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[OTish] An interesting XKCD

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James Nicoll

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Dec 28, 2009, 2:41:13 PM12/28/09
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http://xkcd.com/681/

Being a visual aid for the "depth" of various gravity wells in the Solar
System.
--
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Andrew Plotkin

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Dec 28, 2009, 2:51:48 PM12/28/09
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Here, James Nicoll <jdni...@panix.com> wrote:
> http://xkcd.com/681/
>
> Being a visual aid for the "depth" of various gravity wells in the Solar
> System.

But now I want one which adds in the delta-vee for orbital transfers,
to illustrate how hard it is to *get* to the other planets.

--Z

--
"And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these were the borogoves..."
*

Jo'Asia

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Dec 28, 2009, 3:20:20 PM12/28/09
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James Nicoll wrote:

> http://xkcd.com/681/

> Being a visual aid for the "depth" of various gravity wells in the Solar
> System.

And with an ObSF (look closely at Titan).

Jo'Asia

--
__.-=-. -< Joanna Slupek >----------------------< http://esensja.pl/ >-
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.__.'| -< No metal detectors. No baggage inspectors. And you can carry
a weapon. Where you're going - you'll need it! {SG-1} >-

David Cowie

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Dec 28, 2009, 3:27:14 PM12/28/09
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On Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:20:20 +0100, Jo'Asia wrote:

> And with an ObSF (look closely at Titan).

The Clangers lived on Titan? I didn't know that.

--
David Cowie http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidcowie/

Containment Failure + 53667:50

Kurt Busiek

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Dec 28, 2009, 3:31:42 PM12/28/09
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On 2009-12-28 12:20:20 -0800, Jo'Asia <joa...@hel.pl> said:

> James Nicoll wrote:
>
>> http://xkcd.com/681/
>
>> Being a visual aid for the "depth" of various gravity wells in the Solar
>> System.
>
> And with an ObSF (look closely at Titan).

It was the Neptune one I didn't get.

kdb
--
Visit http://www.busiek.com -- for all your Busiek needs!

alie...@gmail.com

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Dec 28, 2009, 3:50:39 PM12/28/09
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On Dec 28, 12:27 pm, David Cowie <m...@privacy.net> wrote:
> On Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:20:20 +0100, Jo'Asia wrote:
> > And with an ObSF (look closely at Titan).
>
> The Clangers lived on Titan? I didn't know that.

Well, Neptune is a "small, grey world", for some values of "small".


Mark L. Fergerson

Dorothy J Heydt

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Dec 28, 2009, 3:48:39 PM12/28/09
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In article <qsl8wug7yzlx$.d...@dustpuppy.sloth.hell.pl>,

Jo'Asia <joa...@hel.pl> wrote:
>James Nicoll wrote:
>
>> http://xkcd.com/681/
>
>> Being a visual aid for the "depth" of various gravity wells in the Solar
>> System.
>
>And with an ObSF (look closely at Titan).

Yes, I noticed that, but what is it a reference to?

(Perhaps you're going to tell me it's a reference to Vonnegut's
_Sirens_? Which I haven't read.)

--
Dorothy J. Heydt
Vallejo, California
djheydt at hotmail dot com
Should you wish to email me, you'd better use the hotmail edress.
Kithrup is getting too damn much spam, even with the sysop's filters.

Sean Eric Fagan

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Dec 28, 2009, 3:55:39 PM12/28/09
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In article <KvDr5...@kithrup.com>,

Dorothy J Heydt <djh...@kithrup.com> wrote:
>>And with an ObSF (look closely at Titan).
>Yes, I noticed that, but what is it a reference to?
>
>(Perhaps you're going to tell me it's a reference to Vonnegut's
>_Sirens_? Which I haven't read.)

That seems to be it, according to discussion on xkcd's forum.

The Neptune one appears to be a slightly-misquoted Sagan reference.

Sea Wasp (Ryk E. Spoor)

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Dec 28, 2009, 4:30:46 PM12/28/09
to
Dorothy J Heydt wrote:
> In article <qsl8wug7yzlx$.d...@dustpuppy.sloth.hell.pl>,
> Jo'Asia <joa...@hel.pl> wrote:
>> James Nicoll wrote:
>>
>>> http://xkcd.com/681/
>>> Being a visual aid for the "depth" of various gravity wells in the Solar
>>> System.
>> And with an ObSF (look closely at Titan).
>
> Yes, I noticed that, but what is it a reference to?
>
> (Perhaps you're going to tell me it's a reference to Vonnegut's
> _Sirens_? Which I haven't read.)
>

Obviously. Sirens make Whooo-type sounds. It's a pun.

