0556: "Alternative Energy Revolution"
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Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
Great strip.
My only confusion: Does the "batshit-insane" refer to Don Quixote or Al Gore?
As Don Quixote is a fictional literary character, my money is on Al Gore.
My only confusion: Does the "batshit-insane" refer to Don Quixote or Al Gore?
As Don Quixote is a fictional literary character, my money is on Al Gore.
Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
Great comic.
I want to see a Black Hat Man Sancho Panza.
I want to see a Black Hat Man Sancho Panza.
Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
Silly Randal, Quix (-otic references) are for kids!
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Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
sje46 wrote:Not cool, not funny, not a good strip.
You know, this is starting to get old. Pseudo-trolling only works when there is trolling prevalent. Of which there is none.
But, alas, I digress in talking to the quixotic. I present to ye, Fred Gallagher's take of the situation:

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Allah o akbar! Azadi!
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01101110 01100111 00100000 01100010 01101001
01101110 01100001 01110010 01111001 00101110
Allah o akbar! Azadi!
Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
You know, this is starting to get old. Pseudo-trolling only works when there is trolling prevalent. Of which there is none.
Who said I was trolling? Who said I was pseudo-trolling? Maybe my only intention was to follow a meme. But it's getting so old I guess. I don't really care what you think.
There is a thread for editing xkcd strips already. It's cool to post it here, but you might also want to try there too

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Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
I expected someone had beat me to posting that, and I was rightalmightyze wrote:sje46 wrote:Not cool, not funny, not a good strip.
You know, this is starting to get old. Pseudo-trolling only works when there is trolling prevalent. Of which there is none.
But, alas, I digress in talking to the quixotic. I present to ye, Fred Gallagher's take of the situation:

Does that count as "Make xkcd slightly better"?
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In the Marvel vs. DC film-making war, we're all winners.
In the Marvel vs. DC film-making war, we're all winners.
Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
If you think it is my intention to annoy or hurt people, you do not understand my intention. My intention is only to have an outraged rant on every strip, and to end it with "not cool, not funny, not a good strip".
I do not care if you do not like this.
I do not care if you do not like this.
General_Norris: Taking pride in your nation is taking pride in the division of humanity.
Pirate.Bondage: Let's get married. Right now.
Pirate.Bondage: Let's get married. Right now.
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Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
Damn, I neglected to scroll the page and only saw the first eight panels before reading the "alt" text. It made considerably less sense 
Nope. Al Gore brought our doom upon us; our saviour is the one batshit insane, hence: Don Quixote.

Aquila wrote:My only confusion: Does the "batshit-insane" refer to Don Quixote or Al Gore?
As Don Quixote is a fictional literary character, my money is on Al Gore.
Nope. Al Gore brought our doom upon us; our saviour is the one batshit insane, hence: Don Quixote.
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Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
Bulletmagnet wrote:Damn, I neglected to scroll the page and only saw the first eight panels before reading the "alt" text. It made considerably less senseAquila wrote:My only confusion: Does the "batshit-insane" refer to Don Quixote or Al Gore?
As Don Quixote is a fictional literary character, my money is on Al Gore.
Nope. Al Gore brought our doom upon us; our saviour is the one batshit insane, hence: Don Quixote.
Or Tom Cruise.
Try the Printifier for xkcd. You can now scale the comic between 50 and 150%.
I find these very useful: Common Errors in English Usage (web site) and Eats, Shoots & Leaves (book). You may, too.
e pluribus unum
Unleash unlicensed ungulates!
I find these very useful: Common Errors in English Usage (web site) and Eats, Shoots & Leaves (book). You may, too.
e pluribus unum
Unleash unlicensed ungulates!
Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
I was reading the comic when someone mentioned Don Quixote for some other reason... (It's a book that they make you read in schools in Spanish speaking countries.)
"En un lugar de la Mancha de cuyo nombre no quiero acordarme..."
Don Qujote de la Mancha, Chapter I
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
"En un lugar de la Mancha de cuyo nombre no quiero acordarme..."
Don Qujote de la Mancha, Chapter I
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
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Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
this may sound stupid but at first i thought it was the man in the hat.
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Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
You know, I didn't get the Strider/Gordon Freeman idea right away but, looking back at the comic, it's pretty hard to see anything else (besides Don Quixote, obivously). Somewhat-coincidentally, someone brought up "Zero-Point Energy" a while ago... (Gravity Gun = Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator)
And then, too, the water-tower comment--Strider at the water tower!
This is easily my favorite xkcd ever.
And then, too, the water-tower comment--Strider at the water tower!
This is easily my favorite xkcd ever.
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Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
kudos on the art! very lively. good coloring. nice silhouettes.
Though quixote does look like an undead skeleton knight.
Though quixote does look like an undead skeleton knight.
Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
brandtsound wrote:Wind power IS safe- the gamble is with actual payback- around the time they start EARNING money rather than just paying back your investment is the time when their COULD be mechanical problems- so it is a gamble. However, it is safe (well, except for maybe some birds- but that's debatable); Vestas (from Denmark) does a really good job of building them- their offshore ones are amazing!
that said, this is still an amazing comic today!!I hope this one becomes a poster
I knew Vestas would be mentioned sooner or later.


