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PA comic: Wednesday Oct. 12, 2011 - The Line

BogeyBogey I'm back, baby!Santa Monica, CAModerator mod
edited October 2011 in The Penny Arcade Hub
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Posts

  • metaphistmetaphist FLRegistered User regular
    A prelude to the inevitable eBook "Turning" that will accompany the apocalypse.

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  • FandeathisFandeathis Registered User regular
    Love it! Especially that face in the second panel. The art is getting so damn good these days.

    You fuck wit' Die Antwoord, you fuck wit' da army.
  • jackaljackal Fuck Yes. That is an orderly anal warehouse. Registered User regular
    I wonder if there has been an altercation where a flight attendant did not believe an ereader was off because it was still displaying the last page.

  • HenroidHenroid Mexican kicked from Immigration Thread Centrism is Racism :3Registered User regular
    It just dawned on me that books are something you can indeed turn on and off now. Thank you, comic.

  • Mojo_JojoMojo_Jojo We are only now beginning to understand the full power and ramifications of sexual intercourse Registered User regular
    I've had this happen. It was a bit awkward, as you can't really turn them off. Still, I said yes and closed the cover.

    Homogeneous distribution of your varieties of amuse-gueule
  • olivergringoldolivergringold Registered User new member
    edited October 2011
    Oh, man. Been a mighty long time since I've posted, but I didn't see anybody else take a whack at the cipher. "Book" is the eighteenth word in the strip.

    Word/Letter
    Turn-1/t
    What-2/h
    What-3/a
    Turn-4/n
    Book-4/k
    Shock-1/s

    Hitler-3/t
    My-2/y
    Shock-4/c
    Wouldn'tcha-9/h
    You're-2/o

    Sir-1/s
    I-1/i
    Genitals-1/g
    Gonna-3/n
    Yeah-2/e
    Need-4/d

    Gonna-4/n
    To-2 /o
    Love-1/l
    Wouldn'tcha-10/a

    Like-3/k
    Start-3/a
    Yeah-1/y
    Need-3/e

    The last part confuses me. Nolakaye looks like it's supposed to be an anagram for Elonka (hence the asterisks), but I can't find out what the 'a' and the 'y' are for unless I messed part of it up.

    EDIT: The egotistical 'how I solved it' bit: Tycho said we'd need the strip for other things. I remembered the word BOOK being in big, bold letters in the comic, and the hint clicked. I counted and, sure enough, it was the 18th word. When I saw that the number after the dash was always less-than-or-equal-to the number of letters in the word, the puzzle kind of solved itself. "Thanks, Tycho! Signed, Nola Kaye"

    olivergringold on
  • cgeorgcgeorg Registered User new member
    Nola Kaye appears to be the character named after her in The Lost Symbol. source

  • olivergringoldolivergringold Registered User new member
    Thanks, that clears things up!

  • cgeorgcgeorg Registered User new member
    Also, if people liked the cipher, they should check out http://www.themastertheorem.com

  • AsharadAsharad Registered User regular
    Great comic and fascinating newspost.

  • JustinSane07JustinSane07 Really, stupid? Brockton__BANNED USERS regular
    I have no fucking idea what voodo Oliver performed, so I think we should burn him at the stake.

  • olivergringoldolivergringold Registered User new member
    The codewords were all pairs of numbers separated by a hyphen. The first number in each pair corresponded to today's comic. The second number in each pair corresponded to a letter position in each word. For the first pair, 28-1, the 28th word in the strip (in order of who's speaking) is "turn." The first letter in the word "turn" is T, so 28-1 deciphers as T.

    The hint (BOOK=18) helped because BOOK was the eighteenth word in the strip. The pair it showed up in within the cipher, 18-4, corresponds to the letter K in the word 'thanks.'

  • The InfraThe Infra Registered User regular
    jackal wrote:
    I wonder if there has been an altercation where a flight attendant did not believe an ereader was off because it was still displaying the last page.

