br>'''Dictar''' - uncertain (possibly '''Dictare''' - to dictate)<br>'''Latinae''' - Latin<br>A possible translation is "Why did I just start speaking Latin?".<br />
|-<br />
|Huge foot.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: It says ”Yo, future dirtbags! Check out my huge foot!”<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d0/1608_1046x1074y_Huge_foot.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1046:-1074+s.png (1046, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1047:-1074+s.png (1047, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|In ''How to count things'' in TE there is also a drawing of a huge foot, used to count mass, not length... The two Cueballs check out an inscription at the foot ([[559: No Pun Intended|pun intended]]) of a monument. Typically old relics from the past has been demolished, and if only part of a human body is displayed (at least when it is not just a {{w|Bust (sculpture)|bust}} supposed to only have head and shoulders), then it is often assumed that the rest of the statue has been lost. Just like the missing arms of the ancient Greek statue {{w|Venus de Milo}}. These arms was there originally. But as it turns out as Cueball reads the transcription someone in the past just wished to show the future his huge foot. Suggesting that this is either actual size, or just that he was very proud of at least one of his feet. He also mock anyone reading the inscription by calling them the derogating word [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=dirtbag dirtbags]. This is a recent word so if this was an ancient monument it would be highly unlikely that it said that. Of course it could be Cueballs translation of what is actually written, or as this is not necessarily old, it is not just part of the original monument but the entire unbroken statue of a foot, then it could be a contemporary artist who made it. However it is just in front of the pyramid to the right, and in front of the real pyramid {{w|Pyramid of Khafre}} the {{w|Great Sphinx of Giza}}, also much larger than life size lies. (It has lost it's nose by the way). So this could be the games version of such a large statue in front of a pyramid.<br><br>As from the scene to the left of this giant foot, the inscription that Cueball reads is probably in Latin, in which case it could have read something along the lines of: ''Io, de futuro sacculo terra! Reprehendo sicco meus ingens radices!'' (which could be translated back to ''Io, for the future of the bag, earth Check out my huge foot!'', since there was no words for ''Yo dirtbags'' in Latin.<br />
|-<br />
|Entire Pyramid.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1608_1050x1075y_Pyramid_Entire_zoom_out.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bf/1608_Entire_Cave_With_entire_pyramid_for_scale.png Size scale of Destroyer]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|A smooth pyramid with Ponytail in front of the left side and a coin at the tip. It is large but not compared to the Destroyer above it. To illustrate the other image shows that the pyramid could comfortably be placed inside the cave in the Destroyer. There is also a pyramid in Click and Drag.<br />
|-<br />
|Pyramid protip.<br />
|<br />
:Ponytail: Protip:<br />
:Ponytail: Don't stop climbing just because you reach the top.<br />
:Ponytail: ☑ Show tips on startup<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/50/1608_1048x1074y_Pyramid_protip.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1048:-1074+s.png (1048, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Comics: [[:Category:Protip|Protip category]]<br />
|Ponytail greets the player as (if) he approaches the pyramid from the left. She points up the side of the pyramid and gives a protip (a feature often used in xkcd). The tip is yet another indication that the Destroyer is above (the tip) of the pyramid. She tells the player to keep "climbing" after the top (that is not usually possible, but the hoverboard can keep on flying). By doing so the player may reach up to the entrance leading into the spiral corridor (although it will be difficult to keep the same incline as the pyramid on the way up). Ponytails last remark about showing tips on startup makes her sound like she is some kind of program, that can give you interesting hints and tips every time you start the program. If you do not wish this, you can just leave the [http://help.formulatrix.com/rock-maker/3.4/Content/Resources/Images/RM%203.0.3/StartUp%20Tips.png check box unchecked]. This is the last scene with spoken words (or other text) along the right ground, although it is only halfway from the play area to the right end of this world.<br />
|-<br />
|Pyramid tip.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f6/1608_1050x1076y_Pyramid_tip.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1051:-1076+s.png (1051, 1076)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|At the very tip of the pyramid there is a coin. This is the highest point in the right part of the world, that is directly connected with the ground through a fixed structure (i.e. not a wire). In most of the left part of the world even the ground level is higher, and the Washington Monument is much taller. The next coins is five scenes longer to the right as nothing much happens on the remaining stretch along the ground towards the end of the right part of the world from here.<br />
|-<br />
|Pyramid Right bottom.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c5/1608_1053x1074y_Pyramid_Right_bottom.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1053:-1074+s.png (1053, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|As opposed to the left side of the pyramid with a protip, there is nothing on the right side of the pyramid, even the ground is completely featureless, and actually continuous to be so for a while as can be seen in the next two scenes. It is the longest stretch along the ground with no features of interest and also almost completely flat ground. Even the third scene from here is still without characters although there at least is some ground features. For certain the entertainment of the right side is up above in the Destroyer.<br />
|-<br />
|Flat and bare ground.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/19/1608_1056x1074y_Flat_and_bare_ground.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1056:-1074+s.png (1056, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1057:-1074+s.png (1057, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The first of several "boring" scenes without much feature. This though, even without much plant life probably takes the prize as thee most featureless scene in the game. <br />
|-<br />
|Flat grassy ground.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d2/1608_1059x1074y_Flat_grassy_ground.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1059:-1074+s.png (1059, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1060:-1074+s.png (1060, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The second in a row of several "boring" scenes without much feature. This though have a little more grass than the previous scene...<br />
|-<br />
|Small cliff or hill.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/99/1608_1063x1075y_Small_cliff_or_hill.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1063:-1075+s.png (1063, 1075)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1062:-1074+s.png (1062, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Almost as boring as the previous two scenes, but at least there is a little cliff. <br />
|-<br />
|The three T's.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/15/1608_1066x1075y_The_three_Ts.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1066:-1075+s.png (1066, 1075)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1067:-1075+s.png (1067, 1075)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Computer games<br />
|<font color="red">Could there be another explanation than computer games, or at least another game that comes even closer in appearance?</font> These three T's with Megan on top of the first, looks similar to scenes from many {{w|Platform game|platform computer games}}, like for instance [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PlatformGame this example] from {{w|Mario Bros.}}.<br />
|-<br />
|Coin over grass hole.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/71/1608_1071x1074y_Coin_over_grass_hole.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b6/1608_1071x1074y_Coin_over_grass_hole_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1071:-1074+s.png (1071, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1072:-1074+s.png (1072, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The fourth "boring" scene in a row at least have a coin. The grass is rather tall in this location and there are also two small hills to the left, and behind the coin another small bump to the right. The coin is located over a small hole that is filled with grass, so when the player takes the coin hoverboard Cueball will [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/58/Grasshole_under_coin.PNG sink to his waist].<br />
|-<br />
|Ponytail and bird black hat on a stick and Cueball whistling.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bc/1608_1073x1074y_Ponytail_and_bird_black_hat_on_a_stick_and_Cueball_whistling.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1073:-1074+s.png (1073, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1074:-1074+s.png (1074, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Ponytail is walking towards a small cliff with a flying bird following behind her. She approaches a black hat on a stick, looking like Black Hats hat. He usually never leaves without it, so it seems a little strange to find i hanging there. It is actually quite hard to find any Black Hat's in the comic, but above in the Destroyer, just slightly to the left of this hat the only instance of Black Hat in the game sits and snores in the Cave. So he is not only represented by this hat. A kid looking like Cueball stand to the right below the cliff. He seems to be either singing or whistling.<br />
|-<br />
|Small stone pile.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/04/1608_1078x1074y_Small_stone_pile.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1078:-1074+s.png (1078, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|After a small step down in the terrain height the only feature of this fifth boring scene is a small stone pile that seems to be made of 5-6 small stones with different size not ordered after size, so it looks like it could easily fall over. The pile is solid, so the player need to jump to get past it and hoverboard Cueball can stand on top of it.<br />
|-<br />
|Two birds and coin above them.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/33/1608_1081x1074y_Two_birds_and_coin_above_them.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1081:-1074+s.png (1081, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Once again two birds are seen together, this time they are not (as over the gas station to the left) tied together with string. But also here there is a coin, and just like there it is hidden. Not so much as over the gas station, as here the birds can be seen from the ground, but the coin can only be seen by jumping once. Walking along the ground would let the birds enter into the view but not the coin right above them.<br />
|-<br />
|Pedestal.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bf/1608_1086x1074y_Pedestal.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1086:-1074+s.png (1086, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Once again a very boring scene (6th) but at least there is a small pedestal to the right. In it self not very interesting, but if the player drops straight down out of the rear entry of the Destroyer above, hoverboard Cueball will land on this pedestal.<br />
|-<br />
|Medusa and floating earth.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e5/1608_1088x1074y_Medusa_and_floating_earth.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1088:-1074+s.png (1088, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1090:-1075+s.png (1090, 1075)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The first character in four scenes is no one else but {{w|Medusa}} coming towards the player (if going right) arms outstretched and what appears to ne about 10 snakes jutting out of her head which Medusa is known for. The snakes are venomous and people who gaze upon her face would be turned to stone. So not so nice to come by and it for sure relates to the coming end of the world, at least of this worlds right end.<br><br>The floating earth to the right may be of similar origin as the floating rock island above the Washington Monument, maybe the same forces are at work. Seems like it has just been torn up from the hoke in the ground below it, like it is now floating up. If the player drops straight down from the very end of the Destroyer up above, hoverboard Cueball will land on this floating earth. Anything right of the start of the hole is no longer under the Destroyer, which anything else right of the play area until this hole has been. Could be the Destroyer's influence that creates this hole? (But not just because it passes over, because then the earth should be floating up all the way behind it).<br />
|-<br />
|White Hat hiding in the grass.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d9/1608_1093x1074y_White_Hat_hiding_in_the_grass.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1093:-1074+s.png (1093, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Another flat scenery but at least White Hat is hiding in the grass to the right, only his head showing above the high grass, so her must be either sitting or even lying down propped up on his arms. This is one of only two scenes with White Hat throughout the game.<br />
|-<br />
|Lollipop plant and coin.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/09/1608_1095x1075y_Lollipop_plant_and_coin.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1095:-1075+s.png (1095, 1075)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1094:-1074+s.png (1094, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The seventh boring scene is lit up by a coin that hangs in the air slightly before the only feature of the scene, which appears to be a plant, with a strange lollipop shape.<br />
|-<br />
|Drifting Cueball.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/9d/1608_1098x1074y_Drifting_Cueball.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1098:-1074+s.png (1098, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Another completely flat grassy landscape but with a strangely elongated Cueball drifting in the wind. Characters flying is depicted in two scenes where Ponytail flies, but she does this of her own will. Here is seems like Cueball is just drifting with the wind towards the end of the world, which is only two scenes away, and he is the last character along the ground towards the end. This is in some way reminiscent of Click and Drag, where the Cueball floating with the balloon to begin with, can also be seen at the very right end of the world. But then again here it more seems like Cueball doesn't have a choice, and he also seems to be out of shape. The shape he is in, and the relation to the end of the world could be a (loose) reference to the sixth and seventh day in [[1245: 10-Day Forecast]].<br />
|-<br />
|Just grass.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/30/1608_1103x1074y_Just_grass.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1103:-1074+s.png (1103, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1104:-1074+s.png (1104, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The eight boring scene since the pyramid, with a rolling hill of grass, but only the 2nd most boring, as the most boring scene was the first scene after the pyramid because that one did not even have grass. <br />
|-<br />
|Storks nest at right end of the world with 10 coins.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/ce/1608_1107x1075y_Storks_nest_at_right_end_of_the_world_with_10_coins.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1107:-1075+s.png (1107, 1075)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1107:-1074+s.png (1107, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|This is the right end of the world, marked by a high pole raising up from a foundation, and on the top of the pole there is a large {{w|White stork|stork}} nest with three eggs in it. Maybe it is not a stork nest (though it looks like a {{w|White_stork#Conservation|man-made nest platform}} for storks), but an eagle nest, though they do not usually use mad made structures for their nest as do storks. But if it was an eagles nest, it could be for those two that are flying over the right tip of the volcano crater in the far of left part of the world.<br><br>With ten coins on top of the three eggs in the nest this is the place with the highest coin density in the game, but not most coins over a single image tile as that price goes to the starting tile with 11 coins. There are also 17 coins in the play area scene, but they are not as closely gathered as here, where all 10 coins are almost as close together as possible, and all of them in the same [http://xkcd.com/1608/1107:-1076+s.png completely white image tile] right above the tile with the nest and eggs.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Rebel Blockade Runner'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/82/1608_1015x1078y_Entire_Rebel_Blockade_Runner_zoom_out.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fd/1608_1015x1078y_Entire_Rebbel_Blockade_Runner_and_wires_zoom_out.png Also with wires]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/04/1608_1015x1078y_Entire_Rebbel_Blockade_Runner_zoom_out_to_torpedoes_and_ground.png Also with torpedoes]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|An overview of the entire Rebel Blockade Runner ''{{w|Tantive IV}}'' from the opening scene of the original Star Wars movie. It has four rooms (one blown open), a small canon room that cannot be entered by the hoverboard and two corridors. The rear is the large engines. There are three coins. There is a clear symmetry along the center, as the two canons and the two parabolic antennas are placed symmetrical on the top and bottom hull, and also the curves of the hull is symmetric. In the second image link the way to find the runner from the ground via the wires can be seen (six coins). And in the third the way to find the Destroyer above via the torpedoes can be seen (14 coins). The Destroyer is thus not hidden, like for instance the Floating Rock Island or the Hidden Lair beneath the lava lake, and there are many less direct indications that there is a runner from all the people who comment on them or even directly or indirectly point the way to the Destroyer. The Runner is supposed to be 150 m long.<br />
|-<br />
|Bridge on the Rebel Blockade Runner.<br />
|<br />
:First scene:<br />
:Long haired woman: Captain's log, stardate November 24th, 2015...<br />
:Hairbun: ''Augh!'' No!<br />
:Second scene:<br />
:Megan: Good against remotes is one thing, but a ''true'' Jedi trains with a T-shirt cannon.<br />
:Box: Shirts<br />
:Third scene:<br />
:Box: Bullets<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bc/1608_1012x1078y_Bridge_on_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1012:-1078+s.png (1012, 1078)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1013:-1078+s.png (1013, 1078)]<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|Film: The {{w|Star Trek}} universe<br />
|The bridge of the Rebel Blockade Runner is crammed with interesting scenes. First on the bridge itself a long haired woman (the captain) is mocking both Star Wars and Star Trek fans alike by using the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcRX0Gw1aaw opening line] from the Star Trek series about stating the {{w|stardate}} for the captains log on board the first space ship ever shown in the Star Wars franchise. Hairbun behind her (it could be {{w|Princess Leia}} who also has buns but above each ear) is clearly distressed by this ”mistake”. This could either be because she is a Star Wars fan that dislike Star Trek or because the stardate used is the real date, November 24, 2015, on which the comic was released (as well as the book ''Thing Explainer'') instead of using the normal convention for stardates with a four or five digit number plus a decimal like 1513.1. Given that the long haired woman has the appearance of [[Danish]], this may be intentionally rather than a mistake. There is another reference to Star Trek universe in the scene where the torpedoes are fired from in the Destroyer above, so no less than two Trek infiltrations in the opening scene of Star Wars<br><br>Beneath the bridge there is a smaller room where Ponytail and Megan spoofs [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X69NCLxwLEY Luke's Lightsaber Training] from the original Star Wars movie where {{w|Luke Skywalker}} practices under {{w|Ben Kenobi}}'s guidance while {{w|Han Solo}} comes with snide remarks. Ponytail (in Luke's place) holds a {{w|lightsaber}} above which floats a sphere which represents the small remote controlled {{w|Jedi}} training device from that scene. Megan both guides like Ben and comments like Han. She holds some kind of cannon that she obviously loads with T-shirts from the box behind her. As she tells Ponytail, a true Jedi trains with a [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgCz7C6jEIk t-shirt cannon]. Han Solo's quote begins like it but ends quite differently: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOuCbDkKIs4 Good against remotes is one thing good against the living it's something else]. He would also prefer a {{w|Blaster (Star Wars)|blaster}} as he explains: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V268Qk6-xsw Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side kid]. There is a coin behind Ponytail<br><br>Above the bridge there is a hatch open where hoverboard Cueball may enter and a Cueball is standing behind the hatch looking down along the hull.<br><br>There are canons both above and below the hull, the one on top has a coin in front of the barrel. There is a similar canon with a coin in front on top of the Destroyer. Beneath this canon is a tiny room where another Cueball is pouring several small bullets from a bucket into a black box labeled bullets (for the canon). From this room there is a small shaft down to the main corridor in the Runner. But this shaft is too slim for hoverboard Cueball to pass up through it, or rather for the board to get in. Cueball can pass into the hole but the board holds him back from reaching up in the small room. The canon below has two of the anchors from the wires going to the ground attached around its barrel. The third anchor is stuck in the bottom hull further down the hull. It is unclear how this last has become attached to the hull!<br><br>In the corridor that runs away from the bridge a small robot on wheels drive towards left. Similar types of robots are often seen in the Star Wars universe and there is also [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5f/1608_1034x1091y_Torpedo_canon_below_Destroyer.png another robot] looking like two of these on top of each other in the Destroyer above where the torpedoes connecting them ends up. Further down the corridor Ponytail is walking to the right while singing indicated with two notes.<br><br>Above the canon at the bottom of the hull on a ledge with an entry to the ship is a third Cueball holding a fishing rod out over the ledge so the hook hangs in the air. Maybe he is fishing for either of the two birds that are flying around the line. What appears to be a loaf of bread or [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/58/1608_1014x1078y_Three_wires_and_reaching_up_to_anchors_in_Runner.png a cracker is attached to the hook] at the end of the line. A similar scene is also found in TE in ''Sky Toucher''.<br />
|-<br />
|Death Star Plans in the Rebel Blockade Runner.<br />
|<br />
:First scene:<br />
:First Cueball: The Death Star plans are ''not'' in the main computer.<br />
:Second Cueball: Darn.<br />
:Second Cueball: See, if we had found them in the main computer, that would be good news, since it would mean no one else had them.<br />
:Second Cueball: But since we didn’t find them, we need to keep searching for anyone with a copy.<br />
:Second Cueball: That all makes sense and I ''definitely'' understand how computers work.<br />
:Second scene:<br />
:Third Cueball: So you just came down and made a hole in our ship without permission?<br />
:Fourth Cueball: Yup<br />
:Third Cueball: Wow, Rude.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fa/1608_1017x1078y_Death_Star_Plans_in_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1017:-1078+s.png (1017, 1078)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1016:-1079+s.png (1016, 1079)]<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Further explanation needed by someone with more computer skill than Second Cueball and me who wrote the current version... Also is there some reference to someone saying something like that to an attack, rather than the one with C3PO </font>The reference to the Death Star plans are from [https://youtu.be/yHfLyMAHrQE?t=340 the opening scene] in the first Star Wars movie. The sentence uttered by First Cueball is said by a Storm Trooper to Darth Vader. The [http://m.imdb.com/title/tt0076759/quotes?qt=qt0440708 rest of the quote] is not quite like in the comic. Rather is goes like this:<br />
:Darth Vader: [addressing the Tantive IV's captain, whom he is interrogating] Where are those transmissions you intercepted? WHAT have you DONE with those plans?<br />
:Captain Antilles: We intercepted no transmissions... This is a consular ship... We're on a diplomatic mission...<br />
:Darth Vader: [shouting] If this is a consular ship, WHERE is the ambassador?<br />
:Darth Vader: Commander, tear this ship apart until you find those plans! And bring me all passengers, I want them ALIVE! <br />
The comic jokes with the way Darth Vader seems to assume that if the plans had been found on the computer, then no one else would have had access to them. The second Cueball, although not Vader, represents a superior that have absolutely no idea about how computers work, in spite of his insistence that he actually do. If the data has once been intercepted they could have been shared or copied to several other computers or devices or even been printed. By finding them in the main computer they would only make sure that they were indeed intercepted, but not be certain that they have not been delivered to the rebel base.<br />
<br />
The other two Cueballs on top of the ship stand over a hole in the hull going into a small room above and left of the large room. It seems that the fourth Cueball has made this hole directly from the outside (i.e. it is not caused by an exploding torpedo from the Destroyer above). Because he confirms when the third Cueball asks if he just came down to make the hole without permission. The third Cueball thinks this is rude. This is, of course, hilarious as if a space pirate or any other attacker of a space ship would ask permission before attacking. And also the idea that he might get permission for asking is likewise crazy. To call this rude is also a weird way to look at such an attack. {{w|C3PO}} uses [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWoG9tKf1lA this as reply] to a comment made to him by a similar droid in the second movie.<br />
|-<br />
|Top rear end of the Rebel Blockade Runner.<br />
|<br />
:First scene:<br />
:First Cueball: That thing is ''huge. Imperial''-class?<br />
:Second Cueball: Yeah. Maybe a MK-1. Depends on whether this is the expanded universe or not.<br />
:Second scene:<br />
:Third Cueball's bow: Twang<br />
:Torpedo: Boom<br />
:Third scene:<br />
:Fourth Cueball: Why are they still firing?<br />
:Fifth Cueball: Oh, the turret operators pretty much do their own thing.<br />
:Fifth Cueball: It's definitely a pain sometimes.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f1/1608_1018x1079y_Top_rear_end_of_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1018:-1079+s.png (1018, 1079)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1019:-1080+s.png (1019, 1080)]<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|In this overview of the top rear of the hull of the Runner, there are four scenes with two persons in each, with no less than six Cueballs. Beginning with the scene to the far left the two first Cueballs discuss what type of Star Destroyer is shooting at their ship from above them. They are clearly tilting their head far back to look up. The first Cueball comments on how huge it is and asks if it is an {{w|Star_Destroyer#Imperial_class|''Imperial'' class}} Destroyer. "''Imperial'' class" is the designation of the Destroyer ''[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Devastator Devastator]'' that followed the Rebel Runner ''Tantive IV'' in the opening scene. There is also an more than 10 times as large version called a {{w|Star_Destroyer#Super_Star_Destroyer|Super Star Destroyer}}, which were featured in the two sequels in the original trilogy. But even the original Star Destroyers were improved during the movies, so when the improved Destroyers came out they became known as ([http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Imperial_II-class_Star_Destroyer Mark II], Mk-II or plainly II, and the original (as Devastator) became known as [http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Imperial_I-class_Star_Destroyer Mk-1]. The second Cueball agrees with the first and suggest that it is an Mk-1 and thus makes it even more clear that this scene is actually the opening scene of the original Star Wars movie. But then again, he continues, it depends weather this is the {{w|Star Wars expanded universe|expanded universe}} (now know as ''Star Wars Legends'') where all authorized media (books etc.) released based on the Star Wars franchise should be counted in, or if it is only the movies sanctioned directly by George Lucas (and now Disney). What he says is that in all those work there could be so many other types os ships mentioned, that he could mistake for an Mk-1, that in that universe he would not be certain at all. But in the "official" universe he would claim that it was an Mk-1 ''Imperial'' class Star Destroyer.<br><br>In the next scene Ponytail and a third Cueball fights a ridicules fight with bows and arrows against the Destroyers 100+ torpedoes raining down from above. Ten of these can be seen falling, one hits the ship and one has just exploded in a big ''boom'', to be compared with the feeble ''twang'' made by Cueballs bow when he fires the arrow. When later discovering how far there is up to the bottom of the Destroyer it only becomes even more silly.<br><br>In the third scene two more Cueballs (four and five) look up at the torpedoes falling down in an arch over their heads. The fourth Cueball asks why they still keep firing. And the fifth Cueball tries to explain. A {{w|Gun turret|turret}} is generally a weapon mount that houses the crew and a projectile-firing weapon and lets the weapon be aimed and fired in a given cone of fire. So it is this crew, that are the turret operators. There is also such [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bc/1608_1012x1078y_Bridge_on_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png an operator] on the Rebel Runner below the top canon (or turret), in the scene with the bridge. The reason they keep fighting is given that they just do their own thing and that is annoying. This indicates that these two Cueballs do no longer think that the Destroyer needs to fire anymore on the Runner, and thus also indicates that they are part of the crew from the Destroyer send down to take over the Runner. Thus it is annoying that the shooting has not stopped as it puts them in danger. If they belong to the Runner then they would not think it weird that the shooting continued. It turns out to be Megan who is the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5f/1608_1034x1091y_Torpedo_canon_below_Destroyer.png turret operator in the Destroyer]! At least they can be happy that it is regular torpedoes. (See the explanation of the scene regarding the Torpedo canon below Destroyer).<br><br>In the final scene at the very end of the hull is the sixth Cueball together with Megan. She holds on to him as he tries to toasts a giant marshmallow on a stick by holding it in front of the exhaust pipe of the Runner. This would must likely melt the marshmallow instantaneously... In ''Red world space car'' in TE the Mars rower also toasts a marshmallow on a stick over a small fire.<br />
|-<br />
|Bottom rear end of the Rebel Blockade Runner.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5b/1608_1020x1078y_Bottom_rear_end_of_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1020:-1078+s.png (1020, 1078)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The rear end of the Rebel Runner with the last part of the big Death Star plan room to visible to the left. Three engines are visible, with the top one being cut of (Cueball is roasting a marshmallow above the cut off - see previous scene). This is consistent with the three rows of engines as [http://cdn-static.denofgeek.com/sites/denofgeek/files/styles/insert_main_wide_image/public/2016/04/tantive_iv_over_tatooine.png?itok=1k3g3pFH can be seen in the film], with four engines in top and bottom row and three in the middle. There is a coin behind the lowest of the engines. There appear to be {{w|truck nuts}} attached to the rear of the ship beneath the hull. These are plastic or metal accessories, typically for cars, which resemble a pair of dangling testicles/balls. They are attached under the rear bumper of the vehicle so they are visible from behind as a practical joke. Some find it is in so bad a taste that it should be banned or fined.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire torpedoes rain from Runner to Destroyer.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/87/1608_1023x1085y_Entire_torpedoes_rain_from_Runner_to_Destroyer.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|An overview of the entire rain of torpedoes fired down from the Star Destroyer to the Runner. There are 100 undamaged torpedoes in the air, two that are hitting each other exploding, one that has just made contact with the hull and one that has just exploded on the hull of the Runner. A total of 104 torpedoes has thus been fired at this moment in time. The rain is not so much there for jokes but to guide the player up to the Destroyer. Only real interesting scene on the way up is Beret Guy riding a torpedo, and apart from that and the two torpedoes hitting each other and exploding, there is nothing else to see. But there are two coins to collect.<br />
|-<br />
|Torpedoes just above Runner with coin.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a7/1608_1019x1081y_Torpedoes_just_above_Runner_with_coin.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1019:-1081+s.png (1019, 1081)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1020:-1081+s.png (1020, 1081)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|11 torpedoes just above the Runner with a coin.<br />
|-<br />
|Torpedoes two steps above Runner with Beret Guy.<br />
|<br />
:Beret Guy: Horsey!<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/21/1608_1020x1083y_Torpedoes_two_steps_above_Runner_with_Beret_Guy.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1020:-1083+s.png (1020, 1083)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1021:-1083+s.png (1021, 1083)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Film: {{w|Dr. Strangelove}}<br />
|Beret Guys only second appearance in this comic. He is flying down from the Destroyer sitting astray a torpedo riding it like it was a horse. In the film Dr. Stangelove a man is also flying down like this riding a bomb like it is a horse (a nuclear bomb in that case though). Beret Guy will likely survive due to his [[:Category:Strange powers of Beret Guy|strange powers]]. With his torpedo there are eight torpedoes in this scene<br />
|-<br />
|Torpedoes three steps above Runner.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a7/1608_1023x1085y_Torpedoes_three_steps_above_Runner.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1023:-1086+s.png (1023, 1086)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1024:-1086+s.png (1024, 1086)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|21 torpedoes are shown. This image is so large that it goes outside the "active" images, and thus the lower right part is in gray. In the game this part will be displayed as white, but there is no image below to save (but many all white images are active though!)<br />
|-<br />
|Torpedoes two steps below Destroyer with exploding torpedoes.<br />
|<br />
:Torpedoes: Boom<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a8/1608_1025x1087y_Torpedoes_two_steps_below_Destroyer_with_exploding_torpedoes.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1025:-1087+s.png (1025, 1087)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1026:-1087+s.png (1026, 1087)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|21 torpedoes are shown, but two of them are hitting each other exploding. Where you can stand on the torpedoes, you can not stand on the "boom", but still on the black part of the exploding torpedoes. If the two exploding torpedoes are the same and if they have no means of self-propelling, then they should not hit each other under normal conditions. Only if a wind gust slowed down the one and not the other (which could of course be the case.) But else they would follow the same parabolic path from canon to target without getting closer.<br />
|-<br />
|Torpedoes one step below Destroyer with coin.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2b/1608_1029x1089y_Torpedoes_one_step_below_Destroyer_with_coin.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1029:-1089+s.png (1029, 1089)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1031:-1090+s.png (1031, 1090)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|19 torpedoes just below the Destroyer with a coin.<br />
|-<br />
|Torpedo canon below Destroyer.<br />
|<br />
:Megan: We have no photon torpedoes, so I'm firing regular ones<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5f/1608_1034x1091y_Torpedo_canon_below_Destroyer.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1034:-1091+s.png (1034, 1091)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1033:-1091+s.png (1033, 1091)]<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Film: The {{w|Star Trek}} universe<br />
|The 12 last torpedoes leads up to the canon below the Destroyer that has fired them all towards the runner far below. In the control room (or turret room see explanation of scene where the torpedoes hits the Runner) is Megan and Cueball. She explains that she used regular torpedoes rather than the much more powerful {{w|Weapons_in_Star_Trek#Projectile_weapons|'''photon''' torpedoes}}. This may cheat some to think this is a reference to the weapon Luke Skywalker used when destroying the Death Star in the original Star Wars movie. But they were called {{w|List_of_Star_Wars_weapons#Ship-mounted|'''proton''' torpedoes}}. Photon torpedoes are a standard ship-based weapon armed with an {{w|antimatter}} warhead and one of those alone would probably take a ship like the Runner out if it was not shielded... However, they are used by the {{w|Starship Enterprise}} in the Star Trek universe. So this is the second (but more subtle) mixing of the two competing franchises connected with the torpedoes in the opening scene of Star Wars. The first being on the bridge of the Runner below. Above the control room there is a shaft up to a corridor in which a small robot of the types typically seen on spaceships in Star Wars is seen. There is a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bc/1608_1012x1078y_Bridge_on_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png similar robot] down in the Runner but only half this ones height.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Star Destroyer.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cd/1608_Entire_Star_Destroyer.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|This is the only reference to Star Wars just because of the Destroyer. Anything inside the spaceship will only be listed as SW reference if there is something in relation to SW, or at least to part of the ship itself (like using special outcrops on the ship for a special room, like the Globe of Death at the top of the bridge).<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire front end.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1608_Entire_front_end.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/22/1608_Entire_front_end_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|This overview is shown to illustrate how far apart the rooms are even in the very front end of the Destroyer where it is slimmest. The image with hidden passages shows how deep the swimming pool is and that the hoverboard can also sink into the playpen pit. Moving just a little further right than this overview, and the Destroyer becomes wider than the zoom scale for these overviews.<br />
|-<br />
|Overview of the very tip of the front end.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/92/1608_Zoom_out_of_the_very_front_end.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The front has both a mouth a nose and an eye with a pupil. It has just eaten a coin and can smell the one above its nose. See more on this interpretation under the ''Colon like structure'' below.<br />
|-<br />
|Very front with Cueball looking out at bottom of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/60/1608_1002x1094y_Very_front_with_Cueball_looking_out_at_bottom_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1002:-1094+s.png (1002, 1094)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1003:-1094+s.png (1003, 1094)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The closest entrance to the Destroyer from the starting point is guarded by Cueball. Going straight up from the right wall in the play area will take the hoverboard straight up in front of Cueball. There is a coin behind him where this first corridor turns up into a shaft.<br />
|-<br />
|Very front with playpen balls pit at top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a7/1608_1004x1095y_Very_front_with_playpen_balls_pit_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/35/1608_1004x1095y_Very_front_with_playpen_balls_pit_at_top_of_hull_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1004:-1095+s.png (1004, 1095)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1005:-1095+s.png (1005, 1095)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|[[150: Grownups]] and the [[:Category:Playpen balls|Playpen balls Category]].<br />
|The top part of the front of the Star Destroyer also has an entrance as does the bottom section (see above). There is a coin above the hull. This first corridor leads to a playpen pit filled with playpen balls, which is a recurring subject in xkcd. Cueball and Megan is adult sized (i.e. as big as hoverboard Cueball) and it is thus a clear reference to Grownups. There could be water down below the balls as a fish is seen jumping out over the surface. But given that there are no splashes from the balls Cueball throws in the air, it could also just be a gimmick by Randall. To have something like this in a Star Destroyer kind of ruins the mood surrounding these war machines. Something seen several times throughout the space ship.<br />
|-<br />
