https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=173.245.50.72&feedformat=atomexplain xkcd - User contributions [en]2024-03-28T12:22:15ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1800:_Chess_Notation&diff=135542Talk:1800: Chess Notation2017-02-17T18:35:26Z<p>173.245.50.72: </p>
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<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~--><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 />
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 />
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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]</div>173.245.50.72https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1589:_Frankenstein&diff=1032501589: Frankenstein2015-10-12T05:09:33Z<p>173.245.50.72: Re-marking the explanation as incomplete; Frankenstein's moon landing comment is still unexplained.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1589<br />
| date = October 12, 2015<br />
| title = Frankenstein<br />
| image = frankenstein.png<br />
| titletext = "Wait, so in this version is Frankenstein also the doctor's name?" "No, he's just 'The Doctor'."<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
{{incomplete|What about the moon landing statement?}}<br />
==Explanation==<br />
"Frankenstein; or: A Modern Prometheus" is a novel by Mary Shelley published in 1818. In it, Victor Frankenstein is a human who creates a monster (which is unnamed in the novel). In popular culture, "Frankenstein" is taken to be the name of the monster, not its creator. Randall is tired of hearing this error corrected, so he has created his own work of fiction, in which a monster is named Frankenstein. He rationalizes that it is now correct to call a monster Frankenstein, assuming that his comic strip is as authoritative as the original novel.<br />
<br />
The title text raises the question of what the monster's creator is named in this version, since the name "Frankenstein" is instead given to the monster. The canonical answer is that the creator is simply "The Doctor" (like the title character of the series {{w|Doctor_Who|"Doctor Who"}}).<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
Like many people, I'm tired of the nitpicking about Frankenstein's monster's name.<br><br />
Luckily, Frankenstein is public domain.<br><br />
Therefore, I present<br><br />
XKCD's <b> Frankenstein<br></b><br />
[lightning bolt]<br><br />
(The Monster's name)<br><br><br />
Monster: Graaar!<br><br />
Cueball: Frankenstein is alive! I am a modern Prometheus!<br><br />
Monster: Raaaar!<br><br />
Cueball: To be clear, your name is Frankenstein, canonically.<br><br />
Monser: Graaaaar! The moon landings were faked!<br><br />
Cueball: Wait, what?<br><br><br />
Fin.<br><br />
There. Feel free to call the monster "Frankenstein." If anyone tries to correct you, just explain that this comic is your canonical version.<br><br />
Thank you.<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>173.245.50.72https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1578:_Squirrelphone&diff=1024071578: Squirrelphone2015-09-25T05:47:45Z<p>173.245.50.72: </p>
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<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1578<br />
| date = September 16, 2015<br />
| title = Squirrelphone<br />
| image = squirrelphone.png<br />
| titletext = After a while, the squirrel starts making that beeping noise and doesn't stop until it hops back up onto the stump.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
"Squirrelphone" is a {{w|Compound (linguistics)|compound word}} combining "{{w|squirrel}}" and "{{w|phone}}".<br />
<br />
In this comic, we see a squirrel pretend to be a telephone, only to bite [[Cueball]] who tries to pick it up and use it as one. This is humorous because a living squirrel is not an appropriate creature to maintain a phone call{{Citation needed}}. This could be seen as an example of {{w|mimicry}} in nature, or parasitism where one creature gains a benefit from another.<br />
<br />
It may be an allusion to the {{w|Tufted ground squirrel|vampire squirrel}} which was [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2015/09/11/vampire-squirrel-caught-on-camera-for-the-first-time-ever/ documented recently] that allegedly 'attacks and kills' deer. The comic follows the absurd conclusion that the squirrel uses mimicry to 'attack and kill' humans. Cueball may be lucky to still be alive.{{Citation needed}}<br />
<br />
The sounds the squirrel makes correspond to the tones that the terminals make when you use the POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) in the US:<br />
* When someone else calls you and the receiver of your phone is on the hook, the phone makes loud and long "riiing riiiing" tones. --- This is the case in the first frame of the comic.<br />
* When you pick the receiver up, the phone call is established and no extra noises are made.<br />
* When no phone call is established and you pick up, a continuous humming tone is heard, meaning the service is up and you can dial someone else's number. (A {{w|dial tone}})<br />
* If a phone is left off hook for too long, a loud {{w|Off-hook tone|howler-tone}} is played. This is to alert anyone present that the phone is off-hook. In this case, you should hang up so that you can receive calls. Once on-hook, the receiver can be picked up again to dial. Many cordless phones will also beep if left off their cradles for too long, to warn that their rechargeable batteries are getting drained.<br />
<br />
[[:Category:Squirrels|Squirrels]] have been used frequently in xkcd, also in [[what if?]], where it has for instance been used as a cute animal to replace a drawing of something scary or unpleasant like in [http://what-if.xkcd.com/98/ Blood Alcohol] or [http://what-if.xkcd.com/105/ Cannibalism]. So this is some twist for the cuteness factor of squirrels in xkcd.<br />
<br />
It may also be the case that "squirrelphone" is a reference to the popular web-mail software [http://squirrelmail.org/ SquirrelMail].<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball is approaching a stump with a squirrel perched on it. A ringing noise is coming from the squirrel's back.]<br />
:Squirrel: Riiiiing<br />
:Squirrel: Riiiiiing<br />
<br />
:[Cueball has picked up the squirrel and is holding it to his left ear]<br />
:Cueball: Hello?<br />
<br />
:[The squirrel bites Cueball's head]<br />
:Squirrel: Chomp!<br />
:Cueball: Ow!<br />
<br />
:[Cueball holds his hand to his cheek while the squirrel leaps away, fleeing]<br />
:Cueball: ???<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Squirrels]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>173.245.50.72https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1469:_UV&diff=820071469: UV2015-01-05T08:50:27Z<p>173.245.50.72: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1469<br />
| date = January 5, 2015<br />
| title = UV<br />
| image = uv.png<br />
| titletext = Hey, why stop at our house? We could burn down ALL these houses for the insurance money.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Rough draft. Needs editing, links, and specification.}}<br />
<br />
Ultraviolet (or UV, the title of the comic) light is a kind of light that is slightly more energetic than the visible light spectrum. Ultraviolet light is normally by itself invisible, but can induce fluorescing (glowing) of certain organic molecules. This is a means to detect small amounts of blood (as most television watchers know) and also urine. The first part of this comic focuses on Megan showing off her new UV flashlight to Cueball, who in this scenario lives with Megan, by revealing how disgusting their bathroom really is despite how clean it appears. She manages this due to UV light's special property of causing chemicals in urine to glow. Both Cueball and Megan are horrified by their discovery. A common meme with UV lights or other cleanliness tests resulting in over reaction to the normal state that didn't previously require extreme responses, but some how does when revealed. Feeling that their house will never be clean, Cueball and Megan resolve to burn it down for the insurance money ({{w|insurance fraud}}). The last panel of the comic reveals that the two hadn't purchased fire insurance beforehand, and plan on purchasing it now, only to make a claim immediately afterwards. This plan will not work, because insurance only covers fires that begin after purchasing the insurance, and does not cover anything that happens before purchasing the insurance or intentionally caused situations. <br />
