1649: Pipelines - Revision history

FaviFake: Per the discussion at the community portal, Blondie and Miss Lenhart are being merged, just like Cutie and Megan

2026-05-09T15:16:24Z

Per the discussion at the community portal, Blondie and Miss Lenhart are being merged, just like Cutie and Megan

76.176.69.232: clarification about melted cheese

2026-02-01T21:51:24Z

clarification about melted cheese

76.176.69.232: melted cheese

2026-02-01T06:36:58Z

melted cheese

82.132.245.59: /* Explanation */ I'm sure you could make an artisan ketchup that costs more than a mass-produced salsa, but I imagine that like-for-like, the extra ingredients increase lroduction (if not supply) costs in salsa-making.

2025-08-06T21:53:56Z

‎Explanation: I'm sure you could make an artisan ketchup that costs more than a mass-produced salsa, but I imagine that like-for-like, the extra ingredients increase lroduction (if not supply) costs in salsa-making.

108.217.217.52: /* Explanation */

2025-08-06T19:29:00Z

‎Explanation

108.217.217.52: /* Explanation */

2025-08-06T19:28:09Z

‎Explanation

108.217.217.52: /* Explanation */ salsa vs ketchup

2025-08-06T19:26:25Z

‎Explanation: salsa vs ketchup

87.bus.rider: THEY'RE SYNNONYMS BITCH

2024-04-17T15:38:10Z

THEY'RE SYNNONYMS BITCH

Danger Kitty: It's just soda. no popping

2024-04-10T17:59:53Z

It's just soda. no popping

87.bus.rider: useless information

2024-03-18T12:02:24Z

useless information

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 The top panel is in [http://store-xkcd-com.myshopify.com/products/actual-size-stickers actual size] (something Randall often jokes about, like in the very next released ''what if?'' "{{what if|148|Eat the Sun}}", where he shows part of the sun in actual size in the 2nd picture, but in this comic he ''actually'' means it). This means that if you look at the image in actual size (or measure lengths in the full size image) then the measured diameter is the diameter Randall has calculated the pipe should be, based on his data for the consumption of these substances.
-In the second panel the pipes are too big for his drawing. To indicate the scale he has both inserted a woman ([[Blondie]]) and the top panel has been shrunk down to indicate how much larger the bottom panel is (this is similar to the link between the panels in [[980: Money]]). Using the size of the top panel and the smaller insert, it can be found that the scale is 20:1. The woman is 9&nbsp;cm tall in the image, which makes her 180&nbsp;cm — 5 feet 11 inches — in "real life". The pipe next to her for gasoline would have a diameter of 2.2&nbsp;m.
+In the second panel the pipes are too big for his drawing. To indicate the scale he has both inserted a woman, [[Miss Lenhart]], and the top panel has been shrunk down to indicate how much larger the bottom panel is (this is similar to the link between the panels in [[980: Money]]). Using the size of the top panel and the smaller insert, it can be found that the scale is 20:1. The woman is 9&nbsp;cm tall in the image, which makes her 180&nbsp;cm — 5 feet 11 inches — in "real life". The pipe next to her for gasoline would have a diameter of 2.2&nbsp;m.
 Since the caption at the top mentions both fluid produced and consumed in the US it becomes very difficult to find out which number Randall uses. For instance the consumption of wine in the US and the production of wine in the US is not necessarily the same as wine is both imported and exported. Should there then be two pipes? Unlike similar comics (like Money mentioned above) there are no references for where Randall has the data for this comic.
@@ Line 297: / Line 297: @@
 :[The panel just described is indicated to fit into a small rectangle at the top left of the next panel below. There are four lines ending at the four corners of this small rectangle, two of these are going to the two bottom corners and the other two ends on the lower part of the panel just above the small rectangle. They are indicated to go under the panel and would hit the two top corners if extrapolated. The 11 largest circles are clearly seen, but most of the other circles can also be noted. The colors are the same but any features in the original circles as well as the labels are gone. The part of the black top frame of the next panel below is faded out to gray in between the section cut off by the two lines going to the bottom corners of the panel above. This rectangle indicated the increasing size compared to the first panel above.]
-:[Apart from the insert mentioned above, the second panel follows the same layout, but with 22 circles with even larger range of sizes. The panel is more than twice as long as the first panel. Blondie is drawn at the top of the panel just left of the middle. Her hair is close to the top, just below the line going to the right corner above. There are two medium-sized and five smaller circles to her left and one small close to her head and one huge circle to her right. Her feet are less than a third down this panel standing on top of the next row of circles. In the bottom half of the panel there is a giant circle which almost touches the left side of the panel. There are smaller circles above it and down along the right side. One last circle is to the left almost at the bottom. At the very bottom is a slightly curving line to indicate a much much larger blue circle that only graces the panel (no. 23). There is a small green fish in this water to the left of the label. Below the labels are again listed as above. One label has a foot note. But it is written directly beneath the circle in which it is referenced. So it will be written together with the label on the next line. There is also one case with an arrow used to indicate where the label belongs.]
+:[Apart from the insert mentioned above, the second panel follows the same layout, but with 22 circles with even larger range of sizes. The panel is more than twice as long as the first panel. Miss Lenhart is drawn at the top of the panel just left of the middle. Her hair is close to the top, just below the line going to the right corner above. There are two medium-sized and five smaller circles to her left and one small close to her head and one huge circle to her right. Her feet are less than a third down this panel standing on top of the next row of circles. In the bottom half of the panel there is a giant circle which almost touches the left side of the panel. There are smaller circles above it and down along the right side. One last circle is to the left almost at the bottom. At the very bottom is a slightly curving line to indicate a much much larger blue circle that only graces the panel (no. 23). There is a small green fish in this water to the left of the label. Below the labels are again listed as above. One label has a foot note. But it is written directly beneath the circle in which it is referenced. So it will be written together with the label on the next line. There is also one case with an arrow used to indicate where the label belongs.]
 :[Medium dark gray]: Coffee
@@ Line 342: / Line 342: @@
 [[Category:Comics with color]]
 [[Category:Large drawings]]
-[[Category:Comics featuring Blondie]]
+[[Category:Comics featuring Miss Lenhart]]
 [[Category:Charts]]
 [[Category:Rankings]]
 [[Category:Food]]
 [[Category:Animals]]

