Xref: cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu comp.graphics:38636 sci.image.processing:2717Newsgroups: comp.graphics,sci.image.processingPath: cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu!das-news.harvard.edu!noc.near.net!howland.reston.ans.net!darwin.sura.net!news-feed-1.peachnet.edu!umn.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!crussellFrom: crussell@netcom.com (Chris Russell)Subject: Re: TIFF: philosophical significance of 42 (SILLY)Message-ID: <crussellC5wCyH.GFo@netcom.com>Followup-To: comp.graphics,sci.image.processingOrganization: Adaptive Solutions, Custom Software & Support  909/861-4048X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]References: <C5vw5G.BB9@ocsmd.ocs.com>Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1993 18:06:16 GMTLines: 40Mark Wilson (mark@ocsmd.ocs.com) wrote:: Mark A. Cartwright (markc@emx.utexas.edu) wrote:: : 42 is 101010 binary, and who would forget that its the: : answer to the Question of "Life, the Universe, and Everything else.": : Of course the Question has not yet been discovered...: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^: But it WAS discovered (sort of).  The question was "What is 7 times 8?"[ Read on and there's a special prize at the bottom.  Amaze your friendsand gain respect from your peers that you can carry on so long about thenumber 42. ]The original question was "What is the meaning of Life, the Universe, andand Everything."  The answer generated by Deep Thought (the 2nd largestcomputer ever created) was 42.  Deep Thought realized that to understandthe answer, one must really know what the question is.  Unfortunately, hedidn't.  But he was able to help build the largest computer (named Earth)which could figure out the real question.  (I know this is backgroundknowledge for everyone here... just bear with me a sec... :)When Arthur pulled the scrabble tiles out of the bag, he spelled out"What is nine times six?" (or the like).  However, it is not clear thatthe monkey-man had the right question in his brain, especially since itwas that lady in the diner (which was vaporized moments later) that cameup with the answer to how everyone could get along.  On the other hand,Marvin said he saw the answer in Dent's brain, so lets presume it's correct.Well, NINE TIMES SIX ***IS*** FORTY-TWO!!!  ...in base 13.Chew on that for awhile... :)--Chris Russell            Custom software, networks, CASE tools, and consultingAdaptive Solutions       Sun SPARC, SGI IRIS, HP Apollo, Macintosh, & PCInternet:  crussell@netcom.comGTE:       909/861-4048U.S. Mail: P.O. Box 5424           Diamond Bar, CA 91675-7424