<br />
The title text shows just how morally bankrupt the UV flashlight made Megan and Cueball, as one of them suggests burning down many houses in order to claim the insurance money. This plan also will not work. Even if insurance has been purchased for the other homes, the insurance companies will pay the owners of those homes, not Cueball and Megan (And Cueball and Megan would be arrested).<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript}}<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>173.245.50.72https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1456:_On_the_Moon&diff=80313Talk:1456: On the Moon2014-12-05T22:14:56Z<p>173.245.50.72: </p>
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<div>'''Transcript'''<br />
<br />
I don't see why the transcript is incomplete, it looks pretty complete and all there to me... [[User:Official.xian|Official.xian]] ([[User talk:Official.xian|talk]]) 14:45, 5 December 2014 (UTC)<br />
:Agreed, removed incomplete tag. --[[User:Pudder|Pudder]] ([[User talk:Pudder|talk]]) 14:49, 5 December 2014 (UTC)<br />
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I wondered if the cartoon is about sex discrimination. After all, when people went to the moon, nobody even considered (as far as I know) letting a woman go on an Apollo flight. Megan might be saying "Land a ''man'' on the moon?" Or she might be tired of Cueball saying this and be obliquely suggesting NASA send him there on a one-way trip! [[User:Gade|Gade]] ([[User talk:Gade|talk]]) 15:25, 5 December 2014 (UTC)<br />
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No, that only means that you are blinded by the alienation caused by the noxious media sites you visit. This strip is clearly about doing a 'real' manned moonlanding instead of that fake hollywood footage from 1969 that doesn't look anything like the photos taken last year from the chinese lander. --[[User:Loon|Loon]] ([[User talk:Loon|talk]]) 18:49, 5 December 2014 (UTC)<br />
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Is there a reference for the claim "Unmanned hardened pre-cooled robotic probes either got crushed or fried before landing, or survived only a couple of hours at most."? [[User:Djbrasier|Djbrasier]] ([[User talk:Djbrasier|talk]]) 16:07, 5 December 2014 (UTC)<br />
:Yes. The Venera probes. Citation provided. --Equinox [[Special:Contributions/199.27.128.117|199.27.128.117]] 17:18, 5 December 2014 (UTC)<br />
:(Well, you got me an edit conflict, after checking, editing and reviewing,but here's what I wrote.)<br />
:That's not the way I would phrase that claim, but it sounds like it's Venera 9 and its similar successors being talked about, with the "pre-cooling".<br />
:A brief check of a book I have (no, I've never heard of The Internet) suggests that the complete list of landers that actually got to Venus are as follows:<br />
::Venera 3 (descent probe, probably crashed, communications failed before approach)<br />
::Venera 4 (descent probe, ran out of power before destroyed in the atmosphere)<br />
::Venera 5 (descent probe, may have crushed at late stage of descent while still powered)<br />
::Venera 6 (descent probe, as V5)<br />
::Venera 7 (23 minutes of faint recordings from surface, probably landed on side after rough landing)<br />
::Venera 8 (50 minutes on surface before going silent)<br />
::Venera 9 (53 minutes, before radio contact with orbiter lost and not regained)<br />
::Venera 10 (can't find timing details)<br />
::Venera 11 (95 minutes, before contact with orbiter lost)<br />
::Venera 12 (110 minutes)<br />
::Venera 13 (a confirmed 127 minutes)<br />
::Venera 14 (57 minutes, ditto; managed to "measure its own lens-cap" in the intended soil-compressibility experiment!)<br />
::Vega 1 (no time information for Venus Lander component<br />
::Vega 2 (56 minutes for on surface for Venus Lander component)<br />
::Pioneer (an hour, for one of three landers on the mission)<br />
:Knowing the surface environment (temperature and pressure) and the design specs it can be assumed that Venera 13's confirmed 127 minutes of operation is near the top-end of functionality and that those that merely went out of range would have had not much more survival time. Although by the time of the final Veneras the expected survival time was only 30 minutes, and yet they may have lasted at least twice as long, so who knows... (Also note the possible usage of "a couple of hours" in relation to [[1070]].)<br />
[[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.247|141.101.98.247]] 17:48, 5 December 2014 (UTC)<br />
::That looks like an XKCD comic in and of itself.<br />
Man, for a minute I thought the second 'MAN' refers to a truck from the car company [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAN_Truck_%26_Bus MAN]. They are rather heavy. 5 December 2014 {{unsigned ip|173.245.50.139}}</div>173.245.50.72https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:442:_xkcd_Loves_the_Discovery_Channel&diff=72235Talk:442: xkcd Loves the Discovery Channel2014-07-25T03:44:21Z<p>173.245.50.72: </p>
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<div>For panel 19, I have to point out: Everything r34 related isn't necessarily a reference to the comic about it. Just because it is related doesn't mean that he was specifically making a joke about a previous comic, as he is making a joke about r34 which he ALSO happened to make a joke about in another comic. If it referenced Wetriffs or something, THEN it would be a reference.<br />
[[Special:Contributions/173.245.50.72|173.245.50.72]] 03:44, 25 July 2014 (UTC)<br />
I think that panel 9 actually is meant to be Black Hat giving the child a present and the lines around the gift suggesting that there is something moving around inside (likely alive and agitated) for the child to open and be mauled/harmed by.<br />
*The transcript comes from [[Randall]] himself, and it says he's taking the present away. [[User:Blaisepascal|Blaisepascal]] ([[User talk:Blaisepascal|talk]]) 10:14, 22 August 2012 (UTC)<br />
:I was hoping it was a bobcat. [[Special:Contributions/76.106.251.87|76.106.251.87]] 19:05, 10 May 2013 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Great! Now I have a targeted list of comics to add explanations for! [[User:Blaisepascal|Blaisepascal]] ([[User talk:Blaisepascal|talk]]) 10:14, 22 August 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
To Dgbrt, <br />
"Links do not belong to the transcript, this needs to be fixed."<br />
I know I'm just a noob here, but if you're so sure of that, why didn't you remove them yourself? Isn't one of WikiMedia's pillars "Be Bold"? I personally see no problem, given the self-referential nature of this comic. <br />
Anonymous 07:53, 12 January 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:This is not actually a WikiMedia site, but you're right that "Be Bold" is a wiki thing, in general. Nevertheless, in this case, the official transcript provided by Randall includes these references, so they might as well be wikilinked here. (In Dgbrt's defence, he (or she) may not have had the time to undo it himself (or herself).) [[User:Markhurd|Mark Hurd]] ([[User talk:Markhurd|talk]]) 12:12, 12 January 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
::No time was in fact my first reason; but on the other hand I didn't want to remove links without an section at the explain section. The links are not from the original transcript, it does only mention the references, and this belongs to the explain. The transcript is a transcript, not more. (even no time today for me on this...) --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:26, 12 January 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:::A compelling argument. I'll take care of it. Anonymous. 18:18, 15 January 2014 (UTC)<br />
::::Please remove next time only the links but not the text. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:23, 15 January 2014 (UTC)<br />
:::::Whoops. Sorry I misinterpreted. Anonymous 09:46, 21 January 2014 (UTC)</div>173.245.50.72https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:481:_Listen_to_Yourself&diff=72234Talk:481: Listen to Yourself2014-07-25T03:38:12Z<p>173.245.50.72: Created page with "Anyone out there skilled in the art of making viruses? ~~~~"</p>
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<div>Anyone out there skilled in the art of making viruses?<br />
