https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=Xenos&feedformat=atomexplain xkcd - User contributions [en]2024-03-29T01:11:23ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=File:two_down_one_to_go.png&diff=145203File:two down one to go.png2017-09-11T11:41:02Z<p>Xenos: Xenos uploaded a new version of &quot;File:two down one to go.png&quot;</p>
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<div></div>Xenoshttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1868:_Eclipse_Flights&diff=1432361868: Eclipse Flights2017-07-27T06:25:45Z<p>Xenos: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1868<br />
| date = July 26, 2017<br />
| title = Eclipse Flights<br />
| image = eclipse_flights.png<br />
| titletext = The captain has turned on the 'fasten seat belt' sign.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
A {{w|total solar eclipse}} will occur {{w|Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017|on Monday, August 21, 2017}}. It will be visible as a total eclipse in {{w|umbra|a narrow band}} across the contiguous United States starting in Oregon on the Pacific coast and traversing east from there. [[Cueball]] asks [[Megan]] what she is doing, which turns out to be mapping the flights of aircraft that will be in the air and will fly through the area of the eclipse. She has found between 50 to 100 such flights. <br />
<br />
While most flights during the eclipse are coincidental, a few airlines have special flights planned for the occasion. [https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/science/2017/07/20/solar-eclipse-2017-flights-offer-unobstructed-potentially-longer-view/493343001/]<br />
<br />
On the map, the center of the greatest eclipse is shown on the border between {{w|Illinois}} and {{w|Kentucky}}. Cueball says that the airlines and pilots will be prepared and aware of the situation, but Megan wonders what it would be like on a plane with an unprepared crew. The last panel shows a plane flying into the area of the eclipse with one of the crew telling the passengers that the end of the world has come.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to the captain engaging the fasten seat belts signs for the passengers as a precautionary measure for turbulence, as the captain believes the end times are upon them.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball is standing behind Megan, looking over her shoulder as she's seated in front of her laptop.]<br />
:Cueball: What's that?<br />
:Megan: Flight plans. Looks like there will be 50 to 100 flights whose route puts them in the path of the eclipse next month.<br />
<br />
:[A map with a shaded path of the eclipse and red planes traveling is shown, with some planes inside the path.]<br />
<br />
:Cueball: I'm sure the airlines will be prepared. Pilots know that stuff.<br />
:Megan: But can you imagine being on the one flight where the pilot ''didn't?''<br />
<br />
:[A more detailed plane is shown flying into a curtain of darkness.]<br />
:Captain: *KSSCHHH* <br />
:Captain: This is your captain speaking. If you look out the right side of the plane, you'll see, uhh... <br />
:Captain: Folks, this appears to be the end times.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]</div>Xenoshttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1868:_Eclipse_Flights&diff=1432351868: Eclipse Flights2017-07-27T06:22:15Z<p>Xenos: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1868<br />
| date = July 26, 2017<br />
| title = Eclipse Flights<br />
| image = eclipse_flights.png<br />
| titletext = The captain has turned on the 'fasten seat belt' sign.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
A {{w|total solar eclipse}} will occur {{w|Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017|on Monday, August 21, 2017}}. It will be visible as a total eclipse in {{umbra|a narrow band}} across the contiguous United States starting in Oregon on the Pacific coast and traversing east from there. [[Cueball]] asks [[Megan]] what she is doing, which turns out to be mapping the flights of aircraft that will be in the air and will fly through the area of the eclipse. She has found between 50 to 100 such flights. <br />
<br />
While most flights during the eclipse are coincidental, a few airlines have special flights planned for the occasion. [https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/science/2017/07/20/solar-eclipse-2017-flights-offer-unobstructed-potentially-longer-view/493343001/]<br />
<br />
On the map, the center of the greatest eclipse is shown on the border between {{w|Illinois}} and {{w|Kentucky}}. Cueball says that the airlines and pilots will be prepared and aware of the situation, but Megan wonders what it would be like on a plane with an unprepared crew. The last panel shows a plane flying into the area of the eclipse with one of the crew telling the passengers that the end of the world has come.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to the captain engaging the fasten seat belts signs for the passengers as a precautionary measure for turbulence, as the captain believes the end times are upon them.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball is standing behind Megan, looking over her shoulder as she's seated in front of her laptop.]<br />
