1190: "Time"

[ggrohmann]

What are you waiting for? Go! Build a sand castle, provide updates on your blog every 30 minutes. Take your girl-friend with you. And of course, deciding that the water is too cold for taking a quick bath is in the script, too.
-1°C is good weather for building sand castles. You don't sweat easily and wet sand could freeze solid* for additional stability.

Nice Idea, but I'm back for work in the Office from lunch rigth now. The beach of the lake round the corner is still frozen over, and covered with snow and ice. The beach shown in that picture is a 8 or 9 "Time"-frames away from me. And I would at least go knee-deep into that water. Did it last winter when I was on the beach in the picture.

Guido

[FayZee]

Has Stephen gone comotose?

stepheneisenhauer dot com slash demos slash xkcdtime (won't let me paste the URL).

It was my favourite way of catching up and I've been checking it quite continuously

However, I've since discovered I can use arrows to frame-navigate on aubronwood's gif.

Thanks for that.

[FayZee]

Has Stephen gone comotose?

stepheneisenhauer dot com slash demos slash xkcdtime (won't let me paste the URL).

It was my favourite way of catching up and I've been checking it quite continuously

However, I've since discovered I can use arrows to frame-navigate on aubronwood's gif.

Thanks for that.

It's just that it's been stuck at 80 as the last frame for what seems like days

[Foarm]

What are you waiting for? Go! Build a sand castle, provide updates on your blog every 30 minutes. Take your girl-friend with you. And of course, deciding that the water is too cold for taking a quick bath is in the script, too.
-1°C is good weather for building sand castles. You don't sweat easily and wet sand could freeze solid* for additional stability.

Nice Idea, but I'm back for work in the Office from lunch rigth now. The beach of the lake round the corner is still frozen over, and covered with snow and ice. The beach shown in that picture is a 8 or 9 "Time"-frames away from me. And I would at least go knee-deep into that water. Did it last winter when I was on the beach in the picture.

Guido

Even though it is cold and windy, the sun is shining over here in the Netherlands. If I could take a day off, I'd like to go to the beach and build a sandcastle.
Of course not without an internet connection to see the Time updates

[ronaldkr]

If you're using a decent browser, you should be able to manually block that specific image.

My first attempt to do so in Chrome failed, but I'm sure I could work it out if...

Use Opera. I did not only get rid of the sexist signature but also of the fidgety avatar of ugmhemhe. I'll never understand why people add such annoyances to their web appearance.

[mojacardave]

Bumping the catch up methods for great justice:

Live updating GIF:

http://stepheneisenhauer.com/demos/xkcdtime
[fixed URL because I believe I have the required level of prior posting, but it seems to be dead now]

And my personal favourite:

http://xkcd.aubronwood.com/

[FayZee]

http://stepheneisenhauer.com/demos/xkcdtime
[fixed URL because I believe I have the required level of prior posting]
[seems to be dead]

Thanks!

And my personal favourite (which I can't be bothered to hunt the original poster's quote for):
http://xkcd.aubronwood.com/[/quote]

Yes, that's the one I'm using now, with arrow keys to step through frames. That was a nice addition.

[KarMann]

Well, it looks like it's crenellation time again.

[Magdiragdag]

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/time/be5c157cb9d932684f0f8076d0695a428eab022c734bbe448ea42ac2955e4402.png
Edit: Too late...

[Fitzypyro]

Aww I was hoping there would be some additions not just repair. Lets see what he does next!

[mojacardave]

Aww I was hoping there would be some additions not just repair. Lets see what he does next!

Well - he seems to be extending the wall along to the central tower, which isn't exactly the same as it was before. It might even provide a base for a potential new tower...

[daef]

just in case anyone needs a web-based countdown for the next frame (shows the remaining time in the page-title(=tab) and plays a "dong" when the new image arrives): http://www.webcountdown.de/?a=gxMXfoy

[Foarm]

just in case anyone needs a web-based countdown for the next frame (shows the remaining time in the page-title(=tab) and plays a "dong" when the new image arrives): <see original post for URL>

That milliseconds counter is bit too hypnotic for my taste, but the title works perfectly in a background tab page.

[mojacardave]

just in case anyone needs a web-based countdown for the next frame (shows the remaining time in the page-title(=tab) and plays a "dong" when the new image arrives): <see original post for URL>

That milliseconds counter is bit too hypnotic for my taste, but the title works perfectly in a background tab page.

Doesn't seem to be working for me: it says there are approximately 45 minutes left to the next image. How is it set up? Is it timezone specific?

[daef]

just in case anyone needs a web-based countdown for the next frame (shows the remaining time in the page-title(=tab) and plays a "dong" when the new image arrives): <see original post for URL>

That milliseconds counter is bit too hypnotic for my taste, but the title works perfectly in a background tab page.

that's exactly what i use it for...
...the page itself is loaded with ads and crap - but i'm too lazy to jsfiddle my own - since i've got work to do here too...