[[Special:Contributions/173.245.50.72|173.245.50.72]] 03:38, 25 July 2014 (UTC)</div>173.245.50.72https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1381:_Margin&diff=69465Talk:1381: Margin2014-06-13T12:34:22Z<p>173.245.50.72: </p>
<hr />
<div>Isn't it possible that a mathematician knows about the existance or the proof of something, but doen't know how to technically do it? In this case, the margin remark would be accurate and not so funny. They have found a proof of existance for infinite information compression, but not yet discovered an actual method to do it. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.56|141.101.104.56]] 05:32, 13 June 2014 (UTC)<br />
:Yes, when there's no example, it's called a {{w|pure existence theorem}}. If you actually demonstrate an example, that is a {{w|constructive proof}}. [[User:Mattflaschen|Mattflaschen]] ([[User talk:Mattflaschen|talk]]) 05:38, 13 June 2014 (UTC)<br />
::Actually the proof of the Shannon-Hartley theorem is non-constructive. It tells you the data rate of the best possible channel coding, but does not tell you how to achieve it! [[Special:Contributions/108.162.215.47|108.162.215.47]] 07:58, 13 June 2014 (UTC)<br />
Setting font-size to 0 would be the same as not ''printing'' any information at all, you'll still use the same number of bits and be able to send the text to other computers which can read the information. The Shannon-Hartley theorem is, as far as I can see from the wikipedia article, about analogue channels anyway. --[[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 06:16, 13 June 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Isn't this also a reference to {{w|Jan Sloot}}'s digital compression mechanism where a movie would fit into 8 kbyte? [[User:Kaa-ching|Kaa-ching]] ([[User talk:Kaa-ching|talk]]) 07:36, 13 June 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
This was my first time editing Explain XKCD, but I fear I may have went too far in replacing the current explanation of the title-text with my own and removing the incomplete tag. Is it OK? [[User:YatharthROCK|YatharthROCK]] ([[User talk:YatharthROCK|talk]]) 08:10, 13 June 2014 (UTC)<br />
:I think you title text explain seems fine (I have not checked on the Shannon theorem.) But I think it is too soon to make this explain marked as complete. So I have undone that. Great to have one more to edit the explain so keep up the good work. [[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 10:46, 13 June 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Is the problem behind Fermat's Last Theorem "deceptively simple" or "deceptively difficult"? I've never quite worked out which way it should be. Unlike "cheap at half the price" which really should be "cheap at twice the price" and the effect of putting in the word "only" into "glass ... half full/empty". But I bet you all could care less (or, more accurately, "''couldn't'' care less", because you already do not care at all), right? ;) [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.232|141.101.98.232]] 11:44, 13 June 2014 (UTC)<br />
:I believe the correct wording would be "deceptively difficult". Deceptively simple would imply that the problem looked quite difficult on the surface, but once work had begun it was found to be quite simple. Fermat's last theorem goes the other way. It is simply stated with very few elements, so it would seem the proof should be easily constructed, but is actually quite difficult.</div>173.245.50.72https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=913:_Core&diff=63036913: Core2014-03-20T04:17:52Z<p>173.245.50.72: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 913<br />
| date = June 17, 2011<br />
| title = Core<br />
| image = core.png<br />
| titletext = If you're a geologist or geophysicist and you don't introduce yourself by saying your name, then gesturing downward and saying "... and I study that", I don't know what you're doing with your life.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Title text is missing}}<br />
This comic reflects on the fact that no matter where you are on Earth, its core is always directly under you, while incredibly hot and under huge amounts of pressure. Yet most of the time, we ignore this completely unless there is a volcanic eruption. Randall is presumably reading a geology book with diagrams and various facts about the Earth's interior, such as the core being subdivided into an {{w|inner core}} and an {{w|outer core}}, that the inner core is a solid ball, the size of the moon, that the outer core is at a pressure of 30 million pounds per square inch (approximately 2 million times atmospheric pressure at sea level) and the outer core is made of molten metal in a constant turbulent motion - a bit like a pot of boiling water. How cool would it be to study that? Therefore, Randall suggests if you do study it for a living, make the most of it.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[A cutaway diagram of the Earth, with colored layers including a labeled outer core and inner core.]<br />
<br />
:[A closeup of the stylized outer core, labeled "Turbulent molten metals at 30 million PSI" with turbulence lines, and of the inner core, labeled "moon-sized iron sphere."]<br />
<br />
:[Cueball reading a book pulls legs up tight under office chair, peering downwards.]<br />
<br />
:I freak out about fifteen minutes into reading anything about the Earth's core when I suddenly realize it's RIGHT UNDER ME.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]</div>173.245.50.72https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=913:_Core&diff=63035913: Core2014-03-20T04:14:21Z<p>173.245.50.72: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 913<br />
| date = June 17, 2011<br />
| title = Core<br />
| image = core.png<br />
| titletext = If you're a geologist or geophysicist and you don't introduce yourself by saying your name, then gesturing downward and saying "... and I study that", I don't know what you're doing with your life.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Title text is missing}}<br />
This comic reflects on the fact that no matter where you are on Earth, its core is always directly under you, while incredibly hot and under huge amounts of pressure. Yet most of the time, we ignore this completely unless there is a volcanic eruption. Various facts about the Earth are included in the images: that it has an {{w|inner core}} and an {{w|outer core}}, that the inner core is a solid ball, the size of the moon, that the outer core is at a pressure of 30 million pounds per square inch (approximately 2 million times atmospheric pressure at sea level) and the outer core is made of molten metal in a constant turbulent motion - a bit like a pot of boiling water. How cool would it be to study that? Therefore, Randall suggests if you do study it for a living, make the most of it.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[A cutaway diagram of the Earth, with colored layers including a labeled outer core and inner core.]<br />
<br />
:[A closeup of the stylized outer core, labeled "Turbulent molten metals at 30 million PSI" with turbulence lines, and of the inner core, labeled "moon-sized iron sphere."]<br />
<br />
:[Cueball reading a book pulls legs up tight under office chair, peering downwards.]<br />
<br />
:I freak out about fifteen minutes into reading anything about the Earth's core when I suddenly realize it's RIGHT UNDER ME.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]</div>173.245.50.72https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1256:_Questions&diff=620601256: Questions2014-03-07T03:28:38Z<p>173.245.50.72: /* Section one */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1256<br />
| date = August 26, 2013<br />
| title = Questions<br />
| image = questions.png<br />
| titletext = To whoever typed 'why is arwen dying': GOOD. FUCKING. QUESTION.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Incomplete.}}<br />
{{w|Google}}, a rather popular internet search engine, has a feature known as [https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/106230?hl=en autocomplete] that guesses at search queries before they are fully typed out. These guesses are generally made based on popular searches by other people. From time to time, a particularly strange or hilarious one may be found, as is evidenced in this comic.<br />
<br />
The largest pictured questions are: "Why are there slaves in the bible" and "Why are there ants in my laptop".<br />
