Java string concatenation efficiency
Does "+" use in String concatenation affect efficiency?
Comma usage with compound sentences {actually compound predicates as per Rob's answer} Rule 101 of compound sentences is that a coordinate conjunction must be accompanied by a comma most of the time when joining independent clauses, yet I stumble across sentences all that time that seem to abuse this rule. Normally, it's a case of the subject not being present in the second clause, as in the following example:      "They usually start out as an abbreviation, but turn into acronyms   when they become well known."   (taken from the Oxford Style Manual)   To me, this comma cannot be correct because the clause after the comma doesn't contain a subject and therefore cannot be independent (right?). As far as I'm concerned, it's not the 'Comma to set off a contrast rule because I can find plenty of other where 'and' is used and the subject's missing in the second clause.  what's the deal here?   Thanks in Advance for any responses I may receive! "Distribution worker" vs. "distributed worker" I cannot differentiate the meanings of the two words. Could you please clarify?   In general, when should I use a noun (distribution) or an adjective (distributed) for verbs similar to distribute, like organize, create? Issue with 'StringVar' in Python Program How to rename multiple files by removing the extension? Cannot delete directory with Directory.Delete(path, true) There are no book recommendations for Astrophysics here. I will write my own answer, but I am also interested in what are others' views on the question (I will NOT mark my own answer as the best one). Can I use variables inside {} expansion without `eval`? Can I use variables inside {} expansion without appealing to eval? If so, how?  This doesn't work:  $ touch 1.foo 1.bar $ ls 1.{foo,bar} 1.bar  1.foo $ extensions=foo,bar $ ls 1.{$extensions} ls: cannot access 1.{foo,bar}: No such file or directory   It works with eval:  $ eval ls 1.{$extensions} 1.bar  1.foo Is there no electric field inside a conductor? I came across this statement while studying electric currents and I am confused:  "There is no electric field inside a conductor. Hence no current can flow through it".  Is there a fallacy in this statement?  Any help would be appreciated.  The conductor being discussed is ideal. What is the driving force for the current in this case? How to speed up 4e combat I DM a group of four PC's and even "easy" battles take at least an hour to resolve. Normal encounters take even longer! I want to speed up combat so my players can do more in a session.  I've been trying a lot to speed up combat, we are already using:   Initiative cards that the players keep up 30 second bonus rule: if someone take his turn within 30 seconds, he receives a token. This token can be used to give a +1 on attack or damage, after rolling. Completely removed healing surges Checked all character sheets, they are roughly equal Roll damage and attack at the same time   I even introduced an experienced player, which helped my party to play more strategic, but speed hasn't improved.  Also the party is Lv 8, nearing Lv 9.  This is not an issue of the DM's turn taking too long. My turns take about 60 seconds tops. The 30 second rule helps a lot, most of the the players turns are within or near 30 seconds.   The major issue appears to be the sheer number of rounds, averaging on 25-30 rounds needed to resolve even a "normal" encounter.  What can I change to resolve combat faster?  I'm looking for both 4e solutions, system agnostic and home brew solutions. I have a little problem with the placement of my picture. I want to insert it at the end of the introduction chapter but its place is not where I want.   I think the problem become from the:  \begin{figure} ... \end{figure}   Because when I insert the picture without using \begin{figure}... the picture is at the end of the chapter as I want.   Look the picture below. How can I get a complete list of fields for a standard object? How to properly restart unity? I keep on experiencing weird bugs. These usually start after a few hours of use. Sometimes the dash starts opening under every open window (becomes only visible on desktop, but I still can search and open anything with the enter key while it's not visible). Also, there are other minor annoyances, such as random places (especially maximized Chrome, tabs area) after navigating between programs with alt+tab can't be clicked with the mouse. Switching back and forth fixes this.  I cannot use  compiz --replace   since after that, all of the app indicator icons are gone (only teamviewer stays). Skype, network, languages, sound (also keyboard sound up/down stops working) and date are gone. Restarting unity-panel-service does not help.  Any thoughts on how to resolve these? Why is wine made 'from' grapes, but tables are made 'of' wood? (1) Wine is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented grapes or other fruits. (Wikipedia) (2) Tables were made of marble or wood and metal (typically bronze or silver alloys), sometimes with richly ornate legs. (Wikipedia)  Why is 'from' used in (1), whereas 'of' is used  in (2)? Is it a stylistic choice whether to use 'of' or 'from'? Or, in case of chemical changing, differently from changing in shape only, 'from' is preferable? Prove existence of a real root. Problem: If   $$C_0+\frac{C_1}{2}+\cdots + \frac{C_{n-1}}{n}+\frac{C_n}{n+1} =0,$$  where $C_0,...,C_n$ are real constants, prove that the equation  $$C_0+C_1x+\cdots +C_{n-1}x^{n-1}+C_nx^n=0$$  has at least one real root between $0$ and $1$.  Source: W. Rudin, Principles of Mathematical Analysis, Chapter 5, exercise 4. Can Cycles use multiple UV layers? I'm trying to match Cycles to a Blender-Internal material setup and I didn't see a way for cycles to have an image reference more then one UV map.  Is it possible to have a node setup with 2 image textures, each using a different mesh UVLayer? Word for "moving up one conceptual level" I am aware that, to use a Spell Scroll, you must have the related spell on (at least one of) your spell list(s). Then, if you have the spell slot to cast it, you succeed automatically; else, you must make an ability check in order to cast it (failure resulting in the scroll being wasted).  Consider this example : A Cleric 5 / Wizard 4 finds a Raise Dead Spell Scroll. The spell is on the Cleric List, but is a fifth level spell. Considering that the cleric-wizard has fifth level slots, but can only pick up to third level cleric spells, would he have to make the ability check to successfully cast the Raise Dead in the Spell Scroll, or would he succeed automatically ? No indent in the first paragraph in a section? Symbolic Link: Creating link from "NTFS Partiton" to ~/Desktop How do I programmatically create a new content type?