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A fantastic anagram on the street. By Micah Lexier and Christian Bok. (booooooom.com)

submitted ago by adamthesmith

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[–]ilovefatgirls 133 points134 points ago

Too lazy to check that all letters are used.

[–]clarle 266 points267 points ago

In Python:

s1 = "This text and the one beside it are equal. I wrote this one first,
and then I gave it to my friend Christian Bok and asked him to
generate a new text using every letter and every punctuation mark
that I used in mine. The other text is his."

s2 = "Micah Lexier requested in advance that I reinvent his text. So I
unknotted it and reknitted it into this very form, but then I began to
think that his message had already resewn a touted art of genuine
poetry. His eerie text was mine."

print sorted(s1.lower().replace(' ', '')) == sorted(s2.lower().replace(' ', ''))

Result:

> True

[–]ocdscale 308 points309 points ago

Too lazy to learn python and verify that what you said is true.

[–]ALT-F-X 95 points96 points ago

It's like a chapter 3 thing in intro python classes. Not hard at all.

Source: I've taken an Intro to Python class 3 times.

[–]TheToto1000[!] 132 points133 points ago

Too lazy to learn English to read what you wrote about Python.

[–]Spoggerific 9 points10 points ago

パイソンのテキストで第三章ほどの難易度。全然難しくない。

参考：三年間に日本語を勉強してる。和英翻訳はほとんど経験ないからたぶんどっか間違ってる。

[–]vnkid 4 points5 points ago

Le Grille?!

[–]SirLintsalot 1 point2 points ago

全然良いと思うよ。

参考：僕も三年間に日本語を勉強している。

[–]not_a_novel_account 30 points31 points ago

Too lazy to... fuck it

[–]keesh 74 points75 points ago

I'll fuck anything, sign me up.

[–]N69sZelda 28 points29 points ago

Colby 2012.

[–]SlenderTroll 4 points5 points ago

Too la...

[–]Regulith 1 point2 points ago

2

[–]avatarofhope 0 points1 point ago

http://imgur.com/vG7ems1 I was gonna resize it, but...

[–]teasnorter 1 point2 points ago

You've got this lazy shit down.

[–]BadFlag 2 points3 points ago

Fhadklcno vskfgn aduwncmodje. Ackbkusehtoin. Bfghh.

[–]stevo1078 0 points1 point ago

 .

[–]jakielim 0 points1 point ago

2 Lazy 2 Quit

[–]Zyrthofar -2 points-1 points ago

Too lazy to learn to read to check your sentence.

[–]istoleyourpope 0 points1 point ago

You didn't point out your cake day. You also have not made any posts whoring for your cake day.

As a result, here is an upvote.

[–]PatAunces 5 points6 points ago

Not hard at all.

I've taken an Intro to Python class 3 times.

Well seems like you had a little trouble with it

[–]ALT-F-X 1 point2 points ago

Lol I knew someone was going to say something. Basically my dad taught it to highschoolers from the local homeschool co-op once a week and I was like in 5th-8th grade and just tagged along with him.

It's actually where I got my initial start into coding.

[–]doomgiver98 0 points1 point ago

That's 3 chapters though.

[–]ALT-F-X 0 points1 point ago

No there are like 15

[–]NotReallyFromTheUK -2 points-1 points ago

Ew, you took classes?

Part of the glory of Python is that it's so easy to learn. I picked it up in a week from the official tutorial and was writing scripts for my job.

Whatever works, though, of course. Everyone's different, not trying to be rude.

[–]Steve_the_Scout 8 points9 points ago

I don't even know Python, but I'm assuming the

sorted(s1.lower().replace(' ', '')) == sorted(s2.lower().replace(' ',''))

bit goes through the strings (long chains of characters), replaces spaces with, well, nothing, and then puts the letters in either alphabetic or ASCII order (pretty much the same), and then checks to see if the two match after, and if they are, it prints "true". I have no idea how Python works, but it looks like some code I've seen for C++ (which did the same thing, but differently).

