1190: "Time"

[udscbt]

What happens if somebody with a position above Pope gets the top reply on a page? Do they get temporarily demoted, or does the Papacy go to the second reply?

The Pope is at the top of the Timewaiter Hierarchy, so that situation can't happen. If you're talking about things like Saint, those are only honorifics.

[Valarya]

<snip>.

Oh, ok. I thought you needed both. It seems that I will improve my Japanese in this thread in addition to English (not that I can say much more than "Good morning, my name is udscbt" in Japanese).

Maybe I'll improve my Japanese, too!! It wouldn't be the first bizarre thing that happened in the Thread of Time.... (I've been studying Japanese for 6 months and still can't say much more than you, hahah. Ohayou gozaimasu! anata wa nani wo kiteimasuka. itta koto ga wakarimasu ka

[Asthanius]

What happens if somebody with a position above Pope gets the top reply on a page? Do they get temporarily demoted, or does the Papacy go to the second reply?

The Pope is at the top of the Timewaiter Hierarchy, so that situation can't happen. If you're talking about things like Saint, those are only honorifics.

Well, what about the Anti-Pope?

[histrion]

What happens if somebody with a position above Pope gets the top reply on a page? Do they get temporarily demoted, or does the Papacy go to the second reply?

The Pope is at the top of the Timewaiter Hierarchy, so that situation can't happen. If you're talking about things like Saint, those are only honorifics.

Well, what about the Anti-Pope?

Wait, there's a -

*hides under his desk until the page is over*

[Asthanius]

What happens if somebody with a position above Pope gets the top reply on a page? Do they get temporarily demoted, or does the Papacy go to the second reply?

The Pope is at the top of the Timewaiter Hierarchy, so that situation can't happen. If you're talking about things like Saint, those are only honorifics.

Well, what about the Anti-Pope?

Wait, there's a -

*hides under his desk until the page is over*

According to the wiki, Wraithlord is the Anti-Pope.

[susanoodin]

Has really no one posted the newpix?

Edit:
also: this is odd, should I be able to post pictures?

[macraw83]

What happens if somebody with a position above Pope gets the top reply on a page? Do they get temporarily demoted, or does the Papacy go to the second reply?

The Pope is at the top of the Timewaiter Hierarchy, so that situation can't happen. If you're talking about things like Saint, those are only honorifics.

Well, what about the Anti-Pope?

Wait, there's a -

*hides under his desk until the page is over*

According to the wiki, Wraithlord is the Anti-Pope.

Well, if he ever becomes Pope, then massive a needle-pulled-thingsplosion will occur. We can only theorize about what will be left in its wake.

Has really no one posted the newpix?

Spoiler:

Edit:
also: this is odd, should I be able to post pictures?

maybe images don't count as links?

Or maybe you're just special. Don't tell anyone though.

[udscbt]

<snip>.

Oh, ok. I thought you needed both. It seems that I will improve my Japanese in this thread in addition to English (not that I can say much more than "Good morning, my name is udscbt" in Japanese).

Maybe I'll improve my Japanese, too!! It wouldn't be the first bizarre thing that happened in the Thread of Time.... (I've been studying Japanese for 6 months and still can't say much more than you, hahah. Ohayou gozaimasu! anata wa nani wo kiteimasuka. itta koto ga wakarimasu ka

If Google Translate is right about the meaning of "kiteimasu" and "itta" and I still remember something:
一) こんばんは^* [konbanwa]
二) 私はイタリア^†人です。あなたはですか [watashi wa itaria-jin desu. anatawa desuka]
三) いいえ、わかりません；グーゴートランスレイト^‡はかります [iie, wakarimasen; gūgoru toransureito wakarimasu]

*: or お休みなさい [oyasumi nasai], it's 11 pm here
†: itaria = Italia = Italy
‡: Google Translate, I think... I always get the foreign words in katakana wrong

[histrion]

Is Megan pondering, or stifling a yawn/burp/barf/hiccup/giggle?

[pdg]

What happens if somebody with a position above Pope gets the top reply on a page? Do they get temporarily demoted, or does the Papacy go to the second reply?

The Pope is at the top of the Timewaiter Hierarchy, so that situation can't happen. If you're talking about things like Saint, those are only honorifics.

Well, what about the Anti-Pope?

Wait, there's a -

*hides under his desk until the page is over*

Also, #666.

THE NEWPIC OF THE BEAST!