|Piñata and Cueball with lightsaber at top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: No, I got this.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/20/1608_1006x1095y_Pinata_and_Cueball_with_lightsaber_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1006:-1095+s.png (1006, 1095)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1007:-1095+s.png (1007, 1095)]<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Comic: [[1620: Christmas Settings]]<br />
|Although the original {{w|piñata}} was star shaped it is now common to use different shapes like the horse or donkey displayed in the comic. Children usually hits the piñata with a club until it breaks and falls down revealing candy or toys inside. The two Cueballs, Megan and Hairy are adults though as big as hoverboard Cueball, just like in the playpen pit. It is though not uncommon for adults to participate in hitting down a piñata. But to do it with a {{w|lightsaber}} would defeat the purpose of this game as it will go right through the piñata on contact thus spilling the contest out on the floor in the first go. The Cueball with the lightsaber can thus confidently say that he got this. But it seems like the other Cueball is trying to stop him and that Hairy, holding the club they were intended to use, puts a hand protectively on Megan. A lightsaber would be a very dangerous weapon, and should not be used lightly in a playful setting. As a side note any candy/toy in the path of the ligtsaber as it passes through the piñata will melt/burn immediately. Lightsaber noises are mentioned in the title text of the Christmas Settings comic coming out shortly after this one.<br />
|-<br />
|Shaft and corridor at bottom of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/eb/1608_1007x1094y_Shaft_and_corridor_at_bottom_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1007:-1094+s.png (1007, 1094)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1008:-1094+s.png (1008, 1094)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Lots of sections inside the Destroyer consist of long corridors with shafts going up and down here and there, but with no interesting features or objects. This is the first example of such a corridor, near the bottom hull of the Destroyer, showing that it is not a featureless outer hull. Apart from the ever increasing width of the Destroyer there are some steps up and down, to indicate some of the features seen in the Star Wars movie.<br />
|-<br />
|Swimming pool with Ponytail jumping at bottom of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/ba/1608_1010x1094y_Swimming_pool_with_Ponytail_jumping_at_bottom_of_hull.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e6/1608_1010x1094y_Swimming_pool_with_Ponytail_jumping_at_bottom_of_hull_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1010:-1094+s.png (1010, 1094)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1011:-1094+s.png (1011, 1094)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Another enjoyable activity to attend to by adults is located here in the front sections of the Destroyer: A swimming pool. Don't worry about Ponytail jumping head first into the water, as can be seen in the hidden passage image it is rather deep. Cueball and Megan is already in. Supposedly there is a rung ladder up again on the side, but it cannot be seen in this slice through the Destroyer. A coin hangs in the top corner of the room. When standing with the hoverboard on the bottom of the pool it will be possible to see that there is a coin on the outside of the hull in the indentation in the hull below the pool. From the outside, however, it will not be possible to see that there is a pool above as the water is the same black (to the eye) as the solid hull.<br />
|-<br />
|Shaft and corridor with three coins at top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/ba/1608_1011x1096y_Shaft_and_corridor_with_three_coins_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1011:-1096+s.png (1011, 1096)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1009:-1095+s.png (1009, 1095)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|After leaving the piñata room going down the corridor there are two coins. One under the shaft going up and one further down the corridor. Going up the shaft there is also a coin on the outside of the top hull at the top of another of the small step where the hulls width increases faster than the steady slope that are always there. This coin is almost on top of the one in the corridor below.<br />
|-<br />
|Dead end shaft with rubbles at bottom of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0c/1608_1015x1093y_Dead_end_shaft_with_rubbles_at_bottom_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1015:-1093+s.png (1015, 1093)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1016:-1093+s.png (1016, 1093)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|From the shaft that exits the Destroyers bottom hull there goes a corridor to the left. But only for a short while. Then there is a pile of rubble like there has either been a cave in or as if someone has been digging this tunnel and then has stopped. This is consistent with the mining company seen much further down the Destroyer. There is a coin in front of the rubble.<br />
|-<br />
|Zoom out of shaft and corridors with Hairy looking down a shaft at top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/34/1608_1019x1095y_Zoom_out_of_shaft_and_corridors_with_Hairy_looking_down_a_shaft_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|This zoom out gives an overview of a large section of the Destroyer with only a long corridor and two shafts going down from it. There is almost no features, but for Hairy standing carefully at the edge of one shaft looking down into it. So again an example of the larger areas inside the destroyer where nothing happens.<br />
|-<br />
|Hairy looking down a shaft at top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/73/1608_1016x1095y_Hairy_looking_down_a_shaft_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1016:-1095+s.png (1016, 1095)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1013:-1096+s.png (1013, 1096)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|This is the shaft that came out of the piñata room. At the end of this image is the first shaft going down where Hairy is standing carefully at the edge looking down. Before that a shaft goes up to the top hull where a coin is situated on top of a small step down. At the other end of this "step" to the left there was also a coin.<br />
|-<br />
|Three coins room and shafts.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e6/1608_1023x1095y_Three_coins_room_and_shafts.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1023:-1095+s.png (1023, 1095)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1022:-1095+s.png (1022, 1095)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|This is the room where the long corridor going from the piñata room ends. Although it is a quite boring room it has three coins, the highest coin density seen so far when entering the Destroyer from the front end. A shaft down outside the room prevents this from being a dead end.<br />
|-<br />
|Triple coins and a single coin on top of a shaft at top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d0/1608_1023x1097y_Triple_coins_and_a_single_coin_on_top_of_a_shaft_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1023:-1097+s.png (1023, 1097)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1025:-1097+s.png (1025, 1097)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|There is a very long straight stretch on top of the hull where nothing happens after the step down, but suddenly there are three coins in a row, and then a shaft down, with a ledge out over the shaft opening, with yet a coin, makes it worth the players while to come up there as well.<br />
|-<br />
|Zoom out of shaft and corridors with ledge at bottom of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6f/1608_1025x1092y_Zoom_out_of_shaft_and_corridors_with_ledge_at_bottom_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|This overview at the bottom of the hull shows the shaft (to the right) that was covered with a ledge at the top of the hull. Although it takes a small turn left before going down and out at the bottom it thus almost runs straight through the Destroyer and also here at the bottom a thin ledge covers the shafts exit. But here are no coins. There are another shaft and two corridors.<br />
|-<br />
|Shall '''not not''' pass room and parachutes at one of two ledges at bottom of hull.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: You shall not not pass!<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ad/1608_1026x1093y_Shall_not_not_pass_room_and_parachutes_at_one_of_two_ledges_at_bottom_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1026:-1093+s.png (1026, 1093)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1028:-1092+s.png (1028, 1092)]<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The shaft going out at the bottom left is the one mentioned above. Going through the corridor above takes hoverboard Cueball into a room with a Cueball blocking his way holding a hand out towards him. He almost uses the last part of a [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120737/quotes?item=qt0445998 famous quote by Gandalf] when facing the {{w|Balrog}} in the mines of {{w|Moria (Middle-earth)|Moria}}, but here with an '''extra not''' added to negate the "not" from the quote. So "You shall ''not'' '''not''' pass" = You '''shall''' pass, and when you do you get a coin. It is easy to miss that there are two times not in the sentence which is for certain intentionally by Randall, as the spoken sentence thus do not match the appearance of Cueball with a hand out.<br><br>If hoverboard Cueball jump ship at the ledge to the left he can fly over to the next ledge where Cueball and a guy with black hair is preparing to jump of the ship using parachutes. Behind them there is a shaft going up into the ship with a coin.<br />
|-<br />
|Two coins room and shafts.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5d/1608_1026x1095y_Two_coins_room_and_shafts.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1026:-1095+s.png (1026, 1095)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1027:-1095+s.png (1027, 1095)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The shaft going up in the two coins room comes from a corridor below that also connects to the shaft to the left. The corridor is right above the ''you shall not not pass'' room below. The shaft to the left goes up the ledge covered exit to the top hull.<br />
|-<br />
|Steven Universe and Crystal Gems; and ice cream prediction.<br />
|<br />
:Megan: Prediction: Seconds before you die, you will remember these words.<br />
:Box: Ice cream<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1608_1031x1095y_Steven_Universe_family_and_ice_cream_prediction.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1031:-1095+s.png (1031, 1095)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1028:-1095+s.png (1029, 1095)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|TV series: {{w|Steven Universe}}<br />
|In the room to the left, Megan talks to Cueball while they walk towards an ice cream freezer (at the end of the room with a coin on top). Her comment that she can predict that he will remember those words when he dies could be quite sinister. Since they are so boring the only way she can make this prediction come through is if she now turns around killing him. If she waits a little longer she will not have to move him so far before she can hide his body in the freezer...<br><br>In the room to the right is a group of four stick figures representing {{w|Steven Universe (character)|Steven Universe}} and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Steven_Universe_characters#/media/File:StevenFinalPoster.jpg Crystal Gems]. From left to right, Steven is next to {{w|Pearl (Steven Universe)|Pearl}} (as a stick figure with shorter hair), {{w|Garnet (Steven Universe)|Garnet}} (as a taller stick figure with sunglasses and an afro), and {{w|List_of_Steven_Universe_characters#Amethyst|Amethyst}} (as a shorter stick figure with long hair). The Crystal Gems are a "superhero" team of alien "Gems" who protect the earth, with their newest member being the half-Gem, half-human Steven. (Elsewhere on the bridge of the Destroyer, Darth Vader references Steven Universe in that Steven is half Gem.) A coin is hovering over Garnet's raised left hand.<br><br>Below these two rooms runs a corridor that goes left to the shaft going up to the top hull. The shaft going down goes to the two guys with parachutes. There is a coin next to the shaft. To get from this corridor to the rooms above hoverboard Cueball either have to go out on the top hull or move through the rotary that follows to the right.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Rotary section.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/67/1608_Entire_Rotary_section.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e4/1608_Entire_Rotary_section_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1608_Entire_Rebel_Blockade_Runner_swallowed_by_Destroyer.png Swallow Runner]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|To the left in this overview is the roundabout like structure that Cueball above it calls a rotary, which has given name to this section of the ship that follows after it up to the section with the cave. The Destroyer becomes much broader here especially due to the two large steps that the top part of the hull takes in the middle and to the right in this image.<br><br>In the hidden passage image the cotton trap is revealed with the two entrances to the room below and to the corridor to the right that leads past different traps into the cave. At the top and bottom middle of the image there are two cars, and as it can be seen in the hidden passage image the hoverboard cannot rest on top of those.<br><br>In the composite ''Swallow Runner'' image the Rebel Runner has been placed in the opening in the bottom hull to reveal that this is indeed the opening in the bottom of the Destroyer that swallows the entire Rebel Runner in the opening scene of the first Star Wars movie. This feature is thus a direct reference to the "real" Devastator Destroyer and thus a direct reference to the opening scene and to Star Wars. Below the individual scenes in the Rotary section will be described. <br />
|-<br />
|Empty room and Cueball on corridor going to rotary at top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: Ugh, rotaries.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cf/1608_1029x1097y_Empty_room_and_Cueball_on_corridor_going_to_rotary_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1032:-1096+s.png (1032, 1096)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1030:-1097+s.png (1030, 1097)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|A big empty room near the top hull and a coin in a shaft going down from the top hull. The shaft going down will lead to both the room with the ice dream box and the one with Steven Universe and the Crystal Gems. The corridor going right will go down into the rotary, see next scene. Cueball is looking down into this and expressing his dislike of this {{w|Traffic circle|type of structures}}. Maybe he has bad experience with these in real life traffic.<br />
|-<br />
|The rotary.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3e/1608_1033x1095y_The_rotary.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1033:-1095+s.png (1033, 1095)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1035:-1095+s.png (1035, 1095)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|This is the {{w|Traffic circle|Rotary}} that has given it's name to the section of the Star Destroyer from the structure itself and right of this until the section where the cave is located. A rotary is also known as a ''traffic circle'' and is a large version of a roundabout with several roads exiting from it. At the top of the upper left passage (see the scene above) Cueball is looking down into this structure and calls it a rotary (hence the name).<br><br>Typically for a real life rotary it is possible for pedestrians to enter the central part of the structure as is the case here with the small room with the hairy kid and his potted plant and coin.<br><br>Large rotaries may have more than four roads leading away, but in this case there are four, and neither of them are leading straight away up/down or left/right. Three of them are almost at a 45 degree angel, but the one going down is only a little of to the right, and soon turns straight down.<br><br>Only other feature is the Cueball rushing right on his bike in the corridor leading away from the rightmost exit. There are several bikes throughout the comic, with two more in the Globe of Death above the bridge of the Destroyer and one going down the right slope of the Volcano.<br><br>Entering the rotary for the first time there are of course three new directions to move along in, making it a special point in the users exploration of the Destroyer.<br />
|-<br />
|Photon canon Tetris piece and mini robot at bottom of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None - the canon part has been transcribed in the torpedo section)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/df/1608_1034x1091y_Photon_canon_Tetris_piece_and_mini_robot_at_bottom_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1034:-1093+s.png (1034, 1093)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1034:-1092+s.png (1035, 1092)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Computer game: {{w|Tetris}}<br />
|The bottom part of the scene has already been described in relation to the torpedo rain. But as can be seen here it is possible to enter the torpedo room almost directly from the bottom exit of the rotary above. Coming down that way is also a T-shaped {{w|Tetris#Colors_of_Tetriminos|tetriminos}} from the Tetris computer game. At the end of the corridor with the small robot there is a shaft, and in the exit from the corridor there is a coin.<br />
|-<br />
|Shaft corridor with coin and room with coin over ledge at bottom of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d3/1608_1038x1092y_Shaft_corridor_with_coin_and_room_with_coin_over_ledge_at_bottom_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1038:-1092+s.png (1038, 1092)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1036:-1092+s.png (1036, 1092)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Going down from the corridor from the scene above takes the player through a small room with a coin at the bottom of the hull and then out over a thick ledge in the air beneath the Destroyer. There is a large gap starting here that ends in the ''Atmosphere worry and car room at bottom of hull''. This large section is the section in which [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1608_Entire_Rebel_Blockade_Runner_swallowed_by_Destroyer.png the Destroyer swallows the Rebel Runner] in the opening scene of the first Star Wars movie, as mentioned in the overview above.<br />
|-<br />
|Giant octopus in Destroyer.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b5/1608_1038x1094y_Giant_octopus_in_Destroyer.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1038:-1094+s.png (1038, 1094)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1038:-1093+s.png (1038, 1093)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|A giant octopus with a dome shaped head in a dome shaped room with coins above its tentacles left and right. In TE there are several octopuses, and this animal is also often used in xkcd in general. But particularly in ''The USS Laws of the Land'' there is both a large octopus beneath the ship and one giant tentacle reaching up from the deep. If this is considered a monster then this section of the ship may be the monster section as there also seem to be some kind of horned monster in the room to the right of this room.<br />
|-<br />
|Hamster ball and stilts room.<br />
|<br />
:Megan: ''AaaaAaaa'' <br />
:Guy with hair: I can't leave.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/89/1608_1038x1095y_Hamsterball_and_stilts_room.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1038:-1095+s.png (1038, 1095)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1039:-1096+s.png (1039, 1096)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|Comics: [[:Category:Hamster Ball|Hamster Ball category]]<br />
|This room is the first after exiting the rotary to the upper right. The shaft goes down past the octopus room (see scene above). It is the second instance with a hamster ball in this comic, the first being a small girl (with Megan like hair) in the left part of the world just before the plateau. But in this case it is the adult Megan that is inside the ball, not only running but actually standing on a skateboard. She is clearly not in control. As the player is on a hoverboard there is some kind of connection with a girl on skateboard. In ''Sky Toucher'' in TE Megan also uses a skateboard, inside a rounded structure.<br><br>Megan is not alone though as there is also a guy (with a wee bit of hair) on stilts. The stilts seems to be very high and if the guy wishes to stay on these stilts his assessment, that he can't leave the room, is true. Between his stilts there is a coin. The world highest stilts is shown in [[482: Height]] and in the next "game" comic after this one, [[1663: Garden]], it is possible to "[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0c/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow_First_thing_stilts.png grow]" a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d0/Garden_Stilt_walker.png girl on stilts].<br />
|-<br />
|Box with horns and coin room.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a2/1608_1043x1093y_Box_with_horns_and_coin_room.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1043:-1093+s.png (1043, 1093)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Is there any clear references to a horned box that is being missed here?</font> In this room across from the giant octopus room there is yet a possible monster hidden in a box. Two large horns jut out of the box, but if they are standing on the box or is sitting on some horned beast inside the box is not clear. But they look rather ominously, and if it is a monster it would with the giant octopus make this section a monster section. A coin is hovering between the horns. The shaft up is the only way to move further down inside the Destroyer without moving over or under the hull.<br />
|-<br />
|Zoom out of three empty rooms near bottom of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e6/1608_1046x1094y_Zoom_out_of_three_empty_rooms_near_bottom_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|A dead end with three empty room with no coins or any interesting features, thus only this zoomed out version is displayed here. The rooms are just right of the horned box and below is the part of the hull that is the opening where the Runner will be swallowed by the Destroyer. It is not a complete waste to come over this way, as the room to the right with the hoverboard is central to the comic. But no need to go into these rooms if trying to pick up all the coins as fast as possible.<br />
|-<br />
|Corridor with coin.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a2/1608_1046x1097y_Corridor_with_coin.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1046:-1097+s.png (1046, 1097)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|This is one of the longer corridors without any features. It is the only way to move right inside the destroyer in this section. The corridor goes above the three empty rooms in the scene above and also above the hoverboard room in the scene below. At the end of the corridor there is a shaft up. The only reason this segment is shown is because of the coin.<br />
|-<br />
|Two hoverboards room.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/01/1608_1048x1095y_Two_hoverboards_room.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1048:-1095+s.png (1048, 1095)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1048:-1094+s.png (1048, 1094)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Comic: [[1623: 2016 Conversation Guide]]<br />
|Self-reference to title of this comic, and the conversation guide comic released shortly after this is also referencing this entire comic as it complains that hoverboards are not real yet. There is both another hoverboard Cueball and a hoverboard Megan in this room, but compared to the players hoverboard Cueball these two are some what more advanced, and managed to swoop around the coin in the middle. The room can only be entered from the right. To the left there is only a dead end with three completely empty rooms, so don't bother going there if you are in a hurry to pick up all the coins...<br />
|-<br />
|Zoom out with dead end corridor car room and shaft at top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f9/1608_1051x1097y_Zoom_out_with_dead_end_corridor_car_room_and_shaft_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Overview of the end of the long corridor with the coin mentioned above. It ends here in the dead end at the bottom. The corridor above has Cueball lying on the hood of a car in a small room quite a distance from any exits to the outside.<br />
|-<br />
|Cueball on hood of car room and a giant step with coins at top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d4/1608_1048x1099y_Cueball_on_hood_of_car_room_and_a_giant_step_with_coins_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1048:-1099+s.png (1048, 1099)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1049:-1099+s.png (1049, 1099)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|In this dead end room Cueball is lying on the hood of a car. Hoverboard Cueball cannot copy this as the car is not a solid segment of the image. The hull is not far away, and the car room is right where one of the large steps in the upper hull appears. Right outside there are two coins at the bottom and top of the step. These cannot be seen from inside the room. There is no fast way to get outside from here, and actually no easy way to get a car into this room either. In ''Sky Toucher'' in TE there is also a car stuck in the middle of the sky scraper a long way from the parking cellar. In this comic there is actually even one more car in the Destroyer, but that is at least close to an exit ledge (see scene below).<br />
|-<br />
|Atmosphere worry and car room at bottom of hull.<br />
|<br />
:Megan: Is this ship designed to fly in the atmosphere like this?<br />
:Blonde woman with hair bun: Whatever. Who cares it’s probably fine.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1608_1049x1090y_Atmosphere_worry_and_car_room_at_bottom_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1049:-1090+s.png (1049, 1090)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1050:-1090+s.png (1050, 1090)]<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Megan is referring to the fact that space ships in Star Wars often fly fast also inside the atmosphere of a planet. Not something you would normally design for. Though in the case with the Destroyer and Runner they did not go inside the atmosphere as depicted here in the comic, in the scene from the original Star Wars movie. The blonde woman comes with a comment typical for b-moves, who cares if this would work in real life, it is just a film.<br><br>There is a large gap in the bottom hull ending here and starting in the ''Shaft corridor with coin and room with coin over ledge at bottom of hull''. This large section is the section in which [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1608_Entire_Rebel_Blockade_Runner_swallowed_by_Destroyer.png the Destroyer swallows the Rebel Runner] in the opening scene of the first Star Wars movie, as mentioned in the overview above.<br><br>Behind the two women, who are standing on a thin ledge where the large gap ends, there is another car (see scene above). At least it is clear how this car could get into this room (and out again). Above the car there is a coin. Behind the car there is a corridor going into the Destroyer, but quite high up on the wall for a normal exit. The car cannot be used as a step to jump in there, as it is not part of the solid picture. <br />
|-<br />
|Ponytail flying up a shaft towards a coin.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/76/1608_1053x1091y_Ponytail_flying_up_a_shaft_towards_a_coin.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1053:-1091+s.png (1053, 1091)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1054:-1091+s.png (1054, 1091)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The corridor from the room with Megan and the car is long. In the middle of it there is a shaft going up (a long way). Just inside this shaft Ponytail is seen flying up, hands in front of her like another Superman. Above her in the shaft there is a coin. This is not the only place in the comic where Ponytail is flying. Although here it seems like an automatic thing (like Superman), whereas down below on the ground below the Destroyer she has to flap her arms violently, but then actually manages to take of from the ground. In a space ship like this Destroyer there could both be a system to let people float upwards, some gravitational effects or just plain effects of the flying itself, wheres down on the ground flying like that would be magic for sure. But at least there seems to be some correlation since it is Ponytail that flies in both cases.<br />
|-<br />
|Trap covered with leaves and flying Ponytail at bottom of hull.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: ...And we cover it with leaves so no one sees it.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fd/1608_1055x1090y_Trap_covered_with_leaves_and_flying_Ponytail_at_bottom_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1055:-1090+s.png (1055, 1090)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1055:-1091+s.png (1055, 1091)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|After the shaft where Ponytail flies up (see more in the scene above) the corridor continues to a pit which Cueball and a kid have been covering with leaves and sticks. It seems like they are making a trap, which is even more likely seeing that the bottom of the pit has six sharp spikes that would likely impale any unlucky victims that fell in. Alternatively (given the words Cueball uses), they have made this hole by mistake, and now tries to cover it so no one sees it. If he meant it to be a trap he might instead have phrased it, "so they won't see it until it is too late". The kid looks like the kid in the room at the rotary, as they have the same hairdo.<br />
|-<br />
|Corridor and shaft with coin.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/8f/1608_1053x1094y_Corridor_and_shaft_with_coin.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1053:-1094+s.png (1053, 1094)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The shaft going up from Ponytail below goes past the corridor to the left that goes to the hoverboards room. There is a coin in the entrance.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Corridor peristalsis and colon.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c6/1608_Entire_Corridor_peristalsis_and_colon.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/be/1608_Entire_area_around_Corridor_peristalsis_and_colon.png Zoom out to entire area]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|With the comment from Hairbun about peristalsis - the bowel movement getting food etc. through the digestive system, and with the three chambers with coins above a colon like structure, leading into the corridor with these motions, with a coin both going down the colon and through the peristalsis, there can be no doubt that this is the digestive system for this ”living” space ship, and coins is what it lives off. This interpretation can further be extended to the very front end, where there is the appearance of a head that eats coins (see the front end overview) and at the rear end a coin is bouncing out at the very last shaft before the very end of the ship. Suggesting where this animal gets rid of the waste products afterwards. (The rest of the ship is not part of this interpretation).<br />
|-<br />
|Corridor peristalsis and two coin rooms at top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:Hairbun: Ah, yes. Corridor peristalsis.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e4/1608_1054x1099y_Corridor_peristalsis_and_two_coin_rooms_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1054:-1099+s.png (1054, 1099)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1057:-1100+s.png (1057, 1100)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Following the corridor from the room with Cueball on the hoof of a car leads to a part of that corridor experiencing {{w|peristalsis}}. This is the kind of muscle movements that causes food to move through the {{w|human gastrointestinal tract}}. Hairbun is telling Cueball that this is indeed corridor peristalsis, so a way for the corridor to move stuff along. As there are coins at both end of this section it is quite clear that these coins are moved along by the corridor itself. The indentations of the corridor is so strong that the corridor is not wide enough to allow hoverboard Cueball to pass through. So to get both coins another route needs to be found. The shortest way is to go up the shaft behind Hairbun, passing the two empty rooms with coins on the way to the top of the Destroyers hull. To get to the other side hoverboard Cueball will then have to pass through the Destroyers colon like structure to the right. See below. As mentioned in the overview above this is a clear reference to the human digestive system, or in this case the Destroyers ditto.<br />
|-<br />
|Corridor peristalsis and colon.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: Wheee!<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0a/1608_1055x1099y_Corridor_peristalsis_and_colon.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1055:-1099+s.png (1055, 1099)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1056:-1099+s.png (1056, 1099)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|Moving a little further down right than the peristalsis scene above the bottom part of the {{w|Large intestine|colon}} like structure can be seen, closely connected to this other intestine like structure (The three coins in the left part of the image are the same as in the scene above). The reason for showing this scene is to show the closeness of these two digestive system structures. In ''Box that cleans food holders'' in TE Ponytail yells Wheee! as she slides through a pipe inside the machine on her stomach, a mix of the action performed by Cueball and Ponytail in the colon like structure. Ponytail is sliding towards a coin at the bottom in one of the colon loops. The top part of the colon can be seen in the next scene.<br />
|-<br />
|Colon like structure with Ponytail and Cueball sliding down.<br />
|<br />
:(None - text already transcribed in the scene above ''Corridor peristalsis and colon''.)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b3/1608_1058x1100y_Colon_like_structure_with_Ponytail_and_Cueball_sliding_down.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1058:-1100+s.png (1058, 1100)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1058:-1101+s.png (1058, 1101)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The entrance from the top to the colon like structure have a Cueball looking down into it. The rest of the scene has been described above.<br />
|-<br />
|Huge step and three room with coin and Cueball looking into shaft at top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/14/1608_1058x1102y_Huge_step_and_three_room_with_coin_and_Cueball_looking_into_shaft_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1058:-1102+s.png (1058, 1102)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1056:-1103+s.png (1056, 1103)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|This is the upper entrance to the colon like structure into which Cueball is looking. (See scenes above). To the left is the top hull of the Destroyer which takes two huge steps up at this place. Cueball is standing in a corridor with three small rooms, each with a coin in the top of the room. This seems to be a place to hold the coins until they are ready to move down the colon like structure, where another coin is already moving through, going down to the corridor peristalsis in the corridor below, where more coins are moving through the ships digestive system. Going over the hull and down this colon like structure is the fastest/shortest way between the two separated sides of the corridor peristalsis.<br />
|-<br />
|Coin in corridor under Buffer stop room.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/75/1608_1060x1099y_Coin_in_corridor_under_Buffer_stop_room.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1060:-1099+s.png (1059, 1099)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Moving away to the right from the corridor peristalsis takes hoverboard Cueball past a small shaft up into a room with two coins in front of what looks like a train {{w|buffer stop}}. One coin in front of each of the buffers. Continuing along the corridor there is another coin. The corridor continues and a shaft is going up. This part of the Destroyer is the beginning of the cave section. The cave can be entered from above by continuing along the corridor.<br />
|-<br />
|Canon with coin on top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a0/1608_1060x1103y_Canon_with_coin_on_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1060:-1103+s.png (1060, 1103)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1062:-1103+s.png (1062, 1103)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|There is a similar canon with a coin in front of the barrel on the top of the Runner below the Destroyer. This canon is on top of the hull above and right of the three room above the colon like structure. The shaft going down right is over the next cave section.<br />
|-<br />
|Coin in corridor below mining company in dead end corridor.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c8/1608_1062x1101y_Coin_in_corridor_below_mining_company_in_dead_end_corridor.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1062:-1101+s.png (1062, 1101)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1063:-1101+s.png (1063, 1101)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Two Cueballs work as a mining company in this corridor which they are expanding. It could be that they are digging for gold, but if that gold should be represented by coins, it is weird that the coin hangs above the Cueball with the {{w|pickaxe}} in the higher section of this corridor, instead of being in front of him. The other Cueball drives away with a wheelbarrow full of the rubble they have dug free from the ship. This is another indication of how big the ship is. It is easier to just dig a new corridor than to build the corridor into the ship to begin with. Further to the left in the Destroyer there was another dead end corridor that looked like it had been dug out - see the scene ''Dead end shaft with rubbles at bottom of hull.'' But here the mining company had left (even though there also was a coin there). The shaft to the left goes up to the hull right of the canon from the scene above. The corridor below goes left (past another coin) to the shaft down to the corridor with peristalsis. To the right it goes above the cave to the dance hall room with piano.<br />
|-<br />
|Mining company in dead end corridor also coin on top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/ca/1608_1063x1102y_Mining_company_in_dead_end_corridor_also_coin_on_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1063:-1102+s.png (1063, 1102)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1063:-1103+s.png (1063, 1103)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The same mining company scene as described above but with the view moved to show the top hull, right of the canon. Right of the shaft going up there is a coin. At the very top right of the hull, the basketball dropped by the Cueball like kid can be seen as it comes bouncing down the length of the hull. This basketball scene is part of the cave section and will be describved below.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire cotton trap and spark gap room.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/78/1608_Entire_cotton_trap_and_spark_gap_room.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/65/1608_Entire_cotton_trap_and_spark_gap_room_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/36/1608_Entire_area_around_cotton_trap.png Entire area around]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ae/1608_Entire_area_around_cotton_trap_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Here are two different zoom out of the cotton trap room with the spark gap room below. In the first overview a zoom out is shown with only these two rooms. There are four coins inside and two on the outside of the hull. The three coins around the cotton trap is almost connected by the cotton, as can be seen in the next overview where the hidden passage through the cotton is clearly marked in red. As can be seen there is a very deep black hole beneath the surface of the cotton (which Ponytail states is cotton). From the bottom of the cotton trap going left will lead to a hidden entrance to the top of the spark gap room. Going right will lead to the hidden entrance to the corridor with traps going to the left entrance to the cave. There are coins on each exit as well as just above the cotton to the right. The third image is a further zoom out to show the entire surroundings of the cotton trap room. (And the last is with the cotton etc. turned red). Here the traps in the corridor leading to the cave can be seen as well as the opening into the cave. Below that the strange spiral corridor can be seen. Both these scenes will be described below in the cave section. To the left the shaft and corridors that connect the two rooms even if not noticing the hidden passage can be seen. It is the corridor with the trap covered by Cueball and the shaft where Ponytail flies up. Three more coins are visible in this wider zoom out for a total of nine coins in this area. The two rooms will be described in further detail below. All of the rooms that can be entered through the cotton trap can also be entered through different entrances from other routes. This means that failing to find out how the cotton trap works, will not prevent the player in reaching either the spark gap from below or the cave to the right.<br />
|-<br />
|Entire Cotton trap room.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/be/1608_1058x1094y_Zoom_out_of_Cotton_trap_room.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/11/1608_1058x1094y_Zoom_out_of_Cotton_trap_room_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Overview with the entire cotton trap with and without the cotton shown in red. See above and below for more details.<br />
|-<br />
|Coins in two corridors towards cotton trap.<br />
|<br />
:(None - transcript is written in the scene below.)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1608_1055x1095y_Coins_in_two_corridors_towards_cotton_trap.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1055:-1095+s.png (1055, 1095)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1056:-1095+s.png (1056, 1095)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The corridor going from the shaft with the flying Ponytail to the Ponytail warning about the cotton trap also has a coin. The coin in the exit of the other corridor to the shaft was mentioned previously as it is the exit from the room with two hoverboards. See more about the cotton trap below.<br />