[–]raydeen 7 points8 points ago

YES! YOU ARE CORRECT SIR!

[–]Scythin 2 points3 points ago

Is " sorted() " what is called a method?

[–]Kilmir 3 points4 points ago

No, that's a function. Similar, but methods are connected to a class where functions can be called anywhere. The s1.lower() is a method; the .lower() is a method of the string class and what it returns is dependent on what is in the string. The s1 is the string with the text, so what the lower() returns is that text in s1 only all capitalized letters made lowercase.

If you wanted to make the sorted() a method (like what Java does, everything is methods there) then you would need to edit the String class and add the sorted() method there. Then you could call the method in the above example like this:
s1.lower().replace(' ', '').sorted()

[–]Steve_the_Scout 0 points1 point ago

I believe in this case it's a function. "Method" refers to object-based functions, like *object-name*.lower() (in this case s1 and s2, which are of the "string" type, technically objects), while "function" refers to non-object oriented code.

[–]cup_of_chino -3 points-2 points ago

It is indeed a method.

[–]spinozasrobot 14 points15 points ago

Don't worry, it's legit

[–]ryumast3r 3 points4 points ago

This explains every engineering class I've ever had.

[–]niqtoto 1 point2 points ago

I wrote that on a diff eq exam problem I couldn't figure out and was running out of time for, and got zero credit for it. Got like a 45% on that test. Class average was around a 50%. Ended up with a C in the class. Still pissed about that whole class when I think about it. Nothing clicked until after we had been tested on it.

[–]aulter1688 2 points3 points ago

sorted(s1.lower().replace(' ', '')) just makes the entire string lowercase and deletes all the spaces, then puts it in alphabetical order. So if you have "Ana gram", it goes ana gram->anagram->aaagmnr.

If your other string was "Nag A Ram", you have Nag A Ram->nag a ram->nagaram->aaagmnr. You can see that the two results are equal meaning that they are anagrams.

[–]Raknarg 1 point2 points ago

I think its a function that sorts the letters in a string or something. Therefore, if they sort to the same string (resulting in "true"), then they are true anagrams

[–]ryumast3r 1 point2 points ago

Basically he replaced all of the spaces with nothing (because spaces have a character value) and asked the program to sort them and see if the strings were the same length/each place had the same value.

Should probably add, I don't know python, but I know some C and that's what I'm guessing it's doing.

[–]kokowam -1 points0 points ago

That's like saying you're too lazy to learn the alphabet and find whether or not a word uses letters only from the alphabet. Python's EZPZ lemon SQUEE-Z

[–]Mr_Showtime 0 points1 point ago

http://www.learnpython.org/

[–]Biganon 5 points6 points ago

Bash one-liner :

diff -s <(echo 'Micah Lexier requested in advance that I reinvent his text. So I unknotted it and reknitted it into this very form, but then I began to think that his message had already resewn a touted art of genuine poetry. His eerie text was mine.' | tr -d ' ' | tr 'A-Z' 'a-z' | sed 's#\(.\)#\1\n#g' | sort) <(echo "This text and the one beside it are equal. I wrote this one first, and then I gave it to my friend Christian Bok and asked him to generate a new text using every letter and every punctuation mark that I used in mine. The other text is his." | tr -d ' ' | tr 'A-Z' 'a-z' | sed 's#\(.\)#\1\n#g' | sort)

Result :

Files /proc/self/fd/11 and /proc/self/fd/12 are identical

[–]jefusan 2 points3 points ago

Amazing.

[–]oakdog8 1 point2 points ago

Needs triple quotes. 3/10

[–]aelias36 0 points1 point ago

For all 250 of you who are confused, the first two statements put the two paragraphs into their own variables. Next, each paragraph's upper case letters are converted to lower case, since you can switch cases when anagramming (lower()). Next, spaces are removed from the paragraphs, because those also do not matter in anagramming (replace(' ',''). Then, the letters of each paragraph is ordered alphabetically (sorted()). It then compares the two lists (==). If the lists of letters are the same, the same letters are used in each paragraph, and the program prints to the command line "true." Otherwise, it prints "false."

