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Lasherism


Lasherism: [Harvard] n. A program that solves a standard problem
   (such as the Eight Queens puzzle or implementing the life
   algorithm) in a deliberately nonstandard way.  Distinguished from a
   crock or kluge by the fact that the programmer did it on
   purpose as a mental exercise.  Such constructions are quite popular
   in exercises such as the Obfuscated C contest, and
   occasionally in retrocomputing.  Lew Lasher was a student at
   Harvard around 1980 who became notorious for such behavior.