[daef]

just in case anyone needs a web-based countdown for the next frame (shows the remaining time in the page-title(=tab) and plays a "dong" when the new image arrives): <see original post for URL>

That milliseconds counter is bit too hypnotic for my taste, but the title works perfectly in a background tab page.

Doesn't seem to be working for me: it says there are approximately 45 minutes left to the next image. How is it set up? Is it timezone specific?

try it again (timezone should fixed now...)

[Fitzypyro]

Aww I was hoping there would be some additions not just repair. Lets see what he does next!

Well - he seems to be extending the wall along to the central tower, which isn't exactly the same as it was before. It might even provide a base for a potential new tower...

haha i hope so! that would be awesome! sadly i will have to go to sleep soon, within the next few half hours

[zachbarnett]

I'm kind of hoping there isn't a "payoff" that you guys seem to want. The way I see it, this comic is a lot like life. There's no real plot in life. Things aren't being pushed forward constantly by the narrative. Things tend to happen day-by-day, one moment at a time. Somethings build up to something, whist others just sort of happen and then are forgotten later. Days at the beach are nice, and are remembered fondly, but usually it's just sort of vague and generic.

I like this interpretation... however, I do wonder whether this fits with the hover-text. Do you think "Wait for it." is just to let us know that the comic is changing? I think that "Time lapse." or "Every thirty minutes." might have served the same purpose.

[mojacardave]

just in case anyone needs a web-based countdown for the next frame (shows the remaining time in the page-title(=tab) and plays a "dong" when the new image arrives): <see original post for URL>

That milliseconds counter is bit too hypnotic for my taste, but the title works perfectly in a background tab page.

Doesn't seem to be working for me: it says there are approximately 45 minutes left to the next image. How is it set up? Is it timezone specific?

try it again (timezone should fixed now...)

Yeah - that worked. How was it 30 minutes out? I thought timezones were spaced hourly.

[mojacardave]

I'm kind of hoping there isn't a "payoff" that you guys seem to want. The way I see it, this comic is a lot like life. There's no real plot in life. Things aren't being pushed forward constantly by the narrative. Things tend to happen day-by-day, one moment at a time. Somethings build up to something, whist others just sort of happen and then are forgotten later. Days at the beach are nice, and are remembered fondly, but usually it's just sort of vague and generic.

I like this interpretation... however, I do wonder whether this fits with the hover-text. Do you think "Wait for it." is just to let us know that the comic is changing? I think that "Time lapse." or "Every thirty minutes." might have served the same purpose.

I think 'Wait for it' was just to let us know that there was something more to come, without being too blunt about it. Your suggestions would have ruined the mystery in the beginning.

[BJ Nemeth]

We can rebuild it. We have the technology. We can make it better than it was. Better . . . stronger . . . well, maybe not faster.

this made me laugh my ass off

Now that it comes to my attention again, I realize there's another level to that which never even crossed my mind when I posted it. I was just thinking of "faster" in the sense that the Six Million Dollar Man was faster, i.e. the sand castle's going to move at 0 m/s* no matter what. But now, I realize it could also be taken as the speed at which it's rebuilt, much more relevant to the theme of the comic.

* Relative to the beach, of course. And no, I'm not going to convert to mph for my fellow Americans; you're on your own.

I smiled at the original quote from the "Six Million Dollar Man," because in the 1970s and '80s my father would quote that line any time something needed to be built or re-built.

But I snickered out loud at your refusal to convert 0 m/s to miles per hour. Well played.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

As for the comic itself, I think the people who are waiting for a big punchline or a dramatic ending are sort of missing the point. Like Life itself, this comic is about the journey, not the destination. (I think it will eventually end, but in a subtle, interesting way.)

[higgs-boson]

[...] Your signature makes me slightly uncomfortable about viewing this forum at work.

You could choose to hide signatures, in the settings at User Control Panel > Board preferences > Edit display options. You'll still be able to see signatures on the profiles.

I'd say it's a nice skirt of proper length, but... well, thanks for mentioning, I reconfigured instantly.

I'm with a customer's project, too, but I could pull off a 'Compiling' (if I need to).
But we don't have to take unneccessary risks, do we.

Even for 1190. Which already rededicated a great deal of nerd working power.

[Foarm]

Aww I was hoping there would be some additions not just repair. Lets see what he does next!

Well - he seems to be extending the wall along to the central tower, which isn't exactly the same as it was before. It might even provide a base for a potential new tower...

haha i hope so! that would be awesome! sadly i will have to go to sleep soon, within the next few half hours

Until this comic I'd use hours, but just like Fitzypyro, I have switched to half hours instead.

