Comics that ask "what if?" | Randall Munroe
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- čas přidán 7. 05. 2014
- Web cartoonist Randall Munroe answers simple what-if questions ("what if you hit a baseball moving at the speed of light?") using math, physics, logic and deadpan humor. In this charming talk, a reader's question about Google's data warehouse leads Munroe down a circuitous path to a hilariously over-detailed answer - in which, shhh, you might actually learn something.
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Randall Munroe: Cartoonist. Also, you know, ex-Nasa roboticist
Who learned more about orbital mechanics playing KSP than hanging out at NASA.
@@LordFokas To be fair, most people learn more about orbital mechanics playing KSP than anywhere else.
Yeah, that ex made me think he was old.
@@timothymclean What is KSP?
@@leif1075 Kerbal Space Program. It's a game that Randall Munroe has made a few comics about, including one where he attributes most of his understanding of orbital mechanics to the game.
This guy is an internet legend
Fungamerplays yeah
yes
I agree. Though I didn't realise who it was until the image of the cartoon came up...
I love this haughty dipshit.
He really is
"If people had wheels and could fly, how would we differentiate them from airlines?"
When it stops flying, and is sitting on the ground on its wheels, go up to it and ask it, "Are you a person or an airplane?" If it answers, either way, odds are it's a person. If it ignores your question and starts vomiting luggage, it's probably an airplane.
Hope that helps.
There's enough text-to-voice apps that would allow you to have an airplane state that it is human, though, and a plane is not guaranteed to have luggage upon it. Nope, it'd have to be something more directly related to the definition of a plane.
@@roguishpaladin but have you ever seen a person vomit luggage?
Ah, the modified Harkness test.
Urgent
@@roguishpaladin Or more related to the definition of a human, which is Mr. Munroe's point I think.
Did Randall just get nerd-sniped by Google?
Ayup. They Randall'ed Randall.
did you just reference Randall to Randall about Randall?
@@entropy7999 it would appear so, yes. Now, back to my infinite resistors....
@@tf2excession My favorite "What-If" is still "What if you had a mole (unit of measurement) of moles (small furry critters)"?
@@jordananderson2728 I totally forgot about that!
I thought Randall was black and white, with a very slim body, slim hands and legs and no face. The more you know
Slenderman basically
No no, you're thinking of CGPGrey
@@SoulOfTheReaver you'd need glasses too
Having never seen Munroe's face before, I feel a little bit jarred being forced to think of him as anything other than Cueball from XKCD.
I imagined him as black hat
"oh no, he's hot"
“Cartoonist”? Educator, rocket scientist, inspiration, take your pick, but xkcd is hardly a cartoon - it’s a work of art! I’ve never since seen stick figures with more emotion or personality than his :p
Cartoons are art...
Not as educational... but if you like emotional stick figures, look up Alan Becker on youtube.
The king of nerds. Only Munroe would have the idea to compare Google's data with the last glacial maximum.
+Slutuppnu Indeed, like that gives people more information :)
But what other physical object on Earth even compares to the punch cards? Unless he were to compare it to some other hypothetical mass, its pretty much the only thing :p
jake W Without googling it, tell me how much information a punch card contains? No? I rest my case.
Maximilian Wicén Presumably not very much considering the gargantuan size of Randall's punch card pile. I'm not sure if I'm understanding the point you're trying to make though
Maximilian Wicén it's in the video
80 characters, 10 bytes
You gotta admit, Google's got style
Google's got multiple copies of everyone's style, in RAM, on disk and on tape :D
hear hear
Put you at 666 likes. So proud
Harry Potter Reference?
My theory: one of the Google staff, an xkcd fan of course, saw the what if article and recognized the accuracy of the estimate. He then showed it around to his coworkers, fascinated, and it was then that they crafted their response. Indeed, their "no comment" says volumes, namely that he was close enough to the answer that they felt a need to dissuade him from such ponderings.
