1190: "Time"

[kryton]

The psalm has been updated
<snip>
Leader: How big?
People: I don't know.
Leader: (silence)
People: Does it Rain on the Sea?
Leader: I don't know, if it does it seems like a waste.

It seems like the leader should be asking the questions. The people should always answer, "I don't know".

From a purely logistical standpoint, it works a lot better if a leader is the first to speak after a period of silence.

I might suggest:
Leader: How big?
People: I don't know.
Several beats of silence are observed.
Leader: Does it Rain on the Sea?
People: I don't know; if it does it seems like a waste.

Yeah, I can see the poetry of that, but then the last two lines change the roles of Leader saying Cueball's part and People saying Megan's part to vice versa

[StratPlayer]

The psalm has been updated
<snip>
Leader: How big?
People: I don't know.
Leader: (silence)
People: Does it Rain on the Sea?
Leader: I don't know, if it does it seems like a waste.

It seems like the leader should be asking the questions. The people should always answer, "I don't know".

From a purely logistical standpoint, it works a lot better if a leader is the first to speak after a period of silence.

I might suggest:
Leader: How big?
People: I don't know.
Several beats of silence are observed.
Leader: Does it Rain on the Sea?
People: I don't know; if it does it seems like a waste.

Yeah, I can see the poetry of that, but then the last two lines change the roles of Leader saying Cueball's part and People saying Megan's part to vice versa

I think it's pretty clear throughout the history of Time that Megan's been the leader... I think her words should be spoken from the Leader's mouth...

EDITED to fix Spoiler parsing errors

[elementropy]

<snip>
Yeah, I can see the poetry of that, but then the last two lines change the roles of Leader saying Cueball's part and People saying Megan's part to vice versa

It's not intended to mirror the same speaking roles, as in reading a stage play. As a litany, it takes a text and presents it in a call-and-response format.

[lmjb1964]

Spoiler:

From a purely logistical standpoint, it works a lot better if a leader is the first to speak after a period of silence.

I might suggest:
Leader: How big?
People: I don't know.
Several beats of silence are observed.
Leader: Does it Rain on the Sea?
People: I don't know; if it does it seems like a waste.

Yeah, I can see the poetry of that, but then the last two lines change the roles of Leader saying Cueball's part and People saying Megan's part to vice versa

I think it's pretty clear throughout the history of Time that Megan's been the leader... I think her words should be spoken from the Leader's mouth...

Seconded.

(Edited to hopefully fix quote/spoiler problem.)

[KarMann]

So after kryton posted about the mobile site, and I deleted my iPhone's "i heart xkcd" app, I searched again in the App Store for xkcd and found a whole buncha xkcd-devoted apps! Anyone use any of them?

I use the geohash app, though I haven't actually geohashed in a while. Thinking of keeping an eye out for well-situated hashes again, though.

[histrion]

So after kryton posted about the mobile site, and I deleted my iPhone's "i heart xkcd" app, I searched again in the App Store for xkcd and found a whole buncha xkcd-devoted apps! Anyone use any of them?

I use the geohash app, though I haven't actually geohashed in a while. Thinking of keeping an eye out for well-situated hashes again, though.

I meant in terms of apps that make it easier for reading the strip, but it never occurred to me to look for things like a geohashing app. TO MY PHONE!

[elementropy]

So here is the litany as I designed it:

The Litany of The Waits:
Leader: Later!
People: Bye!
Leader: Wanna swim?
People: Yeah!
Leader: Pffthh
People: *cough*
Leader: You ok?
People: Just got some in my mouth.
Leader: Any idea where the river is now?
People: Still pretty far out. It's actually retreated a little this week.
Leader: I don't understand what the sea is doing.
(All observe a meditative silence)
Leader: I don't think we can build it much taller than this.
People: It's been fun, though!
Leader: Pfffth Pthuh! Yuck.
People: I've had worse.
Leader: Guess one of us should climb down.
People: Yeah.
Leader: The sea is rising.
People: Yeah.
Leader: Sea level rises and falls, right? It's changed before.
People: Not this fast.
Leader: The river hasn't even reached the sea yet.
People: The river is small. The sea is big.
Leader: How big?
People: I don’t know.
(Several beats of silence are observed.)
Leader: Does it Rain on the Sea?
People: I don't know; if it does it seems like a waste.
Leader: It rains in the hills where the river comes from, right?
People: Sure.

