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| date = January 10, 2022 | | date = January 10, 2022 | ||
| title = Countdown in header text | | title = Countdown in header text | ||
− | | image = | + | | image = Countdown_in_header_text.png |
− | | before = | ldomain = www | + | | before = The countdown will probably last 21 days. After February 1st 2022 it is likely to have disappeared. See this [https://web.archive.org/web/20220110183238/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-01-10] archive version. |
+ | | ldomain = www | ||
| lappend = | | lappend = | ||
| extra = yes | | extra = yes | ||
}} | }} | ||
+ | *Go directly to the list of [[Countdown in header text/images|images]]. | ||
+ | **Or [[Countdown in header text/images#newestpicture|Jump to the newest picture]] | ||
+ | ***The images can also be found [https://munvoseli.github.io/xkcd-countdown/ here] on munvoseli's page where comparison of two images and an animation can be seen. | ||
{{TOC}} | {{TOC}} | ||
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | *On January 10th 2022, [[Randall]] added a countdown in the top right corner of the [[Header | + | *On January 10th 2022, [[Randall]] added a countdown in the top right corner of the [[xkcd Header text]] on {{xkcd}}. |
− | ** | + | **This happened while the comic [[2565: Latency]] was up. |
− | + | ***First the xkcd Header text was [[xkcd_Header_text#2022-01-08_-_Back_to_standard_text|changed back]] to the [[xkcd_Header_text#Header_text|standard text]] for the first time in almost three years: | |
− | + | ****xkcd updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. | |
− | + | ***But already while this Friday-comic was still up on the following Monday the [[xkcd_Header_text#2022-01-10_-_Standard_text_with_countdown|countdown]] was added. | |
− | + | ****This was thus up when the Monday comic [[2566: Decorative Constants]] was released, drawing more people to the xkcd page. | |
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− | **First the xkcd Header text was [[ | ||
− | ***xkcd updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. | ||
− | **But already while this Friday-comic was still up on the following Monday the [[ | ||
− | ***This was thus up when the Monday comic [[2566: Decorative Constants]] was released, drawing more people to the xkcd page. | ||
*The first [[#Archived Versions|archived version]] from [https://web.archive.org/web/20220110183238/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-01-10] read 20d 20h 27m. | *The first [[#Archived Versions|archived version]] from [https://web.archive.org/web/20220110183238/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-01-10] read 20d 20h 27m. | ||
**It looks like it started on [https://munvoseli.github.io/xkcd-countdown/ 01-10 17:00 UTC]. | **It looks like it started on [https://munvoseli.github.io/xkcd-countdown/ 01-10 17:00 UTC]. | ||
***At that time it would have read 20d 21h 59 min. Just two hours and 1 minute short of 3 weeks. | ***At that time it would have read 20d 21h 59 min. Just two hours and 1 minute short of 3 weeks. | ||
− | * | + | *This countdown will reach zero on Monday 2022-01-31 at 14:59 (2:59 PM) {{w|UTC}}, or 9:59 AM in Boston, Randall's home town. |
− | ** | + | **If seconds will be added towards the end, it seems likely that it may end exactly at 15:00 UTC (10:00 AM in Boston). |
− | *** | + | ***Further, the timer may be using [[1061:_EST|EST]], in which case it will count up for four hours on 2022-01-18, and will end on 2022-01-31 23:00 UTC. |
− | *The | + | ****Though either way, it would fall on Monday, and therefore the day comic 2575 should be released. |
+ | ****The full moon has since passed, and now we know that the timer isn't using EST, so it will indeed reach zero at or near 2022-01-31T15:00Z. | ||
+ | **The timer ends in January. Recall that the month is named for Janus, the Roman god of endings and beginnings. Two salient points: the clock hits zero at the end of the month and the plane is leaving. Look for a big ending and, we hope, something nice to replace it. | ||
+ | *The next day on [https://web.archive.org/web/20220111153818/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-01-11] a diagonal black bar appeared in the lower left-hand corner of the countdown box and started to move further into the image on following changes to the [[#Images|image]]. | ||
**This development called for the creation of this dedicated [[Countdown in header text]] page. | **This development called for the creation of this dedicated [[Countdown in header text]] page. | ||
**The line had already moved further into the image at this time, but the latest version will never be available in the web archive. | **The line had already moved further into the image at this time, but the latest version will never be available in the web archive. | ||
***This development is reminiscent of the huge comic [[1190: Time]]. | ***This development is reminiscent of the huge comic [[1190: Time]]. | ||
− | * | + | *As mentioned above, [https://munvoseli.github.io/ Munvoseli] is keeping [https://munvoseli.github.io/xkcd-countdown/ track of the changes] to the image on the countdown. |
− | + | **Although there are (at 2022-01-12 12:35 UTC) thirteen different frames we know of, the first three looks the same (because the diagonal bar was not in the frame yet) and the seventh and the eighth also seems to be the same, even though the bar had already begun moving across the frame from the fourth. This is either on purpose, a slipup or means that The Frame<sup>TM</sup> might not be zooming out of a larger image. | |
