https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=172.68.141.100&feedformat=atomexplain xkcd - User contributions [en]2024-03-29T10:10:04ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:2125:_Luna_2&diff=171297Talk:2125: Luna 22019-03-18T17:48:58Z<p>172.68.141.100: </p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
<br />
Second comic in a row about space. The comic seems fairly self-explanatory to me, but the title text might need a bit more work to explain. I can't even figure out exactly what it means. Something about rushing to get the bare minimum done before the deadline? [[Special:Contributions/172.68.141.100|172.68.141.100]] 17:04, 18 March 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
OMG, the fake explanation is ROTFL funny! Hopefully whomever writes the correct explanation will keep this first bit of verbiage, just for the humor value, but in case that doesn’t happen, for those who don’t want to dig through the edit history, it currently says:<br />
:: “This comic describes one of the first faked moon missions, Luna II. The Communist sham was designed to make it look like the Moon was reachable by humans, in order to protect the threatened Zionist conspiracy.<br />
<br />
::By discussing this as if it was fact, (((Randall))) is subtly reinforcing Jewish neuroprogramming causing people to believe in ridiculous child's fantasies like space unquestioningly.”<br />
(And to be crystal clear, I didn’t write it!) [[Special:Contributions/172.68.65.132|172.68.65.132]] 17:19, 18 March 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Not sure how to tan on mobile (feel free to do so and delete this tidbit if you want to) but: The throwing a frag filled with flags is symbolic of the standard human explorer tactic. Basically, we tend to shoot first whenever we go to a new place and then promptly place a claim, whether the preexisting landscape has been claimed or not. For instance, the Native Americans. Like, all of them. The tile text, on the other hand, represents attempts to find a solution to half a problem or maybe representing the aforementioned claims bit. But I could be reading into this too much [[Special:Contributions/172.69.46.58|172.69.46.58]] 17:22, 18 March 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
== IP editor censoring my posts ==<br />
<br />
I am using this website to share information, but several IP editors are consistently reverting my edits, even when I leave in their unsubstantiated claims. Help.<br />
<br />
You should probably sign your posts to clarify who is having the problem. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.46.58|172.69.46.58]] 17:22, 18 March 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
<br />
:I'm sorry, I fail so see how that explanation is in any way funny. It's just confusing and annoying. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.141.100|172.68.141.100]] 17:20, 18 March 2019 (UTC)<br />
:it’s not funny *now* because someone deleted it. Basically someone wrote an explanation as if the moon landings were faked, and extended the conspiracy theory to have USA and USSR cooperating on perpetuating the conspiracy because somehow it benefits Israel. It was clearly tongue-in-cheek, like when people claim that the Earth is flat. Given the recent anti-Semitic comments that have cropped up here I took it as an effort to make fun of those people (the ones posting bizarre stuff) [[Special:Contributions/172.68.65.132|172.68.65.132]] 17:35, 18 March 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
::Alright, that's the part that wasn't clear to me. You can never really tell when someone online is being sarcastic. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.141.100|172.68.141.100]] 17:48, 18 March 2019 (UTC)</div>172.68.141.100https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:2125:_Luna_2&diff=171292Talk:2125: Luna 22019-03-18T17:23:48Z<p>172.68.141.100: spacing</p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
<br />
Second comic in a row about space. The comic seems fairly self-explanatory to me, but the title text might need a bit more work to explain. I can't even figure out exactly what it means. Something about rushing to get the bare minimum done before the deadline? [[Special:Contributions/172.68.141.100|172.68.141.100]] 17:04, 18 March 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Not sure how to tan on mobile (feel free to do so and delete this tidbit if you want to) but: The throwing a frag filled with flags is symbolic of the standard human explorer tactic. Basically, we tend to shoot first whenever we go to a new place and then promptly place a claim, whether the preexisting landscape has been claimed or not. For instance, the Native Americans. Like, all of them. The tile text, on the other hand, represents attempts to find a solution to half a problem or maybe representing the aforementioned claims bit. But I could be reading into this too much [[Special:Contributions/172.69.46.58|172.69.46.58]] 17:22, 18 March 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
== IP editor censoring my posts ==<br />
<br />
I am using this website to share information, but several IP editors are consistently reverting my edits, even when I leave in their unsubstantiated claims. Help.<br />
<br />
You should probably sign your posts to clarify who is having the problem. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.46.58|172.69.46.58]] 17:22, 18 March 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
OMG, the fake explanation is ROTFL funny! Hopefully whomever writes the correct explanation will keep this first bit of verbiage, just for the humor value, but in case that doesn’t happen, for those who don’t want to dig through the edit history, it currently says:<br />
:: “This comic describes one of the first faked moon missions, Luna II. The Communist sham was designed to make it look like the Moon was reachable by humans, in order to protect the threatened Zionist conspiracy.<br />
<br />
::By discussing this as if it was fact, (((Randall))) is subtly reinforcing Jewish neuroprogramming causing people to believe in ridiculous child's fantasies like space unquestioningly.”<br />
(And to be crystal clear, I didn’t write it!) [[Special:Contributions/172.68.65.132|172.68.65.132]] 17:19, 18 March 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:I'm sorry, I fail so see how that explanation is in any way funny. It's just confusing and annoying. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.141.100|172.68.141.100]] 17:20, 18 March 2019 (UTC)</div>172.68.141.100https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:2125:_Luna_2&diff=171290Talk:2125: Luna 22019-03-18T17:20:59Z<p>172.68.141.100: </p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
<br />
Second comic in a row about space. The comic seems fairly self-explanatory to me, but the title text might need a bit more work to explain. I can't even figure out exactly what it means. Something about rushing to get the bare minimum done before the deadline? [[Special:Contributions/172.68.141.100|172.68.141.100]] 17:04, 18 March 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
== IP editor censoring my posts ==<br />
<br />
I am using this website to share information, but several IP editors are consistently reverting my edits, even when I leave in their unsubstantiated claims. Help.<br />
<br />
OMG, the fake explanation is ROTFL funny! Hopefully whomever writes the correct explanation will keep this first bit of verbiage, just for the humor value, but in case that doesn’t happen, for those who don’t want to dig through the edit history, it currently says:<br />
:: “This comic describes one of the first faked moon missions, Luna II. The Communist sham was designed to make it look like the Moon was reachable by humans, in order to protect the threatened Zionist conspiracy.<br />
<br />
::By discussing this as if it was fact, (((Randall))) is subtly reinforcing Jewish neuroprogramming causing people to believe in ridiculous child's fantasies like space unquestioningly.”<br />
(And to be crystal clear, I didn’t write it!) [[Special:Contributions/172.68.65.132|172.68.65.132]] 17:19, 18 March 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:I'm sorry, I fail so see how that explanation is in any way funny. It's just confusing and annoying. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.141.100|172.68.141.100]] 17:20, 18 March 2019 (UTC)</div>172.68.141.100https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2125:_Luna_2&diff=1712862125: Luna 22019-03-18T17:11:30Z<p>172.68.141.100: are we gonna have to lock the page</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2125<br />
| date = March 18, 2019<br />
| title = Luna 2<br />
| image = luna_2.png<br />
| titletext = The flags were probably vaporized on impact, because we launched it before we had finished figuring out how to land. That makes sense from an engineering standpoint, but also feels like a metaphor.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic is referring to {{w|Luna 2}}, the first man-made object to make contact with the surface of the moon, and consequently, as stated in the comic, the first man-made object to touch another world.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>172.68.141.100https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2125:_Luna_2&diff=1712852125: Luna 22019-03-18T17:10:34Z<p>172.68.141.100: very short half-explanation, "the first man-made object to make contact with the surface of the moon" seems kind of bulky and may need some cleaning up</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2125<br />
| date = March 18, 2019<br />
| title = Luna 2<br />
| image = luna_2.png<br />
| titletext = The flags were probably vaporized on impact, because we launched it before we had finished figuring out how to land. That makes sense from an engineering standpoint, but also feels like a metaphor.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a COMMUNIST SHILL. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic describes one of the first faked moon missions, Luna II. The Communist sham was designed to make it look like the Moon was reachable by humans, in order to protect the threatened Zionist conspiracy.<br />
<br />
By discussing this as if it was fact, ((([[Randall]]))) is subtly reinforcing Jewish neuroprogramming causing people to believe in ridiculous child's fantasies like space unquestioningly.<br />
<br />
This comic is referring to {{w|Luna 2}}, the first man-made object to make contact with the surface of the moon, and consequently, as stated in the comic, the first man-made object to touch another world.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>172.68.141.100https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2125:_Luna_2&diff=1712832125: Luna 22019-03-18T17:08:10Z<p>172.68.141.100: reverted vandalism</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2125<br />
| date = March 18, 2019<br />