:Cueball: What's that?<br />
:Megan: Flight plans. Looks like there will be 50 to 100 flights whose route puts them in the path of the eclipse next month.<br />
<br />
:[A map with a shaded path of the eclipse and red planes traveling is shown, with some planes inside the path.]<br />
<br />
:Cueball: I'm sure the airlines will be prepared. Pilots know that stuff.<br />
:Megan: But can you imagine being on the one flight where the pilot ''didn't?''<br />
<br />
:[A more detailed plane is shown flying into a curtain of darkness.]<br />
:Captain: *KSSCHHH* <br />
:Captain: This is your captain speaking. If you look out the right side of the plane, you'll see, uhh... <br />
:Captain: Folks, this appears to be the end times.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]</div>Xenoshttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1868:_Eclipse_Flights&diff=1432341868: Eclipse Flights2017-07-27T06:21:41Z<p>Xenos: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1868<br />
| date = July 26, 2017<br />
| title = Eclipse Flights<br />
| image = eclipse_flights.png<br />
| titletext = The captain has turned on the 'fasten seat belt' sign.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
A {{w|total solar eclipse}} will occur {{w|Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017|on Monday, August 21, 2017}}. It will be visible as a total eclipse in {{umbra|a narrow band}} across the contiguous United States starting in Oregon on the Pacific coast and traversing east from there. [[Cueball]] asks [[Megan]] what she is doing, which turns out to be mapping the flights of aircraft that will be in the air and will fly through the area of the eclipse. She has found between 50 to 100 such flights. <br />
<br />
While most flights during the eclipse are coincidental, a few airlines have special flights planned for the occasion. [https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/science/2017/07/20/solar-eclipse-2017-flights-offer-unobstructed-potentially-longer-view/493343001/}<br />
<br />
On the map, the center of the greatest eclipse is shown on the border between {{w|Illinois}} and {{w|Kentucky}}. Cueball says that the airlines and pilots will be prepared and aware of the situation, but Megan wonders what it would be like on a plane with an unprepared crew. The last panel shows a plane flying into the area of the eclipse with one of the crew telling the passengers that the end of the world has come.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to the captain engaging the fasten seat belts signs for the passengers as a precautionary measure for turbulence, as the captain believes the end times are upon them.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball is standing behind Megan, looking over her shoulder as she's seated in front of her laptop.]<br />
:Cueball: What's that?<br />
:Megan: Flight plans. Looks like there will be 50 to 100 flights whose route puts them in the path of the eclipse next month.<br />
<br />
:[A map with a shaded path of the eclipse and red planes traveling is shown, with some planes inside the path.]<br />
<br />
:Cueball: I'm sure the airlines will be prepared. Pilots know that stuff.<br />
:Megan: But can you imagine being on the one flight where the pilot ''didn't?''<br />
<br />
:[A more detailed plane is shown flying into a curtain of darkness.]<br />
:Captain: *KSSCHHH* <br />
:Captain: This is your captain speaking. If you look out the right side of the plane, you'll see, uhh... <br />
:Captain: Folks, this appears to be the end times.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]</div>Xenoshttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1866:_Russell%27s_Teapot&diff=1430031866: Russell's Teapot2017-07-21T08:01:31Z<p>Xenos: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1866<br />
| date = July 21, 2017<br />
| title = Russell's Teapot<br />
| image = Russells_Teapot.png<br />
| titletext = Unfortunately, NASA regulations state that Bertrand Russell-related payloads can only be launched within launch vehicles which do not launch themselves.<br />
}}<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete| }}<br />
Russell's Teapot is a philosophical argument that reflects on the difficulty of trying to prove a negative. It involves a hypothetical teapot orbiting a heavenly body, whose existence hasn't been proven. It is very often used in atheistic arguments. Russell's Teapot is an analogy which Bertrand Russell devised "to illustrate that the philosophic burden of proof lies upon a person making unfalsifiable claims, rather than shifting the burden of disproof to others."<br />
<br />
"He wrote that if he were to assert, without offering proof, that a teapot orbits the Sun somewhere in space between the Earth and Mars, he could not expect anyone to believe him solely because his assertion could not be proven wrong." (Wikipedia)<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]] is trying to settle the teapot argument by actually launching a teapot into space via a crowdfunding campaign.<br />
<br />
