The problem isn't that lisp is hard to understand conceptually, it's that it's hard to read and write. Lisp code just doesn't look nice. The syntax in other languages gives a set of visual cues to what's going on in a program.
This is very true. My language of choice is Dylan, which has much of the power of Lisp or Scheme, but uses a much more readable ALGOL-family syntax. It actually came out around the same time as Java did, but Java had a metric ass-ton of money poured into advertising, and Dylan didn't. Apple screwed that up.
y = [x*x for x in list]
The Dylan equivalent would be let y = map(rcurry(\^, 2), list) or let y = map(method (x) x*x end, list)
But it doesn't matter if its commercially sensitive! The reason the contract is available at all is because it is with the government, which means we taxpayers get to see it 'cause we're paying for it. In effect, it's a contract with us. Redacting this is like a CEO who doesn't get to see his own company's business!
Is telling lies to a child teaching them it's ok to lie?
It is okay to lie, so long as they do it right. Lying will help them out immensely when the get to the real world. Or find a girlfriend. In fact, it will help them find a girlfriend.
Its far from a perfect system, but its not destroying everything in it's path.
Maybe it just destroys the weak, curiosity-wise. But since curiosity is not improved when subjected to natural selection, this still isn't a good thing.
I haven't found a good static reflection-enabled language, (I have no idea why), so reflection based examples are off-limit
Dylan is a good static reflection-enabled language. Well, it's a dynamic language, but you can statically declare the type of everything, even unto the elements of collections, the valid ranges of integer values, and a class's subclassability.
It requires a computational capacity of 36.8 petaflops -- a thousand trillion floating point operations per second
It requires far more than that. According to some, the microtubules on the cytoskeletons of the cells themselves can be processing units. Raise the bar a few orders of magnitude in that case.
And that ain't the half of it. Neurons are only a tenth of the active cells in the brain. The rest are glial cells. They aren't just structural support. They maintain and enhance neuronal connections, and may form a slower and more wide-ranging chemically-based processing network underneath the electrically-based neuronal one. Latest issue of Discover has more.
so theoretically, an 80-year-old and 10-year-old could enter into a platonic marriage without breaking any laws. But, I highly doubt that any religion would sanction such a union
What are you talking about? Marriages arranged at birth happen in several different religions. Well, actually, in several different societies, but those societies also have a typical religion.
Further, I believe the system is designed to prevent an idealistic president from actually making a large direct difference. The place where the president is in a position to influence the nation is not one of policy, in which he is typically forced to follow policy, but in attitude. First Lady Michelle Obama's installation of an organic garden at the white house reminds me of past events in a way that perfectly illustrates what I'm talking about here.
I agree, and think it's for the best. If I don't agree with the current president's ideals, I certainly don't want him to advance them too far on his own. He'll have to sway the country and congress first.
So, what, your position is that a good (but futile) deed does not count in a person's favor?
That is a gross misrepresentation of my position. My position is that Obama knew that amendment had no chance in hell to pass, and thus his act of voting for the bill when he knew that the telecoms would be granted immunity is not an act of good, but one of evil.
A gross misstatement? Really? Obama knew the amendment wasn't going to pass, but he put it out there anyway. That's the good but futile deed. That specific amendment didn't pass, as expected, but maybe it helped inform the final bill, which had gotten better in some ways. Better enough for Obama to vote for it, anyway, and if you want to call that vote evil, that's fine, but it doesn't invalidate the earlier act of good, which you seem to be saying.
It's like, the final vote got Obama 5 "evil" points, but the amendment got him 1 "good" point. The net result is 4 "evil" points, which means he was less evil than what could have been.
They both are crap and can't hold a candle to Haskell. In code beauty, elegance, efficiency, and speed.
Everything I've heard says Haskell is rubbish for general-purpose programming. Haskell has a win because it's pure-functional, but that only matters if you don't have state and you don't need to interact with the outside world. And everything has state, and needs to interact with the outside world. Monads? Don't talk to me about monads. If you pass a state variable everywhere, it's a horrible, kitchen-sink mess.
Legally, the bike is traffic on anything but a limited access highway.
Just not true where I live. Sorry. They don't have a right to be there. Bikes are not traffic.
Yeah, you've said that elsewhere. But you haven't said where you live. This prohibition of bicycles on roads is just so unlikely that no one believes you.
Honestly, if there was any single place where it would probably be safe to have a bike lane, it would actually be the interstate.
True. No pedestrians jaywalking, no alleys, no driveways, no turns at all (except for ramps), no potholes, no parked cars or doors...very predictable. Heaven, in fact.