And here would be the result if it were rearranged to be a reading of the dialogue as character roles, leader being Megan:

A Presentation of Dialogue:
People: Later!
Leader: Bye!
(Silence)
Leader:Wanna swim?
People: Yeah!
Leader: Pffthh *cough*
People: You ok?
Leader: Just got some in my mouth.
(Silence)
Leader: Any idea where the river is now?
People: Still pretty far out. It's actually retreated a little this week.
Leader: I don't understand what the sea is doing.
People: I don't think we can build it much taller than this. It's been fun, though!
(Silence)
People: Pfffth Pthuh! Yuck.I've had worse.
(Silence)
People: Guess one of us should climb down.
Leader:Yeah.
(Silence)
Leader: The sea is rising.
People: Yeah.
(Silence)
People: Sea level rises and falls, right? It's changed before.
Leader: Not this fast.
People: The river hasn't even reached the sea yet.
Leader: The river is small. The sea is big.
People: How big?
Leader: I don’t know.
(Silence)
Leader: Does it Rain on the Sea?
People: I don't know; if it does it seems like a waste.
(Silence)
People: It rains in the hills where the river comes from, right?
Leader: Sure.

I gotta say, I don't like it as much, either for logistics or flow.

(Edited for new text)

[spamjam]

[boozledorf]

Is this some sort of origin story for the world??

[histrion]

elementropy, I hereby nominate you for the position of Head Liturgical Coordinator of the Church of the Fortresses of Eons. (It's a splinter sect, although which group it's splintered from is undecided classified.)

[kryton]

The Litany of The Waits:
Leader: Later!
People: Bye!
Leader: Wanna swim?
People: Yeah!
Leader: Pffthh
People: *cough*
Leader: You ok?
People: Just got some in my mouth.
Leader: Any idea where the river is now?
People: Still pretty far out. It's actually retreated a little this week.
Leader: I don't understand what the sea is doing.
(All observe a meditative silence)
Leader: I don't think we can build it much taller than this.
People: It's been fun, though!
Leader: Pfffth Pthuh! Yuck.
People: I've had worse.
Leader: Guess one of us should climb down.
People: Yeah.
Leader: The sea is rising.
People: Yeah.
Leader: Sea level rises and falls, right? It's changed before.
People: Not this fast.
Leader: The river hasn't even reached the sea yet.
People: The river is small. The sea is big.
Leader: How big?
People: I don’t know.
(Several beats of silence are observed.)
Leader: Does it Rain on the Sea?
People: I don't know; if it does it seems like a waste.

Leader: Hear ends the Psalm
People: So Say We All

The Creed of Those Who Wait
Do you believe in Time?
We believe in the One True Comic of Time.
Do you believe in the creator?
We believe in Randall, the creator of the one true comic, who causes Cueball and Megan to enter and leave at the appointed hours, to build or talk or swim according to his will, so that we may wait for it.
Do you believe in the End of Time?
We know not where goes the Time, but, We Wait for it.

Let go forth the call for all churches to send representatives to the First Council of Timepixia, that the creed and psalm may be debated and ratified as core tenants of the followers of the One True Comic without regard to location, paradoxes, non involvement or apathy, denomination, or lactose intolerance. the communion between the faiths may be achieved such that congregants and clergy and power tools may be loaned and borrowed amongst such.
Beer and Pizza will be served once i pass the plate to take up a collection to pay for the beer and pizza.

