OT--Shuffling, was Re: invert or reverse a string... warning this is a rant

[J. Clifford Dyer]

Demel, Jeff wrote:

 > P.S.  How about a string.shuffle() method that splits the string in half
 > into two new strings str1 and str2, and then recompiles the string by
 > alternating one character from each str1 and str2 as it goes?  Like
 > shuffling cards.  ;)

Jeff,

To my mind that would be the exact opposite of shuffling a deck of 
cards.  In your case, each time, you know exactly which stack the card 
comes from, but not which card out of the stack.  When you shuffle 
cards, it's more like you know exactly which card is coming next off of 
each stack, you just don't know which stack it's pulling from next.

import random

def shuffle(seq):
	midpoint = len(seq)/2
	stack1 = seq[:midpoint]
	stack2 = seq[midpoint:]
	shuffled = []
	while stack1 and stack2:
		next = random.choice((stack1, stack2))
		shuffled.append(next.pop())
	if stack1:
		shuffled.extend(stack1)
	else:
		shuffled.extend(stack2)
	return shuffled