https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=Peregrine&feedformat=atomexplain xkcd - User contributions [en]2024-03-29T09:13:28ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2768:_Definition_of_e&diff=3357122768: Definition of e2024-02-25T15:04:22Z<p>Peregrine: Doesn't look like a plain fist to me; definitely one or more digits raised. Context suggests it's a single finger to signify "one".</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2768<br />
| date = April 26, 2023<br />
| title = Definition of e<br />
| image = definition_of_e_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 571x186px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = Yeah, my math teacher back in high school set up the system to try to teach us something or other, but the 100% rate was unbelievably good, so I engineered a hostile takeover of his bank and now use it to make extra cash on the side.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
In this comic the teacher [[Miss Lenhart]] is asked by the student [[Hairy]] to explain what the constant ''e'' actually means.<br />
<br />
The mathematical constant ''{{w|e (mathematical constant)|e}}'' is known as Euler's number. It is typically demonstrated in terms of compound interest. Here, Miss Lenhart seems to be setting up such an example, but in a typical Lenhart style she is actually asking her student to give her money.<br />
<br />
The constant ''e'' can be described {{w|E (mathematical constant)#Compound interest|in the context of compound interest}}. For a bank account that pays interest at a rate of 100% per year, and that interest is paid ''n'' times a year and compounded, then a $1 deposit will grow to $1 * (1 + 100%''/n'')^''n'' after a year. As ''n'' approaches infinity (continuous compounding), the amount approaches ''e'' dollars. In the comic, minutely compounding is used as an approximation of continuous compounding; here ''n'' = 365 * 24 * 60 = 525,600 (527,040 for leap years with 366 days), and the resulting amount would be $2.7182792…, less than one part per million different from that of a straight multiplication by ''e'' (which is 2.7182818…).<br />
<br />
As such, one would expect Miss Lenhart to say in the last panel something like "you'll have ''e'' dollars in a year". It is not clear if Miss Lenhart sees the growth of the deposited amount as answer enough to explain ''e'' or if she's just charging $1 for answering the question of what ''e'' is. The supposed interest rate the teacher can earn off this deposit, alone, is so high that the $1 principal will grow to over $22,000 in ten years, $485 million in twenty years, or $10.68 trillion in thirty years.<br />
<br />
In the title text, a {{w|Takeover#Hostile|hostile takeover}} is an acquisition of a company against its management's wishes, by simply buying up its shares from its shareholders. A bank offering accounts with an {{w|APY}} of 172% is certain to go bankrupt almost immediately, making it a very bad investment. Banks earn money by lending at a higher rate than they pay on deposits, but it is illegal in some jurisdictions to charge such high interest rates on loans, and no one would take them anyway. Therefore the bank will lose huge amounts of money on deposits while earning essentially no revenue. The off-comic speaker is effectively buying out the bank in order to drain it of its own funds, which is financially pointless, and may also be illegal. Alternatively, their plan may be to buy 51% of the stock, then attempt to extract a majority of the bank's reserve funds through huge high-interest deposits, which is still not profitable, since banks hold only a small fraction of deposits in reserve, and their market capitalizations (the cost of buying all the stock) are much higher than their total reserves. Even if for some reason this bank had a very high reserve ratio, and this tactic could somehow be profitable, it would usually still be illegal, effectively robbing the other 49% ownership of its equity through deliberately bad management.<br />
<br />
In the title text, Randall may have also just confused a couple of concepts. A bank offering a 100% rate (assuming somehow sustainably) would be an incredibly good place to open a checking or savings account, and a rational actor would shovel as much money as possible into such an account at this bank. Randall may have simply misused the term "hostile takeover," which would not yield any of the benefits of the 100% rate, as mentioned above, when he really meant to colloquially describe a scenario in which one would aggressively exploit the bank's 100% rate for one's own benefit. (A perhaps unintuitive aspect about banks that might have tripped up Randall is that "assets" in other contexts become liabilities for banks and vice versa. So customer deposits become liabilities upon which a bank would have to pay such an incredibly high rate, and loans, which are traditionally considered liabilities, are assets from which banks derive income.)<br />
<br />
In fact, Randall wasn't confused or tripped up in any way and didn't misuse anything - the title text was just a silly joke based on taking the idea of 100% interest and pretending you could somehow take over the bank and take advantage of this rate for yourself, and calling it a "hostile takeover" is a humorous exaggeration.<br />
<br />
<br />
The teacher who inadvertently sparked this action, male, was clearly not Miss Lenhart, who may be better at providing more memorable (if somewhat non-standard) lessons. And, as the speaker cannot even recall what the point was of the original mathematical example, it is possible that they have insufficient understanding of the numbers involved and why their attempt to profit will turn out to be ultimately illusory. A similar lack of successful education in the subjects of business and/or law could also likely come back to bite them, sooner or later.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Hairy is seated behind a classroom desk with his hand raised asking the teacher Miss Lenhart a question. She is standing in front of him with a board behind her. Beneath the board there are ledge with writing tools on it (markers or chalk).]<br />
:Hairy: Can you explain what the constant ''e'' actually ''means?''<br />
:Miss Lenhart: Sure.<br />
<br />
:[Zoom in on Miss Lenhart's upper half, as she raises one hand palm up.]<br />
:Miss Lenhart: I have a bank account that pays 100% annual interest, compounded every minute.<br />
<br />
:[In a frame-less, and very slim panel, Miss Lenhart is shown holding a hand up with one finger raised.]<br />
:Miss Lenhart: If you deposit $1 now,<br />
<br />
:[Miss Lenhart now has both arms down as she continues to address the off-panel Hairy.]<br />
:Miss Lenhart: I will answer your question.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics with lowercase text]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Miss Lenhart]]<br />
[[Category:Math]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1313:_Regex_Golf&diff=3357031313: Regex Golf2024-02-25T07:00:16Z<p>Peregrine: General edits and clarifications. Case-sensitivity is an odd thing to get hung up on when Randall's handwriting is generally either all-caps or unicase!</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1313<br />
| date = January 6, 2014<br />
| title = Regex Golf<br />
| image = regex_golf.png<br />
| titletext = <nowiki>/bu|[rn]t|[coy]e|[mtg]a|j|iso|n[hl]|[ae]d|lev|sh|[lnd]i|[po]o|ls/ matches the last names of elected US presidents but not their opponents.</nowiki><br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
The comic talks about {{w|regular expressions}}, which are a way to specify textual patterns. Given a regular expression, one can search for the pattern it specifies inside a text string. If the pattern is found, it's said that the pattern "matches" the string; if it's not found, it's said it doesn't match. The title of the comic and the first panel is based on "[https://regex.alf.nu/ regex golf]", which is a discipline of "{{w|code golf}}", a game in which programmers attempt to solve a given programming problem using as few characters as possible, analogous to the number of {{w|golf}} shots it takes to reach the goal. In regex golfing, the programmer is given two sets of text fragments, and tries to write the shortest possible regular expression which would match all elements of one set, while at the same time not matching any element from the other set. The day after this comic was released, Randall mentioned he got distracted by https://regex.alf.nu, a website with a regexp golf game, while researching for the ''[[what if? (blog)|what if?]]'' article ''{{what if|78|T-rex Calories}}''. Regular expressions have been mentioned on xkcd in [[:Category:Regex|many other comics]].<br />
<br />
In the regex golf challenge Megan faced, the two sets are the subtitles of the (then-extant) films from the ''{{w|Star Wars}}'' and ''{{w|Star Trek}}'' franchises. Her regex must match all ''Star Wars'' subtitles, and must not match any ''Star Trek'' subtitle. {{w|Subtitle (titling)|Subtitles}} are the secondary titles of the movies, after the ''"Star Trek: "'' or ''"Star Wars Episode N: "''. For example, in ''Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace'', the subtitle is ''The Phantom Menace''. In the first panel, she has created a 12-character regex solving the challenge.<br />
<br />
Then she moved on to building a tool which would automatically build such a regex for arbitrary lists of text, which could be described as {{w|meta}}- regex golfing. But as she has lost this tool, she needs to search through her files and chooses a tool called "{{w|grep}}" to find it. This tool uses regexes, implying that she needs a regular expression that would find any code that appears to be a regex golf generator, which leads to another "meta-" layer of abstraction. At the end, Megan notes this sequence of meta-meta-... might go to infinity and Cueball quips that she now has "infinite problems" as a result of her efforts; Megan retorts that she already had "infinite problems" because she's geeky enough to run meta-versions of programs on themselves, and stubborn enough to continue on until she fails, to the exclusion of all else. This also seems to be a reference to a famous quote by {{w|Jamie Zawinski}} (see also ''[[1171: Perl Problems]]''):<br />
<br />
{{Quote|Some people, when confronted with a problem, think "I know, I'll use regular expressions." Now they have two problems.}}<br />
<br />
===Regular expressions===<br />
The first regex Megan uses is <code>/m | [tn]|b/</code>, said to match ''Star Wars'' subtitles but not ''Star Trek''. The forward slashes <code>/</code> just mark the start and end of the regex. The <code>|</code> character means "or", so the regex matches any string that contains the patterns "<code>m </code>", "<code> [tn]</code>" or "<code>b</code>" (including the spaces). The square brackets match one of the enclosed characters, meaning that "<code> [tn]</code>" matches either "<code> t</code>" or "<code> n</code>" (that is, a space followed by a letter "t" or "n").<br />
<br />
(Note that in this explanation, the regex has been written in lower case. In general, regular expressions are case-sensitive—that is, they treat upper- and lower-case letters as different. Regexes ''can'' be set to ignore case, and given that [[Randall]]'s comic lettering is in all-caps, we can assume that this is done here.)<br />
<br />
The Star Wars subtitles match the parts of the regex in the following way:<br />
* "The Phanto<u>m </u>Menace" is matched by "<code>m </code>".<br />
* "Attack of<u> t</u>he Clones" is matched by "<code> [tn]</code>".<br />
* "Revenge of<u> t</u>he Sith" is matched by "<code> [tn]</code>".<br />
* "A<u> N</u>ew Hope" is matched by "<code> [tn]</code>".<br />
* "The Empire Strikes <u>B</u>ack" is matched by "<code>b</code>".<br />
* "Return of<u> t</u>he Jedi" is matched by "<code> [tn]</code>".<br />
<br />
On the other hand, no ''Star Trek'' subtitle contains an M followed by a space, a T or an N preceded by a space, or any B, so the regex does not match any of them. Note that in the first six ("Original series") films, all subtitles start with "The", but as the "T" is the first character, it is not preceded by a space. Here is the list that Megan probably used:<br />
* Original series:<br />
** The Motion Picture<br />
** The Wrath of Khan<br />
** The Search For Spock<br />
** The Voyage Home<br />
** The Final Frontier<br />
** The Undiscovered Country<br />
* The Next Generation:<br />
** Generations<br />
** First Contact<br />
** Insurrection<br />
** Nemesis<br />
* Reboot series:<br />
** (No subtitle)<br />
** Into Darkness<br />
<br />
The animated film ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' was released before this comic. If it were included, it would not be matched by Megan's regex. ("<code> [tn]</code>" does not match, for the same reason as for the ''Star Trek'' films: the T is the start of the subtitle, and is not preceded by a space.) None of the subtitles of ''Star Wars'' films released since this comic ("The Force Awakens", "The Last Jedi", and "The Rise of Skywalker") match this regex, either.<br />
<br />
''Star Trek Beyond'', which was released after this comic, would incorrectly match the regex since it is the first ''Star Trek'' title to contain a "b". However, since ''Star Trek Into Darkness'' and ''Star Trek Beyond'' both lack a colon in their titles, it is [[1167: Star Trek into Darkness|debatable]] whether they can truly be considered to have subtitles.<br />
<br />
In the last panel ("...and beyond"), Megan uses the regular expression <code>/(meta-)*regex golf/</code> to describe her problem. <code>*</code> means "zero or more" of the preceding character/group (parentheses <code>()</code> group characters). So this regex matches "regex golf", "meta-regex golf", "meta-meta-regex golf", etc. In a way this is regex golf in itself, matching all levels of meta-regex golf while not matching anything else.<br />
<br />
In the title text, there is a long regex that is the solution of another regex golf challenge: matching the last names of all elected US presidents but not their opponents. Note that the list of opponents includes some people who were previously or later became presidents, or who share a last name with someone who was president, so taken literally this is impossible. To make this work, the list of opponents must exclude any names of presidents. The regular expression itself works in a very similar way to the ''Star Wars''/''Trek'' one, including several different patterns separated by <code>|</code>. Each elected president matches one pattern while each opponent matches none.<br />
<br />
The regex does not match either of the presidents elected since the comic’s release ("Trump" and "Biden"), and thus would need to be updated. The regex does match Hillary Clinton's last name, but because a person with the same last name (Bill Clinton) was president, this isn't a mistake. There was already a losing opponent called George Clinton who ran in 1792 and 1812.<br />
<br />
Here is a list of elected presidents and the patterns they match:<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
!Number<br />
!President<br />
!Matched expression<br />
|-<br />
|1<br />
|{{w|George Washington|George Wa<u>sh</u>ington}}<br />
|<code>sh</code><br />
|-<br />
|2<br />
|{{w|John Adams|John <u>Ad</u>ams}}<br />
|<code>[ae]d</code><br />
|-<br />
|3<br />
|{{w|Thomas Jefferson|Thomas <u>J</u>efferson}}<br />
|<code>j</code><br />
|-<br />
|4<br />
|{{w|James Madison|James <u>Ma</u>dison}}<br />
|<code>[mtg]a</code><br />
|-<br />
|5<br />
|{{w|James Monroe|James Monr<u>oe</u>}}<br />
|<code>[coy]e</code><br />
|-<br />
|6<br />
|{{w|John Quincy Adams|John Quincy <u>Ad</u>ams}}<br />
|<code>[ae]d</code><br />
|-<br />
|7<br />
|{{w|Andrew Jackson|Andrew <u>J</u>ackson}}<br />
|<code>j</code><br />
|-<br />
|8<br />
|{{w|Martin Van Buren|Martin Van <u>Bu</u>ren}}<br />
|<code>bu</code><br />
|-<br />
|9<br />
|{{w|William Henry Harrison|William Henry Harr<u>iso</u>n}}<br />
|<code>iso</code><br />
|-<br />
|11<br />
|{{w|James K. Polk|James K. <u>Po</u>lk}}<br />
|<code>[po]o</code><br />
|-<br />
|12<br />
|{{w|Zachary Taylor|Zachary <u>Ta</u>ylor}}<br />
|<code>[mtg]a</code><br />
|-<br />
|14<br />
|{{w|Franklin Pierce|Franklin Pier<u>ce</u>}}<br />
|<code>[coy]e</code><br />
|-<br />
|15<br />
|{{w|James Buchanan|James <u>Bu</u>chanan}}<br />
|<code>bu</code><br />
|-<br />
|16<br />
|{{w|Abraham Lincoln|Abraham <u>Li</u>ncoln}}<br />
|<code>[lnd]i</code><br />
|-<br />
|17<br />
|{{w|Andrew Johnson|Andrew <u>J</u>ohnson}}<br />
|<code>j</code><br />
|-<br />
|18<br />
|{{w|Ulysses S. Grant|Ulysses S. Gra<u>nt</u>}}<br />
|<code>[rn]t</code><br />
|-<br />
|19<br />
|{{w|Rutherford B. Hayes|Rutherford B. Ha<u>ye</u>s}}<br />
|<code>[coy]e</code><br />
|-<br />
|20<br />
|{{w|James A. Garfield|James A. <u>Ga</u>rfield}}<br />
|<code>[mtg]a</code><br />
|-<br />
|22<br />
|{{w|Grover Cleveland|Grover C<u>lev</u>eland}}<br />
|<code>lev</code><br />
|-<br />
|23<br />
|{{w|Benjamin Harrison|Benjamin Harr<u>iso</u>n}}<br />
|<code>iso</code><br />
|-<br />
|24<br />
|{{w|Grover Cleveland|Grover C<u>lev</u>eland}}<br />
|<code>lev</code><br />
|-<br />
|25<br />
|{{w|William McKinley|William McKi<u>nl</u>ey}}<br />
|<code>n[hl]</code><br />
|-<br />
|26<br />
|{{w|Theodore Roosevelt|Theodore R<u>oo</u>sevelt}}<br />
|<code>[po]o</code><br />
|-<br />
|27<br />
|{{w|William Howard Taft|William Howard <u>Ta</u>ft}}<br />
|<code>[mtg]a</code><br />
|-<br />
|28<br />
|{{w|Woodrow Wilson|Woodrow Wi<u>ls</u>on}}<br />
|<code>ls</code><br />
|-<br />
|29<br />
|{{w|Warren G. Harding|Warren G. Har<u>di</u>ng}}<br />
|<code>[lnd]i</code><br />
|-<br />
|30<br />
|{{w|Calvin Coolidge|Calvin Coo<u>li</u>dge}}<br />
|<code>[lnd]i</code><br />
|-<br />
|31<br />
|{{w|Herbert Hoover|Herbert H<u>oo</u>ver}}<br />
|<code>[po]o</code><br />
|-<br />
|32<br />
|{{w|Franklin D. Roosevelt|Franklin D. R<u>oo</u>sevelt}}<br />
|<code>[po]o</code><br />
|-<br />
|33<br />
|{{w|Harry S. Truman|Harry S. Tru<u>ma</u>n}}<br />
|<code>[mtg]a</code><br />
|-<br />
|34<br />
|{{w|Dwight D. Eisenhower|Dwight D. Eise<u>nh</u>ower}}<br />
|<code>n[hl]</code><br />
|-<br />
|35<br />
|[[John F. Kennedy|John F. Kenn<u>ed</u>y]]<br />
|<code>[ae]d</code><br />
|-<br />
|36<br />
|{{w|Lyndon B. Johnson|Lyndon B. <u>J</u>ohnson}}<br />
|<code>j</code><br />
|-<br />
|37<br />
|{{w|Richard Nixon|Richard <u>Ni</u>xon}}<br />
|<code>[lnd]i</code><br />
|-<br />
|39<br />
|{{w|Jimmy Carter|Jimmy Ca<u>rt</u>er}}<br />
|<code>[rn]t</code><br />
|-<br />
|40<br />
|{{w|Ronald Reagan|Ronald Rea<u>ga</u>n}}<br />
|<code>[mtg]a</code><br />
|-<br />
|41<br />
|{{w|George H. W. Bush|George H. W. <u>Bu</u>sh}}<br />
|<code>bu</code><br />
|-<br />
|42<br />
|{{w|Bill Clinton|Bill Cli<u>nt</u>on}}<br />
|<code>[rn]t</code><br />
|-<br />
|43<br />
|{{w|George W. Bush|George W. <u>Bu</u>sh}}<br />
|<code>bu</code><br />
|-<br />
|44<br />
|{{w|Barack Obama|Barack Oba<u>ma</u>}}<br />
|<code>[mtg]a</code><br />
|}<br />
<br />
Four presidents ({{w|John Tyler}}, {{w|Millard Fillmore}}, {{w|Chester A. Arthur}}, and {{w|Gerald Ford}}) are omitted because they were never ''elected'' president. Each of them became president after the resignation or death of their predecessor. (Five other presidents—Coolidge, Truman, Theodore Roosevelt, and both Andrew and Lyndon B. Johnson—also succeeded to the office, but then went on to win a later presidential election.)<br />
<br />
And here is a list of how many unique last names are matched by each expression:<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
!Expression<br />
!Match count<br />
|-<br />
| bu<br />
| 3<br />
|-<br />
| [rn]t<br />
| 3<br />
|-<br />
| [coy]e<br />
| 3<br />
|-<br />
| [mtg]a<br />
| 7<br />
|-<br />
| j<br />
| 3<br />
|-<br />
| iso<br />
| 1<br />
|-<br />
| n[hl]<br />
| 2<br />
|-<br />
| [ae]d<br />
| 2<br />
|-<br />
| lev<br />
| 1<br />
|-<br />
| sh<br />
| 1<br />
|-<br />
| [lnd]i<br />
| 4<br />
|-<br />
| [po]o<br />
| 3<br />
|-<br />
| ls<br />
| 1<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Randall's regular expression does ''not'' match presidential opponents Pinckney, King, Clay, Cass, Scott, Douglas, McClellan, Seymour, Greeley, Tilden, Hancock, Blaine, Bryan, Parker, Hughes, Cox, Davis, Smith, Landon, Willkie, Dewey, Stevenson, Goldwater, Humphrey, McGovern, Mondale, Dukakis, Dole, Gore, Kerry, McCain, or Romney. However, it must be modified slightly, because it ''does'' match {{w|John C. Fremont|John C. Fremo<u>nt</u>}}, the runner-up to James Buchanan in 1856, as discussed by {{w|Peter Norvig}} at [http://nbviewer.ipython.org/url/norvig.com/ipython/xkcd1313.ipynb xkcd 1313: Regex Golf]. Note that Norvig provides a small amount of Python code which actually plays regex golf with arbitrary lists, and found a shorter solution than Randall's for the ''Star Wars'' vs ''Star Trek'' game (<code>/ t|p.*e/</code>).<br />
<br />
==Trivia==<br />
The idea that the winning president could be picked due to the letter structure of their name (as opposed to how well they campaigned) was the main twist in the 2006 movie {{w|Man of the Year (2006 film)|''Man of the Year''}}.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Caption at top of panel:]<br />
:Regex golf:<br />
:[Megan is sitting at a laptop. Cueball is standing behind her.]<br />
:Megan: You try to match one group but not the other.<br />
:Megan: /m | [tn]|b/ matches ''Star Wars'' subtitles but not ''Star Trek''.<br />
:Cueball: Cool.<br />
<br />
:[Caption at top of panel:]<br />
:Meta-regex golf:<br />
:[A close-up of Megan at her laptop.]<br />
:Megan: So I wrote a program that plays regex golf with arbitrary lists...<br />
:Cueball (offscreen): Uh oh...<br />
<br />
:[Caption at top of panel:]<br />
:Meta-meta-regex golf:<br />
:[Megan typing at her laptop.]<br />
:Megan: ...But I lost my code, so I'm grepping for files that look like regex golf solvers.<br />
:[Cueball facepalming.]<br />
<br />
:[Caption at top of panel:]<br />
:...And beyond:<br />
:[Another closeup of Megan at her laptop.]<br />
:Megan: Really, this is all /(meta-)*regex golf/.<br />
:Cueball: Now you have ''infinite'' problems.<br />
:Megan: No, I had those already.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Regex]]<br />
[[Category:Star Trek]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:2768:_Definition_of_e&diff=312443Talk:2768: Definition of e2023-05-06T01:41:38Z<p>Peregrine: Questioning the need to critique the realism of this as a business practice</p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
This is of course one way of arriving at the value of e: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_(mathematical_constant)#Compound_interest [[User:Trimeta|Trimeta]] ([[User talk:Trimeta|talk]]) 03:55, 27 April 2023 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I do not know who said that Miss Lenhard is after a dollar - but that is so not her![[User:Tier666|Tier666]] ([[User talk:Tier666|talk]]) 09:15, 27 April 2023 (UTC)<br />
<br />
One explanation may be that Miss Lenhart is in a Ponzi scheme. Ponzi schemes claim to offer unbelievably high returns that are actually paid by later investors, it will invariably crash, but by the time, the scammers will have vanished with the money. Here, Miss Lenhart effectively offers +172% annual returns, which is way above what a honest bank can offer, and she seems to push the student into investing, which is aligned with the Ponzi scheme goal of getting as many people to invest as possible. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.22.234|162.158.22.234]] 11:25, 27 April 2023 (UTC)<br />
<br />
==e^iπ + 1==<br />
'''e''' is an inherent feature of mathematics. The equation e^iπ + 1 = 0 is made of the 5 most important numbers. - [[User:Frankie|Frankie]] ([[User talk:Frankie|talk]]) 13:10, 27 April 2023 (UTC)<br />
:i is not a number, it is the imaginary ''unit''. [[User:SDSpivey|SDSpivey]] ([[User talk:SDSpivey|talk]]) 16:00, 27 April 2023 (UTC)<br />
::i is a number. 1 is also sometimes called ''the unit'' by mathematicians. [[Special:Contributions/172.71.22.105|172.71.22.105]] 21:01, 27 April 2023 (UTC)<br />
:Every number is an inherent feature of mathematics, but I don't think the number e is as special as formulas like this make it appear. What's really significant is the exponential function exp, and the number e is just exp 1. It is therefore similar in significance to √2 or ln 2. Similarly, in the identity you provide, the general form is exp iθ = cos θ + i sin θ, and plugging in θ = π is just one special case. [[User:EebstertheGreat|EebstertheGreat]] ([[User talk:EebstertheGreat|talk]]) 02:33, 28 April 2023 (UTC)<br />
:e^ipi is genuinely quite boring. I would prefer e^i2pi = e^0 = 1 because its more immediately apparent that e^ix forms a circle/periodic function[[Special:Contributions/172.69.33.225|172.69.33.225]] 06:29, 28 April 2023 (UTC)<br />
<br />
<br />
Does anyone else see the buttons at the top as being weird? The first comic arrow is split into two buttons separated by a new line. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.38.17|172.70.38.17]] 12:24, 27 April 2023 (UTC)<br />
: Agree. It does not appear on the main comic, just here. [[User:Iggynelix|Iggynelix]] ([[User talk:Iggynelix|talk]])<br />
<br />
Maybe the bank was originally owned by Beret Guy? That would explain why it continues to stay in business despite effectively giving away money. It's not suggested anywhere in the comic, but the idea is very much in line with his powers. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.158.137|162.158.158.137]] 13:40, 27 April 2023 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The current explanation is vague regarding the identity of the speaker in the title text, but it seems clear to me that the title text is being said by Miss Lenhart - she's explaining how she came into possession of the bank account in question. Her high school teacher set it up, and then she engineered the takeover so she could continue to use the account after passing the class. [[User:Snuffysam|Snuffysam]] ([[User talk:Snuffysam|talk]]) 16:12, 27 April 2023 (UTC)<br />
:Why would she need to pass the class to use the bank? [[User:SDSpivey|SDSpivey]] ([[User talk:SDSpivey|talk]]) 16:35, 27 April 2023 (UTC)<br />
<br />
==r = n * (2^(1/n) - 1)==<br />
This demonstrates a misunderstanding of the way banks, and other financial institutions, quote interest rates. A bank that pays 100% interest rate annually, will pay $1 on 1$: at the end of the first year the balance will be $2.00. That is not (1+100%/n)**n, and is not $2.71, because the interval compounding rate is not 100%/n for n <>1. The interval compounding rate for 100% per annum is r = n * (2^(1/n) - 1). I leave working out the limit as n approaches infinity as an exercise for the reader :) I don't know if math teachers in the USA actually use this example as a math teaching method: if so, they should certainly have a discussion with a 'business studies teacher' or 'business math teacher' about the meaning of the words they are using, because they are doing a disservice to students by misleading them about the meaning of common savings and loan terms of business.<br />
:This would mean there is no difference between interest “compounded annually” vs. “compounded daily”? Also, deleted the last paragraph of the exp. Seems clear to me that the title text speaker is the student in the strip, later relating the very incident illustrated. (And no need for comment on characters’ future business endeavors.) [[User:Miamiclay|Miamiclay]] ([[User talk:Miamiclay|talk]]) 10:58, 4 May 2023 (UTC)<br />
::Unremoved the last para. The teacher deecribed is male, '''Miss''' L is not.{{Citation needed}} But if the suggestion is that the narrating person is Miss L (after the year has passed?), then we have other problems to explain (how she thinks she got it to work, hypercompetent as she is but as impossible the setup is).<br />
::I read it as someone else, off-panel (traditionall Randall's voice, but not in this case?), who is describing a different time and who clearly didn't/doesn't grasp reality (did not get taught/listen that well, at school, seems convinced they did something clever), or can actually ignore the problems (like Beret Guy). But it could do with streamlining. ''Or'' various brief arguments for and against who is saying it, split up. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.162.161|172.70.162.161]] 12:35, 4 May 2023 (UTC)<br />
:::I initially (mis?)read “his bank” as reflecting not ownership, but where he banked, but you’re probably right. Either way, the whole thing seems both unclear as to the referents and somewhat misconceived - When a bank pays absurdly high rates, the last thing one would want is to acquire it! [[User:Miamiclay|Miamiclay]] ([[User talk:Miamiclay|talk]]) 15:09, 4 May 2023 (UTC)<br />
::The difference between "compounded annually" and "compounded monthly" was/is that "compounded monthly" is computed on the "minimum monthly balance". Savings banks moved to "compounded daily" when computers meant that the work involved wasn't completely unreasonable. With "compounded daily", you get paid interest even if you have one day in the month when the balance was $0.01 and all the other days were $100K. <br />
::If you are buying a 90 day bond, the interest really is quoted as n*90/365 (or n*90/360, or n*90/366 or %90/90, depending on the exchange rules). And if you re-invest, you get more. And you can do the same with over-night money (daily rollover). But that's "re-investment", not "daily-compounding". And the thing is, working out "true cost" is difficult for most people, and most people don't know and haven't thought about what "daily compounding" is, and probably wouldn't understand the math if they do think about it. It's easy to believe that teachers are miss-using the business terms used for ordinary savings accounts, but if so, that's unfortunate.<br />
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As it stands, this explanation smacks of [[2623|taking the fictional scenario way too literally]]. It spends a lot of words deconstructing the idea of "100% annual interest", instead of ''explaining the comic''. My interpretation is that we're meant to take the 100% at face value: [[1493|it shouldn't work, but it does]]. -- [[User:Peregrine|Peregrine]] ([[User talk:Peregrine|talk]]) 01:41, 6 May 2023 (UTC)</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2771:_College_Knowledge&diff=3124402771: College Knowledge2023-05-06T01:07:38Z<p>Peregrine: /* Note */ Typo: ealls -> walls</p>
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<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2771<br />
| date = May 3, 2023<br />
| title = College Knowledge<br />
| image = college_knowledge_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 649x266px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = 'Your chitin armor is no match for our iron-tipped stingers! Better go hide in your jars!' --common playground taunt<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT GOING TO IO TO GET MORE DIODES - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
A common playground rhyme which children will often recite when divided by gender is that "girls go to college to get more knowledge; boys go to {{w|Jupiter}} to get more stupider," with the genders being interchangeable depending on the rhyme's singer.<br />
<br />
Starting out with this cadence, three characters (or child versions) {{w|Skipping rope|jump rope}} and explore parts of the solar system and beyond by taking it in turns to provide the rhythm's tempo. First [[Science Girl]] (who is turning the left end of the rope), then a [[Cueball]] (at the right), followed by a [[Ponytail]] (doing the jumping), before returning to Science Girl. As they concentrate on various stellar bodies that are harder and harder to rhyme, their chants become increasingly hesitant and obscure, ruining the rhythm and resulting in ever more contrived "rhymes", to the point where they eventually seem compelled to abandon the whole game.<br />
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The title text refers back to some of the rhymes the characters mention, making sure to stay consistent with whichever gender acquires which object. Speaking from the perspective of the college-bound gender, who had acquired {{w|ferrous}} iron from {{w|Eris}} (or perhaps {{wiktionary|ferrous|become more composed of it}}, by {{w|Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed|bodily transformation}}), the girls playfully threaten the boys with iron-tipped {{w|stinger}}s, for which the boys' acquired armour of {{w|chitin}} (a material commonly found on the exoskeletons of various insects, including in any stings these might normally have) is purportedly no match. The girls then also refer to the jars which the boys had acquired from {{w|Mars}}, telling the boys that they'd better hide in them if they wanted any sort of protection from the iron-tipped stingers. To top it all off, the title text finally claims that this is supposedly a "common playground taunt" among children, which implies the unlikely outcome that the bizarre and unwieldy rhymes which the characters in the comic created have somehow persisted and passed into common usage enough to be generally recognizable.<br />
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In [[1202: Girls and Boys]], boys and girls both go to college ''and'' to Jupiter, both to get more knowledge.<br />
<br />
==Note==<br />
Going to Mars to get more jars may be a reference to a 1955 {{w|Burma-Shave}} campaign promising a free trip to Mars for whoever sent in 900 empty jars. The joking offer was accepted by a Wisconsin shopkeeper named Arliss French. The company enjoyed the publicity, and sent him and his wife to {{w|Moers}}.<br />
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{{w|Ceres (dwarf planet)|Ceres}} is a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt, between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.<br />
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{{w|Chitin}} is a polysaccharide found in the exoskeletons of insects and cell walls of fungi.<br />
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{{w|Tim Berners-Lee}} is the inventor of the World Wide Web.<br />
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{{w|Pamplemousse}} is the French word for grapefruit or pomelo, depending on dialect.<br />
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==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
:[Science Girl, Ponytail and Cueball are jumping rope while singing a common playground song. Science Girl and Cueball are swinging the ends of the rope, Ponytail is jumping in the middle.]<br />
:Science Girl: Girls go to college to get more knowledge<br />
:Science Girl: Boys go to Jupiter to get more stupider<br />
<br />
:Cueball: Girls go to Ceres to get more theories<br />
:Cueball: Boys go to Mars to get more jars<br />
<br />
:Ponytail: Girls go to Eris to get more ferrous<br />
:Ponytail: Boys go to Triton to get more chitin<br />
<br />
:[The three have stopped playing.]<br />
:Science Girl: Girls go to...Mercury...to...meet Tim Berners-Lee<br />
:Science Girl: Boys go to... ...Betelgeuse...to get more... ...pamplemousse<br />
:Cueball: I think we're done.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Science Girl]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cobson]]<br />
[[Category:Games]]<br />
[[Category:Astronomy]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]<br />
[[Category:Food]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:2722:_Etymonline&diff=305495Talk:2722: Etymonline2023-01-29T17:01:58Z<p>Peregrine: Speculation about etym-online vs etymon-line</p>
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<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
Random fact: I recently finished reading etymonline.com from beginning to end. It taught me things about the English language that I didn't know that I didn't know. [[User:Darthpoppins|Darthpoppins]] ([[User talk:Darthpoppins|talk]]) 00:46, 10 January 2023 (UTC)<br />
:Nice. [[Special:Contributions/172.71.167.235|172.71.167.235]] 04:16, 10 January 2023 (UTC)<br />
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Dear whomever wrote the current explanation, please take an English composition course. It's clear you mean well, but it's really hard to read your work. [[Special:Contributions/172.71.158.216|172.71.158.216]] 04:44, 10 January 2023 (UTC)<br />
:Fair enough; I'll try to clean it up [[User:Dextrous Fred|Dextrous Fred]] ([[User talk:Dextrous Fred|talk]]) 05:33, 11 January 2023 (UTC)<br />
::Also the complainer could take use of this being a wiki and make the changes himself ;-) --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 09:56, 11 January 2023 (UTC)<br />
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In the comic, french word "étymologie" is incorrectly spelled "ethimologie" which is referred to as "Old French". I wonder whether that mistake was done on purpose ?<br />
[[Special:Contributions/141.101.68.222|141.101.68.222]] 08:12, 10 January 2023 (UTC)<br />
: "Old French etimologie, ethimologie (14c., Modern French étymologie), from Latin etymologia, from Greek etymologia" from the Etymonline entry for "etymology"[[Special:Contributions/172.70.162.223|172.70.162.223]] 10:25, 10 January 2023 (UTC)<br />
: Given that it's over 350 years from now, it really ought to say 'from Old English etymology', with what we currently call Old English now being known as Really Old English.[[Special:Contributions/172.71.178.65|172.71.178.65]] 09:09, 10 January 2023 (UTC)<br />
::Or Ancient English. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.51.160|172.68.51.160]] 14:47, 11 January 2023 (UTC)<br />
:With the comic revelling in the degredation of contemporary knowledge as future history passes (perhaps like [https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/BabylonFiveS04E22TheDeconstructionOfFallingStars here, especially in 2762]), I don't think this relatively minor glitch is an error. Merely flavour. [[Special:Contributions/172.71.242.141|172.71.242.141]] 12:21, 10 January 2023 (UTC)<br />
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In what is almost certainly not a coincidence, "etymology" and "blimp" are currently trending at #2 and #5, respectively, on etymoline.com as of right now (15:14, 10 January 2023 (UTC)) [[Special:Contributions/172.70.110.236|172.70.110.236]] 15:14, 10 January 2023 (UTC)<br />
:Agree. Now Blimp is #1 and Etymology #3 as of now. Have made a screen shot with the date and ponder to insert it in the explanation under a trivia. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 09:56, 11 January 2023 (UTC)<br />
::I have added the image. If someone could knows hot change the size of the image shown I would be happy. Not sure how to do that. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 10:28, 11 January 2023 (UTC)<br />
:::I was JUST coming here to complain about that, LOL! I can easily change the image (not sure about in wikicode, I mean an actual image), but on my computer, I'm out and only have my iPad right now. On iPad Safari, the entire page zooms out in order to show all of that picture, so all the explanation is tiny. Personally, I would crop the picture to the relevant area (why do people need to see the articles listed beneath? Just show the search bar with the top terms and enough of the page to show what site). [[User:NiceGuy1|NiceGuy1]] ([[User talk:NiceGuy1|talk]]) 06:02, 21 January 2023 (UTC)<br />
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Shouldn't it be "folk etymonline"? [[Special:Contributions/172.68.35.26|172.68.35.26]] 18:57, 10 January 2023 (UTC) [[Special:Contributions/172.68.35.26|172.68.35.26]] 18:57, 10 January 2023 (UTC) [[Special:Contributions/172.68.35.26|172.68.35.26]] 18:57, 10 January 2023 (UTC) [[Special:Contributions/172.68.35.26|172.68.35.26]] 18:57, 10 January 2023 (UTC)<br />
:I believe it uses "etymology" since that comment is from the perspective of some "present day" scholar, or Randall himself [[User:Dextrous Fred|Dextrous Fred]] ([[User talk:Dextrous Fred|talk]]) 05:32, 11 January 2023 (UTC)<br />
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What? No mention of the irony that an organization whose purpose is to preserve the history of words has accidentally done the opposite--supplanting and obscuring the word for the very thing they are trying to do?<br />
:(Documenting and) preserving the history of words is not the same as preserving words in their current usage. Hence providing a service that becomes so ubiquitous that its name supplants the previous word used to refer to the science on which that service is based is not in opposition to the service's aim of compiling a systematic collection of etymonlinear explanations. Indeed, it is an example of the changes in language absent which the science of etymonline would simply not exist. But I agree it's a bit ironic.<br />
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But was the Explanation Tag writer a ''cunning'' etymonlinguist? [[User:These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For|These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For]] ([[User talk:These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For|talk]]) 04:56, 16 January 2023 (UTC)<br />
:I see what you did there, though the "etym" ruins it. :) [[User:NiceGuy1|NiceGuy1]] ([[User talk:NiceGuy1|talk]]) 06:02, 21 January 2023 (UTC)<br />
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Regarding the "how did future people miss the 'online' in 'etymonline'?" paragraph: My thought (influenced by "etymonlinguist") was that the word had been reanalysed as being derived from ''[https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/etymon etymon]'', perhaps ''etymon'' + ''line'' (as in a line of descent). But there's no direct evidence to support this in the comic itself. Does this seem plausible to anyone else? And would it be of use in the explanation, to temper the sense of "these future lexicographers are idiots" that it currently conveys? -- [[User:Peregrine|Peregrine]] ([[User talk:Peregrine|talk]]) 17:01, 29 January 2023 (UTC)</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1306:_Sigil_Cycle&diff=2955731306: Sigil Cycle2022-09-27T05:46:29Z<p>Peregrine: "Microsoft products but Google" is an, umm, idiosyncratic way to describe productivity software.</p>
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<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1306<br />
| date = December 20, 2013<br />
| title = Sigil Cycle<br />
| image = sigil_cycle.png<br />
| titletext = The cycle seems to be 'we need these symbols to clarify what types of things we're referring to!' followed by 'wait, it turns out words already do that.'<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
In {{w|computer programming}}, a variable is a way of storing information temporarily, for use later in the program. There are different types of variables, called {{w|Data type|data types}}, such as integers, strings, characters, and booleans, all of them holding different types of information. Integers hold whole numbers, strings hold text, and so on. Variables traditionally have names that identify their purpose, and a programmer should usually be able to infer from this variable name what type of variable it is. For example, if you want to store the name of the customer in a catalogue service, you might store the text in a string variable called "NameOfCustomer". Because it is fairly clear that names are made up of text, it is logical that this variable would be a string variable - if you didn't have any other information about it.<br />
<br />
A {{w|Sigil (computer programming)|sigil}} in computer programming is a symbol that appears before the variable name. It is an alternative method of telling someone who is reading the program code what data type the variable is. Rather than relying on logic, then, to know that NameOfCustomer is a string, you might use a sigil "$" before the variable name, as in $NameOfCustomer, which would specify that the variable can hold text. Sigils can also specify the {{w|Scope (computer science)|scope}} of a variable, which refers to where the variable can be used in a program, and which parts of the program can access that variable. Sigils are useful in some ways because you don't have to refer to previous program code or find where the variable is declared (created) to know what data type it is. They also provide some level typing in languages that do not explicitly declare the type of the variable.<br />
<br />
Most {{w|Programming language|programming languages}} have a different method for storing variables, although some languages may use the same variable types under different names. The following are the programming languages referenced in the comic and how they use variables.<br />
<br />
;{{w|QBASIC}}<br />
:Variables of type string end with the $ symbol. Other symbols are used (% for integers, ! for single-precision, # for double-precision and, in some versions of BASIC, & for long integers), however the usual QBASIC program will use only the $ symbol and not any of the others, as the default type if no symbol is used is single-precision and that's OK for most numeric uses.<br />
<br />
;{{w|C++}}<br />
:Pronounced "see plus plus." Variables are just words with regular letters. It is the name of the language itself that includes symbols.<br />
<br />
;{{w|bash (Unix shell)|bash}}<br />
:This is not typically thought of as a full-featured programming language, but a Unix shell. However, the shell command syntax is rich enough to be able to write simple (and sometimes really complex) programs called shell-scripts. In this language, all variable dereferences start with the symbol $.<br />
<br />
;{{w|Perl}}<br />
:In Perl, the initial character provides the context of the variable. Scalars (text, numeric and also to references to data) start with the $ character. An @ is for an array. With %, it is a hash (a loose non-sequential array, or 'dictionary' lookup). Functions ''can'' be given a preceding &, but rarely need this in straightforward use. You can use the variables $temp, @temp, %temp and &temp simultaneously and independently. There is also the * (not in a mathematical sense) which identifies a 'glob', a way to fuse or use all those types (and more!) in 'interesting' ways if you have a yen to.<br />
:A block, with {} surrounding some other suitable statement(s), can potentially be typed to (re)interpret the context within. If you have a $reference which currently points to an @array, @{$reference} will let you use it as a direct array. But in simple cases, like that, this can often be shortened to @$reference, as alluded to by the "@$PERL" of the comic. (Just as $$reference would be a valid way to dereference the $reference when it points to $scalar... or even to $anotherReference that itself points to a %hash, in which case you could even use %$$reference for 'direct' access to that. Perl can be complicated, if you let it!)<br />
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;{{w|Python (programming language)|Python}}<br />
:Variables are just words with regular letters.<br />
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;{{w|Google}}<br />
:Once upon a time, Google added a social network called "[[918|Google+]]" (pronounced "Google plus") to its many offerings. On this network, accounts were identified and "mentioned" (linked in a message, and sent a notification) with a + prefix. For example, [[Randall]] was "+Randall Munroe". Google+ has been defunct since 2019, but it was active and growing in 2013 when this comic was posted.<br />
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;{{w|Twitter}}<br />
:Twitter account IDs are identified by the leading symbol @. When an account is "mentioned" in a tweet using @, it triggers smart behavior. For example, account owners can configure Twitter to forward tweets that mention them. This feature was not present in the early days of Twitter.<br />
<br />
;{{w|Hashtag}}s<br />
:In 2007 Twitter users began a convention that a # sign (whose {{w|Number sign|many names}} include the "hash") can be prepended to words to mark them as keywords. Twitter could then be searched for those words. In 2009 Twitter recognized the existence of hashtags and began hyperlinking them. Some other microblogging services followed suit. Google+ eventually added hashtag support as did Facebook.<br />
<br />
As is noted by the comic, the use of sigils to indicate types of variables varies between programming languages, from strict enforcement in languages like Perl, to their complete absence in languages like C++ (but see {{w|Hungarian Notation}}). The comic notes that the use of sigils seems to be cyclic, especially if you count things like hashtags as extensions of the pattern.<br />
<br />
The title text describes the two competing influences responsible for the cycle: The first impulse finds sigils useful to elucidate the type of the variable, especially when variable names are not very descriptive, while the latter impulse notes that descriptive variable names are much more useful for that purpose, especially in extensible languages where the built-in types form only a small part of the type system.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:A sinusoidal curve is shown.<br />
:Y axis: Odds that the words I type will start with some weird symbol<br />
:X axis: Time<br />
:Data labels: [at first peak] $QBASIC, [at first trough] C++, [at second peak] $BASH, @$PERL, [at second trough] PYTHON, [at third peak] +GOOGLE, @TWITTER, #HASHTAGS<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Line graphs]]<br />
[[Category:Computers]]<br />
[[Category:Internet]]<br />
[[Category:Programming]]<br />
[[Category:Social networking]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1413:_Suddenly_Popular&diff=2932401413: Suddenly Popular2022-08-21T06:24:00Z<p>Peregrine: Clarify phrasing around COVID-19 and its timing. Italicise titles. Capitalise start of sentence.</p>
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<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1413<br />
| date = August 27, 2014<br />
| title = Suddenly Popular<br />
| image = suddenly_popular.png<br />
| titletext = Are Your Teens Practicing Amplexus? Learn These Six Telltale Signs!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
Many phrases that used to be of mainly academic interest become popular when an important event or global trend is described with such phrases in the media. [[Randall]] presents a timeline of past examples, and predicts phrases that may be popularised in the near future. The past events are a mix of buzz words and words that became popularized as a result of technology trends, natural disasters, or terrorism. The future events seem to be all related to natural disasters or other kinds of serious issues, except ''{{w|Amplexus}}'' — which is the joke of the title text — showing that no matter how many disasters there are, people are generally more concerned about their teenagers' sex lives.<br />
<br />
The title text is also an example of a {{w|clickbait}} headline. Many organizations will post a link on social media to their content with a sensationalized headline in order to draw readers in. In this case, the headline is geared towards parents who are worried about their children being sexually active in this new ''Amplexus'' way. Such headlines are the internet's analog to television news' {{w|Promo (media)|promos}} ("A new trend among teens is sweeping the nation, but is it dangerous? Details at 11:00.").<br />
<br />
{{w|Global catastrophic risks|Global catastrophic risk}} is a theme throughout this comic. Randall predicts a large asteroid impact/near miss and a volcanic eruption, followed by an {{w|impact winter}} or {{w|volcanic winter}}. An insect borne, global pandemic without a cure also strikes, and then the {{w|technological singularity}} occurs.<br />
<br />
This comic has similar features to [[887: Future Timeline]].<br />
<br />
===List of the phrases===<br />
Below the phrases are listed with the closest year from the time-line noted behind the phrase. Note that this year does not necessarily match with the in-real-life relevant year. This may be found in the explanation of the phrase below. [https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=world+wide+web%2Cdna+evidence%2Cmilitia+movement%2Csupermax%2Cbutterfly+ballot%2Cal-qaeda%2Cwi-fi%2Ctsunami%2Cviral%2Cradicalize%2Cmetadata&case_insensitive=on&year_start=1900&year_end=2008&corpus=15&smoothing=0&share=&direct_url=t4%3B%2Cworld%20wide%20web%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3BWorld%20Wide%20Web%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bworld%20wide%20web%3B%2Cc0%3B%3BWORLD%20WIDE%20WEB%3B%2Cc0%3B.t4%3B%2Cdna%20evidence%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3BDNA%20evidence%3B%2Cc0%3B%3BDNA%20Evidence%3B%2Cc0%3B.t4%3B%2Cmilitia%20movement%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3Bmilitia%20movement%3B%2Cc0%3B%3BMilitia%20Movement%3B%2Cc0%3B%3BMilitia%20movement%3B%2Cc0%3B.t4%3B%2Csupermax%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3Bsupermax%3B%2Cc0%3B%3BSupermax%3B%2Cc0%3B%3BSUPERMAX%3B%2Cc0%3B%3BSuperMax%3B%2Cc0%3B.t4%3B%2Cbutterfly%20ballot%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3Bbutterfly%20ballot%3B%2Cc0%3B%3BButterfly%20Ballot%3B%2Cc0%3B%3BButterfly%20ballot%3B%2Cc0%3B.t4%3B%2Cal%20-%20qaeda%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3Bal%20-%20Qaeda%3B%2Cc0%3B%3BAl%20-%20Qaeda%3B%2Cc0%3B.t4%3B%2Cwi%20-%20fi%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3BWi%20-%20Fi%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bwi%20-%20fi%3B%2Cc0%3B.t4%3B%2Ctsunami%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3Btsunami%3B%2Cc0%3B%3BTsunami%3B%2Cc0%3B%3BTSUNAMI%3B%2Cc0%3B.t4%3B%2Cviral%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3Bviral%3B%2Cc0%3B%3BViral%3B%2Cc0%3B%3BVIRAL%3B%2Cc0%3B.t4%3B%2Cradicalize%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3Bradicalize%3B%2Cc0%3B%3BRadicalize%3B%2Cc0%3B.t4%3B%2Cmetadata%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3Bmetadata%3B%2Cc0%3B%3BMetadata%3B%2Cc0 Google Books Ngram Viewer] can show the relative frequency of those words in function of the year.<br />
<br />
;{{w|World Wide Web}} – 1994<br />
:Though first proposed in 1989, and the first test being completed in 1990, it took until around 1994 for the {{w|World Wide Web|world wide web}} to start becoming well known.<br />
<br />
;{{w|DNA profiling|DNA Evidence}} – 1995<br />
:Prominent coverage of the {{w|O. J. Simpson murder trial}} in 1994 brought widespread discussion of {{w|DNA profiling|DNA Evidence}}, making it famous and showing its limitations.<br />
<br />
;{{w|Militia Movement}} – 1996<br />
:After the standoffs at {{w|Ruby Ridge}}, Idaho in 1992 and the {{w|Branch Davidians}} compound in Waco, Texas between U.S. Government Agencies and militias in 1993, people started becoming more aware of their presence, culminating with the 1995 {{w|Oklahoma City Bombing}} on the second anniversary of the fire at the Branch Davidians compound.<br />
<br />
;{{w|Supermax prison|Supermax}} – 1997<br />
:Super-Maximum security prisons. Possibly referring to the 1997 film {{w|Con Air}}, starring Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, and John Malkovich, in which prisoners being transferred to a new Supermax prison seize control of their transport plane. Also possibly referring to {{w|Timothy McVeigh}} and {{w|Terry Nichols}}, perpetrators of the aforementioned Oklahoma City bombing, who were incarcerated at {{w|ADX Florence}}, the former from the time of his arrest to 1999, and the latter from the time of his conviction to the present day.<br />
<br />
[[File:Butterfly Voters View.jpg|thumb|A butterfly ballot]]<br />
;{{w|butterfly ballot|Butterfly Ballot}} – 2000<br />
:In the {{w|United States presidential election in Florida, 2000|United States presidential election in 2000, Florida}} had a major recount dispute that took center stage in the election. Thus, the outcome of the 2000 United States presidential election was not known for more than a month after balloting, because of the extended process of counting and then recounting of Florida presidential ballots. The {{w|butterfly ballot}} was the type of ballot design {{w|United States presidential election in Florida, 2000#Palm Beach County's butterfly ballots|used in Palm Beach County, Florida}}, and was a central issue in the election controversy. Evidence suggests that many voters who intended to vote for Gore or Bush actually marked their ballots for Pat Buchanan or spoiled their ballots, because of a confusing layout of the ballot.<br />
<br />
;{{w|Al-Qaeda}} – 2002<br />
:The {{w|September 11th terrorist attacks}} brought the al-Qaeda terrorist organisation into the spotlight almost overnight.<br />
<br />
;{{w|Wi-Fi}} – 2003<br />
:Wi-Fi, though developed in the 1990s, first became popular in the early 2000s.<br />
<br />
;{{w|Tsunami}} – 2006<br />
:There were a number of tsunamis around this time period, in particular the {{w|Boxing Day Tsunami}} which caused 230,000 deaths, and the {{w|2006 Pangandaran earthquake and tsunami}}. These were some of the first tsunamis to be widely captured on camera, bringing these previously obscure seismic events into the public eye. <br />
<br />
;{{w|Viral}} – 2009<br />
:In this context, the word viral is used to describe anything which spreads rapidly and widely on the internet. In particular an online video clip is said to have 'Gone Viral' or become a {{w|Viral video}} if it racks up a high number of views over a short time. This phenomenon has become especially prevalent due to users sharing content on {{w|Social media}}.<br />
<br />
;{{w|Radicalization|Radicalize}} – 2011<br />
:Due to the ongoing {{w|Syrian Civil War}}, and the relative ease with which one can travel from Europe to Syria by way of Turkey, there is growing concern about the risk of young Muslims in Europe (and, to a lesser extent, the United States) becoming {{w|radicalization|radicalized}} by indoctrination from fundamentalists either in their communities or on the Internet.<br />
<br />
;{{w|Metadata}} – 2013<br />
:Following the highly publicised 2013 leaks by {{w|Edward Snowden}} of information regarding the {{w|NSA}}'s indiscriminate surveillance of global communication metadata, awareness of the privacy value of such data became widespread, where once it was mostly familiar to IT professionals.<br />
<br />
<br />
''From this point on, phrases were in the future at the time of publication.''<br />
<br />
<br />
;{{w|Lahar}} – 2016<br />
:A lahar is a mudslide caused by the eruption of a volcano that was covered with snow or ice. Randall is speculating on a future natural disaster being caused by such an incident. {{w|Bárðarbunga}} volcano covered with the {{w|Vatnajökull}} glacier on Iceland increased activity just a few days before publishing of this comic, but its eventual {{w|2014–2015 eruption of Bárðarbunga|eruption}} caused little harm.<br />
<br />
;{{w|Insect-borne disease|Insect-Borne}} – 2019<br />
:Some {{w|Category:Insect-borne diseases|diseases are insect-borne}}, meaning specific species of insects are the main vector in spreading to humans. {{w|Malaria}} is an example of an {{w|insect-borne disease}}. Randall predicts some severe (possibly deadly) insect-borne disease will emerge around this time. As of 2016, the Zika virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, has reached epidemic status in South America, and has spread to southern North America, Africa and Australia. 2019 was the year of the first COVID-19 outbreak, leading to a pandemic in 2020, so Randall's prediction of a major disease could be accurate; however, COVID-19 is not an insect-borne disease.<br />
<br />
;{{w|Earth-crosser|Earth-Crossing}} – 2021<br />
:Earth-crossers are asteroids that cross the orbit of Earth. Most of them remain harmless because their orbit doesn't actually intersect the earth's orbit in 3 dimensions, or for the foreseeable future, they will cross when Earth is not there. For this phrase to become popular, an Earth-crosser might have to reach the heretofore-unreached "threatening" level, rating a 5 or more on the {{w|Torino Scale}}, due to a significant chance of a large impact. As of 2014, there are no threats of that level known in the early 2020s. If the next two phrases are connected to this one, Randall is predicting a significant asteroid impact.<br />
<br />
;{{w|Thermohaline circulation|Thermohaline}} – 2022<br />
:Thermohaline circulation is the largest group of interconnected ocean currents, which stabilize global climate by equalizing the temperature and salinity of oceans around the world. If this phrase becomes popular, it implies the thermohaline circulation would have slowed or changed significantly. This might be caused by asteroid impact or by polar ice melting. The latter scenario was apocalyptically dramatized in the movie ''{{w|The Day After Tomorrow}}''.<br />
<br />
;{{w|Snow blindness|Snow-Blindness}} – 2024<br />
:Snow blindness is an eye condition caused by excessive UV light reflected from snow and ice. This can lead to corneal damage and blindness (temporary, if treated properly). This phrase becoming popular might suggest a long {{w|impact winter}} (from the asteroid) or severe {{w|ozone depletion}} in cold regions of the world.<br />
<br />
;{{w|Amplexus}} – 2025<br />
:A form of non-penetrative reproduction carried out by some animals, for example frogs, involving grasping the partner with front legs. This may be connected to the other posts (some change in human society) or it may simply be a joke at how new sexual language/fads appear and hit mainstream media from time to time (for example a number of acts gained fame from ''Sex and the City''). This also ties in with the title text, which imagines a sensationalist headline suggesting teenagers may be doing this.<br />
<br />
;{{w|Aquaplaning|Controlled Hydroplaning}} – 2028<br />
:Hydroplaning occurs when a vehicle tire comes in contact with a puddle in such a way that the water builds up between the tire and the road surface. The film of water, having a much lower coefficient of friction than the road surface, causes the tire to lose traction. Typically, in this scenario, the driver isn't planning to hydroplane and loses control of the vehicle. In theory, controlled hydroplaning would be achieved when the driver plans for it ahead of time. This could be necessary if, in this hypothetical future, most of the roads are flooded since the impact winter (after only four years) ends and thus a great thaw causes all roads to become wet all the time.<br />
<br />
;{{w|Paradoxical reaction|Paradoxical Reaction}} – 2031<br />
:"Paradoxical reaction" is a medical term for when the outcome of a medical treatment, typically the taking of a drug, is the opposite of that expected. For example if taking a pain relieving medication made the pain worse. For this term to suddenly become well known, a large scale or particularly notable case must have taken place (such as the insect-borne disease of 2019). Or, this and the following (and maybe the last as well) phrases may refer to the events from ''{{w|The Evitable Conflict}}'' by Isaac Asimov (and its very loose but much more popular film adaptation ''{{w|I,_Robot_(film)|I, Robot}}'') where robots, instructed with the {{w|Three Laws of Robotics}}, take over the world to prevent humans hurting each other. The paradoxical reaction is that these laws were specifically designed to, among other things, prevent robots from taking over the world in the first place.<br />
<br />
;{{w|Desertion|Drone Desertion}} – 2033<br />
:Desertion is the abandonment of a post or duty, usually military in nature. With the increasing use of autonomous drones by the military this hints at an event where drones 'decide' to desert, possibly due to unspecified advances in {{w|Artificial Intelligence}} and {{w|Robot Rights}}. Or maybe they just start following the {{w|Three Laws of Robotics}}. See also [[2499: Abandonment Function]] and [[1626: Judgment Day]].<br />
<br />
;{{w|Human hair growth|Rapid Hair Growth}} – 2034<br />
:Maybe some humans have developed a very rapid hair growth (presumably on the entire body) through evolution and natural selection caused by the cold years of the impact winter.<br />
<br />
;{{w|Oath#Divine oath|I Swear Allegiance To The God-Empress In Life And In Death}} – 2038<br />
:This is a {{w|Oath#Divine oath|divine oath}}. A possible explanation is that after the impact and the desertion of the drones predicted for 2033, a strong fraction has made their leader divine, and everyone now has to swear allegiance to this new God-Empress using this phrase - which would certainly make it a very "popular" phrase. The phrase [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GodEmperor God-Emperor] was popularized in the science-fiction work ''Dune'' in 1965 and has been repeatedly referenced since, notably in the tabletop game ''Warhammer 40,000'' (and related media).<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:Obscure words and phrases everyone suddenly becomes very familiar with.<br />
:[A time line to the left is marked of by several phrases to the right around the time they became familiar to the public:]<br />
::← World Wide Web<br />
::← DNA Evidence<br />
:1995<br />
::← Militia Movement<br />
::← Supermax<br />
:2000<br />
::← Butterfly Ballot<br />
::← Al-Qaeda<br />
::← Wi-Fi<br />
:2005<br />
::← Tsunami<br />
::← Viral<br />
:2010<br />
::← Radicalize<br />
::← Metadata<br />
:2015<br />
::← Lahar<br />
::← Insect-Borne<br />
:2020<br />
::← Earth-Crossing<br />
::← Thermohaline<br />
::← Snow-Blindness<br />
:2025<br />
::← Amplexus<br />
::← Controlled Hydroplaning<br />
:2030<br />
::← Paradoxical Reaction<br />
::← Drone Desertion<br />
::← Rapid Hair Growth <br />
:2035<br />
::← I Swear Allegiance To The God-Empress In Life And In Death<br />
:2040<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Charts]]<br />
[[Category:Timelines]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1633:_Possible_Undiscovered_Planets&diff=2921641633: Possible Undiscovered Planets2022-08-07T06:47:28Z<p>Peregrine: Typo: it's → its</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1633<br />
| date = January 22, 2016<br />
| title = Possible Undiscovered Planets<br />
| image = possible_undiscovered_planets.png<br />
| titletext = Superman lies near the bird/plane boundary over a range of distances, which explains the confusion.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This comic is about {{w|Planet Nine}}, a possible {{w|Neptune}}-sized {{w|planet}} far beyond the farthest planet, {{w|Neptune}}. Astronomers {{w|Michael E. Brown|Mike Brown}} and {{w|Konstantin Batygin}} published a paper on 2016-01-20, only two days before the release of this comic. The paper is called ''[http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/0004-6256/151/2/22 Evidence for a Distant Giant Planet in the Solar System]'' and shows indirect evidence that such a planet may exist, inferred from an otherwise unlikely correlation between the unusual orbits of several {{w|dwarf planets}}. See for instance also explanations, for the layman, of the results here: ''[http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/01/feature-astronomers-say-neptune-sized-planet-lurks-unseen-solar-system Astronomers say a Neptune-sized planet lurks beyond Pluto]'' and ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGfv3Oay_pY Planet X Discovered??]''<br />
<br />
As this paper came out on the day of the previous comic's release ([[1632: Palindrome]]), this comic's release day was the first release day after the news came out. This explains why this comic was released in the late afternoon rather than just past midnight as is often the case with normal releases. <br />
Once [[Randall]] heard this news, he had to decide to do this comic instead of the scheduled comic, and then invent and draw a completely new and actually very complicated comic (resulting in [[#Info on new version|several position errors]]) about "{{w|Planet X}}" before he could release this comic. <br />
<br />
Now this planet could be called Planet IX (and is labeled ''Planet nine?'' on the chart), as {{w|Pluto}}, the previously "planet 9" has been degraded to a dwarf planet. The "X" did, however, not only refer to the roman numeral! Note that Mike Brown is the astronomer that {{w|How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming|killed Pluto}}, or at least reduced Pluto to a dwarf planet, something that has been a subject in [[xkcd]] before; see for instance [[473: Still Raw]].<br />
<br />
This was the first of two times within a month where a new astronomical announcement (of something discovered months before the actual announcement) resulted in a related comic. The second being [[1642: Gravitational Waves]]. But in that case Randall seemed to know about it in advance, as he even changed the normal release schedule to post the comic on the day of the announcement, unlike here, where he seems to have been forced to make a new comic up on the fly.<br />
<br />
Stating the obvious, this {{w|log–log plot}} shows that for an object to be an unknown planet it has to be very far away, since planets are big, to explain why we haven't seen it yet. With the log scale it is possible to go from a diameter of less than 1&nbsp;mm to an {{w|astronomical unit}} (AU) on the Y-axis and from a distance of just 1&nbsp;cm up to thousands of AU on the X-axis.<br />
<br />
Randall's chart is somewhat humorously parochial (if not downright {{w|egocentric}}) in that it purports to measure distance not "from Earth" or from an arbitrary observer, but specifically from himself ("from me"). There is also more detail (e.g. a differentiation between bird, bugs, and skin flora) in the zone closest to the observer, somewhat reminiscent of the classic New Yorker cover illustration ''{{W|View of the World from 9th Avenue}}''.<br />
<br />
The distance calculations are somewhat problematic (see more on this below). Close distances seem to be measured from the surface of Randall's body (skin/eyes) rather than from his center of mass. All the planets (and moon) that are marked on the chart are so far away that it will not matter if the distance is measured from Randall's surface, his center of mass, or by the way anywhere on {{w|Earth}}. Also, the planets' diameters are so much smaller than the distance from Earth that their real size would hardly take up any space in the chart due to the {{w|Logarithmic scale|log-scale}}. The dots marking these 7 planets are thus not drawn to scale that should represent their actual size compared with the other planets. But their distance from Earth (and Randall) is not constant even on the log-scale, especially not for the nearest planets, as they can be on either side of the {{w|Sun}} compared to Earth.<br />
<br />
The chart correctly states that if there was a planet that was at a distance from him smaller than its diameter, he would be inside it (although at the bottom of that region, it's more like the planet that would be inside him, as this line goes down to a diameter of 1&nbsp;cm). If the distance is to the planets center, this would also fit if he was only a radius away from the planet. As Randall is not inside the Earth but really close to it, Earth is correctly positioned on this line. However, for Earth, which is marked with the largest of the dots, he seems to have put himself a full Earth diameter away from Earth. Even using the center of mass of Earth as its position he should only have been 6,350&nbsp;km away from it, but now he places the measuring point of his distance to Earth on the opposite side of the Earth so his distance to it is equal to its diameter (which would make a choosing a distance of 0&nbsp;km just as correct). Earth is just left of the 10,000&nbsp;km line on both axis, and Earth has a diameter of 12,700&nbsp;km, which will fit fine with the center of the dot, but not with the distance which should have been the maximum distance Randall could be from it (0 or 6350&nbsp;km depending on the definition of distance from Randall).<br />
<br />
The {{w|IAU definition of planet}} requires a solar orbit, gravitational rounding, and "clearing the neighborhood", a controversial (at the time of its introduction) calculation of relative size that excludes {{w|Kuiper Belt Objects}} such as Pluto. The calculation regarding Planet Nine would make it large enough to meet the IAU definition. Using this definition the chart quickly rules out birds and bugs, although at a glance they could be mistaken for planets, something that is especially the case for planes (at night) which are even called ''fool’s planets’'' in the chart, a reference to {{w|fool's Gold}}. Note that anything that is actually on Earth is positioned within 60&nbsp;km from Randall. This is because if it is further away he cannot see them due to the curvature of the Earth. This does not mean that he intends to indicate that they cannot be further away from him than that.<br />
<br />
The already known planets are prominently marked on the chart. They are the solid black dots. Besides Earth and ''Planet Nine?'', the bottom row of three small dots are {{w|Mercury (planet)|Mercury}}, {{w|Venus}} and {{w|Mars}}. The top row of four larger dots (but smaller than the dot that marks Earth) are (from left to right) {{w|Jupiter}} and {{w|Saturn}} (visible to the naked eye) and {{w|Uranus}} and Neptune (visible through a telescope).<br />
<br />
It is unclear how Randall is calculating these distances, especially to the three {{w|terrestrial planets}}, since neither of these options work: closest approach, average, mean, current or maximum distance. In the comic [[482: Height]] Randall shows (among other) the distance from the Earths surface to all the planets. For especially Venus and Mars he shows that their distance changes a lot based on theirs and Earth's orbital positions. But he has neither used these loops to base the dot size or position, as these loops clearly go closer than 1 AU and only one of the planets are drawn closer than that. It is thus unclear which of the three represents which planet, but in the '''[[#Table of items in the chart|table below]]''' it has been reasoned that the dot situated at the largest diameter of the three inner planets planets should represent Venus (12,000&nbsp;km) as it is almost twice as big as Mars (6,700&nbsp;km), which on the other hand is more similar to Mercury (5,000&nbsp;km) and given that the two dots furthest out are almost the same size, it would make most sense if they represent Mercury and Mars. Since the outer dot never comes closer than 2.5 AU and Mercury never gets further away than 1.5 AU it makes most sense to place Mercury as the middle of the three and Mars as the outer of the three dots.<br />
<br />
Below some objects are mentioned that are not on the chart, and also other errors in position (probably due the hasty creation of such a complex comic.) Many of these objects as well as the planets with the errors mentioned clearly revealed can be see in this '''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ef/Modified_possible_undiscovered_planets.png modified image]''', which is also inserted and explained [[#Image used to create data for the table|in the trivia section]] below.<br />
<br />
Pluto, no longer considered a planet (it was the ninth until 2006), is not marked on the chart, but it would be below Neptune just outside the pink region (2,300&nbsp;km diameter and 30-50 AU away). This makes sense since that region is for dwarf planets not yet discovered and any one as big and close as Pluto would have been discovered by now. There are thus also other dwarf planets that would not belong in the pink region, one of them is even much much closer and is easily visible with a telescope: {{w|Ceres (dwarf planet)|Ceres}}, which would appear roughly below Mars and Jupiter. (950&nbsp;km diameter and 1.5-4 AU away from Earth). But this pink region is there to show where there could (and most likely will) still be undiscovered dwarf planets.<br />
<br />
The {{w|Moon}} is also marked on the chart, with a gray dot (almost as large as the gas giants dots). The name is written in brackets since it's not a planet (because Earth is clogging up its neighborhood). Randall has messed up the positioning and the diameter of the Moon as it is clearly positioned past a million km, and it is only up to 400,000&nbsp;km away from the Earth.<br />
<br />
The Sun is not marked at all, even though it is extremely prominent, but as it is clearly not a planet it is left out. It would per definition have been at a distance of 1 AU, and with a diameter of 1.4x10<sup>6</sup> km it would be well inside the region of things that we can see during the day. Note that objects this big will always be shining, already a large planet such as Jupiter is [https://www.worldcat.org/title/jupiter-and-saturn/oclc/60393951&referer=brief_results brighter] than if it could reflect 100% of Sun's light. In general, ''planets ruled out because we would see them during the day'' refers to objects big enough to be {{w|stars}} or {{w|brown dwarfs}}, but {{w|List of nearest stars and brown dwarfs|the only star system}}, other than Sun, that would fit on the chart is {{w|Alpha Centauri}}, which at 4.37 {{w|light-years}} (ly) is well within the right boundary that falls at 5.68 ly, just before the distance to the next nearest star {{w|Barnard's Star}} at 5.96 ly from the Sun. A light year is 63,241 AU, and with the 10,000 AU mark far from the right edge of this log-log plot, it is clear that also 100,000 AU and thus a light year is within the chart. And this also goes for 5 ly.<br />
<br />
"Planets ruled out by the WISE survey" refers to the {{w|Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer}} (WISE), a space telescope designed to look for warm objects such as brown dwarfs, which generate heat at their centers. It was capable of detecting Saturn-sized or larger planets in the outer reaches of our solar system, but did not find any. WISE would not have detected "Planet Nine" (even if it exists) because it is too small and thus too cold to be detected. There is a chance that it can be seen in some more temperature sensitive measurements. But these have not been checked for such a planet yet, (see [http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/01/feature-astronomers-say-neptune-sized-planet-lurks-unseen-solar-system here]).<br />
<br />
The word ''satellites'' is written on the border of two regions indicating that these can be in both regions. Some are small enough (10&nbsp;cm) to be comparable to the ''space junk'' below, (see {{w|cubesats}}), others are much bigger and would fit in the region above: ''Stuff we can see through telescopes''. Although it may not be called a satellite in daily talk, the {{w|International Space Station}} is in fact a satellite, which is over 100 m in the longest direction. It would thus be on the border to the ''Planets ruled out because I would have noticed them above my house'' region just above the "A" in ''satellites'' (400&nbsp;km above the surface). Some satellites can be seen without a telescope, like the space station.<br />
<br />
The title text explains why some people {{w|It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman|confuse Superman for a bird or a plane}}, since {{w|Superman}} often flies at the limit between the two categories in the diagram. This is though not really true as can be seen in the bottom of the table below. (This was later referenced in [[Bird/Plane/Superman]].)<br />
<br />
===Table of items in the chart===<br />
*This table lists the limits of all regions and dots in the image.<br />
**Some of the more stretched out regions has also been split into two or three smaller parts.<br />
**The planet dots has the limits from the edges of the circle the dots makes used for maximum and minimum limits.<br />
*The table is sort-able, taking care of units even though these change throughout.<br />
*The data has been read out using the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ef/Modified_possible_undiscovered_planets.png image] inserted and explained [[#Image used to create data for the table|in the trivia section]].<br />
**The image also shows the "correct position" of the planets and the Moon, and includes other objects discussed in the table and the explanation<br />
**Note that superman is also drawn in on this image.<br />
*The wiki links included below may have been used in the explanation above.<br />
