Bits N Bobs 42

KovacsC · **Posted:** Wed Jan 15, 2014 16:15

The number 42 is, in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, "The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything", calculated by an enormous supercomputer over a period of 7.5 million years. Unfortunately no one knows what the question is. Thus, to calculate the Ultimate Question, a special computer the size of a small planet and built from organic components was created and named "Earth". This appeared first in the radio play and later in the novelization of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The fourth book in the series, the novel So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish, contains 42 chapters. According to the novel Mostly Harmless, 42 is the street address of Stavromula Beta. In 1994 Adams created the 42 Puzzle, a game based on the number 42.
The book 42: Douglas Adams' Amazingly Accurate Answer to Life, the Universe and Everything[14] examines Adams' choice of the number 42 and also contains a compendium of some instances of the number in science, popular culture, and humour.

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14517

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14517

And Kov - the 'question' as given in the books is "What do you get it you multiply six by nine"

:-)

Quote:

"Six by nine. Forty two."

"That's it. That's all there is."

"I always thought something was fundamentally wrong with the universe"

MaliA · **Posted:** Wed Jan 15, 2014 16:25

I am going home via london. This is odd.

Trooper · **Joined:** 4th Mar, 2010 **Posts:** 22391

So good they named it twice.

nickachu · **Posted:** Wed Jan 15, 2014 16:28

It's sideways?

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14517

So has there been a massive earthquake and slough is on its side now ?

Grim... · **Posted:** Wed Jan 15, 2014 16:29

Oh whoops - I just fixed it.

KovacsC · **Posted:** Wed Jan 15, 2014 16:30

zaphod79 wrote:

And Kov - the 'question' as given in the books is "What do you get it you multiply six by nine"

:-)

Quote:

"Six by nine. Forty two."

"That's it. That's all there is."

"I always thought something was fundamentally wrong with the universe"

See today is a learning day.

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14517

Quote:

With a flood of dark memes and viral horror stories, the internet is mapping the contours of modern fear

http://aeon.co/magazine/altered-states/ ... our-fears/

Dr Zoidberg · **Joined:** 15th Oct, 2010 **Posts:** 5392

zaphod79 wrote:

So has there been a massive earthquake and slough is on its side now ?

It could only be an improvement.

MaliA · **Posted:** Wed Jan 15, 2014 22:00

Had a brilliant day at work. AND got to go on the underground.

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14517

From last week - a part of the "Awesome games done quick" thing from last week this is a 'standard' Super Mario World cart being forced via a number of different exploits to crash in such a controlled way that they can then start running their own code

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2014/01/h ... n-the-fly/

Watch the video for what happens and this page : http://tasvideos.org/3957S.html is an explanation of the glitches used and exactly how it all worked

Dr Zoidberg · **Joined:** 15th Oct, 2010 **Posts:** 5392

There are some very smart people out there - That's one of those things that I'm sure I'd never be able to figure out no matter how much time and training I'd had.

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14517

Dr Zoidberg wrote:

There are some very smart people out there - That's one of those things that I'm sure I'd never be able to figure out no matter how much time and training I'd had.

I find it fascinating looking at how this stuff works and how these things are built upon each previous discovery - its like the video I posted last year about that Zelda speed run in about 17 minutes where they build upon glitches in different ways , often discovered and perfected by different people to do something extraordinary.

This one gets the cart so messed up that its reading raw data inputs from the controller ports and with multi-taps setup they are actually writing code for the menu and the basic snake / pong games directly - those are not 'hidden things' they are coded in real time.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14416

zaphod79 wrote:

This one gets the cart so messed up that its reading raw data inputs from the controller ports and with multi-taps setup they are actually writing code for the menu and the basic snake / pong games directly - those are not 'hidden things' they are coded in real time.

Grim... · **Posted:** Thu Jan 16, 2014 17:00

Fucking DVLA. Fucking direct.gov website. Fucking hipster addresses with full stops in.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49244

Fucking stupid 'government gateway ID'.

WHAT IS THE POINT OF HAVING A UNIQUE ID THAT NOBODY WILL EVER REMEMBER (because it's fucking numeric) AND INSTEAD HAVE TO RESET EVERY SINGLE TIME?!

Grim... · **Posted:** Thu Jan 16, 2014 17:09

So, I've just clicked "next" and been told:

Quote:

Your session with online motoring services is on a timer. Because your session was inactive for more than 20 minutes, you have been automatically logged off. This is to protect your personal data in case you forget to log off from online motoring services.

Er... Thanks.

