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The Ultimate Question to Life, the Universe, and Everything
Posted by voodooKobra • 3/09/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: 42, douglas adams, humor, ultimate question
Anyone who's read Douglas Adams' book series, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, or even seen the movie, would know the significance of 42. Allegedly, it is the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything. However, the characters did not know the question.
I think I've come up with a plausible question.
From the series:
"Narrator: There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.
There is another theory which states that this has already happened."
Based on this, I posit the following to be the "ultimate question:" How many times has the universe been understood and replaced by something more bizarre and inexplicable? 42.
It fits. 
User Comments
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I like it. A lot. May well be the most sensible Question ever posited for this. -
Every time someone like me is born. -
Makes sense to me. -
I haven't got the slightest idea what you're talking about... so I disagree completely.
PS: In the Ukraine 42 is an unlucky number. -
Heh, this will make me smile, Kobra, the next time I'm reading the Guide. It's as good of an answer as I've heard for it.
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Love it -
I want to see such crazy dreams, too!! -
What's a universe?-
It's the big empty thing that makes people miserable.
No, not an appetite. -
Ah like George Bush's head and Dick Cheney's conscience.
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Like that, but a vast emptiness, not a contained one.
A better analogy would be my moral compass. -
Or Belgium.
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Don't panic!
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How convenient!-
It's a comedy book, Ruski. Adams fans have been trying to guess the Ultimate Question for a long time.
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*lol* ...
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You lot, what a load of comics - can't take anything seriously can you. The answer is 19 times, and I KNOW because it little voice told me and i was reeally happy after. -
That book was one of the most influential of my young life at one point. The movie sucked.-
I agree. Narration doesn't translate well into film.
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But the TV series was pretty good! After Hubby and I saw the movie and he was disappointed, I tracked down a set of DVDs of the original TV series. We both enjoyed it. -
I didn't know there was a TV series.
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I was born in 1963 ... 1963 + 42 = 2005 ..
The movie came out in 2005 - I thought that was eerie
www.imdb.com/title/tt0371724/-
We are exactly the same age.
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neato .. I was born 7/11 .. so, I drink alot of coffee ..
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I was born on the summer solstice--right on the cusp of gemini and cancer (June 20th--at 11:49--almost midnight), so we also share cancer traits.
We're getting OLD petlvr! -
Not me! I'm actually getting younger .. I've been counting backwards since I've been 33. So, next year I'll be a teenager again .. and the year after that - I'll be underage so I'll quit drinking!~
(that should help the beer belly) -
What a grand idea! I'm going to do the same thing. We'll re-enter adolescence together!
Let's go spray paint some graffiti now! LOL!
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Nil -
What ... ? 42 ! Now you're giving away the secrets of the universe.-
Hahaha.
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You're so interesting.
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cool.. much better than a joke in base 13
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What is 6 x 9? 42.
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Some other I found out of curiosity on google
"Two physical constants in the universe are the speed of light and thediameter of a proton. It takes light 10 to the minus 42nd power seconds to cross the diameter of a proton"
A barrel holds 42 gallons.
The angle at which light reflects off of water to create a rainbow is 42 degrees.-
The barrel thing is kind of irrelevant since they're a human product, but that's still pretty fascinating.
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"In the beginning, the universe was created. This made a lot of people very angry, and has been widely regarded as a bad idea.". Douglas Adams.
Maybe you should write a poem about it, this Vogon poetry generator might help.
www.bbc.co.uk/cult/hitchhikers/vogonpoetry/lettergen.shtml-
I love that quote.
I tried the Vogon poetry generator and everything ended up sounding waaay too sexual.
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It all fits?
Best make that 43 then.
No wait, 44.
No wait..-
Hahaha. It diverges to infinity.
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infinity++
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What about Bing Bang is wrong???
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Bing Bang? Like batta-bing bang-boom?
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"There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call the Twilight Zone." - Rod
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How is that relevant?
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This has nothing to do with Douglas Adams.
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Sheesh ... spamming for Jesus again ... how pathetic
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Supernatural engineering? OMG Douglas Adams wrote the bible!
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2012 people, 2012...
Can I quote Dilbert yet?-
Huh?
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In a Multiverse with 42 dimension, The temporal resonance would...
I got no idea. -
The 42 dimensions of the Multiverse inhabit the same area in a nice a peaceful way. However has any and all intelligent being try to understand these dimensions the problem arises. When you try to view all 42 dimensions at the same time you create a huge power shift in the Multiverse and thus rip it a sunder. Hence 42 is the end of everything.
OR it's that thing that voodooKobra said LOL
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