**They are only used once in this table though, but not necessarily the first time the word is used.<br />
**Rather they are used in the section that has most to do with this object<br />
***So Earth is first wiki-linked from the Earth dot<br />
***And brown dwarfs first from the WISE region etc.<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable"<br />
! Regions and objects<br />
! Min. distance<br />
! Max. distance<br />
! Min. diameter<br />
! Max. diameter<br />
! Explanation<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Planets}} ruled out because I would be inside them||{{sort|012|1 cm}}||{{sort|02800|10<sup>9</sup> km}}||{{sort|0170|1 cm}}||{{sort|0440000|10<sup>9</sup> km}}||Planets that would either have Randall inside or, if smaller than Randall. would be inside Randall. Earth comes close since Randall is on its surface (most of the time). The line dividing this region from the'' Planets we see at night'' hits the Y-axis at 1&nbsp;cm and then goes to the top at almost 10 AU. A dot representing Earth is on this line at around 12,700&nbsp;km = Earth's diameter. This is strange since this means that Randall is 12,700&nbsp;km from Earth. Of course this is how far he is from the far side of the Earth, but more logically it would either have been 6,350&nbsp;km (from Earths center) or 1&nbsp;cm, since his surface, that is his feet, touches Earth, except for the soles of his shoes.<br />
|-<br />
|Planets ruled out because they wouldn’t fit through my door||{{sort|0140|1 m}}||{{sort|012|60 m}}||{{sort|02300|1 m}}||{{sort|0190|60 m}}||As these "planets" are more than 1 m in diameter it is likely they would not fit through his door. It is assumed that if a planet were within 60 m from Randall that they would be within his house, but because objects in this triangle can't fit through his door,even though they should be in his house, they couldn't be in his house, and thus they can be ruled out (they do not exist). The real planets would of course also not fit through any door.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Birds}} that got into my house||{{sort|013|20 cm}}||{{sort|011|60 m}}||{{sort|0190|20 cm}}||{{sort|0140|1 m}}||Small birds that get into Randall's house. They are not planets… He has a fairly big house as they can be 60 m away from Randall (when he is inside) and still be inside his house.<br />
|-<br />
|Region with ''bugs'' and ''skin''||{{sort|011|1 cm}}||{{sort|0160|25 km}}||{{sort|011|0.15 mm}}||{{sort|012|20 cm}}||The ''giant bugs'' region is not inside this one, thus takes a cut out of the top right of this region. The bottom of the chart is at 0.15&nbsp;mm. Only at the very bottom for very small items does the region stretch out beyond 10&nbsp;km…<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Bugs}} (Not planets)||{{sort|0160|10 m}}||{{sort|0130|1 km}}||{{sort|016|1 mm}}||{{sort|011|1 cm}}||This is only the approximate region where the words ''Bugs (not planets)'' are written. As the skin part probably is at the origin, the whole region is probably related to bugs. See above for the size of this region.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Skin flora}}||{{sort|010|1 cm}}||{{sort|010|1 cm}}||{{sort|010|0.15 mm}}||{{sort|010|0.15 mm}}||There is an arrow pointing to the corner of the diagram. The values are thus the same for min. and max. as it is a point value. Of course it may also mean that they are outside the chart, closer to Randall (i.e. on his skin) and smaller (i.e. they are not visible), but this is not clear.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Largest_organisms#Insects_.28Insecta.29|Giant}} {{w|Goliath birdeater|bugs}}||{{sort|0190|100 m}}||{{sort|0150|10 km}}||{{sort|0180|3 cm}}||{{sort|013|20 cm}}||Giant bugs are for Randall from about 5&nbsp;cm. It seems like he tries to keep them at least 100 m away. The limit of 20&nbsp;cm doesn't cover the range, as {{w|Giant huntsman spider|some spiders}} reach 30&nbsp;cm leg span, and the length, with antenna, of {{w|Longhorn beetle|some insects}} may surpass 25&nbsp;cm.<br />
|-<br />
|Planets which are {{w|List of largest birds|actually birds}}||{{sort|0170|60 m}}||{{sort|0170|45 km}}||{{sort|0200|20 cm}}||{{sort|0160|8 m}}||Birds bigger than the birds that can get into Randall’s house, and up to the biggest possible birds (and even bigger). These are so big that they actually look so much like planets that you have to be told that they are actually just birds.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Airplanes}} (Fool’s planets’)||{{sort|0200|200 m}}||{{sort|0180|60 km}}||{{sort|02700|8 m}}||{{sort|0200|100 m}}||Planes in the sky can often be mistaken for a planet, especially at night and at a distance. This may be a comment on {{w|fool's Gold}}, i.e. the metal Pyrite, that looks so much like gold that it is easy for people finding Pyrite to believe they have found gold. The same goes for airplanes and planets according to Randall<br />
|-<br />
|Region with ''Space junk'', ''Asteroids'' and ''Oort Cloud''||{{sort|02300|10 km}}||{{sort|04100000|5.7 ly}}||{{sort|014|0.15 mm}}||{{sort|02400|500 km}}||Space junk can get as close as 10&nbsp;km from Randall and be of a sub millimeter size. And then the objects in the asteroid belt and Oort cloud that are not to be considered dwarf planets can be up to 500&nbsp;km and can reach out to the next star as the edge of the graph is almost at 6 light-years (ly)<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Space debris|Space junk}}||{{sort|02200|10 km}}||{{sort|02100|10<sup>5</sup> km}}||{{sort|012|0.15 mm}}||{{sort|0170|10 m}}||This is only the approximate region around where the words ''Space junk'' are written in this large region. From the left to halfway to the next label for ''comets and asteroids'' and the max diameter taken at this point<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Comets}} and {{w|asteroids}}||{{sort|0280000|10<sup>5</sup> km}}||{{sort|0350000|100 AU}}||{{sort|013|0.15 mm}}||{{sort|02300|225 km}}||This is only the approximate region around where the words '''comets and asteroids''' is written in this large region. It goes from halfway to the previous label for ''Space junk'' and halfway to the next label for ''Oort cloud''. The max diameter is taken at this last point. A small part of this section just reaches into the Dwarf planet territory, making sense as {{w|Ceres}} is a dwarf planet in the {{w|asteroid belt}} which lies in this distance range. However, Ceres is much closer to Earth than the dwarf planet region. But that region is also the one where undiscovered dwarf planets should be! The main concentration of asteroids in the belt is between Mars and Jupiter. A very slim region in this log-log chart! Ceres is the only dwarf planet in the belt. The largest asteroid is {{w|4 Vesta|Vesta}} which is not gravitational rounded even with a diameter of 500&nbsp;km. It would not fit inside this part of the chart due to its size (and distance of 2.4 AU). The best known comet is {{w|Halley's Comet}} which returns every 75 year (next time in 2061). At that time it is much closer to the Sun than Earth at just 0.6 AU, but in 7 years time when it is the farthest away it will be out at 35 AU, further out than Neptune. But is it only of the order of 10&nbsp;km in diameter (11&nbsp;km in mean, 8&nbsp;km x 15&nbsp;km). So it can only be seen when close to the sun for a few months. This comet would fit inside this region for most of the time, when it is more than 2 AU from the sun, above the word "and" near the top of this part of the region over that word.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Oort cloud}}||{{sort|045000000|1000 AU}}||{{sort|04000000|1 ly}}||{{sort|015|0.15 mm}}||{{sort|02500|500 km}}||For distance this is only the region where the words ''Oort cloud'' are written in this large region. This fits with the Wikipedia article that puts it in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oort_cloud#/media/File:PIA17046_-_Voyager_1_Goes_Interstellar.jpg this range] from 1000 AU to more than one light-year (ly). The Oort cloud is speculated to stretch as far as 2 ly out from the Sun. It may even be so that the far edges of the cloud overlaps with similar clouds from the nearby stars, which are 4-6 ly away.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Satellites}}||{{sort|02600|100 km}}||{{sort|02300|10<sup>5</sup> km}}||{{sort|02200|1 m}}||{{sort|0180|10 m}}||This is only the approximate region where the word ''Satellites'' is written. The words cross the border between the ''Space junk etc.'' region below and the ''Stuff we can see through telescopes'' region above. In principle it could thus go down into the space junk region and reach the 10&nbsp;cm diameter of a {{w|cube sat}}, and up to the size of the {{w|International space station}} (100 m).<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff we can see through {{w|telescopes}}||{{sort|02500|60 km}}||{{sort|0370000|800 AU}}||{{sort|02600|1 m}}||{{sort|041000|430,000 km}}||The max and min. values are not very representative as the region follows a shifted diagonal. Close items can be seen with telescope even if they are small, and large object might not be visible if they are far enough away. Hence this section has been split in three, see below. At the top left of the region there are two dots representing Uranus and Neptune, the planets not visible to the naked eye.<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff we can see through telescopes (over ''satellites'')||{{sort|02400|60 km}}||{{sort|02200|10<sup>5</sup> km}}||{{sort|02400|1 m}}||{{sort|02100|1 km}}||This section has been split in three, see the entire region above. This is objects in the satellite range.<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff we can see through telescopes (over ''asteroids'')||{{sort|0300000|10<sup>6</sup> km}}||{{sort|030000|10 AU}}||{{sort|02800|30 m}}||{{sort|02800|20,000 km}}||This section has been split in three, see the entire region above. This is objects in the asteroids range.<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff we can see through telescopes (Past ''asteroids'')||{{sort|03800000|10 AU}}||{{sort|0380000|800 AU}}||{{sort|030000|100 km}}||{{sort|042000|430,000 km}}||This section has been split in three, see the entire region above. This is objects in the outer planet range. Here are also the two dots representing Uranus and Neptune, the planets not visible to the naked eye. The reason the upper cut of it at (almost) the same level through all this region it that if the "planets" got any bigger, then they would turn into brown dwarfs that could be seen during the day, or if they got even bigger they could even turn into a small star (or big star see below), and thus would be visible by day.<br />
|-<br />
|Region with both ''planets above house'' and ''visible at night''||{{sort|0180|60 m}}||{{sort|033000|43 AU}}||{{sort|02500|3.5 m}}||{{sort|038000|300,000 km}}||The max and min. values are not very representative as the region follows a shifted diagonal. Close items can be seen with the naked eye at night even if they are small, and large object might not be visible if they are far enough away. Hence this section has been split in two sections as there are two labels, see below. At the top left of the region there are five dots representing the five planets visible to the naked eye. Also the moon is shown with a gray dot (i.e. not a planet), this is more in the middle of the region, and finally the Earth is on the border to the region to the left, with planets that Randall would be inside if they did exist.<br />
|-<br />
|Planets ruled out because I would have noticed them above my house||{{sort|02100|1 km}}||{{sort|02000|10<sup>5</sup> km}}||{{sort|02900|100 m}}||{{sort|02200|10 km}}||This is only the approximate region around where the words of this part of the region are written in this large region. Just to show how much smaller the limits are in the small scale of the region. However, this entire region is about things that are visible at night, including the five planets and the moon. Those can be seen as labels for the dots, not another label for the region. Also Saturn is above Randall’s house when he sees it! Of course this also goes for any another bright object down to only 1&nbsp;km above his house. But anyway planet or not he would be able to rule it out as a new planet, as if there were any that close and this big they would have been spotted long ago.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Classical_planet#Naked-eye_planets|Planets we can see at night}}||{{sort|0320000|10<sup>8</sup> km}}||{{sort|031000|10 AU}}||{{sort|035000|10,000 km}}||{{sort|040000|300,000 km}}||This is only the edges of the region of the five dots representing the five planets visible to the naked eye. They do belong to the region of planets Randall can spot from above his house, and as such this section may just be a label for the five planet dots, and not for any special part of the entire region. But the limits here are interesting to compare with the entire region or with that of the part with smaller dimensions as shown above. The reason the upper limit cut of at the same level through all this region it that if the "planets" got any bigger, then they would turn into brown dwarfs that could be seen during the day, or if they got bigger they could even turn into a small star (or big star see below), and thus would be visible by day.<br />
|-<br />
| style="background-color:pink;"| Dwarf planets||{{sort|03900000|13 AU}}||{{sort|04300000|5.7 ly}}||{{sort|031000|170 km}}||{{sort|02700|16,000 km}}||Dwarf planets can in principle be anywhere in the solar system. But this region is shaded pink as it only covers undiscovered dwarf planets (similar to undiscovered planets) and thus they should be at least a given distance away, before it is realistic they would not already have been discovered. Also they need to be a certain size to be able to round themselves under their own gravity. And if they are too big, it is not realistic that they are only dwarf planets. The region reaches out to the next star as the edge of the graph is almost at 6 light-years (ly)<br />
|-<br />
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"| '''{{w|Planets beyond Neptune|Possible undiscovered planets}}'''||{{sort|042000000|100 AU}}||{{sort|04400000|5.7 ly}}||{{sort|032000|3,600 km}}||{{sort|039000|300,000 km}}||This is the region the whole comic is about. The label is not written in this light red shaded region, as there should be space to write a label for '''Planet Nine?'''. Instead the explanation is given with a label at a small rectangle at the top left with the same color. It is in this region there could still be undiscovered planets. They have to have a certain size to be a planet if they are this far away, and also have to be this far away before it is realistic they would not already have been discovered. If they were any bigger, it would be like with the other planet regions to the left, that they would turn into a brown dwarf, (or at least Saturn sized planet) and although maybe not visible with telescopes just above this size, they would have been spotted by the WISE survey (see below). The region reaches out to the next star as the edge of the graph is almost at 6 light-years (ly)<br />
|-<br />
|Planets ruled out by the {{w|Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer|WISE survey}}||{{sort|043000000|450 AU}}||{{sort|04500000|5.7 ly}}||{{sort|043000|70,000 km}}||{{sort|0430000|10<sup>6</sup> km}}||This region refers to the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), a {{w|space telescope}} designed to look for warm objects such as {{w|brown dwarf}}s, which generate heat at their centers. It was capable of detecting Saturn-sized or larger planets in the outer reaches of our solar system, but did not find any. WISE would not have detected "Planet Nine" (even if it exists) because it is too small and thus too cold to be detected. If the objects got any bigger than the upper limit they would turn into small stars, which would be visible during the night probably even with the naked eye. This region is the last section below the ''could see them during the day'' region. The WISE region reaches out to the next star as the edge of the graph is almost at 6 light-years (ly)<br />
|-<br />
|Planets ruled out because we would {{w|Star|see them during the day}}||{{sort|0290000|360,000 km}}||{{sort|04200000|5.7 ly}}||{{sort|0450000|360,000 km}}||{{sort|0450000|10<sup>9</sup> km}}||This region covers object that are either brown dwarfs close enough to us that we could see them (even by day) or if even bigger real stars, that would be closer to us than almost any other star system. The upper limit is at the top of the chart which almost reaches 10 AU. The {{w|Sun}} fits into this region (at 1 AU per definition and at 1.4x10<sup>6</sup> km), but is not depicted. It still fits in even when it turns into a {{w|red giant}}, after its main sequence when it has {{w|Sun#After_core_hydrogen_exhaustion|exhausted its hydrogen}}, then it will swell up to a diameter of 2 AU and not only swallow the two inner most planets but also likely reach out to Earth. But there are also stars swelling up to more than 10 AU ({{w|UY Scuti}} is {{w|List of largest stars|the largest}} known star, it has a diameter of almost 16 AU). The max. distance actually reaches the nearest star system of {{w|Alpha Centauri}}. And the biggest of those stars would be inside this last region, as it is 1.2 times bigger than the sun, and thus have a diameter of approximately 1.7 10<sup>6</sup> km, and they are "only" about 4,37 {{w|light-years}} (ly) away and the graph goes to 5.7 ly. But these stars are definitely not visible during the day. If the graph had stopped at 10,000 AU, at the last tick, this may have been true, but now it is an error, as stars in this entire region will not be visible during day time. But they would at night, if not by eye then by telescope. So no planets in this region, and also no undiscovered objects of that size!<br />
|-<br />
|Gray Dot: ({{w|Moon}})||{{sort|0310000|1.3x10<sup>6</sup> km}}||{{sort|02400|3x10<sup>6</sup> km}}||{{sort|033000|5,000 km}}||{{sort|02600|12,000 km}}||This dot represents the Moon. It is gray and moon is written in brackets to indicate that it is not a planet. Randall seems to have misplaced the dot completely. The Moon has a diameter of 3,400&nbsp;km and the min limit is 5,000&nbsp;km. It is even worse with the distance which is a factor 10 too large, at least at the max. The moon is on average 380,000&nbsp;km from earth, and at the max distance is 406,700&nbsp;km, to which Randall can add 6000&nbsp;km when on the other side of the Earth to get him about 413,000&nbsp;km from the Moon (but then he cannot see it). However, the minimum distance given is more than one million km, and thus more than a factor two of, and the max distance is almost a factor 10 off. The max and min given here is at the limit of the circle the dot makes.<br />
|-<br />
|Dot 1: {{w|Earth}}||{{sort|027000|12,000 km}}||{{sort|0190|32,000 km}}||{{sort|034000|12,000 km}}||{{sort|02900|23,000 km}}||This dot represents Earth. The Earth has a diameter of 12,700&nbsp;km and Randall is on top of it, thus distance is zero. Thus the dot makes no sense. The max and min given here is at the limit of the circle the dot makes.<br />
|-<br />
|Dot 2: {{w|Venus}}||{{sort|03300000|0.8 AU}}||{{sort|025000|1.2 AU}}||{{sort|038000|15,000 km}}||{{sort|03200|30,000 km}}||This dot either represents Mercury or Venus, as they are the one closest to 1 AU from Earth. Mercury comes closest to this limit as it never gets far from the sun and thus also never strays far from being 1 AU from the Earth. The range of distances from Earth is from 0.5 to 1.5 AU, with Venus coming close to this with a range from 0.25 to 1.7 AU. The max and min given here is at the limit of the circle the dot makes. And for the distance this is within the limits for both Venus and Mercury's orbit. However, the diameter of Mercury is only 5,000&nbsp;km and this does not fit well, so from that principle it fits better with Venus. But Venus can be much longer from the Earth when on the other side of the sun, and with a diameter of 12,000&nbsp;km it doesn't even fit well with Venus. However, since Mars, the third planet is much closer in diameter to Mercury than Venus with 6,700&nbsp;km, and two of the dots are of equal and smaller size, it makes most sense that this planet is Venus.<br />
|-<br />
|Dot 3: {{w|Mercury (planet)|Mercury}}||{{sort|03400000|1.2 AU}}||{{sort|026000|2.3 AU}}||{{sort|037000|12,000 km}}||{{sort|03100|25,000 km}}||This dot either represents Mercury or Venus, as they are the one closest to Earth. Venus can get closer to the Earth when they are on the same side of the sun. The range of distances from Earth is from 0.25 to 1.7 AU. The max and min given here is at the limit of the circle the dot makes. The distance for this dot fits equally bad with both planets. The diameter is smaller than before, but it is still way too big for Mercury’s 5,000&nbsp;km and it is not too small but just at the limit of the 12,000&nbsp;km of Venus. This does thus fit better with Venus on both parameters. But Mercury is similar in size to Mars, the third dot, and the second and third dot are at the same diameter, which makes it more likely that the larger diameter for dot 2, should belong to Venus, making this dot Mercury.<br />
|-<br />
|Dot 4: {{w|Mars}}||{{sort|03500000|2.5 AU}}||{{sort|027000|4.7 AU}}||{{sort|036000|12,000 km}}||{{sort|03000|23,000 km}}||This dot represents Mars. Mars has a diameter of 6,700&nbsp;km and, so here it is set to at least double its diameter. The max and min given here is at the limit of the circle the dot makes. The range of distances from Earth is from 0.4 to 2.7 AU. The min distance at least is lower than 2.7 AU thus making this the dot that fits best with Mars. Because putting Mercury at a dot well past 2 AU would simply not make any sense, even though Mars can actually get closer to Earth than Mercury.<br />
|-<br />
|Dot 5: {{w|Jupiter}}||{{sort|03600000|2.6 AU}}||{{sort|029000|6.7 AU}}||{{sort|0440000|100,000 km}}||{{sort|037000|240,000 km}}||This dot represents Jupiter. Jupiter has a diameter of 140,000&nbsp;km so it falls within the range. The distances from the sun is about 5 AU and thus from the Earth it ranges from about 4 to 6 AU. This dot thus fit nicely on both parameters with the largest planet. The max and min given here is at the limit of the circle the dot makes.<br />
|-<br />
|Dot 6: {{w|Saturn}}||{{sort|03700000|6.7 AU}}||{{sort|032000|13 AU}}||{{sort|042000|53,000 km}}||{{sort|036000|126,000 km}}||This dot represents Saturn. Saturn has a diameter of 120,000&nbsp;km so it falls within the range. The distances from the sun is about 9-10 AU and thus from the Earth it ranges from about 8 to 11 AU. This dot thus fit nicely on both parameters with the 2nd largest planet. The max and min given here is at the limit of the circle the dot makes.<br />
|-<br />
|Dot 7: {{w|Uranus}}||{{sort|04000000|21 AU}}||{{sort|034000|43 AU}}||{{sort|041000|38,000 km}}||{{sort|035000|83,000 km}}||This dot represents Uranus. Uranus has a diameter of 50,000&nbsp;km so it falls within the range. The distances from the sun is about 18-20 AU and thus from the Earth it ranges from about 17 to 21 AU. This dot thus just reaches down to this distance, but it is within the limits on both parameters. The max and min given here is at the limit of the circle the dot makes.<br />
|-<br />
|Dot 8: {{w|Neptune}}||{{sort|04100000|45 AU}}||{{sort|0360000|100 AU}}||{{sort|040000|37,000 km}}||{{sort|03400|83,000 km}}||This dot represents Neptune. Neptune has a diameter of 49,000&nbsp;km so it falls within the range. The distances from the sun is about 30 AU and thus from the Earth it ranges from about 29 to 31 AU. This dot is thus too far out on this parameter. The max and min given here is at the limit of the circle the dot makes.<br />
|-<br />
|Dot 9: '''{{w|Planet Nine}}?'''||{{sort|044000000|700 AU}}||{{sort|0390000|1550 AU}}||{{sort|039000|21,000 km}}||{{sort|03300|50,000 km}}||This is the dot representing the possible undiscovered planet that is the reason for this entire comic. As it is only speculations made on well documented features of dwarf planets' orbits, nothing much is known. But the guess is that it has a diameter between 26,000 and 52,000&nbsp;km (fine with the dots min and max) and although it could get into 200 AU this may take thousands of years, and it is expected that it will be further out than 700 AU most of the time going all the way out to 1200 AU, so this dot fits perfectly with the newest estimates.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Superman}} (title text)||{{sort|0150|1 m}}||{{sort|0140|10 km}}||{{sort|0210|50 cm}}||{{sort|0150|2 m}}||The limits are set as Arms length away (shaking hands with Randall), and he cannot be seen much more than 10&nbsp;km away (like for big birds). He is about 2 m high and 0.5 m over the shoulder. This does not fit very well with the title text, as he is not even near the plane limit, but still at a distance it can be hard to tell if the flying object is a plane far away (on Earth scale) or a man closer or a small bird really close.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Caption above the chart.]<br />
:<big>'''Possible Undiscovered Planets'''</big><br />
:in our Solar System<br />
:By <big>'''size'''</big> and <big>'''distance'''</big> (from me)<br />
<br />
:[A chart of possible undiscovered planets with a log-log plot, with the objects diameter on the y-axis and the distance from “me” (Randall) on the X-axis. Both axes are labeled and have several ticks most of which also have labels. A region to the right, with possible new planets including Planet 9 with a “?”, is shaded light red, and a small rectangle at the top left with the same color tells what this color means. The region, of undiscovered dwarf planets, is shaded pink, also to indicate that here may be more of these, but the lighter color indicate that these will not be new “planets”. The eight known planets are marked with a black dot, and also this is explained with a dot under the colored rectangle. The Moon is indicated with a similar dot, but in gray, and the name is in brackets. The chart itself is divided into several labeled regions, the smallest with the label outside and an arrow pointing in. In one case a label breaks a border, and in two regions there are more labels, although these clearly belong to different regions within these regions, with different sizes and/or distances.]<br />
<br />
:[Y-axis, with a label written to the left, from bottom and up, with an arrow pointing up, and 15 ticks with a label each:]<br />
:Diameter<br />
:1 mm<br />
:1 cm<br />
:10 cm<br />
:1 m<br />
:10 m<br />
:100 m<br />
:1 km<br />
:10 km<br />
:100 km<br />
:1,000 km<br />
:10,000 km<br />
:100,000 km<br />
:10<sup>6</sup> km<br />
:10<sup>7</sup> km<br />
:1 AU<br />
<br />
:[X-axis, with a label written below, with an arrow pointing right, and 17 ticks but only 11 labels as the ticks at 100 km, between 1000 and 10<sup>6</sup> km, 10<sup>7</sup> km as well as 10 and 1000 AU is not labeled:]<br />
:Distance from me<br />
:10 cm<br />
:1 m<br />
:10 m<br />
:100 m<br />
:1 km<br />
:10 km<br />
:1000 km<br />
:10<sup>6</sup> km<br />
:1 AU<br />
:100 AU<br />
:10,000 AU<br />
<br />
:[At the top left of the chart is the light-red rectangle and the black dot labeled:]<br />
:Possible undiscovered planets<br />
:Known planets<br />
<br />
:[Going down and anti-clockwise from these two labels, the rest of the chart is transcribed:]<br />
:Planets ruled out because I would be inside them<br />
::Earth<br />
:Planets ruled out because I would have noticed them above my house<br />
:Planets ruled out because they wouldn’t fit through my door<br />
:Birds that got into my house<br />
:Skin flora<br />
:<big>Bugs</big><br />
::(Not planets)<br />
:Giant bugs<br />
:Planets which are actually birds<br />
:Airplanes<br />
:<small>(Fool’s planets’)</small><br />
:<big>Space junk</big><br />
:<big>Comets and asteroids</big><br />
:<big>Oort cloud</big><br />
:<big>Satellites</big><br />
:Stuff we can see through telescopes<br />
:Planets we can see at night<br />
::(Moon)<br />
:Dwarf planets<br />
:Planet Nine?<br />
::?<br />
:Planets ruled out by the WISE survey<br />
:Planets ruled out because we would see them during the day<br />
<br />
==Trivia==<br />
===Image used to create data for the table===<br />
*This image was used for obtaining the data in [[#Table of items in the chart|the table above]].<br />
*The image was created in a power-point slide show and moving lines along and reading out the position gave the values, with the help of Excel.<br />
**The lines going all through the image goes through existing ticks on the axes<br />
**Lines not going all the way out to the axes are not over existing ticks<br />
**Values for the lines have been added both for those without ticks but also for ticks without values in the comic.<br />
**Lines have been color coded, so red for metric, green for AU and purple for units that is not used in the comic.<br />
*Superman has been drawn in as best as possible in blue (should probably have gone out to 10&nbsp;km as for big birds, and closer by for a hug).<br />
*An updated version with many more details have been added since the first version. <br />
**See more details [[#Info on new version|below]] the image.<br />
[[File:Modified_possible_undiscovered_planets.png]]<br />
====Info on new version====<br />
*New features in the image include more precisely marked dots of the planets and other objects.<br />
*The dots used for planets or objects are always larger than the diameter range, and centered on the average diameter and average distance. <br />
**All the diameters used here have been taken from the relevant Wikipedia page.<br />
**The same orange color has been used for all planets and the Moon, except when two planets are too close on the log-log plot to be clearly distinct if the same color, then one is brown for only this reason. <br />
***To avoid snide remarks Uranus is not one of those marked with brown…<br />
**Dwarf planets and the like are pink<br />
**The comet is also in brown as it is too close to other pink dots<br />
**Images have been used for the suns two states and a yellow dot for the only other star.<br />
*Distance:<br />
*Earth can have three different distances from Randall which have all been marked:<br />
**No distance because he is standing on top of it<br />
**The radius (or the center of mass), since this is the average distance Randall is from the Earth<br />
**Or the diameter (which is used in the comic) as the farthest distance from Randall is the opposite side of the Earth.<br />
**Data:<br />
***For the seven planets (and Pluto) the distance range and average distance from Earth has been taken from [http://distancefrom.facts.co/earthtomercury/distancebetweenearthandmercury.php this page] <br />
****Which needs to be opened as a new page to not return to this page. <br />
***For other objects the range has been taken from the relevant Wikipedia page<br />
**The Moon’s distance range is small enough to be within the dot.<br />
**For the four outer planets the dots will as a minimum cover the range from lowest to highest distance from Earth <br />
**For the three terrestrial planets the distance varies so much that a bar has been added through the dot placed at the average distance, to indicate the range of distances. <br />
*The original dot for planet nine covers the range of diameters (at the top just, and then further down at the bottom.)<br />
**The distance is centered on 1000 AU and it is expected to be between 700 and 1200 AU away, which is covered by the dot.<br />
**But it could be as close as 200 AU. But if it where we should have detected it by now.<br />
*There are several planets/objects that are very far from the mark.<br />
**The moon is far off on both parameters.<br />
**All three terrestrial planets are way off.<br />
***Except of course if the 2nd planet is Venus, then the deviation for that one would not be too bad.<br />
***But it would not make sense to make Mercury bigger than Venus and it thus just seems that all three are far off the mark<br />
**Jupiter is spot on, Saturn not far away and Uranus close enough. <br />
***But Neptune is so close to Uranus on both parameters on the log-log plot, that this probably explains why it has been placed quite of the mark distance wise.<br />
*Extra additions:<br />
**Pluto has been included and it is not within the pink Dwarf planet region. <br />
***This makes sense as it has been discovered, and any object this large and that close would have been discovered by now. <br />
***Thus again indicating that this region is the region of Possible Undiscovered '''Dwarf''' Planets.<br />
**Ceres and Vesta have been included and they are not within the asteroids region<br />
***As they can be seen in telescopes and are the two largest objects in the belt this makes sense.<br />
***Their distance range is indicated with bars and ranges this wide since their distance from Earth depend drastically on which side of the sun they are.<br />
**Halley's Comet has been added and here a large bar is needed to indicate the distance. <br />
***The distance from the sun has been used, as it can get very close to the Earth when passing it on the way in.<br />
**The International Space Station has been included<br />
***The distance range is given as the height above Earths surface which the line just covers (i.e. not distance from Randall when it is on the other side of the Earth.)<br />
***The diameter is ranging from the height of 20 m to the width of 108 m (length 73 m).<br />
**The Sun has been inserted<br />
***Also when it becomes a red giant<br />
***This is a case where an actual real object would put Randall inside them. As can be seen the Sun as a red giant would be in the ''Planets ruled out because I would be inside them'', as it in the end will reach a diameter of about 2 AU, it will thus reach out to Earth (as the radius is 1AU).<br />
***Again the way this zone is depicted using diameter rather than radius makes no sense, since the 2 AU diameter sun would only just reach out to Earth, and not out to Mars. It would make more sense to locate the red star on the boarder of this zone, which would have been the case if Randall had used radius rather than diameter.<br />
**The nearest star, Alpha Centauri A, has also been included.<br />
***Thus only the largest of the three stars in that star system is shown. <br />
**The other two stars are smaller than the sun, and the same distance away when compared to the total distance.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Charts]]<br />
[[Category:Astronomy]]<br />
[[Category:Science]]<br />
[[Category:Space]]<br />
[[Category:Telescopes]]<br />
[[Category:Animals]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2655:_Asking_Scientists_Questions&diff=2921202655: Asking Scientists Questions2022-08-06T02:44:27Z<p>Peregrine: A lot of substances get tasted by accident.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2655<br />
| date = August 5, 2022<br />
| title = Asking Scientists Questions<br />
| image = asking_scientists_questions.png<br />
| titletext = 'Does the substance feel weird to the touch?' is equally likely to get the answers 'Don't be ridiculous, you would never put your hand near a sample. We have safety protocols.' and 'Yeah, and it tastes AWFUL.'<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT WHO REALLY WANTS TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR ONCE - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
Answering the questions in Randall Munroe's What-If books (and the blag before it) requires a wide variety of scientific expertise, much of which he is unfamiliar with. To make up for this deficiency, Munroe (here represented by Cueball) has to ask other scientists for help.<br />
<br />
People have certain expectations about scientists, as they would any group of people. In the case of scientists, they are often expected to be overly-serious, "measuring the marigolds" rather than enjoying the simpler or more subjective things in life. This is reflected in the first panel, where the scientist is annoyed by Cueball's "frivolous scenario" and wants to work on formulas instead.<br />
<br />
In reality, scientists are people{{citation needed}}. In the second panel, the scientist is relieved that they have "something fun to think about" as part of their work, instead of just filling out grant applications. Grants are donations of money from private or government organizations specifically aimed to fund scientific experiments and projects; in many fields, they are the most common source of funding, and the vast majority of scientists not directly employed by private industry rely on grants to support their work. These organizations require applicants to provide detailed information on the goal of the project, the methodology, the expected results, the specific uses to which the money will be put, and more. Applying for a grant is thus a lengthy, painstaking process that more often than not results in disappointment, since most grants only accept a small percentage of all applicants. It also has little to do directly with the actual science the scientists want to perform. Thus most scientists find it a necessary but time-consuming and unpleasant part of their job, and the ones Munroe interviewed express relief at having a break from this part of their work. They then ask if Munroe would like to fill out grant applications, trying to bribe him with coauthor credit, powerful magnets, and plutonium. Plutonium is used in making atomic bombs and is thus a highly controlled substance, as well as being {{w|Plutonium#Toxicity|highly toxic}} due to both its radioactivity as well as its heavy metal poison effects.<br />
<br />
The title text notes that not all responses were complaints about grant applications, noting two kinds of answers to the question "Does the substance feel weird to the touch?" which Munroe claims are equally common. The first is the sort of response you would expect from a stereotypical scientist—just noting the sorts of safety procedures that are common with such a substance and how they would impede attempts to determine how weird a substance feels. The second is "Yeah, and it tastes AWFUL," implying that the scientist in question has not only touched the weird substance, but also tasted it—carelessly, touching their mouth after handling it, or deliberately, licking it or even putting it completely in their mouth. They also casually volunteered the information about tasting it without being further prompted.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
:[Caption above the panels, in lighter gray:]<br />
:For the last few years, I've been working on answering peoples' ridiculous questions for ''What If? 2'', which sometimes meant asking scientists for help.<br />
<br />
:[Left panel top caption:]<br />
:How you'd expect scientists to respond to ridiculous questions:<br />
:[Cueball stands holding pad and pencil in front of a desk. Hairbun is seated behind the desk, pointing at Cueball.]<br />
:Hairbun: Why would you present me with this frivolous scenario?<br />
:Hairbun: Such an absurd query can serve no practical purpose.<br />
:Hairbun: Now go; you distract me from my formulas.<br />
<br />
:[Right panel top caption:]<br />
:How they actually respond:<br />
:[Cueball stands holding pad and pencil in front of a desk. Hairbun is seated behind the desk while holding a stack of papers.]<br />
:Hairbun: Oh thank God, something fun to think about that's not grant applications.<br />
:Hairbun: Hey, do '''you''' want to fill out some grant applications? I'll give you literally anything. Coauthor credit. Powerful magnets. Do you want plutonium? I can get you plutonium.<br />
:Hairbun: What was your name again?<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the panel, in lighter gray:]<br />
:To see the answers I found, preorder at xkcd.com/whatif2 (out 9/13)<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairbun]]<br />
[[Category:Book promotion]]<br />
[[Category:Science]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Randall Munroe]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2599:_Spacecraft_Debris_Odds_Ratio&diff=2292262599: Spacecraft Debris Odds Ratio2022-03-29T12:16:07Z<p>Peregrine: Tried explaining the title text.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2599<br />
| date = March 28, 2022<br />
| title = Spacecraft Debris Odds Ratio<br />
| image = spacecraft_debris_odds_ratio.png<br />
| titletext = You say this daily walk will reduce my risk of death from cardiovascular disease by 30%, but also increase my risk of death by bear attack by 300%? That's a 280% increased! I'm not a sucker; I'm staying inside.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by an EVENS RATIO - Explain how the 280% from the title text comes about. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
This comic is a misunderstanding of statistics very similar to that of [[1252: Increased Risk]]. It explains that going outside for more than 5 hours significantly increases your risk of head injury from falling spacecraft, and advises to limit outside activity to avoid this risk. <br />
<br />
However, since the odds of being hit in the head by (any part of) a falling spacecraft are astronomically low to begin with, quadrupling it or more still results in a negligible probability. The horizontal error bars for times greater than 4 hours are marked with asterisks to indicate they are significantly different from the reference value at 0 hours, as indeed those error bars don't overlap the vertical line for the 0-hours reference value. It is very difficult to avoid being outside for more than four hours in a total lifetime.<br />
<br />
{{w|Error bar}}s are graphical representations of the variability of data and used on graphs to indicate the error or uncertainty in a reported measurement.<br />
<br />
Presenting the data by hour brackets hide the data distribution inside each bracket. If the data were presented hour by hour, and not by groups of hours, they may show a different threshold of increased risk or no threshold (odds ratio could be linear).<br />
<br />
The graph and error bars are based on a {{w|Monte Carlo Method|Monte Carlo simulation}}, a type of computational algorithm that uses repeated random sampling to obtain the likelihood of a range of results of occurring, see for instance this article about [https://www.ibm.com/cloud/learn/monte-carlo-simulation Monte Carlo simulations].<br />
<br />
The specific reference to falling spacecraft is likely inspired by events happening around the time of this comics release (March 2022). Around a month before this was posted, the head of the Russian space agency, {{w|Roscosmos}}, warned that sanctions against Russia (mostly those over the {{w|2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine}}) could result in the {{w|International Space Station}} crashing. Since the Russian section of the space station is the one that provides propulsion (although it is built to rely on the power generated by the other sections), this was taken seriously and as of when this was posted, {{w|NASA}} was trying to come up with alternative stabilization strategies in case the situation worsened. There was also a recent [https://www-uol-com-br.translate.goog/tilt/noticias/redacao/2022/03/17/parte-do-foguete-spacex-e-encontrada-por-morador-do-pr.htm?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=pt-BR&_x_tr_pto=wapp report] of some 600 kg space rocket debris found in Brazil. <br />
<br />
The title text makes a similar joke. While the increase in chances of death by a bear attack are greater when going outside than the decrease in chances of death by cardiovascular disease, by getting out to exercise, it is incorrect to combine them in this way, since cardiovascular disease has a much higher starting chance of death, and reducing it by 30% has a much more significant effect on overall life expectancy than quadrupling the very very small chance of death by bear attack.<br />
<br />
The "280% increase" of the title text is also an error, though perhaps not for reasons that are obvious at first (for instance, the correct calculation is not "300% − 30% = 270%"). To "increase by 300%" means multiplying the probability by (1 + 3.0) = 4.0, while to "decrease by 30%" means multiplying by (1 − 0.3) = 0.7. Combining these means multiplying by both, for an overall change of 4.0 × 0.7 = 2.8, or 280%. However, this result means the risk has increased ''to'' 280% of its old value, not ''by'' 280%. And in any case, it is ''still'' not valid to simply combine two changes in wildly different risks like this.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[A chart is shown. Above the chart there is a heading, with a subheading below it:]<br />
:Odds ratio for head injuries from falling spacecraft debris<br />
:<small>(Monte Carlo Simulation)</small><br />
<br />
:[The chart is rectangular with the X-axis labels above the chart with numbers from 1 to 5. These are places over vertical lines. The first at 1 is black, the other four are light gray. There are three smaller light gray ticks between each set of lines, and one on either side of the first and last. The distance between lines gets smaller and smaller towards the right, probably logarithmic.]<br />
:X-axis: 1 2 3 4 5<br />
<br />
:[The Y-axis, is not scaled, there are no ticks or lines. Instead it just gives five labels from top to bottom. Above those labels there is an arrow pointing to the top one with a label above explaning the axis.]<br />
:Hours spent outdoors<br />
:Y-axis: <br />
::0 (ref)<br />
::1<br />
::2-4<br />
::5-10<br />
::11+<br />
<br />
:[Aligned with each of these five divisions of the Y-axis there is a dot. The top one is placed on the solid line under 1 as a reference point. The other four dots all have long error bars, with the dots at the center of these. The second dot is a bit tot he left of the solid line, with the error bar going almost to the left edge of the graph and halfway to the first light gray line to the right. The third dot is located halfway between the solid and the first light gray line with the error bar just crossing the solid line, and almost reaching the gray line. The fourth dot is about a third way between the first and second of the gray lines, with the error bar crossing both these lines. The fifth and last dot is just past the second gray line, with the error bar crossing both that, going more than half toward the first gray line, and also just past the third gray line. On the same height as the two bottom dots, there are asterisks just right of the edge of the graph.]<br />
:<nowiki>*</nowiki><br />
:<nowiki>*</nowiki><br />
<br />
:[Below the panel there is a caption:]<br />
:Our new study suggests that spending more than 5 hours outside significantly increases your risk of head injury from spacecraft debris, so try to limit outdoor activities to 4 hours or less.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Charts]]<br />
[[Category:Statistics]]<br />
[[Category:Space]]<br />
[[Category:Animals]] <!-- bears title text--></div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:2599:_Spacecraft_Debris_Odds_Ratio&diff=229222Talk:2599: Spacecraft Debris Odds Ratio2022-03-29T10:50:31Z<p>Peregrine: /* Odds ratio confusion? */ Wot I fink it meens.</p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
correct me if i'm wrong, but i believe 300 - 30 is 270, not 280? [[Special:Contributions/172.68.50.85|172.68.50.85]] 22:50, 28 March 2022 (UTC)<br />
:something something percentage points maybe? idk [[Special:Contributions/172.70.134.91|172.70.134.91]] 22:56, 28 March 2022 (UTC)Bumpf<br />
:Most likely there is an unstated chance of death by not going outside... presumably ~10% but there's no way to know the breakdown (could be nearly all cardio, could be nearly all ursine if they live in a cave next bears) [[Special:Contributions/172.69.70.127|172.69.70.127]] 23:02, 28 March 2022 (UTC)<br />
::300% increase is multiplying by (1+3), 30% decrease is multiplying by (1-0.3) , %increases are multiplicative so the increase is by a factor of 4*0.7=2.8, which is 280% of the original value (or a 180% increase). {{unsigned ip|162.158.146.69}}<br />
:::Yeah, barring a total mistake, that must be where the number came from, but it seems odd by the inconsistent way it is expressed, as it assumes the 300% increase for the bear attack is added to the initial value for a final amount of 400%, along with a similar treatment for the 30% decrease, but the 280% is simply the final value skipping past that step to the conclusion afterwards that is not even shown for the previous numbers. But with the improper grammar, if it's not an actual typo, it may be trying to show the speaker acting dumb or irrational, as it doesn't make sense to end with "increased" instead of "increase" without changing part of the words before that number. Someone thinking that poorly though likely wouldn't be able to multiply things properly to produce that 280% number though.--[[Special:Contributions/172.70.130.153|172.70.130.153]] 01:13, 29 March 2022 (UTC)<br />
::::Someone who do understand this method of getting to 280% should add that to the explanation. I'm not quite sure what is meant here above, so an even better explanation would be preferable. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 08:28, 29 March 2022 (UTC)<br />
:::<u>Joke proof</u>: ''Assume'' that every year 400 people are killed by bears in the world, of which 100 are killed inside and 300 are killed outside. Then, indeed, by going outside, the probability that you will be killed by bears increases from 100 to 300: that is 300%. On the other hand, we know that walking outside every day will reduce your risk of death from cardiovascular disease by 30%. Therefore, by walking outside properly, 30% of the above-mentioned 400 people, i.e. 120 people, could in theory avoid death from the said disease, ''if'' not attacked by bears. This implies that, even if everyone in the world walked outside every day, only 120 out of the 400 bear attack victims would be potentially saved, while 280 would die anyway. Since by hypothesis only 100 are killed inside by bear attacks, going outside will clearly increase the probability of deadly bear attacks, from 100 to 280: that is 280%. —[[User:Yosei|Yosei]] ([[User talk:Yosei|talk]]) 09:52, 29 March 2022 (UTC)<br />
:::As said above, 300% increase and 30% decrease gives a factor ×2.8 <u>which is a +180% increase</u> (not 280%) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.50.176|162.158.50.176]] 10:38, 29 March 2022 (UTC)<br />
<br />
"That's a 280% increased" has a typo/grammaro. The last word should be "increase". [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 23:04, 28 March 2022 (UTC)<br />
:I think the actual typo is the "a" so should be "That's 280% increased" {{unsigned ip|162.158.146.69}}<br />
<br />
Also what's an odds ratio?? ~~Bumpf {{unsigned ip|172.70.38.41}}<br />
:I assume something like "million to one". But the units of the horizontal axis clearly don't correspond to that. I don't know what those units are, they're not a percentage, either. [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 00:40, 29 March 2022 (UTC)<br />
:: if you say "this is 4 times as likely" then "4" is the "odds ratio", this is the type of number appearing on the horizontal axis {{unsigned ip|162.158.146.69}}<br />
:An odds-ratio is a way of reporting the results for predictions of binary outcomes. It's a transformation of the (not easily interpretable) regression coefficient. For example, if the OR for "males" (vs females) is "0.70", they're 70% as likely to have the outcome as females; if it's "1.32", then males are 1.32x as likely (equivalently: 32% more likely) to have that outcome as females. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.249.75|108.162.249.75]] Gye Greene<br />
<br />
Did something happen to the size of the image after the initial posting? [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 00:40, 29 March 2022 (UTC)<br />
<br />
What's with the asterisks on the right side? [[User:Jordan Brown|Jordan Brown]] ([[User talk:Jordan Brown|talk]]) 00:50, 29 March 2022 (UTC)<br />
:I think the asterisks denote that the value at this range is "significant" because its error bars do not overlap with the baseline. If you stay outdoors 5 hours or more in a day, there is a nonzero chance that you will be hit by flying space debris. [[User:Laura|Laura]] ([[User talk:Laura|talk]]) 08:15, 29 March 2022 (UTC)<br />
<br />
There should probably be an explanation of what "Monte Carlo Simulation" means, as many people who would actually want an explanation of this strip would likely be unfamiliar with that term.--[[Special:Contributions/172.70.131.122|172.70.131.122]] 01:02, 29 March 2022 (UTC)<br />
:Yes, exactly! I got as far as finding {{w|Monte Carlo method}} via a redirect but have no idea how the bars are supposed to work, what the reference point is supposed to mean, or why the columns get skinnier toward the right. Not dumb, but next to no statistics education. [[User:Yngvadottir|Yngvadottir]] ([[User talk:Yngvadottir|talk]]) 07:51, 29 March 2022 (UTC)<br />
<br />
::Yes, I added some links to try to make the graph a little more explore-friendly for folks willing to click and read what's beyond, but I don't have the smarts to really explain it. [[User:Laura|Laura]] ([[User talk:Laura|talk]]) 08:00, 29 March 2022 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Why is the x-axis of the chart in logarithmic spacing? Any particular reason for this, or is it part of the joke? [[User:Captain Nemo|Captain Nemo]] ([[User talk:Captain Nemo|talk]]) 09:29, 29 March 2022 (UTC)<br />
<br />
==Odds ratio confusion?==<br />
I am very confused by the X axis of this comic, I feel like I must be misunderstanding how this works, but I thought I understood how odds ratios worked. Maybe not.<br />
The graph "reads" that "In the reference situation, with zero hours spent outside, the odds ratio for head injuries from falling spacecraft debris is 1.0 ± 0." A 1.0 odds ratio means 1.0:1.0, or that either possibility is 50% likely. That is, there's an even chance your head will be injured by spacecraft debris or that it will not, ''if you stay indoors.'' That does not seem like it could be right, so can someone point me to my error? Thanks! [[User:JohnHawkinson|JohnHawkinson]] ([[User talk:JohnHawkinson|talk]]) 09:34, 29 March 2022 (UTC)<br />
:As best I can tell, this is taking odds as a ratio between ''any'' two events. Rather than the usual "success : failure" (or "happens : doesn't happen"), it's "this scenario happens : control scenario happens". By definition, the control scenario is set at 1.0, and something at a ratio of (say) 2.0 is twice as likely to happen. -- [[User:Peregrine|Peregrine]] ([[User talk:Peregrine|talk]]) 10:50, 29 March 2022 (UTC)</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2488:_Board_Game_Argument:_Legacy&diff=2154242488: Board Game Argument: Legacy2021-07-22T15:24:15Z<p>Peregrine: /* Explanation */ Fixed opening double-quotes used for closing.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2488<br />
| date = July 12, 2021<br />
| title = Board Game Argument: Legacy<br />
| image = board_game_argument_legacy.png<br />
| titletext = Listen, you need to get over your reluctance to permanently alter a game. Now roll 2d6 to determine how many ounces of soda to spill into the box.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a BOARD GAME ARGUMENT. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
This comic continues the joke from comic [[2486: Board Game Party Schedule]], released the previous week, about the difficulty some gaming groups have actually ''playing'' any game at all once they get together. In this scenario the group have leveraged the difficulty of choosing a game into a game itself. It seems to be that each player has a certain number of votes, or tokens, that they can use to decide which game to play, with the added element that they permanently dispose of the losing game. This can lead to strategic play where a player might vote for a game, even if they don't want to play it that night, so that they could still play it at some future resolution of the choosing.<br />
<br />
Once the voting is finished, the next phase of the game is to debate which expansion packs they should collectively buy for which game.<br />
<br />
A {{w|legacy game|legacy board game}} is one where players change the game itself in the course of play, such as by writing on certain cards and ripping up others, causing future sessions to be modified. A legacy game thus avoids the tendency of some games to become repetitive if they are played every week, which is a common tradition among friends or families. The meta-game this comic describes fits this definition, because the available pool of games (and expansion packs) changes based on the players' decisions. Randall refers to the “game” of choosing what to play having become repetitive. Although official legacy games are sold by the manufacturers of the original game, some players may create their own legacy versions of a game.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to how many board and card game owners are bothered by legacy games because they destroy game pieces. A legacy game, of course, is ''meant'' to be permanently altered, but [https://www.reddit.com/r/boardgames/comments/5oxhz2/pandemic_legacy_do_you_really_destroy_cards_or/ many players] [https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/2118913/do-you-have-destroy-cards find it hard] to perform destructive actions like cutting or tearing up cards. At an extreme, some owners wish to keep their games in as-new condition, going as far as refusing to shuffle cards in ways that bend them, or not punching tokens out of their cardboard frames. Even some games not classed as "legacy" games may have elements such as blank cards to be filled in by the players. For those who are reluctant to make changes, these items may remain blank forever. An additional layer of humour comes from the fact that it sounds like the speaker is chastising a game owner who does not want to engage with ordinary elements of the game, but instead urges them to pour soda on the game (something that would usually be an unfortunate accident). "2d6" is standard notation for games that involve rolling several different types of dice, where the first number refers to the number of dice to be rolled (in this case 2), and the second number referring to the style of dice (in this case 6-sided). That means that the player could end up pouring between 2 and 12 ounces of soda (inclusive) into their game box, depending on the total value rolled on the two 6-sided dice and assuming the dice roll directly translates to ounces.<br />
<br />
The board game boxes visible in this comic are real board games (from left to right):<br />
<br />
* Mall Madness (Electronic)<br />
* Wingspan<br />
* (to be determined)<br />
* Wits & Wagers<br />
* The Classic Dungeon<br />
* Obsession<br />
* Medium<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
:[White Hat, Megan, Ponytail, and Cueball are sitting around a table that is covered with board game boxes. White Hat is pointing at Ponytail. Both Ponytail and Cueball are holding boxes.]<br />
:Ponytail: You may reallocate up to five tokens to your top choice from last week. Remember, the game with the least support tonight will go to the thrift store.<br />
:Ponytail: Next, we'll resume the debate over ordering expansion packs.<br />
<br />
:[Caption beneath the panel:]<br />
:We got tired of having the same repetitive arguments every week over which game to play, so we developed ''Board Game Argument: Legacy''.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Board games]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2491:_Immune_Factory&diff=2154172491: Immune Factory2021-07-22T15:01:08Z<p>Peregrine: /* Explanation */ Harmonize discussion of variolation methods. Grammar fix (to rebranded → to rebrand).</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2491<br />
| date = July 19, 2021<br />
| title = Immune Factory<br />
| image = immune_factory.png<br />
| titletext = In the final vote, the doubters were won over by the strength of the name IMMUNION.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by an IMMUNION. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
This comic is another entry in a [[:Category:COVID-19|series of comics]] related to the {{w|COVID-19 pandemic|2020-21 pandemic}} of the {{w|SARS-CoV-2}} virus, which causes {{w|COVID-19}}, specifically regarding the [[:Category:COVID-19 vaccine|COVID-19 vaccine]].<br />
<br />
When [[Hairy]] received his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, his body began building a defense in the form of antibodies. He has now received his second shot, and is feeling even more unwell than the first time, since his body has ramped up the production of antibodies, as [[Cueball]] states. Hairy and Cueball then begins to make comments that metaphorically compare Hairy's immune system to a factory, hence the title Immune Factory.<br />
<br />
Vaccines in general work by giving the body's immune system a chance to respond to a pathogen without actually being infected. The immune system responds by producing antibodies, proteins customised to attach to the pathogen, either disabling it directly or marking it for attack by immune cells. After the vaccine (or after an actual illness), the {{w|Immunological memory|immune system remembers}} how to make the antibodies and can more quickly respond to future infections. This is why Hairy describes his body as an "antibody factory".<br />
<br />
However, many common symptoms of illness (such as fever, soreness, diarrhea and nausea) are actually caused by the body's immune response rather than the infection itself. As a result, vaccines can result in similar symptoms to an illness, albeit milder and of shorter duration.<br />
<br />
Hairy extends the "body as factory" metaphor by complaining that, since he feels unwell, the factory must be violating {{w|Occupational Safety and Health Administration|OSHA}} regulations—that is, rules that protect workers from unsafe work conditions. Hairy says his {{w|lymphatic system}} (a major component of the immune system) is protesting the "brutal" work of responding to the vaccine, as human workers might protest a dangerous workplace.<br />
<br />
In real workplaces, one possible response to worker dissatisfaction is for them to {{w|Trade union|unionize}}, forming an organization that can use their solidarity to bargain for improvements to working conditions. Hairy says that this is what his immune cells have done. It is not clear whether this corresponds to any actual part of the immune response, or whether it is simply a humorous expansion on the "factory" metaphor.<br />
<br />
Cueball uses the "union" statement to set up a pun on two meanings of the word "scab". If unions make demands that an employer refuses, their workers may {{w|Strike action|strike}}, or refuse to work. Employers may keep the workplace running by hiring {{w|strikebreaker}}s, non-union workers (or union workers who break ranks with their colleagues). Union members may refer to strikebreakers by the pejorative term "scabs".<br />
<br />
Another meaning of "scab" is the hard coating the body produces to cover a bleeding or seeping wound while it heals. {{w|Smallpox}} is a dangerous illness that causes ulcers upon the skin, leading to many small scabs forming as those ulcers heal. Prior to modern vaccination techniques, people were sometimes deliberately infected with smallpox—typically from a person with a mild case—while they were healthy. This process, now called {{w|variolation}} (after ''Variola'', the virus that causes smallpox), could be done in various ways. Some methods used pus or fluid from smallpox ulcers, but others used scabs from the ulcers, dried and powdered. This powder might be rubbed into a cut in the skin, or {{w|Insufflation (medicine)|insufflated}} (blown up the person's nose).<br />
<br />
The pun therefore is that members of the immune system union would not like ''either'' kind of scab. Hairy {{tvtropes|LamePunReaction|finds the pun appalling, and tells Cueball to leave}}.<br />
<br />
The title-text parodies the trend for recent incarnations of unions to rebrand or form anew with a descriptively apt name (possibly with a forced acronym, or styled as one for branding purposes), rather than the (Extended/[https://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/VETLA Very Extended]/etc) Three Letter Acronyms of times past. In this case making a portmanteau of "immune union" - Immunion. The cleverness of this name apparently convinced some of Hairy's immune cells that were previously opposed to the union to change their minds.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball walks in from the left, hand held up in front of him, to where Hairy is sitting in an armchair facing away. Hairy looks sick, and he is wrapped in a blanket and holding a steaming mug, and his hair is messy.]<br />
:Cueball: I guess the first shot made your body build defenses, and now it's ramping up production.<br />
:Hairy: So I've become an antibody factory.<br />
<br />
:[Cueball has walked around the chair and is now facing Hairy, whose mug steams even more than before.]<br />
:Hairy: I don't feel great. I think my factory has some OSHA violations.<br />
:Hairy: My lymphatic system is protesting brutal working conditions.<br />
<br />
:[In a frame-less panel, Cueball continues to stand in front of Hairy, whose mug is steaming less.]<br />
:Hairy: Update: my immune cells have unionized.<br />
:Cueball: Common side effect. Helps maintain a healthy balance.<br />
<br />
:[Cueball has raised a finger into the air, while Hairy is pointing in Cueball's direction. Hairy's mug is no longer steaming.]<br />
:Cueball: Immune system unions are actually why we stopped doing variolation.<br />
:Hairy: Oh? Why?<br />
:Cueball: They don't like scabs.<br />
:Hairy: '''''Ugh. Leave.'' '''<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:COVID-19]]<br />
[[Category:COVID-19 vaccine]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]<br />
[[Category:Portmanteau]]<br />
[[Category:Puns]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2491:_Immune_Factory&diff=2154152491: Immune Factory2021-07-22T14:52:57Z<p>Peregrine: /* Explanation */ The relationship between "scab" senses "crust over wound" and "disliked person → strikebreaker" is uncertain, and plausibly comes from "scabies" rather than "crust over wound".</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2491<br />
| date = July 19, 2021<br />
| title = Immune Factory<br />
| image = immune_factory.png<br />
| titletext = In the final vote, the doubters were won over by the strength of the name IMMUNION.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by an IMMUNION. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
This comic is another entry in a [[:Category:COVID-19|series of comics]] related to the {{w|COVID-19 pandemic|2020-21 pandemic}} of the {{w|SARS-CoV-2}} virus, which causes {{w|COVID-19}}, specifically regarding the [[:Category:COVID-19 vaccine|COVID-19 vaccine]].<br />
<br />
When [[Hairy]] received his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, his body began building a defense in the form of antibodies. He has now received his second shot, and is feeling even more unwell than the first time, since his body has ramped up the production of antibodies, as [[Cueball]] states. Hairy and Cueball then begins to make comments that metaphorically compare Hairy's immune system to a factory, hence the title Immune Factory.<br />
<br />
Vaccines in general work by giving the body's immune system a chance to respond to a pathogen without actually being infected. The immune system responds by producing antibodies, proteins customised to attach to the pathogen, either disabling it directly or marking it for attack by immune cells. After the vaccine (or after an actual illness), the {{w|Immunological memory|immune system remembers}} how to make the antibodies and can more quickly respond to future infections. This is why Hairy describes his body as an "antibody factory".<br />
<br />
However, many common symptoms of illness (such as fever, soreness, diarrhea and nausea) are actually caused by the body's immune response rather than the infection itself. As a result, vaccines can result in similar symptoms to an illness, albeit milder and of shorter duration.<br />
<br />
Hairy extends the "body as factory" metaphor by complaining that, since he feels unwell, the factory must be violating {{w|Occupational Safety and Health Administration|OSHA}} regulations—that is, rules that protect workers from unsafe work conditions. Hairy says his {{w|lymphatic system}} (a major component of the immune system) is protesting the "brutal" work of responding to the vaccine, as human workers might protest a dangerous workplace.<br />
<br />
In real workplaces, one possible response to worker dissatisfaction is for them to {{w|Trade union|unionize}}, forming an organization that can use their solidarity to bargain for improvements to working conditions. Hairy says that this is what his immune cells have done. It is not clear whether this corresponds to any actual part of the immune response, or whether it is simply a humorous expansion on the "factory" metaphor.<br />
<br />
Cueball uses the "union" statement to set up a pun on two meanings of the word "scab". If unions make demands that an employer refuses, their workers may {{w|Strike action|strike}}, or refuse to work. Employers may keep the workplace running by hiring {{w|strikebreaker}}s, non-union workers (or union workers who break ranks with their colleagues). Union members may refer to strikebreakers by the pejorative term "scabs".<br />
<br />
Another meaning of "scab" is the hard coating the body produces to cover a bleeding or seeping wound while it heals. {{w|Smallpox}} is a dangerous illness that causes ulcers upon the skin, leading to many small scabs forming as those ulcers heal. Prior to modern vaccination techniques, people were sometimes deliberately infected with smallpox—typically from a person with a mild case—while they were healthy. This process, now called {{w|variolation}} (after ''Variola'', the virus that causes smallpox), could be done in various ways.<br />
<br />
One old method was to {{w|Insufflation (medicine)|insufflate}} (blow up their nose) the powdered scabs of a person who had been sick, introducing the material via one or other mucus membrane, but another was to create a deliberately 'messy' surface wound with a skin cutting device 'infected' with the vaccination substance. These days, the modern vaccination process usually involves a deeper injection, intramuscular, with a sharp needle that does not create significant surface scabbing and leave a life-long vaccination scar.<br />
<br />
The pun therefore is that members of the immune system union would not like ''either'' kind of scab. Hairy {{tvtropes|LamePunReaction|finds the pun appalling, and tells Cueball to leave}}.<br />
<br />
The title-text parodies the trend for recent incarnations of unions to rebranded or form anew with a descriptively apt name (possibly with a forced acronym, or styled as one for branding purposes), rather than the (Extended/[https://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/VETLA Very Extended]/etc) Three Letter Acronyms of times past. In this case making a portmanteau of "immune union" - Immunion. The cleverness of this name apparently convinced some of Hairy's immune cells that were previously opposed to the union to change their minds.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball walks in from the left, hand held up in front of him, to where Hairy is sitting in an armchair facing away. Hairy looks sick, and he is wrapped in a blanket and holding a steaming mug, and his hair is messy.]<br />
:Cueball: I guess the first shot made your body build defenses, and now it's ramping up production.<br />
:Hairy: So I've become an antibody factory.<br />
<br />
:[Cueball has walked around the chair and is now facing Hairy, whose mug steams even more than before.]<br />
:Hairy: I don't feel great. I think my factory has some OSHA violations.<br />
:Hairy: My lymphatic system is protesting brutal working conditions.<br />
<br />
:[In a frame-less panel, Cueball continues to stand in front of Hairy, whose mug is steaming less.]<br />
:Hairy: Update: my immune cells have unionized.<br />
:Cueball: Common side effect. Helps maintain a healthy balance.<br />
<br />
:[Cueball has raised a finger into the air, while Hairy is pointing in Cueball's direction. Hairy's mug is no longer steaming.]<br />
:Cueball: Immune system unions are actually why we stopped doing variolation.<br />
:Hairy: Oh? Why?<br />
:Cueball: They don't like scabs.<br />
:Hairy: '''''Ugh. Leave.'' '''<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:COVID-19]]<br />
[[Category:COVID-19 vaccine]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]<br />
[[Category:Portmanteau]]<br />
[[Category:Puns]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2491:_Immune_Factory&diff=2153092491: Immune Factory2021-07-20T06:02:28Z<p>Peregrine: Restored final "pun is" statement.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2491<br />
| date = July 20, 2021<br />
| title = Immune Factory<br />
| image = immune_factory.png<br />
| titletext = In the final vote, the doubters were won over by the strength of the name IMMUNION.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by an IMMUNION. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
[[Hairy]] has received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and is now feeling unwell. He and [[Cueball]] trade puns about the immune response to the vaccine.<br />
<br />
Vaccines in general work by giving the body's immune system a chance to respond to a pathogen without actually being infected. The immune system responds by producing antibodies, proteins customised to attach to the pathogen, either disabling it directly or marking it for attack by immune cells. After the vaccine (or after an actual illness), the {{w|Immunological memory|immune system remembers}} how to make the antibodies and can more quickly respond to future infections.<br />
<br />
However, many common symptoms of illness (such as fever, soreness, diarrhea and nausea) are actually caused by the body's immune response rather than the infection itself. As a result, vaccines can result in similar symptoms to an illness, albeit milder and of shorter duration.<br />
<br />
[[Hairy]] has received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and is now feeling unwell. He and [[Cueball]] make comments that metaphorically compare Hairy's body to a workplace.<br />
<br />
Vaccines in general work by giving the body's immune system a chance to respond to a pathogen without actually being infected. The immune system responds by producing antibodies, proteins customised to attach to the pathogen, either disabling it directly or marking it for attack by immune cells. After the vaccine (or after an actual illness), the {{w|Immunological memory|immune system remembers}} how to make the antibodies and can more quickly respond to future infections. This is why Hairy describes his body as an "antibody factory".<br />
<br />
However, many common symptoms of illness (such as fever, soreness, diarrhea and nausea) are actually caused by the body's immune response rather than the infection itself. As a result, vaccines can result in similar symptoms to an illness, albeit milder and of shorter duration.<br />
<br />
Hairy extends the "body as factory" metaphor by complaining that, since he feels unwell, the factory must be violating {{w|Occupational Safety and Health Administration|OSHA}} regulations—that is, rules that protect workers from unsafe work conditions. Hairy says his {{w|lymphatic system}} (a major component of the immune system) is protesting the "brutal" work of responding to the vaccine, as human workers might protest a dangerous workplace.<br />
<br />
In real workplaces, one possible response to worker dissatisfaction is for them to {{w|Trade union|unionize}}, forming an organization that can use their solidarity to bargain for improvements to working conditions. Hairy says that this is what his immune cells have done. It is not clear whether this corresponds to any actual part of the immune response, or whether it is simply a humorous expansion on the "factory" metaphor.<br />
<br />
Cueball uses the "union" statement to set up a pun on two meanings of the word "scab". If unions make demands that an employer refuses, their workers may {{w|Strike action|strike}}, or refuse to work. Employers may keep the workplace running by hiring {{w|strikebreaker}}s, non-union workers (or union workers who break ranks with their colleagues). Union members may refer to strikebreakers by the pejorative term "scabs".<br />
<br />
Another meaning of "scab" is the hard coating the body produces to cover a wound while it heals. Smallpox is a dangerous illness that causes ulcers on the skin, leading to many small scabs forming as the ulcers heal. Prior to modern vaccination techniques, people were sometimes deliberately infected with smallpox—typically from a person with a mild case—while they were healthy. This process, now called variolation (after ''Variola'', the virus that causes smallpox), could be done in various ways, but one was to {{w|Insufflation (medicine)|insufflate}} (blow up their nose) the powdered scabs of a person who had been sick.<br />
<br />
The pun therefore is that members of the immune system union would not like ''either'' kind of scab.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
:[Cueball walks in from the left, into a room where Hairy is sitting in a chair facing away, sick. Hairy is wrapped in a blanket and holding a steaming mug.]<br />
:Cueball: I guess the first shot made your body build defenses, and now it's ramping up production.<br />
:Hairy: So I've become an antibody factory.<br />
<br />
:[In the next panel, Cueball is now facing Hairy on the right.]<br />
:Hairy: I don't feel great. I think my factory has some OSHA violations.<br />
:Hairy: My lymphatic system is protesting brutal working conditions.<br />
<br />
:[In a frame-less panel, Cueball continues to stand in front of Hairy; Hairy's mug is steaming less.]<br />
:Hairy: Update: my immune cells have unionized.<br />
:Cueball: Common side effect. Helps maintain a healthy balance.<br />
<br />
:[In a panel with a frame, Hairy's mug is no longer steaming; Cueball has his hand raised and Hairy is pointing in Cueball's direction]<br />
:Cueball: Immune system unions are actually why we stopped doing variolation.<br />
:Hairy: Oh? Why?<br />
:Cueball: They don't like scabs.<br />
:Hairy: Ugh. ''Leave.''<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]<br />
[[Category:COVID-19 vaccine]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2491:_Immune_Factory&diff=2153082491: Immune Factory2021-07-20T05:57:35Z<p>Peregrine: Expanded explanation to cover the specific jokes.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2491<br />
| date = July 20, 2021<br />
| title = Immune Factory<br />
| image = immune_factory.png<br />
| titletext = In the final vote, the doubters were won over by the strength of the name IMMUNION.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by an IMMUNION. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
[[Hairy]] has received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and is now feeling unwell. He and [[Cueball]] trade puns about the immune response to the vaccine.<br />
<br />
Vaccines in general work by giving the body's immune system a chance to respond to a pathogen without actually being infected. The immune system responds by producing antibodies, proteins customised to attach to the pathogen, either disabling it directly or marking it for attack by immune cells. After the vaccine (or after an actual illness), the {{w|Immunological memory|immune system remembers}} how to make the antibodies and can more quickly respond to future infections.<br />
<br />
However, many common symptoms of illness (such as fever, soreness, diarrhea and nausea) are actually caused by the body's immune response rather than the infection itself. As a result, vaccines can result in similar symptoms to an illness, albeit milder and of shorter duration.<br />
<br />
[[Hairy]] has received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and is now feeling unwell. He and [[Cueball]] make comments that metaphorically compare Hairy's body to a workplace.<br />
<br />
