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Comic Discussion => QUESTIONABLE CONTENT => Topic started by: westrim on 25 May 2013, 11:44

Title: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: westrim on 25 May 2013, 11:44
Making the next thread early, because I really don't want to have to Liam Neeson anyone. I suppose the poll could have been about music, but I know nothing so you get antics instead.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Pilchard123 on 25 May 2013, 11:48
Romantic feelings will be expressed - but either inadvertently or not toward Marten. A terrible pun will be summoned to break the ensuing awkwardness, but serve only to make things worse. Marten being a (physically or emotionally) punching bag is a given.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 25 May 2013, 11:49
Liam Neeson anyone?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Masterpiece on 25 May 2013, 11:51
Am I the only one who had to think of this:

(http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120104030729/bastion/images/9/9c/Scrap_Musket.png)

when they read something coarse?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: westrim on 25 May 2013, 11:57
Liam Neeson anyone?
After the movie Taken, Liam Neeson's already memetic badassery could be summarized as "I don't want to hurt you, but if I have to I will annihilate you." In this instance, Is it cold in here?, Kugai, or anyone else that might ninja me on making the thread. Again.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: jwhouk on 25 May 2013, 12:06
Monday's edition (should there be one, due to the holiday) would be 2456, thanks to the guest strip - Just sayin'.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Zebediah on 25 May 2013, 12:06
Alcohol will be consumed awkwardly.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 25 May 2013, 12:13
So the numbers are better now, back to ending weeks in 5/0. Hooray!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Pilchard123 on 25 May 2013, 12:47
I don't know if it's a holdover from what code-bashing I do, but I actually prefer it when the weeks start with 0/5.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Zebediah on 25 May 2013, 13:01
And now you're going to have every OCD person on the forum having an internal war about whether it's better if the weeks begin or end on 0/5.

Well played. Well played.  :mrgreen:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 25 May 2013, 14:37
Can anyone think of a quotient ring/residue-class ring that would facilitate both versions? I am too tired to think of one right now. (But I am not too tired to think of the possibility.) Or, alternately, disprove that such a ring exists.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Kugai on 25 May 2013, 14:38
*Cue Michael Buffer*
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Pilchard123 on 25 May 2013, 14:48
No, though I can think of a way to make it work. But it uses cookies.

*glass breaks, scream*
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 25 May 2013, 15:05
http://xkcd.com/163/
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: GarandMarine on 25 May 2013, 15:16
I hope they have a long discussion about which plant harvesting method is most brutal, my vote is for wheat cause back in the day scythes were involved, now hugefuckamungous auto scythe doom machines are used and yearly slaughter millions of tiny critters like shrews and field mice as they harvest grain for our breakfast cereal. THAT my friends is fucking brutally awesome
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Pilchard123 on 25 May 2013, 15:21
Have you ever read Reaper Man? (Yes, it's Discworld. Yes, I know I should get out more.)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: rschill on 25 May 2013, 18:57
I don't see Clair having a huge crush on Marten so far.  Some attraction yes, but not a huge crush like what's been shown with other characters. 

Have you ever read Reaper Man? (Yes, it's Discworld. Yes, I know I should get out more.)

Has anyone done a song for Pratchett's Reaper Man to the tune of  Cab Calloway's Reefer Man?  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D44pyeEvhcQ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D44pyeEvhcQ)

Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 25 May 2013, 19:31
I hope they have a long discussion about which plant harvesting method is most brutal, my vote is for wheat cause back in the day scythes were involved, now hugefuckamungous auto scythe doom machines are used and yearly slaughter millions of tiny critters like shrews and field mice as they harvest grain for our breakfast cereal. THAT my friends is fucking brutally awesome

Field mice run from big and noisy.  But you know those people who promote eating insects? 


We already do.  More than you'd probably likr to think. 



By the way, anyone seen any cicadas yet? 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bryntheskits on 25 May 2013, 23:09
I don't know if it's a holdover from what code-bashing I do, but I actually prefer it when the weeks start with 0/5.
I'm totally ok with array and the like starting at position 0, but with Date variables most of the systems lable January as the 0th month, how does that make sense.

(click to show/hide)

/rant
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 25 May 2013, 23:50
I hope they have a long discussion about which plant harvesting method is most brutal, my vote is for wheat cause back in the day scythes were involved, now hugefuckamungous auto scythe doom machines are used and yearly slaughter millions of tiny critters like shrews and field mice as they harvest grain for our breakfast cereal. THAT my friends is fucking brutally awesome

Reaper Madness!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Sidhekin on 25 May 2013, 23:53
If a week starts with day 0 and ends on day 6, I assume it's Sunday to Saturday, AKA a "traditional" week.

If a week starts with day 1 and ends on day 7, I assume it's Monday to Sunday, AKA a "standard" week (ISO, even).

Either way, 1 through 6 are Monday through Saturday, and both 0 and 7 are unambiguously Sunday. :)

January as month 0 is a whole lot older than Java, and it makes a certain measure of sense.  Actually, it makes great sense, old-style low-level programming wise.  But these days, most programmers never need touch the low-level stuff, and should instead use proper high-level packages that present an interface more accessible to humans.  (Where propriety and accessibility dictate January is the 1st month.  Anybody tell you differently, they're stuck-in-the-past programmers.  Or trolling.)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 26 May 2013, 00:13
If a week starts with day 0 and ends on day 6, I assume it's Sunday to Saturday, AKA a "traditional" week.

It embarrasses me to say that, but I only just now understood why Sunday would be the first day. I blame my lack of Christian education and the fact that the country I grew up in uses the ISO standard.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 26 May 2013, 00:41
Except Christianity has Sunday as day 7.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Akima on 26 May 2013, 01:10
Field mice run from big and noisy.
Like this! (http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1722#comic)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Sidhekin on 26 May 2013, 01:35
Except Christianity has Sunday as day 7.
Not universally.  The Sabbath is the seventh day (day 6 to old-style low-level programmers), and it's (usually?) recognized as Saturday.

Sunday is the Holy Day, though, but I think that is in reference to the Resurrection.  And why not?  It's the defining moment of Christianity.  Can't have any other day steal the limelight.  8-)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: PintsizeForPresident on 26 May 2013, 02:53
About the date thingy: During an astronomy course we had to convert ordinary dates into julian dates. The julian date is simply a day count, with day 0 somewhere in prehistory; this dating system makes it easy to date astronomical phenomena in a consistent fashion.

To do this conversion we had a table which showed the julian date of the start of each month. But to simplify calculations the table showed the julian date of the 0th day of each month, defined as the day before the 1st day of the month (i.e., the last day of the previous month). For instance, the table would show that 0 january 2000 is JD 2451544, which means that 13 january is JD 2451544 + 13.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: pwhodges on 26 May 2013, 06:05
The pattern of the Gregorian calendar repeats every four thousand years.  I once gave as a programming exercise (to people I was teaching BCPL) to work out the differences in frequencies that each date in the month falls on each day of the week within a full cycle.  It turns out that
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Skewbrow on 26 May 2013, 07:03
The pattern of the Gregorian calendar repeats every four thousand years. 
I think four hundred years is enough, if you only worry about which day of the week falls on which date. This is because in every span of 400 years there are exactly 97 leap years. On a regular year the calendar moves up one week day (because 365 is congruent to 1 modulo 7), and on a leap year the calendar moves up 2 week days (well, there will be one extra day). Therefore in a span of 400 years the calendar will have moved up 400+97=497 days, which is a multiple of seven, so the calendar repeats.

This, of course, ignores things like the location of the Easter which depends on the cycle of full moons. Because the length of the Moons period is (most likely) not a rational multiple of days (and it actually varies, as tidal forces and such affect the Moon's motion), that is unlikely to repeat exactly. At least not from here to eternity. Well, the Gregorian calendar itself will deviate from the "true" Solar calendar eventually, so this last point is kinda moot.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 26 May 2013, 07:20
The Sabbath is the seventh day (day 6 to old-style low-level programmers), and it's (usually?) recognized as Saturday.

Sunday is the Holy Day, though
I thought Sunday was the Sabbath (and therefore the holy day) in at least most branches of Christianity.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Zebediah on 26 May 2013, 07:41
"Sabbath" refers specifically to the Jewish observance, which is from Friday at sundown to Saturday at sundown. In most branches of Christianity Sunday is the "Lord's Day", which has taken on some of the functions and symbolism of the Jewish sabbath and which is therefore sometimes called the "Christian sabbath".
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 26 May 2013, 08:07
Are you sure? I'm pretty sure Sabbath just refers to the holy day in general, not just the Jewish one.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Sidhekin on 26 May 2013, 08:27
Well, in the Bible, the day between the Crucifixion (Good Friday) and the Resurrection (Easter Sunday) is repeatedly made clear to be the Sabbath.  If you read the account, you can't miss it.

In English dictionaries, however, the Sunday is also the Sabbath, among "most Christians".

Oh well.  Write that up to my non-native English: In Norwegian, the word "sabbat", when used, always refers to Saturday.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 26 May 2013, 08:40
If you read the account
I think it's clear that I haven't ::)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 26 May 2013, 10:26
As a non-christian, I find I've gotten great cultural benefits from reading the bible.  I've read some of the Q'oran as well, and some select sections of the Bhavagad Gita. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Sidhekin on 26 May 2013, 11:17
Yeah, the Bible is useful even for its cultural references.

Kinda like Shakespeare.  8-)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Kugai on 26 May 2013, 11:25
Well, Shakespeare is good for learning ancient Danish Politics   :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ankhtahr on 26 May 2013, 12:14
I think reading the Edda is pretty useful as well.

By the way, I just realised how serious Angus' desire to move (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1734) is.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 26 May 2013, 12:53
I've always meant to read the major religious texts, just haven't gotten around to it.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Sorflakne on 26 May 2013, 13:17
I've always meant to read the major religious texts, just haven't gotten around to it.
The world was created by a divine being or beings out of a formless void and some people extolled the god(s) they worshiped and were either accepted into some afterlife or were damned and then in the end, the divine being(s) destroys the world.

There you go.  Every religious text ever summarized in one sentence.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: KOK on 26 May 2013, 13:28
The pattern of the Gregorian calendar repeats every four thousand years. 
I think four hundred years is enough, if you only worry about which day of the week falls on which date. This is because in every span of 400 years there are exactly 97 leap years. On a regular year the calendar moves up one week day (because 365 is congruent to 1 modulo 7), and on a leap year the calendar moves up 2 week days (well, there will be one extra day). Therefore in a span of 400 years the calendar will have moved up 400+97=497 days, which is a multiple of seven, so the calendar repeats.

This, of course, ignores things like the location of the Easter which depends on the cycle of full moons. Because the length of the Moons period is (most likely) not a rational multiple of days (and it actually varies, as tidal forces and such affect the Moon's motion), that is unlikely to repeat exactly. At least not from here to eternity. Well, the Gregorian calendar itself will deviate from the "true" Solar calendar eventually, so this last point is kinda moot.

The Gregorian calendar actually does contain rules for calculating the exact date of easter. The official full moon dates repeat in a cycle of 19 years. Every time a leap year is skipped, the dates are moved one day to compensate. Since the 19 year cycle is not exact, the dates are moved one day every 300 years. Once every 2500 years, the period between adjustments is 400 years in stead of 300, giving a cycle of 2500 years. The dates were moved in 1700 and in 1800. In 1900 a leap year was skipped, but it was 300 years since the system was started, and the two adjustments canceled out. In 2000 the leap year was not skipped, so no adjustment.

This does not mean that the date of easter repeats in a cycle of 2500 years, only that the official date of the full moon does.  Easter is the first sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. How long the cycle is for this I don't know, and it is moot anyway since the system is not going to be in use for that long.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Valdís on 26 May 2013, 13:31
The world was created by a divine being or beings out of a formless void and some people extolled the god(s) they worshiped and were either accepted into some afterlife or were damned and then in the end, the divine being(s) destroys the world.

There you go.  Every religious text ever summarized in one sentence.

..Only if by "Every religious text" you mean "The Abrahamic religious texts".
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 26 May 2013, 13:44
I think Church of Mormon, while arguably Abrahamic in nature, doesn't mention anything about the end of the world.

In fact, I think most religions don't have anything on end of the world. Three that I can think of right now (that don't) are Egyptian myths, Church of Satan and the World of Warcraft lore (okay, that probably shouldn't count in so far that it is more like history). I am also not sure that Scientology has anything on creation of the world.

I have a Koran somewhere. Got it handed for free, probably from salafists. I should get around to reading it at some point, but, quite frankly, it's rather boring (no offense intended).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Masterpiece on 26 May 2013, 13:45
How could you! This is the sacred text of Islam and I take offen... nah couldn't keep a straight face, you go on.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: westrim on 26 May 2013, 13:59
I am also not sure that Scientology has anything on creation of the world.
Oh, it does, and it is hilarious. Or it would be, if millions of people weren't conned into believing bad scifi is the Truth. Link here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incident_%28Scientology%29#Incident_I
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 26 May 2013, 14:03
I... see. I didn't know that.

I now long for my blissful ignorance of a few minutes ago.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ankhtahr on 26 May 2013, 14:48
About the Scientology thing: Southpark actually had a rather accurate summary of this. Here is a video which compares a description with the South Park depiction:

The Edda is imho one of the more interesting books of religion. Also it's really just a collection of old poems and stories.

The Hávamál is a great read e.g. (which is where the quote from Valdís' signature originates). It's basically a loose collection of tips on how it's best to lead your life, but only tips, no requirements.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 26 May 2013, 15:05
How come everyone knows more about Norse Mythology than me? I didn't know you need to be a friggin Norse Mythology major to read this comic!

Oh well. I can blame it on Ankh being further up north than me.  :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ankhtahr on 26 May 2013, 15:09
Well, that and I feel myself connected to Ásatrú (translates to "Asentreue" in German, or "Faith in the Æsir"), which is basically the old Norse belief.

I wouldn't say that I believe in the Norse gods, it's just that I consider it to be the religion in which I would put the most trust. I might word it as not believing, but hoping.

Edit: also if you want to learn more about the Norse belief system, read the Edda. Start with the prosaic Edda. The best (and cheapest) translation available in German is by Arnulf Krause. The typical translations (Karl Simrock and Felix Genzmer) try too hard to keep the sound of the poems and stories, which makes them very hard to read. That might be wanted in the poetic Edda, but not for the prosaic. So if you want a good introduction buy "Die Edda des Snorri Sturluson" and "Die Götterlieder der Älteren Edda" in the "Reclam" edition. Cheap, but good. You miss about a third then (which is in a third book), but it's a very good introduction, and contains most of the important stuff. Read the prosaic Edda then and keep the poetic Edda at hand, as the prosaic Edda refers to the poetic Edda multiple times.

