Life, The Universe and Everything

02/14/2005 | SketchMD

[SketchMD]

This is to test how many of you actually have some real literary prowess.

Without using the internet (scouts honor here), who knows the answer to this (in)famous question and where the question was posed.

"The Answer to life, the universe and everything"

[SketchMD]

Bwahahaha

[musical_airman]

42

[musical_airman]

Oh yeah, at the supercomputer "Deep Thought"

[Rokke]

Do I get partial credit for knowing the question was asked here?

[jocon307]

Is is from "Ulysses" by James Joyce?

And I can't spell, so if I spelled that wrong, please forgive me.

[SketchMD]

yes, partial. :)

[SketchMD]

Nope. But you did spel Ulysses correctly. :)

[patton]

Schmuck.

42. Don't forget your towel.

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

[SketchMD]

Yes and No. I mean where it was asked in a more global sense. But you are right in a specific sense. :)

[SketchMD]

Ding Ding Ding

[Phsstpok]

Simple. Too simple.

Part two is "what is 42 the answer to?"

And the answer to that is "What is 6 x 9?"

Now, 100 points to those who can state why this is correct, mathematically (it really is), but you must be able to cite your reasoning as well as the definitive source from the original author.

[musical_airman]

You know what? I can't remember where, in a global sense! I suppose I'll just have to wait and see who comes up with that one first.

[SketchMD]

Oh lordy. I could do this too. :D

[donmeaker]

6X9=42 in base 13....

But who writes jokes in base 13?

[SketchMD]

Google has the answer

[mdittmar]

Hell,I don't understand the question or the answer,but I'm self teached.

[Phsstpok]

But who writes jokes in base 13?

Well? Who else?

Yes, God does have a sense of humor. Simply look at the Human Race. That is the ultimate proof that God is a practical joker.

And He's GOOD at it.

Seriously, God's greatest gift to His children is the ability to laugh. I believe that folks like Douglas Adams have a special place in God's heart as well as in His plan.

[freedumb2003]

The answer and the question cannot exist at the same time.

[Phsstpok]

OK, with a sign up date of Feb 12, 2005, can we assume that this is a semi-official visit by Imagineers to FR?

If so, say hello to Kristian and Tim at AC.

Not a bad "viral campaign" tactic. Do I win tickets to the premier?

[SketchMD]

lol, it's not that at all. Just trying to lighten the night. :)

[Rudder]

It was my old buddy, Murray Schwartz. One night behind the roadhouse we were drinking beer, pissing on our shoes and barking at the moon. Murray blubbered, "The Answer to life, the universe and everything." Then he turned to me and asked: "What's the question?"

[utahguy]

"The Answer to life, the universe and everything"

Corn Dogs!

[Portnoy]

I know this I know this,,,(Don't Panic)

42.

Signed,

An Earthling. (mostly Harmless)

[SketchMD]

:)

[processing please hold]

Yes, God does have a sense of humor. Simply look at the Human Race. That is the ultimate proof that God is a practical joker.

You need only look at Zebras and platypus to see he has a sense of humor.

[Blue Screen of Death]

Which universe? Please define and give two examples.

[Clinging Bitterly]

As can be seen upthread, plenty of folks know the answer to the question about the meaning of life, the universe, and everything (and to remind folks, I presently display that little factoid in my tagline, and have been for a while).

The varied responses we see to the real question (which is, of course, an inquiry into the nature of the question itself) reveals that the answer remains to this day (so to speak) unquestioned.

So we slog through what seems to be a meaningless life, exploring a senseless universe, seeking out nonexistent reasons for, well, everything. Beats most of the alternatives (however improbable they might be) and passes the time fairly well at that.

But to what end? Well, we know what (42), but not why. Perhaps someday a mind of genius greater than that of ourselves (or perhaps a dolphin or a mouse) will reveal the question, and it'll probably be something so obvious and simple that we'll look back upon ourselves and think of what a bunch of dumbasses we have been all this time.

But that's not for me, and not for today, so until then...

So long (and thanks for all the fish).

[Portnoy]

You DO know the MOVIE is coming out this summer? I hope they don't screw it up...

[Starter]

I saw ads for the action figures yesterday.

[Starter]

Oh, and they're making stuffed animal versions of the cast too.

[SketchMD]

I had no idea but I'm going to have to make sure I devote the day to it. National Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy Premiere Day.

[Not now, Not ever!]

Uhh, Where's Norman?

[Mr. K]

Do you mean Marvin?

[Clinging Bitterly]

I think that's Marvin there in the white. I don't see Zaphod Beeblebrox though. It looks like the set will have 14 figures though so he (they?) has to be in the set.

(Interesting - FR spell check doesn't recognize Zaphod but it didn't flinch on Beeblebrox.)

[.38sw]

42

And don't panic.

[boris]

What is pi in hexadecimal?

Which is larger: pi^e or e^pi?

[SketchMD]

3.243F6A8885A308D313198A2E03707344A4093822299F31D00...

And thats a true story. :)

[MortMan]

Forty-two, but the question was supposed to have been determined by a 10,000 year experiement on Earth. The experiment, naturally, was spoiled by a spaceship full of telephone sanitizers and the like that crashed early on, and then the experiment was prematurely terminated to make way for an inter-stellar highway off ramp.

Or something like that;-P

[MHGinTN]

Pawn to King's Rook three ... but I'm not revealing any more, no matter how I'm tortured.

[Dead Corpse]

Is this the Answer to the Question? Or the Question to the Answer Deep Thought came up with as "42"?