3/4     Rave: Chapter Two of Damian Conway's Object Oriented Perl is hands
        down the clearest exposition I've ever read of perl modules,
        namespaces, references, as well as local vs. my.  I wish I'd read it
        sooner.  Well worth the just over $20 to get it as a PDF, and I will
        probably drop the $40 or $50 needed for the dead trees edition.
        Two pages later, it also features the clearest exposition of closures
        I've ever read, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone taking 61A in
        order to help get your head wrapped around the magic that is lambda.
        -dans
        \_ sometimes you can find editions cheap on amazon used books.
        \_ Can I give you $10 and you mail me a copy of the pdf? -poor student
           \_ 26$ for a "like new" used hardcopy from amazon.
           \_ You can easily get a copy off of emule for free.
           \_ Are you really so poor that you can afford $10 but not $20?
              That's two, maybe three trips to La Burrita.  Also, seeing as I
              like Conway's work, I'd like to see him get paid and perhaps
              write more at a later date.  Why don't I arrange to donate a
              copy to the CSUA library? -dans
              \_ What I find depressing is how many people seriously don't
                 see a problem with paying money for IP they like, and stealing
                 IP they don't like.  As if their subjectivity is any yardstick
                 to measure people's rights by.  Or, if you like, as if stupid
                 people didn't have the same rights as everyone else. -- ilyas
                 \_ Fair enough. Do you pay for your copy of Windows and
                    every single warez you've had in your life?
                    \_ Yes, my copy of windows is paid for.  I do not 'own'
                       any warez, and never have.  Why must you assume everyone
                       is as much of a scumbag as you? -- ilyas
                    \_ I don't know aobut ilyas, but the one copy of Windows
                       I've ever used was legit (paid for by my company). I
                       also paid for all the software I currently use on my
                       Macs. Most of my other systems run either Linux or BSD,
                       and I don't have any commercial software on those systems.
                       At one point in my life (10+ yrs ago) I did have some
                       commercial software (mostly games, though I don't
                       think I ever had a license of MacDraw) on my MacSE,
                       think I ever had a license for MacDraw) on my MacSE,
                       but back then when you bought a computer you just
                       assumed that the stuff on the old hd was yours.
           \_ Not only would this be illegal, it is also just plain wrong.
              As a published author, nothing bugs me more than people who
              feel that they somehow have a right to STEAL your work w/o
              compensating you for it.
              If everyone was like you and refused to pay for books, the
              incentive to write (what little there already is - a tech
              author may get ~ $2 per copy sold) will completely disappear.
              Who wants to waste their nights and weekends (most of us
              need real jobs b/c writing tech books doesn't come close to
              paying the bils) if there would be no benefit beyond some
              minor recognition on one's resume?
              If the book helps you out, PAY FOR IT. </rant>
              \_ I buy most of my technical books used.  This is legal, however
                 the author still doesn't get any money.  What do you think of
                 that?  If authors asked used buyers to send them a couple
                 bucks, I'd do it, but I've never heard of such a system.
              \_ I buy most of my technical books used.  This is legal,
                 however the author still doesn't get any money.  What do
                 you think of that?  If authors asked used buyers to send
                 them a couple bucks, I'd do it, but I've never heard of
                 such a system.
                 \_ I have no problem w/ used books. The original purchaser
                    has already compensated the author. Once they bought
                    the physical book (or electronic copy), they can sell
                    it or give it away to someone else assuming that they
                    do not retain a copy for their own use.
                    \_ Just for shits and grins, why don't you try putting a
                       message in the next edition of your book that says
                       "If you really love this book and find it useful send
                       me a dollar" and see what happens.