[–]stonehenge1861 0 points1 point ago

I looked into the comments expecting some kind of primitive method to check this. Found python, and a new hobby!

[–]Andygoesrawr 1 point2 points ago

Doesn't that just check that they both have the same amount of characters? I'm fairly unfamiliar with Python, but I'm familiar with PHP and JS.

EDIT: Missed the "sorted" function.

[–]clarle 7 points8 points ago

What everything does, really quickly:

  • lower(): makes a string lowercase
  • replace(' ', ''): removes all spaces in the string
  • sorted: sorts the string
  • Equality in Python (==) checks the entire string to see if they have the same content

If two strings are anagrams (using the same letter case and no spaces), then when you sort the strings, you should have the same string for both. I was just lazy, like everyone else. ;)

[–]LOOKITSADAM 6 points7 points ago

I assume it also sorts all the characters.

sorted("mary"); => "amry"
sorted("army"); => "amry"
"amry" == "amry" => true

[–]TrollKy 6 points7 points ago

Yes, he also has the function that pulls out all the spaces.

.replace(' ', '')

You could so the same thing with 

.strip(' ')

[–]BobDolesPotato 1 point2 points ago

i don't know much python but considering i don't see a length method being called, its more likely its checking for a 1 to 1 relationship of characters. He sorts the string alphabetically (sorted method) converts it to lower case (lower) and take out the whitespace (replace).

[–]volatilevisage 0 points1 point ago

To be pedantically chronological, it's the other way around. He took out the spaces, lowered the cases, and then sorted it alphabetically.

[–]mysticrudnin 1 point2 points ago

i don't know the specifics either but what about "sorted()" makes you think it's counting the number of characters?

[–]Andygoesrawr 0 points1 point ago

Ah, I missed that. Makes sense :)

[–]petrobonal 0 points1 point ago

I don't know any languages where the equivalence of two strings is computed using string length. It typically checks that they are character by character identical.

Don't know python, but it seems rather straightforward that it does this:

1) Removes all spaces, 2) replace all characters with lower case, 3) sort characters in alphabetical order, 4) Check if the resulting strings are equivalent.

[–]LXIV 108 points109 points ago

I came in to point out to the OP that this is not a palindrome. Then I re-read the title and remembered that I am a non-reading ass.

[–]Exaskryz 23 points24 points ago

I thought it was meant to be a palindrome too. Let's be non-reading asses together!

[–]LXIV 12 points13 points ago

I ordered the chicken, but my wife had a burrito.

[–]do_you_hate_me 6 points7 points ago

I don't get it.

[–]LXIV 16 points17 points ago

It's almost like I replied to his comment without reading it.

[–]kylem1216 1 point2 points ago

What's so special about 64?

[–]evade16 -1 points0 points ago

Seriously Exaskryz get a traffic late.

[–]HongManChoi 61 points62 points ago

Put smarties tubes on cat's legs

[–]Charod48 8 points9 points ago

Gay Elf Romp

[–]JimmerUK 12 points13 points ago

Everytime I see that I can't believe how incredible it is. Jimmy Carr must be a fucking genius.

[–]wasteful_thinking 9 points10 points ago

What did he rearrange to come up with this? The video only shows the final result and without context I fail to see what is so impressive.

[–]Rosetti 14 points15 points ago

At the beginning of the show, they were given a bunch of random letters to arrange as they please throughout the show. He managed to make something that made sense, was amusing, and used up all the letters.

[–]Greywyne 3 points4 points ago

IIRC they gave him the letters and it was all planned. I for the life of me can't remember if I heard that from a reliable source or not though. It could have been from a special documentary episode or something... maybe I read it on the internet.