− | ** | + | ***However, the images that look the same all have individual addresses on the xkcd server. See more under [[#Images|Images]] below. |
− | + | ***Similarly, frames 91 and 92 seem to be exactly the same. Also frame 92 did not upload as part of the roughly four hour schedule, but between two frames that are part of the regular schedule. | |
− | * | ||
− | **However, | ||
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− | *** | ||
− | + | Randall has previously made a comic simply called [[1159: Countdown]]. However, in that the roles are reversed. There we know that the countdown is for (Super Volcano) but not if it will happen soon or very much later. Here we know when, and it is rather soon, but not what. | |
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==Images== | ==Images== | ||
− | * | + | *Images will be put on [[Countdown in header text/images|this separate page]]. |
− | **The images | + | **The images can also be found [https://munvoseli.github.io/xkcd-countdown/ here] on munvoseli's page. |
− | *** | + | ***It is possible to compare two images, chosen between those released, on that page! |
***From 2022-01-14 it has also been possible to see an animation. | ***From 2022-01-14 it has also been possible to see an animation. | ||
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**See more details at the top of the image page. | **See more details at the top of the image page. | ||
− | * | + | *After a few days the black lines forming the image came into conflict with the clock, which has a rounded white frame around it. This can be seen in one of the earliest examples here: |
− | * | + | [[File:Countdown in header text Clock Cover Black Lines.png]] |
− | + | *Also at this time a new development happened after the "plane tail" moved forward it stopped on 2022-01-18 and started moving up (or zooming in). See for instance these two comparison from munvoseli's page showing the difference from the 8 pictures before today, and then after three out today: | |
− | + | [[File:Countdown in header text Compare 40 to 48.png]] [[File:Countdown in header text Compare 48 to 51.png]] | |
− | + | *Later a similar change happens, as it changes from zooming out to slowly moving towards the right, although the windows and the door appear to move more in relation to the frame than the rest of the aircraft: | |
+ | [[File:Countdown in header text Compare 85 to 90.png]] [[File:Countdown in header text Compare 95 to 90.png]] | ||
− | = | + | ===Ongoing description=== |
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− | ==Ongoing | ||
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** Frames 1-12: A diagonal line. | ** Frames 1-12: A diagonal line. | ||
** Frame 13: A curve seems to begin at the top left of the line. | ** Frame 13: A curve seems to begin at the top left of the line. | ||
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*** Turned out not to be a cloud. | *** Turned out not to be a cloud. | ||
** Frame 101-106 seems to be some kind of radar on top of the plane, like the one on {{w|Boeing E-3 Sentry}}. Or alternatively this plane is hanging beneath another plane. Not looking at all like {{w|Spaceshiptwo}}, but something similar, which could make this plane a spaceplane? | ** Frame 101-106 seems to be some kind of radar on top of the plane, like the one on {{w|Boeing E-3 Sentry}}. Or alternatively this plane is hanging beneath another plane. Not looking at all like {{w|Spaceshiptwo}}, but something similar, which could make this plane a spaceplane? | ||
− | ** Frame 106-114 a new element of the image appears on the right side, it could be the end of a wing | + | ** Frame 106-114 a new element of the image appears on the right side, it could be the end of a wing |
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==Theories== | ==Theories== | ||
− | + | *Here are different theories for what the countdown is for and what the picture is going to reveal can be added. | |
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− | *Here | ||
===The picture=== | ===The picture=== | ||
*Theories about the picture: | *Theories about the picture: | ||
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**From 2022-01-21 it became certain that it was a plane! Passenger plane. Door and windows are visible. | **From 2022-01-21 it became certain that it was a plane! Passenger plane. Door and windows are visible. | ||
***From 2022-01-22 it became clear that it was the rear end, so it was a tailfin that came into the panel to begin with. Up til the day before it was still a bit uncertain if it could have been a wing. | ***From 2022-01-22 it became clear that it was the rear end, so it was a tailfin that came into the panel to begin with. Up til the day before it was still a bit uncertain if it could have been a wing. | ||
*** from 2022-01-24 a bottom line has appeared which doesn't fit well with a 'standard' airliner. perhaps the image is deliberately misleading (eg will transform into something else) | *** from 2022-01-24 a bottom line has appeared which doesn't fit well with a 'standard' airliner. perhaps the image is deliberately misleading (eg will transform into something else) | ||
*** From 2022-01-26 something looking like a radar like the one on a {{w|Boeing E-3 Sentry}} began emerging in the top right corner. | *** From 2022-01-26 something looking like a radar like the one on a {{w|Boeing E-3 Sentry}} began emerging in the top right corner. | ||
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**What will this lead up to - theories about this. | **What will this lead up to - theories about this. | ||
