Benchmark: timing 5000 iterations of orig, f_yates, hash... orig: 33 secs (23.60 usr 0.00 sys = 23.60 cpu) f_yates: 5 secs ( 2.88 usr 0.00 sys = 2.88 cpu) hash: 13 secs ( 5.68 usr 0.00 sys = 5.68 cpu)