Oh, and by the way, skip the prologue of the prosaic Edda. It was written, when most of the Nordics were already christianised, so the prologue tries to fit the Norse myths into a Christian environment.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: pwhodges on 26 May 2013, 15:10
The pattern of the Gregorian calendar repeats every four thousand years. 
I think four hundred years is enough,

Oops - just a slip of the memory (not working it out or anything).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Akima on 26 May 2013, 16:04
I've always meant to read the major religious texts, just haven't gotten around to it.
Here's a copy (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Tipitaka1.jpg) of the standard edition of the Pali Canon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%81li_Canon). Enjoy! When you have finished that, you can start on the hundred or so volumes of the Dàzàngjīng (大藏經 or Great Treasury of Sutras) regarded as canonical in East Asian Mahayana Buddhism. There won't be a test:
 
All composed things are like a dream,
a phantom, a drop of dew, a flash of lightning.
That is how to meditate on them,
that is how to observe them. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_sutra)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: jwhouk on 26 May 2013, 20:00
The pattern of the Gregorian calendar repeats every four thousand years. 
I think four hundred years is enough,

Oops - just a slip of the memory (not working it out or anything).

So in 400 years time, we go through 146,097 days?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Jazzmaster on 26 May 2013, 20:50
I always find it funny how these comic discussion and speculation threads get going well before the work week is even upon us.

Not that there's a problem with that.  At least it's not like Daft Punk's latest album, which had over 5,000 reviews on the iTunes store before it was even released (and before they even opened the free stream in the iTunes store).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Kugai on 26 May 2013, 22:23
I've always meant to read the major religious texts, just haven't gotten around to it.
The world was created by a divine being or beings out of a formless void and some people extolled the god(s) they worshiped and were either accepted into some afterlife or were damned and then in the end, the divine being(s) destroys the world.

There you go.  Every religious text ever summarized in one sentence.

Thank you Ambassador G'Kar.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: KOK on 26 May 2013, 23:18
The Hávamál is a great read e.g. (which is where the quote from Valdís' signature originates). It's basically a loose collection of tips on how it's best to lead your life, but only tips, no requirements.

It contains some real gems. My favorite is this: "Who is ashamed to ask is ashamed to learn."
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: KOK on 26 May 2013, 23:28
I think Church of Mormon, while arguably Abrahamic in nature, doesn't mention anything about the end of the world.

The Mormons see themselves as a branch of Christianity. It may be that they have no writings of their own on the end of the world, but they share those of other Christians.

In fact, I think most religions don't have anything on end of the world. Three that I can think of right now (that don't) are Egyptian myths, Church of Satan and the World of Warcraft lore (okay, that probably shouldn't count in so far that it is more like history). I am also not sure that Scientology has anything on creation of the world.

A central tenet of the Baha'i faith is that there will never be a last profet. More will always be coming. I think we can deduce their thoughts on the end of the world from this.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Lubricus on 27 May 2013, 01:15
Looks like we won't get a new strip today. Oh, well, I'm not surprised - Jeph's probably quite worn out after the weekend.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 27 May 2013, 01:17
I always find it funny how these comic discussion and speculation threads get going well before the work week is even upon us.

Not that there's a problem with that.  At least it's not like Daft Punk's latest album, which had over 5,000 reviews on the iTunes store before it was even released (and before they even opened the free stream in the iTunes store).

That's because some of us get paid per thread page. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise; they just don't want to share the money. We have a script and everything, but improvisation gives some extra money.
And some of us get boni depending on how off-topic we can get. I think Westrim (?) got a nice profit from that Ender's Game discussion. (I would check who brought that up, but I'm on my phone.)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: westrim on 27 May 2013, 01:48
Looks like we won't get a new strip today. Oh, well, I'm not surprised - Jeph's probably quite worn out after the weekend.
I need to rerename the thread, though...

That's because some of us get paid per thread page. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise; they just don't want to share the money. We have a script and everything, but improvisation gives some extra money.
And some of us get boni depending on how off-topic we can get. I think Westrim (?) got a nice profit from that Ender's Game discussion. (I would check who brought that up, but I'm on my phone.)
Aye, it was me. Good thing too- I was contracted a couple months ago, but I was getting subpar returns the previous few weeks before that turned things around. That's why I wanted to create the thread so much- I get an extra percentage for every page.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: cesariojpn on 27 May 2013, 01:55
In fact, I think most religions don't have anything on end of the world.

Buddhism doesn't have anything hard, just the tenement that nothing lasts forever.

Shinto has no concepts on the End of the World.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 27 May 2013, 02:10
The tenement? I never of of the Buddha as a slumlord.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 27 May 2013, 02:21
That's why I wanted to create the thread so much- I get an extra percentage for every page.

(http://i.imgur.com/vXZSScw.png)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Skewbrow on 27 May 2013, 02:40
The pattern of the Gregorian calendar repeats every four thousand years. 
I think four hundred years is enough,

Oops - just a slip of the memory (not working it out or anything).

So in 400 years time, we go through 146,097 days?

Well, yes. And that number is divisible by seven, so the calendar repeats every four hundred years. In four centuries there will be exactly 400*12=4800 calendar months. Therefore there will be 4800 thirteenth days of a month. The main point was that 4800 is not a multiple of seven. So the seven weekdays that fall on the thirteenth cannot all be equally likely. As it happens, Friday is among the most frequent (if not the most frequent). I did not check this, but undoubtedly Paul has, and I believe him. I also recall having heard this from some other source.

Of course, you are welcome to make up your mind, whether this has any bearing to your daily life - or even the life of the most superstitious among us. Something that can only be observed in a span of four centuries is unlikely to matter much. But we math folks enjoy working out problems like this.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Lubricus on 27 May 2013, 03:40
Well, you have to factor in any broken mirrors, black cats crossing your path, walking beneath ladders and so on, too!  :roll:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 27 May 2013, 03:49
Spilled salt. Don't forget the salt.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: GarandMarine on 27 May 2013, 04:19
How come everyone knows more about Norse Mythology than me?

No major here just a practicing member, popular faith in the US military, it was interesting to try to explain it to a Japanese girl I met at a Shinto shrine today, using about 20 words of English, another 20 of Japanese, gestures and google translate we had a good 45 minute conversation, 15 minutes of which were describing in general our faiths. It was a lot of fun, even if we both walked away a little confused I think
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: techkid on 27 May 2013, 04:52
I'm quite enjoying this discussion on religion, belief and faith. It truly is amazing, and a little intriguing (heh, those crazy Scientologists... :-D).

I don't know if I can put my beliefs in the same boat. I mean, I am baptised Catholic, but I... well, it's not so much that I don't believe in God (or any particular god you'd care to name), but I don't believe in the structures that surround our gods (and goddesses). Unfortunately, these are works of man, and thus are twisted from their true meanings by those at the top of the podium to something that conforms to something that makes us (and them) more comfortable/righteous.

This is not to say I find religion a bad thing. People need guidance, to find the spiritual truth within themselves. But I think it is within our own powers to create a peaceful world, if people could get past their own divisions and try to see the greater whole.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: GarandMarine on 27 May 2013, 05:00
Tech that's my general take on it, all forms of faith are a valid connection to the divine, the key is being spiritual instead of being religious imho
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 27 May 2013, 07:38
There's nothing wrong with being neither, of course.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 27 May 2013, 07:42
There's nothing wrong with being neither, of course.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: jwhouk on 27 May 2013, 08:45
That's because some of us get paid per thread page. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise; they just don't want to share the money. We have a script and everything, but improvisation gives some extra money.
And some of us get boni depending on how off-topic we can get. I think Westrim (?) got a nice profit from that Ender's Game discussion. (I would check who brought that up, but I'm on my phone.)

...I'm still waiting for my paycheck.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Sidhekin on 27 May 2013, 09:33
it's not so much that I don't believe in God (or any particular god you'd care to name), but I don't believe in the structures that surround our gods (and goddesses). Unfortunately, these are works of man, and thus are twisted from their true meanings by those at the top of the podium to something that conforms to something that makes us (and them) more comfortable/righteous.

This is not to say I find religion a bad thing. People need guidance, to find the spiritual truth within themselves.

Amen.

But I think it is within our own powers to create a peaceful world, if people could get past their own divisions and try to see the greater whole.
Well, some might quibble as to the ownership of "our own" powers ... but the real show-stopper is that "if".  Judgement Day will come before everyone will "get past their own divisions and try to see the greater whole", and it only takes a small minority to end a peace.

(I'm a humanist, honest.  But I've seen too much of human behaviour to reject that kind of cynicism.)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Border Reiver on 27 May 2013, 10:30
That's because some of us get paid per thread page. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise; they just don't want to share the money. We have a script and everything, but improvisation gives some extra money.
And some of us get boni depending on how off-topic we can get. I think Westrim (?) got a nice profit from that Ender's Game discussion. (I would check who brought that up, but I'm on my phone.)

...I'm still waiting for my paycheck.

I have it on good authority that it's in the mail...

And that they will respect you in the morning, won't mess in you mouth, etc.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 27 May 2013, 12:38
...I'm still waiting for my paycheck.

...

you... you mean... you have been creating all those threads and listening to our insanity... for free?  :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: jwhouk on 27 May 2013, 14:36
...I'm still waiting for my paycheck.

...

you... you mean... you have been creating all those threads and listening to our insanity... for free?  :psyduck:

Believe it or not, yes. :P
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Welu on 27 May 2013, 14:48
May I be the first (that I know of) to thank you? Even if I'm not, thank you.  :laugh:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Kugai on 27 May 2013, 14:58
How come everyone knows more about Norse Mythology than me? I didn't know you need to be a friggin Norse Mythology major to read this comic!

Oh well. I can blame it on Ankh being further up north than me.  :-D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL1acYvpR_E
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: FunkyTuba on 27 May 2013, 18:08
gratuitous post so this thread shows up in my "new replies" button
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 27 May 2013, 18:11
You mean you don't just comb through and read all the posts?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Masterpiece on 27 May 2013, 18:18
You don't use the "notify" button?!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 27 May 2013, 18:23
No...ti...fy?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: FunkyTuba on 27 May 2013, 18:28
I find it easier to just bookmark the link under "Show new replies to your posts" and check it... and then I only post in threads I want to follow

Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: jwhouk on 27 May 2013, 20:01
I find it easier to just bookmark the link under "Show new replies to your posts" and check it... and then I only post in threads I want to follow

Sadly, this.

One reason why I was looking for a vacation from WCDT creation was because I was getting a bit overwhelmed by all the different threads. That, and I was having issues coming up with decent polls.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 27 May 2013, 20:02
I always check the new replies, but I don't bookmark. Anything. I'm not sure why.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Jazzmaster on 27 May 2013, 22:15
Once again Marten is surrounded by cute ladies on his couch and does absolutely nothing about it.

It's not horrible though - I mean, maybe the world needs more dudes who are more about being friends with a lot of people and not just about being friends with a girl to get laid.


Loved Claire's last line in this strip, btw
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: cesium133 on 27 May 2013, 22:18
If I were young enough not to know better, I'd be tempted to try out Pintsize's pickup line.  :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: westrim on 27 May 2013, 22:19
That's the best comeback Claire's had, and by her facial expression it wasn't intentional. I am very in favor of general make outs, especially considering the characters present. Except Pintsize, it can go make out with the waffles.

That's right, Marbear lives with Angus. So, where was she that morning and when Faye came?

Marten looks pretty stunned at potential leaving of his bossy big sister.

Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 27 May 2013, 22:26
I thought Marten and Faye were the same age.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: jmucchiello on 27 May 2013, 22:27
Go Claire!!!

But I really want to know if Pintsize could be nonplussed by that comeback.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: westrim on 27 May 2013, 22:32
I thought Marten and Faye were the same age.
The wiki lacks that information; however, I was referring to attitude, not chronology. Or genetics.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 27 May 2013, 22:44
Well it's never said directly in the comic, only that Dora's older than Marten (and probably Faye).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: K1dmor on 27 May 2013, 22:46
 This is the first time Claire and Pintsize met each other, right?

 Also, here's the continuation of the guest strip (since Jeph won't post it):

 (http://betweenfailures.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/questionablegueststrip2.png)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 27 May 2013, 22:49
Wait, where'd you get it?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: K1dmor on 27 May 2013, 22:51
 In Here (http://betweenfailures.com/archives/8792) (author's web).

 
Quote from: Crave
The story behind this is that I made a guest comic for QC and Jeph accidentally posted it on Saturday instead of the day he wanted to. So I added this section to it so he would have another page to post on the day he actually wanted to have it. Apparently it never made it to him, or he chose not to use it, but here it is in case you want to see it.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 27 May 2013, 23:02
ZOMG! Claire said something vaguely related to makeouts while Marten was in the same room! Clearly that means they are in wuv!


...is what the shippers are thinking right now.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 27 May 2013, 23:36
(http://betweenfailures.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/questionablegueststrip2.png)

Need an adult... what?  Bookstore?  Is she running out of Yaoi? 

And "Marbles" is a brilliant nickname...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 28 May 2013, 00:00
Level-headed Claire is level-headed.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 28 May 2013, 00:11
Not a lot of people would be completely unfazed by Pintsize. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Lubricus on 28 May 2013, 00:25
Claire is getting better and better! She even outshines Hannelore these days. Today's punchline was excellent!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 28 May 2013, 01:22
Quote from: Marbles
I - I need an adult...

Don't we all.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: KOK on 28 May 2013, 01:41

The Gregorian calendar actually does contain rules for calculating the exact date of easter. The official full moon dates repeat in a cycle of 19 years. Every time a leap year is skipped, the dates are moved one day to compensate. Since the 19 year cycle is not exact, the dates are moved one day every 300 years. Once every 2500 years, the period between adjustments is 400 years in stead of 300, giving a cycle of 2500 years. The dates were moved in 1700 and in 1800. In 1900 a leap year was skipped, but it was 300 years since the system was started, and the two adjustments canceled out. In 2000 the leap year was not skipped, so no adjustment.

This does not mean that the date of easter repeats in a cycle of 2500 years, only that the official date of the full moon does.  Easter is the first sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. How long the cycle is for this I don't know, and it is moot anyway since the system is not going to be in use for that long.