| title = Luna 2<br />
| image = luna_2.png<br />
| titletext = The flags were probably vaporized on impact, because we launched it before we had finished figuring out how to land. That makes sense from an engineering standpoint, but also feels like a metaphor.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>172.68.141.100https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:2125:_Luna_2&diff=171281Talk:2125: Luna 22019-03-18T17:04:47Z<p>172.68.141.100: </p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
<br />
Second comic in a row about space. The comic seems fairly self-explanatory to me, but the title text might need a bit more work to explain. I can't even figure out exactly what it means. Something about rushing to get the bare minimum done before the deadline? [[Special:Contributions/172.68.141.100|172.68.141.100]] 17:04, 18 March 2019 (UTC)</div>172.68.141.100https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2121:_Light_Pollution&diff=1708042121: Light Pollution2019-03-08T17:50:27Z<p>172.68.141.100: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2121<br />
| date = March 8, 2019<br />
| title = Light Pollution<br />
| image = light_pollution.png<br />
| titletext = It's so sad how almost no one alive today can remember seeing the galactic rainbow, the insanity nebula, or the skull and glowing eyes of the Destroyer of Sagittarius.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by the DESTROYER OF SAGITTARIUS. Needs flushing out and reference to light pollution with regard to astronomy. Could use list of actual things that are no longer visible in the sky anywhere due to industrialization. Maybe a list of what any of these things could be reference to (The fake things). Please mention here why else this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic shows how {{w|Light pollution|light pollution}} in cities affect what you can see from the night sky. The first three panels are real-life examples of what you could see from the sky inside a large city, in the suburbs and far away from night pollution. These panels roughly correlate on the {{w|Bortle Scale}} to 8-9 (city), 5-6 (suburbs) and 2-3 (remote area).<br />
<br />
The last panel contrasts these for comedic effect with fake things in the sky that are not actually present in the night sky. "{{w|Celestial spheres|Crystal spheres}}" is an ancient theory about the heavens and what it was that held up the stars, before it was commonly accepted that space could be made of hard vacuum.<br />
<br />
The title text starts off sounding like a legitimate statement about light pollution. It is common for to remark that the vast majority of people never see things in the night sky that were commonly seen by our ancestors every night prior to industrialization, such as the {{w|Milky Way}} or now-obscure phenomena such as {{w|Zodiacal light}}, {{w|Airglow}} or {{w|Gegenschein}}. The title text then further adds to the humor of the last panel by describing non-existent features, many of which could be references to {{w|H. P. Lovecraft}}. He often refers to beasts the possible size that “The Destroyer of Sagittarius” would have to be. He also often speaks of insanity and color, connecting the two.<br />
<br />
For non astronomers, {{w|Sagittarius (constellation)|Sagittarius}} is one of the constellations of the zodiac and {{w|Sagittarius A*}} a black hole at the center of the {{w|Milky Way}} inside of that constellation.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
Light Pollution and the Disappearing Night Sky<br />
<br />
[Four panels showing roughly the same area of the night sky]<br />
<br />
[Only a few bright starts visible on a fairly light gray-brownish background]<br />
<br />
High Light Pollution<br />
(Cities)<br />
<br />
[More stars and a faint image of the Milky Way on a dark-gray background]<br />
<br />
Moderate Light Pollution<br />
(Suburbs)<br />
<br />
[A lot of stars and partly coloured, clear image of the Milky Way on a dark background]<br />
<br />
Low Light Pollution<br />
(Very remote areas)<br />
<br />
[Same image as above but with a faint lattice of triangles overimposed on it and three ghastly silhouettes of sailships]<br />
<br />
No Light Pollution<br />
(How the sky should look)<br />
<br />
Lattice of the crystal spheres<br />
<br />
Ships of the Sky King<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Astronomy]]</div>172.68.141.100https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2121:_Light_Pollution&diff=1708032121: Light Pollution2019-03-08T17:48:54Z<p>172.68.141.100: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2121<br />
| date = March 8, 2019<br />
| title = Light Pollution<br />
| image = light_pollution.png<br />
| titletext = It's so sad how almost no one alive today can remember seeing the galactic rainbow, the insanity nebula, or the skull and glowing eyes of the Destroyer of Sagittarius.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by the DESTROYER OF SAGITTARIUS. Needs flushing out and reference to light pollution with regard to astronomy. Could use list of actual things that are no longer visible in the sky anywhere due to industrialization. Maybe a list of what any of these things could be reference to (The fake things). Please mention here why else this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic shows how {{w|Light pollution|light pollution}} in cities affect what you can see from the night sky. The first three panels are real-life examples of what you could see from the sky inside a large city, in the suburbs and far away from night pollution. These panels roughly correlate on the {{w|Bortle Scale}} to 8-9 (city), 5-6 (suburbs) and 2-3 (remote area).<br />
<br />
The last panel contrasts these for comedic effect with fake things in the sky that are not actually present in the night sky. "Crystal spheres" is an ancient theory about the heavens and what it was that held up the stars, before it was commonly accepted that space could be made of hard vacuum.<br />
<br />
The title text starts off sounding like a legitimate statement about light pollution. It is common for to remark that the vast majority of people never see things in the night sky that were commonly seen by our ancestors every night prior to industrialization, such as the {{w|Milky Way}} or now-obscure phenomena such as {{w|Zodiacal light}}, {{w|Airglow}} or {{w|Gegenschein}}. The title text then further adds to the humor of the last panel by describing non-existent features, many of which could be references to {{w|H. P. Lovecraft}}. He often refers to beasts the possible size that “The Destroyer of Sagittarius” would have to be. He also often speaks of insanity and color, connecting the two.<br />
<br />
For non astronomers, {{w|Sagittarius (constellation)|Sagittarius}} is one of the constellations of the zodiac and {{w|Sagittarius A*}} a black hole at the center of the {{w|Milky Way}} inside of that constellation.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
Light Pollution and the Disappearing Night Sky<br />
<br />
[Four panels showing roughly the same area of the night sky]<br />
<br />
[Only a few bright starts visible on a fairly light gray-brownish background]<br />
<br />
High Light Pollution<br />
(Cities)<br />
<br />
[More stars and a faint image of the Milky Way on a dark-gray background]<br />
<br />
Moderate Light Pollution<br />
(Suburbs)<br />
<br />
[A lot of stars and partly coloured, clear image of the Milky Way on a dark background]<br />
<br />
Low Light Pollution<br />
(Very remote areas)<br />
<br />
[Same image as above but with a faint lattice of triangles overimposed on it and three ghastly silhouettes of sailships]<br />
<br />
No Light Pollution<br />
(How the sky should look)<br />
<br />
Lattice of the crystal spheres<br />
<br />
Ships of the Sky King<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Astronomy]]</div>172.68.141.100https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2098:_Magnetic_Pole&diff=1681812098: Magnetic Pole2019-01-15T18:10:03Z<p>172.68.141.100: ;-)</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2098<br />
| date = January 14, 2019<br />
| title = Magnetic Pole<br />
| image = magnetic_pole.png<br />
| titletext = People keep trying to come up with reasons that we should worry about the magnetic field collapsing or reversing, but honestly I think it's fine. Whatever minor problems it causes will be made up for by the mid-latitude auroras.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a CONVECTION CURRENT IN THE OUTER CORE and a thing happening. Well, four things. Well, four things and a lizard. Include relevant wikipedia and news article links. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
Over the last couple of months, {{w|Earth's magnetic field|Earth's magnetic fields}} have been shifting rapidly. Although the magnetic fields do move regularly, the current shift has been unexpected and unprecedented. As many location systems are reliant on the magnetic fields to function, the accuracy of such tools is being shifted beyond the maximum acceptable error.<br />
<br />
Locational and navigational systems use the magnetic field, in addition to a model, to do fancy math and pop out data. Due to the rapid shifts, a new model was scheduled to be out; however, because of the US government shutdown, the model has been considerably delayed.<br />
<br />
As shifts occur, the error of geopositional data will increase until a new {{w|World Magnetic Model|model}} is released. The effect is especially pronounced as you move toward the poles. <br />
<br />
Cueball is saying that because of the currently published {{w|magnetic declination}} data being slightly incorrect, his {{w|Schooner|schooners}} (old merchant sailing ships) may go off-course and crash on {{w|Shoal|shoals}}. This is to illustrate how magnetic pole shift doesn't actually have much of an effect on too many people's daily lives, since most people don't need to worry about things like ship navigation and modern ships use navigation aids that does not rely on magnetic poles location &ndash; in contrast to old vessels which used a {{w|compass}} mostly.<br />
<br />
Since the movement is only equal to about two-fifths of a degree, it wouldn't cause very much disruption for [[Cueball]] or require him to adjust anything about his lifestyle or habits, but since the speed of the change has been steadily increasing over the past few years, it may mean we are heading for a geomagnetic reversal in the next few decades; something very exciting indeed. During a magnetic reversal, the poles wouldn't just switch places, but several different poles would form and interact very chaotically, and, statistically speaking, it's likely that one of them would end up close enough to where [[Randall]] lives to cause auroras to become more common at some point during the transition <br />
<br />