    This happened exactly like that two weeks ago. I was reading my Kindle during takeoff and the attendant told me to "turn off my iPad". I explained it wasn't, and that I can't really turn it off, just lock the screen but otherwise is the same as a book.

    She came a second and third time, and instead I just shrugged, put it on the side, and when she was gone I started reading again.

  • Munkus BeaverMunkus Beaver You don't have to attend every argument you are invited to. Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPA regular
    I found out after flying at PAX that you're not supposed to use the "airplane mode" during takeoff/landings of planes. Instead, you're just supposed to turn off the phone at those points.

    I guess if enough electronics are on it can disrupt something? They never exactly explain what it is (beyond the deadly pilot killing rays that DS's fire off) that makes a low power device so detrimental to everything.

    Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
  • FairchildFairchild Rabbit used short words that were easy to understand, like "Hello Pooh, how about Lunch ?" Registered User regular
    There is no real reason nowadays to turn off electronic devices in airplanes. The chance of a handheld device interfering with airplane/airport communications is extremely remote. If the FAA wanted to make an argument that by using your device you are not paying attention to the flight attendants' safety instructions, then you might have something.

  • JustinSane07JustinSane07 Really, stupid? Brockton__BANNED USERS regular
    Mythbusters wanted to bust this shit with cell phones screwing up plane instruments but the FAA wouldn't let them fly with a cell phone on during take off and landing. They were probably scared of everyone finding out what a bunch of fear mongering bullshit that rule is.

    So they did it on the ground in a faraday cage and found that the cell phones, ranging from huge clunkers in the late 80s to present day flip phones (it was like a 2006 episode) made no fucking difference on a modern airplane's gauges.

  • El GuacoEl Guaco Registered User regular
    Fandeathis wrote:
    Love it! Especially that face in the second panel. The art is getting so damn good these days.

    Except his mouth is magically outside of his face.


  • see317see317 Registered User regular
    Fairchild wrote:
    There is no real reason nowadays to turn off electronic devices in airplanes. The chance of a handheld device interfering with airplane/airport communications is extremely remote. If the FAA wanted to make an argument that by using your device you are not paying attention to the flight attendants' safety instructions, then you might have something.

    Yeah, but what are the chances that you are both A) able to use an electronic device, and B) completely unfamiliar with the operation of a standard seatbelt buckle?

  • fightinfilipinofightinfilipino Angry as Hell #BLMRegistered User regular
    I found out after flying at PAX that you're not supposed to use the "airplane mode" during takeoff/landings of planes. Instead, you're just supposed to turn off the phone at those points.

    I guess if enough electronics are on it can disrupt something? They never exactly explain what it is (beyond the deadly pilot killing rays that DS's fire off) that makes a low power device so detrimental to everything.

    aside from the Mythbusters debunking, the real reason airlines want devices shut off and stored for at least takeoff and landing is to reduce the chances that random electronics might go flying and hit other people during turbulence if, say, a passenger has butterfingers.

    as for cell phones needing to be off, period, i guess the theory is that their radio signals can interfere with the plane's own radio communications? but considering many airlines have in-flight wi-fi now, this argument doesn't make much sense...

    ffNewSig.png
    steam | Dokkan: 868846562
  • TofystedethTofystedeth Registered User regular
    What are the chances that you are capable of performing lifesaving surgery but cannot remember how to open your email.

    If you've ever worked IT in a hospital, you know the answer.

    steam_sig.png
  • jackaljackal Fuck Yes. That is an orderly anal warehouse. Registered User regular
    I'm not sure if the Mystbusters are rigorous enough to really say one way or the other. I think there was actual research a few years ago that showed it was most likely safe though. No one in the FAA is going to make that call though because they have nothing to gain by inconveniencing you less but a great deal to lose. Of course this means air travel will only get more annoying.

  • Dark Raven XDark Raven X Laugh hard, run fast, be kindRegistered User regular
    What are the chances that you are capable of performing lifesaving surgery but cannot remember how to open your email.