The title-text refers to Bertrand Russell's [[wikipedia:Barber_paradox|Barber Paradox]]. In this paradox, it is stated "one who shaves all those, and those only, who do not shave themselves.". However, this is impossible, because if the barber does not shave himself, then the statement is false (because he is a man the barber does not shave). If the barber shaves himself, then the barber himself is one man who shaves himself and that the barber shaves.<br />
<br />
{{note| ''The barber might ''attempt'' to solve the paradox by saying "I am not myself today," then proceeding to shave himself.'' }}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]] is standing in front of a blueprint labeled "CubeSat-Based Design", containing a satellite with a teapot in the top.<br />
<br />
Below the comic box:<br />
"I'm crowdfunding a project to launch a teapot into orbit around the sun to settle the Russell thing once and for all."<br />
<br />
==Alt-text==<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, NASA regulations state that Bertrand Russell-related payloads can only be launched within launch vehicles which do not launch themselves.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>Xenoshttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1865:_Wifi_vs_Cellular&diff=142910Talk:1865: Wifi vs Cellular2017-07-19T05:39:13Z<p>Xenos: </p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and not delete this comment.--><br />
<br />
I'm not sure it applies in my country. While I have access to cellular internet that is somewhat faster than my home wifi, it is not nearly as reliable for important downloads and definitely several magnitudes costlier when it comes to, say, a Gigabyte of data. [[User:Xenos|Xenos]] ([[User talk:Xenos|talk]]) 05:39, 19 July 2017 (UTC)</div>Xenoshttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1865:_Wifi_vs_Cellular&diff=1429081865: Wifi vs Cellular2017-07-19T05:31:41Z<p>Xenos: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1865<br />
| date = July 19, 2017<br />
| title = Wifi vs Cellular<br />
| image = wifi_vs_cellular.png<br />
| titletext = According to the cable company reps who keep calling me, it's because I haven't upgraded to the XTREME GIGABAND PANAMAX FLAVOR-BLASTED PRO PACKAGE WITH HBO, which is only $5 more per month for the first 6 months and five billion dollars per month after that.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
In this comic Randall remarks on how recent changes in Wifi and Cellular data reliability have impacted his behavior. Wifi technology has had several advantages over cellular data transmission due to WiFi antenna's more ubiquitous distribution and ability to focus on high data transmission rates instead of broad signal coverage. However, as WiFi has become more popular it is increasingly common to encounter WiFi networks using outdated hardware, poorly organized or overburdened networks, and competition for bandwidth with other WiFi devices. Meanwhile due to continued commercial investment in upgrading and expanding cellular networks and the more frequent consumer replacement of cellular handsets, the reliability of cellular data has continued to increase. Randal notes that prior to 2015 he found that he could improve his internet connection by supplementally connecting to a Wifi network instead of using purely cellular data. After 2015 however, he finds that in many cases he is able to get a stronger cellular connection by disengaging his wifi connection and getting all of his data over a cellular connection. <br />
<br />
Anything larger than a few kilobytes would previously require someone to switch off network data and connect to a wireless network. However, for a couple of years, cellular networks' data transmission rates have often more reliable (albeit usually costlier for larger amount of data usage) while home wifi has remained fairly constant, meaning the cellular network is often the best choice to download a file.<br />
<br />
The title text is a reference to the often misleading promotional rates offered by cable internet providers. Such providers often attempt to up-sell consumer on internet packages with additional features. Here Randal juxtaposes several descriptors that might feature in a cable ad with several that refer to other things entirely. X-treme Gigaband is a plausible internet package name, but might also be a reference to Comcast's often derided "X-Finity" promotions. While Panamax sounds like it may be a film term, it is actually a ship classification that denotes the maximum size ship that can safely pass through the Panama canal. Flavor-Blasted is a food term often used in hyperbolic television food ad, but also could be a reference to Comcast Cable's "Blast!" internet packages.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
To get something to load on my phone, sometimes I have to...<br />
<br />
Home wifi reliability<br />
...Connect to wifi<br />
<br />
<br />
Cellular data reliability<br />
...Turn off wifi<br />
<br />
2000 2005 2010 2015 2020<br />
<br />