|-<br />
|Cotton trap room with Ponytail.<br />
|<br />
:Ponytail: Watch out for the cotton. It's a trap for someone, I think.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/28/1608_1058x1094y_Cotton_trap_room_with_Ponytail.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/42/1608_1058x1094y_Cotton_trap_room_with_Ponytail_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1057:-1095+s.png (1057, 1095)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1059:-1094+s.png (1059, 1094)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Entering this room along the top corridor reveals Ponytail standing at the beginning of a steep descend. She clearly warns the player about a trap made of cotton. As can be seen in the hidden passage image most of the black at the bottom of the descend is not solid floor but a hidden passage. Given Ponytails comment it must be assumed to be made of cotton. Given that hoverboard Cueball is not affected by the cotton and can move either up again, or out left or right it is not a trap for him. But other unlucky persons falling into the cotton might not be as lucky. If this is not a trap in it self, there are several traps if moving out to the right (where the coin is below the cotton level). This corridor goes to the cave, but first after passing five traps. See more about the entire surroundings in the overview scenes above. <br />
|-<br />
|Cotton trap room bottom.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/32/1608_1058x1092y_Cotton_trap_room_bottom.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/73/1608_1058x1092y_Cotton_trap_room_bottom_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1058:-1092+s.png (1058, 1092)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The bottom of the cotton trap is a dark place. But as can be seen in the red hidden passage image it is possible to move both left and right to get out. In either case a coin can be obtained at the exit. The left exit leads to a shaft going into the spark gap room below, and the right exit leads through a corridor with traps into the cave. Going up in the spark gap room below will clearly reveal the shaft up. But if the cotton trap has not been discovered at this time, it is likely that the player will not attempt to breech the wall, and would thus fail to enter the cotton trap from below. The coin could easily seem enough reason for this dead end shaft above the room.<br />
|-<br />
|Entire spark gap room to bottom of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7b/1608_1058x1090y_Zoom_out_of_spark_gap_room_to_bottom_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|An overview of the entire spark gap room, both showing the two coins beneath the outside hull as well as the coin in the top shaft (leading to the cotton trap to the right of this) and the coin behind the spark gap. See more below.<br />
|-<br />
|Spark gap room<br />
|<br />
:Cueball on wall: Shh.<br />
:Electrode bottom: JS<br />
:Electrode top: JS<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/4d/1608_1057x1092y_Spark_gap_room_with_Cueball_on_the_wall.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6a/1608_1058x1090y_Spark_gap_room_only_with_Cueball_on_floor_and_coins_at_bottom_of_hull.png Buttom part to below hull]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1058:-1090+s.png (1058, 1090)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1057:-1092+s.png (1057, 1092)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Why is ''JS'' written on both electrodes</font> This room is called the {{w|spark gap}} room, because there seems to be a spark between the two large electrode like structures marked JS. Cueball is watching this, maybe he is the evil inventor that has created this device. At least another Cueball is climbing high above him up on the wall to the left, and when the player passes him on his hoverboard he asks the player no to tell about him (''shh''). It is unclear if he is sneaking away, spying or sneaking down to attack the other Cueball. A coin is hidden behind the spark gap, but as the spark gap is of the "red" type of black hoverboard Cueball can pass without problems into the coin. As can be seen in the other image displaying the lower part of this scene, the coin outside of the hull is close by, and actually the two coins above each other down there are in the same small image (see the first of the small images).<br />
|-<br />
|Corridor with fire and hammer traps.<br />
|<br />
:Hammers left: Chomp Chomp <br />
:Hammer right: Chomp<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a2/1608_1061x1093y_Corridor_with_fire_and_hammer_traps.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/16/1608_1061x1093y_Corridor_with_fire_and_hammer_traps_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1060:-1094+s.png (1060, 1094)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1061:-1093+s.png (1061, 1093)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|This is the corridor exiting the cotton trap room (with a coin as mentioned previously), see the cotton in the hidden passage in red image. The corridor leads to the cave, but to get there five traps has to be passed. First there are four hammers with jagged edges that opens and closes with much force as perceived by the noises. And then a pit with a fire has to be surpassed. Of course as can be seen in the "red" image, neither of these traps are any problem for hoverboard Cueball as they are all of the red type of black. But it is a clear indication that the player is about to enter some interesting place, which is true as the cave is one of the most interesting places in the Destroyer. Although there are two other ways to get into the cave, it is by far the most interesting way to enter the cave for the first time!<br />
|-<br />
|Corridor to cave opening.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/32/1608_1062x1094y_Corridor_to_cave_opening.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1062:-1094+s.png (1062, 1094)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1063:-1094+s.png (1063, 1094)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Same scene as above but only the right part with the fire, to show how the corridor enters the beginning of the cave.<br />
|-<br />
|Zoom out with spiral corridor at bottom of the hull.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/45/1608_1063x1091y_Zoom_out_with_spiral_corridor_at_bottom_of_the_hull.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Below the corridor to the cave is a strange corridor which spirals into nothing in the middle. There are no coins in this section so this is a zoom out without any further zoom in on this section. The room at the top seems like a starting point to go into the spiral. The corridor to the right goes into the huge glitch floor room below the cave. The shaft down goes out the bottom of the hull.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Cave Bridge and rear end.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/74/1608_Entire_Cave_Bridge_and_rear_end.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e0/1608_Entire_Cave_Bridge_and_rear_end_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire cave section.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1608_Entire_cave_section.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Entire Cave and Glitch floor room.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1608_Entire_Cave_and_Glitch_floor_room.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|From this image it is clear that the two largest rooms in the Destroyer are almost of the same size, and positioned almost on top of each other. They only need a little parallel shift to make them into one big circular room. The Glitch floor room, is a feature that can be seen in the Star Wars film, as a protrusion beneath the hull of the Destroyer.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Cave.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/58/1608_Entire_Cave.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/24/1608_Entire_Cave_and_shaft_above.png With shaft and room above]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bf/1608_Entire_Cave_With_entire_pyramid_for_scale.png Size scale of Pyramid]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|In ''Sky Toucher'' there is also a floor in the sky scraper with trees inside, just like the tree inside the cave inside the Destroyer.<br />
|-<br />
|Lake with tree birds and puma on rock at exit in the bottom left side of the cave.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/75/1608_1053x1093y_Lake_with_tree_birds_and_puma_on_rock_at_exit_in_the_bottom_left_side_of_the_cave.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/81/1608_1053x1093y_Lake_with_tree_birds_and_puma_on_rock_at_exit_in_the_bottom_left_side_of_the_cave_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1065:-1093+s.png (1065, 1093)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1067:-1094+s.png (1067, 1094)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Three birds in the top left side of the cave.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5a/1608_1065x1095y_Three_birds_in_the_top_left_side_of_the_cave.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1065:-1095+s.png (1065, 1095)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Gazebo puma deer Cueball with bow and talk of Palpatine in the middle of the cave.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: I know it seems weird, but every Star Destroyer has one of these rooms.<br />
:Cueball: Say what you will about Palpatine's politics, but he's a staunch supporter of the imperial parks and the Coruscant Audubon society.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b0/1608_1067x1094y_Gazebo_puma_deer_Cueball_with_bow_and_talk_of_Palpatine_in_the_middle_of_the_cave.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1068:-1093+s.png (1068, 1093)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1068:-1094+s.png (1068, 1094)]<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The {{w|National Audubon Society}} is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conservation. Palpatine is the evil emperor and the capital ”planet” Coruscant is a planet with city all over the solid parts of the surface. So that he is interested in keeping parks both on this planet and on all his Star Destroyers comes as a surprise...<br />
|-<br />
|The broad shaft going into the top of the cave.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a5/1608_1067x1097y_The_broad_shaft_going_into_the_top_of_the_cave.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1067:-1097+s.png (1067, 1097)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1068:-1096+s.png (1068, 1096)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Deer and exit below lamp coin and Black Hat in the bottom right side of the cave.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/68/1608_1069x1093y_Deer_and_exit_below_lamp_coin_and_Black_Hat_in_the_bottom_right_side_of_the_cave.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/69/1608_1069x1093y_Deer_and_exit_below_lamp_coin_and_Black_Hat_in_the_bottom_right_side_of_the_cave_no_coin.png Without coin]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1069:-1093+s.png (1069, 1093)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1071:-1093+s.png (1071, 1093)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Lamp coin and Black Hat in the top right side of the cave.<br />
|<br />
:Insects: ''Bzzzzz''<br />
<br />
:Black Hat: Zzz<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0d/1608_1070x1095y_Lamp_coin_and_Black_Hat_in_the_top_right_side_of_the_cave.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/aa/1608_1070x1095y_Lamp_coin_and_Black_Hat_in_the_top_right_side_of_the_cave_no_coin.png Without coin]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1070:-1095+s.png (1070, 1095)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|In this image the coin is part of the scenery as it is the lamp the buzzing insects fly around. When it is gone it reveals a broken lamp, and an insect that had been hidden behind the coin.<br />
|-<br />
|Corridor from shaft to the two coins in corridors.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1608_1063x1099y_Corridor_from_shaft_to_the_two_coins_in_corridors.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1065:-1099+s.png (1065, 1099)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1064:-1098+s.png (1064, 1098)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Two coins in corridors and four coin room above shaft to cave.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0b/1608_1067x1104y_Two_coins_in_corridors_and_four_coin_room_above_shaft_to_cave.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1067:-1100+s.png (1067, 1100)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1067:-1098+s.png (1067, 1098)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Chandelier room with two coins above cave.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d6/1608_1070x1098y_Chandelier_room_with_two_coins_above_cave.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1070:-1098+s.png (1070, 1098)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1071:-1098+s.png (1071, 1098)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Zoom out with dance room and basketball and slinky stair at top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f3/1608_1068x1101y_Zoom_out_with_dance_room_and_basketball_and_slinky_stair_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Basketball on top of Destroyer - zoom out.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5a/1608_1065x1104y_Basket_ball_on_top_of_Destroyer_zoom_out.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Coin close to basketball on top of Destroyer.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/4e/1608_1063x1104y_Coin_close_to_basket_ball_on_top_of_Destroyer.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1065:-1104+s.png (1065, 1104)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1064:-1104+s.png (1064, 1104)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Basketball on top of Destroyer.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1608_1067x1104y_Basket_ball_on_top_of_Destroyer.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1067:-1104+s.png (1067, 1104)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1066:-1104+s.png (1066, 1104)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|In ''Playing Fields'' in TE basketball mentioned, and it is also played on the left side of the volcano crater<br />
|-<br />
|Dancing room with piano.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a7/1608_1069x1101y_Dancing_room_with_piano.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1069:-1101+s.png (1069, 1101)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1070:-1101+s.png (1070, 1101)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Slinky staircase at top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:Slinky: Slink slink slink<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1608_1069x1104y_Slinky_stair_case_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1069:-1104+s.png (1069, 1104)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1070:-1103+s.png (1070, 1103)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Upside down room and Giddyayup cowboy riding the ship at top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:Cowboy: Giddyayup!<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/79/1608_1073x1104y_Upside_down_room_and_Giddyayup_cowboy_riding_the_ship_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1072:-1104+s.png (1072, 1104)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1074:-1103+s.png (1074, 1103)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Glitch floor room.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/52/1608_Entire_Glitch_floor_room.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6b/1608_Entire_Glitch_floor_room_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/63/1608_Entire_Glitch_floor_room_and_two_close_rooms.png Including two rooms]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/dd/1608_Entire_Glitch_floor_room_and_two_close_rooms_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/49/1608_Entire_area_around_Glitch_floor_room.png Entire area around the room]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/00/1608_Entire_area_around_Glitch_floor_room_red.png Hidden passages in red] [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/63/1608_Entire_Glitch_floor_room_and_two_close_rooms.png Also including two close rooms]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/dd/1608_Entire_Glitch_floor_room_and_two_close_rooms_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/49/1608_Entire_area_around_Glitch_floor_room.png Entire area around the room]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/00/1608_Entire_area_around_Glitch_floor_room_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|In the zoom outs the coin below the hidden glitch in the floor can be seen at the very bottom of the pictures. It is quite a drop to catch it, but if you did not expect it, it is likely you would reach it before going up again.<br />
|-<br />
|Bottom center of Glitch floor room with coin sign and Cueball.<br />
|<br />
:Large sign:<br />
::! <br />
::Caution: <br />
::Glitchfloor.<br />
<br />
:Floor signs:<br />
::!<br />
::!<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fa/1608_1070x1089y_Bottom_center_of_Glitch_floor_room_with_coin_sign_and_Cueball.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/71/1608_1070x1089y_Bottom_center_of_Glitch_floor_room_with_coin_sign_and_Cueball_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1069:-1088+s.png (1069, 1088)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1070:-1088+s.png (1070, 1088)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|You are warned not to step onto this glitch floor! But if you do you can drop down to yet another coin far below the Destroyer, but even farther up above the ground.<br />
|-<br />
|Two rooms with coins right of Glitch floor room.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2e/1608_1074x1090y_Two_rooms_with_coins_right_of_Glitch_floor_room.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1073:-1092+s.png (1073, 1092)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1074:-1091+s.png (1074, 1091)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Canon protruding below the hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f4/1608_1075x1088y_Canon_protruding_below_the_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1075:-1088+s.png (1075, 1088)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1076:-1088+s.png (1076, 1088)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Entire area around the bridge.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bd/1608_Entire_area_around_the_bridge.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/4b/1608_Entire_Bridge_and_rear_section.png Entire bridge area]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f1/1608_Entire_Bridge_and_emperor.png Brdige and emperor]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c2/1608_Entire_Bridge_and_globe_of_death.png Bridge and globe of death]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/54/1608_Actual_Bridge_with_Vader_and_Tarkin.png Actual bridge]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c7/1608_Vader_twice_and_emperor_on_and_near_bridge.png Vader twice and emperor]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Ponytail with paper plane and coin below her on top hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/11/1608_1077x1107y_Ponytail_with_paper_plane_and_coin_below_her_on_top_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1078:-1106+s.png (1078, 1006)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1077:-1105+s.png (1077, 1105)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|Cueball also throws out a plane in Click and Drag from the sky scraper. This also happens in the ''Sky Toucher'' in TE where it is Ponytail again.<br />
|-<br />
|Tarkin on the bridge and Ponytail with paper plane.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: The fault, dear Tarkin, is not in our star destroyers, but in ourselves.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/20/1608_1077x1107y_Tarkin_on_the_bridge_and_Ponytail_with_paper_plane.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1077:-1107+s.png (1077, 1107)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1077:-1108+s.png (1077, 1108)]<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|| This is most likely a reference to the book (then made into a movie) titled {{w|The_Fault_in_Our_Stars |"The Fault in Our Stars"}}. The title of which is a reference to a line in {{w|William Shakespeare |Shakespeare's}} play {{W|Julius Caesar (play) |Julius Ceasar}}; "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, / But in ourselves". Grand Moff Tarkin is the commander of the Death Star in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.<br />
|-<br />
|Darth Vader talks about Steven Universe on the bridge Megan adjust antenna.<br />
|<br />
:Megan: Such a pain adjusting his thing every time we move<br />
<br />
:Darth Vader: ''Breathe''<br />
:Darth Vader: But Steven's ''mother'' is a crystal gem,<br />
:Darth Vader: ''Breathe'')<br />
:Darth Vader: so he's half- Are you getting all this?<br />
:Hairy: Yes, my Lord!<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fa/1608_1077x1109y_Darth_Vaders_talks_about_Steven_Universe_on_the_bridge_Megan_adjust_antenna.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1077:-1109+s.png (1077, 1109)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1077:-1110+s.png (1077, 1110)]<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|TV series: {{w|Steven Universe}}<br />
|Darth Vader refers to Steven Universe from the TV series. His mother is a Crystal Gem, so since his father is human, he is only a half gem, which is a joke in itself. Steven and his family are located inside a room in the middle of the Destroyer. Maybe as prisoners or it could be Vader is just a big fan since he talks about them on the bridge.<br />
|-<br />
|Globe of Death at the top of the Destroyer.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7b/1608_1078x1111y_Globe_of_Death_at_the_top_of_the_Destroyer.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1078:-1110+s.png (1078, 1110)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1077:-1112+s.png (1077, 1112)]<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|This structure of the Globe of death is part of the Star Destroyer as can be seen in the films.<br />
|-<br />
|Fire system with pure oxygen and two coins room.<br />
|<br />
:Hairbun: In the event of a fire on one of the decks, this system will seal it off and pump in pure oxygen.<br />
:Ponytail: Wait, ''Oxygen?'' Not a fire suppressant like-<br />
:Hairbun: Ugh, ''boring''.<br />
<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d0/1608_1080x1105y_Fire_system_with_pure_oxygen_and_two_coins_room.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1080:-1105+s.png (1080, 1105)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1081:-1105+s.png (1081, 1105)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Darth Vader’s gold bullion and Cueball and Ponytail in small room at the top of the hull.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: Aha! Darth Vader's secret gold bullion reserves! We'll be rich!<br />
:Megan: I'm not sure this is canon.<br />
:Bags: $ $ $<br />
:Boxes: $ $ $ $ $<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7e/1608_1080x1108y_Darth_Vaders_gold_bullion_and_Cueball_and_Ponytail_in_small_room_at_the_top_of_the_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1080:-1108+s.png (1080, 1108)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1079:-1109+s.png (1079, 1109)]<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Large crocodile near globe of death at the top of the hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e8/1608_1081x1110y_Large_crocodile_near_globe_of_death_at_the_top_of_the_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1081:-1110+s.png (1081, 1110)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1079:-1111+s.png (1079, 1111)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|The Emperor Palpatine and his birds at the top of the hull.<br />
|<br />
:Guy: My emperor...<br />
:Guy: We all share in your newfound enthusiasm for birdwatching.<br />
:Guy: But normally one watches them in the wild, rather than drugging and imprisoning them in a house of stairs.<br />
:Emperor: ''Silence.''<br />
:Bird: Chirp<br />
:Bird: Chirp<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6b/1608_1083x1109y_The_Emperor_Palpatine_and_his_birds_at_the_top_of_the_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1083:-1109+s.png (1083, 1109)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1084:-1109+s.png (1084, 1109)]<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|House of Stairs may refer to the M. C. Escher {{w|House Of Stairs|lithograph}} with that title, but this is more likely to be a reference to the William Sleator novel {{w|House of Stairs (Sleator novel)|House Of Stairs}} (named for the Escher work) which features five teenage orphans who wake up inside an environment with similarities to that in the Escher print (but with normal gravity).<br />
|-<br />
|Coin behind the rear end at the top of the hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/01/1608_1087x1108y_Coin_behind_the_rear_end_at_the_top_of_the_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1087:-1108+s.png (1087, 1108)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Prince of Persia maze.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b0/1608_Entire_Prince_of_Persia_maze.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fa/1608_Entire_Prince_of_Persia_maze_with_both_exits.png Including both exits]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Computer game: {{w|Prince of Persia}}<br />
|Compare to this [http://cdn.wikimg.net/strategywiki/images/a/a2/Princeofpersia_dos_level1.png picture of level 1] taken from the game.<br />
|-<br />
|Corridor left of Prince of Persia maze.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5b/1608_1073x1101y_Corridor_left_of_Prince_of_Persia_maze.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1073:-1101+s.png (1073, 1101)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1072:-1101+s.png (1072, 1101)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Left entrance to Prince of Persia maze.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6c/1608_1076x1101y_Left_entrance_to_Prince_of_Persia_maze.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1076:-1101+s.png (1076, 1101)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1077:-1101+s.png (1077, 1101)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Left part of Prince of Persia maze.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/03/1608_1079x1102y_Left_part_of_Prince_of_Persia_maze.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1077:-1102+s.png (1077, 1102)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1080:-1102+s.png (1080, 1102)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Right part and exit of Prince of Persia maze.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1608_1082x1101y_Right_part_and_exit_of_Prince_of_Persia_maze.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1082:-1101+s.png (1082, 1101)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1081:-1102+s.png (1081, 1102)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Right exit of Prince of Persia maze and shafts.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/42/1608_1084x1103y_Right_exit_of_Prince_of_Persia_maze_and_shafts.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1083:-1102+s.png (1083, 1102)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1083:-1103+s.png (1083, 1103)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Ant Queen and alarm ante room.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/10/1608_Ant_Queen_and_alarm_ante_room.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|In this section all rooms have the same dome shaped ceiling that goes a little below the walls of the corridors.<br />
|-<br />
|Corridor with alarm and trapped Cueball.<br />
|<br />
:Alarm: …Beep…<br />
:Alarm: …Beep…<br />
:Alarm: …Beep…<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/01/1608_1075x1094y_Corridor_with_alarm_and_trapped_Cueball.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1075:-1094+s.png (1075, 1094)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1074:-1094+s.png (1074, 1094)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Ant Queen in Destroyer.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: What's up?<br />
:Ant queen: The usual. Poopin' out ants.<br />
:Cueball: Eww.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d2/1608_1078x1095y_Ant_Queen_in_Destroyer.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1078:-1095+s.png (1078, 1095)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1077:-1094+s.png (1077, 1094)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|Comic: [[1610: Fire Ants]] and [[1641: Hot Dogs]]<br />
|The ant comic was released only a week after this comic and refers how cool ants are. Ants are also used twice in TE A zoom in on an ant is used to indicate size in ''Earth's past'' and under the ''Tree'' in that explanation there is an ant colony where one ant is much bigger than the others; an ant queen, a clear reference to the ant queen in the Destroyer. The other comic is a discussion running along exactly the same template ending in ''Eww''. <br><br>This is probably a reference to a part of Orson Scott Card's "Xenocide" in his Ender series. In it, the main character, Ender, visits a hive queen "bugger" he saved on his travels and became friends with, at a time after the queen has settled in on a new planet. At one point, Ender brings other humans to meet the queen at a time when she was giving birth to some of her drones. This is most likely meant to represent a parody of that conversation or else represent a comedic idea of his first conversation with her when she had been birthing, where Ender is alone and is speaking to the Hive Queen. In this version, when he finds out that she is in the process of birthing more ants, rather than being compassionate and understanding with the Queen (as he is in the book), Ender is weirded out like the other humans he brings along with him later. <br />
|-<br />
|Entire shafts from top to bottom towards the rear end.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/ce/1608_Entire_shafts_from_top_to_bottom_towards_the_rear_end.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|This is the longest shaft in the Destroyer, and with the other shaft going out at the rear end, it is possible to go from the top room at the emperor and out beneath in a very short time.<br />
|-<br />
|Coin in the longest shaft.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5a/1608_1084x1099y_Coin_in_the_longest_shaft.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1084:-1099+s.png (1084, 1099)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Cueball and Megan hanging on to each other in a shaft figuring this out.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: Okay<br />
:Cueball: We can figure this out.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c4/1608_1084x1095y_Cueball_and_Megan_hanging_on_to_each_other_in_a_shaft_figuring_this_out.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1084:-1095+s.png (1084, 1095)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Zoom out on light bulb with corridor and other room.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5b/1608_1084x1092y_Zoom_out_on_light_bulb_with_corridor_and_other_room.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Giant light bulb room.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d2/1608_1084x1090y_Giant_light_bulb_room.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1084:-1090+s.png (1084, 1090)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1085:-1090+s.png (1085, 1090)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|In ''The pieces everything is made of'' in TE a light bulb is used as reference for the entry on tungsten as the filament in such bulbs is made from this element.<br />
|-<br />
|Hairbun proposition room and Cueball losing his sandwich at the rear end.<br />
|<br />
:Hairbun: Use a proposition instead of a preposition if you need something to end a sentence with, baby.<br />
<br />
:Cueball: My sandwich!<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/63/1608_1086x1091y_Hair_Bun_Girl_proposition_room_and_Cueball_losing_his_sandwich_at_the_rear_end.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1086:-1091+s.png (1086, 1091)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1089:-1091+s.png (1089, 1091)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|One comment is inside the other on the outside of the Destroyer. Cueballs sandwich will fall to the ground.<br />
|-<br />
|Coin bouncing out from a shaft below the hull.<br />
|<br />
:Coin: Bounce<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/44/1608_1086x1088y_Coin_bouncing_out_from_a_shaft_below_the_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1086:-1088+s.png (1086, 1088)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1086:-1090+s.png (1086, 1090)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|In relation to the colon interpretation (see above) then this would literally be the rear of this living space ship, and the coin is the waste going out the rear entry!<br />
|-<br />
|Megan hanging on below the bottom of the hull.<br />
|<br />
:Megan Hmm.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ee/1608_1082x1088y_Megan_hanging_on_below_the_bottom_of_the_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1082:-1088+s.png (1082, 1088)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Zoom out on shaft and small dead end room at the rear end.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/11/1608_1088x1098y_Zoom_out_on_shaft_and_small_dead_end_room_at_the_rear_end.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Zoom out on shafts and part of the rear end.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/45/1608_1088x1105y_Zoom_out_on_shafts_and_part_of_the_rear_end.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Coin in a small indentation corridor at the rear end.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/35/1608_1090x1102y_Coin_in_a_small_indentation_corridor_at_the_rear_end.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1090:-1102+s.png (1090, 1102)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Megan wants synesthesia at the rear end at bottom of the hull.<br />
|<br />
:Megan: I want synesthesia so bad I can ''taste'' it.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/9d/1608_1090x1088y_Megan_want_synesthesia_at_the_rear_end_at_bottom_of_the_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1090:-1088+s.png (1090, 1088)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Comic: [[1213: Combination Vision Test]]<br />
|{{w|synesthesia}} is a neurological phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway. One typical version is where numbers are perceived as having colors. This was used in the comic referenced. In this comic a wish for something makes Megan almost taste it. If she did indeed have this dysfunction, she might already have what she wished for... This is one of the rare incidences where there are two almost identically Megans in one scene.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Coins==<br />
*There are 169 coins.<br />
*For more details see here for [[1608: Hoverboard/Images coins|coins location]].<br />
*The Coins are not part of the drawing. <br />
**They are added later for the game, and they are superimposed on top of the image. <br />
**This means they are always on top of the black parts of the image. <br />
**There are no coins located over any part of the type of black that you cannot pass through. <br />
**But in more than one occasion the coins cover some of the black parts that you can walk through.<br />
***See example here [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0b/1608_with_coin_1070_1095.png with coin] vs. [http://xkcd.com/1608/1070:-1095+s.png without coin].<br />
***The coin is here a lamp, and then when it is removed it reveals an exploded lamp beneath the coin, and also one more insect.<br />
****This means that the coins can never be hidden by anything black, and although coins can be hidden away in a secret lair, they can never be hidden under water or lava or holes in the Washington Monument.<br />
****Because if there were any coins in these dark areas, the coins would still be shown on top of the image.<br />
<br />
==Technical aspects==<br />
The game was made by [http://chromakode.com Max Goodman] who has previously worked on [[1416: Pixels]]. The source code for the game can be found [https://xkcd.com/1608/tigl.js here].<br />
<br />
===Image tiles and coordinates===<br />
As previously noted, the comic bears considerable resemblance to [[1110: Click and Drag]]. The comic is made in much the same way, with 'drawn' images "glued" together to form a large "map", with the illusion of infinite bounds made possible through space saving techniques where blank tiles are not stored and are instead painted white. The boundary between blank squares and 'drawn' squares is made clear as any white space in the normal images has a very slight grey tint. Thus, seams between images and blank spaces can be discerned.<br />
<br />
The tiles for the map are stored as simple PNG files in the naming scheme: X:-Y+s.png. An example from the starting tile can be seen here: http://xkcd.com/1608/1000:-1074+s.png, with the coordinate (X, Y) coordinate (1000, 1074).<br />
<br />
Each file is 513x513 pixels in size, one pixel is reserved as overlap to ensure seamless joining of images. The image tiles names are listed as coordinates in an X - Y grid with X in the range from 928 to 1108 and Y in the range from 928 to 1112. <br />
<br />
Internally in the game, the position of the player is given for instance as (X: 512187, -Y: -549668) for the starting position. Then these numbers are divided by 512 and rounded down. This gives the coordinate of the tile that the hoverboard is currently in.<br />
:(X: 512187, -Y: -549668)/512 => (X, Y) = (1000.37, -[-1073,6]) => (1000, 1074) when the numbers are rounded down. <br />
The bottom left corner of the first tile, would thus be (1000, 1073), and the top left corner (1000, 1074) => (512000, -549888).<br />
<br />
The collision map is encoded in the darkness of the black. Using an image manipulation program, one can easily find the secret pathways even in the zoomed out maps provided below by enhancing the contrast of the dark areas. <br />
<br />
====Play Area used as example====<br />
*Using the Play Area as an example some of the features mentioned in this section will be explained.<br />
**The images used below can be seen together [[1608: Hoverboard/Screen-shots#All of Play Area|here]].<br />
*The hoverboard begins in in (X, Y) = [http://xkcd.com/1608/1000:-1074+s.png (1000, 1074)]. <br />
**But even while staying within the Play Area, defined as the area where you will not be told to [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ae/Return_to_the_play_area.PNG Return to the Play Area], you can see all or part of 20 images. <br />
***You can move one image left and right of the starting point before reaching the walls, and one image up without getting too high. But from there you can see part of the images one step further left, right and up, and from the starting level you can see part of the black images below as well.<br />
***This makes it a 5 times 4 images rectangle.<br />
*This first example shows a full size image combined from these 20 images that make up the play area starting in the top left corner with image [http://xkcd.com/1608/998:-1076+s.png (998, 1076)] and finishing down the right corner with image [http://xkcd.com/1608/1002:-1073+s.png (1002, 1073)]. <br />
**Here is only the images themselves, nothing with the game parts, i.e. coins and hoverboard Cueball:<br />
***[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/eb/1680_Play_Area_Full_Size_Images_Only.png Play Area Full Size Images Only].<br />
*This next example shows both where the tiles are and what you see to begin with, i.e. the starting view when loading the comic to begin with. Still without any in game details.<br />
**Here the tiles are lines out with green and the view frame is in red. From this it can be seen that the view is somewhat larger than a single image.<br />
**More precisely the view is 1.43 times longer and 1.34 higher than a tile giving an area almost twice as big (1.93 times), but only going about 1/3 of a tile length in each direction:<br />
***[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7b/1680_Play_Area_Full_Size_Tiles_and_View.png Play Area Full Size Tiles and View].<br />
*This third example shows the game version, with coins and hoverboard, but still the hole Play Area and hence also the read viewing square.<br />
**This is included to indicate which coins can be seen to begin with and also how the view is centered around Cueball and the hoverboard.<br />
**Cueballs center is also the center of the view. His center is defines as the line of his body in the X direction and just above his hands in the Y direction.<br />
**The view is 12 times as high and 30 times as wide as the Cueball on hoverboard (and compared to a tile these numbers are 9.4 and 20.8 times).<br />
***[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/8b/1680_Play_Area_Full_Size_Coins_Hoverboard_and_View.png Play Area Full Size Coins Hoverboard and View].<br />
*The last and fourth example is the same as above, but again with the green tiles.<br />
**This to indicate the size of a tile compared to Cueball<br />
**It also shows that although there are 12 coins in the starting view, the one at the top left is clearly in the image above, and the three other at the top are grazing the top edge of the image:<br />
***[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a3/1680_Play_Area_Full_Size_Coins_Hoverboard_Tiles_and_View.png Play Area Full Size Coins Hoverboard Tiles and View].<br />
<br />
===Functionality===<br />
By observing page code while playing, the game grabs and displays images based on location, and subsequently clears all non-visible images. The game uses what seems to be a position syntax to retrieve the intended images live, and returns an error if such an image does not exist, such as a blank area. This technically means things could be added to the world and updated live. If the player is moving sufficiently fast or if the internet connection is slow, this means that the player can get stuck in a black area that does not load in time.<br />
<br />
This also means that the game does not have coded top or bottom limits, so any attempt to find the ''ceiling'' of the game will be futile unless the game is tweaked. The game does however have side limits, and it is not possible to go down further than image with Y coordinate 1073 (and it goes down to 1069 in the full image), so there is a bottom limit in the game. If using a [[#Cheats and Exploits|cheat mode]] this may be different.<br />
<br />
Opening the console will display the text: what? hoverboard not enough for you!? in the log. Activating goggles mode will cause the text 'B-)' to appear in the log.<br />
<br />
===Bugs and errors===<br />
*On a slow connection, it's possible to move into an 'open' area and then the black image loads in and (probably permanently, without tricks) traps you immobile.<br />