In the title text, Randall mentions that there are reasons people could be concerned, but says that they would be more than made up for by newly being able to experience mid latitude auroras.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[White Hat and Cueball are talking to each other. White Hat has a cellphone in his hand, while Cueball is raising his hands in the air in mock exasperation.]<br />
:White Hat: I just read that the Earth's North magnetic pole is drifting rapidly.<br />
:Cueball: Oh no! I must update our declination tables post haste, lest our merchant schooners run aground on the shoals!<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the panel:]<br />
:I like when the Earth's magnetic field does weird stuff, because it's a huge, cool, urgent-seeming science thing, but there's nothing I personally need to do about it.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]</div>172.68.141.100https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2097:_Thor_Tools&diff=1679962097: Thor Tools2019-01-11T18:31:45Z<p>172.68.141.100: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[[[Link title]]]]{{comic<br />
| number = 2097<br />
| date = January 11, 2019<br />
| title = Thor Tools<br />
| image = thor_tools.png<br />
| titletext = CORRECTION: After careful evaluation, we have determined that the axis label on this chart was printed backward.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by Thor's Caliper. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
{{w|Thor}} is a god in Norse mythology. His signature weapon is a magic hammer called {{w|Mjölnir}}.<br />
<br />
This comic is stating varies hand tools in order of utility and "weaponness" besides Thor's actual hammer which is magical. Hammers are heavy, blunt and do large amount of damage to a mortal opponent. Where as a plane is sharp but only in one spot and will only inflict surface wounds. <br />
<br />
Some of these tools require power which would require Thor to stay near an outlet or have a power source.(Circular saw, Jackhammer, Digital Caliper(batteries), Dremel). Thor will also need compressed air for some of these tools which would allow Thor only so many shot be for reloading the air tank at an outlet(Nail gun). Some tools also require nails or staples to function as a weapon (Nail gun,Staple gun).<br />
<br />
Although in the title text Munroe does say the the order should be reversed.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
[A timeline labeled "Hand tools Thor could have ended up with" with "Best" on the left and "Worst" on the right.] <br />
<br />
[Points on the line are labeled "Hammer", "Axe", "Claw hammer", "Circular saw", "Jackhammer", "Shovel", "Socket wrench", "Bolt cutters", "Hacksaw", "Nail gun", "Staple gun", "Coping saw", "Screwdriver (flat)", "Ball-peen hammer", "Screwdriver (phillips)", "Awl", "Digital Caliper", "Dremel", "Plane"]<br />
<br />
[A figure wearing a winged helmet is seen preparing to use: a Circular saw, a Socket wrench, a Staple gun, and a Dremel.]<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>172.68.141.100https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2095:_Marsiforming&diff=1678202095: Marsiforming2019-01-07T17:29:42Z<p>172.68.141.100: /* Explanation */ More detail on why preserving martian life is funny.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2095<br />
| date = January 7, 2019<br />
| title = Marsiforming<br />
| image = marsiforming.png<br />
| titletext = It has so many advantages--it preserves Martian life, requires fewer interplanetary launches, and makes it much easier to field-test Mars rovers.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a MARS ROVER. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
{{w|Terraforming}} is the (so far only suggested) process of changing a planet, usually to make it more habitable (for humans). A very common example is {{w|Mars}}, which is known to harbour water ice and believed to have previously been warm enough to have liquid water. Normally, plans for terraforming try to adjust temperatures to be compatible with liquid water, and an atmosphere containing significant amounts of oxygen but little carbon dioxide. In this comic [[Cueball]] is suggesting doing the opposite, and terraform {{w|Earth}} to be more like Mars, i.e. extremely dry, cold and with a very thin atmosphere. The word {{w|Terra}} is the latin name for Earth, so Terraforming would be "Earth Forming". The comic title combines Mars with Forming (with a linking "i") to create the new word Marsiforming.<br />
<br />
The title text the provides examples of how this could improve things: Preserving martian life (a proposed reason to terraform Mars would be to provide a second planet to preserve Earth life at the cost of destroying any Martian organisms, so by marsiforming Earth, we would provide a second planet to preserve hypothetical Martian life, albeit at the cost of destroying any Earth life), fewer interplanetary launches (no need to leave this planet's atmosphere in order to visit itself), easier to field-test Mars rovers (testing them on Earth would be sufficient for Earth-renamed).<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
[Cueball is on a stage giving a presentation, with a diagram behind him]<br />
<br />
Cueball: Earth and Mars may look different now, but with some orbiting mirrors and atmospheric adjustments, we could change that.<br />
<br />
[Caption below the panel:]<br />
<br />
I'm having trouble selling people on my proposal to terraform Earth to resemble Mars.<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>172.68.141.100https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2095:_Marsiforming&diff=1678192095: Marsiforming2019-01-07T17:27:34Z<p>172.68.141.100: /* Explanation */ Better rational for the "preserving Martian life" motivation.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2095<br />
| date = January 7, 2019<br />
| title = Marsiforming<br />
| image = marsiforming.png<br />
| titletext = It has so many advantages--it preserves Martian life, requires fewer interplanetary launches, and makes it much easier to field-test Mars rovers.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a MARS ROVER. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
{{w|Terraforming}} is the (so far only suggested) process of changing a planet, usually to make it more habitable (for humans). A very common example is {{w|Mars}}, which is known to harbour water ice and believed to have previously been warm enough to have liquid water. Normally, plans for terraforming try to adjust temperatures to be compatible with liquid water, and an atmosphere containing significant amounts of oxygen but little carbon dioxide. In this comic [[Cueball]] is suggesting doing the opposite, and terraform {{w|Earth}} to be more like Mars, i.e. extremely dry, cold and with a very thin atmosphere. The word {{w|Terra}} is the latin name for Earth, so Terraforming would be "Earth Forming". The comic title combines Mars with Forming (with a linking "i") to create the new word Marsiforming.<br />
<br />
The title text the provides examples of how this could improve things: Preserving martian life (a proposed reason to terraform Mars would be to provide a second planet to preserve Earth life, so by marsiforming Earth, we would provide a second planet to preserve hypothetical Martian life), fewer interplanetary launches (no need to leave this planet's atmosphere in order to visit itself), easier to field-test Mars rovers (testing them on Earth would be sufficient for Earth-renamed).<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
[Cueball is on a stage giving a presentation, with a diagram behind him]<br />
<br />
Cueball: Earth and Mars may look different now, but with some orbiting mirrors and atmospheric adjustments, we could change that.<br />
<br />
[Caption below the panel:]<br />
<br />
I'm having trouble selling people on my proposal to terraform Earth to resemble Mars.<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>172.68.141.100https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2093:_Reminders&diff=1676532093: Reminders2019-01-03T09:15:11Z<p>172.68.141.100: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2093<br />
| date = January 2, 2019<br />
| title = Reminders<br />
| image = reminders.png<br />
| titletext = The good news is that if the number of work and friend relationships you have exceeds your willingness to do the bare minimum to keep up with everyone's life events and stuff, one way or another that problem eventually solves itself.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
In this comic, Cueball is using an email client program on a laptop, which is a common way to read and write emails from/to other people. Advanced email client software frequently provides reminders of various kinds to aid the user, and in this case we see a series of reminder alerts with Cueball's response to each one. The final reminder results in the realization by Cueball that he's not very conscientious about what's going in other people's lives, and he expresses this in the text below the image.<br />
<br />
This is another comic where the caption implies Cueball represents Randall. Specifically Cueball's reliance on the computer's reminders demonstrates how Randall feels about his own lack of attention to the people in his own life.<br />
<br />
The title text points out that if you have too many work and friend relationships to effectively keep up with all of the details in their lives, it is a self-solving problem. Either your level of commitment could rise to match the amount of relationships you need to keep up with... or eventually the number of friends and coworkers will be reduced to the point where you can keep up.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
:[Cueball using a laptop]<br />
:Laptop: You got this email six days ago. Do you want to follow up?<br />
:Cueball: Oh, right, I should do that.<br />
:[Cueball types on laptop] *type type*<br />
:Laptop: Did you forget the attachment?<br />
:Cueball: Oops, yes.<br />
:Laptop: Today is the recipient's birthday. Did you want to mention that?<br />
:Cueball: Wait, it is?<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the panel:]<br />
:These reminders make me uncomfortable, not because computers are getting too smart, but because it reminds me how often I fall short of even baseline levels of conscientiousness.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Email]]</div>172.68.141.100https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2089:_Christmas_Eve_Eve&diff=1673282089: Christmas Eve Eve2018-12-24T18:15:40Z<p>172.68.141.100: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2089<br />
| date = December 24, 2018<br />
| title = Christmas Eve Eve<br />
| image = christmas_eve_eve.png<br />
| titletext = It turns out that saying "Oh, so THAT'S why they call it Boxing Day" is a good way to get punched a second time.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by SANTA. There appears to be no explanation. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic was posted on December 24, 2018.<br />
