Man, I really need to get around to learning Lisp. (Of course I've been telling myself for a few years now.)
Admittedly, as someone who's only ever used C, C++, C# and Java, Lisp seems so alien that I have a hard time understanding how anyone can do any non-trivial work in it. Then I look at all the awesome stuff that's been done in it and how many people are obsessed with it and, well, I definitely need to check it out at SOME point.
Half way through the first chapter (about 11 pages, which is really shorter than a single nytimes article) it says something on the lines with "you have now a turing complete language at your disposal." At that point you can kind of extrapolate the myriad of possibilities available with the paradigm.
Kenny hinted that he will stop posting to c.l.l. (or at least cut down on his post frequency) now that he is blogging. If that is true, then "Weeny" just became my absolute favorite blog of all time ;-)
I took my first few dives into c.l.l recently (see here http://groups.google.com/group/comp.lang.lisp/browse_thread/...) and I noticed a couple people (left unnamed) with a poisonous negativity, and I'd have to say that Ken seemed like a pragmatic realist with a hint of optimism (kind of like me). I don't even think I would have finished reading the threads I looked at without Ken's comments.
I've been a lurker on c.l.l. for years and I've also seen quite a few interesting threads derailed by Kenny's...uh...UNIQUE sense of humor. The megalomania thing wears a bit thin, for example. I know quite a few noobs that have been helped by his pragmatism ("just pick an implementation and stick with it," "Stop bitching and do something"), but just as many that have left or put him in their killfile because of his off-center tangents and his occasional desire to be the new Erik.
You received a warm welcome because you contributed something useful and didn't just come in bitching and moaning. You were also smart enough to figure out something you could contribute with your current skill level instead of just copping out. Like Kenny, I admire that. And I think Kenny is often very helpful and entertaining. Like many /stereotypical/ geeks, though, I think his sense of humor and social skills are sometimes a bit off. IMHO, a blog is a better outlet for his thoughts...I think it will help the signal-to-noise ratio on c.l.l. and you will still get to read his insights if you subscribe to his feed. I've already subscribed.
OK, I think I misunderstood your first comment. My positive opinion of Ken was based on a few threads (< 20 probably) I followed before the warm welcome I got on my own thread. Apparently that wasn't enough to see the side of him that you're talking about.
I couldn't tell if you thought having less Ken on c.l.l would make c.l.l better, or if having Ken write his own blog made it easier to find Ken. Apparently it was the first!
Is it just me or do grammatically incorrect prominently placed titles annoy others as well? (I think Lisp rocks, of course, so I don't have an issue with the content)
Admittedly, as someone who's only ever used C, C++, C# and Java, Lisp seems so alien that I have a hard time understanding how anyone can do any non-trivial work in it. Then I look at all the awesome stuff that's been done in it and how many people are obsessed with it and, well, I definitely need to check it out at SOME point.