--
Sea Wasp
/^\
;;;
Live Journal: http://seawasp.livejournal.com

Jo'Asia

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Dec 28, 2009, 4:37:33 PM12/28/09
to
Dorothy J Heydt wrote:

> In article <qsl8wug7yzlx$.d...@dustpuppy.sloth.hell.pl>,
> Jo'Asia <joa...@hel.pl> wrote:
>>James Nicoll wrote:
>>
>>> http://xkcd.com/681/
>>
>>> Being a visual aid for the "depth" of various gravity wells in the Solar
>>> System.
>>
>>And with an ObSF (look closely at Titan).

> Yes, I noticed that, but what is it a reference to?

> (Perhaps you're going to tell me it's a reference to Vonnegut's
> _Sirens_? Which I haven't read.)

Exactly. To the title, nothing else, so reading is not required.

Jo'Asia

--
__.-=-. -< Joanna Slupek >----------------------< http://esensja.pl/ >-
--<()> -< joasia @ hell . pl >------< http://bujold.fantastyka.net/ >-

.__.'| -< "So how did you find out about all this?"
"I'm a telepath. Work it out." {B5, Sheridan&Bester} >-

Marcus L. Rowland

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Dec 28, 2009, 5:40:48 PM12/28/09
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In message <hhb1kp$pl7$1...@reader1.panix.com>, James Nicoll
<jdni...@panix.com> writes

>http://xkcd.com/681/
>
>Being a visual aid for the "depth" of various gravity wells in the Solar
>System.

This morning I added it to the "recommended reading" page of the
Weinbaum RPG I'm writing.
--
Marcus L. Rowland www.forgottenfutures.com
www.forgottenfutures.org
www.forgottenfutures.co.uk
Forgotten Futures - The Scientific Romance Role Playing Game
Diana: Warrior Princess & Elvis: The Legendary Tours
The Original Flatland Role Playing Game

Christopher Henrich

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Dec 28, 2009, 5:57:47 PM12/28/09
to
In article <fcp22f0b...@dustpuppy.sloth.hell.pl>,
Jo'Asia <joa...@hel.pl> wrote:

> Dorothy J Heydt wrote:
>
> > In article <qsl8wug7yzlx$.d...@dustpuppy.sloth.hell.pl>,
> > Jo'Asia <joa...@hel.pl> wrote:
> >>James Nicoll wrote:
> >>
> >>> http://xkcd.com/681/
> >>
> >>> Being a visual aid for the "depth" of various gravity wells in the Solar
> >>> System.
> >>
> >>And with an ObSF (look closely at Titan).
>
> > Yes, I noticed that, but what is it a reference to?
>
> > (Perhaps you're going to tell me it's a reference to Vonnegut's
> > _Sirens_? Which I haven't read.)
>
> Exactly. To the title, nothing else, so reading is not required.
>
> Jo'Asia

Oyy. That is SUCH a head-whapper.

In one of the Discworld books, there are some quasi-computers in which
the bits are implemented by ants[1]. One one of thes is pasted a sign:
"Anthill inside."

So?

<http://www.deskpicture.com/DPs/Technology/IntelInside_1.html>

[1] Obviously, Pratchett read _Goedel, Escher, Bach_.

--
Christopher J. Henrich
chen...@monmouth.com
http://www.mathinteract.com
"A bad analogy is like a leaky screwdriver." -- Boon

Dorothy J Heydt

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Dec 28, 2009, 5:33:07 PM12/28/09
to

Is it? Can you supply the original text and reference?

Dorothy J Heydt

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Dec 28, 2009, 5:34:05 PM12/28/09
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In article <hhb826$7dv$1...@news.eternal-september.org>,

Sea Wasp (Ryk E. Spoor) <sea...@sgeinc.invalid.com> wrote:
>Dorothy J Heydt wrote:
>> In article <qsl8wug7yzlx$.d...@dustpuppy.sloth.hell.pl>,
>> Jo'Asia <joa...@hel.pl> wrote:
>>> James Nicoll wrote:
>>>
>>>> http://xkcd.com/681/
>>>> Being a visual aid for the "depth" of various gravity wells in the Solar
>>>> System.
>>> And with an ObSF (look closely at Titan).
>>
>> Yes, I noticed that, but what is it a reference to?
>>
>> (Perhaps you're going to tell me it's a reference to Vonnegut's
>> _Sirens_? Which I haven't read.)
>>
>
> Obviously. Sirens make Whooo-type sounds. It's a pun.

OUCH.

Thanks. I think.