Vaccines in general work by giving the body's immune system a chance to respond to a pathogen without actually being infected. The immune system responds by producing antibodies, proteins customised to attach to the pathogen, either disabling it directly or marking it for attack by immune cells. After the vaccine (or after an actual illness), the {{w|Immunological memory|immune system remembers}} how to make the antibodies and can more quickly respond to future infections. This is why Hairy describes his body as an "antibody factory".<br />
<br />
However, many common symptoms of illness (such as fever, soreness, diarrhea and nausea) are actually caused by the body's immune response rather than the infection itself. As a result, vaccines can result in similar symptoms to an illness, albeit milder and of shorter duration.<br />
<br />
Hairy extends the "body as factory" metaphor by complaining that, since he feels unwell, the factory must be violating {{w|Occupational Safety and Health Administration|OSHA}} regulations—that is, rules that protect workers from unsafe work conditions. Hairy says his {{w|lymphatic system}} (a major component of the immune system) is protesting the "brutal" work of responding to the vaccine, as human workers might protest a dangerous workplace.<br />
<br />
In real workplaces, one possible response to worker dissatisfaction is for them to {{w|Trade union|unionize}}, forming an organization that can use their solidarity to bargain for improvements to working conditions. Hairy says that this is what his immune cells have done. It is not clear whether this corresponds to any actual part of the immune response, or whether it is simply a humorous expansion on the "factory" metaphor.<br />
<br />
Cueball uses the "union" statement to set up a pun on two meanings of the word "scab". If unions make demands that an employer refuses, their workers may {{w|Strike action|strike}}, or refuse to work. Employers may keep the workplace running by hiring {{w|strikebreaker}}s, non-union workers (or union workers who break ranks with their colleagues). Union members may refer to strikebreakers by the pejorative term "scabs".<br />
<br />
Another meaning of "scab" is the hard coating the body produces to cover a wound while it heals. Smallpox is a dangerous illness that causes ulcers on the skin, leading to many small scabs forming as the ulcers heal. Prior to modern vaccination techniques, people were sometimes deliberately infected with smallpox—typically from a person with a mild case—while they were healthy. This process, now called variolation (after ''Variola'', the virus that causes smallpox), could be done in various ways, but one was to {{w|Insufflation (medicine)|insufflate}} (blow up their nose) the powdered scabs of a person who had been sick.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
:[Cueball walks in from the left, into a room where Hairy is sitting in a chair facing away, sick. Hairy is wrapped in a blanket and holding a steaming mug.]<br />
:Cueball: I guess the first shot made your body build defenses, and now it's ramping up production.<br />
:Hairy: So I've become an antibody factory.<br />
<br />
:[In the next panel, Cueball is now facing Hairy on the right.]<br />
:Hairy: I don't feel great. I think my factory has some OSHA violations.<br />
:Hairy: My lymphatic system is protesting brutal working conditions.<br />
<br />
:[In a frame-less panel, Cueball continues to stand in front of Hairy; Hairy's mug is steaming less.]<br />
:Hairy: Update: my immune cells have unionized.<br />
:Cueball: Common side effect. Helps maintain a healthy balance.<br />
<br />
:[In a panel with a frame, Hairy's mug is no longer steaming; Cueball has his hand raised and Hairy is pointing in Cueball's direction]<br />
:Cueball: Immune system unions are actually why we stopped doing variolation.<br />
:Hairy: Oh? Why?<br />
:Cueball: They don't like scabs.<br />
:Hairy: Ugh. ''Leave.''<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]<br />
[[Category:COVID-19 vaccine]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2491:_Immune_Factory&diff=2153012491: Immune Factory2021-07-20T05:11:57Z<p>Peregrine: Started description.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2491<br />
| date = July 20, 2021<br />
| title = Immune Factory<br />
| image = immune_factory.png<br />
| titletext = In the final vote, the doubters were won over by the strength of the name IMMUNION.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a LYMPHATIC SYSTEM. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
[[Hairy]] has received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and is now feeling unwell. He and [[Cueball]] trade puns about the immune response to the vaccine.<br />
<br />
Vaccines in general work by giving the body's immune system a chance to respond to a pathogen without actually being infected. The immune system responds by producing antibodies, proteins customised to attach to the pathogen, either disabling it directly or marking it for attack by immune cells. After the vaccine (or after an actual illness), the {{w|Immunological memory|immune system remembers}} how to make the antibodies and can more quickly respond to future infections.<br />
<br />
However, many common symptoms of illness (such as fever, soreness, diarrhea and nausea) are actually caused by the body's immune response rather than the infection itself. As a result, vaccines can result in similar symptoms to an illness, albeit milder and of shorter duration.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
:[Cueball walks in from the left, into a room where Hairy is sitting in a chair facing away, sick. Hairy is wrapped in a blanket and holding a steaming mug.]<br />
:Cueball: I guess the first shot made your body build defenses, and now it's ramping up production.<br />
:Hairy: So I've become an antibody factory.<br />
<br />
:[In the next panel, Cueball is now facing Hairy on the right.]<br />
:Hairy: I don't feel great. I think my factory has some OSHA violations.<br />
:Hairy: My lymphatic system is protesting brutal working conditions.<br />
<br />
:[In a frame-less panel, Cueball continues to stand in front of Hairy; Hairy's mug is steaming less.]<br />
:Hairy: Update: my immune cells have unionized.<br />
:Cueball: Common side effect. Helps maintain a healthy balance.<br />
<br />
:[In a panel with a frame, Hairy's mug is no longer steaming; Cueball has his hand raised and Hairy is pointing in Cueball's direction]<br />
:Cueball: Immune system unions are actually why we stopped doing variolation.<br />
:Hairy: Oh? Why?<br />
:Cueball: They don't like scabs.<br />
:Hairy: Ugh. ''Leave.''<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2488:_Board_Game_Argument:_Legacy&diff=2149532488: Board Game Argument: Legacy2021-07-13T04:55:38Z<p>Peregrine: /* Explanation */ Fuller explanation of legacy games.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2488<br />
| date = July 13, 2021<br />
| title = Board Game Argument: Legacy<br />
| image = board_game_argument_legacy.png<br />
| titletext = Listen, you need to get over your reluctance to permanently alter a game. Now roll 2d6 to determine how many ounces of soda to spill into the box.<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 />
This comic continues the joke from comic 2486, released the previous week, about the difficulty some gaming groups have actually ''playing'' any game at all once they get together. In this scenario the group have leveraged the difficulty of choosing a game into a game itself. It seems to be that each player has a certain number of votes, or tokens, that they can use to decide which game to play that night, with the added element that losing game being gotten rid of. This can lead to strategic play where a player might vote for a game, even if they don't want to play it that night, so that they could still play it in the future.<br />
<br />
Once the voting is finished, the next phase of the game is to debate which expansion packs they should collectively buy for which game.<br />
<br />
A {{w|legacy game}} is one where players change the game itself in the course of play, such that future sessions are modified. The "meta-game" this comic describes fits this definition, because the available pool of games (and expansion packs) changes based on the players' decisions.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to how many board and card game owners wish to keep their games in as-new condition, going as far as refusing to shuffle cards in ways that bend them, or not punching tokens out of their cardboard frames. A legacy game, of course, is ''meant'' to be permanently altered; even some games not classed as "legacy" games may have elements such as blank cards to be filled in by the players. For those reluctant to make changes, these items may remain blank forever.<br />
<br />
The humor of the title text comes from the fact that it sounds like the speaker is chastising a game owner that does not want to engage with these elements of the game, but instead urges them to pour soda on the game (something that would usually be an unfortunate accident). "2d6" is standard notation for games that involve rolling several different types of dice, where the first number refers to the number of dice to be rolled (in this case 2), and the second number referring to the style of dice (in this cases six sided). That means that the player would end up pouring between two and twelve ounces of soda into their game box, depending on the total value rolled on the two six sided dice.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
[White Hat, Megan, Ponytail, and Cueball are sitting around a table that is covered with board game boxes. White Hat is pointing at Ponytail. Both Ponytail and Cueball are holding boxes.]<br />
<br />
Ponytail: You may reallocate up to five tokens to your top choice from last week. Remember, the game with the least support tonight will go to the thrift store.<br />
<br />
Ponytail: Next, we'll resume the debate over ordering expansion packs.<br />
<br />
[Caption beneath the panel:]<br />
<br />
We got tired of having the same repetitive arguments every week over which game to play, so we developed ''Board Game Argument: Legacy''.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Board games]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2481:_1991_and_2021&diff=2143942481: 1991 and 20212021-06-29T12:07:34Z<p>Peregrine: Removed "moment of thought" remark per discussion.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2481<br />
| date = June 25, 2021<br />
| title = 1991 and 2021<br />
| image = 1991_and_2021.png<br />
| titletext = "Oh, and our computers all have cameras now, which is nice during the pandemic lockdowns." "The WHAT."<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by an ILLEGAL LASER POINTER. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic shows a Cueball from 2021 who is [[2280:_2010_and_2020|once again]] discussing the future's technology with White Hat, this time in 1991 instead of 2010. White Hat is awed by the advances in technology, but is not expecting that the law combating laser attacks on passenger aircraft is not the most important thing mentioned.<br />
<br />
"Laser attacks on airliners" ''sounds'' dramatic and important, and White Hat probably thinks that {{w|laser weapon}}s have been developed and have been used to attack aircraft. Given that "a [US] federal law" has been passed to combat such attacks, White Hat may be envisioning a future where US citizens have access to laser guns, and some reckless individuals have been firing them at airplanes. (If it were some other group like terrorists or foreign militaries, a federal law would be unlikely to dissuade them.)<br />
<br />
In reality, the "lasers" in question are low-powered laser pointers, which some people aim at passenger airliners as a (dangerous) prank. When the beam hits the airplane, it cannot damage the plane itself, much less shoot it from the sky;{{citation needed}} it can, however, blind the pilot, which poses a threat to them and their passengers. A law ([https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/39A 18 USC §39A]) was thus passed in 2012 to criminalize this.<br />
<br />
The robot fighting TV shows mentioned include ''{{w|BattleBots}}'', {{w|Robot Wars (TV series)|''Robot Wars''}}, and {{w|MegaBots Inc.|''MegaBots''}}, the earliest of which started in 1998. In them, machines armed with a variety of weapons fight in an arena. These are not technically robots in the traditional sense; for the most part, they are either remote controlled or piloted by humans, and have only rudimentary on board computer systems. They are certainly not controlled by AI. Also, while these shows have been popular enough to return to the air after periods of hiatus, they are not nearly as popular as sports involving humans.<br />
<br />
In this comic, "cordless phone" may be meant literally, meaning any wireless phone without a cord. That's distinct from common parlance where "cordless phone" is distinct from a cellular phone, and is a wireless extension of a landline, typically of limited range, i.e. within a home. It seems likely that Cueball was using a term he believed a 1991 citizen would more easily relate to. Although cell phones had been in use for over a decade by 1991, they were most commonly depicted as a foible of a stereotypical "businessman", typically accompanied by displays of distraction, classism, & self-importance. The term "cell phone" was at that time frequently used to refer to older analog cellular networks, with many mobile users proud of their new CDMA or GSM "''digital''" phones, as distinct from true "cellular" systems which have been deprecated since that time (this distinction has since disappeared from common usage). A more general term used in modern parlance, such as "mobile phone" or "wireless phone" may have been less recognizable to the average person in 1991. Describing a cell phone as "a cordless phone [where you can] send news stories to your friends" would be a reasonable way of describing a cell phone to a person of that era.<br />
<br />
Additionally, cellular phones today do not have much longer range than cellular phones of 1991 (in fact most have less range, due to their lower transmission power & use of higher frequencies, as well as indirectly due to increasing crowding on most wireless frequencies). Cordless phones reliant on a land-line, may exhibit somewhat longer range than they did in 1991, due to improvements in digital error correction & audio compression, although the effective range of a single transmission at a given power & frequency would otherwise be reduced by interference from the proliferation of other wireless devices outside functional range &\or operating independently. Satellite phones also offer more terrestrial range than cellular or cordless landline phones, however their functional range has not greatly increased since 1991 either (being already sufficient to reach a satellite within line-of-sight above). A possible explanation for a perceived "longer range" is that cellular phone towers are much more omnipresent than in 1991, granting cellular devices much greater functional area even though their functional range from ''one'' tower is typically less than in 1991. <br />
<br />
Sharing on social media has distorted what news stories people encounter. Instead of a {{w|Propaganda model|curated}} selection of important {{Citation needed}} news fact-checked by a newspaper or tv/radio broadcast, we see only what people similar to us found interesting.<br />
<br />
By most reasonable measures, the most important technologies on the list could be seen as the rise of mobile phones, and the ability to easily share news stories (aside of course, from any perceived advent of high-powered laser weapons or televised robotic warfare). The first of these, mobile phone usage (& smartphones in particular) has led to a dramatic change in how people communicate, with a large amount of communication now remote, which was not as convenient in the 90s (requiring, for example, setting up {{w|roaming}} at the carrier's office before taking the phone to another city) and impossible for most people a few decades prior: Low frequency wireless for personal communication was relatively uncommon in the early '90s & remains so today. Sharing of news stories person-to-person is partly blamed for the spread of {{w|fake news}}; misinformation has become more and more politically, legally, & socially significant in the past few years. While wireless communication has certainly had enormous & wide-ranging effects, the factuality of the data communicated is arguably of greater importance than the means of its communication. The joke is that the impact of a technology on society isn't really about how exciting or dangerous it might look at first glance.<br />
<br />
The title text {{tvtropes|ParrotExpowhat|horrifies 90s White Hat}}, as it not only refers to a pandemic serious enough to induce lockdowns, but mentions it casually, in reference to the existence of camera phones. [[:Category:COVID-19|COVID-19]] is already a hugely impactful deadly disease, but by mentioning it without details, it leaves White Hat to guess as to the details. Cueball doesn't specify whether there have been one or more pandemics (the plural use of 'lockdowns' could be taken to imply that there were more than one), or how serious they were, how long-lasting, or how many lives were lost to them. In consequence, White Hat could easily be assuming a dystopian future even worse than what really happened. <br />
<br />
On release, the title text was not actually included as such. It was instead included as the text of a "see also" link, which is often invisible to readers and is activated by clicking the comic. Such links have been used in the past for larger versions of the comic or for related information on other sites. Here, it linked back to the comic itself, and was evidently a mistake.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
<br />
:[Cueball (with a aura) is talking to White Hat.]<br />
:White Hat: Welcome to 1991!<br />
:White Hat: So you're from 2021? What happens with technology over the next 30 years?<br />
<br />
:[Same scene, except Cueball has his palm out.]<br />
:Cueball: We passed a federal law to combat laser attacks on airliners, and there are TV shows where robots battle.<br />
:Cueball: Also, cordless phones are longer range now, and it's really easy to send news stories to your friends.<br />
:White Hat: Wow, okay.<br />
<br />
:[Same scene.]<br />
:Cueball: Now, try to guess which of those things turn out to be important.<br />
:White Hat: ...is it not the lasers?<br />
:Cueball: It is not the lasers.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Time travel]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]<br />
[[Category:COVID-19]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2481:_1991_and_2021&diff=2143222481: 1991 and 20212021-06-28T10:58:49Z<p>Peregrine: Used wording in the comic ("airliners"). I still think it's worth mentioning that "reckless citizens with lasers" is the most likely mental image, not insurgents or foreign countries.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2481<br />
| date = June 25, 2021<br />
| title = 1991 and 2021<br />
| image = 1991_and_2021.png<br />
| titletext = "Oh, and our computers all have cameras now, which is nice during the pandemic lockdowns." "The WHAT."<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by an ILLEGAL LASER POINTER. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic shows a Cueball from 2021 discussing the future's technology with White Hat, who is apparently living in 1991. White Hat is awed by the advances in technology, but is not expecting that the law combating laser attacks on passenger aircraft is not the most important thing mentioned.<br />
<br />
"Laser attacks on airliners" ''sounds'' dramatic and important, and White Hat probably thinks that {{w|laser weapon}}s have been developed and have been used to attack aircraft. Given that "a [US] federal law" has been passed to combat such attacks, White Hat may be envisioning a future where US citizens have access to laser guns, and some reckless individuals have been firing them at airplanes. (If it were some other group like terrorists or foreign militaries, a federal law would be unlikely to dissuade them.)<br />
<br />
In reality, the "lasers" in question are low-powered laser pointers, which some people aim at passenger airliners as a (dangerous) prank. When the beam hits the airplane, it cannot damage the plane itself, much less shoot it from the sky{{citation needed}}; it can, however, blind the pilot, which poses a threat to them and their passengers. A law ([https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/39A 18 USC §39A]) was thus passed in 2012 to criminalize this. (A moment of thought would make it clear that the "laser attack" is unlikely to damage the plane directly, because if it did, no new law would be needed.)<br />
<br />
The robot fighting TV shows mentioned include ''{{w|BattleBots}}'', {{w|Robot Wars (TV series)|''Robot Wars''}}, and {{w|MegaBots Inc.|''MegaBots''}}, the earliest of which started in 1998. In them, machines armed with a variety of weapons fight in an arena. These are not technically robots in the traditional sense; for the most part, they are either remote controlled or piloted by humans, and have only rudimentary on board computer systems. They are certainly not controlled by AI. Also, while these shows have been popular enough to return to the air after periods of hiatus, they are not nearly as popular as sports involving humans.<br />
<br />
In this comic, "cordless phone" may be meant literally, meaning any wireless phone without a cord. That's distinct from common parlance where "cordless phone" is distinct from a cellular phone, and is a wireless extension of a landline, typically of limited range, i.e. within a home. However, cellular phones do not have much longer range than cellular phones of 1991 (in fact most have less range, due to their lower transmission power & use of higher frequencies, as well as indirectly due to increasing crowding on most wireless frequencies). Cordless phones reliant on a land-line, may exhibit somewhat longer range than they did in 1991, due to improvements in digital error correction & audio compression, although the effective range of a single transmission at a given power & frequency would otherwise be reduced by interference from the proliferation of other wireless devices outside functional range &\or operating independently. Satellite phones also offer more terrestrial range than cellular or cordless landline phones, however their functional range has not greatly increased since 1991 either (being already sufficient to reach a satellite within line-of-sight above). One likely explanation for a perceived "longer range" is that cellular phone towers are much more omnipresent than in 1991, granting cellular devices much greater functional area even though their functional range from ''one'' tower is typically less than in 1991. <br />
<br />
Sharing on social media has distorted what news stories people encounter. Instead of a curated selection of important news fact-checked by a newspaper or tv/radio broadcast, we see only what people similar to us found interesting.<br />
<br />
By most reasonable measures, the most important technologies on the list could be seen as the rise of mobile phones, and the ability to easily share news stories (aside of course, from any perceived advent of high-powered laser weapons or televised robotic warfare). The first of these, mobile phone usage (& smartphones in particular) has led to a dramatic change in how people communicate, with a large amount of communication now remote, which was not as convenient in the 90s (requiring, for example, setting up {{w|roaming}} at the carrier's office before taking the phone to another city) and impossible for most people a few decades prior: Low frequency wireless for personal communication was relatively uncommon in the early '90s & remains so today. Sharing of news stories person-to-person is partly blamed for the spread of {{w|fake news}}; misinformation has become more and more politically, legally, & socially significant in the past few years. While wireless communication has certainly had enormous & wide-ranging effects, the factuality of the data communicated is arguably of greater importance than the means of its communication. The joke is that the impact of a technology on society isn't really about how exciting or dangerous it might look at first glance.<br />
<br />
The title text horrifies 90s White Hat, who is blissfully unaware of [[:Category:COVID-19|COVID-19]]. At the time, the {{w|Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS|spread of HIV/Aids}} was regularly in the news, though because it was predominantly sexually-transmitted, thereby giving it a comparatively low {{w|Basic reproduction number|reproduction number}}, there was debate on whether to consider it a pandemic. For this reason, a lockdown was never considered to contain it and dealing with a similar outbreak using one could be seen as very extreme indeed.<br />
<br />
On release, the title text was not actually included as such. It was instead included as the text of a "see also" link, which is often invisible to readers and is activated by clicking the comic. Such links have been used in the past for larger versions of the comic or for related information on other sites. Here, it linked back to the comic itself, and was evidently a mistake.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
<br />
:[Cueball (with a time travel aura) is talking to White Hat]<br />
<br />
:White Hat: Welcome to 1991!<br />
:White Hat: So you're from 2021? What happens with technology over the next 30 years?<br />
<br />
:Cueball: We passed a federal law to combat laser attacks on airliners, and there are TV shows where robots battle.<br />
:Cueball: Also, cordless phones are longer range now, and it's really easy to send news stories to your friends.<br />
:White Hat: Wow, okay.<br />
<br />
:Cueball: Now, try to guess which of those things turn out to be important.<br />
:White Hat: ...is it not the lasers?<br />
:Cueball: It is not the lasers.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Time travel]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]<br />
[[Category:COVID-19]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:2481:_1991_and_2021&diff=214321Talk:2481: 1991 and 20212021-06-28T10:45:37Z<p>Peregrine: Disagreement over what "a moment of thought" would make clear.</p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
It's 7:12p and I'm on android at m.xkcd.com . There is no alt text, and the "see also" link directs back to the same page. The comic is fun though, people will be thinking about time travel as technology takes off. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.62.179|162.158.62.179]] 23:14, 25 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
:There is no title-text on firefox on PC either. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.59|162.158.79.59]] 23:16, 25 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
::The title text is botched. Instead the comic is wrapped in an <code>a</code> (hyperlink) element: <code><a href=""Oh, and our computers all have cameras now, which is nice during the pandemic lockdowns." "The WHAT.""></code>. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.152|141.101.98.152]] 23:24, 25 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
:::I reckon the backend interface for posting a comic must have a field for the title text and a field for the "see also" link, and someone put the text in the wrong field. Easy mistake to make, hopefully fixed soon. -- [[User:Peregrine|Peregrine]] ([[User talk:Peregrine|talk]]) 02:33, 26 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Wasn't the federal no lasers pointed at airplanes law was in acted to prevent laser guided missile attacks against airlines? Not laser attacks in general? [[Special:Contributions/172.68.129.136|172.68.129.136]] 01:24, 26 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
:Sure, someone may have suggested that, but the truth is that anyone who has access to guided missiles (IE state-level actors and military forces) isn't going to be bound by federal law anyway [[User:Defaultdotxbe|Defaultdotxbe]] ([[User talk:Defaultdotxbe|talk]]) 02:37, 26 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
::My thoughts too. At first I took it as White Hat thinking that there were military attacks with lasers capable of shooting down planes… but a federal law against that would, as you say, not be heeded by those doing such things. On reflection I decided that White Hat is envisioning that ordinary citizens have laser guns and have taken to shooting them at planes, the way road signs get shot at by ordinary guns in reality. -- [[User:Peregrine|Peregrine]] ([[User talk:Peregrine|talk]]) 02:46, 26 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
:In short, '''no'''. 18 USC §39A, the federal law criminalizing the pointing of laser pointers at airplanes, was not enacted to prevent missile attacks against airlines. It was enacted to help combat kids (and others) causing real injury to airline personnel in what they thought were harmless pranks (they're not harmless). [[User:JohnHawkinson|JohnHawkinson]] ([[User talk:JohnHawkinson|talk]]) 03:46, 26 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
<br />
It's interesting that Mr. 2021 summarizes the entire Internet/World Wide Web with "it's really easy to send news stories to your friends". The Internet certainly existed in 1991, but the advancement in that area over 30 years is pretty significant. I'm not sure how I would sum that up to someone from 30 years ago in a single comic panel, but I think it would come out differently than what we see here. [[User:Orion205|Orion205]] ([[User talk:Orion205|talk]]) 03:57, 26 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
:I saw the ratio of advertisements with www.foo.com in it rise only at the end of the 90s which was when the Internet started to get mainstream adoption. Before Google, it was not so easy to find relevant content with Altavista and friends. [[User:Bmwiedemann|Bmwiedemann]] ([[User talk:Bmwiedemann|talk]]) 20:31, 26 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
::Don't confuse the Internet with the Web, though. With searchable access to alt.your.fetish.or.hobby on a usenet feed, a curated FAQ (or general conversation) could make you aware of ftp.hobbyfetish.org.au, or whatever wherewithall you needed to telnet directly to the FetishHobbyBBS. Or vice-versa if you'd started on a FIDONet connection. (Then there was the AOL Keyword approach, where you had such an ISP with such a USP and an acceptably obvious hobby/fetish.) Before Tim Berners-Lee (and whoever did Gopher, etc), plus the time needed to get into your prefered era of AskVistaGoogleDuck, the connectivity was there - just a little less automated and only ''hugely'' beyond a single person actually knowing everything they could connect to, rather than totally mind-blowingly so... [[Special:Contributions/162.158.158.105|162.158.158.105]] 00:05, 28 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
<br />
It's not so much the range of cordless phones that is of significant change, but the computing power inside the phone that made the most advancement since 1991. Phones at that time could only make phone calls! Texting didn't become available until 1992 and games and everything else we do on them was later. To me "range" means the connection range which improved a lot, but is still not as signficant as "range of use" [[User:Rtanenbaum|Rtanenbaum]] ([[User talk:Rtanenbaum|talk]]) 12:17, 26 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
:Does "cordless phones" refer to cellphones? That's the "wireless" industry. Cordless phones are landline phone handsets that don't have a cord connecting them to the wall, and he's talking about the distance they can be from the base station. Mentioning these is a joke because so many people have cut the cord entirely, abandoning their landlines in favor of just using cellphones. [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 12:59, 26 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
:That's what I wondered too. I would assume the comic is referring to cordless phones in the sense of landline phone handsets, not cellphones, if just because the coverage range of these phones '''has''' increased, whereas the opposite is true for cellphones. With 2G, you can get coverage up to 35km from the base station, whereas with 4G this is reduced to about 16km. There is effectively more cellphone coverage nowadays because there are more base stations, not because the coverage works at longer range. [[User:Zoid42|Zoid42]] ([[User talk:Zoid42|talk]]) 02:28, 27 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
::I agree, & the assertion that ''cellphones'' have increased in range since '91 would be amusing, if it weren't so incorrect as to represent harmful disinformation. (Ironic, given the topic...) I have edited the explanation to make the situation clearer, but that paragraph is now overly long & contains several run-on sentences: The explanation would read better if split into coherent sections for each of the four changes Cueball described. <br />
::[[User:ProphetZarquon|ProphetZarquon]] ([[User talk:ProphetZarquon|talk]]) 17:56, 27 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
:The computing power inside the phone would definitely sound significant in 1992 ; I suspect it would be comparable to top supercomputers of that time. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 00:10, 27 June 2021 (UTC) <br />
<br />
<br />
This is the second time Cueball travels from within the Covid-19 pandemic to visit White Hat [[2280]]. Is there any comic where White Hat interacts with pangolins, bats, or China? Even though Cueball is vaccinated by now, he might be a carrier [[User:Ruffy314|Ruffy314]] ([[User talk:Ruffy314|talk]]) 22:46, 26 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
:That field around Cueball might mean he's not physically here ; maybe it's not possible to transfer matter into past, just information. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 00:10, 27 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
::Black Hat: "Here wear this shirt when you project back." <br />
Cueball: 'Why? What does it say above that big block of code?' <br />
Black Hat: "'Reproduce this RNA sequence for a cool surprise!'" <br />
::[[User:ProphetZarquon|ProphetZarquon]] ([[User talk:ProphetZarquon|talk]]) 17:56, 27 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I disagree with the assertion added by [[Special:Contributions/172.69.35.193|172.69.35.193]] ([[User_talk:172.69.35.193|talk]]):<br />
:'A moment of thought would make it clear that the "laser attack" is unlikely to damage the plane directly, because if it did, no new law would be needed.'<br />
Something being criminal under an existing law does ''not'' mean no new law is needed or will be passed. Maybe the existing penalty wasn't deemed sufficient. Maybe the law had loopholes not foreseen until the new technology appeared. Or maybe Congress just wanted to be seen to be doing something. There are many reasons why new laws can and have been passed to combat (the comic's word) something that's already not legal. Does anyone have thoughts to add? -- [[User:Peregrine|Peregrine]] ([[User talk:Peregrine|talk]]) 10:45, 28 June 2021 (UTC)</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:2481:_1991_and_2021&diff=214247Talk:2481: 1991 and 20212021-06-26T02:46:17Z<p>Peregrine: Rednecks with frickin' lasers?!</p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
It's 7:12p and I'm on android at m.xkcd.com . There is no alt text, and the "see also" link directs back to the same page. The comic is fun though, people will be thinking about time travel as technology takes off. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.62.179|162.158.62.179]] 23:14, 25 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
:There is no title-text on firefox on PC either. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.59|162.158.79.59]] 23:16, 25 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
::The title text is botched. Instead the comic is wrapped in an <code>a</code> (hyperlink) element: <code><a href=""Oh, and our computers all have cameras now, which is nice during the pandemic lockdowns." "The WHAT.""></code>. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.152|141.101.98.152]] 23:24, 25 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
:::I reckon the backend interface for posting a comic must have a field for the title text and a field for the "see also" link, and someone put the text in the wrong field. Easy mistake to make, hopefully fixed soon. -- [[User:Peregrine|Peregrine]] ([[User talk:Peregrine|talk]]) 02:33, 26 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Wasn't the federal no lasers pointed at airplanes law was in acted to prevent laser guided missile attacks against airlines? Not laser attacks in general? [[Special:Contributions/172.68.129.136|172.68.129.136]] 01:24, 26 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
:Sure, someone may have suggested that, but the truth is that anyone who has access to guided missiles (IE state-level actors and military forces) isn't going to be bound by federal law anyway [[User:Defaultdotxbe|Defaultdotxbe]] ([[User talk:Defaultdotxbe|talk]]) 02:37, 26 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
::My thoughts too. At first I took it as White Hat thinking that there were military attacks with lasers capable of shooting down planes… but a federal law against that would, as you say, not be heeded by those doing such things. On reflection I decided that White Hat is envisioning that ordinary citizens have laser guns and have taken to shooting them at planes, the way road signs get shot at by ordinary guns in reality. -- [[User:Peregrine|Peregrine]] ([[User talk:Peregrine|talk]]) 02:46, 26 June 2021 (UTC)</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2481:_1991_and_2021&diff=2142462481: 1991 and 20212021-06-26T02:40:07Z<p>Peregrine: More about why lasers might seem the important one. Uncapitalise "lasers" in transcript.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2481<br />
| date = June 26, 2021<br />
| title = 1991 and 2021<br />
| image = 1991_and_2021.png<br />
| titletext = "Oh, and our computers all have cameras now, which is nice during the pandemic lockdowns." "The WHAT."<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by an illegal laser pointer. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic shows a Cueball from 2021 discussing the future's technology with White Hat, who is apparently living in 1991. White Hat is awed by the advances in technology, but is confused that the law preventing lasers from attacking airplanes is not the most important thing mentioned.<br />
<br />
"Laser attacks on airplanes" ''sound'' dramatic and important, and White Hat is perhaps thinking that {{w|laser weapon}}s have been developed and are now in the hands of US citizens, like ordinary guns. In reality, the "lasers" in question are low-powered laser pointers, aimed at airliners as a (dangerous) prank. When the beam hits the airplane, it can blind the pilot. A law ([https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/39A 18 USC §39A]) was thus passed to criminalize this. Laser pointers are not able to damage the plane itself, much less shoot it from the sky.{{citation needed}}<br />
<br />
The robot fighting TV shows mentioned include ''{{w|BattleBots}}'', {{w|Robot Wars (TV series)|''Robot Wars''}}, and possibly {{w|MegaBots Inc.|''MegaBots''}}, in which machines armed with a variety of weapons fight in an arena.<br />
<br />
By any reasonable measure, the most important technologies on the list are the increased range of cordless phones and the ability to easily share news stories. The first of these has led to a dramatic change in how people communicate, with a large amount of communication now remote, which was not as convenient in the 90s and impossible a few decades prior. Sharing of news stories person-to-person is partly blamed for the spread of {{w|fake news}}; misinformation has become more and more politically significant in the past few years. The joke is that the impact of a technology on society isn't really about how exciting or dangerous it might look at first glance.<br />
<br />
The title text horrifies 90s White Hat, who is blissfully unaware of [[:Category:COVID-19|COVID-19]]. On release, the title text was not actually included as such. It was instead included as the text of a "see also" link, which is often invisible to readers and is activated by clicking the comic. Such links have been used in the past for larger versions of the comic or for related information on other sites. Here, it linked back to the comic itself, and was evidently a mistake.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
[Cueball (with a time travel aura) is talking to White Hat]<br />
<br />
White Hat: Welcome to 1991. So you're from 2021? What happens with technology over the next 30 years?<br />
<br />
Cueball: We passed a federal law to combat laser attacks on airliners, and there are TV shows where robots battle. Also, cordless phones are longer range now, and it's really easy to send news stories to your friends.<br />
<br />
White Hat: Wow, okay.<br />
<br />
Cueball: Now, try to guess which of those things turn out to be important.<br />
<br />
White Hat: ...Is it not the lasers?<br />
<br />
Cueball: It is not the lasers.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:2481:_1991_and_2021&diff=214244Talk:2481: 1991 and 20212021-06-26T02:33:43Z<p>Peregrine: Wot I fink went rong</p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
It's 7:12p and I'm on android at m.xkcd.com . There is no alt text, and the "see also" link directs back to the same page. The comic is fun though, people will be thinking about time travel as technology takes off. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.62.179|162.158.62.179]] 23:14, 25 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
:There is no title-text on firefox on PC either. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.59|162.158.79.59]] 23:16, 25 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
::The title text is botched. Instead the comic is wrapped in an <code>a</code> (hyperlink) element: <code><a href=""Oh, and our computers all have cameras now, which is nice during the pandemic lockdowns." "The WHAT.""></code>. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.152|141.101.98.152]] 23:24, 25 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
:::I reckon the backend interface for posting a comic must have a field for the title text and a field for the "see also" link, and someone put the text in the wrong field. Easy mistake to make, hopefully fixed soon. -- [[User:Peregrine|Peregrine]] ([[User talk:Peregrine|talk]]) 02:33, 26 June 2021 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Wasn't the federal no lasers pointed at airplanes law was in acted to prevent laser guided missile attacks against airlines? Not laser attacks in general? [[Special:Contributions/172.68.129.136|172.68.129.136]] 01:24, 26 June 2021 (UTC)</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2481:_1991_and_2021&diff=2142432481: 1991 and 20212021-06-26T02:31:08Z<p>Peregrine: More detail on what appears to have gone wrong with the title text.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2481<br />
| date = June 26, 2021<br />
| title = 1991 and 2021<br />
| image = 1991_and_2021.png<br />
| titletext = "Oh, and our computers all have cameras now, which is nice during the pandemic lockdowns." "The WHAT."<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by an illegal laser pointer. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic shows a Cueball from 2021 discussing the future's technology with White Hat, who is apparently living in 1991. White Hat is awed by the advances in technology, but is confused that the law preventing lasers from attacking airplanes is not the most important thing mentioned.<br />
<br />
While "laser attacks on airplanes" do sound dramatic and important, they are in fact more along the line of a prank than a serious threat.{{citation needed}} This refers to the practice by some of pointing laser pointers at airplanes flying overhead. When the beam hits the airplane, it can blind the pilot. A law was thus passed to criminalize this. [https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/39A 18 USC §39A]<br />
<br />
The robot fighting TV shows mentioned include ''{{w|BattleBots}}'', {{w|Robot Wars (TV series)|''Robot Wars''}}, and possibly {{w|MegaBots Inc.|''MegaBots''}}, in which machines armed with a variety of weapons fight in an arena.<br />
<br />
By any reasonable measure, the most important technologies on the list are the increased range of cordless phones and the ability to easily share news stories. The first of these has led to a dramatic change in how people communicate, with a large amount of communication now remote, which was not as convenient in the 90s and impossible a few decades prior. Sharing of news stories person-to-person is partly blamed for the spread of {{w|fake news}}; misinformation has become more and more politically significant in the past few years. The joke is that the impact of a technology on society isn't really about how exciting or dangerous it might look at first glance.<br />
<br />
The title text horrifies 90s White Hat, who is blissfully unaware of [[:Category:COVID-19|COVID-19]]. On release, the title text was not actually included as such. It was instead included as the text of a "see also" link, which is often invisible to readers and is activated by clicking the comic. Such links have been used in the past for larger versions of the comic or for related information on other sites. Here, it linked back to the comic itself, and was evidently a mistake.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
[Cueball (with a time travel aura) is talking to White Hat]<br />
<br />
White Hat: Welcome to 1991. So you're from 2021? What happens with technology over the next 30 years?<br />
<br />
Cueball: We passed a federal law to combat laser attacks on airliners, and there are TV shows where robots battle. Also, cordless phones are longer range now, and it's really easy to send news stories to your friends.<br />
<br />
White Hat: Wow, okay.<br />
<br />
Cueball: Now, try to guess which of those things turn out to be important.<br />
<br />
White Hat: ...Is it not the Lasers?<br />
<br />
Cueball: It is not the lasers.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2467:_Wikipedia_Caltrops&diff=2125042467: Wikipedia Caltrops2021-05-26T12:57:32Z<p>Peregrine: Introversion isn't the theory that another supercontinent will form; it's the model wherein the Americas start moving east and the Atlantic disappears (as opposed to extroversion, in which it's the Pacific that vanishes).</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2467<br />
| date = May 24, 2021<br />
| title = Wikipedia Caltrops<br />
| image = wikipedia_caltrops.png<br />
| titletext = Oh no, they set up a roadblock which is just a sign with the entire 'Czech hedgehog' article printed on it.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by A WIKIPEDIA CRAWL INEVITABLY REACHING "PHILOSOPHY". Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
[[Cueball|Cueball's]] car has a collection of Wikipedia links spilling out of the trunk, meant to stop [[Hairy]] who's in the following car. The idea is that by dropping a series of interesting links, one could stop someone else's movement as they take the time to go through them all, provided that they are also easily distracted. This is analogous to the {{w|caltrops}} mentioned in the title; caltrops are small, spiked implements that are scattered on a road to slow down someone pursuing you. Hence the title of ''Wikipedia Caltrops''.<br />
<br />
Wikipedia is also a website that is notorious for having many links to other pages, which may result in a "wiki walk", a dilemma for [[Randall]] that has been discussed previously in [[214: The Problem with Wikipedia]] (and separately with TV Tropes in [[609: Tab Explosion]]).<br />
<br />
This strategy is similar to a weaponized version of [[356: Nerd Sniping]], using the high levels of focus that tend to come along with nerdy interests against someone. Munroe apparently reasons that, because these links would stop him in his tracks, they might do the same for a given target. <br />
<br />
The Wikipedia links include:<br />
* {{w|1808 mystery eruption}}: A conjectured volcanic eruption<br />
* {{w|1916 Cumberland vs. Georgia Tech football game}}: The most uneven college football game in history<br />
* {{w|1994 Caribbean Cup#Anomaly}}: A soccer game where group stage qualification rules had unintended consequences<br />
* {{w|American death triangle}}: An unsafe type of rock climbing anchor<br />
* {{w|AVE Mizar}}: A 1970s flying car<br />
* {{w|Bald-hairy}}: A Russian political theory about state leaders' hairstyles<br />
* {{w|Boeing YAL-1}}: A laser weapon mounted on a military aircraft<br />
* {{w|Bubbly Creek}}: A stretch of river in Chicago featured in ''The Jungle''<br />
* {{w|Burned house horizon}}: An area where Neolithic people burned their settlements<br />
* {{w|Defence Scheme No. 1}}: A 1920s plan for Canada to attack the USA<br />
* {{w|Elsagate}}: A YouTube controversy involving inappropriate videos being categorised as child-friendly<br />
* {{w|Fastest animals#Invertebrates}}: Very fast insects, and some squid<br />
* {{w|Flying ice cube}}: An effect in molecular dynamics simulations<br />
* {{w|Future of Earth#Introversion}}: A model of future continental drift in which the Atlantic closes up<br />
* {{w|Hairy Hands}}: A ghost story in Dartmoor, England<br />
* {{w|January 0}}: December 31st in some software programs<br />
* {{w|List of fictional colors}}: Impossible colours in fiction<br />
* {{w|List of unexplained sounds}}: Mostly detected by NOAA, includes the Bloop<br />
* {{w|Talk:List of U.S. states and territories by elevation#Delaware - Ebright Azimuth}}: A user argues the highest point in Delaware isn't Ebright Azimuth, but a trailer park<br />
* {{w|Mosquito laser}}: A proposed device for killing mosquitoes<br />
* {{w|Pheasant Island}}: An island shared equally between France and Spain<br />
* {{w|Time in Australia#Anomalies}}: Places in Australia which do not use the expected time zone<br />
* {{w|Timeline of the far future}}: Scientific speculation<br />
* {{w|Walkalong glider}}: A type of unpowered model aircraft<br />
<br />
Mentioned in the title text, a "{{w|Czech hedgehog}}" is an anti-tank obstacle made of metal, and would be an effective roadblock, however a sign describing it would not impede most traffic, {{Citation needed}} only for those distracted as easily as Randall.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball drives a car, followed by another car driven by Hairy. Cueball is leaning on the open window looking back as 24 large paper slips with Wikipedia links are flying out of the open trunk of the car. They extend to the front of Hairy's car, obscuring that all the way up to Hairy's position in the car. None of the links can be read in full, and only on a few can parts of the actual link be seen. Many has only part of the pages title visible, some parts are obstructed partly by other slips in front of them or they have not entirely left the trunk. In once case the link is so long that it has been split on two lines on a thicker slip. There is a large part of the link that cannot be seen after the first line, but the end of the second line can be seen as well. Here the (fairly) readable parts are give, roughly in normal reading order.]<br />
:a.org/wiki/Elsagate<br />
:wiki/Bubbly_Creek<br />
:wiki/Pheasant_Island<br />
:a.org/wiki/American_death_triangle<br />
:List_of_fictional_colors<br />
:/wiki/Future_of_Earth#Introversion<br />
:pedia.org/wiki/Fastest_animals#Invertebrates<br />
:ki/Defence_Scheme_No._1<br />
:i/Boeing_YAL-1<br />
:ki/Bald-hairy<br />
:/Walkalong_glider<br />
:Burned_house_horizon<br />
:/wiki/AVE Mizar<br />
:Flying_ice_cube<br />
:Time in Australia#Anomalies:<br />
:Unexplained_sounds<br />
:Talk:List_of_U.S._states_and_<br />
:::::Ebright_Azimuth<br />
:Mosquito_laser<br />
:January_0<br />
:/1808_mystery_eruption<br />
:/Hairy_Hands<br />
:Cumberland_vs._Georgia_Tech_football_game<br />
:Timeline_of_the_far_future<br />
:/wiki/1994_Caribbean_Cup#Anomaly<br />
<br />
:[Caption below the panel:]<br />
:I have a collection of Wikipedia links to throw behind my car if I'm ever being chased by someone as easily distracted as me.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Wikipedia]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2282:_Coronavirus_Worries&diff=1947122282: Coronavirus Worries2020-07-16T05:33:25Z<p>Peregrine: Typo: eight -> eighth</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2282<br />
| date = March 18, 2020<br />
| title = Coronavirus Worries<br />
| image = coronavirus_worries.png<br />
| titletext = Offscreen, bottom left: Whether the custom :coronavirus: Slack react emoji you just added was public domain or whether you should have put a Creative Commons credit somewhere<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a WORRIED CORONAVIRUS (CC BY). Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete.''Table for relative location of points on the axes as in previous scatterplot comics'' Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
This comic is the eighth comic in a row in a [[:Category:COVID-19|series of comics]] about the {{w|COVID-19|pandemic}} of the {{w|coronavirus disease 2019}}, COVID-19 for short. <br />
<br />
[[Randall]] has created a {{w|scatter plot}} graph showing "more common" worries versus the "more healthy" worries. Presumably, "more healthy" refers to more important things to worry about concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. From this graph, Randall notes that the "more healthy" concerns are not necessarily the ones that are the most common.<br />
<br />
On the left side of the graph, signifying "less common" worries/concerns are concerns relating to the drinking of water, and resting. Drinking water (staying hydrated) and getting enough sleep each night are important ways to fight off disease, and they're things that almost everyone can take direct action on, so this is marked as one of the most healthy things to worry about. In [[2281: Coronavirus Research]], [[Megan]] shows signs that she (like many) has not been taking care to get enough sleep. However, not drinking enough water and not sleeping enough are not likely to cause coronavirus specifically, so that particular worry is marked as one of the least healthy.<br />
<br />
In the middle of the graph are "medium common" worries/concerns. The "most healthy" or vital concerns are being able to stay home and the ability for friends and family to stay home. Across much of the world, public gatherings have been discouraged, including requiring many workers to {{w|telecommute}}. This is following the principle of {{w|social distancing}}, to slow the spread of COVID-19. These are considered very healthy concerns to be having.<br />
<br />
Below these two concerns is concerns about the government response, specifically if the government is "reacting wrong". Many world governments have been criticized for inadequate responses to the pandemic. However, even if the government's response (or lack of response) is incorrect, it is not something that most people can control directly, nor should it prevent people from taking care of the more healthy concerns about staying home and staying well-hydrated and well-rested, which is why this worry is marked as being only moderately healthy. Even less important than the government response is worrying about the reactions of random people featured in news stories (who are most likely featured specifically because their behavior is extreme or aberrant) or {{w|Internet trolls}} or people who have different opinions to you in the story's comments section.<br />
<br />
A more common concern listed is "whether you are getting enough work done". Telecommuting (working from home) may be less productive than working at the normal office, so Randall or others may be concerned about their work productivity. For people working in industries that directly affect the health and well-being of others, such as medicine, this is a fair concern (and many of the event cancellations and other responses are intended to make their jobs easier), but in general, this is a much less healthy concern than staying home and well-rested.<br />
<br />
The most common and least important concern according to Randall is "whether you have the virus just because you just coughed and last week you touched a doorknob". Though it is an important to be concerned about catching the coronavirus, simply coughing a few times or "touching a doorknob" are unlikely reasons to suspect having COVID-19. Most cases of COVID-19 do include a cough, and the disease can be latent for over a week before showing symptoms, but also include other symptoms, including fever and difficulty breathing.<br />
<br />
The title text lists an uncommon, unimportant concern: the copyright status of a "coronavirus emoji" on {{w|Slack (software)|Slack}} (a business instant messaging software). The {{w|Creative Commons license}} is a license allowing for fair use of published work (and presumably emojis) that are otherwise copyrighted. Something that is in {{w|public domain}} has no copyright protection on it, and can be used freely. Presumably, this is a concern that only Randall has, making it uncommon. It is also relatively unimportant in the greater scheme of the COVID-19 pandemic.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[A scatter-plot, with 8 labeled dots. Both axis are labeled with text beneath the X-axis and to the left of the Y-axis. Arrows are pointing to the right from the X- axis and up from the Y-xis. The dots are scattered from left to right and top to bottom, but there are some grouping of the labels with two to the left, four in the middle and two to the right. But the dots they belong to are more scattered than this. Here below all labels are given, first for the axis, and then for each dot in approximately normal reading order from the left column to the right column:]<br />
:Y-axis: More healthy<br />
:X-axis: More common<br />
<br />
:[Top left]: Whether you're remembering to drink water and rest<br />
:[Very bottom, near left]: Whether forgetting to drink water or rest will make you get the coronavirus<br />
:[Very top, near right]: Whether you're able to stay home<br />
:[Top leaning, right]: Whether your friends and family are able to stay home<br />
:[Middle, leaning right]: Whether your government is reacting wrong<br />
:[Very bottom center]: Whether random people in a news story are reacting wrong<br />
:[Toward bottom right]: Whether you're getting enough work done<br />
:[Very bottom right]: Whether you have the virus because you just coughed and last week you touched a doorknob<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:COVID-19]]<br />
[[Category:Scatter plots]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:2312:_mbmbam&diff=192591Talk:2312: mbmbam2020-05-28T09:09:04Z<p>Peregrine: Typo?</p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
<br />
So ... what would the MMMbop unit be?<br />
<br />
This has gotta be at least the third or fourth time he's referenced MBMBaM. https://what-if.xkcd.com/155/ and https://xkcd.com/1836/ I know are two more examples, but there might be more. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.107.13|162.158.107.13]] 00:54, 28 May 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Am I the only one thinking that mbmbam should be a unit of ''work'', not energy? Force x distance... High school physics was a long time ago though. [[User:Philosophicles|Philosophicles]] ([[User talk:Philosophicles|talk]]) 03:15, 28 May 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:Work is energy [[Special:Contributions/172.69.62.154|172.69.62.154]] 05:28, 28 May 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:: The only difference could be absolute or relative energy, comparable to height above sea level vs. distance. Sebastian --[[Special:Contributions/141.101.69.193|141.101.69.193]] 06:36, 28 May 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:My first instinct was "that´s a torque". But of course angles have no unit, and so torque and energy must have the same. --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.88.74|162.158.88.74]] 07:15, 28 May 2020 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Is my vision going blurry, or does that second panel say "milliibarn"? -- [[User:Peregrine|Peregrine]] ([[User talk:Peregrine|talk]]) 09:09, 28 May 2020 (UTC)</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2308:_Mount_St._Helens&diff=1922422308: Mount St. Helens2020-05-19T11:53:58Z<p>Peregrine: Typos: it's hight -> its height</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2308<br />
| date = May 18, 2020<br />
| title = Mount St. Helens<br />
| image = mount_st_helens.png<br />
| titletext = It's a good mountain but it really peaked in the 80s.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by AN OVERBLOWN MOUNTAIN. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
This comic marks the 40 year anniversary of the {{w|1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens|May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens}} that killed 57 people. It was a Monday so a normal release day could be used to mark this event.<br />
<br />
It shows a graph of the height of the mountains in the {{w|Washington (state)|state of Washington}} as a function of time over the last 100 years. The only mountain to change its height significantly over this time period is {{w|Mount St. Helens}}, which the comic is named after. It is also the only black line as all other (30?) lines are gray.<br />
<br />
Mount St. Helens is a {{w|volcano}} that famously and explosively erupted in 1980. Thousands of tons of earth were thrown from one face of the mountain and slid into the surrounding countryside. After it was over, the peak of Mount St. Helens was no longer the 5th highest in the {{w|Washington (state)|state of Washington}}, having lost approximately 1,300 feet (400 m) in height (from 9,677 ft (2,950 m) pre-explosion to 8,363 ft (2,549 m) post-explosion). <br />
<br />
Currently, the 5 highest {{w|List of mountain peaks of Washington (state)|mountain peaks in Washington State}} are {{w|Mount Rainier}} (at 14,411 ft or 4,392 m), {{w|Mount Adams (Washington)|Mount Adams}}, {{w|Mount Baker}}, {{w|Glacier Peak}}, and {{w|Bonanza Peak (Washington)|Bonanza Peak}}. As shown in the comic, Mount St. Helens was the 5th highest, but now has fallen to #52. Only mountains above 8,000 feet (2,438 m) is included, with the graph topping at 15,000 feet (4,572 m), 600 feet (182 m) above the highest mountain. There are 92 peaks above 8000 feet in the state, so not all are included and the lines are not really distinct below 9000 feet. Seems like there are less than 30 lines drawn. Of course it says Mountains not Mountain peaks, but there are only four mountain ranges in Washington with peaks above 8000, so he must mean peaks!<br />
<br />
Technically, the other mountains may be fluctuating in height as well, due to erosion or the movement of Earth's tectonic plates, but this phenomenon should not be visible on the time-scale and vertical resolution that Randall has plotted. <!-- Or are they rising on average due to the Cascadia Subduction Zone?--> Precision GPS measurements of various peaks in Washington have only been available since 2010, and it's likely that the primarily volcanic mountains of Washington experience significant but comparatively slight variations throughout the year due to snowfall, melt, or the pressure of swelling magma inside volcanic cores. These changes go largely unmeasured, while the mountains continue to appear equally physically unchanging and imposing both in person and from a distance.<br />
Source: [https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/how-tall-is-rainier-really/ Seattle Times]<br />
<br />
The title text is a play on the term “peak” meaning both the highest point of a mountain and also the optimal, most famous or most impressive stage of a trend. for instance: "The band Rolling Stones really peaked in the 80s."<br />
<br />
This may be the first comic since March, that can in no way be linked to the ongoing {{w|2019–2 coronavirus outbreak|2020 pandemic}} and {{w|COVID-19}}. Most other comics since March has been part of a [[:Category:COVID-19|series of comics]] related to the pandemic, and those few not directly linked to it could have been inspired by it.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[A graph is shows with close to 30 horizontal gray lines which seem not to change much, if any, as they go from left to right. Only the top 6 gray lines are distinctly separated from others. The top line is way above the second line which again is far above the next two that are close together. Two more close together is somewhat further down, and just below them the rest of the lines follow in close proximity down to the bottom of the graph. A single black line is also shown. It begins as the fifth highest line, just above the two last mentioned above. It is as all other lines going horizontally, but only for three fifth of the way across the graph, then it immediately drops down well below most of the other lines (at 1980) and levels off, continuing on its horizontal path. There is a caption above the graph, and both Y-axis and X-axis has labels. For the Y-axis there is a tick for every label, for the X-axis only every 2nd tick has a label. A unit is given on the top label on the Y-axis.]<br />
<br />
:[Caption above graph:]<br />
:Heights of mountains in Washington State<br />
:<small>Over time</small><br />
<br />
:[X-axis:]<br />
:1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020<br />
<br />
:[Y-axis:]<br />
:15,000<br />
::<small>feet</small><br />
:14,000<br />
:13,000<br />
:12,000<br />
:11,000<br />
:10,000<br />
:9,000<br />
:8,000<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Line graphs]]<br />
[[Category:Timelines]]<br />
[[Category:Geology]]<br />
[[Category:Volcanoes]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1916:_Temperature_Preferences&diff=1864731916: Temperature Preferences2020-01-26T06:38:41Z<p>Peregrine: Added section about the "smudge" in the original version.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1916<br />
| date = November 15, 2017<br />
| title = Temperature Preferences<br />
| image = temperature_preferences.png<br />
| titletext = There's a supposed Mark Twain quote, "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." It isn't really by Mark Twain, but I don't know who said it—I just know they've never been to McMurdo Station.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This is a chart of major (and not-so-major) populated areas showing seasonal temperature patterns. The chart is a guide to where one might like to live depending on how much summer heat and winter cold they enjoy. There are four focused zones:<br />
<br />
* Hate both cold and heat -- Neither summers nor winters are too extreme. These are either places at high altitude in the tropics (e.g. Quito, Addis Ababa) or areas at mid latitudes in Mediterranean climates (e.g. San Francisco, Wellington). All of these areas (as well as cities near this zone such as Mexico City and Melbourne) have a climate type of C-b in the Koppen Climate Classification, indicating a temperate climate with a warm summer.<br />
* Hate cold but love heat -- Very hot in the summer. These are all either tropical regions with a latitude of 23°26’ or less (e.g. Rio, Bangkok, Manila) or desert areas very near the tropics (e.g. Needles, Baghdad). These areas all have a climate type of A-, indicating a tropical rainforest, savanna, or monsoon climate; or a classification of B-h, indicating a hot desert or arid climate. All cities listed with a Af/Am/Aw climate type fall in this zone.<br />
* Hate heat but love cold -- Very cold in the winter. These are typically places at high latitudes (e.g. Moscow, Oslo), with almost none of the places listed below 40°, and the average latitude being 51°. These areas tend of have a climate type of B-k, indicating a cold desert or steppe, or D-b, indicating a continental climate with a warm summer. Some of coldest places, including those off of the chart, have a climate of Dfc subarctic (e.g. Fairbanks and Yellowknife) or EF ice cap (McMurdo).<br />
* Love both heat and cold -- Both summers and winters are extreme. These places are either in the inland of North America (e.g. Sioux Falls, Kansas City) where there is no nearby ocean to buffer temperatures; or, interestingly, clustered around the Yellow Sea (e.g. Seoul, Beijing). These places are almost all climate type D-a, indicating a continental climate with a hot summer. Turpan, the place farthest toward the love heat/love cold corner, has a climate so miserable that it meets the requirements for both climate type BWk (cold desert) and BWh (hot desert) at the same time.<br />
<br />
The summer heat axis is determined by {{w|humidex}}, a system that combines heat and humidity to generate an estimate of perceived "summer discomfort".<br />
<br />
Note that if the values from this table are charted, the result is similar but not exact to how Randall drew the comic. For instance, he shows Kinshasa as having a “colder” winter than Honolulu, but the average low in the coldest month for Kinshasa (20°C) is hotter than the average low in Honolulu (18.9°C). In general these differences are minor, but a few stand out:<br />
<br />
* Lubbock is shown having a climate similar to Geneva or Budapest, but in reality it should be in the “Love Cold and Love Heat” zone. The coldness of the winter is accurately reflected, but the hottest month Humidex is similar to Xi’an or Saint Louis.<br />
* Casper is shown in the “Love Cold and Hate Heat” zone, but its summers are much warmer than shown. It should be closer to Toronto, both have a peak month Humidex of around 30-31°C.<br />
* Omaha should be in the “Love Cold and Love Heat” zone. Its hottest month Humidex of 37.2 is warmer than Jinzou, which has a similar coldest month.<br />
* Los Angeles should be in the “Hate Cold and Hate Heat” zone. Its hottest month Humidex is only 26.7, which is less than Mexico City or Nairobi.<br />
* Flagstaff and Santa Fe are shown as having warmer winters than they do. They should be grouped with Boston, Kabul and Sapporo (average coldest month low of -5°C to -8°C) rather than Istanbul, Madrid and Portland (average coldest month low of 1°C to 2°C)<br />
<br />
It is not certain if these differences are a due to errors, the use of a different data set, or deliberate “Easter Eggs” set to see if anyone would notice.<br />
<br />
According to Randall:<br />
* People who love cold should live where the average low in the coldest month is -3°C or less. <br />
* People who love heat should live where the hottest month Humidex is at least 33°C (in otherwise cold places such as Minneapolis) to 38°C (in otherwise hot places such as Honolulu). <br />
* People who hate cold should live where the average low in the coldest month is higher than 3°C. <br />
* People who hate heat should live where the hottest month Humidex is less than 29°C.<br />
<br />
However, given the great variability of weather patterns across the globe, it's not altogether clear how useful this would actually be to someone looking to choose where to live, since it's not clear exactly what "love/hate hot/cold" would mean. It's also not clear that the relationship between temperature and discomfort is linear. More likely is that there is a small temperature band where each degree of change causes significantly more discomfort, and beyond which it's just "too hot/cold".<br />
<br />
Hottest and coldest month therefore may not be the best measure. For example, is one or two very cold days better or worse than a month's worth of moderately cold days? Shown in the table below for each place are the number of days above 32°C (90°F) and the number of days below 0°C (32°F), taken from Weatherbase.com (Randall's source). For most people a temperature above 32°C is considered hot and a temperature below 0°C is considered cold. So, for instance, someone who loves heat might want to live in Tehran (with three months above 32°C) rather than Beijing (with only one month) even though the peak month Humidex in Beijing is higher. Someone who loves cold might want to live in Santa Fe, where it never gets particularly cold (only -8°C) but where it is below freezing almost half of the year (179.8 days on average). In general though, the places with the most hot or cold days also have the hottest and coldest extremes.<br />
<br />
Once again, Turpan stands out for its misery, with days above 32°C totaling four months and days below 0°C totaling four months. In fact, on average there is at least one day every month of the year that the temperature is either above 32°C or below 0°C. This includes almost every day in June, July and August being hot and every single day in December, January and February being below freezing.<br />
<br />
Some of the most extreme climates on earth are not shown on this comic, however, perhaps because some of them are uninhabited. {{w|Eismitte}} (a camp established in the center of Greenland in the 1930s) and {{w|Vostok Station}} (in the center of Antarctica) both see temperatures far colder than McMurdo, although being in the middle of ice caps neither can be inhabited without outside support. The areas around {{w|Oymyakon}} and {{w|Verkhoyansk}} in eastern Siberia also see temperatures colder than McMurdo and are actual towns, although summer temperatures are much higher. In both places the summer weather is generally average (Humidex of 22°C to 23°C) but they have seen record highs of 34°C to 37°C and record lows of almost -68°C, giving them the greatest temperature swings on earth. {{w|Bouvet Island}} is a small island in the South Atlantic Ocean, near the latitude where there are no land masses to interrupt storms and currents (south of South America but north of Antarctica). As a result it has one of the most consistent climates on earth, with a high and low almost always within a few degrees of 0°C all year long – a perpetual state of almost to just freezing, combined with clouds, fog, wind and rain from ocean storms. {{w|Death Valley}} in California, {{w|Shahdad}} in Iran, and {{w|Murzuk}} in Libya all vie for having the highest temperature in the world, although not the highest Humidex.<br />
<br />
The relevant temperature data for these extreme locations, where known, is in the second table for comparison.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to a quote sometimes attributed to {{w|Mark Twain}}; however, as it points out, the quote is [https://www.snopes.com/quotes/twain.asp misattributed], and it is unknown who created it. The text then goes on to claim that the person who originally said the quote never visited {{w|McMurdo Station}}, a US Antarctic research center, which is certainly a colder place than San Francisco.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable"<br />
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | City<br />
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Country<br />
! Continent<br />
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Preference Type<br />
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Average low in coldest month (°C)<br />
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Average high in hottest month (°C)<br />
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Highest monthly average dew point (°C)<br />
! Humidex<br />
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Average Annual Days Below 0°C<br />
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Average Annual Days Above 32°C<br />
! Latitude<br />
! Elevation (m)<br />
