0961: "Eternal Flame"

[cemper93]

Alt text: There's always the hope that if you sit and watch for long enough, the beachball will vanish and the thing it interrupted will return.

Wait, thursday? I didn't wait an eternity this time.

[Oflick]

Mouseover: There's always the hope that if you sit and watch for long enough, the beachball will vanish and the thing it interrupted will return.

An update on a Thursday, pretty notable I must say. I almost thought I was wrong about what day it is. I think it's fitting, to be honest. If it was a comic that was simply saying "Aww, Steve Jobs died, how sad", I probably wouldn't have liked it, but I thought this was appropriate.

[GreatS]

Took me awhile to realise what it was for, but quite fitting indeed, though I still don't get the title text.

[Oflick]

Took me awhile to realise what it was for, but quite fitting indeed, though I still don't get the title text.

You mean you don't get "There's always the hope that if you sit and watch for long enough, the beachball will vanish and the thing it interrupted will return."? Don't you ever see that (or the windows equivalent) and hope that you'll be able to get back to what you were doing soon?

[hifi]

For those that don't get it, it's referencing some OS. The ball is like the egg timer in windows (well, the 'you clicked something so I'll just let you know I'm loading that by changing the mouse to something else' mouse) though I can't remember which OS it is. Also, I don't know if this is a dig at said OS's loading times, but either way, I found it funny.

[Shiyiya]

For those that don't get it, it's referencing some OS. The ball is like the egg timer in windows (well, the 'you clicked something so I'll just let you know I'm loading that by changing the mouse to something else' mouse) though I can't remember which OS it is. Also, I don't know if this is a dig at said OS's loading times, but either way, I found it funny.

MacOS. Because Steve Jobs just died.

[Khorbin]

For those that don't get it, it's referencing some OS. The ball is like the egg timer in windows (well, the 'you clicked something so I'll just let you know I'm loading that by changing the mouse to something else' mouse) though I can't remember which OS it is. Also, I don't know if this is a dig at said OS's loading times, but either way, I found it funny.

I don't think it's supposed to be "funny," really. It's a reference to Steve Jobs dying, and the ball is from a Mac.

[hifi]

MacOS. Because Steve Jobs just died.

Makes sense, I suppose.. but I don't see how the beachball mouse has anything to do with his death.. Unless this was just a general Mac-themed comic to go with the Mac-themed news..?

[lalop]

It's kind of a tribute to Steve Jobs being an "eternal flame", though the symbolism may be less flattering

[hifi]

It's kind of a tribute to Steve Jobs being an "eternal flame", though the symbolism may be less flattering

Steve Jobs: Eternal Flame. Until 2011.

[sjorford]

Animated GIFs normally annoy the heck out of me, but this one seems just about right.

[Oflick]

Animated GIFs normally annoy the heck out of me, but this one seems just about right.

Yeah, especially when you consider it probably wouldn't have worked if it was just a still image.

[AvatarIII]

MacOS. Because Steve Jobs just died.

Makes sense, I suppose.. but I don't see how the beachball mouse has anything to do with his death.. Unless this was just a general Mac-themed comic to go with the Mac-themed news..?

maybe it is to imply the universe "thinking" about what to reincarnate Steve Jobs as?

[Captain Chaos]

It's kind of a tribute to Steve Jobs being an "eternal flame", though the symbolism may be less flattering

No, it is an eternal flame itself, commemorating Steve Jobs. In the shape of the spinning wait cursor from Mac OS X.

The tooltip text is saying that it would be great if Steve Jobs was just temporarily not responding to system events, in other words, that he wasn't really dead, but that in real life, whenever that cursor appears it's usually final and the application has died...

Apple should build this! It would be a great, geeky and entirely fitting memorial for Steve Jobs.

[marsman57]

Since no one laid it all out explicitly in one post and people still seem confused:

The stick figures are standing at the (rather impressive) grave of Steve Jobs which in the comic has been equipped with an eternal flame that looks remarkably like the "wait" cursor in OSX. The joke, in so far as it is one, in the alt-text is that the figures are sitting there staring at it, hoping the flame (wait cursor) will go away such that what you were waiting on (Steve Jobs) will return. Sadly, much like a program hang, the beach ball will not vanish and the person will not be coming back.

Edit: Mostly ninja'd by Captain Chaos, but I'll leave my interpretation.