<br />
All of the questions in the comic are "why" questions, so many of them are predicated on false assumptions, such as "Why are there pyramids on the moon".<br />
<br />
Regarding the title text: in the Peter Jackson films of {{w|The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' trilogy}}, Arwen becomes sickly for unspecified reasons as the plot advances, apparently giving Aragorn a more personal reason to fight. The only explanation given is by Elrond, who says "As Sauron's power grows, her [Arwen's] strength wanes." (This subplot is entirely absent from the {{w|The Lord of the Rings|original novels}}.)<br />
<br />
From [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0167260/faq#.2.1.21 IMDB]: <br /><blockquote><br />
Arwen, like her father (and brothers) is considered to be a Half-Elf, the result of a union between an Elf and a mortal human. The Half-Elven of Middle-earth get a choice, to remain immortal and return to the West (Valinor) or to become mortal and to die as humans do. Elrond chose to remain an Elf. Arwen (like her uncle Elros) chooses to become mortal in order to wed and remain with Aragorn. Elrond senses this; this is what he means when he says that Arwen is dying. It is the same as in The Last Unicorn, when the unicorn is given the form of a human woman and can feel that she is no longer immortal ("I can feel this body dying all around me"). According to Tolkien, though, after Aragorn dies in the year 120 (Fourth Age), Arwen returns to Lórien, where she dies by choice the following winter. </blockquote><br />
<br />
==Selected answers==<br />
===Single panels===<br />
{| class ="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
!style="width:20%;"|Question !! Possible answer<br />
|-<br />
|Why aren't my arms growing?||<br />
|-<br />
|Why are there ghosts?||<br />
|-<br />
|Why are there squirrels?||<br />
|-<br />
|Why is sex so important?||<br />
|-<br />
| Why aren't there guns in Harry Potter? || In the {{w|Harry Potter}} universe, Muggle technology (human inventions) are often looked down on by wizards - the majority of half-blooded wizards like Harry won't touch one, let alone a wizard extremist like {{w|Voldemort}}. Not only does any Muggle device more complex than a wristwatch interfere with magical artifacts, but wands are usually more versatile than most guns (a revolver can't shoot lightning or summon items or teleport its user). Finally, while Harry himself may or may not consider using firearms due to his muggle upbringing, ''Harry Potter'' is a children's book (which usually doesn't include guns) set in England (which has stricter gun laws than, say, the United States).<br />
|-<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
===Section one===<br />
{| class ="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
!style="width:20%;"|Question !! Possible answer<br />
|-<br />
| Why do whales jump? || <br />
|-<br />
|Why are witches green? || See {{w|Wizard of Oz}}.<br />
|-<br />
|Why are there mirrors above beds?||<br />
|-<br />
|Why do I say Uh?||See ''[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/05/06/the_odd_body_language_fillers/ Why do we say 'um', 'er', or 'ah' when we hesitate in speaking?]''.<br />
|-<br />
| Why is sea salt better? || The question likely refers to the difference between common {{w|Fortified table salt}} and usually more expensive sea salt. While the major part of both of these is sodium chloride (NaCl) the idea behind the claim is the different composition mostly in regards to trace elements of sea salt compared to "normal" salt. Table salt's composition is often influenced by a country's health department and thus addition of trace elements is regulated. While these regulations are based on scientific studies there remain to be debates concerning the additions, such as iodine.<br />
|-<br />
| Why are there trees in the middle of fields? || Many images of fields contain singular trees in the middle of them. While there exist such trees it is likely an artistic choice to give a more pleasing or aesthetically satisfying image compared to just a field. In modern agriculture those would in fact be quite troublesome since they are a hindrance to large machines used and a new tree would be unlikely to grow in a constantly worked field.<br />
|-<br />
| Why is there not a Pokémon MMO? || {{w|Pokémon}} is a popular franchise, spanning game consoles, anime series, a trading card game, and many other things. Among fans, it is a frequent topic of discussion why a Pokémon {{w|massively multiplayer online game}} has not been officially announced by the series' developers {{w|Game Freak}}, as they often [http://www.dorkly.com/comic/52546/be-careful-what-you-wish-for predict] that such a game would be extremely popular, and bring in massive revenue for the company.<br />
|-<br />
|Why is there laughing in TV shows? || Sitcoms were once filmed with an audience, so the actors could respond to their reactions. That's the historical reason why there were laughs in TV shows. The tradition continues, with the difference that now the laughter mostly comes from recorded tapes. See {{w|Laugh track}}.<br />
|-<br />
|Why are there doors on the freeway?||<br />
|-<br />
|Why are there so many svchost.exe running?||See {{w|svchost.exe}}.<br />
|-<br />
| Why aren't there any countries in Antarctica? || {{w|Antarctica}} is the southern most continent and is by large covered in ice and in general pretty cold. While it is a regular target of tourists and researchers it also lacks native human inhabitants. At the moment, the territorial claims concerning Antarctica are mostly handled via the {{w|Antarctic Treaty System}}. In short there are a few countries who claim certain parts of the continent as their own in theory but so far it is considered neutral territory and most maps don't concern themselves with displaying the (in some regards disputed) territorial claims because they do not matter at this point in time. If there are ever any worthwhile resources discovered, this might change.<br />
|-<br />
|Why are there scary sounds in Minecraft?||<br />
|-<br />
|Why is there kicking in my stomach?||See ''[http://www.webmd.com/baby/fetal-movement-feeling-baby-kick Feeling Your Baby Kick]''. Here, ''stomach'' means ''abdomen''.<br />
|-<br />
|Why are there two slashes after http?||See ''[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1220286/Sir-Tim-Berners-Lee-admits-forward-slashes-web-address-mistake.html Sir Tim Berners-Lee admits the forward slashes in every web address 'were a mistake']''.<br />
|-<br />
|Why are there celebrities?||<br />
|-<br />
|Why do snakes exist?|| See "Why are there snakes?" below. <br />
|-<br />
|Why do oysters have pearls?||See {{w|Pearl#Creation of a pearl}}.<br />
|-<br />
|Why are ducks called ducks?||See {{w|Duck#Etymology}}.<br />
|-<br />
|Why do they call it the clap?||<br />
|-<br />
|Why are Kyle and Cartman friends?||Kyle and Cartman are child characters on the animated TV show "South Park." Cartman often berates Kyle for being Jewish and regularly commits other atrocities. However, they most likely remain "friends" because they are in the same class at school and are therefore "forced" to be around one another.<br />
|-<br />
|Why is there an arrow on Aang's head?||See {{w|Avatar: The Last Airbender#Characters}}.<br />
|-<br />
|Why are text messages blue?||<br />
|-<br />
|Why are there mustaches on clothes?||<br />
|-<br />
|Why are there mustaches on cars?||Fuzzy pink mustaches are used to designate cars in the {{w|Lyft}} service.<br />
|-<br />
|Why are there mustaches everywhere?||See {{w|Movember}}<br />
|-<br />
|Why are there so many birds in Ohio?||<br />
|-<br />
|Why is there so much rain in Ohio?||<br />
|-<br />
|Why is Ohio weather so weird?||See {{w|Lake-effect snow}}.<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Section two===<br />
{| class ="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
!style="width:20%;"|Question !! Possible answer<br />
|-<br />
| Why are there male and female bikes? || {{w|bicycle|From Wikipedia}}: <blockquote>Historically, women's bicycle frames had a top tube that connected in the middle of the seat tube instead of the top, resulting in a lower {{w|Frame geometry|standover height}} at the expense of compromised structural integrity, since this places a strong bending load in the seat tube, and bicycle frame members are typically weak in bending. This design, referred to as a '''''{{w|step-through frame}}''''' or as an ''open frame'', allows the rider to mount and dismount in a dignified way while wearing a skirt or dress.</blockquote><br />