I made a mistake here. It is of course not the predicted date of the full moon that repeats every 2500 years, it is only the pattern of adjustments of that date. The cycle for the date itself is much longer. And the cycle for the date of easter most likley seven times that.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Storel on 28 May 2013, 01:52
How come everyone knows more about Norse Mythology than me? I didn't know you need to be a friggin Norse Mythology major to read this comic!

The irony of hearing this said by someone calling himself Loki is delicious.  8-)

Not a lot of people would be completely unfazed by Pintsize. 

Very good point. Claire doesn't seem to be fazed by much, though, besides people who don't respond to her puns.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2456-2460 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bhtooefr on 28 May 2013, 01:59
Very good point. Claire doesn't seem to be fazed by much, though, besides people who don't respond to her puns.

Or her brother spilling secrets, of course. That required her to break out the Ativan.

Edit: Oh, and I am a shameless shipper, and even I realize that all Claire has said in that response to Pintsize is, yes, she likes making out, no, not with Pintsize.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Mr_Rose on 28 May 2013, 02:21
We also note that Hannelore has taken to perching on the couch arm instead of sitting properly. Is this because of all the horrifying things she knows have been spilled/done on the seats?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Akima on 28 May 2013, 03:04
Maybe, or maybe it's because Marten and Claire are sitting so that Hannelore would have to squeeze in uncomfortably. Or ask them to sit close together to make room, which might lead to awkwardness. Claire's comeback is great!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bhtooefr on 28 May 2013, 03:17
And I almost forgot.

Claire was clearly afayed when the beer can was placed upon her head.

/me puts $20 in the pun jar
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 28 May 2013, 04:19
20$ is the least you can do for that.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Border Reiver on 28 May 2013, 04:23
Claire is getting better and better! She even outshines Hannelore these days. Today's punchline was excellent!

Frankly, I think its one of the better ones that Jeph's done.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: techkid on 28 May 2013, 05:08
Except Pintsize, it can go make out with the waffles.

The most disturbing thing is, he probably already has...  :psyduck:

Oh Claire. That response was simply marvellous! I tip my hat to you *tips hat toward Claire*.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: WAYF on 28 May 2013, 05:15
Wow, Claire's approach to handling Pintsize is... genuinely refreshing! I did not expect that in the slightest.

And the poll raises a good point - how DID Marten manage to hang out with the two ladies he's most shipped with, and he's the only one in the room with them, and he did it without any effort whatsoever?
I'm sure Marten's previously mentioned state of simultaneous profound frustration and utter delight applies here somewhere. :P
(Mostly cause nothing's going to happen, cause he's Marten and this is what he does.)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Zebediah on 28 May 2013, 05:22
ZOMG! Claire said something vaguely related to makeouts while Marten was in the same room! Clearly that means they are in wuv!


...is what the shippers are thinking right now.

Yes, shippers will seize upon any shred of evidence to support their fantasies, and will gleefully make up evidence when there is none.

And no, I'm not going to make the obvious analogies to politics, religion or conspiracy theories. Not going there. Not in the WCDT.  :angel:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Mad Cat on 28 May 2013, 05:42
"Wanna make out?"
"In general, or with you specifically?"

Greatest. Comeback. Evar.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Tova on 28 May 2013, 05:47
Aaand the rumour mill begins.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Lubricus on 28 May 2013, 05:49
The rumour mill begins? When did it stop?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: GarandMarine on 28 May 2013, 05:59
"Wanna make out?"
"In general, or with you specifically?"

Greatest. Comeback. Evar.


I am so stealing that for future use
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: TheEvilDog on 28 May 2013, 07:38
Wow Clare. You know less than half the story of people you don't even know. Then again from what I've seen, Clare tends to do that kind of thing on a fairly regular basis.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 28 May 2013, 07:50
Am I the only one who thinks the punchline wasn't all that great?

And damn, it completely slipped by me that she mistold the story.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bhtooefr on 28 May 2013, 08:03
But she got the important parts across.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: TheEvilDog on 28 May 2013, 08:17
But she got the important parts across.

But she didn't. She got Faye's roundabout side of the story and filled in the rest herself. All Clare heard was that Angus was talking to Faye about going to New York and that was it. But the thing is, it wasn't Clare's place to bring it up anyway.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bhtooefr on 28 May 2013, 08:21
Marten specifically declared an interest in what was up, Claire shared the information that she knew and was able to determine from the conversation with Faye.

I'm really not seeing this being a problem.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Welu on 28 May 2013, 09:04
I think the same as bhtooefr. Although if it was me I would have had an "I think..." before everything else she said to Marten. I guess "apparently" kind of covers that though.

I like Claire's response to Pintsize.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 28 May 2013, 09:24
Claire has been known to jump to conclusions.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Masterpiece on 28 May 2013, 09:39
Am I the only one who thinks the punchline wasn't all that great?
Thank you! Same here.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Zebediah on 28 May 2013, 09:45
Claire has also had some beer. And she weighs what, 105 pounds soaking wet? So mild intoxication is a possibility. Therefore if she's having difficulty accessing her social protocol database I'm inclined to give her a pass.

On the other hand, Pintsize seems to be having no trouble accessing his social protocol database. It's just that his is a bit, um, different from the standard release.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: quix0te on 28 May 2013, 11:12
1)I question having a relationship with somebody that has a 'blast radius'.  But I have my own pathologies and if Angus wants that, thats his choice.
2)Claire's response actually reminded me of a line from the Hitchhiker's Guide books:
"I'm a friend."
"Anybody's friend in particular, or just well-disposed towards people?"
3)I don't see Marten connecting with Claire because thats a narrative tar baby.  Claire can't break up acrimoniously with Marten because that would be painting a transgender as a villain.  Nogo.  Marten can't break up with Claire because that would push him over the line from pitiable punching bag to a different kind of bag.  Since he's largely the focal character, Nogo.  Jeph can attempt the same wierd finesse he did with Padme "She's crazy and its your fault for not being a unicorn Marten." but that was a pretty unsatisfying denouement after they had a nice thing going.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 28 May 2013, 11:26
A unicorn?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Zebediah on 28 May 2013, 11:34
Since when does someone have to be the villain in a breakup? Sometimes relationships just don't work out, they end, and life goes on. Look, for example, at how Jeph handled it when Dora and Marten broke up. So no, that isn't a deal-breaker. Jeph could quite easily have them give it a go, have it not work out, have them split up, and yet still keep them both in the strip as well-liked and positive characters.

I still don't think Marten+Claire is going to happen, but I have other reasons for thinking that.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bhtooefr on 28 May 2013, 11:39
There's plenty of other ways to end a relationship, though, rather than an acrimonious break-up or a move.

And, Jeph's a good enough writer that he could figure out a way for Marten to break up with Claire without him looking like a douchebag. (Well, the forums might think he's a douchebag, but...) Or, a way to make Claire break up with Marten, without her being the villain.

As I've suggested earlier, one way to do things would be, play Marten's passivity against Claire's passion. I think it could create a healthy dynamic for both of them, but it could just as easily create a bad dynamic. And, QC isn't MA3 with its hamfisted writing, QC characters actually do sit down and talk with each other once in a while - Claire could have a reasoned discussion with Marten about how their relationship isn't working because she feels like she's being held back by Marten, without being angry at all.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: katsmeat on 28 May 2013, 12:17
I don't see Marten connecting with Claire because thats a narrative tar baby.  Claire can't break up acrimoniously with Marten because that would be painting a transgender as a villain.

Jeph is already in that minority of authors who have used a trans-character and taken the trouble to developed them beyond a crass  1-D caricature. If an author has clearly developed a trans-character as an actual human being, then I think readers won't mind if the author gets them to act within the full range of human possibilities; this naturally includes the possibility of being a villain.  After all, always portraying people from a minority group positively is, in a way, is almost as dehumanising as always portraying them negatively.

Not that Jeph would make her a villain, IMO, simply because that would be OOC for Claire. In a relationship, I can easily see her doing something exceptionally stupid, mainly out of inexperience, but never anything villainous. Not that breakups actually need villains to happen.

BTW,  I think trans-person (or transwoman/transman) is  a better. Using 'transgender' as a noun seems to me like referring to a Jewish person as "a Jew".
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 28 May 2013, 12:36
Since when does someone have to be the villain in a breakup? Sometimes relationships just don't work out, they end, and life goes on. Look, for example, at how Jeph handled it when Dora and Marten broke up.
...and even then, a nuclear war broke out on the forums. A lot of people were on the side of "if Dora had worked on her issues in the first place, this wouldn't have happened. Dora sucks." vs. "if Marten wasn't such a pushover all the time, this wouldn't have happened. Marten sucks."
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Redball on 28 May 2013, 12:39
I too have considered the word "Jew" as pejorative. I came to realize that sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't, and I don't think Jews have a problem with the word in their own usage. This (http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/43466/how-did-jew-become-pejorative) link sheds a little light on the usage as well as the suggestion that referring to, say, "the Jew" or "the transgender" is limiting and more likely to be offensive.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Latias on 28 May 2013, 12:47
Need an adult... what?  Bookstore?  Is she running out of Yaoi? 

And "Marbles" is a brilliant nickname...

Marigold is an adult. The joke is from a meme.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: gopher on 28 May 2013, 12:51
As the stories have developed and moved away from the Marten/Faye dynamic I really think the strip could survive Faye and Angus being put on the bus. Hell culling a few characters may help the rest.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: TheEvilDog on 28 May 2013, 13:13
As the stories have developed and moved away from the Marten/Faye dynamic I really think the strip could survive Faye and Angus being put on the bus. Hell culling a few characters may help the rest.

The comic doesn't necessarily need a character cull. Several less important characters tend to be put on a bus anyway, Raven being the most prominent character. As it is, Jeph tends to rotate characters, with the main cast being the comic's landmarks as it were.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: cesariojpn on 28 May 2013, 15:56
Hell culling a few characters may help the rest.

I nominate Natasha.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: DSL on 28 May 2013, 16:10
Like the overused and misused "jumping the shark," I think putting a character on a bus is something that for the most part happens naturally and is noticed after the fact -- Natasha, for example, seems to have already been on the bus for some time. Sometimes sudden actor unavailability, not a concern here, necessitates a character being shoved under the bus (or, in one notable example, the plane which didn't quite make it to Japan) and the measure of quality of the production is how well that's handled in terms of the story.

RE: the comic -- Hanners perched on the sofa arm in the first panel seems to have an air of "Let's see what these two do" about her, I think. Is her notebook handy?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Jazzmaster on 28 May 2013, 16:27
ZOMG! Claire said something vaguely related to makeouts while Marten was in the same room! Clearly that means they are in wuv!


...is what the shippers are thinking right now.

Oddly enough I was thinking the same thing.  I mean, about the shippers.

Like the overused and misused "jumping the shark," I think putting a character on a bus is something that for the most part happens naturally and is noticed after the fact -- Natasha, for example, seems to have already been on the bus for some time. Sometimes sudden actor unavailability, not a concern here, necessitates a character being shoved under the bus (or, in one notable example, the plane which didn't quite make it to Japan) and the measure of quality of the production is how well that's handled in terms of the story.

RE: the comic -- Hanners perched on the sofa arm in the first panel seems to have an air of "Let's see what these two do" about her, I think. Is her notebook handy?

I agree for the most part, especially with the bit about characters sort of popping in and out of the QC verse.  I almost sort of forget about some of these people until they're randomly introduced in strips throughout.  A similar thing happens to me IRL where I just sort of forget about people even if we only met a couple of days ago.  Is that bad?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Latias on 28 May 2013, 16:56
Nominating Natasha for culling is a bit pointless, and she's not on the bus.

Quote from: tumblr
Since you brought it up recently, just who HAVE you written out of the strip permanently? Honestly, I can’t think of anyone.

Quote from: Jeph
Nat
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 28 May 2013, 17:01
Is that Amir's ex? Because she's not dead, so she could come back, theoretically.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 28 May 2013, 17:08
That's the one.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: cesariojpn on 28 May 2013, 17:11
Nominating Natasha for culling is a bit pointless, and she's not on the bus.

Joke flew over your head.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Latias on 28 May 2013, 17:14
Nominating Natasha for culling is a bit pointless, and she's not on the bus.

Joke flew over your head.

I read the new comments in reverse orders (from newest to older). The poster who talked about Natasha being on the bus was serious - not so much flew over my head as I happened to read the posts in the wrong order.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 28 May 2013, 18:44
Need an adult... what?  Bookstore?  Is she running out of Yaoi? 

And "Marbles" is a brilliant nickname...

Marigold is an adult. The joke is from a meme.

Had to look it up.  Still doesn't make much sense in this context...

I too have considered the word "Jew" as pejorative. I came to realize that sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't, and I don't think Jews have a problem with the word in their own usage. This (http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/43466/how-did-jew-become-pejorative) link sheds a little light on the usage as well as the suggestion that referring to, say, "the Jew" or "the transgender" is limiting and more likely to be offensive.

Re: Jew.  My mother's family was "conservative" (halfway between orthodox and reformed - my grandfather always wore a hat, only a yarmulka at schul, which he attended regularly, but no beard).  My mother gave it up and married my father, a goy.  I am at best cuturally jewish, growing up with the food, Yiddish around the house, and a nod to a few holidays. 

But when I moved to the midwest for college, I was surprised to hear an expression that I've heard here in central PA as well (in a town with two synagogues, mind you), and throughout the south;

"I jewed him down / he jewed me out of it" in reference to driving a really hard (and by implication unfair) bargain.  The first time I heard it I could've sworn the guy had said "he chewed me down", but it only took me a minute to realize what was actually being said. 

And though my grampa would proudly state that he was a Jew, despite having come here in 1902 fresh from a russo/polish pogrom, this verb usage is downright offensive.  The negative connotations of Jew as a noun were, I think, established more by the negative stereotyping campaign that led up to WWII - not that Jews were looked at in a favorable light before then, but it was not as out in the open, the very word was not an automatic condemnation.  Not in all circles.  They were tolerated in many places, even allowed to participate in society in some small ways.  Persecuted and often blamed for things, yes, but not universally on the receiving end of a pike. 

But the money thing?  That's where it gets sticky.  Even Jews don't tell those jokes.  And the casual use of that verb just left me stunned.  I mean, the holocaust was 40 years previous when I first heard it - had nothing penetrated? 