@@ Line 160: / Line 160: @@
 | 70
 | 48.6
-| Made from milk, also in the chart. Cheese is not normally liquid at room temperature (unless you are in a very hot room) so this is probably referring to melted cheese.
+| Made from milk, also in the chart. Cheese is not normally liquid at room temperature (unless you are in a very hot room) so this is probably referring to the cheese if it were all melted.
 |-
 | {{w|Soft Drink|Soda}}

@@ Line 160: / Line 160: @@
 | 70
 | 48.6
-| Made from milk, also in the chart.
+| Made from milk, also in the chart. Cheese is not normally liquid at room temperature (unless you are in a very hot room) so this is probably referring to melted cheese.
 |-
 | {{w|Soft Drink|Soda}}

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 The title text refers to a possible future based on the idea of this comic in which all the pipes with the above-mentioned fluids will actually lead into the same hole as shown in the top right panel. This hole will then be the bowl of a giant blender that mixes all these substances together to a ''{{w|smoothie}}''. The future people will then just come up to this blender and get a bucket full of this mix each day. In reality, this would be an impractical method of getting all of the fluids. Setting the logistical considerations of such a setup aside, this would mean that ketchup and salsa, both intended for human consumption, would be mixed with fluids which are harmful to humans, such as windshield wiper fluid.
-It is worth noting that the volume of ketchup consumed is greater than the volume of salsa consumed, even though [https://pepperpalace.com/blogs/expert-tips/salsa-vs-ketchup salsa has surpassed ketchup as America's favorite condiment in terms of dollars spent].
+It is worth noting that the volume of ketchup consumed is greater than the volume of salsa consumed, even though [https://pepperpalace.com/blogs/expert-tips/salsa-vs-ketchup salsa has surpassed ketchup as America's favorite condiment in terms of dollars spent]. This implies that everyday ketchup is a cheaper product, for any given quantity, than the salsa. Given that tomato-based salsas particularly feature more complex and discrete additional ingredients added to the tomato puree, compared with those ingredients required for the more homogenous tomato ketchup product, and non-tomato salsas may be based upon purees of less mainstream fruit, this probably true.
 Note: "Soup" has been left out, and it might have been expected in this comic due to the similarity to this system with [[Beret Guy]]'s use of a "soup outlet" as an entrepreneur in [[1293: Job Interview]]. It is probably a larger pipeline than salsa and possibly even ketchup. However, there are many different varieties of soups, and most soup is probably not bought finished, both very good reasons to not include it in the chart. But still the idea of having a soup outlet is very similar to this comic.

