April 15, 2006 - Why "42" is The Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything

When I'm asked for a simple, numeric answer to a complex question, I like to respond "42".

Here's why:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Answer_to_Life,_the_Universe,_and_Everything

According to the Hitchhiker's Guide, researchers from a pan-dimensional, hyper-intelligent race of beings, construct Deep Thought, the second greatest computer of all time and space, to calculate the Ultimate Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything. After seven and a half million years of pondering the question, Deep Thought provides the answer: "forty-two."

"Forty-two!" yelled Loonquawl. "Is that all you've got to show for seven and a half million years' work?"

"I checked it very thoroughly," said the computer, "and that quite definitely is the answer. I think the problem, to be quite honest with you, is that you've never actually known what the question is."

Even Google agrees. Try this.