merits of Lisp vs Python

[jurgen_defurne]

Ken Tilton wrote:
> George Sakkis wrote:
> > JShrager at gmail.com wrote:
> >
> >>Okay, since everyone ignored the FAQ, I guess I can too...
> >>
> >>Mark Tarver wrote:
> >>
> >>>How do you compare Python to Lisp?  What specific advantages do you
> >>>think that one has over the other?
> >>
> >>(Common) Lisp is the only industrial strength language with both pure
> >>compositionality and a real compiler. What Python has is stupid slogans
> >>("It fits your brain." "Only one way to do things.") and an infinite
> >>community of flies that, for some inexplicable reason, believe these
> >>stupid slogns. These flies are, however, quite useful because they
> >>produce infinite numbers of random libraries, some of which end up
> >>being useful. But consider: Tcl replaced Csh, Perl replaced Tcl, Python
> >>is rapidly replacing Perl, and Ruby is simultaneously and even more
> >>rapidly replacing Python. Each is closer to Lisp than the last; the
> >>world is returning to Lisp and is dragging the flies with it.
> >>Eventually the flies will descend upon Lisp itself and will bring with
> >>them their infinite number of random libraries, and then things will be
> >>where they should have been 20 years ago, but got sidetracked by Tcl
> >>and other line noise.
> >
> >
> > I know we shouldn't feed the trolls, but this one was particularly
> > amusing to resist the urge. The joke about lisp's world domination in
> > some unspecified point in the future never fails to bring a good
> > chuckle. I heard it's scheduled right after strong AI and before time
> > travel, is this still the plan? A quick look at
> > http://www.tiobe.com/tpci.htm may be helpful as a reality check before
> > you go back to your ivory tower (interesting how close in ratings and
> > growth is the "Lisp/Scheme" entry with another dinosaur, Cobol).
> >
>
> And it interesting that VB is almost three times "better" than Python,
> and that a Honda could kick a Lamboghini's ass for it at Laguna Seca:
>
> http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?lang=en_GB&word1=lamborghini&word2=ford
>
> Come on, COBOL is a great language, even has macros (copy ... replacing)
> and the worlds greatest case statement, evaluate. We are proud to be its
> neightbor.
>
> ken
>
> --
> Algebra: http://www.tilton-technology.com/LispNycAlgebra1.htm
>
> "Well, I've wrestled with reality for thirty-five
> years, Doctor, and I'm happy to state I finally
> won out over it." -- Elwood P. Dowd
>
> "I'll say I'm losing my grip, and it feels terrific."
>     -- Smiling husband to scowling wife, New Yorker cartoon

Well, Cobol still has the largest and most easy to comprehend system
for doing decimal arithmetic.

Jurgen