Slashdot Mirror
This is very true. My language of choice is Dylan, which has much of the power of Lisp or Scheme, but uses a much more readable ALGOL-family syntax. It actually came out around the same time as Java did, but Java had a metric ass-ton of money poured into advertising, and Dylan didn't. Apple screwed that up.
The Dylan equivalent would be
let y = map(rcurry(\^, 2), list)
or
let y = map(method (x) x*x end, list)
Some of you unfortunates might not be aware of what a "thirty Xanatos pileup" is. To remedy that, visit this site.
Block out a couple of hours; you'll use them regardless.
Your hide will make a fine poncho!
You actually need the opposite advice from that link. :-)/^_^ (your choice)
Mod up. Great idea! Hopefully some researcher will see this.
But it doesn't matter if its commercially sensitive! The reason the contract is available at all is because it is with the government, which means we taxpayers get to see it 'cause we're paying for it. In effect, it's a contract with us. Redacting this is like a CEO who doesn't get to see his own company's business!
Is telling lies to a child teaching them it's ok to lie?
It is okay to lie, so long as they do it right. Lying will help them out immensely when the get to the real world. Or find a girlfriend. In fact, it will help them find a girlfriend.
Its far from a perfect system, but its not destroying everything in it's path.
Maybe it just destroys the weak, curiosity-wise. But since curiosity is not improved when subjected to natural selection, this still isn't a good thing.
That's a good point -- why don't we have cellulose-digesting gut bacteria? And why can't we just pop a pill and add them?
I haven't found a good static reflection-enabled language, (I have no idea why), so reflection based examples are off-limit
Dylan is a good static reflection-enabled language. Well, it's a dynamic language, but you can statically declare the type of everything, even unto the elements of collections, the valid ranges of integer values, and a class's subclassability.
Actually an FPS/fighting game reference.
G-G-G-G-GENRE FAIL!
And that ain't the half of it. Neurons are only a tenth of the active cells in the brain. The rest are glial cells. They aren't just structural support. They maintain and enhance neuronal connections, and may form a slower and more wide-ranging chemically-based processing network underneath the electrically-based neuronal one. Latest issue of Discover has more.
We get a second sun.
Yay!
Oh, wait. That's bad, isn't it?
Hey, nobody's perfect.
I'm certain he's talking about state legislatures, not federal ones. But that doesn't invalidate your point.
Just what kind of drugs are these mods on?
Drugs? NO! This...IS...SLASHDOT!
so theoretically, an 80-year-old and 10-year-old could enter into a platonic marriage without breaking any laws. But, I highly doubt that any religion would sanction such a union
What are you talking about? Marriages arranged at birth happen in several different religions. Well, actually, in several different societies, but those societies also have a typical religion.
For the Horde, eh?!!!
I agree, and think it's for the best. If I don't agree with the current president's ideals, I certainly don't want him to advance them too far on his own. He'll have to sway the country and congress first.
A gross misstatement? Really? Obama knew the amendment wasn't going to pass, but he put it out there anyway. That's the good but futile deed. That specific amendment didn't pass, as expected, but maybe it helped inform the final bill, which had gotten better in some ways. Better enough for Obama to vote for it, anyway, and if you want to call that vote evil, that's fine, but it doesn't invalidate the earlier act of good, which you seem to be saying.
It's like, the final vote got Obama 5 "evil" points, but the amendment got him 1 "good" point. The net result is 4 "evil" points, which means he was less evil than what could have been.
That amendment was NEVER going to pass, EVERYONE knew it. Except, apparently, you. Obama can safely be assumed to be not that stupid.
So, what, your position is that a good (but futile) deed does not count in a person's favor?
Not a big fan of "dreaming the impossible dream?"
They both are crap and can't hold a candle to Haskell. In code beauty, elegance, efficiency, and speed.
Everything I've heard says Haskell is rubbish for general-purpose programming. Haskell has a win because it's pure-functional, but that only matters if you don't have state and you don't need to interact with the outside world. And everything has state, and needs to interact with the outside world. Monads? Don't talk to me about monads. If you pass a state variable everywhere, it's a horrible, kitchen-sink mess.
I blame you, Gadget Hackwrench! And you, Mrs. Brisby!
"Excuse me ma'am -- you'll have to take off all your clothes before we'll let you in ... "
I find your ideas intriguing, and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
By the same argument though, why can't I drive my ATV on the road?
Sounds fine to me. But it isn't up to me.
Yeah, you've said that elsewhere. But you haven't said where you live. This prohibition of bicycles on roads is just so unlikely that no one believes you.
Honestly, if there was any single place where it would probably be safe to have a bike lane, it would actually be the interstate.
True. No pedestrians jaywalking, no alleys, no driveways, no turns at all (except for ramps), no potholes, no parked cars or doors...very predictable. Heaven, in fact.