[Dr.Dan]

I don't think it's a tribute, rather a "I Hate You" one..
because here, we waited long enough, and now ...

[GreatS]

Took me awhile to realise what it was for, but quite fitting indeed, though I still don't get the title text.

You mean you don't get "There's always the hope that if you sit and watch for long enough, the beachball will vanish and the thing it interrupted will return."? Don't you ever see that (or the windows equivalent) and hope that you'll be able to get back to what you were doing soon?

Me=fail badly, I seriously didn't get it, no clue how, but I never ever created the link between the rotating thingie and a beachball... ever... although I did understand them waiting and everything.

[StrenX]

A fitting memorial, though I don't think Jobs would want something quite that complicated for a memorial. As for the alt-text, if I'm honest I small bit in the back of my mind thought it would be kind of funny if he actually did come back somehow (yes, I am aware my sense of humor is horrible). What with how much people like to liken Apple to a religion. Then there was time that his death was reported mistakenly. I think it's safe to say that neither of those apply here though.

Also, being on a mac, did anybody else sit and wait trying to figure out why their browser had frozen before realizing the spinning ball was a gif?

[Роберт]

Is it just me or did Randall actually do a really good comic again? Sir Mustapha?

[chr1sg]

Guys, its a mac thing. You either get it or you don't. Personally I think the symbolism is great and a rather touching tribute.

[Qaanol]

This thread was posted before the other one, as borne out by the topic numbers. This one’s title, however, lacks a leading zero and quote around the name.

On topic, I was actually half-expecting this. I thought yesterday, Randall is probably going to do a tribute comic. Will it be Friday or Monday? Or, what if he already has those comics planned, will he make a special one and post it Thursday?

I didn’t even (until just now) consider that Randall might have been prepared, just as newspapers were with a ready-made obituary, and just had to post the pre-made comic. I suspect that is not the case, and Randall made this one last night, but I can’t be certain. Does he have other impending celebrity memorial comics already made in a folder somewhere?

[rabidmuskrat]

I'd say this is probably the most tasteful comic we'll be seeing on the topic. Well done.

[Uzh]

maybe it is to imply the universe "thinking" about what to reincarnate Steve Jobs as?

Probably as an adroid.

BTW: I thought about a headline for the topic. I thought about some kind of photo of an empty Apple-CEO-chair with the headline: "New Jobs at Apple"...

Georg

[labberdasher]

Meh. First the news hit, and I wasn't really bothered. Now I've got teh sad.

But it's a good sad, so thanks Randall.

/ add me to the list of "What? Is it Friday? Hang on ... what's going on here? ..."

[iwarriorpoet]

I am a big fan of xkcd, but today's comic seemed a bit inappropriately snarky.

[Invisiblemoose]

For those that don't get it, it's referencing some OS. The ball is like the egg timer in windows (well, the 'you clicked something so I'll just let you know I'm loading that by changing the mouse to something else' mouse) though I can't remember which OS it is. Also, I don't know if this is a dig at said OS's loading times, but either way, I found it funny.

It's you who didn't get it.

[Роберт]

I am a big fan of xkcd, but today's comic seemed a bit inappropriately snarky.

Snarky?

Adjective:
Critical; cutting; testy.

How do you figure?

[AvatarIII]

BTW: I thought about a headline for the topic. I thought about some kind of photo of an empty Apple-CEO-chair with the headline: "New Jobs at Apple"...

Georg

Jobs had already resigned, his death had no bearing over Apple's CEO position.

[Jackpot777]

It must be dusty in here. There's something in my eye.

I was on an exercise bike, listening to a music podcast (helps me pedal to the rhythm) and looking at my moves on Words With Friends (on my iPhone) when I found out.

[hifi]

It's you who didn't get it.

The stick figures are standing at the (rather impressive) grave of Steve Jobs which in the comic has been equipped with an eternal flame that looks remarkably like the "wait" cursor in OSX. The joke, in so far as it is one, in the alt-text is that the figures are sitting there staring at it, hoping the flame (wait cursor) will go away such that what you were waiting on (Steve Jobs) will return. Sadly, much like a program hang, the beach ball will not vanish and the person will not be coming back.

I stand corrected and shall now spend a few hours in the box of shame.

[SirMustapha]

Is it just me or did Randall actually do a really good comic again? Sir Mustapha?

