e-mail from the classroom

[topaz]

I think this is the new generation's version of writing lines on the blackboard:

Dear Mom & Dad,
I had to stay in for recess because I was making the other kids laugh in
class by saying silly things loudly. I will try to behave next time by not
talking loudly in class.  Of course, the temptation will be too much, but I
will still try hard.  I will be respectful to my teacher.

From,
Morgan

Unfortunately I'm just the wrong person to impose discipline on this one. Especially if I keep giggling whenever I think about it.

Comments

[pulito.livejournal.com]

What is a "while/do loop"?

[ceo]

It's a way of doing something repeatedly in a computer program. For this purpose I'd use a for loop, though. Here it is in C:

for(i = 0; i < 1000; i++) 
{
  printf("I will not make the other kids laugh by talking loudly in class.\n");
}

That first line means "do this repeatedly, incrementing the variable i every time, and stop when i gets to 1000".

There's a Fox Trot comic where Jason does precisely this, writing more or less the above on the blackboard, and the teacher says "Nice try."

[pulito.livejournal.com]

Huh. Well, I think I understand that, but barely.

Thanks! :)

[docstrange.livejournal.com]

Just so!

(Also, I told my wife as I wrote it, "Someone will quibble and express their preference for a 'for' loop, absent any language context in my post." 8-)

[ceo]

"Someone will quibble and express their preference for a 'for' loop, absent any language context in my post."

I live to serve. :-)