Editing 1350: Lorenz

{{comic
| number    = 1350
| date      = April 1, 2014
| title     = Lorenz
| image     = lorenz.png
| titletext = Every choice, no matter how small, begins a new story
}}

{{incomplete|All possible dialogues are not yet accounted for (and may never be?)}}

For a collection of images that appear in this comic, see [[1350: Lorenz/Images]].

==Explanation==
This is an interactive and dynamic comic with a possible first picture shown on top of this page. The picture is always the same but the order of the sentences A/B/C/D is done by random. The result of all the interactions by the people would lead to a {{w|Crowdsourcing|crowd-sourced content}}. In honor of {{w|April Fools' Day}} the comic was posted a day early, on Tuesday instead of the usual Wednesday. This also means that if anyone feels this comic is too silly... Randall can call ''April fool''.

The title 'Lorenz' is referring to {{w|Edward Norton Lorenz}} who among other subjects was famous for {{w|Chaos theory}} and the {{w|Butterfly effect}}. 

The title text is a reference to that the story line of this comic does include all of the user submitted dialogue and updates over time based on statistics of users clicks and hence will in nature be chaotic. In this manner it is a reference to the butterfly effect, a phrase coined by Edward Lorenz to describe how a small initial change can lead to wide variations in outcome in a chaotic system.

This comic is an example of a {{w|Choose Your Own Adventure}} story as mentioned in the title text.

===Functionality and bugs===
The reader is initially presented with only one panel where Knit Cap Girl (Megan?) is sitting in front of her computer. The reader is given multiple choices concerning what exactly Knit Cap Girl (Megan?) is thinking. Upon choosing any option, a second panel appears, to give continuity to the story. Each new panel may have a new set of options or just the button "Continue" to see the next panel without making any choice in particular. Eventually, one may reach a dead end in which the story is interrupted and reader is presented with a text box to suggest how it should continue. Some of the suggestions given should eventually become available as new options.

It appears that new panels may be generated by Randall in near real time as user suggestions to dialog is submitted. The dialogue options are likely based on click-through rates and hence will change over day based on which choices are clicked most using {{w|A/B_testing|A/B measurement techniques}}.  This will mean that the most popular choices for dialogue line will prevail as the statistics build up. In some cases, dialogue line options do not depend on the continuity of the storyline followed, suggesting that some parts of the story are planned. For example, do several of the storylines involve one of the two main characters waking up and for instance telling the other character, “I had the strangest dream…” or even reliving the dream again. This may be due to common submissions across storylines as well.

Normally, there is a total of 4 options to make: a/b/c/d. Their order changes constantly. Sometimes, there are 3 or fewer options, with the text box to suggest an alternative option. Sometimes, a given panel actually has 5 or more available options, although even in this case only 4 options appear at a time. Refreshing the comic changes randomly which of the available options are visible and which are hidden. As of April 2nd 2014, the existence of 5 or more options seems to occur only in a few rare cases, including the first panel itself.

Each panel has a "permalink" button which generates a unique URL for all the choices made by the reader — so a reader can save the chosen choices to compare them to other ways going through the selections. On the final panel the reader can enter an own statement, which is shown on screen but can't be saved by a permalink. The reader has to do a screen shot by himself.

{{w|HTTP cookie|Cookies}} and {{w|Javascript}} are required to see this page properly. Without cookies, the next panel will not render; attempting to load the page in the UNIXKCD terminal or loading the page without Javascript you just will get the [[1349|previous comic]].

====Buttons====
Instead of clicking with the mouse you can move more quickly through the panels using the keyboard:
* Up/Down - navigate options
* Enter/Right - choose option after navigating with Up/Down
* Left - go back one panel
* a/b/c/d - choose any option directly

====Bugs====
Since this interactive comic relies on many servers in the background to provide the response to the reader's actions there are some problems reported here:
*In the worst case the entire comic doesn't render at all as expected — it just shows the previous comic [[1349: Shouldn't Be Hard]].
*When selecting a sentence A/B/C/D the server does not respond on that selection.
*The servers responsible to provide the pictures are down.
*If a response leads to a panel where two characters speak at the same time, it is impossible to proceed past the first speech bubble.
As a consequence of these bugs many readers do not understand how this interactive comic works.

