new_contents: #!/usr/bin/env python3
  # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
  # mk-palin.py 2015-12-07 1.1
  # build & check palinndromic numbers
  
  #  test data
  todo = "1 12 135 256 196" .split()
  
  # max number of repetitions
  MAX = 1000
  # MAX=30000 is not enough for 196 (!)
  # MAX number of printed iterations
  MAXPRINT = 100
  
  def proc (n):
      """process number (given as line)"""
  
      print ("Given:              ", n)
  
      if len(n) == 0:
          print ("Error: empty string")
          return 0
  
      if len(n) == 1:
          print ("OK: ", n)
          return 1
  
      steps = 0
      while steps < MAX:
  
          steps += 1
          obr = n[::-1]
  
          if n == obr:
              print ("Hurra: we've got a palindom {}" .format(n))
              return 1
  
          if steps < MAXPRINT:
              print ("Reversed:           ", obr)
          n = str (int (n) + int (obr))
          if steps < MAXPRINT:
              print ("Next {0:10}:     {1}" . format (steps, n))
  
      print ("Alas, MAX ({}) is achieved" . format(MAX))
      return 0
  
  def main(args):
      """main dispatcher"""
      divline = "\n\n==================================================\n"
      for n in todo:
          print (divline, "\nProcessing: ", n)
          proc (n)
      print (divline)
      return 0
  
  if __name__ == '__main__':
      import sys
      sys.exit(main(sys.argv))
  
subject: make and check palindromes