! Koppen Climate Classification<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Abakan}} || Russia || Asia || || -22 || 26 || 13 || 28.8 || 207 || 6 || 53° 43′ N || 240 || Dwb (humid continental) / BSk (cold semi-arid)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Addis Ababa}} || Ethiopia || Africa || Hate Both || 10 || 22 || 11 || 23.8 || 0 || 0 || 9° 1′ N || 2355 || Cwb (subtropical highland)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Altay}} || China || Asia || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -22 || 27 || 8 || 27.4 || 181 || 13 || 47° 52′ N || 887 || BSk (cold semi-arid)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Athens}} || Greece || Europe || || 7 || 31.8 || 14 || 35.2 || 2 || 34 || 37° 59′ N || 70 || Csa (hot Mediterranean)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Atlanta}} || United States || North America || || 1.3 || 31.7 || 20.1 || 39.4 || 36.3 || 35.7 || 33° 45′ N || 225 || Cfa (humid subtropical)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Baghdad}} || Iraq || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 3 || 43 || 8 || 43.4 || 15 || 178 || 33° 20′ N || 34 || BWh (hot desert)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Bangkok}} || Thailand || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 21 || 34 || 24 || 45.3 || 0 || || 13° 45′ N || 1.5 || Aw (tropical savanna)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Barcelona}} || Spain || Europe || || 4.4 || 28 || 18 || 34 || 6 || 1 || 41° 23′ N || 12 || Cfa (humid subtropical) / Csa (hot Mediterranean)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Beijing}} || China || Asia || Love Both || -8 || 30 || 20 || 37.6 || 121 || 30 || 39° 55′ N || 43.5 || Dwa (hot wet summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Berlin}} || Germany || Europe || || -3 || 22 || 11 || 23.8 || 97 || 0 || 53° 31′ N || 34 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Blagoveshchensk}} || Russia || Asia || || -26.2 || 27.3 || 16 || 31.9 || 204 || 3 || 50° 15′ N || || Dwa (hot wet summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Bogotá}} || Colombia || South America || Hate Both || 6 || 19 || 10 || 20.3 || 0 || 0 || 4° 42′ N || 2640 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Boston}} || United States || North America || || -5.4 || 27.6 || 16.3 || 32.4 || 97.7 || 12.5 || 42° 21′ N || 43 || Dfb (warm summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Brisbane}} || Australia || Oceania || || 9 || 28 || 18 || 34 || 0 || 9 || 27° 28′ S || 28 || Cfa (humid subtropical)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Budapest}} || Hungary || Europe || || -3 || 26 || 12 || 28.3 || 100 || 7 || 47° 29′ N || 96 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Buenos Aires}} || Argentina || South America || || 7.4 || 30.4 || 16 || 35 || 14 || 21 || 34° 36′ S || 25 || Cfa (humid subtropical)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Cairo}} || Egypt || Africa || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 9 || 33 || 18 || 39 || 0 || 125 || 30° 2′ N || 23 || BWh (hot desert)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Calgary}} || Canada || North America || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -13.2 || 23.2 || 7 || 23.2 || 194.4 || 4.5 || 51° 3′ N || 1045 || Dwb (warm wet summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Cape Town}} || South Africa || Africa || || 8 || 25 || 15 || 29 || 0 || 6 || 33° 59′ S || 42 || Csb (warm Mediterranean)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Casper}} || United States || North America || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -10.3 || 31.2 || 6.8 || 31.1 || 183.4 || 30.6 || 42° 51′ N || 1560 || Bsk (cold semi-arid)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Chengdu}} || China || Asia || || 2 || 28 || 22 || 37.3 || 12 || 14 || 30° 29′ N || 500 || Cwa (dry winter humid subtropical)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Dallas}} || United States || North America || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 3 || 36 || 19.4 || 43.1 || 29.3 || 95 || 32° 46′ N || 131 || Cfa (humid subtropical)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Da Qaidam}} || China || Asia || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -23 || 22 || -6 || 18.6 || 242 || 0 || 37° 50′ N || 3174 || Bwk (cold desert)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Dar es Salaam}} || Tanzania || Africa || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 19 || 31 || 23 || 41.3 || 0 || 0 || 6° 48′ S || 24 || Aw (tropical savanna)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|DC}} || United States || North America || || -1.9 || 31.3 || 19.1 || 38.1 || 60.6 || 31 || 38° 54′ N || 50 || Cfa (humid subtropical)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Delhi}} || India || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 7.8 || 39.8 || 24 || 51.1 || 0 || 174 || 28° 36′ N || 225 || Cwa (dry winter humid subtropical) / BSh (hot semi-arid)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Dhaka}} || Bangladesh || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 12.7 || 33.7 || 25 || 46 || 0 || 91 || 23° 42′ N || 4 || Aw (tropical savanna)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Dubai}} || United Arab Emirates || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 14 || 39 || 23 || 49.3 || 0 || 200 || 25° 15′ N || 16 || BWh (hot desert)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Dublin}} || Ireland || Europe || || 2.3 || 19.5 || 11 || 21.3 || 23 || 0 || 53° 21′ N || 43 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Duluth}} || United States || North America || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -16.1 || 23.4 || 13.3 || 26.4 || 159.8 || 1.1 || 46° 47′ N || 214 || Dfb (warm summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Edinburgh}} || United Kingdom || Europe || || 1.1 || 19.2 || 10 || 20.5 || 60 || 0 || 55° 57′ N || 47 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|El Paso}} || United States || North America || || -0.3 || 35.6 || 12.8 || 38.3 || 55.8 || 107.3 || 31° 47′ N || 1140 || BWk (cold desert) / BWh (hot desert)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Fairbanks}} || United States || North America || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -27.2 || 22.6 || 9.8 || 23.8 || 223.6 || 0.3 || 64° 50′ N || 136 || Dfc (subarctic)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Fargo}} || United States || North America || || -17.7 || 28.1 || 15.1 || 32.1 || 172 || 11.6 || 46° 52′ N || 274 || Dfb (warm summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Flagstaff}} || United States || North America || || -7.3 || 30.9 || 8.2 || 31.4 || 168.1 || 17.6 || 35° 11′ N || 2106 || Dsb (warm dry summer continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Geneva}} || Switzerland || Europe || || -1.3 || 26.5 || 12 || 28.8 || 90 || 3 || 46° 12′ N || 1230 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Guangzhou}} || China || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 10 || 32 || 25 || 44.3 || 0 || 71 || 23° 8′ N || 21 || Cfa (humid subtropical)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Hailar}} || China || Asia || || -32 || 25 || 13 || 27.8 || 225 || 2 || 49° 12′ N || 614 || Dwb (warm wet summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Halifax}} || Canada || North America || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -10 || 22 || 13 || 24.8 || 156 || 0 || 44° 38′ N || 18 || Dfb (warm summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Ho Chi Minh City}} || Vietnam || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 22 || 33 || 23 || 43.3 || 0 || 7 || 10° 46′ N || 19 || Aw (tropical savanna)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Hong Kong}} || Hong Kong || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 14 || 31 || 24 || 42.3 || 0 || 53 || 22° 17′ N || 40 || Cwa (dry winter humid subtropical)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Honolulu}} || United States || North America || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 18.9 || 31.1 || 20.1 || 38.8 || 0 || 19 || 21° 18′ N || 6 || BSh (hot semi-arid)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Houston}} || United States || North America || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 6.2 || 34.7 || 22.7 || 44.7 || 9.7 || 102.4 || 29° 45′ N || 32 || Cfa (humid subtropical)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Irkutsk}} || Russia || Asia || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -22 || 24.8 || 12 || 27.1 || 231 || 0 || 52° 17′ N || 436 || Dwc (wet summer subarctic)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Istanbul}} || Turkey || Europe* || || 2 || 27 || 16 || 31.6 || 21 || 5 || 41° 0′ N || 39 || Csa - Cfa - Cfb<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Jakarta}} || Indonesia || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 23 || 31 || 23 || 41.3 || 0 || 0 || 6° 12′ S || 8 || Am (tropical monsoon)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Jerusalem}} || Israel || Asia || || 6.4 || 29.4 || 15 || 33.4 || 7 || 10 || 31° 47′ N || 754 || Csa (hot Mediterranean)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Jinzhou}} || China || Asia || Love Both || -12 || 27 || 20 || 34.6 || 141 || 6 || 41° 7′ N || 24 || Dwa (hot wet summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Kabul}} || Afghanistan || Asia || || -5 || 31 || 8 || 31.4 || 97 || 32 || 34° 32′ N || 1791 || BSk (cold semi-arid)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Kansas City}} || United States || North America || Love Both || -6.9 || 31.3 || 19.6 || 38.5 || 104.3 || 32.6 || 39° 6′ N || 210 || Cfa (humid subtropical)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Karachi}} || Pakistan || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 12 || 33 || 25 || 45.3 || 0 || 159 || 24° 51′ N || 8 || BWh (hot desert)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Kiev}} || Ukraine || Europe || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -9 || 23 || 12 || 25.3 || 145 || 0 || 50° 27′ N || 179 || Dfb (warm summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Kinshasa}} || Democratic Republic of the Congo || Africa || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 20 || 30 || 21 || 38.4 || 0 || 0 || 4° 19′ S || 240 || Aw (tropical savanna)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Lagos}} || Nigeria || Africa || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 23 || 30 || 23 || 40.3 || 0 || 0 || 6° 27′ N || 41 || Aw (tropical savanna)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Lahore}} || Pakistan || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 8 || 38 || 24 || 49.3 || 0 || 155 || 31° 32′ N || 217 || BSh (hot semi-arid)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|London}} || United Kingdom || Europe || || 1 || 22.9 || 12 || 25.2 || 64 || 0 || 51° 30′ N || 35 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Los Angeles}} || United States || North America || || 13 || 22 || 16.2 || 26.7 || 0.1 || 19.5 || 34° 3′ N || 93 || Csa (hot Mediterranean)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Lubbock}} || United States || North America || || -3.6 || 33.8 || 15.9 || 38.3 || 93.3 || 86.8 || 33° 34′ N || 992 || BSk (cold semi-arid)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Madrid}} || Spain || Europe || || 2.6 || 31.2 || 11 || 33 || 59 || 52 || 40° 23′ N || 667 || Csa (hot Mediterranean)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Manila}} || Philippines || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 21 || 33 || 23 || 43.3 || 0 || 122 || 14° 35′ N || 5 || Aw (tropical savanna)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|McMurdo}} || || Antarctica || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -31 || -1 || -8 || -4.7 || 365 || 0 || 77° 50′ S || 10 || EF (ice cap)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Melbourne}} || Australia || Oceania || || 5 || 26 || 12 || 28.3 || 2 || 19 || 37° 48′ S || 31 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Mexico City}} || Mexico || North America || || 7 || 26 || 11 || 27.8 || 0 || 0 || 19° 26′ N || 2250 || Cwb (subtropical highland)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Miami}} || United States || North America || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 15.5 || 32.8 || 23.4 || 43.5 || 0.1 || 79.8 || 25° 46′ N || 3.5 || Am (tropical monsoon)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Minneapolis}} || United States || North America || Love Both || -13.6 || 28.6 || 15.8 || 33.1 || 147.7 || 10.7 || 44° 59′ N || 264 || Dfa (hot summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Moscow}} || Russia || Europe || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -11 || 21 || 12 || 23.3 || 174 || 0 || 55° 45′ N || 190 || Dfb (warm summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Mumbai}} || India || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 16.7 || 33.5 || 25 || 45.8 || 0 || 122 || 18° 58′ N || 14 || Aw (tropical savanna)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Nairobi}} || Kenya || Africa || || 12 || 26 || 15 || 30 || 0 || 0 || 1° 17′ S || 1623.5 || Cwb (subtropical highland)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Needles}} || United States || North America || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 4 || 39 || 11 || 40.8 || 8 || 165 || 34° 50′ N || 151 || BWh (hot desert)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Omaha}} || United States || North America || || -10.2 || 30.7 || 18.6 || 37.2 || 136.1 || 28 || 41° 15′ N || 332 || Dfa (hot summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Oslo}} || Norway || Europe || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -7 || 21 || 10 || 22.3 || 148 || 0 || 59° 57′ N || 23 || Dfb (warm summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Ottawa}} || Canada || North America || || -14.4 || 26.6 || 13 || 29.4 || 149.6 || 10.3 || 45° 25′ N || 70 || Dfb (warm summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Paris}} || France || Europe || || 2.7 || 25.2 || 12 || 27.5 || 50 || 3 || 48° 51′ N || 35 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Perth}} || Australia || Oceania || || 7 || 31 || 12 || 33.3 || 0 || 50 || 31° 57′ N || 26 || Csa (hot Mediterranean)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Portland}} || United States || North America || || 1.8 || 27.3 || 12.4 || 29.8 || 29.6 || 12 || 45° 36′ N || 6 || Csb (warm Mediterranean)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Pyongyang}} || North Korea || Asia || Love Both || -10 || 28 || 20 || 35.6 || 127 || 5 || 39° 1′ N || 38 || Dwa (hot wet summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Qiqihar}} || China || Asia || || -23 || 27 || 17 || 32.3 || 186 || 6 || 47° 21′ N || 147 || Dwa (hot wet summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Quito}} || Ecuador || South America || Hate Both || 9 || 19 || 9 || 19.8 || 0 || 0 || 0° 14′ S || 2850 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Raleigh}} || United States || North America || || -0.6 || 32.3 || 20.3 || 40.1 || 60.7 || 46.8 || 35° 47′ N || 119 || Cfa (humid subtropical)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Regina}} || Canada || North America || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -23 || 26 || 12 || 28.3 || 210.9 || 16.4 || 50° 27′ N || 577 || Dfb (warm summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Reykjavik}} || Iceland || Europe || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -2 || 12 || 7 || 12 || 133 || 0 || 64° 7′ N || 39 || Cfc (subpolar oceanic)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Richmond}} || United States || North America || || -2.1 || 32.1 || 19.8 || 39.5 || 73.5 || 42 || 37° 32′ N || 46 || Cfa (humid subtropical)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Rio}} || Brazil || South America || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 16.9 || 32.9 || 21 || 41.3 || 0 || 129 || 22° 54′ S || 6 || Aw (tropical savanna)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Riyadh}} || Saudi Arabia || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 8 || 42 || 4 || 41 || 0 || 205 || 24° 38′ N || 612 || BWh (hot desert)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Rome}} || Italy || Europe || || 3.7 || 28.7 || 4 || 27.7 || 15.6 || 4 || 41° 54′ N || 21 || Csa (hot Mediterranean)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Sabha}} || Libya || Africa || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 5 || 40 || 11 || 41.8 || 5 || 171 || 27° 2′ N || 420 || BWh (hot desert)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Saint Louis}} || United States || North America || Love Both || -4.6 || 31.7 || 19.4 || 38.8 || 86.3 || 45.9 || 38° 37′ N || 142 || Dfa (hot summer humid continental) / Cfa (humid subtropical)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Salt Lake City}} || United States || North America || Love Both || -5.8 || 33.7 || 7.7 || 34 || 112.8 || 52.1 || 40° 47′ N || 1286 || Dfa (hot summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|San Francisco}} || United States || North America || Hate Both || 7.6 || 20.6 || N/A || || 0.2 || 2.4 || 37° 47′ N || 16 || Csb (warm Mediterranean)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Santa Fe}} || United States || North America || || -8 || 32.3 || 10 || 33.6 || 179.8 || 43.5 || 35° 40′ N || 2194 || BSk (cold semi-arid)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Santiago}} || Chile || South America || || 2 || 29 || 11 || 30.8 || 31 || 16 || 33° 27′ S || 521 || Csb (warm Mediterranean)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Sao Paulo}} || Brazil || South America || || 12 || 28 || 18 || 34 || 0 || 16 || 23° 37′ S || 802 || Cfa (humid subtropical)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Sapporo}} || Japan || Asia || || -7 || 26.4 || 18 || 32.4 || 136 || 2 || 43° 4′ N || 26 || Dfa (hot summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Seoul}} || South Korea || Asia || Love Both || -6 || 28 || 20 || 35.6 || 92 || 7 || 37° 34′ N || 38 || Dwa (hot wet summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Shanghai}} || China || Asia || || 1 || 31 || 24 || 42.3 || 36 || 30 || 31° 14′ N || 4 || Cfa (humid subtropical)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Shenyang}} || China || Asia || Love Both || -15 || 28 || 20 || 35.6 || 149 || 6 || 41° 48′ N || 55 || Dwa (hot wet summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Singapore}} || Singapore || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 23 || 31 || 25 || 43.3 || 0 || 0 || 1° 17′ N || 2 || Af (tropical rainforest)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Sioux Falls}} || United States || North America || Love Both || -13.9 || 28.9 || 16.8 || 34 || 164.3 || 13.8 || 43° 34′ N || 432 || Dfa (hot summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|St Petersburg}} || Russia || Europe || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -9 || 21 || 12 || 23.3 || 153 || 0 || 59° 57′ N || 4 || Dfb (warm summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Stockholm}} || Sweden || Europe || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -6 || 21 || 10 || 22.3 || 151 || 0 || 59° 39′ N || 60 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Sydney}} || Australia || Oceania || || 6 || 26 || 16 || 30.6 || 0 || 12 || 31° 51′ S || 19 || Cfa (humid subtropical)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Tashkent}} || Uzbekistan || Asia || || -1.5 || 35.7 || 12 || 38 || 67 || 80 || 41° 16′ N || 455 || Csa (hot Mediterranean)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Tehran}} || Iran || Asia || || -1 || 36 || 6 || 35.6 || 50 || 95 || 35° 41′ N || 900 || Bsk (cold semi-arid)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Thunder Bay}} || Canada || North America || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -20 || 23 || 13 || 25.8 || 195.9 || 2.6 || 48° 22′ N || 199 || Dfb (warm summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Tokyo}} || Japan || Asia || || 2.5 || 29.4 || 22 || 38.7 || 21 || 17 || 35° 41′ N || 40 || Cfa (humid subtropical)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Tongliao}} || China || Asia || Love Both || -20 || 29 || 18 || 35 || 177.8 || 18.7 || 43° 37′ N || 179 || BSk (cold semi-arid)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Toronto}} || Canada || North America || || -10.2 || 27.1 || 14 || 30.5 || 148.5 || 4 || 43° 42′ N || 76 || Dfa (hot summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Turpan}} || China || Asia || Love Both || -15 || 39 || 11 || 40.8 || 129.8 || 128.4 || 42° 56′ N || 30 || BWk (cold desert) / BWh (hot desert)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Ulaanbaatar}} || Mongolia || Asia || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -25 || 21 || 8 || 21.4 || 222 || 0 || 47° 55′ N || 1350 || BSk (cold semi-arid) / Dwc (subarctic)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Ürümqi}} || China || Asia || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -15 || 28 || 8 || 28.4 || 154 || 18 || 43° 49′ N || 1961 || BSk (cold semi-arid)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Vancouver}} || Canada || North America || || 0.3 || 26.2 || N/A || || 40.9 || 0.2 || 49° 15′ N || 0–152 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Vladivostok}} || Russia || Asia || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -15.3 || 23.3 || 17 || 28.6 || 154 || 0 || 40° 8′ N || 40 || Dwb (warm wet summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Volgograd}} || Russia || Europe || || -9.2 || 29.3 || N/A || || 146 || 11 || 48° 42′ N || 36 || Dfa (hot summer humid continental)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Wellington}} || New Zealand || Oceania || Hate Both || 6.3 || 20.6 || 12 || 22.9 || 0 || 0 || 41° 17′ S || 495 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Wuhan}} || China || Asia || || 2 || 32 || 24 || 43.3 || 35 || 49 || 30° 35′ N || 37 || Cfa (humid subtropical)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Xi'an}} || China || Asia || Love Both || -3 || 30 || 20 || 37.6 || 88 || 39 || 34° 16′ N || 405 || BSk (semi-arid) / Cwa (humid subtropical)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Yellowknife}} || Canada || North America || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -29.5 || 21.3 || 7 || 21.3 || 224.5 || 0.5 || 62° 26′ N || 206 || Dfc (subarctic)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Yumen}} || China || Asia || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -15 || 28 || 7 || 28 || 176 || 7 || 39° 50′ N || 2237 || BWk (cold desert)<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
*Istanbul spans both Europe and Asia but its city center is located in Europe.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable"<br />
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | City<br />
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Country<br />
! Continent<br />
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Preference Type<br />
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Average low in coldest month (°C)<br />
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Average high in hottest month (°C)<br />
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Highest monthly average dew point (°C)<br />
! Humidex<br />
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Average Annual Days Below 0°C<br />
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Average Annual Days Above 32°C<br />
! Latitude<br />
! Elevation (m)<br />
! Koppen Climate Classification<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Bouvet Island}} || Norway (dependency) || South Atlantic || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -5 || 4 || 0.5 || 2 || || || 54° 25′ S || 780 || EF (ice cap)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Death Valley}} || United States || North America || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 3.8 || 46.4 || 4 || 45.4 || 4.3 || 191.8 || 36° 14′ N || -86 || BWh (hot desert)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Eismitte}} || Greenland || North America || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -53 || -12 || -13 || -16.3 || 365 || 0 || 71° 9′ N || 3010 || EF (ice cap)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Murzuk}} || Libya || Africa || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 5.9 || 42.4 || 16.5 || 47.3 || || || 25° 54′ N || 453 || BWh (hot desert)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Oymyakon}} || Russia || Asia || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -50 || 22.7 || 6 || 22.3 || 273 || 0 || 63° 27′ N || 750 || Dwd (cold wet summer subarctic)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Shahdad}} || Iran || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 7.7 || 46.1 || || || || || 30° 25′ N || 452 || BWh (hot desert)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Verkhoyansk}} || Russia || Asia || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -48.3 || 23.5 || 6 || 23.1 || || || 67° 33′ N || 142 || Dfd (cold subarctic)<br />
|-<br />
| {{w|Vostok Station}} || || Antarctica || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -75 || -30 || -37 || -35.4 || 365 || 0 || 78° 27′ S || 3419 || EF (ice cap)<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Original version===<br />
[[File:temperature_preferences_smudge.png|frame|The "smudge" from the original comic, edited to enhance visibility]]<br />
<br />
The [[:File:temperature_preferences_original.png|comic as originally published]] had a "smudge" or scattering of gray pixels, visible in the center of the image between the labels for Madrid and Lubbock. A new version of the image was later uploaded with this removed.<br />
<br />
By editing the image to increase the contrast between the background and the "smudge", as shown here, it is possible to see dots and grid lines. This would seem to be a scatter graph, likely one showing temperature data used by Randall as a reference while making this comic, and accidentally left visible when the comic was first uploaded. A similar thing happened in [[1561: Water Phase Diagram]], where a phase diagram from Wikipedia was faintly visible in the [[1561: Water Phase Diagram#Original version|original version of the comic]].<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[A chart labeled:]<br />
:<big>Where to live</big><br />
:based on your temperature preferences<br />
:[In gray, the data source is mentioned below:]<br />
:Climate data from [http://weatherbase.com weatherbase.com]<br />
<br />
:[A chart with two lines with single arrows. Each arrow is labeled:]<br />
:Y axis bottom: Cold winters<br />
:X axis right: Hot/humid summers (measured via Humidex, which combines heat and dew point)<br />
<br />
:[Near each of the corners of the chart there is a gray blob, labeled:]<br />
:Top left: If you hate cold and heat<br />
:Top right: If you hate cold and love heat<br />
:Bottom left: If you love cold and hate heat<br />
:Bottom right: If you love cold and heat<br />
<br />
:[The following city names intersect with the top left blob [hate cold and heat] (in reading order):]<br />
:Mexico City<br />
:Quito<br />
:Addis Ababa<br />
:Bogotá<br />
:San Francisco<br />
:Wellington<br />
<br />
:[The following city names intersect with the top right blob [hate cold and love heat] (in reading order):]<br />
:Bangkok<br />
:Ho Chi Minh City<br />
:Manila<br />
:Singapore<br />
:Mumbai<br />
:Jakarta<br />
:Dar Es Salaam<br />
:Honolulu<br />
:Lagos<br />
:Rio [de Janeiro]<br />
:Dhaka<br />
:Kinhasa<br />
:Miami<br />
:Karachi<br />
:Dubai<br />
:Cairo<br />
:Hong Kong<br />
:Delhi<br />
:Riyadh<br />
:Guangzhou<br />
:Lahore<br />
:Sabha<br />
:Houston<br />
:Needles<br />
:El Paso<br />
:Baghdad<br />
:Dallas<br />
<br />
:[The following city names intersect with the bottom left blob [love cold and hate heat] (in reading order):]<br />
:Reykjavik (with arrow pointing left)<br />
:Berlin<br />
:Stockholm<br />
:Oslo<br />
:Calgary<br />
:Halifax<br />
:Daqaidam<br />
:Kiev<br />
:Casper<br />
:Yumen<br />
:St Petersburg<br />
:Volgograd<br />
:Moscow<br />
:Ottawa<br />
:Vladivostok<br />
:Thunder Bay<br />
:Duluth<br />
:Urumqi<br />
:Altay<br />
:Regina<br />
:Irkutsk<br />
:Abakan<br />
:Ulaanbaatar<br />
:Blagoveshchensk (also on bottom right blob)<br />
:Fairbanks<br />
:McMurdo (with arrow pointing down-left)<br />
:Yellowknife (with arrow pointing down)<br />
:Hailar<br />
<br />
:[The following city names intersect with the bottom right blob [love cold and heat] (in reading order):]<br />
:[Washington] DC<br />
:Shanghai<br />
:Tehran<br />
:Saint Louis<br />
:New York<br />
:Xi'An<br />
:Salt Lake City<br />
:Kansas City<br />
:Beijing<br />
:Seoul<br />
:Sapporo<br />
:Pyongyang<br />
:Sioux Falls<br />
:Turpan<br />
:Jinzhou<br />
:Minneapolis<br />
:Shenyang<br />
:Fargo<br />
:Tongliao<br />
:Qiqihar<br />
:Blagoveshchensk (also on bottom left blob)<br />
<br />
:[The following city names do not intersect with any blob (in reading order):]<br />
:Nairobi<br />
:São Paulo<br />
:Brisbane<br />
:Los Angeles<br />
:Perth<br />
:Cape Town<br />
:Sydney<br />
:Athens<br />
:Santiago<br />
:Barcelona<br />
:Melbourne<br />
:Rome<br />
:Buenos Aires<br />
:Jerusalem<br />
:Atlanta<br />
:Raleigh<br />
:Madrid<br />
:Chengdu<br />
:Tokyo<br />
:Dublin<br />
:Portland<br />
:Richmond<br />
:London<br />
:Istanbul<br />
:Edinburgh<br />
:Vancouver<br />
:Paris<br />
:Flagstaff<br />
:Santa Fe<br />
:Tashkent<br />
:Wuhan<br />
:Geneva<br />
:Lubbock<br />
:Boston<br />
:Budapest<br />
:Kabul<br />
:Toronto<br />
:Omaha<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Scatter plots]]<br />
[[Category:Weather]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=File:temperature_preferences_smudge.png&diff=186472File:temperature preferences smudge.png2020-01-26T06:28:39Z<p>Peregrine: A cropped and edited section of :File:temperature_preferences_original.png, showing that the "smudge" that was noticed in the original picture appears to be a graph. The gamma was decreased and the brightness increased.</p>
<hr />
<div>== Summary ==<br />
A cropped and edited section of [[:File:temperature_preferences_original.png]], showing that the "smudge" that was noticed in the original picture appears to be a graph. The gamma was decreased and the brightness increased.<br />
== Licensing ==<br />
{{XKCD file derived}}</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=File:temperature_preferences_original.png&diff=186471File:temperature preferences original.png2020-01-26T06:19:13Z<p>Peregrine: </p>
<hr />
<div>== Licensing ==<br />
{{XKCD file}}</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1310:_Goldbach_Conjectures&diff=1864701310: Goldbach Conjectures2020-01-26T05:58:32Z<p>Peregrine: Typo: p=with -> panels with</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1310<br />
| date = December 30, 2013<br />
| title = Goldbach Conjectures<br />
| image = goldbach_conjectures.png<br />
| titletext = The weak twin primes conjecture states that there are infinitely many pairs of primes. The strong twin primes conjecture states that every prime p has a twin prime (p+2), although (p+2) may not look prime at first. The tautological prime conjecture states that the tautological prime conjecture is true.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
In mathematics, a pair of related conjectures may be described as "strong" and "weak" (or often, a normal statement and a "weak" one). A strong conjecture, if true, can be used to easily prove the weaker one, but not vice versa (i.e. if the weak statement is true, that alone isn't enough to prove that the strong one is also true). Conversely, if the weak conjecture is false, that is enough to prove the stronger one false as well, but not vice versa. Weak conjectures are often easier to prove than related strong ones.<br />
<br />
Goldbach's {{w|Goldbach's weak conjecture|weak}} and {{w|Goldbach's conjecture|strong}} conjectures are a pair of real, unsolved problems relating to {{w|prime number}}s (a number with exactly two positive divisors, 1 and itself). The comic states these under the labels "weak" and "strong".<br />
* Goldbach's weak conjecture says that every odd number above 5 can be written as the sum of three prime numbers. A computer-aided proof of this was completed in 2013, but it is not yet clear whether the proof has been accepted as correct.<br />
* Goldbach's strong conjecture (more often, simply "Goldbach's conjecture") says that every even number above 2 can be written as the sum of two prime numbers. If true, this would automatically make the weak conjecture true as well, because every odd number above 5 can be written as an even number above 2 (equal to two primes), plus 3 (the third prime).<br />
<br />
Randall's further conjectures extend this to a whole series of progressively "weaker" and "stronger" statements. His weak conjectures are so weak that they are obviously true; his strong conjectures are so restrictive that they are obviously false. However, for the most part, they really do maintain the weak-strong relationship.<br />
* The "very strong" conjecture says that every odd number is prime. This is false, because some odd numbers are {{w|Composite_number|composite}} (e.g. 9, 15, 21), and composite numbers are not prime. But if this conjecture ''were'' true, it would make Goldbach's (strong) conjecture true as well, because every even number can be written as the sum of two odd numbers (which, by this "conjecture", are prime).<br />
* The "extremely strong" conjecture says that numbers stop at 7. {{w|8|This is false}}, but if it ''were'' true, it might make the above conjecture true as well: 9 is the first odd composite number, so stopping at 7 would eliminate all odd composite numbers. (1 is neither prime nor composite, but it ''has'' been counted as a prime number in the past. Randall may have meant 1 to be an unspoken exception, or he may be returning to the older definition that included 1 as prime.)<br />
* In the other direction, the "very weak" conjecture says that every number above 7 can be written as the sum of two other numbers. This is true, but as it says nothing about primes, it isn't enough to prove Goldbach's weak conjecture. The weak conjecture being true would automatically make this one true, though (if we didn't already know it was true).<br />
* The "extremely weak" conjecture says that "numbers just keep going". This is true, but it may not actually be implied by the above conjectures. Those say that numbers above 7 have certain properties, without ''requiring'' that such numbers exist. This may seem like a nitpicky point, but mathematicians love those; also it causes problems, because the "extremely strong" and "extremely weak" conjectures contradict each other. If the other conjectures were rewritten to say "these numbers exist, ''and'' have these properties", then they would imply this "extremely weak" conjecture, but then the "extremely strong" one would have to be stricken off.<br />
<br />
The title text gives the same treatment to the {{w|Twin prime|twin prime conjecture}}, which says that there are infinitely many pairs of primes ''where one is 2 more than the other'' (e.g. 3 and 5). The title text adds a "weak" conjecture, according to which there are simply infinitely many pairs of primes (with no mention of distance between them). This is true; {{w|Euclid's theorem}} says that there are an infinite number of primes, and so you can simply pick any two (e.g. 5 and 13) and call them a pair.<br />
<br />
It also adds a "strong" conjecture where ''every'' prime is now a twin prime. This is easily proven false; for example, 23 is prime, but 25 is not. However, Randall adds a humorous {{w|hedge (linguistics)|hedge}} that some prime numbers "may not look prime at first".<br />
<br />
Lastly, the tautological prime conjecture states that it itself is true, while making no statement about primes. It is not technically a {{w|tautology}} but more of a plain assertion. Randall has mentioned tautologies before in [[703: Honor Societies]].<br />
<br />
===History of Goldbach's conjecture===<br />
Mathematician {{w|Christian Goldbach}} wrote a form of his conjecture (the "strong" one of the comic) in a letter to the famous {{w|Leonhard Euler}} in 1742. Euler replied that he considered it certainly true, but that he could not prove it.<br />
<br />
Mathematicians have been solving related problems that are "weaker" than Goldbach's weak conjecture, and working towards "stronger" ones. For example, in 1937 the weak conjecture was proven for odd numbers greater than 3<sup>14348907</sup>. In 1995 a version was proven based on the sum of no more than seven prime numbers, and in 2012 the ceiling was lowered to five primes. In 2013 the weak conjecture was claimed proven for numbers greater than 10<sup>30</sup>, while all numbers below 10<sup>30</sup> have been verified by supercomputer to satisfy the conjecture; these together imply that the weak conjecture is true, although there is no ''general'' proof of it for all numbers. Goldbach's strong conjecture remains unsolved.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Six small panels with captions are arranged in an arch shape:]<br />
<br />
:[Caption under the arch:]<br />
:'''Goldbach Conjectures'''<br />
<br />
:[Captions in the panels, from left to right:]<br />
<br />
:'''Extremely weak:'''<br />
:Numbers just ''keep going''<br />
<br />
:'''Very weak:'''<br />
:Every number greater than 7 is the sum of two other numbers<br />
<br />
:'''Weak:'''<br />
:Every odd number greater than 5 is the sum of three primes<br />
<br />
:'''Strong:'''<br />
:Every even number greater than 2 is the sum of two primes<br />
<br />
:'''Very strong:'''<br />
:Every odd number is prime<br />
<br />
:'''Extremely strong:'''<br />
:There are no numbers above 7<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Charts]]<br />
[[Category:Number theory]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:2247:_Weird_Hill&diff=185171Talk:2247: Weird Hill2019-12-27T06:22:26Z<p>Peregrine: Started new-comic talk page while bot is out of commission.</p>
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<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--></div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:LATESTCOMIC&diff=185170Template:LATESTCOMIC2019-12-27T06:21:52Z<p>Peregrine: Updated for latest comic while bot is out of commission.</p>
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<div><noinclude>The latest [[xkcd]] comic is number:</noinclude> 2247</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Weird_Hill&diff=185169Weird Hill2019-12-27T06:21:07Z<p>Peregrine: Created redirect page while bot is out of commission.</p>
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<div>#REDIRECT [[2247: Weird Hill]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2247&diff=18516822472019-12-27T06:20:21Z<p>Peregrine: Created redirect page while bot is out of commission.</p>
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<div>#REDIRECT [[2247: Weird Hill]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2247:_Weird_Hill&diff=1851672247: Weird Hill2019-12-27T06:19:42Z<p>Peregrine: Created new comic page while bot is out of commission.</p>
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<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2246<br />
| date = 27 December, 2019<br />
| title = {{{1|Weird Hill}}}<br />
| image = {{{2|weird hill.png}}}<br />
| titletext = {{{3|I'm compromising by picking a weird hill to lie on.}}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|New page}}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript}}<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<!-- Include any categories below this line. --></div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=File:weird_hill.png&diff=185166File:weird hill.png2019-12-27T06:17:11Z<p>Peregrine: </p>
<hr />
<div>== Licensing ==<br />
{{XKCD file}}</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=List_of_all_comics&diff=185165List of all comics2019-12-27T06:15:37Z<p>Peregrine: Typo: Wierd -> weird</p>
<hr />
<div>This is the list of comics from '''2001 to {{LATESTCOMIC}}'''.<br />
:For the first 500 comics, see [[List of all comics (1-500)]].<br />
:For comics 501-1000, see [[List of all comics (501-1000)]].<br />
:For comics 1001-1500, see [[List of all comics (1001-1500)]].<br />
:For comics 1501-2000, see [[List of all comics (1501-2000)]].<br />
: The whole list is available at [[List of all comics (full)]].<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable plainlinks table-padding"<br />
|-<br />
!xkcd<br />
!Title<br />
!Talk<br />
!Image<br />
!Date<onlyinclude><br />
{{comicsrow|2247|2019-12-27|Weird Hill|weird hill.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2246|2019-12-25|Christmas Presents|christmas presents.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2245|2019-12-23|Edible Arrangements|edible arrangements.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2244|2019-12-20|Thumbtacks And String|thumbtacks and string.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2243|2019-12-18|Star Wars Spoiler Generator|star wars spoiler generator.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2242|2019-12-16|Ground vs Air|ground vs air.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2241|2019-12-13|Brussels Sprouts Mandela Effect|brussels sprouts mandela effect.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2240|2019-12-11|Timeline of the Universe|timeline of the universe.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2239|2019-12-09|Data Error|data error.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2238|2019-12-06|Flu Shot|flu shot.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2237|2019-12-04|AI Hiring Algorithm|ai hiring algorithm.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2236|2019-12-02|Is it Christmas?|is it christmas.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2235|2019-11-29|Group Chat Rules|group chat rules.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2234|2019-11-27|How To Deliver Christmas Presents|how to deliver christmas presents.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2233|2019-11-26|Aurora Meaning|aurora meaning.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2232|2019-11-22|Hotel Room Party|hotel room party.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2231|2019-11-20|the Time Before And After Land|the time before and after land.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2230|2019-11-18|Versus Bracket|versus bracket.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2229|2019-11-15|Rey and Kylo|rey and kylo.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2228|2019-11-14|Machine Learning Captcha|machine learning captcha.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2227|2019-11-11|Transit of Mercury|transit of mercury.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2226|2019-11-09|Recombination And Reionization|recombination and reionization.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2225|2019-11-06|Voting Referendum|voting referendum.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2224|2019-11-05|Software Updates|software updates.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2223|2019-11-01|Screen Time|screen time.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2222|2019-10-30|Terminator: Dark Fate|terminator dark fate.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2221|2019-10-29|Emulation|emulation.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2220|2019-10-25|Imagine Going Back in Time|imagine going back in time.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2219|2019-10-23|Earthquake Early Warnings|earthquake early warnings.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2218|2019-10-21|Wardrobe|wardrobe.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2217|2019-10-19|53 Cards|53 cards.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2216|2019-10-17|Percent Milkfat|percent milkfat.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2215|2019-10-15|Faculty:Student Ratio|faculty student ratio.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2214|2019-10-11|Chemistry Nobel|chemistry nobel.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2213|2019-10-09|How Old|how old.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2212|2019-10-07|Cell Phone Functions|cell phone functions.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2211|2019-10-04|Hours Before Departure|hours before departure.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2210|2019-10-02|College Athletes|college athletes.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2209|2019-09-30|Fresh Pears|fresh pears.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2208|2019-09-27|Drone Fishing|drone fishing.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2207|2019-09-25|Math Work|math work.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2206|2019-09-23|Mavis Beacon|mavis beacon.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2205|2019-09-20|Types of Approximation|types of approximation.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2204|2019-09-18|Ksp 2|ksp 2.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2203|2019-09-16|Prescience|prescience.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2202|2019-09-13|Earth-Like Exoplanet|earth like exoplanet.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2201|2019-09-11|Foucault Pendulum|foucault pendulum.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2200|2019-09-11|Unreachable State|unreachable state.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2199|2019-09-06|Cryptic Wifi Networks|cryptic wifi networks.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2198|2019-09-04|Throw|throw.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2198|2019-09-03|Throw|throw.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2197|2019-09-02|Game Show|game show.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2196|2019-08-30|Nice To E-Meet You|nice to e-meet you.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2195|2019-08-28|Dockless Roombas|dockless roombas.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2194|2019-08-26|How to Send a File|how to send a file.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2193|2019-08-23|Well-Ordering Principle|well ordering principle.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2192|2019-08-21|Review|review.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2191|2019-08-19|Conference Question|conference question.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2190|2019-08-16|Serena Versus the Drones|serena versus the drones.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2189|2019-08-14|Old Game Worlds|old game worlds.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2188|2019-08-12|E Scooters|e scooters.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2187|2019-08-09|Geologic Time|geologic time.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2186|2019-08-07|Dark Matter|dark matter.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2185|2019-08-05|Cumulonimbus|cumulonimbus.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2185|2019-08-05|Disappearing Sunday Update|disappearing sunday update.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2184|2019-08-02|Unpopular Opinions|unpopular opinions.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2183|2019-07-31|Icon Swap|icon swap.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2182|2019-07-29|When I'm Back at a Keyboard|when im back at a keyboard.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2181|2019-07-26|Inbox|inbox.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2180|2019-07-24|Spreadsheets|spreadsheets.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2179|2019-07-23|NWS Warnings|nws warnings.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2178|2019-07-19|Expiration Date High Score|expiration date high score.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2177|2019-07-17|Gastroenterology|gastroenterology.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2176|2019-07-15|How Hacking Works|how hacking works.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2175|2019-07-12|Flag Interpretation|flag interpretation.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2174|2019-07-10|First News Memory|first news memory.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2173|2019-07-08|Trained a Neural Net|trained a neural net.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2172|2019-07-05|Lunar Cycles|lunar cycles.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2171|2019-07-03|Shadow Biosphere|shadow biosphere.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2170|2019-07-01|Coordinate Precision|coordinate precision.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2169|2019-06-28|Predictive Models|predictive models.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2168|2019-06-26|Reading in the Original|reading in the original.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2167|2019-06-24|Motivated Reasoning Olympics|motivated reasoning olympics.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2166|2019-06-21|Stack|stack.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2165|2019-06-19|Millennials|millennials.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2164|2019-06-17|Glacier|glacier.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2163|2019-06-14|Chernobyl|chernobyl.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2162|2019-06-12|Literary Opinions|literary opinions.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2161|2019-06-10|An Apple a Day|an apple a day.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2160|2019-06-07|Ken Burns Theory|ken burns theory.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2159|2019-06-05|Comments|comments.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2158|2019-06-03|Qualifiers|qualifiers.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2157|2019-05-31|Diploma Legal Notes|diploma legal notes.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2156|2019-05-29|Ufo|ufo.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2155|2019-05-27|Swimming|swimming.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2154|2019-05-24|Motivation|motivation.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2153|2019-05-22|Effects of High Altitude|effects of high altitude.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2152|2019-05-20|Westerns|westerns.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2151|2019-05-17|A/B|a b.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2150|2019-05-15|XKeyboarCD|xkeyboarcd.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2149|2019-05-13|Alternate Histories|alternate histories.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2148|2019-05-10|Cubesat Launch|cubesat launch.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2147|2019-05-08|Appendicitis|appendicitis.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2146|2019-05-06|Waiting for the But|waiting for the but.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2145|2019-05-03|Heists And Escapes|heists and escapes.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2144|2019-05-01|Adjusting a Chair|adjusting a chair.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2143|2019-04-29|Disk Usage|disk usage.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2142|2019-04-26|Dangerous Fields|dangerous fields.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2141|2019-04-24|UI vs UX|ui vs ux.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2140|2019-04-22|Reinvent the Wheel|reinvent the wheel.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2139|2019-04-19|Email Settings|email settings.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2138|2019-04-17|Wanna See the Code?|wanna see the code.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2137|2019-04-15|Text Entry|text entry.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2136|2019-04-12|Election Commentary|election commentary.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2135|2019-04-10|M87 Black Hole Size Comparison|m87 black hole size comparison.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2134|2019-04-08|Too Much Talking|too much talking.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2133|2019-04-05|EHT Black Hole Picture|eht black hole picture.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2132|2019-04-03|Percentage Styles|percentage styles.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2131|2019-04-01|Emojidome|industry nicknames.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2130|2019-03-29|Industry Nicknames|industry nicknames.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2129|2019-03-27|1921 Fact Checker|1921 fact checker.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2128|2019-03-25|New Robot|new robot.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2127|2019-03-22|Panama Canal|panama canal.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2126|2019-03-20|Google Trends Maps|google trends maps.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2125|2019-03-18|Luna 2|luna 2.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2124|2019-03-15|Space Mission Hearing|space mission hearing.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2123|2019-03-13|Meta Collecting|meta collecting.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2122|2019-03-11|Size Venn Diagram|size venn diagram.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2121|2019-03-08|Light Pollution|light pollution.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2120|2019-03-06|Brain Hemispheres|brain hemispheres.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2119|2019-03-04|Video Orientation|video orientation.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2118|2019-03-01|Normal Distribution|normal distribution.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2117|2019-02-27|Differentiation and Integration|differentiation and integration.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2116|2019-02-25|.NORM Normal File Format|norm normal file format.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2115|2019-02-22|Plutonium|plutonium.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2114|2019-02-20|Launch Conditions|launch conditions.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2113|2019-02-18|Physics Suppression|physics suppression.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2112|2019-02-15|Night Shift|night shift.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2111|2019-02-13|Opportunity Rover|opportunity rover.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2110|2019-02-11|Error Bars|error bars.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2109|2019-02-08|Invisible Formatting|invisible formatting.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2108|2019-02-06|Carbonated Beverage Language Map|carbonated beverage language map.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2107|2019-02-04|Launch Risk|launch risk.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2106|2019-02-01|Sharing Options|sharing options.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2105|2019-01-30|Modern OSI Model|modern osi model.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2104|2019-01-28|Biff Tannen|biff tannen.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2103|2019-01-25|Midcontinent Rift System|midcontinent rift system.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2102|2019-01-23|Internet Archive|internet archive.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2101|2019-01-21|Technical Analysis|technical analysis.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2100|2019-01-18|Models of the Atom|models of the atom.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2099|2019-01-16|Missal of Silos|missal of silos.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2098|2019-01-14|Magnetic Pole|magnetic pole.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2097|2019-01-11|Thor Tools|thor tools.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2096|2019-01-09|Mattresses|mattresses.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2095|2019-01-07|Marsiforming|marsiforming.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2094|2019-01-04|Short Selling|short selling.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2093|2019-01-02|Reminders|reminders.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2092|2018-12-31|Consensus New Year|consensus new year.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2091|2018-12-28|Million, Billion, Trillion|million billion trillion.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2090|2018-12-26|Feathered Dinosaur Venn Diagram|feathered dinosaur venn diagram.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2089|2018-12-24|Christmas Eve Eve|christmas eve eve.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2088|2018-12-21|Schwarzschild's Cat|schwarzschilds cat.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2087|2018-12-19|Rocket Launch|rocket launch.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2086|2018-12-17|History Department|history department.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2085|2018-12-14|arXiv|arxiv.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2084|2018-12-12|FDR|fdr.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2083|2018-12-10|Laptop Issues|laptop issues.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2082|2018-12-07|Mercator Projection|mercator projection.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2081|2018-12-05|Middle Latitudes|middle latitudes.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2080|2018-12-03|Cohort and Age Effects|cohort and age effects.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2079|2018-11-30|Alpha Centauri|alpha centauri.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2078|2018-11-28|Popper|popper.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2077|2018-11-26|Heist|heist.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2076|2018-11-23|Horror Movies 2|horror movies 2.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2075|2018-11-21|Update Your Address|update your address.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2074|2018-11-19|Airplanes and Spaceships|airplanes and spaceships.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2073|2018-11-16|Kilogram|kilogram.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2072|2018-11-14|Evaluating Tech Things|evaluating tech things.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2071|2018-11-12|Indirect Detection|indirect detection.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2070|2018-11-09|Trig Identities|trig identities.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2069|2018-11-07|Wishlist|wishlist.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2068|2018-11-05|Election Night|election night.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2067|2018-11-02|Challengers|challengers.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2066|2018-10-31|Ballot Selfies|ballot selfies.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2065|2018-10-29|Who Sends the First Text?|who sends the first text.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2064|2018-10-26|I'm a Car|im a car.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2063|2018-10-24|Carnot Cycle|carnot cycle.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2062|2018-10-22|Barnard's Star|barnards star.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2061|2018-10-19|Tectonics Game|tectonics game.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2060|2018-10-17|Hygrometer|hygrometer.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2059|2018-10-15|Modified Bayes' Theorem|modified bayes theorem.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2058|2018-10-12|Rock Wall|rock wall.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2057|2018-10-10|Internal Monologues|internal monologues.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2056|2018-10-08|Horror Movies|horror movies.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2055|2018-10-05|Bluetooth|bluetooth.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2054|2018-10-03|Data Pipeline|data pipeline.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2053|2018-10-01|Incoming Calls|incoming calls.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2052|2018-09-28|Stanislav Petrov Day|stanislav petrov day.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2051|2018-09-26|Bad Opinions|bad opinions.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2050|2018-09-24|6/6 Time|6 6 time.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2049|2018-09-21|Unfulfilling Toys|unfulfilling toys.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2048|2018-09-19|Curve-Fitting|curve fitting.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2047|2018-09-17|Beverages|beverages.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2046|2018-09-14|Trum-|trum.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2045|2018-09-12|Social Media Announcement|social media announcement.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2044|2018-09-10|Sandboxing Cycle|sandboxing cycle.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2043|2018-09-07|Boathouses and Houseboats|boathouses and houseboats.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2042|2018-09-05|Rolle's Theorem|rolles theorem.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2041|2018-09-03|Frontiers|frontiers.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2040|2018-08-31|Sibling-in-Law|sibling in law.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2039|2018-08-29|Begging the Question|begging the question.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2038|2018-08-27|Hazard Symbol|hazard symbol.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2037|2018-08-24|Supreme Court Bracket|supreme court bracket.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2036|2018-08-22|Edgelord|edgelord.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2035|2018-08-20|Dark Matter Candidates|dark matter candidates.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2034|2018-08-17|Equations|equations.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2033|2018-08-15|Repair or Replace|repair or replace.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2032|2018-08-13|Word Puzzles|word puzzles.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2031|2018-08-10|Pie Charts|pie charts.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2030|2018-08-08|Voting Software|voting software.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2029|2018-08-06|Disaster Movie|disaster movie.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2028|2018-08-03|Complex Numbers|complex numbers.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2027|2018-08-01|Lightning Distance|lightning distance.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2026|2018-07-30|Heat Index|heat index.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2025|2018-07-27|Peer Review|peer review.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2024|2018-07-25|Light Hacks|light hacks.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2023|2018-07-23|Y-Axis|y axis.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2022|2018-07-20|Sports Champions|sports champions.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2021|2018-07-18|Software Development|software development.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2020|2018-07-16|Negative Results|negative results.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2019|2018-07-13|An Apple for a Dollar|an apple for a dollar.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2018|2018-07-11|Wall Art|wall art.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2017|2018-07-09|Stargazing 2|stargazing 2.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2016|2018-07-06|OEIS Submissions|oeis submissions.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2015|2018-07-04|New Phone Thread|new phone thread.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2014|2018-07-02|JWST Delays|jwst delays.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2013|2018-06-29|Rock|rock.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2012|2018-06-27|Thorough Analysis|thorough analysis.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2011|2018-06-25|Newton's Trajectories|newtons trajectories.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2010|2018-06-22|Update Notes|update notes.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2009|2018-06-20|Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram|hertzsprung russell diagram.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2008|2018-06-18|Irony Definition|irony definition.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2007|2018-06-15|Brookhaven RHIC|brookhaven rhic.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2006|2018-06-13|Customer Rewards|customer rewards.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2005|2018-06-11|Attention Span|attention span.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2004|2018-06-08|Sun and Earth|sun and earth.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2003|2018-06-06|Presidential Succession|presidential succession.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2002|2018-06-04|LeBron James and Stephen Curry|lebron james and stephen curry.png}}<br />
{{comicsrow|2001|2018-06-01|Clickbait-Corrected p-Value|clickbait corrected p value.png}}</onlyinclude><br />
|}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics| ]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2214:_Chemistry_Nobel&diff=1811832214: Chemistry Nobel2019-10-12T06:20:09Z<p>Peregrine: Simplified and clarified the reason for the "gap".</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2214<br />
| date = October 11, 2019<br />
| title = Chemistry Nobel<br />
| image = chemistry nobel.png<br />
| titletext = Most chemists thought the lanthanides and actinides could be inserted in the sixth and seventh rows, but no, they're just floating down at the bottom with lots more undiscovered elements all around them.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Some noteworthy elements could have been missed, so calling this complete will be held off on.}}<br />
<br />
This comic pokes fun at the misconception that the empty space at the top of the periodic table represents undiscovered elements, akin to some existing elements having been discovered through unfilled gaps in the table. This is an absurdity; despite this, the team shown has won the [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Prize_in_Chemistry Nobel Prize in Chemistry].<br />
<br />
In reality, the gap is because of the way electrons are arranged in atoms. Simply put, each row of the periodic table collects together elements with the same number of {{w|electron shell}}s. Lower shells have fewer electrons, so the upper rows have fewer elements in them. Meanwhile, because of the way the columns are organized (grouping together elements based on certain characteristics), as the rows get longer the "extra" elements are added in the middle of the row rather than at one end. Hence, earlier rows are shown with a gap in the middle.<br />
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The title text claims that the lanthanides and actinides are distinct from the elements in the sixth and seventh rows; in actuality, they are only ever shown separately for convenience. (As before, they would normally be shown in the middle of the sixth and seventh rows, but this would make those rows awkwardly wide. Placing them in a separate block below the table is the usual solution.) In addition, it says that there are many more elements floating around. Barring unconventional organization choices, this may make it seem as if the periodic table is an actual physical object.<br />
<br />
This comic may have been inspired by the recent awarding of the 2019 Nobel Prize for Chemistry on October 9, 2019, to [https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2019/press-release/ John B. Goodenough, M. Stanley Whittingham, and Akira Yoshino] for their work in the development of lithium-ion batteries.<br />
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==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript}}<br />
<br />
:[Ponytail holds a pointer and stands in front of an image of the periodic table of the elements, with the “empty” sections within the top rows filled with dotted boxes. Ponytail points to this area.]<br />
:Ponytail: I don't know why no one else thought to look here. <br />
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:[Caption below the panel]:<br />
:The 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry went to the team that discovered the elements in the big gap at the top of the periodic table.<br />
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{{comic discussion}}<br />
<!-- Include any categories below this line. --><br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Chemistry]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1608:_Hoverboard&diff=1781601608: Hoverboard2019-08-16T12:35:41Z<p>Peregrine: Missing letter: his -> this</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1608<br />
| date = November 24, 2015<br />
| title = Hoverboard<br />
| image = hoverboard.png<br />
<!--DO NOT ADD the title text: Return to the play area. This is not shown in the comic. See trivia--><br />
}}<br />
{{TOC}} <br />
*To experience the interactivity of this game, visit the {{xkcd|1608|original comic}}.<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete| There are still several tables that need to be filled out Do NOT delete this tag too soon}}<br />
The "comic" is actually a {{w|browser game}} made to celebrate the release of [[Randall|Randall's]] new book, ''[[Thing Explainer]]'', which was released on the same day as this comic: ''Tuesday'' November 24, 2015. The comic thus appeared on a Tuesday, replacing that week's normal Wednesday release to coincide with the release day.<br />
<br />
The title refers to a {{w|hoverboard}} (which resembles a hovering skateboard without wheels) which has been most [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1ZdMOMUgXE prominently featured] in the movie {{w|Back to the Future Part II}}, which took place in the future, until a little more than a month before this comic was released. {{w|Marty McFly}} traveled to the future in this second installment, more precisely to [https://www.facebook.com/October212015BTTF 2015-10-21], and this comic was released just over one month later 2015-11-24. Hoverboards are just one of many things predicted in Back to the Future Part II that [http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-33785285 have] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HI137m7XA4 come] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLwNGBB_Yb0 to] [http://www.wired.com/2016/03/hendo-2-hoverboard/ pass] before reaching the date from the movie, but are more uncommon in our world, along with other inventions like [http://www.terrafugia.com/ flying] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-1pXbW5wVg cars] and [http://www.soundandvision.com/content/wear-your-music-thinkgeeks-soundtrack-shirt#jo8J1DassbWxlptj.97 musical clothing]. Randall is known to have had [[:Category:Electric skateboard|electric skateboards]], which is also thematically related, although another type of hoverboard would be mentioned just five weeks later in [[1623: 2016 Conversation Guide]].<br />
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Given Randall's enjoyment of movies and time travel it is very likely that this game is also a tribute to the {{w|Back to the Future}} movies. But the release day of the game has been used to promote his new book (as is clear with the text in the start screen of the game), and this explains why it was not released on the Back to the Future date. Apart from the date of release and the text about the book, the game does not seem to have any direct relation to the book; there are, however, several scenes in the game that could be seen as [[#Reference to Thing Explainer|references to ''Thing Explainer'']]. Instead the main part of the game is all the references to several movies and other stuff that has often been featured in xkcd as well as many of the other comics.<br />
<br />
===The game feature===<br />
The game features an {{w|animated}} [[Cueball]] riding on a hoverboard which can take [[#Animation|several different positions]]. The controls are the left, up, and right arrows, as written on the start screen until you begin the game, after which the text disappears. There are alternatives as explained in the [[#Controls|Controls]] section. The player can jump repeatedly mid-jump to reach increasing heights, and can move left and right both while jumping and descending (see more under controls).<br />
<br />
The player begins in a line-drawing maze (called the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a9/All_play_area_hanging_all_coins.PNG Play Area]) with 17 gold coins located throughout and a "deposit" terminal. The ostensible goal of the game is to collect as many coins as possible and return them to the deposit in the fastest possible time, which returns [[#Messages in Play Area|text messages]] describing the result. Players consumed with obtaining the best possible time result for collecting the coins may not realize there is anything more to the game.<br />
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The best way to enjoy this comic is to {{xkcd|1608|play the game!}} If you didn't do that already, '''reading anything below''' will spoil you from truly enjoying the comic, and maybe making some interesting discoveries yourself! So:<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
'''Spoiler alert'''<br />
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----<br />
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Beyond the maze on either side (just far enough that players who remain within the maze will not see) are [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/8b/1680_Play_Area_Full_Size_Coins_Hoverboard_and_View.png tall walls seemingly designed to contain the player]. However, the walls have a finite height and, combined with the ability to multi-jump, the player can leave the purported "play area" either to the sides or above the initial maze. This returns a flashing red [[#Messages in Play Area|error message]]: "'''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ae/Return_to_the_play_area.PNG Return to the Play Area]'''".<br />
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But if the player overcomes the desire to comply and return to the play area and disregards this message, he can take hoverboard Cueball outside beyond the tall walls surrounding the initial play area. And here he will discover an entire world that can be explored left and right (and above), including numerous points of interest and {{w|Easter egg (media)|Easter eggs}} similar in style to comic [[1110: Click and Drag]]. There are also many more [[#Coins|coins]] to collect, 169 coins all in all, so 152 more than those from the play area.<br />
<br />
Although this game is reminiscent of Click and Drag, this was the first time an actual game, where the user moves an object in front of the drawing, has been released on xkcd. In previous "games" this has not been the case. In Click and Drag the user only moves the drawing into the view section. And in for instance the two previous [[:Category:April fools' comics|April fools' comics]], [[1350: Lorenz]] and [[1506: xkcloud]], the user does not move anything, but only supplies choices, text and drawings. However, already on the next {{w|April Fools' Day}} a new game, [[1663: Garden]], was released where the users also actively moved items around on the screen and could make items disappear (like taking coins in this game.)<br />
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===The main themes===<br />
There are many themes and references throughout the game, but the two main themes are '''{{w|Star Wars}}''' and '''{{w|The Lord of the Rings}}'''. Below there is a [[#List of details and references|table]] listing all references to both of these movies and much more. For instance there are 19 references to SW and 6 to LOTR.<br />
<br />
The largest part of the game is located on the '''right side''' of the play area and is mainly a world dominated by references to ''Star Wars''. Most noticeable is a recreation of [https://youtu.be/yHfLyMAHrQE?t=112 the opening scene] in the {{w|Star Wars (film)|first film}}, where {{w|Princess Leia|Princess Leia's}} space ship ''{{w|Tantive IV}}'' also known as ''[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/82/1608_1015x1078y_Entire_Rebel_Blockade_Runner_zoom_out.png The Rebel Blockade Runner]'' is flying over [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/33/1608_1015x1073y_Ponytail_in_the_dunes_zoom_out.png the desert] planet {{w|Tatooine}}. Here it is followed by the {{w|Star Destroyer}}, ''[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Devastator Devastator]''. The [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/04/1608_1015x1078y_Entire_Rebbel_Blockade_Runner_zoom_out_to_torpedoes_and_ground.png desert ground with these two space ships] above is the first you find to the right. Although in the game they are located inside the atmosphere, not as in the movie out in space, a fact that is [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1608_1049x1090y_Atmosphere_worry_and_car_room_at_bottom_of_hull.png commented on] by [[Megan]] who looks out from an opening in the bottom of the Destroyer's hull. <br />
:Megan: Is this ship designed to fly in the atmosphere like this? <br />
<br />
Both ships are high above the ground level, but there are three [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/76/1608_1014x1076y_Entire_wires_from_ground_to_Runner.png wires from the ground] that connect (and thus guide you) up to ''The Runner'' and from there [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/87/1608_1023x1085y_Entire_torpedoes_rain_from_Runner_to_Destroyer.png 100+ torpedoes], which are fired [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f1/1608_1018x1079y_Top_rear_end_of_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png down on the Runner] coming [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5f/1608_1034x1091y_Torpedo_canon_below_Destroyer.png from the Destroyer] above, gives away the location of the Destroyer itself. The Destroyer is so high up in the air, that you would not be likely to find it by chance without these leads (or at least some of the several other hints from people on the ground [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f2/1608_1010x1073y_Cliff_with_rock_and_cactus.png looking up and reacting] or like [[White Hat]] looking from the tip of the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/21/1608_0995x1079y_Entire_Washington_monument_extra_zoom_out.png Washington Monument] and reacting [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6f/1608_0995x1083y_Tip_of_Washington_monument.png by saying]: "Uh, what the heck is ''that?!''.").<br />
<br />
One of the main points (The Joke) of the entire game is the extreme size of [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cd/1608_Entire_Star_Destroyer.png such a Destroyer]. It takes up more space than the rest of the game (and most of the coins are located there). Inside the Destroyer there are many many rooms, long corridors and deep shafts, even a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/58/1608_Entire_Cave.png huge cave] with trees and animals. At [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c7/1608_Vader_twice_and_emperor_on_and_near_bridge.png the bridge] we meet both {{w|Darth Vader}} and the Emperor himself, {{w|Palpatine}}. There are many other jokes related both to Star Wars and other movies and xkcd comics inside the Destroyer. For instance, Darth Vader discusses {{w|Steven Universe}}, bringing up Rose Quartz and Steven himself ([http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1608_1031x1095y_Steven_Universe_family_and_ice_cream_prediction.png who can be found with the Crystal Gems] in a different part of the Destroyer).<br />
:Darth Vader: But Steven's ''mother'' is a Crystal Gem...<br />
There are also interesting things and references along the ground beneath the Destroyer, some of these are also Star Wars related like [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c9/1608_1038x1073y_Wedding_and_picnic.png the wedding scene] where {{w|Jabba the Hutt}} is mentioned. <br />
<br />
To the '''left side''' is an entirely different world, although much smaller (shorter) than the one to the right. Here the main theme is ''The Lord of the Rings'' mainly with the presence of a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6a/Entire_Volcano_zoom_out.png volcano] where for instance [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/77/1608_0952x1087y_Ring_of_power_and_lave_floor_at_the_right_crater_top.png Megan tries to throw] in {{w|One Ring|''rings'' of power}}, as in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXpF3SUFaDw the scene] from the {{w|The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King|last LOTR film}} where {{w|Frodo Baggins|Frodo}} fails and {{w|Gollum}} attacks inside the volcano {{w|Mount Doom}}, thus making it clear that the volcano in the game represents this volcano. Both Frodo, {{w|Sauron}} and {{w|Gandalf}} are mentioned in the game. The first two by name in the text. Two {{w|Eagle (Middle-earth)|great eagles}} are [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cb/1608_0956x1088y_Eagles_over_right_crater_top.png talking about Frodo] and {{w|J. R. R. Tolkien|Tolkien}}, Sauron's name is [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/66/1608_0964x1078y_Megan_reading_for_children_about_Saurons_ring.png read up by Megan from a book], and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a5/1608_0944x1083y_Rock_with_Gandalf_in_Lava_lake.png Gandalf is drawn as a wizard figure] in the crater and also his name is used in the [[#Messages in Play Area|message]] you receive if you collect [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f7/169_coins_fastest_way.PNG all possible coins]. <br />
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The two worlds do conflict though, as an {{w|X-wing fighter}} is [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/44/1608_0982x1077y_Gas_station_with_x-wing.png parked at a gas station] to the left in LOTR world, and Gandalf's famous quote ''You shall not pass!'' from his fight against the {{w|Balrog}} is modified by [[Cueball]] who is [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ad/1608_1026x1093y_Shall_not_not_pass_room_and_parachutes_at_one_of_two_ledges_at_bottom_of_hull.png ''not'' trying to block your path] to a coin inside a room in the Destroyer. This conflict could very well be a reference to the fact that {{w|Andy Serkis}} who played {{w|Gollum}} in LOTR, now plays the {{w|Supreme Leader Snoke}} in the new Star Wars movie, and [http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/villains/images/6/64/Supremeleader.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/270?cb=20151223201852 his appearance] as Snoke is not that much different from Gollum's. Snoke also delivers a line in the movie (about "bringing someone to me") that reminds allot of Gollum when he talks about "the ring coming to me". Of course Randall would not have know this last part at the time this comic were released. But he would likely be aware of Andy Serkis involvement.<br />
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Other themes are related to other movies, like a [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/star-wars-the-force-awakens/star-trek-fans-rivalry-george-lucas-roddenberry/ naughty reference] to {{w|Star Trek}} from inside [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bc/1608_1012x1078y_Bridge_on_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png the bridge] of the Rebel Blockade Runner where a long-haired woman (maybe [[Danish]] since she obviously does this to annoy Star Wars fans and [[Hairbun]] behind her, which could represent Princess Leia with her [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1b/Princess_Leia%27s_characteristic_hairstyle.jpg special hair style]) delivers the following line taken from the Star Trek universe: <br />
:Long haired woman: Captain's log, stardate November 24th, 2015...<br />
:Hairbun: ''Augh!'' No!<br />
<br />
Also references to video games are seen, best shown with the maze towards the back end of the Destroyer which are an almost [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e2/1608_Comparing_Prince_of_Persia_maze_with_real_level_1.png complete depiction] of ''[http://cdn.wikimg.net/strategywiki/images/a/a2/Princeofpersia_dos_level1.png Level 1]'' of the computer game ''{{w|Prince of Persia}}'' down to the three coins being in the place of three items to take in that game, and at least two of the opposing sword fighters in the correct places as well. <br />