===Themes===

====Miscellaneous====
{| class="wikitable" |
! Name + Example image
! Description
|-
! Boomerang<br>[[image:lorenz - boomerang 1.png]]
| Knit Cap Girl finds a boomerang on the ground and throws it. 
This part of the story ends with either:
*The boomerang crashing into something off panel - someone may shout back
*Hitting the space rocket from another story branch
*Knit Cap Girl getting hit in the face with the boomerang rebound
*Knit Cap Girl putting the boomerang down on the ground and walking away
|-
! Computer problems<br>[[Image:lorenz - laptop 1.png]]
| The laptop has an unspecified problem. The two characters attempt to fix it. The story either ends with
*The two randomly floating in the ocean (with or without circling sharks - a reference to [[349]])
*With the laptop being melted using a blowtorch (a reference to the previous day's strip, [[1349]]). In this case they typically walk out of the building afterwards.
|-
! Debate<br>[[File:lorenz - debate 1.png]]
| Knit Cap Guy uses his laptop to watch a debate online between the Politician 1 (on the left) and the Politician 2 ([[Cueball]], on the right), the subject and the actual conversation of which varies according to the storyline. Eventually, they either:
*Fight each other, the Politician 2 using a lightsaber and the Politician 1 using his bare fists
*Politician 1 going down on one knee - either to pray or as in a suggestion ask the other to marry him...
Subjects debated (could be user suggestions but below are those from April the 1st):
*Politician 1 questions Politician 2's project of tying multiple birds to a car as fuel replacement, which would require some method to make the birds take off in unison. If the Politician 1 points out some problem with the reasoning, often the solution proposed by the Politician 2 would be doing the same in a larger scale. In the end, Hairy visits Knit Cap Guy and points out something happening near that may ormay not involve birds (or what ever was the subject) which could be a direct result of Politician 2's project. The solutions mentioned are:
**Opening and closing an umbrella near them
**Using a predatory bird to the car to scare them
**Putting resources in the hands of bird educators for the purpose of training them
**Employing fiscal hawks. 
*Politician 1 accuses Politician 2 of having never liked Firefly.
*Politician 1 vows to end the "war on Christmas" if elected.
*Politician 1 praises his adversary and supports his economic plan.
|-
! Walking out of the building<br>[[image:lorenz - away.png]]
| They may just walk away to new events or they encounter either:
*A rocket
*A hole in the ground
See below.
|-
! Space rocket<br>[[Image:lorenz - rocket 1.png]]
| There is a rocket on the ground just outside of the building. The rocket either:
*Fails to launch and the two characters comes out again
*Takes off (with a screenshot from Kerbal Space Program) as it goes off into space - see below
|-
! Relativistic encounter <br> [[Image:lorenz - rocket 16.png]]
| The space rocket meets another space rocket that asks a question about relativity, the same one that appeared in [[Choices: Part 2]]. The other space rocket will shoot and destroy the main rocket if the question isn't answered satisfactory. Otherwise the two rockets fly past each other.
|-
! Space planet<br>[[image:lorenz - rocket 21.png]]
| Eventually the space rocket meets a guy on a very tiny planet which most likely is a reference to {{w|The Little Prince}}. This could also be a reference to the asteroid 4942 Munroe, then it would be Randall on the rock.
|-
! Dreams<br>[[File:lorenz - wake up 1.png]]
| Sometimes, Knit Cap Guy or Hairy find themselves waking from a dream, suggesting that all prior events were just part of they dreaming. This may happen after either:
*They fall in the big hole outside Knit Cap Guy's house
*The rocket is shot down by the other spacecraft.
*Knit Cap Guy also wakes up after watching the debate. 
Often, the dream loops upon itself, as a character wakes up multiple times in the same storyline.
When Knit Cap Guy wakes it is with the head to the left and the cap lying on the end of the bed. Hairy has his head to the right.
|-
! Salesman<br>[[image:lorenz - sale 1.png]]
| Hairy meets [[White Hat]], a salesman with a small stand. Often this happens after waking from a dream.
|-
! Arguing<br>[[image:lorenz - discuss.png]]
| The two characters argue with each other
|-
! Thinking<br>[[image:lorenz - thinking.png]]
| One of the characters take a panel or two to think about something.
|}

====Geography====
{| class="wikitable" |
! Name + Example image
! Description
|-
! Hole in the ground<br>[[Image:lorenz - gap.png]]
| Hairy spots a hole in the ground and leans over it to make a comment
|-
! Huge hole on the lawn<br>[[image:lorenz - hole.png]]
| There is a huge hole in the ground just outside of the building. The two characters always end up falling into it and awakening from a dream.
|-
! Tree<br>[[image:lorenz - tree.png]]
| The characters walk past a tree.
|}

