Do any of you recommend Python as a first programming language?

[Jeff Schwab]

Arnaud Delobelle wrote:

> Anyway, here the conclusion that I draw: learn lambda-calculus and
> Turing machines.  The rest is syntactic sugar.

How is the lambda-calculus fundamentally different from Turing 
machine-based implementations?

I've been learning a fair amount about functional programming recently, 
mostly because compile-time C++ turns out to be a pure functional 
programming language.  Where should I go for a solid grounding in 
lambda-calculus?

Also, despite reassurances to the contrary, I still get the impression 
that there is a strong anti-lambda sentiment among the Python "in" 
crowd.  Is it just a question of the word "lambda," as opposed to 
perceived cleaner syntax?

http://www.artima.com/weblogs/viewpost.jsp?thread=98196
http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0290/#replacing-common-uses-of-lambda

-- 
Said the Rabbi Hillel, "All the rest is commentary."