dennisw wrote:Bulletmagnet wrote:Damn, I neglected to scroll the page and only saw the first eight panels before reading the "alt" text. It made considerably less senseAquila wrote:My only confusion: Does the "batshit-insane" refer to Don Quixote or Al Gore?
As Don Quixote is a fictional literary character, my money is on Al Gore.
Nope. Al Gore brought our doom upon us; our saviour is the one batshit insane, hence: Don Quixote.
Or Tom Cruise.
My money's on Tom Cruise.
I have traveled from 1979 to be a member of the unofficial board Council of Elders. Phear M3
Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
Great comic...
I was waiting for one of the tripods (great pseudo-trilogy) to Cap one of the people...ah well...
I was waiting for one of the tripods (great pseudo-trilogy) to Cap one of the people...ah well...

Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
I loved this comic! i honestly thought it was going to be a 'meh' comic until the end, and when he threw in Don Quixote, it mades it an entirely different, but coherent story. It was brilliant!
I don't think he needs a series for this though. it doesn't really need a continuation, as the last frame is powerful enough to make a story, or set of stories in its own way. Just my humble opinion though
I don't think he needs a series for this though. it doesn't really need a continuation, as the last frame is powerful enough to make a story, or set of stories in its own way. Just my humble opinion though
Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
Not just Don Quixote, but Picasso's Don Quixote - sweet.
(Favourite quote from the book - "Every man is as Heaven made him, and sometimes a great deal worse")
(Favourite quote from the book - "Every man is as Heaven made him, and sometimes a great deal worse")
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Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
Randall, get out of my catalog!
This afternoon a Wireless catalog arrived in the mail. As I was flipping through it, I found Desktop Wind Turbine Models!
Also, in honor of comic 549, Princess Bride and Dread Pirate Roberts shirts (plus an action figure).
disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with this catalog or merchandise.
This afternoon a Wireless catalog arrived in the mail. As I was flipping through it, I found Desktop Wind Turbine Models!
Also, in honor of comic 549, Princess Bride and Dread Pirate Roberts shirts (plus an action figure).
disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with this catalog or merchandise.
Try the Printifier for xkcd. You can now scale the comic between 50 and 150%.
I find these very useful: Common Errors in English Usage (web site) and Eats, Shoots & Leaves (book). You may, too.
e pluribus unum
Unleash unlicensed ungulates!
I find these very useful: Common Errors in English Usage (web site) and Eats, Shoots & Leaves (book). You may, too.
e pluribus unum
Unleash unlicensed ungulates!
Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
THE QUIXOTE PROTOCOL!
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Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
I LOVED the Tripod series when I was a kid! And I was just thinking about it recently. I guess that's a sign that I have to reread them.
Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
ryan wrote:I hope it is a series.
I saw Don Quixote at the end and went "yesssss"
As did I.
Randall, As You Wish.
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Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
Clean energy, Wells, Christopher, Cervantes? One of my favorites in a long while.
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Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
This was a good one.
I liked the color. I'm so used to the same old black and white that the simple sunset colors in the background really caught my interest.
The "Al Gore, you've doomed us all!" thing made me LOL. That guy is such a meme.
The Don Quixote thing right at the end was the perfect ending. It all tied togethor so well. It doesn't surpass Stone Man IMO, but I will definitely come back to this one in the future for a smile.
As for this talk about it being a series, it would be welcome but I think the ending of this individual comic was good enough.
I liked the color. I'm so used to the same old black and white that the simple sunset colors in the background really caught my interest.
The "Al Gore, you've doomed us all!" thing made me LOL. That guy is such a meme.
The Don Quixote thing right at the end was the perfect ending. It all tied togethor so well. It doesn't surpass Stone Man IMO, but I will definitely come back to this one in the future for a smile.
As for this talk about it being a series, it would be welcome but I think the ending of this individual comic was good enough.
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Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
Wow. My favourite strip in a long time. Beautiful, surreal, imaginative, and funny, with a cool twist at the end.
I love randall's ability to take a normal scenario and turn it into an outlandish "What if...?"
I love randall's ability to take a normal scenario and turn it into an outlandish "What if...?"
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Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
Well... yeah, but then the annoying thing is that we accept that "what if..." as real, then he makes another "what if..." about the first "what if..." and it doesn't really do anything. 


