From: cptully@med.unc.edu (Christopher P. Tully,Pathology,62699)
Subject: Re: TIFF: philosophical significance of 42
Nntp-Posting-Host: helix.med.unc.edu
Reply-To: cptully@med.unc.edu
Organization: UNC-CH School of Medicine
Lines: 40

In article 8HC@mentor.cc.purdue.edu, ab@nova.cc.purdue.edu (Allen B) writes:
>In article <1993Apr10.160929.696@galki.toppoint.de> ulrich@galki.toppoint.de  
>writes:
>> According to the TIFF 5.0 Specification, the TIFF "version number"
>> (bytes 2-3) 42 has been chosen for its "deep philosophical 
>> significance".
>> Last week, I read the Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy,
>> Is this actually how they picked the number 42?
>
>I'm sure it is, and I am not amused.  Every time I read that part of the
>TIFF spec, it infuriates me- and I'm none too happy about the
>complexity of the spec anyway- because I think their "arbitrary but
>carefully chosen number" is neither.  Additionally, I find their
>choice of 4 bytes to begin a file with meaningless of themselves- why
>not just use the letters "TIFF"?
>
>(And no, I don't think they should have bothered to support both word
>orders either- and I've found that many TIFF readers actually
>don't.)
>
>ab

Why so up tight?  FOr that matter, TIFF6 is out now, so why not gripe
about its problems?  Also, if its so important to you, volunteer to
help define or critique the spec.

Finally, a little numerology:  42 is 24 backwards, and TIFF is a 24 bit
image format...

Chris
---
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Christopher P. Tully				cptully@med.unc.edu
Univ. of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
CB# 7525					(919) 966-2699
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
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I get paid for my opinions, but that doesn't mean that UNC or anybody
                     else agrees with them.