|-<br />
|Why are there bridesmaids?||See {{w|Bridesmaid#Origin and history}}.<br />
|-<br />
|Why do dying people reach up?||<br />
|-<br />
|Why aren't there varicose arteries?||<br />
|-<br />
|Why are old Klingons different?||See {{w|Klingon#Redesign}}.<br />
|-<br />
|Why is programming so hard?||<br />
|-<br />
|Why is there a 0 Ohm resistor?||See {{w|Zero-ohm link}}.<br />
|-<br />
| Why do Americans hate soccer? || Soccer, or football in British English, is rather unpopular in the USA compared to most other regions of the world. Finding a particular reason behind the (dis)like for certain sports, apart from cultural spread, is difficult. One possible explanation is soccer's tendency to have far fewer points scored in an average game and a higher likelihood of draws compared to such things as American Football, basketball or baseball, which are far more popular. In how far this is a legitimate argument for regarding soccer as "less interesting" is up to debate.<br />
|-<br />
|Why do rhymes sound good?||<br />
|-<br />
|Why do trees die?||<br />
|-<br />
|Why is there no sound on CNN?||<br />
|-<br />
|Why aren't Pokemon real?||<br />
|-<br />
|Why aren't bullets sharp?||See {{w|Terminal ballistics}}.<br />
|-<br />
|Why do dreams seem so real?||<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Other questions ===<br />
(Some questions in the transcript are linked to their answers.)<br />
{| class ="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
!style="width:20%;"|Question !! Possible answer<br />
|-<br />
| Why are there snakes? || The question is rather general and likely based on a widespread dislike for the reptilians. Be it due to their appearance, their spread, or the danger a few snakes pose to humans (often due to being poisonous) many people have a dislike for snakes and would prefer them to not exist (similar to spiders).<br />
In regards to "why do snakes exist on earth?": Because evolution. Snakes fill a gap in the ecosystem as predators and hunt different species, including vermin. Snakes are in that regard similar to many other predatory animals. The question on why snakes developed with their distinct streamlined shape is still debated but {{w|snakes|likely it either provided an advantage when burrowing or swimming}}.<br />
|-<br />
| Why do oysters have pearls? || {{w|Creation of a pearl|From Wikipedia}}: <blockquote>Pearls are formed inside the shell of certain mollusks as a defense mechanism against a potentially threatening irritant such as a parasite inside the shell, or an attack from outside, injuring the mantle tissue. The mollusk creates a pearl sac to seal off the irritation. Pearls are commonly viewed by scientists as a by-product of an adaptive immune system-like function.</blockquote><br />
|- <br />
| Why are ducks called ducks? || {{W|wikt:duck|According to Wiktionary}}, the noun ''duck'' can be traced back to the {{w|Proto-Germanic language|Proto-Germanic}} word {{w|wikt:Appendix:Proto-Germanic/dūkaną|''dūkaną''}} ("to dive, bend down"), and, in turn, the {{w|Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European}} {{w|wikt:Appendix:Proto-Indo-European/dʰewb-|''dʰewb-''}} ("deep, hollow"), which is the origin of the verb ''to duck''. The link between the noun and the verb comes from ducks' tendency to dive under water for short periods of time.<br />
|-<br />
| Why are Kyle and Cartman friends? || The question in all likelihood is addressed towards the TV show {{w|South Park}}. Both are children living in the small titular town in Colorado. Cartman is widely accepted to a be very bad person, one of his many character flaws being his antisemitism. Kyle on the other hand is a Jew. However, both, along with two other kids, Stan and Kenny, are the core focus of the show (or used to be) and to some extent are considered to be friends. While there are episodes which show Cartman being not entirely a horrible person and him holding Kyle in a position of at least a worthy adversary, most of the time the question should be "Why is anyone friends with Cartman?"<br />
|-<br />
| Why is there an arrow on Aang's head? || Aang is the main character of the TV series {{w|Avatar the last Airbender|Avatar - The last Airbender}} and features as part of a large body spanning tattoo an arrow on his head. These tattoos are made to replicate the markings of one of the shows fictional animals, the air bison which are regarded as the original air benders. They are given to human air benders once they attain the status of masters. Because Aang acquired this status very early in life he was already tattooed accordingly.<br />
|-<br />
| Why do dying people reach up? || In many works of fiction dying people are regarded with an outstretched arm, grasping for unseen objects towards the sky. In all likelihood this originates in the idea of heaven as the place where (good) people go after death. People "reach for the light" which is seen when dying according to similar beliefs or possibly for already dead relatives or other associated people waiting for them.<br />
|-<br />
| Why are old Klingons different? || {{w|Klingon Redesign|From Wikipedia}}: <blockquote>For {{w|Star Trek: The Motion Picture}} (1979), the Klingons were retconned and their appearance and behavior radically changed. To give the aliens a more sophisticated and threatening demeanor, the Klingons were depicted with ridged foreheads, snaggled and prominent teeth, and a defined language and alphabet. Lee Cole, a production designer, used red gels and primitive shapes in the design of Klingon consoles and ship interiors, which took on a dark and moody atmosphere. The alphabet was designed as angular, with sharp edges harkening to the Klingon's militaristic focus.[5] Costume designer Robert Fletcher created new uniforms for the Klingons, reminiscent of feudal Japanese armor.</blockquote><br />
|-<br />
| Why are there 0 Ohm resistors? || A resistor is usually designed to create a certain resistance, measured in {{w|Ohm}} in an electronic device. A 0 Ohm resistor seems pointless as it would only provide the same resistance as a normal cable. However, {{w|Zero-ohm link| Wikipedia gives a sufficient explanation for its uses}}.<br />
|-<br />
| Why is Poseidon angry with Odysseus? || {{w|Poseidon}} was the patron deity of the city of {{w|Troy}}, which after a 10 years siege by the Greeks fell due to {{w|Odysseus}}' list of the {{w|Trojan_Horse|Trojan horse}}. As the Greeks were returning home after the Trojan War, Oddyseus' ship accidentally landed on the island home of the cyclops Polyphemus, who imprisoned the crew and ate many of them. In order to escape, Odysseus blinded the cyclops. Poseidon, Polyphemus' father, was extremely angered by his son being blinded, so he cursed Odysseus' ship to prevent him from reaching his home in {{W|Ithaca}}. The adventures which Odysseus encountered during his quest for reaching Ithaca are the main theme of {{w|Homer|Homer's}} {{w|Odyssey}}.<br />
|-<br />
| Why are there two Spocks? || This is probably a reference to the {{w|Star_Trek_(film)|2009 Star Trek movie}} in which the franchise was given a {{w|Reboot_(fiction)|continuity reboot}}. The modified setting is explained in-universe by time travel, with both the villain Nero and the original-timeline Spock being brought back from the 24th century to the 23rd, creating a timeline in which both older Spock (played by Leonard Nimoy) and the younger Spock (played by Zachary Quinto) coexist.<br />
<br />
Another possibility is that the question refers to the episode {{w|Mirror,_Mirror_(Star_Trek:_The_Original_Series)|"Mirror, Mirror"}}, which mostly takes place in an alternate universe populated by ruthless versions of most of the characters (including Spock).<br />
|-<br />
