> How easy was that!!?

;)

The problem comes mostly from lisp's dislike for text (my personal opinion). Lisps work best when everything is a list, always. As soon as you cross the boundary into... Well.. Anything else , really, you need a little bit of ugly glue.

That's why it's so ugly, in case anyone was about to make the "ermagerd if lisp is so great explain this..." comment. :)

[edit: which, btw, is not to lisp's credit, imho.]