Editing 207: What xkcd Means
Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
The edit can be undone.
Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
Latest revision | Your text | ||
Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | This comic purports to finally answer the question, " | + | This comic purports to finally answer the question, "What does 'xkcd' mean?" However, instead of giving an answer as to what the letters actually mean (according to Randall, it's literally "just a word with no phonetic pronunciation"), he offers five quirky behaviors. This is reminiscent of TV commercials that ask, "What does [brand name] mean? It means [happy activity]!". |
− | The first panel shows a driver | + | The first panel shows a driver making a {{w|right turn on red|right turn at a red light}}, a {{w|U-turn}} on the connecting road, and then another right turn, returning them to their original direction presumably faster than waiting for the light. Right turns at red lights and U-turns are legal in some states and at some intersections, but not always, hence this complicated maneuver is "questionably legal". |
− | The second panel shows [[Cueball]] searching for his mobile phone by having his friend call it to locate the ringtone, only to hear a ring from inside of his dog's stomach | + | The second panel shows [[Cueball]] searching for his mobile phone by having his friend call it to locate the ringtone, only to hear a ring from inside of his dog's stomach. |
− | + | In the third panel, {{w|Graham's number}} is a (very) large number (once celebrated as the largest number ever used in a proof, although it is no longer the record holder), and the {{w|Ackermann function}} is a (very) fast-growing function, thus the function's output must be insanely large. (In fact, A(g<sub>64</sub>, g<sub>64</sub>) is actually smaller than g<sub>65</sub>.) | |
− | The fourth panel | + | The fourth panel shows somebody walking in a pattern based on the position of black and white tiles on the floor. This is further referenced in [[245: Floor Tiles]]. |
− | The title text | + | The title text refer to {{w|stigmata}}, marks corresponding to Jesus' crucifixion wounds. Devout Catholics have claimed to have spontaneously developed stigmata. |
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | |||
:What does xkcd mean? | :What does xkcd mean? | ||
Line 33: | Line 32: | ||
:[The mathematical function "A(g<sub>64</sub>, g<sub>64</sub>)=" appears in the panel. Next to the equal sign stands a mathematician, clutching his head.] | :[The mathematical function "A(g<sub>64</sub>, g<sub>64</sub>)=" appears in the panel. Next to the equal sign stands a mathematician, clutching his head.] | ||
:It means calling the Ackermann function with Graham's number as the arguments just to horrify mathematicians. | :It means calling the Ackermann function with Graham's number as the arguments just to horrify mathematicians. | ||
− | :Mathematician: '' | + | :Mathematician: ''Aughhh'' |
− | :[An approximately 8 by 8 square of floor tiles is shown | + | :[An approximately 8 by 8 square of floor tiles is shown; the first, fourth and seventh across in the first, fourth and seventh rows are black and the rest are white. A guy and girl are shown next to it, walking on what is presumed to be the same pattern of floor tiles.] |
:It means instinctively constructing rules for which floor tiles it's okay to step on and then walking funny ever after. | :It means instinctively constructing rules for which floor tiles it's okay to step on and then walking funny ever after. | ||
:[Line indicating the uppermost right black tile: Black tiles okay.] | :[Line indicating the uppermost right black tile: Black tiles okay.] | ||
Line 43: | Line 42: | ||
==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
*In his [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJOS0sV2a24#t=44m30s Google-speech], [[Randall]] said that ''xkcd'' originated as a previously unused random 4 letter string which he used, e.g., as his account name on various internet services. | *In his [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJOS0sV2a24#t=44m30s Google-speech], [[Randall]] said that ''xkcd'' originated as a previously unused random 4 letter string which he used, e.g., as his account name on various internet services. | ||
− | |||
{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
− | |||
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]] | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
[[Category:Math]] | [[Category:Math]] | ||
[[Category:Traffic light]] | [[Category:Traffic light]] | ||
[[Category:Religion]] | [[Category:Religion]] | ||
− | |||
− |