I still hear it.  And I still feel sick when someone I know, someone I respect, brings it into casual conversation.  Suddenly, they look much uglier to me than they did before.  And that pisses me off, because it'll be someone I liked, and I'm not going to be able to disabuse them of this ingrained idea, and... well, I mourn their ignorance.  It's hard impossible to not have it bug me. 

Sorry, I'll stop ranting now. 



Warning - while you were typing 6 new replies have been posted, because you got distracted and ate dinner. You may wish to review your post.

Nah, I'm good. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ecstaticjoy on 28 May 2013, 19:15
"in general, or with you specifically?" Bwaaahahahahahaha!!! I'm gonna use that next time.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 28 May 2013, 19:49
Are you often in a situation where someone walks up and asks you to make out? 



Never mind, I don't want to know, I don't think my ego could handle it...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Kugai on 28 May 2013, 20:00
It may be too late Hanners


It may be too late.




Double Plus Good there Claire.  Outsnarking Pintsize takes effort.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Throg on 28 May 2013, 20:05
Is it just me, or did that couch shrink?

Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Kugai on 28 May 2013, 20:07
It's a couch ruled by the laws of indeterminacy.


All it needs now is a nice hot cup of Tea.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: celticgeek on 28 May 2013, 20:16
Or something that is almost, but not quite, exactly unlike tea.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Kugai on 28 May 2013, 20:25
Exactly
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: jwhouk on 28 May 2013, 20:57
No, they're not in apartment 42.





I am.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Kugai on 28 May 2013, 21:06
Improbable
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: jwhouk on 28 May 2013, 21:32
So, Marten is now home with the two girls he is most shipped with. What happens next?

Pintsize says/does something coarse.    31 (18.1%)
More people arrive.    10 (5.8%)
They talk about music.    4 (2.3%)
Awkwardness, that's what!    15 (8.8%)
Alcohol will be consumed.    27 (15.8%)
They will leave shortly to head someplace else.    5 (2.9%)
Romantic feelings will be expressed.    11 (6.4%)
Romantic feelings will be denied.    13 (7.6%)
Marten will be a punching bag.    12 (7%)
Claire will say a bad pun.    29 (17%)
Hannelore will mention her OCD ways.    14 (8.2%)

Total Members Voted: 69
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: DSL on 28 May 2013, 23:46
Improbable

But he has a Heart of Gold.

He's just ziss guy, you know?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: hakko504 on 28 May 2013, 23:50
(http://images.geeknative.com.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/towel.jpg)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: westrim on 28 May 2013, 23:58
Since JW went and posted poll results, I made a new one. I can't change the number of options, so oh well.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: pwhodges on 29 May 2013, 01:03
Poll permissions are a bit funny; as far as I can see, you could just side-step the restriction by deleting the poll and creating a new one - but now you'd lose any votes already cast, of course..
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 29 May 2013, 01:51
Is today supposed to be a comic-free day? It's post-convention, but there's nothing from the buffer and no guest strip and nothing on Twitter.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: pwhodges on 29 May 2013, 02:10
I just guess he's having an extended sleep-in.  Comic-free days have never happened deliberately - at the very least he throws up a filler panel.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: westrim on 29 May 2013, 02:12
Why does Jeph sleep like a night shift worker, anyway? He regularly generates the comic between 12-6 am eastern time, which means he's likely asleep afternoons/evenings.That's all kinds of wrong as far as circadian rhythm goes.

As far as the poll goes, I didn't consider that, but I'll try it next time.

EDIT: Oh look, a comic!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bhtooefr on 29 May 2013, 02:25
Some people simply find that they run on a weird sleep schedule relative to everyone else.

I work best when I sleep from 03:00 to 11:00, but my employment doesn't allow that.

And, Marten, Claire's right, it is pretty complicated (even if Claire doesn't know how complicated).  :-P

And, I see Marten has terrible taste in beer. Damn nasty IPAs...  :-P
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: pwhodges on 29 May 2013, 02:26
Jeph's always had a history of sleep madness, among other things.  It's been better controlled recently than at some times in the past, I'd say.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ankhtahr on 29 May 2013, 02:32
My natural rhythm is longer than 24 hours. If I really go to sleep when I'm tired and wake up when I'm not tired anymore, the time I go to sleep shifts by about 1.5 hours a day. Not really practical. (Now I just wait for somebody to post the relevant xkcd. I definitely want to try that one time.)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Akima on 29 May 2013, 02:44
Claire recognises that relationships are like the TARDIS. Always bigger and more complicated on the inside than they look from the outside.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Mr_Rose on 29 May 2013, 02:51
Heehee. "Random IPA" is classy IPA…
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: muon on 29 May 2013, 02:55
Holy shippers, Batman. Claire's comment in the last pannel is rather telling.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Lubricus on 29 May 2013, 03:09
Do we know what Claire's living arrangements are? Maybe she'll move in if Faye leaves...  :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Jazzmaster on 29 May 2013, 03:13
OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY

I was wondering when this would be brought up again...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: techkid on 29 May 2013, 03:19
My natural rhythm is longer than 24 hours. If I really go to sleep when I'm tired and wake up when I'm not tired anymore, the time I go to sleep shifts by about 1.5 hours a day. Not really practical. (Now I just wait for somebody to post the relevant xkcd. I definitely want to try that one time.)
You mean this one? (http://www.xkcd.com/320/)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Nepiophage on 29 May 2013, 04:50
. Except Pintsize, it can go make out with the waffles.
I don't think Pintsize would like being called "it". On the other hand, maybe he deserves it.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: pwhodges on 29 May 2013, 04:55
You mean this one? (http://www.xkcd.com/320/)

I actually worked a shift pattern almost exactly like that for three months at the BBC (in the External Services section).  It was hell (as the mouse-over suggests) - but there were people who had made it their life and loved it.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: TimO on 29 May 2013, 05:22
It's natural for the bodies "free wheeling" sense of a day to last longer than 24 hours.  The body essentially resyncs to a daily schedule with the sunrise/sunset cycle, so the natural duration has to be longer than the physical one, otherwise you'd start feeling tired before sunset actually occurs.

People have actually tested this with rooms that remove any information about the day night cycle (ie no windows), and with no other way of knowing what the time is.  People naturally sleep a few hours longer than 24, and their sense of time gradually slips out of phase with those outside the test area, who are staying with the 24 hour day.

Does Pintsize precede his interjection with "TLDR"?  In context that probably makes sense, but the lettering is a little unclear, and I'm not sure I'd generally quite use it in that fashion.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: snubnose on 29 May 2013, 05:40
Marten is shipped with Hanners and Claire ?!?  :-o

Claire I can see ... remotely.

But Hanners ?!? Even without the OCD issue, I just cant see that pairing.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bhtooefr on 29 May 2013, 05:56
It's certainly been shipped, though. I guess it's potentially plausible that Hanners could fall for Marten if she got over her OCD, but I doubt it, and I think Marten wouldn't go along with it.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: GarandMarine on 29 May 2013, 06:23
Holy shippers, Batman. Claire's comment in the last pannel is rather telling.

....I don not see that at all... like no ship bait any where in this comic.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: DSL on 29 May 2013, 06:26
Potential here for a Hanners -vs. -Claire Deathmatch -- who will emerge as Marten's Insightful Friend?
We have two people of more-than-average insight, difference being Hanners is "interested" -- she's a close friend by now and wants things to work, but it takes berserk-button level of input to get her to say something (and then, well, put that shit away, son, because she's sick of it). Claire is the opposite -- seems to be equally insightful, but her social "disadvantage" (if you want to call it that) is that she's less inhibited about speaking her mind. At the moment, she's taken over Hanners' role as the Spock -- the insightful outsider.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Mr_Rose on 29 May 2013, 06:27
Aha! I see what Jeph's up to now!
He's slowly making a reverse-harem manga; here's Marten as the typically clueless dork surrounded by adorable girls but, unlike the prototypical story, they aren't all fighting over him for various inexplicable reasons but are instead utterly unavailable for equally various reasons. Next thing we know, Emily will move in as marigold's flatmate when Angus leaves (and Momo will never be on time for work again) then Claire will turn out to be enough of a neat-freak herself to pass Hanners' stringent inspections and move in upstairs. Slowly the entire apartment complex will be occupied by increasingly adorkable girls until finally the foxgirl cyborg mechanic with the beam-cannon arm and a pet robot hamster arrives and the building collapses under the weight of d'awww.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: GarandMarine on 29 May 2013, 06:47
Rose`s theory is now my head canon.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Zebediah on 29 May 2013, 06:57
Only problem: Angus and Marigold don't live in the same apartment building as Marten, Faye and Hannelore.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: jwhouk on 29 May 2013, 06:59
Only problem: Angus and Marigold don't live in the same apartment building as Marten, Faye and Hannelore.

WE ARE WORKING ON THAT TECHNOLOGY
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 29 May 2013, 08:05
They're just up the block.   (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1298)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: GarandMarine on 29 May 2013, 08:10
Man Momo has had a SERIOUS personality change since then.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: DSL on 29 May 2013, 08:56
Only problem: Angus and Marigold don't live in the same apartment building as Marten, Faye and Hannelore.

WE ARE WORKING ON THAT TECHNOLOGY

Simpler than that: Faye will burn down Angus and Marigold's apartment building on the night before she and Angus move to New York. Damn toasters.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Latias on 29 May 2013, 09:24
But Hanners ?!? Even without the OCD issue, I just cant see that pairing.
I guess it's potentially plausible that Hanners could fall for Marten if she got over her OCD,

OCD has nothing to do with the ability to feel attraction. Just for the record.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Jazzmaster on 29 May 2013, 09:34
But Hanners ?!? Even without the OCD issue, I just cant see that pairing.
I guess it's potentially plausible that Hanners could fall for Marten if she got over her OCD,

OCD has nothing to do with the ability to feel attraction. Just for the record.

Perhaps not, but I believe it's been said in the comic itself that Hannelore has a multitude of issues, not just OCD.  I believe it's her glaring issues with physical contact that has made a romantic relationship impossible for her up to this point.  She has gotten better but I still do not remember her actually making physical contact with anybody affectionately, and on purpose.

And speaking of hanners, I kind of miss her acting like a crazy stalker.  Or at least pretending to.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Masterpiece on 29 May 2013, 09:39
Heehee, I like Pintsize in todays strip :)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Tulpa on 29 May 2013, 10:54
So what is Claire drinking there? I can make out a KE.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Zebediah on 29 May 2013, 11:03
Cake. Claire is drinking Cake. Obviously.  :laugh:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 29 May 2013, 11:47
I suppose it's delicious and moist?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: KOK on 29 May 2013, 13:22

Perhaps not, but I believe it's been said in the comic itself that Hannelore has a multitude of issues, not just OCD.  I believe it's her glaring issues with physical contact that has made a romantic relationship impossible for her up to this point.  She has gotten better but I still do not remember her actually making physical contact with anybody affectionately, and on purpose.

She did hug Marten once. It was a surprise to herself, a pleasant surprise.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Kugai on 29 May 2013, 13:30
Only problem: Angus and Marigold don't live in the same apartment building as Marten, Faye and Hannelore.

WE ARE WORKING ON THAT TECHNOLOGY

Simpler than that: Faye will burn down Angus and Marigold's apartment building on the night before she and Angus move to New York. Damn toasters.

I KNEW the Cylons were around somewhere!   :-D


But Claire moving in with Marten?

Too obvious, even for Jeph.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Zebediah on 29 May 2013, 13:35
No, the idea someone had of Marigold moving in with Marten was better. And then Claire and Emily can take over the lease at Angus and Marigold's old place.

Good god, are we really apartment-shipping now? And am I taking part in it? I'm going to go get a drink.  :-o
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Kugai on 29 May 2013, 13:36
Harvey Wallbanger?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Zebediah on 29 May 2013, 13:39
Make that two drinks. Both of them coping mechanisms (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2039).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Valérie on 29 May 2013, 14:11
My sincere apologies, pwhodges.

As for Faye being "Put On A Bus". It might not affect the story greatly if her character arc has been developed to it's fullest as some might suggest, but to me it would still be very weird not having her there.
Like having a sore tooth pulled. It might be gone for good reason, but it still feels very strange to lick the empty socket. (I think this is a much worse analogy than I intended.)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 29 May 2013, 14:14
A belated "welcome, new person!"

I am not sure about Faye being put on a bus. I mean on one hand it means more screentime for others; on the other hand, it's the Pugnacious Peach! I like her!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 29 May 2013, 14:19
Losing The Pugnacious Peach would be like taking hot sauce out of a recipe?

A lot of shipping is failure to realize, perhaps from lack of life experience, that there truly are emotionally close people in a non-sexual way and even a non-romantic way. Hannelore said very early on that sexual activity was psychologically out of the question for her, but even aside from that she and Marten don't even have a "pure and chaste from afar" set of feelings going on. They are nonetheless very important to each other.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Zebediah on 29 May 2013, 14:34
Yeah, I'd say that Marten and Hannelore have something like a brother-sister relationship. My own son has something like this with a friend's daughter - granted, he's 8 and she's 5, so a romantic relationship isn't really an issue right now, but my son has said repeatedly that he wants his friend to be his little sister. Both of them are only children, so it's the closest thing to a sibling relationship they have. Likewise, Marten and Hannelore are both only children, so if they want siblings they have to adopt their friends.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: pwhodges on 29 May 2013, 14:43
I have split the discussion of the meaning of words used as insults into a new thread (http://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,29002.0.html) in the Discuss! forum.  As a result, one post about the comic got in the wrong place - so here it is:

But to the comic. Today's was really, really interesting. How long has it been since Marten's spoken about his old feelings about Faye without it being about Dora's insecurity? I'm not sure if we're just being reminded that they had an intense history or whether some of those old feelings are floating around still. I thought I'd groan at the thought of revisiting Marten/Faye but I actually find myself a little excited. Maybe because I love the angst but I like the messiness of their relationship that they've forged into a workable friendship and I think that's the source of Marten's conflict. It's nice to see him sharing with Claire too. My best case scenario is that we'll get a call from Amir and we'll be back on band stuff, I want them to do a gig so badly, it'll be awesome (or terrible, either way, great to read).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: DSL on 29 May 2013, 15:12
This from a so-called "advice" column in one of my client papers:

Quote
Sure, platonic friendships can exist. But I assume they only survive in an unrealistic parallel universe where all humans are unattractive, sexually inept, and emotionally absent.

