music n.
A common extracurricular interest of hackers (compare science-fiction fandom,
oriental food; see also
filk). Hackish folklore has long
claimed that musical and programming abilities are closely
related, and there has been at least one large-scale statistical
study that supports this. Hackers, as a rule, like music and
often develop musical appreciation in unusual and interesting
directions. Folk music is very big in hacker circles; so is
electronic music, and the sort of elaborate instrumental
jazz/rock that used to be called `progressive' and isn't recorded
much any more. The hacker's musical range tends to be wide; many
can listen with equal appreciation to (say) Talking Heads, Yes,
Gentle Giant, Pat Metheny, Scott Joplin, Tangerine Dream, Dream
Theater, King Sunny Ade, The Pretenders, Screaming Trees, or the
Brandenburg Concerti. It is also apparently true that hackerdom
includes a much higher concentration of talented amateur
musicians than one would expect from a similar-sized control
group of mundane types.
Node:mutter, Next:N, Previous:music,
Up:= M =
mutter vt.
To quietly enter a command not meant for the ears, eyes, or
fingers of ordinary mortals. Often used in `mutter an incantation'. See also wizard.