I’ve always had a premonition that Ruby will eventually live out its retirement as a reclusive elite, a language only used by the children of the wealthy and eccentric. They’ll use it to hack into each other’s private jets, forcing the robotic arms to serve the passengers—in place of sparkling apple spritz—a sordid concotion of french cologne and rabbit’s tears.

Well, since I know some of you also have been haranguing your kids into learning Ruby, perhaps you can offer some advice to Don Box (SOAP author and Microsoft wizard) as he selects a language for his kids. He’s listed Ruby as a favorable candidate, given that it’s both elegant and is enjoying wider usage. Don, I’ll have to dig out that replacement cassette I made for the Teddy Ruxpin that covers Singletons And The Grasshopper Dirigible.

Also see: Chapter Five of the (Poignant) Guide, wherein I converse at length with my daughter’s organ instructor.