tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post1985291316953088358..comments2024-03-17T05:03:46.056-07:00Comments on xkcd sucks: Comic 679: A Lonely Jew on ChristmasCarlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01074589998141327538noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-69780300037585495592009-12-30T22:36:02.022-08:002009-12-30T22:36:02.022-08:00I think Amarsir's distinction between puns and...I think Amarsir's distinction between puns and wordplay is important. I think of it more as puns of greater or lesser purity, but that's just semantics. However, I like puns more than wordplay, not the other way around. <br /><br />Nate and Sam, your proposed comic is hilarious.<br /><br />the xkcd search is bad because many comics don't come up, and most old comics come up multiple times - so a search that should only bring up, say, 7 comics ends up giving you like 30 or 40 results, which are annoying to sift through.Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01074589998141327538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-87364322677815766652009-12-29T06:05:36.654-08:002009-12-29T06:05:36.654-08:00Anon, no comics past "the race: part 4" ...Anon, no comics past "the race: part 4" show up on Randall's ohnorobot. 100 comics ago.<br />Whose fault do you think this is?R.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-73295609556529354772009-12-28T16:08:33.826-08:002009-12-28T16:08:33.826-08:00The search engine was designed by Ryan North. You ...The search engine was designed by Ryan North. You are a fangirl of Ryan North, remember.<br /><br />How useless are you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-8202890530119992652009-12-25T22:23:19.470-08:002009-12-25T22:23:19.470-08:00Aloria, you got Carl a present? I was thinking abo...Aloria, you got Carl a present? I was thinking about it, but he told me to forget it because he didn't want to give out his address.Pete Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14153437374929803489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-18433483804777557932009-12-25T11:29:55.958-08:002009-12-25T11:29:55.958-08:00As to the search function - it's ohnorobot, wh...As to the search function - it's ohnorobot, which is really an excellent service provided that the webcomic actually UPDATES it. A softer world (a deliciously dark webcomic) has the same problem, often the only updates to the search feature is by readers, which is always risky business.sheepdeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02715187848406924025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-68134530715113091612009-12-25T05:09:16.481-08:002009-12-25T05:09:16.481-08:00Damnit, that should read:
> fundamental charged...Damnit, that should read:<br />> fundamental charged matter as waves instead of as particles<br /><br />I need to proofread more.<br /><br />Merry Christmas! :)JWChttp://jwcxz.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-21438946848879353572009-12-25T05:04:23.861-08:002009-12-25T05:04:23.861-08:00The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle works like th...The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle works like this:<br /><br />[Uncertainty in Position] * [Uncertainty in Momentum] >= [Planck's Constant] / 4 Pi<br /><br />An "uncertainty" is like a degree of error. These can be actual numbers. Basically, the idea is that we can know a lot of information about an objects position, but then as a tradeoff, we won't know as much about its momentum (also, you can rewrite this formula a bit to make it in terms of energy, but I prefer it this way).<br /><br />It basically says that even if we were to develop the most sensitive equipment possible, we can never truly know all information about an object at a particular time. The reason comes from elementary quantum mechanics. Schrödinger (hey look, I too can remember umlauts!) developed a "wave equation" for matter. Basically, he found a way to represent fundamental charged particles as waves instead of as matter. This essentially says that if light can be represented as both particle (photon) and wave, then so can matter. Furthermore, the wave equation tells us the probability that a particle will be at some location. Using these probabilistic results, you can derive Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle.<br /><br />Of course, Schrödinger received a lot of crap for this theory. The whole concept of uncertainty bothered many scientists, including Einstein, who, IIRC, is known to have said "God does not play dice with the universe."<br /><br />Anyways, enough of that... Randy has two jokes in 679 that are puns on the term "observation". The first is related to Schrödinger's infamous cat thought experiment. Since the pseudo-physicist in the strip is Jewish and doesn't "observe" Christmas, it can't have a definite date, just as because nobody observes the cat in the box, it cannot be definitely alive or dead. As Carl described it, an utterly pretentious and sad statement.<br /><br />The alt-text states that physicists who want to keep Christmas the same cannot observe it. This is directly related to Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle as written above. One interpretation of the principle states that if we want to improve our ability to observe a particle, we must change its energy (and therefore momentum) to maintain the uncertainty relation. Therefore, Randy's joke does indeed fit.<br /><br />I just find it lame mostly because it applies a physical concept to a nonphysical thing. Christmas is not a particle. Also, the situation is so contrived, it probably couldn't even work as a bash.org quote.JWChttp://jwcxz.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-72320246648782332732009-12-25T03:10:55.670-08:002009-12-25T03:10:55.670-08:00April 6.April 6.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-55594667120392382392009-12-25T03:10:05.620-08:002009-12-25T03:10:05.620-08:00I thought it was refering to the Denver christmas ...I thought it was refering to the Denver christmas eve blizzard, but I suppose the Long Island April 6th blizzard could be what he's referencing.ScottMcTonynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-81331961563028334062009-12-25T02:52:57.430-08:002009-12-25T02:52:57.430-08:00I guess there was a blizzard in the northeast in m...I guess there was a blizzard in the northeast in march 1982? I have to admit, if that is true, Randall does his research. His creepy, pointless research.<br /><br />Merry Christmas!Frednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-19100090500697319652009-12-25T02:41:59.106-08:002009-12-25T02:41:59.106-08:00To observe Christmas means to celebrate it, to par...To observe Christmas means to celebrate it, to participate in it etc. In the physics context, 'observe' means essentially to see, to perceive.daniel danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06446227950144949576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-29873735262552430272009-12-25T02:34:52.819-08:002009-12-25T02:34:52.819-08:00Does "observe" have a "double meani...Does "observe" have a "double meaning?" I just looked it up in Merriam Webster and it has had the same meaning for 1000s of years.