John Baxter jwbaxter at spamcop.net
Wed Jul 3 18:27:44 EDT 2002

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In article <mailman.1025642885.1693.python-list at python.org>,
 "Tim Peters" <tim at zope.com> wrote:

> [Thinkit]
> > How much has the cancer known as decimal infected python?
> > Decimal is evil.
> 
> Indeed, Python uses base-3 arithmetic exclusively, in honor of the Holy
> Trinity.

I wonder where this puts the old Librascope RPC-9000 (ca 1960) which 
used BCD coded in binary excess 3 (that is, 0 == 0011, 1 == 0100,etc, 
with three non-digits at each end).

The advantage is that a complement is simply a bit flip; there were 
signals named III and III-bar (sorry, this medium doesn't allow the 
overbar) running everywhere around the machine, since a+b is straight 
add plus III-bar, etc).  Odd machine in other ways, too:  
magneto-strictive delay line memory.  "Mass" storage an endless loop 
35mm sprocket-feed magnetic tape, etc, etc.  And no Python interpreter.

  --John

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