====Literature====
{| class="wikitable" |
! Name + Example image
! Description
|-
! LOTR
| Lines of dialogue involving Lord of the Rings:
* Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall.
* It looks like I can see Moria from here.
** You see Moria from everywhere, Dave.
|-
! The Little Prince
| Eventually, if the rocket is not destroyed, it may pass by the asteroid of The Little Prince and they have a quick conversation.
|}

====Movies====
{| class="wikitable" |
! Name + Example image
! Description
|-
! Frozen
| In one storyline, Hairy visits Knit Cap Guy and asks him "Wanna build a snowman?", a line from the movie. Possible answers also come from the movie, such as "It doesn't have to be a snowman..."
|-
! Matrix
| In one storyline, Hairy remarks that the gap in the ground is like a glitch in the matrix.
|}

====Video games====
{| class="wikitable" |
! Name + Example image
! Description
|-
! 2048
| A number of storylines begin because Knit Cap Guy is playing [[wikipedia:2048_(video_game)|2048]] on his computer. Often, Hairy invites him to go outside to do something related to the game, such as hunting for tiles somewhere.
|-
! Mario
| In one storyline, Hairy asks Knit Cap Guy "Is this 1-1 from Mario?" upon seeing the gap in the ground. In the platform game {{w|Super Mario Bros.}} for {{w|NES}}, the levels are numbered 1-1, 1-2 and so on. In one branch, he says "Actually, it's the final castle. Grab your Fire Flower!"
|-
! Pokémon<br>[[File:lorenz - pikachu theft.png]]
| Some of the storylines involve Pokémon battles featuring Pikachu, a very popular Pokémon. The battles are drawn in the style of the video games. (A trainer in the left-bottom corner facing the foe in the right-top corner, with a narration box below the scene and the trainer's Pokéballs visible, although some elements are missing, such as the level, gender and HP bar.) 

Pikachu uses a number of different moves, though these are mostly made up and are not from the Pokémon games. Pikachu's moves are almost invariably remarked by the narrator as "It's not very effective...", but "It's super effective!" is also possible to appear. In the video games, a move is "not very effective" when the opponent's type resists the attacking move's type and "super effective" when the opponent's type is weak to the attacking move's type. Normally after a few failed attempts, there is an uncomfortable silence as the Pikachu says "Um..." and Knit Cap Guy and Hairy walk away. Pikachu is left in the grass and has time to make his final remarks as the two leave him. Rarely, a suggested move knocks Pikachu out. 

One narration line is "Where's Twitch when I need help?", a reference to {{w|Twitch Plays Pokémon}} which was also covered by comic [[1333: First Date]]. 

Another narration line is: "Google Maps didn't warn me of this.", a reference to [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YMD6xELI_k Google Maps: Pokémon Challenge].

Pikachu's moves:
* Abandonment - Pikachu disappears completely.
* Anguish - Pikachu is sad.
* Ant Colony - Pikachu is covered in ants.
* Cute Face
* Crowdsource
* The Discrete Metric
* Ethylene Dichloride - Nothing seems to happen, but Ethylene Dichloride is a toxic chemical, so there may be future consequences for the characters. After using it, ("not very effective") Pikachu remarks about the move:
** I used to be better at chemistry.
** This is still better than all the lightning crap.
* Extrude - Pikachu's head moves away from his body as his neck becomes long and malleable.
* Faceless - Pikachu's face disappears.
* Friendship - Pikachu is on Knit Cap Guy's head, signifying they are now friends. Friendship, though not a move, is a game mechanic in the video games.
* Granite - Pikachu is atop a block of granite.
* Graph Theory
* Ink Cloud - Pikachu is covered in ink. In the storyline Pikachu uses it, there is the option to "gather" the ink.
* Radicality - Pikachu is on a skateboard.
* Struggle - In one storyline, after Pikachu uses a number of moves, it says: "Now I only have Struggle left. Tie?" In the Pokémon games, when a Pokémon runs out of PP (Power Points, the energy required to use each of its moves) for all its moves, it may only use Struggle, a weak move, indefinitely reusable, that harms not only the opponent but the user as well.
* Theft - Pikachu wears Knit Cap Guy's hat. Pikachu seems to be using "Thief", a similarly-named actual move from the games, that is used to steal the foe's item and use it as its own.
* Uplift - Pikachu's head goes upward, separated from its body, showing a long, thick cable still connecting the head and the body.