<br />
The day before a holiday, is often referred to as the "eve" of the holiday. Thus December 24 is Christmas Eve.<br />
Some people (presumably including Randall) extend this and call December 23 "Christmas Eve Eve". We add one "eve" for each night before Christmas morning.<br />
<br />
Cueball notes this, and Megan acknowledges this. Cueball follows by naming December 24 as Christmas Eve, December 25 as Christmas, and then mentions that the following day is his favorite.<br />
Megan's "Oh no" implies that she knows what Cueball will say next.<br />
<br />
Since December 26 is the 364th day before Christmas, it follows that December 26 is "Christmas eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve".<br />
<br />
Cueball's friend Megan finds this fact unacceptable; as such, she announces that she will not give Cueball gifts.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to the [[wikipedia:Boxing Day|Boxing Day]] holiday celebrated the day after Christmas in the UK and many parts of the former British Empire. Although the name officially refers to servants boxing up the presents they get from their masters, most Americans don't know this and make jokes about how it refers to {{w|Boxing|the sport of Boxing}}. In this title text we can presume Cueball was punched (or ''boxed'') after his litany of 364 “eves”, to which he replies “Oh, so that's why they call it Boxing Day” only to be boxed again.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon. I demand a recount!}}<br />
<br />
[Cueball, White Hat, and Megan stand in frame.]<br />
<br />
Cueball: Today is Christmas Eve. Yesterday was Christmas eve eve.<br />
<br />
Megan: Uh huh...<br />
<br />
Cuball: Of course, tomorrow is Christmas. And then, my favourite...<br />
<br />
Megan: Oh no.<br />
<br />
Cueball: ...Christmas eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve eve!<br />
<br />
[The "eve"s get smaller over time.]<br />
<br />
Megan: I'm returning the presents I got you.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>172.68.141.100https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1735:_Fashion_Police_and_Grammar_Police&diff=1672801735: Fashion Police and Grammar Police2018-12-23T10:44:49Z<p>172.68.141.100: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1735<br />
| date = September 19, 2016<br />
| title = Fashion Police and Grammar Police<br />
| image = fashion_police_and_grammar_police.png<br />
| titletext = * Mad about jorts<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
In this comic, two groups of angry protesters are presented and labeled. They are likely not actually protesting side by side, but simply drawn side by side to compare their similarities.<br />
<br />
The left group represents the '''Fashion Police''' with [[Cueball]] holding a sign saying {{w|Crocs}} not allowed (by showing a pair of Crocs shoes in a circle with a strike through it). Crocs are a type of {{w|Clog|clogs}} made of foam. There may be some ergonomic advantages to these special looking shoes, but they will {{w|Crocs#Fashion|never become fashionable}}. It is not the first time [[Randall]] mocks a special type of shoes (although here it may not so much be himself that are against Crocs, but rather he just chose something easy to recognize that the Fashion Police would hate). Previously in [[1065: Shoes]] Randall was after shoes that ''has those creepy individual toes'' like {{w|Vibram FiveFingers}}. They will also never be a hit with the Fashion Police.{{Citation needed}}<br />
<br />
The right group represents the '''Grammar Police''' with another Cueball holding a sign with three commonly confused words beneath each other: [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/their Their] (belongs to them), [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/they%27re They're] (contraction meaning "they are"), [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/there There] (a location). The words are written on the sign to explain that there is a difference between these three almost identically-sounding words as many people confuse them with each other, and then the Grammar Police ''have'' to correct them (see [[386: Duty Calls]]). See the [https://twitter.com/_grammar_ Grammar Police on Twitter] and also {{w|Grammar Police|Linguistic prescription}} which comes up on Wikipedia when searching for Grammar Police.<br />
<br />
The two groups look similar, standing in similar poses and apart from one Cueball holding signs in each group, one [[Megan]] is also in the front line of both groups. [[Hairy]] is only shown with the fashion police, together with yet another [[:Category:Multiple Cueballs|Cueball-like guy]], while [[Ponytail]] is only shown with the grammar police together with a bald man with glasses.<br />
<br />
Both types of police are groups of people who make fun of others who wear or say something that doesn't meet their criteria of "good". Fashion police are people who make fun of others who wear clothing that is mismatched, out of style/{{w|fashion}} or straight-up "ugly" to them. Grammar police are people who are "sticklers" to {{w|grammar}} rules and get mad or contradictory if someone uses non-standard grammar in a sentence. The comic explains how the two groups are similar to each other by listing eight points (plus a ninth in the title text) that can be used on both groups. See explanation in the [[#Table of individual items|table below]].<br />
<br />
In the caption below the comic Randall notes that he just realized that these are literally the same people because they both exhibit the listed traits. The use of "[https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/literally literally]" to emphasize a statement is considered by the grammar police as a dread crime that should be pointed out as such, although the dictionaries already include this definition as acceptable. However it would likely be more appropriate to say figuratively the same people, see [[725: Literally]]. On the other hand, fashion police are known for overusing "literally" in the way the grammar police finds disgusting. Lastly, it might be possible that members of the grammar police are also members of the fashion police (after all, they share the same qualities), and thus ''literally'' being the same people.<br />
<br />
Since it seem like a safe assumption (see [[1339: When You Assume]]) that there are more grammar pedants (see title text of [[1652: Conditionals]]) than fashion police people who read xkcd, and it also would seem likely that many xkcd readers would dislike the Fashion Police (more), it seems likely that Randall is actually mainly targeting the Grammar Police people reading xkcd than the fashion people who do not. They will not like to be compared to the Fashion Police! Ponytail also represented the grammar police in [[1576: I Could Care Less]], where Megan puts her in place after she polices her sentence; this thus shows what Randall thinks about such police work and supports the above assumption. In 1576: I Could Care Less, "literally" was also used in the title text.<br />
<br />
Randall is, with regards to language, definitely one of those that can belong in this group: ''To seem cool and casual, pretend to ignore them while understanding them very well.''<br />
<br />
The title is a ninth point to add to the list, with the asterisk in front representing one more bullet. See the last entry in the [[#Table of individual items|table below]] for more:<br />
<br />
==Table of individual items==<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|+Explanation of individual items in the list<br />
!list item<br />
!Explanation<br />
|-<br />
|Judgemental and Smug || Both types of police will look down upon those who violate their 'laws'.<br />
|-<br />
|Angry&nbsp;about&nbsp;something&nbsp;deeply&nbsp;arbitrary || Both grammar and fashion are, essentially, made-up human constructs.<br />
|-<br />
| Strong opinions backed by style guides || Grammar has ''{{w|The Elements of Style}}'', fashion has fashion magazines.<br />
|-<br />
| Appreciate that the way that you are interpreted <i>is</i> your responsibility || Your choices in both grammar and fashion affect how people see you, and it would be silly to disclaim responsibility for what is essentially your own actions.<br />
|-<br />
| Understand that there's no way to "opt out" of sending messages by how you present yourself, and attempts to do so send strong messages of their own || This means that even if you deliberately choose to not listen to the fashion gurus, then you are actually making a fashion statement anyway, as opposed to those that just don't realize they have a horrible style (and are not dressing wrongly on purpose). Both types can thus be harassed by the Fashion Police. Same goes for those who deliberately do not try to follow the grammar rules. They have thus taken a stance anyway as opposed to those who just do not know how to use grammar correctly. And both types can be harassed for it by the Grammar Police.<br />
|- <br />
|To seem cool and casual, pretend to ignore them while understanding them very well || Deliberately violating fashion or grammar rules gives off a particular 'casual' vibe, distinct from those who violate the rules out of ignorance.<br />
|-<br />
|Vindictive about things that are often uncomfortably transparent proxies for race or social class || "Proper" dress and "proper" language are often defined in terms of how high class people dress and speak. But since "high class" in much of the Western world has generally meant white, alternative ways of dress (e.g. the Afro) or alternative ways of speaking (e.g. Ebonics or Pidgin English) are treated as somehow objectively "wrong", rather than simply as alternatives. Furthermore, dressing or speaking poorly are often marks of "lower class" people who for whatever reason cannot afford fashionable clothing, or don't have access to quality education, and dress codes for customers (no sneakers, hoodies, dew-rags, etc.) are often employed at businesses in place of (illegally) expicit racial discrimination. So when we judge people for their clothing or their speech, we are often indirectly judging them for their race and class. Randall identifies this fact as "uncomfortably transparent".<br />
|-<br />
| Fun to cheer on until one of them disagrees with you|| This may have to do with the human tendency to view the morality of an activity differently when applied to oneself compared to a stranger.<br />
|-<br />
| Mad about jorts (Title text) || "{{w|Shorts#Jorts|Jorts}}" is a {{w|portmanteau}} for a pair of jeans that are made into shorts. <br />
<br />
The fashion police would be mad about jorts for being unfashionable.<br />
<br />
The grammar police would be mad about the word 'jorts' being an inappropriate portmanteau of jeans and shorts, and also for the fact that the sentence could be misinterpreted as if someone like jorts, as in being mad about something in a positive way. <br />
