markc

>The book itself uses Java, not Clojure.

Almost all of the code examples in the book are in JavaScript (not Java) though a significant feature of Sharvit's approach is that it decouples Data Oriented Programming from any specific language. As a Clojure geek, I highly recommend the book as the way to achieve some of Clojure's core virtues in other languages.

I still have my cherished VT125 EDT rubber overlay from when I worked at DEC '82-'85. Great editor. And the amazing thing was that there could be 50 people time-sharing on a single 1 MIPS Vax 780, and EDT was very responsive, virtually no lag.

I came here to mention this book also. I learned a lot. He explores a mind numbing number of properties which are potentially in the mix. They depend in turn on the properties of the source material. (Authors play all kinds of games with meter and structure and arbitrary constraints - and preserving some can come at the cost of deprecating others.)

One warning: among the genuinely deep insights, Hofstadter can occasionally come off as smug and self-congratulatory about his own poetic genius. I found this rather off-putting - and surprising since I found the tone of G.E.B. rather more like enthusiastic play.

Probably could have driven round trip for under $500!

True. I chose my neighborhood in Somerville with proximity to the T as a top priority because I assumed I'd be taking it to work in Kendall every day. Then I bought a bike and found it better in almost every way: free, enjoyable (much of the time), healthier, and much faster. So much so that I biked nearly all of the time, year-round. I had dedicated lanes for most of the trip, and quiet almost car-free neighborhoods for much of the rest.

An unexpected pleasure was the schadenfreude of passing scores of cars on Hampshire/Beacon on my way home during rush hour.

An unexpected annoyance was the fair weather bikers who don't seem to know their bike has gears, and take f.o.r.e.v.e.r. to get going at a green light.

And free outbound from Logan! Though I must say, the last time I did this it was a bit of a nightmare. The SL1 was very late and we were packed in like sardines.

There is a viable path from (upper?)-middle class to early retirement that is built mostly out of hardcore discipline, willingness to delay gratification, and some luck. The idea is to live well below your means, be "frugal", and pound every spare dollar into tax advantaged retirement accounts (first) then your own aggressive growth equities. Get a bonus? The whole thing goes to your brokerage, have a stock plan at work? Max it. Since this mild form of FIRE may take 30+ years, you should invest aggressively in equities (risk decreases with longer time horizon) and possibly buy some rental properties along the way. IMO this gives the best probability (though no guarantee) of retiring financially independent before age 60.

My long journey experience (perhaps not fully typical) was at odds with both of your "realizations".

* I spent most of a year on the road, circled the U.S., about 18k miles in all (and averaging almost 17mpg). Sure, it's a lot of miles, but some people do that commuting. The experience was in no way "just driving and sleeping" in fact the driving part was not particularly unpleasant (amazing views, music, books on tape, conversation, photo stops) but was a very minor part of the overall experience.

* With a compact (25') class C, I had a comfortable queen sized bed, 2 TVs couch, heat, A/C, 2 sinks, stove, microwave, fridge, flush toilet, closet, large dinette (seats 6), and a great hot shower every morning. A slide out made it very roomy when parked. A huge awning made for comfortable outdoor living on sunny days. I've done the station wagon thing, and it can be great for a while - but for a year on the road? NFW.

Same. Took so long I moved on, and now I have an unopened and unused replacement unit. Wonder what it'll fetch on ebay..

One plausible explanation I've heard for this is that while men and women have the same average mental capabilities, men have a higher standard deviation than women. There there are more outliers in both directions. Champions are found at the upper extreme.

Clojure doesn't have TCO.

Instead, there's loop/recur where the recur call won't compile except in tail position.