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Welcome to 30 Days of Photos, where 18 bloggers are participating in posting a photo a day for 30 days. Here are the other 17 you can visit after you've been here:
Ziva, Mike, Nicky & Mike, Mo, Meleah, Bryan, Mariann, Malissa, Nora, Laughing Mom, Tanya, Elizabeth, 00dozo, Cheryl, Kristen and Katherine
Remember Level 42, the British pop-rock, jazz-funk group from the 80s? One of their biggest hits was Something About You. Yeah, well, this post isn't about them at all.
It's about the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything. Unless you've been living under a rock - and not that there's anything wrong with that - you'd know that 42 was the answer. Not that anyone knows the question, mind you.
This whole construct is one of the many humorous riffs the late Douglas Adams goes on about in Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy - A Trilogy in Five Parts. The book(s) is one of the most irreverent, side-splitting pieces of fiction I've ever read.
Adam's book and his biography take a special place in my library.
If you haven't read this book, read it.
If you have read it, read it again.
Because there's something about it.
42 comments:
I realize that Adams gave us the meaning of life, but I also noticed your copy of Duma Key and I have to say, I enjoyed that book too.
I'll read anything by King. I love his stuff. Have you read "Under The Dome" or "11/22/63"?
I love stacks of books. I find them calming.
I have a collection of Stephen King's short stories. When I read "1408," Jeff walked into the bathroom to bring me another beer, and he scared the everloving bejesus out of me. I got bathwater everywhere.
I don't know if I care about the ultimate question of life. Let me think. Nah. I dropped Intro to Philosophy.
I haven't read "1408" or anything else from that collection of short stories. But I love anything by King.
And the question is more than just about life. It's about the universe and everything. So if we could figure out what the question was maybe we could win the lottery!
I've actually thought about going back and rereading the collection or even purchasing it for my Nook. It is such a great series.
I love books and they were one of the hardest things to replace after our fire. In addition to the regular Hitchhiker books, I lost a book with the original script text from the radio and the DVD set of the British television series. I need to re-read all of the Hitchhiker books. They are pure joy.
I read it but it sounds like it may just be time to read it again.
Can I borrow your copy?
Oh it is. But his bio is interesting too and puts a lot of his writing into context.
I couldn't imagine losing mu possessions in a house fire - y books and music. But then they're replaceable and insured. You're lucky no one was caught in the house. Scary.
You and Ziva were doing mental telepathy here, John.
I'll rent it to you.
As soon as I saw the prompt I knew what I was going to do. Well, except for that part about the cheesy 80s rock group.
And despite its cheesy special effects, the BBC series was far superior to the more recent movie -- even if the movie did have the voice of Alan Rickman.
I have the BBC series on DVD. Love it! Might be time to get it out and watch it again.
Ooooh, some books to look up!
Thank-you Dufus!
And dare I admit it? I've never seen the series!
Gulp!
I have never read Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy - A Trilogy in Five Parts. but I will check it out.
Yes, according to Siri and the Apple Iphone the number 42 is the meaning of life. I guess the Apple folks know something that the rest of humankind isn't clued into.
"Level 42, the British pop-rock, jazz-funk group from the 80s? "
Um... No! Never heard of them!
I think Douglas Adams was talking about me, dammt!
Me too. I think he made that up!
You've gotta watch it. It's hilarious.
Look it up on Wikipedia. It'll give you a good overview of Adams and his creation. It was a book, a radio play, a TV series, a movie, a video game and on and on and on.
Never heard of them? Click the link.
No, no. They were from the time of The Thompson Twins, Human League and those other big hair, puffy shoulder shirts and colourful outfits known as the New Wave of the early 80s.
Right, of course he was. You knew him well did you?
That book was stupendously hilarious. Yes, it should be read again, and again, and again.
;-)
Love your take on the theme. ;) I've read this book so many times... I never get tired of it. At one point, I had it on my iPod and would listen to the audio book while driving to and from work. Did you ever read the sixth installment by Eoin Colfer?
I've read it again and again and again. Again? It has, in many ways, defined me and influenced me more than I probably know.
What is wrong with these people? Why don't they remember Level 42? Probably because they weren't alive then! Okay, I admit that I remember them. I like some of the music that came out of the 80s and 70s and 60s...shall I go on? Sigh.
NoName, I haven't read the book, I admit. I hear about it all the time, and people are constantly recommending it to me because I'm a huge sci-fi lit fan. But I've never read a funny book about sci-fi, like this or the Discworld series by Terry Prachtett, which my brother read significant portions outloud to me. Only serious stuff. I really need to get this and catch up with the rest of the world.
I loved it. It was so totally bizarre.
No I haven't. Is it good?
Wow, no kidding? And how is your other head?
I know. I don't get it either. Other than disco it was one of the lowest points of latter day music. How could people forget?
I'm surprised you'd let it go . . . even for rental fees.
Why so serious, Mike? I tried the Discworld series and just couldn't get into it. But i found the Pratchett/Gaiman "Dark Omens" to be absolutely hilarious.
It's weird, almost is if somebody has hidden information in either brain and shafted the synapses so that I can't access the information. Was it you?
Surprisingly, yes. I'm reading it right now, and I'm liking it. I waited forever to read it, was worried it wouldn't be the same and that it wouldn't feel right, but so far, it's better than I thought it would be.
AhahahHAHHhHAHhahHA!
:)
Hell, at my age, that happens all the time with one head.
I'll have to look into it.
Ah, but I haven't told you how much yet.
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