Re: [Mid] A lesson in Algorism

>From: "Charles J. Cohen" <charles@eecs.umich.edu>
>
>No, Algorism is just Algebra, the precursor I think. - Midair
>
Oh yeah that's right, I was thinking of algorasm. I find in my Computer
Contradictionary the following definitions:

algorasm: n. [Origin: blend of algorism + orgasm] A sudden, short-lived
moment of pleasure enjoyed by the programmer (and, for all we know, by the
system) when the final kludge rings the bell.

algorism n. a pre-LISP algorithm devised by abu-Ja'far Mohammed ibn-Musa
al-Khuwarizmi (Persian mathematician fl. c.e. 825) who wrote the first BASIC
substring modifier in a vain attempt to shorten his name.
=> There is much unexplored and spurious evidence that he cooperated with
his poet-mathematician friend Omar Khayyam in many other areas of
anachronistic computer science. Alas, the demon drink then (as now) clearly
interrupted the study of stacks and boolean algebra.

       For 'IS' and 'IS-NOT' though with rule and line,
       And 'UP-and DOWN' by logic I define,
       Of all that one should care to fathom, I
       was never deep in anything but -- Wine.
                      (Tetrasich #76, Rubaiyat, tr. E. Fitzgerald)

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Received on Thu Jun 10 17:56:55 1999