Good lord.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Mr_Rose on 29 May 2013, 15:22
Time to fire the head cannon, methinks. Nothing quite like grapeshot to the face for solving problems.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Kugai on 29 May 2013, 17:11
To paraphrase the Hynaman

All problems are solved by C4
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ThinksTooMuch on 29 May 2013, 18:11
Quote
Sure, platonic friendships can exist. But I assume they only survive in an unrealistic parallel universe where all humans are unattractive, sexually inept, and emotionally absent.

 This is patently absurd.   This person should not be giving interpersonal advice to anyone.  I have five people I consider true friends, four of them happen to be female.  I am straight, I find each of them attractive, they are all either straight or bi and at least two of them have stated they find me physically attractive... and yet, no romantic tension.  We're "just" friends (just in quotes because these friendships mean far too much to me for them to be "just" anything). 

Basically what I am trying to say is that, while Claire has dropped a few tantalizing hints, it is not an inevitability that she and Marten will date, or even that she will consider it.  Near all of those hints are just as easily explained by a desire for a close friend of a type she seems to have been lacking til now (either that or her other good friend(s) are really good at hiding or very far away to not have appeared or been mentioned by now.)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Game and Watch Forever on 29 May 2013, 18:18
Come to think of it... Claire was actively looking for Marten... I wonder how long she'll wait before mentioning it. Does Hanners need to leave for them to have a discussion in private or is she merely waiting for the right moment to bring up whatever it is?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 29 May 2013, 20:14
Time to fire the head cannon, methinks. Nothing quite like grapeshot to the face for solving problems.

My head cannon was fired years ago. 


But that's because it wasn't working. 


Oh, and a note on Hanners and physical contact; she voluntarily jumped into the arms of a fireman once, when her "baser instincts" overcame her inhibitions for a moment.  IIRC, she found him "gross and sweaty". 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 29 May 2013, 20:20
Link?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: GuardianVamp on 29 May 2013, 20:32
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1224 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1224) Right here.


Also, Hi!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 29 May 2013, 20:36
Now, that's an epic first post! 


Welcome! 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 29 May 2013, 20:37
Thanks, newcomer! Welcome to the forum, and great job on a helpful first post!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: westrim on 29 May 2013, 20:45
Response dump!

So what is Claire drinking there?
Root beer, the best beer of them all and without that nasty alcohol taste/effect. At least, I can hope so, but our society, and Jeph in particular, is/are obsessed with mind altering substances. I greatly appreciate the local restaurant that puts root beer with it's fermented brethren instead of on the soda list, though.

Man, Momo has had a SERIOUS personality change since then.
Yeah, now she's as snarky and grumpy and non-eel-shooting as the rest of the cast.

Oh, and a note on Hanners and physical contact; she voluntarily jumped into the arms of a fireman once, when her "baser instincts" overcame her inhibitions for a moment.  IIRC, she found him "gross and sweaty".
Comic (Googling hannelore firemen brought me right to the ohnorobot transcripts):
(click to show/hide)
I think of that comic every time someone tries to say that she is a pure snowflake who has no possibility of a romantic, physical, or sexual relationship with Marten or anyone else. She'd clearly like to, she just has issues- and issues can be overcome. Likely not in the way shippers hope, but also not to be written off either.

Quote
Sure, platonic friendships can exist. But I assume they only survive in an unrealistic parallel universe where all humans are unattractive, sexually inept, and emotionally absent.
This is patently absurd.  This person should not be giving interpersonal advice to anyone.  I have five people I consider true friends, four of them happen to be female.  I am straight, I find each of them attractive, they are all either straight or bi and at least two of them have stated they find me physically attractive... and yet, no romantic tension.  We're "just" friends (just in quotes because these friendships mean far too much to me for them to be "just" anything). 
That you find them attractive might be pointed to by that columnist as proof that yours is not a completely platonic relationship, on the grounds that you would not have a similar thought process regarding males.

I've had to wrestle with that logic myself regarding my opposite gendered friends, and come to the conclusion that it doesn't have bearing on my relationships as they exist- they are platonic, and there is no indication or inclination that would change. However it still is difficult to reconcile the fact that I am fine with being platonic with the fact that I would also be fine if tomorrow any of most of them asked me out on a date, and would accept that offer at the very least to see how it works out and work out exactly what is different about a romantic relationship from a close friendship aside from the physical stuff and chemical bombs designed to make us perpetuate the species *breathes*.

EDIT: Aw, I got sniped on the comic. That's what happens when I pile too much together.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Latias on 29 May 2013, 21:02
Come to think of it... Claire was actively looking for Marten... I wonder how long she'll wait before mentioning it. Does Hanners need to leave for them to have a discussion in private or is she merely waiting for the right moment to bring up whatever it is?

There was nothing to indicate that she wanted to talk to him about something specifically. She could very well have just wanted to hang out.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bhtooefr on 29 May 2013, 21:09
Also, wait, has everyone forgotten that Hanners hugged her father, completely intentionally, and not under the influence of mind-altering substances (either hormonal or in beverage form)?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: westrim on 29 May 2013, 21:12
Come to think of it... Claire was actively looking for Marten... I wonder how long she'll wait before mentioning it. Does Hanners need to leave for them to have a discussion in private or is she merely waiting for the right moment to bring up whatever it is?

There was nothing to indicate that she wanted to talk to him about something specifically. She could very well have just wanted to hang out.
I may be reading a lot into ellipses, but it seemed strongly intimated that between her words, her body language, and her willingness to hang around for a couple hours just to meet him that she needed him for reasons more private than simply hanging out.

I'm guessing she's pregnant, and Marten's the father.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: jwhouk on 29 May 2013, 21:20
Also, wait, has everyone forgotten that Hanners hugged her father, completely intentionally, and not under the influence of mind-altering substances (either hormonal or in beverage form)?

I haven't. But that was her father.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: K1dmor on 29 May 2013, 21:20
Also, wait, has everyone forgotten that Hanners hugged her father, completely intentionally, and not under the influence of mind-altering substances (either hormonal or in beverage form)?

 After getting the job at CoD, she hugged Marten (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1709).
 At the end of the pretend-date with Sven, she hugged him (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1769).
 And of course, her father's birthday present (http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=2146).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Latias on 29 May 2013, 21:20
I may be reading a lot into ellipses, but it seemed strongly intimated that between her words, her body language, and her willingness to hang around for a couple hours just to meet him that she needed him for reasons more private than simply hanging out.

I'm guessing she's pregnant, and Marten's the father.

I interpreted it as more of her being shy/awkward due to not really knowing Marten's friends all that well. Well, I'm sure we'll find out soon enough if your interpretation is the case.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Rghfrgl on 29 May 2013, 22:17
After getting the job at CoD, she hugged Marten (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1709).

Ah! Evil Hanners!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Indicible on 29 May 2013, 22:49
Quote
Root beer, the best beer of them all and without that nasty alcohol taste/effect.

Root beer. It's bubbly and cloying and happy. And insidious.

There can be friendships (without ponies, thanks...). Not every human is looking for a reproductive partner, thank you.
But I do agree many if not most relationship problems (pre-partnership, and sometimes even post partnership) revolve around the whole sexual tension issue.
As for Claire? Well, she is discovering what it means to have a social life. She is accompanying Marten, because he is the cause of said discovery.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 29 May 2013, 22:56
The fact that hugging is Hannelore's highest achievement in physical contact shows her limitations, as does her intolerance of the very idea of kissing. Most forms of sex will be out of the question for a long time.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Soulsynger on 30 May 2013, 00:05
That TL;DR was devastating.

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Lubricus on 30 May 2013, 00:13
Hee hee, "initiation paddle"!   :laugh:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: WAYF on 30 May 2013, 00:18
Nice to see that Hannelore's sense of humour has more or less evolved to match Marten's. Remember there was a time when she couldn't properly tell if any given statement was a joke.
Also a good display of self-awareness on both their parts.

I see an interesting battle of wits forming between Claire and Pintsize...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: westrim on 30 May 2013, 00:43
Is Claire clambering to get away from the suddenly crazy people, or was she turning over in preparation for the paddle?

Also, she has a magnificent blush.

No, there was no typo here, move along, move along.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 30 May 2013, 01:02
I'm hoping you meant "a magnificent blush"...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Soulsynger on 30 May 2013, 01:02
[ ... ]
Also, she has a magnificent bush.

Woah, wait, what?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 30 May 2013, 01:08
Is it the same paddle? (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=729#)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: westrim on 30 May 2013, 01:16
Dammit, the one time I don't glance at my post after submitting (there's a reason most of my posts have an edited notice), I make a typo like that.  :facepalm:

Is it the same paddle? (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=729#)
Red edge, looks like it.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Lubricus on 30 May 2013, 01:22
Is it, perhaps, a rooibos?  :-P
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: pendrake on 30 May 2013, 01:40
For comic 2458...

1. Man, seems like months since I last posted here.   ... ...oh crap, it has been!  Damn you Real Life! :psyduck: .

2. Art-wise, this strip was great for facial expressions.  I too liked Claire's blush (my graveyard-shift eyes did not see her bush :roll: ), but I liked Hannelore's amused expression even more.

3. @Westrim... I am fairly certain she is clambering over the sofa-arm to escape the implied hazing.

4. Warning - While you were typing at least 4+ replies were added.  Damn, you rusty at posting here, boy!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 30 May 2013, 01:47
Poor Claire, hazing rituals everywhere she goes.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Tova on 30 May 2013, 01:57
It's a touch disturbing to consider that Faye and Pintsize have something in common.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ankhtahr on 30 May 2013, 02:12
2. Art-wise, this strip was great for facial expressions.  I too liked Claire's blush (my graveyard-shift eyes did not see her bush :roll: ), but I liked Hannelore's amused expression even more.

That blush is so incredibly d'awww-worthy, and Hanner's happy face is as well, but I must also commend Jeph for the look of surprisal/shock on Claire's face upon discovering Pintsize with the paddle.

About Rootbeer:
I tried that stuff once. (It's pretty hard to get by Germany) It tasted like vanilla coke mixed with a herbal toothpaste and even more sugar. Can't say that I liked it much.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: GarandMarine on 30 May 2013, 02:25
Awww Claire Blush go!

Heh but if Claire cannot handle mild insanity like the threat of the initiation paddle I fear for her continuing mental health.

Side note: This keyboard lacks an apostrophe key and gained a couple hundred strange characters I am unfamiliar with. I miss contractions.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Jeva on 30 May 2013, 02:34
I've never had root beer I don't think we have it in England, or at least I've never seen it. What's it like?   :?

Also, cutest Hanner-face so far in panel 3.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Sidhekin on 30 May 2013, 02:40
Hanners was once on the receiving end of "birthday spankings", or at least the suggestion of such.

Nice to see her comfortable and sympathising at the, um, "other end".  (Is there an idiomatic expression for the opposite of "the receiving end"?  I'm blanking on it ...)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: muon on 30 May 2013, 03:03
Is Claire clambering to get away from the suddenly crazy people, or was she turning over in preparation for the paddle?

Also, she has a magnificent blush.

I came here to post the exact same comment. (Or, well, the edited version, at least. If we've seen the unedited version, I missed it.)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Indicible on 30 May 2013, 03:55
It begs the question, whose paddle is that? Pintsize's? We know he has some underwears and condoms stocked up. But a paddle? He would need a partner in spanking. Unless it belongs to other occupiers of the place. Marten? We know he is strictly vanilla. Faye and Angus? Well, that could work.I do not see either of them bottoming, so, switches?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: westrim on 30 May 2013, 04:11
About Rootbeer:
I tried that stuff once. (It's pretty hard to get by Germany) It tasted like vanilla coke mixed with a herbal toothpaste and even more sugar. Can't say that I liked it much.
I've never had root beer I don't think we have it in England, or at least I've never seen it. What's it like?   :?
Root beer is mostly a North American thing, on account of its original source being the sassafras tree root, which was used for tea first. Most root beer has varying elements of sassafras in it (or something trying to taste like sassafras), but there's no one solid recipe. There are a few non continental varieties, including one in the UK, but they likely have very different flavors from the US standard- the one Ankhtahr tried was likely from the UK and had too much mint. Vanilla coke is a reasonable comparison, but root beer doesn't have the coke aftertaste, just lingering sweetness. The big brands are A&W, Barqs, and IBC, so if you try one of those you'll have the generic American experience with the beverage. However, they're also all force carbonated; there are only a few places that serve it naturally carbonated, for a much smoother and mellower taste, like my aforementioned restaurant. You can make it with this kit, if you're the hands on type: http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/e86c/

(Or, well, the edited version, at least. If we've seen the unedited version, I missed it.)
Not if you read the comments below mine.

It begs the question, whose paddle is that? Pintsize's? We know he has some underwears and condoms stocked up. But a paddle? He would need a partner in spanking. Unless it belongs to other occupiers of the place. Marten? We know he is strictly vanilla. Faye and Angus? Well, that could work.I do not see either of them bottoming, so, switches?
Since she was seen with it before, it's likely Fayes.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ankhtahr on 30 May 2013, 04:57
First of all, my name is Ankhtahr  :roll:

The root beer I tried was an A&W one. Herbal toothpaste and vanilla coke.

And doesn't root beer only contain artificial flavour nowadays as sassafras root is poisonous?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bhtooefr on 30 May 2013, 05:05
According to Wikipedia, apparently if the safrole is removed, sassafras extract can still be used to produce commercial root beer, but AFAIK all of the mainstream American root beers don't use it. (I don't care for the mainstream American root beers, though, and can only tolerate them if they're in a root beer float.)

Although, a local BBQ place carries Henry Weinhard's Root Beer, and that actually does use sassafras extract. I liked that one, although it's HFCS-sweetened, which... yeah.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: jwhouk on 30 May 2013, 05:38
You poor non-North Americans who've never had proper Root Beer.

Or, the best type of Root Beer: the Root Beer Float!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Indicible on 30 May 2013, 05:46
I happily leave your root beer, as long as I can get decent mead.

Quote
Since she was seen with it before, it's likely Fayes.

Don't remember that one.
Faye with a paddle. Terrifying thought.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 30 May 2013, 05:48
The best root beer I've had was homemade root beer in Amherst, Massachusetts. I wonder if Dora's been to ABC.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 30 May 2013, 05:51
You poor non-North Americans who've never had proper Root Beer.

You might have rootbeer, but we have... uhm.

...
someone help me out.