*Sometimes the timing of the game is completely off. This can make the Cueball move extremely slowly. Or on the other extreme make him go faster so the images jumps and makes the graphic look horrible.<br />
**This error was actually used to discover something about how you move when pressing the arrows - see under [[#Controls|Controls]].<br />
*If the focus switches from the game to the page, the Cueball can freeze in midair. The same thing can happen if the window border overlaps the play area.<br />
<br />
===Controls===<br />
The keyboard controls are as follows:<br />
<br />
*'''Go Left''' - Left arrow key, a or h<br />
*'''Go Right''' - Right arrow key, d or l<br />
*'''Go Up (jump or hover)''' - Up arrow key, w, or k<br />
*'''Go Down (if gravity disabled)''' - Down arrow key, s, or j<br />
<br />
This control scheme covers the three commonly used directional key sets: WASD a set of keys commonly used by modern games; HJKL a set of movement keys used by vi and applications which attempt to mimic vi key controls (vim); and the arrow keys, the most generic set of keys which is usually accepted by most applications which take movement as input, these were commonly used in older games.<br />
<br />
On devices which have a touch screen and tilt sensor (portable devices like mobile phones and tablets) the controls are as follows:<br />
*'''Go Left''' - Roll the device anticlockwise<br />
*'''Go Right''' - Roll the device clockwise<br />
*'''Go Up (jump or hover)''' - Tap the screen<br />
<br />
After inspecting the source code, there appears to be no way to move down on a portable device, this is only relevant if gravity is disabled (see [[#Cheats and Exploits|Cheats and Exploits]]).<br />
<br />
*If you keep down the left/right control you will keep moving along in that direction as long as no object blocks you.<br />
*A jump will only take you a certain height. <br />
**Then you drop down. <br />
**The jump is fast to begin with, then gravity stops you and revert the direction.<br />
**When descending again you accelerate to begin with but quickly reach a terminal velocity.<br />
*If you jump repeatedly while keeping a left/right control down you will jump in that direction.<br />
**But if you only jump one time, while keeping down the direction control, then you will stop moving forward after about 2.8s, from then on you will just keep falling straight down, or stop where you reached if on the ground. <br />
**This makes quite a difference when you jump into an opening from a high structure. If the background is completely white, you cannot see that you do not continue to move forward, and will thus not be aware that you are now falling straight down, instead of going left/right. <br />
**It can actually be quite difficult to notice as you will leave any structures that can indicate this issue very quickly.<br />
***Of course if you notice that you land much too close to some high structure from where you base jumped, you will begin to understand. For instance falling off the floating rock, and not moving away from under neath it during that long fall.<br />
***The timing was discovered because of one of the [[#Bugs and errors|bugs]] in the program that sometimes makes Cueball move extremely slow, so one jump takes more than 3s. <br />
**The solution if you wish to keep moving to either side while descending, is that after the jump, you release and repress the left/right control. Then you will continue moving in that direction as long as you do not jump again. <br />
**As long as you continue to jump you will also keep moving laterally if you keep one of those buttons down. The is quite counter intuitive.<br />
***This also means that when you jump up over a long distance (or continue to jump hover over the landscape), you will not have this issue, since every jump reactivates the lateral movement.<br />
***But if you jump over a small obstacle and then just keep another arrow down, you will soon stop, which could fool you into believing that it was an obstacle on the ground that held you back.<br />
<br />
===Cheats and Exploits===<br />
Aside from the obvious ability to move out of bounds in the game, there are some more obscure hidden features which can't be enabled through normal gameplay, the ones found so far are as follows:<br />
<br />
'''Modes''' are activated by opening the Javascript Console (F12 [Or Command-Alt-I in most browsers under Mac OS X] to open Developer Tools, then Console tab) and writing corresponding commands.<br><br />
'''Click to expand:'''<br />
<br />
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed leftAlign" style="width:100%"><br />
<br />
*'''Gandalf Mode:''' ''i.am.gandalf = true'' - jumps and runs further. displays a white gandalf hat that works well in places where the avatar can't be seen.<br />
*'''Speedhack:''' ''explorer.opts.speed= *Value*'' - Speed hacking, with 1 = normal speed<br />
*'''Jump Hack:''' '' explorer.opts.jumpForce= -*Value*'' - Jump hacking, with -10 = normal jump (positive values cause the hoverboard guy to move down when jumping)<br />
*'''Mewtwo mode:''' ''mewtwo = true'' - disables gravity<br />
*'''Noclip mode:''' ''noclip = true'' - player is able to move around the map without collision. Combine with Gandalf and Mewtwo modes for free easy map traversal.<br />
*'''Goggles mode:''' ''ze.goggles()'' - displays a small window showing area around the player in a pixelated manner. The goggles indicate collision boundaries (where the player touches the world) in cyan lines. Black pixels that are passable (such as other characters or text) will be highlighted red (allowing secret passages to be discovered).<br />
*'''Position Tracking:''' ''explorer.pos'' - Returns the player location to the console. Can be used to track position and test to ensure you are still moving. Must be re-entered to compare positioning.<br />
*'''Position Setting:''' ''explorer.pos.x = *Value* or explorer.pos.y = *Value*'' - Can be used to manually set a position within the world. The start is at x: 512106, y: -549612. The left terrain bound is at x: 475210, y: -553711. The right terrain bound is at x: 567281, y: -549712. Mewtwo and Noclip modes are a must for exploring in this way.<br />
* '''All the above:''' ''explorer.opts'' - Contains all the game's parameters. You can directly mess with ''gravity'', collision (''disableCollision''), jump force (''jumpForce'') and speed (''maxSpeed''), among others. Run ''Object.keys(explorer.opts)'' to list all available parameters you can tweak.<br />
* '''List all coins:''' ''explorer.objects'' - Array containing the position of the 169 coins of the game.<br />
* '''Disable tilt input:''' ''getEventListeners(window)['deviceorientation'][0].remove()'' - on Macs with motion sensor, disables tilt input which causes problems controlling the avatar<br />
<br />
'''Getting All Coins: ''' To instantly get all coins, input the below into the console window. Does not use standard formatting of [i] to avoid conflicts with i.am.gandalf<br />
<br />
for (var T = 0; T < explorer.objects.length; T++) {<br />
explorer.objects[T].got = true;<br />
}<br />
<br />
To teleport to the next coin every time you press the left or right arrow:<br />
<br />
var T = 0;<br />
document.onkeydown = function(event){<br />
if (event.keyCode == 37) { T = T-1 }<br />
else if (event.keyCode == 39) { T = T+1 }<br />
else { return }<br />
T = T % explorer.objects.length;<br />
var coin = explorer.objects[T];<br />
explorer.pos.x = coin.x1; explorer.pos.y = coin.y1;<br />
}<br />
<br />
For a quick tour of all the coins:<br />
<br />
var delayInMilliseconds = 1000; // 1 second delay between each teleport. feel free to change this.<br />
var index = 0;<br />
explorer.objects.forEach(function(x){<br />
setTimeout(function(){<br />
explorer.pos.x = x.x1;<br />
explorer.pos.y = x.y1;<br />
x.got = true;<br />
explorer.frame(); // forces a redraw<br />
},<br />
(index + 1) * delayInMilliseconds);<br />
index++;<br />
});<br />
<br />
To see a list of coin coordinates you have not yet collected:<br />
<br />
var L = 0;<br />
for (var S = 0; S < explorer.objects.length; S++) {<br />
var I = explorer.objects[S];<br />
if (I.got) {<br />
L++;<br />
} else {<br />
console.log(I.x1.toString() + ", " + I.y1.toString());<br />
}<br />
}<br />
console.log("You've found " + L.toString() + " of 169 coins");<br />
<br />
To display the distance and direction to the closest coin (with inverted colors once you have all the coins):<br />
<br />
function distance(x1, y1, x2, y2) {<br />
var dx = x2 - x1;<br />
var dy = y2 - y1;<br />
return Math.sqrt(dx * dx + dy * dy);<br />
}<br />
<br />
function angle(x1, y1, x2, y2) {<br />
var dx = x2 - x1;<br />
var dy = y2 - y1;<br />
return Math.atan2(dy, dx) * 180 / Math.PI;<br />
}<br />
<br />
function renderRadar() {<br />
var mindist = 10000000000;<br />
var closest = {<br />
x1:512278.0, y1:-549613.0<br />
};<br />
var linecolor = "red";<br />
for (var S = 0; S < explorer.objects.length; S++) {<br />
var I = explorer.objects[S];<br />
if (!I.got) {<br />
var dist = distance(explorer.pos.x, explorer.pos.y, I.x1, I.y1);<br />
if (dist < mindist) {<br />
mindist = dist;<br />
closest = I;<br />
}<br />
}<br />
}<br />
if (mindist == 10000000000) {<br />
mindist = distance(explorer.pos.x, explorer.pos.y, closest.x1, closest.y1);<br />
if (document.getElementById("radar").style.backgroundColor != "red") {<br />
document.getElementById("radar").style.backgroundColor = "red";<br />
}<br />
linecolor = "green";<br />
} else {<br />
if (document.getElementById("radar").style.backgroundColor != "green") {<br />
document.getElementById("radar").style.backgroundColor = "green";<br />
}<br />
}<br />
var ang = angle(explorer.pos.x, explorer.pos.y, closest.x1, closest.y1);<br />
var indicator = "";<br />
if (ang > 112.5 || ang < -112.5) {<br />
indicator += "left";<br />
}<br />
if (ang < 67.5 && ang > -67.5) {<br />
indicator += "right";<br />
}<br />
if (ang > -157.5 && ang < -22.5) {<br />
indicator += " up";<br />
}<br />
if (ang > 22.5 && ang < 157.5) {<br />
indicator += " down";<br />
}<br />
document.getElementById("radar").innerHTML = "Distance: " + mindist.toFixed(1).toString() + "&lt;br/>";<br />
document.getElementById("radar").innerHTML += indicator + " (" + -ang.toFixed(1).toString() + "°)";<br />
document.getElementById("radar").innerHTML += "<div id='circle' style='border: 1px solid black; border-radius: 50px; width: 100px; height: 100px; position:absolute; top:50px; left:25px'/>";<br />
document.getElementById("radar").innerHTML += "<div id='line' style='width: 50px; height: 1px; background-color: " + linecolor + "; position:absolute; top:100px; left:75px; transform:rotate(" + ang + "deg); transform-origin:0% 0%'/>";<br />
}<br />
<br />
var d = document.createElement("div");<br />
d.id = "radar";<br />
d.style.position = "fixed";<br />
d.style.left = "0px";<br />
d.style.top = "0px";<br />
d.style.width = "150px";<br />
d.style.height = "160px";<br />
d.style.border = "1px solid red";<br />
d.style.zIndex = "2";<br />
d.style.backgroundColor = "green";<br />
d.style.color = "#8f8";<br />
document.body.appendChild(d);<br />
<br />
setInterval(renderRadar, 100);<br />
<br />
To display your current coordinates:<br />
<br />
function renderRadar2() {<br />
document.getElementById("radar2").innerHTML = "x: " + explorer.pos.x.toFixed(1).toString() + "&lt;br>y: " + explorer.pos.y.toFixed(1).toString()<br />
}<br />
<br />
var d = document.createElement("div")<br />
d.id = "radar2"<br />
d.style.position = "fixed"<br />
d.style.left = "150px"<br />
d.style.top = "0px"<br />
d.style.width = "150px"<br />
d.style.height = "35px"<br />
d.style.border = "1px solid red"<br />
d.style.zIndex = "2"<br />
d.style.backgroundColor = "green"<br />
d.style.color = "#8f8"<br />
document.body.appendChild(d)<br />
<br />
setInterval(renderRadar2, 1000)<br />
</div><br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:No title text]] <!-- See trivia --><br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Large drawings]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with animation]] <!-- Different positions of hoverboard Cueball, Blinking text, appearing and disappearing text --><br />
[[Category:Dynamic comics]]<br />
[[Category:Interactive comics]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]] <!-- Well hidden in the cave --><br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairbun]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Blondie]] <!-- Mom seeing a bug at lake before volcano --><br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Elon Musk]] <!-- Hidden in the volcanic lair on a chair --><br />
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]] <!-- There are many situations with more than one Cueball, so it is not just because he is in separate locations --><br />
[[Category:Philosophy]]<br />
[[Category:Video games]]<br />
[[Category:Star Wars]]<br />
[[Category:LOTR]]<br />
[[Category:Star Trek]]<br />
[[Category:The Lion King]] <!-- Cueball recites a line from the movie see here: http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a0/1608_0986x1076y_Our_kingdom_from_a_cliff.png --><br />
[[Category:Animals]]<br />
[[Category:Spiders]] <!-- No spider shown, but Cueball sings about them in this image: http://xkcd.com/1608/1026:-1073+s.png --><br />
[[Category:Songs]] <!-- Cueball sings about spider in this image: http://xkcd.com/1608/1026:-1073+s.png --><br />
[[Category:Protip]] <!-- Ponytail gives one at the base of the pyramid to the right --><br />
[[Category:Hamster Ball]]<br />
[[Category:Playpen balls]]<br />
[[Category:Kites]]<br />
[[Category:Basketball]]<br />
[[Category:Sport]] <!-- Apart from basketball there are bowling and swimming, sleighing, biking --><br />
[[Category:Robots]] <!-- Small in both Space Ships to the left as well as quadcopters in the volcano--><br />
[[Category:Artificial Intelligence]] <!-- Quadcopters in the volcano --><br />
[[Category:Food]] <!-- Cueball drops his sandwich of the back of the Destroyer and he and Megan roast a Marshmallow at the back of the Runner --><br />
[[Category:Social networking]] <!--Trending and Twitter in the lava lair and "likes during reentry" for the space probe--><br />
[[Category:Clickbait]] <!--The mother who discovers a bug near the kite to the left--><br />
[[Category:Drones]] <!--The quadcopters over the lava lake--></div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1890:_What_to_Bring&diff=145516
1890: What to Bring
2017-09-15T08:25:00Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1890<br />
| date = September 15, 2017<br />
| title = What to Bring<br />
| image = what_to_bring.png<br />
| titletext = I always figured you should never bring a gun to a gun fight because then you'll be part of a gun fight.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Bare necessities, could use elaboration. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
A graph based on variations of the phrase "never bring a knife to a gun fight", an idiom usually attributed to either {{w|Elmer Keith}} or ''{{w|The Untouchables (film)|The Untouchables}}''.<br />
<br />
The second part of the graph is based on reactions to an {{w|Class B fire|oil fire}}, which should be extinguished by removing the oxygen (such as by covering it with a lid). Attempting to apply water to an oil fire will result in a large, potentially dangerous flame.<br />
<br />
* If you bring a knife to a knife fight, you will be evenly matched with your opponent.<br />
<br />
* If you bring a knife to a gunfight, you will be at a perilous disadvantage.<br />
<br />
* Attempting to fight a wood fire with a knife will lead to you being burned.<br />
<br />
* Attempting to fight an oil fire will lead to you being burned, in addition to causing metallic scrapes.<br />
<br />
* Bringing a gun to a knife fight will leave your opponent at a perilous disadvantage.<br />
<br />
* Bringing a gun to a gunfight will leave you {{w|Mexican standoff|evenly matched with your opponent}}.<br />
<br />
* Shooting either a wood or an oil fire is an ineffective way of extinguishing them.{{Citation needed}}<br />
<br />
* Splashing either a knife-wielder or a gunman with water will serve only to agitate your opponent.<br />
<br />
* Wood fires are best extinguished with a well-aimed splash of water.<br />
<br />
* Attempting to put a lid on the head of a knife-wielder or gunman will probably not help matters, as it may only serve to agitate said knife-wielder. There's a possibility that your attacker may be momentarily stunned by the surrealism of the situation, but even that will only buy you about a ten-foot running start.<br />
<br />
* Trying to put out a wood fire with a lid would require a lid bigger than can possibly be considered 'brought with'.<br />
<br />
* An oil fire is best extinguished by cutting it off from oxygen; stovetop oil fires generally spawn in cooking pans, which often come with lids suited to making an airtight seal.<br />
<br />
The title text makes the observation that bringing a gun to a gunfight only raises your status from 'civilian' to 'combatant'.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1842:_Anti-Drone_Eagles&diff=140433
1842: Anti-Drone Eagles
2017-05-28T13:45:35Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1842<br />
| date = May 26, 2017<br />
| title = Anti-Drone Eagles<br />
| image = anti_drone_eagles.png<br />
| titletext = It's cool, it's totally ethical--they're all programmed to hunt whichever bird of prey is most numerous at the moment, so they leave the endangered ones alone until near the end.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|People at work.}}<br />
Law enforcement and security agencies often use [http://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-35750816/eagles-trained-to-take-down-drones birds of prey] [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/02/21/terrorists-are-building-drones-france-is-destroying-them-with-eagles/ to combat drones] flying unlawfully over restricted sites. <span style="border-bottom:1px dotted" title="Probably not as cost effective as using eagles to transport golden rings or bearers thereof to volcanoes in foreign lands.">This is often more cost effective than using technological means (such as scramblers and counter-drones) and safer for the public than using conventional weaponry (such as shotguns).</span><br />
<br />
Eagles, being predators, have natural tendencies to attack the central components of drones while avoiding the sharp and spinny bits.<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]] argues that this is unethical as it forces rare animals to put their lives at risk, and compares it to using police dogs for traffic control, which people would generally frown upon.<br />
<br />
<span style="border-bottom:1px dotted" title="Effectiveness depends upon the conditions of use. Obviously eagles can't be used everywhere that drones are restricted, but they are often effectively used where ground security is also present to identify and arrest those that might be unlawfully flying the drones, so they can't indefinitely replenish their hardware. The first paragraph has links to real life examples.">Not only would it be unethical, but also ineffective.</span> The supply of Eagles is rather limited, and there are biological limits to how fast it can be replenished, whereas more drones can be created very quickly to replace those that are destroyed. Traffic control dogs would be similarly ineffective, as dogs would struggle to run as fast as a speeding motorcycle, and would be powerless to stop the motorcycle even if they could. <br />
<br />
[[Megan]] thinks both ideas (eagles and dogs) sound cool, but she understands the ethical argument against using them for traffic control.<br />
<br />
[[Black Hat]], on the other hand, goes a step further and says that he has created a drone that hunts the eagles. In the title text, he continues that is ethical because they (only the title text mentions that there are several of such drones) only target the most populous species first, although they will eventually eradicate the endangered ones once they bring down the number of all birds of prey (note that this implies that he wants to make all birds of prey extinct or endangered). He seems to {{tvtropes|ComicallyMissingThePoint|miss the point}} that it is not merely the relative number of birds that creates the ethical problem, but the fact that animals' lives are being put at direct risk by humans. His construction of the anti-eagle drone may be simply for the point of making the eagles' goals not only dangerous, but also entirely ineffective. This is probably not an opposition to privacy but merely his trademark [[72: Classhole|classholery]] in action.<br />
<br />
Nevertheless, Black Hat raises a crucial point in {{w|ecology}}: There are generalist and specialist predators (as well as herbivores). A specialist hunts or eats only one species (e.g. the {{w|koala}} eats only {{w|eucalyptus}}), while a generalist hunts or eats the most available food. Thus, a generalist often spares species that have become rare due to overhunting, disease or famine. A generalist predator (or herbivore) thus manages the wildlife, and a healthy population of generalists is almost always beneficial. Now, if Black Hat creates a drone that hunts the most available species, he gets the right idea (a food generalist manages wildlife), but gets the other one seriously wrong: Eagles are already doing their job as generalists, and as predatory birds are not so abundant, a generalist that feeds on predatory birds would need to have a very large territory. And as drones cannot reproduce yet{{Citation needed}} and do not need to hunt as an energy source{{Citation needed}}, releasing a drone to fulfil an ecological role would not make any sense. How does the drone know it has hunted enough eagles? Does the eagle-hunting drone feel hunger and decide to hunt elsewhere after reducing the number of local eagles, or does it just hibernate?<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
<br />
:(Cueball, Black Hat and Megan are standing.)<br />
:Cueball: Everyone loves these eagles that take down drones, but ... I dunno.<br />
:Megan: You gotta admit, it's pretty cool.<br />
<br />
:(Close-up on Cueball's face)<br />
:Cueball: Yeah, but ... training rare animals to hurl themselves at whirling machinery can only get us so far, you know?<br />
<br />
:(Regular shot)<br />
:Cueball: At some point, it's like releasing police dogs onto highways to attack speeding motorcycles.<br />
:Megan: Also cool, but I see your point.<br />
<br />
:Black Hat: Plus, I just finished my autonomous drone that hunts eagles.<br />
:Cueball: Man, ''you'' are an entirely separate class of problem.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1842:_Anti-Drone_Eagles&diff=140432
1842: Anti-Drone Eagles
2017-05-28T13:42:52Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1842<br />
| date = May 26, 2017<br />
| title = Anti-Drone Eagles<br />
| image = anti_drone_eagles.png<br />
| titletext = It's cool, it's totally ethical--they're all programmed to hunt whichever bird of prey is most numerous at the moment, so they leave the endangered ones alone until near the end.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|People at work.}}<br />
Law enforcement and security agencies often use [http://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-35750816/eagles-trained-to-take-down-drones birds of prey] [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/02/21/terrorists-are-building-drones-france-is-destroying-them-with-eagles/ to combat drones] flying unlawfully over restricted sites. <span style="border-bottom:1px dotted" title="Probably not as cost effective as using eagles to transport golden rings or bearers thereof to volcanoes in foreign lands.">This is often more cost effective than using technological means (such as scramblers and counter-drones) and safer for the public than using conventional weaponry (such as shotguns).</span><br />
<br />
Eagles, being predators, have natural tendencies to attack the central components of drones while avoiding the sharp and spinny bits.<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]] argues that this is unethical as it forces rare animals to put their lives at risk, and compares it to using police dogs for traffic control, which people would generally frown upon.<br />
<br />
<span style="border-bottom:1px dotted" title="Effectiveness depends upon the conditions of use. Obviously eagles can't be used everywhere that drones are restricted, but they are often effectively used where ground security is also present to identify and arrest those that might be unlawfully flying the drones, so they can't indefinitely replenish their hardware. The first paragraph has links to real life examples.">Not only would it be unethical, but also ineffective.</span> The supply of Eagles is rather limited, and there are biological limits to how fast it can be replenished, whereas more drones can be created very quickly to replace those that are destroyed. Traffic control dogs would be similarly ineffective, as dogs would struggle to run as fast as a speeding motorcycle, and would be powerless to stop the motorcycle even if they could. <br />
<br />
[[Megan]] thinks both ideas (eagles and dogs) sound cool, but she understands the ethical argument against using them for traffic control.<br />
<br />
[[Black Hat]], on the other hand, goes a step further and says that he has created a drone that hunts the eagles. In the title text, he continues that is ethical because they (only the title text mentions that there are several of such drones) only target the most populous species first, although they will eventually eradicate the endangered ones once they bring down the number of all birds of prey (note that this implies that he wants to make all birds of prey extinct or endangered). He seems to {{tvtropes|ComicallyMissingThePoint|miss the point}} that it is not merely the relative number of birds that creates the ethical problem, but the fact that animals' lives are being put at direct risk by humans. His construction of the anti-eagle drone may be simply for the point of making the eagles' goals not only dangerous, but also entirely ineffective. This is probably not an opposition to privacy but merely his trademark [[72: Classhole|classholery]] in action.<br />
<br />
Nevertheless, Black Hat raises a crucial point in {{w|ecology}}: There are generalist and specialist predators (as well as herbivores). A specialist hunts or eats only one species (e.g. the {{w|koala}} eats only {{w|eucalyptus}}), while a generalist hunts or eats the most available food. Thus, a generalist often spares species that have become rare due to overhunting, disease or famine. A generalist predator (or herbivore) thus manages the wildlife, and a healthy population of generalists is almost always beneficial. Now, if Black Hat creates a drone that hunts the most available species, he gets the right idea (a food generalist manages wildlife), but gets the other one seriously wrong: Eagles are already doing their job as generalists, and as predatory birds are not so abundant, a generalist that feeds on predatory birds would need to have a very large territory. And as drones cannot reproduce yet{{Citation needed}} and do not need to hunt as an energy source{{Citation needed}}, releasing a drone to fulfil an ecological role would not make any sense. How does the drone know it has hunted enough eagles? Does the eagle-hunting drone feel hunger and decide to hunt elsewhere after reducing the number local eagles, or does it just hibernate?<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
<br />
:(Cueball, Black Hat and Megan are standing.)<br />
:Cueball: Everyone loves these eagles that take down drones, but ... I dunno.<br />
:Megan: You gotta admit, it's pretty cool.<br />
<br />
:(Close-up on Cueball's face)<br />
:Cueball: Yeah, but ... training rare animals to hurl themselves at whirling machinery can only get us so far, you know?<br />
<br />
:(Regular shot)<br />
:Cueball: At some point, it's like releasing police dogs onto highways to attack speeding motorcycles.<br />
:Megan: Also cool, but I see your point.<br />
<br />
:Black Hat: Plus, I just finished my autonomous drone that hunts eagles.<br />
:Cueball: Man, ''you'' are an entirely separate class of problem.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1842:_Anti-Drone_Eagles&diff=140428
1842: Anti-Drone Eagles
2017-05-28T08:43:46Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */ some ecological information</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1842<br />
| date = May 26, 2017<br />
| title = Anti-Drone Eagles<br />
| image = anti_drone_eagles.png<br />
| titletext = It's cool, it's totally ethical--they're all programmed to hunt whichever bird of prey is most numerous at the moment, so they leave the endangered ones alone until near the end.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|People at work.}}<br />
Law enforcement and security agencies often use [http://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-35750816/eagles-trained-to-take-down-drones birds of prey] [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/02/21/terrorists-are-building-drones-france-is-destroying-them-with-eagles/ to combat drones] flying unlawfully over restricted sites. <span style="border-bottom:1px dotted" title="Probably not as cost effective as using eagles to transport golden rings or bearers thereof to volcanoes in foreign lands.">This is often more cost effective than using technological means (such as scramblers and counter-drones) and safer for the public than using conventional weaponry (such as shotguns).</span><br />
<br />
Eagles, being predators, have natural tendencies to attack the central components of drones while avoiding the sharp and spinny bits.<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]] argues that this is unethical as it forces rare animals to put their lives at risk, and compares it to using police dogs for traffic control, which people would generally frown upon.<br />
<br />
<span style="border-bottom:1px dotted" title="Effectiveness depends upon the conditions of use. Obviously eagles can't be used everywhere that drones are restricted, but they are often effectively used where ground security is also present to identify and arrest those that might be unlawfully flying the drones, so they can't indefinitely replenish their hardware. The first paragraph has links to real life examples.">Not only would it be unethical, but also ineffective.</span> The supply of Eagles is rather limited, and there are biological limits to how fast it can be replenished, whereas more drones can be created very quickly to replace those that are destroyed. Traffic control dogs would be similarly ineffective, as dogs would struggle to run as fast as a speeding motorcycle, and would be powerless to stop the motorcycle even if they could. <br />
<br />
[[Megan]] thinks both ideas (eagles and dogs) sound cool, but she understands the ethical argument against using them for traffic control.<br />
<br />
[[Black Hat]], on the other hand, goes a step further and says that he has created a drone that hunts the eagles. In the title text, he continues that is ethical because they (only the title text mentions that there are several of such drones) only target the most populous species first, although they will eventually eradicate the endangered ones once they bring down the number of all birds of prey (note that this implies that he wants to make all birds of prey extinct or endangered). He seems to {{tvtropes|ComicallyMissingThePoint|miss the point}} that it is not merely the relative number of birds that creates the ethical problem, but the fact that animals' lives are being put at direct risk by humans. His construction of the anti-eagle drone may be simply for the point of making the eagles' goals not only dangerous, but also entirely ineffective. This is probably not an opposition to privacy but merely his trademark [[72: Classhole|classholery]] in action.<br />
<br />
Nevertheless, Black Hat raises a crucial point in {{w|ecology}}: There are generalist and specialist predators (as well as herbivores). A specialists hunts or eats only one species (e.g. the {{w|koala}} eats only {{w|eucalyptus}}), while a generalist hunts or eats the most available food. Thus, a generalist often spares species that have become rare due to overhunting, disease or famine. A generalist predator (or herbivore) thus manages the wildlife, and a healthy population of generalists is almost always beneficial. Now, if Black Hat creates a drone that hunts the most available species, he gets the right idea (a food generalist manages wildlife), but gets the other seriously wrong: Eagles are already doing their job as generalists, and as predatory birds are not so abundant, a generalist that feeds on predatory birds would need to have a very large territory. And as drones cannot reproduce (yet) and do not need to hunt as an energy source (yet), releasing a drone to fulfil an ecological role would not make any sense. How does the drone know it has hunted enough eagles?<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
<br />
:(Cueball, Black Hat and Megan are standing.)<br />
:Cueball: Everyone loves these eagles that take down drones, but ... I dunno.<br />
:Megan: You gotta admit, it's pretty cool.<br />
<br />
:(Close-up on Cueball's face)<br />
:Cueball: Yeah, but ... training rare animals to hurl themselves at whirling machinery can only get us so far, you know?<br />
<br />
:(Regular shot)<br />
:Cueball: At some point, it's like releasing police dogs onto highways to attack speeding motorcycles.<br />
:Megan: Also cool, but I see your point.<br />
<br />
:Black Hat: Plus, I just finished my autonomous drone that hunts eagles.<br />
:Cueball: Man, ''you'' are an entirely separate class of problem.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1833:_Code_Quality_3&diff=139616
1833: Code Quality 3
2017-05-06T10:05:19Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1833<br />
| date = May 5, 2017<br />
| title = Code Quality 3<br />
| image = code_quality_3.png<br />
| titletext = It's like a half-solved cryptogram where the solution is a piece of FORTH code written by someone who doesn't know FORTH.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
This comic is a direct continuation of [[1513: Code Quality]] and [[1695: Code Quality 2]] in the [[:Category:Code Quality|Code Quality]] series, in which Ponytail continually insults Cueball's code style. In this comic, as in the previous, Cueball does not directly appear, only speaking off-panel; however, as it is a continuation of the series, it is clear that this is Cueball's code.<br />
<br />
In the first panel, Ponytail references {{w|query string|query strings}}, which store information, such as search queries or page numbers, relevant to the URL. Query strings are not meant to be especially human-readable, so a song based on one would likely not be a good one{{Citation needed}}.<br />
<br />
A tactical flashlight is a light that can be mounted on a gun for use in low-light scenarios. They tend to be very durable and very bright. Different models have different features and capabilities, so they are given cool-sounding model numbers. A JSON table of these model numbers would look like random data.<br />
<br />
{{w|Alan Turing}} was a British theoretical computer scientist, often considered the father of the field. His [https://www.cs.virginia.edu/~robins/Turing_Paper_1936.pdf 1936 paper] outlined Turing machines, a theoretical model for computing, as well as computability and the halting problem. Theoretical computer science is very different from practical coding; understanding the contents of the paper would not at all help a coder to understand today's algorithms, design patterns, and best practices. This is not helped by a page of Javascript example code. {{w|Javascript}} is a popular programming language which makes web pages responsive to user inputs, and while Javascript arguably solves the problem in a practical manner (as opposed to Turing's very theoretical work), it does get a lot of criticism - for instance it is {{w|Strong and weak typing|nearly untyped}}, which allows the programmer to do very interesting things, like {{w|JSFuck}}. Then, example code is used to explain a concept in programming or demonstrate how a program works, but it does not actually run on any computer. "Guessing everything in between" would involve attempting to write code using skills that could range anywhere from the most basic programming to Turing's extremely advanced ideas.<br />
<br />
In the final panel, Ponytail references {{w|leet|leet-speak}}, in which symbols are replaced with similar-looking symbols, and a {{w|manifesto}}, a statement of a person or group's beliefs and intentions. A manifesto from a survivalist cult leader might be nonsensical, even before being translated to leet-speak. Memory allocation is a low-level computer programming concept; most modern languages have features that take care of memory allocation for the programmer, possibly implying that Cueball does not know how to use these features.<br />
<br />
At this point Cueball, quickly becoming impatient with Ponytail's sass, retorts that if she can't start giving him the constructive criticism that he's looking for, he can always find someone else to replace her. Ponytail smugly responds that nobody else would be able to stomach his code for more than one sitting, and that she's the only one he's got.<br />
<br />
{{w|Forth_(programming_language)#Programmer.27s_perspective|Forth}} is an old programming language that tends to be difficult to read. It is stack-based, meaning that every value that is operated on has to be moved on a {{w|Stack (abstract data type)|stack}}. Using stacks can be considered the opposite of programming languages that resemble natural human language (e.g. {{w|COBOL}}). While stack-based computing makes some problems very simple (for example, it is relatively simple to design a Forth compiler, or reversing the order of an array) and uses less computing resources, such programming languages are not easy to learn.<br />
<br />
A {{w|cryptogram}} is a cipher puzzle, generally one easy enough to be solved manually. The title text implies that the code is so bad that it looks like unreadable FORTH code that is missing random characters.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Ponytail sitting in front of a computer screen typing. Cueball speaks only off-panel, but since this is a direct continuation of comic 1513 and 1695: Code Quality and Code Quality 2 where Cueball is shown, there can be no doubt it is him.]<br />
:Ponytail: Your code looks like song lyrics written using only the stuff that comes after the question mark in a URL.<br />
:Cueball (off-panel): Sorry.<br />
:[Zoom in on Ponytail's upper body.]<br />
:Ponytail: It's like a JSON table of model numbers for flashlights with "tactical" in their names.<br />
:[Zoom back out again. Ponytail has lifted her hands off the table.]<br />
:Ponytail: Like you read Turing's 1936 paper on computing and a page of JavaScript example code and guessed at everything in between.<br />
:[Zoom in again on Ponytail's face.]<br />
:Ponytail: It's like a leet-speak translation of a manifesto by a survivalist cult leader who's for some reason obsessed with memory allocation.<br />
:Cueball (off-panel): I can get someone else to review my code.<br />
:Ponytail: Not more than once, I bet.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Code Quality]]</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1833:_Code_Quality_3&diff=139615
1833: Code Quality 3
2017-05-06T08:43:09Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1833<br />
| date = May 5, 2017<br />
| title = Code Quality 3<br />
| image = code_quality_3.png<br />
| titletext = It's like a half-solved cryptogram where the solution is a piece of FORTH code written by someone who doesn't know FORTH.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
This comic is a direct continuation of [[1513: Code Quality]] and [[1695: Code Quality 2]] in the [[:Category:Code Quality|Code Quality]] series, in which Ponytail continually insults Cueball's code style. In this comic, as in the previous, Cueball does not directly appear, only speaking off-panel; however, as it is a continuation of the series, it is clear that this is Cueball's code.<br />
<br />
In the first panel, Ponytail references {{w|query string|query strings}}, which store information, such as search queries or page numbers, relevant to the URL. Query strings are not meant to be especially human-readable, so a song based on one would likely not be a good one{{Citation needed}}.<br />
<br />
A tactical flashlight is a light that can be mounted on a gun for use in low-light scenarios. They tend to be very durable and very bright. Different models have different features and capabilities, so they are given cool-sounding model numbers. A JSON table of these model numbers would look like random data.<br />
<br />
{{w|Alan Turing}} was a British theoretical computer scientist, often considered the father of the field. His [https://www.cs.virginia.edu/~robins/Turing_Paper_1936.pdf 1936 paper] outlined Turing machines, a theoretical model for computing, as well as computability and the halting problem. Theoretical computer science is very different from practical coding; understanding the contents of the paper would not at all help a coder to understand today's algorithms, design patterns, and best practices. This is not helped by a page of Javascript example code. {{w|Javascript}} is a popular programming language which makes web pages responsive to user inputs, and while Javascript arguably solves the problem in a practical manner (as opposed to Turing's very theoretical work), it does get a lot of criticism - for instance it is {{w|Strong and weak typing|nearly untyped}}, which allows the programmer to do very interesting things, like {{w|JSFuck}}. Then, example code is used to explain a concept in programming or demonstrate how a program works, but it does not actually run on any computer. "Guessing everything in between" would involve attempting to write code using skills that could range anywhere from the most basic programming to Turing's extremely advanced ideas.<br />
<br />
In the final panel, Ponytail references {{w|leet|leet-speak}}, in which symbols are replaced with similar-looking symbols, and a {{w|manifesto}}, a statement of a person or group's beliefs and intentions. A manifesto from a survivalist cult leader might be nonsensical, even before being translated to leet-speak. Memory allocation is a low-level computer programming concept; most modern languages have features that take care of memory allocation for the programmer, possibly implying that Cueball does not know how to use these features.<br />
<br />
At this point Cueball, quickly becoming impatient with Ponytail's sass, retorts that if she can't start giving him the constructive criticism that he's looking for, he can always find someone else to replace her. Ponytail smugly responds that nobody else would be able to stomach his code for more than one sitting, and that she's the only one he's got.<br />
<br />
{{w|Forth_(programming_language)#Programmer.27s_perspective|Forth}} is an old programming language that tends to be difficult to read. A {{w|cryptogram}} is a cipher puzzle, generally one easy enough to be solved manually. The title text implies that the code is so bad that it looks like unreadable FORTH code that is missing random characters.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Ponytail sitting in front of a computer screen typing. Cueball speaks only off-panel, but since this is a direct continuation of comic 1513 and 1695: Code Quality and Code Quality 2 where Cueball is shown, there can be no doubt it is him.]<br />
