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Comment (1) pick a sorting algorithm and sort a list of t (Score 2) 140

(1) pick a sorting algorithm and sort a list of ten words alphabetically

Why limit yourself to 10? The difference, on a modern computer, between n^2 and n log n will not show up with that few. If you are going to make them write sort programs, make them sort arbitrary input. Then when they feel confident about their code ask them to sort 10000 words.

Teaching sorting help to better appreciate the quality of good algorithm, and there is nothing better for that than seeing your 'perfectly fine' stupidsort() never returning because the data is so large.

Comment Re:Yeah yeah (Score 1) 562

If you could view enough of the universe you would eventually see pattern repeat because the amount of atom combination is not infinite. You will also see all possible combination in between, that include fictional characters on fictional planets in fictional galaxies as long as these things are physically possible by assembling atom in various way.

That is if the universe is indeed infinite... I don't believe anything real can be infinite, at some point the universe overflow and roll over itself. Everything run out of space or time eventually.

Comment Re:Gnomeification? (Score 1) 184

Having all customisation option in hierarchical structure with description and a list of valid value inside a single interface is very convenient. It is similar about:config in firefox but for the entire desktop. Once you know how that tool work you can easily customise all applications, the alternative is to learn where all the option are located within each application. Although, I prefer the interface of firefox's about:config, typing path/searching is more efficient then opening up a tree.

Comment Re:Gnomeification? (Score 1) 184

Options was never removed from gnome. Stop spreading lies. Everything was conveniently accessible under a single UI; gconf-editor, now dconf-editor. Sharing instruction to modify was better this way then explaining a billion menu clicks. Also change can be automated. Gnomification is good, it is nice to see KDE catching up to modern desktop design.
Moon

The Strange Story Of the Sculpture On the Moon 132

braindrainbahrain writes "Slate magazine has written a story about the only work of art placed on the Moon: the Fallen Astronaut sculpture. It was placed on the Moon during the Apollo 15 mission to commemorate both American and Soviet deceased astronauts. The little statue, rather than bringing fame and fortune, ended up being nearly forgotten, and got both Apollo astronaut David Scott and Belgian sculptor Van Hoeydonck in hot water with the U.S. government."

Comment Re:I see plenty of people reading (Score 4, Insightful) 264

Electronic books are extremely resource intensive and require a massive amount of well-maintained centralised infrastructure. It's a huge price to pay for the convenience of "being slightly lighter".

It is not just slightly lighter, you can hold thousand kilograms worth of books in your pocket. The resource intensive and massive centralized infrastructure is only due to digital restriction management. DRM free book do not have this problem. Essentially, what you are saying is that electronic book are defective by design, but we can fix this and save paper in the process. Don't dismiss new technologies because of a few political glitch.

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