We have proper bread! And Ü-Eier! Take that!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bhtooefr on 30 May 2013, 05:58
That reminds me, I've had some downright awesome root beer from a place (don't recall where, because I wasn't the one that bought it) in Ypsilanti, MI.

And then made it even more awesome by adding Pinnacle Whipped vodka.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: DSL on 30 May 2013, 06:04
Mmm. Hires Root Beer (no longer, alas), with a close second prize going to A&W -- IF it's brought in a frosted mug on a tray that's clipped to the rolled-down window of your car, back in the (pre-HFCS) day. In a can from the supermarket, it's sugar water.
Frostie was another back-in-the-day favorite. The current "Frostop" is an acceptable substitute.
Barqs -- yes, it'll do, in moderation.
Stewarts or the various "craft"-ish brands, especially if the sweetener is cane and not cornglop, in the glass bottles are the best bet.

Unfortunately, my aging metabolism has dictated a switch to (unsweetened) iced tea.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 30 May 2013, 06:17
IBC, in bottles.  Still sugared. 

(http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/07/27/96/00/0007279600271_215X215.jpg)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: hakko504 on 30 May 2013, 06:24
You poor non-North Americans who've never had proper Root Beer.

You might have rootbeer, but we have... uhm.

...
someone help me out.
Spezi! Also known as Mezzo-Mix or Schwip Schwap
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: KOK on 30 May 2013, 06:27
I've never had root beer I don't think we have it in England, or at least I've never seen it. What's it like?   :?


I tried it once, the one time I visisted the USA. The word that comes to mind describing the taste is wierd. Not actually unpleasant, but not particularly pleasant either.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 30 May 2013, 06:44
In all honesty, I think Ankhtahr's description is pretty close. 

It's fermented sassafras root/bark.  Sugar (a lot) was added to help the fermentation along.  Herbal-tasting, too sweet, holds a head for a long time because it's thick.  Nowadays, good ones still have sassafras extract in them, but many use artificial flavoring. 

It's not minty at all, though.  At least, not to my palette. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: aphanisis81 on 30 May 2013, 07:01
The best root beer I've had was homemade root beer in Amherst, Massachusetts. I wonder if Dora's been to ABC.

MoM, I used to tend bar at ABC (2003-05), and the first time I tried the Uncle John's Root Beer off the tap, I didn't even know what I was tasting. A world apart from A&W and Mug, that's for sure. I used to make the occasional "Restricted Root Beer" (root beer plus root beer schnappes), and also tried to incorporate it into fancy-pants martinis with vanilla rum and blackberry liqueur.  Good times.

Also, hi everyone. I'm 99% lurker until now. I posted under this name back before the Dora/Marten breakup, if that gives a sense of my absence since then. I had to re-register the name. Anyway, looking forward to posting a bit in the future. I sense an implosion of the status quo between now and Thanksgiving...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ankhtahr on 30 May 2013, 07:17
guys, I'm sorry, but could you please take care with spelling my name? It's an h before the r. It's not really important, but it is slowly getting annoying…
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 30 May 2013, 07:20
Whoa! My sister was at Amherst College during those years, and that's when I went up to visit and occasionally went to ABC, so we may have been there at the same time once or twice. I couldn't have a restricted root beer, since I was in high school at the time, but I always got their homemade root beer. So good. I definitely have to find a reason to go back (it's not too far out of the way when I drive from Jersey to New Hampshire) and try that.

Anyway, welcome back!

And ankhtahr, mind telling us the meaning behind the name? Just curious.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 30 May 2013, 07:30
You might have rootbeer, but we have... uhm.

...
someone help me out.
Spezi! Also known as Mezzo-Mix or Schwip Schwap

...Americans don't have that? But. It's literally just Fanta and Cola mixed 50:50!

Welcome back!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bhtooefr on 30 May 2013, 07:30
This is something I'd like to try: http://www.artintheage.com/spirits-landing/root/#about
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 30 May 2013, 07:37
guys, I'm sorry, but could you please take care with spelling my name? It's an h before the r. It's not really important, but it is slowly getting annoying…

Fixed. 

TBH, I was proud of myself for placing the first h correctly...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: aphanisis81 on 30 May 2013, 07:47
So good. I definitely have to find a reason to go back (it's not too far out of the way when I drive from Jersey to New Hampshire) and try that.

Don't know how long it's been for you, but FYI they moved to a new (gigantic) location in 2011. They're no longer on the main drag, but in a strip mall about half a mile away, down Amity St.  Reviews on the new space seem to be mixed on Yelp, but I was disappointed.  They still make a damn fine IPA though, so I guess it's not all bad.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 30 May 2013, 07:57
Last time I was in town was 2009 but I don't think I've been there since 2004 or so. And I'm disappointed to hear about the move. I guess it's not really worth going out of my way for anymore.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Masterpiece on 30 May 2013, 08:17
I'm seriously loving this week. Everybody is being super cute, Marten and Hannelore being like siblings (super cute), Pintsize saying TL;DR (I just want to hug him) and Claire blushing... duuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhwwbbbblblblblblblblblblbl
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: muon on 30 May 2013, 08:45
(Or, well, the edited version, at least. If we've seen the unedited version, I missed it.)
Not if you read the comments below mine.
Oh, I saw what you posted. I meant that I hadn't seen the former US president mentioned in the unedited post.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ankhtahr on 30 May 2013, 09:00
And ankhtahr, mind telling us the meaning behind the name? Just curious.

actually it's a name I stole from a video game (Spellforce: Order of the Phoenix), which I adopted as my first nickname ever, and it kind of stuck. I've got two other nicknames I use regularly, one mainly for gaming purposes (bhtooefr knows which name that is) and one for more serious activities.

But I got so used to it, and I've never seen it used by somebody else, so I really identify myself with it now, and don't see the video game reference in it anymore. The first part is easy to remember, just think of one of these:
(click to show/hide)
. And for the second part, I don't know, just keep it in mind as a sound (taar, not thar).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Skewbrow on 30 May 2013, 09:10
The Ankh Symbol (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankh) is known to Wikipedia. I did recognize it, because it is also used in a puzzle/logic game (http://www.bricks-game.de/) I play a lot with my son. The connection between the two is a bit forced. I would guess it just caught the fancy of the guy who does the coding for the game.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bhtooefr on 30 May 2013, 09:21
I suspect part of the problem is that "tahr" is weird spelling for a native English speaker, normally, and, well, damn you brain autocorrect!

(I stumble on typing things that are in German into Google Translate all the time, because German spelling goes against a lot of ingrained English rules.)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Jazzmaster on 30 May 2013, 10:06
Anyone else think Claire being told the hole Marten-Faye backstory is setting up for something critical?  i.e making some witty remark at the worst possible time?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ankhtahr on 30 May 2013, 10:22
I suspect part of the problem is that "tahr" is weird spelling for a native English speaker, normally, and, well, damn you brain autocorrect!

(I stumble on typing things that are in German into Google Translate all the time, because German spelling goes against a lot of ingrained English rules.)

I now feel reminded of a discussion on pronunciations, where a person from Germany was talking of an [i] sound, and somebody else said it would be more of an [e] sound. The German pronunciation of i is exactly the English pronunciation of e.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 30 May 2013, 10:28
It begs the question, whose paddle is that? Pintsize's? We know he has some underwears and condoms stocked up. But a paddle? He would need a partner in spanking. Unless it belongs to other occupiers of the place. Marten? We know he is strictly vanilla. Faye and Angus? Well, that could work.I do not see either of them bottoming, so, switches?

Why not? Supposedly dominatrices stay in business taking money from alpha business types who want a break from giving orders and being responsible all the time. Self-identified subs I've met online have tended to be confident and assertive people.

Given that Pintsize has samurai armor, a paddle is not a particularly exotic thing to keep on hand just in case.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 30 May 2013, 10:30

I now feel reminded of a discussion on pronunciations


Perhaps now is an opportune time to complain about the weirdness of the English language.

Why is it "to judge" with an e, but "judgment" without an e?
Why is it "to pronounce" and "pronoun" with an o, but pronunciation without an o?
Why is it "awe" with the e, but "awful" without, but "awesome" with?
I swear I had another example a few moments ago.

Don't even get me started on the gh sounds.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Sidhekin on 30 May 2013, 10:33
Ghew ghoti!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: cesariojpn on 30 May 2013, 10:36
Why is it "to judge" with an e, but "judgment" without an e?

(http://media.animevice.com/uploads/0/8763/239567-railgun3_4.jpg)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 30 May 2013, 10:40
What is that supposed to mean?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: cesariojpn on 30 May 2013, 10:47
Given that Pintsize has samurai armor, a paddle is not a particularly exotic thing to keep on hand just in case.

He also has a gimp suit, and didn't he dress up as Lincoln and Castro (with pube hair beard) once?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bhtooefr on 30 May 2013, 11:14
I now feel reminded of a discussion on pronunciations, where a person from Germany was talking of an [i] sound, and somebody else said it would be more of an [e] sound. The German pronunciation of i is exactly the English pronunciation of e.
And then you've got the pronunciation of V and W (the letters especially, but in a word, too - folksvagen, for instance, instead of volkswagen), for the real WTF. (But, every time I watch a German car video talking about VW/Audi diesels, hearing "TDE" is pretty jarring.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: NickyFitz on 30 May 2013, 11:46
I wonder if Claire is trying to escape or reluctantly assuming the position to be paddled
(http://i.imgur.com/C2nYdJ3.png)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 30 May 2013, 12:39
It looks like escaping to me.

My wife spells it "judgement" as a form of civil disobedience.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: jwhouk on 30 May 2013, 12:59
It's all your fault, you know.

I went to DQ and got a Root Beer Float.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: KOK on 30 May 2013, 13:05
I suspect part of the problem is that "tahr" is weird spelling for a native English speaker, normally, and, well, damn you brain autocorrect!

(I stumble on typing things that are in German into Google Translate all the time, because German spelling goes against a lot of ingrained English rules.)

I now feel reminded of a discussion on pronunciations, where a person from Germany was talking of an [i] sound, and somebody else said it would be more of an [e] sound. The German pronunciation of i is exactly the English pronunciation of e.

That was me. I am Danish, not German. Many sounds are the same in both languages, but far from all.

The name of the letter I in my language is the same as the sound in English fit or ship. Or so it sounds to me. And I can hear no difference other than vowel length between ship and sheep.

The name of the letter E is a sound I don't know if exist in English. It is the sound of German e in e.g. Nebel, or French é in e.g. été. In Danish most short I's have this sound, and I use like that in English words like in or this (but not e.g. it). But I suspect that this, like so much of my English pronounciation, is an approximation.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ankhtahr on 30 May 2013, 13:11
Ah, you're Danish! Cool!

I frikkin' love Denmark. Been to København a few times, and we're regularly spending our vacations on Rømø.


Well, there is definitely a difference between ship and sheep, at least in Received Pronunciation. The i in ship is more like a short version of "eh", while the ee in "sheep", well it would translate to "ieh" in German.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 30 May 2013, 14:29
"pronounce" and "pronoun" are twin sins of different mothers - they happen to look the same, but have different etymologies.  As for pronunciation... yeah, I got nothin', except to remind you that of all languages, English is easily the most irregular, having developed in a forge of conquest and defeat over millennia with no standards of spelling until quite recently, and a grossly undereducated majority of speakers. 

Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: muon on 30 May 2013, 14:39
The name of the letter E is a sound I don't know if exist in English. It is the sound of German e in e.g. Nebel, or French é in e.g. été.

There are 2 "e"s in Nebel, so I'm not sure if you mean the first or the second, but both sounds exist in English. The first like the "ei" in neighbor, while the second is more like the "u" in pull (which makes sense, weil in Althochdeutsch es Nebul buchstabiert war), although now I think that isn't a perfect match. Of course, we could solve all of these problems if we used the IPA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Phonetic_Alphabet).

Warning - while you were typing a new reply has been posted. You may wish to review your post.
Nah, I prefer to live dangerously.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bhtooefr on 30 May 2013, 14:44
As for pronunciation... yeah, I got nothin', except to remind you that of all languages, English is easily the most irregular, having developed in a forge of conquest and defeat over millennia with no standards of spelling until quite recently, and a grossly undereducated majority of speakers.

Quote from: James Nicoll
The problem with defending the purity of the English language
is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don't
just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages
down alleyways to beat them unconscious and riffle their pockets for
new vocabulary.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Kugai on 30 May 2013, 14:44
I'll stick to Ginger Beer.

Careful Pintsize, Claire might wind up paddling you.

Then again, he might just enjoy that.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 30 May 2013, 14:45
no standards of spelling until quite recently


I just went and checked. German had no official standard orthography until 1901 :P To be fair, it's also sometimes far from consistent, particularly when they try to forcefully germanize words of foreign origin into German spelling, like phasing out the ph out of Greek words to replace it with f.

 Warning - while you were typing a new reply has been posted. You may wish to review your post.

You don't have to tell me thrice, dear forum!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: pwhodges on 30 May 2013, 14:55
You can turn the warning off in your profile if you really don't want it.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 30 May 2013, 14:57
But then how would I kvetch about it?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ankhtahr on 30 May 2013, 15:15
hehe, the u in 'pull' can be quite interesting too. In Scottish accents "pull" and "pool" are homophones, they sound the same.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Mr_Rose on 30 May 2013, 15:25
But then how would I kvetch about it?
Or make up humorous exaggerations like so:

Warning – While you were worrying about that crack in your new plasterwork the whole universe was blown up, shrunk into a pocket model of itself, then blown up some more (real good this time) which reset the whole thing. The crack's gone now though.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: nestingkiwi on 30 May 2013, 15:25
Between asking Claire for makeouts and going to fetch his toys I wonder if Pintsize has a thing for Claire.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bhtooefr on 30 May 2013, 15:26
Pintsize does that to almost every female acquaintance of Marten's that he meets.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 30 May 2013, 15:42
Frankly, I am surprised Claire hasn't done horrible things to Pintsize yet, like Faye, or Momo, or Marigold.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: DSL on 30 May 2013, 15:52
Frankly, I am surprised Claire hasn't done horrible things to Pintsize yet, like Faye, or Momo, or Marigold.

Give her time ... haven't they just met?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 30 May 2013, 15:59
Yes, and Pintsize's crazy.
He gave her his hijinks,
So she will crush him maybe?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Masterpiece on 30 May 2013, 16:11
Frankly, I am surprised Claire hasn't done horrible things to Pintsize yet, like Faye, or Momo, or Marigold.
Or Emily (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2340)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Tova on 30 May 2013, 20:37
Yes, and Pintsize's crazy.
He gave her his hijinks,
So she will crush him maybe?

ooh...