:Ponytail: Your code looks like song lyrics written using only the stuff that comes after the question mark in a URL.<br />
:Cueball (off-panel): Sorry.<br />
:[Zoom in on Ponytail's upper body.]<br />
:Ponytail: It's like a JSON table of model numbers for flashlights with "tactical" in their names.<br />
:[Zoom back out again. Ponytail has lifted her hands off the table.]<br />
:Ponytail: Like you read Turing's 1936 paper on computing and a page of JavaScript example code and guessed at everything in between.<br />
:[Zoom in again on Ponytail's face.]<br />
:Ponytail: It's like a leet-speak translation of a manifesto by a survivalist cult leader who's for some reason obsessed with memory allocation.<br />
:Cueball (off-panel): I can get someone else to review my code.<br />
:Ponytail: Not more than once, I bet.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Code Quality]]</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1832:_Photo_Library_Management&diff=139545
1832: Photo Library Management
2017-05-03T22:15:48Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1832<br />
| date = May 3, 2017<br />
| title = Photo Library Management<br />
| image = photo_library_management.png<br />
| titletext = A good lifehack is to use messy and unstable systems to organize your photos. That way, every five years or so it becomes obsolete and/or collapses, and you have to open it up and pick only your favorite pictures to salvage.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
While the comic focuses on storing the pictures on a computer (as well as managing this ever-increasing mass of photographs), the title text hints at a physical storage for pictures, such as a cardboard box. Such a box can collapse under its weight, and it can also be physically opened to retrieve the most precious photographs for further storage.<br />
<br />
The comic is split into 6 sectors as described below:<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
!Sector<br />
!Caption<br />
!Explanation<br />
|-<br />
| Low Amount of Photos Taken, more than a little amount of time to sort <br />
| No Problems<br />
| With only a few photos to sort, and lots of time to do so, Randall is able to maintain his photo library efficiently<br />
|- <br />
| Area under line increasing where more time is spent as more photos are taken <br />
| Can't find the good photos among the thousands of bad ones<br />
| The amount of photos being taken is too high for Randall to adequately sort in the small amount of time he has <br />
|- <br />
| Area above line of negative gradient, as number of photos increases and time decreases<br />
| Can't Sleep, Too busy sifting through photos to find the best one<br />
| Randall has taken too many photos, but has dedicated the time to sorting them. As a result he is lacking sleep through his determination to complete the task<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
A graph with the x axis being number of photos taken per day and y axis being the time spent going through photos per day, divided into six sections:<br />
<br />
Section 1: Few photos taken per day, no limit to time spent: "No Problems"<br />
<br />
Section 2: Some photos taken per day, a limited amount of time spent going through: "Photo Library Fits On Most Devices As Long As They're Not Too Old"<br />
<br />
Section 3: More photos taken per day, less time spent going through: "Need Cloud Storage, External Hard Drive, Or Frequent Upgrades"<br />
<br />
Section 4: A lot of photos taken per day, a very even less time spent going through: "Photo Library Grows Faster Than [http://www.mooreslaw.org/ Moore's Law]."<br />
<br />
Section 5: Above line increasing where more time is spent as more photos are taken: "Can't Find The Good Photos Among The Thousands Of Bad Ones"<br />
<br />
Section 6: Below line of negative gradient, as number of photos increases and time decreases: "Can't Sleep, Too Busy Sifting Through Photos To Find The Best One"<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1832:_Photo_Library_Management&diff=139535
1832: Photo Library Management
2017-05-03T14:21:21Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1832<br />
| date = May 3, 2017<br />
| title = Photo Library Management<br />
| image = photo_library_management.png<br />
| titletext = A good lifehack is to use messy and unstable systems to organize your photos. That way, every five years or so it becomes obsolete and/or collapses, and you have to open it up and pick only your favorite pictures to salvage.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
While the comic focuses on storing the pictures on a computer (as well as managing this ever-increasing mass of photographs), the title text hints at physical pictures, such one can physically collapse, and you can also physically open a box and pick the most precious ones for further preservation. <br />
<br />
The comic is split into 6 sectors as described below:<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
!Sector<br />
!Caption<br />
!Explanation<br />
|-<br />
| Low Amount of Photos Taken, more than a little amount of time to sort <br />
| No Problems<br />
| With only a few photos to sort, and lots of time to do so, Randall is able to maintain his photo library efficiently<br />
|- <br />
| Area under line increasing where more time is spent as more photos are taken <br />
| Can't find the good photos among the thousands of bad ones<br />
| The amount of photos being taken is too high for Randall to adequately sort in the small amount of time he has <br />
|- <br />
| Area above line of negative gradient, as number of photos increases and time decreases<br />
| Can't Sleep, Too busy sifting through photos to find the best one<br />
| Randall has taken too many photos, but has dedicated the time to sorting them. As a result he is lacking sleep through his determination to complete the task<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1830:_ISS_Solar_Transit_2&diff=139404
1830: ISS Solar Transit 2
2017-04-28T17:54:25Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Trivia */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1830<br />
| date = April 28, 2017<br />
| title = ISS Solar Transit 2<br />
| image = iss_solar_transit_2.png<br />
| titletext = Most people don't realize it, but they actually launch a new space station every few weeks because this keeps happening.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This Friday comic is a continuation of the Monday comic from the same week, [[1828: ISS Solar Transit]], where [[Cueball]] was preparing his camera in order to try an capture the transit of the {{w|International Space Station}} (ISS) across the {{w|Sun}}. The comic is also made in the same special way using split panels. As a noted in the first comic in the [[:Category:ISS Solar Transit|ISS series]] the {{w|white balance}} is still not set properly, because the sun looks orange instead of white/yellow.<br />
<br />
However, instead of transiting across the face of the sun, the ISS crashes into the Sun. In reality, of course, this can never happen, because the ISS orbits Earth at an altitude of between 330 and 435 km, while the Earth orbits the Sun at an altitude of about 149.60 million kilometers or 1 {{w|astronomical unit}}. This means the minimum distance between the ISS and the Sun is only slightly less than 1 AU. Also, due to {{w|parallax}}, only people in a very localized region on earth are able to see the ISS "hit" the sun. For all others the ISS would travel past the sun.<br />
<br />
Additionally, even if the ISS would somehow impact the sun, it would not make a noticeable splash, due to being incredibly tiny compared to the sun. It would get vaporized before reaching it. (See the [[what if?]] ''{{what if|89|Tungsten Countertop}}''). And it would make no "Fwoosh" sound to be heard on Earth, primarily because there's a lot of empty space between Earth and the Sun, and sound cannot propagate in empty space.<br />
<br />
The title text plays on the event in the comic, by saying that a new space station is being launched every few week as the event in the comic keeps happening, so a continuation of ISSs gets destroyed by crashing into the Sun on a regular basis. This is clearly implausible, as it has taken many years to build up the ISS, and there are at least three astronauts on board that would get killed a couple of times a month.<br />
<br />
It's possible that the comic is a play on conspiracy theories about space exploration, such as the moon landing being faked. In these situations, while the government may be trying to cover up or show something different from what actually happened, amateur photographers/astronomers/radio enthusiasts (such as Cueball in this comic) who observe the event independently of government or commercial sources can see what really happened. In this case, the conspiracy theory would be that the ISS actually does crash into the sun every few weeks, but we're made to believe that it orbits the earth without crashing, while Cueball is able to observe what really happens with his camera.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Every panel is split into two half height panels above each other.]<br />
<br />
:[The first top panel shows an image of an orange sun on a black background with a white dot labeled in light-blue letter at the top right corner. The dot is in a light-blue cross-hair and a light-blue dotted trail is behind it as indicating movement towards the sun.]<br />
:<font color="cyan">ISS</font><br />
<br />
:[In the bottom panel Cueball is kneeling in front of a small platform while operating a camera with a very long objective while holding a smartphone. The camera is angled sharply upward toward the sky as it is attached to a tripod standing on the platform.]<br />
:Cueball: Perfect! Transit in three... two...<br />
<br />
:[The upper image is the same but the dot has halved the distance to the sun.]<br />
:<font color="cyan">ISS</font><br />
<br />
:[Cueball sits in the panel below.]<br />
:Cueball: ...one...<br />
<br />
:[In the upper panel the dotted line enters the Sun and the white dot has plunged into the sun making a flare "splash" out from the surface of the Sun. This makes a sound written in orange letters.]<br />
:<font color="orange">''Fwoosh''</font><br />
<br />
:[Cueball sits silent in the panel below.]<br />
<br />
==Trivia==<br />
*The ISS travels across the face of the sun in 0.47 seconds ([https://spacemath.gsfc.nasa.gov/weekly/5Page61.pdf calculation]). <br />
**If we assume that Cueball is counting seconds, then the depicted speed of the ISS between panels 1 and 2 is too slow. <br />
*This could be seen as a joke on {{w|Pink Floyd|Pink Floyd's}} ''{{w|Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun}}''.<br />
*Some comedy movies (e.g. {{w|Hot Shots! Part Deux}}) feature an aircraft passing behind the sun.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:ISS Solar Transit]]<br />
[[Category:Comics sharing name|ISS Solar Transit 02]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Astronomy]]<br />
[[Category:Space]]</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1826:_Birdwatching&diff=138983
1826: Birdwatching
2017-04-19T11:56:46Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1826<br />
| date = April 19, 2017<br />
| title = Birdwatching<br />
| image = birdwatching_small.png<br />
| titletext = No, tell the park rangers to calm down, it's fine--I put a screen on the front. I just want to get the birds a little closer.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
This comic was published with a large picture size, much larger than the standard screen. This is deliberate, evidenced by the image name: [https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/birdwatching_huge.png birdwatching_huge.png]. This is intended to replicate [[Cueball]]'s frustration with birdwatching, as the experience of scrolling through a large image on a small screen mirrors that of looking through the large sky using binoculars that, due to their amplification, cover only a small area of the sky.<br />
<br />
The actual joke of the comic appears to be that Cueball wants to use the vacuum cleaner to pull in the birds. This is physically impossible with such a small device. Even if the shop vac created a perfect vacuum, it can only pull out air at the speed of sound, which amounts to approximately 1 cubic meter per second considering the apparent size of the hose. This is not enough to create a significant amount of wind or affect the atmosphere.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to park rangers, who would naturally be distressed by birds being forced to coalesce via an extremely powerful vacuum. If such a vacuum were created and used for this purpose, it probably would pose a threat to said birds. Cueball says he has solved this problem by placing a perforated screen in front. In doing so, he can safely attract the birds without trapping them inside the vacuum. He implies that this should remove the danger to the birds, which is not the case. While the birds can no longer enter the vacuum itself, having a large number of birds pulled into a (presumably small) screen would probably fare poorly for the birds, so Cueball's solution is rather poor.<br />
<br />
Randall neither confirms nor denies that this is related to [[1719: Superzoom]], which also features a camera and birdwatching.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball and Beanie Man are standing with camera and binoculars.]<br />
:Cueball: Birdwatching is hard. They're all too small and far away.<br />
<br />
:[Both raise tool eyepiece.]<br />
:Cueball: That Hawk is over a mile up! How did you even spot it?<br />
<br />
:[Both, lower eyepiece. Cueball looks down, fuming.]<br />
<br />
:[Cueball now has a SHOP VAC and has it pointed to the sky.]<br />
:Shop Vac: WHRRRRRR<br />
:[Beanie Guy looks at Cueball, confused.]<br />
<br />
:title text: No, tell the park rangers to calm down, it's fine--I put a screen on the front. I just want to get the birds a little closer.<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1824:_Identification_Chart&diff=138749
1824: Identification Chart
2017-04-14T09:49:01Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1824<br />
| date = April 14, 2017<br />
| title = Identification Chart<br />
| image = identification_chart.png<br />
| titletext = Be careful-it's breeding season, and some of these can be *extremely* defensive of their nests.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
Some aircraft are named after animals, including {{w|bird of prey|birds of prey}}, other birds, and insects. This comic presents an "identification guide" of silhouettes, each with the {{w|fuselage}} of an aircraft and the wings of the flying animal from which the aircraft gets its name. All are birds with the exception of the {{w|hornet|hornet}} that is an insect. This would be absurd if it was a cyborg or a plane with the feathers designed, as bird wings are usually made to support the lightweight structure of a bird and supporting the parts of a plane with its human pilot would be impossible.{{Citation needed}}<br />
<br />
The comic highlights not only the various designs of aircraft tails, but also bird wings. Some wings are highly adapted for soaring (eagle), speed (falcon), as well as rapid acceleration and short flights (blackbird).<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
!Name<br />
!Plane<br />
!Explain<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Osprey|Osprey}}<br />
|{{w|Bell_Boeing_V-22_Osprey|V-22 Osprey}}<br />
|The tilt-rotor V-22 Osprey has been in development since the 1980ies, and was introduced to the U.S. Armed Forces in 2007.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Hornet|Hornet}}<br />
|{{w|McDonnell_Douglas_F/A-18_Hornet|F/A-18 Hornet}}<br />
|A design stemming from the 1970ies, the U.S. Navy now flies an updated and larger version, the F-18E/F.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Falcon|Falcon}}<br />
|{{w|General_Dynamics_F-16_Fighting_Falcon|F-16 Falcon}}<br />
|A smaller, more versatile fighter jet. Has been sold to many foreign air forces.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Harrier|Harrier}}<br />
|{{w|Harrier_Jump_Jet|Harrier_Jump_Jet}}<br />
|The first operational STOL/VTOL fighter. They are known for their use in the Falklands War (1982), where they, for a lack of aircraft carriers, even operated from converted cargo ships.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Eagle|Eagle}}<br />
|{{w|McDonnell_Douglas_F-15_Eagle|F-15 Eagle}}<br />
|Introduced in 1976, other jets like F-16 have filled its role. The U.S. Air National Guard is the largest operater as of now.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Kestrel|Kestrel}}<br />
|{{w|Kestrel_K-350|Kestrel_K-350}}<br />
|The Kestrel is a single-engine, proof-of-concept aircraft, similar to the {{w|Pilatus PC-12}}.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Hawk|Hawk}}<br />
|{{w|BAE_Systems_Hawk|Hawk T1}}<br />
|A trainer aircraft. {{w|T-45 Goshawk}} is the U.S. designation of that aircraft.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Blackbird|Blackbird}}<br />
|{{w|Lockheed_SR-71_Blackbird|SR-71 Blackbird}}<br />
|A hypersonic spy aircraft, known for its speed and engine concept (which works both as a turbine and a ramjet).<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1824:_Identification_Chart&diff=138748
1824: Identification Chart
2017-04-14T09:45:53Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1824<br />
| date = April 14, 2017<br />
| title = Identification Chart<br />
| image = identification_chart.png<br />
| titletext = Be careful-it's breeding season, and some of these can be *extremely* defensive of their nests.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
Some aircraft are named after animals, including {{w|bird of prey|birds of prey}}, other birds, and insects. This comic presents an "identification guide" of silhouettes, each with the {{w|fuselage}} of an aircraft and the wings of the flying animal from which the aircraft gets its name. All are birds with the exception of the {{w|hornet|hornet}} that is an insect. This would be absurd if it was a cyborg or a plane with the feathers designed, as bird wings are usually made to support the lightweight structure of a bird and supporting the parts of a plane with its human pilot would be impossible.{{Citation needed}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
!Name<br />
!Plane<br />
!Explain<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Osprey|Osprey}}<br />
|{{w|Bell_Boeing_V-22_Osprey|V-22 Osprey}}<br />
|The tilt-rotor V-22 Osprey has been in development since the 1980ies, and was introduced to the U.S. Armed Forces in 2007.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Hornet|Hornet}}<br />
|{{w|McDonnell_Douglas_F/A-18_Hornet|F/A-18 Hornet}}<br />
|A design stemming from the 1970ies, the U.S. Navy now flies an updated and larger version, the F-18E/F.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Falcon|Falcon}}<br />
|{{w|General_Dynamics_F-16_Fighting_Falcon|F-16 Falcon}}<br />
|A smaller, more versatile fighter jet. Has been sold to many foreign air forces.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Harrier|Harrier}}<br />
|{{w|Harrier_Jump_Jet|Harrier_Jump_Jet}}<br />
|The first operational STOL/VTOL fighter. They are known for their use in the Falklands War (1982), where they, for a lack of aircraft carriers, even operated from converted cargo ships.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Eagle|Eagle}}<br />
|{{w|McDonnell_Douglas_F-15_Eagle|F-15 Eagle}}<br />
|Introduced in 1976, other jets like F-16 have filled its role. The U.S. Air National Guard is the largest operater as of now.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Kestrel|Kestrel}}<br />
|{{w|Kestrel_K-350|Kestrel_K-350}}<br />
|The Kestrel is a single-engine, proof-of-concept aircraft, similar to the {{w|Pilatus PC-12}}.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Hawk|Hawk}}<br />
|{{w|BAE_Systems_Hawk|Hawk T1}}<br />
|A trainer aircraft. {{w|T-45 Goshawk}} is the U.S. designation of that aircraft.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Blackbird|Blackbird}}<br />
|{{w|Lockheed_SR-71_Blackbird|SR-71 Blackbird}}<br />
|A hypersonic spy aircraft, known for its speed and engine concept (which works both as a turbine and a ramjet).<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1815:_Flag&diff=137821
Talk:1815: Flag
2017-03-24T14:15:45Z
<p>162.158.150.82: </p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~--><br />
<br />
A vote for me is a vote for bread on every table and a [https://smile.amazon.com/Off-Be-Wizard-Magic-2-0/dp/1612184715/ 73% battery level] until the end of time! [[User:Jameslucas|jameslucas]] <small>([[User talk:Jameslucas|" "]] / [[Special:Contributions/Jameslucas|+]])</small> 14:02, 24 March 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Given that the design is a screenshot, the flag could be part of an existing logo, e.g. of a U.S. sport association.--[[Special:Contributions/162.158.150.82|162.158.150.82]] 14:15, 24 March 2017 (UTC)</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1815:_Flag&diff=137820
Talk:1815: Flag
2017-03-24T14:15:00Z
<p>162.158.150.82: </p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~--><br />
<br />
A vote for me is a vote for bread on every table and a [https://smile.amazon.com/Off-Be-Wizard-Magic-2-0/dp/1612184715/ 73% battery level] until the end of time! [[User:Jameslucas|jameslucas]] <small>([[User talk:Jameslucas|" "]] / [[Special:Contributions/Jameslucas|+]])</small> 14:02, 24 March 2017 (UTC)<br />
Given that the design is a screenshot, the flag could be part of an existing logo, e.g. of a U.S. sport association.--[[Special:Contributions/162.158.150.82|162.158.150.82]] 14:15, 24 March 2017 (UTC)</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1815:_Flag&diff=137818
1815: Flag
2017-03-24T14:13:31Z
<p>162.158.150.82: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1815<br />
| date = March 24, 2017<br />
| title = Flag<br />
| image = flag.png<br />
| titletext = There's a compromise bill to keep the notification bar but at least charge the battery.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
<br />
Randall was hired to propose a new flag - supposedly for the United States. In that case, the blue, red and blue stripes could represent the Democrat-leaning states on the coasts, while the red denote the Republican-leaning {{w|Heartland (United States)|Heartland}}.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
The design committee fired me once they realized that my editing process involved a screenshot, but it was too late.<br />
<br />
Until they change it, our new country has the only national flag to include a phone notification bar.<br />
<br />
Title text: There's a compromise bill to keep the notification bar but at least charge the battery.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1815:_Flag&diff=137817
1815: Flag
2017-03-24T14:10:33Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1815<br />
| date = March 24, 2017<br />
| title = Flag<br />
| image = flag.png<br />
| titletext = There's a compromise bill to keep the notification bar but at least charge the battery.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
<br />
Randall was hired to propose a new flag - supposedly for the United States. In that case, the blue, red and blue stripes could represent the Democrat-leaning states on the coasts, while the red denote the Republican-leaning {{w|Heartland}}.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1814:_Color_Pattern&diff=137692
Talk:1814: Color Pattern
2017-03-22T13:58:08Z
<p>162.158.150.82: </p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~--><br />
This link, note 1, may help whomever is going to be editing the comic explanation, I don't have time this morning. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moir%C3%A9_pattern] [[User:Seebert|Seebert]] ([[User talk:Seebert|talk]]) 13:40, 22 March 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Did a quick google and copy/pasted from the Wikipedia page on Moiré patterns. [[User:Xseo|Xseo]] ([[User talk:Xseo|talk]]) 13:51, 22 March 2017 (UTC)<br />
:This is a copyright infringement. The contents of Wikipedia are not in the {{w|public domain}}. When using text from Wikipedia anywhere, you must indicate the license (CC-BY-SA 3.0).--[[Special:Contributions/162.158.150.82|162.158.150.82]] 13:58, 22 March 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I can't be the only one for whom the note emoji are not showing up.</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1814:_Color_Pattern&diff=137690
1814: Color Pattern
2017-03-22T13:54:55Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1814<br />
| date = March 22, 2017<br />
| title = Color Pattern<br />
| image = color_pattern.png<br />
| titletext = â« When the spacing is tight / And the difference is slight / That's a moiré â«<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete| Do NOT delete this tag too soon. }}<br />
The comic references {{w|Moiré pattern}}s in a parody of the song {{w|That's Amore}}. In photography, a Moiré pattern occurs when the image sensors are aligned in a pattern, while photographing something else that is also aligned in a pattern.<br />
<br />
In mathematics, physics, and art, a moiré pattern (/mwɑːrˈeɪ/; French: [mwaˈʁe]) or moiré fringes[1] are large scale interference patterns that can be produced when an opaque ruled pattern with transparent gaps is overlaid on another similar pattern. For the moiré interference pattern to appear, the two patterns must not be completely identical in that they must be displaced, rotated, etc., or have different but similar pitch.<br />
<br />
Moiré patterns appear in many different situations. In printing, the printed pattern of dots can negatively interfere with the image. In television and digital photography, a pattern on an object being photographed can interfere with the shape of the light sensors to generate unwanted artifacts.<br />
<br />
Photographs of a TV screen taken with a digital camera often exhibit moiré patterns. Since both the TV screen and the digital camera use a scanning technique to produce or to capture pictures with horizontal scan lines, the conflicting sets of lines cause the moiré patterns. To avoid the effect, the digital camera can be aimed at an angle of 30 degrees to the TV screen.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
:Cueball: I took a picture of my computer screen—why is the photo covered in these weird rainbow patterns?<br />
:Megan (singing): When a grid's misaligned with another behind<br />
:Megan: That's a Moiré...<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1814:_Color_Pattern&diff=137689
1814: Color Pattern
2017-03-22T13:54:04Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1814<br />
| date = March 22, 2017<br />
| title = Color Pattern<br />
| image = color_pattern.png<br />
| titletext = â« When the spacing is tight / And the difference is slight / That's a moiré â«<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete| Do NOT delete this tag too soon. }}<br />
The comic references {w|Moiré patterns} in a parody of the song {w|That%27s_Amore That's Amore}. In photography, a Moiré pattern occurs when the image sensors are aligned in a pattern, while photographing something else that is also aligned in a pattern.<br />
<br />
In mathematics, physics, and art, a moiré pattern (/mwɑːrˈeɪ/; French: [mwaˈʁe]) or moiré fringes[1] are large scale interference patterns that can be produced when an opaque ruled pattern with transparent gaps is overlaid on another similar pattern. For the moiré interference pattern to appear, the two patterns must not be completely identical in that they must be displaced, rotated, etc., or have different but similar pitch.<br />
<br />
Moiré patterns appear in many different situations. In printing, the printed pattern of dots can negatively interfere with the image. In television and digital photography, a pattern on an object being photographed can interfere with the shape of the light sensors to generate unwanted artifacts.<br />
<br />
Photographs of a TV screen taken with a digital camera often exhibit moiré patterns. Since both the TV screen and the digital camera use a scanning technique to produce or to capture pictures with horizontal scan lines, the conflicting sets of lines cause the moiré patterns. To avoid the effect, the digital camera can be aimed at an angle of 30 degrees to the TV screen.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
:Cueball: I took a picture of my computer screen—why is the photo covered in these weird rainbow patterns?<br />
:Megan (singing): When a grid's misaligned with another behind<br />
:Megan: That's a Moiré...<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1813:_Vomiting_Emoji&diff=137609
Talk:1813: Vomiting Emoji
2017-03-20T22:19:44Z
<p>162.158.150.82: </p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~--><br />
Did anyone else think of the Akatsuki member Deidara from Naruto when they saw the vomiting hand emoji? [[User:GoonPontoon|GoonPontoon]] ([[User talk:GoonPontoon|talk]]) 17:52, 20 March 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The "Vomit Comet" was not a rocket, it was the name of NASA's KC-135 aircraft which simulated weightlessness on parable flights. Given that rockets must be airtight, it is a bit strange that you could vomit out of a rocket.--[[Special:Contributions/162.158.150.82|162.158.150.82]] 22:19, 20 March 2017 (UTC)</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1813:_Vomiting_Emoji&diff=137592
1813: Vomiting Emoji
2017-03-20T15:40:33Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1813<br />
| date = March 20, 2017<br />
| title = Vomiting Emoji<br />
| image = vomiting_emoji.png<br />
| titletext = My favorite might be U+1F609 U+1F93F WINKING FACE VOMITING.<br />
}}<br />
[[Category:Emoji]]<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
This comic relates to the recent Unicode proposal for a vomiting emoji. Megan believes that there should be vomiting versions of all emoji. She writes up a proposal, putting the new modifier at U+1F93F. Six example emojis are given, being progressively more nonsensical, starting with a vomiting cowboy and ending with a vomiting hand. Randall states that his favorite possibility is a winking face vomiting.<br />
<br />
In [[1726: Unicode]], Randall proposed a "brontosaurus" emoji in Unicode.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
:Cueball: The proposed emoji for Unicode 10.0 look good.<br />
:Megan: Hmm. "U+1F92E FACE WITH OPEN MOUTH VOMITING"<br />
<br />
:Cueball: Eww.<br />
:Megan: Really, "vomiting" should be a combining modifier, so you can use it to make a vomiting version of any emoji.<br />
:Cueball: Umm.<br />
:Megan: I'm gonna write up a proposal.<br />
<br />
:U+1F93F VOMITING MODIFIER<br />
:(cowboy emoji vomiting) U+1F920 U+1F93F VOMITING COWBOY<br />
:(Statue of Liberty emoji vomiting) U+1F5FD U+1F93F VOMITING STATUE OF LIBERTY<br />
:(dove emoji vomiting, with an olive branch near its head) U+1F54A U+1F93F VOMITING DOVE<br />
:("first quarter moon with face" emoji vomiting) U+1F31B U+1F93F VOMITING MOON<br />
:(rocket ship emoji with vomit coming from its window) U+1F680 U+1F93F VOMITING ROCKET SHIP<br />
:(hand emoji with a hole in it, vomit is coming from that hole) U+270B U+1F93F VOMITING HAND<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1810:_Chat_Systems&diff=137099
1810: Chat Systems
2017-03-13T17:34:44Z
<p>162.158.150.82: Added a couple of definitions</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1810<br />
| date = March 13, 2017<br />
| title = Chat Systems<br />
| image = chat_systems.png<br />
| titletext = I'm one of the few Instagram users who connects solely through the Unix 'talk' gateway.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Fill in the table and explain the title text.}}<br />
In the world of social media, connecting to and communicating with friends, relatives, and other acquaintances can be extremely easy, but due to the large amount of networks and systems through which to communicate, and the selective nature of the people using them, it can be difficult to keep track of who uses which system(s), and thus, communication can be more complicated by social media as well.<br />
<br />
The ubiquity of standards - here, of messaging systems - was already covered in [[927: Standards]].<br />
<br />
===Chat systems mentioned===<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
!System<br />
!Explanation<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Skype}}<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|Email<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|SMS<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|AIM<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|Slack<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|Hangouts<br />
|Google Hangouts is Google's instant messaging system. It can be used to share data and for video chat.<br />
|-<br />
|ICQ<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|iMessage<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|IRC<br />
|IRC is an old chat system that many people refuse to switch off of. See also [[1782: Team Chat]].<br />
|-<br />
|Snapchat<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|Signal<br />
| An app used for encrypted communications.<br />
|-<br />
|FB Messenger<br />
|Facebook's chat system.<br />
|-<br />
|Instagram DM<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|Zephyr<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|WhatsApp<br />
|Billed as encrypted end-to-end chat, allows VoIP chats, text chats, video and image sharing. Caters for group chat as well.<br />
|-<br />
|WeChat<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|Telegram<br />
|Either a cloud based instant messaging system, or a message sent by telegraph, usually electrical telegraph. <br />
|-<br />
|Apache Request Log<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|Twitter DM<br />
| "Direct messages" between users on {{w|Twitter}}.<br />
|-<br />
|BBM<br />
|Blackberry message. A chat system available on Blackberry phones, now largely obsolete.<br />
|-<br />
|Peach<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|Wall (Linux)<br />
|Short for "write all", the "wall" command copies its argument to every user logged into the same Unix system, and so can be used as a primitive chat system.<br />
|-<br />
|Wall (bathroom)<br />
|Apparently a chat system based around writing on the wall in the bathroom. Not an electronic system. Alternatively, this could mean the person is an extreme introvert, and hides in his bathroom instead of interacting with others. <br />
|-<br />
|The "chat" tab in an old Google Doc<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript}}<br />
:[an Euler diagram with a large number of circles for various chat systems, overlapping in complicated ways]<br />
:I have a hard time keeping track of which contacts use which chat systems.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1809:_xkcd_Phone_5&diff=137041
1809: xkcd Phone 5
2017-03-12T11:10:00Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Table of features */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1809<br />
| date = March 10, 2017<br />
| title = xkcd Phone 5<br />
| image = xkcd_phone_5.png<br />
| titletext = The phone will be collected by the toll operators and mailed back to you within 4-6 weeks.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Seems almost complete now!}}<br />
This is the fifth entry in the ongoing [[:Category:xkcd Phones|xkcd Phone series]], and once again, the comic plays with many standard tech buzzwords and horribly misuses all of them, to create a phone that sounds impressive but self-evidently isn't to even the most ignorant customer. The previous comic in the series [[1707: xkcd Phone 4]] was released almost 8 months before this one.<br />
<br />
The slogan beneath the phone, "We're trying to catch up to Apple but refuse to skip numbers", is a reference to inconsistent product numbering, such as {{w|Samsung}} releasing the {{w|Note 7}} after the {{w|Note 5}}, likely in an attempt to catch up to the numbering of either the {{w|iPhone}} or {{w|Galaxy S}} series, both of which were already at 7. Similarly, there was also no official ''iPhone 2''. But there is an [[xkcd Phone 2]] available. The trademark sign behind the word "numbers" probably indicates a reference to the Apple spreadsheet app with the same name.<br />
<br />
The title text that says that the phone will be returned to you by the toll operators is a reference to E-ZPass partnership feature, see explanation in the table regarding that feature.<br />
<br />
===Table of features===<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
!Feature<br />
!Explanation<br />
|-<br />
|'''Hook shot'''<br />
| In ''{{w|The Legend of Zelda}}'' the [http://zelda.gamepedia.com/Hookshot Hookshot] is a recurring weapon/tool. It is a machine consisting of a chain and hook. When used, the chain extends and sends then hook which is attached to it. It is used to bring items to {{w|Link (The Legend of Zelda)|Link}} or bring Link closer to a goal (''Link'' is the name shared by the main protagonists, each possessing the Spirit of the Hero). Likely a reference to new video game ''{{w|The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild}}'', which was released a week prior to this comic. In the comic the hook shot is shown as a small add on to the phones top.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Bluetooth speaker'''<br />
| {{w|Bluetooth}} speakers are often used to play audio from a smartphone wirelessly, usually with more volume and better quality than the phone's small built-in speaker can provide. Embedding a bluetooth speaker into the phone would allow the phone to play audio from outside sources through its built-in speaker, which could be useful if no better speakers were available but would generally be avoided given the previously noted limitations of phone speakers. This is perhaps a jab at the current trend of playing music or Internet content audibly in public through the tiny, tinny speaker embedded in most phones. The Bluetooth speaker is located in the normal place for a phone's speaker.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Stained-glass display'''<br />
| {{w|Stained glass}} is colored glass, traditionally used for decorative windows in buildings most often churches. It is generally much thicker and because of the color much less transparent, especially for some colors, than the glass types normally used for touch-screens, making the phone difficult to use as it would remove some of the colors shown on the screen below the glass. A typical feature noticed about the glass for real phones would be its strength, as in work phones for construction workers.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Gallium chassis remains solid up to 85&deg;F'''<br />
| Many high-end electronic devices have chassis made of alloys of light metals such as {{w|magnesium}} or {{w|titanium}} rather than {{w|steel}} or {{w|plastic}}. Besides being lightweight and of superior quality and durability than ordinary sheet steel or cheap plastic, these are often perceived as bragging points by the users, boasting about 'rare' metal chassis.<br />
<br />
{{w|Gallium}}, however, is an uncommon metal with a very low melting point of 85&nbsp;°F (or 29.8&nbsp;°C), making it one of only four metals (along with {{w|Mercury (element)|mercury}}, {{w|rubidium}} and {{w|caesium}}) that can be liquid around room temperature. Because the melting point is lower than the average {{w|human body temperature}} of 98.6&nbsp;°F (37&nbsp;°C) a gallium smartphone chassis would melt in the user's bare hand, assuming it hadn't already done so due to heat produced by its internal components. Even if the electronics had good heat management, cooling in smartphones is normally accomplished by distributing heat to the case, not exhausting it. <br />
<br />
A similar real advertisement regarding the chassis would be that it was {{w|waterproof}} down to some depth (say 85 feet or 25 meters). See also the feature below regarding this.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Soundproof'''<br />
| A {{w|Soundproof}} chassis could result in the unwanted effect that the speakers and microphone may not work as no sound may enter or leave the phones chassis. A more likely feature would be waterproof see above point.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Can feel pain'''<br />
| Possibly a reference to {{w|intelligent personal assistant|intelligent personal assistants}} like {{w|Siri}}, {{w|Cortana (software)|Cortana}} or {{w|Amazon Alexa|Alexa}} gaining consciousness (see [[1807: Listening]] for the latter). Such {{w|artificial intelligence}} references is a [[:Category:Artificial Intelligence|recurring subject]] on xkcd. <br />
<br />
This could mean that either the phone feels pain for damages inflicted upon it or it feels the user's pain level (regarding either physical and/or emotional pain). The meaning would quickly become apparent for the user if the chassis melts on contact with exposed skin leaving the phone with "open wounds". <br />
<br />
This could be seen as a similar feature of the first xkcd phone, [[1363: xkcd Phone]], where the title text notices (among many other things) that the ''phone will drown'' if submerge in water. A similar thing is also mentioned for [[1549: XKCD Phone 3]]. That phone is ''waterproof but can drown''. Since this phone is soundproof but not waterproof, see the two points above, the drowning issue may still be relevant. The second phone, [[1465: xkcd Phone 2]], ''cries when lost'' a similar display of emotions/feelings. That phone also mentions waterproofing, but here it is only the interior, and although it is washable, it is only a one time feature (like the fold-ability of this one, see two points below). Finally also [[1707: xkcd Phone 4]] mentiones it is waterproof, but not between 30-50 m down...<br />
|-<br />
|'''E-ZPass partnership: Phone can be dropped into coin basket to pay tolls'''<br />
|{{w|E-ZPass}} is an electronic toll collection system. The vehicle drives through the toll lane without stopping, and sensors detect the pass and deduct the appropriate amount from the user's account. The phone's integration with E-ZPass is absurd since the phone needs to be dropped into a coin basket to work. Not only would you have to stop in order to throw the phone into the coin basket, which defies the idea of E-ZPass, but you would also lose your phone.<br />
<br />
In the '''title text''', however, it says that the phone will be returned by the toll operators and returned by mail within 4–6 weeks. So this mitigates the problem of losing the phone slightly, but there would be about a month where the phone could not be used.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Foldable (once)'''<br />
|Almost anything long and slim can be "folded" by simply snapping it in half. But as it says this can only be done once because the phone cannot be unsnapped and will not work anymore once it has been folded. <br />
<br />
This is a reference to the [http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/samsung-foldable-smartphone-news/ rumors of the new Samsung Galaxy X] that is really foldable like a pice of rubber. See [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fro_CNjxYwM this video].<br />
<br />
It could also refer to the fact that a version of iPhone had a weak spot that lead it to easily folding and breaking. And it could be a reference to {{w|Flip (form)|flip phones}}.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Screen transfers images to skin'''<br />
