Maybe you could just mention 1 mainstream language (besides perl) that doesn't accept hex or octal constants where it accepts decimal. You list examples of needing functions to convert hex and octal -- but those other languages also need functions for decimal. In the actual *language*, that the compiler reads -- they accept octal and hex where they accept binary.

So instead of 64k, how about 1?

BTW -- please note BrowserUK's tag line below -- this part:

"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".

Seemed especially pertinent to some peoples' reactions to my asking "why is this this way" (with some answering, "that's the way it is" (status quo), or "as documented" (implicit acceptance of authority).

Um, BrowserUK -- do you walk your taglines, or are they just decorative? :-)