Thanks for writing this up. I can buy the argument that performance is an advantage, but why is making a strings elemental an advantage (in of itself)?
Keeping integers and other base types elemental has the advantage that when you use them, you can be sure that they're side-effect free. They're treated as "values" and "values" by definition don't change. In Python, they've decided to make strings also elemental.
There are many social entrepreneurs in and outside of Austin that I would like to meet. FLOW in Austin is a group I'm looking forward to learning more about, for example. In addition, the LBJ School of Public Affairs has a large emphasis on nonprofit entrepreneurship to solve societal problems.
Can you please clarify what you mean? A couple of questions.
"If your concern is free speech"... the word "your" is unclear. Who are you addressing? I presume you mean the authors of the Snowe-Dorgan bill.
"why attack the revenue base for VoIP and IPTV?" Can you please elaborate on this? Why do you see (5) as an attack on the revenue base for VoIP and IPTV?
Keeping integers and other base types elemental has the advantage that when you use them, you can be sure that they're side-effect free. They're treated as "values" and "values" by definition don't change. In Python, they've decided to make strings also elemental.