[–]magicwar1 3 points4 points ago

I don't think it was all planned. I mean, it took a solid half of the show, and I'm pretty sure I could do something like that given half an hour and a lifetime of using words for humor.

[–]wasteful_thinking 0 points1 point ago

Awesome, thanks for the clarification

[–]BlazeOrangeDeer 2 points3 points ago

I don't even know how it's possible for something to be that funny

[–]rolfsaurusrex 32 points33 points ago

Check out Eunoia from Christian Bok. Each chapter restricts itself to the use of only 1 vowel, (Chapter A uses only "a", etc).

[–]eeyore134 15 points16 points ago

Here's the first paragraph of the first chapter of the book for the lazy out there. I like that the first word after announcing it as "Chapter A" is "for".

[–]topical_storm 12 points13 points ago

...wat?

[–]noddwyd 0 points1 point ago

Translation: Dance ta da antsy pants dance, Vance!

[–]drunkentune 9 points10 points ago

Bought that book for my mother on her birthday. She didn't even open it, so I bought her another gift and kept the book. It was amazing!

[–]cethaliophia 7 points8 points ago

Why is it amazing? Reading that first paragraph it just seemed like a collection of words that vaguely made sense. Is there actually a story to it?

[–]banjodog 0 points1 point ago

Each chapter begins with something like this - an intro to the idea of restricting the language to only one vowel. Then, each chapter has a story. The stories are not as clear to follow as a normal short story, but they do play with ideas and images in a fascinating way.

[–]cethaliophia 3 points4 points ago

Why is it amazing? Reading that first paragraph it just seemed like a collection of words that vaguely made sense. Is there actually a story to it?

[–]snouz 7 points8 points ago

French author Georges Perec wrote:

  • La disparition - a book without any E (considering E is an even more occurring letter in French)

  • Les Revenentes - a book with E as only vowel (with a lot of spelling "mistakes")

One of the greatest French geniuses.

[–]wilarseny 2 points3 points ago

Christian Bok is a badass.

[–]foxfay 1 point2 points ago

Came here to say this. It truly is a fabulous poem to read. Chapter "E" blew me away!

[–]do_you_hate_me -1 points0 points ago

Chapter 'D' was the shit.

[–]RandomExcess 197 points198 points ago

All they did was rearrange the letters.

[–]glennnco 54 points55 points ago

and got lucky

[–]Rosetti 17 points18 points ago

Yeah, since when was anagramming things a thing?

[–]klightburn 77 points78 points ago

It's a newie, sinewy grama nana gag hhhmn?

[–]Rosetti 20 points21 points ago

This guy gets it.

[–]BatmanMoonwalk 54 points55 points ago

Shit tits u eggy

[–]tyeh26 42 points43 points ago

Shitty egg suit.

[–]Snackhat 5 points6 points ago

Sgtytietgiush

[–]noddwyd -1 points0 points ago

I, The Gusty Geist

sorry, there was only one h.

[–]TackyOnBeans 5 points6 points ago

Sounds like something the 10th doctor would say.

[–]fm8 1 point2 points ago

what? really? letters redesigned? ha! art!

[–]ringringbananaphone 32 points33 points ago

I'd be interested to know if their names are real. We just kind of accept that the names are spelled the way they are, but it would be an easy way to get rid of extra characters.

EDIT: I googled it, they're real

[–]sexyfrenchboy93 42 points43 points ago

He used google everyone! This guy is legit!

[–]jamintime 5 points6 points ago

I assumed they were made up to satisfy the anagram. Quite impressed that they aren't.

[–]wilarseny 14 points15 points ago

I began to think that his message had already resewn a touted art of genuine poetry

DAE take this to mean these are both anagrams of another famous poem? Reddit: GO

[–]carltoncarlton -3 points-2 points ago

No.