Other remarks from Pikachu or about Pikachu:
* http://xkcd.com/1350/#p:e8cf1df0-bbd4-11e3-802e-002590d77bdd
** Pikachu: Aren't you going to catch me? It's not difficult, I promise... Please? [Knit Cap Girl and Hairy ignore him and go away)
*** Please! Jigglypuff keeps on drawing on my face!
*** You were walking in tall grass! You asked for it!
*** Please... Tame me! I want to party on days other than Thursday.
**** [Hairy remarks] Y'know, if we catch a Pikachu, we would never [sic] to pay our electric bills again.

Pokémon mentioned other than Pikachu:
* Charizard (In one storyline, "Go Charizard" is one usable move in battle)
* Jigglypuff
|}

====Webcomics====
{| class="wikitable" |
! Name + Example image
! Description
|-
! Dinosaur Comics<br>[[image:lorenz - dinosaur 1.png]]
| The green T-rex from {{w|Dinosaur Comics}} (a clip-art-based webcomic that uses the same artwork with different captions for every strip.) interrupts the story and proceeds to talk about his tiny arms or other subjects. In the end, he stamps on the house the main characters are in. Often, the characters wake up from a dream.
|-
! xkcd
| References to other xkcd comics:
* Knit Cap Girl is persuaded to leave the house to see a bobcat or expresses fear of bobcats. - [[325]], [[576]]
* Knit Cap Girl finds a boomerang and throws it, with varying results. - [[445]], [[475]], [[939]]
* Knit Cap Girl and Hairy are floating in the ocean, with or without sharks. - [[349]]
* Knit Cap Girl's laptop is melted using a blowtorch. - [[1349]]
|}

==Transcript==
{{notice|More panels/text have been appearing on the comic constantly since its debut, so expanding this transcript is expected to be a constant work in progress.<br>We still have many storylines missing. Feel free to add more if you find them!}}<br>
{{notice|
'''Note to editors'''<br>
This system is designed to be very easy to read, but when editing the code it may be hard to find the right panels amidst a sea of different storylines. Make extensive use of Ctrl+F and the Preview function. If you have a lot of text to add, save it somewhere else in case of edit conflicts. Occasionally the same line of text is found more than once in different places; make sure you are editing the right one.}}

'''Knit Cap Girl''':<br>
[Typing on the laptop and thinking.]<br>
([http://xkcd.com/1350/#p:be7a3304-b685-11e3-8001-94de80a03a29 permalink])

{{beginline}}

{{beginbranch}}
Refresh... No new email... Refresh... No new tweets... Refresh... ([http://xkcd.com/1350/#p:6479d184-b9a0-11e3-b947-94de80a03a39 permalink])
{{midbranch}}

'''Hairy''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
So you're still refusing to use Facebook?
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Wanna build a snowman?
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Hey. I hear Godot is in town. Wanna try to meet him?
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
You know. Your car's on fire.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
These stupid tiles... I'll just play one more game. (branch 1)
{{midbranch}}
[Hairy visits Knit Cap Girl.]<br>
'''Hairy''':
{{beginline}}

{{beginbranch}}
There's something weird out on the lawn.
{{midbranch}}

'''Hat Guy''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
This is an apartment. We don't have a lawn.
{{midbranch}}
[Knit Cap Guy and Hairy leave the house. They pass by a moat.]

'''Hairy''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
OK, two weird things.
{{midbranch}}

'''Hairy''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
I count three.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Why is there a gap here?
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Who tiled the moat?
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I can see a creeper down there.
{{midbranch}}
'''Knit Cap Girl''': Damn Griefers.
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Is this 1-1 from Mario?
{{midbranch}}
[Knit Cap Girl and Hairy pass by a tree.]<br>
'''Hairy''':
{{beginline}}

{{beginbranch}}
Why does that tree looks fake?
{{midbranch}}
'''Narrator''': A wild Pikachu appeared!<br>
'''Narrator''': Enemy Pikachu used "Theft"!<br>
'''Narrator''': It's not very effective...<br>
'''Narrator''': ...<br>
'''Pikachu''': Um...
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Actually, it's the final castle. Grab your Fire Flower!
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
It's over this way.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I've never been this far before!
{{midbranch}}
'''Hairy''': Are you going insane again?
{{endbranch}}

