A Blog With No Name

stumbling around some convex polyedra algorithms, I was looking for Chazelle's "onnion peeling" algorithm. I didn't really find the algorithm, but the creator's web page, and a very interesting article about algorithms and their posible influences on modern science.

http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~chazelle/pubs/algorithm.html

the article is filled with great humour combined with a lot of very illustrative explanations. it is a bit lengthy, but I believe it is a worth read if you are at least a bit into algorithms and science.

my favourite two parts are:

Hash table? Hmm, I know what you're thinking: Algorithmistas dig hash tables; they're down for PCP; they crack codes; they get bent out of shape by morphin'; they swear by quicksnort (or whatever it's called). Coincidence? Computer scientists will say yes, but what else are they supposed to say?

and

To this day, only two methods have been scientifically validated. One of them is the infamous “Kitty Flop.” Strap buttered toast to the back of a cat and drop the animal from a PETA-approved height: if the butter hits the ground, record a 1; else a 0. For more bits, repeat. Randomness results from the tension between Murphy's law and the feline penchant for landing on one's feet. The other method is the classical “Coriolis Flush.” This time, go to the equator and flush the toilet: if the water whirls clockwise, your random bit is a 1; else it's a 0.

although there is a lot more where that came from