Pintsize is crazy.
He gave her his hijinks.
She'll crush him, maybe?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: jwhouk on 30 May 2013, 21:19
Miss Jepsen called. Even SHE thinks that's bad.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: cesium133 on 30 May 2013, 21:22
Haikus are easy.
Five seven five.
Shit.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: cesariojpn on 30 May 2013, 21:35
Haikus are easy.
Five seven five.
Shit.

Haiku's need to be about nature or similar topics. So any not based in nature is not in the spirit of Haikus.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 30 May 2013, 21:36
Traditionally, yeah, but common use of the term just requires 5-7-5. Or maybe just a very broad definition of "nature".
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: cesium133 on 30 May 2013, 21:42
Shit is natural.  :roll:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 30 May 2013, 21:44
Wrong amount of syllables though.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: cesariojpn on 30 May 2013, 22:07
Shit is natural.  :roll:

Dare ya to make a haiku about poo.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: celticgeek on 30 May 2013, 22:14
I sat down to shit
But I only farted loud
Could not shit a bit.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 30 May 2013, 22:29
Between asking Claire for makeouts and going to fetch his toys I wonder if Pintsize has a thing for Claire.

Welcome, new person!

It was classier than his first meeting with Tai.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: KOK on 30 May 2013, 22:55
The name of the letter E is a sound I don't know if exist in English. It is the sound of German e in e.g. Nebel, or French é in e.g. été.

There are 2 "e"s in Nebel, so I'm not sure if you mean the first or the second, but both sounds exist in English. The first like the "ei" in neighbor, while the second is more like the "u" in pull (which makes sense, weil in Althochdeutsch es Nebul buchstabiert war), although now I think that isn't a perfect match. Of course, we could solve all of these problems if we used the IPA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Phonetic_Alphabet).

I mean the first. And it is not at all like the ei in neighbor. It is a single vowel, not a diphton. And neither of the parts of the diphton is an E sound.

If I should write those two words in the Danish spelling system, I would write nebel and næjbor. The e/æ distinction carries meaning in Danish. E.g.
hele (whole) vs. hæle (heal, the body part) or seler (suspenders, safety belts) vs. sæler (seals, the animal).

In one of Pohl's Gateway novels, he introduces a character named Payter. Laster he reveals that his name is Peter, which he pronounces in German. So it seems that to Pohl the German long e (a single E sound) sounds like the English ay (an Æ sound glideng to I). I never would have guessed. IPA uses the Esso logo e for what is to a Dane the Æ sound.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: westrim on 30 May 2013, 23:26
It's all your fault, you know.
I went to DQ and got a Root Beer Float.
Mission accomplished!

Except not really, because I can't stand root beer floats. Its constituent parts, yes. I can even have a glass of root beer while eating ice cream. But put the ice cream IN the root beer, and my stomach does flip flops and my nose and taste buds both say "ew." It likely has to do with a bad July 4th experience that, in brief, involved too much food and the rapid evacuation thereof. A root beer float was dessert that day.

Honestly, of all the things I said I didn't expect root beer to be the thing that touched off a wave of comments.

and a grossly undereducated majority of speakers. 
Did any (living at the time) language until recently have an educated majority of speakers, gross or otherwise?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 30 May 2013, 23:39
...I was going to suggest Ancient Greek, but then remembered that they were vastly outnumbered by their slaves.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Skaltura on 30 May 2013, 23:48
Pintsize face in panel 4 slays me.

Well played Jacques, well played.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: KOK on 30 May 2013, 23:49
Claire is very obliging, all of a sudden.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: DSL on 30 May 2013, 23:53
I wonder now, will there be a flurry of retroactive initiations? Will Hannelore insist upon it, if only to make the OCD books balance -- and will she relent when she realizes it applies to her? What will Faye do?

Then again, said the man sitting at the desk out in the middle of nowhere, Monday will probably be something completely different.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 31 May 2013, 00:01
Giving in to Pintsize once is like giving in to a toddler once. The long term effects make it unwise.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: trstn on 31 May 2013, 00:08
She likes it. I'm certain. :)

I seriously laughed at the "Haikus are easy" poem..

I'm not getting into the pronunciation thing too far, but one thing I always found fascinating (as a German native and former "Anglistik" student). German vowels don't move. English do.  Look very closely at the phonemes, the sounds you say. (Exceptions prove the rule, like the word "a", while the letter "a" is pronounced differently and has 2 phonemes, go try not to move your jaw and your tongue saying "a". German "a" is one phoneme only, no movement, like in "jar". Probably one reason (combined with those lovely guttural explosive noises we produce; btw the Dutch can do that much better) that German is considered harsh by some people.

however, fresh pot, have a nice day. ;)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Indicible on 31 May 2013, 00:10
Quote
If I should write those two words in the Danish spelling system, I would write nebel and næjbor. The e/æ distinction carries meaning in Danish. E.g.
hele (whole) vs. hæle (heal, the body part) or seler (suspenders, safety belts) vs. sæler (seals, the animal).

So, Danish is closer to old Norse, German has changed due to the influence of Germanic languages, and English is a mish-mash of Norse, Germanic languages and French. And some Gaellic for good measure.

Claire bends over for Pintsize. Okay, that came out wrong.
Could we have a kinkster in the making? (I swear, if Jeph puts Allie and Lisa somewhere, my squealing will mimic Hannelore's...).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: K1dmor on 31 May 2013, 00:11
 Claire Doesn't care if Pintsize is sad, it's for their safety! They can't let him cry! (http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1253).  :-P
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: J on 31 May 2013, 00:14
claire is now officially pintsize's favorite person
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Lubricus on 31 May 2013, 00:18
So, Danish is closer to old Norse, German has changed due to the influence of Germanic languages, and English is a mish-mash of Norse, Germanic languages and French. And some Gaellic for good measure.

Norse was already different from the proto-German language - modern German hasn't evolved from Norse. Only the North Germanic languages (Icelandic, Faroese, Norwegian, Danish and Swedish) have, though Danish, Swedish and Norwegian have borrowed lot from West Germanic languages. Of course, the Germanic languages were a lot more similar back when Norse was spoken.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: nosaJay19 on 31 May 2013, 00:26
I'm most intrigued by Pintsize's puppy-dog eyes.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 31 May 2013, 00:31
Marten doesn't look as embarrassed as he might.

But then, he himself has put one of the library employees in bondage.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Indicible on 31 May 2013, 00:55
Quote
But then, he himself has put one of the library employees in bondage.

That was Tai (she was tied down... Sorry...).
Does it really count as bondage, though? As I recall, it was a simple shibari harness. Her limbs were still free.
Still begs the question of where he found the ropes in the first place (bondage ropes need to be prepared, to make them safe and comfortable.). Rule of cool?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 31 May 2013, 01:10
The strip in question (http://questionablecontent.net/1302).
At least one of her arms is bound.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 31 May 2013, 01:19
Isn't this the first time a woman has ever consented to one of Pintsize's ideas?

How is Hannelore reacting to this?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: westrim on 31 May 2013, 01:21
I presumed the ropes were Tais, and she brought them along since she planned to ask him for help. She was planning a date, after all.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 31 May 2013, 01:45
Anyone want to obsess over how Pintsize is spanking her at the wrong angle despite theoretically knowing better? Maybe he hits really softly? What is the maximum speed at which you could paddle her at this angle without it hurting? I assume you have to account for factors like jeans thickness, the angle, the actual contact surface of the paddle with her body, the pain threshold, and her CBM (Claire Boniness Modifier).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: westrim on 31 May 2013, 01:55
Anyone want to obsess over how Pintsize is spanking her at the wrong angle despite theoretically knowing better? Maybe he hits really softly? What is the maximum speed at which you could paddle her at this angle without it hurting? I assume you have to account for factors like jeans thickness, the angle, the actual contact surface of the paddle with her body, the pain threshold, and her CBM (Claire Boniness Modifier).
As long as I'm presuming things, I presume it simply wants to go through the motions, rather than actually inflict any pain. We don't know its strength anyway- enough to lift a brick or a shinai, but I don't recall any other demonstrations of Pintsizes strength.

By the way, if Claire is worried about sleep and work, why doesn't she just stay with Marten?  :evil: His couch is a certified soporific, after all.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: zmeiat_joro on 31 May 2013, 01:58
Why is it "to pronounce" and "pronoun" with an o, but pronunciation without an o?

Latin, basically.

Also... Old Norse IS a Germanic language?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Sidhekin on 31 May 2013, 02:09
Proto-Germanic gave rise to East Germanic (Gothic and other extinct languages), North Germanic (Old Norse, giving rise to Icelandic and Norwegian, is a sister group to the rest of Old Nordic, giving rise to Swedish and Danish), and West Germanic (the rest of the lot: Anglo-Saxon (an important part of the amalgamate we call "English"), various dialects lumped as "German", and Dutch, which has an army of its own, and is therefore not a dialect, but a language).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ChaoSera on 31 May 2013, 02:10
Has anyone else noticed how the picture in the 4th Panel changes color when Pintsize hits Claire? :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 31 May 2013, 02:19
I presume it simply wants to go through the motions

Huh. You are the first person I've met who refers to Pintsize as "it".

@ChaoSera: doesn't for me. Or maybe I have terrible color vision.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Lubricus on 31 May 2013, 02:36
Old Norse, giving rise to Icelandic and Norwegian

Modern Norwegian is actually closer to Danish than Icelandic, and is normally classed with Swedish and Danish as an Eastern Nordic language, while Icelandic and Faroese are classed as Western Nordic. The latter two are much closer to Old Norse than the former three. Iceland does its best to keep its language unpolluted by foreign influences, and as a result, readers of modern Icelandic can read Norse texts with little difficulty. The Faroese language has also had some conscious protection, but not to the same extent. It has been influence more by both Danish and English than Icelandic has.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Skaltura on 31 May 2013, 02:51
Has anyone else noticed how the picture in the 4th Panel changes color when Pintsize hits Claire? :psyduck:

Also the shading on Marten's pants is darker.

Which is obvi just because Jeph coloured the two slides that make up the jif slightly differently.

However cue immature jokes about what changes in Marten's pants when the paddle hits Claire in 3 ... 2 ... 1 ...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bhtooefr on 31 May 2013, 02:52
I'd venture a guess that, given that AIs in the QCverse are treated as sentient beings with rights similar to those of humans, that the same rules regarding which pronouns to use (read: never "it", unless the subject wants to be referred to as "it") apply.

And, Pintsize identifies as male.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Sidhekin on 31 May 2013, 03:24
Old Norse, giving rise to Icelandic and Norwegian

Modern Norwegian is actually closer to Danish than Icelandic, and is normally classed with Swedish and Danish as an Eastern Nordic language, while Icelandic and Faroese are classed as Western Nordic. The latter two are much closer to Old Norse than the former three. Iceland does its best to keep its language unpolluted by foreign influences, and as a result, readers of modern Icelandic can read Norse texts with little difficulty. The Faroese language has also had some conscious protection, but not to the same extent. It has been influence more by both Danish and English than Icelandic has.

Okay, so modern Norwegian is also something of an amalgamate.  :)  While the oral tradition is unbroken since Old Norse, the written tradition was Danish until more recent reforms and the invention of a brand new written Norwegian: Naturally, the written tradition has left its marks.

I would object to classing the Norwegian dialects as Eastern Nordic, though; particularly those of the North and the West.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Lubricus on 31 May 2013, 03:35
The clissification of the Norwegian language has seen more than its fair share of discussion, especially in Norway, of course. But one has to remember that such classification must be based on written languages, and the most common written form of Norwegian (Bokmål) is indeed based on Danish. It has been proposed that the other written form, Nynorsk, should be classed with the Western languages, but even though it is based on Western and Northern dialects, its grammar and syntax is quite clearly Eastern Nordic.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Akima on 31 May 2013, 03:46
Haiku's need to be about nature or similar topics. So any not based in nature is not in the spirit of Haikus.

The word haiku is
A Japanese noun, you know.
Plurals need no "S".


Unless Claire is a closet sub, indulging Pintsize might be a bad idea, acid tears or not.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Masterpiece on 31 May 2013, 04:13
words saying you're German
I KNOW WHAT YOUR NAME IS!
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Border Reiver on 31 May 2013, 04:43
Haiku's need to be about nature or similar topics. So any not based in nature is not in the spirit of Haikus.

The word haiku is
A Japanese noun, you know.
Plurals need no "S".


Unless Claire is a closet sub, indulging Pintsize might be a bad idea, acid tears or not.

"Might" be a bad idea?

Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Sidhekin on 31 May 2013, 04:50
The clissification of the Norwegian language has seen more than its fair share of discussion, especially in Norway, of course. But one has to remember that such classification must be based on written languages, and the most common written form of Norwegian (Bokmål) is indeed based on Danish. It has been proposed that the other written form, Nynorsk, should be classed with the Western languages, but even though it is based on Western and Northern dialects, its grammar and syntax is quite clearly Eastern Nordic.

"Must"?  Says who? :-P  I certainly didn't.

Also, while the tradition of Riksmål and Bokmål goes back to Danish, describing it as "based on Danish" is omitting the reforms that have been made since the 1800s, to bring them closer to Norwegian spoken language.  And since Nynorsk was designed using the same orthography, you could as easily say it too is "based on Danish".  (Drawing the line between those written forms seems strange to me: They are far more similar to one another than they are to either Icelandic or Danish.  I rather suspect those who suggest different classifications of the written Norwegian languages of having an agenda in which the similarity of those languages are ... inconvenient.)

Also also: Grammar and syntax that is clearly Eastern Nordic?  Only if you ignore the differences between it and the certainly Eastern Nordic language (trust me: there are differences), or accept them as Eastern Nordic per definition.  Which seems to make the question moot ...

Bit of a rant, I suppose:

The difference in grammar and syntax between spoken Norwegian and Icelandic is mostly due to the great "simplifications" that Norwegian saw, often attributed to the Hanseatic League and other trade connections, and somewhat parallelling the "simplification" that produced Modern English from Old English (or modern Swedish and Danish for that matter).  Icelandic, starting from the same language as Norwegian, developed in another direction, with less "simplification".

As the Hanseatic League declined, Danish was adopted (also) as trade language in Norway, becoming pretty much the only written language of Norway (until the reforms of Riksmål and invention of Nynorsk).  But at that time, the spoken language had already come most of the way from Old Norse to modern spoken Norwegian.