    If you've ever worked IT in a hospital, you know the answer.

    The head of surgery at my old hospital had to have someone use the mouse for him.

    He could not move the cursor around the screen.

    I have seen infants do that.

    Oh brilliant
  • ElonkaElonka GameDev, Simutronics St. Charles, MORegistered User new member
    The codewords were all pairs of numbers separated by a hyphen.

    Nice work!

    Elonka :)

  • LoversknotLoversknot Registered User new member
    Figured I should've checked the forums before working it out myself, but oh well. It was entertaining, at least.

    Thanks Tycho.

    Signed,

    Nola Kaye

  • Wangticore1023Wangticore1023 Registered User regular
    yay! A birthday comic!

  • LovelyLovely Registered User regular
    What are the chances that you are capable of performing lifesaving surgery but cannot remember how to open your email.

    If you've ever worked IT in a hospital, you know the answer.

    The head of surgery at my old hospital had to have someone use the mouse for him.

    He could not move the cursor around the screen.

    I have seen infants do that.

    My mother does that, not being able to work a mouse I mean. In fairness she's 60..uh, something. But yeah, everytime I try to teach her she just can't get it. It always boggles my mind.

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  • AsharadAsharad Registered User regular
    In the very first episode of The West Wing the character Toby gets into an argument with a flight attendant because he is talking on his cellphone. He makes the point that the plane has a <techincal jargon about the communication package that costs millions of bucks and is capable of all sorts of stuff> and that the idea that it can be foiled by something he bought at Radio Shack is ridiculous.

  • CambiataCambiata Commander Shepard The likes of which even GAWD has never seenRegistered User regular
    The FAA doesn't ban cellphones because they have any effect on airplane instruments.

    The FAA bans cellphones because they can.

    I'm thinking that at this point there is some degree of "If everyone were talking on their cellphones on the plane, it would annoy the fuck out of the other passengers", but that's being generous based on what I know of the FAA.

    "If you divide the whole world into just enemies and friends, you'll end up destroying everything" --Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind
  • jwalkjwalk Registered User regular
    edited October 2011
    I never turn off my cell phone.

    The plane never crashes.

    I've also walked right thru the security scanners with my cell phone in my pocket.

    Last time I flew I forgot I had a bottle of orange juice in my bag, went right thru the x-ray machines without a pip from the TSA mall cops.

    *whoops.jpg* so much for the $elevendy-billion dollars we spend on that crap.

    to be fair I've never tried to sneak a bomb or a gun or knife on a plane, so maybe I'm underestimating them and they just knew it was a harmless bottle of orange juice and let me go...

    jwalk on
  • ArbitraryDescriptorArbitraryDescriptor changed Registered User regular
    I found out after flying at PAX that you're not supposed to use the "airplane mode" during takeoff/landings of planes. Instead, you're just supposed to turn off the phone at those points.

    I guess if enough electronics are on it can disrupt something? They never exactly explain what it is (beyond the deadly pilot killing rays that DS's fire off) that makes a low power device so detrimental to everything.
    I just assume that "turn off your devices" is easier to say and easier to verify than "Please disable RF emissions from your mobile devices"

  • DraygoDraygo Registered User regular
    There was a case for this back when everything was analog.

    In the digital transmission age there is pretty much fuck none.

  • Dark_SideDark_Side Registered User regular
    I've actually had my cell phone interfere with a airplane's radio, but it was in a cessna so....And it did amount to a fairly significant buzzing. But then, I've seen my boss make calls while he's flying his plane, so I don't think it's a huge issue either.

    As as seasoned business traveler though, I'm totally fine with a no cell phones after take off and until taxi rule. It's bad enough listening to people yack on those things in the terminal.

  • AthenorAthenor Battle Hardened Optimist The Skies of HiigaraRegistered User regular
    Elonka wrote:
    The codewords were all pairs of numbers separated by a hyphen.

    Nice work!

