Happy Happy Joy Joy (was: On to Hydro)

[Bill Frantz]

At 06:08 PM 8/21/00 -0400, Tyler Close wrote:
>Markm wrote:
>> At 01:32 PM 8/21/00 , Tyler Close wrote:
>> >? define m := RedBlackTree new(LesserDouble INSTANCE) asSet
>> ># value: [  ]
>> >
>> >? define NaN := 0.0 / 0.0
>> ># value: NaN
>> >
>> >? m := m with(NaN)
>> ># value: [ NaN ]
>>
>> Since RedBlackTrees are supposed to only hold fully ordered
>> sets, I propose
>> that this operation should be an error.  I hereby define ;)
>> a singleton set
>> of an irreflexive element to be a non fully ordered set.
>
>My RedBlackTree doesn't allow a second NaN to be inserted, but
>wouldn't a Xanadu container allow it? In this case, the weird "I'm in
>there, but you can't find me." behaviour would still be present. I
>don't think you can define it away.

I'm tempted to say that the only use for a container of garbage is to be
removed by the trash collectors.  :-)

NaN is Not a number.  It is an indication that your calculation produced
garbage.  You shouldn't expect it to behave like a number.