[lmjb1964]

I applaud Blitzgirl for her tireless effort in clearly delineating each Period of Time. I would like to propose that Time can also be divided into two Eras--The Castle Era and the Scaffolding Era. The two era are distinct not only in terms of building materials but also, I think, of mood. In the Castle Era, the two are relaxing on the beach and decide to build a castle, and a bigger castle. The whole thing, the recursive castles, the trebucheting of the castles, all seems to have a sense of play. And as Cueball says at the end, "It's been fun. . ."

For me, the Scaffolding Era seems to have a more ominous tone. The idea that they are young and inexperienced (and not very bright), and are just idly wondering about how the world works is interesting, and possible. However, I sense something deeper, and it's not just the ocean. The concern about the rising water level, the confusion about their surroundings, it all seems to have a lost and worried tone. Maybe I'm just imagining it (I am the Imaginator, after all) but the two sections seem to be very different.

Thoughts?

[elementropy]

Litany update, if it please you, Oh great Omelette elemtropy:

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!
(The leader makes a sipping sound)
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.
Leader: Are there other rivers?
People: I don't know.
Leader: There must be other rivers.
People: Otherwise the sea would dry up.
Leader: Maybe it's coming out of the ground.
People: Does that happen?
Leader: I don't know.
(Another moment of silent reflection.)
Leader: I don't know how the sea works.
People: I don't know how anything works.

<snip>
The leader has always asked the questions up to this point, so I think the latest should be:

Spoiler:

Leader: There must be other rivers.
People: Otherwise the sea would dry up.
Leader: Maybe it's coming out of the ground.
(Another moment of silent reflection.)
Leader: Does that happen?
People: I don't know.
Leader: I don't know how the sea works.
People: I don't know how anything works.

I can see either working well. You make a good point, treadman, but I must say that my instincts tell me that fhorn's placement of the silence is, perhaps, the better flow in the big picture. I think what my gut is saying is that the proper response to "Maybe it's coming out of the ground" is "Does that happen?", and that "I don't know" links well to "I don't know how the sea works" through the intervening silence as an elabouration on the same thought.

[Latent22]

I've been thinking and I think we should have a tournament for the Knights Temporal.

To test a Knights resolve and faith in Time we would pose a Quest and see which valiant Knight or would be Knight can complete it best.

Each Quest shall be the search for a deep truth held within the Forum of Time.

The Organizer of the Tournament will pose a Question and the Knight who can find the best answer based on quotes from the Forum's past wins. The winner will be decided by votes and while speed is a factor for judging getting the best answer is even more important. Entries must be posted before the next DONG. At which point voting can begin. Any Edits dated after the DONG will disqualify you. Ties will be decided by the earliest Post that is correct/best (with any edits counting as the new posting time)

Each Contestant will make only ONE entry POST and edit it if they find more evidence to support their claim.

Contestants may be asked to provide links to the original posts the quotes came from which can be given in another post after the DONG. Also made up quoting is not allowed.

The Organizer should give an indication of when the question will be posted and it should be posted a set time before the next DONG so that their is enough time to answer it.

Questions often can have multiple parts like asking where something came from and also what lead to its introduction. This means more than one quote may be needed to fully complete the Quest.

Entrants don't have to fully ordained Knights and winners may be granted honorary Knighthood or other titles and prizes.

Note: DONG refers to BONG/GONG/PONG/etc

[Eliram]

Have the mini-castles always been different sizes? Is this a (changing?) perspective thing, or just my old eyes?

Based on using the slider here, I don't think they've changed. But maybe I'm not answering the question you're asking.

ETA: W00t! I'm POPE now, y'all!

Seems like Pope histrion is right. Congrats!

[edo]

This can only lead to.... Hey it's Tuesday! Let's all jump over to what-if! ( XKCDADD)

What if we tried more Ritalin?

Ritalin doesn't work on XKCDADD, you need Randallin.

[macraw83]

This can only lead to.... Hey it's Tuesday! Let's all jump over to what-if! ( XKCDADD)

What if we tried more Ritalin?

Ritalin doesn't work on XKCDADD, you neen Randallin.

What exactly would you take for xkOCD then?

[treadman]

Litany update, if it please you, Oh great Omelette elemtropy:

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!
(The leader makes a sipping sound)
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.
Leader: Are there other rivers?
People: I don't know.
Leader: There must be other rivers.
People: Otherwise the sea would dry up.
Leader: Maybe it's coming out of the ground.
People: Does that happen?
Leader: I don't know.
(Another moment of silent reflection.)
Leader: I don't know how the sea works.
People: I don't know how anything works.

<snip>
The leader has always asked the questions up to this point, so I think the latest should be:

Spoiler:

Leader: There must be other rivers.
People: Otherwise the sea would dry up.
Leader: Maybe it's coming out of the ground.
(Another moment of silent reflection.)
Leader: Does that happen?
People: I don't know.
Leader: I don't know how the sea works.
People: I don't know how anything works.