{{endline}}


{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
See? It's like a glitch in the Matrix.
{{midbranch}}
'''Knit Cap Girl''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
How far can we go?
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{beginbranch}}
What the fuck?!
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{beginbranch}}
How... How do we get everything back? 
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
This isn't where I left that...
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}

{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I have a lawn?
{{midbranch}}
[Knit Cap Girl and Hairy leave the house. They pass by a moat.]<br>
'''Hairy''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
Hmmm, did you order a moat?
{{midbranch}}
'''Knit Cap Girl''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
It helps keep bobcats out.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Of course. All cool kids have moats in their yards.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I don't have the best relationship with my mailman.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Yep. Delivered in two days, courtesy of Amazon Prime. 
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I don't remember this being here.
{{midbranch}}
'''Knit Cap Girl''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
It has begun! That's one of the first holes in reality.
{{midbranch}}
'''Knit Cap Girl''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
I've been working on a theory that 2048 is a tool for the old ones to open up portals to this reality.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
What about black holes? Those don't count?
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
We must go deeper.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I wanted to jump over the massive sinkhole, but nooo, someone just had to find out what was down there.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Oh, I had the moving company install it last week.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
We poop in it.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Finally got you out of the damn house. 
{{midbranch}}
'''Narrator''': A wild Pikachu appeared!<br>
'''Narrator''': Enemy Pikachu used "Ink Cloud"!<br>
'''Narrator''': ...<br>
'''Pikachu''': Um...<br>
'''Pikachu''': Well then.<br>
'''Pikachu''': I might have left surprises in that direction.<br>
{{endbranch}}

{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Look how deep it goes!
{{midbranch}}
'''Hairy''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
I wonder if we can get someone to fall in?
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I'm going in. You can come if you want to. I think I see stars down there.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
That was a missing opportunity.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I should come outside more often. 
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
It looks like I can see Moria from here. 
{{midbranch}}
'''Knit Cap Girl''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
You see Moria from everywhere, Dave.
{{midbranch}}
'''Narrator''': A wild Pikachu appeared!<br>
'''Narrator''': Enemy Pikachu used "Ink Cloud"!<br>
'''Narrator''': It's not very effective...<br>
'''Narrator''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
Google Maps didn't warn me of this.
{{midbranch}}
'''Narrator''': It's not very effective...<br>
'''Narrator''': Enemy Pikachu used "Uplift!"<br>
'''Narrator''': It's not very effective...<br>
'''Narrator''': Enemy Pikachu used "Cute Face!"<br>
'''Narrator''': It's not very effective...<br>
'''Narrator''': Enemy Pikachu used "Faceless"!<br>
'''Narrator''': It's not very effective...<br>
'''Narrator''': Where's Twitch when I need help?<br>
'''Narrator''': It's not very effective...<br>
'''Narrator''': Enemy Pikachu used "Abandonment"!<br>
'''Narrator''': It's not very effective...
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Enemy Pikachu used "The Discrete Metric"!
{{midbranch}}
'''Narrator''': It's not very effective...<br>
'''Narrator''': Enemy Pikachu used "Extrude"!<br>
'''Narrator''': It's not very effective...<br>
'''Narrator''': ...<br>
'''Pikachu''': Um...<br>
'''Pikachu''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
Now I only have Struggle left. Tie?
{{midbranch}}
'''Pikachu''': No fair! 
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
We are the knights who say Ni!
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
What is even going on here? 
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Gathered the ink!
{{midbranch}}
'''Narrator''': It's not very effective...<br>
'''Narrator''': Enemy Pikachu used "Granite"!<br>
'''Narrator''': It's not very effective... 
{{endbranch}}

{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Yeah, who did you think gave them a balrog?
{{midbranch}}
'''Knit Cap Girl''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
One does not simple "give" a balrog.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
What? You weren't using it!
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Gift-wrapping's the hardest part.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Moria is an anagram of Mario! 
{{midbranch}}
[Knit Cap Girl and Hairy pass by a tree.]<br>
'''Hairy''': Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall. 
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}