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The comic/game and book were released only 3 weeks before the 7th Star Wars movie ''{{w|Star Wars: The Force Awakens}}'' was released on December 14, 2015. And this movie had already been referenced by Randall 7½ weeks earlier in [[1585: Similarities]], when another movie ({{w|The Martian (film)|The Martian}}) were released. It was a reference in the title text to the new robot ''BB-8'' that are featured in the Force Awakens. That the Star Wars section is thus so much larger than the LOTR section could be a hint to the fact that it is now 12 years ago that the last of those films were released, and although {{w|the Hobbit}} has been released as {{w|The Hobbit (film series)|three films}} over the previous three Christmases it was Star Wars that dominated the Christmas a month after this comics release.<br />
<br />
===Reference to Thing Explainer===<br />
Some of the scenes in this game are references to pictures in the new book that it celebrates. Here are some examples:<br />
*The original comic that was the impetus for ''[[Thing Explainer]]'' in the first place, [[1133: Up Goer Five]], is also included in the book. These are both referenced in this game by the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e2/1608_0976x1079y_Space_capsule_with_parachutes.png space capsule] used for reentry by the astronauts that flew to the moon using the {{w|Saturn V|Saturn Five}} rocket. This capsule is floating down over the plateau before the volcano to the left. <br />
*In ''Sky Toucher'', the last entry explaining a sky scraper, there are several references to the game, one of these being the space capsule just mentioned above. Other references:<br />
**Ponytail throwing a paper plane out, which she also does [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/20/1608_1077x1107y_Tarkin_on_the_bridge_and_Ponytail_with_paper_plane.png below the bridge] of the Destroyer. (This is also a reference to [http://explainxkcd.com/1110 Click and Drag] where [http://imgs.xkcd.com/clickdrag/6n2w.png Cueball does the same], here even from a skyscraper).<br />
**Cueball is setting up a kite and Ponytail is crawling up in the line. In the comic a small girl looking like Megan [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ae/1608_0970x1077y_Kite_and_weird_bug.png also has a kite]. Being up in a kite is also referenced in both [[235: Kite]] and in the title text of [[1614: Kites]] (from just a few weeks after the release of this comic.)<br />
**There is a floor in the middle of the building with trees, just like there is a cave inside the Destroyer [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/75/1608_1053x1093y_Lake_with_tree_birds_and_puma_on_rock_at_exit_in_the_bottom_left_side_of_the_cave.png with a tree "inside"].<br />
**Cueball is holding a fishing rod out over the side of the building letting the hook hand in the air. The same [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/58/1608_1014x1078y_Three_wires_and_reaching_up_to_anchors_in_Runner.png can be seen] under the Rebel Blockage Runner.<br />
**Megan is using a skateboard in a strange ellipsoid-shaped room. This can be a reference both to where Megan is seen on a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/89/1608_1038x1095y_Hamsterball_and_stilts_room.png skate board inside a hamster ball] and to the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7b/1608_1078x1111y_Globe_of_Death_at_the_top_of_the_Destroyer.png globe of death] at the top of the bridge on the Destroyer.<br />
**There is a car in the top section of the tower (long away from the parking cellar in the basement). There are two [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1608_1049x1090y_Atmosphere_worry_and_car_room_at_bottom_of_hull.png cars inside] the Destroyer, [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d4/1608_1048x1099y_Cueball_on_hood_of_car_room_and_a_giant_step_with_coins_at_top_of_hull.png one of them] deep inside with no easy access to the outside.<br />
**Two people are standing on a cloud, one of them (Megan) jumps out from it. This is similar to the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/92/1608_0993x1112y_Top_of_floating_rock_island_with_base_jumpers.png two base jumpers] on the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1608_0994x1110y_Entire_floating_rock_island_zoom_out.png rock island].<br />
*In the ''Red world space car'' explaining (about the {{w|Curiosity Rover}} on {{w|Mars}}) there are two references to the scenes around the Rebel Blockade Runner:<br />
**Curiosity toasts a marshmallow over a fire as does Megan and Cueball over the exhaust pipe at [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f1/1608_1018x1079y_Top_rear_end_of_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png the rear of the Runner].<br />
**When Curiosity is set down on Mars by the {{w|Mars Science Laboratory}} (MSL), lowered down in wires below the MSL, the wires were released once the rover was down and then it flies away. In the book Megan is hanging from one of these wires when it flies away. This is similar to [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/76/1608_1014x1076y_Entire_wires_from_ground_to_Runner.png Megan hanging in one of the anchor lines] going from the ground up to the Runner.<br />
*In ''The USS Laws of the Land'' about the ship called {{w|USS Constitution}} (named after the {{w|United States Constitution}} which is explained in the entry just before this one), there are two references to this comic:<br />
**There is both a giant octopus arm (marked as ''not real'') and a very large octopus under the ship. The shape of the octopus is the same as the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b5/1608_1038x1094y_Giant_octopus_in_Destroyer.png silhouette of a giant octopus] inside the Destroyer. <br />
***Octopuses like this are often used in xkcd, and they are also included in the explanation about ''Writing sticks'' (as the source of ink for the pens), as a motive in ''Picture taker'' and in ''Tree of life''. As an example from another xkcd comic with octopuses see for instance [[435: Purity]].<br />
**There is also a bowling alley in the hull of the ship - a reference to the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/53/1608_0987x1075y_Hamsterball_bowling.png hamster ball bowling] in the left part of the world.<br />
***Bowling is also used two other places in the book, namely on the suspension of the longest bridge in ''Tall roads'' and an bowling alley is used for measuring length in ''How to count things''. <br />
*Ants are used three times in the book. A zoom in on an ant is used to indicate size in ''Earth's past'' about geological ages of the Earth, and under the ''Tree'' in that explanation there is an ant colony where one ant is much bigger than the others; an ant queen, a clear reference to the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d2/1608_1078x1095y_Ant_Queen_in_Destroyer.png ant queen] in the Destroyer. They are of course also in the ''Tree of life''.<br />
*Basketball is shown twice in this comic ([http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1608_0936x1084y_Basketball_on_the_volcano.png left of volcano] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1608_1067x1104y_Basket_ball_on_top_of_Destroyer.png on top of Destroyer]). In the book the size of different ''Playing Fields'' is one of the stories, and it included the field for basketball (i.e. ''circle ball'').<br />
*The [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d0/1608_1046x1074y_Huge_foot.png huge foot] before the pyramid look like the foot used in the explanation for ''How to count things'' to describe the wight "one kilo" using a picture labeled ''one foot'' (i.e. not the length one foot, as the length is given in meters). A similar experience to the one in [[526: Converting to Metric]].<br />
*The [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d2/1608_1084x1090y_Giant_light_bulb_room.png giant light bulb] towards the bottom rear end of the Destroyer is a reference to the entry on {{w|tungsten}} in the explanation for ''The pieces everything is made of'' (i.e. the {{w|periodic table}}). In the book a {{w|Incandescent_light_bulb|light bulb}} is shown and then an arrow points to the {{w|Incandescent_light_bulb#Filament|filament}} which is made of tungsten in the typical {{w|Thomas Edison|Edison}} light bulbs.<br />
*In the explanation for ''Box that cleans food holders'' (Dishwasher) Ponytail yells ''Wheee!'' as she slides through a pipe inside the machine on her stomach (bottom left). This is similar to her position and movement in the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c6/1608_Entire_Corridor_peristalsis_and_colon.png colon like structure] inside the Destroyer and Cueball also sliding in this colon yells ''Wheee!''<br />
*In the explanation for ''Bending computer'' Ponytail comes racing on her bike with a laptop on top of the handlebars. She is also seen [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cd/1608_0958x1083y_Ponytail_racing_down_the_steep_slope_on_a_bike.png racing a bike down the slope of the volcano].<br />
<br />
===Reference to other comics===<br />
There are also many references to other xkcd comics, like the room at the front end of the Destroyer [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a7/1608_1004x1095y_Very_front_with_playpen_balls_pit_at_top_of_hull.png ball pit] filled with '''[[:Category:Playpen balls|playpen balls]]''', and two adults playing in it, like in [[150: Grownups]]. Also [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2e/1608_0980x1075y_Entire_well_zoom_out.png the well] in the left part of the world with [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/82/1608_0980x1073y_Well_bottom.png a girl and a coin] at the bottom is likely a reference to the movie ''The Ring'', which has been referenced before in xkcd. Wells have also come up in xkcd in the early '''[[:Category:Well|Well series]]'''.<br />
<br />
There have been many comics with electric skateboards as mentioned, which do not appear in this comic, but there is one example of a normal '''skateboard'''. This is [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/89/1608_1038x1095y_Hamsterball_and_stilts_room.png used by Megan] in a room in the Destroyer, while she is inside a {{w|hamster ball}}. There is also [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/53/1608_0987x1075y_Hamsterball_bowling.png another hamster ball], with a kid (looking like Megan) inside. It is used in a more than human sized {{w|ten pin bowling}} game to the left. '''Hamster balls''' is another item that has been [[:Category:Hamster Ball|prominently featured]] in xkcd.<br />
<br />
In the weeks before, and especially the weeks after there were also other comics that had a subject which could refer back to Hoverboard in some ways. Maybe these comics were either influenced by the game, or the other way around so that relevant items were added to the game because of these other comics:<br />
*[[1600: MarketWatch]] - the {{w|Washington Monument}} (an obelisk) is part of the skyline depicted, and this monument is the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/21/1608_0995x1079y_Entire_Washington_monument_extra_zoom_out.png first that is encountered] in the picture when going left from the play area, plus a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/dc/1608_0994x1074y_Base_of_Washington_monument.png comment at the base] of the monument to make sure we know it is the Washington monument, and another [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6f/1608_0995x1083y_Tip_of_Washington_monument.png comment at the top] of the monument referring to the {{w|Washington_Monument#Aluminum_apex|aluminum apex}} that constitutes the very tip of the monument, which was very expensive at the time it was installed in 1884, when aluminum was a rare metal as valuable as silver. Today it would not make anyone rich from the metal alone, although the tip would be worth a lot for other historical reasons, but this is not what Cueball's comment is about.<br />
::Cueball to Megan at the bottom: Honestly, it doesn't even look that much like Washington.<br />
::Cueball to White Hat at the tip: Look at that- solid aluminum! We´re gonna be rich! <br />
*[[1610: Fire Ants]] - in this game there is a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d2/1608_1078x1095y_Ant_Queen_in_Destroyer.png giant ant queen] inside the Destroyer talking with Cueball about laying eggs.<br />
**See also [[1641: Hot Dogs]] where Cueball has a similar style conversation, with the same ''Eww'' ending as with the ant queen:<br />
::Cueball: What's up?<br />
::Ant queen: The usual. Poopin' out ants.<br />
::Cueball: Eww.<br />
*[[1611: Baking Soda and Vinegar]] - this is about super volcanoes, vs. [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6a/Entire_Volcano_zoom_out.png the Volcano], Mount Doom in the game as indicated by Megan [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/77/1608_0952x1087y_Ring_of_power_and_lave_floor_at_the_right_crater_top.png throwing rings into the lava]: <br />
::Megan at the edge of the volcano crater: One of these is probably a ring of power or whatever.<br />
*[[1614: Kites]] - Megan is seen with a kite, and in this comics a small girl looking like Megan [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ae/1608_0970x1077y_Kite_and_weird_bug.png also has a kite] to the left towards Mount Doom.<br />
*[[1620: Christmas Settings]] - another Star Wars reference to {{w|lightsaber}} noises in the title text. Lightsabers are featured twice in this comic, with [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bc/1608_1012x1078y_Bridge_on_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png Ponytail practicing] on the Rebel Blockade Runner, and with a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/20/1608_1006x1095y_Pinata_and_Cueball_with_lightsaber_at_top_of_hull.png kid about to hit a Piñata] in the Destroyer.<br />
*[[1623: 2016 Conversation Guide]] - a direct hoverboard reference, and complaint that they are not real yet (only [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/01/1608_1048x1095y_Two_hoverboards_room.png in this game]).<br />
*[[1630: Quadcopter]] - in this comic three quadcopters act together to abduct Cueball. Thus making them sentient, like the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7c/1608_0950x1084y_Quadcopters_over_lava_lake_right.png quadcopter who is speaking to another] over the lava lake in the Mount Doom crater to the left.<br />
::Right quadcopter: Remember: There's no such thing as good volcano footage taken by a quadcopter that survived. <br />
*[[1632: Palindrome]] - a reference to the famous palindrome about the Panama canal: "''A Man, A Plan, A Canal: Panama''", and thus also to the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0d/1608_1026x1073y_Ruins_with_Cueball_singing_of_Spiders_and_Panama.png song that Cueball sings] at the ruin to the right, where the first four lines is mashup of the palindrome and {{w|Spider-Man_(theme_song)|the Spider-Man theme song}} (see this [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUtziaZlDeE video]):<br />
::Cueball singing: <br />
:::Spider-man <br />
::::Spider-plan<br />
:::Spider-canal<br />
::::Spider-Panama<br />
:::Gates let in<br />
::::Spider boats<br />
:::Flood the locks<br />
::::Spiders float<br />
:::''Look out!''<br />
:::Spiders in both oceans.<br />
<br />
Reference to 735:Floor when pretending lava to be the floor instead of floor as lava in 735?<br />
<br />
===Characters===<br />
Almost all main [[:Category:Characters|characters]] in the xkcd gallery are used more than once, especially there are three characters that are used several times. Number one is of course [[Cueball]] (with close to 90 appearances) who is already shown at the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6c/1608_1000x1074y_The_Play_Area.png starting point]. He is also the first character seen when walking both [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c0/1608_1004x1074y_Cueball_outside_play_area.png right] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/dc/1608_0994x1074y_Base_of_Washington_monument.png left] (where he speaks the first line to the left).<br />
<br />
Then follows [[Megan]] with at least 40 appearances, she is even shown twice in the same location three times, one of these three even occurs within one of the [http://xkcd.com/1608/1090:-1088+s.png small images]. She is also shown with Cueball in his first appearance to the left, and she is the first to speak a line to the right [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f2/1608_1010x1073y_Cliff_with_rock_and_cactus.png here]. <br />
<br />
Also [[Ponytail]] is well represented with 26 appearances (for instance [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1608_0947x1073y_Antenna_cave_in_lair.png here)]. <br />
<br />
[[Hairy]] (with different hair styles) is used 7 times (for instance [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/54/1608_Actual_Bridge_with_Vader_and_Tarkin.png here]) and [[Hairbun]] is used 5 times (for instance [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e4/1608_1054x1099y_Corridor_peristalsis_and_two_coin_rooms_at_top_of_hull.png here)]. <br />
<br />
Two of the main characters are used twice: [[Beret Guy]] ([http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/4f/1608_0990x1074y_If_loving_you_is_wrong_I_dont_want_to.png here] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/21/1608_1020x1083y_Torpedoes_two_steps_above_Runner_with_Beret_Guy.png here]) and [[White Hat]] ([http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6f/1608_0995x1083y_Tip_of_Washington_monument.png here] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d9/1608_1093x1074y_White_Hat_hiding_in_the_grass.png here]).<br />
<br />
The only exception is that the main villain of xkcd [[Black Hat]] who is very hard to find. He is only [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/68/1608_1069x1093y_Deer_and_exit_below_lamp_coin_and_Black_Hat_in_the_bottom_right_side_of_the_cave.png shown once] in the comic where he very uncharacteristically just sits and snores at the right wall in the cave inside the Destroyer (is it really him...?). The only other hint that he is not forgotten is that his hat can be seen [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bc/1608_1073x1074y_Ponytail_and_bird_black_hat_on_a_stick_and_Cueball_whistling.png on a stick] under the Destroyer after the three large T-like structures. And this is not that kind of stick characters Randall usually draws. But at least we now know where Danish has hidden it from him this time (see [[405: Journal 3]]). Given that his hat is stuck there, he could also be any of the Cueballs close by…<br />
<br />
Also [[Blondie]] seems to be only represented once, while in her reporter mode while discovering a bug before the volcano as can be seen [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ae/1608_0970x1077y_Kite_and_weird_bug.png here]. <br />
<br />
There are also several characters that are not recognizable as either any of the standard xkcd characters or in any other way (see for instance a few of the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a6/1037x1073y_Wedding.png wedding guests]). But there are possibly some of the minor characters are used like [[Danish]] at the bridge in the Blockade Runner ([http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bc/1608_1012x1078y_Bridge_on_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png here]) but this cannot be confirmed, she just looks like her and has some similarities teasing the Star Wars fan.<br />
<br />
Several places in the comic it is clear from the size and the behavior that some of the characters are kids, see for instance the Blondie image mentioned above, where two kids looking like Megan and Hairy stand behind her, but they would in principle not be Megan or Hairy despite appearance, as these named characters are adults.<br />
<br />
There are also many fictive people from different movies, books, and shows; for instance Darth Vader ([http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fa/1608_1077x1109y_Darth_Vaders_talks_about_Steven_Universe_on_the_bridge_Megan_adjust_antenna.png here]), Gandalf ([http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a5/1608_0944x1083y_Rock_with_Gandalf_in_Lava_lake.png here]) and Steven Universe ([http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1608_1031x1095y_Steven_Universe_family_and_ice_cream_prediction.png here]) all three mentioned above, and some real life people: you can find {{w|Elon Musk|Elon Musk}}, who has a [[#Secret passages and hidden places|hidden lair]] under the Volcano (see [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/73/1608_0945x1074y_Elon_Musks_cave_in_lair.png here]), and Gregor Mendel, hanging out on a Star Destroyer with a pea plant.<br />
<br />
Furthermore, there are many animals (like [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b0/1608_1067x1094y_Gazebo_puma_deer_Cueball_with_bow_and_talk_of_Palpatine_in_the_middle_of_the_cave.png the puma and the deer]) in the cave, some even rather big like this [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b5/1608_1038x1094y_Giant_octopus_in_Destroyer.png octopus] or even gigantic like this [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d2/1608_1078x1095y_Ant_Queen_in_Destroyer.png ant queen] (all three from inside the Destroyer). There are also a couple of small Star Wars robots, one in a corridor in each space ship ([http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/df/1608_1034x1091y_Photon_canon_Tetris_piece_and_mini_robot_at_bottom_of_hull.png here from the Destroyer]).<br />
<br />
===Extra Hoverboard pages===<br />
*Since this comic is so big and complicated extra pages have been created to include much more information than is wished for on this main page (which is already of considerable size).<br />
*These pages are listed here for convenience, but they are also listed in the relevant sections below:<br />
**[[1608: Hoverboard/Transcript]] - The full transcript of the entire comic, as if you played the game can be found here. It is linked from the [[#Transcript|Transcript]] section.<br />
**[[1608: Hoverboard/The whole image]] - A collection of different compilations of the whole Image. It is linked from the [[#Whole Image|Whole Image]] section.<br />
**[[1608: Hoverboard/Images of secret passages]] - Images with an overview of the secret passages in the game. It is linked from the [[#Secret passages and hidden places|Secret passages and hidden places]] section.<br />
**[[1608: Hoverboard/All image links]] It is linked from the [[#All images|All images]] section.<br />
**[[1608: Hoverboard/Images coins]] It is linked from the [[#Coins|Coins]] section.<br />
**[[1608: Hoverboard/Screen-shots]] It can be linked from several sections, but among others from the [[#Messages in Play Area|Messages in Play Area]] section.<br />
**[[1608: Hoverboard/Images of individual scenes]] It will be linked from the [[#List of details and references|List of details and references]] section which will be using these images in the explanation.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[This transcript only covers the starting page as shown on xkcd: {{xkcd|1608}}. A full transcript of the entire comic can be found on this [[1608: Hoverboard/Transcript|page]].]<br />
<!-- There is also an official transcript here: https://xkcd.com/1608/info.0.json on xkcd. But on Explain xkcd these xkcd transcripts are not used. This transcript covers what is on the first image you see when opening the comic on xkcd --><br />
<br />
:[Cueball is shown on a hoverboard in the center of the comic. Around him is a simple maze with 12 yellow coins. Another Cueball without hoverboard is shown standing on one of the platforms to the right. The bottom half of the window is black. Right of where Cueball stands is a ramp. Behind the ramp is a terminal. There is lots of space left of the maze, outside the maze. Text is only written in white below in the black area. The first part of the text is written below Cueball on hoverboard. Then there is an arrow pointing to the terminal and a label. Finally there is a line of text at the bottom of the black area.]<br />
<br />
:[Under Cueball:]<br />
:My new book,<br />
:''Thing Explainer,''<br />
:comes out today!<br />
:To celebrate, here's<br />
:a small game.<br />
<br />
:[Under the arrow below the terminal.]<br />
:Deposit<br />
:coins here<br />
<br />
:[At the bottom:]<br />
:Use the arrow keys to move<br />
<br />
:['''For the full transcript of the entire comic as it could be played see [[1608: Hoverboard/Transcript]].''']<br />
:['''For a transcript only of the text for the scenes with text in the comic see the [[#Table with references|table]] below.''']<br />
<br />
==Trivia==<br />
*There is as usual [[:Category:No title text|no title text]] for these interactive comics. But there is actually one listed in the [http://xkcd.com/1608/info.0.json info page] on xkcd. But this text: "Return to the play area", is never shown as a normal title text. But it will erroneously be shown in the unofficial mobile versions of the site. <br />
**This is actually the [[#Messages in Play Area|text that is shown blinking red]] at the bottom of the screen when leaving the Play Area.<br />
<br />
==Viewers==<br />
*{{xkcd|1608|1608: Hoverboard}} (native game, use arrows)<br />
<br />
'''''Warning:''' apart from using one of the a full maps below there are also other [[#Cheats and Exploits|cheating possibilities]] where people (or the game) have implemented ways to explore the game world more easily!. The best way to enjoy this comic, however, is to play the game, explore the comic's world the way you're supposed to, get lost in the caves or in the sky, be startled by unexpected things or happy when finding some people or a coin after lengthy exploration through a repetitive landscape. If you didn't do that already, '''reading any below will spoil you from truly enjoying the comic.''''' So go back to the link above and try that out first.<br />
<br />
*Though you can download the full view, the easiest way to browse it is through a {{w|Zooming user interface}}:<br />
**[http://1101b.com/xkcd1608/ Fully zoomable map w/ toggleable coins and passages]. '''[Recommended]''' - includes all of the game, zoom-able and with toggle-able passages and coins. Courtesy of [https://www.reddit.com/user/lanzaa lanzaa] on this [https://www.reddit.com/r/xkcd/comments/3u4sy1/xkcd_1608_hoverboard/cxbyn86 reddit thread]<br />
**[http://codepen.io/KyleDavidE/full/605dc87b614ff6b2bd716f4c6f640203/ Quickly hacked overview]. Missing the rock island in the sky. Courtesy of [https://www.reddit.com/user/kyledavide kyledavide] on the same [https://www.reddit.com/r/xkcd/comments/3u4sy1/xkcd_1608_hoverboard/cxbyn86 reddit thread].<br />
*Below are several examples of full pictures:<br />
**[http://paste.click/DsPuSL Full-size-png-map]. '''Do not open this directly in the browser!''' It might take a few minutes to download. Full resolution picture of the entire game (also without coins) - courtesy of [https://www.reddit.com/user/0x90-0x90 0x90-0x90] on the same reddit [https://www.reddit.com/r/xkcd/comments/3u4sy1/xkcd_1608_hoverboard/cxbyn86 thread].<br />
**[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/92/thumb_1608.jpg Incomplete compilation] of the entire game area (note the missing pinnacle of the Washington Monument. It also missed the floating island above the monument).<br />
**[https://i.imgur.com/uYryxss.png Full png-map]. Simple picture of the entire game without coins - courtesy of [https://www.reddit.com/user/luke_in_the_sky luke_in_the_sky] on the same reddit [https://www.reddit.com/r/xkcd/comments/3u4sy1/xkcd_1608_hoverboard/cxbyn86 thread].<br />
**[https://i.imgur.com/rNU9ZgN.png Full png-map green for non existing tiles]. Here's the transparent spaces in green - also courtesy of [https://www.reddit.com/user/luke_in_the_sky luke_in_the_sky] on the another [https://www.reddit.com/r/xkcd/comments/3u4sy1/xkcd_1608_hoverboard/cxc1245 reddit thread].<br />
**[https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/content_link/6wIRprxQ7rh3EQGEPer7zCdiaCDeXFM3m2tW9aDd3ECJu9Kgz4s5LPLjjHnJN6SR/file Black areas that you can walk through in red]. This includes the walls and ceilings or other surfaces that you can stand on or hit into. So not only the secret passages are in red.<br />
*See also under the [[#Whole Image|Whole Image]].<br />
**And see also the collection of different versions of [[1608: Hoverboard/The whole image|the whole image]]!<br />
<br />
===Standalone application===<br />
*Standalone cross-platform open source remake of hoverboard is available, with some extra features:<br />
** Off-line play<br />
** Arbitrary game window size<br />
** Persistent games state on exit<br />
** Ability to save up to 10 locations and teleport to them at will<br />
** Explorable world map<br />
* Links:<br />
** [https://github.com/AMDmi3/hoverboard-sdl Project on GitHub]<br />
** [https://github.com/AMDmi3/hoverboard-sdl/releases Downloads] (Windows binaries available)<br />
<br />
===Metroid XK===<br />
*Satirical crossover with the classic game Super Metroid. Explore the world as Samus in search of powerups and secrets, while encountering danger at every turn.<br />
[[File:1608_MetroidXK.png]]<br />
* [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=113083&start=120#p3913102 more information]<br />
* [http://www.xeloh.com/Releases#MetroidXK download]<br />
<br />
==Messages in Play Area==<br />
*Different amounts of coins collected in the play area, will give different messages in yellow on the black part at the bottom of the screen when delivered to the coin collector.<br />
*Below is a table with examples of what may be written depending on the number of coins. The time (and the amount when there is a range with similar rating) is just chosen at random (although in a realistic range). To get above 17 you of course have to leave the play area and come back again... <br />
**In Chrome and Firefox there is not message for those above 9 coins, except 17, 42 and 169. But in Internet Explorer there is still a message for those cases: "Undefined".<br />
**See [[1608: Hoverboard/Screen-shots#Coin collecting messages|screen-shots]] or click on the links from the number of coins in the table below:<br />
<br />
:{| class="wikitable"<br />
!# coins<br />
!Text when depositing this number of coins<br />
"X" is the number of coins collected<br />
|-<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e3/0_coins.PNG 0 coins]<br />
|style="background-color:black;"| <font color="yellow">'''You got 0 coins in 1 second'''<br>You successfully avoided all the coins.</font><br />
|-<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/00/1_coin.PNG 1 coin]<br />
|style="background-color:black;"| <font color="yellow">'''You got a single coin in 1 second'''<br>It's a start.</font><br />
|-<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/83/2_coins.PNG 2]-[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/05/4_coins.PNG 4 coins]<br />
|style="background-color:black;"| <font color="yellow">'''You got X coins in 3 seconds'''<br>Not bad!</font> <br />
|-<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fc/5_coins.PNG 5]-[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/30/9_coins.PNG 9 coins]<br />
|style="background-color:black;"| <font color="yellow">'''You got X coins in 12 seconds'''<br>Terrific!</font><br />
|-<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/74/10_coins.PNG 10]-[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/55/16_coins.PNG 16 coins]<br />
|style="background-color:black;"| <font color="yellow">'''You got X coins in 10 seconds'''</font><br />
|-<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7e/17_coins.PNG 17 coins]<br />
|style="background-color:black;"| <font color="yellow">'''You got 17 coins in 15 seconds'''<br>You found all the coins! Great job!</font><br />
|-<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bd/18_coins.PNG 18-41 coins]<br />
|style="background-color:black;"| <font color="yellow">'''You got X coins in 430 seconds'''</font><br />
|-<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/42_coins.PNG 42 coins]<br />
|style="background-color:black;"| <font color="yellow">'''You got 42 coins in 460 seconds'''<br>No answers here.</font><br />
|-<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d8/45_coins.PNG 43-168 coins]<br />
|style="background-color:black;"| <font color="yellow">'''You got X coins in 460 seconds'''</font><br />
|-<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f7/169_coins_fastest_way.PNG All 169 coins]<br />
|style="background-color:black;"| <font color="yellow">'''You got 169 coins in 1457 seconds'''<br>Are you Gandalf?</font><br />
|}<br />
<br />
*Once you leave the area you get a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ae/Return_to_the_play_area.PNG flashing warning message] in red letters at the bottom of the screen:<br />
:{| class="wikitable"<br />
|style="background-color:black;"| <font color="red">'''Return to the play area'''</font><br />
|}<br />
*This message flashes three times over 1.2 seconds (the message only disappears for about 150 ms each time)<br />
*Then there is a pause for about 1.3 seconds and then this repeats for a total of 5 repetitions, a total of 15 flashes in just about 11.3 second seconds. <br />
*The message will stop immediately if you re-enter the play area during this period. <br />
*If you re-enter later it will flash once you leave again.<br />
*For the program the play area is anything within and below the walls just outside the maze you start in. <br />
**More precisely you first leave the play area if you pass over the middle part at the top of the walls<br />
**Or if you make one jump from standing on top of the walls.<br />
<br />
==Animation==<br />
*There have before been several interactive comics and also a few with animations. But these animations have typical been something along the lines of flashing text or changing lights.<br />
**This comic is the first with a character that is specifically changing position in animation style.<br />
**Apart from this there are also flashing text when leaving the play-area and text that appears and disappears when handing in coins at the terminal as described above under [[#Messages in Play Area|Messages in Play Area]].<br />
**This also happens with the text written to begin with explaining how to play the game: ''Use the arrow keys to move'' which disappears when touching the keys.<br />
*Here are two images showing two kinds of animation of the hoverboard Cueball. <br />
**The first image shows the eight standard animation that can easily be seen. They are<br />
***Standing still facing right (starting position)<br />
***Standing still facing left<br />
***Moving left along flat ground (lifting arms)<br />
***Moving right along flat ground (lifting arms)<br />
***Jumping while facing left looking up with hoverboard pointing down<br />
***Jumping while facing right looking up with hoverboard pointing down<br />
***Falling while facing left looking down with hoverboard pointing up<br />
***Falling while facing right looking down with hoverboard pointing up<br />
[[File:1608 Hoverboard Cueball standard animation.png]]<br />
*But there are several in between drawings of the hoverboard Cueball turning from left to right and even more from right to left. <br />
**The second image shows eight in between animations (together with four from above)-<br />
**Not all possible positions are necessarily caught in this collage here, but there is only a limited amount of them and none of them last for more than a split second.<br />
**They have been sorted so it could look like Cueball has just turned to the right standing still, then jumping while turning right, then turning right while in jump, to finish the turn while falling. <br />
**Image 2, 3, 5 and the last are the same used in the image of standard animations<br />
[[File:1608 Hoverboard Cueball turning animation.png]]<br />
<br />
==Whole Image==<br />
[[File:1608 full tiny.png|none|frame|Whole Image zoomed very much out, without coins. The part visible at the beginning is marked red.]]<br />
*See also a collection of different versions of [[1608: Hoverboard/The whole image|the whole image]]!<br />
<br />
==Secret passages and hidden places==<br />
There are many places where you can disappear behind black areas, as not all of these are solid. Some of these places even hide secret passages or hidden rooms.<br />
<br />
One notable hidden area is {{w|Elon Musk|Elon Musk's}} volcano lair, which is located beneath the lava in the crater of Mount Doom. It can be difficult to find your way in here even if you know it is there. (For more details, see [[1608: Hoverboard/Images of secret passages|secret passages]].)<br />
<br />
Another hidden place is the floating rock island that floats high above the {{w|Washington Monument}}, which is located just outside the left edge of the play area. This island is almost impossible to find by chance, as it takes around 30 seconds of repeatedly pressing the Up Arrow key to reach it from the top of the Monument. (The [[#Viewers|maps]] can help you if you're having trouble finding it.)<br />
<br />
As there are two coins on the floating rock island and four coins in the lair below the lava, it is very hard to find all the coins. There are even several coins that are hard to find because they just float in the air nowhere near any drawn things, or at least no things you can see before seeing the coin. They may hang in the air a few jumps above the ground, or in one case more than a seconds drop below the Destroyer. So getting all coins without help from a map would truly make you a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f7/169_coins_fastest_way.PNG Gandalf-like wizard]. (See more regarding [[#Coins|coins]] below.)<br />
<br />
==Boundaries==<br />
The larger game world is physically bounded in the left, right, and down directions, with invisible walls to each side and the ground binding you from going any further down than the deepest depression or hidden caves... In the upward direction, there is in principle also an invisible wall, but while jumping up Cueball on his hoverboard will appear to continue upwards as long as you press to jump, in addition, the longer the up arrow is pressed repeatedly, the longer it will take for [[Cueball]] to fall down again once the button is released. So although there are no new things above, you can keep jumping as high as you like and will then fall proportionally longer to get back to where you started out. Until maps were created it could be possible that there could be some hidden unexplored parts, but the [[#Viewers|maps]] created already within the first few days covers the entire game.<br />
<br />
To the far right is a platform at the top of a high pole. This platform turns out to be a nest (like a stork nest). Above the three eggs are ten coins (the most collected in one place outside the play area, and these are closer together).<br />
<br />
To the far left is a blond haired woman with a hair bun looking right. In front of her are four coins on a row. She tells about the Destroyer (should you have gone this way without finding it yet).<br />
:Woman: In the sky, beyond the mountain, I saw a starship.<br />
<br />
Regarding the highest part you find the highest straight rise up in the air to something other than white, under the Rock Island just left of and very high above the Washington monument. Standing on the large rock on top of this floating rock island you are standing almost as high up as possible. There is a coin here one step down from the top of this large rock. This is the highest located coin in the game. Going over the edge also represents the largest possible drop in the game. However this is not the highest point where you can stand, as the very top of the bridge on the Destroyer is just a tat higher. But there is no coin there. Also this is not close enough to the end of the Destroyer that you can jump down to the ground, so the drop from the rock is by far the longest possible.<br />
<br />
The deepest part of the lair should have been the lowest point, but as this lair's entrance is up in the volcano crater, it does not reach down to become the lowest part of the image. There is also a deep well (half way left to the Volcano) with a girl at the bottom, that goes just as deep. But the deepest part where you can stand is in the ocean below the Destroyer where a rogue wave is talking to Cueball:<br />
:Wave: I know rogue waves seem implausible, but we're a straightforward consequence of the equations of fluid dynamics.<br />
:Cueball: ...But you can talk?<br />
:Wave: The equations are really complicated.<br />
When standing under this wave you cannot get any lower. There are coins in all three locations, but as the coin is above the top of the high wave, it may be that it is the coin in the well that is the deepest. The coin under the lava is not at the bottom of the room so that is not so low.<br />
<br />
Taking a route that takes the hoverboard through all the extremes mentioned above, that is the lowest, highest, left and rightmost coins and solid positions within the game can be done in about 9 minutes and 30 seconds. See a picture here of the coin delivery after such a trip that [[1608: Hoverboard/Screen-shots#Reaching all the boundaries|reached all the boundaries]].<br />
<br />
==All images==<br />
*Coordinates for the images are given in (X, Y) coordinates with the starting point at [http://xkcd.com/1608/1000:-1074+s.png (1000, 1074)]. <br />
*In total there are 3440 images on xkcd that can be accessed via links of this format: http://xkcd.com/1608/1000:-1074+s.png [This link is for the (1000, 1074) starting point image.]<br />
**'''Here is a page with a table of all the links to images: [[1608: Hoverboard/All image links|All image links]].'''<br />
**'''Note:''' This is a large page which may take some time to load.<br />
*The individual images are so small, and cut of at "random" so they do often go straight down through a person, and you can rarely see both a person and the (full) text belonging to them in the same image.<br />
**See for instance this [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a6/1037x1073y_Wedding.png wedding scene] to the right under the Destroyer, which only makes sense when these four images are put together (as they are in the link): <br />
***[http://xkcd.com/1608/1037:-1073+s.png (1037, 1073)]<br />
***[http://xkcd.com/1608/1037:-1074+s.png (1037, 1074)]<br />
***[http://xkcd.com/1608/1038:-1073+s.png (1038, 1073)]<br />
***[http://xkcd.com/1608/1038:-1074+s.png (1038, 1074)]<br />
**It will thus not make sense to make a transcript of all individual images, but instead, only of a complete setting (or maybe a part of a setting.)<br />
*Maximum possible number of images in the x-direction is 180.<br />
**Going left will decrease X down to 928 (so 82 pictures left of the starting point in X-direction)<br />
**Going right will increase X up to 1107 (so 107 pictures left of the starting point in X-direction)<br />
*Total number of (possible) images in the y-direction is 44. <br />
**Going down will decrease Y down to 1069 (so 5 pictures down from the starting point in Y-direction)<br />
**Going up will increase Y up to 1112 (so 38 pictures up from the starting point in Y-direction)<br />
***The "(possible)" is included because the number of possible active Y-images depends on the X-coordinate, as there are several non-existing images that are not just totally white (i.e. blank images), but which does not even have a number/or active link on xkcd. <br />
***But the top active image over the floating island and over the top of the bridge section of the Destroyer all have Y coordinate 1112. There are only 20 active images at this Y-coordinate.<br />
***The same by the way also goes for the x coordinate. Above X=1076 there are also many non existing images with not active link.<br />
* All possible images are thus spread over a 180 x 44 grid, with a possible 7920 images. But 4480 of these images are non existing on xkcd, but you can travel through them in the game, as they are just shown as completely blank/white empty air in the game.<br />
**If you try to load one of the completely blank images like [http://xkcd.com/1608/1000:-1077+s.png (1000, 1077)], three images above the starting point, you will get an error message. There are only 76 (vs 180) images at this Y-coordinate.<br />
***Note there are several completely empty/white images that are active, but those can be loaded on xkcd like the one below the missing picture mentioned above: [http://xkcd.com/1608/1000:-1076+s.png (1000, 1076)].<br />
**There are no blank images in completely black areas, like inside structures or under ground. And below Y = 1077 all 180 possible Y-images exist for all X-coordinates, from Y = 1069 to 1076. <br />
***For instance the image below the starting point is completely black [http://xkcd.com/1608/1000:-1073+s.png (1000, 1073)], and so are the next three below. <br />
***The bottom images at Y = 1069 has a white border at the bottom: [http://xkcd.com/1608/1000:-1069+s.png (1000, 1069)]. <br />
***All the images at Y = 1069 are the same except the one at the very right edge because at this edge there is also a white border to the right [http://xkcd.com/1608/1107:-1069+s.png (1107, 1069)] (this is not the case to the far left at [http://xkcd.com/1608/928:-1069+s.png (928, 1069)]).<br />
***You will never see the images at Y = 1069 in the game. Actually you will neither see anything of the images with Y = 1070 or 1071. And there is nothing that is not completely black for Y = 1069 to 1072. First from Y = 1073 are there active images which includes white. <br />
***This picture with the wave at [http://xkcd.com/1608/1022:-1073+s.png (1022, 1073)] gives the lowest point where the hoverboard Cueball can actually stand. <br />
***Since you will sink into the water here, you are almost standing on the top of the Y = 1072 image: [http://xkcd.com/1608/1022:-1072+s.png (1022, 1072)], which is of course completely black. <br />
***In places where you can stand in a low position on Y = 1073 images you will actually see some part of the images with Y = 1072, not that it makes any difference since they are all black.<br />
*Here is a list of the places where there are most images at a given X coordinate:<br />
**At X = 1078, right under the highest point of the Destroyers bridge [http://xkcd.com/1608/1078:-1112+s.png (1078, 1112)] there are 36 active images. Thus even here 8 images are missing between the bottom active image below the Destroyer and the first active near the ground level at Y=1076. (Y = 1077 to 1084 are missing).<br />
**These missing Y coordinates are active in other places, for instance under the torpedo rain at X = 1020 where all Y images are active up until 1100 - 32 images. But since the last 12 images above this are missing it is still 4 less than under the bridge.<br />
**Under the floating island, where there are active images at the top Y = 1112, like [http://xkcd.com/1608/990:-1112+s.png (990, 1112)], there is also the Washington monument below which goes high up, but still there are only 20 active Y images, as there are no active images between 1084 and 1109 (24 missing in between).<br />
**Over the volcano's edges the highest images directly connecting to solid ground is found at Y = 1087. One image above this is also active making the height here going up to 1088, thus also making it 20 active Y images. The only '''not''' completely white image over the volcano at Y = 1088 is the one with the eagles [http://xkcd.com/1608/956:-1088+s.png (956, 1088)].<br />
<br />
==Dimensions==<br />
{{incomplete|Here should be an overview of how large the picture is (physical distances and time to traverse it. Speed of hoverboard etc.) Could be based on know monuments sizes.}}<br />
*It takes 1 minute 52 s to reach from the starting point to the left edge<br />
<br />
==List of details and references==<br />
{{incomplete|The table with references should be filled out with explanations. Some explanations need to be reviewed}}<br />
*On this page [[1608: Hoverboard/Images of individual scenes]], images covering all individual scenes (in full size and with coins) has been saved and uploaded to be used for reference in the [[#Table with references|table]] below from where they are linked directly.<br />
**There are also several overviews in smaller resolution<br />
**Almost all these images have been made using this [http://1101b.com/xkcd1608/ Fully zoomable map w/ toggleable coins and passages] which includes all of the game, zoom-able and with toggle-able passages and coins. <br />
***Courtesy of [https://www.reddit.com/user/lanzaa lanzaa] on this [https://www.reddit.com/r/xkcd/comments/3u4sy1/xkcd_1608_hoverboard/cxbyn86 reddit thread]<br />
<br />
===Explanation of the table===<br />
*The contents of the comic are documented in the [[#Table with references|table]] below.<br />
**It first goes through the entire image from left to right along the ground<br />
***I.e. going up the volcano and down in the lair, down the well and up to the top of the Washington Monument. Only exception so far is that it here goes to the rocky island in the sky. Then it continues right along the ground, only following the wires up to the bottom of the Rebel Runner and then after going over the pyramid it ends up at the far right<br />
**Then it goes back to the Rebel Runner, and after that follows the torpedoes up to the Star Destroyer-<br />
**Finally it goes through the Star Destroyer from tip to rear in four sections, taking everything within each section top to bottom, before moving on to the next section.<br />
**The table can be sorted on all columns, so the above is only valid until any sorting takes place.<br />
*In the table are the following columns:<br />
**Descriptions of the scene depicted in the overview links.<br />
***If the scene is a zoomed out overview that covers the images below this scene's description has been written in '''bold text'''.<br />
***This can be used as a guide to where in the image the scenes are located.<br />
***That is, until any sorting begins.<br />
**Transcript.<br />
***Any text has only been transcribed once. If some scenes overlap, the text has only been written in the first or the one where the text is most central.<br />
***Also any overview that has been zoomed out never has any transcript - these have been listed as (N/A)<br />
***Scenes with no text has written (None) in the transcript. <br />
***The use of parenthesis for those with no transcript makes it possible to sort on the transcript to get all the scenes with text to the top.<br />
**Overview links.<br />
***There can be more than one, even many, but the first will always be the overview.<br />
***If there are secret passages or other situations where it will be interesting to see why the hoverboard can disappear beneath the surface (like in the ocean) then two versions of the images have been included. <br />
***The second version is called ''Hidden passages in red'' as it has these passages changed to appear in red instead of black.<br />
**Tile images on xkcd.<br />
***For those images that are zoomed to 100% (i.e. not the zoomed out overviews) there is also a link to the defining image tile on xkcd.<br />
***In cases where there are more than one interesting image tile in one scene (maybe because there is actually two or more distinct scenes), there can be one more link in the ''Other'' tile column.<br />
**References.<br />
***Three things are referenced many times, and each has their own column so the table can be sorted on these<br />
****SW: Star Wars<br />
****LOTR: The Lord of the Rings<br />
****TE: Thing Explainer<br />
***Other. There is also a column for "other" types of references so they can also be sorted, without drowning in the three recurring types of references.<br />
****These have some further sorting by starting with Comics: or Movies: etc.<br />
**Explanations is in the last column.<br />
***So far lots of scenes still miss explanations, and some are not complete. <br />
***Red text has been used to make this clear. <br />
***If updating this and making a good enough explanation delete the red text.<br />
<br />
===Table with references===<br />
*See [[#Explanation of the table|explanation of the table]] above.<br />
**Hint: Open the overview links in a new window and return to this one for the next image and for reading the text.<br />
*Abbreviations:<br />
**'''SW''': Star Wars<br />
**'''LOTR''': The Lord of the Rings<br />
**'''TE''': Thing Explainer<br />
{|class="wikitable sortable"<br />
! <br />
! <br />
! <br />
! colspan="2"|Tiles (X, Y)<br />
! colspan="4"|References<br />
! <br />
|-<br />
! Description<br />
! Transcript<br />
! Overview links<br />
! Defining<br />
! Other<br />
! S<br>W<br />
! L<br>O<br>T<br>R<br />
! T<br>E<br />
! Other<br />
! Explanation<br />
|-<br />
|'''Everything Left of play area.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d4/1608_Everything_Left_of_play_area.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e4/1608_Everything_Left_of_play_area_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Section of the image revealed when going left of the starting point.<br />
|-<br />
|Entire Volcano plateau.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d5/1608_Entire_Volcano_plateau_zoom_out_extra.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3d/1608_Entire_Volcano_plateau_zoom_out_extra_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|About halfway from the Play Area to the volcanos slope, there is a steep plateau. This is the part left of this plateau.<br />
|-<br />
|Woman with white hair bun at the left end of world looking right.<br />
|<br />
:Woman: In the sky,<br />
:Woman: beyond the mountain,<br />
:Woman: I saw a starship.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/63/1608_0928x1082y_At_the_end_of_all_things.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/928:-1082+s.png (928, 1082)]<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The woman at the left end of the world tells about the Star Destroyer in the right part of the world. There are four coins in front of her to anyone coming this far.<br />
|-<br />
|Coin and boulders.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/63/1608_0933x1083y_Coin_and_boulders.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/933:-1083+s.png (933, 1083)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/935:-1083+s.png (935, 1083)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|A single coin hangs in the air above the rocky ground with giant boulders.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Volcano.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6a/Entire_Volcano_zoom_out.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/01/1608_Entire_Volcano_zoom_out_red.png Hidden&nbsp;passages&nbsp;in&nbsp;red]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|Comic: [[1611: Baking Soda and Vinegar]]<br />
|The comic released a week after this one is about a super volcano made in a science fair experiment. As can be seen there is a lair beneath the lava lake. The entrance is revealed by the other link that turns the hidden passages to red. It is for sure possible to get stuck in the lava lake, as everything becomes black in the game when going beneath the surface.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Left Volcano Top.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/4e/1608_0943x1087y_Left_Volcano_Top_zoom_out.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|A zoom out of the left rim of the volcanic crater.<br />
|-<br />
|Basketball on the volcano.<br />
|<br />
:Ponytail: OK, as soon as it erupts, go for the dunk. Our sweet moves will be preserved for all eternity!<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1608_0936x1084y_Basketball_on_the_volcano.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/936:-1084+s.png (936, 1084)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|This is a reference to {{w|Pompeii}} a Roman town-city near modern Naples, which has become famous when it was discovered that it had been preserved in the ash when it was mostly destroyed and buried under 4 to 6&nbsp;m (13 to 20&nbsp;ft.) of volcanic ash in the eruption of {{w|Mount Vesuvius}} in AD 79. When it was {{w|Pompeii#Rediscovery|found again}} it turned out that people had been surprised by the ash, and thus buried alive. During the excavation, plaster was used to fill in the voids in the ash layers that once held human bodies. This allowed one to see the exact position the person was in when he or she died. This is what Ponytail wishes for her and Megan, when the volcano they are standing on erupts, a rather morbid wish. She wants their sweet basketball moves to be preserved for eternity. In ''Playing Fields'' in TE basketball is mentioned. It is also played on top of the Destroyer close to the bridge. In this case the coin is on top of the basket, but too large to go into the hoop.<br />
|-<br />
|Old man walking up the volcano.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5d/1608_0937x1085y_Old_man_walking_up_the_volcano.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/937:-1085+s.png (937, 1085)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Is it an old man who just walks up a mountain, or a young man using a walking stick? It makes quite a difference to how this scene is viewed.<br />
|-<br />
|Duck at the left crater top.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/41/1608_0940x1087y_Duck_at_the_left_crater_top.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/940:-1087+s.png (940, 1087)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|A duck is sitting at the top of the crater. There are several birds in this comic. Another duck looking the other way is found on top of the flag pole near the base of the Washington Monument.<br />
|-<br />
|Megan’s treasure hoard.<br />
|<br />
:Megan: Gooooold!<br />
:Megan: Goold!<br />
:Bags: $ $<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/43/1608_0941x1084y_Megans_treassure_hoarde.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/941:-1084+s.png (941, 1084)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/941:-1083+s.png (941, 1083)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|In the side of the crater there is a small cave where Megan has found a treasury hoard and she is celebrating all the gold she has found, including two coins.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Lava lake.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b1/1608_0946x1083y_Entire_Lava_lake_zoom_out.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/09/1608_0946x1083y_Entire_Lava_lake_zoom_out_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f4/1608_0942x1081y_Lava_lake_left.png Zoom in left part]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/82/1608_0942x1081y_Lava_lake_left_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/02/1608_0943x1083y_Left_Lava_lake_zoom_out.png Entire left part]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/75/1608_0943x1083y_Left_Lava_lake_zoom_out_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d6/1608_0946x1080y_Lava_lake_Upper_shaft_red.png Shaft in lake in red]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/94/1608_0947x1081y_Lava_lake_center.png Zoom in central part]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/25/1608_0947x1081y_Lava_lake_center_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f7/1608_0949x1083y_Right_Lava_lake_zoom_out.png Entire Right part]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/ba/1608_0949x1083y_Right_Lava_lake_zoom_out_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3f/1608_0944x1076y_Lava_lake_very_bottom_of_shaft_and_shaft_in_lair.png Shaft into lair below]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c0/1608_0944x1076y_Lava_lake_very_bottom_of_shaft_and_shaft_in_lair_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
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|These images only cover the part beneath the surface where there is actually still lava, as can be seen in the images where ''Hidden passages in red''. Only the top of the lair below is shown here. From the hidden passage it is here possible to see how to enter this lair. In the images that shows the hidden part the two loose boulders that float (or are outcrops) in the right part of the lake can be seen as well as the two other holes in the lava lakes floor, which all explain why it is easy to get stuck in the lake once you go below the surface and move around. Since everything is black, you do not even know if the game still works and many people may have given up, maybe reloading after not being able to get on with the game. There is no place in the lake where you can get really stuck, as long as you just push upwards while changing direction from left to right, you are bound to get out sooner or later.<br />
|-<br />
|Rock with Gandalf in Lava lake.<br />
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:Megan: If you breathe out through you nose a little as you jump in, it can keep you from getting lava in you nasal passages.<br />
:Cueball: Artex!<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a5/1608_0944x1083y_Rock_with_Gandalf_in_Lava_lake.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fa/1608_0944x1083y_Rock_with_Gandalf_in_Lava_lake_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/944:-1083+s.png (944, 1083)]<br />
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|Y<br />
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|Film: {{w|The Neverending Story}}<br />
|The wizard on the rock represents Gandalf from LOTR. What Megan tells Cueball works fine with water, not so much with lava. The horse Artax (pronounced Artex in the film) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y688upqmRXo drowns in the swamp of sadness] while Atreyu tries to save it and yells its name. Drowning in a swamp sucks, but doing so in lava will make death swifter. Both situations, however, indicate that you can actually go into the lava. If playing for the first time and becoming uncertain what would happen if the hoverboard touched the lava, the player might actually not even try to go into the lava, thus for certain would miss finding the lair beneath the lava.<br />
|-<br />
|Quadcopters over lava lake right.<br />
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:Right quadcopter: Remember: There's no such thing as good volcano footage taken by a quadcopter that survived.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7c/1608_0950x1084y_Quadcopters_over_lava_lake_right.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b2/1608_0950x1084y_Quadcopters_over_lava_lake_right_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/950:-1084+s.png (950, 1084)]<br />
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|Comics: [[1630: Quadcopter]] and in general those about [[:Category:Robots|Robots]] and [[:Category:Artificial Intelligence|AI]]<br />
|The comic was released shortly after this one, and is about AI quadcopters that abduct Cueball. One of these {{w|quadcopters}} tells the other that no one will think much of their volcano footage if they actually survive. I.e. they have to get too close to the bubbling surface to survive before they actually obtain the footage wished for. It sounds like it tries to instill courage in them to perform this deadly task. There is a coin below the left copter. Drones has become a [[:Category:Drones|recurrent subject]] xkcd.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Lava lair.'''<br />
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:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/69/1608_0946x1075y_Entire_Lava_lair_zoom_out.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e0/1608_0946x1075y_Entire_Lava_lair_zoom_out_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
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|The three rooms of the volcanic lair (and the entrance haft in the image with hidden passages in red).<br />
|-<br />
|Trending on twitter cave in lair and Lava lake bottom shaft.<br />
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:Cueball: What news of the world above? Please, tell me- what's hot and viral? ''What's trending on Twitter?!!''<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6e/1608_0944x1079y_Trending_on_twitter_cave_in_lair_and_Lava_lake_bottom_shaft.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2a/1608_0944x1079y_Trending_on_twitter_cave_in_lair_and_Lava_lake_bottom_shaft_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/944:-1079+s.png (944, 1079)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/945:-1079+s.png (945, 1079)]<br />
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|Comics with [[:Category:Social networking|Social networking]]<br />
|Cueball has been stuck below the lava for some times without access to the internet, and he now craves news from the world above. But it is not really news stories he craves but only the hot and viral videos and what is trending on {{w|Twitter}}. To be addicted to social networks and viral videos is probably a real infliction and it is a pain for Cueball to not be able to get on-line. Two coins are behind him.<br />
|-<br />
|Elon Musk’s cave in lair.<br />
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:Left Cueball: I always assumed Elon Musk's volcano lair would be like... Tropical. And ...Well, ''pleasant''.<br />
:Elon Musk in the high chair: Back to your desks, swine!<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/73/1608_0945x1074y_Elon_Musks_cave_in_lair.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/945:-1074+s.png (945, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/946:-1074+s.png (946, 1074)]<br />
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|Comics with [[:Category:Comics featuring Elon Musk|Elon Musk]]<br />
|It turns out that this is {{w|Elon Musk's}} lair. Having a secret lair with a hidden entrance is an often uses trope in films. Often it would be the villain (like in a {{w|James Bond}} film) that has such a place, but also heroes, like {{w|Batman}}, uses such hiding places. The joke here is that Cueball has assumed that Elon Musk, a very rich and enterprising man, that could be one of these megalomaniacs that might end up being a super villain, would have a bit more class over his secret lair. It also turns out that Elon sits in the cave and shouts at his workers to get back to work, even calling them names. There is also a coin here.<br />
|-<br />
|Ground symbol in lair.<br />
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:Ponytail: So ''this'' is where it is.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2d/1608_0947x1073y_Antenna_cave_in_lair.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/947:-1073+s.png (947, 1073)]<br />
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|The antenna looking item hanging from the ceiling is the embodiment of the {{w|Ground_%28electricity%29#Electronics|Earth ground symbol}} commonly used in circuit diagrams for electronics. So this is where the Earth is grounded in "real life" and finally Ponytail has found it. To protect themselves i their long search for this Ponytail and Megan seem to be wearing {{w|Antistatic_wrist_strap|antistatic wrist straps}}. This may also be a reference to the Circuit Diagram comic in which a ground is labeled as "bury deep, but not too deep"<br />
|-<br />
|'''Right Volcano Top'''<br />
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:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/70/1608_0953x1087y_Right_Volcano_Top_zoom_out.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b8/1608_0953x1087y_Right_Volcano_Top_zoom_out_extra.png Extra zoom out]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/75/1608_0953x1087y_Right_Volcano_Top_zoom_out_extra_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
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|A zoom out of the right rim of the volcanic crater. In the extra zoom out the eagles can be seen as well, they are high enough to be missed entirely when moving along the crater surface.<br />
|-<br />
|Ring of power and lave floor at the right crater top.<br />
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:Megan: One of these is probably a ring of power or whatever.<br />
:Girl with hair bun: Let's play a game where the lava is the floor of a house.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/77/1608_0952x1087y_Ring_of_power_and_lave_floor_at_the_right_crater_top.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/952:-1087+s.png (952, 1087)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/953:-1087+s.png (953, 1087)]<br />
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|Y<br />
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|Megan tells Cueball that one of the many rings she throws into the crater is probably a {{w|One Ring|''ring'' of power}}, a reference to [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXpF3SUFaDw the scene] from the {{w|The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King|last LOTR film}} where {{w|Frodo Baggins|Frodo}} fails and {{w|Gollum}} attacks inside the volcano {{w|Mount Doom}}, thus making it clear that the volcano in the game represents this volcano. From her last comment, ''or whatever'', it seems she doesn't care too much, which make it clear, from the LOTR universe, that neither of these rings in the one ring. It would not have be this easy throwing them into the lava if it had been. There seems to be 16 rings, which is less than the other rings that are ruled by the one ring, the 9 for the humans, the 7 for the dwarfs and the 3 for the elves (19 plus the one ring 20 rings in total). <br><br>The two girls are playing a dangerous game, the exact opposite of the normal version of the children’s game {{w|Hot lava (game)|Hot lava}}, where they pretend the floor in the house is made out of lava, and that you die if you touch it. However, in this version of the game they pretend to play that the lava is the floor in a house, and they may then just walk out into the lava pool, where they would die.<br />
|-<br />
|Megan sliding down slope on snow sleigh.<br />
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:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/15/1608_0956x1085y_Megan_sliding_down_slope_on_snow_sleigh.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/956:-1085+s.png (956, 1085)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/956:-1086+s.png (956, 1086)]<br />
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|Megan is sliding fast down the crater side. She will hit a jump near the coin, and would probably fly a considerable distance given the speed she seems to have.<br />
|-<br />
|Eagles over right crater top.<br />
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:Left eagle: Tolkien said Frodo left the cloak somewhere over here.<br />
:Right eagle: Can't ''he'' just fix it?<br />
:Left eagle: He doesn't want to rewrite that chapter.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cb/1608_0956x1088y_Eagles_over_right_crater_top.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/956:-1088+s.png (956, 1088)]<br />
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|Y<br />
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|<font color="red">Did Frodo loose his cloak in the books? Is this a reference to any real plot holes (not just using eagles) about the cloak being lost somewhere but then back later? If you can dismiss this, then make a note below. If there is something please explain</font> Two of the {{w|Eagle (Middle-earth)|great eagles}} from LOTR flies above the right crater top. In this situation the eagles are being used to find {{w|Frodo|Frodo's}} cloak, with one eagle complaining that "he", meaning {{w|J. R. R. Tolkien}} the author of LOTR, should just fix the issue without the eagles. This is a reference to the eagles use in LOTR as a {{w|Deus ex machina|deus ex machina}} and the [http://periannath.com/feature/why-doesnt-frodo-just-ride-an-eagle-to-mount-doom/ supposed plot hole] of the eagles not [http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Eagles#Flying_the_Ring_to_Mount_Doom flying the ring to mordor]. However, this was of course not possible before Sauron and his ringwraiths were defeated. <br />
|-<br />
|Ponytail racing down the steep slope on a bike.<br />
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:Ponytail: 114 mph!<br />
:Ponytail: Suck it, previous downhill volcano record-holder!<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cd/1608_0958x1083y_Ponytail_racing_down_the_steep_slope_on_a_bike.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/958:-1083+s.png (958, 1083)]<br />
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|Ponytail is trying to break the world record for downhill race on a bike on a volcano. The {{w|Cycling_records#History_of_downhill_records|record}} at the time of this comic was from 2002 and was 107&nbsp;mph (172&nbsp;km/h) easily beaten by the 114&nbsp;mph (183&nbsp;km/h) that Ponytail reaches as she mocks the previous record holder. There were two different records, one for prototype bike by {{w|Éric Barone}} (the 107&nbsp;mph (172&nbsp;km/h)) and one for serial production bicycle (102.5&nbsp;mph (164.95&nbsp;km/h) set in 2011 by {{w|Markus Stöckl}}). She beat them both and it looks like a very ordinary bike she rides. The all-time record for downhill racing is not using the ashy slopes on volcanos but from racing on snow, and here the record is not in danger from Ponytail as it is a staggering 138&nbsp;mph (222&nbsp;km/h) again with a lesser record for serial produced bikes of 130&nbsp;mph (210&nbsp;km/h). She will soon hit a rock outcrop so hopefully she has very good brakes...<br />
|-<br />
|Tell my wife why you left me there, and Megan and Cueball with a device<br />
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:Right Cueball: If I don't make it back...<br />
:Right Cueball: ...Tell my wife...<br />
:Right Cueball: ...Where I am...<br />
:Right Cueball: ...And why you left me there…<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/ce/1608_0960x1081y_Tell_my_wife_why_you_left_me_there.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/960:-1081+s.png (960, 1081)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/961:-1081+s.png (961, 1081)]<br />
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|''If I don't make it back'' is a common [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/IfIDoNotReturn trope] in films and books used when the speaker is about to make a noble sacrifice. The speaker will then usually tell the other to go tell his wife that he died bravely or that his friends should remember him. There is even a [https://vimeo.com/58319575 song] with the same title by {{w|Tracy Lawrence}}. In Cueball's case, both him and his companion are attempting to scale a dangerous mountain and neither are inclined to sacrifice their own lives for the other. Cueball appears to be struggling, climbing on all fours while his friend is standing. Subverting the trope, he attempts to guilt trip his friend into helping him. <br />
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Also here are Megan with some kind of device and Cueball on top of a large boulder. Maybe they are investigating the environment on the volcanic slope. Cueball has just discovered the coin hanging above them.<br />
|-<br />
|It becomes a V7 if the volcano erupts and Ponytail and Cueball on the slope<br />
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:Megan: This is currently a V2, but it becomes a V7 if the volcano erupts.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/75/1608_0962x1080y_It_becomes_a_V7_if_the_volcano_erupts.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/962:-1080+s.png (962, 1080)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/963:-1079+s.png (963, 1079)]<br />
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|Megan and Cueball climb a very steep part of the mountain slope. In {{w|bouldering}}, the relative difficulty of a bouldering problem is graded using the {{w|Grade (bouldering)|V scale}}. She exclaims that at the moment the climb is only a V2, but if the volcano erupts this would increase to V7. The joke is that the shaking ground and the lava resulting from the eruption would obviously make it harder to complete the bouldering problem without getting killed. In reality, passing environmental conditions do not affect the grade that a bouldering problem receives.<br />
|-<br />
|Megan reading for children about Sauron’s ring.<br />
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:Megan: ”The time has come” the Walrus said, and put on a Sauron's ring…<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/66/1608_0964x1078y_Megan_reading_for_children_about_Saurons_ring.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/964:-1078+s.png (964, 1078)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/964:-1079+s.png (964, 1079)]<br />
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|Y<br />
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|The line "”The time has come” the Walrus said, to talk of many things" is from the poem {{w|The Walrus and the Carpenter}} by {{w|Lewis Carroll}}'s book {{w|Through the Looking-Glass}}, the sequel to {{w|Alice's Adventures in Wonderland}}. {{w|Sauron}} is the main enemy in LOTR, the one who has made the ring, and now needs it to gain his powers back. In this mixed poem the second line is changed but follows the same rhyme scheme. But although ''rings'' would have rhymed with ''things'', it of course have to ''ring'' as the {{w|walrus}} can only put the {{w|One Ring|one ring of power}} on, while uttering the now much more ominous sounding phrase ''The time has come''. Megan is reading this poem/story at the base of the volcano Mount Doom where the ring was created and later destroyed. Like Frodo, Sauron is one of the characters from LOTR who is only mentioned, not shown, in the comic.<br />
|-<br />
|Vaping Earth.<br />
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:Cueball: The Earth is vaping.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bd/1608_0969x1077y_Vaping_Earth.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/969:-1077+s.png (969, 1077)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/968:-1077+s.png (968, 1077)]<br />
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|{{w|Vaping}} is a term used instead of smoking for the use of electronic cigarettes. There is even a game called the {{w|Vaping game}} for blowing extra large clouds of vapor out while using these substitutes for cigarettes. Cueball remarks that here it is the Earth that does so, due to the volcanic activity of the nearby volcano.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Left of play area to Kite.'''<br />
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:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a9/1608_Left_of_play_area_to_Kite.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/80/1608_Left_of_play_area_to_Kite_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
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|This is the area from below the volcano's slope and towards the play area. There are several hidden places and pools that can be seen in the second image link.<br />
|-<br />
|Kite and weird bug.<br />
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:Mom: Check out this one weird bug, discovered by a local mom.<br />
:Girl: Oh my God, mom, stop saying everything like that.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ae/1608_0970x1077y_Kite_and_weird_bug.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a4/1608_0970x1077y_Kite_and_weird_bug_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/970:-1077+s.png (970, 1077)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/972:-1077+s.png (972, 1077)]<br />
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|Y<br />
|Comic [[1614: Kites]] and in general the [[:Category:Kites|kite category]]. Also the [[:Category:Clickbait|Clickbait category]]<br />
|The comic was released only two weeks after this game, and although it is clearly a girl in this comic, she looks like Megan who sets up the kite in the next comic. There is also a kite in ''Sky Toucher'' in TE and kites is a recurring theme in xkcd.<br><br>The mother that discovers the bug is [[Blondie]]. She talks like she is one of the {{w|clickbait}} headlines used for getting people to click in on the link generally aimed at generating online advertising revenue, which fits nicely with her recurring theme of as a news anchor. Her daughter is tired of this, especially as it seems like the mother speaks like that all the time. The girl may be embarrassed by this, especially if she is with a friend rather than a brother. Maybe the mother has been reading too many clickbait news on-line? As noted in the other references ''clickbait'' is a recurring theme in xkcd. The mother is near a small lake, so it is likely that there is plenty of insects and other bugs. It is possible to sink into the lake as can be seen in the second image with the hidden parts shown in red.<br />
