xkcd

[Radar]

That's good to know.

Now, lets say I've got both a main computer, and I use firefox and chrome. And then, I've got an iphone, that only knows safari. And I need to use a chromebook at times.

How do I manage to synchronzie all of these, so that my unrememberable, non-written down, computer trusted passwords are usable on these other machines?

The real solution is some sort of physical key ring, a USB-thingie that, just like physical house keys, unlocks accounts. Now figure out how to make that safe when used on someone else's untrusted computer.

In that case your password library would have to be on a remote server in order not to pass the data through an unsecure computer. As for how to safely log into your password manager, you would need some one-use codes which require you to have some physical object generating those for you. For example in banking a smartphone is often used for authentication exactly in this fashion with the only change in that the password is generated remotely and sent to your phone.

[Lord Torath]

Missing States.

Alaska and Hawaii are obvious. Anyone else able to spot the other 7 missing states without singing "Fifty Nifty United States"? I confess I almost got through the whole list of states before figuring out the last missing state.

Spoiler

Show

The Dakotas, Nebraska, and Kansas were the first ones I noticed were missing. Delaware, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania were the ones I needed to song for.

[IthilanorStPete]

Missing States.

Alaska and Hawaii are obvious. Anyone else able to spot the other 7 missing states without singing "Fifty Nifty United States"? I confess I almost got through the whole list of states before figuring out the last missing state.

Spoiler

Show

The Dakotas, Nebraska, and Kansas were the first ones I noticed were missing. Delaware, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania were the ones I needed to song for.

I had to check ExplainXkcd to get the joke at all; I didn't notice any of the missing states at first.

[Rockphed]

Spoiler: from memory

Show

Pennsylvania
Delaware
Both Dakotas
New Mexico
Kansas
Nebraska

I found them by comparing the map to what the map should look like. I actually spent a good 5 minutes trying to make sure I had found them all.

[The Glyphstone]

Spoiler

Show

I noticed Delaware, New Mexico, and the Dakota. I had to pull up a real map for comparison before I remembered Pennsylvania, Nebraska, and Kansas.

[Rockphed]

Spoiler

Show

I noticed Delaware, New Mexico, and the Dakota. I had to pull up a real map for comparison before I remembered Pennsylvania, Nebraska, and Kansas.

Cheater! I didn't even think to pull out a real map.

[Tetrimino]

https://xkcd.com/2407/
Speaking from experience, I can say that the bread-first search is by far the easiest and most pleasant of the three.

EDIT: Fixed the link

[keybounce]

The #2 cause of astronomer hand injuries is trying to do vector math when the second axis points off to the right.

I want to give that joke a thumbs-down.

[Rockphed]

I want to give that joke a thumbs-down.

I do my math in left handed systems: I give it a thumbs up.

[keybounce]

Except that the direction of vector products is defined by the right hand rule.

[137ben]

It's a completely arbitrary convention, just like the convention to measure angles counterclockwise from the positive X-axis. Rockphed uses a left-handed system, meaning they follow the opposite convention for cross products from what most people do.

[Rockphed]

Except that the direction of vector products is defined by the right hand rule.

In right handed coordinate systems, which are more common because many physical systems follow them. Apocryphally, there was a dispute between the Americans and the British because they had defined circular polarization handedness oppositely.

[Lvl 2 Expert]

16th? We do it on the 6th. Weird, never knew we were a week early on that,too.

You're not. Although many Dutch people would argue you're about half a day late.

[Tetrimino]

https://xkcd.com/2425/

There is a 100% chance that I will use this to explain how vaccines work to my friends. (Sound effects included)

[keybounce]

This is a good one. Real-life virus explanation based on silly fanfic style Starwars.

[Quild]

I'm super dubious about the resistance's construction crew B being able to build a Death Star.
Especially without having to report about need of funds, material or people at some point.

[georgie_leech]

I'm super dubious about the resistance's construction crew B being able to build a Death Star.
Especially without having to report about need of funds, material or people at some point.

Keep in mind, the plans were more about building an empty Death Star-y empty shell than a fully operational battlestation.

[theangelJean]

Keep in mind, the plans were more about building an empty Death Star-y empty shell than a fully operational battlestation.

A Death-Star-like empty shell wouldn't stand up nearly as well to bombardment, though, would it?

I guess this is where the analogy breaks down - the surface proteins are the virus's way in to host cells, and immunity is about preventing and mitigating that rather than just blowing things up.