@@nickelchlorine2753 What have you put in my brain
@@rudrasingh6354 Truth... He put truth in your brain. Google is run by data addicted technowizards with the money to live a life of perpetual D&D LARPING, complete with thrones, lizards genetically modified into dragons and secretive meetings in arcane temples in remote forests and forgotten wildernesses.
@@taitano12 You know, you'd think that, but the best LARPing in the nation so far as I can tell is up in the New England area, not in the Bay Area. If they're LARPing, they're not building out games here.
@@roguishpaladin The "Board game capitol" of the world isn't in new england, nor in the bay area, but often in the relatively unexplored areas. For a long time, it was in Salt Lake City because of the weird contradictory ideas, combined with a lack of funding to hash them out.
You're right. "No comment" seems to lean more towards "we can neither confirm nor deny" than just denying any information. "Neither confirm nor deny" is usually understood to be "you got it right"
Growing up, I saw a lot of xkcd comics printed on my university’s Mathematic department’s notice boards. Since then I have always liked xkcd. But hearing Randall Munroe going through his creative-thought process and depth research, I appreciate it so much more. This is beyond comics. This is philosophy.
Why can't I imagine this guy being THE GUY behind xkcd?
SAME
He doesn't look geeky enough.
ithuvanian I think that might be it...
Because you are thinking funny people can not be intelligent.
When it is actually the other way around.
igrewold no, I just don't picture him like that, I thought of him as younger
Google is both scary and awesome at the same time.
Just bought his new book “How to”, just like “What if” I have so far been enjoying it
I'm reading How to as well, and it was my first introduction to him believe it or not. I'm loving it so much!
Don't forget Thing Explainer
This is Randall Monroe?? He's so smart. I read his book, What If, last year and enjoyed every bit of it. Big ups
Have you read his comics, they're really good.
I got some news for you @martins divine okoi in September his new book is being released called 'how to' and I believe it is a form of sequal that was teased in one chapter of what if? and I really hope it is. same style, more things. looks fun.
Martins Divine Okoi same
@@entropy7999 have you heard that What If 2 exists now?
@@vibaj16 Already read it! Was a very fun read, though I did enjoy the first one a tad more.
I shouldn't have watched this. It's messing with the xkcd narrative voice that I had going.
Creighton Miller TRUE
I'm not able to read XKCD the same way I always had...
Creighton Miller My version is the Will Wheaton what if audio book
I'm so glad that for me it ISN'T Wheaton.
same
You can tell he was nervous but he did a good job. Excellent payoff.
kids, i remember when what-if was a weekly series. ANd then a monthly. ANd then a yearly
:'(
oh you shush. he's ONE guy! he's been busy with his books, and touring. buy them! plenty of content contained within to provide the fix you're craving. sadly, i can't figure out how to get the mouse-over text to work, though. some of his stuff is going to need some advanced e-ink development before it fully translates well to print format.
0:30 - "...some calculations..." (Randall pauses so we can read the comic, then: Rising compulsion to mouse over for title text, barely resisted)
Kirk Schafer it's a what if. Doesn't have it.
What ifs do have mouse-over text
@@SuperGarryGamer Oh. Woah!
This was a treat to see pop up in my suggested videos. I've been a fan of XKCD for years and really hope he revives the "What If" portion of his website again. Really cool to actually see the person behind those amazing comics!
Google is such a troll
Google was nerd sniping.
+Ben Pyman Ahahah!
AquaPhoenix Productions tru
AquaPhoenix Productions but how cool is getting physical, exclusive content directly from Google's staff?
Yep.
I love how this is just a less organized version of the what if book
I like how he just basically reverse engineer google without them getting mad.
Those Google peeps trolled him pretty good...
They should have included a link to rickroll him, given the amount of times xkcd mentions that.
I thought he was banned from TED
why would he be banned?
Zevti that was funny
I'm a bit upset that he didn't open with that.
155UR 5H4NK0V17CH Yeah...dang.
Zevti The solution, of course, is to use brackets: Linux (or BSD :]) would...