<br />
{{w|Sentence_clause_structure#Incomplete_sentence|Also a fragment}}, with no subject (properly it would be "I am mad about jorts"). Randall has [[:Category:Portmanteau|often used]] portmanteaus as part of his jokes.<br />
<br />
It is also possible that the Grammar police are indeed "mad about Jorts" in the positive sense, i.e Grammar Police love Jorts.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Beneath two headings to the left and right are shown two aggressive-looking groups of people with only the four people in the front clearly shown for each group. Behind them five other people can be seen, but they are not drawn with the same solid line and are only partly shown behind the first four, but legs from all five in each group can be seen along with some heads (all Cueball like) and arms etc. The front of the left group consist of Hairy holding a fist up towards left, Megan with her arms crossed in front of her chest, Cueball holding a sign, using both hands, straight up above his head and another Cueball-like guy to the right is holding up a broken branch in one hand toward right. The person behind this last person is shown to hold up his fist towards right like Hairy does to the left. The sign shows a Crocs shoe in a circle with a strike through it going above the Crocs from top left to bottom right. The front of the right group consist of Megan holding both her arms over her head hands folded into fist while looking towards left, Cueball holding a sign, using both hands, towards the right and up above Ponytails head, she is raising one hand in a fist to the left and finally a bald guy with glasses is brandishing a short sword in one hand toward right while holding his other hand palm up. The sign has three similar words written beneath each other.]<br />
:Left: Fashion Police<br />
:Right: Grammar Police<br />
:Sign:<br />
::Their<br />
::They're<br />
::There<br />
<br />
:[Below the two groups are eight points with bullets:]<br />
:*Judgemental and smug<br />
:*Angry about something deeply arbitrary<br />
:*Strong opinions backed by style guides<br />
:*Appreciate that the way that you are interpreted ''is'' your responsibility<br />
:*Understand that there's no way to "opt out" of sending messages by how you present yourself, and attempts to do so send strong messages of their own<br />
:*To seem cool and casual, pretend to ignore them while understanding them very well<br />
:*Vindictive about things that are often uncomfortably transparent proxies for race or social class<br />
:*Fun to cheer on until one of them disagrees with you<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the panel:]<br />
:I just realized these are literally the same people<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]<br />
[[Category:Language]]<br />
[[Category:Portmanteau]]</div>172.68.141.100https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1759:_British_Map&diff=1672791759: British Map2018-12-23T10:20:45Z<p>172.68.141.100: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1759<br />
| date = November 14, 2016<br />
| title = British Map<br />
| image = british_map.png<br />
| titletext = West Norsussex is east of East Norwessex, but they're both far north of Middlesex and West Norwex.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
This comic is a joke similar to [https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8&safe=active&ssui=on#q=how%20americans%20see%20the%20world&safe=active&ssui=on "How Americans see the world"] showing how the average American has opinions on the world, often including jokes such as a lack of {{w|Africa}}, etc. This has been used before in [[850: World According to Americans]]. Also the map say that it has been labeled by "[[Randall Monroe|an American]]" rather than "Americans", which is technically true.<br />
<br />
Many areas of the UK are most familiar to foreigners thanks to their depiction in various fantasy novels and TV series. This map labels some of these, as well as including many silly names that simply sound like real British towns to an American ear. A protractor is shown off the coast of the {{w|Mull of Kintyre}} in reference to the "{{w|Mull of Kintyre test}}" - according to urban legend, the angle of the Mull defines the maximum allowed erectness for a man on films and home video releases in the UK.<br />
<br />
Randall previously posted [https://blog.xkcd.com/2015/11/24/a-puzzle-for-the-uk/ a map of the UK] on his blog as part of the promotion for his book ''[[What If?]]''. This map is from a very similar position and appears to have been traced from the same source, although there are some slight differences. Both maps include a sketch of {{w|Lake Windermere}} with boats on it, and both have the locations of London, Oxford and Cambridge labeled (the blog map also shows Edinburgh and Bristol - in this comic, these are labelled Eavestroughs and Minas Tirith). Both also contain references to {{w|Stonehenge}} and {{w|Watership Down}}.<br />
<br />
Note that in British English, the correct spelling of “labeled” is ‘labelled’.<br />
<br />
The title text plays around with the concept of the compass directions and how numerous regions (such as South "Sussex" and West "Wessex") incorporate such literal names in their description. Randall is creating similar sounding names which are nonsense-ish ("Norsussex" would be the region of the Northern-Southern Saxons), and placing them in relation to each other in ways which would be geographically implausible, similar to this [http://www.netfunny.com/rhf/jokes/92q3/xx19.html old joke about Boston]. However, in Germany there exists the region called ''Westphalia'' (''Westfalen''), and the eastern part of it is often referred to as ''East-Westphalia'' (''{{w|Ostwestfalen}}''), which sounds somewhat ridiculous. Part of the joke in the title text could be the fact that while three of the locations are fictional, Middlesex does actually exist.<br />
<br />
{| border =1 width=100% cellpadding=5 class="wikitable sortable"<br />
!Label on the map !! Explanation !! Actual location !! Notes<br />
|-<br />
| Helcaraxë<br />
|| The "[http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Helcarax%C3%AB Grinding Ice]", an area of {{w|Middle-Earth}}. Like Helcaraxë, northern Scotland is cold, mountainous and in many areas inhospitable.<br />
|| The {{w|Grampian}} region<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Blick<br />
|| Possibly referencing {{w|Wick, Caithness}}, one of the northernmost towns in Great Britain. The real Wick is substantially further north, off the edge of the map.<br />
||Near {{w|Rhynie, Aberdeenshire}}<br />
|| This is the name of a goblin in the movie "Legend" starring Tim Curry. Could also reference the art supply store, Blick Art Materials<br />
|-<br />
| Everdeen<br />
|| {{w|Katniss Everdeen}} is the heroine of ''{{w|The Hunger Games}}'' series of novels and films<br />
|| {{w|Aberdeen}}<br />
|| In colloquial Scots, its pronunciation is very similar to "Everdeen."<br />
|-<br />
| Highlands<br />
|| {{w|Scottish Highlands|No joke}}<br />
|| {{w|Scottish Lowlands}}<br />
|| Maybe deliberate trolling - Scots have strong feelings about where the Highland-Lowland border is<br />
|-<br />
| Norther Sea<br />
|| Pun on the {{w|North Sea}} - i.e. a sea that is further north (or 'norther') than the North Sea.<br />
|| {{w|Sea of the Hebrides}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Loch Lomond<br />
|| {{w|Loch Lomond|No joke}}<br />
|| Loch Lomond<br />
|| Loch Lomond is the largest lake in Great Britain, and the third largest lake in the UK. It is the subject of a well-known {{w|The_Bonnie_Banks_o%27_Loch_Lomond|traditional song}}, and was referenced in the "beaming" (teleporter) bit in the movie Spaceballs by the Scotty expy 'Snotty'. It also houses a distillery producing a whisky appreciated by Captain Haddock in ''{{w|The Adventures of Tintin}}''. Thanks to the {{w|Loch Ness Monster|monster}}, {{w|Loch Ness}} is by far the most famous Scottish loch, so naming the second most famous subverts expectations.<br />
|-<br />
| Fjordham<br />
|| {{w|Fjords}} are glacial valleys. "-ham" is a common English placename suffix from Old English, related to the modern {{w|Hamlet (place)|hamlet}}. There are several villages in England named {{w|Fordham}}.<br />
|| Near {{w|Oban}} on the {{w|Firth of Lorn}}<br />
|| The Scottish word "Firth" is related to "Fjord", although Lorn is not a fjord in the strict scientific sense - it was formed along the {{w|Great Glen Fault}} by tectonics, rather than glaciers<br />
|-<br />
| Glassdoor<br />
|| {{w|Glassdoor}} is a website where employees can review their employers<br />
|| {{w|Stirling}}<br />
|| Although it's shown near Stirling, the reference seems to be to {{w|Glasgow}}<br />
|-<br />
| Eavestrough<br />
|| A dialectal word for {{w|rain gutter}}<br />
|| {{w|Edinburgh}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Seasedge<br />
|| Procan's realm in ''Dungeons & Dragons''<br />
|| Somewhere near the Scotland-England border<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Chough<br />
|| A {{w|Chough|species of bird in the crow family}}<br />
|| The {{w|Scottish Borders}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Meowth<br />
|| {{w|Meowth}} is a cat-like Pokémon. Name may allude to {{w|Howth}}.<br />
|| {{w|Ayr}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Glutenfree<br />
|| {{w|Gluten-free}} food lacks the protein {{w|gluten}}. This allows {{w|coeliac disease}} sufferers to enjoy it, but has also become a dietary fad in itself. -free Is a common suffix to add to cities.<br />
|| {{w|Cairnryan}}, {{w|Dumfries and Galloway}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Blighton<br />
|| A mashup of {{w|Brighton}} and {{w|Blighty}}<br />
|| The {{w|Scottish Borders}}<br />
|| The real Brighton is much further south, on the south coast.<br />
|-<br />
| North Sea<br />
|| {{w|North Sea|No joke}}<br />
|| North Sea<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Eyemouth<br />
|| {{w|Eyemouth|No joke}} <br />
|| near {{w|Newcastle-upon-Tyne}}<br />
|| The real Eyemouth is further north, where "Seasedge" is marked on the map.<br />
|-<br />
| Earhand<br />
|| A pun on Eyemouth<br />
|| {{w|Carlisle}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Hairskull<br />
|| A pun on Eyemouth<br />
|| {{w|Teesside}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Belfast DeVoe<br />
|| {{w|Belfast}}, capital of Northern Ireland, mashed up with the rock band {{w|Bell Biv DeVoe}}<br />
|| {{w|Belfast}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Lakebottom<br />
|| The {{w|Lake District}}. "-bottom" is a common placename across Northern England, and refers to a town in a valley.<br />
|| {{w|Lake District}}<br />
|| Below Lakebottom is a sketch of a lake with yachts on it. This is illustrative and doesn't correspond to any of the actual lakes which would be barely visible on this map.<br />