***It could be an airplane with a banner like in [[1355: Airplane Message]]. | ***It could be an airplane with a banner like in [[1355: Airplane Message]]. | ||
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****However, it could very easily be that the weather in January could foil the attempt, or at least the timing. | ****However, it could very easily be that the weather in January could foil the attempt, or at least the timing. | ||
****The plane appears to be a commercial jetliner, though, rather than the small prop planes used for parachute jumps. Unless, of course, Randall is revealing his real identity has been Wesley Snipes all along | ****The plane appears to be a commercial jetliner, though, rather than the small prop planes used for parachute jumps. Unless, of course, Randall is revealing his real identity has been Wesley Snipes all along | ||
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*** Perhaps the new item on top of the plane is the tail of a dinosaur? perhaps like the one on the cover of "what if..." book. perhaps it's a new book? | *** Perhaps the new item on top of the plane is the tail of a dinosaur? perhaps like the one on the cover of "what if..." book. perhaps it's a new book? | ||
*** There are two flights originating in Boston departing at 09:59 on 1/31/2022: Spirit NK433 to Orlando Florida and Delta DL5696 to Washington D.C. | *** There are two flights originating in Boston departing at 09:59 on 1/31/2022: Spirit NK433 to Orlando Florida and Delta DL5696 to Washington D.C. | ||
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====Early theories==== | ====Early theories==== | ||
− | + | Many early theories were generated before the picture was decisively revealed to be a plane. | |
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*It seems after two days and 12 pictures like either something is moving into the frame or that it is a zoom out from a white area of a large picture. Maybe it is the arm of Cueball that will come into view. | *It seems after two days and 12 pictures like either something is moving into the frame or that it is a zoom out from a white area of a large picture. Maybe it is the arm of Cueball that will come into view. | ||
*The second line makes it look somewhat like the tail fin of an aircraft. | *The second line makes it look somewhat like the tail fin of an aircraft. | ||
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**A spider's web, in reference to comic 1688 | **A spider's web, in reference to comic 1688 | ||
***With the airplane revelation, this reference turned into a meme in the subreddit, where users tried to justify the presence of an airplane shape inside a bigger-scope spider picture | ***With the airplane revelation, this reference turned into a meme in the subreddit, where users tried to justify the presence of an airplane shape inside a bigger-scope spider picture | ||
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***Some joke theories included: | ***Some joke theories included: | ||
****A giant spider flinging airplanes from the sky, as a new potential "What If?" | ****A giant spider flinging airplanes from the sky, as a new potential "What If?" | ||
Line 193: | Line 138: | ||
****The airplane is a complex-looking spider leg, and 8 of them form a spider | ****The airplane is a complex-looking spider leg, and 8 of them form a spider | ||
***Another redditor made the airplane part of a dragon's head | ***Another redditor made the airplane part of a dragon's head | ||
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===Countdown=== | ===Countdown=== | ||
*Theories about the countdown: | *Theories about the countdown: | ||
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*Several have already been mentioned in the discussion: | *Several have already been mentioned in the discussion: | ||
**Maybe Randall is going on vacation? | **Maybe Randall is going on vacation? | ||
− | ** | + | **Notice that as of now - 22-Jan-2022 7am PST - (not sure exactly when it happened) the countdown has disappeared. Temporarily (perhaps to make the image cleaner?) or permanently? [[User:Pharmacovigilant|Pharmacovigilant]] ([[User talk:Pharmacovigilant|talk]]) 15:38, 24 January 2022 (UTC) The next time I looked (Sunday?), the countdown was back. No idea if it was a glitch or what. |
**Randall's next book, either the countdown is counting down to the start of promotion or it is released when the countdown ends. | **Randall's next book, either the countdown is counting down to the start of promotion or it is released when the countdown ends. | ||
***Usually Randall has made month long [[:Category:Book promotion|book promotions]] before release. So if it is the release day it is a new way to do it. But he will get a lot of attention. If it is just the start of promoting it, people might get disappointed… | ***Usually Randall has made month long [[:Category:Book promotion|book promotions]] before release. So if it is the release day it is a new way to do it. But he will get a lot of attention. If it is just the start of promoting it, people might get disappointed… | ||
− | ****For instance he began promoting his [[ | + | ****For instance he began promoting his [[xkcd_Header_text#2015-05-14_-_New_book_Thing_Explainer|new book Thing Explainer]] in the header text. That was in May 2015 and the book was first released [https://blog.xkcd.com/2015/05/13/new-book-thing-explainer/ late November 2015]. Most of this time the header text was promoting the book. |
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**{{w|James Webb Space Telescope}} (JWST) going into orbit about L2 {{w|Lagrange point}}. | **{{w|James Webb Space Telescope}} (JWST) going into orbit about L2 {{w|Lagrange point}}. | ||