Well, now that you called me by name... I think this is one of the best things Randall has done in months. It's not easy to make a tribute comic with a sense of humour, and this is fitting in pretty much all aspects. I could complain that the alt-text does nothing but explain the "joke", but I am appalled that, even still, so many commenters here missed the point by such a huge margin.

[MathJason]

The Wikipedia article might help for those unsure what an eternal flame is:

The eternal flame commemorating U.S. President John F. Kennedy following his assassination in 1963 was the first time that an individual known person was given such an honor (as opposed to an Unknown Soldier). Henceforward, eternal flames would be designated more frequently around the world to honor the loss of persons of great significance, in addition to major tragic and momentous events.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_flame

[Uzh]

BTW: I thought about a headline for the topic. I thought about some kind of photo of an empty Apple-CEO-chair with the headline: "New Jobs at Apple"...

Georg

Jobs had already resigned, his death had no bearing over Apple's CEO position.

I know that, but it seemed somehow - fitting. Although I couldn't come with the same joke in my mother tongue.

Georg

[JoeZ]

Personally, I would force quit, and have a look at Console for clues on how to make sure the app doesn't crash again, repair permissions, and if my other options fail me, restore a recent backup from Time Machine. That's just me though.

This was a very touching tribute, although it made me think it was Friday. My internal clock is set to XKCD, you know.

[undecim]

[musing]
I've begun to think of death lately, not in an "Holy s**t, I'm going to die some day", kind of way, but more in terms of what I want to accomplish between now and then. I kind of think of life now like a book, or movie, or song, or other piece of art. Once the pages are turned, the plot is done, and the theme has been resolved, there's nothing left to do but appreciate the beauty of what you've just experienced. Everyone is sad that a good story ends or that a great person dies, but it's always inevitable, and trying to continue it never works quite right (i'm referring to stories here, more than people... maybe it won't be so bad for the latter when it becomes possible).

In his 2005 commencement speech, Jobs said:

Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

Great writers and artists don't fear loss. They put the greatest content they can between the start and end of their work, which can only reasonably be so long. In the same way, great people don't fear death, but instead do all they can before it comes.

Considering the brief time between Jobs resignation, and his death, I'd he put every ounce of effort into his life as possible. He didn't set out in life to simply save up enough money to retire (which he could have done long ago). He did as much as he could in his short 56 years.
[/musing]

[AvatarIII]

BTW: I thought about a headline for the topic. I thought about some kind of photo of an empty Apple-CEO-chair with the headline: "New Jobs at Apple"...

Georg

Jobs had already resigned, his death had no bearing over Apple's CEO position.

I know that, but it seemed somehow - fitting. Although I couldn't come with the same joke in my mother tongue.

Georg

i see what you mean, it would have been funny for someone to say "No More Jobs at Apple, however, CEO position available." back when he resigned.

[Felstaff]

Heh, I only saw that there was a new comic when I was browsing Gizmodo. Usually I find there's a new comic by going into the mod control panel and seeing the shitstorm you jennies kick up every mon/wed/fri (through the magic of a hojillion reports, etc.), which effectively forces me to read the comic.

I think it's a fitting tribute. It reminds of my first office job, when I was stationed at a Mac for about 40% of the time, back in 2002. That goddamned Beach Ball would drive me nuts today, but back when I had all the time in the world, I was a patient fellow, and I found the eternally spinning ball mesmerising. It would have me hooked like a deer in headlights.

I think the world has lost someone very talented and admirable in Steve Jobs.

[planetjay]

Dammit, I thought my computer locked up.

[SpringLoaded12]

Is it just me or did Randall actually do a really good comic again? Sir Mustapha?

Well, now that you called me by name... I think this is one of the best things Randall has done in months. It's not easy to make a tribute comic with a sense of humour, and this is fitting in pretty much all aspects. I could complain that the alt-text does nothing but explain the "joke", but I am appalled that, even still, so many commenters here missed the point by such a huge margin.

How often the commenters miss the point, and by how large a margin, is often appalling. I would list specific examples but I don't want to start an argument here with those people.
Here I suppose is understandable to some degree, as not everyone has yet heard that Steve Jobs died, though most people have by now. I heard the news last night, myself.

[Cloudster]

RIP, Steve. Ya did good, and changed the world in lots of ways for the better.