<br /><br />Perhaps it is not so in your language but "observe" is used precisely correct in the xkcd strip as far as the English language is concerned. Physicist or layman ... the meaning is the same.<br /><br />What is your native language, Carl?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-47020594255470329392009-12-25T02:31:36.129-08:002009-12-25T02:31:36.129-08:00incredibly lazy comic but the alt-text reminded me...incredibly lazy comic but the alt-text reminded me that I like vintage porn so I thought it was pretty sweet.tokinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-51386664471583769172009-12-25T02:22:01.899-08:002009-12-25T02:22:01.899-08:00Going to give this one a pass re: it's Christm...Going to give this one a pass re: it's Christmas.R.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-79645831623697166162009-12-25T01:40:20.305-08:002009-12-25T01:40:20.305-08:00I think that 680 would probably be slightly less b...I think that 680 would probably be slightly less bad if it was just the 'Happy Birthday...to those of you born on the 25th' text. There is some (mild, short-lived) humour in the subversion of expectations -- (a) on Christmas of course you'd not be expecting a birthday message, and (b) if you do see birthday messages in a Christmas context it's often some sort of reference to the birth of Jesus, which is hardly what you'd expect from Randall. So just having the Happy Birthday message could perhaps elicit a smile of sorts.<br /><br />But having the 'shafted' text puts the emphasis of the joke on the comment about the unfortunate date for a birthday, which is an entirely unfunny observation and one made probably by almost every 7 year old, arguing about who has the best birth date.daniel danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06446227950144949576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-16302967428821882582009-12-25T01:35:32.819-08:002009-12-25T01:35:32.819-08:00"ever since birthdays and Christmas became ex..."ever since birthdays and Christmas became exercises in conspicuous consumption"<br /><br />Malethoth is a commmmuuuunnnniiiiissssttttAnn Apolishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08566528013026340201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-86791759873942324742009-12-25T00:33:51.055-08:002009-12-25T00:33:51.055-08:00I like how the title text shows that Randall isn&#...I like how the title text shows that Randall isn't 100% clear on how babby is formed. Sure he knows it involves sex, but I don't know anyone who was born the day after conception.ScottMcTonynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-58496546313985678532009-12-24T23:43:28.980-08:002009-12-24T23:43:28.980-08:00what the fuck.what the fuck.Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06037127857062536971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-7625857119770667992009-12-24T23:42:15.363-08:002009-12-24T23:42:15.363-08:00Every time I see the name Nate, I am reminded of &...Every time I see the name Nate, I am reminded of "the longest joke in the world" and it's famous punchline.<br /><br />And the xmas comic is just terrible. At least he didn't mention that they didn't shave pubic hair in the 80s, because clearly Randall's only knowledge of this time period comes from pornography.Timofeihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06478844501804517520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-88056165254795942302009-12-24T23:19:18.459-08:002009-12-24T23:19:18.459-08:00Can someone tell me what's Randall's damag...Can someone tell me what's Randall's damage with the newest one? Ok I know some people's families allow a party halfway through the year for kids who have birthdays in close proximity to Christmas (meaning like 2 days before or on Christmas, any time before is fair game and a dick move if you don't want to buy to gifts) so that they don't feel shafted from less presents (as far as I'm concerned they don't care when they're past 35 and the presents aren't a big deal, but I personally don't think Randall will ever pass that maturity barrier)<br /><br />Another thing, what the Christ is with the alt-text? That's simply horrifying that he would write something like that and to think I used to be told that the real wit came from the extra text (back for the comics where he wrote fuck all in the actual comic and put everything in the alt-text) and now I'll bet those people who told me that will eat their words.Camhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18388252234713990053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-3549135885071436502009-12-24T22:20:07.742-08:002009-12-24T22:20:07.742-08:00I really don't know why you guys all hate this...I really don't know why you guys all hate this. I think Randall made a clever pun while making fun of physicists and also incorporating what's happening in the real world. If this is all about the pun, then wow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-34859654354132747472009-12-24T22:11:22.532-08:002009-12-24T22:11:22.532-08:00Slapstick and jokes about erectile dysfunction are...Slapstick and jokes about erectile dysfunction are the lowest forms of comedy.<br /><br />Trust me, I know.Bob Dolehttp://www.bobdole.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-62680127174215866432009-12-24T21:14:47.978-08:002009-12-24T21:14:47.978-08:00People who think sarcasm is the lowest form of hum...People who think sarcasm is the lowest form of humor are dumbasses.rshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-56745767425983876052009-12-24T21:11:01.844-08:002009-12-24T21:11:01.844-08:00I think it's actually sarcasm that's consi...I think it's actually sarcasm that's considered to be the lowest form of humor. I find puns hilarious but then again, I also like xkcd so my opinion is irrelevant here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-78884245510651909612009-12-24T21:05:41.247-08:002009-12-24T21:05:41.247-08:00At first I was like "Well, this is like the l...At first I was like "Well, this is like the least interesting comic Randall has ever done. Pretty sure people have been like 'lol people who were born on xmas get half as many presents' ever since birthdays and Christmas became exercises in conspicuous consumption. Whatever, at least there's nothing gross or outraging about it."<br /><br />Then I read the title text and vomited like six times.John Magnumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04416392917805723793noreply@blogger.com