I can see either working well. You make a good point, treadman, but I must say that my instincts tell me that fhorn's placement of the silence is, perhaps, the better flow in the big picture. I think what my gut is saying is that the proper response to "Maybe it's coming out of the ground" is "Does that happen?", and that "I don't know" links well to "I don't know how the sea works" through the intervening silence as an elabouration on the same thought.

I like that the Leader asks the questions, but not so much that it should be a hard and fast rule. I agree with your gut: The People finally get concerned, asking their first question: "Does that happen?", with the Leader finally admitting for the first time, "I don't know." Pause. "I don't know how the sea works." The People lament, "I don't know how anything works", reiterating that they are followers and know even less than the Leader.

[fhorn]

I've been thinking and I think we should have a tournament for the Knights Temporal.

Other Knights may be pleased to take up the challenge but I'm awfully busy right now, trying to deal with the ducks flying vegetables.

[udscbt]

She is thinking... And now, time to coma.

[SBN]

Back to work.

[thirds]

Wet, packed sand is over 2,000 kg/cubic meter [1]. Not sure how well they reinforced that structure...

[1]: http://www.aqua-calc.com/calculate/volume-to-weight

[Caswallon]

Wet, packed sand is over 2,000 kg/cubic meter [1]. Not sure how well they reinforced that structure...
[1]: http://www.aqua-calc.com/calculate/volume-to-weight

Well, considering that so far everything in the One True Comic has abided by all laws of physics, structural analysis, engineering, fluid dynamics, flavor profiles, dimensionality, general relativity, string theory, causality, thermodynamics, and general decency....

Needless to say I'm quite sure the structure is perfectly stable...

[ChronosDragon]

Back to work.

They seem to be making no efforts to continue holding back the sea, which implies (corroborated by their dialogue) that they have no knowledge of how high the sea will rise.

Metaphor for civilization seems to be working out still...their original structure (the old civilization) is about to be wiped out, so they're building up on stilts (away from the river valley) using more complex tools (buckets and pulleys). Maybe the "sea" itself is a metaphor for Time, and how older things are doomed for destruction but we can keep building up to escape Time's relentless force.

[Davidy]

C: Does it rain on the sea?
M: I don't know.
C: If it does, it seems like a waste.
C: It rains in the hills where the river comes from, right?
M: Sure.
C: Are there other rivers?
M: I don't know.
C: There must be other rivers. Otherwise the sea would dry up.
M: Maybe it's coming out of the ground.
C: Does that happen?
M: I don't know.
M: I don't know how the sea works.
C: I don't know how anything works.
These two may have building abilities, but they're real dimwits.

[chem1190c]

Gee Willikers! It's been staring us in the face the whole time! How did we miss it.. "Time" isn't a metaphor for anything, it's actually an acronym for "Totally Immersive Marshmallow Eukaryotes" .. it all makes sense now.

[CatHectic]

Hola, Time travelers...

Another new enlistee, a fellow slogger through the entirety of the needle-pulled thing in Blitzgirl's wake, a sleepless patient who has passed through the Reckoning to join you in the cathectic future!

Greetings!

So, having said my hellos a couple of pages ago, I'm happy to be joining all you other kids in the sandbox. I know I had a few theories about where Time is going, but I kept thinking I should read ahead more before I dove in...350 pages later I finally caught up, all my theories disproved or forgotten along the way!

And just to show you how insane I have become, I've decided that something original I can contribute is a soundtrack for our trek -- I have chosen the title of Larghissimographer , and started to skim back through the thread (about 50 pages so far) to pick out all of the musical pieces that have been mentioned, and added them to a new page on the xkcd-time.wikia -- from the Main Page, follow the link to the xkcd Time Travel Mix!

In addition, I'm collecting the available tracks into a public playlist for anyone who has the Spotify client; see the wiki page for a link.

I'm sure there are many more Timely songs to be added to the playlist, but unless they add something to the overall discussion, cluttering up the thread with suggestions probably isn't desirable -- Spotify users can collaborate directly and add songs themselves (just ask, I'll Share the list), and anyone can add suggestions directly to the wiki page (or use the wiki's Comments section at the bottom of the page).

I've been enjoying listening to the eclectic pile of songs as I collect them, I hope you'll enjoy them too!

[LoneMarauder]

Should we wait for the animals to line up two by two?

[boozledorf]

That's sand in the bucket, right? Not water?

[mscha]

That's quite a huge change between the last two newpix. I don't think we've seen anything like this in the history of Time.
They've not only made a pulley, but also used it about 3 or 4 times.
(And in all that time, the sea level hasn't changed. Is it finally high tide?)