Most Norwegians take great pride in their spoken language.  And written Norwegian is considered Eastern Nordic only to the extent that it is considered foreign.  Many do speak of them as Danish.  (Or some of them.  I don't approve of drawing a line between them.)

I spoke (wrote) of Norwegian.  If Bokmål is Danish, Norwegian is a spoken language.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Lubricus on 31 May 2013, 05:12
The clissification of the Norwegian language has seen more than its fair share of discussion, especially in Norway, of course. But one has to remember that such classification must be based on written languages, and the most common written form of Norwegian (Bokmål) is indeed based on Danish. It has been proposed that the other written form, Nynorsk, should be classed with the Western languages, but even though it is based on Western and Northern dialects, its grammar and syntax is quite clearly Eastern Nordic.

"Must"?  Says who? :-P  I certainly didn't.

"Must" in the sense that the written language is less prone to change than spoken language, and because the Norwegian dialects are too dissimilar to easily classify as a language. That's the case with many languages - take German, for instance - several dialects in western Germany are closer to Dutch than written German, so the reason they are specifically "German" is really the fact that they are spoken inside Germany.

Quote
Also, while the tradition of Riksmål and Bokmål goes back to Danish, describing it as "based on Danish" is omitting the reforms that have been made since the 1800s, to bring them closer to Norwegian spoken language.  And since Nynorsk was designed using the same orthography, you could as easily say it too is "based on Danish".  (Drawing the line between those written forms seems strange to me: They are far more similar to one another than they are to either Icelandic or Danish.  I rather suspect those who suggest different classifications of the written Norwegian languages of having an agenda in which the similarity of those languages are ... inconvenient.)

No matter how many reforms written Norwegian has had, the language was based on Danish originally, and has inherited many of the characteristics of Danish linguistic tradition. And what do you mean by "Norwegian spoken language"? Bokmål is still closely related to the way people talk in Oslo, which is in many cases very different from dialects across the country. I agree that drawing a line between Bpkmål and Nynorsk is strange, but it is often done nonetheless.

Quote
Also also: Grammar and syntax that is clearly Eastern Nordic?  Only if you ignore the differences between it and the certainly Eastern Nordic language (trust me: there are differences), or accept them as Eastern Nordic per definition.  Which seems to make the question moot ...

I cannot be bothered to go into details about how Icelandic differs from Swedish, for instance, in grammar and syntax right now, but I urge you to look closer at the ways the two languages compare to Bokmål.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Madmartigan on 31 May 2013, 05:16
Very bad idea giving in to Pintsize like that.

Now he OWNS you Claire. :-o
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Zebediah on 31 May 2013, 05:17
So, it turns out that the big dramatic secret that some here speculated that Claire wanted to share with Marten is: No big secret. They're friends, and she just wanted to hang out with her friend, the way friends do.

Which brings up an interesting point: Claire seems to have no other friends, at least that we've seen. OH GOD THEY'VE ADOPTED ANOTHER ONE.

Warning - while you were typing the forum was invaded by rabid linguists. You may want to translate your post into Nynorsk.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Lubricus on 31 May 2013, 05:41
Yeah, sorry about that! I'll try to keep my linguistic tendencies under wraps.  :angel:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Zebediah on 31 May 2013, 08:04
Not to worry - I'm actually married to a linguist, and I have a fascination with language, so I'm more knowlegable about the various linguistic arguments than the typical layman. So if I state that nearly every language is actually a dialect continuum and that the borders between languages are often fuzzy-to-nonexistant and determined more by politics than anything else, I'm not totally talking out my ass.  :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 31 May 2013, 08:43
There was a fictional proverb in a book I once read. The proverb said that you can go around the world once without ever noticing how the cultures are changing.

I suppose it's similar to the "water never boils while you look at it" sentiment.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Y on 31 May 2013, 08:44
I'm wondering if Claire allows it because: she secretly likes it, she likes for marten or any other guy to have attention toward her butt,  College! got to try stuff and do the initiation thing, butts just butts,...

Also marten seems shocked, I wonder if this brings back any memory of being accidentally exposed to some of his mom's stuff, or just plain didn't expect that to happen.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: HueItzCoatl on 31 May 2013, 08:46
Holy shit, the look on his face as Pintsize is spanking her ass....fucking classic. I love her as a character, she's a trip.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 31 May 2013, 08:53
I think noone expected Claire to be so nonchalant about it, and I don't think she does this because of some hidden interest. It's like... doing something embarrassing to please a child, like the stereotypical letting your child ride you like a horse.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: pwhodges on 31 May 2013, 08:57
The word haiku is
A Japanese noun, you know.
Plurals need no "S".

And if we're being pedantic, the haiku is based on morae (音 "on") rather than syllables.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Delator on 31 May 2013, 09:32
For some reason, I was reminded of this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFgR0m-9FmM&feature=endscreen&NR=1

I suspect Claire's sentiments are somewhat similar to Lisa's.  :-P
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Smallest on 31 May 2013, 09:56
Claire is the most indulgent person, but I like the first panel a lot.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Last_man_sitting on 31 May 2013, 10:00
I think we can all agree that the real reason Marten's so shocked is that Pintsize got to tap pap that ass before he did.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: KOK on 31 May 2013, 11:21
Unless Claire is a closet sub, indulging Pintsize might be a bad idea, acid tears or not.

Look at her face in the last two frames. She does not look as if she is enjoying this.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: pwhodges on 31 May 2013, 11:51
(click to show/hide)

That reads like shipping to me; please read the rules and forum advice.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 31 May 2013, 12:32
There was a fictional proverb in a book I once read. The proverb said that you can go around the world once without ever noticing how the cultures are changing.

I suppose it's similar to the "water never boils while you look at it" sentiment.

I've heard more than one US person report feeling like they had been been through a discontinuous change when they drove across the Mason-Dixon line.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 31 May 2013, 12:34
I don't know, I was in Virginia a month or so ago and it didn't seem that different. To be fair I was only in towns right outside of DC (Alexandria/Arlington) and a college town (Charlottesville), but still.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Zebediah on 31 May 2013, 12:39
Yes, it can be quite jarring. A year ago I moved from North Carolina to Massachusetts. Accents aside, the culture is rather different here.

Incidentally, the Mason-Dixon line (historically the border between Pennsylvania and Maryland) no longer makes a good border between North and South. It's moved southwards to the Rappahannock river in Virginia. Anything north of that is no longer Virginia, but "Northern Virginia" - or as a former boss called it, "Occupied Virginia". You cannot get decent sweet tea north of the Rappahannock, and forget about biscuits.

Warning - while you were typing a new reply has been posted. But upon review, there is no need to edit your post. Carry on.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: jwhouk on 31 May 2013, 13:31
There was a fictional proverb in a book I once read. The proverb said that you can go around the world once without ever noticing how the cultures are changing.

I suppose it's similar to the "water never boils while you look at it" sentiment.

I've heard more than one US person report feeling like they had been been through a discontinuous change when they drove across the Mason-Dixon line.

Or North of Wisconsin Highway 64.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: cesariojpn on 31 May 2013, 13:33
Unless Claire is a closet sub, indulging Pintsize might be a bad idea, acid tears or not.

Look at her face in the last two frames. She does not look as if she is enjoying this.

Right, cause we can infer the emotions of a character with two frames accurately.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bhtooefr on 31 May 2013, 13:59
When we're talking about two very informative frames, drawn to clearly convey emotion?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Kugai on 31 May 2013, 14:20
This cannot bode well



For Pintsize.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Akima on 31 May 2013, 16:04
You cannot get decent sweet tea north of the Rappahannock
You cannot get decent sweetened tea anywhere... :-P
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Storel on 31 May 2013, 17:01
There was a fictional proverb in a book I once read. The proverb said that you can go around the world once without ever noticing how the cultures are changing.

I suppose it's similar to the "water never boils while you look at it" sentiment.

I think it's closer to the "frogs in a pot of water don't jump out as it comes to a boil" thing, because the cultures change so gradually as you move that you don't notice the difference.

That was more true in the days when the fastest way to get anywhere was on horseback, though. Modern high-speed travel makes it possible to get practically anywhere in less than a day, which makes the changes much more noticeable.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Zebediah on 31 May 2013, 17:27
You cannot get decent sweet tea north of the Rappahannock
You cannot get decent sweetened tea anywhere... :-P

I'm not talking about sweetened tea, I'm talking about sweet tea.  :wink:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: celticgeek on 31 May 2013, 17:30
sweet tea (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=585)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Tulpa on 31 May 2013, 18:36
sweet tea (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=585)
I like my tea bitter. But I would take that BLT and potato salad.  :mrgreen:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: westrim on 31 May 2013, 19:10
Unless Claire is a closet sub, indulging Pintsize might be a bad idea, acid tears or not.
Look at her face in the last two frames. She does not look as if she is enjoying this.
The third panel makes is her 'exasperated and accommodating a silly request' face. The fourth panel is her default expression.

Holy shit, the look on his face as Pintsize is spanking her ass....fucking classic. I love her as a character, she's a trip.
No, the Fucking Classic comes later and requires golf gloves. But really, must you be so vulgar?

There was a fictional proverb in a book I once read. The proverb said that you can go around the world once without ever noticing how the cultures are changing.
I suppose it's similar to the "water never boils while you look at it" sentiment.
I think it's closer to the "frogs in a pot of water don't jump out as it comes to a boil" thing, because the cultures change so gradually as you move that you don't notice the difference.
While it's a nice idea and to a certain extent true, it doesn't match up with political reality. There's lots of lines in the world that you can cross and end up facing a very different culture from the one a mile back. Then there are enclaves, little pockets of culture within a different culture like immigrant districts or military bases.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Torlek on 31 May 2013, 23:55
Incidentally, the Mason-Dixon line (historically the border between Pennsylvania and Maryland) no longer makes a good border between North and South. It's moved southwards to the Rappahannock river in Virginia. Anything north of that is no longer Virginia, but "Northern Virginia" - or as a former boss called it, "Occupied Virginia". You cannot get decent sweet tea north of the Rappahannock, and forget about biscuits.
The border moves South the further South you go until you get just South of Birmingham, then it kinda stays there (unless you're in Louisiana, then I think it just keeps moving until it runs into the Gulf).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: 94ssd on 01 Jun 2013, 06:29
Wait...didn't Claire come over to say something important to Marten? Earlier it seemed like she really needed to talk to him.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Moanerette on 01 Jun 2013, 06:56
This is why I need to keep a closer eye on these threads, in case of eruption into impassioned and erudite-seeming linguistics debates. Superb tangential riffing.

Late as I may be, I can shed some light on the rootbeer question from a UK perspective. In the 1980s, UK McDonalds did sell rootbeer; it was the only thing I liked about it the first time I ate there (age 10ish, Milton Keynes Shopping Centre, 1982ish). As I recall it wasn't that sweet, which is probably why I liked it. My understanding is that it was phased out of UK branches because it was generally unpopular, and I have heard somewhere that the drink is generally regarded as not suiting the European palate, so there has never been an attempt to mass market a rootbeer drink here. I don't have proper sources for those assertions though, they're just things I 'know'.

I would love it if QC suddenly went in to a paddlin' frenzy and the next fortnight's strips were dedicated to the whole cast catching up on their initiations.  PAP........PAP........PAP........PAP........PAP.......PAP.......PAP........PAP........
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Redball on 01 Jun 2013, 07:53
With an appearance by Seymour Butz?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 01 Jun 2013, 08:16
Seymour Butz?
(http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20060626043258/en.futurama/images/3/35/Seymour-1-.jpg)
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bhtooefr on 01 Jun 2013, 11:12
So, I may have started this discussion in #qc last night...

How much force could Pintsize impart on Claire, and would Pintsize's impacts cause Claire actual pain, or just annoyance?

I started the experiment by hitting myself with the Calibrated Wrist™ (why use a torque wrench, when you can guesstimate with your wrist?). At about 40 ft-lbs of force, it was enough to annoy me. 100 ft-lbs was about right for the sting of a spanking intended to inflict pain. 20 ft-lbs, noticeable, mildly annoying.

I'd estimate that Pintsize is about 20 pounds, based on his size, and the amount of energy storage that would need to be in there, as well as cooling hardware. Claire looks like she's about 5'1" or 5'2", and I used to know someone of her build and that height that was 100 lbs soaking wet.

The paddle is about 2 feet long by 6 inches, and is probably wooden, making it about a pound or so. But, that's not actually important.

See, if Pintsize put 100 ft-lbs into Claire through the paddle, Claire is a much heavier object. Newton's third law... and Pintsize flies across the room, unless he's braced against something much heavier himself.

I'd estimate that Pintsize is putting about 5 ft-lbs into Claire, anything more and he'd lose his balance. That's like lightly tapping her.

</spontaneous nerdy interlude>
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 01 Jun 2013, 11:17
You mean lightly papping her. :mrgreen: (Although I do think "pap" indicates that the paddle is barely touching her)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Redball on 01 Jun 2013, 11:19
From the angle, it looks like it was hitting her on the hipbone instead of her bottom.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Method of Madness on 01 Jun 2013, 11:20
Maybe the side of the bottom?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bhtooefr on 01 Jun 2013, 11:27
You mean lightly papping her. :mrgreen: (Although I do think "pap" indicates that the paddle is barely touching her)

Hell, with a 1 pound paddle of that length, Pintsize has to be careful that he doesn't put enough kinetic energy into it to throw him off the couch just on inertia.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 01 Jun 2013, 11:45
spontaneous nerdy interlude

I called it! (http://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,28993.msg1161915.html#msg1161915)

Thanks, mysterious stranger who blinded me with science!


While it's a nice idea and to a certain extent true, it doesn't match up with political reality.

To be fair, it was said in a setting which is far less technologically advanced than ours; imagine medieval with a very light touch of steampunk (while also having a global iron shortage). So, less advanced warfare, less advanced travel.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Redball on 01 Jun 2013, 11:51
spontaneous nerdy interlude
I called it! (http://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,28993.msg1161915.html#msg1161915)
Thanks, mysterious stranger who blinded me with science!
In the world of science, we should have acknowledged your contribution.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2455-2459 (27-31 May, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 01 Jun 2013, 12:03
If any of you ever becomes any minister of education (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annette_Schavan#Plagiarism_charge), I'll make sure to point out your lack of adherence to scientific procedure.