|-<br />
|Space capsule with parachutes.<br />
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:Bird thinking: I don't remember laying these but ''wow'' they're already flying. Gonna be awesome when they hatch.<br />
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:Cueball: Yes! My phone has a signal.<br />
:Voice from inside: How many new likes did we get during reentry?<br />
:Cueball: I'm checking!<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e2/1608_0976x1079y_Space_capsule_with_parachutes.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/976:-1079+s.png (976, 1079)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/976:-1080+s.png (976, 1080)]<br />
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|Comic : [[1133: Up Goer Five]]<br />
|The book TE was based on the comic ''Up Goer Five'' which was about the rocket that took this space capsule to the moon. When it lands it uses three large parachutes to slow down after the main brake-down during reentry. On top of these sits a bird looking like a hen. It is a hen that can think, but it is still not very clever. It believes that this is three eggs, and is amazed that they are already flying before they hatch, which is of course ridiculous, but they do float in the air...<br><br>The astronauts inside (two at least, but there should be three if it was one of the moon landing missions) has just been waiting to get close enough to Earth again that they can get a signal on their smart phones. Cueball is even opening the hatch during descend to increase this chance, which would be highly dangerous. Also normally they would land in water (which will though not be the case this time). The reason he does this is that they wish to know how many more likes they (and their mission) has received during the reentry. This would have been relevant if the moon landings had taken place today. There where no social media or internet back in 1969. This is similar to the Cueball who is trapped in the lava lair without connection to Twitter.<br />
|-<br />
|Girl running to other girl and small forest.<br />
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:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/30/1608_0978x1077y_Girl_running_to_other_girl_and_small_forrest.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/978:-1077+s.png (978, 1077)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/976:-1077+s.png (976, 1077)]<br />
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|Just two young girls playing near a forest of low trees. But with the space capsule above the forest.<br />
|-<br />
|Entire well - zoom out.<br />
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:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2e/1608_0980x1075y_Entire_well_zoom_out.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/06/1608_0980x1075y_Entire_well_zoom_out_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
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|Comics in the [[:Category:Well|Well series]].<br />
|There are many similarities in this well to the well series. Someone is looking into a well that has the same general appearance and there is a person inside which turned out to be the case in [[568: Well 2]]. People throw coins into it and there is a coin at the bottom in the game (although above the water.)<br />
|-<br />
|Well top.<br />
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:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/70/1608_0980x1077y_Well_top.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/980:-1077+s.png (980, 1077)]<br />
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|Cueball looks into the deep well.<br />
|-<br />
|Well bottom.<br />
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:Girl: I'm not a ghost. I just like wells.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/82/1608_0980x1073y_Well_bottom.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/aa/1608_0980x1073y_Well_bottom_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/980:-1073+s.png (980, 1073)]<br />
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|At the bottom of the well in the water (see also the hidden passages image) is a girl. Above to the left of her is a coin. Maybe thrown in by Cueball at the top. Ghost living in wells is a common theme, for instance there is a Japanese movie {{w|Banchō Sarayashiki}} whose [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0202946/releaseinfo English title] is ''Ghost in the Well''. So this is why this real girl explains that she is actually not a ghost, she just like wells and thus likes to sit in the cold water at the bottom of wells. This could be very dangerous, and she will probably have a hard time getting up. It is also a very deep well, so falling into this well might very well be lethal. There are also many stories (in this case also real stories like the one about {{w|Jessica McClure}}) about kids that fall into wells, some of them surviving being stuck for several days in the wells. Also in movies this story is often used, for instance in {{w|Batman Begins}} the young Bruce Wayne falls down a dry well and is attacked by a swarm of bats, subsequently developing a fear of bats.<br />
|-<br />
|Entire gas station with birds above<br />
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:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b3/1608_0982x1079y_Gas_station_with_birds_above_with_coin_on_string.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/83/1608_0982x1079y_Gas_station_with_birds_above_without_coin_on_string.png Without coin]<br />
|Overview<br />
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|The two birds with a coin between them flying above the gas station is way too high up, to be discovered when just moving normally over the gas station, even jumping once up from the highest spot. This is thus one of several coins that are easily missed. There are more explanation this scene where these two individual scenes are described.<br />
|-<br />
|Gas station with x-wing.<br />
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:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/44/1608_0982x1077y_Gas_station_with_x-wing.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/982:-1077+s.png (982, 1077)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/983:-1077+s.png (983, 1077)]<br />
|Y<br />
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|Megan has managed to land her {{w|x-wing}} fighter from the rebel fleet in Star Wars right next to a standard gas station. And she has planned to fill her space ship up. That it could run on petrol for cars seems highly unlikely. The question is if she has already filled it up and is heading back with the handle to the gas stander, or if she has just discovered that the hose is not long enough to reach all the way under the wing to the fighter. It will have taken considerable skills to land this close to the station without hitting the cover over the stander. Ponytail is sitting in the shop with a coin. This is the first coin to be discovered when going left from the play-area. There is a long stretch without coins to begin with. The coins on the rock island in the sky it on this stretch, but so far above that most people would miss them altogether. There is also a coin with two birds straight above the right wing on the X-wing. But about three jumps up, so it is easy to miss. the To get into the shop you need to go over the stander and back. Why Cueball have crawled up in the roof is not clear. But maybe he is enjoying the view over the cliff that is to the right of the station. There is a stop sign to the left, but there seems to be no road that way. Maybe that is why you should stop...<br />
|-<br />
|Birds with coin.<br />
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:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7e/1608_0982x1079y_Birds_with_coin.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/9e/1608_0982x1079y_Birds_without_coin.png Without coin]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/982:-1079+s.png (982, 1079)]<br />
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|Film: {{w|Monty Python and the Holy Grail}}<br />
|In the film it is discussed if two swallows could carry a coconut between them on a string as the two birds do with the coin here. First when the coin has been taken, can the string between the birds be seen (see the other image). The birds are three jumps above the X-wing below, and this coin is thus easily missed by the players. In the film the horses are simulated with the sound of two coconuts shells being hit together. Someone asks how they happened to be in England and there is discussion about migratory birds like {{w|swallows}} and the possibility that they have brought the coconuts along with them. But the consensus is that they cannot do this by themselves the coconut being to heavy, but then it is suggested that two swallows could carry it on a string between them. Later in the film someone is seen actually tying two birds together to a coconut. In this comic, we now know how the coins have been transported through the image...<br />
|-<br />
|Our kingdom from a cliff.<br />
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:Cueball: Everything the light touches is our kingdom.<br />
:Girl: What's with the shadowy place over there?<br />
:Cueball: That is beyond our borders.<br />
:Girl: No, I mean what object casts a shadow over a whole region?<br />
:Cueball: Oh, that's god. He lives over there.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a0/1608_0986x1076y_Our_kingdom_from_a_cliff.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/986:-1076+s.png (986, 1076)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/986:-1075+s.png (986, 1075)]<br />
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|Film: {{w|The Lion King}} and comic: [[1504: Opportunity]] as well as [[:Category:The Lion King|The Lion King category]]<br />
|Cueballs lines is from The Lion King and has been used directly before in the comic Opportunity. Randall has made several references to the film in xkcd, and it is obvious that he was very affected by this film that came out when he was just the right age.<br><br>Cueball is talking to a child version of Ponytail, whose mother may be the one climbing up the cliff side below. The first three lines of the quote goes as in the film, but then it turns out that the girl is properly referring to the Star Destroyer that would be clearly visible from this cliff as it covers almost the entire right part of this world from just beyond the play-area. (They do not look high enough to see the rock island in the sky, and it would also not cast shadow over an entire region.) As it is not certain players coming here have already been to the right to see the Destroyer it is not necessarily clear that the reply from Cueball should apply to the Destroyer. But if it does then it would be the Emperor Palpatine that he reefers to as God. The emperor is on board the Destroyer near the bridge at the very top rear end of the space ship and has God like powers. It could however also just be a general reference to the {{w|God}} and thus be inferred as if God cast a shadow over an entire region (country). Maybe just in general as if he has a place in the sky that cast a shadow (like sitting on a cloud). Alternatively it could be the people who believe too much in any God, that can be viewed as living under a shadow, as they will not try to see any reality if it does not fit with their religious beliefs.<br />
|-<br />
|Hamster ball bowling.<br />
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:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/53/1608_0987x1075y_Hamsterball_bowling.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/987:-1075+s.png (987, 1075)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/989:-1074+s.png (989, 1074)]<br />
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|Y<br />
|Comics: [[:Category:Hamster Ball|Hamster Ball category]]<br />
|There have been several xkcd comics with human sized hamster balls, and there is even one more in this comic up in the Destroyer. In this scene it is two young girls that use the hamster ball as a bowling ball in a human sized {{w|ten pin bowling}} game. Hopefully the little girl with the hair bun behind the pins get away in time if it is a strike. It is the first time hamster ball and bowling has been matched, but in TE there are bowling alleys both on the ship ''The USS Laws of the Land'' and on the suspension of the longest bridge in ''Tall roads'' and such an alley is also used for measuring length in ''How to count things''. One of the many large trees that are found in the drawing is standing alone in this scene. Most other places there are more than one tree together.<br />
|-<br />
|If loving you is wrong I don’t want to and Beret Guy following insects<br />
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:Cueball: If loving you is wrong, I don't want to.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/4f/1608_0990x1074y_If_loving_you_is_wrong_I_dont_want_to.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/990:-1074+s.png (990, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/991:-1074+s.png (991, 1074)]<br />
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|Song (or quote): {{w|(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right}}<br />
|A reference to either the [http://krexy.com/if-loving-you-is-wrong general love quote] or maybe more likely to the song [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvJj7SN9EWI performed most notably] by {{w|Luther Ingram}}. Recently (2014), there has also been a TV series produced called {{w|If Loving You Is Wrong (TV series)|If Loving You Is Wrong}}.<br><br>The quote is very romantic, because the speaker is stating that if it is wrong to love a specific person, the speaker chooses to be in love and does not wish to be right. However, Cueball twist the quote quite a lot, saying instead that if it is wrong to love Ponytail then he does not want to love her at all - taking all romance out of the statement.<br><br>Also in this scene is one of only two instances where Beret Guy appears. Typical of his past appearances, he seems to be occupied by following a small flying insect through the tall grass.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Washington monument'''<br />
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:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/21/1608_0995x1079y_Entire_Washington_monument_extra_zoom_out.png Overview] <br />
[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ae/1608_0995x1079y_Entire_Washington_monument_extra_zoom_out_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7a/1608_0995x1078y_Middle_of_Washington_monument_zoom_out.png Central hidden passage]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6d/1608_0995x1078y_Middle_of_Washington_monument_zoom_out_red.png Hidden passages in red] <br />
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|Overview<br />
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|Comic: [[1600: MarketWatch]]<br />
|The tallest man made structure on the ground in this game is the {{w|Washington Monument}} which recently before the release of this comic was refereed to in the mentioned comic. As can be seen in the hidden passages images there are two secret passages, one at the bottom (see this scene for more) and one in the middle of the monument. The one in the central part of the monument is actually quite large, and as can be seen in the images zooming in on the central part there is also a fault line in the monument at the base of this hidden passage. But it doesn't really lead to anywhere interesting. The fault line could be a reference to the {{w|Washington_Monument#2011_earthquake_damage|earthquake damage}} from 2011 where several stones cracked.<br />
|-<br />
|Base of Washington monument with Cueball and Megan<br />
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:Cueball: Honestly, it doesn't even look that muck like Washington.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/dc/1608_0994x1074y_Base_of_Washington_monument.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/16/1608_0994x1074y_Base_of_Washington_monument_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/994:-1074+s.png (994, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/995:-1074+s.png (995, 1074)]<br />
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|At the base of the Washington Monument Megan and Cueball is looking up at it, and Cueball complains that it doesn't even look like {{w|Washington, D.C.|Washington}}. If he is referring to the city or to the monument is a bit unclear. Of course since this is the only Washington based building in the game it is true that the place doesn't look like the city. If he refers to the monument then it can be questioned if this is because the monument is not an exact replica (in proportions and/or scale). It could also just be Cueball who is not happy about it. In any case it is clearly meant as an indicator that this is supposed to look like the monument, and with the tips apex being made of aluminum (see that scene) as on the real monument, there can be no doubt what is referenced. But it is possible to get to the left side of the monument without going up to see the tip, if the player immediately understands the sign with the white arrow that actually points to a hidden passage through the base of the monument, as can be seen in the second image with the hidden passages shown in red.<br><br>To the left of the monument there is a flag pole with a blown out flag. It is all black, but it should be the {{w|Flag of the United States|the Stars and Stripes}} as there are fifty flag poles with the US flag (one for each [[1653: United States Map|state]]) surrounding the monument in a circle. On top of the pole there sits a duck looking left. Towards the end of the world to the left on top of the left volcanic rim there also sits a similar duck looking right.<br />
|-<br />
|Tip of Washington monument with Cueball and White Hat<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: Look at that- Solid aluminum!<br />
:Cueball: We´re gonna be rich!<br />
:White Hat: Uh, what the heck is ''that?!''<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6f/1608_0995x1083y_Tip_of_Washington_monument.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/995:-1083+s.png (995, 1083)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/995:-1084+s.png (995, 1084)]<br />
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|The tip of the monument is actually {{w|Washington_Monument#Aluminum_apex|made of solid aluminum}} and at the time this {{w|aluminum}} apex was installed it was a rare metal as valuable as {{w|silver}}, but today it is maybe about 1/300 as valuable as silver. So Cueball and White Hat will not become rich based on the metal value. Of course if they did steal the tip of such a famous monument, they might actually be able to sell it to a scrupulous collector at a value comparable to if was just a lump of silver of that weight.<br><br>White Hat looking over his shoulder spots the Star Destroyer and thus help guide a player that has started going left towards the Destroyer to the right. How they have managed the climb, getting the ropes over the tip, or how Cueball intends to get down with the tip is left to the readers imagination...<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire floating rock island.'''<br />
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:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5c/1608_0994x1110y_Entire_floating_rock_island_zoom_out.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
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|Film: {{w|Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar}}<br />
|This floating rock island may be a reference to the film Avatar where floating rocks is part of the scenery of the fictive moon {{w|Fictional_universe_of_Avatar#Astronomy_and_geology|Pandora}}. The rock in the game is very hard to find by chance, it is kind of unobtainable, which may be a further reference to the film since the reason the rocks do float is a combination of a weak gravity, a strong magnetic field and a mineral whose {{w|Superconductivity|superconductive properties}} allow it to float in magnetic fields. Of course the levitating Hallelujah Mountains in the film contain significant quantities of the mineral which is called {{w|Unobtanium}}. Only thing pointing towards it is the Washington Monument and even if you go up from there, pushing the up arrow continuously for more than half a minute you may almost miss it, as only the far right girl would move through the view. And with two coins around this island it is important to find it in order to get all coins. Apart from the coins and the surprise there is little of interest here, and not even any spoken text.<br><br>To the right just beneath the rear end of the Destroyer there is a small lump of earth that has floated up from the ground, hovering over the corresponding hole in the ground. Maybe this is caused by the same force that have created this floating island.<br />
|-<br />
|Top left of floating rock island with coin.<br />
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:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f5/1608_0989x1112y_Top_of_floating_rock_island_with_coin.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/990:-1112+s.png (990, 1112)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/990:-1111+s.png (990, 1111)]<br />
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|The large rock on top of the floating island is one of only two places where there is anything at a coordinate of Y=1112. On top of the globe of Death over the bridge of the destroyer, there are three images at the top of this that enters 1112. And there [http://xkcd.com/1608/1078:-1112+s.png the very top] is just slightly higher up. But there is no coin there, so the coin that would be in the tile used for main reference here that holds the coin is the highest location for any coin in the game, as the Globe of Death has its coin in its center below the top.<br />
|-<br />
|Top right of floating rock island with base jumpers.<br />
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:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/92/1608_0993x1112y_Top_of_floating_rock_island_with_base_jumpers.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/994:-1111+s.png (994, 1111)]<br />
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|Y<br />
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|In ''Sky Toucher'' in TE two people jump of a cloud, like the base jumpers Megan and Ponytail does here from the floating rock, but at least these two girls do have parachutes on (as opposed to the cloud jumpers in TE). How they got here is a good question, but of course they could have flown here in for instance the X-wing from below at the gas station.<br />
|-<br />
|Bottom of floating rock island with coin.<br />
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:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1608_0992x1109y_Bottom_middle_of_floating_rock_island_with_coin.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/992:-1109+s.png (992, 1109)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/993:-1109+s.png (993, 1109)]<br />
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|At the bottom of the island several small and large boulders can be seen hanging only loosely on to the bottom. At the center the largest rock can be seen, but even this is slipping a little as can be seen by the small white speck high over the very bottom of this boulder. Right of this is the other coin that belongs to this hidden place in the sky.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Play Area - zoom out.'''<br />
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:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7b/1608_1001x1074y_Entire_Play_Area_Zoom_out.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/8b/1680_Play_Area_Full_Size_Coins_Hoverboard_and_View.png With starting view]<br />
|Overview<br />
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|The entire play area with the walls and their outer foundation. See also the insert with the starting view shown in red in the second image link and see more about the buildup of scenes from the individual image tiles using the [[#Play Area used as example|play area down below]]. It is easy to see how a player of the game, with no knowledge of Randall's way of thinking, may not even think about exploring outside this area, even if they do try to go outside the maze. Because it is possible to jump around in the maze without discovering that you can actually fly rather than just jump. If you only jump once you cannot see the too op the walls. On top of this there is the large [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ae/Return_to_the_play_area.PNG red warning letters] telling you to go back if you try to leave the confines of the wall.<br />
|-<br />
|The Play Area.<br />
|<br />
:My new book,<br />
:''Thing Explainer,''<br />
:comes out today!<br />
:To celebrate, here's<br />
:a small game.<br />
<br />
:Deposit coins here<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6c/1608_1000x1074y_The_Play_Area.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/30/1608_1000x1074y_The_Play_Area_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1000:-1074+s.png (1000, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1000:-1075+s.png (1000, 1075)]<br />
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|Y<br />
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|This is the starting area where the game begins. There is even some extra text telling you to ''Use arrow keys to move'' but as soon as you do, this text disappears, just like the [[#Messages in Play Area|message you can receive]] below in the view depending on your action in this area. The text below the starting point of the hoverboard Cueball that you control, explains that the game is released on this day to celebrate the release of Randall's new book [[Thing Explainer]] and thus directly references the book. And also explains why this comic has been made, and furthermore why it was released on a Tuesday rather than the usual Wednesday release, which was then skipped this week. It also explains that if you collect coins you can deposit them at the terminal, and when you do it list the score (number of coins and the time used) and rates your achievement. By noting that [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7e/17_coins.PNG you got all the coins] if you collect all 17 coins in the play area maze, then it is one more trick to try to make you stay inside the walls of the maze. There is only one small feature that can be spotted from within the maze that breaks the symmetry and may give away the clue of the game. And that is the small stone that lies on the ground to the left. Because why should it be there, if this was just a platform/maze game. The walls cannot be seen if you stay in or just around the outer wall of the maze. But if you go to them you may think this is the end. Another detail about the game to be learned already here is that there can be "solid" black parts of the surroundings which are not solid at all. This can be seen in the image showing the hidden passages in red. Here it can be seen that the ledge beneath the two inverted parenthesis " )( " is not solid, and that you can fall or jump up through this section. This could forewarn you of the hidden passages, especially to the lair beneath the volcano which are the only real hidden place based on hidden passages, but also for those in the Washington Monument and in the cotton trap in the Destroyer and the glitch floor also on the Destroyer.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Everything Right of Washington monument.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/66/1608_Everything_Right_of_washington_monument.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
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|Most of the details in the image is found to the right of the play-area, mainly in the form of the rooms in the Destroyer. On the ground only a few artifacts are large enough to be seen in this zoomed out version. The three T's and the forest, and then of course the pyramid. Interestingly enough there are almost more to be seen inside the Destroyer with the two large rooms (the cave and the Glitch floor room) both being large enough to [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bf/1608_Entire_Cave_With_entire_pyramid_for_scale.png accommodate the entire pyramid].<br />
|-<br />
|Cueball outside play area.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c0/1608_1004x1074y_Cueball_outside_play_area.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1004:-1074+s.png (1004, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1003:-1074+s.png (1003, 1074)]<br />
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|Typically reading direction would lead a player to this location first after escaping the play area. Is this is indeed the case then the grass and after that Cueball is the first hint that something more is going to happen in this game. Apart from the Cueball standing inside the play area, this is the closest person to the play area. He is just standing there doing nothing, so it is still not clear how big this is going to be.<br />
|-<br />
|Megan points at Runner after forest.<br />
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:Megan: Wow.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/53/1608_1008x1074y_Megan_points_at_Runner_after_forest.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1008:-1074+s.png (1008, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1006:-1074+s.png (1006, 1074)]<br />
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|The small forest with two large trees and several small ones is the first really interesting to show up if exiting the play area to the right for the first time and finally a person actually speaking shows up (although Cueball at the base of the Washington Monument to the right would be closer). Megan is not saying much, but she is clearly reacting to something. It could be to one or both the space ships above her. Since the Destroyer is already on top of her, as the front end of that ship is just short of being above the right wall of the play area, then it could also be the Rebel Runner she is pointing out. No matter what, following her arm going up and right it is likely that the runner will enter the view, but it is possible to miss it, in which case there would be a long way up to the Destroyer. Megan and Cueball is standing on the edge of a cliff, offering them an excellent view. Stepping down on the plateau below the cliff takes the player close to the lowest possible level to be at in the game. There are no tiles with any white below that level (1073). But the lowest point is first in the Ocean.<br />
|-<br />
|Cliff with rock and cactus.<br />
|<br />
:(None, or rather the text has been written in the previous scene)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f2/1608_1010x1073y_Cliff_with_rock_and_cactus.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c4/1608_1010x1073y_Cliff_with_rock_and_cactus_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1010:-1073+s.png (1010, 1073)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1008:-1073+s.png (1008, 1073)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|After the grassy ground and the forest above the cliff to the left this marks the beginning of a long stretch of barren land ending in a dessert before reaching the ocean. Here a cactus and two large boulders display this inhospitable terrain. It seems like something is sitting on top of the smaller boulder, this could be a lizard, but it is too small to be certain. But that it is not part of the rock can be seen in the other image showing the parts of the image that you can walk through in red. And this small "lizard" is obviously sitting on top of the boulder.<br />
|-<br />
|Entire wires from ground to Runner.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/76/1608_1014x1076y_Entire_wires_from_ground_to_Runner.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Here is the first direct link from the ground to the Destroyer. This specific link takes the player from the ground level up along one of the three wires to the bottom of the hull of the Rebel Runner. If you went straight for the runner without going further right, the first coin you would find to the right would be one of the three at the runner. Else the first coin to the right (along the ground) would be in the dunes before Ponytail to the right.As can be seen the three wires are held by people and are then attached with anchors to the hull. Megan is climbing up the last of the three wires. See more in the specific scenes. <br />
|-<br />
|Three wires and people holding on on the ground<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c9/1608_1013x1073y_Three_wires_and_people_holding_on.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1013:-1073+s.png (1013, 1073)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1011:-1073+s.png (1011, 1073)]<br />
|<br />
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|Three pairs of people are trying to hold on the three wires going straight up. Cueball and Megan holds on leaning left on the left wire, another Cueball and Hairy hold on to each side of the middle wire and finally yet a Cueball holds on to the last, while a small girl with a hair bun steps on the end of the wire, like she would be able to walk it like a tightrope. This should not be physically possible as the ropes do not seem to be attached to the ground, at least not the one to the left. But there can be no doubt that the drawing shows her standing with both feet on the rope. She is thus not helping Cueball. From here it is not yet know to the player that it is the Rebel Runner they have caught (with anchors) above, but when this becomes clear it will also be clear that they have no chance of holding on to the space ship. But here it seems they are doing a great job. The ground is barren between these wires and a {{w|tumbleweed}} is blowing along to make this even more clear. This part of a plant was also mentioned in a toast in [[1645: Toasts]].<br />
|-<br />
|Three wires Megan hanging on that reaches up to three anchors in the bottom hull of the Runner.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/58/1608_1014x1078y_Three_wires_and_reaching_up_to_anchors_in_Runner.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1015:-1076+s.png (1015, 1076)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1014:-1078+s.png (1014, 1078)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|Megan tries to climb up the last of the wires going from the ground, and it turns out that it leads up to the bottom of the hull of the Rebel Runner. Not to a really good spot in her wires case, as there seems to be nothing to help her get inside the runner from there. The other two wires comes up to a cannon close to an entrance, where Cueball is fishing birds with a crumb of bread or a cracker on the end of the hook. (The bird fishing scene is also depicted when going through the Runner [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bc/1608_1012x1078y_Bridge_on_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png down below]). All three wires ends in anchors that are here used the reverse way of a normal anchor, with the anchor attached to the ship instead of to the bottom of the sea (or at least the ground below an air ship). In ''Red world space car'' in TE, Megan is also seen hanging on to a rope like this.<br />
|-<br />
|Ponytail in the dunes - zoom out.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/33/1608_1015x1073y_Ponytail_in_the_dunes_zoom_out.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Ponytail is standing in the dunes of the desert that continues after the barren landscape to the left of the desert. Here a zoom out of the entire desert with the first three coins along the ground to the right. The Rebel Runner flying above this dune landscape is a reference to the desert planet {{w|Tatooine}} where the opening scene is taking place.<br />
|-<br />
|Ponytail in the dunes.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c4/1608_1015x1073y_Ponytail_in_the_dunes.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1015:-1073+s.png (1015, 1073)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1016:-1073+s.png (1016, 1073)]<br />
|<br />
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|Ponytail is standing in the desert on top of a small dune, as these get increasingly higher further right into the desert. The coin to the left of her at the tip of a dune is the first along the ground when going right. It is soon followed by a second one at the base of the largest dune in desert.<br />
|-<br />
|The largest dune.<br />
|<br />
:(None - the text is written in the scene centered on the ocean)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0a/1608_1017x1073y_The_largest_dune.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1017:-1073+s.png (1017, 1073)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1018:-1073+s.png (1018, 1073)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
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|The largest dune in the desert, also shown partly in the scene with Ponytail, also has a coin at the other base. After this there is only one smaller dune and then the desert stops at the shore of a small sea or ocean.<br />
|-<br />
|Entire ocean.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0e/1608_1022x1073y_Entire_ocean.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0c/1608_1022x1073y_Entire_ocean_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
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|<br />
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|<br />
|The sea/ocean consist of a rather large body of water with a tall wave in the center. It is quite deep as can be seen in the other image with the water shown in red. Where the sea is deepest, is also the point that is the lowest hoverboard Cueball can get in the entire image. It is the closest that anything other than completely black comes to the level with Y=1072.<br />
|-<br />
|Megan rates the Sea.<br />
|<br />
:Megan: This is an OK sea.<br />
:Megan:★★⯪☆☆<br />
:[a rating of 2.5 stars].<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/99/1608_1019x1073y_Megan_rates_the_Sea.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c8/1608_1019x1073y_Megan_rates_the_Sea_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1019:-1073+s.png (1019, 1073)]<br />
|<br />
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|It is very unusually to rate a sea, like you would a film or book, or a restaurant or museum. But today it is also common to rate anything you have used on-line like an internet shop or a company you have used. So this may be a jab at all the people that rate everything in stars. According to [[1098: Star Ratings]] 2½ stars as an online star ratings means that the sea is a crap sea, so this indicates that Megan's rating should not be viewed as such, since she also exclaims that it is an OK sea, as in a acceptable. All in all another joke about online behavior, like the reference to Twitter and likes in the volcanic lair and the space shuttle respectively.<br />
|-<br />
|Rouge wave.<br />
|<br />
:Wave: I know rogue waves seem implausible, but we're a straightforward consequence of the equations of fluid dynamics.<br />
:Cueball: ...But you can talk?<br />
:Wave: The equations are really complicated.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/11/1608_1022x1073y_Rouge_wave.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bf/1608_1022x1073y_Rouge_wave_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1022:-1073+s.png (1022, 1073)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1023:-1073+s.png (1023, 1073)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Comic: [[1315: Questions for God]]<br />
|{{w|Fluid dynamics}} is a complex subdiscipline of {{w|fluid mechanics}} that deals with fluid flow. Although it is not their main target they can also be used for {{w|surface waves}} which would be like the {{w|rogue wave}} in this scene. This kind of waves is also known as freak waves, monster waves etc. They are large and spontaneous surface waves that occur far out in open water, and can be extremely dangerous. But as the wave describes to Cueball these big waves can be predicted from the equations in fluid dynamics. Of course Cueball is less afraid of the wave (even though it is {{w|Rogue (vagrant)|rouge}}), than he is fascinated by the fact that it speaks. The wave just replies that the equations are really complicated. That this is the case was for instance part of [[1315: Questions for God]] where a famous quote regarding turbulent motion of fluids is mentioned. {{w|Turbulence}} is also described by fluid dynamics, so they are part of the equations and the {{w|Horace_Lamb#Career| quote}} by {{w|Horace Lamb}} was: "I am an old man now, and when I die and go to heaven there are two matters on which I hope for enlightenment. One is {{w|quantum electrodynamics}}, and the other is the turbulent motion of fluids. And about the former I am rather optimistic." He turned out to be correct as nowadays we have a much clearer understanding of QED, while our understanding of turbulence has improved little. {{w|Richard Feynman}}, who was himself largely responsible for explaining QED, famously {{w|Turbulence|described turbulence}} as "the most important unsolved problem of classical physics". So who knows if these formulas could describe a talking wave? A coin crowns the wave.<br />
|-<br />
|Ruins with Cueball singing of Spiders and Panama.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball singing:<br />
::Spider-man <br />
:::Spider-plan<br />
::Spider-canal<br />
:::Spider-Panama<br />
::Gates let in<br />
:::Spider boats<br />
::Flood the locks<br />
:::Spiders float<br />
::''Look out!''<br />
::Spiders in both oceans.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0d/1608_1026x1073y_Ruins_with_Cueball_singing_of_Spiders_and_Panama.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1026:-1073+s.png (1026, 1073)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1027:-1073+s.png (1027, 1073)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Comic: [[1632: Palindrome]] and the [[:Category:Spiders|Spiders category]]<br />
|<font color="red">Any explanation for the ruin?</font> The palindrome comic was released shortly after this and used a palindrome about the {{w|Panama canal}} which is the first four lines with ''Spider-'' changed with "A" the first three times and then with nothing before Panama as in ''"A Man, A Plan, A Canal: Panama''. The song is inspired by the {{w|Spider-Man (theme song)|Spider-Man theme song}} (see this [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUtziaZlDeE video]), but takes it in a rather different direction. Spiders have been a recurring theme and as the rest of the song tells that the spiders have now breached through the Panama canal using spider-boats and by flooding the gates (in the canal) so now there are spiders in both oceans. If they came from the {{w|Atlantic ocean}} to the {{w|Pacific ocean}} or the other way around is not clear, but there are now spiders on both sides of the {{w|Central America|Central American}} strip of land. If the line ''Spiders float'' refer to actually floating spiders or just because they float on their boat is unclear. But we are forewarned about these spreading spiders with a '''''Look out!''''' (another lyric from the Spider-Man theme song). This threat continues the theme of the [[:Category:Red Spiders|Red Spiders]] especially those from [[126: Red Spiders Cometh]].<br><br>There is a coin inside the ruin beneath Cueball who sits on top of the ruin and both sings the song and plays the guitar. Megan just stands inside the ruin at ground level and listens. It is not difficult to get to the coin, but there is only entrance into the little coin room between the ledge under Cueball and the ceiling of the lower room. But it is possible to walk directly in their from the left. Maybe the ruin is in this state of affair because the spiders have crossed the ocean just to the left, the shore of this can be seen at the edge of the scene. But there is no indication of any spiders anywhere else in the comic, in spite of the many animals throughout the comic.<br />
|-<br />
|Ponytail flying.<br />
|<br />
:Ponytails arms: Flap Flap Flap Flap Flap Flap Flap<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3b/1608_1029x1073y_Ponytail_flying.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1029:-1073+s.png (1029, 1073)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1030:-1073+s.png (1030, 1073)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Ponytail manages to fly by just flapping her arms violently, a feat that is of course not possible. It keeps he above the coin on the ground, so the player can get to it first... In the Destroyer another Ponytail seems to be [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/76/1608_1053x1091y_Ponytail_flying_up_a_shaft_towards_a_coin.png flying straight up in a shaft] towards a coin this time without using her arms as wings. So her flying is a small theme in the game. (It is not close to being directly above the Ponytail on the ground as the Ponytail in the Destroyer is just past the pyramid on the ground).<br />
|-<br />
|Entire forest - zoom out.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3a/1608_1032x1074y_Entire_forest_zoom_out.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|This is the largest collection of such tall trees, and if all smaller trees are counted probably also the largest collection of trees in general. In the left part of the world there is a scene with lots of trees, but they are all smaller than even the two medium-sized trees besides the five really large. the last tree to the right somehow belongs more to the wedding scene just right of it, but there are smaller trees all the way up to it, making it part of this forest. Drawing trees like this is often used in xkcd and in particularly also allot in ''click and drag''.<br />
|-<br />
|Left part of forest.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/56/1608_1032x1074y_Left_part_of_forest.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1032:-1074+s.png (1032, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1033:-1074+s.png (1033, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
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|The left part of the forest has the largest trees and also the two coins, one in the fork of the first big trees and another some way above the first substantial tree to the left. It is just high enough that it will be missed by just sliding along the ground, and even when jumping to get the other coin it will still not necessarily enter into the viewing frame, so it can be considered one of the slightly hidden coins in the game.<br />
|-<br />
|Right part of forest.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/37/1608_1034x1073y_Right_part_of_forest.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1034:-1073+s.png (1034, 1073)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1035:-1073+s.png (1035, 1073)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The right part of the forest has the last two trees in the clump of four large ones, and then small to tiny trees continue the "forest" until the final tree, just beyond which the wedding takes place, and this tree also seems to be part of that scene.<br />
|-<br />
|Wedding and picnic.<br />
|<br />
:Priest: And if any here can give cause why these two should not be wed,<br />
:Priest: The Great Jabba the Hutt will now listen to your pleas.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c9/1608_1038x1073y_Wedding_and_picnic.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1038:-1073+s.png (1038, 1073)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1040:-1074+s.png (1040, 1074)]<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Megan, in a black wedding dress, and Cueball, with a tie, is married by a female priest in front of a crowd of five sitting in chairs in front of them. In the crowd there is yet another Cueball, Hairy and Ponytail, but the last two it not familiar in xkcd one has a cap on backwards and then a person (M/W?) with black. Just before a {{w|wedding}} it is sometimes customary to ask if any in the crowd has could give a cause why these two people should not be wed. What is not customary is to threaten those who do have any objections that they would then have to plea these in front of the great gangster boss from Star Wars, {{w|Jabba the Hutt}}. In case he has condoned this wedding then you may end up pleading for him to kill you mercifully if you did object anyway. The normal way of saying what the priest does goes more [http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/marriage.pdf like this]: "If any of you can show just cause why they may not lawfully be married, speak now; or else for ever hold your peace." (See the top of page 4 of the pdf file in the link (page 424) and a discussion about this sentences use [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=635317 in real life]).<br><br>Beyond the wedding another Megan is sitting on a large boulder facing the wedding, and behind her a third Cueball is having a picnic with a second Ponytail. The question here is if Megan looks at the wedding or turns her back to the picnic. Depending if the player went right along the ground to begins with and saw the wedding first or went through the Destroyer and came back the other way and saw the picnic first the players preconceptions on this questions may be completely different. In either case it still looks like Megan would have liked to be with Cueball (either the one in the tie or the one at the picnic. Of course with characters drawn "randomly" in many places she may bot even belong to either scene. Standing on the rock with Megan hoverboard Cueball cannot see either of the scenes, but standing between Megan and either scene, she can be seen together with either of the relevant Cueball and another girl. In the first case with the wedding, she might have wished she had the courage to speak up in spite of the Jabba threat. In the other case she may feel rejected by the happy picnic couple and has turned her back to them. Poor Megan. Ponytail and Cueball seems to enjoy their picnic lunch in the open air though.<br />
|-<br />
|Cemetery.<br />
|<br />
:Megan: They're inscribed with our family motto, ”Cur ego committitur dictar latinae,” which means ”Why did I just start speaking Latin?”<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7b/1608_1042x1074y_Cemetary.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1042:-1074+s.png (1042, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1043:-1074+s.png (1043, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Someone with better Latin knowledge than using Google translate would be most welcome to chip in here</font> It is so common to have your motto translated in to the dead language {{w|Latin}} that there even is an entire category for {{w|Category:Latin mottos|Latin mottos}} on Wikipedia. Since no one really speaks the language anymore, and only few learn it well enough to just read any sentence, by doing so you actually hide this motto that you probably would like to tell people about. The only Latin that has entered popular usage are generally idioms, like {{w|Carpe diem}} (seize the day), etc. (et cetera, meaning "and the rest"). However, most of the time, like the one Megan is explaining to her friend, it would make much more sense to just write it in your native language (English in this case); but then of course there would be no need for a motto, where you ask yourself why you are speaking Latin. In this way, the joke is quite self-referential. There is also a cemetery in Click and Drag.<br><br>The Latin in the motto is not correct, but close, and it could both be Randall's accidental errors or purposeful errors (as there are probably many "private" mottoes out there that are not completely correct. <br> The original sentence: <br><br>'''Cur''' - why. <br>'''Ego''' - I.<br>'''Committitur''' - can be translated as "start", but is incorrectly conjugated; in view of the proper translation, a more acceptable word would be "commisi".<br>'''Dictar''' - likely a misspelling of "dictare", an acceptable translation of "to speak". <br>'''Latinae''' - Latin, but in the wrong case; a more correct translation would probably be "Latinam".<br>A possible translation of this sentence is therefore "Why did I start to speak Latin?". The word ''just'' is completely missing, and could have been included by using ''modo''. However, Megan could have added it to make it more "natural" in English. In this way, the family motto given here is a slightly misused satirical statement on Latin family mottoes.<br />
|-<br />
|Huge foot.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: It says ”Yo, future dirtbags! Check out my huge foot!”<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d0/1608_1046x1074y_Huge_foot.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1046:-1074+s.png (1046, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1047:-1074+s.png (1047, 1074)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|In ''How to count things'' in TE there is also a drawing of a huge foot, used to count mass, not length... The two Cueballs check out an inscription at the foot ([[559: No Pun Intended|pun intended]]) of a monument. Typically old relics from the past has been demolished, and if only part of a human body is displayed (at least when it is not just a {{w|Bust (sculpture)|bust}} supposed to only have head and shoulders), then it is often assumed that the rest of the statue has been lost. Just like the missing arms of the ancient Greek statue {{w|Venus de Milo}}. These arms was there originally. But as it turns out as Cueball reads the transcription someone in the past just wished to show the future his huge foot. Suggesting that this is either actual size, or just that he was very proud of at least one of his feet. He also mock anyone reading the inscription by calling them the derogating word [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=dirtbag dirtbags]. This is a recent word so if this was an ancient monument it would be highly unlikely that it said that. Of course it could be Cueballs translation of what is actually written, or as this is not necessarily old, it is not just part of the original monument but the entire unbroken statue of a foot, then it could be a contemporary artist who made it. However it is just in front of the pyramid to the right, and in front of the real pyramid {{w|Pyramid of Khafre}} the {{w|Great Sphinx of Giza}}, also much larger than life size lies. (It has lost it's nose by the way). So this could be the games version of such a large statue in front of a pyramid.<br><br>As from the scene to the left of this giant foot, the inscription that Cueball reads is probably in Latin, in which case it could have read something along the lines of: ''Io, de futuro sacculo terra! Reprehendo sicco meus ingens radices!'' (which could be translated back to ''Io, for the future of the bag, earth Check out my huge foot!'', since there was no words for ''Yo dirtbags'' in Latin.<br />
|-<br />
|Entire Pyramid.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1608_1050x1075y_Pyramid_Entire_zoom_out.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bf/1608_Entire_Cave_With_entire_pyramid_for_scale.png Size scale of Destroyer]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|A smooth pyramid with Ponytail in front of the left side and a coin at the tip. It is large but not compared to the Destroyer above it. To illustrate the other image shows that the pyramid could comfortably be placed inside the cave in the Destroyer. There is also a pyramid in Click and Drag.<br />
|-<br />
|Pyramid protip.<br />
|<br />
:Ponytail: Protip:<br />
:Ponytail: Don't stop climbing just because you reach the top.<br />
:Ponytail: ☑ Show tips on startup<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/50/1608_1048x1074y_Pyramid_protip.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1048:-1074+s.png (1048, 1074)]<br />
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|Comics: [[:Category:Protip|Protip category]]<br />
|Ponytail greets the player as (if) he approaches the pyramid from the left. She points up the side of the pyramid and gives a protip (a feature often used in xkcd). The tip is yet another indication that the Destroyer is above (the tip) of the pyramid. She tells the player to keep "climbing" after the top (that is not usually possible, but the hoverboard can keep on flying). By doing so the player may reach up to the entrance leading into the spiral corridor (although it will be difficult to keep the same incline as the pyramid on the way up). Ponytails last remark about showing tips on startup makes her sound like she is some kind of program, that can give you interesting hints and tips every time you start the program. If you do not wish this, you can just leave the [http://help.formulatrix.com/rock-maker/3.4/Content/Resources/Images/RM%203.0.3/StartUp%20Tips.png check box unchecked]. This is the last scene with spoken words (or other text) along the right ground, although it is only halfway from the play area to the right end of this world.<br />
|-<br />
|Pyramid tip.<br />
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:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f6/1608_1050x1076y_Pyramid_tip.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1051:-1076+s.png (1051, 1076)]<br />
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|At the very tip of the pyramid there is a coin. This is the highest point in the right part of the world, that is directly connected with the ground through a fixed structure (i.e. not a wire). In most of the left part of the world even the ground level is higher, and the Washington Monument is much taller. The next coins is five scenes longer to the right as nothing much happens on the remaining stretch along the ground towards the end of the right part of the world from here.<br />
|-<br />
|Pyramid Right bottom.<br />
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:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c5/1608_1053x1074y_Pyramid_Right_bottom.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1053:-1074+s.png (1053, 1074)]<br />
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|As opposed to the left side of the pyramid with a protip, there is nothing on the right side of the pyramid, even the ground is completely featureless, and actually continuous to be so for a while as can be seen in the next two scenes. It is the longest stretch along the ground with no features of interest and also almost completely flat ground. Even the third scene from here is still without characters although there at least is some ground features. For certain the entertainment of the right side is up above in the Destroyer.<br />
|-<br />
|Flat and bare ground.<br />
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|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/19/1608_1056x1074y_Flat_and_bare_ground.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1056:-1074+s.png (1056, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1057:-1074+s.png (1057, 1074)]<br />
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|The first of several "boring" scenes without much feature. This though, even without much plant life probably takes the prize as thee most featureless scene in the game. <br />
|-<br />
|Flat grassy ground.<br />
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|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d2/1608_1059x1074y_Flat_grassy_ground.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1059:-1074+s.png (1059, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1060:-1074+s.png (1060, 1074)]<br />
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|The second in a row of several "boring" scenes without much feature. This though have a little more grass than the previous scene...<br />
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|Small cliff or hill.<br />
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|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/99/1608_1063x1075y_Small_cliff_or_hill.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1063:-1075+s.png (1063, 1075)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1062:-1074+s.png (1062, 1074)]<br />
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|Almost as boring as the previous two scenes, but at least there is a little cliff. <br />
|-<br />
|The three T's.<br />
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|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/15/1608_1066x1075y_The_three_Ts.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1066:-1075+s.png (1066, 1075)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1067:-1075+s.png (1067, 1075)]<br />
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|Computer games<br />
|<font color="red">Could there be another explanation than computer games, or at least another game that comes even closer in appearance?</font> These three T's with Megan on top of the first, looks similar to scenes from many {{w|Platform game|platform computer games}}, like for instance [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PlatformGame this example] from {{w|Mario Bros.}}.<br />
|-<br />
|Coin over grass hole.<br />
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|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/71/1608_1071x1074y_Coin_over_grass_hole.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b6/1608_1071x1074y_Coin_over_grass_hole_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1071:-1074+s.png (1071, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1072:-1074+s.png (1072, 1074)]<br />
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|The fourth "boring" scene in a row at least have a coin. The grass is rather tall in this location and there are also two small hills to the left, and behind the coin another small bump to the right. The coin is located over a small hole that is filled with grass, so when the player takes the coin hoverboard Cueball will [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/58/Grasshole_under_coin.PNG sink to his waist].<br />
|-<br />
|Ponytail and bird black hat on a stick and Cueball whistling.<br />
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|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bc/1608_1073x1074y_Ponytail_and_bird_black_hat_on_a_stick_and_Cueball_whistling.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1073:-1074+s.png (1073, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1074:-1074+s.png (1074, 1074)]<br />
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|Ponytail is walking towards a small cliff with a flying bird following behind her. She approaches a black hat on a stick, looking like Black Hats hat. He usually never leaves without it, so it seems a little strange to find i hanging there. It is actually quite hard to find any Black Hat's in the comic, but above in the Destroyer, just slightly to the left of this hat the only instance of Black Hat in the game sits and snores in the Cave. So he is not only represented by this hat. A kid looking like Cueball stand to the right below the cliff. He seems to be either singing or whistling.<br />
|-<br />
|Small stone pile.<br />
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|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/04/1608_1078x1074y_Small_stone_pile.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1078:-1074+s.png (1078, 1074)]<br />
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|After a small step down in the terrain height the only feature of this fifth boring scene is a small stone pile that seems to be made of 5-6 small stones with different size not ordered after size, so it looks like it could easily fall over. The pile is solid, so the player need to jump to get past it and hoverboard Cueball can stand on top of it.<br />
|-<br />
|Two birds and coin above them.<br />
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|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/33/1608_1081x1074y_Two_birds_and_coin_above_them.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1081:-1074+s.png (1081, 1074)]<br />
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|Once again two birds are seen together, this time they are not (as over the gas station to the left) tied together with string. But also here there is a coin, and just like there it is hidden. Not so much as over the gas station, as here the birds can be seen from the ground, but the coin can only be seen by jumping once. Walking along the ground would let the birds enter into the view but not the coin right above them.<br />
|-<br />
|Pedestal.<br />
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|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bf/1608_1086x1074y_Pedestal.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1086:-1074+s.png (1086, 1074)]<br />
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|Once again a very boring scene (6th) but at least there is a small pedestal to the right. In it self not very interesting, but if the player drops straight down out of the rear entry of the Destroyer above, hoverboard Cueball will land on this pedestal.<br />
|-<br />
|Medusa and floating earth.<br />
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|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e5/1608_1088x1074y_Medusa_and_floating_earth.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1088:-1074+s.png (1088, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1090:-1075+s.png (1090, 1075)]<br />
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|The first character in four scenes is no one else but {{w|Medusa}} coming towards the player (if going right) arms outstretched and what appears to ne about 10 snakes jutting out of her head which Medusa is known for. The snakes are venomous and people who gaze upon her face would be turned to stone. So not so nice to come by and it for sure relates to the coming end of the world, at least of this worlds right end.<br><br>The floating earth to the right may be of similar origin as the floating rock island above the Washington Monument, maybe the same forces are at work. Seems like it has just been torn up from the hoke in the ground below it, like it is now floating up. If the player drops straight down from the very end of the Destroyer up above, hoverboard Cueball will land on this floating earth. Anything right of the start of the hole is no longer under the Destroyer, which anything else right of the play area until this hole has been. Could be the Destroyer's influence that creates this hole? (But not just because it passes over, because then the earth should be floating up all the way behind it).<br />
|-<br />
|White Hat hiding in the grass.<br />
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|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d9/1608_1093x1074y_White_Hat_hiding_in_the_grass.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1093:-1074+s.png (1093, 1074)]<br />
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|Another flat scenery but at least White Hat is hiding in the grass to the right, only his head showing above the high grass, so her must be either sitting or even lying down propped up on his arms. This is one of only two scenes with White Hat throughout the game.<br />
|-<br />
|Lollipop plant and coin.<br />
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|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/09/1608_1095x1075y_Lollipop_plant_and_coin.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1095:-1075+s.png (1095, 1075)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1094:-1074+s.png (1094, 1074)]<br />
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|The seventh boring scene is lit up by a coin that hangs in the air slightly before the only feature of the scene, which appears to be a plant, with a strange lollipop shape.<br />
|-<br />
|Drifting Cueball.<br />
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|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/9d/1608_1098x1074y_Drifting_Cueball.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1098:-1074+s.png (1098, 1074)]<br />
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|Another completely flat grassy landscape but with a strangely elongated Cueball drifting in the wind. Characters flying is depicted in two scenes where Ponytail flies, but she does this of her own will. Here is seems like Cueball is just drifting with the wind towards the end of the world, which is only two scenes away, and he is the last character along the ground towards the end. This is in some way reminiscent of Click and Drag, where the Cueball floating with the balloon to begin with, can also be seen at the very right end of the world. But then again here it more seems like Cueball doesn't have a choice, and he also seems to be out of shape. The shape he is in, and the relation to the end of the world could be a (loose) reference to the sixth and seventh day in [[1245: 10-Day Forecast]].<br />
|-<br />
|Just grass.<br />
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|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/30/1608_1103x1074y_Just_grass.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1103:-1074+s.png (1103, 1074)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1104:-1074+s.png (1104, 1074)]<br />
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|The eight boring scene since the pyramid, with a rolling hill of grass, but only the 2nd most boring, as the most boring scene was the first scene after the pyramid because that one did not even have grass. <br />
|-<br />
|Storks nest at right end of the world with 10 coins.<br />
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|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/ce/1608_1107x1075y_Storks_nest_at_right_end_of_the_world_with_10_coins.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1107:-1075+s.png (1107, 1075)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1107:-1074+s.png (1107, 1074)]<br />
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|This is the right end of the world, marked by a high pole raising up from a foundation, and on the top of the pole there is a large {{w|White stork|stork}} nest with three eggs in it. Maybe it is not a stork nest (though it looks like a {{w|White_stork#Conservation|man-made nest platform}} for storks), but an eagle nest, though they do not usually use mad made structures for their nest as do storks. But if it was an eagles nest, it could be for those two that are flying over the right tip of the volcano crater in the far of left part of the world.<br><br>With ten coins on top of the three eggs in the nest this is the place with the highest coin density in the game, but not most coins over a single image tile as that price goes to the starting tile with 11 coins. There are also 17 coins in the play area scene, but they are not as closely gathered as here, where all 10 coins are almost as close together as possible, and all of them in the same [http://xkcd.com/1608/1107:-1076+s.png completely white image tile] right above the tile with the nest and eggs.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Rebel Blockade Runner'''<br />
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|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/82/1608_1015x1078y_Entire_Rebel_Blockade_Runner_zoom_out.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fd/1608_1015x1078y_Entire_Rebbel_Blockade_Runner_and_wires_zoom_out.png Also with wires]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/04/1608_1015x1078y_Entire_Rebbel_Blockade_Runner_zoom_out_to_torpedoes_and_ground.png Also with torpedoes]<br />
|Overview<br />
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|An overview of the entire Rebel Blockade Runner ''{{w|Tantive IV}}'' from the opening scene of the original Star Wars movie. It has four rooms (one blown open), a small cannon room that cannot be entered by the hoverboard and two corridors. The rear is the large engines. There are three coins. There is a clear symmetry along the center, as the two cannons and the two parabolic antennas are placed symmetrical on the top and bottom hull, and also the curves of the hull is symmetric. In the second image link the way to find the runner from the ground via the wires can be seen (six coins). And in the third the way to find the Destroyer above via the torpedoes can be seen (14 coins). The Destroyer is thus not hidden, like for instance the Floating Rock Island or the Hidden Lair beneath the lava lake, and there are many less direct indications that there is a runner from all the people who comment on them or even directly or indirectly point the way to the Destroyer. The Runner is supposed to be 150 m long.<br />
|-<br />
|Bridge on the Rebel Blockade Runner.<br />
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:First scene:<br />
:Long haired woman: Captain's log, stardate November 24th, 2015...<br />
:Hairbun: ''Augh!'' No!<br />
:Second scene:<br />
:Megan: Good against remotes is one thing, but a ''true'' Jedi trains with a T-shirt cannon.<br />
:Box: Shirts<br />
:Third scene:<br />
:Box: Bullets<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bc/1608_1012x1078y_Bridge_on_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1012:-1078+s.png (1012, 1078)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1013:-1078+s.png (1013, 1078)]<br />
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|Film: The {{w|Star Trek}} universe<br />
|The bridge of the Rebel Blockade Runner is crammed with interesting scenes. First on the bridge itself a long haired woman (the captain) is mocking both Star Wars and Star Trek fans alike by using the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcRX0Gw1aaw opening line] from the Star Trek series about stating the {{w|stardate}} for the captains log on board the first space ship ever shown in the Star Wars franchise. Hairbun behind her (it could be {{w|Princess Leia}} who also has buns but above each ear) is clearly distressed by this ”mistake”. This could either be because she is a Star Wars fan that dislike Star Trek or because the stardate used is the real date, November 24, 2015, on which the comic was released (as well as the book ''Thing Explainer'') instead of using the normal convention for stardates with a four or five digit number plus a decimal like 1513.1. Given that the long haired woman has the appearance of [[Danish]], this may be intentionally rather than a mistake. There is another reference to Star Trek universe in the scene where the torpedoes are fired from in the Destroyer above, so no less than two Trek infiltrations in the opening scene of Star Wars<br><br>Beneath the bridge there is a smaller room where Ponytail and Megan spoofs [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X69NCLxwLEY Luke's Lightsaber Training] from the original Star Wars movie where {{w|Luke Skywalker}} practices under {{w|Ben Kenobi}}'s guidance while {{w|Han Solo}} comes with snide remarks. Ponytail (in Luke's place) holds a {{w|lightsaber}} above which floats a sphere which represents the small remote controlled {{w|Jedi}} training device from that scene. Megan both guides like Ben and comments like Han. She holds some kind of cannon that she obviously loads with T-shirts from the box behind her. As she tells Ponytail, a true Jedi trains with a [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgCz7C6jEIk t-shirt cannon]. Han Solo's quote begins like it but ends quite differently: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOuCbDkKIs4 Good against remotes is one thing good against the living it's something else]. He would also prefer a {{w|Blaster (Star Wars)|blaster}} as he explains: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V268Qk6-xsw Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side kid]. There is a coin behind Ponytail<br><br>Above the bridge there is a hatch open where hoverboard Cueball may enter and a Cueball is standing behind the hatch looking down along the hull.<br><br>There are cannons both above and below the hull, the one on top has a coin in front of the barrel. There is a similar cannon with a coin in front on top of the Destroyer. Beneath this cannon is a tiny room where another Cueball is pouring several small bullets from a bucket into a black box labeled bullets (for the cannon). From this room there is a small shaft down to the main corridor in the Runner. But this shaft is too slim for hoverboard Cueball to pass up through it, or rather for the board to get in. Cueball can pass into the hole but the board holds him back from reaching up in the small room. The cannon below has two of the anchors from the wires going to the ground attached around its barrel. The third anchor is stuck in the bottom hull further down the hull. It is unclear how this last has become attached to the hull!<br><br>In the corridor that runs away from the bridge a small robot on wheels drive towards left. Similar types of robots are often seen in the Star Wars universe and there is also [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5f/1608_1034x1091y_Torpedo_canon_below_Destroyer.png another robot] looking like two of these on top of each other in the Destroyer above where the torpedoes connecting them ends up. Further down the corridor Ponytail is walking to the right while singing indicated with two notes.<br><br>Above the cannon at the bottom of the hull on a ledge with an entry to the ship is a third Cueball holding a fishing rod out over the ledge so the hook hangs in the air. Maybe he is fishing for either of the two birds that are flying around the line. What appears to be a loaf of bread or [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/58/1608_1014x1078y_Three_wires_and_reaching_up_to_anchors_in_Runner.png a cracker is attached to the hook] at the end of the line. A similar scene is also found in TE in ''Sky Toucher''.<br />
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|Death Star Plans in the Rebel Blockade Runner.<br />
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:First scene:<br />
:First Cueball: The Death Star plans are ''not'' in the main computer.<br />
:Second Cueball: Darn.<br />
:Second Cueball: See, if we had found them in the main computer, that would be good news, since it would mean no one else had them.<br />
:Second Cueball: But since we didn’t find them, we need to keep searching for anyone with a copy.<br />
:Second Cueball: That all makes sense and I ''definitely'' understand how computers work.<br />
:Second scene:<br />
:Third Cueball: So you just came down and made a hole in our ship without permission?<br />
:Fourth Cueball: Yup<br />
:Third Cueball: Wow, Rude.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fa/1608_1017x1078y_Death_Star_Plans_in_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1017:-1078+s.png (1017, 1078)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1016:-1079+s.png (1016, 1079)]<br />
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|<font color="red">Further explanation needed by someone with more computer skill than Second Cueball and me who wrote the current version... Also is there some reference to someone saying something like that to an attack, rather than the one with C3PO </font>The reference to the Death Star plans are from [https://youtu.be/yHfLyMAHrQE?t=340 the opening scene] in the first Star Wars movie. The sentence uttered by First Cueball is said by a Storm Trooper to Darth Vader. The [http://m.imdb.com/title/tt0076759/quotes?qt=qt0440708 rest of the quote] is not quite like in the comic. Rather is goes like this:<br />
:Darth Vader: [addressing the Tantive IV's captain, whom he is interrogating] Where are those transmissions you intercepted? WHAT have you DONE with those plans?<br />
