42
The Island of Doubt
An irregular exploration of the struggle between the power of rational discourse and the scientific method on one hand, and the forces of superstition and dogma on the other.
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James Hrynyshyn is a freelance science journalist based in western North Carolina, where he tries to put degrees in marine biology and journalism to good use.
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The Demon-Haunted World:
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Author's site: cyamid.net
--- H. L. Mencken
By doubting we come to inquiry; and through inquiry we perceive truth.
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-- Richard Dawkins
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-- Michael Shermer.
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Forty-two
Category: humor
Posted on: October 31, 2006 7:32 AM, by James Hrynyshyn
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Comments
Does that mean it's your birthday today? If so, happy birthday!
Posted by: coturnix | October 31, 2006 9:28 AM
reminds me of this joke:
A man was seen jumping up and down on top of a man-hole cover. Every time he jumped, he yelled "42! 42! 42!"
Everybody was ignoring him, thinking he was righfully quite mad.
But one person stopped. He stood in front of him, watching him jump up and down and yelling "42! 42! 42!"
"Why are you jumping up and down?", he asked him.
"It's the most fun ever!" He replied. "Come, you should try it!", he said quite excitedly.
So the person reluctantly stood on top of the man-hole cover, hopped up and said, "Um, 42."
"No no no! You must say it with PRIDE, with GUSTO, with GREAT JOY!!" he insisted.
So the person crouched down, took a deep breath, and LEAPED UP oh so high, and was so proud of it that he yelled with gusto, "42!!!"
At that moment, the man pulled the man-hole cover, and the person swished down inside the hole.
He put the cover back quickly, and with a big smile on his face, resumed jumping.
"43! 43! 43!!!"
Posted by: Pierre Caron | October 31, 2006 9:34 AM
If this is the answer, what's the question?
Posted by: Dale | October 31, 2006 8:58 PM
Sorry Dale, no one can know both the answer and the question at the same time.
Posted by: Mustafa Mond, FCD | November 1, 2006 9:23 AM
If this is the answer, what's the question?
What do you get if you multiply six by nine?
Posted by: Justin Hirsh | November 1, 2006 6:43 PM
Fo smart folks, y'all missed de boat here.
Remember back to elementary days. The joke about the old coots in jail. An new kid comes to visit. Asks about the numbers called out during the night, why they cause laughter.
Old guy tells kid, "there is only one book in the prison library. We've all read it hundreds of times. Rather that repeat the joke, we just call out the number."
The newcomer calls out a number. Silence.
He calls again. Nada.
Once more, for England. Again, rien. Crickets and hum.
Second old guy looks at him and says, "It's all in how ya tell it, kid."
Posted by: Soviet Canukistani | November 1, 2006 6:48 PM