Why is Python popular, while Lisp and Scheme aren't?

[Anders J. Munch]

"Michael Hudson" <mwh at python.net> wrote:
> Carl Banks <imbosol at vt.edu> writes:
> > Which is kind of funny.  You'd expect the Data Register to point to
> > the nth item in the list, and Address Register to point to the next
> > cons cell.  But the reverse is true.
> 
> I think the d in cdr stands (stood) for decrement, not data.  But the
> web seems confused on the issue.  

You are right.  John McCarthy writes
(http://www-formal.stanford.edu/jmc/history/lisp/node2.html):

"The first problem was how to do list structure in the IBM 704. This
computer has a 36 bit word, and two 15 bit parts, called the address
and decrement, [...]"

- Anders