| Transferring images to the skin sounds like either real {{w|tattoos}} or the water tattoos used by children or other kinds of {{w|temporary tattoos}}. Likely it should be understood that it would be possible to transfer the image displayed on the screen to your skin, hopefully when activating the feature rather than by accident. And preferably also none permanent. This may also be a reference to the experimental Cicret Bracelet's ability to project images onto your arm: [http://www.snopes.com/photos/technology/cicret.asp]<br />
|-<br />
|'''Retina storage'''<br />
| This is a play on the name of Apple's prized "{{w|Retina Display}}". The joke may be in reference to Apple's possession of a trademark for the word "retina" in regards to computer equipment, which is made to seem absurd by the unusual use. It is not made clear whose retinas are meant to be stored. Could also be a reference to retinally implanted computers. The retina storage is a slot at the bottom of the phone right of the charging port.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Background task automatically catches and eats Pokémon'''<br />
| A reference to {{w|Pokémon Go}}, an augmented reality game where the goal to go to specific locations and play a mini-game in order to catch virtual creatures called {{w|Pokémon}} (see [[1705: Pokémon Go]]). This phone apparently catches Pokémon automatically, similar to the external device {{w|Pokémon_Go#Pok.C3.A9mon_Go_Plus|Pokémon Go Plus}}. However, this feature also eats them, which is something that is not part of the game and wouldn't be desirable, as it is about collection and storing as many different Pokémon as possible. It could be a coincidence, but it seems funny that the label for this background feature is the only one that point at the back of the phone. <br />
|-<br />
|'''Supercuts partnership: Trims hair fed into charging port'''<br />
| {{w|Supercuts}} is an American hair salon chain that provides hair cuts and styling. The implication here is that the user can get a haircut by Supercuts by sticking hair into the charging slot. This is not only impractical and would only work for hair long enough to be fed into the port, but it would most likely result in a bad haircut. Also the slot would soon be filled with hair. The charging slot is otherwise placed in the normal spot and looks like a regular charging port.<br />
<br />
This feature could actually be quite dangerous if the hair is not removed from the charging slot afterwards because the hair could melt or catch fire inside the phone. <br />
|-<br />
|'''Squelch knob'''<br />
|{{w|Squelch}} is a feature of two-way radios (CB, ham, etc) which quiets background noise when no signal is present. For a smartphone, perhaps this knob could control the "signal-to-noise" ratio of your Facebook feed or other social media platforms. It takes the place of the headphone jack, replacing the normal hole with a small knob.<br />
|-<br />
|'''IBM buckling-spring Home button'''<br />
|{{w|IBM}} {{w|Buckling spring|buckling-spring}} keyboards are favorites of geeks for the feeling of quality and auditory feedback (keys click loudly when pressed) they provide. Real smartphone's home button, typically located exactly as in this image, provides little to no such satisfaction when pressed.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Cot-caught merger switch'''<br />
| This is a reference to the {{w|cot–caught merger}}, a linguistic change happening among English speakers, particularly in some parts of North America and the British Isles, which causes caught (previously pronounced "kawt") to be pronounced the same as cot (pronounced "kot"). The switch is clearly visible on the side of the phone. There is no typical feature similar to this one most smartphones, although it could look a bit like a volume control, although that would not usually be a sliding switch.<br />
|-<br />
|'''60x optical zoom camera'''<br />
|A powerful optical {{w|zoom lens}} is usually a desirable feature for cameras. However, as shown in the comic, it results in very bulky lens. If 60x zoom should be achieved the lens needs to be as big as shown on the backside of the phone, and the whole idea of being able to carry the smartphone easily in a pocket would be defied.<br />
<br />
For that reason, such lenses are never used in smartphones, although rarely some devices, like the {{w|Samsung Galaxy Camera}}, use a smaller lens with a similar design. But this is no longer a smartphone. <br />
<br />
This feature would seem to be a jab at the variety of add-on devices, including close-up lenses, handles and external flashes, that are currently in use to enhance the phone's ability to function like a camera (and the {{w|selfie stick}}). <br />
<br />
Some phones might instead mention their {{w|digital zoom}} level instead. But that is not a popular feature among photo enthusiasts, as digital zooming gains no additional optical resolution. Users would actually be better off using the maximum optical zoom, and then enlarging their images with photo editing software, which might offer better, but slower algorithms (e.g. {{w|linear resampling}} versus {{w|Lanczos resampling}}). Likewise, (mobile phone) cameras are often advertised with their high number of {{w|megapixel}}s, while retaining their small {{w|image sensor size}}. As each individual sensor gets less light, it creates more {{w|image noise}}.<br />
<br />
Randall has made several comics about cameras before; see for instance [[1719: Superzoom]] and other comics linked via this.<br />
|-<br />
|'''LORAN navigation'''<br />
| {{w|LORAN}} (Long Range Navigation) was a precursor to modern {{W|Global Positioning System|GPS}} navigation, using land-based transmitters. Once developed for sea shipping, it is accurate to about 300 meters (1,000 feet). The joke, of course, is that all modern smartphones have integrated GPS navigation which is far more accurate. Due to the much lower frequencies involved, reception of LORAN signals though is much better in areas with obstructed view of the sky. However {{w|LORAN#Commercial_use.2C_decommissioning|LORAN has been decommissioned}} more or less completely since before 2000.<br />
<br />
Incidentally, some receivers of the {{w|Decca Navigator System}} (which operates on a similar principle as LORAN) featured moving map displays, something we associate with modern GPS devices. <br />
|-<br />
|'''28-factor authentication'''<br />
| An {{w|Authentication#Factors and identity|authentication factor}} is a way of proving one's identity. There are [http://www.nikacp.com/images/10.1.1.200.3888.pdf 3 generally recognized forms]: something you know, something you have, and something you are. It can be a password, a fingerprint, a physical key, etc.... Secure applications may include two or more factors; a common example is the "PIN and chip" system used with credit cards, where you need both the card and secret code to authorize a transaction. Many online services now provide two-factor authentication to protect against password-based attacks. 28-factor authentication would likely be very secure in theory but also so impractical that it would be unusable.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[An image of a smartphone with a common optical camera lens attached on its back is shown. Over the entire length the case is slightly rounded. There are several features visible as bottom like features at the top and bottom of the front as well a microphone like slit at the top. A sliding switch is visible on the side, and at the bottom there is a knob, a connector port and a small slit. Clockwise starting from the top left all the labels read:]<br />
:Hook shot<br />
:Bluetooth speaker<br />
:Stained-glass display<br />
:Gallium chassis remains solid up to 85&deg;F<br />
:Soundproof<br />
:Can feel pain<br />
:E-ZPass partnership: Phone can be dropped into coin basket to pay tolls<br />
:Foldable (once)<br />
:Screen transfers images to skin<br />
:Retina storage<br />
:Background task automatically catches and eats Pokémon<br />
:Supercuts partnership: Trims hair fed into charging port<br />
:Squelch knob<br />
:IBM buckling-spring home button<br />
:Cot-caught merger switch<br />
:60x optical zoom camera<br />
:''LORAN'' navigation<br />
:28-factor authentication<br />
<br />
:[Below the phone:]<br />
:Introducing<br />
:<big>The</big> <big><big>xkcd Phone 5</big></big><br />
:''We're trying to catch up to Apple but refuse to skip numbers<sup>®TM</sup>''<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:xkcd Phones]]<br />
[[Category:Pokémon]]</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1809:_xkcd_Phone_5&diff=136922
1809: xkcd Phone 5
2017-03-10T22:29:50Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Table of features */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1809<br />
| date = March 10, 2017<br />
| title = xkcd Phone 5<br />
| image = xkcd_phone_5.png<br />
| titletext = The phone will be collected by the toll operators and mailed back to you within 4-6 weeks.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Needs a lot more}}<br />
This is the fifth entry in the ongoing [[:Category:xkcd Phones|xkcd Phone series]], and once again, the comic plays with many standard tech buzzwords to create a phone that sounds impressive but would actually be very impractical, especially with the front camera which would prevent it from going into a pocket. The previous comic in the series [[1707: xkcd Phone 4]] was released almost 8 months before this one.<br />
<br />
===Table of features===<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
!Feature<br />
!Explanation<br />
|-<br />
|'''Bluetooth speaker'''<br />
| This is the only potentially useful feature of this phone as while a {{w|bluetooth}} speaker built in to the device would be no more useful for playing music from it than any other speaker it would enable other devices to play through your phone. This is perhaps a jab at the current trend of playing music or Internet content audibly in public through the tiny, tinny speaker embedded in most phones.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Stained-glass display'''<br />
| Prevents seeing certain colors by tinting the display. {{w|Stained glass}} has traditionally been used for decorative windows in buildings.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Gallium chassis remains solid up to 85&deg;F'''<br />
| Many high-end electronic devices have chassis made of alloys of light metals such as magnesium or titanium. Besides being lightweight and of superior quality and durability than ordinary sheet steel or cheap plastic, these are often perceived as bragging points by the users, boasting about 'rare' metal chassis.<br />
<br />
{{w|Gallium}} is a not-so-well known metal that has a very low melting point of 85&nbsp;°F (or 29.7&nbsp;°C), being one of only four metals (the other being mercury, rubidium and caesium) that are liquid near room temperature. Its melting point is lower than a healthy person's body temperature. Having a gallium smartphone chassis would be therefore very impractical because it will melt in user's bare hand and would require using some kind of insulating gloves. Besides it would have to be stored in a cool place and the internal electronics should have really good cooling, otherwise either the external or internal heat would melt the chassis.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Soundproof'''<br />
| Presumably this means that speakers and microphone may not work.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Can feel pain'''<br />
| This could mean either the phone feels pain inflicted upon it or feels the user's pain. Which meaning may become apparent when the chassis melts on contact with exposed skin and the phone is left with open wounds.<br />
|-<br />
|'''E-Z Pass partnership'''<br />
|{{w|E-Z Pass}} is an account you put money into and you put a transmitter in your windshield so when you go through a toll booth you don't have to stop and pay by hand. However, this proposition is absurd, because you would lose the phone and still have to stop to pay the toll. The title text says that the phone will be returned to you after 4–6 weeks, which slightly mitigates the first problem, but you would still lose the phone for a month.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Foldable (once)'''<br />
|Presumably you can "fold" it by snapping it in half but you can only do this once because the phone won't work once you snap it. It may refer to the fact that a later version of iPhone had a weak spot that lead it to easily folding and breaking.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Screen transfers images to skin'''<br />
| This could either mean the image displayed on the screen or potentially whatever the stained glass image itself is.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Retina storage'''<br />
| This is a play on the name of Apple's prized "{{w|Retina Display}}". The joke may be in reference to Apple's possession of a trademark for the word "retina" in regards to computer equipment, which is made to seem absurd by the unusual use. It is not made clear whose retinas are meant to be stored. Could also be a reference to retinally implanted computers.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Background task automatically catches and eats Pokémon'''<br />
| A reference to {{w|Pokémon Go}}, an augmented reality game where the goal to go to specific locations and play a mini-game in order to catch virtual creatures called pokemon. This phone apparently does it automatically, similar to the external device Pokémon Go Plus. However, it also eats them, which is something that is not part of the game and wouldn't be desirable.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Supercuts partnership'''<br />
| {{w|Supercuts}} is an American hair salon chain that provides hair cuts and styling. The implication here is that the user can get a haircut by sticking their hair in the charging slot. This is not only impractical but would most likely result in a bad haircut. This feature could actually be quite dangerous if the hair is not removed from the charging slot because the hair could melt or catch fire inside of the phone. <br />
|-<br />
|'''Squelch knob'''<br />
|{{w|Squelch}} is a feature of two-way radios (CB, ham, etc) which quiets background noise when no signal is present. For a smartphone, perhaps this knob could control the "signal-to-noise" ratio of your Facebook feed or other social media platforms. It also takes the place of the headphone jack.<br />
|-<br />
|'''IBM buckling-spring Home button'''<br />
|IBM {{w|Buckling spring|buckling-spring}} keyboards are favorites of geeks for the feeling of quality and auditory feedback (keys click loudly) they provide. The iPhone's Home button provides little to no such satisfaction when pressed.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Cot-caught merger switch'''<br />
| This is a reference to the {{w|cot–caught merger}}, a linguistic change happening among English speakers, particularly in some parts of North America and the British Isles, which causes caught (previously pronounced "kawt") to be pronounced the same as cot (pronounced "kot").<br />
|-<br />
|'''60x optical zoom camera'''<br />
|A powerful {{w|zoom lens|optical zoom}} is usually a desirable feature for cameras. However, as shown in the comic, it results in very bulky lens. For that reason, such lens are rarely used in smartphones, though there are some devices like the {{w|Samsung Galaxy Camera}} that have a similar design. This would seem to be a jab at the variety of add-on devices, including close-up lenses, handles and external flashes, that are currently in use to enhance the phone's ability to function like a camera.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Loran navigation'''<br />
| {{w|LORAN}} (Long Range Navigation) was a precursor to modern {{W|Global Positioning System|GPS}} navigation, using land-based transmitters. Once developed for sea shipping, it is accurate to about 300 meters. The joke, of course, is that all modern smartphones have integrated GPS navigation which is far more accurate. Due to the much lower frequencies involved, reception of LORAN signals though is much better in areas with obstructed view of the sky.<br />
<br />
Incidentally, some receivers of the {w|Decca Navigator System} (which operates on a similar principle as LORAN) featured moving map displays, something we associate with modern GPS devices. <br />
|-<br />
|'''28-factor authentication'''<br />
| An {{w|Authentication#Factors and identity|authentication factor}} is a way of proving one's identity. There are [http://www.nikacp.com/images/10.1.1.200.3888.pdf 3 generally recognized forms]: something you know, something you have, and something you are. It can be a password, a fingerprint, a physical key, etc.... Secure applications may include two or more factors, a common example is the "PIN and chip" system used with credit cards, where you need both the card and secret code to authorize a transaction. Many online services now provide two-factor authentication to protect against password-based attacks. 28-factor authentication would likely be very secure in theory but also so impractical that it would be unusable.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Hook shot'''<br />
| The ''{{w|The Legend of Zelda|Legend of Zelda}}'' [http://zelda.gamepedia.com/Hookshot recurring weapon/tool], used to bring items to {{w|Link (The Legend of Zelda)|Link}} or bring Link closer to a goal. Likely a reference to ''{{w|The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild|Breath of the Wild}}.<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
The slogan "We're trying to catch up to Apple but refuse to skip numbers" is likely a reference to Samsung releasing the Note 7 after the Note 5, with no Note 6 in between, in an attempt to catch up to Apple's numbering, which was already to the iPhone 7, and when other companies have done similarly. Nevertheless there was no official iPhone 2 but here an [[xkcd Phone 2]] is available.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[An image of a smartphone with a large camera lens on its back is shown. Over the entire length the case is slightly rounded. Clockwise from the top the labels read:]<br />
:Bluetooth speaker<br />
:Stained-glass display<br />
:Gallium chassis remains solid up to 85&deg;F<br />
:Soundproof<br />
:Can feel pain<br />
:E-Z Pass partnership: Phone can be dropped into coin basket to pay tolls<br />
:Foldable (once)<br />
:Screen transfers images to skin<br />
:Retina storage<br />
:Background task automatically catches and eats Pokémon<br />
:Supercuts partnership: Trims hair fed into charging port<br />
:Squelch knob<br />
:IBM buckling-spring home button<br />
:Cot-caught merger switch<br />
:60x optical zoom camera<br />
:Loran navigation<br />
:28-factor authentication<br />
:Hook shot<br />
<br />
:[Below the phone:]<br />
:Introducing<br />
:<big><big>The XKCD Phone 5</big></big><br />
:''We're trying to catch up to Apple but refuse to skip numbers<sup>®</sup>™''<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:xkcd Phones]]</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1809:_xkcd_Phone_5&diff=136834
1809: xkcd Phone 5
2017-03-10T13:01:05Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1809<br />
| date = March 10, 2017<br />
| title = xkcd Phone 5<br />
| image = xkcd_phone_5.png<br />
| titletext = The phone will be collected by the toll operators and mailed back to you within 4-6 weeks.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
Today's cartoon is a mobile phone with many questionably-useful features:<br />
<br />
* Bluetooth speaker:<br />
* Gallium chassis: It has a melting point of 85°F (or 29.7°C), making it impossible to be carried on the bare skin.<br />
* Loran navigation: Once developped for sea shipping, it enables navigation by land-based radio transmitters and is accurate to about 300 meters.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript}}<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1067:_Pressures&diff=136273
1067: Pressures
2017-03-02T07:46:36Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1067<br />
| date = June 11, 2012<br />
| title = Pressures<br />
| image = pressures.png<br />
| titletext = Everyone's caught by surprise when a theory of quantum gravity is developed by a sound technician wearing patent leather shoes while editing Clerks II.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This comic is a reference to revolutionary physicist {{w|Albert Einstein}}, who got his first big ideas about physics while he was working as a Swiss patent clerk. Hence, Randall jokes that there is pressure on other Swiss patent clerks to come up with genius ideas while they are working there. The Zen Pencil comic [http://zenpencils.com/comic/einstein/ "Albert Einstein: Life is a mystery"] gives some background about Einstein's choice to work at the Swiss patent office. The fact that he was turned down by several universities was beneficial to the science of physics, as the duties as a patent clerk were not challenging to him, paid enough, and allowed him to work on his theories without any ''pressures''.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to {{w|quantum gravity}}, a highly anticipated theory that would unify quantum mechanics with the current model of gravity, general relativity. Such a theory would be very useful to understanding how space behaves at high energies and high densities, such as black holes and the very early universe. The joke is that instead of a patent clerk making this theory, as everyone is supposedly expecting, it's instead made by someone wearing "patent" leather shoes and working on a movie called "Clerks" II, thereby suggesting that anytime something called a "patent" crosses with anything called a "clerk", radical breakthroughs in physics result. {{w|Clerks II}} is the second movie in the Clerks series by Kevin Smith, widely regarded as not nearly as good as the first — which could be said about most sequels, but you get the point.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Ponytail walks up to Megan examining documents]<br />
:Ponytail: So... what've you been up to?<br />
:Megan: Handling patent applications.<br />
:Ponytail: Yeah, but... besides that?<br />
:Megan: That's about it.<br />
:Ponytail: You're not, like, thinking about any cool stuff? Just curious.<br />
<br />
:For the last hundred years, Swiss patent clerks have been under some weird pressures.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1067:_Pressures&diff=136260
1067: Pressures
2017-03-01T21:05:59Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1067<br />
| date = June 11, 2012<br />
| title = Pressures<br />
| image = pressures.png<br />
| titletext = Everyone's caught by surprise when a theory of quantum gravity is developed by a sound technician wearing patent leather shoes while editing Clerks II.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This comic is a reference to revolutionary physicist {{w|Albert Einstein}}, who got his first big ideas about physics while he was working as a Swiss patent clerk. Hence, Randall jokes that there is pressure on other Swiss patent clerks to come up with genius ideas while they are working there. The Zen Pencil comic [http://zenpencils.com/comic/einstein/ "Albert Einstein: Life is a mystery"] gives some background about Einstein's choice to work at the Swiss patent office. The fact that he was turned down by several universities was beneficial to the science of physics, as the duties as a patent clerk were not challenging to him, paid enough, and allowed him to work on his theories.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to {{w|quantum gravity}}, a highly anticipated theory that would unify quantum mechanics with the current model of gravity, general relativity. Such a theory would be very useful to understanding how space behaves at high energies and high densities, such as black holes and the very early universe. The joke is that instead of a patent clerk making this theory, as everyone is supposedly expecting, it's instead made by someone wearing "patent" leather shoes and working on a movie called "Clerks" II, thereby suggesting that anytime something called a "patent" crosses with anything called a "clerk", radical breakthroughs in physics result. {{w|Clerks II}} is the second movie in the Clerks series by Kevin Smith, widely regarded as not nearly as good as the first — which could be said about most sequels, but you get the point.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Ponytail walks up to Megan examining documents]<br />
:Ponytail: So... what've you been up to?<br />
:Megan: Handling patent applications.<br />
:Ponytail: Yeah, but... besides that?<br />
:Megan: That's about it.<br />
:Ponytail: You're not, like, thinking about any cool stuff? Just curious.<br />
<br />
:For the last hundred years, Swiss patent clerks have been under some weird pressures.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1803:_Location_Reviews&diff=135981
1803: Location Reviews
2017-02-24T16:29:33Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1803<br />
| date = February 24, 2017<br />
| title = Location Reviews<br />
| image = location_reviews.png<br />
| titletext = Google and Yelp keep deleting my scathing reviews of the Mariana Trench, the Chernobyl reactor core, the jet stream, and the equator.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE THIS TAG TOO FAST!!! And write here what's missing!}}<br />
Randall appears to be making a somewhat snide comment about the way so many people use review services in social media (Yelp, Facebook, etc) to make not terribly helpful comments. One step further would be, as here, completely useless comments. While Canyon River Nuclear Launch Facility appears not to exist, the places he lists in the title text certainly do, and are places that you either cannot or would not normally visit as destinations. <br />
<br />
Randall is also making a joke about certain places that really shouldn't have reviews like a nuclear launch facility or the equator which is mentioned in the title text. Some of the comments reflect this like please don't launch these or wait staff armed and very rude as if this was a restaurant but in reality were armed guards to keep people out.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable"<br />
! Review<br />
! Explanation<br />
|-<br />
| Greatest country on earth || Jingoistic.<br />
|-<br />
| What is this store || Reviewer really, really has no idea<br />
|-<br />
| My cousin worked here || Serious security risk (e.g. kidnapping the reviewer to extort information from his cousin)<br />
|-<br />
| Waitstaff heavily armed and very rude ||<br />
|-<br />
| Stop doing chemtrails ||<br />
|-<br />
| This place is a symptom of the {w|military-industrial complex} strangling our democracy and...(read full review-1184 words) || Senseless banter; a review site is not the best place to discuss ideas and make change happen<br />
|-<br />
| Anyone else notice the hole in the west fence? || The adventurer's travel guide to government installations...<br />
|-<br />
| Whoa, missiles! || <br />
|-<br />
| Good idea but confusing web site. How do I preorder? || Unclear what the idea is.<br />
|-<br />
| Please don't launch these || <br />
|-<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE THIS TAG TOO FAST!!! Still needs a review.}}<br />
<br />
:[A location map with a red pin stuck in a large gray region is shown. A river goes from North through the gray region to the west. East and South of the river some roads and other items are shown.]<br />
<br />
:[Below the map:]<br />
:'''Canyon River Nuclear'''<br />
:'''Launch Facility'''<br />
:[Within a line from left to right:] Reviews (22)<br />
:[4/5 stars] Greatest country on earth <br />
:[2/5 stars] Looks cool but you can't get in<br />
:[1/5 stars] What is this store<br />
:[4/5 stars] My cousin worked here<br />
:[2/5 stars] Waitstaff heavily armed and very rude<br />
:[1/5 stars] Stop doing chemtrails<br />
:[1/5 stars] This place is a symptom of the military-industrial complex strangling our democracy and...<span style="color: gray;">(read full review-1184 words)</span><br />
:[4/5 stars] Anyone else notice the hole in the west fence?<br />
:[5/5 stars] Whoa, missiles!<br />
:[3/5 stars] Good idea but confusing web site. How do I preorder?<br />
:[1/5 stars] Please don't launch these<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the frame:]<br />
:I love finding reviews of places that<br />
:really don't need to have reviews.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1802:_Phone&diff=135918
1802: Phone
2017-02-23T19:12:03Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1802<br />
| date = February 22, 2017<br />
| title = Phone<br />
| image = phone.png<br />
| titletext = [*disables social networking accounts*] [*social isolation increases*] Wait, why does this ALSO feel bad?<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Check for grammar errors and organize paragraphs.}}<br />
<br />
When someone asks you if you wanna go for a walk they often expect to have a conversation, while enjoying both the exercise, the fresh air and the company. Thus any disturbance not related to the walk is not welcome. Going for a walk is often seen as a way to relax from all the daily stress, as it takes the walkers away from work and chores. <br />
<br />
[[Cueball]] agrees to go for a walk, but not to all the associated expectations. His first instinct is to bring along his smartphone, though rather than call it such, he opts for a lengthy description detailing all the functions he intends to use. Conspicuously, long-distance communication (ostensibly the primary function of a smartphone) is not listed.<br />
<br />
Instead he describes the phone as his device that gives him a continuous ({{w|24/7 service|24/7}}) stream of information, much of which is often out of context. The stream contains people's opinions, context-free but scary news, and other random stimuli.<br />
<br />
The opinions could be from news or bloggers but it could also just be from his friends on social media platforms. News stories that are shared on social media are often scary, which becomes even worse because news outlets are likely to use a title that exaggerates the topic to create a fear reaction. The random emotional stimuli could be from many things such as text messages/emails and pictures of kittens and babies on social network, and shared internet memes or viral videos. All things that could cause a quick shift in emotions. <br />
<br />
As if all this was not enough to leave the phone at home, Cueball even says he will also take his spare battery, so he won't risk that his {{w|Web feed|constant feed}} could be interrupted, because he will not be able to recharge his phone during the walk.<br />
<br />
All in all, his choice and constant need for staying updated and being on-line violates all the usual expectations, that his friend could have expected from asking him out for a walk.<br />
<br />
The title text shows it would be possible to take an action to avoid this feed. In the first bracket a person (could be Cueball or [[Randall]]) ''disables all his social networking accounts''. Most of his news feed will thus disappear. But this leads to the next bracket which states that such a choice would lead to ''increased social isolation'', since he will no longer be in contact with any of his on-line friends. And today many people also get into contact with their "real" local friends through social media. One might thus miss out on events like parties or get-together, plus his friends not sharing a dislike for social media will not understand the decision. And this leads to the final sentence ''Wait, why does this ALSO feel bad?'' So there is no good choice, because it is bad to be off-line, but being on-line all the time is also bad. And it is hard to find the right balance. This problem with finding the right balance between two things seems related to the recent [[1796: Focus Knob]]<br />
<br />
This comic could be seen as a counter to [[1773: Negativity]], as both deal with the inability to escape the media during objectively peaceful pastimes. While in the former, the nature attacks Cueball with the types of comments he wishes to avoid, here, he brings along his phone even though it will ruin the goal of the walk he is going to take. [[77: Bored with the Internet]] seems related to this comic.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Someone off-panel asks Cueball a question which he answers while walking to a small table with some items laying on it.]<br />
:Off-panel voice: Wanna go for a walk?<br />
:Cueball: Sure, just need to grab my device that feeds me a 24/7 stream of opinions, context-free scary world news, and random emotional stimuli.<br />
:Cueball: Plus a spare battery so the feed won't be interrupted.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Social networking]]<br />
[[Category:Smartphones]]</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1800:_Chess_Notation&diff=135799
Talk:1800: Chess Notation
2017-02-21T11:59:50Z
<p>162.158.150.82: </p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~--><br />
So... This is just a really excellent pun? "Drawn" conversation?[[Special:Contributions/162.158.75.22|162.158.75.22]] 15:59, 17 February 2017 (UTC)<br />
:The pun gets better when you think about drawn '''and''' stalemated conversations, both of which will be scored 0.5 - 0.5. A stalemate occurs when no legal moves are possible, but the opponent isn't in check.--[[Special:Contributions/162.158.150.82|162.158.150.82]] 16:26, 17 February 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I have 2 questions does Randall know about this wiki and if there is an "incomplete" comic and I complete the explanation or other issue can I delete the incomplete notification thingy or does an admin have to do that?[[User:XFez|XFez]] ([[User talk:XFez|talk]]) 17:45, 17 February 2017 (UTC)<br />
:Anyone can remove the incomplete tag. Likewise, anyone can add it back again if they feel the explanation can be improved. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.62.225|162.158.62.225]] 18:37, 17 February 2017 (UTC)<br />
::My answer at the last comic:<br />
::Hi [[User:XFez|XFez]], sorry for the late reply but this was hard to find. I don't know if Randall knows..., but maybe he does. But he does NOT support this wiki in any way -- like he does not here: [http://forums.xkcd.com http://forums.xkcd.com] (while everything is now on https that board isn't ;) ). So there is no final explanation and he says 100 points! To your second question: You are allowed to remove the "incomplete tag". But the given criteria is not enough, often that simple text covers not all. Please check also the discussion page. So, when you are not sure just change the criteria text and mention it at the discussion page. And for older comics you probably should talk to someone else here because nobody checks every comic every day.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:19, 17 February 2017 (UTC)<br />
:::Randall knows of this page for sure. How often he goes here for a laugh is hard to say, but I would guess he would never comment on anything. But who knows if he checks here to see if has made a mistake. Sometimes errors are corrected after they get mentioned here. Often very early in Randall's time zone. Who knows if he sees this here. He has given a 100 % proof that he knows about this page in his official transcript. He actually made a direct link to Explain xkcd for a better transcript than his own. Alas there was not transcript until this year, where I made it: See this [[Payloads#Trivia|trivia]] under [[Payloads]], that I added earlier in 2017. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 19:45, 17 February 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Isn't the mouseover text saying that it was a blunder to tell white hat that he is scoring it because that will cause white hat to actively compete, instead of simply losing because he didn't know there was a game? [a guest and fan]{{unsigned ip|141.101.107.12}}<br />
<br />
Why is the figure on the left not wearing a beret? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.208|162.158.78.208]] 21:14, 17 February 2017 (UTC)<br />
:Because [[Beret Guy]] would never do something like this, which is basically degrading to other humans. It could have been [[Hairy]], or White Hat himself that ha d said it though. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 19:49, 19 February 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Under the "Chess games and conversations" section, "differences" subsection, it says that "people's statements sometimes last an eternity or even longer". Eternity = infinite time, duration without beginning or end. It's impossible for a person to make a statement lasting longer than his or her lifespan, and realistically for someone to continue speaking for more than an hour or so is extremely rare (someone giving a speech or presentation, for example, which isn't the type of "conversation" we're dealing with). Is the word "eternity" being used in a hyperbolic sense? If so, I'm not sure I understand exactly what this sentence is trying to say.[[Special:Contributions/172.68.46.11|172.68.46.11]] 04:19, 18 February 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
How did the conversation end in a draw? Was it by agreement? Was it actually "drawn" as mentioned below?[[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.185|162.158.79.185]] 20:17, 17 February 2017 (UTC)<br />
:"Fine." "Fine." Agreement. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.210.202|108.162.210.202]] 23:18, 17 February 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The move to score conversations itself was probably a blunder, but it seems that, since the sentence is copied verbatim, that the move to declare your scoring of conversations to somebody else is a blunder. Because that's weird and nobody wants to hear about it. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.50.72|173.245.50.72]] 18:35, 17 February 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Hello all. Just pointing out that stalemate it's not one of the most common ways to draw a chess game. It's quite rare in fact. Agreement, threefold repetition, perpetual check (and maybe even insufficent material) are statisticaly more usual. Keep up the great job, Albi.--[[Special:Contributions/188.114.102.52|188.114.102.52]] 09:16, 18 February 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The last part of the first section, Chess notation (and annotation), says that Cueball would score a conversation "1-0" whether he won it or lost it (depending upon who started the conversation). That is totally ambiguous; he would need more annotation to show whether he started the conversation and won it or the opposite. If I were scoring it - but I'm not a chess player - I would just score it as if I were always white, and it would be clear whether I won or not. What's the point of scoring the conversation if you can't read the score later on? He didn't say he was ''recording'' and scoring his conversations, he just said he was scoring them.[[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.226|108.162.237.226]] 21:10, 18 February 2017 (UTC)<br />
:I don't know if you wil be reading this, but chess games are indeed scored 1-0 for a win for white and 0-1 for a win for black. Because you *record* your (more important) chess games anyway, and the score sheets always carry the names of the white and black players. It's similar in soccer, where 2:3 is always in the format of <home team>:<away team>. If you want to know how ''you'' scored in the past, you have to convert your scores depending if you played black or not. It has been like this all the time, and will never be changed. :) --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.150.82|162.158.150.82]] 11:59, 21 February 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
HOLY CRAP HOW MUCH OF THIS PAGE IS ''ACTUALLY NECESSARY'' TO EXPLAIN THE JOKE --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.245.226|108.162.245.226]] 22:13, 18 February 2017 (UTC)<br />
:I came here to say just that. [[User:SuperSupermario24|<span style="color: #c21aff;">Just some random derp</span>]] 18:11, 19 February 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The cartoon should have had Cueball talking to Black Hat, not White Hat. Since Cueball makes the first move in the conversation, by chess rules he would have been playing as White. Having Black Hat play as Black in chess would not only be more color-coordinated, it would be more appropriate for him to say "I don't know or care what that means" than it would be for Black Hat. --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.75.160|162.158.75.160]] 20:39, 19 February 2017 (UTC)</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1800:_Chess_Notation&diff=135610
1800: Chess Notation
2017-02-18T15:14:42Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Chess games and conversations */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1800<br />
| date = February 17, 2017<br />
| title = Chess Notation<br />
| image = chess_notation.png<br />
| titletext = I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation. (??)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Please change this comment when editing this page and not remove it too fast.}}<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]] begins a conversation with [[White Hat]] with the declaration that he will be scoring his conversations using chess notation.<br />
<br />
Given the caption, Cueball believes that this is a drawn conversation since White Hat doesn't care.<br />
<br />
The double question marks at the end of the title text can be interpreted in two ways: on one hand, they can indicate that the other party is confused by the statement, not understanding what it means. At the same time, the question marks in parentheses can also be interpreted as chess annotation commenting on the soundness of such move, as explained below.<br />
<br />
=== Chess notation (and annotation) ===<br />
<br />
{{w|Chess}} players and critics use certain {{w|chess notation|notations}} to write down chess games in a very short fashion (for example the {{w|Forsyth–Edwards Notation}}, which is both computer- and human-readable). In addition, ''{{w|chess annotation symbols}}'' like ! and !? help to comment certain moves in a similarly short fashion. That way it is possible to print or discuss a chess game (or a chess opening) in a limited space, for example in printed reference manuals.<br />
<br />
A short synopsis about common chess annotation symbols:<br />
<br />
!! – brilliant move: Very strong and counter-intuitive move. A sound sacrifice.<br/><br />
! – good move: A surprisingly good move.<br/><br />
!? – interesting move: Risky, or worthy of attention and analysis.<br/><br />
?! – dubious move: Designates a move that may be bad, but it is hard to explain why.<br/><br />
? – mistake: Poor move that should not be played.<br/><br />
'''??''' – {{w|blunder (chess)|blunder}}: Exceptionally bad move, usually designates a move that turns a winning position into a draw, or a draw into a losing position.<br/><br />
<br />
The score of the "white" player is always given first, followed by the score of the "black" player. Possible {{w|Chess tournament#Scoring|notations}} for the game outcome are:<br/><br />
<br />
1-0 – a win (for white) <br/><br />
0-1 – a loss (for white) <br/><br />
'''½-½''' – a draw <br/><br />
<br />
Because every chess game begins by moving a white piece, the following can be observed: When Cueball ends a conversation with 1-0,<br />
* he either began the conversation, and won it;<br />
* or he responded to a communication request, and lost the conversation.<br />
<br />
=== Draws in chess ===<br />
