python learning map /reduce

a = [1, 2, 3]
b = [4, 5, 6, 7]
c = [8, 9, 1, 2, 3]
L = map(lambda x:len(x), [a, b, c])

# L == [3, 4, 5]
N = reduce(lambda x, y: x+y, L)
# N == 12
# Or, if we want to be fancy and do it in one line
N = reduce(lambda x, y: x+y, map(lambda x:len(x), [a, b, c]))


I am going to implement a generic MapReduce framework using Python multiprocess module. This module will exploit the multi-core environment better.
For data exchanges, I will use the tmpfiles.