# XKCD 1190: "Time"---Randall's setting something up... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 25, 2013, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-1190-time-randalls-setting-something-up/653901 "2013-03-25T10:31:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-1190-time-randalls-setting-something-up/653901/221 "2013-04-26T17:55:10Z")
It looks like it has started to fade out. The last couple of frames are definitely getting lighter. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-1190-time-randalls-setting-something-up/653901/222 "2013-04-26T21:27:06Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > I have to say I’m rather more impacted by this comic than I should be. There’s something uplifting about the fact that they’re going off to find out how it all works, instead of playing with their sand castle in ignorance. That’s a really good point. One great thing about XKCD is how it celebrates inquisitiveness and a constant search for knowledge. In this case the characters ignore the advice hovering over them. They aren’t going to wait for it. They are going to find out what’s happening and why. > [@tanstaafl](#): > > It looks like it has started to fade out. The last couple of frames are definitely getting lighter. The whole drawing is fading out? I haven’t noticed that yet. I did notice that the sea is rising much more quickly. I’m not sure if this implies an acceleration, or a longer passage of time between frames. Also, unlike with the marker, the water is now flowing around the forward mound to lap at the second castle. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-1190-time-randalls-setting-something-up/653901/223 "2013-04-26T21:40:40Z")
It’s definitely fading out. There’s at least 2 jumps in lightness. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2013, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-1190-time-randalls-setting-something-up/653901/224 "2013-04-27T01:57:42Z")
Yes, you’re right. It’s definitely fading out. Between that and the quickly rising sea, it seems they’ll be some dramatic changes by next week, if not sooner. Actually, I wonder if there will be any significance to frame 1190. Maybe that will be the end? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2013, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-1190-time-randalls-setting-something-up/653901/225 "2013-04-27T04:30:36Z")
I’m not seeing it. Looks like the exact same shade of black to me. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2013, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-1190-time-randalls-setting-something-up/653901/226 "2013-04-27T06:17:13Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > I’m not seeing it. Looks like the exact same shade of black to me. Same here. I’m using Firefox 20.01 if that matters. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2013, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-1190-time-randalls-setting-something-up/653901/227 "2013-04-27T06:51:35Z")
Definitely fading. Is this The End of Time? ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-1190-time-randalls-setting-something-up/653901/228 "2013-04-27T15:10:29Z")
You either have to be watching while it transitions or use that Aubron Wood link to replay. Alternatively, you could use graphic tools to check out the color. MS Paint is enough. When I looked yesterday the RGB value of the “black” area was 4,4,4 and I’m sure it’s higher now. When it reaches 255,255,255, then all will be white. Game over, man! ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-1190-time-randalls-setting-something-up/653901/229 "2013-04-27T17:14:02Z")
> [@Greg\_Charles](#): > > You either have to be watching while it transitions or use that Aubron Wood link to replay. Alternatively, you could use graphic tools to check out the color. MS Paint is enough. When I looked yesterday the RGB value of the “black” area was 4,4,4 and I’m sure it’s higher now. When it reaches 255,255,255, then all will be white. Game over, man! Yeah, it wasn’t easy for me to see the fade to white until I watched the transition on aubronwood from last frame to first frame - but then it was obvious. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-1190-time-randalls-setting-something-up/653901/230 "2013-04-27T17:56:40Z")
I didn’t see it all on my ipad, but it was obvious on the computer. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-1190-time-randalls-setting-something-up/653901/231 "2013-04-27T18:54:43Z")
If all it does is fade out, then it’ll turn out to be a lot less interesting than I’d hoped. C’est la vie. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2013, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-1190-time-randalls-setting-something-up/653901/232 "2013-04-27T19:03:21Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > If all it does is fade out, then it’ll turn out to be a lot less interesting than I’d hoped. > > C’est la vie. If that’s the end for now, then I think it’ll be continued in another episode. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-1190-time-randalls-setting-something-up/653901/233 "2013-04-27T20:48:59Z")
Not much to add, but RGB is now up to 32,32,32, which is an eighth of the way to whiteout, or let’s say snowcrash because that’s geekier. Also, in an odd coincidence, I was reading _LOTR: The Return of the King_ today and came across this: > [@](#): > > Then would you have us retreat to Minas Tirith, or Dol Amroth, or to Dunharrow, and there sit like children on sand-castles when the tide is flowing? In other words, don’t wait for it. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2013, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-1190-time-randalls-setting-something-up/653901/234 "2013-04-28T02:28:30Z")
Time and tide wait for no man. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2013, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-1190-time-randalls-setting-something-up/653901/235 "2013-04-28T12:41:42Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I didn’t see it all on my ipad, but it was obvious on the computer. YEah, I checked it on an IPAD and can’t see the fadeout there ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2013, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-1190-time-randalls-setting-something-up/653901/236 "2013-04-28T13:05:02Z")
Got pretty sucked into the OCD-like insanity over at the xkcd forum. [Here’s a quick graph I made](http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=101043&start=17280#p3340291) predicting when the frame will go all white (if that’s going to be the case). Looks like it’ll be another ~20 frames to go. Around frame 962/964 if it clings to the projected exponential curve. Although, I’m thinking this is more a transition effect to elapse the time they’re away, than it is the end of the comic. But, yeh, who knows? ---
**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-1190-time-randalls-setting-something-up/653901/237 "2013-04-28T19:50:00Z")
The little girl in the hat just made a one frame appearance so it appears this isn’t the end of the comic after all. The sea is rising much faster now too and is tearing down the castle. The sea does whatever it wants to. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2013, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-1190-time-randalls-setting-something-up/653901/238 "2013-04-28T21:12:43Z")
> [@Frazzled](#): > > The little girl in the hat … That’s a guy [![](http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/ice.png) ](http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/ice.png) [![](http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/networking.png) ](http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/networking.png) [![](http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/keyed.png) ](http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/keyed.png) [![](http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/five_years.png) ](http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/five_years.png) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-1190-time-randalls-setting-something-up/653901/239 "2013-04-28T21:57:21Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > That’s a guy The figure in the beret in Time is shorter and has longer hair. ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-1190-time-randalls-setting-something-up/653901/240 "2013-04-29T11:24:09Z")
And… that’s it? Beret girl did show up for one frame then left again. And the rightmost part of the castle (which was the first part they built) collapsed just before it went to white. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-1190-time-randalls-setting-something-up/653901.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-1190-time-randalls-setting-something-up/653901.md?page=13)