[rgove]

I thought timezones were spaced hourly.

1,200,000,000 Indian people say you're wrong.

[iisjreg]

just in case anyone needs a web-based countdown for the next frame (shows the remaining time in the page-title(=tab) and plays a "dong" when the new image arrives): http://www.webcountdown.de/?a=gxMXfoy

Brilliant! I've added it to my always-on-top tracker!

[Angelastic]

Time: You've wasted a lot of this following the progression of this comic. Go do things.

[dbh937]

I just got back on this thread for the morning, so I haven't had time to look through the entire thing, but has anyone else thought about how the monday comic is called "Time", and the wednesday comic is called "The Past"? I don't know what, but there might be some sort of relationship there.

[daef]

just in case anyone needs a web-based countdown for the next frame (shows the remaining time in the page-title(=tab) and plays a "dong" when the new image arrives): <see original post for URL>

That milliseconds counter is bit too hypnotic for my taste, but the title works perfectly in a background tab page.

Doesn't seem to be working for me: it says there are approximately 45 minutes left to the next image. How is it set up? Is it timezone specific?

try it again (timezone should fixed now...)

Yeah - that worked. How was it 30 minutes out? I thought timezones were spaced hourly.

i thought they're half-hourly...

nevertheless it was set to "use visitors local timezone" - and now i've switched it to "use THIS timezone...[v]"

[GeoffreyY]

d40f6d35639642db88ea44f3983cc1bba646f71f7221357df6b2b8161c5e67cf.png (4.43 KiB) Viewed 29105 times

[daef]

ahh - and now i've seen that it doesn't automatically restart (you've got to reload...) - but what do i care xD

[mojacardave]

Time: You've wasted a lot of this following the progression of this comic. Go do things.

Hehe. I'm kind of disappointed that the title text doesn't change with the image. Maybe it will at the end. Leaving a caption reading 'Wait for it' on a stationary final frame would be very cruel.

EDIT TO ADD: Seems I was right that he's rebuilding differently. That's a new wall!

[Eoink]

Aww I was hoping there would be some additions not just repair. Lets see what he does next!

Well - he seems to be extending the wall along to the central tower, which isn't exactly the same as it was before. It might even provide a base for a potential new tower...

haha i hope so! that would be awesome! sadly i will have to go to sleep soon, within the next few half hours

I've just realised that there is now a small group of people who will start measuring time in half hours. So the next time you meet someone who says "I'll be ready in 6 half hours" instead of "I'll be ready in three hours", just ask them what their xkcd forum handle is.

[Foarm]

You agree that “xkcd” have the right to remove, edit, move or close any topic at any time should we see fit.

I had to snigger when I read this in the Terms you have to agree to register at this forum.

[Srt252]

How is this so very captivating???

Anyway I think we should just complete our full transition into comic 915 now.

I think frame 97 is the best so far. "Complete" castle with head looking right totally beats frame 98 with head looking left. Although the utter chaos of 103 evokes some cosmic ponderings that are unequaled by other frames.

[yaddayadda]

Time: You've wasted a lot of this following the progression of this comic. Go do things.

Hehe. I'm kind of disappointed that the title text doesn't change with the image. Maybe it will at the end. Leaving a caption reading 'Wait for it' on a stationary final frame would be very cruel.

Cruel indeed. Of course, if his timing of updates changes it could signal that we should still standby. So, if we go well over 30 minutes without an updated image or updated title text, does that mean he's being cruel or that there might be an update at the 60 min mark or 24 hour mark or 168 hour mark or ...

[Pingouin7]

Now the problem is that the xkcd viewer I use doesn't update the picture since it saved the original one in memory.

[rmsgrey]

At first (he'd already started the rebuild by the time I got on this morning) I thought the tear-down and rebuild was deliberate, then I watched the slo-mo replay with commentary (also known as this thread) which makes a good case for the tear-down having been an accidental slip (though it still could have been a deliberate move in order to demolish as quickly as possible).

Either way, the rebuilt wing is on a grander scale than the original.

[mojacardave]

Now the problem is that the xkcd viewer I use doesn't update the picture since it saved the original one in memory.

I had that problem. I normally view XKCD in Google Currents, but that just shows image 1 as a static image, since it's just reading the RSS feed.

[Dracomax]

Alright already. after 2 or 3 years of lurking, you finally got me to register. Well played, Forum. Well played.

And I believe this is much darker than anyone has yet suggested. the objective of this is to make you literally feel entropy killing off the universe by making you aware of the sensation of time passing by, and minutes and seconds being shed like dead skin. It will inevitably be about the heat death of the universe. And the sand castle represents the mindless things we do to fill the time and make it seem to have meaning.

Or it's about how neat sandcastles are. that works too.

[rpell]

Nevermind