On Wed, 28 May 2003 09:06:19 -0700, Duane Maxwell wrote
> > i think you agree that the arabic notation and the "dotty" notation are
> > interchangable.
> 
> Since arabic representations extend beyond just positive integers, I'm 
> interested in the "dotty" notation for trivial arabic notation values 
> 0.5, and -5, or whether "dotty" notation can even remotely extend to 
> represent a couple of other useful numbers, pi, and i.
> 

yes the dotty notation can be extended to stand for any system of signs 
because it is a sign system also. i do not know why are you interested in 
this, because i didnt want to discuss signs systems but to ask for your 
opinion on the question "is squeak really object oriented?".

addition to the sign systems: i can say that the dot in 0.5 will be denoted 
by 25 dots forming some shape. analogically for -5, pi, i, ... 

> As to copying, there are indeed physical objects that copy themselves 
> without the need for external "factories" - we here on planet Earth 
> call them "cells".  Strictly speaking, in mitosis, the original is 
> destroyed and replaced by two entities built from parts of the 
> original, but they copies are usually functionally equivalent and 
> interchangeable with each other.
> 

the two cells are smaller then the original one (unless they pump resources 
from the outer world - but in this case i think that the original cell gets 
copied with the help of its environment, in your words: with the help of an 
external factory). as they are smaller, they can be copied recurrently only 
several times (unless they use te helping hand of their environment).

> I've never understood the fascination with the pseudo-philosophy of 
> "The Matrix" - the whole "we only know what our senses tell us" thing 
> is really not much of a step up from the "what if atoms are little 
> solar systems" and "what if I went back in time and killed my 
> grandfather" types of philosophy questions that seem profound when 
> you're a teenager smoking weed.
> 
> -- Duane

the matrix is not pseudo-philosophy in the sense you noted i think. i think  
the main fact following from (not only from) matrix is that we can interpret 
the surrounding world in several ways. and this is highly important.