|-<br />
| Braintree<br />
|| {{w|Braintree, Essex|Not a joke}}<br />
|| {{w|North Yorkshire}}<br />
|| The real Braintree is much further south, near where "Paulblart" is on the map. Also a possible reference to the [https://www.braintreepayments.com Braintree] online payments platform (widely advertised on podcasts), or a stop at the end of the Red Line in Boston.<br />
|-<br />
| Skinflower<br />
|| A pun on Braintree<br />
|| {{w|Yorkshire Dales}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Bjork<br />
|| {{w|Björk}} is an Icelandic singer<br />
|| {{w|East Riding of Yorkshire}}<br />
|| The reference is presumably to York (historically known as Jórvík), although it's a bit too far east.<br />
|-<br />
| Weedle<br />
|| {{w|Weedle}} is a Pokémon, and also a word meaning "to obtain by trickery or persuasion"<br />
|| {{w|Forest of Bowland}}<br />
|| In the original Pokémon Red and Blue games Weedle is most notably found in '{{w|Viridian Forest}}' which - like the real-life Forest of Bowland - is known for its diverse wildlife.<br />
|-<br />
| Eeugh<br />
|| An expression of disgust<br />
|| {{w|Kingston-upon-Hull}} (generally just "Hull")<br />
|| Pronounced 'ull by locals<br />
|-<br />
| Crewneck<br />
|| A shirt with a {{w|Crewneck|simple round collar}}.<br />
|| {{w|Blackpool}}<br />
|| There is a town called {{w|Crewe}} somewhat further south than shown in Cheshire.<br />
|-<br />
| Paisley<br />
|| {{w|Paisley, Renfrewshire|No joke}}. It sounds funny to Americans because it's associated with {{w|Paisley (design)|paisley}} fabric, a Persian-style print invented in the town. Possibly a pun on {{w|Parsley|parsley}}, a herb.<br />
|| {{w|Burnley}}<br />
|| The real Paisley is in Scotland, near Glasgow.<br />
|-<br />
| Basil<br />
|| Also {{w|Basil|a herb}}, and {{w|Basil Fawlty|one of the most famous British TV characters}}.<br />
|| {{w|Scunthorpe}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Aidenn<br />
|| An apparent pun on the {{w|Scouse}} accent: {{w|h-dropping}} and {{w|th-fronting}} mean the common "hey, then" would be pronounced "ai denn".<br />
|| {{w|Merseyside}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Hillfolk<br />
|| {{w|Hillfolk}} is an RPG. "-hill" (referring to, well, a hill) is common in British placenames, and "-folk" (referring to a tribe or culture) is seen in ''Suffolk'' and ''Norfolk''. Possibly also a reference to {{w|Hobbits}}, a race of little people that live under hills in The Lord of the Rings.<br />
|| {{w|Manchester}}<br />
|| Manchester's name does in fact reference hills: it means "castle on the {{w|breast-shaped hill}}"<br />
|-<br />
| Waterdown<br />
|| To "water something down" is to weaken it. "-down" is common in British placenames and refers to {{w|Downland|chalk hills}}. Possibly a contraction from the book and movie: Watership Down.<br />
|| Near {{w|Grimsby}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Dubstep<br />
|| {{w|Dubstep}} is a genre of electronic music with a heavy bass line.<br />
|| {{w|Dublin}}<br />
|| Dublin is the only non-UK settlement in the map, and one of two on the island of Ireland.<br />
|-<br />
| Borough-upon-Mappe<br />
|| By being recorded here, this is literally a borough upon a map. The "-upon-" is a common element of placenames for towns on rivers, although there's no River Mappe. Possibly referencing the fact that the town is on a "mappe" (map)?<br />
|| {{w|Lincolnshire Wolds}}<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
| Fhqwhgads<br />
|| "[http://www.hrwiki.org/wiki/Fhqwhgads Fhqwhgads]" is a joke from the Homestar Runner internet cartoon. In the cartoon, the main character read a fanmail that was signed only with a random keyboard mash of characters, which Strong Bad shortened to "Fhqwhgads," a name that became a running gag on the cartoon.<br />
|| {{w|Wrexham}}<br />
|| This is on the Welsh border; Welsh names often look like a mish-mash of consonants to English speakers; within a few miles of Wrexham are towns like {{w|Yr Wyddgrug}} ("Mold" in English), {{w|Cefn-y-bedd}}, {{w|Gwernymynydd}} and {{w|Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog}}.<br />
|-<br />
| Cadbury<br />
|| {{w|Cadbury}} is a British chocolate company.<br />
|| Near {{w|Boston, Lincolnshire}}<br />
|| Cadbury actually built a town for its workers... but it's called {{w|Bournville}}. There are several towns called {{w|Cadbury_(disambiguation)#Places|Cadbury}} in the UK (where the Cadbury family presumably got its name), but none are near here.<br />
|-<br />
| Cabinetry<br />
|| The art of making {{w|cabinets}}.<br />
|| Near {{w|Oswestry}}<br />
||Several towns in the English Midlands have names ending in -try, including Oswestry. "Cabinetry" could be a pun on {{w|Coventry}}, which lies further to the east.<br />
|-<br />
| The Shire<br />
|| {{w|Shire (Middle-earth)|The Shire}} is home to the {{w|Hobbits}} in {{w|Middle-Earth}}<br />
|| {{w|Midlands}}<br />
|| Tolkien drew inspiration for the Shire from the {{w|West Midlands (region)|West Midlands}}, although Tolkien was from the southern part of the Midlands (roughly where Dampshire is on the map).<br />
An internet posting titled [http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/revocation.asp "A Letter to the U.S" after the 2016 Presidential Election"], falsely attributed to John Cleese, could also have been inspiration for this map. It in particular says: "3. You should learn to distinguish English and Australian accents. It really isn't that hard. English accents are not limited to cockney, upper-class twit or Mancunian (Daphne in Frasier). Scottish dramas such as 'Taggart' will no longer be broadcast with subtitles.You must learn that there is no such place as Devonshire in England. The name of the county is "Devon." If you persist in calling it Devonshire, all American States will become "shires" e.g. Texasshire Floridashire, Louisianashire." <br />
|-<br />
| Landmouth<br />
|| Literal description<br />
|| {{w|The Wash}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Brandon<br />
|| {{w|Brandon#United Kingdom|Not a joke}}<br />
|| {{w|The Fens}}<br />
|| There are several Brandons in the UK, the nearest being where "Keebler" is on the map. The area shown is borderline-uninhabitable, as it is marshland and lies mostly below sea-level. Only a few farms and isolated hamlets exist here.<br />
|-<br />
| Hamwich<br />
|| A ham sandwich. Both "-ham" and "-wich" are common generic placenames. The village called simply "Ham" and the other called "Sandwich" are fairly close to each other, with a famous roadsign that points to "Ham Sandwich" between them.<br />
|| {{w|Norwich}}<br />
|| Likely to be coincidence but the "Cheese Hamwich" is a breaded cheese and turkey food product sold by {{w|Bernard_Matthews_Ltd}} whose food processing facility is based not far from this map location.<br />
|-<br />
| West Norsussex<br />
|| Mash-up of {{w|West Sussex}} ("South Saxons") with the obsolete {{w|Wessex}} ("West Saxons") and never extant {{w|Norsex}} ("North Saxons")<br />
|| {{w|Midlands}}<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
| Redsox<br />
|| The {{w|Boston Red Sox}} are a baseball team<br />
|| {{w|The Fens}}<br />
|| The Boston Red Sox play at Fenway Park. The map location is not far from the British {{w|Boston, Lincolnshire|Boston}} <br />
|-<br />
| Keebler<br />
|| The {{w|Keebler Elves}} advertise cookies in the US<br />
|| {{w|Elveden}}<br />
|| The name of this village in Thetford Forest means "valley of the elves". <br />
|-<br />
| Bloughshire<br />
|| Most British counties have "-shire" in their name. Originally it meant they were administered by a {{w|sheriff}}. However, they are usually no longer known by those names in Wales.<br />
|| {{w|Powys}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Lionsgate<br />
|| {{w|Lionsgate|A film studio}}<br />
|| {{w|Leicester}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Kingsbottom<br />
|| Another "-bottom". A possible reference to {{w|King's Landing}}, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms of {{w|Westeros}} and one of its districts Fleabottom.<br />
|| {{w|Suffolk Coast National Nature Reserve|Suffolk Coast}}<br />
|| Possibly named for the town of {{w|King's Lynn}}, also located in East Anglia but close to its north coast.<br />
|-<br />
| Aberforth<br />
|| {{w|Aberforth Dumbledore}} is {{w|Albus Dumbledore}}'s brother in the ''Harry Potter'' series. The name is sometimes translated as "from the river", but without any etymological references. "Aber" is Welsh for a "river mouth" or estuary, and is widespread in Wales, and occasionally found due to Celtic influence in other parts of the UK (such as {{w|Aberdeen}}).<br />
|| {{w|Aberystwyth}}<br />
|| {{w|Aberporth}} ("Mouth [of the] port" - the Welsh equivalent of the the English name Portsmouth) is a real town located a little further southwest along the Welsh coast. {{w|Forth}} may be a reference to the {{w|Firth of Forth}} in Scotland, where "Firth" means estuary or fjord, and "Forth" is thought to mean "the open air". Aberforth would literally mean "the mouth of the river Forth", which is the location of {{w|Edinburgh}} in Scotland. Alternatively, "forth" in Welsh could be a soft mutated form of the Welsh name "{{w|Borth}}" (the name of a town - but not a river - a little further north along the coast), which is itself a soft mutated form of the word "porth" meaning port.<br />
|-<br />
| South Norwessex<br />
|| Another mash-up of {{w|Sussex}} ("South Saxons") with the obsolete {{w|Wessex}} ("West Saxons") and never extant {{w|Norsex}} ("North Saxons"). Also southwest of West Norsussex.<br />
|| {{w|Birmingham}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Dryford<br />
|| Would refer to a river crossing without water. "{{w|Ford (crossing)|-ford}}" is a common placename element.<br />
|| {{w|Shropshire Hills}}<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
| Frampton<br />
|| There are many {{w|Frampton}}s in the UK. It means "town on the river Frome" - and there are also several {{w|River Frome}}s. The name is famous thanks to rock musician {{w|Peter Frampton}}<br />
|| {{w|Bury St Edmunds}}<br />
||see also "Southframpton"<br />
|-<br />
| Cambridge<br />
|| {{w|Cambridge|No joke}}<br />
|| {{w|Cambridge}}<br />
|| Cambridge and Oxford, the two most prestigious university towns, are correctly marked. Together, they form {{w|Oxbridge}}<br />
|-<br />
| Kingsfriend<br />
|| Possibly a joke about the royal patronage given to certain towns - for instance, {{w|Bognor Regis}} and {{w|Royal Wootton Bassett}}. Also {{w|Knighton, Powys|Knighton}} (a King's friend?) is very close to this locale, and so is {{w|Kington, Herefordshire|Kington}}.<br />
|| Near the England-Wales border<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
| Cair Paravel<br />
|| {{w|Cair Paravel}} is the castle where the ruler of {{w|Narnia}} lives in the ''Narnia'' series.<br />
|| {{w|Dedham Vale}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Camelot<br />