I almost awaiting him to talk about awkward combinations of parenthesis and emoticons...
URGENT: If people had wheels and could fly, how could we distinguish them from airplanes?
LOL
+Apollys I KNOW IT! People wear clothes! ^^
Best question
Chasey Not all people :)
Airplanes generate their own thrust, which must be enough to take off on their own.
Planes are made of metal, people are not
"i dont really like math for its own sake" this is SO TRUE
even linear algebra can be fun if youre doing it in the context of graphics programming
less so if youre doing it in school 💀💀💀
I can't believe noone laughed at his pizza delivery joke XDD
I HAVE HIS BOOK AND JUST FOUND THIS TALK IM EXCITED
Matthew Cupelli i have both of them
So that's how Randall looks like
He's not a stickman and he's got a face
love this guy. his what-if series is stellar, and I eagerly anticipate each tuesday's submission.
I wish it were each Tuesday. Feels like once a quarter nowadays
@@Zimpfnis The rate is decreasing greatly. There were 4 in 2017, only 2 in 2018.
This might be one of the best TED talks of the year for me.
I absolutely love Randall Munroe.
I immediately added this to my favourites around 1:37 after i had my mind blown a couple of times...paused ...writing this and i cant wait to watch the rest. ...i leave a like most of the times let alone i have subscribed a long time ago...but this video is really something and i hope i can learn something that i can use as a game designer one day
plot twist: google has like 5 people who memorised all its information and they just type them out in real time
That would amount to about a similar storage capacity, if fully used...
That was so brilliant. The best TED Talk I've seen in a while.
HE DIDNT ASK THE (...:)) VS (...:)!
Pietro Celano He didn't want to get banned.
lmao
2:20 No HBP because the batter didn't try to avoid getting hit. It would be a strike, because some (disintegrated) part of the ball would pass through the strike zone.
But "If the ball is outside the strike zone when it touches the batter, it shall be called a ball if he makes no attempt to avoid being touched." Since this is also true, then...I guess it's a ball and a strike? I think the doctoring the ball rule might come into effect, though. By the mere act of throwing, the pitcher is intentionally damaging the ball and is thus ejected.
@@roguishpaladin My interpretation is that if any part of the ball is in the strike zone, the ball is considered in the strike zone.
This does raise a question of what happens if a ball touches the batter while some part of it is in the strike zone, but the point of touching is outside the strike zone. The strict letter of the definition of a strike in this situation - "[t]ouches the batter in flight in the strike zone" - suggests that the point of touching must be in the strike zone to considered a strike. In this case, if it is not a hit by pitch, it would be neither a ball nor a strike.
Another question arises when a pitch enters and exits the strike zone, and then hits the batter. It would be a strike under clause (b) of the definition of a strike ("[i]s not struck at, if any part of the ball passes through any part
of the strike zone"); but the ball is not in the strike zone when it hit the batter, and rule 5.05(b)(2) says that's a ball.
@@roguishpaladin Also, the "doctoring the ball" rules - 6.02(c)(1) through (5) - don't apply to throwing the ball.
"... so this is impractical. " Love this guy.
I am totally in love with him! Reading his book makes me realize we should be BFFs.
the first example was best, awesome video!
Hahaaaa. Whichever employee is responsible for those punch cards is a legend.
I’ve been reading XKCD for over a decade, how is it possible I didn’t know this video existed?
He's amazing !!!! Getting the book just now. Sending so much love nerd royalty !!!! 🌸♥️🌸♥️🌸♥️🌸🌠🌸🌠🌸🌠🌸🌠🌸🌸🌠
I love this guy's website!! Been following it for a while now.
I was immediately confused when I saw him, because I was expecting a hat.
Wasn't he banned? He must have sneaked in...
Yeah. But he never got his question answered....
Which was? (I can't remember:-)
Jarod Obando I guess they'd let him in after a promise of no graphs.
@@jarodwilfrid8505 How to end a parenthetical with emoticons.
