Randall Munroe (of xkcd comic fame) Lectures at MIT, Gets Hacked

MIT's Lecture Series Committee invited xkcd comic strip author Randall Munroe to visit MIT. In reference to one of Munroe's comic strips, hackers dropped hundreds of playpen balls from hatches in the ceiling of either side of the auditorium the minute Munroe started talking about how he was inspired by MIT's hacking culture.

  • Multicolored playpen balls cascade out of a ceiling hatch and onto the audience during the xkcd / Randall Munroe lecture in MIT's lecture hall 10-250.
  • Multicolored playpen balls cascade out of a ceiling hatch and onto the audience during the xkcd / Randall Munroe lecture in MIT's lecture hall 10-250.
  • Multicolored playpen balls cascade out of a ceiling hatch and onto the audience during the xkcd / Randall Munroe lecture in MIT's lecture hall 10-250.
        • The balls carried labels reading "XKCD / Our Hobby: Posting [the HD-DVD decryption key] In Public Places," a reference to the "My Hobby..." running joke in the comic strip.
        • In reference to Munroe's much-publicized fear of raptor attack, robotic radio-controlled raptors menaced the author from one side of the stage.
        • In reference to Munroe's much-publicized fear of raptor attack, robotic radio-controlled raptors menaced the author from one side of the stage.
        • xkcd comic strip author Randall Munroe signs multicolored playpen balls after his lecture at MIT.

        Practice Safe Testing during Final Exams, Spring 2007

        Next to the sign marking the entrance to MIT's main final-exam testing site, a table appeared full of condoms and bearing the text "Practice Safe Testing"—evidently a commentary on the penetrating nature of the questions found on many MIT final exams.