“Constant average query time” is not that hard to understand. It means that sometimes access time is e.g. linear, and sometimes you get your content before executing the code. With a hash table large enough and full enough, this can be used to fetch content seconds, minutes, days, potentially years before the program even exists. That’s one hell of a breakthrough.

[edit] /s, oops

That’s how you get Skynet

I take it you’re being sarcastic?

I for one am not that comfortable about it. Breeding and slaughtering rats to feed zoo animals, sure. I do enjoy burgers myself, so who am I to judge? Plus the zoo animals can’t all go vegan. But these are just bred and killed, probably living the shortest life possible, to serve as novelty decoration items. A plush would serve the purpose equally well, but of course the novelty aspect would not be there any longer.

Yeah not a big fan. I can understand taxidermy when done to a loved pet, or even to hunted game as a trophy. But the breeding-straight-to-taxidermy process sounds super wrong to me.