{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I hope it's not a bobcat this time.
{{midbranch}}
[A giant hole appears and they fall into it.]<br>
Knit Cap Girl and Hairy: Aaaaa...<br>
[Knit Cap Girl wakes up.]<br>
'''Knit Cap Girl''': Gasp [Goes to his desk.]<br>
'''Knit Cap Girl''': Yawn [Sits at his desk.]<br>
'''Knit Cap Girl''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
Might as well clear more tiles.
{{midbranch}}
[Hairy visits Knit Cap Girl again.]<br>
'''Hairy''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
Um, there's a hole in your lawn...
{{midbranch}}
'''Knit Cap Girl''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
If it doesn't lead to a 1024 tile, I'm leaving.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Damn bobcats.
{{midbranch}}
'''Hairy''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
Well it was here...
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I don't think it was bobcats this time. Unless they have backshoes... 
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I just had a dream about that. 
{{midbranch}}
[Knit Cap Girl and Hairy go outside again and fall in the hole again~.]<br>
'''Knit Cap Girl and Hairy''': Aaaaa...<br>
[Knit Cap Girl wakes up, leaves the bed and finds a boomerang.]<br>
'''Knit Cap Girl''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
It looks like is [sic] fell from space.
{{midbranch}}
[Knit Cap Girl throwns the boomerang away and it hits something.]<br>
Crash!<br>
[Knit Cap Girl runs away.] 
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I hope this isn't just another one of those dreams that keeps coming back at you.
{{midbranch}}
[Knit Cap Girl throws the boomerang twice, only for it to return to him both times.]<br>
'''Knit Cap Girl''': Hm. I was expecting a shark.<br>
[Knit Cap Girl throwns the boomerang again, and it returns to him again.] 
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I hope this was not thrown by a bobcat. 
{{midbranch}}
[Knit Cap Girl throws the boomerang, only for it to return to him .]<br>
'''Knit Cap Girl''': There's a mesage written on it.<br>
[Knit Cap Girl throws the boomerang again. It hits something.]<br>
Crash!<br>
[Knit Cap Girl runs away.] 
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
There's someone at the door looking for you.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I made an apple pie.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
If you want to do that, I'm rebuilding my bathroom this afternoon. 
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Definitely not going outside today.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Thank God it wasn't a bobcat.
{{midbranch}}
'''Hairy''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
You just got a package. It's by the door.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Why is there a bobcat on your lawn?
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
There's somewhere [sic] weird out on the lawn.
{{midbranch}}
'''Knit Cap Girl''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
This seems familiar.
{{midbranch}}
[Knit Cap Girl and Hairy go outside.]<br>
'''Knit Cap Girl''': I hope it's not a velociraptor. 
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Hold up. I need to get my wingsuit first.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I hope it's not a giant hole.
{{midbranch}}
[Knit Cap Girl and Hairy go outside. They pass by a tree.]<br>
'''Hairy''': How disappointed are you?<br>
'''Knit Cap Girl''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
I was expecting a bobcat.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Oh? That's the other tree.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Eh, not that much. 
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I have a bad feeling about this. 
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Hey do you know why there's a giant hole in the yard? 
{{midbranch}}
[Knit Cap Girl and Hairy go outside.]<br>
'''Knit Cap Girl''': I swear if it's a bobcat.<br>
'''Knit Cap Girl''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
Why did you bring me here?
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
This dream has been looping for years, and yet we never tire of it. Why is that? 
{{midbranch}}
[There is a gap in the ground. Knit Cap Girl jumps over it, Hairy looks into it.] 
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Hmmm... I should buy a shovel. 
{{midbranch}}
[Knit Cap Girl looks at his screen wondering.]<br>
'''Knit Cap Girl''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
Wow! Shovels sure are expensive!
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Shovels can't be actually made out of two sticks and a row of rocks?
{{midbranch}}
[Knit Cap Girl is wondering more. Hairy comes. They connect their laptops. Hairy is wondering. Knit Cap Girl tries something at Hairy's laptop.] 
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
How can there be 36 types of shovel??!
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
These prices are insane! I wonder if you can rent a shovel... 
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
If you reprogrammed the squirrel laser to target hipsters again...
{{midbranch}}
[Knit Cap Girl and Hairy go outside.]<br>
'''Knit Cap Girl''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
Let's just say we won't have to worry about parking.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
No, now they're just wearing wigs ironically.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Things may have gotten out of control a little.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
At least it improved their haircuts. 
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
There's a dinosaur at the door.
{{midbranch}}
'''T-Rex''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
Self-doubt crippled my arms. Can I have yours?
{{midbranch}}
'''T-Rex''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
Never answer your mobile phone while I am addressing you!
{{midbranch}}
[T-Rex is going to step on a house.]<br>
'''T-Rex''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
I think you just entered a dead zone.
{{midbranch}}
[Knit Cap Girl is inside the house. She wakes up from a dream, goes outside and finds a boomerang.] 
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Kids these days.
{{midbranch}}
[Knit Cap Girl is inside the house. She wakes up from a dream, and goes back to her computer.] 
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Die you monster.
{{midbranch}}
[Hairy is inside the house. He wakes up from a dream, and starts singing.]<br>
'''Hairy''': [Singing] I woke up like this. 
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Also, have you heard about Tumblr?
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Also I have some trenchant observations on language and philosophy to make.
{{midbranch}}
[T-Rex is going to step on a house.]<br>
'''T-Rex''': Also, your brain is like this house.<br>
[Knit Cap Girl is inside the house. He wakes up from a dream and goes back to his computer.] 
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
It's not like you're using them. 
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I need a hand!
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Did you think he was joking?
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Sorry for just barging in, I couldn't reach the doorbell. 
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I heard Home Depot has 1024 bathroom tiles.
{{midbranch}}
'''Knit Cap Girl''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
But how many bathrooms?
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
That's 2^5 more than Ikea, I need to see for myself.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Let's go, I can keep playing on my phone on the drive.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Pfft. Amateurs. Let's go mock them. 
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I think I saw a "4096" tile outside somewhere.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{endline}}