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 The title text refers to a possible future based on the idea of this comic in which all the pipes with the above-mentioned fluids will actually lead into the same hole as shown in the top right panel. This hole will then be the bowl of a giant blender that mixes all these substances together to a ''{{w|smoothie}}''. The future people will then just come up to this blender and get a bucket full of this mix each day. In reality, this would be an impractical method of getting all of the fluids. Setting the logistical considerations of such a setup aside, this would mean that ketchup and salsa, both intended for human consumption, would be mixed with fluids which are harmful to humans, such as windshield wiper fluid.
-It is worth noting that the volume of ketchup consumed is greater than the volume of salsa consumed, even though [[https://pepperpalace.com/blogs/expert-tips/salsa-vs-ketchup salsa has surpassed ketchup as America's favorite condiment in terms of dollars spent]].
+It is worth noting that the volume of ketchup consumed is greater than the volume of salsa consumed, even though [https://pepperpalace.com/blogs/expert-tips/salsa-vs-ketchup salsa has surpassed ketchup as America's favorite condiment in terms of dollars spent].
 Note: "Soup" has been left out, and it might have been expected in this comic due to the similarity to this system with [[Beret Guy]]'s use of a "soup outlet" as an entrepreneur in [[1293: Job Interview]]. It is probably a larger pipeline than salsa and possibly even ketchup. However, there are many different varieties of soups, and most soup is probably not bought finished, both very good reasons to not include it in the chart. But still the idea of having a soup outlet is very similar to this comic.

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:26, 6 August 2025
Line 23:		Line 23:

	The title text refers to a possible future based on the idea of this comic in which all the pipes with the above-mentioned fluids will actually lead into the same hole as shown in the top right panel. This hole will then be the bowl of a giant blender that mixes all these substances together to a ''{{w\|smoothie}}''. The future people will then just come up to this blender and get a bucket full of this mix each day. In reality, this would be an impractical method of getting all of the fluids. Setting the logistical considerations of such a setup aside, this would mean that ketchup and salsa, both intended for human consumption, would be mixed with fluids which are harmful to humans, such as windshield wiper fluid.		The title text refers to a possible future based on the idea of this comic in which all the pipes with the above-mentioned fluids will actually lead into the same hole as shown in the top right panel. This hole will then be the bowl of a giant blender that mixes all these substances together to a ''{{w\|smoothie}}''. The future people will then just come up to this blender and get a bucket full of this mix each day. In reality, this would be an impractical method of getting all of the fluids. Setting the logistical considerations of such a setup aside, this would mean that ketchup and salsa, both intended for human consumption, would be mixed with fluids which are harmful to humans, such as windshield wiper fluid.
		+
		+	It is worth noting that the volume of ketchup consumed is greater than the volume of salsa consumed, even though [[https://pepperpalace.com/blogs/expert-tips/salsa-vs-ketchup\|salsa has surpassed ketchup as America's favorite condiment in terms of dollars spent]].

	Note: "Soup" has been left out, and it might have been expected in this comic due to the similarity to this system with [[Beret Guy]]'s use of a "soup outlet" as an entrepreneur in [[1293: Job Interview]]. It is probably a larger pipeline than salsa and possibly even ketchup. However, there are many different varieties of soups, and most soup is probably not bought finished, both very good reasons to not include it in the chart. But still the idea of having a soup outlet is very similar to this comic.		Note: "Soup" has been left out, and it might have been expected in this comic due to the similarity to this system with [[Beret Guy]]'s use of a "soup outlet" as an entrepreneur in [[1293: Job Interview]]. It is probably a larger pipeline than salsa and possibly even ketchup. However, there are many different varieties of soups, and most soup is probably not bought finished, both very good reasons to not include it in the chart. But still the idea of having a soup outlet is very similar to this comic.

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 This comic follows a similar idea to the ''[[what if? (blog)|what if?]]'' "{{what if|147|Niagara Straw}}" from three days before this comic's release, where the entire water flow over {{w|Niagara Falls}} is imagined to be funneled through a straw (i.e. 7&nbsp;mm diameter), with disastrous results.
-In this comic [[Randall]] imagines what size pipes are necessary to carry US domestic production/consumption of various fluids if the flow rate were fixed at 4 meters per second. Randall notes that "many pipes would overlap", owing to the fact that consumption of one item as corn syrup would be due to the production of one of the others, in this case soda (another example, than the previous one which is actually mentioned in the comic, could be gasoline which is produced from petroleum ).
+In this comic [[Randall]] imagines what size pipes are necessary to carry US domestic production/consumption of various fluids if the flow rate were fixed at 4 meters per second. Randall notes that "many pipes would overlap", owing to the fact that consumption of one item as corn syrup would be due to the production of one of the others, in this case soda pop (another example, than the previous one which is actually mentioned in the comic, could be gasoline which is produced from petroleum ).
 The top panel is in [http://store-xkcd-com.myshopify.com/products/actual-size-stickers actual size] (something Randall often jokes about, like in the very next released ''what if?'' "{{what if|148|Eat the Sun}}", where he shows part of the sun in actual size in the 2nd picture, but in this comic he ''actually'' means it). This means that if you look at the image in actual size (or measure lengths in the full size image) then the measured diameter is the diameter Randall has calculated the pipe should be, based on his data for the consumption of these substances.

@@ Line 63: / Line 63: @@
 | 4
 | 0.159
-| As most people wash (''hopefully'', every few days), this would be a larger pipe.
+| As most people wash, this would be a larger pipe.
 |-
 | {{w|Honey}}