[ruby-talk:4842] Real random number sites.

Hi,

I thought those of you working with random numbers, random number
generators, or random number generator evaluation functions might be
interested in the following URLs, which provide sources of real random
numbers (versus digitally generated pseudo-random numbers) that can be used
for random reality checking as it were.

  http://random.org/ -- Uses background radio static as source.

  http://www.fourmilab.ch/hotbits/ -- Uses radioactive decay of krypton-85
as source.

  http://lavarand.sgi.com/ -- Uses scrambled digital snapshots of 6 lava
lamps as source.

Reference: Science, Vol. 289, 7 July 2000, page 7.

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Here are some somewhat related quotes of interest turned up by
www.google.com.

http://www.math.uoa.gr/~web/confer/statconference/abstrct/boland.htm

  "Anyone who considers arithmetical methods of producing random numbers is,
of course, in a state of sin." -- John von Neumann

http://www.physics.miami.edu/~chris/quotes.html

  "The generation of random numbers is too important to be left to
chance." -- Unknown

http://www.angelfire.com/ma/kilenm/2k04ppl.html

  "If people do not believe that mathematics is simple, it is only because
they do not realize how complicated life is." -- John von Neumann

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--
Conrad