Using millis() to get elapsed time

Projects Programming
10 
float elapsedTime;
...
void draw() {
  if (0 < port.available()) {
    elapsedTime = port.read();
  }
  println(elapsedTime);
}

First, I hate this style:

If 0 < the number of apples in the room ...

No-one talks like that.

Why not:

If the number of apples in the room is > 0 ...

Second, you are printing elapsedTime even if you haven't read it.