***Randall has already made several comics about the telescope. The latest [[2564: Sunshield]] was released just five days prior to the countdown was started. | ***Randall has already made several comics about the telescope. The latest [[2564: Sunshield]] was released just five days prior to the countdown was started. | ||
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**{{w|Black History Month}}. The {{w|Greensboro sit-ins}} started on Feb 1 1960. Black History Month also begins on February 1st, also in 2022. | **{{w|Black History Month}}. The {{w|Greensboro sit-ins}} started on Feb 1 1960. Black History Month also begins on February 1st, also in 2022. | ||
***But this countdown stops early on January 31st so seems unlikely. | ***But this countdown stops early on January 31st so seems unlikely. | ||
− | ***However, before changing the Header recently it was about [[ | + | ***However, before changing the Header recently it was about [[xkcd_Header_text#2020-06-03_-_Black_Lives_Matter|Black Lives Matter]] for more than 1.5 years, first ending on December 20th 2021, less than a month before the countdown began. In between that there was a short Christmas sale reminder until a week into 2022. So it could just be another way of reminding of us the issues faced by black people in the US. |
****If this was true, I feel like it would be simpler to just change back to the Black Lives Matter text at the top of the screen. Also, it seems increasingly likely as of Jan. 20th that the image is some kind of plane, which doesn't really have much to do with Black History Month (that I know of?) | ****If this was true, I feel like it would be simpler to just change back to the Black Lives Matter text at the top of the screen. Also, it seems increasingly likely as of Jan. 20th that the image is some kind of plane, which doesn't really have much to do with Black History Month (that I know of?) | ||
**The accompanying header says specifically "xkcd updates Monday, Wednesday, and Friday"--maybe the countdown is to the reveal of a new update schedule? | **The accompanying header says specifically "xkcd updates Monday, Wednesday, and Friday"--maybe the countdown is to the reveal of a new update schedule? | ||
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******What has time zones to do with this clock? It counts down to the same time all over the world, and will reach zero at the same time no matter what time zone you are in. | ******What has time zones to do with this clock? It counts down to the same time all over the world, and will reach zero at the same time no matter what time zone you are in. | ||
******Time zones have to do with where it will be midnight when the countdown reaches zero. If it's a countdown to when January ends (a moment before February begins), then it's until that moment in the time zone where the countdown reaches zero at that time. | ******Time zones have to do with where it will be midnight when the countdown reaches zero. If it's a countdown to when January ends (a moment before February begins), then it's until that moment in the time zone where the countdown reaches zero at that time. | ||
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****If it is a plane, then maybe it will land in a new city Randall moves to when the counter ends, and the skyline will be visible... | ****If it is a plane, then maybe it will land in a new city Randall moves to when the counter ends, and the skyline will be visible... | ||
**Perhaps it's a start to a new series like [[1190: Time]]. | **Perhaps it's a start to a new series like [[1190: Time]]. | ||
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** I'm beginning to see another part of the picture entering into view, underneath the arc and above the body of the plane. To me, it looks like it could be a leg of sorts (Early bet: it could be a dinosaur) | ** I'm beginning to see another part of the picture entering into view, underneath the arc and above the body of the plane. To me, it looks like it could be a leg of sorts (Early bet: it could be a dinosaur) | ||
**Maybe something to do with aliens? Randall posted two comics about aliens secretly observing earth in a row now, could that be related? | **Maybe something to do with aliens? Randall posted two comics about aliens secretly observing earth in a row now, could that be related? | ||
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===count-wimRikmef=== | ===count-wimRikmef=== | ||
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** Or it's just the output of whatever js minimizer was used. | ** Or it's just the output of whatever js minimizer was used. | ||
** R = Randall? | ** R = Randall? | ||
− | ** Randall is travelling to Germany? "Wo ist mein Reisepass? Ich komme mit | + | ** Randall is travelling to Germany? "Wo ist mein Reisepass? Ich komme mit einen Flug" |
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* The "img" tag has a misspelled "heigth" attribute. Probably just a typo? | * The "img" tag has a misspelled "heigth" attribute. Probably just a typo? | ||
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#[https://web.archive.org/web/20220126175842/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-01-26] 4d 21h 1m | #[https://web.archive.org/web/20220126175842/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-01-26] 4d 21h 1m | ||
#[https://web.archive.org/web/20220127173721/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-01-27] 3d 21h 22m | #[https://web.archive.org/web/20220127173721/https://xkcd.com/ 2022-01-27] 3d 21h 22m | ||
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
[[Category:Meta]] | [[Category:Meta]] | ||
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