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How About A Cup Of The Answer To Everything?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the tea-is-superior-to-coffee dept.

Reiner Schulz writes "Douglas Adams admittedly was a big fan of Earl Grey tea. Here's his enlightening entry in H2G2 on the subject (pretty much straight out of The Salmon of Doubt). And those familiar w/ the Hitchhiker's Guide will remember the drink dispenser from The Restaurant at the End of the Universe which, trying to figure out how to brew the perfect cuppa, grabs all available computing resources on board a certain starship. What a coincidence then that one of the finest blends of Earl Grey on the planet in general and in the UK in particular is Harrods' Earl Grey, Blend No. ... 42 . It's a plausible theory as to the origin of the answer to everything, isn't it? Earl Grey addicts like myself will certainly agree (even though Douglas liked his w/ milk; I prefer lemon). So, what would be the question? Perhaps, how about a nice cup of tea?"

8 of 491 comments (clear)

  1. 42 == Tea for two by yerricde · · Score: 4, Informative

    Another h2g2.com entry, 42, explains that "forty-two" can be parsed "for-tea-two", tea for two, the answer to "What is a good attitude towards life?" which is purported to be the Ultimate Question.

    --
    Will I retire or break 10K?
  2. Earl Gray IS the elixir of life! by bishopi · · Score: 5, Informative
    There is something about a fresh, fragrant cup of Earl Gray that really does make the world seem like a decent place - even if you've worked in technical support.


    If you aren't able to stretch the budget to the Harrods blend, I'd strongly recommend the foil-packed Dilmah (100% ceylon) variety, which is about the freshest, and most fragrant I've been able to fine in Australia.


    Ian

  3. 42 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Google now has a sophisticated calculator

  4. If you'd like to buy some... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    It really is quite good, and you can order some for yourself online at Harrods Web Site

  5. 42 == Randomly chosen number by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    I hate to ruin all the conspiracy theories, but Mr. Adams himself revealed the source of 42 years ago in alt.fan.douglas-adams.

    "Binary representations, base thirteen, Tibetan monks are all complete nonsense. I sat at my desk,
    stared into the garden and thought '42 will do' I typed it out. End of story."

  6. Re:err why is this here by jacquesm · · Score: 4, Informative

    If you've never read anything by Douglas Adams then may I suggest you start now ? You'll be sure to enjoy it, it's some of the finest English writing of by a man that died way too soon.

    --
    MP3 Search Engine
  7. Re: Not to Worry by Casualjim · · Score: 4, Informative

    To paraphrase Slartibartfast:
    "These things will become clear to you," said the old man gently, "at least," he added with slight doubt in his voice, "clearer than they are at the moment."

    Read the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy books. In fact, expose yourself to any of Douglas Adams works in any medium and you will not regret it.

  8. Re:Maybe, but... by TomV · · Score: 4, Informative
    Ah, if we're going to go down the route of farcical pedantry, it should be pointed out that the system resources weren't used to determine how to make a tea. In the irritatingly cheerful words of Eddie, the Shipboard Computer:

    Hi there, this is Eddie, your shipboard computer, just alerting you to the fact that the Nutrimatic machine has now tapped into my logic circuits to ask me why the human prefers boiled leaves to everything we have to offer him, and wow - it's a biggie. Gonna take a little time to work out.

    From Fit The Ninth (Radio series 2), in which our heroes have the chance to chew the fat with some old enemies and Arthur Dent has an unpleasant cup of tea.

    Share and enjoy

    TomV