More interesting stuff from Paul Graham. In this article he advances the view that the Lisp family of languages are superior to other programming languages. I actually believe this, even though I write Java for a living. However, the meta-question is, why aren't Lisp style languages more popular now than they currently are? And the answer can't be, "the best solution doesn't always win" as that is no explanation at all. Paul talks about this towards the end of the article but no complete explanation emerges.

Quotes include and reading at runtime enables programs to communicate using s-expressions, an idea recently reinvented as XML.

and the very cynical Because, you know, when it comes down to it, the pointy-haired boss doesn't mind if his company gets their ass kicked, so long as no one can prove it's his fault. The safest plan for him personally is to stick close to the center of the herd.

Within large organizations, the phrase used to describe this approach is "industry best practice." Its purpose is to shield the pointy-haired boss from responsibility: if he chooses something that is "industry best practice," and the company loses, he can't be blamed. He didn't choose, the industry did.

Found courtesy of lemonodor