blog: your questions answered

Post by **nikos** » 2007 Jun 17, 07:41

here's the comment area for today's article:
http://www.zabkat.com/blog/17Jun07.htm

RickyF · Post by **RickyF** » 2007 Jun 17, 12:01

I believe the answer to the universe is now believed to be 43.

Douglas Adams had opined in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy the answer was 42. We now know that that cannot be correct due to m-theory which postulates 11 or more dimensions to our multi-verse.

Consequently, the number must be 43.
QED

Post by **nikos** » 2007 Jun 17, 13:08

interesting theory, if we combine it with the particular earth/moon alignment at the time i was in paris, it may account for the gayness of the ducks too?

i haven't read the hitchhiker's guide (in general fiction bores me) but i have to admit it has tingled my curiosity so probably i'll try to find it on video. Is it worth it?

Gandolf · Post by **Gandolf** » 2007 Jun 17, 13:28

nikos wrote:... Is it worth it?

Yes, definitely. But then I'm biased because I was one of the engineers for the T.V. version.

fgagnon · Post by **fgagnon** » 2007 Jun 17, 14:22

@ product branding decisions [in blog] --

amusing trivia [or not]

The canned meat variety started in the 1930's and was branded SPAM 70 years ago (in 1937) as the winning entry of a contest to name Hormel's Spiced Ham canned meat product. ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spam_(food) & the links there.

The internet abuse variety began some 40 years later; but wasn't branded SPAM until the mid-80's
ref: http://www.templetons.com/brad/spamterm.html
allegedly as an offshoot from old Monty Python flying circus skit:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 1990713675

lian · Post by **lian** » 2007 Jun 17, 17:37

Strangely, in Orléans (France), ducks seem to be heterosexual.
I have a theory: every time they see a English or US citizen, they present themselves in gay couple because they think they will please this sort of tourists...

Post by **nikos** » 2007 Jun 17, 19:28

show us your photographic evidence!

fgagnon · Post by **fgagnon** » 2007 Jun 17, 19:46

@ photographic evidence -
nikos,
I've seen a lot of similar around here in US.
But listening in on their quacks, it sounds more like,
"Hey, good buddy, lets get together for a beer 'cuz wifey is busy on the nest and wants no part of me."
"Yeah, I know. But that's fine with me 'cuz those kids are nothing but trouble."

WimdeLange · Post by **WimdeLange** » 2007 Jun 17, 20:05

About the ZabaraKatranemia. I was always wondering if you are from the UK originally or from Poland (or other Eastern country). That strange company name. Now it is clear to me, or is it? It sounds now as nonsense to me......

About the answer, it is 42, and if it has something to do with 11 dimensions, it should be 44, then it is dividable....

It was a good laugh.

About the Hitchhikersguide. First read the books, then go see the video. And if you have some spare time, go play the game:
http://www.douglasadams.com/creations/infocomjava.html

It is an text adventure based on the first book and very nice!!!

Oh, and thanks for the fish.

longfellow · Post by **longfellow** » 2007 Jun 19, 15:54

I am much charmed by the Zabarakatranemia song!

But what is up with all those llamas? :lol:

+1 recommendation for the Hitchiker's Guide.

Post by **nikos** » 2007 Jun 19, 16:45

there's not one comprehensible greek word in that song! Ok this guy is from an island, but the dialect is totally non-greek. Perhaps it is from an alien race giving us the meaning of life in code? We need a vista capable computer to decode the mystery

Post by **nikos** » 2007 Jun 23, 08:11

ps according to this article, there is some serious subtext in the seemingly nonsensical word zabarakatranemia

"Zavarakatranemia" is the title of a protest song composed by Markopoulos during Greece's seven years of dictatorship. It soon became a song hummed by the opposition as its lyrics, although being entirely comprised by invented words, sounded like Greek words for freedom and winds of change

which can easily be transcribed for xplorer², "the file manager that liberates you from the shackles imposed by windows explorer"