:Captain Antilles: We intercepted no transmissions... This is a consular ship... We're on a diplomatic mission...<br />
:Darth Vader: [shouting] If this is a consular ship, WHERE is the ambassador?<br />
:Darth Vader: Commander, tear this ship apart until you find those plans! And bring me all passengers, I want them ALIVE! <br />
The comic jokes with the way Darth Vader seems to assume that if the plans had been found on the computer, then no one else would have had access to them. The second Cueball, although not Vader, represents a superior that have absolutely no idea about how computers work, in spite of his insistence that he actually do. If the data has once been intercepted they could have been shared or copied to several other computers or devices or even been printed. By finding them in the main computer they would only make sure that they were indeed intercepted, but not be certain that they have not been delivered to the rebel base.<br />
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The other two Cueballs on top of the ship stand over a hole in the hull going into a small room above and left of the large room. It seems that the fourth Cueball has made this hole directly from the outside (i.e. it is not caused by an exploding torpedo from the Destroyer above). Because he confirms when the third Cueball asks if he just came down to make the hole without permission. The third Cueball thinks this is rude. This is, of course, hilarious as if a space pirate or any other attacker of a space ship would ask permission before attacking. And also the idea that he might get permission for asking is likewise crazy. To call this rude is also a weird way to look at such an attack. {{w|C3PO}} uses [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWoG9tKf1lA this as reply] to a comment made to him by a similar droid in the second movie.<br />
|-<br />
|Top rear end of the Rebel Blockade Runner.<br />
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:First scene:<br />
:First Cueball: That thing is ''huge. Imperial''-class?<br />
:Second Cueball: Yeah. Maybe a MK-1. Depends on whether this is the expanded universe or not.<br />
:Second scene:<br />
:Third Cueball's bow: Twang<br />
:Torpedo: Boom<br />
:Third scene:<br />
:Fourth Cueball: Why are they still firing?<br />
:Fifth Cueball: Oh, the turret operators pretty much do their own thing.<br />
:Fifth Cueball: It's definitely a pain sometimes.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f1/1608_1018x1079y_Top_rear_end_of_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1018:-1079+s.png (1018, 1079)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1019:-1080+s.png (1019, 1080)]<br />
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|In this overview of the top rear of the hull of the Runner, there are four scenes with two persons in each, with no less than six Cueballs. Beginning with the scene to the far left the two first Cueballs discuss what type of Star Destroyer is shooting at their ship from above them. They are clearly tilting their head far back to look up. The first Cueball comments on how huge it is and asks if it is an {{w|Star_Destroyer#Imperial_class|''Imperial'' class}} Destroyer. "''Imperial'' class" is the designation of the Destroyer ''[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Devastator Devastator]'' that followed the Rebel Runner ''Tantive IV'' in the opening scene. There is also an more than 10 times as large version called a {{w|Star_Destroyer#Super_Star_Destroyer|Super Star Destroyer}}, which were featured in the two sequels in the original trilogy. But even the original Star Destroyers were improved during the movies, so when the improved Destroyers came out they became known as ([http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Imperial_II-class_Star_Destroyer Mark II], Mk-II or plainly II, and the original (as Devastator) became known as [http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Imperial_I-class_Star_Destroyer Mk-1]. The second Cueball agrees with the first and suggest that it is an Mk-1 and thus makes it even more clear that this scene is actually the opening scene of the original Star Wars movie. But then again, he continues, it depends weather this is the {{w|Star Wars expanded universe|expanded universe}} (now know as ''Star Wars Legends'') where all authorized media (books etc.) released based on the Star Wars franchise should be counted in, or if it is only the movies sanctioned directly by George Lucas (and now Disney). What he says is that in all those work there could be so many other types os ships mentioned, that he could mistake for an Mk-1, that in that universe he would not be certain at all. But in the "official" universe he would claim that it was an Mk-1 ''Imperial'' class Star Destroyer.<br><br>In the next scene Ponytail and a third Cueball fights a ridicules fight with bows and arrows against the Destroyers 100+ torpedoes raining down from above. Ten of these can be seen falling, one hits the ship and one has just exploded in a big ''boom'', to be compared with the feeble ''twang'' made by Cueballs bow when he fires the arrow. When later discovering how far there is up to the bottom of the Destroyer it only becomes even more silly.<br><br>In the third scene two more Cueballs (four and five) look up at the torpedoes falling down in an arch over their heads. The fourth Cueball asks why they still keep firing. And the fifth Cueball tries to explain. A {{w|Gun turret|turret}} is generally a weapon mount that houses the crew and a projectile-firing weapon and lets the weapon be aimed and fired in a given cone of fire. So it is this crew, that are the turret operators. There is also such [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bc/1608_1012x1078y_Bridge_on_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png an operator] on the Rebel Runner below the top cannon (or turret), in the scene with the bridge. The reason they keep fighting is given that they just do their own thing and that is annoying. This indicates that these two Cueballs do no longer think that the Destroyer needs to fire anymore on the Runner, and thus also indicates that they are part of the crew from the Destroyer send down to take over the Runner. Thus it is annoying that the shooting has not stopped as it puts them in danger. If they belong to the Runner then they would not think it weird that the shooting continued. It turns out to be Megan who is the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5f/1608_1034x1091y_Torpedo_canon_below_Destroyer.png turret operator in the Destroyer]! At least they can be happy that it is regular torpedoes. (See the explanation of the scene regarding the Torpedo cannon below Destroyer).<br><br>In the final scene at the very end of the hull is the sixth Cueball together with Megan. She holds on to him as he tries to toasts a giant marshmallow on a stick by holding it in front of the exhaust pipe of the Runner. This would must likely melt the marshmallow instantaneously... In ''Red world space car'' in TE the Mars rower also toasts a marshmallow on a stick over a small fire.<br />
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|Bottom rear end of the Rebel Blockade Runner.<br />
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:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5b/1608_1020x1078y_Bottom_rear_end_of_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1020:-1078+s.png (1020, 1078)]<br />
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|The rear end of the Rebel Runner with the last part of the big Death Star plan room to visible to the left. Three engines are visible, with the top one being cut of (Cueball is roasting a marshmallow above the cut off - see previous scene). This is consistent with the three rows of engines as [http://cdn-static.denofgeek.com/sites/denofgeek/files/styles/insert_main_wide_image/public/2016/04/tantive_iv_over_tatooine.png?itok=1k3g3pFH can be seen in the film], with four engines in top and bottom row and three in the middle. There is a coin behind the lowest of the engines. There appear to be {{w|truck nuts}} attached to the rear of the ship beneath the hull. These are plastic or metal accessories, typically for cars, which resemble a pair of dangling testicles/balls. They are attached under the rear bumper of the vehicle so they are visible from behind as a practical joke. Some find it is in so bad a taste that it should be banned or fined.<br />
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|'''Entire torpedoes rain from Runner to Destroyer.'''<br />
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:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/87/1608_1023x1085y_Entire_torpedoes_rain_from_Runner_to_Destroyer.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
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|An overview of the entire rain of torpedoes fired down from the Star Destroyer to the Runner. There are 100 undamaged torpedoes in the air, two that are hitting each other exploding, one that has just made contact with the hull and one that has just exploded on the hull of the Runner. A total of 104 torpedoes has thus been fired at this moment in time. The rain is not so much there for jokes but to guide the player up to the Destroyer. Only real interesting scene on the way up is Beret Guy riding a torpedo, and apart from that and the two torpedoes hitting each other and exploding, there is nothing else to see. But there are two coins to collect.<br />
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|Torpedoes just above Runner with coin.<br />
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:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a7/1608_1019x1081y_Torpedoes_just_above_Runner_with_coin.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1019:-1081+s.png (1019, 1081)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1020:-1081+s.png (1020, 1081)]<br />
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|11 torpedoes just above the Runner with a coin.<br />
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|Torpedoes two steps above Runner with Beret Guy.<br />
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:Beret Guy: Horsey!<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/21/1608_1020x1083y_Torpedoes_two_steps_above_Runner_with_Beret_Guy.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1020:-1083+s.png (1020, 1083)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1021:-1083+s.png (1021, 1083)]<br />
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|Film: {{w|Dr. Strangelove}}<br />
|Beret Guys only second appearance in this comic. He is flying down from the Destroyer sitting astray a torpedo riding it like it was a horse. In the film Dr. Stangelove a man is also flying down like this riding a bomb like it is a horse (a nuclear bomb in that case though). Beret Guy will likely survive due to his [[:Category:Strange powers of Beret Guy|strange powers]]. With his torpedo there are eight torpedoes in this scene<br />
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|Torpedoes three steps above Runner.<br />
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:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a7/1608_1023x1085y_Torpedoes_three_steps_above_Runner.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1023:-1086+s.png (1023, 1086)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1024:-1086+s.png (1024, 1086)]<br />
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|21 torpedoes are shown. This image is so large that it goes outside the "active" images, and thus the lower right part is in gray. In the game this part will be displayed as white, but there is no image below to save (but many all white images are active though!)<br />
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|Torpedoes two steps below Destroyer with exploding torpedoes.<br />
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:Torpedoes: Boom<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a8/1608_1025x1087y_Torpedoes_two_steps_below_Destroyer_with_exploding_torpedoes.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1025:-1087+s.png (1025, 1087)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1026:-1087+s.png (1026, 1087)]<br />
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|21 torpedoes are shown, but two of them are hitting each other exploding. Where you can stand on the torpedoes, you can not stand on the "boom", but still on the black part of the exploding torpedoes. If the two exploding torpedoes are the same and if they have no means of self-propelling, then they should not hit each other under normal conditions. Only if a wind gust slowed down the one and not the other (which could of course be the case.) But else they would follow the same parabolic path from cannon to target without getting closer.<br />
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|Torpedoes one step below Destroyer with coin.<br />
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:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2b/1608_1029x1089y_Torpedoes_one_step_below_Destroyer_with_coin.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1029:-1089+s.png (1029, 1089)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1031:-1090+s.png (1031, 1090)]<br />
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|19 torpedoes just below the Destroyer with a coin.<br />
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|Torpedo cannon below Destroyer.<br />
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:Megan: We have no photon torpedoes, so I'm firing regular ones<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5f/1608_1034x1091y_Torpedo_canon_below_Destroyer.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1034:-1091+s.png (1034, 1091)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1033:-1091+s.png (1033, 1091)]<br />
|Y<br />
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|Film: The {{w|Star Trek}} universe<br />
|The 12 last torpedoes leads up to the cannon below the Destroyer that has fired them all towards the runner far below. In the control room (or turret room see explanation of scene where the torpedoes hits the Runner) is Megan and Cueball. She explains that she used regular torpedoes rather than the much more powerful {{w|Weapons_in_Star_Trek#Projectile_weapons|'''photon''' torpedoes}}. This may cheat some to think this is a reference to the weapon Luke Skywalker used when destroying the Death Star in the original Star Wars movie. But they were called {{w|List_of_Star_Wars_weapons#Ship-mounted|'''proton''' torpedoes}}. Photon torpedoes are a standard ship-based weapon armed with an {{w|antimatter}} warhead and one of those alone would probably take a ship like the Runner out if it was not shielded... However, they are used by the {{w|Starship Enterprise}} in the Star Trek universe. So this is the second (but more subtle) mixing of the two competing franchises connected with the torpedoes in the opening scene of Star Wars. The first being on the bridge of the Runner below. Above the control room there is a shaft up to a corridor in which a small robot of the types typically seen on spaceships in Star Wars is seen. There is a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bc/1608_1012x1078y_Bridge_on_the_Rebel_Blockade_Runner.png similar robot] down in the Runner but only half this ones height.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Star Destroyer.'''<br />
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:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cd/1608_Entire_Star_Destroyer.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
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|This is the only reference to Star Wars just because of the Destroyer. Anything inside the spaceship will only be listed as SW reference if there is something in relation to SW, or at least to part of the ship itself (like using special outcrops on the ship for a special room, like the Globe of Death at the top of the bridge).<br />
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|'''Entire front end.'''<br />
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:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1608_Entire_front_end.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/22/1608_Entire_front_end_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
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|This overview is shown to illustrate how far apart the rooms are even in the very front end of the Destroyer where it is slimmest. The image with hidden passages shows how deep the swimming pool is and that the hoverboard can also sink into the playpen pit. Moving just a little further right than this overview, and the Destroyer becomes wider than the zoom scale for these overviews.<br />
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|Overview of the very tip of the front end.<br />
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:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/92/1608_Zoom_out_of_the_very_front_end.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
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|The front has both a mouth a nose and an eye with a pupil. It has just eaten a coin and can smell the one above its nose. See more on this interpretation under the ''Colon like structure'' below.<br />
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|Very front with Cueball looking out at bottom of hull.<br />
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:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/60/1608_1002x1094y_Very_front_with_Cueball_looking_out_at_bottom_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1002:-1094+s.png (1002, 1094)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1003:-1094+s.png (1003, 1094)]<br />
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|The closest entrance to the Destroyer from the starting point is guarded by Cueball. Going straight up from the right wall in the play area will take the hoverboard straight up in front of Cueball. There is a coin behind him where this first corridor turns up into a shaft.<br />
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|Very front with playpen balls pit at top of hull.<br />
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:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a7/1608_1004x1095y_Very_front_with_playpen_balls_pit_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/35/1608_1004x1095y_Very_front_with_playpen_balls_pit_at_top_of_hull_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1004:-1095+s.png (1004, 1095)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1005:-1095+s.png (1005, 1095)]<br />
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|[[150: Grownups]] and the [[:Category:Playpen balls|Playpen balls Category]].<br />
|The top part of the front of the Star Destroyer also has an entrance as does the bottom section (see above). There is a coin above the hull. This first corridor leads to a playpen pit filled with playpen balls, which is a recurring subject in xkcd. Cueball and Megan is adult sized (i.e. as big as hoverboard Cueball) and it is thus a clear reference to Grownups. There could be water down below the balls as a fish is seen jumping out over the surface. But given that there are no splashes from the balls Cueball throws in the air, it could also just be a gimmick by Randall. To have something like this in a Star Destroyer kind of ruins the mood surrounding these war machines. Something seen several times throughout the space ship.<br />
|-<br />
|Piñata and Cueball with lightsaber at top of hull.<br />
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:Cueball: No, I got this.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/20/1608_1006x1095y_Pinata_and_Cueball_with_lightsaber_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1006:-1095+s.png (1006, 1095)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1007:-1095+s.png (1007, 1095)]<br />
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|Comic: [[1620: Christmas Settings]]<br />
|Although the original {{w|piñata}} was star shaped it is now common to use different shapes like the horse or donkey displayed in the comic. Children usually hits the piñata with a club until it breaks and falls down revealing candy or toys inside. The two Cueballs, Megan and Hairy are adults though as big as hoverboard Cueball, just like in the playpen pit. It is though not uncommon for adults to participate in hitting down a piñata. But to do it with a {{w|lightsaber}} would defeat the purpose of this game as it will go right through the piñata on contact thus spilling the contest out on the floor in the first go. The Cueball with the lightsaber can thus confidently say that he got this. But it seems like the other Cueball is trying to stop him and that Hairy, holding the club they were intended to use, puts a hand protectively on Megan. A lightsaber would be a very dangerous weapon, and should not be used lightly in a playful setting. As a side note any candy/toy in the path of the ligtsaber as it passes through the piñata will melt/burn immediately. Lightsaber noises are mentioned in the title text of the Christmas Settings comic coming out shortly after this one.<br />
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|Shaft and corridor at bottom of hull.<br />
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:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/eb/1608_1007x1094y_Shaft_and_corridor_at_bottom_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1007:-1094+s.png (1007, 1094)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1008:-1094+s.png (1008, 1094)]<br />
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|Lots of sections inside the Destroyer consist of long corridors with shafts going up and down here and there, but with no interesting features or objects. This is the first example of such a corridor, near the bottom hull of the Destroyer, showing that it is not a featureless outer hull. Apart from the ever increasing width of the Destroyer there are some steps up and down, to indicate some of the features seen in the Star Wars movie.<br />
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|Swimming pool with Ponytail jumping at bottom of hull.<br />
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:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/ba/1608_1010x1094y_Swimming_pool_with_Ponytail_jumping_at_bottom_of_hull.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e6/1608_1010x1094y_Swimming_pool_with_Ponytail_jumping_at_bottom_of_hull_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1010:-1094+s.png (1010, 1094)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1011:-1094+s.png (1011, 1094)]<br />
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|Another enjoyable activity to attend to by adults is located here in the front sections of the Destroyer: A swimming pool. Don't worry about Ponytail jumping head first into the water, as can be seen in the hidden passage image it is rather deep. Cueball and Megan is already in. Supposedly there is a rung ladder up again on the side, but it cannot be seen in this slice through the Destroyer. A coin hangs in the top corner of the room. When standing with the hoverboard on the bottom of the pool it will be possible to see that there is a coin on the outside of the hull in the indentation in the hull below the pool. From the outside, however, it will not be possible to see that there is a pool above as the water is the same black (to the eye) as the solid hull.<br />
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|Shaft and corridor with three coins at top of hull.<br />
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:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/ba/1608_1011x1096y_Shaft_and_corridor_with_three_coins_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1011:-1096+s.png (1011, 1096)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1009:-1095+s.png (1009, 1095)]<br />
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|After leaving the piñata room going down the corridor there are two coins. One under the shaft going up and one further down the corridor. Going up the shaft there is also a coin on the outside of the top hull at the top of another of the small step where the hulls width increases faster than the steady slope that are always there. This coin is almost on top of the one in the corridor below.<br />
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|Dead end shaft with rubbles at bottom of hull.<br />
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:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0c/1608_1015x1093y_Dead_end_shaft_with_rubbles_at_bottom_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1015:-1093+s.png (1015, 1093)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1016:-1093+s.png (1016, 1093)]<br />
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|From the shaft that exits the Destroyers bottom hull there goes a corridor to the left. But only for a short while. Then there is a pile of rubble like there has either been a cave in or as if someone has been digging this tunnel and then has stopped. This is consistent with the mining company seen much further down the Destroyer. There is a coin in front of the rubble.<br />
|-<br />
|Zoom out of shaft and corridors with Hairy looking down a shaft at top of hull.<br />
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:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/34/1608_1019x1095y_Zoom_out_of_shaft_and_corridors_with_Hairy_looking_down_a_shaft_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
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|This zoom out gives an overview of a large section of the Destroyer with only a long corridor and two shafts going down from it. There is almost no features, but for Hairy standing carefully at the edge of one shaft looking down into it. So again an example of the larger areas inside the destroyer where nothing happens.<br />
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|Hairy looking down a shaft at top of hull.<br />
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:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/73/1608_1016x1095y_Hairy_looking_down_a_shaft_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1016:-1095+s.png (1016, 1095)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1013:-1096+s.png (1013, 1096)]<br />
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|This is the shaft that came out of the piñata room. At the end of this image is the first shaft going down where Hairy is standing carefully at the edge looking down. Before that a shaft goes up to the top hull where a coin is situated on top of a small step down. At the other end of this "step" to the left there was also a coin.<br />
|-<br />
|Three coins room and shafts.<br />
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:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e6/1608_1023x1095y_Three_coins_room_and_shafts.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1023:-1095+s.png (1023, 1095)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1022:-1095+s.png (1022, 1095)]<br />
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|This is the room where the long corridor going from the piñata room ends. Although it is a quite boring room it has three coins, the highest coin density seen so far when entering the Destroyer from the front end. A shaft down outside the room prevents this from being a dead end.<br />
|-<br />
|Triple coins and a single coin on top of a shaft at top of hull.<br />
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:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d0/1608_1023x1097y_Triple_coins_and_a_single_coin_on_top_of_a_shaft_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1023:-1097+s.png (1023, 1097)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1025:-1097+s.png (1025, 1097)]<br />
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|There is a very long straight stretch on top of the hull where nothing happens after the step down, but suddenly there are three coins in a row, and then a shaft down, with a ledge out over the shaft opening, with yet a coin, makes it worth the players while to come up there as well.<br />
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|Zoom out of shaft and corridors with ledge at bottom of hull.<br />
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:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6f/1608_1025x1092y_Zoom_out_of_shaft_and_corridors_with_ledge_at_bottom_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
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|This overview at the bottom of the hull shows the shaft (to the right) that was covered with a ledge at the top of the hull. Although it takes a small turn left before going down and out at the bottom it thus almost runs straight through the Destroyer and also here at the bottom a thin ledge covers the shafts exit. But here are no coins. There are another shaft and two corridors.<br />
|-<br />
|Shall '''not not''' pass room and parachutes at one of two ledges at bottom of hull.<br />
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:Cueball: You shall not not pass!<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ad/1608_1026x1093y_Shall_not_not_pass_room_and_parachutes_at_one_of_two_ledges_at_bottom_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1026:-1093+s.png (1026, 1093)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1028:-1092+s.png (1028, 1092)]<br />
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|The shaft going out at the bottom left is the one mentioned above. Going through the corridor above takes hoverboard Cueball into a room with a Cueball blocking his way holding a hand out towards him. He almost uses the last part of a [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120737/quotes?item=qt0445998 famous quote by Gandalf] when facing the {{w|Balrog}} in the mines of {{w|Moria (Middle-earth)|Moria}}, but here with an '''extra not''' added to negate the "not" from the quote. So "You shall ''not'' '''not''' pass" = You '''shall''' pass, and when you do you get a coin. It is easy to miss that there are two times not in the sentence which is for certain intentionally by Randall, as the spoken sentence thus do not match the appearance of Cueball with a hand out.<br><br>If hoverboard Cueball jump ship at the ledge to the left he can fly over to the next ledge where Cueball and a guy with black hair is preparing to jump of the ship using parachutes. Behind them there is a shaft going up into the ship with a coin.<br />
|-<br />
|Two coins room and shafts.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5d/1608_1026x1095y_Two_coins_room_and_shafts.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1026:-1095+s.png (1026, 1095)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1027:-1095+s.png (1027, 1095)]<br />
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|The shaft going up in the two coins room comes from a corridor below that also connects to the shaft to the left. The corridor is right above the ''you shall not not pass'' room below. The shaft to the left goes up the ledge covered exit to the top hull.<br />
|-<br />
|Steven Universe and Crystal Gems; and ice cream prediction.<br />
|<br />
:Megan: Prediction: Seconds before you die, you will remember these words.<br />
:Box: Ice cream<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/39/1608_1031x1095y_Steven_Universe_family_and_ice_cream_prediction.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1031:-1095+s.png (1031, 1095)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1028:-1095+s.png (1029, 1095)]<br />
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|TV series: {{w|Steven Universe}}<br />
|In the room to the left, Megan talks to Cueball while they walk towards an ice cream freezer (at the end of the room with a coin on top). Her comment that she can predict that he will remember those words when he dies could be quite sinister. Since they are so boring the only way she can make this prediction come through is if she now turns around killing him. If she waits a little longer she will not have to move him so far before she can hide his body in the freezer...<br><br>In the room to the right is a group of four stick figures representing {{w|Steven Universe (character)|Steven Universe}} and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Steven_Universe_characters#/media/File:StevenFinalPoster.jpg Crystal Gems]. From left to right, Steven is next to {{w|Pearl (Steven Universe)|Pearl}} (as a stick figure with shorter hair), {{w|Garnet (Steven Universe)|Garnet}} (as a taller stick figure with sunglasses and an afro), and {{w|List_of_Steven_Universe_characters#Amethyst|Amethyst}} (as a shorter stick figure with long hair). The Crystal Gems are a "superhero" team of alien "Gems" who protect the earth, with their newest member being the half-Gem, half-human Steven. (Elsewhere on the bridge of the Destroyer, Darth Vader references Steven Universe in that Steven is half Gem.) A coin is hovering over Garnet's raised left hand.<br><br>Below these two rooms runs a corridor that goes left to the shaft going up to the top hull. The shaft going down goes to the two guys with parachutes. There is a coin next to the shaft. To get from this corridor to the rooms above hoverboard Cueball either have to go out on the top hull or move through the rotary that follows to the right.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Rotary section.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/67/1608_Entire_Rotary_section.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e4/1608_Entire_Rotary_section_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1608_Entire_Rebel_Blockade_Runner_swallowed_by_Destroyer.png Swallow Runner]<br />
|Overview<br />
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|Y<br />
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|To the left in this overview is the roundabout like structure that Cueball above it calls a rotary, which has given name to this section of the ship that follows after it up to the section with the cave. The Destroyer becomes much broader here especially due to the two large steps that the top part of the hull takes in the middle and to the right in this image.<br><br>In the hidden passage image the cotton trap is revealed with the two entrances to the room below and to the corridor to the right that leads past different traps into the cave. At the top and bottom middle of the image there are two cars, and as it can be seen in the hidden passage image the hoverboard cannot rest on top of those.<br><br>In the composite ''Swallow Runner'' image the Rebel Runner has been placed in the opening in the bottom hull to reveal that this is indeed the opening in the bottom of the Destroyer that swallows the entire Rebel Runner in the opening scene of the first Star Wars movie. This feature is thus a direct reference to the "real" Devastator Destroyer and thus a direct reference to the opening scene and to Star Wars. Below the individual scenes in the Rotary section will be described. <br />
|-<br />
|Empty room and Cueball on corridor going to rotary at top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: Ugh, rotaries.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/cf/1608_1029x1097y_Empty_room_and_Cueball_on_corridor_going_to_rotary_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1032:-1096+s.png (1032, 1096)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1030:-1097+s.png (1030, 1097)]<br />
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|A big empty room near the top hull and a coin in a shaft going down from the top hull. The shaft going down will lead to both the room with the ice dream box and the one with Steven Universe and the Crystal Gems. The corridor going right will go down into the rotary, see next scene. Cueball is looking down into this and expressing his dislike of this {{w|Traffic circle|type of structures}}. Maybe he has bad experience with these in real life traffic.<br />
|-<br />
|The rotary.<br />
|<br />
:(none)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/3e/1608_1033x1095y_The_rotary.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1033:-1095+s.png (1033, 1095)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1035:-1095+s.png (1035, 1095)]<br />
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|This is the {{w|Traffic circle|Rotary}} that has given it's name to the section of the Star Destroyer from the structure itself and right of this until the section where the cave is located. A rotary is also known as a ''traffic circle'' and is a large version of a roundabout with several roads exiting from it. At the top of the upper left passage (see the scene above) Cueball is looking down into this structure and calls it a rotary (hence the name).<br><br><br />
The centre contains a small room with a stick figure wearing a tonsure haircut (where only the top of the head is shaved bald), a potted plant, and a coin. The plant resembles a pea plant, and the tonsure is a haircut associated with monks, so this is likely to be Gregor Mendel. Mendel was a 19th century Czech monk who discovered the principles of genetic inheritance by crossing strains of pea plants.<br />
<br><br>Large rotaries may have more than four roads leading away, but in this case there are four, and neither of them are leading straight away up/down or left/right. Three of them are almost at a 45 degree angel, but the one going down is only a little of to the right, and soon turns straight down.<br><br>Only other feature is the Cueball rushing right on his bike in the corridor leading away from the rightmost exit. There are several bikes throughout the comic, with two more in the Globe of Death above the bridge of the Destroyer and one going down the right slope of the Volcano.<br><br>Entering the rotary for the first time there are of course three new directions to move along in, making it a special point in the users exploration of the Destroyer.<br />
|-<br />
|Photon cannon Tetris piece and mini robot at bottom of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None - the cannon part has been transcribed in the torpedo section)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/df/1608_1034x1091y_Photon_canon_Tetris_piece_and_mini_robot_at_bottom_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1034:-1093+s.png (1034, 1093)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1034:-1092+s.png (1035, 1092)]<br />
|<br />
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|Computer game: {{w|Tetris}}<br />
|The bottom part of the scene has already been described in relation to the torpedo rain. But as can be seen here it is possible to enter the torpedo room almost directly from the bottom exit of the rotary above. Coming down that way is also a T-shaped {{w|Tetris#Colors_of_Tetriminos|tetriminos}} from the Tetris computer game. At the end of the corridor with the small robot there is a shaft, and in the exit from the corridor there is a coin.<br />
|-<br />
|Shaft corridor with coin and room with coin over ledge at bottom of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d3/1608_1038x1092y_Shaft_corridor_with_coin_and_room_with_coin_over_ledge_at_bottom_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1038:-1092+s.png (1038, 1092)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1036:-1092+s.png (1036, 1092)]<br />
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|Going down from the corridor from the scene above takes the player through a small room with a coin at the bottom of the hull and then out over a thick ledge in the air beneath the Destroyer. There is a large gap starting here that ends in the ''Atmosphere worry and car room at bottom of hull''. This large section is the section in which [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1608_Entire_Rebel_Blockade_Runner_swallowed_by_Destroyer.png the Destroyer swallows the Rebel Runner] in the opening scene of the first Star Wars movie, as mentioned in the overview above.<br />
|-<br />
|Giant octopus in Destroyer.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b5/1608_1038x1094y_Giant_octopus_in_Destroyer.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1038:-1094+s.png (1038, 1094)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1038:-1093+s.png (1038, 1093)]<br />
|<br />
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|Y<br />
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|A giant octopus with a dome shaped head in a dome shaped room with coins above its tentacles left and right. In TE there are several octopuses, and this animal is also often used in xkcd in general. But particularly in ''The USS Laws of the Land'' there is both a large octopus beneath the ship and one giant tentacle reaching up from the deep. If this is considered a monster then this section of the ship may be the monster section as there also seem to be some kind of horned monster in the room to the right of this room.<br />
|-<br />
|Hamster ball and stilts room.<br />
|<br />
:Megan: ''AaaaAaaa'' <br />
:Guy with hair: I can't leave.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/89/1608_1038x1095y_Hamsterball_and_stilts_room.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1038:-1095+s.png (1038, 1095)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1039:-1096+s.png (1039, 1096)]<br />
|<br />
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|Y<br />
|Comics: [[:Category:Hamster Ball|Hamster Ball category]]<br />
|This room is the first after exiting the rotary to the upper right. The shaft goes down past the octopus room (see scene above). It is the second instance with a hamster ball in this comic, the first being a small girl (with Megan like hair) in the left part of the world just before the plateau. But in this case it is the adult Megan that is inside the ball, not only running but actually standing on a skateboard. She is clearly not in control. As the player is on a hoverboard there is some kind of connection with a girl on skateboard. In ''Sky Toucher'' in TE Megan also uses a skateboard, inside a rounded structure.<br><br>Megan is not alone though as there is also a guy (with a wee bit of hair) on stilts. The stilts seems to be very high and if the guy wishes to stay on these stilts his assessment, that he can't leave the room, is true. Between his stilts there is a coin. The world highest stilts is shown in [[482: Height]] and in the next "game" comic after this one, [[1663: Garden]], it is possible to "[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0c/1663_garden_One_color_Between_Light_yellow_and_yellow_First_thing_stilts.png grow]" a [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d0/Garden_Stilt_walker.png girl on stilts].<br />
|-<br />
|Box with horns and coin room.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a2/1608_1043x1093y_Box_with_horns_and_coin_room.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1043:-1093+s.png (1043, 1093)]<br />
|<br />
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|<font color="red">Is there any clear references to a horned box that is being missed here?</font> In this room across from the giant octopus room there is yet a possible monster hidden in a box. Two large horns jut out of the box, but if they are standing on the box or is sitting on some horned beast inside the box is not clear. But they look rather ominously, and if it is a monster it would with the giant octopus make this section a monster section. A coin is hovering between the horns. The shaft up is the only way to move further down inside the Destroyer without moving over or under the hull.<br />
|-<br />
|Zoom out of three empty rooms near bottom of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e6/1608_1046x1094y_Zoom_out_of_three_empty_rooms_near_bottom_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
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|A dead end with three empty room with no coins or any interesting features, thus only this zoomed out version is displayed here. The rooms are just right of the horned box and below is the part of the hull that is the opening where the Runner will be swallowed by the Destroyer. It is not a complete waste to come over this way, as the room to the right with the hoverboard is central to the comic. But no need to go into these rooms if trying to pick up all the coins as fast as possible.<br />
|-<br />
|Corridor with coin.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a2/1608_1046x1097y_Corridor_with_coin.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1046:-1097+s.png (1046, 1097)]<br />
|<br />
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|This is one of the longer corridors without any features. It is the only way to move right inside the destroyer in this section. The corridor goes above the three empty rooms in the scene above and also above the hoverboard room in the scene below. At the end of the corridor there is a shaft up. The only reason this segment is shown is because of the coin.<br />
|-<br />
|Two hoverboards room.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/01/1608_1048x1095y_Two_hoverboards_room.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1048:-1095+s.png (1048, 1095)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1048:-1094+s.png (1048, 1094)]<br />
|<br />
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|<br />
|Comic: [[1623: 2016 Conversation Guide]]<br />
|Self-reference to title of this comic, and the conversation guide comic released shortly after this is also referencing this entire comic as it complains that hoverboards are not real yet. There is both another hoverboard Cueball and a hoverboard Megan in this room, but compared to the players hoverboard Cueball these two are some what more advanced, and managed to swoop around the coin in the middle. The room can only be entered from the right. To the left there is only a dead end with three completely empty rooms, so don't bother going there if you are in a hurry to pick up all the coins...<br />
|-<br />
|Zoom out with dead end corridor car room and shaft at top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f9/1608_1051x1097y_Zoom_out_with_dead_end_corridor_car_room_and_shaft_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
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|Overview of the end of the long corridor with the coin mentioned above. It ends here in the dead end at the bottom. The corridor above has Cueball lying on the hood of a car in a small room quite a distance from any exits to the outside.<br />
|-<br />
|Cueball on hood of car room and a giant step with coins at top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d4/1608_1048x1099y_Cueball_on_hood_of_car_room_and_a_giant_step_with_coins_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1048:-1099+s.png (1048, 1099)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1049:-1099+s.png (1049, 1099)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|In this dead end room Cueball is lying on the hood of a car. Hoverboard Cueball cannot copy this as the car is not a solid segment of the image. The hull is not far away, and the car room is right where one of the large steps in the upper hull appears. Right outside there are two coins at the bottom and top of the step. These cannot be seen from inside the room. There is no fast way to get outside from here, and actually no easy way to get a car into this room either. In ''Sky Toucher'' in TE there is also a car stuck in the middle of the sky scraper a long way from the parking cellar. In this comic there is actually even one more car in the Destroyer, but that is at least close to an exit ledge (see scene below).<br />
|-<br />
|Atmosphere worry and car room at bottom of hull.<br />
|<br />
:Megan: Is this ship designed to fly in the atmosphere like this?<br />
:Blonde woman with hair bun: Whatever. Who cares it’s probably fine.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1608_1049x1090y_Atmosphere_worry_and_car_room_at_bottom_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1049:-1090+s.png (1049, 1090)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1050:-1090+s.png (1050, 1090)]<br />
|Y<br />
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|Megan is referring to the fact that space ships in Star Wars often fly fast also inside the atmosphere of a planet. Not something you would normally design for. Though in the case with the Destroyer and Runner they did not go inside the atmosphere as depicted here in the comic, in the scene from the original Star Wars movie. The blonde woman comes with a comment typical for b-moves, who cares if this would work in real life, it is just a film.<br><br>There is a large gap in the bottom hull ending here and starting in the ''Shaft corridor with coin and room with coin over ledge at bottom of hull''. This large section is the section in which [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1608_Entire_Rebel_Blockade_Runner_swallowed_by_Destroyer.png the Destroyer swallows the Rebel Runner] in the opening scene of the first Star Wars movie, as mentioned in the overview above.<br><br>Behind the two women, who are standing on a thin ledge where the large gap ends, there is another car (see scene above). At least it is clear how this car could get into this room (and out again). Above the car there is a coin. Behind the car there is a corridor going into the Destroyer, but quite high up on the wall for a normal exit. The car cannot be used as a step to jump in there, as it is not part of the solid picture. <br />
|-<br />
|Ponytail flying up a shaft towards a coin.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/76/1608_1053x1091y_Ponytail_flying_up_a_shaft_towards_a_coin.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1053:-1091+s.png (1053, 1091)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1054:-1091+s.png (1054, 1091)]<br />
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|The corridor from the room with Megan and the car is long. In the middle of it there is a shaft going up (a long way). Just inside this shaft Ponytail is seen flying up, hands in front of her like another Superman. Above her in the shaft there is a coin. This is not the only place in the comic where Ponytail is flying. Although here it seems like an automatic thing (like Superman), whereas down below on the ground below the Destroyer she has to flap her arms violently, but then actually manages to take of from the ground. In a space ship like this Destroyer there could both be a system to let people float upwards, some gravitational effects or just plain effects of the flying itself, wheres down on the ground flying like that would be magic for sure. But at least there seems to be some correlation since it is Ponytail that flies in both cases.<br />
|-<br />
|Trap covered with leaves and flying Ponytail at bottom of hull.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: ...And we cover it with leaves so no one sees it.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fd/1608_1055x1090y_Trap_covered_with_leaves_and_flying_Ponytail_at_bottom_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1055:-1090+s.png (1055, 1090)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1055:-1091+s.png (1055, 1091)]<br />
|<br />
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|<br />
|After the shaft where Ponytail flies up (see more in the scene above) the corridor continues to a pit which Cueball and a kid have been covering with leaves and sticks. It seems like they are making a trap, which is even more likely seeing that the bottom of the pit has six sharp spikes that would likely impale any unlucky victims that fell in. Alternatively (given the words Cueball uses), they have made this hole by mistake, and now tries to cover it so no one sees it. If he meant it to be a trap he might instead have phrased it, "so they won't see it until it is too late". The kid looks like the kid in the room at the rotary, as they have the same hairdo.<br />
|-<br />
|Corridor and shaft with coin.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/8f/1608_1053x1094y_Corridor_and_shaft_with_coin.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1053:-1094+s.png (1053, 1094)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
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|The shaft going up from Ponytail below goes past the corridor to the left that goes to the hoverboards room. There is a coin in the entrance.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Corridor peristalsis and colon.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c6/1608_Entire_Corridor_peristalsis_and_colon.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/be/1608_Entire_area_around_Corridor_peristalsis_and_colon.png Zoom out to entire area]<br />
|Overview<br />
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|With the comment from Hairbun about peristalsis - the bowel movement getting food etc. through the digestive system, and with the three chambers with coins above a colon like structure, leading into the corridor with these motions, with a coin both going down the colon and through the peristalsis, there can be no doubt that this is the digestive system for this ”living” space ship, and coins is what it lives off. This interpretation can further be extended to the very front end, where there is the appearance of a head that eats coins (see the front end overview) and at the rear end a coin is bouncing out at the very last shaft before the very end of the ship. Suggesting where this animal gets rid of the waste products afterwards. (The rest of the ship is not part of this interpretation).<br />
|-<br />
|Corridor peristalsis and two coin rooms at top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:Hairbun: Ah, yes. Corridor peristalsis.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e4/1608_1054x1099y_Corridor_peristalsis_and_two_coin_rooms_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1054:-1099+s.png (1054, 1099)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1057:-1100+s.png (1057, 1100)]<br />
|<br />
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|Following the corridor from the room with Cueball on the hoof of a car leads to a part of that corridor experiencing {{w|peristalsis}}. This is the kind of muscle movements that causes food to move through the {{w|human gastrointestinal tract}}. Hairbun is telling Cueball that this is indeed corridor peristalsis, so a way for the corridor to move stuff along. As there are coins at both end of this section it is quite clear that these coins are moved along by the corridor itself. The indentations of the corridor is so strong that the corridor is not wide enough to allow hoverboard Cueball to pass through. So to get both coins another route needs to be found. The shortest way is to go up the shaft behind Hairbun, passing the two empty rooms with coins on the way to the top of the Destroyers hull. To get to the other side hoverboard Cueball will then have to pass through the Destroyers colon like structure to the right. See below. As mentioned in the overview above this is a clear reference to the human digestive system, or in this case the Destroyers ditto.<br />
|-<br />
|Corridor peristalsis and colon.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: Wheee!<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0a/1608_1055x1099y_Corridor_peristalsis_and_colon.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1055:-1099+s.png (1055, 1099)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1056:-1099+s.png (1056, 1099)]<br />
|<br />
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|Y<br />
|<br />
|Moving a little further down right than the peristalsis scene above the bottom part of the {{w|Large intestine|colon}} like structure can be seen, closely connected to this other intestine like structure (The three coins in the left part of the image are the same as in the scene above). The reason for showing this scene is to show the closeness of these two digestive system structures. In ''Box that cleans food holders'' in TE Ponytail yells Wheee! as she slides through a pipe inside the machine on her stomach, a mix of the action performed by Cueball and Ponytail in the colon like structure. Ponytail is sliding towards a coin at the bottom in one of the colon loops. The top part of the colon can be seen in the next scene.<br />
|-<br />
|Colon like structure with Ponytail and Cueball sliding down.<br />
|<br />
:(None - text already transcribed in the scene above ''Corridor peristalsis and colon''.)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b3/1608_1058x1100y_Colon_like_structure_with_Ponytail_and_Cueball_sliding_down.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1058:-1100+s.png (1058, 1100)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1058:-1101+s.png (1058, 1101)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The entrance from the top to the colon like structure have a Cueball looking down into it. The rest of the scene has been described above.<br />
|-<br />
|Huge step and three room with coin and Cueball looking into shaft at top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/14/1608_1058x1102y_Huge_step_and_three_room_with_coin_and_Cueball_looking_into_shaft_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1058:-1102+s.png (1058, 1102)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1056:-1103+s.png (1056, 1103)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|This is the upper entrance to the colon like structure into which Cueball is looking. (See scenes above). To the left is the top hull of the Destroyer which takes two huge steps up at this place. Cueball is standing in a corridor with three small rooms, each with a coin in the top of the room. This seems to be a place to hold the coins until they are ready to move down the colon like structure, where another coin is already moving through, going down to the corridor peristalsis in the corridor below, where more coins are moving through the ships digestive system. Going over the hull and down this colon like structure is the fastest/shortest way between the two separated sides of the corridor peristalsis.<br />
|-<br />
|Coin in corridor under Buffer stop room.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/75/1608_1060x1099y_Coin_in_corridor_under_Buffer_stop_room.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1060:-1099+s.png (1059, 1099)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Moving away to the right from the corridor peristalsis takes hoverboard Cueball past a small shaft up into a room with two coins in front of what looks like a train {{w|buffer stop}}. One coin in front of each of the buffers. Continuing along the corridor there is another coin. The corridor continues and a shaft is going up. This part of the Destroyer is the beginning of the cave section. The cave can be entered from above by continuing along the corridor.<br />
|-<br />
|Cannon with coin on top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a0/1608_1060x1103y_Canon_with_coin_on_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1060:-1103+s.png (1060, 1103)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1062:-1103+s.png (1062, 1103)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|There is a similar cannon with a coin in front of the barrel on the top of the Runner below the Destroyer. This cannon is on top of the hull above and right of the three room above the colon like structure. The shaft going down right is over the next cave section.<br />
|-<br />
|Coin in corridor below mining company in dead end corridor.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c8/1608_1062x1101y_Coin_in_corridor_below_mining_company_in_dead_end_corridor.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1062:-1101+s.png (1062, 1101)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1063:-1101+s.png (1063, 1101)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Two Cueballs work as a mining company in this corridor which they are expanding. It could be that they are digging for gold, but if that gold should be represented by coins, it is weird that the coin hangs above the Cueball with the {{w|pickaxe}} in the higher section of this corridor, instead of being in front of him. The other Cueball drives away with a wheelbarrow full of the rubble they have dug free from the ship. This is another indication of how big the ship is. It is easier to just dig a new corridor than to build the corridor into the ship to begin with. Further to the left in the Destroyer there was another dead end corridor that looked like it had been dug out - see the scene ''Dead end shaft with rubbles at bottom of hull.'' But here the mining company had left (even though there also was a coin there). The shaft to the left goes up to the hull right of the cannon from the scene above. The corridor below goes left (past another coin) to the shaft down to the corridor with peristalsis. To the right it goes above the cave to the dance hall room with piano.<br />
|-<br />
|Mining company in dead end corridor also coin on top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/ca/1608_1063x1102y_Mining_company_in_dead_end_corridor_also_coin_on_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1063:-1102+s.png (1063, 1102)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1063:-1103+s.png (1063, 1103)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The same mining company scene as described above but with the view moved to show the top hull, right of the cannon. Right of the shaft going up there is a coin. At the very top right of the hull, the basketball dropped by the Cueball like kid can be seen as it comes bouncing down the length of the hull. This basketball scene is part of the cave section and will be describved below.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire cotton trap and spark gap room.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/78/1608_Entire_cotton_trap_and_spark_gap_room.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/65/1608_Entire_cotton_trap_and_spark_gap_room_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/36/1608_Entire_area_around_cotton_trap.png Entire area around]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ae/1608_Entire_area_around_cotton_trap_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Here are two different zoom out of the cotton trap room with the spark gap room below. In the first overview a zoom out is shown with only these two rooms. There are four coins inside and two on the outside of the hull. The three coins around the cotton trap is almost connected by the cotton, as can be seen in the next overview where the hidden passage through the cotton is clearly marked in red. As can be seen there is a very deep black hole beneath the surface of the cotton (which Ponytail states is cotton). From the bottom of the cotton trap going left will lead to a hidden entrance to the top of the spark gap room. Going right will lead to the hidden entrance to the corridor with traps going to the left entrance to the cave. There are coins on each exit as well as just above the cotton to the right. The third image is a further zoom out to show the entire surroundings of the cotton trap room. (And the last is with the cotton etc. turned red). Here the traps in the corridor leading to the cave can be seen as well as the opening into the cave. Below that the strange spiral corridor can be seen. Both these scenes will be described below in the cave section. To the left the shaft and corridors that connect the two rooms even if not noticing the hidden passage can be seen. It is the corridor with the trap covered by Cueball and the shaft where Ponytail flies up. Three more coins are visible in this wider zoom out for a total of nine coins in this area. The two rooms will be described in further detail below. All of the rooms that can be entered through the cotton trap can also be entered through different entrances from other routes. This means that failing to find out how the cotton trap works, will not prevent the player in reaching either the spark gap from below or the cave to the right.<br />
|-<br />
|Entire Cotton trap room.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/be/1608_1058x1094y_Zoom_out_of_Cotton_trap_room.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/11/1608_1058x1094y_Zoom_out_of_Cotton_trap_room_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Overview with the entire cotton trap with and without the cotton shown in red. See above and below for more details.<br />
|-<br />
|Coins in two corridors towards cotton trap.<br />
|<br />
:(None - transcript is written in the scene below.)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1608_1055x1095y_Coins_in_two_corridors_towards_cotton_trap.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1055:-1095+s.png (1055, 1095)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1056:-1095+s.png (1056, 1095)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The corridor going from the shaft with the flying Ponytail to the Ponytail warning about the cotton trap also has a coin. The coin in the exit of the other corridor to the shaft was mentioned previously as it is the exit from the room with two hoverboards. See more about the cotton trap below.<br />
|-<br />
|Cotton trap room with Ponytail.<br />
|<br />
:Ponytail: Watch out for the cotton. It's a trap for someone, I think.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/28/1608_1058x1094y_Cotton_trap_room_with_Ponytail.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/42/1608_1058x1094y_Cotton_trap_room_with_Ponytail_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1057:-1095+s.png (1057, 1095)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1059:-1094+s.png (1059, 1094)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Entering this room along the top corridor reveals Ponytail standing at the beginning of a steep descend. She clearly warns the player about a trap made of cotton. As can be seen in the hidden passage image most of the black at the bottom of the descend is not solid floor but a hidden passage. Given Ponytails comment it must be assumed to be made of cotton. Given that hoverboard Cueball is not affected by the cotton and can move either up again, or out left or right it is not a trap for him. But other unlucky persons falling into the cotton might not be as lucky. If this is not a trap in it self, there are several traps if moving out to the right (where the coin is below the cotton level). This corridor goes to the cave, but first after passing five traps. See more about the entire surroundings in the overview scenes above. <br />
|-<br />
|Cotton trap room bottom.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/32/1608_1058x1092y_Cotton_trap_room_bottom.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/73/1608_1058x1092y_Cotton_trap_room_bottom_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1058:-1092+s.png (1058, 1092)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The bottom of the cotton trap is a dark place. But as can be seen in the red hidden passage image it is possible to move both left and right to get out. In either case a coin can be obtained at the exit. The left exit leads to a shaft going into the spark gap room below, and the right exit leads through a corridor with traps into the cave. Going up in the spark gap room below will clearly reveal the shaft up. But if the cotton trap has not been discovered at this time, it is likely that the player will not attempt to breech the wall, and would thus fail to enter the cotton trap from below. The coin could easily seem enough reason for this dead end shaft above the room.<br />
|-<br />
|Entire spark gap room to bottom of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7b/1608_1058x1090y_Zoom_out_of_spark_gap_room_to_bottom_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|An overview of the entire spark gap room, both showing the two coins beneath the outside hull as well as the coin in the top shaft (leading to the cotton trap to the right of this) and the coin behind the spark gap. See more below.<br />
|-<br />
|Spark gap room<br />
|<br />
:Cueball on wall: Shh.<br />
:Electrode bottom: JS<br />
:Electrode top: JS<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/4d/1608_1057x1092y_Spark_gap_room_with_Cueball_on_the_wall.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6a/1608_1058x1090y_Spark_gap_room_only_with_Cueball_on_floor_and_coins_at_bottom_of_hull.png Buttom part to below hull]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1058:-1090+s.png (1058, 1090)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1057:-1092+s.png (1057, 1092)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Why is ''JS'' written on both electrodes</font> This room is called the {{w|spark gap}} room, because there seems to be a spark between the two large electrode like structures marked JS. Cueball is watching this, maybe he is the evil inventor that has created this device. At least another Cueball is climbing high above him up on the wall to the left, and when the player passes him on his hoverboard he asks the player no to tell about him (''shh''). It is unclear if he is sneaking away, spying or sneaking down to attack the other Cueball. A coin is hidden behind the spark gap, but as the spark gap is of the "red" type of black hoverboard Cueball can pass without problems into the coin. As can be seen in the other image displaying the lower part of this scene, the coin outside of the hull is close by, and actually the two coins above each other down there are in the same small image (see the first of the small images).<br />
|-<br />
|Corridor with fire and hammer traps.<br />
|<br />
:Hammers left: Chomp Chomp <br />
:Hammer right: Chomp<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a2/1608_1061x1093y_Corridor_with_fire_and_hammer_traps.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/16/1608_1061x1093y_Corridor_with_fire_and_hammer_traps_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1060:-1094+s.png (1060, 1094)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1061:-1093+s.png (1061, 1093)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|This is the corridor exiting the cotton trap room (with a coin as mentioned previously), see the cotton in the hidden passage in red image. The corridor leads to the cave, but to get there five traps has to be passed. First there are four hammers with jagged edges that opens and closes with much force as perceived by the noises. And then a pit with a fire has to be surpassed. Of course as can be seen in the "red" image, neither of these traps are any problem for hoverboard Cueball as they are all of the red type of black. But it is a clear indication that the player is about to enter some interesting place, which is true as the cave is one of the most interesting places in the Destroyer. Although there are two other ways to get into the cave, it is by far the most interesting way to enter the cave for the first time!<br />
|-<br />
|Corridor to cave opening.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/32/1608_1062x1094y_Corridor_to_cave_opening.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1062:-1094+s.png (1062, 1094)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1063:-1094+s.png (1063, 1094)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Same scene as above but only the right part with the fire, to show how the corridor enters the beginning of the cave.<br />
|-<br />
|Zoom out with spiral corridor at bottom of the hull.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/45/1608_1063x1091y_Zoom_out_with_spiral_corridor_at_bottom_of_the_hull.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Below the corridor to the cave is a strange corridor which spirals into nothing in the middle. There are no coins in this section so this is a zoom out without any further zoom in on this section. The room at the top seems like a starting point to go into the spiral. The corridor to the right goes into the huge glitch floor room below the cave. The shaft down goes out the bottom of the hull.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Cave Bridge and rear end.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/74/1608_Entire_Cave_Bridge_and_rear_end.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e0/1608_Entire_Cave_Bridge_and_rear_end_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire cave section.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1608_Entire_cave_section.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Entire Cave and Glitch floor room.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ea/1608_Entire_Cave_and_Glitch_floor_room.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|From this image it is clear that the two largest rooms in the Destroyer are almost of the same size, and positioned almost on top of each other. They only need a little parallel shift to make them into one big circular room. The Glitch floor room, is a feature that can be seen in the Star Wars film, as a protrusion beneath the hull of the Destroyer.<br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Cave.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/58/1608_Entire_Cave.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/24/1608_Entire_Cave_and_shaft_above.png With shaft and room above]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bf/1608_Entire_Cave_With_entire_pyramid_for_scale.png Size scale of Pyramid]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|In ''Sky Toucher'' there is also a floor in the sky scraper with trees inside, just like the tree inside the cave inside the Destroyer.<br />
|-<br />
|Lake with tree birds and puma on rock at exit in the bottom left side of the cave.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/75/1608_1053x1093y_Lake_with_tree_birds_and_puma_on_rock_at_exit_in_the_bottom_left_side_of_the_cave.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/81/1608_1053x1093y_Lake_with_tree_birds_and_puma_on_rock_at_exit_in_the_bottom_left_side_of_the_cave_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1065:-1093+s.png (1065, 1093)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1067:-1094+s.png (1067, 1094)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Three birds in the top left side of the cave.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5a/1608_1065x1095y_Three_birds_in_the_top_left_side_of_the_cave.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1065:-1095+s.png (1065, 1095)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Gazebo puma deer Cueball with bow and talk of Palpatine in the middle of the cave.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: I know it seems weird, but every Star Destroyer has one of these rooms.<br />
:Cueball: Say what you will about Palpatine's politics, but he's a staunch supporter of the imperial parks and the Coruscant Audubon society.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b0/1608_1067x1094y_Gazebo_puma_deer_Cueball_with_bow_and_talk_of_Palpatine_in_the_middle_of_the_cave.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1068:-1093+s.png (1068, 1093)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1068:-1094+s.png (1068, 1094)]<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|The {{w|National Audubon Society}} is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conservation. Palpatine is the evil emperor and the capital ”planet” Coruscant is a planet with city all over the solid parts of the surface. So that he is interested in keeping parks both on this planet and on all his Star Destroyers comes as a surprise...<br />
|-<br />
|The broad shaft going into the top of the cave.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a5/1608_1067x1097y_The_broad_shaft_going_into_the_top_of_the_cave.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1067:-1097+s.png (1067, 1097)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1068:-1096+s.png (1068, 1096)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Deer and exit below lamp coin and Black Hat in the bottom right side of the cave.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/68/1608_1069x1093y_Deer_and_exit_below_lamp_coin_and_Black_Hat_in_the_bottom_right_side_of_the_cave.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/69/1608_1069x1093y_Deer_and_exit_below_lamp_coin_and_Black_Hat_in_the_bottom_right_side_of_the_cave_no_coin.png Without coin]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1069:-1093+s.png (1069, 1093)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1071:-1093+s.png (1071, 1093)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Lamp coin and Black Hat in the top right side of the cave.<br />
|<br />
:Insects: ''Bzzzzz''<br />
<br />
:Black Hat: Zzz<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0d/1608_1070x1095y_Lamp_coin_and_Black_Hat_in_the_top_right_side_of_the_cave.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/aa/1608_1070x1095y_Lamp_coin_and_Black_Hat_in_the_top_right_side_of_the_cave_no_coin.png Without coin]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1070:-1095+s.png (1070, 1095)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|In this image the coin is part of the scenery as it is the lamp the buzzing insects fly around. When it is gone it reveals a broken lamp, and an insect that had been hidden behind the coin.<br />
|-<br />
|Corridor from shaft to the two coins in corridors.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e1/1608_1063x1099y_Corridor_from_shaft_to_the_two_coins_in_corridors.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1065:-1099+s.png (1065, 1099)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1064:-1098+s.png (1064, 1098)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Two coins in corridors and four coin room above shaft to cave.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0b/1608_1067x1104y_Two_coins_in_corridors_and_four_coin_room_above_shaft_to_cave.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1067:-1100+s.png (1067, 1100)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1067:-1098+s.png (1067, 1098)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Chandelier room with two coins above cave.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d6/1608_1070x1098y_Chandelier_room_with_two_coins_above_cave.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1070:-1098+s.png (1070, 1098)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1071:-1098+s.png (1071, 1098)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Zoom out with dance room and basketball and slinky stair at top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f3/1608_1068x1101y_Zoom_out_with_dance_room_and_basketball_and_slinky_stair_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Basketball on top of Destroyer - zoom out.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5a/1608_1065x1104y_Basket_ball_on_top_of_Destroyer_zoom_out.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Coin close to basketball on top of Destroyer.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/4e/1608_1063x1104y_Coin_close_to_basket_ball_on_top_of_Destroyer.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1065:-1104+s.png (1065, 1104)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1064:-1104+s.png (1064, 1104)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Basketball on top of Destroyer.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1608_1067x1104y_Basket_ball_on_top_of_Destroyer.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1067:-1104+s.png (1067, 1104)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1066:-1104+s.png (1066, 1104)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|In ''Playing Fields'' in TE basketball mentioned, and it is also played on the left side of the volcano crater<br />
|-<br />
|Dancing room with piano.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a7/1608_1069x1101y_Dancing_room_with_piano.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1069:-1101+s.png (1069, 1101)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1070:-1101+s.png (1070, 1101)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Slinky staircase at top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:Slinky: Slink slink slink<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1c/1608_1069x1104y_Slinky_stair_case_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1069:-1104+s.png (1069, 1104)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1070:-1103+s.png (1070, 1103)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Upside down room and Giddyayup cowboy riding the ship at top of hull.<br />
