function arguments passed by reference

[Skip Montanaro]

    Marcello> I would like to know for sure if it is possible to pass a
    Marcello> value by reference to a function AND having it changed by the
    Marcello> function itself

Not the way you would in C++.  See:

    http://cgi.cse.unsw.edu.au/~cs3141/index.php?module=xarbb&func=viewtopic&tid=17

for a recent discussion on mutable and immutable objects in Python.

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