| Why aren't there any foreign military bases in America? || ''Further information: {{w|United States military deployments}}''<p>This is a very interesting question, albeit one likely based on a regional misunderstanding. Presumably, this question is asked by Americans who assume that the existence of {{w|Category:Military facilities of the United States by country|U.S. military bases abroad}} is a general trend among countries, as opposed to being the rarity that it is. In fact, {{w|List of countries with overseas military bases|only a handful of other countries}} have military bases outside of their borders, and the three&mdash;{{w|France}}, the {{w|United Kingdom}}, and {{w|Russia}}&mdash;that have more than one or two are all countries that, like the United States, {{w|Allies of World War II|were on the winning side of World War II}}, have {{w|List of countries by military expenditures|massive military expenditures}}, and have {{w|United Nations Security Council veto power|UN Security Council vetoes}}. In other words, only the most militarily elite countries have bases overseas. The U.S. is unique, however, in that it has far more overseas bases than any other country (and, pretty much, far more of anything else than any other country, when it comes to the military), and in that {{w|List of United States military bases|it has bases in several other highly-industrialized nations}}, including {{w|List of United States Army installations in South Korea|South Korea}} and the United Kingdom, and, most notably, the World War II {{w|Axis powers}}: {{w|List of United States Army installations in Germany|Germany}}, {{w|United States Forces Japan|Japan}}, and {{w|List of United States Army installations in Italy|Italy}}. (France, Russia, and the U.K.'s bases, on the other hand, are almost all within areas that they previously controlled.)</p><p>These bases can be controversial in some countries, while in others they are a major source of economic and political stability. The U.S. traditionally justifies their presence as a necessary and crucial element in its efforts to promote peace domestically and worldwide. Despite their major role in {{w|U.S. foreign policy}}, and in the general political structure of the globe, the American public often largely ignores them, and they rarely become a major political issue (apart from an occasional mention by {{w|Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian presidential candidates}}).</p><p>So, essentially, the absence of foreign military bases within the U.S. is primarily because there aren't really any other countries in a position to place bases there. Ironically, although no battles in the traditional sense have been fought within the U.S. since the {{w|U.S. Civil War}} and the U.S. mainland has seen {{w|Mainland invasion of the United States|almost no military action}}, foreign air force bases might have been useful on September 11, 2001. (The {{w|attack on Pearl Harbor}} in 1941 was 18 years before Hawaii became a U.S. state.)</p><p>There are, however, foreign troops stationed at some continental US military bases. For example RAF (British Royal Air Force) 39 Sqn and 361 Sqn at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada flying Reaper and Predator drones. But this are not foreign military bases, they are just guests.</p><br />
|-<br />
| Why is there no king in England? || ''Note: For simplicity's sake, "England" here is being read as "United Kingdom." The various name changes, mergers, and splits of kingdoms are complicated.''<p>The basis for this question is that for the past several hundred years, there has almost always been a queen in England, the sole exceptions being when the king has not had a wife. However, there is a distinction between being the queen of England (that is to say, {{w|List of British monarchs|a monarch}}) and being the {{w|queen consort|queen ''consort''}} of England: The former refers to a woman who {{w|Succession to the British throne|succeeded to the throne}} in her own right, becoming sovereign, while the latter refers to the wife of the king. Both roles, though, are commonly referred to as "Queen of England," creating the impression that there is always such a person. The logical question, therefore, is why {{w|Elizabeth II}}'s husband, {{w|Prince Philip|Philip}}, is not considered the king of England. The answer lies in Britain's system of {{w|male-preference cognatic primogeniture}}, which causes the monarch of England to usually be a man, not a woman. As a result of this, British laws were generally built around the presumption that the monarch would be a man (and that said man would be married to a woman, [[223: Valentine's Day|comic 223]] be damned). Since the creation of the modern British throne in 1707, only two women have reigned as queen in their own right; it just so happens that these two women have been two of the most famous and longest-reigning monarchs in world history, {{w|Queen Victoria}} and Queen Elizabeth II. This fact may add to people's enhanced perception of the lack of a British king. Victoria and Elizabeth's respective consorts, {{w|Albert, Prince Consort|Albert}} and Philip, have been styled as princes&mdash;Albert as {{w|Prince Consort}} and Philip as "{{w|British prince|Prince of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland}}." Both were explicitly granted their titles by their wives, though Albert was already a prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and Philip had previously been a prince of Denmark and Greece, but had renounced both titles before marrying Elizabeth.</p><p>The title {{w|king consort}} also exists, but has never been used in the United Kingdom.</p><p>Notably, should {{w|Prince Charles}} succeed to his mother's throne, it has been announced that his wife, {{w|Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall|Camilla}}, will be styled as {{w|princess consort}}, ''not'' as queen consort, just as she has declined the title {{w|Princess of Wales}}, which is strongly associated with Charles's first wife, {{w|Princess Diana|Diana}}. Assuming that Charles succeeds, this means that Britain will not have anyone referred to as "queen," after decades of not having anyone referred to as "king."</p><br />
|-<br />
| Why are there female Mr. Mimes? || {{w|Mr. Mime}} is a Pokémon introduced in the first generation of the games, and despite its name, it can be either of a male or female gender. As the Pokémon was introduced before the concept of [http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Gender gender in Pokémon games], it is likely that the people in charge of translating its Japanese name (Barrierd) did not take this into account during the process. <br />
|-<br />
| Why are there so many crows in Rochester, MN || From a Minnesota Paper, [http://www.startribune.com/local/138902104.html the Star Tribune], "Laws prevent the city from poisoning the crows". "Duffy [Steve Duffy, a co-owner of U.S. Bird Abatement Services, which has contracted with Rochester to get rid of the crows] isn't sure why Rochester has such a bad crow problem; probably a confluence of many bird-friendly conditions that has also made it a magnet for geese. He's seen worse cases, but called Rochester's situation 'hideous.'" And best of all, "The city has twice this winter hired experts to chase them off. They tried lasers and bullhorns -- hey, get out of here, you crows -- and even employed raptors to pick them off, one by one. That worked, for awhile." (Unfortunately, they mean a {{w|bird of prey}}, not a {{w|velociraptor}}).<br />
|-<br />
| Why are the Avengers fighting the X Men || {{w|Avengers vs. X-Men}} was a 2012 Marvel crossover event that, like many other recent comic book events, had heroes fight other heroes. In this case, the {{w|Avengers (comics)|Avengers}} and the {{w|X-Men}} fought over the {{w|Phoenix Force (comics)|Phoenix Force}}, a godlike power that often possesses {{w|Jean Grey}} or her descendants (in this case, her alternate universe daughter Hope Summers). The Avengers believed the Phoenix Force is too powerful for humanity to control and wanted to contain it, while the X-Men believed the Phoenix was the messiah for mutants and could fix all of the Earth's problems.<br />
|-<br />
| Why is Wolverine not in the Avengers || Wolverine ''has'' been an Avenger, in some circumstances. e.g. in the {{w|The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes}} cartoon series, the episode ''New Avengers'' had Wolverine (along with Spiderman, War Machine, The Thing and Luke Cage and Iron Fist) substitute while the 'original' Avengers were unavailable to deal with the current crisis (which of course included the fate of the 'proper' Avengers). However, in general his anti-authority personality makes him a difficult team-member to field, and he has frequently disassociated himself even from the X-Men. But, in Avengers vs. X-Men (see above) Wolverine ''sided'' with The Avengers, and more modern treatments have even included the character in about as much a permanent a membership of the group as Logan is ever likely to have.<br />