[histrion]

Spoiler:

The Litany of The Waits:
Leader: Later!
People: Bye!
Leader: Wanna swim?
People: Yeah!
Leader: Pffthh
People: *cough*
Leader: You ok?
People: Just got some in my mouth.
Leader: Any idea where the river is now?
People: Still pretty far out. It's actually retreated a little this week.
Leader: I don't understand what the sea is doing.
(All observe a meditative silence)
Leader: I don't think we can build it much taller than this.
People: It's been fun, though!
Leader: Pfffth Pthuh! Yuck.
People: I've had worse.
Leader: Guess one of us should climb down.
People: Yeah.
Leader: The sea is rising.
People: Yeah.
Leader: Sea level rises and falls, right? It's changed before.
People: Not this fast.
Leader: The river hasn't even reached the sea yet.
People: The river is small. The sea is big.
Leader: How big?
People: I don’t know.
(Several beats of silence are observed.)
Leader: Does it Rain on the Sea?
People: I don't know; if it does it seems like a waste.

Leader: Hear ends the Psalm
People: So Say We All

The Creed of Those Who Wait
Do you believe in Time?
We believe in the One True Comic of Time.
Do you believe in the creator?
We believe in Randall, the creator of the one true comic, who causes Cueball and Megan to enter and leave at the appointed hours, to build or talk or swim according to his will, so that we may wait for it.
Do you believe in the End of Time?
We know not where goes the Time, but, We Wait for it.

Let go forth the call for all churches to send representatives to the First Council of Timepixia, that the creed and psalm may be debated and ratified as core tenants tenets of the followers of the One True Comic without regard to location, paradoxes, non involvement or apathy, denomination, or lactose intolerance. the communion between the faiths may be achieved such that congregants and clergy and power tools may be loaned and borrowed amongst such.
Beer and Pizza will be served once i pass the plate to take up a collection to pay for the beer and pizza.

FTFY.

[KarMann]

Let go forth the call for all churches to send representatives to the First Council of Timepixia, that the creed and psalm may be debated and ratified as core tenants of the followers of the One True Comic . . . .

You probably mean "tenets", although in this thread, one can never be too sure.
</PetPeeve>

[KarMann]

Spoiler:

The Litany of The Waits:
Leader: Later!
People: Bye!
Leader: Wanna swim?
People: Yeah!
Leader: Pffthh
People: *cough*
Leader: You ok?
People: Just got some in my mouth.
Leader: Any idea where the river is now?
People: Still pretty far out. It's actually retreated a little this week.
Leader: I don't understand what the sea is doing.
(All observe a meditative silence)
Leader: I don't think we can build it much taller than this.
People: It's been fun, though!
Leader: Pfffth Pthuh! Yuck.
People: I've had worse.
Leader: Guess one of us should climb down.
People: Yeah.
Leader: The sea is rising.
People: Yeah.
Leader: Sea level rises and falls, right? It's changed before.
People: Not this fast.
Leader: The river hasn't even reached the sea yet.
People: The river is small. The sea is big.
Leader: How big?
People: I don’t know.
(Several beats of silence are observed.)
Leader: Does it Rain on the Sea?
People: I don't know; if it does it seems like a waste.

Leader: Hear ends the Psalm
People: So Say We All

The Creed of Those Who Wait
Do you believe in Time?
We believe in the One True Comic of Time.
Do you believe in the creator?
We believe in Randall, the creator of the one true comic, who causes Cueball and Megan to enter and leave at the appointed hours, to build or talk or swim according to his will, so that we may wait for it.
Do you believe in the End of Time?
We know not where goes the Time, but, We Wait for it.

Let go forth the call for all churches to send representatives to the First Council of Timepixia, that the creed and psalm may be debated and ratified as core tenants tenets of the followers of the One True Comic without regard to location, paradoxes, non involvement or apathy, denomination, or lactose intolerance. the communion between the faiths may be achieved such that congregants and clergy and power tools may be loaned and borrowed amongst such.
Beer and Pizza will be served once i pass the plate to take up a collection to pay for the beer and pizza.

FTFY.