A chess game can be won (and lost for the other party) or {{w|draw (chess)|drawn}}. It should be noted that draws most commonly occur by {{w|Draw by agreement|agreement}}, or very rarely by {{w|stalemate}}. A stalemate is a situation where the opponent's king is not in check, but none of the opponent's pieces can be moved in a legal way. In a human conversation, what amounts to a draw, and what amounts to a stalemate? <br />
<br />
If agreed draws should be allowed (and under which circumstances) is a matter of some discussion among chess players, thus adding another point to Randall's comic. For example, some tournament rules (e.g. the so-called "{{w|Draw by agreement#Only theoretical draws allowed (Sofia Rules)|Sofia Rules}}") do not allow a draw to be offered directly - any player has first to announce the intention of drawing to the arbiter (referee), who then decides if the position should be played out further or not.<br />
<br />
The official chess rules offer some ways the concept of a "draw" could be applied to a human conversation. According to the {{w|World Chess Federation}} (FIDE) rules, a draw can occur:<br />
#by agreement. Any player can offer a draw when it is his turn to move.<br />
#by stalemate. As explained above: The king is not in check, but no legal moves are available.<br />
#when the same position (with the same possible legal moves) occurs at least three times, with the same player having the same possibilities of moving his pieces. This draw must be requested by the player. According to the FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter himself declares the game drawn when the same position occurs five times.<br />
#when 50 moves have passed without a capture or a pawn move. Again, the draw occurs only upon request. According to the same FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter declares the game drawn when 75 moves have passed, without a request by either player.<br />
#when one of the players has used up his time, but his opponent has not enough material to mate. For example, king and pawn mate against a king in certain situations, while king against king leads to a draw by the 50-move-rule.<br />
#when both players have used up their time, but the arbiter cannot determine who did so first. This is impossible with modern electronic chess clocks, though.<br />
#upon request, when the opponent does not play seriously, and attempts to win the game by timeout.<br />
<br />
=== So, what's a "draw" in a conversation? ===<br />
*Draw agreed: As pointed out by Randall in his cartoon, a drawn conversation is one where all participants agree.<br />
*50-move-rule: Conversation is drawn, based on the excessive duration of the talk.<br />
*Draw by repetition: Both participants have talked in circles, arriving at the same conclusions all over again. No progress has been made.<br />
*Draw by stalemate: When A cannot convince B, but B doesn't have any legal argument left, and would have to resort to lies or logical fallacies in order to continue.<br />
<br />
=== Chess games and conversations ===<br />
The notion of applying chess scores to conversations begs the question if and how chess play and conversations can be compared.<br />
<br />
Chess games and human conversations do have some things in common:<br />
*The outcome fully depends on the behaviour of the partner/opponent.<br />
*As in chess, there is no certainty that a certain statement will have the desired effect. The opponent can always react in a surprising way.<br />
*Chess players, like conversation partners, do not "calculate" the opponent's next move(s). They don't compute anything. They are not cold-blooded machines. They do, however, similar to conversation partners in a job interview or a televised debate:<br />
**create a plan, and revise and refine it as necessary<br />
**try to get a good feel of the situation, and try to remember how they dealt with a similar situation in the past<br />
**try to identify the opponent's weaknesses, and try to remedy one's own weaknesses. Prepare against surprises and pitfalls.<br />
**focus on a few promising moves, and quickly spot if they're easily refutable. "You see, I spent 8 years programming {{w|BANCStar programming language|BANCStar}} applications at..." - "Anybody with that experience is dangerous and should be locked up." - "Oh."<br />
*The question of what is considered a good move (or statement) can only be answered in a subjective way. Chess engines though use algorithms to assess the position; and they can calculate the value of different possible moves. In human conversations, social norms help avoid making bad moves.<br />
*It is difficult to win against an experienced, alert partner or opponent. Competent exploitation of the opponent's errors is often the only way to win.<br />
*In both, you will try to find moves that make your win more probable, while avoiding deleterious moves. Due to inadequate computing power, it is hitherto impossible to calculate all possible ways a chess game (or a conversation) could play out. See also [[1002: Game AIs]]. Therefore it is impossible to design a path that leads to a guaranteed outcome - except when the situation has been simplified enough. There are handbooks to play endgames, explaining how to secure either a win or a draw, no matter the capability of the opponent. Nowadays, computer-generated {{w|endgame tablebase}}s exist for six-piece and seven-piece endgames. Those for six pieces are freely available and are about 1 terabyte large.<br />
<br />
Differences:<br />
*Chess games are inherently competitive, zero-sum ventures; if one player wins, the other loses. In contrast, conversations aren't usually competitive, so there isn't really a concept of a winner and loser unless the conversation was an argument or debate. Often, both people in a ''friendly'' conversation will benefit ("win") from having had the conversation.<br />
*Both chess games and conversations are turn-based, but lacking time controls, people's statements sometimes last an eternity or even longer.<br />
*Especially in disputes, (agreed) draws are extremely rare.<br />
*It is difficult to judge the winner of a conversation.<br />
*In chess, every position of the pieces can be analyzed completely independent of the previous moves. It does not matter how the situation evolved. After 1.e4 e5 and 1.e3 e6 2.e4 e5, there is an identical situation. Due to human emotions, though, this is not the case for conversations. No situation is ever exactly the same. <br />
*Chess games are extremely constrained by a set of rules. Players are expected to behave gentlemanly, and arbiters can hand out punishments for any behavior that brings the game in disrepute.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball and White Hat facing each other.]<br />
:Cueball: I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation.<br />
:White Hat: I don't know or care what that means.<br />
:Cueball: Fine.<br />
:White Hat: Fine.<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the frame:]<br />
:½–½<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Chess]]</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1800:_Chess_Notation&diff=135609
1800: Chess Notation
2017-02-18T14:50:32Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Chess games and conversations */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1800<br />
| date = February 17, 2017<br />
| title = Chess Notation<br />
| image = chess_notation.png<br />
| titletext = I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation. (??)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Please change this comment when editing this page and not remove it too fast.}}<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]] begins a conversation with [[White Hat]] with the declaration that he will be scoring his conversations using chess notation.<br />
<br />
Given the caption, Cueball believes that this is a drawn conversation since White Hat doesn't care.<br />
<br />
The double question marks at the end of the title text can be interpreted in two ways: on one hand, they can indicate that the other party is confused by the statement, not understanding what it means. At the same time, the question marks in parentheses can also be interpreted as chess annotation commenting on the soundness of such move, as explained below.<br />
<br />
=== Chess notation (and annotation) ===<br />
<br />
{{w|Chess}} players and critics use certain {{w|chess notation|notations}} to write down chess games in a very short fashion (for example the {{w|Forsyth–Edwards Notation}}, which is both computer- and human-readable). In addition, ''{{w|chess annotation symbols}}'' like ! and !? help to comment certain moves in a similarly short fashion. That way it is possible to print or discuss a chess game (or a chess opening) in a limited space, for example in printed reference manuals.<br />
<br />
A short synopsis about common chess annotation symbols:<br />
<br />
!! – brilliant move: Very strong and counter-intuitive move. A sound sacrifice.<br/><br />
! – good move: A surprisingly good move.<br/><br />
!? – interesting move: Risky, or worthy of attention and analysis.<br/><br />
?! – dubious move: Designates a move that may be bad, but it is hard to explain why.<br/><br />
? – mistake: Poor move that should not be played.<br/><br />
'''??''' – {{w|blunder (chess)|blunder}}: Exceptionally bad move, usually designates a move that turns a winning position into a draw, or a draw into a losing position.<br/><br />
<br />
The score of the "white" player is always given first, followed by the score of the "black" player. Possible {{w|Chess tournament#Scoring|notations}} for the game outcome are:<br/><br />
<br />
1-0 – a win (for white) <br/><br />
0-1 – a loss (for white) <br/><br />
'''½-½''' – a draw <br/><br />
<br />
Because every chess game begins by moving a white piece, the following can be observed: When Cueball ends a conversation with 1-0,<br />
* he either began the conversation, and won it;<br />
* or he responded to a communication request, and lost the conversation.<br />
<br />
=== Draws in chess ===<br />
A chess game can be won (and lost for the other party) or {{w|draw (chess)|drawn}}. It should be noted that draws most commonly occur by {{w|Draw by agreement|agreement}}, or very rarely by {{w|stalemate}}. A stalemate is a situation where the opponent's king is not in check, but none of the opponent's pieces can be moved in a legal way. In a human conversation, what amounts to a draw, and what amounts to a stalemate? <br />
<br />
If agreed draws should be allowed (and under which circumstances) is a matter of some discussion among chess players, thus adding another point to Randall's comic. For example, some tournament rules (e.g. the so-called "{{w|Draw by agreement#Only theoretical draws allowed (Sofia Rules)|Sofia Rules}}") do not allow a draw to be offered directly - any player has first to announce the intention of drawing to the arbiter (referee), who then decides if the position should be played out further or not.<br />
<br />
The official chess rules offer some ways the concept of a "draw" could be applied to a human conversation. According to the {{w|World Chess Federation}} (FIDE) rules, a draw can occur:<br />
#by agreement. Any player can offer a draw when it is his turn to move.<br />
#by stalemate. As explained above: The king is not in check, but no legal moves are available.<br />
#when the same position (with the same possible legal moves) occurs at least three times, with the same player having the same possibilities of moving his pieces. This draw must be requested by the player. According to the FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter himself declares the game drawn when the same position occurs five times.<br />
#when 50 moves have passed without a capture or a pawn move. Again, the draw occurs only upon request. According to the same FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter declares the game drawn when 75 moves have passed, without a request by either player.<br />
#when one of the players has used up his time, but his opponent has not enough material to mate. For example, king and pawn mate against a king in certain situations, while king against king leads to a draw by the 50-move-rule.<br />
#when both players have used up their time, but the arbiter cannot determine who did so first. This is impossible with modern electronic chess clocks, though.<br />
#upon request, when the opponent does not play seriously, and attempts to win the game by timeout.<br />
<br />
=== So, what's a "draw" in a conversation? ===<br />
*Draw agreed: As pointed out by Randall in his cartoon, a drawn conversation is one where all participants agree.<br />
*50-move-rule: Conversation is drawn, based on the excessive duration of the talk.<br />
*Draw by repetition: Both participants have talked in circles, arriving at the same conclusions all over again. No progress has been made.<br />
*Draw by stalemate: When A cannot convince B, but B doesn't have any legal argument left, and would have to resort to lies or logical fallacies in order to continue.<br />
<br />
=== Chess games and conversations ===<br />
The notion of applying chess scores to conversations begs the question if and how chess play and conversations can be compared.<br />
<br />
Chess games and human conversations do have some things in common:<br />
*The outcome fully depends on the behaviour of the partner/opponent.<br />
*As in chess, there is no certainty that a certain statement will have the desired effect. The opponent can always react in a surprising way.<br />
*Chess players, like conversation partners, do not "calculate" the opponent's next move(s). They don't compute anything. They are not cold-blooded machines. They do, however, similar to conversation partners in a job interview or a televised debate:<br />
**create a plan, and revise and refine it as necessary<br />
**try to get a good feel of the situation, and try to remember how they dealt with a similar situation in the past<br />
**try to identify the opponent's weaknesses, and try to remedy one's own weaknesses. Prepare against surprises and pitfalls.<br />
**focus on a few promising moves, and quickly spot if they're easily refutable. "You see, I spent 8 years programming {{w|BANCStar programming language|BANCStar}} applications at..." - "Anybody with that experience is dangerous and should be locked up." - "Oh."<br />
*The question of what is considered a good move (or statement) can only be answered in a subjective way. Chess engines though use algorithms to assess the position; and they can calculate the value of different possible moves. In human conversations, social norms help avoid making bad moves.<br />
*It is difficult to win against an experienced, alert partner or opponent. Competent exploitation of the opponent's errors is often the only way to win.<br />
*In both, you will try to find moves that make your win more probable, while avoiding deleterious moves. Due to inadequate computing power, it is hitherto impossible to calculate all possible ways a chess game (or a conversation) could play out. See also [[1002: Game AIs]]. Therefore it is impossible to design a path that leads to a guaranteed outcome - except when the situation has been simplified enough. There are handbooks to play endgames, explaining how to secure either a win or a draw, no matter the capability of the opponent. Nowadays, computer-generated {{w|endgame tablebase}}s exist for six-piece and seven-piece endgames. Those for six pieces are freely available and are about 1 terabyte large.<br />
<br />
Differences:<br />
*Chess games are inherently competitive, zero-sum ventures; if one player wins, the other loses. In contrast, conversations aren't usually competitive, so there isn't really a concept of a winner and loser unless the conversation was an argument or debate. Often, both people in a ''friendly'' conversation will benefit ("win") from having had the conversation.<br />
*Both chess games and conversations are turn-based, but lacking time controls, people's statements sometimes last an eternity or even longer.<br />
*Especially in disputes, (agreed) draws are extremely rare.<br />
*It is difficult to judge the winner of a conversation.<br />
*Chess games are extremely constrained by a set of rules. Players are expected to behave gentlemanly, and arbiters can hand out punishments for any behavior that brings the game in disrepute.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball and White Hat facing each other.]<br />
:Cueball: I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation.<br />
:White Hat: I don't know or care what that means.<br />
:Cueball: Fine.<br />
:White Hat: Fine.<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the frame:]<br />
:½–½<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Chess]]</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1800:_Chess_Notation&diff=135608
1800: Chess Notation
2017-02-18T14:40:30Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Draws in chess */ style</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1800<br />
| date = February 17, 2017<br />
| title = Chess Notation<br />
| image = chess_notation.png<br />
| titletext = I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation. (??)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Please change this comment when editing this page and not remove it too fast.}}<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]] begins a conversation with [[White Hat]] with the declaration that he will be scoring his conversations using chess notation.<br />
<br />
Given the caption, Cueball believes that this is a drawn conversation since White Hat doesn't care.<br />
<br />
The double question marks at the end of the title text can be interpreted in two ways: on one hand, they can indicate that the other party is confused by the statement, not understanding what it means. At the same time, the question marks in parentheses can also be interpreted as chess annotation commenting on the soundness of such move, as explained below.<br />
<br />
=== Chess notation (and annotation) ===<br />
<br />
{{w|Chess}} players and critics use certain {{w|chess notation|notations}} to write down chess games in a very short fashion (for example the {{w|Forsyth–Edwards Notation}}, which is both computer- and human-readable). In addition, ''{{w|chess annotation symbols}}'' like ! and !? help to comment certain moves in a similarly short fashion. That way it is possible to print or discuss a chess game (or a chess opening) in a limited space, for example in printed reference manuals.<br />
<br />
A short synopsis about common chess annotation symbols:<br />
<br />
!! – brilliant move: Very strong and counter-intuitive move. A sound sacrifice.<br/><br />
! – good move: A surprisingly good move.<br/><br />
!? – interesting move: Risky, or worthy of attention and analysis.<br/><br />
?! – dubious move: Designates a move that may be bad, but it is hard to explain why.<br/><br />
? – mistake: Poor move that should not be played.<br/><br />
'''??''' – {{w|blunder (chess)|blunder}}: Exceptionally bad move, usually designates a move that turns a winning position into a draw, or a draw into a losing position.<br/><br />
<br />
The score of the "white" player is always given first, followed by the score of the "black" player. Possible {{w|Chess tournament#Scoring|notations}} for the game outcome are:<br/><br />
<br />
1-0 – a win (for white) <br/><br />
0-1 – a loss (for white) <br/><br />
'''½-½''' – a draw <br/><br />
<br />
Because every chess game begins by moving a white piece, the following can be observed: When Cueball ends a conversation with 1-0,<br />
* he either began the conversation, and won it;<br />
* or he responded to a communication request, and lost the conversation.<br />
<br />
=== Draws in chess ===<br />
A chess game can be won (and lost for the other party) or {{w|draw (chess)|drawn}}. It should be noted that draws most commonly occur by {{w|Draw by agreement|agreement}}, or very rarely by {{w|stalemate}}. A stalemate is a situation where the opponent's king is not in check, but none of the opponent's pieces can be moved in a legal way. In a human conversation, what amounts to a draw, and what amounts to a stalemate? <br />
<br />
If agreed draws should be allowed (and under which circumstances) is a matter of some discussion among chess players, thus adding another point to Randall's comic. For example, some tournament rules (e.g. the so-called "{{w|Draw by agreement#Only theoretical draws allowed (Sofia Rules)|Sofia Rules}}") do not allow a draw to be offered directly - any player has first to announce the intention of drawing to the arbiter (referee), who then decides if the position should be played out further or not.<br />
<br />
The official chess rules offer some ways the concept of a "draw" could be applied to a human conversation. According to the {{w|World Chess Federation}} (FIDE) rules, a draw can occur:<br />
#by agreement. Any player can offer a draw when it is his turn to move.<br />
#by stalemate. As explained above: The king is not in check, but no legal moves are available.<br />
#when the same position (with the same possible legal moves) occurs at least three times, with the same player having the same possibilities of moving his pieces. This draw must be requested by the player. According to the FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter himself declares the game drawn when the same position occurs five times.<br />
#when 50 moves have passed without a capture or a pawn move. Again, the draw occurs only upon request. According to the same FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter declares the game drawn when 75 moves have passed, without a request by either player.<br />
#when one of the players has used up his time, but his opponent has not enough material to mate. For example, king and pawn mate against a king in certain situations, while king against king leads to a draw by the 50-move-rule.<br />
#when both players have used up their time, but the arbiter cannot determine who did so first. This is impossible with modern electronic chess clocks, though.<br />
#upon request, when the opponent does not play seriously, and attempts to win the game by timeout.<br />
<br />
=== Chess games and conversations ===<br />
The notion of applying chess scores to conversations begs the question if and how chess play and conversations can be compared.<br />
<br />
Chess games and human conversations do have some things in common:<br />
*The outcome fully depends on the behaviour of the partner/opponent.<br />
*As in chess, there is no certainty that a certain statement will have the desired effect. The opponent can always react in a surprising way.<br />
*Chess players, like conversation partners, do not "calculate" the opponent's next move(s). They don't compute anything. They are not cold-blooded machines. They do, however, similar to conversation partners in a job interview or a televised debate:<br />
**create a plan, and revise and refine it as necessary<br />
**try to get a good feel of the situation, and try to remember how they dealt with a similar situation in the past<br />
**try to identify the opponent's weaknesses, and try to remedy one's own weaknesses. Prepare against surprises and pitfalls.<br />
**focus on a few promising moves, and quickly spot if they're easily refutable. "You see, I spent 8 years programming {{w|BANCStar programming language|BANCStar}} applications at..." - "Anybody with that experience is dangerous and should be locked up." - "Oh."<br />
*The question of what is considered a good move (or statement) can only be answered in a subjective way. Chess engines though use algorithms to assess the position; and they can calculate the value of different possible moves. In human conversations, social norms help avoid making bad moves.<br />
*It is difficult to win against an experienced, alert partner or opponent. Competent exploitation of the opponent's errors is often the only way to win.<br />
*In both, you will try to find moves that make your win more probable, while avoiding deleterious moves. Due to inadequate computing power, it is hitherto impossible to calculate all possible ways a chess game (or a conversation) could play out. See also [[1002: Game AIs]]. Therefore it is impossible to design a path that leads to a guaranteed outcome - except when the situation has been simplified enough. There are handbooks to play endgames, explaining how to secure either a win or a draw, no matter the capability of the opponent. Nowadays, computer-generated {{w|endgame tablebase}}s exist for six-piece and seven-piece endgames. Those for six pieces are freely available and are about 1 terabyte large.<br />
<br />
Differences:<br />
*Chess games are inherently competitive, zero-sum ventures; if one player wins, the other loses. In contrast, conversations aren't usually competitive, so there isn't really a concept of a winner and loser unless the conversation was an argument or debate. Often, both people in a ''friendly'' conversation will benefit ("win") from having had the conversation.<br />
*Both chess games and conversations are turn-based, but lacking time controls, people's statements sometimes last an eternity or even longer.<br />
*Especially in disputes, (agreed) draws are extremely rare.<br />
*It is difficult to judge the winner of a conversation.<br />
*Chess games are extremely constrained by a set of rules. Players are expected to behave gentlemanly, and arbiters can hand out punishments for any behavior that brings the game in disrepute.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball and White Hat facing each other.]<br />
:Cueball: I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation.<br />
:White Hat: I don't know or care what that means.<br />
:Cueball: Fine.<br />
:White Hat: Fine.<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the frame:]<br />
:½–½<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Chess]]</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1800:_Chess_Notation&diff=135596
1800: Chess Notation
2017-02-18T11:03:24Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1800<br />
| date = February 17, 2017<br />
| title = Chess Notation<br />
| image = chess_notation.png<br />
| titletext = I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation. (??)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Please change this comment when editing this page and not remove it too fast.}}<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]] begins a conversation with [[White Hat]] with the declaration that he will be scoring his conversations using chess notation.<br />
<br />
Given the caption, Cueball believes that this is a drawn conversation since White Hat doesn't care.<br />
<br />
The double question marks at the end of the title text indicates that [[Cueball]]'s decision to score his conversations using chess notation was a 'blunder'.<br />
<br />
=== Chess notation (and annotation) ===<br />
<br />
{{w|Chess}} players and critics use certain {{w|chess notation|notations}} to write down chess games in a very short fashion (for example the {{w|Forsyth–Edwards Notation}}, which is both computer- and human-readable). In addition, ''{{w|chess annotation symbols}}'' like ! and !? help to comment certain moves in a similarly short fashion. That way it is possible to print or discuss a chess game (or a chess opening) in a limited space, for example in printed reference manuals.<br />
<br />
A short synopsis about common chess annotation symbols:<br />
<br />
!! – brilliant move: Very strong and counter-intuitive move. A sound sacrifice.<br/><br />
! – good move: A surprisingly good move.<br/><br />
!? – interesting move: Risky, or worthy of attention and analysis.<br/><br />
?! – dubious move: Designates a move that may be bad, but it is hard to explain why.<br/><br />
? – mistake: Poor move that should not be played.<br/><br />
'''??''' – {{w|blunder (chess)|blunder}}: Exceptionally bad move, usually designates a move that turns a winning position into a draw, or a draw into a losing position.<br/><br />
<br />
The score of the "white" player is always given first, followed by the score of the "black" player. Possible {{w|Chess tournament#Scoring|notations}} for the game outcome are:<br/><br />
<br />
1-0 – a win (for white) <br/><br />
0-1 – a loss (for white) <br/><br />
'''½-½''' – a draw <br/><br />
<br />
Because every chess game begins by moving a white piece, the following can be observed: When Cueball ends a conversation with 1-0,<br />
* he either began the conversation, and won it;<br />
* or he responded to a communication request, and lost the conversation.<br />
<br />
=== Draws in chess ===<br />
A chess game can be won (and lost for the other party) or {{w|draw (chess)|drawn}}. It should be noted that draws most commonly occur by {{w|Draw by agreement|agreement}}, or very rarely by {{w|stalemate}}. A stalemate is a situation where the opponent's king is not in check, but none of the opponent's pieces can be moved in a legal way. In a human conversation, what amounts to a draw, and what amounts to a stalemate? <br />
<br />
If agreed draws should be allowed (and under which circumstances) is a matter of some discussion among chess players, thus adding another point to Randall's comic. For example, some tournament rules (e.g. the so-called "{{w|Draw by agreement#Only theoretical draws allowed (Sofia Rules)|Sofia Rules}}") do not allow a draw to be offered directly - any player has first to announce the intention of drawing to the arbiter (referee), who then decides if the position should be played out further or not.<br />
<br />
The official chess rules offer some ways the concept of a "draw" could be applied to a human conversation. According to the {{w|World Chess Federation}} (FIDE) rules, a draw can occur:<br />
#by agreement. Any player can offer a draw when it is his turn to move.<br />
#by stalemate. As explained above: The king is not in check, but no legal moves are available.<br />
#when the same position (with the same possible legal moves) occurs at least three times, with the same player having the same possibilities of moving his pieces. This draw must be requested by the player. According to the FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter himself declares the game drawn when the same position occurs five times.<br />
#when 50 moves have passed without a capture or a pawn move. Again, the draw occurs only upon request. Again, according to FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter declares the game drawn when 75 moves have passed, without a request by either player.<br />
#when one of the players has used up his time, but his opponent has not enough material to mate. For example, king and pawn mate against a king in certain situations, while king against king leads to a draw by the 50-move-rule.<br />
#when both players have used up their time, but the arbiter cannot determine who did so first. This is impossible with modern electronic chess clocks, though.<br />
#upon request, when the opponent does not play seriously, and attempts to win the game by timeout.<br />
<br />
=== Chess games and conversations ===<br />
The notion of applying chess scores to conversations begs the question if and how chess play and conversations can be compared.<br />
<br />
Chess games and human conversations do have some things in common:<br />
*The outcome fully depends on the behaviour of the partner/opponent.<br />
*As in chess, there is no certainty that a certain statement will have the desired effect. The opponent can always react in a surprising way.<br />
*Chess players, like conversation partners, do not "calculate" the opponent's next move(s). They don't compute anything. They are not cold-blooded machines. They do, however, similar to conversation partners in a job interview or a televised debate:<br />
**create a plan, and revise and refine it as necessary<br />
**try to get a good feel of the situation, and try to remember how they dealt with a similar situation in the past<br />
**try to identify the opponent's weaknesses, and try to remedy one's own weaknesses. Prepare against surprises and pitfalls.<br />
**focus on a few promising moves, and quickly spot if they're easily refutable. "You see, I spent 8 years programming {{w|BANCStar programming language|BANCStar}} applications at..." - "Anybody with that experience is dangerous and should be locked up." - "Oh."<br />
*The question of what is considered a good move (or statement) can only be answered in a subjective way. Chess engines though use algorithms to assess the position; and they can calculate the value of different possible moves. In human conversations, social norms help avoid making bad moves.<br />
*It is difficult to win against an experienced, alert partner or opponent. Competent exploitation of the opponent's errors is often the only way to win.<br />
*In both, you will try to find moves that make your win more probable, while avoiding deleterious moves. Due to inadequate computing power, it is hitherto impossible to calculate all possible ways a chess game (or a conversation) could play out. See also [[1002: Game AIs]]. Therefore it is impossible to design a path that leads to a guaranteed outcome - except when the situation has been simplified enough. There are handbooks to play endgames, explaining how to secure either a win or a draw, no matter the capability of the opponent. Nowadays, computer-generated {{w|endgame tablebase}}s exist for six-piece and seven-piece endgames. Those for six pieces are freely available and are about 1 terabyte large.<br />
<br />
Differences:<br />
*Chess games are inherently competitive, zero-sum ventures; if one player wins, the other loses. In contrast, conversations aren't usually competitive, so there isn't really a concept of a winner and loser unless the conversation was an argument or debate. Often, both people in a ''friendly'' conversation will benefit ("win") from having had the conversation.<br />
*Both chess games and conversations are turn-based, but lacking time controls, people's statements sometimes last an eternity or even longer.<br />
*Especially in disputes, (agreed) draws are extremely rare.<br />
*It is difficult to judge the winner of a conversation.<br />
*Chess games are extremely constrained by a set of rules. Players are expected to behave gentlemanly, and arbiters can hand out punishments for any behavior that brings the game in disrepute.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball and White Hat facing each other.]<br />
:Cueball: I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation.<br />
:White Hat: I don't know or care what that means.<br />
:Cueball: Fine.<br />
:White Hat: Fine.<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the frame:]<br />
:½–½<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Chess]]</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1800:_Chess_Notation&diff=135594
1800: Chess Notation
2017-02-18T10:49:54Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1800<br />
| date = February 17, 2017<br />
| title = Chess Notation<br />
| image = chess_notation.png<br />
| titletext = I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation. (??)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Please change this comment when editing this page and not remove it too fast.}}<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]] begins a conversation with [[White Hat]] with the declaration that he will be scoring his conversations using chess notation.<br />
<br />
Given the caption, Cueball believes that this is a drawn conversation since White Hat doesn't care.<br />
<br />
The double question marks at the end of the title text indicates that [[Cueball]]'s decision to score his conversations using chess notation was a 'blunder'.<br />
<br />
=== Chess notation (and annotation) ===<br />
<br />
{{w|Chess}} players and critics use certain {{w|chess notation|notations}} to write down chess games in a very short fashion (for example the {{w|Forsyth–Edwards Notation}}, which is both computer- and human-readable). In addition, ''{{w|chess annotation symbols}}'' like ! and !? help to comment certain moves in a similarly short fashion. That way it is possible to print or discuss a chess game (or a chess opening) in a limited space, for example in printed reference manuals.<br />
<br />
A short synopsis about common chess annotation symbols:<br />
<br />
!! – brilliant move: Very strong and counter-intuitive move. A sound sacrifice.<br/><br />
! – good move: A surprisingly good move.<br/><br />
!? – interesting move: Risky, or worthy of attention and analysis.<br/><br />
?! – dubious move: Designates a move that may be bad, but it is hard to explain why.<br/><br />
? – mistake: Poor move that should not be played.<br/><br />
'''??''' – {{w|blunder (chess)|blunder}}: Exceptionally bad move, usually designates a move that turns a winning position into a draw, or a draw into a losing position.<br/><br />
<br />
The score of the "white" player is always given first, followed by the score of the "black" player. Possible {{w|Chess tournament#Scoring|notations}} for the game outcome are:<br/><br />
<br />
1-0 – a win (for white) <br/><br />
0-1 – a loss (for white) <br/><br />
'''½-½''' – a draw <br/><br />
<br />
Because every chess game begins by moving a white piece, the following can be observed: When Cueball ends a conversation with 1-0,<br />
* he either began the conversation, and won it;<br />
* or he responded to a communication request, and lost the conversation.<br />
<br />
=== Draws in chess ===<br />
A chess game can be won (and lost for the other party) or {{w|draw (chess)|drawn}}. It should be noted that draws most commonly occur by {{w|Draw by agreement|agreement}}, or very rarely {{w|stalemate}}. A stalemate is a situation where the opponent's king is not in check, but none of the opponent's pieces can be moved in a legal way. In a human conversation, what amounts to a draw, and what amounts to a stalemate? <br />
<br />
If agreed draws should be allowed (and under which circumstances) is a matter of some discussion among chess players, thus adding another point to Randall's comic. For example, some tournament rules (e.g. the so-called "{{w|Draw by agreement#Only theoretical draws allowed (Sofia Rules)|Sofia Rules}}") do not allow a draw to be offered directly - any player has first to announce the intention of drawing to the arbiter (referee), who then decides if the position should be played out further or not.<br />
<br />
The official chess rules offer some ways the concept of a "draw" could be applied to a human conversation. According to the {{w|World Chess Federation}} (FIDE) rules, a draw can occur:<br />
#by agreement. Any player can offer a draw when it is his turn to move.<br />
#by stalemate. As explained above: The king is not in check, but no legal moves are available.<br />
#when the same position (with the same possible legal moves) occurs at least three times, with the same player having the same possibilities of moving his pieces. This draw must be requested by the player. According to the FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter himself declares the game drawn when the same position occurs five times.<br />
#when 50 moves have passed without a capture or a pawn move. Again, the draw occurs only upon request. Again, according to FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter declares the game drawn when 75 moves have passed, without a request by either player.<br />
#when one of the players has used up his time, but his opponent has not enough material to mate. For example, king and pawn mate against a king in certain situations, while king against king leads to a draw by the 50-move-rule.<br />
#when both players have used up their time, but the arbiter cannot determine who did so first. This is impossible with modern electronic chess clocks, though.<br />
#upon request, when the opponent does not play seriously, and attempts to win the game by timeout.<br />
<br />
=== Chess games and conversations ===<br />
Chess games and human conversations do have some things in common:<br />
*The outcome fully depends on the behaviour of the partner/opponent.<br />
*As in chess, there is no certainty that a certain statement will have the desired effect. The opponent can always react in a surprising way.<br />
*Chess players, like conversation partners, do not "calculate" the opponent's next move(s). They don't compute anything. They are not cold-blooded machines. They do, however, similar to conversation partners in a job interview or a televised debate:<br />
**create a plan, and revise and refine it as necessary<br />
**try to get a good feel of the situation, and try to remember how they dealt with a similar situation in the past<br />
**try to identify the opponent's weaknesses, and try to remedy one's own weaknesses. Prepare against surprises and pitfalls.<br />
**focus on a few promising moves, and quickly spot if they're easily refutable. "You see, I spent 8 years programming {{w|BANCStar programming language|BANCStar}} applications at..." - "Anybody with that experience is dangerous and should be locked up." - "Oh."<br />
*The question of what is considered a good move (or statement) can only be answered in a subjective way. Chess engines though use algorithms to assess the position; and they can calculate the value of different possible moves. In human conversations, social norms help avoid making bad moves.<br />
*It is difficult to win against an experienced, alert partner or opponent. Competent exploitation of the opponent's errors is often the only way to win.<br />
*In both, you will try to find moves that make your win more probable, while avoiding deleterious moves. Due to inadequate computing power, it is hitherto impossible to calculate all possible ways a chess game (or a conversation) could play out. See also [[1002: Game AIs]]. Therefore it is impossible to design a path that leads to a guaranteed outcome - except when the situation has been simplified enough. There are handbooks to play endgames, explaining how to secure either a win or a draw, no matter the capability of the opponent. Nowadays, computer-generated {{w|endgame tablebase}}s exist for six-piece and seven-piece endgames. Those for six pieces are freely available and are about 1 terabyte large.<br />
<br />
Differences:<br />
*Chess games are inherently competitive, zero-sum ventures; if one player wins, the other loses. In contrast, conversations aren't usually competitive, so there isn't really a concept of a winner and loser unless the conversation was an argument or debate. Often, both people in a conversion will benefit ("win") from having had the conversion.<br />
*Both chess games and conversations are turn-based, but people's statements sometimes last an eternity or even longer.<br />
*Especially in heated conversations, draws are extremely rare.<br />
*It is difficult to judge the winner of a conversation.<br />
*Chess games are extremely constrained by a set of rules.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball and White Hat facing each other.]<br />
:Cueball: I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation.<br />
:White Hat: I don't know or care what that means.<br />
:Cueball: Fine.<br />
:White Hat: Fine.<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the frame:]<br />
:½–½<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Chess]]</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1800:_Chess_Notation&diff=135577
1800: Chess Notation
2017-02-17T21:16:23Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Chess notation (and annotation) */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1800<br />
| date = February 17, 2017<br />
| title = Chess Notation<br />
| image = chess_notation.png<br />