<br />
But if the question is about why Wolverine didn't appear in {{w|The Avengers (2012 film)|''The Avengers''}}, the answer is that ''The Avengers'' is being produced by Marvel/Disney, while Fox still has the rights to the X-Men and all Marvel mutants in general. Unless there is studio agreement, the two properties cannot cross, except through complicated machinations. For example, there are plans to bring Avengers mainstays Quicksilver and The Scarlet Witch to both the ''Avengers'' and ''X-Men'' franchises, but only the Fox films have the right to call them the children of Magneto, and Marvel/Disney cannot even identify them on-screen as "mutants".<br />
|-<br />
| Why is Psychic weak to Bug || In Pokémon, Pokémon of the psychic type (such as Mr. Mime) are weak to three types of attacks: Ghost, Dark, and Bug. The general theory is that Psychic Pokémon, relying heavily on their thoughts for attacks, are weak to fears (which ghosts, darkness, and bugs can be classified as).<br />
|-<br />
|Why are there ants in my laptop? || Ants usually come in your laptop when there are little crumbs of food. It is advised to get screen protectors.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript}}<br />
:(This strip is a rectangular word cloud, titled 'Questions found in Google autocomplete'. Embedded in the cloud are 5 single panels, with illustrated questions. Questions are grouped by section and given in roughly columnar order for the horizontal text, followed by the vertical text. None of the questions have question marks. The comic links to a [http://xkcd.com/1256/large/ large version] of the word cloud.)<br />
<br />
:Title: Questions found in Google autocomplete<br />
<br />
:The single panels<br />
:[We see Cueball from the torso up, with arms outstretched.]<br />
:Cueball: Why aren't my arms growing<br />
:[Megan stands with a grey ghost on either side of her.]<br />
:Megan: Why are there ghosts<br />
:[Beret Guy stands, looking at a squirrel.]<br />
:Beret Guy: Why are there squirrels<br />
:[Cueball stands.]<br />
:Cueball: Why is sex so important<br />
:[We see Ponytail from the torso up.]<br />
:Ponytail: Why aren't there guns in Harry Potter<br />
<br />
:Section one<br />
:Why do whales jump<br />
:Why are witches green<br />
:Why are there mirrors above beds<br />
:Why do I say Uh<br />
:Why is sea salt better<br />
:Why are there trees in the middle of fields<br />
:Why is there not a Pokemon MMO<br />
:Why is there laughing in TV shows<br />
:Why are there doors on the freeway<br />
:Why are there so many svchost.exe running<br />
:Why aren't there any countries in Antarctica<br />
:Why are there scary sounds in Minecraft<br />
:Why is there kicking in my stomach<br />
:Why are there two slashes after http<br />
:Why are there celebrities<br />
:Why do snakes exist<br />
:Why do oysters have pearls<br />
:Why are ducks called ducks<br />
:Why do they call it the clap<br />
:Why are Kyle and Cartman friends<br />
:Why is there an arrow on Aang's head<br />
:Why are text messages blue<br />
:Why are there mustaches on clothes<br />
:Why are there mustaches on cars<br />
:Why are there mustaches everywhere<br />
:Why are there so many birds in Ohio<br />
:Why is there so much rain in Ohio<br />
:Why is Ohio weather so weird<br />
<br />
:Section two<br />
:Why are there male and female bikes<br />
:Why are there bridesmaids<br />
:Why do dying people reach up<br />
:Why aren't there varicose arteries<br />
:Why are old Klingons different<br />
:Why is programming so hard<br />
:Why is there a 0 Ohm resistor<br />
:Why do Americans hate soccer<br />
:Why do rhymes sound good<br />
:Why do trees die<br />
:Why is there no sound on CNN<br />
:Why aren't Pokemon real<br />
:Why aren't bullets sharp<br />
:Why do dreams seem so real<br />
<br />
:Section three<br />
:{{w|Cremaster_muscle|Why do testicles move}}<br />
:Why are there psychics<br />
:Why are hats so expensive<br />
:[http://supplement-geek.com/caffeine-hair-loss-thicker-fuller-hai/ Why is there caffeine in my shampoo]<br />
:{{w|Mastodynia|Why do your boobs hurt}}<br />
<br />
:Section four<br />
:Why aren't economists rich<br />
:[http://www.alsintl.com/blog/soccer-vs-football/ Why do Americans call it soccer]<br />
:{{w|Tinnitus|Why are my ears ringing}}<br />
:Why are there so many Avengers<br />
:Why are the Avengers fighting the X-Men<br />
:Why is Wolverine not in the Avengers<br />
<br />
:Section five<br />
:Why are there ants in my laptop<br />
:Why is Earth tilted<br />
:{{w|Olbers' paradox|Why is space black}}<br />
:Why is outer space so cold<br />
:Why are there pyramids on the Moon<br />
:Why is NASA shutting down<br />
<br />
:Section six<br />
:Why are there tiny spiders in my house<br />
:[http://www.burkemuseum.org/spidermyth/myths/comein.html Why do spiders come inside]<br />
:Why are there huge spiders in my house<br />
:Why are there lots of spiders in my house<br />
:Why are there spiders in my room<br />
:Why are there so many spiders in my room<br />
:Why do spider bites itch<br />
:Why is dying so scary<br />
<br />
:Section seven<br />
:Why is there no GPS in laptops<br />
:[http://www.md-health.com/Knee-Clicking.html Why do knees click]<br />
:[http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2010/08/e_is_for_fail.html Why aren't there E grades]<br />
:Why is isolation bad<br />
:Why do boys like me<br />
:Why don't boys like me<br />
:Why is there always a Java update<br />
:Why are there red dots on my thighs<br />
:Why is lying good<br />
<br />
:Section eight<br />
:{{w|The Bible and slavery|Why are there slaves in The Bible}}<br />
:[http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2004/11/04/1234875.htm Why do twins have different fingerprints]<br />
:Why are Americans afraid of dragons<br />
<br />
:Section nine<br />
:Why are there swarms of gnats<br />
:[http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-phlegm.htm Why is there phlegm]<br />
<br />
:Section ten<br />
:Why are there so many crows in Rochester, MN<br />
:[http://pokemon.wikia.com/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_Types Why is Psychic weak to Bug]<br />
:Why do children get cancer<br />
:Why is Poseidon angry with Odysseus<br />
:Why is there ice in space<br />
<br />
:Section eleven<br />
:Why is there an owl in my backyard<br />
:Why is there an owl outside my window<br />
:[http://goodreasonblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/is-there-owl-on-american-dollar-bill.html Why is there an owl on the dollar bill]<br />
:Why do owls attack people<br />
:{{w|2008–13 United States ammunition shortage|Why are AK47s so expensive}}<br />
<br />
:Section twelve<br />
:Why are there helicopters circling my house<br />
:Why are there gods<br />
:Why are there two Spocks<br />
<br />
:Section thirteen<br />
:Why is Mt Vesuvius there<br />
:Why do they say T Minus<br />
:Why are there obelisks<br />
:Why are wrestlers always wet<br />
:Why are oceans becoming more acidic<br />
:Why is Arwen dying<br />
:Why aren't my quail laying eggs<br />
:Why aren't my quail eggs hatching<br />
:Why aren't there any foreign military bases in America<br />
<br />
:Section fourteen<br />
:[https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/1342714 Why is https crossed out in red]<br />
:[https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/1342714 Why is there a line through https]<br />
:[https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/1342714 Why is there a red line through https on Facebook]<br />
:[[wikipedia:HTTP_Secure | Why is https important]]<br />
<br />
:Section fifteen<br />
:Why are my boobs itchy<br />
:Why are cigarettes legal<br />
:Why are the ducks in my pool<br />
:{{w|Race and appearance of Jesus|Why is Jesus white}}<br />
:Why is there liquid in my ear<br />
:Why do Q Tips feel good<br />
:Why do good people die<br />
:[http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Ultrasound-scan/Pages/introduction.aspx Why are ultrasounds important]<br />
:Why are ultrasound machines expensive<br />
:Why is stealing wrong<br />
<br />
:Vertical questions<br />
:(The following are vertical.)<br />
:Why is there Hell if God forgives<br />
:Why aren't there dinosaur ghosts<br />
:Why do iguanas die<br />
:[http://gis.stackexchange.com/a/17546 Why is GPS free]<br />
:Why are trees tall<br />
:[http://www.serebiiforums.com/showthread.php?285504-Why-can-Mr-Mime-be-female Why are there female Mr Mimes]<br />