Nerd.

[airdrik]

It looks like they're (Randall is) leading up to something, this talk about the river, the sea, the rain.
Seems kind of like there's a competition between the river and the sea of some sort that they are trying to discern.
It seems like there will be some great revelation in one of the next several updates _{(the great and ultimate pun for which we are all waiting)}.

[Valarya]

-- Apex Bishop of the Conclave - Eastern Unorthodox TimeWaiters (divinely heralded)

Elected Space-Pope of the Eastern Unorthodox TimeWaiters.

So, now that you've both posted on the same NewPage*, do you mutually annihilate, or what?

* Not that I'm sure you hadn't before.

Nah, since I noticed her sig a few pages ago it didn't slip past me the volatility was neutralized by promoting her to Apex Bishop of the Conclave of Eastern Unorthodox TimeWaiters passing the plate to take up today's collection .

As Apex Bishop, I work closely with our duly-elected Space Pope and have no idea to what you're referring. damnit. caught.

*takes the plate* *grumbles* Thank you for your consideration, come again!

[histrion]

Spoiler:

The Litany of The Waits:
Leader: Later!
People: Bye!
Leader: Wanna swim?
People: Yeah!
Leader: Pffthh
People: *cough*
Leader: You ok?
People: Just got some in my mouth.
Leader: Any idea where the river is now?
People: Still pretty far out. It's actually retreated a little this week.
Leader: I don't understand what the sea is doing.
(All observe a meditative silence)
Leader: I don't think we can build it much taller than this.
People: It's been fun, though!
Leader: Pfffth Pthuh! Yuck.
People: I've had worse.
Leader: Guess one of us should climb down.
People: Yeah.
Leader: The sea is rising.
People: Yeah.
Leader: Sea level rises and falls, right? It's changed before.
People: Not this fast.
Leader: The river hasn't even reached the sea yet.
People: The river is small. The sea is big.
Leader: How big?
People: I don’t know.
(Several beats of silence are observed.)
Leader: Does it Rain on the Sea?
People: I don't know; if it does it seems like a waste.

Leader: Hear ends the Psalm
People: So Say We All

The Creed of Those Who Wait
Do you believe in Time?
We believe in the One True Comic of Time.
Do you believe in the creator?
We believe in Randall, the creator of the one true comic, who causes Cueball and Megan to enter and leave at the appointed hours, to build or talk or swim according to his will, so that we may wait for it.
Do you believe in the End of Time?
We know not where goes the Time, but, We Wait for it.

Let go forth the call for all churches to send representatives to the First Council of Timepixia, that the creed and psalm may be debated and ratified as core tenants tenets of the followers of the One True Comic without regard to location, paradoxes, non involvement or apathy, denomination, or lactose intolerance. the communion between the faiths may be achieved such that congregants and clergy and power tools may be loaned and borrowed amongst such.
Beer and Pizza will be served once i pass the plate to take up a collection to pay for the beer and pizza.

FTFY.

NerdFaster than KarMann.

FTFY.

[fhorn]

elementropy, I hereby nominate you for the position of Head Liturgical Coordinator of the Church of the Fortresses of Eons. (It's a splinter sect, although which group it's splintered from is undecided classified.)

I don't think I like the idea of splinter sects. Just sayin'.

[treadman]

So here is the litany as I designed it:

Spoiler:

The Litany of The Waits:
Leader: Later!
People: Bye!
Leader: Wanna swim?
People: Yeah!
Leader: Pffthh
People: *cough*
Leader: You ok?
People: Just got some in my mouth.
Leader: Any idea where the river is now?
People: Still pretty far out. It's actually retreated a little this week.
Leader: I don't understand what the sea is doing.
(All observe a meditative silence)
Leader: I don't think we can build it much taller than this.
People: It's been fun, though!
Leader: Pfffth Pthuh! Yuck.
People: I've had worse.
Leader: Guess one of us should climb down.
People: Yeah.
Leader: The sea is rising.
People: Yeah.
Leader: Sea level rises and falls, right? It's changed before.
People: Not this fast.
Leader: The river hasn't even reached the sea yet.
People: The river is small. The sea is big.
Leader: How big?
People: I don’t know.
(Several beats of silence are observed.)
Leader: Does it Rain on the Sea?
People: I don't know; if it does it seems like a waste.
Leader: It rains in the hills where the river comes from, right?
People: Sure.