{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
These stupid tiles... I'll just play one more game. (branch 2) ([http://xkcd.com/1350/#p:ffdd8916-b9a7-11e3-8001-002590d77bdd permalink])
{{midbranch}}
[Hairy visits Knit Cap Girl.]<br>
'''Hairy''':
{{beginline}}

{{beginbranch}}
What's with those tiny games you keep playing, anyway?
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Isn't that sort of meaningless?
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Up for a dangerous experiment with no pay?
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
You won't believe what just fell off of your roof.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Oh. Hey. There's some kind of political thing going on.
{{midbranch}}
'''Laptop''': "...and let's go live to the debate."<br>
[Two politicians are debating on TV.]<br>
'''Politician 1''':
{{beginline}}

{{beginbranch}}
In contrast to my oppponent, who I quote, "Never liked Firefly much to begin with."
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
...but even if you tied enough birds to the car, would you get them to take off in unison?
{{midbranch}}
'''Politician 2''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
Tie a predatory bird to the car with a somewhat shorter rope so that it will scare off the rest of the birds without being able to reach them.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Training. That's why I support the "Airlift Act", which would put more resources into the hands of bird educators everywhere.
{{midbranch}}
'''Politician 1''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
But is "Airlift" an acronym?
{{midbranch}}
'''Hairy''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
There are birds outside tied to a car.
{{midbranch}}
'''Knit Cap Girl''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
Cool, let's see who we should vote for.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I know who I'm voting for.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
How many birds? ([http://xkcd.com/1350/#p:bb0ca5f6-b9fc-11e3-8016-002590d77bdd permalink])
{{midbranch}}
'''Hairy''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
I call her "Serenity."
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
So when you said birds...
{{midbranch}}
'''Knit Cap Girl''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
Wait. The birds are inside!?
{{midbranch}}
'''White Hat''': Want to forget your dreams? There's a pill for that! 
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
'''Someone inside the rocket''': I needed to escape from politics anyway.
{{midbranch}}
'''Voice inside the rocket''': "…And let’s go live to the debate". ([http://xkcd.com/1350/#p:8c25769e-badf-11e3-8001-002590d77bdd permalink])
'''Other spacecraft''': We observe your speed to be 38.5%c, and your time is passing at 92.3% the rate of ours. Does this mirror your observations?
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
All terms are relative. 
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Liquefied bird fuel is the way to the future.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Well, by “birds” and “car” I really meant a rocket. There’s totally a rocket in your lawn, man.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
The owls in our barn are forming a union.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Or course: Avian Implemented Reuseable Lifter and Ingenuous Flight Technology! 
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
But you must agree that a bitd in the hand is worth more than three educators in the bush.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Incredible!
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Wait... Is that like people who educate birds, or birds that teach?
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
By opening and closing an umbrella near them.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
One word: Fiscal hawks.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
And if elected, I vow to win this war on Christmas once and for all!
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I agree with my opponent all all [sic] issues and I think his economic plan is fantastic!
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Let's see if BSD is any easier to install nowadays.
{{midbranch}}
[Knit Cap Girl is confused, staring at her laptop.]<br>
'''Knit Cap Girl''': ??<br>
'''Knit Cap Girl''':
{{beginline}}