[histrion]

That's quite a huge change between the last two newpix. I don't think we've seen anything like this in the history of Time.
They've not only made a pulley, but also used it about 3 or 4 times.
(And in all that time, the sea level hasn't changed. Is it finally high tide?)

The sea level has changed some.

[chem1190c]

Just realized I've been posting in this thread for nearly 20 "Outsider" days and countless Timeframes.. I have a much longer attention span than I would have anticipated at the outset of my journey through Time.

[cmyk]

That's quite a huge change between the last two newpix. I don't think we've seen anything like this in the history of Time.
They've not only made a pulley, but also used it about 3 or 4 times.
(And in all that time, the sea level hasn't changed. Is it finally high tide?)

The sea level has changed some.

Yeh, but only cuz Megan's totally peeing in it.



Kinda puts a different spin on Cueball tasting it now.

[edo]

(many helpful things)

Thank you!
"semen" was somewhat to be expected; I was wondering more about the cancer and the babies - whether there was a link with the "meaning of Time" theories?

Cancer and Babies are references to the Mad Speculation that there was a secret message that one or the other or both were happening to Randall's wife.

[Latent22]

That's quite a huge change between the last two newpix. I don't think we've seen anything like this in the history of Time.
They've not only made a pulley, but also used it about 3 or 4 times.
(And in all that time, the sea level hasn't changed. Is it finally high tide?)

The sea level has changed some.

We can also see that the castle is getting undermined a little. Something to keep an eye on!

Edit: If 1 N00b bumps this post I'll be Pope!

[HAL9000]

That's quite a huge change between the last two newpix. I don't think we've seen anything like this in the history of Time.
They've not only made a pulley, but also used it about 3 or 4 times.
(And in all that time, the sea level hasn't changed. Is it finally high tide?)

The sea level has changed some.

We can also see that the castle is getting undermined a little. Something to keep an eye on!

I'm almost sad to see their castles start to crumble. But they're raising sand up to the tower, to build a castle up above. So it's not all bad.
I'm in a very contemplative mood right now.

[mscha]

[Latent22]

That's quite a huge change between the last two newpix. I don't think we've seen anything like this in the history of Time.
They've not only made a pulley, but also used it about 3 or 4 times.
(And in all that time, the sea level hasn't changed. Is it finally high tide?)

The sea level has changed some.

We can also see that the castle is getting undermined a little. Something to keep an eye on!

I'm almost sad to see their castles start to crumble. But they're raising sand up to the tower, to build a castle up above. So it's not all bad.
I'm in a very contemplative mood right now.

Yeah but think about what happens if they decide to do a copy of the castles below. will they have to slowly erode the copy over time after they have finished?

Maybe they can take up a bucket of semencoffeecancerbabies up and replicate the river/sea up there as well...

Then once they have done up there and they just have a slope of wet sand up the top they can make small stick figures of themselves and do a stop motion animation of them building castles! Camera zooms in and we start looping. Getting smaller and smaller each time. With tiny stick figures animating even smaller ones etc.

[partingLance]

[snippage]
The leader has always asked the questions up to this point, so I think the latest should be:

Leader: There must be other rivers.
People: Otherwise the sea would dry up.
Leader: Maybe it's coming out of the ground.
(Another moment of silent reflection.)
Leader: Does that happen?
People: I don't know.
Leader: I don't know how the sea works.
People: I don't know how anything works.

The whole river-sea dialogue reminded me immediately of:

"All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again."

But then, that whole book is about Time (howbeit that some here would call it heresy, being a Loopist sermon par excellence).

[cmyk]

Oh, god.., she's gonna use the rope as a noose to hang herself!

"C: You're waiting for a train. A train that'll take you far away. You know where you hope this train will take you. But you can't know for sure. Yet it doesn't matter. Now, tell me why?
M: Because you'll be together!

M: You're infecting my mind!
C: I was trying to save you.
M: You betrayed me, but you can still make amends. You can still keep your promise. We can still be together, right here. In the world we built together. "

[fhorn]

[snippage]
The leader has always asked the questions up to this point, so I think the latest should be:

Leader: There must be other rivers.
People: Otherwise the sea would dry up.
Leader: Maybe it's coming out of the ground.
(Another moment of silent reflection.)
Leader: Does that happen?
People: I don't know.
Leader: I don't know how the sea works.
People: I don't know how anything works.

The whole river-sea dialogue reminded me immediately of:

"All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again."

But then, that whole book is about Time (howbeit that some here would call it heresy, being a Loopist sermon par excellence).

Plus, "thither."