|| {{w|Camelot}} was (in legend) {{w|King Arthur}}'s court.<br />
|| Near the England-Wales border<br />
|| The King Arthur myth did in fact originate in the Welsh culture. However, most sites associated with Camelot, such as {{w|Winchester}}, {{w|Glastonbury}} and {{w|Cadbury Castle}}, are in England.<br />
|-<br />
| Nothingham<br />
|| A pun on {{w|Nottingham}}, famous for {{w|Sherwood Forest}}, the legendary home of {{w|Robin Hood}}.<br />
|| Near {{w|Northampton}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Cumberbatch<br />
|| A surname, best known as that of actor {{w|Benedict Cumberbatch}}.<br />
|| {{w|Harlow}}<br />
|| The surname of a famous actress is replaced with that of a famous actor<br />
|-<br />
| Dampshire<br />
|| A pun on the county of {{w|Hampshire}}. Generically a joking reference to any county, particularly of the {{w|West Country}}, to imply it is particularly prone to rain.<br />
|| Gloucestershire<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| The CW<br />
|| {{w|The CW|An American TV channel}}.<br />
|| {{w|Pembrokeshire}}<br />
|| Presumably the placement is a reference to Welsh words such as "cwm" which use W as a vowel.<br />
|-<br />
| Whaling<br />
|| The practice of hunting whales. May be a reference to other -ing towns like {{w|Reading, Berkshire|Reading}} (which is actually pronounced "redding", not "reeding"), and also to its location in Wales.<br />
|| {{w|Merthyr Tydfil}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Paulblart<br />
|| ''{{w|Paul Blart: Mall Cop}}'' is a 2009 comedy film starring Kevin James<br />
|| Near {{w|Chelmsford}}<br />
|| Possibly a humorous contrast with Cumberbatch above, a highbrow British classical actor followed by a lowbrow American movie character.<br />
|-<br />
| Oxford<br />
|| {{w|Oxford|No joke}}<br />
|| {{w|Oxford}}<br />
|| See Cambridge. Surprisingly, Randall made no attempt to troll readers by switching the locations of Cambridge and Oxford.<br />
|-<br />
| Moorhen<br />
|| The {{w|moorhen}} is a waterfowl.<br />
|| {{w|Gower Peninsula}}<br />
|| Possibly punning on nearby {{w|Swansea}}.<br />
|-<br />
| Cardigan<br />
|| {{w|Cardigan, Ceredigion|No joke}} - it seems funny to Americans because of the {{w|Cardigan (sweater)|knitted sweater}} popularised by the {{w|James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan|Earl of Cardigan}}<br />
|| {{w|Newport, Wales}}<br />
|| The actual Cardigan is on the west coast. The name may be punning on the city of {{w|Cardiff}}, capital of Wales, which is further south-west.<br />
|-<br />
| BBC Channel 4<br />
|| A composite of {{w|Channel 4}} and the {{w|BBC}} (UK TV operators) confusing the meaning of TV channel with a geographic channel.<br />
|| {{w|Bristol Channel}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| London<br />
|| By virtue of being the capital and largest city, as well as a famous {{w|world city}}, London is one of the few cities in Britain that anyone, no matter how ignorant of British geography, can manage to name correctly.<br />
|| London<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| GMT<br />
|| A reference to {{w|Greenwich Mean Time}}. Shown on the map near the London bourough of Greenwich through which the GMT meridian passes.<br />
|| {{w|Greenwich}} (roughly)<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Corbyn<br />
|| A reference to leader of the UK {{w|Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party}} {{w|Jeremy Corbyn}}.<br />
|| {{w|The Cotswolds}}<br />
|| May be a confusion with the town of {{w|Corby}} although it is not near the location shown.<br />
|-<br />
| Tems-upon-Thames<br />
|| A joke about the counter-intuitive pronunciation of {{w|Thames}}.<br />
|| {{w|Rochester}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Minas Tirith<br />
|| {{w|Minas Tirith}} is the capital of Gondor in ''Lord of the Rings'' and is built on the side of a mountain.<br />
|| {{w|Bristol}}<br />
|| Clifton Village, in Bristol, is built on the side of the Avon Gorge so could be compared to {{w|Minas Tirith}}. Nearby {{w|Cheddar Gorge}} is famous for its steep cliffs that resemble the landscape from Lord of the Rings. <br />
|-<br />
| Hogsmeade<br />
|| {{w|Hogsmeade}} is the nearest village to Hogwarts in the ''Harry Potter'' books.<br />
|| {{w|Dover}}<br />
|| The fictional Hogsmeade was in Scotland. Randall shows the {{w|Channel Tunnel}} running from there, a possible reference to Hogsmeade's secret connections to Hogwarts.<br />
|-<br />
| Tubemap<br />
|| The {{w|Tube Map}} is the map of the {{w|London Underground}}, widely considered a masterpiece of design.<br />
|| {{w|Outer London}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Cambnewton<br />
|| {{w|Cam Newton}} is quarterback for the {{w|Carolina Panthers}}. "Cam-" is common for placenames on any of the several British rivers called "{{w|Cam River|Cam}}", while "Newton" means "new town". Also possibly a pun on Camden Town, a touristic district in North London, although not its actual location on the map.<br />
|| {{w|West Country}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Efrafa<br />
|| Efrafa is a rabbit warren in the story ''{{w|Watership Down}}''.<br />
|| {{w|Chidden}}<br />
|| According to the story, the warren is located roughly here - the real {{w|Watership Down, Hampshire|Watership Down}} is in Hampshire.<br />
|-<br />
| Chansey<br />
|| {{w|Chansey|Another Pokémon}}. "-sey" is a common suffix meaning "island".<br />
|| {{w|Dungeness (headland|Dungeness}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Oughghough<br />
|| Playing on common place name elements, "oughghough" has no clear pronunciation under the rules of English. It could be "Uff-guff", "Oo-gow", "Uh-guh" or any combination of these sounds. The name looks similar to the real {{w|Loughborough}} ("Luff-bruh")<br />
|| {{w|Barnstaple}}<br />
|| Legend has it that Loughborough was once pronounced 'Loogabarooga' by a visiting Australian.<br />
|-<br />
| Sundial<br />
|| A {{w|sundial}} is a clock using a shadow to tell the time.<br />
|| {{w|Wiltshire}}<br />
|| The location roughly corresponds with {{w|Stonehenge}}, an ancient stone circle that was likely used to track the sun (though as a ritual calendar, rather than a clock)<br />
|-<br />
| Dobby<br />
|| {{w|Magical_creatures_in_Harry_Potter#Dobby|Dobby}} is a character in {{w|Harry Potter}}.<br />
|| {{w|Southampton}}<br />
|| Similar to {{w|Derby}}.<br />
|-<br />
| Lower Bottom<br />
|| Another -bottom. Also a redundancy, as the "bottom" is the lowest place by definition.<br />
|| {{w|Devon}}<br />
||<br />
|-<br />
| Southframpton<br />
|| A confusion with {{w|Southampton}} which is nearby the location shown. The use of the postfix "frampton" is a reference to the "Frampton" elsewhere on the map, just as Southampton is distinguished from {{w|Northampton}}.<br />
|| {{w|Milford on Sea}}<br />
|| Frampton happens to be a common surname in the area.<br />
|-<br />
| Blandford<br />
|| {{w|Blandford|No joke}}<br />
|| {{w|Cornwall}}<br />
|| The real Blandford is a bit further east, in Dorset, roughly under the m in 'Southframpton'.<br />
|-<br />
| Menthol<br />
|| {{w|Menthol}} is a chemical with minty taste that produces a cooling sensation, and is used in mints and flavoured cigarettes.<br />
|| {{w|Eastbourne}}<br />
|| Possibly a reference to Methil in Fife (but possibly not).<br />
|-<br />
| West Sea<br />
|| Literal description.<br />
|| {{w|Atlantic Ocean}}<br />
|| Historically, this was the name for the ocean off the UK's west coast. According to the {{w|Shipping Forecast#Region names|list of sea areas}} used in the UK's {{w|Shipping Forecast}}, that region of sea is called "Lundy"<br />
|-<br />
| Tarp<br />
|| Tarp, short for {{w|tarpaulin}}, is a waterproof sheet for storage and weather protection.<br />
|| {{w|Teignmouth}}<br />
|| <br />
|-<br />
| Longbit<br />
|| Literal description.<br />
|| {{w|Cornwall}}<br />
|| <br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
<br />
: [A black-and-white map of Great Britain. The detail on the map is minimal, showing mainly the outlines of the land, upward-pointing angles<!-- is there a better way to describe these? --> representing mountains, and points representing cities. The only other features are a small drawing of a protractor south of one peninsula, and a lake with two small sailboats on the west side of the largest landmass. The caption in the upper-right states in large letters "A BRITISH MAP," then in smaller letters underneath, "LABELED BY AN AMERICAN." Most of the map's area is covered by labels for various features, which are listed below.]<br />
<br />
<nowiki><br />
In Scotland, from north to south<br />
Helcaraxë<br />
Blick<br />
Everdeen<br />
Norther Sea (to the west)<br />
Highlands<br />
Loch Lomond<br />
Fjordham<br />
Glassdoor<br />
Eavestroughs<br />
Seasedge<br />
Meowth<br />
Chough<br />
Blighton<br />
Glutenfree<br />
<br />
In England, from north to south<br />
Eyemouth<br />
Earhand<br />
Hairskull<br />
Lakebottom<br />
Braintree<br />
Skinflower<br />
Weedle<br />
Bjork<br />
Crewneck<br />
Paisley<br />
Eeugh<br />
Aidenn<br />
Basil<br />
Hillfolk<br />
Waterdown<br />
Borough-Upon-Mappe<br />
Cadbury<br />
Landmouth (to the East)<br />
The Shire<br />
West Norsussex<br />
Redsox<br />
Hamwich<br />
Lionsgate<br />
Keebler<br />
South Norwessex<br />
Kingsbottom<br />
Cambridge<br />
Frampton<br />
Nothingham<br />
Cair Paravel<br />
Dampshire<br />
Cumberbatch<br />
Oxford<br />
Paulblart<br />
Corbyn<br />
London<br />
GMT<br />
BBC Channel 4 (to the West)<br />
Minas Tirith<br />
Tems-Upon-Thames<br />
Tubemap<br />
Hogsmeade<br />
Cambnewton<br />
Oughghough<br />
Efrafa<br />
Chansey<br />
Sundial<br />
Lower Bottom<br />
Dobby<br />
Menthol<br />
West Sea (to the West)<br />
Blandford<br />
Southframpton<br />
Tarp<br />
Longbit<br />
<br />
In Whales, from north to south<br />
Fhqwhgads<br />
Cabinetry<br />
Bloughshire<br />
Aberforth<br />
Dryford<br />
Kingsfriend<br />
Camelot<br />
The CW<br />
Whaling<br />
Moorhen<br />
Cardigan<br />
<br />
In Northern Ireland<br />
Belfast Devoe<br />
<br />
In the Republic of Ireland<br />
Dubstep<br />
</nowiki><br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
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[[Category:Maps]]</div>172.68.141.100https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1871:_Bun_Alert&diff=143733Talk:1871: Bun Alert2017-08-07T06:24:00Z<p>172.68.141.100: Callipygian</p>
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I think it's about Ponytail realizing she's opened a can of worms in that she was the one who taught these people about the bun, and now everyone's infatuated with them. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.249.52|108.162.249.52]] 00:53, 3 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