{{beginbranch}}
Now I just need to look up what a "beard error" is... 
{{midbranch}}
[Knit Cap Girl has ?? next to her head to signify confusion. Hairy walks in. (continue) Hairy is on the other side of the desk with his own laptop computer. Both the computers are connected through Ethernet cable. The two characters are typing on the computer. The two stop typing. Hairy has ??? next to his head. Hairy had stepped back while the character is checking on Hairy's laptop computer. Knit Cap Girl is holding something rectangular.]<br>
'''Hairy''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
The USB cable appears to be mono-directional.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Kernel mites?
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I'm not sure rubbing butter on it will help
{{midbranch}}
[Hairy and Knit Cap Girl are handling their computers more aggressively.]<br>
'''Knit Cap Girl''': ARGH! 
[They both stop. Knit Cap Girl walks away, her chair turned 180 degrees. Pushing aside the chair, she returns with a fiery blowtorch while wearing goggles.]<br>
'''Hairy''': [holding up a finger] Um.<br>
[Knit Cap Girl's computer was so burned, not only steam is coming out of the computer, but even the desk is noticeably burnt. The cable (apparently also burned) hangs from Hairy's laptop computer. The used blowtorch is clumsily laid sideways be the side of the desk. Both Knit Cap Girl (whose goggles are pushed off his eye) and Hairy are looking at the calamity. The chair is almost out of view. The goggles are on the floor while the chair is nowhere to be seen. Hairy and Knit Cap Girl are walking away from the scene.]<br>
'''Hairy''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
Are you all of a sudden in the mood for Thai food?
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Let's try OpenBSD next time...
{{midbranch}}
[First panel is of a panned view. Hairy and Knit Cap Girl are walking on a path away from a house. Next panel is back to a "normal camera view".]<br>
'''Hairy''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
Okay then.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Let's go exploring!
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I love Windows.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Guess not.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
If you'd done the other one, maybe the popcorn would have popped.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Let's see if rubbing some bacon on it will work.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Let's try Linux next time...
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Yep. It's haunted.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Wait. What's on this other partition?
{{midbranch}}
[Knit Cap Girl has ??? next to her head to signify confusion. Hairy walks in. Hairy is on the other side of the desk with his own laptop computer. Both the computers are connected through Ethernet cable. The two characters are typing on the computer. The two stop typing. Hairy has ??? next to his head. Hairy had stepped back while Knit Cap Girl is checking on Hairy's laptop computer. Knit Cap Girl is holding something rectangular.]<br>
'''Hairy''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
Maybe if you cross connect the serial port to video port you'll be able to send the video directly in as an input for the password.
{{midbranch}}
[Knit Cap Girl and Hairy are at sea, both emitting ripples. A shark's fin can be seen close to Hairy.]<br>
'''Hairy''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
It worked fine for the shark
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
We're definitely getting closer though
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
That didn't work!
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
It would have worked for Solaris.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Look, it made perfect sense at the time.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Still simpler than it used to be, I guess. 
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
What's a segfault?
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I think the cameras need to face each other.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
I'm not sure spaghetti works as a USB cable...
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Why is Python importing Skynet?
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
My keyboard has to support SSH over USB?
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Gravity. Lots of it.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Hurry! We're in talks with Facebook. ([http://xkcd.com/1350/#p:2b330d48-bb01-11e3-8003-002590d77bdd permalink])
{{midbranch}}
'''Hairy''':
{{beginline}}
{{beginbranch}}
Google's at the door. They want to buy your... Well I'd rather you heard it from them.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Come check out my neighbour's ball pit. It's full of balls.
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Oh, didn't I tell you? I got their database password years ago
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}

{{beginbranch}}
Do you think they'll care that the coffee machine doesn't work?
{{midbranch}}
{{endbranch}}
{{endline}}
{{endbranch}}

{{endline}}

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Dynamic comics]]
[[Category:April fool's comics]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Boomerangs]]
[[Category:Computers]]
[[Category:Dinosaurs]]
[[Category:Dreams]]
[[Category:Pokémon]]
[[Category:Politics]]
[[Category:Star Wars]]
[[Category:The Matrix]]
[[Category:Interactive comics]]