:Why is there lava<br />
:Why is {{w|YKK Group|YKK}} on all zippers<br />
:Why is life so boring<br />
:{{w|Dizziness|Why do I feel dizzy}}<br />
:{{w|Seven-day_week#Origins|Why are there weeks}}<br />
:[http://www.dogsonly.org/stormfear.html Why are dogs afraid of fireworks]<br />
:Why is there no king in England<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Large drawings]]<br />
[[Category:LOTR]]<br />
[[Category:Pokémon]]</div>173.245.50.72https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=855:_1999&diff=62059855: 19992014-03-07T03:16:27Z<p>173.245.50.72: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 855<br />
| date = February 2, 2011<br />
| title = 1999<br />
| image = 1999.png<br />
| titletext = 'Whoa, twenty-two in two hours!' 'Your site got twenty-two hundred hits in two hours?' 'No. Twenty-two. But still, that's like half the people on the internet!'<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This needs a deeper explain on that Flash bullsh.}}<br />
This comic is a parody of the movie {{w|The Social Network}}, changed to feature {{w|Zombo.com}}. Zombo.com, also known as Zombocom, is a website that was created in 1999 and using only {{w|Flash animations}}. [[Randall]], like many others more, still don't like this technique at all. The animation consists of a circle of quickly pulsating dots and a friendly deep male voice repeatedly welcoming the visitor to "Zombocom" and explaining that there was no limit to what could be done at the site, or rather, no limit except yourself. The message repeats while, ironically, there is absolutely nothing that can be done at the site. <br />
<br />
Turn on your speakers and check [http://zombo.com zombo.com] for yourself.<br />
<br />
The title text could also be a reference to the fact that, back in 1999, there weren't really that many people on the internet.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:It's easy to forget, as we heap awards on ''The Social Network'',<br />
:That before there was Facebook, MySpace, or even Friendster...<br />
:One website dreamed bigger than them all.<br />
<br />
:[Cueball and another are talking.]<br />
:Cueball: People like doing stuff. So why not build a website that offers that?<br />
:Another: Offers what? What would I do there?<br />
:Cueball: Anything! The only limit is yourself!<br />
<br />
:[Another scene. Hacker, wearing headphones and oblivious, working at computer. Cueball runs in to interrupt; Another holds him back.]<br />
:Cueball: Hey, we need more—<br />
:Another: Don't–he's wired in.<br />
:Hacker: ''The infinite is possible.''<br />
:Another: Or baked. It's hard to tell.<br />
<br />
:[Cueball and another at table in bar.]<br />
:Cueball: It's time to monetize. We could make millions!<br />
:Another: No way. A million dollars isn't cool. You know what's cool?<br />
:Cueball: A billio–<br />
:Another: ''Circles.''<br />
<br />
:[Long shot in bar. Drinks on table in foreground; dim figures in doorway in background; Cueball, alone, shouting into the distance.]<br />
:Cueball: Hey–a tip: drop the dot.<br />
:Cueball: Just "Zombocom".<br />
:Cueball: It's cleaner.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Internet]]<br />
[[Category:Social networking]]</div>173.245.50.72https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=461:_Google_Maps&diff=61907461: Google Maps2014-03-06T01:28:09Z<p>173.245.50.72: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 461<br />
| date = August 11, 2008<br />
| title = Google Maps<br />
| image = google_maps.png<br />
| titletext = Apparently Google assumes you're traveling during the ferry's normal operating hours. We lost two hours circling that damn lake (to say nothing of the Straw Man).<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Many items are still missing}}<br />
{{w|Google Maps}} is a web mapping service application. Before smartphones with GPS mapping software were widespread and most people's printers hadn't yet run out of ink, it was common to print out directions to take with you on a trip. The web version of Google Maps has many features including a route planner. As sophisticated as early versions were, it occasionally gave suboptimal directions. For example, the directions may tell you to take an exit that, in reality, is unmarked. Directions also did not take time of day into account which would help in planning routes to avoid traffic or to make use of services such as a ferry.<br />
<br />
The title text tells us that Cueball and his brother attempted to drive around the lake since they could not take the ferry and had an unfortunate run-in with the Straw Man.<br />
<br />
Though no specific game or movie is referenced, steps 75 to 81 of the directions read like the plot of a horror film or role playing game. A straw man is another term for scarecrow, a common antagonist in both. Step 80 reads exactly like an old {{w|Interactive fiction|text adventure}} game's description of an area.<br />
<br />
There are additional small jokes in the distance column of the directions:<br />
*No distance is travelled in step 77, so Google instead tells you to be careful when talking to Charlie<br />
*{{w|Pi}} is a ratio used in calculations involving circles, not measured distances<br />
*Google doesn't know how far it is from the Spectral Wolf to your destination, so it gives you question marks as the distance<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:My road trip with my brother ran into trouble around page three of the Google Maps printout<br />
<br />
:[Google Maps printout.]<br />
::← 70. Slight '''left''' at '''RT-22''' - go 6.8 mi<br />
::→ 71. Turn '''right''' to stay on '''RT-22''' - go 2.6 mi<br />
::← 72. Turn '''left''' at '''Lake Shore Rd''' - go 312 ft<br />
::→ 73. Turn '''right''' at '''Dock St''' - go 427 ft<br />
::[An icon of water] 74. Take the '''ferry''' across the '''lake.''' - go 2.8 mi<br />
<br />
:[A car is driving in the dark.]<br />
:Brother: Okay, now take Dock St toward the ferry.<br />
:Cueball: We're supposed to take a ferry? It's past midnight, and these woods are creepy.<br />
:Brother: Google Maps wouldn't steer us wrong.<br />
<br />
:[Cueball and his brother stand outside the car. The ferry has a sign on it reading CLOSED.]<br />
<br />
:[Cueball is standing next to his brother, who is holding a Google Maps printout.]<br />
<br />
:[Cueball motions towards his brother.]<br />
:Cueball: Let me see those directions.<br />
<br />
:[Google Maps printout.]<br />
::[An icon of water] 74. Take the '''ferry''' across the '''lake.''' - go 2.8 mi<br />
::↗ 75. Climb the '''HILL''' toward '''Hangman's Ridge,''' avoiding any '''mountain lions.''' - up 1,172 ft<br />
::↷ 76. When you reach an '''old barn,''' go around back, knock on the '''second door,''' and ask for '''Charlie.''' - go 52 ft<br />
::[An icon of a van] 77. Tell '''Charlie''' the '''Dancing Stones''' are '''restless'''. He will give you his '''van'''. - Careful<br />
::[An icon of a straw man] 78. Take '''Charlie's van''' down '''Old Mine Road'''. Do not wake the '''Straw Man'''. - go π mi<br />
::← 79. Turn left on '''Comstock'''. When you feel the '''blood''' chill in your '''veins''', stop the van and '''get out.''' - go 3.2 mi<br />
::↓ 80. Stand very still. Exits are '''north''', '''south''', and '''east''', but are block by a '''Spectral Wolf'''. - go 0 ft<br />
::[An icon of a menacing face] 81. The '''Spectral Wolf''' fears only '''FIRE'''. The '''Google Maps Team''' can no longer help you, but if you master the '''wolf''', he will guide you. '''Godspeed.''' - go ?? mi<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>173.245.50.72https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1318:_Actually&diff=57918Talk:1318: Actually2014-01-17T05:13:02Z<p>173.245.50.72: Created page with "I started reading the comic from the topmost line "Actually, measurements suggest it's flat." It seemed that he was talking about the planet, but it's also a response to the ..."</p>
<hr />
<div>I started reading the comic from the topmost line "Actually, measurements suggest it's flat." It seemed that he was talking about the planet, but it's also a response to the curved-space line from before. Upon further reading, I can't tell if the discussion is about a planet or a universe, and it looks like you can go around the circle twice and assume both. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.50.72|173.245.50.72]] 05:13, 17 January 2014 (UTC)</div>173.245.50.72