It seems weird from a networking point of view, but sometime in the last few years this flipped for me.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>Xenoshttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1865:_Wifi_vs_Cellular&diff=1429071865: Wifi vs Cellular2017-07-19T05:30:21Z<p>Xenos: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1865<br />
| date = July 19, 2017<br />
| title = Wifi vs Cellular<br />
| image = wifi_vs_cellular.png<br />
| titletext = According to the cable company reps who keep calling me, it's because I haven't upgraded to the XTREME GIGABAND PANAMAX FLAVOR-BLASTED PRO PACKAGE WITH HBO, which is only $5 more per month for the first 6 months and five billion dollars per month after that.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
In this comic Randall remarks on how recent changes in Wifi and Cellular data reliability have impacted his behavior. Wifi technology has had several advantages over cellular data transmission due to WiFi antenna's more ubiquitous distribution and ability to focus on high data transmission rates instead of broad signal coverage. However, as WiFi has become more popular it is increasingly common to encounter WiFi networks using outdated hardware, poorly organized or overburdened networks, and competition for bandwidth with other WiFi devices. Meanwhile due to continued commercial investment in upgrading and expanding cellular networks and the more frequent consumer replacement of cellular handsets, the reliability of cellular data has continued to increase. Randal notes that prior to 2015 he found that he could improve his internet connection by supplementally connecting to a Wifi network instead of using purely cellular data. After 2015 however, he finds that in many cases he is able to get a stronger cellular connection by disengaging his wifi connection and getting all of his data over a cellular connection. <br />
<br />
Anything larger than a few kilobytes would previously require someone to switch off network data and connect to a wireless network. However, for a couple of years, cellular networks' data transmission rates have often been faster (albeit usually costlier for larger amount of data usage) while home wifi speeds have remained fairly constant, meaning the cellular network is often the best choice to download a file when in a hurry.<br />
<br />
The title text is a reference to the often misleading promotional rates offered by cable internet providers. Such providers often attempt to up-sell consumer on internet packages with additional features. Here Randal juxtaposes several descriptors that might feature in a cable ad with several that refer to other things entirely. X-treme Gigaband is a plausible internet package name, but might also be a reference to Comcast's often derided "X-Finity" promotions. While Panamax sounds like it may be a film term, it is actually a ship classification that denotes the maximum size ship that can safely pass through the Panama canal. Flavor-Blasted is a food term often used in hyperbolic television food ad, but also could be a reference to Comcast Cable's "Blast!" internet packages.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
To get something to load on my phone, sometimes I have to...<br />
<br />
Home wifi reliability<br />
...Connect to wifi<br />
<br />
<br />
Cellular data reliability<br />
...Turn off wifi<br />
<br />
2000 2005 2010 2015 2020<br />
<br />
It seems weird from a networking point of view, but sometime in the last few years this flipped for me.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>Xenoshttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1840:_Genetic_Testing_Results&diff=140165Talk:1840: Genetic Testing Results2017-05-23T02:24:50Z<p>Xenos: </p>
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<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~--><br />
<br />
Add in comment on joke between Genetic and Generic? The results are very generic, as all humans are from an unbroken line going back thousands of years. Perhaps add in a comment about what unbroken lines are typically in relation to, rather than how they are used here? [[Special:Contributions/172.68.65.168|172.68.65.168]] 14:36, 22 May 2017 (UTC)<br />
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Life is the single most important risk factor for death. [[User:Nialpxe|Nialpxe]] ([[User talk:Nialpxe|talk]]) 14:52, 22 May 2017 (UTC)<br />
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Oooh... is this comic going to be a series? --[[User:JayRulesXKCD|'''JayRules''XKCD''' ]]<sup>[[User talk:JayRulesXKCD|what's up?]]</sup> 16:56, 22 May 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I initially thought that the image of today's comic was a repeat of the first panel of the previous comic. Thanks to image overlay [http://i.imgur.com/b2cb2N1.png], I know it's not true. [[User:Xenos|Xenos]] ([[User talk:Xenos|talk]]) 02:24, 23 May 2017 (UTC)</div>Xenoshttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Comics_from_2005&diff=140123Category:Comics from 20052017-05-22T13:45:27Z<p>Xenos: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[Category:Comics by year| 2005]]<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics from 2005]]<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>Xenos