And here would be the result if it were rearranged to be a reading of the dialogue as character roles, leader being Megan:

A Presentation of Dialogue:
People: Later!
Leader: Bye!
(Silence)
Leader:Wanna swim?
People: Yeah!
Leader: Pffthh *cough*
People: You ok?
Leader: Just got some in my mouth.
(Silence)
Leader: Any idea where the river is now?
People: Still pretty far out. It's actually retreated a little this week.
Leader: I don't understand what the sea is doing.
People: I don't think we can build it much taller than this. It's been fun, though!
(Silence)
People: Pfffth Pthuh! Yuck.I've had worse.
(Silence)
People: Guess one of us should climb down.
Leader:Yeah.
(Silence)
Leader: The sea is rising.
People: Yeah.
(Silence)
People: Sea level rises and falls, right? It's changed before.
Leader: Not this fast.
People: The river hasn't even reached the sea yet.
Leader: The river is small. The sea is big.
People: How big?
Leader: I don’t know.
(Silence)
Leader: Does it Rain on the Sea?
People: I don't know; if it does it seems like a waste.
(Silence)
People: It rains in the hills where the river comes from, right?
Leader: Sure.

I gotta say, I don't like it as much, either for logistics or flow.

(Edited for new text)

I like the way it was originally written, as a call and response litany, rather than a script with the Leader played by Megan and the People played by Cueball. So far it has been working well in chronological order without regard to which person actually spake the holy words.

[KarMann]

FTFY.

NerdFaster than KarMann.

FTFY.

. . . well played. My hat's off to you.

[StratPlayer]

(NewPix)

What?!?!

As with much of Time -- a significant revelation was missed as the Timewaiters debated theological minutia amongst themselves.

There are hills, people! Hills!!! The places where the billies live; that are alive with music; where there might be gold in them, thar'; and the places where the streets have the blues!!!

So far all we've seen are sand (or some facsimile there of), and a general rising liquid-like sea-ishness. This add a whole new area of geology to Time!

[KarMann]

Spoiler:

What?!?!

As with much of Time -- a significant revelation was missed as the Timewaiters debated theological minutia amongst themselves.

There are hills, people! Hills!!! The places where the billies live; that are alive with music; where there might be gold in them, thar'; and the places where the streets have the blues!!!

So far all we've seen are sand (or some facsimile there of), and a general rising liquid-like sea-ishness. This add a whole new area of geology to Time!

And, they have eyes. Or do the ayes have them? Or the ayes have It?

Edit: fixed quoted image URL from time.png

[StratPlayer]

Spoiler:

(NewPix)

What?!?!

As with much of Time -- a significant revelation was missed as the Timewaiters debated theological minutia amongst themselves.

There are hills, people! Hills!!! The places where the billies live; that are alive with music; where there might be gold in them, thar'; and the places where the streets have the blues!!!

So far all we've seen are sand (or some facsimile there of), and a general rising liquid-like sea-ishness. This add a whole new area of geology to Time!

And, they have eyes. Or do the ayes have them? Or the ayes have It?

The "it" we're waiting for??? See how it's all related?!?! This is significant!

[airdrik]

Spoiler:

time image

What?!?!

As with much of Time -- a significant revelation was missed as the Timewaiters debated theological minutia amongst themselves.

There are hills, people! Hills!!! The places where the billies live; that are alive with music; where there might be gold in them, thar'; and the places where the streets have the blues!!!

So far all we've seen are sand (or some facsimile there of), and a general rising liquid-like sea-ishness. This add a whole new area of geology to Time!