Curiosity · **Posted:** Thu Jan 16, 2014 17:18

This is clearly all Trooper's fault

Trooper · **Joined:** 4th Mar, 2010 **Posts:** 22391

Give me a chance, I can't fix everything at the same time.

Government gateway is not long for this world, the replacement is coming "real soon now"

edit: This is what is coming: https://identityassurance.blog.gov.uk/

Grim... · **Posted:** Thu Jan 16, 2014 17:29

Jesus, it's like living in the dark ages. I've spoken to three people about this now because the online thing can't find my address, and they can't confirm what the address is (even though when I say it to them for conformation they say "that's fine") because ZOMG DATA PROTECTION ACT. When I ask them which specific part of the data protection act they would be breaching by telling me what's written on my driving licence, they have no idea. When I ask them to release all the information they have about me as I am perfectly entitled to do in the hope that I will finally be able to find out my address, I - obviously - have to apply for that in writing.

NOTE TO SELF AND EVERYONE ELSE - make copies of anything that comes from the government, because they are shit at this.

MrChris · **Joined:** 1st Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 30498

The DPA is one of the most misunderstood and misapplied pieces of legislation ever. I also think a lot of public authorities just hide behind it so they don't have to do more work. Can't be arsed to help someone who's called you? Claim DPA says no.

Bobbyaro · **Joined:** 18th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 11897

Surely, misapplication of the DPA is in fact a breach of the DPA?

MrChris · **Joined:** 1st Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 30498

That would be an ecumenical question.

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38652

Speaking of unrelated tangents... I wonder what ever happened to Decca?

MrChris · **Joined:** 1st Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 30498

man shot for texting in the cinema. A bit over the top. Now, if he'd been talking...

Cavey · **Posted:** Fri Jan 17, 2014 10:30

Mr Kissyfur wrote:

man shot for texting in the cinema. A bit over the top. Now, if he'd been talking...

"OMFG I BEEN SHOT LOL!!!"

Bobbyaro · **Joined:** 18th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 11897

"you ok, bbz. TB OK?"

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14517

DavPaz wrote:

Speaking of unrelated tangents... I wonder what ever happened to Decca?

If you look at the flickr link in her .sig she has posted Xmas pics so she's still taking pictures - however she's not been on here in years.

I'm not sure if it co-incides with one of the regular 'everyone shout at everyone else and blame people then storm off' times or something else (April 2012)

markg · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 16636

Mr Kissyfur wrote:

man shot for texting in the cinema. A bit over the top. Now, if he'd been talking...

I dunno, I'd say that was pretty proportional, maybe depending on the film.

Curiosity · **Posted:** Fri Jan 17, 2014 10:48

markg wrote:

Mr Kissyfur wrote:

man shot for texting in the cinema. A bit over the top. Now, if he'd been talking...

I dunno, I'd say that was pretty proportional, maybe depending on the film.

Shot by an ex-cop, no less. Whilst I'm no fan of dicking about in cinemas, murdering someone in front of their wife for texting their three year old daughter seems a touch harsh.

Now if only there had been a good guy with a gun to stop him! Like an ex-cop or something!

myp · **Posted:** Fri Jan 17, 2014 10:48

zaphod79 wrote:

DavPaz wrote:

Speaking of unrelated tangents... I wonder what ever happened to Decca?

If you look at the flickr link in her .sig she has posted Xmas pics so she's still taking pictures - however she's not been on here in years.

I'm not sure if it co-incides with one of the regular 'everyone shout at everyone else and blame people then storm off' times or something else (April 2012)

I thought it happened after her kid stole our snooker balls.

myp · **Posted:** Fri Jan 17, 2014 10:49

Curiosity wrote:

markg wrote:

Mr Kissyfur wrote:

man shot for texting in the cinema. A bit over the top. Now, if he'd been talking...

I dunno, I'd say that was pretty proportional, maybe depending on the film.

Shot by an ex-cop, no less. Whilst I'm no fan of dicking about in cinemas, murdering someone in front of their wife for texting their three year old daughter seems a touch harsh.

Now if only there had been a good guy with a gun to stop him! Like an ex-cop or something!

As I put on Twitter, it won't be long before the NRA suggest that all cinema ushers are armed to protect people who are threatened with guns. It's the obvious solution.

MrChris · **Joined:** 1st Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 30498

And then all cinema goers need to be provided with a complimentary firearm to protect themselves in case the ushers go postal. It's just logical.

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38652

I was wondering... with THE COALITION going after our digital liberties like a dog with a bone, we may be heading for a future where our ("Linux Distro's" - Ed) will have to be legally obtained. Is there currently a source for legal DRM-free downloads of movies? Do iTunes movies have DRM for example?

