Life goes on...

It's been a couple of days since I last posted - fairly eventful days actually...finally got down to doing some USACO algorithms training now that the vacations are on. Just finished off section 1, and the good news is that I've improved spectacularly. I've been musing on what caused the sudden improvement, aside from high spirits due to sudden influx of freedom into my system...

It's so much better than intuitive hacking, where all you really do is think about the problem until you get ideas, which you then have to think about implementing...Algorithmic programming expands your perspective hugely. Earlier I would have thought something like, "This looks just like that one I did earlier..." Now I think, "Hey, depth first search with memoization!"

What amazes me the most is the way a few simple abstractions clean up things - naturally, you expect them to simplify stuff - that's what they're there for - but you don't realize the true extent of it until after you've internalized the concept and put it to use in a problem solving situation. Unbelievable...

Just tested out my improved skills in the TC practice room(SRM 153, div 2 in case anyone's interested). Finished off the first two probs with no difficulty at all. Was about to start on the 1000 pointer - the real challenge - but something went screwy with my connection, and now I can't get into the applet long enough to see the problem statement...Just my luck. Ah well, I'll give it a whirl before tomorrow's match...I'm planning on solving all three this time - but let's face it - my new skills are limited to a few new abstractions related to search problems - I haven't had time to do much graph theory, and haven't reached dynamic programming yet. My rudimentary skills with those two might be my downfall in the third problem...and let's not even start about computational geometry...

Looks like Kill Bill 2 is on tonight...missed it during the exams, so looks like it's katana time! Might catch Fist of Fury too, just to pass the time.