gistfile1.py

def live_cell_count(x, y):
    square_coords = [(x-1, y-1),
                     (x+0, y-1),
                     (x+1, y-1),
                     (x-1, y+0),
                     (x+1, y+0),
                     (x-1, y+1),
                     (x+0, y+1),
                     (x+1, y+1)]

    count = sum(1 for x, y in square_coords
                if cell_alive_exists(x, y))
    return count