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This is basically the title text from 1682. Is it just me, or has Randall been running out of ideas lately? [[User:Jaalenja|Jaalenja]] ([[User talk:Jaalenja|talk]]) 13:31, 2 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
:In all fairness, Randall has been known to play the long game. There might be a thread to pull here. {{unsigned ip|172.68.143.186|13:44, 2 August 2017 (UTC)}}<br />
::Yea, Randall has built on earlier ideas before. E.g. 1818 being built on an idea from What-If 141. It's non-indicative of a lack of ideas. But the notion that ideas are a finite resource is silly anyways. Watch the talk he gave at Google in 2007, it's on YouTube, and there's a bit in there where he talks about how he comes up with his comics. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.35|108.162.238.35]] 13:49, 2 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
No idea why he's picked bunnies specifically, maybe that will become apparent in a future strip. Considering just this standalone comic, it seems to be a parody of apps that increasingly swamp the user with notifications about pointless things that one might imagine nobody would ever care about. In this instance, it might be imagined that few people would care about notifications for bunny sightings, but in the last pane it appears that someone truly does. This might compare with notifications for rare pokemon sightings in Pokémon Go (not provided in-app but there are groups on facebook etc. that alert users to rare pokemon / legendary raids) - with the difference that bunnies are extremely common. Also, is it significant that he specifically uses the word "buns" instead of "bunnies"? There may be a connection with the observation that they are just like little hopping loaves of bread.[[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.208|141.101.98.208]] 14:45, 2 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
:I mean, that's pretty much what twitter is for.[[Special:Contributions/162.158.134.190|162.158.134.190]] 15:11, 2 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
:Cf. memes such as "anatomy of the bun". [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.35|108.162.238.35]] 19:37, 2 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
:Agree with the idea that it may be reference to people overreacting to trivial things and using technology to alert others about it e.g. Starbucks unicorn locations, PokemonGo, etc. No idea about the title text though, he is basically saying people may be alerted at night? Maybe some recent trend that focuses on night gatherings? [[Special:Contributions/172.68.47.72|172.68.47.72]] 20:58, 2 August 2017 (UTC) <br />
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I think this may just be an extended example of dadaism. If he carries on with the theme I think it is as likely to make less sense as it is to make more sense. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.58.189|162.158.58.189]] 15:12, 2 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
:+1 Dada hypothesis. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.178.147|162.158.178.147]] 06:33, 3 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
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Beret Guy's comment about investors and building the alert system could be a reference to [[1493: Meeting]]. Is the "loaves of bread that hop" line just a pun on the word "bun"? Is "Night Buns" a reference to something? --[[Special:Contributions/172.68.46.41|172.68.46.41]] 20:13, 2 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
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WARNING: your captchas aren't working well at all. In firefox your captcha gets crushed somehow underneath the formatting tools bar where you can do text entry when editing. I was only able to pass the captcha and get this comment posted by viewing the html source of the webpage and tracking what link the captcha was supposed to go to. I suggest you try setting up some sort of formatting on the webpage to place the captcha elsewhere on the page one sees after editing a comment-box/wiki-like page. Thanks[[Special:Contributions/162.158.154.91|162.158.154.91]] 23:25, 2 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
:They also disappear entirely if you try to log in with HTTPS (and Firefox rightfully shows a warning when you use regular HTTP). [[User:Honnza|Honnza]] ([[User talk:Honnza|talk]]) 02:40, 7 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
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Just checked out that captcha problem since I never noticed it at work where I cant log in and now here at home the captcha is showing fine nothing hidden or combined with the format bar or the comment box this on Firefox 54.0.1 (64-Bit) current window size 1279x929 [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.28|108.162.219.28]] 01:20, 3 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
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I believe with each new comic I am getting lazier and lazier with editing (any editing, old or new comics). Thank God for [[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] and the rest of you. --[[User:Lackadaisical|Lackadaisical]] ([[User talk:Lackadaisical|talk]]) 13:12, 3 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
:Thanks for removing this NOT FUNNY ANYMORE ''Citation needed'' templates. And please do not thank God for my few edits, I don't belief in those creatures. My first edit on this comic was more than 24 hours after release and my focus is more about standards. E.g. there is no need to add categories like ''Comics from 2017''... and the trivia is below the transcript.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 18:30, 3 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
:::Maybe the more sporadic customary userbase of this site is a bit less jaded than the top editors. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.25.28|172.68.25.28]] 20:22, 3 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
::::I adore the Citation needed joke, where appropriate, it must refer to a blatantly obvious phenomenon which does not need a citation. Such as, "The sky is blue" or "squirrels way less than a moose," and that statement should flow naturally and not be obviously put in there just to set up the joke. The joke comes from What If? and this seems to be how Randal uses it. --[[User:Lackadaisical|Lackadaisical]] ([[User talk:Lackadaisical|talk]]) 22:08, 3 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
::::: I must concur, I love the silly "Citation needed" jokes, they're one of my favourite parts of reading this site! :) Sorry, it's permanently funny. [[User:NiceGuy1|NiceGuy1]] ([[User talk:NiceGuy1|talk]]) 03:37, 4 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
:::::My problem with the "joke" is that it always links to the protest comic. In the What-ifs, Randall links to something that looks or sounds vaguely like "citation". [[Special:Contributions/108.162.212.227|108.162.212.227]] 11:55, 4 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
:::::I just realized i spelt "weigh" as "way"--[[User:Lackadaisical|Lackadaisical]] ([[User talk:Lackadaisical|talk]]) 12:15, 4 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
:It's a common colloquialism where I'm from, said without religious intentions. I was more commenting on your work on the site rather than this particular comic, though I can see why that may have been confusing. Next time I will reserve praise for your talk page. --[[User:Lackadaisical|Lackadaisical]] ([[User talk:Lackadaisical|talk]]) 19:55, 3 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
:: I was raised without religion, only going to churches and whatnot for weddings and such. I firmly consider myself as not having a religion. I feel we'd all be better off without religion (though I recognize people have a right to their religion). But even I have been known to say "thank god". It has become a saying, and it doesn't really have a non-religious equivalent ("thankfully" isn't used the same way, "thankfully for" is grammatically incorrect, "I'm thankful for" feels more wordy and formal). Ignore the religious aspect. :) [[User:NiceGuy1|NiceGuy1]] ([[User talk:NiceGuy1|talk]]) 03:37, 4 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
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Massachusetts has an informal "French Toast Alert" system for grading winter storms. I wonder if the allusion to alerts about "loaves of bread that hop" could be related to that. [[User:Gmcgath|Gmcgath]] ([[User talk:Gmcgath|talk]]) 00:07, 4 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
: Other people know better than I where Randall lives, but I don't think it's Massachusetts, and this French Toast Alert System (why french toast?) sounds like one of those things only locals know. I think it's just conflating their silly use of "bun" with the normal use of the word. [[User:NiceGuy1|NiceGuy1]] ([[User talk:NiceGuy1|talk]]) 03:41, 4 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
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Is it possible that the line about investors is a dig at startups focused entirely on creating a single app that nobody even needs? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.105.210|141.101.105.210]] 12:57, 4 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
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A little grammar Nazi thing I picked up, in the first panel Ponytail says, "to who" instead of "to whom." [[User:ChromoTec|ChromoTec]] ([[User talk:ChromoTec|talk]]) 15:24, 4 August 2017 (UTC)ChromoTec<br />
:Please enter new comments at the bottom. And as a German I don't like the phrase ''grammar Nazi'' because {{w|Nazi}} means fascism, I'm sure that's not your intention. But you're right, and even not a pedant, because "to whom" sounds much better. Maybe the picture will be updated in the future. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 20:42, 4 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
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Am I the only dirty old man that thinks that this has to to do with taking pictures of people's behinds - as in "buns of steel" kind of buns? and on alerting friends on social media regarding some particularly picturesque, ahem, tight, small, buns?[[Special:Contributions/173.245.50.216|173.245.50.216]] 02:40, 5 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
:You are surely not the ''only dirty old man'' but gladly Randall is a little bit younger. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 20:53, 5 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
::I totally missed the bread thing until I read the explanation here. Figured the cartoon was supposed to be some play on callipygian. [Thanks [http://www.gocomics.com/frazz/2003/06/04 Frazz] for adding that word to my vocabulary.] [[Special:Contributions/172.68.141.100|172.68.141.100]] 06:24, 7 August 2017 (UTC)</div>172.68.141.100