Python and Flaming Thunder

[John Salerno]

On Tue, 13 May 2008 06:25:27 -0700 (PDT)
Dave Parker <daveparker at flamingthunder.com> wrote:

> > I'm pretty generally interested, but where can print layout take you?
> 
> Not far, especially with books disappearing.  Our library says that
> these days, only 25% of their checkouts are books; the other 75% are
> DVDs, CDs, etc.

Sorry, but I must point out a logical flaw in this statement. Assuming your stats are even true, just because books are now only 25% of checkouts rather than, for example, 80%, doesn't necessarily imply that any less books are being checked out (i.e. "disappearing"). It can just as easily mean that *more* of the other things are being checked out while books remain the same.

Example:

Total number of items checked out:    100
Total number of books checked out:     80
Percentage of books checked out:       80%

Total number of items checked out:    320
Total number of books checked out:     80       # same as above
Percentage of books checked out:       25%