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14517

DavPaz wrote:

I was wondering... with THE COALITION going after our digital liberties like a dog with a bone, we may be heading for a future where our ("Linux Distro's" - Ed) will have to be legally obtained. Is there currently a source for legal DRM-free downloads of movies? Do iTunes movies have DRM for example?

Itunes have DRM and most of the streaming services have DRM associated with them although its relatively trivial to break

I dont think anywhere is doing DRM free stuff (yet)

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49244

Mr Kissyfur wrote:

man shot for texting in the cinema. A bit over the top. Now, if he'd been talking...

From Sky's report on that story:

Quote:

Sheriff Nocco said: "Everybody is paranoid, scared, because a movie theatre should be a safe place where people should be able to go out and enjoy themselves.

"But what America has seen over the last couple of years is that movie theatres have become dangerous places where injuries occur."

Yes. Those goddamned dangerous cinemas. Something should be done about them.

Bamba · **Joined:** 25th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 11128

The only logical solution is to legally mandate that everyone have a gun in each hand all the time and constantly point them at the people standing nearest to you, thus transforming every-day life into one massive and continuous Mexican stand-off. Anything else is dangerous and mental and letting the terrorists win.

Bamba · **Joined:** 25th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 11128

Obviously that's not quite as safe as it could be, but we'll just need to put up with it until foot mounted guns reach the market.

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14517

Bamba wrote:

The only logical solution is to legally mandate that everyone have a gun in each hand all the time and constantly point them at the people standing nearest to you, thus transforming every-day life into one massive and continuous Mexican stand-off. Anything else is dangerous and mental and letting the terrorists win.

But what if the terrorists develop technology which allows them to have more than 2 hands ?

We must not lose in this arms race !

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14517

How Technology is changing us :

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/e ... um=twitter

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14517

Sex doesnt sell humor does

http://blog.marginmedia.com.au/Our-Blog ... ing-Events

And at the same time why Booth Babes 'dont work'

http://techcrunch.com/2014/01/13/booth- ... %20Morning

Warhead · Noob as of 6/8/10

Bamba wrote:

The only logical solution is to legally mandate that everyone have a gun in each hand all the time and constantly point them at the people standing nearest to you, thus transforming every-day life into one massive and continuous Mexican stand-off. Anything else is dangerous and mental and letting the terrorists win.

Er, just remind me about the difference between a Mexican Standoff and a Mexican Wave, please.

myp · **Posted:** Fri Jan 17, 2014 13:16

DavPaz wrote:

Do iTunes movies have DRM for example?

Movies no, but music is all DRM-free now. I'm not sure how much the film publishers lean on Apple to keep it that way. It may happen one day.

Grim... · **Posted:** Fri Jan 17, 2014 13:33

British Nervoso wrote:

DavPaz wrote:

Do iTunes movies have DRM for example?

Movies no, but music is all DRM-free now.

Movies yes, then.

Dr Zoidberg · **Joined:** 15th Oct, 2010 **Posts:** 5392

Mr Kissyfur wrote:

And then all cinema goers need to be provided with a complimentary firearm to protect themselves in case the ushers go postal. It's just logical.

Presumably with a slight discount if you buy the body armour combo.

myp · **Posted:** Fri Jan 17, 2014 13:40

Grim... wrote:

British Nervoso wrote:

DavPaz wrote:

Do iTunes movies have DRM for example?

Movies no, but music is all DRM-free now.

Movies yes, then.

That's what I meant. My point was that the digital movie industry is about ten years behind music, so hopefully we can get there at some point soon.

Bamba · **Joined:** 25th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 11128

Warhead wrote:

Bamba wrote:

The only logical solution is to legally mandate that everyone have a gun in each hand all the time and constantly point them at the people standing nearest to you, thus transforming every-day life into one massive and continuous Mexican stand-off. Anything else is dangerous and mental and letting the terrorists win.

Er, just remind me about the difference between a Mexican Standoff and a Mexican Wave, please.

That's exactly the sort of question a terrorist would ask! *points guns*

Grim... · **Posted:** Fri Jan 17, 2014 14:23

GRIM...'s HANDY HINT FOR SURVIVAL
If you ever find yourself in a Mexican standoff, don't talk to the other guy, don't try and stare him out, just shoot. Immediately.

Be Excellent To Each Other

Bits N Bobs 42
What is the question?

Who is online

Be Excellent To Each Other

Bits N Bobs 42 What is the question?

Who is online

Bits N Bobs 42
What is the question?