[–]operation_hennessey 4 points5 points ago

so concise. love it

[–]supertek 12 points13 points ago

Ossington Ave & Argyle St, Toronto

Source: I used to live near that corner

[–]syuk 4 points5 points ago

I am reading that backwards and forwards then realised you are just explaining where this thing is.

[–]superfluousfluids 9 points10 points ago

I love Bok's writing, but he is such a douche.

source: he's a prof at my old university

[–]carltoncarlton 3 points4 points ago

Please explain?

[–]nivanbotemill 3 points4 points ago

I vaguely remember a semi-brouhaha about Bok telling his students none of them would become famous as writers and they should stop having that as their goal.

[–]mondayonly 0 points1 point ago

He gave a guest talk at the college in my town and got close up in a female student's face after he explained one of his poems, and said "I just blew your mind, didn't I?" She didn't even ask a question or anything.

Watch any of his interviews, or any video of him performing his poetry. He's a giant douche. I think poets like him are a major reason poetry is no longer popular.

This is by far the most interesting thing I've seen from him.

[–]SKSmokes 2 points3 points ago

For a second I confused anagram and palindrome as terms and my jaw was on the floor about halfway through the left hand paragraph. Still very impressive.

[–]BillDino 3 points4 points ago

I can't even imagine playing scrabble against this guy...

[–]ragehorse 2 points3 points ago

Christian Bok is amazing. For anyone interested in word play should check out his book "Eunoia" in which he uses words with one vowel in each chapter (and each chapter contains sex-scenes...). He's also working on a project with geneticists combining poetry and biological material. He's a brilliant and abstract man. EDIT: Grammar.

[–]shanoxilt 1 point2 points ago

He should post on /r/fifthworldpoetry.

[–]keith_weaver 2 points3 points ago

Pff anagrams. Those are so 2009. Everyone's into palindromes now.

[–]x755x 6 points7 points ago

I was disappointed that your comment wasn't a palindrome.

[–]gwvent 5 points6 points ago

Taco cat.

[–]FourteenFingers 6 points7 points ago

A man, a plan, anal, Panama.

[–]bfitz1977 1 point2 points ago

Bravo!

[–]alewis14151 0 points1 point ago

Formidable!

[–]Nesseth 1 point2 points ago

That is so cool!

Coital Shoots!

[–]fjhollings 1 point2 points ago

http://archives.chbooks.com/online_books/eunoia/text.html

Here's a link to Bok's Eunoia. I'm reading it for my Conceptual English class right now, it's quite good.

[–]oO_sTr1cT_Oo -1 points0 points ago

Theres no "z" in this

[–]Stupid_Ned_Stark 1 point2 points ago

Googled anagram. "Did you mean a nag ram?" Well played, Google.

[–]melanthius 0 points1 point ago

If you like this, you might like playing Bananagrams

[–]plm9872 0 points1 point ago

wait...christian bok. didn't he do an anagram contest with Dave Barry once? he's damn good.

[–]Matlock_ 1 point2 points ago

I posted this photo two years ago. It went to the front page. I thought reddit was easy.
2 years later everything I post gets like 4 upvotes. Been chasing the damn karma forever.

[–]fromnothingness 0 points1 point ago

I enjoyed the ever living fuck out of that!

[–]darwin1859 0 points1 point ago

Resewn???

[–]wroth -2 points-1 points ago

Micah Lexier and Christian Bok sound like fake names that were made with the leftover letters.

[–]KayBeeToys -2 points-1 points ago

Anyone seeking more info might also check here:

title comnts points age /r/
I don't know how Reddit feels about contemporary poetry, but Christian Bök is amazing (also check out his book "Eunoia" if you like this!) 2coms 28pts 11mos pics
A master of words. 18coms 514pts 3mos pics

source: karmadecay

[–]Kinsata -2 points-1 points ago

"every punctuation mark that I used in mine"

Where'd that comma come from?

[–]freakygeeky 5 points6 points ago

After the word "first"?

[–]Kinsata 2 points3 points ago

Right you are! Sneaky little devil, that.