@@proot. He said "... (I can't remember :) " (so he knew it :))
This is one of my all time favorites!
I've known about xkcd for years, own all three of his written books (or his first three), but this is the first time I've ever seen him or heard his voice. I never realized that I'd be able to, but I'm kinda sad it's in a video of answers I already know.
Randall is simply the best
Loved his book. Same goes for this video.
Love his stuff, love this talk!
Damn I'm glad CZcams recommended me this, I love the book and know every question n answer
I read XKCD three times a week! Didn't know you had a TED talk.
I read this guy’s book, and it’s honestly great. I saw the name and instantly clicked
Nice talk. Always entertaining.
He should get a ig Nobel prize!!!
Easily the best ted talk out there.
Glad to see he is no longer banned from TED after the “Emoticons in parentheses” incident.
?
I've been reading XKCD for years now... and I've never seen Randall's face! 😄
i just pre-ordered his book "How To" omg i can't wait for it to ship. this guy is awesome!! I bought his other two books as well, and they are lit.
GUYS THE BOOK JUST REACHED Oh my gosh ! ! IM SO HAPPYYYY
I LOVE this book!
Such an incredible person! Wow! Making education as - learning and not just knowing something and inspiring and motivating the excitement to learn together: this is education. Wow!
A great mind! So glad I bought his book What if
xkcd is the only way I bear having religion class. Thank you so much Randall!!!
Totally love his book
Thank you Randall
His book, What If, is unique and awesome! That's why I like him!!
I must have watched this 4 times in my life
Randall Munroe is one of the two people online who I would donate money to.
RANDALL MUNROE??? THIS GUY'S MY HERO!!!!
This was an unexpected surprise! xkcd was literally the first webcomic I'd discovered!
thank you youtube recomendations !!!!
Wish he still did these.
The world would be a colder place without guys like Randall Munroe.
I love that Randall Munroe and Henry Reich actually teamed up at one point...
There he is, the man, the myth, the legend.
Great insight from the XKCD guy.
merci infiniment pour ce travail de traduction
The book was amazing
Amazing.
great work! a smidge more of an introduction would be nice.
Ahahahaha!! I like Google's sense of humour. X-D And this dude's too.
Reminder to self: he. Is. MARRIED.
Self: still smart. Hot. FUNNY.
My mum bought me his book some years ago, it was amazing!!!
This talk was fun
oh wow, he is amazing
This guy is my motivational hero
Lol@description - shh bby is ok
On that last question.... Make it 'wings' instead of 'wheels' and --- Size ( even really big people are smaller than the smallest plane), speed (presumably not fast enough to start losing articles of clothing, but fast enough to get lift), cruising height above ground (the need to breath is a real limiter) lack of ability to show up on radar (unless they can pick up birds too then refer back to size), length of runway needed to land and take off ( if we had vertical capability, they would notice the lack of rotors on top), and so on... Or we could look at it from the way it was asked....They could tell at a glance that you had no registration numbers printed on your side and there for were not registered as a plane. Probably had no submitted flight plan, and therefore would probably end up crashing into other unregistered, flyers. Then the lack of burning and exploding on impact would probably be a dead give-away. Thank you very much! LOL
"No comment" made me laugh out loud. Good one Google!
Brilliant and witty Ted Talk. Mahalo for sharing! Do Drones deliver pies to Google?
Please dont send me a card : )
I love his book it’s so funny and cool
"every week" lmfaooo
One time I calculated the amount of water the leaking faucet in my dorm room wasted in the week it took for maintenance to fix it and that was about where I peaked in life.
THIS IS THE GUY THAT WROTE THE GREATEST BOOK OF ALL TIME
He didn't write the Bible
@@nishantak911 You're the one who's written the greatest comment of all time!
I JUST REALIZED I HAVE THIS GUYS BOOK O_O
Love that Google has a sense of humor :)
***** this guy has a book? Thanks I didn't know that until you mentioned it ;-)