to items :n :thing
  if :n >= count :thing [output :thing]
  output items :n butlast :thing
end

to butitems :n :thing
  if or :n <= 0 empty? :thing [output :thing]
  output butitems :n-1 butfirst :thing
end

to middle :n :m :thing
  output items :m-(:n-1) butitems :n-1 :thing
end

to lastitems :n :thing
  if :n >= count :thing [output :thing]
 output lastitems :n butfirst :thing
end

to starts.with :sub :thing
  if empty? :sub [output "true]
  if empty? :thing [output "false]
  if not equal? first :sub first :thing [output "false]
  output starts.with butfirst :sub butfirst :thing
end

to members :sub :thing
  output cascade [starts.with :sub ?] [bf ?] :thing
end

; note: Logo indices start at one
make "s "abcdefgh
print items 3 butitems 2 :s ; cde
print middle 3 5  :s   ; cde
print butitems 2  :s   ; cdefgh
print butlast     :s   ; abcdefg
print items 3 member  "d  :s ; def
print items 3 members "de :s ; def