Agreed. I tend to make sure that side-effects are limited to some "block" of code (function/class/module/whatever). I just don't see the problem with syntax m

Agreed. I tend to make sure that side-effects are limited to some "block" of code (function/class/module/whatever). I just don't see the problem with syntax much anymore - Python syntax bugs me - a language's usability for the practitioner of the language works around the axis of semantics and maintainability far more than syntax. Obviously J, APL, and egregarious abuses of Perl are examples of syntactical issues, but, as was once said, one can write COBOL in any language.... I'd rather go with the powerful semantics and boring syntax of Lisp. I like this image- http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/1397/lispnd7.png http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/1397/lispnd7.png.