|<br />
:Cowboy: Giddyayup!<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/79/1608_1073x1104y_Upside_down_room_and_Giddyayup_cowboy_riding_the_ship_at_top_of_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1072:-1104+s.png (1072, 1104)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1074:-1103+s.png (1074, 1103)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Glitch floor room.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/52/1608_Entire_Glitch_floor_room.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6b/1608_Entire_Glitch_floor_room_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/63/1608_Entire_Glitch_floor_room_and_two_close_rooms.png Including two rooms]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/dd/1608_Entire_Glitch_floor_room_and_two_close_rooms_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/49/1608_Entire_area_around_Glitch_floor_room.png Entire area around the room]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/00/1608_Entire_area_around_Glitch_floor_room_red.png Hidden passages in red] [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/63/1608_Entire_Glitch_floor_room_and_two_close_rooms.png Also including two close rooms]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/dd/1608_Entire_Glitch_floor_room_and_two_close_rooms_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/49/1608_Entire_area_around_Glitch_floor_room.png Entire area around the room]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/00/1608_Entire_area_around_Glitch_floor_room_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|In the zoom outs the coin below the hidden glitch in the floor can be seen at the very bottom of the pictures. It is quite a drop to catch it, but if you did not expect it, it is likely you would reach it before going up again.<br />
|-<br />
|Bottom center of Glitch floor room with coin sign and Cueball.<br />
|<br />
:Large sign:<br />
::! <br />
::Caution: <br />
::Glitchfloor.<br />
<br />
:Floor signs:<br />
::!<br />
::!<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fa/1608_1070x1089y_Bottom_center_of_Glitch_floor_room_with_coin_sign_and_Cueball.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/71/1608_1070x1089y_Bottom_center_of_Glitch_floor_room_with_coin_sign_and_Cueball_red.png Hidden passages in red]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1069:-1088+s.png (1069, 1088)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1070:-1088+s.png (1070, 1088)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|You are warned not to step onto this glitch floor! But if you do you can drop down to yet another coin far below the Destroyer, but even farther up above the ground.<br />
|-<br />
|Two rooms with coins right of Glitch floor room.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/2e/1608_1074x1090y_Two_rooms_with_coins_right_of_Glitch_floor_room.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1073:-1092+s.png (1073, 1092)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1074:-1091+s.png (1074, 1091)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Cannon protruding below the hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f4/1608_1075x1088y_Canon_protruding_below_the_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1075:-1088+s.png (1075, 1088)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1076:-1088+s.png (1076, 1088)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Entire area around the bridge.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/bd/1608_Entire_area_around_the_bridge.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/4b/1608_Entire_Bridge_and_rear_section.png Entire bridge area]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/f1/1608_Entire_Bridge_and_emperor.png Brdige and emperor]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c2/1608_Entire_Bridge_and_globe_of_death.png Bridge and globe of death]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/54/1608_Actual_Bridge_with_Vader_and_Tarkin.png Actual bridge]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c7/1608_Vader_twice_and_emperor_on_and_near_bridge.png Vader twice and emperor]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Ponytail with paper plane and coin below her on top hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/11/1608_1077x1107y_Ponytail_with_paper_plane_and_coin_below_her_on_top_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1078:-1106+s.png (1078, 1006)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1077:-1105+s.png (1077, 1105)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|Cueball also throws out a plane in Click and Drag from the sky scraper. This also happens in the ''Sky Toucher'' in TE where it is Ponytail again.<br />
|-<br />
|Tarkin on the bridge and Ponytail with paper plane.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: The fault, dear Tarkin, is not in our star destroyers, but in ourselves.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/2/20/1608_1077x1107y_Tarkin_on_the_bridge_and_Ponytail_with_paper_plane.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1077:-1107+s.png (1077, 1107)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1077:-1108+s.png (1077, 1108)]<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|| This is most likely a reference to the book (then made into a movie) titled {{w|The_Fault_in_Our_Stars |"The Fault in Our Stars"}}. The title of which is a reference to a line in {{w|William Shakespeare |Shakespeare's}} play {{W|Julius Caesar (play) |Julius Ceasar}}; "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, / But in ourselves". Grand Moff Tarkin is the commander of the Death Star in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.<br />
|-<br />
|Darth Vader talks about Steven Universe on the bridge Megan adjust antenna.<br />
|<br />
:Megan: Such a pain adjusting this thing every time we move<br />
<br />
:Darth Vader: ''Breathe''<br />
:Darth Vader: But Steven's ''mother'' is a crystal gem,<br />
:Darth Vader: ''Breathe'')<br />
:Darth Vader: so he's half- Are you getting all this?<br />
:Hairy: Yes, my Lord!<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fa/1608_1077x1109y_Darth_Vaders_talks_about_Steven_Universe_on_the_bridge_Megan_adjust_antenna.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1077:-1109+s.png (1077, 1109)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1077:-1110+s.png (1077, 1110)]<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|TV series: {{w|Steven Universe}}<br />
|Darth Vader refers to Steven Universe from the TV series. His mother is a Crystal Gem, so since his father is human, he is only a half gem, which is a joke in itself. Steven and his family are located inside a room in the middle of the Destroyer. Maybe as prisoners or it could be Vader is just a big fan since he talks about them on the bridge.<br />
|-<br />
|Globe of Death at the top of the Destroyer.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7b/1608_1078x1111y_Globe_of_Death_at_the_top_of_the_Destroyer.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1078:-1110+s.png (1078, 1110)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1077:-1112+s.png (1077, 1112)]<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|This structure of the Globe of death is part of the Star Destroyer as can be seen in the films.<br />
|-<br />
|Fire system with pure oxygen and two coins room.<br />
|<br />
:Hairbun: In the event of a fire on one of the decks, this system will seal it off and pump in pure oxygen.<br />
:Ponytail: Wait, ''Oxygen?'' Not a fire suppressant like-<br />
:Hairbun: Ugh, ''boring''.<br />
<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d0/1608_1080x1105y_Fire_system_with_pure_oxygen_and_two_coins_room.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1080:-1105+s.png (1080, 1105)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1081:-1105+s.png (1081, 1105)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Darth Vader’s gold bullion and Cueball and Ponytail in small room at the top of the hull.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: Aha! Darth Vader's secret gold bullion reserves! We'll be rich!<br />
:Megan: I'm not sure this is canon.<br />
:Bags: $ $ $<br />
:Boxes: $ $ $ $ $<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7e/1608_1080x1108y_Darth_Vaders_gold_bullion_and_Cueball_and_Ponytail_in_small_room_at_the_top_of_the_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1080:-1108+s.png (1080, 1108)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1079:-1109+s.png (1079, 1109)]<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Large crocodile near globe of death at the top of the hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/e8/1608_1081x1110y_Large_crocodile_near_globe_of_death_at_the_top_of_the_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1081:-1110+s.png (1081, 1110)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1079:-1111+s.png (1079, 1111)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|The Emperor Palpatine and his birds at the top of the hull.<br />
|<br />
:Guy: My emperor...<br />
:Guy: We all share in your newfound enthusiasm for birdwatching.<br />
:Guy: But normally one watches them in the wild, rather than drugging and imprisoning them in a house of stairs.<br />
:Emperor: ''Silence.''<br />
:Bird: Chirp<br />
:Bird: Chirp<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6b/1608_1083x1109y_The_Emperor_Palpatine_and_his_birds_at_the_top_of_the_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1083:-1109+s.png (1083, 1109)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1084:-1109+s.png (1084, 1109)]<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|House of Stairs may refer to the M. C. Escher {{w|House Of Stairs|lithograph}} with that title, but this is more likely to be a reference to the William Sleator novel {{w|House of Stairs (Sleator novel)|House Of Stairs}} (named for the Escher work) which features five teenage orphans who wake up inside an environment with similarities to that in the Escher print (but with normal gravity).<br />
|-<br />
|Coin behind the rear end at the top of the hull.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/01/1608_1087x1108y_Coin_behind_the_rear_end_at_the_top_of_the_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1087:-1108+s.png (1087, 1108)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|'''Entire Prince of Persia maze.'''<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/b/b0/1608_Entire_Prince_of_Persia_maze.png Overview]<br>[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/f/fa/1608_Entire_Prince_of_Persia_maze_with_both_exits.png Including both exits]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Computer game: {{w|Prince of Persia}}<br />
|Compare to this [http://cdn.wikimg.net/strategywiki/images/a/a2/Princeofpersia_dos_level1.png picture of level 1] taken from the game.<br />
|-<br />
|Corridor left of Prince of Persia maze.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5b/1608_1073x1101y_Corridor_left_of_Prince_of_Persia_maze.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1073:-1101+s.png (1073, 1101)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1072:-1101+s.png (1072, 1101)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Left entrance to Prince of Persia maze.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/6c/1608_1076x1101y_Left_entrance_to_Prince_of_Persia_maze.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1076:-1101+s.png (1076, 1101)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1077:-1101+s.png (1077, 1101)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Left part of Prince of Persia maze.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/03/1608_1079x1102y_Left_part_of_Prince_of_Persia_maze.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1077:-1102+s.png (1077, 1102)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1080:-1102+s.png (1080, 1102)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Right part and exit of Prince of Persia maze.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/1d/1608_1082x1101y_Right_part_and_exit_of_Prince_of_Persia_maze.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1082:-1101+s.png (1082, 1101)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1081:-1102+s.png (1081, 1102)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Right exit of Prince of Persia maze and shafts.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/42/1608_1084x1103y_Right_exit_of_Prince_of_Persia_maze_and_shafts.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1083:-1102+s.png (1083, 1102)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1083:-1103+s.png (1083, 1103)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Ant Queen and alarm ante room.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/10/1608_Ant_Queen_and_alarm_ante_room.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|In this section all rooms have the same dome shaped ceiling that goes a little below the walls of the corridors.<br />
|-<br />
|Corridor with alarm and trapped Cueball.<br />
|<br />
:Alarm: …Beep…<br />
:Alarm: …Beep…<br />
:Alarm: …Beep…<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/01/1608_1075x1094y_Corridor_with_alarm_and_trapped_Cueball.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1075:-1094+s.png (1075, 1094)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1074:-1094+s.png (1074, 1094)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Ant Queen in Destroyer.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: What's up?<br />
:Ant queen: The usual. Poopin' out ants.<br />
:Cueball: Eww.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d2/1608_1078x1095y_Ant_Queen_in_Destroyer.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1078:-1095+s.png (1078, 1095)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1077:-1094+s.png (1077, 1094)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|Comic: [[1610: Fire Ants]] and [[1641: Hot Dogs]]<br />
|The ant comic was released only a week after this comic and refers how cool ants are. Ants are also used twice in TE A zoom in on an ant is used to indicate size in ''Earth's past'' and under the ''Tree'' in that explanation there is an ant colony where one ant is much bigger than the others; an ant queen, a clear reference to the ant queen in the Destroyer. The other comic is a discussion running along exactly the same template ending in ''Eww''. <br><br>This is probably a reference to a part of Orson Scott Card's "Xenocide" in his Ender series. In it, the main character, Ender, visits a hive queen "bugger" he saved on his travels and became friends with, at a time after the queen has settled in on a new planet. At one point, Ender brings other humans to meet the queen at a time when she was giving birth to some of her drones. This is most likely meant to represent a parody of that conversation or else represent a comedic idea of his first conversation with her when she had been birthing, where Ender is alone and is speaking to the Hive Queen. In this version, when he finds out that she is in the process of birthing more ants, rather than being compassionate and understanding with the Queen (as he is in the book), Ender is weirded out like the other humans he brings along with him later. <br />
|-<br />
|Entire shafts from top to bottom towards the rear end.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/ce/1608_Entire_shafts_from_top_to_bottom_towards_the_rear_end.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|This is the longest shaft in the Destroyer, and with the other shaft going out at the rear end, it is possible to go from the top room at the emperor and out beneath in a very short time.<br />
|-<br />
|Coin in the longest shaft.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5a/1608_1084x1099y_Coin_in_the_longest_shaft.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1084:-1099+s.png (1084, 1099)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Cueball and Megan hanging on to each other in a shaft figuring this out.<br />
|<br />
:Cueball: Okay<br />
:Cueball: We can figure this out.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/c/c4/1608_1084x1095y_Cueball_and_Megan_hanging_on_to_each_other_in_a_shaft_figuring_this_out.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1084:-1095+s.png (1084, 1095)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Zoom out on light bulb with corridor and other room.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/5/5b/1608_1084x1092y_Zoom_out_on_light_bulb_with_corridor_and_other_room.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Giant light bulb room.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/d/d2/1608_1084x1090y_Giant_light_bulb_room.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1084:-1090+s.png (1084, 1090)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1085:-1090+s.png (1085, 1090)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Y<br />
|<br />
|In ''The pieces everything is made of'' in TE a light bulb is used as reference for the entry on tungsten as the filament in such bulbs is made from this element.<br />
|-<br />
|Hairbun proposition room and Cueball losing his sandwich at the rear end.<br />
|<br />
:Hairbun: Use a proposition instead of a preposition if you need something to end a sentence with, baby.<br />
<br />
:Cueball: My sandwich!<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/6/63/1608_1086x1091y_Hair_Bun_Girl_proposition_room_and_Cueball_losing_his_sandwich_at_the_rear_end.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1086:-1091+s.png (1086, 1091)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1089:-1091+s.png (1089, 1091)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|One comment is inside the other on the outside of the Destroyer. Cueballs sandwich will fall to the ground.<br />
|-<br />
|Coin bouncing out from a shaft below the hull.<br />
|<br />
:Coin: Bounce<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/44/1608_1086x1088y_Coin_bouncing_out_from_a_shaft_below_the_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1086:-1088+s.png (1086, 1088)]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1086:-1090+s.png (1086, 1090)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|In relation to the colon interpretation (see above) then this would literally be the rear of this living space ship, and the coin is the waste going out the rear entry!<br />
|-<br />
|Megan hanging on below the bottom of the hull.<br />
|<br />
:Megan Hmm.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/ee/1608_1082x1088y_Megan_hanging_on_below_the_bottom_of_the_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1082:-1088+s.png (1082, 1088)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Zoom out on shaft and small dead end room at the rear end.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/1/11/1608_1088x1098y_Zoom_out_on_shaft_and_small_dead_end_room_at_the_rear_end.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Zoom out on shafts and part of the rear end.<br />
|<br />
:(N/A)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/4/45/1608_1088x1105y_Zoom_out_on_shafts_and_part_of_the_rear_end.png Overview]<br />
|Overview<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Coin in a small indentation corridor at the rear end.<br />
|<br />
:(None)<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/3/35/1608_1090x1102y_Coin_in_a_small_indentation_corridor_at_the_rear_end.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1090:-1102+s.png (1090, 1102)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<font color="red">Explanation missing</font><br />
|-<br />
|Megan wants synesthesia at the rear end at bottom of the hull.<br />
|<br />
:Megan: I want synesthesia so bad I can ''taste'' it.<br />
|[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/9/9d/1608_1090x1088y_Megan_want_synesthesia_at_the_rear_end_at_bottom_of_the_hull.png Overview]<br />
|[http://xkcd.com/1608/1090:-1088+s.png (1090, 1088)]<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|<br />
|Comic: [[1213: Combination Vision Test]]<br />
|{{w|synesthesia}} is a neurological phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway. One typical version is where numbers are perceived as having colors. This was used in the comic referenced. In this comic a wish for something makes Megan almost taste it. If she did indeed have this dysfunction, she might already have what she wished for... This is one of the rare incidences where there are two almost identically Megans in one scene.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Coins==<br />
*There are 169 coins.<br />
*For more details see here for [[1608: Hoverboard/Images coins|coins location]].<br />
*The Coins are not part of the drawing. <br />
**They are added later for the game, and they are superimposed on top of the image. <br />
**This means they are always on top of the black parts of the image. <br />
**There are no coins located over any part of the type of black that you cannot pass through. <br />
**But in more than one occasion the coins cover some of the black parts that you can walk through.<br />
***See example here [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/0/0b/1608_with_coin_1070_1095.png with coin] vs. [http://xkcd.com/1608/1070:-1095+s.png without coin].<br />
***The coin is here a lamp, and then when it is removed it reveals an exploded lamp beneath the coin, and also one more insect.<br />
****This means that the coins can never be hidden by anything black, and although coins can be hidden away in a secret lair, they can never be hidden under water or lava or holes in the Washington Monument.<br />
****Because if there were any coins in these dark areas, the coins would still be shown on top of the image.<br />
<br />
==Technical aspects==<br />
The game was made by [http://chromakode.com Max Goodman] who has previously worked on [[1416: Pixels]]. The source code for the game can be found [https://xkcd.com/1608/tigl.js here].<br />
<br />
===Image tiles and coordinates===<br />
As previously noted, the comic bears considerable resemblance to [[1110: Click and Drag]]. The comic is made in much the same way, with 'drawn' images "glued" together to form a large "map", with the illusion of infinite bounds made possible through space saving techniques where blank tiles are not stored and are instead painted white. The boundary between blank squares and 'drawn' squares is made clear as any white space in the normal images has a very slight grey tint. Thus, seams between images and blank spaces can be discerned.<br />
<br />
The tiles for the map are stored as simple PNG files in the naming scheme: X:-Y+s.png. An example from the starting tile can be seen here: http://xkcd.com/1608/1000:-1074+s.png, with the coordinate (X, Y) coordinate (1000, 1074).<br />
<br />
Each file is 513x513 pixels in size, one pixel is reserved as overlap to ensure seamless joining of images. The image tiles names are listed as coordinates in an X - Y grid with X in the range from 928 to 1108 and Y in the range from 928 to 1112. <br />
<br />
Internally in the game, the position of the player is given for instance as (X: 512187, -Y: -549668) for the starting position. Then these numbers are divided by 512 and rounded down. This gives the coordinate of the tile that the hoverboard is currently in.<br />
:(X: 512187, -Y: -549668)/512 => (X, Y) = (1000.37, -[-1073,6]) => (1000, 1074) when the numbers are rounded down. <br />
The bottom left corner of the first tile, would thus be (1000, 1073), and the top left corner (1000, 1074) => (512000, -549888).<br />
<br />
The collision map is encoded in the darkness of the black. Using an image manipulation program, one can easily find the secret pathways even in the zoomed out maps provided below by enhancing the contrast of the dark areas. <br />
<br />
====Play Area used as example====<br />
*Using the Play Area as an example some of the features mentioned in this section will be explained.<br />
**The images used below can be seen together [[1608: Hoverboard/Screen-shots#All of Play Area|here]].<br />
*The hoverboard begins in in (X, Y) = [http://xkcd.com/1608/1000:-1074+s.png (1000, 1074)]. <br />
**But even while staying within the Play Area, defined as the area where you will not be told to [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ae/Return_to_the_play_area.PNG Return to the Play Area], you can see all or part of 20 images. <br />
***You can move one image left and right of the starting point before reaching the walls, and one image up without getting too high. But from there you can see part of the images one step further left, right and up, and from the starting level you can see part of the black images below as well.<br />
***This makes it a 5 times 4 images rectangle.<br />
*This first example shows a full size image combined from these 20 images that make up the play area starting in the top left corner with image [http://xkcd.com/1608/998:-1076+s.png (998, 1076)] and finishing down the right corner with image [http://xkcd.com/1608/1002:-1073+s.png (1002, 1073)]. <br />
**Here is only the images themselves, nothing with the game parts, i.e. coins and hoverboard Cueball:<br />
***[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/e/eb/1680_Play_Area_Full_Size_Images_Only.png Play Area Full Size Images Only].<br />
*This next example shows both where the tiles are and what you see to begin with, i.e. the starting view when loading the comic to begin with. Still without any in game details.<br />
**Here the tiles are lines out with green and the view frame is in red. From this it can be seen that the view is somewhat larger than a single image.<br />
**More precisely the view is 1.43 times longer and 1.34 higher than a tile giving an area almost twice as big (1.93 times), but only going about 1/3 of a tile length in each direction:<br />
***[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/7/7b/1680_Play_Area_Full_Size_Tiles_and_View.png Play Area Full Size Tiles and View].<br />
*This third example shows the game version, with coins and hoverboard, but still the hole Play Area and hence also the read viewing square.<br />
**This is included to indicate which coins can be seen to begin with and also how the view is centered around Cueball and the hoverboard.<br />
**Cueballs center is also the center of the view. His center is defines as the line of his body in the X direction and just above his hands in the Y direction.<br />
**The view is 12 times as high and 30 times as wide as the Cueball on hoverboard (and compared to a tile these numbers are 9.4 and 20.8 times).<br />
***[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/8/8b/1680_Play_Area_Full_Size_Coins_Hoverboard_and_View.png Play Area Full Size Coins Hoverboard and View].<br />
*The last and fourth example is the same as above, but again with the green tiles.<br />
**This to indicate the size of a tile compared to Cueball<br />
**It also shows that although there are 12 coins in the starting view, the one at the top left is clearly in the image above, and the three other at the top are grazing the top edge of the image:<br />
***[http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a3/1680_Play_Area_Full_Size_Coins_Hoverboard_Tiles_and_View.png Play Area Full Size Coins Hoverboard Tiles and View].<br />
<br />
===Functionality===<br />
By observing page code while playing, the game grabs and displays images based on location, and subsequently clears all non-visible images. The game uses what seems to be a position syntax to retrieve the intended images live, and returns an error if such an image does not exist, such as a blank area. This technically means things could be added to the world and updated live. If the player is moving sufficiently fast or if the internet connection is slow, this means that the player can get stuck in a black area that does not load in time.<br />
<br />
This also means that the game does not have coded top or bottom limits, so any attempt to find the ''ceiling'' of the game will be futile unless the game is tweaked. The game does however have side limits, and it is not possible to go down further than image with Y coordinate 1073 (and it goes down to 1069 in the full image), so there is a bottom limit in the game. If using a [[#Cheats and Exploits|cheat mode]] this may be different.<br />
<br />
Opening the console will display the text: what? hoverboard not enough for you!? in the log. Activating goggles mode will cause the text 'B-)' to appear in the log.<br />
<br />
===Bugs and errors===<br />
*On a slow connection, it's possible to move into an 'open' area and then the black image loads in and (probably permanently, without tricks) traps you immobile.<br />
*Sometimes the timing of the game is completely off. This can make the Cueball move extremely slowly. Or on the other extreme make him go faster so the images jumps and makes the graphic look horrible.<br />
**This error was actually used to discover something about how you move when pressing the arrows - see under [[#Controls|Controls]].<br />
*If the focus switches from the game to the page, the Cueball can freeze in midair. The same thing can happen if the window border overlaps the play area.<br />
<br />
===Controls===<br />
The keyboard controls are as follows:<br />
<br />
*'''Go Left''' - Left arrow key, a or h<br />
*'''Go Right''' - Right arrow key, d or l<br />
*'''Go Up (jump or hover)''' - Up arrow key, w, or k<br />
*'''Go Down (if gravity disabled)''' - Down arrow key, s, or j<br />
<br />
This control scheme covers the three commonly used directional key sets: WASD a set of keys commonly used by modern games; HJKL a set of movement keys used by vi and applications which attempt to mimic vi key controls (vim); and the arrow keys, the most generic set of keys which is usually accepted by most applications which take movement as input, these were commonly used in older games.<br />
<br />
On devices which have a touch screen and tilt sensor (portable devices like mobile phones and tablets) the controls are as follows:<br />
*'''Go Left''' - Roll the device anticlockwise<br />
*'''Go Right''' - Roll the device clockwise<br />
*'''Go Up (jump or hover)''' - Tap the screen<br />
<br />
After inspecting the source code, there appears to be no way to move down on a portable device, this is only relevant if gravity is disabled (see [[#Cheats and Exploits|Cheats and Exploits]]).<br />
<br />
*If you keep down the left/right control you will keep moving along in that direction as long as no object blocks you.<br />
*A jump will only take you a certain height. <br />
**Then you drop down. <br />
**The jump is fast to begin with, then gravity stops you and revert the direction.<br />
**When descending again you accelerate to begin with but quickly reach a terminal velocity.<br />
*If you jump repeatedly while keeping a left/right control down you will jump in that direction.<br />
**But if you only jump one time, while keeping down the direction control, then you will stop moving forward after about 2.8s, from then on you will just keep falling straight down, or stop where you reached if on the ground. <br />
**This makes quite a difference when you jump into an opening from a high structure. If the background is completely white, you cannot see that you do not continue to move forward, and will thus not be aware that you are now falling straight down, instead of going left/right. <br />
**It can actually be quite difficult to notice as you will leave any structures that can indicate this issue very quickly.<br />
***Of course if you notice that you land much too close to some high structure from where you base jumped, you will begin to understand. For instance falling off the floating rock, and not moving away from under neath it during that long fall.<br />
***The timing was discovered because of one of the [[#Bugs and errors|bugs]] in the program that sometimes makes Cueball move extremely slow, so one jump takes more than 3s. <br />
**The solution: if you wish to keep moving to either side while descending, is that after the jump, you release and repress the left/right control. Then you will continue moving in that direction as long as you do not jump again. <br />
**As long as you continue to jump you will also keep moving laterally if you keep one of those buttons down. The is quite counter intuitive.<br />
***This also means that when you jump up over a long distance (or continue to jump hover over the landscape), you will not have this issue, since every jump reactivates the lateral movement.<br />
***But if you jump over a small obstacle and then just keep another arrow down, you will soon stop, which could fool you into believing that it was an obstacle on the ground that held you back.<br />
<br />
===Cheats and Exploits===<br />
Aside from the obvious ability to move out of bounds in the game, there are some more obscure hidden features which can't be enabled through normal gameplay, the ones found so far are as follows:<br />
<br />
'''Modes''' are activated by opening the Javascript Console (F12 [Or Command-Alt-I in most browsers under Mac OS X] to open Developer Tools, then Console tab) and writing corresponding commands.<br><br />
'''Click to expand:'''<br />
<br />
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed leftAlign" style="width:100%"><br />
<br />
*'''Gandalf Mode:''' ''i.am.gandalf = true'' - jumps and runs further. displays a white gandalf hat that works well in places where the avatar can't be seen.<br />
*'''Speedhack:''' ''explorer.opts.speed= *Value*'' - Speed hacking, with 1 = normal speed<br />
*'''Jump Hack:''' '' explorer.opts.jumpForce= -*Value*'' - Jump hacking, with -10 = normal jump (positive values cause the hoverboard guy to move down when jumping)<br />
*'''Mewtwo mode:''' ''mewtwo = true'' - disables gravity<br />
*'''Noclip mode:''' ''noclip = true'' - player is able to move around the map without collision. Combine with Gandalf and Mewtwo modes for free easy map traversal.<br />
*'''Goggles mode:''' ''ze.goggles()'' - displays a small window showing area around the player in a pixelated manner. The goggles indicate collision boundaries (where the player touches the world) in cyan lines. Black pixels that are passable (such as other characters or text) will be highlighted red (allowing secret passages to be discovered).<br />
*'''Position Tracking:''' ''explorer.pos'' - Returns the player location to the console. Can be used to track position and test to ensure you are still moving. Must be re-entered to compare positioning.<br />
*'''Position Setting:''' ''explorer.pos.x = *Value* or explorer.pos.y = *Value*'' - Can be used to manually set a position within the world. The start is at x: 512106, y: -549612. The left terrain bound is at x: 475210, y: -553711. The right terrain bound is at x: 567281, y: -549712. Mewtwo and Noclip modes are a must for exploring in this way.<br />
* '''All the above:''' ''explorer.opts'' - Contains all the game's parameters. You can directly mess with ''gravity'', collision (''disableCollision''), jump force (''jumpForce'') and speed (''maxSpeed''), among others. Run ''Object.keys(explorer.opts)'' to list all available parameters you can tweak.<br />
* '''List all coins:''' ''explorer.objects'' - Array containing the position of the 169 coins of the game.<br />
* '''Disable tilt input:''' ''getEventListeners(window)['deviceorientation'][0].remove()'' - on Macs with motion sensor, disables tilt input which causes problems controlling the avatar<br />
<br />
'''Getting All Coins: ''' To instantly get all coins, input the below into the console window. Does not use standard formatting of [i] to avoid conflicts with i.am.gandalf<br />
<br />
for (var T = 0; T < explorer.objects.length; T++) {<br />
explorer.objects[T].got = true;<br />
}<br />
<br />
To teleport to the next coin every time you press the left or right arrow:<br />
<br />
var T = 0;<br />
document.onkeydown = function(event){<br />
if (event.keyCode == 37) { T = T-1 }<br />
else if (event.keyCode == 39) { T = T+1 }<br />
else { return }<br />
T = T % explorer.objects.length;<br />
var coin = explorer.objects[T];<br />
explorer.pos.x = coin.x1; explorer.pos.y = coin.y1;<br />
}<br />
<br />
For a quick tour of all the coins:<br />
<br />
var delayInMilliseconds = 1000; // 1 second delay between each teleport. feel free to change this.<br />
var index = 0;<br />
explorer.objects.forEach(function(x){<br />
setTimeout(function(){<br />
explorer.pos.x = x.x1;<br />
explorer.pos.y = x.y1;<br />
x.got = true;<br />
explorer.frame(); // forces a redraw<br />
},<br />
(index + 1) * delayInMilliseconds);<br />
index++;<br />
});<br />
<br />
To see a list of coin coordinates you have not yet collected:<br />
<br />
var coinsfound = 0;<br />
for (var T = 0; T < explorer.objects.length; T++) {<br />
if (explorer.objects[T].got == true) {coinsfound++}<br />
}<br />
console.log(coinsfound);<br />
<br />
To display the distance and direction to the closest coin (with inverted colors once you have all the coins):<br />
<br />
function distance(x1, y1, x2, y2) {<br />
var dx = x2 - x1;<br />
var dy = y2 - y1;<br />
return Math.sqrt(dx * dx + dy * dy);<br />
}<br />
<br />
function angle(x1, y1, x2, y2) {<br />
var dx = x2 - x1;<br />
var dy = y2 - y1;<br />
return Math.atan2(dy, dx) * 180 / Math.PI;<br />
}<br />
<br />
function renderRadar() {<br />
var mindist = 10000000000;<br />
var closest = {<br />
x1:512278.0, y1:-549613.0<br />
};<br />
var linecolor = "blue";<br />
for (var S = 0; S < explorer.objects.length; S++) {<br />
var I = explorer.objects[S];<br />
if (!I.got) {<br />
var dist = distance(explorer.pos.x, explorer.pos.y, I.x1, I.y1);<br />
if (dist < mindist) {<br />
mindist = dist;<br />
closest = I;<br />
}<br />
}<br />
}<br />
if (mindist == 10000000000) {<br />
mindist = distance(explorer.pos.x, explorer.pos.y, closest.x1, closest.y1);<br />
if (document.getElementById("radar").style.backgroundColor != "blue") {<br />
document.getElementById("radar").style.backgroundColor = "blue";<br />
}<br />
linecolor = "deepskyblue";<br />
} else {<br />
if (document.getElementById("radar").style.backgroundColor != "deepskyblue") {<br />
document.getElementById("radar").style.backgroundColor = "deepskyblue";<br />
}<br />
}<br />
var ang = angle(explorer.pos.x, explorer.pos.y, closest.x1, closest.y1);<br />
var indicator = "";<br />
if (ang > 112.5 || ang < -112.5) {<br />
indicator += "left";<br />
}<br />
if (ang < 67.5 && ang > -67.5) {<br />
indicator += "right";<br />
}<br />
if (ang > -157.5 && ang < -22.5) {<br />
indicator += " up";<br />
}<br />
if (ang > 22.5 && ang < 157.5) {<br />
indicator += " down";<br />
}<br />
document.getElementById("radar").innerHTML = "Distance: " + mindist.toFixed(1).toString() + "&lt;br/>";<br />
document.getElementById("radar").innerHTML += indicator + " (" + -ang.toFixed(1).toString() + "°)";<br />
document.getElementById("radar").innerHTML += "<div id='circle' style='border: 1px solid black; border-radius: 50px; width: 100px; height: 100px; position:absolute; top:50px; left:25px'/>";<br />
document.getElementById("radar").innerHTML += "<div id='line' style='width: 50px; height: 1px; background-color: " + linecolor + "; position:absolute; top:100px; left:75px; transform:rotate(" + ang + "deg); transform-origin:0% 0%'/>";<br />
}<br />
<br />
var d = document.createElement("div");<br />
d.id = "radar";<br />
d.style.position = "fixed";<br />
d.style.left = "0px";<br />
d.style.top = "0px";<br />
d.style.width = "150px";<br />
d.style.height = "160px";<br />
d.style.border = "1px solid blue";<br />
d.style.zIndex = "2";<br />
d.style.backgroundColor = "deepskyblue";<br />
d.style.color = "#8f8";<br />
document.body.appendChild(d);<br />
<br />
setInterval(renderRadar, 100);<br />
<br />
To see how many coins you've collected:<br />
<br />
var coinsfound = 0;<br />
for (var T = 0; T < explorer.objects.length; T++) {<br />
if (explorer.objects[T].got == true) {coinsfound++}<br />
}<br />
<br />
console.log(coinsfound);<br />
<br />
To display your current coordinates:<br />
<br />
function renderRadar2() {<br />
document.getElementById("radar2").innerHTML = "x: " + explorer.pos.x.toFixed(1).toString() + "&lt;br>y: " + explorer.pos.y.toFixed(1).toString()<br />
}<br />
<br />
var d = document.createElement("div")<br />
d.id = "radar2"<br />
d.style.position = "fixed"<br />
d.style.left = "150px"<br />
d.style.top = "0px"<br />
d.style.width = "150px"<br />
d.style.height = "35px"<br />
d.style.border = "1px solid red"<br />
d.style.zIndex = "2"<br />
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{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:No title text]] <!-- See trivia --><br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Large drawings]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with animation]] <!-- Different positions of hoverboard Cueball, Blinking text, appearing and disappearing text --><br />
[[Category:Dynamic comics]]<br />
[[Category:Interactive comics]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]] <!-- Well hidden in the cave --><br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairbun]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Blondie]] <!-- Mom seeing a bug at lake before volcano --><br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Elon Musk]] <!-- Hidden in the volcanic lair on a chair --><br />
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]] <!-- There are many situations with more than one Cueball, so it is not just because he is in separate locations --><br />
[[Category:Philosophy]]<br />
[[Category:Video games]]<br />
[[Category:Star Wars]]<br />
[[Category:LOTR]]<br />
[[Category:Star Trek]]<br />
[[Category:The Lion King]] <!-- Cueball recites a line from the movie see here: http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/a0/1608_0986x1076y_Our_kingdom_from_a_cliff.png --><br />
[[Category:Animals]]<br />
[[Category:Spiders]] <!-- No spider shown, but Cueball sings about them in this image: http://xkcd.com/1608/1026:-1073+s.png --><br />
[[Category:Songs]] <!-- Cueball sings about spider in this image: http://xkcd.com/1608/1026:-1073+s.png --><br />
[[Category:Protip]] <!-- Ponytail gives one at the base of the pyramid to the right --><br />
[[Category:Hamster Ball]]<br />
[[Category:Playpen balls]]<br />
[[Category:Kites]]<br />
[[Category:Basketball]]<br />
[[Category:Sport]] <!-- Apart from basketball there are bowling and swimming, sleighing, biking --><br />
[[Category:Robots]] <!-- Small in both Space Ships to the left as well as quadcopters in the volcano--><br />
[[Category:Artificial Intelligence]] <!-- Quadcopters in the volcano --><br />
[[Category:Food]] <!-- Cueball drops his sandwich of the back of the Destroyer and he and Megan roast a Marshmallow at the back of the Runner --><br />
[[Category:Social networking]] <!--Trending and Twitter in the lava lair and "likes during reentry" for the space probe--><br />
[[Category:Clickbait]] <!--The mother who discovers a bug near the kite to the left--><br />
[[Category:Drones]] <!--The quadcopters over the lava lake--></div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:Disappearing_Sunday_Update&diff=177451Talk:Disappearing Sunday Update2019-08-05T08:52:20Z<p>Peregrine: Works as number 2185 for me</p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
This comic isn't a numbered comic. The ephemeral ghost comic has broken explainxkcd! [[Special:Contributions/162.158.34.64|162.158.34.64]] 22:23, 4 August 2019 (UTC)<br />
: Fair point. Probably the page should be renamed to 2184.5 or something. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.133.12|172.68.133.12]] 08:52, 5 August 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Well, it broke the xkcd client I use. (Easy xkcd, Android) Just crashes on start. I hope it will fix itself when the normal one comes out. I also hope that this comic will remain here when it is taken down. [[User:Fghsgh|Fghsgh]] ([[User talk:Fghsgh|talk]]) 22:43, 4 August 2019 (UTC) fghsgh<br />
<br />
Previous then Next on xkcd.com 404's... Trivia! [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.83|141.101.104.83]] 22:59, 4 August 2019 (UTC)<br />
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It's not rendering for me on the uni.xkcd.com portal, could anyone else verify? I'm excited in seeing what else this comic will break. [[User:Kirdneh|Kirdneh]] ([[User talk:Kirdneh|talk]]) 23:11, 4 August 2019 (UTC)<br />
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I wonder what will happen tomorrow! Oh the antici- pation!<br />
[[Special:Contributions/172.69.68.153|172.69.68.153]] 00:01, 5 August 2019 (UTC) Sam<br />
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Others had the same idea I did, this comic has been archived to https://web.archive.org/web/20190805000153/https://xkcd.com/ For posterity(?) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.74.57|162.158.74.57]] 02:52, 5 August 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I only noticed this on Monday morning, so was surprised to find that there isn't more detail about the various things the comic mentions possibly breaking. It got me wondering how many people on the site (especially the younger ones) aren't even aware of IP over Avian Carriers, Gopherspace, or lynx. This is one of those comics that could easily be a forest of links to interesting things you might never have thought to look for. -- [[User:Angel|Angel]] ([[User talk:Angel|talk]]) 07:47, 5 August 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Has the comic been changed since it was posted, to stop breaking things? Because it's appearing as #2185 for me and the link to that number from #2184 works. (Also, I love that--Internet Archive notwithstanding--we're almost certainly going to keep a well-explained copy of this comic alive for posterity. What will we number it, though? Has Randall broken explain xkcd too?) -- [[User:Peregrine|Peregrine]] ([[User talk:Peregrine|talk]]) 08:52, 5 August 2019 (UTC)</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2136:_Election_Commentary&diff=1726292136: Election Commentary2019-04-13T07:23:38Z<p>Peregrine: /* Transcript */ Use ballot X (matching check mark) instead of letter X</p>
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<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2136<br />
| date = April 12, 2019<br />
| title = Election Commentary<br />
| image = election_commentary.png<br />
| titletext = This really validates Jones's strategy of getting several thousand more votes than Smith. In retrospect, that was a smart move; those votes were crucial.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by XOF NEWSBOT 3000. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
This comic is a joke about the way newscasters commentate elections, and how they make it far more complicated than it needs to be in an election in which the candidate with the most votes wins. It's not uncommon for these methods to be used to imply the election is neck-and-neck long past the point one candidate has an insurmountable lead. <br />
<br />
Smith has 55384 votes, while Jones has 59102 votes. Instead of comparing the votes as one number, and admitting that Jones' four thousand vote lead is likely going to earn him the lead, Cueball compares each digit to see which is larger. Ultimately he implies that Smith has a chance to win, ''if only he could pull ahead in the thousands digit'' and secure a dramatic upset.<br />
<br />
It should be noted that for U.S. Presidential elections, the candidate with more votes does not necessarily win, and instead the winner is determined by which candidate leads in which state, are actually more complicated than depicted, and require 57 separate comparisons (51 to determine who is leading in each of 50 states and the District of Columbia, five more for the Congressional districts in Nebraska and Maine (which choose electors at both district and statewide levels), and then one to compare the candidates' total electoral vote).<br />
<br />
The title text is a similarly satirical twist on a common news comment during elections. Candidates often employ different strategies during the election season, with varying degrees of success. For example, if a strategy collected many votes (or important votes, see above paragraph), then it could be said that the area it affected was "crucial". Here, the area affected by Jones' ''strategy'' (an entire place value" is said to have been crucial- an obvious claim, seeing as greater place values always result in greater amounts indicated.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
:[Cueball is presenting a graphic on his left that shows two names followed by five digits]<br />
:Cueball: Smith is leading in 3 of the 5 digits, and is tied in another. But Jones has a solid lead the thousands place, if Smith can't catch up there, it's over.<br />
<br />
:Smith&nbsp; 5 <span style="color:gray">5</span> 3 8 4<br />
:::<sup><small>tie</small> ✗ ✓ ✓ ✓</sup><br />
:::<sub><small>tie</small> ✓ <span style="color:gray">✗ ✗ ✗</span></sub><br />
:Jones&nbsp; 5 9 <span style="color:gray">1 0 2</span><br />
<br />
:[Caption below the panel:]<br />
:A lot of election commentary just consists of unnecessarily convoluted ways to add up who has more votes.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:2126:_Google_Trends_Maps&diff=171457Talk:2126: Google Trends Maps2019-03-21T09:57:05Z<p>Peregrine: Notes about transcript.</p>
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<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
<br />
I'm not quite sure I understand the comic. And no, the irony of saying that on a wiki dedicated to explaining them is not lost on me. Do the maps show which word/phrase is more common in google in each state by comparing only the options to each other or where they actually the top searched words/phrases at some point in time?[[Special:Contributions/162.158.92.34|162.158.92.34]] 10:28, 20 March 2019 (UTC)<br />
:Pretty sure they're all top searched words/phrases in some states at some point in the past. It's just that Randall has merged maps from different time periods. For example in the first map, "heat stroke" and "frostbite" are two real results, but the former is likely a result that appeared in summer, while the latter is likely one that appeared in winter. By merging the two maps you get a map that doesn't make sense, as it looks like they were the top searches in the same time period while in reality they weren't. [[User:Herobrine|Herobrine]] ([[User talk:Herobrine|talk]]) 11:04, 20 March 2019 (UTC)<br />
::I think that Randall is just clarifying that each map may be showing trends for a different time range (otherwise people might try to compare the maps to each other, which isn't the point of the comic). I don't think he's saying that the individual results in each map are from different time ranges. [[User:Hawthorn|Hawthorn]] ([[User talk:Hawthorn|talk]]) 11:30, 20 March 2019 (UTC)<br />
:::Yeah, if the results were from different time periods, you could pretty much manipulate them however you want. It would make it much less interesting. Not that statistician don't already manipulate data in any way possible...[[User:Linker|Linker]] ([[User talk:Linker|talk]]) 16:51, 20 March 2019 (UTC)<br />
From what it looks like, these are year-long averages. [[User:Netherin5|Netherin5]] ([[User talk:Netherin5|talk]]) 12:17, 20 March 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Here is an example for the Google Trends on the first example. [https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&geo=US&q=frostbite,heat%20stroke] It looks like he picked last 5 years for that one. There should be a table with links to all of them. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.59.142|162.158.59.142]] 17:48, 20 March 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
For those that find the actual image to be mysteriously missing, that's because the image source URL is https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/a/ad/google_trends_maps.png , and some ad blockers will silently block it because it looks like a path to advertising images. So maybe turn off your adblocker on this site? [[Special:Contributions/172.69.170.64|172.69.170.64]] 22:37, 20 March 2019 (UTC)<br />
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Is it just me, or does the sexting graph look like the midwest is "giving it" to the southeast, with Arkansas and Tennessee playing the naughty bits? I wonder if Randall did this intentionally or if I'm just a perv. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.186.108|162.158.186.108]] 01:37, 21 March 2019 (UTC)<br />
: I'm pretty sure the best answer to the above is the last line of https://xkcd.com/960/ ;) [[Special:Contributions/172.69.50.52|172.69.50.52]] 04:40, 21 March 2019 (UTC)<br />
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I feel like "little dog" is most often entered by people searching for unusually small pets, not people wanting to learn about coyotes (which as far as I know are generally just called coyotes). This would still provide an amusing contrast with "big cats" (either the pet or wild versions). --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.106.102|162.158.106.102]] 06:46, 21 March 2019 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I've just transcribed the maps by listing which states are in which colour (dammit, I mean "color", I'm trying to use US spellings here). I've left the "incomplete" tag on there, though, because there are things that others might want to review:<br />
* I only did lists for the color(s) with the fewest states, leaving the longest list as "all other states". This makes it less extensive, but potentially less useful (for, say, searching for a state's name).<br />
* I wasn't sure whether or not to list the District of Columbia. I'm not sure whether the maps include it or not, and if it is included, it's not easy to tell whether it's blue or gray. The only case where it definitely looks like it's present (because it's a different color to both Maryland and Virginia) is in the "Donald Trump/What do I do" map, where it seems to be red. However, I'm still not certain; it could just be an artifact of Randall's graphics process. (Compare Massachusetts on the same map, where the bit sticking out... Cape Cod? yeah, that... is clearly gray, unlike the rest of the state.) That said, it may be part of the joke that "What do I do" is a popular search in Washington, DC!<br />
* I'm not American and may have made mistakes in identifying states.<br />
-- [[User:Peregrine|Peregrine]] ([[User talk:Peregrine|talk]]) 09:57, 21 March 2019 (UTC)</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2126:_Google_Trends_Maps&diff=1714562126: Google Trends Maps2019-03-21T09:46:48Z<p>Peregrine: /* Transcript */ Listed out states by color, alphabetically. In each case I left the longest list as simply "all other states".</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2126<br />
| date = March 20, 2019<br />
| title = Google Trends Maps<br />
| image = google_trends_maps.png<br />
| titletext = It's early 2020. The entire country is gripped with Marco Rubio fever except for Alaska, which is freaking out. You're frantically studying up on etiquette and/or sexting.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by MARCO RUBIO. Each map needs to be individually explained. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
[https://trends.google.com/ Google Trends] is a website for visualizing Google search activity by date and region. Used properly, it can give a picture of what topics people are interested in (as evidenced by what they search for) at particular times and in different places. Used improperly, it can simply [[1845:_State Word Map|amplify random noise]].<br />
<br />
[[Randall]] has created several Google Trends maps of search activity in the US. Each map colors in states according to which of two (or more) search queries was more popular. As noted at the top of the comic, all of these based on real queries (though not reflecting the same time period across all maps). However, none of them seem to show any especially ''useful'' comparisons.<br />
<br />
* "Frostbite" vs "heat stroke": This is probably the most sensible comparison of the lot, showing which of these two risks of exposure people search up more often. However, the results are fairly obvious: in the colder northern and eastern states, "frostbite" is the more common search, while across the south and west, it's "heat stroke".<br />
* "Best church" vs "best strip club": This map would seem to indicate people in Nevada (and only in Nevada) are more interested in strip clubs than religion. This may have something to do with the fact that Las Vegas is in Nevada.<br />
* "Bigfoot" vs "Mike Pence": Apparently, everywhere except for Indiana, people in the US are more interested in a mythical hairy creature than in the current (at the time of this comic's release) Vice President of the United States. Since Mike Pence was once the governor of Indiana, this makes more sense if the time period covered precedes his nomination as Trump's running mate.<br />
* "Etiquette" vs "{{w|sexting}}": Similar to the church/strip club example, this map contrasts search interest in polite behavior against risqué behavior.<br />
* "Little dog" vs "big cat": The Trend map contrasts two searches for unidentified and briefly glimpsed wildlife that often snatch household pets left outside. The smallest canid in the wilds of America is the coyote, ''Canis latrans'', which are often smaller than the American wild dog, ''Canis lupus''. They are known for being scavenger/hunters and for the ululating "songs" their packs break into in the middle of the night. By contrast, "big cat" is a term for the largest members of the cat family (''Felidae''). Except for the jaguar, which is a roaring cat of the ''Panthera'' genus that inhabits Mexico and sometimes Arizona, the largest wild cat in North America is the mountain lion, ''Puma concolor''. It is also known as cougar, puma, catamount, ghost cat, over seventy other regional names, and the misnomer panther. (The cougar is ironically of the Felinae subfamily, all of which purr, and not Pantherinae, which roar. Black panthers in Africa are black-coated leopards, while black panthers in the Americas are black-coated jaguars, and both are Pantherinae. No black-coated pumas have been verified, leading zoologists to believe such sightings are misidentified.) "Little Dog" is also a Canadian television series, set in Newfoundland, which explains the larger number of searches for Little Dog in Maine, the state closest to Newfoundland.<br />
* "Shark attack" vs "childbirth": While both of these things might be considered risky, there is not much of a relationship between them. As might be expected, the "shark attack" search is more common in most coastal states (and, for some reason, both Kentucky and Nevada).<br />
* "Snakes" vs "ants" vs "bees" vs "alligators": These are all dangerous animals that cause occasional human fatalities (mainly from allergic reactions for ants and bees). There is no noticeable pattern in which animal is searched most often, though only Florida has alligators as the most common search of the four. Florida presumably has Alligators as the most searched item on this list as it is where the Everglades are located, a vast area of swamp and marsh that, aside from maintaining the ecosystem and the water supply of Florida, also is home to an obscene number of alligators.<br />
* "Retirement planning" vs "bungee jumping": The implication here is that people in some states are more concerned with short-term fun rather than long-term planning.<br />
* "Super Bowl" vs "funeral home": This is an attempt to contrast interest in a popular sports (and media) event against a rather somber topic.<br />
* "Resume tips" vs "skateboard tricks": Another comparison between learning a "serious", goal-oriented skill (career advancement) and a "silly", fun skill (skateboarding). It is also an imperfect rhyme.<br />
* "Donald Trump" vs "What do I do": The implication here seems to be that people in some states are more likely to ask Google "what do I do?", either in panic or in ignorance, than they are to look up the latest doings of the US President. The split shown is not too different to the actual split between states voting for Trump and for his opponent, Hillary Clinton.<br />
* "Existential crisis" vs "Marco Rubio": Senator Marco Rubio was a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. Everywhere but Alaska, people were more likely to look up his name than to search for "existential crisis".<br />
<br />
The title text uses two of these maps to paint a picture of the year 2020 (implying that these search patterns are both meaningful and likely to continue into the future). In this scenario, most of the country continues to read about Marco Rubio (except for Alaskans, still searching for help with their existential crises), and individuals are trying to learn about etiquette, sexting, or both, depending on their location.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Add the colored states. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
:The least informative<br />
:'''Google Trends Maps'''<br />
:I've created over the years<br />
<br />
:(All are real but not all cover the same date range)<br />
<br />
:[12 maps of the United States are shown with the states colored. There are labels for the colors.]<br />
<br />
:[Map 1]<br />
:[Blue:] Frostbite<br />
:[Red:] Heat stroke<br />
:[Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Washington are red. All other states are blue.]<br />
<br />
:[Map 2]<br />
:[Blue:] Best church<br />
:[Red:] Best strip club<br />
:[Nevada is red. Alaska, North Dakota, and Wyoming are gray. All other states are blue.]<br />
<br />
:[Map 3]<br />
:[Blue:] Bigfoot<br />
:[Red:] Mike Pence<br />
:[Indiana is red. All other states are blue.]<br />
<br />
:[Map 4]<br />
:[Blue:] Etiquette<br />
:[Red:] Sexting<br />
:[Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, and West Virginia are red. All other states are blue.]<br />
<br />
:[Map 5]<br />
:[Blue:] Little dog<br />
:[Red:] Big cat<br />
:[Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming are blue. All other states are red.]<br />
<br />
:[Map 6]<br />
:[Blue:] Shark attack<br />
:[Red:] Childbirth<br />
:[California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia are blue. All other states are red.]<br />
<br />
:[Map 7]<br />
:[Blue:] Snakes<br />
:[Red:] Ants<br />
:[Yellow:] Bees<br />
:[Green:] Alligators<br />
:[Florida is green. Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin are red. Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming are yellow. All other states are blue.]<br />
<br />
:[Map 8]<br />
:[Blue:] Retirement planning<br />
:[Red:] Bungee jumping<br />
:[Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are gray. Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin are blue. All other states are red.]<br />
<br />
:[Map 9]<br />
:[Blue:] Super Bowl<br />
:[Red:] Funeral home<br />
:[Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Washington are blue. All other states are red.]<br />
<br />
:[Map 10]<br />
:[Blue:] Resume tips<br />
:[Red:] Skateboard tricks<br />
:[Arizona is red. Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are gray. All other states are blue.]<br />
<br />
:[Map 11]<br />
:[Blue:] Donald Trump<br />
:[Red:] What do I do<br />
:[California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin are blue. All other states are red.]<br />
<br />
:[Map 12]<br />
:[Blue:] Existential crisis<br />
:[Red:] Marco Rubio<br />
:[Alaska is blue. All other states are red.]<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Maps]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2126:_Google_Trends_Maps&diff=1713792126: Google Trends Maps2019-03-20T10:55:21Z<p>Peregrine: Explained Google Trends. Described maps.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2126<br />
| date = March 20, 2019<br />
| title = Google Trends Maps<br />
| image = google_trends_maps.png<br />
| titletext = It's early 2020. The entire country is gripped with Marco Rubio fever except for Alaska, which is freaking out. You're frantically studying up on etiquette and/or sexting.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by an ALLIGATOR. Each map needs to be individually explained. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
[https://trends.google.com/ Google Trends] is a website for visualizing Google search activity by date and region. Used properly, it can give a picture of what topics people are interested in (as evidenced by what they search for) at particular times and in different places. Used improperly, it can simply [[1845:_State Word Map|amplify random noise]].<br />
<br />
[[Randall]] has created several Google Trends maps of search activity in the US. Each map colors in states according to which of two (or more) search queries was more popular. As noted at the top of the comic, all of these based on real queries (though not reflecting the same time period across all maps). However, none of them seem to show any especially ''useful'' comparisons.<br />
<br />
* "Frostbite" vs "heat stroke": This is probably the most sensible comparison of the lot, showing which of these two risks of exposure people search up more often. However, the results are fairly obvious: in the colder northern and eastern states, "frostbite" is the more common search, while across the south and west, it's "heat stroke".<br />
* "Best church" vs "best strip club": This map would seem to indicate people in Nevada (and only in Nevada) are more interested in strip clubs than religion.<br />
* "Bigfoot" vs "Mike Pence": Apparently, everywhere except for Indiana, people in the US are more interested in a fictitious hairy creature than in the current (at the time of this comic) Vice President of the United States.<br />
* "Etiquette" vs "sexting": Similar to the church/strip club example, this map contrasts search interest in polite behavior against risqué behavior.<br />
* "Little dog" vs "big cat": "Little Dog" is a television series. "Big cat" is a term for the largest members of the cat family (Felidae). Though the names are made up of opposites, there is no actual connection evident between these two things.<br />
* "Shark attack" vs "childbirth": While both of these things might be considered risky, there is not much of a relationship between them. As might be expected, the "shark attack" search is more common in most coastal states (and, for some reason, Kentucky).<br />
* "Snakes" vs "ants" vs "bees" vs "alligators": These are all dangerous animals that cause occasional human fatalities (mainly from allergic reactions for ants and bees). There is no noticeable pattern in which animal is searched most often, though only Florida has alligators as the most common search of the four.<br />
* "Retirement planning" vs "bungee jumping": The implication here is that people in some states are more concerned with short-term fubn rather than long-term planning.<br />
* "Super bowl" vs "funeral home": This is amusing in contrasting a popular sports (and media) event against a rather somber topic.<br />
* "Resume tips" vs "skateboard tricks": Another comparison between learning a "serious", goal-oriented skill (career advancement) and a "silly", fun skill (skateboarding).<br />
* "Donald Trump" vs "What do I do": The implication here seems to be that people in some states are more likely to ask Google "what do I do?", either in panic or in ignorance, than they are to look up the latest doings of the US President. The split shown is not too different to the actual split between states voting for Trump and for his opponent, Hillary Clinton.<br />
* "Existential crisis" vs "Marco Rubio": Senator Marco Rubio was a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. Everywhere but Alaska, people were more likely to look up his name than to search for "existential crisis".<br />
<br />
The title text uses two of these maps to paint a picture of the year 2020 (implying that these search patterns are both meaningful and likely to continue into the future). In this scenario, most of the country continues to read about Marco Rubio (except for Alaskans, still searching for help with their existential crises), and individuals are trying to learn about etiquette, sexting, or both, depending on their location.<br />
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==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
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{{comic discussion}}</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:2020:_Negative_Results&diff=160152Talk:2020: Negative Results2018-07-17T08:32:02Z<p>Peregrine: Null hypothesis and comic 892?</p>
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The idea of publishing "failed" investigations arose out of the demand to punish all of the results from medical trials. Then there was the realisation that more than one team may have had the same hypotheses, got funding, investigated and not published the proof that they were wrong. So the idea that a A =/= B is still a valuable finding to be reported has come about. There may seem to be lots being published due to years of keeping silent about such results. [[User:RIIW - Ponder it|RIIW - Ponder it]] ([[User talk:RIIW - Ponder it|talk]]) 20:13, 16 July 2018 (UTC)<br />
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:@RIIW, you meant 'publish' instead of 'punish trial results'? Save the results from violent you! Sebastian --[[Special:Contributions/172.68.110.58|172.68.110.58]] 05:38, 17 July 2018 (UTC)<br />
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There can be several reasons, why a study has a negative outcome or is delayed. Most of those, especially from smaller studies, are not directly related to the matter being investigated, but more to study design, analysis tools or organizational issues. It is much easier to get a wrong or no result than the correct one. The best solution is to somewhere publish these failed experiments and describe the circumstances and reasons so that it can be judged by a third party (even if that is an embarassment for the scientists in an institution). But if you report that you have started a study, and the reasons are rather mundane as in the case within the comic, what should you report? The truth? Should you lie? Sebastian --[[Special:Contributions/172.68.110.58|172.68.110.58]] 05:38, 17 July 2018 (UTC)<br />
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I don't think the "null hypothesis" is a reference to [[892: Null Hypothesis]], as the explanation currently says. Sure, the comic doesn't mention any particular null hypothesis, but it does say "...the null hypothesis in any research areas", which might equally have been phrased "the null hypothesis '''of''' any research areas". In which case he's just saying that he hasn't rejected anyone's null hypothesis lately, not that (as in the earlier comic) he's treating "the null hypothesis" as a single, refutable-once-and-for-all thing. -- [[User:Peregrine|Peregrine]] ([[User talk:Peregrine|talk]]) 08:32, 17 July 2018 (UTC)</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2020:_Negative_Results&diff=1601512020: Negative Results2018-07-17T08:24:21Z<p>Peregrine: Explained null hypothesis and guessed at the joke it may be making.</p>
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<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2020<br />
| date = July 16, 2018<br />
| title = Negative Results<br />
| image = negative_results.png<br />
| titletext = P.S. We're going to the beach this weekend, so I'm attaching my preregistration forms for that trip now, before we find out whether it produces any interesting results.<br />
}}<br />
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==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a NULL HYPOTHESIS - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
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Recently, scientists have begun encouraging each other to publish negative results, where a study failed to find the intended effect, as a way of counteracting {{w|publication bias}} (where only interesting positive results get published), which results in false-positive results being published while negative results are not.<br />
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Cueball misinterprets the "push to publish negative results" as meaning that he should always attempt to publish the fact that he failed to find evidence of an effect, even when he didn't even try. This plays on the unspoken assumption that scientists would only choose to submit (and journals would only accept) negative results where a study was designed and executed well enough that it should have shown an effect or at least demonstrated evidence of some kind.<br />
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The comic does not specify the specific {{w|Null hypothesis|null hypothesis}}, indicating a reference to [[ 892: Null Hypothesis]].<br />
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Besides personal preferences, ''{{w|The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild}}'', the most recent at the time of publication, was likely chosen for its notorious length, Nintendo nerd cred, and a relevance to ''{{w|Nature (journal)|Nature}}'' magazine’s subject. The average time to beat 100% of the content is [https://howlongtobeat.com/game.php?id=38019 over 175 hours].<br />
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The title text references the practice of "pre-registration" of a study, which is one means to prevent publication bias: details of a planned study are registered with an organization before the study is conducted, so that a null result or a change in methodology cannot be hidden. The title text may be a play on words, mixing this up with registering (or booking) travel. On the other hand, it may just be playing on the absurdity of pre-registering a simple trip to the beach with a registry for scientific studies.<br />
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==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball is sitting in an office chair at a desk typing on a laptop computer. The following message is displayed above him:]<br />
:Dear ''Nature'' Magazine, <br />
:I found no evidence sufficient to reject the null hypothesis in any research areas because I spent the whole week playing ''The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild''. <br />
:I'll send you another update next week!<br />
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:[Caption below the panel:]<br />
:The push to publish negative results seems kinda weird, but I'm happy to go along with it.<br />
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{{comic discussion}}<br />
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[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Science]]<br />
[[Category:Video games]]</div>Peregrinehttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1970:_Name_Dominoes&diff=154653Talk:1970: Name Dominoes2018-03-22T08:46:33Z<p>Peregrine: Oops... I didn't mean to add that comment in the middle.</p>
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<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
This comic is a long list of names overlayed onto black domino tiles, arranged so that each touching side corresponds with the first or last name of another person. This will be difficult to transcribe. {{unsigned ip|108.162.221.53}}<br />
:Would it be possible to use a fixed width format and try and transcribe like an actual scrabble board? I think there are unicode characters for upside-down and rotated text that we could use for the flipped names. But yes, definitely will be difficult.[[Special:Contributions/172.68.211.244|172.68.211.244]] 18:21, 21 March 2018 (UTC)<br />
::The transcript doesn't need upside-down and rotated text. It should be enough to mention that some tiles are. A first draft with all names would be good, but even mentioning all the connections would be to complex to read. Think about the reader... --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 18:39, 21 March 2018 (UTC)<br />
::How about using a fixed-width font and then representing each domino with an alphanumeric character, and then put a list below of what each character corresponds to? Even though there are more dominoes than characters, duplicate uses of a character (but referring to different names) can be easily disambiguated if we assign each character in order, left to right and top to bottom. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.70.71|172.69.70.71]] 20:04, 21 March 2018 (UTC)<br />
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I see alternative names or nicknames sometimes matches together. But is the Chris Pratt/Chris Evans match with Topher Grace a bit of a stretch? I see that Topher is a variation of Chris'''topher''' and Chis is a shortening of the same. But I guess it must be an acceptable move if Randle put it in the comic. Maybe it’s worth special points or something. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.38.70|162.158.38.70]] 18:14, 21 March 2018 (UTC)TheStewart<br />
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Walter White/Walt Whitman is a reference to Breaking Bad. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.58.101|172.68.58.101]] 18:20, 21 March 2018 (UTC)Pat<br />
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And Garnet being used to join Ruby and Saffire is clever...<br />
[[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.64|141.101.98.64]] 18:23, 21 March 2018 (UTC)<br />
This is a reference to Steven Universe where there is a character, Garnet, who is a fusion of Ruby and Sapphire.<br />
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"The title text spells out a rule that a player may only place a tile if they know who that person is" is mention as a reason for it not to be a fixed set of dominos, But I took it to mean you can't use "Jim Jones" unless you know of Jim Jones; as in, I could challenge your use of it by asking "okay who is he?". Maybe saying "oh, he went to school with me" or something wouldn't count, anymore than "crft is too a word!" works in Scrabble [[User:Afbach|Afbach]] ([[User talk:Afbach|talk]]) 19:36, 21 March 2018 (UTC)<br />
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Harrison Ford is from Blade Runner I believe. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.2.124|162.158.2.124]] 23:07, 21 March 2018 (UTC)<br />
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Ma Bell is interesting... is it the only one that not an actual person? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_System<br />
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Alistair Cooke's name is misspelt "Alistiar"; it'll be interesting to see if this gets corrected (as errors sometimes do). Not to be confused with Alistair Cookie, a short distance away! -- [[User:Peregrine|Peregrine]] ([[User talk:Peregrine|talk]]) 08:45, 22 March 2018 (UTC)<br />
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== Maybe a table? ==<br />
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I think a table would be a useful and user-friendly way of capturing everything that's going on here. Forgive this feeble attempt. I am not an html coder. I know enough to go steal something somewhere and see if it works: <br />
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{| class="wikitable"<br />
!style="width:15%"|Domino<br />
!style="width:35%"|Notability<br />
!style="width:15%"|Connections<br />
!style="width:35%"|Mode<br />
|-<br />
|Alistair Cookie<br />
|A parody of Alistair Cooke "played" by Cookie Monster in the Sesame Street sketch "Monsterpiece Theatre" in the 1980s, a parody of the PBS series "Masterpiece Theatre".<br />
|James Cook <br><br />
Alastair Reynolds<br />
|Last-Last (approximate) <br><br />
First-First (approximate)<br />
|-<br />
|James Cook<br />
|18th century British explorer, navigator, cartographer, and captain in the Royal Navy.<br />
|Alistair Cooke <br><br />
Cokie Roberts <br><br />
Alistair Cookie <br><br />
James Fenimore Cooper<br />
|Last-Last (approximate) <br><br />
Last-First (approximate) <br><br />
Last-Last (approximate) <br><br />
First-First<br />
|-<br />
|Chris Columbus<br />
|Film director and screenwriter.<br />
|Columbo <br><br />
Christopher Columbus <br><br />
Chris Hughes<br />
|Last-Only (approximate) <br><br />
First-First (approximate) <i>and</i> Last-Last <br><br />
First-First<br />
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|}<br />
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[[User:Imperpay|Imperpay]] ([[User talk:Imperpay|talk]]) 23:27, 21 March 2018 (UTC)</div>Peregrine