Since I think we've solved the original intent of this thread (if not, please speak up, Zeek!), I'd like to turn it into a short lesson on computer languages, notably the Java family (and similarly a few others I Won't list here.)
Having just written scads of nit-picky Java/Javascript code over the past few weeks this was fresh on my mind, you see....
This is a lesson about the pitfalls of the simple 'equals sign': "="!
The expression above ( Mxy = FUNNY!!! ) means "Mxy is replaced with the phrase FUNNY!!!" and is called an "assignment operation." Once executed "Mxy" would indeed be equal to (identical to, actually) FUNNY!!! (Which was the probable intent of the post in the first place. :winkgrin: )
If one were to instead write ( Mxy == FUNNY!!!) [with some other necessary characters I also won't go into here] that would mean "Is Mxy equivalent to FUNNY!!! ?" and which is a "logical test for equivalence" which returns a value of "true" or "false."
Now there is a lesser-known version of the preceding, which is ( Mxy === FUNNY!! ) . This version is a special version of "equivalent to" in that it also means "Mxy is exactly identical to FUNNY!!! in every discernible way," and also returns either "true" or "false."
Just an FYI for any of you thinking about doing any programming in your future, to forewarn you that computers are REALLY PICKY AND VERY LITTERAL about what you program them to do! :o ::)
Title: Re: Science in the news :P
Post by: Zeek on May 16, 2010, 07:10:31 PM