Path: csiph.com!x330-a1.tempe.blueboxinc.net!usenet.pasdenom.info!news.albasani.net!feeder.news-service.com!newsfeed.xs4all.nl!newsfeed6.news.xs4all.nl!xs4all!newsgate.cistron.nl!newsgate.news.xs4all.nl!post.news.xs4all.nl!not-for-mail Return-Path: X-Original-To: python-list@python.org Delivered-To: python-list@mail.python.org X-Spam-Status: OK 0.038 X-Spam-Evidence: '*H*': 0.92; '*S*': 0.00; 'wed,': 0.04; 'python': 0.07; 'not?': 0.09; 'programmer': 0.11; 'wrote:': 0.14; '425': 0.16; 'jes': 0.16; 'unstructured': 0.16; 'input': 0.18; '-0500': 0.19; 'cc:no real name:2**0': 0.20; 'cc:2**0': 0.20; 'discussion': 0.20; 'language': 0.20; 'subject:list': 0.22; 'header:In-Reply- To:1': 0.22; 'cc:addr:python-list': 0.22; 'example.': 0.23; 'least,': 0.23; 'voting': 0.23; "what's": 0.24; 'example': 0.24; 'wrote': 0.25; 'google': 0.27; 'cc:addr:python.org': 0.31; 'shift': 0.31; 'that...': 0.31; 'does': 0.31; 'it.': 0.31; 'language.': 0.31; "skip:' 10": 0.32; '...': 0.32; 'programming.': 0.33; 'using': 0.34; 'formal': 0.35; 'charset:us-ascii': 0.36; 'problems': 0.37; 'should': 0.37; 'useful': 0.37; 'solutions.': 0.38; 'but': 0.38; 'skills.': 0.38; 'app': 0.39; 'where': 0.39; 'header:Mime-Version:1': 0.39; 'how': 0.39; 'basic': 0.40; 'takes': 0.40; 'learn': 0.60; 'header:Message-Id:1': 0.62; '2011': 0.62; 'received:208': 0.62; 'url:net': 0.62; 'computers': 0.64; 'day': 0.66; 'democracy': 0.84; 'irrelevant.': 0.84; 'that)': 0.84; 'to:addr:charter.net': 0.84; '"learn': 0.91 Date: Thu, 12 May 2011 01:49:05 -0400 From: "D'Arcy J.M. Cain" To: harrismh777 Subject: Re: checking if a list is empty In-Reply-To: References: <9hYwp.5805$xo2.3333@newsfe07.iad> <4dc502c7$0$29991$c3e8da3$5496439d@news.astraweb.com> X-Mailer: Sylpheed 3.1.0 (GTK+ 2.24.4; i686-pc-linux-gnu) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Cc: python-list@python.org X-BeenThere: python-list@python.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.12 Precedence: list List-Id: General discussion list for the Python programming language List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Newsgroups: comp.lang.python Message-ID: Lines: 32 NNTP-Posting-Host: 82.94.164.166 X-Trace: 1305179351 news.xs4all.nl 81479 [::ffff:82.94.164.166]:56388 X-Complaints-To: abuse@xs4all.nl Xref: x330-a1.tempe.blueboxinc.net comp.lang.python:5199 On Wed, 11 May 2011 16:24:47 -0500 harrismh777 wrote: > D'Arcy J.M. Cain wrote: > Non-programmers should not be expected to program in 'C' nor in lisp... > > ... but non-programmers were able to program in BASIC jes fine... They still had to learn the language. > I contend that non-programmers are able to learn rudimentary python and > work with it to solve real problems 'without' formal training in > 'programming'. When did the discussion shift from "learn the language" to "formal training?" How you learn the language is totally irrelevant. > Python is the New BASIC for 'people'. At least, it has the potential to > be that... people should be able to talk to their computers (whatever > we mean by that) and have the computer respond with real-world > solutions. We need to move away from 'canned apps' to a new day where > the masses can sit down to their computer and solve new problems with it > through intuitive language skills. Why not? That's not programming. That's using a canned app that a programmer wrote that takes your unstructured input and does something useful with it. Spreadsheets are a primitive example of that. Google is a more advanced example. -- D'Arcy J.M. Cain | Democracy is three wolves http://www.druid.net/darcy/ | and a sheep voting on +1 416 425 1212 (DoD#0082) (eNTP) | what's for dinner.