Szymon Sokół

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Dec 28, 2009, 6:25:59 PM12/28/09
to
On Mon, 28 Dec 2009 22:33:07 GMT, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:

> In article <KvDrG...@kithrup.com>, Sean Eric Fagan <s...@kithrup.com> wrote:
>>In article <KvDr5...@kithrup.com>,
>>Dorothy J Heydt <djh...@kithrup.com> wrote:
>>>>And with an ObSF (look closely at Titan).
>>>Yes, I noticed that, but what is it a reference to?
>>>
>>>(Perhaps you're going to tell me it's a reference to Vonnegut's
>>>_Sirens_? Which I haven't read.)
>>
>>That seems to be it, according to discussion on xkcd's forum.
>>
>>The Neptune one appears to be a slightly-misquoted Sagan reference.
>
> Is it? Can you supply the original text and reference?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_of_Science
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmos:_A_Personal_Voyage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7n71pm0K04

--
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Computer Center, AGH - University of Science and Technology, Cracow, Poland O
http://home.agh.edu.pl/szymon/ PGP key id: RSA: 0x2ABE016B, DSS: 0xF9289982 F
Free speech includes the right not to listen, if not interested -- Heinlein H

Spiros Bousbouras

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Dec 28, 2009, 7:23:59 PM12/28/09
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On Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:25:59 +0100
Szymon Sokol <szy...@bastard.operator.from.hell.pl> wrote:
> On Mon, 28 Dec 2009 22:33:07 GMT, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:
>
> > In article <KvDrG...@kithrup.com>, Sean Eric Fagan <s...@kithrup.com> wrote:
> >>In article <KvDr5...@kithrup.com>,
> >>Dorothy J Heydt <djh...@kithrup.com> wrote:
> >>>>And with an ObSF (look closely at Titan).
> >>>Yes, I noticed that, but what is it a reference to?
> >>>
> >>>(Perhaps you're going to tell me it's a reference to Vonnegut's
> >>>_Sirens_? Which I haven't read.)
> >>
> >>That seems to be it, according to discussion on xkcd's forum.
> >>
> >>The Neptune one appears to be a slightly-misquoted Sagan reference.
> >
> > Is it? Can you supply the original text and reference?
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_of_Science
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmos:_A_Personal_Voyage
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7n71pm0K04

Only the first of your links mentions the "dawn" quote and it doesn't
say from which episode of "Cosmos" it comes from. The quote is "A still
more glorious dawn awaits" vs "An even more glorious dawn awaits" in
http://xkcd.com/681_large

--
Never attribute to conspiracy what can adequately be explained by
shared attitudes.

W. Citoan

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Dec 28, 2009, 8:09:39 PM12/28/09
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Spiros Bousbouras wrote:
> On Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:25:59 +0100
> Szymon Sokol <szy...@bastard.operator.from.hell.pl> wrote:
> > On Mon, 28 Dec 2009 22:33:07 GMT, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:
> >
> > > In article <KvDrG...@kithrup.com>, Sean Eric Fagan <s...@kithrup.com> wrote:
> > >>In article <KvDr5...@kithrup.com>,
> > >>Dorothy J Heydt <djh...@kithrup.com> wrote:
> > >>>>And with an ObSF (look closely at Titan).
> > >>>Yes, I noticed that, but what is it a reference to?
> > >>>
> > >>>(Perhaps you're going to tell me it's a reference to Vonnegut's
> > >>>_Sirens_? Which I haven't read.)
> > >>
> > >>That seems to be it, according to discussion on xkcd's forum.
> > >>
> > >>The Neptune one appears to be a slightly-misquoted Sagan reference.
> > >
> > > Is it? Can you supply the original text and reference?
> >
> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_of_Science
> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmos:_A_Personal_Voyage
> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7n71pm0K04
>
> Only the first of your links mentions the "dawn" quote and it doesn't
> say from which episode of "Cosmos" it comes from.

The "A Glorious Dawn" can be found at multiple places, but here is one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSgiXGELjbc
The quote appears about 54 secs in.

The Cosmos episode that line was taken from was Episode 9 :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9KSayGNT4E&feature=fvw
The quote appears about 5:45 mins in.

> The quote is "A still more glorious dawn awaits" vs "An even more
> glorious dawn awaits" in http://xkcd.com/681_large

Which is why Szymon said "a slightly-misquoted Sagan reference".

- W. Citoan
--
Practice is the best teacher.
-- Publiluis Syrus

William December Starr

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Dec 28, 2009, 8:16:58 PM12/28/09
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In article <hhb1kp$pl7$1...@reader1.panix.com>,
jdni...@panix.com (James Nicoll) said:

> http://xkcd.com/681/
>
> Being a visual aid for the "depth" of various gravity wells in the
> Solar System.

Why is it that on the left side of the chart we have "Earth 5,478
km" while the inset box on the right side seems to show a depth of
6,379 km for Earth (and then he goes and rounds off to 6,000 km in
the caption just to further confuse things)?

-- wds

Joe Pfeiffer

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Dec 29, 2009, 12:54:01 AM12/29/09
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According to a poster in the discussion forum, it's an error. 5,478 is
the depth of Venus's well.
--
As we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should
be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours;
and this we should do freely and generously. (Benjamin Franklin)

Nyrath the nearly wise

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Dec 29, 2009, 12:20:22 PM12/29/09
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On 12/28/2009 2:51 PM, Andrew Plotkin wrote:
> But now I want one which adds in the delta-vee for orbital transfers,
> to illustrate how hard it is to *get* to the other planets.

That's hard.
http://clowder.net/hop/railroad/deltaveemap.html

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