Programming contests have become something like a way to pass time and keep ourselves away from boredom for me and my friends. Having tried lots of easy problems... we are getting stuck at the tough ones. Fellow Hackers what do you suggest for improving our skills gradually? Suggest great texts, problems, algorithms, approaches, mindsets and your personal views at programming contests in general.
For a person who hires, is programming contest style recruitment really fruitful?
Why don't you create a product instead of frittering away time with (IMO) meaningless contests? It can be open source if you just want to learn. Or help out with some existing open source product.