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Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
Looks like there'll be no series--or at least, not an updates-every-day one. I am sad. 

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Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
I assume besides the obvious Don Quixote reference, Randall is also referring to the proven fact that any source of electricity will attract NIMBYists, not only more obvious candidates like coal plants and nuclear reactors.
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Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
mattflaschen wrote:I assume besides the obvious Don Quixote reference, Randall is also referring to the proven fact that any source of electricity will attract NIMBYists, not only more obvious candidates like coal plants and nuclear reactors.
We recently had an incident like that in Greece, only it was a town council that wanted to build the turbines, not simple citizens. I thought that such protesting against turbines would be common, but your post seems to imply that I was wrong.
Edit: Wow, so many new members. People are registering just to express their love for this comic. When I first read it, I thought I would be at least moderately unique in loving it so much.

Last edited by Naurgul on Tue Mar 17, 2009 8:28 am UTC, edited 1 time in total.
Praised be the nightmare, which reveals to us that we have the power to create hell.
Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
This is the comic that finally made me register...
I had to read the first tripod book in 6th grade English and loved it, but for some reason I could never find any of the others in the trilogy in the bookstore. Maybe it is finally time to try Amazon.
I also thought the fact that the Hitchhiker's trilogy was actually five books was just part of the humor.
Thirdly, I just saw the opera version of Don Quixote, which was awesome, by the way.
I had to read the first tripod book in 6th grade English and loved it, but for some reason I could never find any of the others in the trilogy in the bookstore. Maybe it is finally time to try Amazon.
I also thought the fact that the Hitchhiker's trilogy was actually five books was just part of the humor.
Thirdly, I just saw the opera version of Don Quixote, which was awesome, by the way.
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Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
Interesting. The morning before this comic was up War of the Worlds was on TV at about 3 AM Pacific.
Coincidence?
Coincidence?
Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
Brilliant, I say, brilliant. The plot is thrilling and the art is just xkcd at its top.
Congratulations.
Congratulations.
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Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
Did no one notice the World of Goo reference? (The windmills + color scheme.)
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Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
Contrabass wrote:Anyone else notice the striking resemblance to the windmill level in World of Goo?
Protector one wrote:Did no one notice the World of Goo reference? (The windmills + color scheme.)
I don't really think it's a reference, it seems more like a coincidence. The colour scheme is very different and not every windmill is a reference to WoG.
Here's a comparison:
Spoiler:
Edit
Spoiler:
Praised be the nightmare, which reveals to us that we have the power to create hell.
Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
FUCKING YES. Also, that first panel? Best use of gradients I've ever seen.
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Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
The last frame in this comic references a specific painting, one that a friend has been looking for, for years. Does anyone know this painting's name?
Thank you.
Thank you.
Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
atheneschild1 wrote:The last frame in this comic references a specific painting, one that a friend has been looking for, for years. Does anyone know this painting's name?
Thank you.
Your friend hasn't googled "Picasso Don Quixote"?
I Think it's called "Don Quixote".
http://users.ipfw.edu/jehle/CERVANTE/csa/artics92/lo_re.htm
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Pirate.Bondage: Let's get married. Right now.
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Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
THIS IS THE GREATES RANDALL´S COMIC EVER!!!!
I TOTALLY LOVE IT...
AND AGAIN: RANDALL GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!
I TOTALLY LOVE IT...
AND AGAIN: RANDALL GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!
Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
Another new person logging in to praise the comic here. Fantastic. Has something for everyone.
As for the Tripods, my encounter with them was when they were serialized as a comic in Boy's Life.
As for the Tripods, my encounter with them was when they were serialized as a comic in Boy's Life.
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Re: Alternative Energy Revolution
sje46 wrote:atheneschild1 wrote:The last frame in this comic references a specific painting, one that a friend has been looking for, for years. Does anyone know this painting's name?
Thank you.
Your friend hasn't googled "Picasso Don Quixote"?
I Think it's called "Don Quixote".
http://users.ipfw.edu/jehle/CERVANTE/csa/artics92/lo_re.htm
The painting we are thinking of definitely uses Picasso's depiction, but it is a watercolor, with the exact coloration as the comic strip.

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