Well of course there are hills. Where else would the river come from? And how else would the river come from them thar hills (whar, most presumably, be more black toner) but that it should rain on them just as it rains in the sea (or at least as it may rain in the sea, though that seems to be a waste), and where'er else it rains (which presumably is not on the sandcastles as there is no evidence of such - either that or it has been raining, but the sandcastles are made of some material which, while not resistant to hits from whatever object was propelled from the trebuchets, is resistant to erosion by rain).

edit: remove reference to self-updating time image in spoiler.

[Kieryn]

In case anyone is interested: Water-level update.

(Spoiler: level up to newpix 647 is displayed)

Spoiler:

Despite the brief increase

Not this fast

the water rise rate remains pretty stable.

[spamjam]

[fhorn]

ARE THERE????????

[Caswallon]

In case anyone is interested: Water-level update.


Despite the brief increase

Not this fast

the water rise rate remains pretty stable.

I like the analysis we are giving the frames of the comic. Have we tried applying best fit quadratics to the water rate?

[lassehp]

And, they have eyes. Or do the ayes have them? Or the ayes have It?

Aye!

/Lasse

[boozledorf]

This is really confusing. They clearly aren't educated about the world, but their engineering skills are rather impressive. Ladders? Trebuchets? That stuff isn't easy to build, but they seem to not only have them, but also have miniature versions of them. Where'd they learn the craftsmanship?

[manvandmaan]

ARE THERE????????

What he said! (asked, really.)

[histrion]

This is really confusing. They clearly aren't educated about the world, but their engineering skills are rather impressive. Ladders? Trebuchets? That stuff isn't easy to build, but they seem to not only have them, but also have miniature versions of them. Where'd they learn the craftsmanship?

This whole thing is starting to take on a vague No Exit flavor.

I wonder if the sand they're playing with is brimstone.

I wonder if Megan's going to try to hang herself.

I was in such a good mood.

ETA: Maybe Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is a better comparison.

[mscha]

[ img ]http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/time.png[ /img ]

Spamjam, you've been asked politely before. Don't do that!

[lmjb1964]

Spoiler:

What?!?!

As with much of Time -- a significant revelation was missed as the Timewaiters debated theological minutia amongst themselves.

There are hills, people! Hills!!! The places where the billies live; that are alive with music; where there might be gold in them, thar'; and the places where the streets have the blues!!!

Quite possibly one of my favorite quotes ever.

Edited to remove incorrect spoilering link.

[Ebonite]

The more I reread the dialogue, the more I become convinced that there is only one explanation for the unpredictable behavior of the sea and the river.

They live on a urinal cake.

[lmjb1964]

And, they have eyes. Or do the ayes have them? Or the ayes have It?

Ah, when I first read this, I thought it was referring to Megan and Cueball. in reference to this:

Amusing multipage discussion of the liquid-repelling properties of a lump of sand but nary a word about how two eyeless, mouthless, earless, handless, footless, noseless stick figures managed to build Sandtopia.

But now I see that, aye, it's the hills that have eyes.

[sparehead3]

Posting the last few URL hashes:

638 (1:00pm ET): 88dd86d52f26487cf07e2e2dcb487c115589b1710479fea1ac2d54a161ab40b5.png


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639 (2:00pm ET): c13d1010939e8bc175e8be06362bce73230a859bcbd682bc53ab9cd913ea7e06.png


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640 (3:00pm ET): d72b6b9bd8e9e37cd8b0ad060c2f60e0a7c00e47fddefb12e339a2d2f59b40c0.png


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641 (4:00pm ET): 677dcc253fcb42f5cb3179596366dea3113f4e064b01b584222434c4797aa652.png

[Shepherdess]

Funnily enough, Aubronwood really is comforting right now.

[Angelastic]

Time is a river, right? Is this a metaph[ys/or]ical discussion about time (the river) and tide (the sea going in and out) and whether there are other timestreams?

[histrion]

Holy cow, what is going on in Boston right now?