| titletext = I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation. (??)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Please change this comment when editing this page and not remove it too fast.}}<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]] begins a conversation with [[White Hat]] with the declaration that he will be scoring his conversations using chess notation.<br />
<br />
<br />
Given the caption, Cueball believes that this is a drawn conversation since White Hat doesn't care.<br />
<br />
The double question marks at the end of the title text indicates that [[Cueball]]'s decision to score his conversations using chess notation was a 'blunder'.<br />
<br />
=== Chess notation (and annotation) ===<br />
<br />
{{w|Chess}} players and critics use certain {{w|chess notation|notations}} to write down chess games in a very short fashion (for example the {{w|Forsyth–Edwards Notation}}, which is both computer- and human-readable). In addition, ''{{w|chess annotation symbols}}'' like ! and !? help to comment certain moves in a similarly short fashion. That way it is possible to print or discuss a chess game (or a chess opening) in a limited space, for example in printed reference manuals.<br />
<br />
A short synopsis about common chess annotation symbols:<br />
<br />
!! – brilliant move: Very strong and counter-intuitive move. A sound sacrifice.<br/><br />
! – good move: A surprisingly good move.<br/><br />
!? – interesting move: Risky, or worthy of attention and analysis.<br/><br />
?! – dubious move: Designates a move that may be bad, but it is hard to explain why.<br/><br />
? – mistake: Poor move that should not be played.<br/><br />
'''??''' – {{w|blunder (chess)|blunder}}: Exceptionally bad move, usually designates a move that turns a winning position into a draw, or a draw into a losing position.<br/><br />
<br />
The score of the "white" player is always given first, followed by the score of the "black" player. Possible notations for the game outcome are:<br/><br />
1-0 - A win (for white) <br/><br />
0-1 - A loss (for white) <br/><br />
½-½ - a draw <br/><br />
<br />
Because every chess game begins by moving a white piece, the following can be observed: When Cueball ends a conversation with 1-0,<br />
* he either began the conversation, and won it;<br />
* or he responded to a communication request, and lost the conversation.<br />
<br />
=== Draws in chess ===<br />
A chess game can be won (and lost for the other party) or {{w|draw (chess)|drawn}}. It should be noted that draws most commonly occur by {{w|Draw by agreement|agreement}}, or by {{w|stalemate}}. A stalemate is a situation where the opponent's king is not in check, but none of the opponent's pieces can be moved in a legal way. In a human conversation, what amounts to a draw, and what amounts to a stalemate? <br />
<br />
If agreed draws should be allowed (and under which circumstances) is a matter of some discussion among chess players, thus adding another point to Randall's comic. For example, some tournament rules (e.g. the so-called "{{w|Draw by agreement#Only theoretical draws allowed (Sofia Rules)|Sofia Rules}}") do not allow a draw to be offered directly - any player has first to announce the intention of drawing to the arbiter (referee), who then decides if the position should be played out further or not.<br />
<br />
The official chess rules offer some ways the concept of a "draw" could be applied to a human conversation. According to the {{w|World Chess Federation}} (FIDE) rules, a draw can occur:<br />
#by agreement. Any player can offer a draw when it is his turn to move.<br />
#by stalemate. As explained above: The king is not in check, but no legal moves are available.<br />
#when the same position (with the same possible legal moves) occurs at least three times, with the same player having the same possibilities of moving his pieces. This draw must be requested by the player. According to the FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter himself declares the game drawn when the same position occurs five times.<br />
#when 50 moves have passed without a capture or a pawn move. Again, the draw occurs only upon request. Analogous to FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter declares the game drawn when 75 moves have passed, again without a request by either player.<br />
#when one of the players has used up his time, but his opponent has not enough material to mate. For example, king and pawn mate against a king in certain situations, while king against king leads to a draw by the 50-move-rule.<br />
#when both players have used up their time, but the arbiter cannot determine who did so first. This is impossible with modern electronic chess clocks, though.<br />
#upon request, when the opponent does not play seriously, and attempts to win the game by timeout.<br />
<br />
=== Chess games and conversations ===<br />
Chess games and human conversations do have some things in common:<br />
*The outcome fully depends on the behaviour of the partner/opponent.<br />
*As in chess, there is no certainty that a certain statement will have the desired effect. The opponent can always react in a surprising way.<br />
*The question of what is considered a good move (or statement) can only be answered in a subjective way. Chess engines though use algorithms to assess the position; and they can calculate the value of different possible moves. In human conversations, social norms help avoid making bad moves.<br />
*It is difficult to win against an experienced, alert partner or opponent. Competent exploitation of the opponent's errors is often the only way to win.<br />
*In both, you will try to find moves that make your win more probable, while avoiding deleterious moves. Due to inadequate computing power, it is hitherto impossible to calculate all possible ways a chess game (or a conversation) could play out. Therefore it is impossible to design a path that leads to a guaranteed outcome - except when the situation has been simplified enough. There are handbooks to play endgames, explaining how to secure either a win or a draw, no matter the capability of the opponent. Nowadays, computer-generated {{w|endgame tablebase}}s exist for six-piece and seven-piece endgames. Those for six pieces are freely available and are about 1 terabyte large.<br />
<br />
Differences:<br />
*Both chess games and conversations are turn-based, but people's statements sometimes last an eternity or even longer.<br />
*Especially in heated conversations, draws are extremely rare.<br />
*It is difficult to judge the winner of a conversation.<br />
*Chess games are extremely constrained by a set of rules.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball and White Hat facing each other.]<br />
:Cueball: I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation.<br />
:White Hat: I don't know or care what that means.<br />
:Cueball: Fine.<br />
:White Hat: Fine.<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the frame:]<br />
:½–½<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Chess]]</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1800:_Chess_Notation&diff=135573
1800: Chess Notation
2017-02-17T21:08:02Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Chess games and conversations */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1800<br />
| date = February 17, 2017<br />
| title = Chess Notation<br />
| image = chess_notation.png<br />
| titletext = I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation. (??)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Please change this comment when editing this page and not remove it too fast.}}<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]] begins a conversation with [[White Hat]] with the declaration that he will be scoring his conversations using chess notation.<br />
<br />
<br />
Given the caption, Cueball believes that this is a drawn conversation since White Hat doesn't care.<br />
<br />
The double question marks at the end of the title text indicates that [[Cueball]]'s decision to score his conversations using chess notation was a 'blunder'.<br />
<br />
=== Chess notation (and annotation) ===<br />
<br />
{{w|Chess}} players and critics use certain {{w|chess notation|notations}} to write down chess games in a very short fashion (for example the {{w|Forsyth–Edwards Notation}}, which is both computer- and human-readable). In addition, ''{{w|chess annotation symbols}}'' like ! and !? help to comment certain moves in a similarly short fashion. That way it is possible to print or discuss a chess game (or a chess opening) in a limited space, for example in printed reference manuals.<br />
<br />
A short synopsis about common chess annotation symbols:<br />
<br />
!! – brilliant move: Very strong and counter-intuitive move. Sound sacrifices.<br/><br />
! – good move: A surprisingly good move.<br/><br />
!? – interesting move: Risky move, or worthy of attention and analysis.<br/><br />
?! – dubious move: Designates a move that may be bad, but it is hard to explain why.<br/><br />
? – mistake: Poor move that should not be played.<br/><br />
'''??''' – {{w|blunder (chess)|blunder}}: Exceptionally bad move, usually designates moves that turn a winning position into a draw, or a draw into a losing position.<br/><br />
<br />
The score of the "white" player is always given first, followed by the score of the "black" player. Possible notations for the game outcome are:<br/><br />
1-0 - A win (for white) <br/><br />
0-1 - A loss (for white) <br/><br />
½-½ - a draw <br/><br />
<br />
Because every chess game begins by moving a white piece, the following can be observed: When Cueball ends a conversation with 1-0,<br />
* he either began the conversation, and won it;<br />
* or he responded to a communication request, and lost the conversation.<br />
<br />
=== Draws in chess ===<br />
A chess game can be won (and lost for the other party) or {{w|draw (chess)|drawn}}. It should be noted that draws most commonly occur by {{w|Draw by agreement|agreement}}, or by {{w|stalemate}}. A stalemate is a situation where the opponent's king is not in check, but none of the opponent's pieces can be moved in a legal way. In a human conversation, what amounts to a draw, and what amounts to a stalemate? <br />
<br />
If agreed draws should be allowed (and under which circumstances) is a matter of some discussion among chess players, thus adding another point to Randall's comic. For example, some tournament rules (e.g. the so-called "{{w|Draw by agreement#Only theoretical draws allowed (Sofia Rules)|Sofia Rules}}") do not allow a draw to be offered directly - any player has first to announce the intention of drawing to the arbiter (referee), who then decides if the position should be played out further or not.<br />
<br />
The official chess rules offer some ways the concept of a "draw" could be applied to a human conversation. According to the {{w|World Chess Federation}} (FIDE) rules, a draw can occur:<br />
#by agreement. Any player can offer a draw when it is his turn to move.<br />
#by stalemate. As explained above: The king is not in check, but no legal moves are available.<br />
#when the same position (with the same possible legal moves) occurs at least three times, with the same player having the same possibilities of moving his pieces. This draw must be requested by the player. According to the FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter himself declares the game drawn when the same position occurs five times.<br />
#when 50 moves have passed without a capture or a pawn move. Again, the draw occurs only upon request. Analogous to FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter declares the game drawn when 75 moves have passed, again without a request by either player.<br />
#when one of the players has used up his time, but his opponent has not enough material to mate. For example, king and pawn mate against a king in certain situations, while king against king leads to a draw by the 50-move-rule.<br />
#when both players have used up their time, but the arbiter cannot determine who did so first. This is impossible with modern electronic chess clocks, though.<br />
#upon request, when the opponent does not play seriously, and attempts to win the game by timeout.<br />
<br />
=== Chess games and conversations ===<br />
Chess games and human conversations do have some things in common:<br />
*The outcome fully depends on the behaviour of the partner/opponent.<br />
*As in chess, there is no certainty that a certain statement will have the desired effect. The opponent can always react in a surprising way.<br />
*The question of what is considered a good move (or statement) can only be answered in a subjective way. Chess engines though use algorithms to assess the position; and they can calculate the value of different possible moves. In human conversations, social norms help avoid making bad moves.<br />
*It is difficult to win against an experienced, alert partner or opponent. Competent exploitation of the opponent's errors is often the only way to win.<br />
*In both, you will try to find moves that make your win more probable, while avoiding deleterious moves. Due to inadequate computing power, it is hitherto impossible to calculate all possible ways a chess game (or a conversation) could play out. Therefore it is impossible to design a path that leads to a guaranteed outcome - except when the situation has been simplified enough. There are handbooks to play endgames, explaining how to secure either a win or a draw, no matter the capability of the opponent. Nowadays, computer-generated {{w|endgame tablebase}}s exist for six-piece and seven-piece endgames. Those for six pieces are freely available and are about 1 terabyte large.<br />
<br />
Differences:<br />
*Both chess games and conversations are turn-based, but people's statements sometimes last an eternity or even longer.<br />
*Especially in heated conversations, draws are extremely rare.<br />
*It is difficult to judge the winner of a conversation.<br />
*Chess games are extremely constrained by a set of rules.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball and White Hat facing each other.]<br />
:Cueball: I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation.<br />
:White Hat: I don't know or care what that means.<br />
:Cueball: Fine.<br />
:White Hat: Fine.<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the frame:]<br />
:½–½<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Chess]]</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1800:_Chess_Notation&diff=135557
1800: Chess Notation
2017-02-17T19:36:40Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Chess games and conversations */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1800<br />
| date = February 17, 2017<br />
| title = Chess Notation<br />
| image = chess_notation.png<br />
| titletext = I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation. (??)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Please change this comment when editing this page and not remove it too fast.}}<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]] begins a conversation with [[White Hat]] with the declaration that he will be scoring his conversations using chess notation.<br />
<br />
<br />
Given the caption, Cueball believes that this is a drawn conversation since White Hat doesn't care.<br />
<br />
The double question marks at the end of the title text indicates that [[Cueball]]'s decision to score his conversations using chess notation was a 'blunder'.<br />
<br />
=== Chess notation (and annotation) ===<br />
<br />
{{w|Chess}} players and critics use certain {{w|chess notation|notations}} to write down chess games in a very short fashion (for example the {{w|Forsyth–Edwards Notation}}, which is both computer- and human-readable). In addition, ''{{w|chess annotation symbols}}'' like ! and !? help to comment certain moves in a similarly short fashion. That way it is possible to print or discuss a chess game (or a chess opening) in a limited space, for example in printed reference manuals.<br />
<br />
A short synopsis about common chess annotation symbols:<br />
<br />
!! – brilliant move: Very strong and counter-intuitive move. Sound sacrifices.<br/><br />
! – good move: A surprisingly good move.<br/><br />
!? – interesting move: Risky move, or worthy of attention and analysis.<br/><br />
?! – dubious move: Designates a move that may be bad, but it is hard to explain why.<br/><br />
? – mistake: Poor move that should not be played.<br/><br />
'''??''' – {{w|blunder (chess)|blunder}}: Exceptionally bad move, usually designates moves that turn a winning position into a draw, or a draw into a losing position.<br/><br />
<br />
The score of the "white" player is always given first, followed by the score of the "black" player. Possible notations for the game outcome are:<br/><br />
1-0 - A win (for white) <br/><br />
0-1 - A loss (for white) <br/><br />
½-½ - a draw <br/><br />
<br />
Because every chess game begins by moving a white piece, the following can be observed: When Cueball ends a conversation with 1-0,<br />
* he either began the conversation, and won it;<br />
* or he responded to a communication request, and lost the conversation.<br />
<br />
=== Draws in chess ===<br />
A chess game can be won (and lost for the other party) or {{w|draw (chess)|drawn}}. It should be noted that draws most commonly occur by {{w|Draw by agreement|agreement}}, or by {{w|stalemate}}. A stalemate is a situation where the opponent's king is not in check, but none of the opponent's pieces can be moved in a legal way. In a human conversation, what amounts to a draw, and what amounts to a stalemate? <br />
<br />
If agreed draws should be allowed (and under which circumstances) is a matter of some discussion among chess players, thus adding another point to Randall's comic. For example, some tournament rules (e.g. the so-called "{{w|Draw by agreement#Only theoretical draws allowed (Sofia Rules)|Sofia Rules}}") do not allow a draw to be offered directly - any player has first to announce the intention of drawing to the arbiter (referee), who then decides if the position should be played out further or not.<br />
<br />
The official chess rules offer some ways the concept of a "draw" could be applied to a human conversation. According to the {{w|World Chess Federation}} (FIDE) rules, a draw can occur:<br />
#by agreement. Any player can offer a draw when it is his turn to move.<br />
#by stalemate. As explained above: The king is not in check, but no legal moves are available.<br />
#when the same position (with the same possible legal moves) occurs at least three times, with the same player having the same possibilities of moving his pieces. This draw must be requested by the player. According to the FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter himself declares the game drawn when the same position occurs five times.<br />
#when 50 moves have passed without a capture or a pawn move. Again, the draw occurs only upon request. Analogous to FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter declares the game drawn when 75 moves have passed, again without a request by either player.<br />
#when one of the players has used up his time, but his opponent has not enough material to mate. For example, king and pawn mate against a king in certain situations, while king against king leads to a draw by the 50-move-rule.<br />
#when both players have used up their time, but the arbiter cannot determine who did so first. This is impossible with modern electronic chess clocks, though.<br />
#upon request, when the opponent does not play seriously, and attempts to win the game by timeout.<br />
<br />
=== Chess games and conversations ===<br />
Chess games and human conversations do have some things in common:<br />
*The outcome fully depends on the behaviour of the partner/opponent.<br />
*As in chess, there is no certainty that a certain statement will have the desired effect. The opponent can always react in a surprising way.<br />
*The question of what is considered a good move (or statement) can only be answered in a subjective way; though chess engines use methods to assess the position and calculate the value of chess moves.<br />
*It is difficult to win against an experienced, alert partner or opponent. Competent exploitation of the opponent's errors is often the only way to win.<br />
*In both, you will try to find moves that make your win more probable, while avoiding deleterious moves. Due to inadequate computing power, it is hitherto impossible to calculate all possible ways a chess game (or a conversation) could play out. Therefore it is impossible to design a path that leads to a guaranteed outcome; except when the situation has been simplified enough - there are handbooks to solve endgames, explaining how to secure either a win or a draw, no matter the capability of the opponent. Nowadays, computer-generated {{w|endgame tablebase}}s exist for six-piece and seven-piece endgames; they are 1 respectively 140 terabytes large.<br />
<br />
Differences:<br />
*Both chess games and conversations are turn-based, but people's statements sometimes last an eternity or even longer.<br />
*Especially in heated conversations, draws are extremely rare.<br />
*It is difficult to judge the winner of a conversation.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball and White Hat facing each other.]<br />
:Cueball: I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation.<br />
:White Hat: I don't know or care what that means.<br />
:Cueball: Fine.<br />
:White Hat: Fine.<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the single frame:]<br />
:½–½<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1800:_Chess_Notation&diff=135554
1800: Chess Notation
2017-02-17T19:22:36Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1800<br />
| date = February 17, 2017<br />
| title = Chess Notation<br />
| image = chess_notation.png<br />
| titletext = I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation. (??)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Please change this comment when editing this page and not remove it too fast.}}<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]] begins a conversation with [[White Hat]] with the declaration that he will be scoring his conversations using chess notation.<br />
<br />
<br />
Given the caption, Cueball believes that this is a drawn conversation since White Hat doesn't care.<br />
<br />
The double question marks at the end of the title text indicates that [[Cueball]]'s decision to score his conversations using chess notation was a 'blunder'.<br />
<br />
=== Chess notation (and annotation) ===<br />
<br />
{{w|Chess}} players and critics use certain {{w|chess notation|notations}} to write down chess games in a very short fashion (for example the {{w|Forsyth–Edwards Notation}}, which is both computer- and human-readable). In addition, ''{{w|chess annotation symbols}}'' like ! and !? help to comment certain moves in a similarly short fashion. That way it is possible to print or discuss a chess game (or a chess opening) in a limited space, for example in printed reference manuals.<br />
<br />
A short synopsis about common chess annotation symbols:<br />
<br />
!! – brilliant move: Very strong and counter-intuitive move. Sound sacrifices.<br/><br />
! – good move: A surprisingly good move.<br/><br />
!? – interesting move: Risky move, or worthy of attention and analysis.<br/><br />
?! – dubious move: Designates a move that may be bad, but it is hard to explain why.<br/><br />
? – mistake: Poor move that should not be played.<br/><br />
'''??''' – {{w|blunder (chess)|blunder}}: Exceptionally bad move, usually designates moves that turn a winning position into a draw, or a draw into a losing position.<br/><br />
<br />
The score of the "white" player is always given first, followed by the score of the "black" player. Possible notations for the game outcome are:<br/><br />
1-0 - A win (for white) <br/><br />
0-1 - A loss (for white) <br/><br />
½-½ - a draw <br/><br />
<br />
Because every chess game begins by moving a white piece, the following can be observed: When Cueball ends a conversation with 1-0,<br />
* he either began the conversation, and won it;<br />
* or he responded to a communication request, and lost the conversation.<br />
<br />
=== Draws in chess ===<br />
A chess game can be won (and lost for the other party) or {{w|draw (chess)|drawn}}. It should be noted that draws most commonly occur by {{w|Draw by agreement|agreement}}, or by {{w|stalemate}}. A stalemate is a situation where the opponent's king is not in check, but none of the opponent's pieces can be moved in a legal way. In a human conversation, what amounts to a draw, and what amounts to a stalemate? <br />
<br />
If agreed draws should be allowed (and under which circumstances) is a matter of some discussion among chess players, thus adding another point to Randall's comic. For example, some tournament rules (e.g. the so-called "{{w|Draw by agreement#Only theoretical draws allowed (Sofia Rules)|Sofia Rules}}") do not allow a draw to be offered directly - any player has first to announce the intention of drawing to the arbiter (referee), who then decides if the position should be played out further or not.<br />
<br />
The official chess rules offer some ways the concept of a "draw" could be applied to a human conversation. According to the {{w|World Chess Federation}} (FIDE) rules, a draw can occur:<br />
#by agreement. Any player can offer a draw when it is his turn to move.<br />
#by stalemate. As explained above: The king is not in check, but no legal moves are available.<br />
#when the same position (with the same possible legal moves) occurs at least three times, with the same player having the same possibilities of moving his pieces. This draw must be requested by the player. According to the FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter himself declares the game drawn when the same position occurs five times.<br />
#when 50 moves have passed without a capture or a pawn move. Again, the draw occurs only upon request. Analogous to FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter declares the game drawn when 75 moves have passed, again without a request by either player.<br />
#when one of the players has used up his time, but his opponent has not enough material to mate. For example, king and pawn mate against a king in certain situations, while king against king leads to a draw by the 50-move-rule.<br />
#when both players have used up their time, but the arbiter cannot determine who did so first. This is impossible with modern electronic chess clocks, though.<br />
#upon request, when the opponent does not play seriously, and attempts to win the game by timeout.<br />
<br />
=== Chess games and conversations ===<br />
Chess games and human conversations do have some things in common:<br />
*The outcome heavily depends on the behaviour of the partner/opponent.<br />
*As in chess, there is no certainty that a certain statement will have the desired effect.<br />
*The question of what is considered a good move (or statement) can only be answered in a subjective way.<br />
*It is difficult to win against an experienced partner or opponent. Competent exploitation of the opponent's errors is often the only way to win. <br />
*In both, you will try to make moves that make your win more probable, while avoiding deleterious moves. Due to inadequate computing power, it is hitherto impossible to calculate all possible ways a chess game (or a conversation) could play out.<br />
<br />
Differences:<br />
*Both chess games and conversations are turn-based, but people's statements during a talk do not have a time limit. <br />
*In conversations, draws are very rare.<br />
*It is difficult to judge the winner of a conversation.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball and White Hat facing each other.]<br />
:Cueball: I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation.<br />
:White Hat: I don't know or care what that means.<br />
:Cueball: Fine.<br />
:White Hat: Fine.<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the single frame:]<br />
:½–½<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1800:_Chess_Notation&diff=135547
1800: Chess Notation
2017-02-17T18:55:47Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1800<br />
| date = February 17, 2017<br />
| title = Chess Notation<br />
| image = chess_notation.png<br />
| titletext = I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation. (??)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Please change this comment when editing this page and not remove it too fast.}}<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]] begins a conversation with [[White Hat]] with the declaration that he will be scoring his conversations using chess notation.<br />
<br />
{{w|Chess}} players and critics use certain notations to write down chess games in a very short fashion (for example the {{w|Forsyth–Edwards Notation}}, which is both computer- and human-readable). In addition, ''{{w|chess annotation symbols}}'' like ! and !? help to comment certain moves in a similarly short fashion. That way it is possible to print or discuss a chess game (or a chess opening) in a limited space, for example in printed reference manuals.<br />
<br />
A short synopsis about common chess annotation symbols:<br />
<br />
!! – brilliant move: Very strong and counter-intuitive move. Sound sacrifices.<br/><br />
! – good move: A surprisingly good move.<br/><br />
!? – interesting move: Risky move, or worthy of attention and analysis.<br/><br />
?! – dubious move: Designates a move that may be bad, but it is hard to explain why.<br/><br />
? – mistake: Poor move that should not be played.<br/><br />
'''??''' – {{w|blunder (chess)|blunder}}: Exceptionally bad move, usually designates moves that turn a winning position into a draw, or a draw into a losing position.<br/><br />
<br />
The score of the "white" player is always given first, followed by the score of the "black" player. Possible notations for the game outcome are:<br/><br />
1-0 - A win (for white) <br/><br />
0-1 - A loss (for white) <br/><br />
½-½ - a draw <br/><br />
<br />
Because every chess game begins by moving a white piece, the following can be observed: When Cueball ends a conversation with 1-0,<br />
* he either began the conversation, and won it;<br />
* or he responded to a communication request, and lost the conversation.<br />
<br />
A chess game can be won (and lost for the other party) or {{w|draw (chess)|drawn}}. It should be noted that draws most commonly occur by {{w|Draw by agreement|agreement}}, or by {{w|stalemate}}. A stalemate is a situation where the opponent's king is not in check, but none of the opponent's pieces can be moved in a legal way. In a human conversation, what amounts to a draw, and what amounts to a stalemate? <br />
<br />
If agreed draws should be allowed (and under which circumstances) is a matter of some discussion among chess players, thus adding another point to Randall's comic. For example, some tournament rules (e.g. the so-called "{{w|Draw by agreement#Only theoretical draws allowed (Sofia Rules)|Sofia Rules}}") do not allow a draw to be offered directly - any player has first to announce the intention of drawing to the arbiter (referee), who then decides if the position should be played out further or not.<br />
<br />
The official chess rules offer some ways the concept of a "draw" could be applied to a human conversation. According to the {{w|World Chess Federation}} (FIDE) rules, a draw can occur:<br />
#by agreement. Any player can offer a draw when it is his turn to move.<br />
#by stalemate. As explained above: The king is not in check, but no legal moves are available.<br />
#when the same position (with the same possible legal moves) occurs at least three times, with the same player having the same possibilities of moving his pieces. This draw must be requested by the player. According to the FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter himself declares the game drawn when the same position occurs five times.<br />
#when 50 moves have passed without a capture or a pawn move. Again, the draw occurs only upon request. Analogous to FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter declares the game drawn when 75 moves have passed, again without a request by either player.<br />
#when one of the players has used up his time, but his opponent has not enough material to mate. For example, king and pawn mate against a king in certain situations, while king against king leads to a draw by the 50-move-rule.<br />
#when both players have used up their time, but the arbiter cannot determine who did so first. This is impossible with modern electronic chess clocks, though.<br />
#upon request, when the opponent does not play seriously, and attempts to win the game by timeout.<br />
<br />
Given the caption, Cueball believes that this is a drawn conversation since White Hat doesn't care.<br />
<br />
The double question marks at the end of the title text indicates that [[Cueball]]'s decision to score his conversations using chess notation was a 'blunder'.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Layout, don't remove this tag until this is really complete.}}<br />
Cueball: "I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation."<br />
<br />
White Hat: "I don't know or care what that means."<br />
<br />
Cueball: "Fine."<br />
<br />
White Hat: "Fine."<br />
<br />
[Caption below drawing:] "½–½"<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1800:_Chess_Notation&diff=135546
1800: Chess Notation
2017-02-17T18:54:17Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1800<br />
| date = February 17, 2017<br />
| title = Chess Notation<br />
| image = chess_notation.png<br />
| titletext = I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation. (??)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Please change this comment when editing this page and not remove it too fast.}}<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]] begins a conversation with [[White Hat]] with the declaration that he will be scoring his conversations using chess notation.<br />
<br />
{{w|Chess}} players and critics use certain notations to write down chess games in a very short fashion (for example the {{w|Forsyth–Edwards Notation}}, which is both computer- and human-readable). In addition, ''{{w|chess annotation symbols}}'' like ! and !? help to comment certain moves in a similarly short fashion. That way it is possible to print or discuss a chess game (or a chess opening) in a limited space, for example in printed reference manuals.<br />
<br />
A short synopsis about common chess annotation symbols:<br />
<br />
!! – brilliant move: Very strong and counter-intuitive move. Sound sacrifices.<br/><br />
! – good move: A surprisingly good move.<br/><br />
!? – interesting move: Risky move, or worthy of attention and analysis.<br/><br />
?! – dubious move: Designates a move that may be bad, but it is hard to explain why.<br/><br />
? – mistake: Poor move that should not be played.<br/><br />
'''??''' – {{w|blunder (chess)|blunder}}: Exceptionally bad move, usually designates moves that turn a winning position into a draw, or a draw into a losing position.<br/><br />
<br />
The score of the "white" player is always given first, followed by the score of the "black" player. Possible notations for the game outcome are:<br />
1-0 - A win (for white) <br/><br />
0-1 - A loss (for white) <br/><br />
½-½ - a draw <br/><br />
<br />
Because every chess game begins by moving a white piece, the following can be observed: When Cueball ends a conversation with 1-0,<br />
* he either began the conversation, and won it;<br />
* or he responded to a communication request, and lost the conversation.<br />
<br />
A chess game can be won (and lost for the other party) or {{w|draw (chess)|drawn}}. It should be noted that draws most commonly occur by {{w|Draw by agreement|agreement}}, or by {{w|stalemate}}. A stalemate is a situation where the opponent's king is not in check, but none of the opponent's pieces can be moved in a legal way. In a human conversation, what amounts to a draw, and what amounts to a stalemate? <br />
<br />
If agreed draws should be allowed (and under which circumstances) is a matter of some discussion among chess players, thus adding another point to Randall's comic. For example, some tournament rules (e.g. the so-called "{{w|Draw by agreement#Only theoretical draws allowed (Sofia Rules)|Sofia Rules}}") do not allow a draw to be offered directly - any player has first to announce the intention of drawing to the arbiter (referee), who then decides if the position should be played out further or not.<br />
<br />
The official chess rules offer some ways the concept of a "draw" could be applied to a human conversation. According to the {{w|World Chess Federation}} (FIDE) rules, a draw can occur:<br />
#by agreement. Any player can offer a draw when it is his turn to move.<br />
#by stalemate. As explained above: The king is not in check, but no legal moves are available.<br />
#when the same position (with the same possible legal moves) occurs at least three times, with the same player having the same possibilities of moving his pieces. This draw must be requested by the player. According to the FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter himself declares the game drawn when the same position occurs five times.<br />
#when 50 moves have passed without a capture or a pawn move. Again, the draw occurs only upon request. Analogous to FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter declares the game drawn when 75 moves have passed, again without a request by either player.<br />
#when one of the players has used up his time, but his opponent has not enough material to mate. For example, king and pawn mate against a king in certain situations, while king against king leads to a draw by the 50-move-rule.<br />
#when both players have used up their time, but the arbiter cannot determine who did so first. This is impossible with modern electronic chess clocks, though.<br />
#upon request, when the opponent does not play seriously, and attempts to win the game by timeout.<br />
<br />
Given the caption, Cueball believes that this is a drawn conversation since White Hat doesn't care.<br />
<br />
The double question marks at the end of the title text indicates that [[Cueball]]'s decision to score his conversations using chess notation was a 'blunder'.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Layout, don't remove this tag until this is really complete.}}<br />
Cueball: "I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation."<br />
<br />
White Hat: "I don't know or care what that means."<br />
<br />
Cueball: "Fine."<br />
<br />
White Hat: "Fine."<br />
<br />
[Caption below drawing:] "½–½"<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>
162.158.150.82
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1800:_Chess_Notation&diff=135545
1800: Chess Notation
2017-02-17T18:41:01Z
<p>162.158.150.82: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1800<br />
| date = February 17, 2017<br />
| title = Chess Notation<br />
| image = chess_notation.png<br />
| titletext = I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation. (??)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Please change this comment when editing this page and not remove it too fast.}}<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]] begins a conversation with [[White Hat]] with the declaration that he will be scoring his conversations using chess notation.<br />
<br />
{{w|Chess}} players and critics use certain notations to write down chess games in a very short fashion (for example the {{w|Forsyth–Edwards Notation}}, which is both computer- and human-readable). In addition, ''{{w|chess annotation symbols}}'' like ! and !? help to comment certain moves in a similarly short fashion. That way it is possible to print or discuss a chess game (or a chess opening) in a limited space, for example in printed reference manuals.<br />
<br />
A short synopsis about common chess annotation symbols:<br />
<br />
!! – brilliant move: Very strong and counter-intuitive move. Sound sacrifices.<br/><br />
! – good move: A surprisingly good move.<br/><br />
!? – interesting move: Risky move, or worthy of attention and analysis.<br/><br />
?! – dubious move: Designates a move that may be bad, but it is hard to explain why.<br/><br />
? – mistake: Poor move that should not be played.<br/><br />
'''??''' – {{w|blunder (chess)|blunder}}: Exceptionally bad move, usually designates moves that turn a winning position into a draw, or a draw into a losing position.<br/><br />
1-0 - A win <br/><br />
0-1 - A loss <br/><br />
½-½ - a draw <br/><br />
<br />
A chess game can be won (and lost for the other party) or {{w|draw (chess)|drawn}}. It should be noted that draws most commonly occur by {{w|Draw by agreement|agreement}}, or by {{w|stalemate}}. A stalemate is a situation where the opponent's king is not in check, but none of the opponent's pieces can be moved in a legal way. In a human conversation, what amounts to a draw, and what amounts to a stalemate? <br />
<br />
If agreed draws should be allowed (and under which circumstances) is a matter of some discussion among chess players, thus adding another point to Randall's comic. For example, some tournament rules (e.g. the so-called "{{w|Draw by agreement#Only theoretical draws allowed (Sofia Rules)|Sofia Rules}}") do not allow a draw to be offered directly - any player has first to announce the intention of drawing to the arbiter (referee), who then decides if the position should be played out further or not.<br />
<br />
The official chess rules offer some ways the concept of a "draw" could be applied to a human conversation. According to the {{w|World Chess Federation}} (FIDE) rules, a draw can occur:<br />
#by agreement. Any player can offer a draw when it is his turn to move.<br />
#by stalemate. As explained above: The king is not in check, but no legal moves are available.<br />
#when the same position (with the same possible legal moves) occurs at least three times, with the same player having the same possibilities of moving his pieces. This draw must be requested by the player. According to the FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter himself declares the game drawn when the same position occurs five times.<br />
#when 50 moves have passed without a capture or a pawn move. Again, the draw occurs only upon request. Analogous to FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter declares the game drawn when 75 moves have passed, again without a request by either player.<br />
#when one of the players has used up his time, but his opponent has not enough material to mate. For example, king and pawn mate against a king in certain situations, while king against king leads to a draw by the 50-move-rule.<br />
#when both players have used up their time, but the arbiter cannot determine who did so first. This is impossible with modern electronic chess clocks, though.<br />
#upon request, when the opponent does not play seriously, and attempts to win the game by timeout.<br />
<br />
Given the caption, Cueball believes that this is a drawn conversation since White Hat doesn't care.<br />
<br />
The double question marks at the end of the title text indicates that [[Cueball]]'s decision to score his conversations using chess notation was a 'blunder'.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Layout, don't remove this tag until this is really complete.}}<br />
Cueball: "I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation."<br />
<br />
White Hat: "I don't know or care what that means."<br />
<br />
Cueball: "Fine."<br />
<br />
White Hat: "Fine."<br />
<br />
[Caption below drawing:] "½–½"<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>
162.158.150.82