Train of Thought – Page 40 – It's a wonderful world!

A dive in to Lisp

Post author By John
Post date July 11, 2006

Prompted by a book I borrowed from a friend, I’ve decided to learn Lisp.

Many years ago, the first programming course on my degree was in a language similar to Lisp (that I now forget), and I thoroughly enjoyed using it. MacLisp was also around on campus, for use in ‘maths stuff’. Not being a mathematician, I ignored that.

Both experiences made me write off lisp (and similar brethren) as a practical language – they seemed too small, too focussed on things like recursion that aren’t all that useful on constrained systems.

However, there’s a famous quote around that notes that everyone should learn Lisp, if only for the experience, and the write up in Hackers and Painters persuaded me to have a go.

So far, I’m up to chapter 15 in ‘Practical Common Lisp‘, and I think I may be hooked!

Miscellanea

How Cool?

Post author By John
Post date May 12, 2006

How many people can use the wifi at their gran’s house to post to their blog?

Yes, I did install it, but it was for my Gran’s use and not just me when I visit :o)

Gay Miscellanea

The First Fifteen Years – LGMC in concert

Post author By John
Post date April 30, 2006

Last night I went to see the London Gay Men’s Chorus perform their first big show of the year. What a blast!

The show was at Cadogan Hall, and I had planned on just turning up on the night, and buying a ticket. In the end, the place looked almost sold out, so it was lucky that Liam offered me a spare ticket he had during the afternoon. Not only did he guarantee I turned up (thank you!), I also had a great seat.

If you’ve not seen the LGMC, they are an incredibly polished bunch of performers, who obviously take great pride in putting on a high quality show. They then couple this with a hugely infectious enthusiasm, which reminds me each time why I go and see them. Choir’s, after all, are not my regular taste in music.

Mind you, they seem to be turning me into a convert, and I now have some favourites, two of which were in the show – Rhythm of Life and Our Time.

If you’ve not seen them before, they are on again in London and Cardiff (among other places) this year. Highly recommended!