    Elonka :)

    Admittedly I didn't know about you before today, but now that I do, wow. Awesome. :)

    Ciphers are a love/hate thing with me. I love the concepts, the math.. I hate them because I just can NOT get them. If I really pushed myself I could solve most of them in Professor Layton, for instance. But some are just so out of left field.

    It's actually an area I'd love to learn more about, along with things like certificate security and passkeys, but my mind just doesn't do well at math. The last time I was tested was on my ACTs over a decade ago, where I scored 29 on that part. Much, much prefer writing.


    What are the chances that you are capable of performing lifesaving surgery but cannot remember how to open your email.

    I shudder to think how many times I've had to help people with their usernames. Passwords are one thing, but usernames? And when it is their OWN NAME...

    He/Him | "A boat is always safest in the harbor, but that’s not why we build boats." | "If you run, you gain one. If you move forward, you gain two." - Suletta Mercury, G-Witch
  • jwalkjwalk Registered User regular
    obligitory
    215554049_kesRm-L-2.jpg

  • peteer01peteer01 Registered User new member
    Elonka,

    Thanks, that was fun. Not knowing what to make of NOLAKAYE was a bit of a curveball, but google eventually got me to the right page without even needing the space. :-)

  • CambiataCambiata Commander Shepard The likes of which even GAWD has never seenRegistered User regular
    edited October 2011
    Elonka wrote:
    I shudder to think how many times I've had to help people with their usernames. Passwords are one thing, but usernames? And when it is their OWN NAME...

    Hey, now. I can understand this problem. Where I work, I have way too many usernames to remember - some are my employee id, some are my first and last name with a space, some are my first and last name without a space, some are first initial, last name, some are first initial + last name + employee ID, etc. There are kind of a lot of iterations.

    So even if someone knows that the username is their own name, they may not remember in what manifestation of their name might be needed (and usually on work log-ins, you get 3 before you're locked out, so you can't just keep trying names to figure it out). I can sympathize

    Cambiata on
    "If you divide the whole world into just enemies and friends, you'll end up destroying everything" --Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind
  • AthenorAthenor Battle Hardened Optimist The Skies of HiigaraRegistered User regular
    Cambiata wrote:
    Elonka wrote:
    I shudder to think how many times I've had to help people with their usernames. Passwords are one thing, but usernames? And when it is their OWN NAME...

    Hey, now. I can understand this problem. Where I work, I have way too many usernames to remember - some are my employee id, some are my first and last name with a space, some are my first and last name without a space, some are first initial, last name, some are first initial + last name + employee ID, etc. There are kind of a lot of iterations.

    So even if someone knows that the username is their own name, they may not remember in what manifestation of their name might be needed (and usually on work log-ins, you get 3 before you're locked out, so you can't just keep trying names to figure it out). I can sympathize

    Username and self-chosen PIN number. =P

    He/Him | "A boat is always safest in the harbor, but that’s not why we build boats." | "If you run, you gain one. If you move forward, you gain two." - Suletta Mercury, G-Witch
  • HewnHewn Registered User regular
    Nobody wants to deal with a hundred people talking at once on a plane. Also, cell phones are also a security issues for airplanes. They can be used for coordination or detonation.

    Now, it would be super easy to sneakily text or use it regardless, but any flagrant ignoring of this rule by a group of passengers would at least tip off a potential security concern.

    Steam: hewn
    Warframe: TheBaconDwarf
  • LoneGunmanLoneGunman Registered User regular
    Damn. I figured out HOW it was encrypted (the whole 18 = Book 4 = 4th character), I just couldn't figure out the key...didn't even think about using the comic strip itself. Ugh. Nice work Oliver.

  • The Good Doctor TranThe Good Doctor Tran Registered User regular
    Nice to hear from someone at Simu. I have spent way more time and money on your games than I would ever care to admit.

    LoL & Spiral Knights & MC & SMNC: Carrington - Origin: CarringtonPlus - Steam: skdrtran
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