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# random?


/people seem to have stopped pedantry about this recently, i think it was about the time sargant left.
(I helped save b3ta! lemony, Mon 19 Apr 2004, 19:43, archived)
# No
I still have a pedantry irk about it but I can't be arsed to explain....

Edit: Besides the toons are rather woo
(Clunge_Gunge, Mon 19 Apr 2004, 19:45, archived)
# it niggles at me
but i don't very often mention it, this one just caught my eye for some reason
(I helped save b3ta! lemony, Mon 19 Apr 2004, 19:48, archived)
# noone cares anymore
(1, Mon 19 Apr 2004, 19:46, archived)
# well they should
it's not like it's a difficult one to remember, i can justifiably say that this:

19	93	26	18	44
100	47	91	58	56
99	39	92	36	53
97	99	32	47	9
31	1	74	29	96
75	34	52	8	90
83	51	32	37	29
32	74	98	72	80
76	17	40	73	58
47	92	73	90	99
64	64	47	89	73
23	4	42	91	15
8	8	28	76	26
24	88	12	87	18
93	32	59	86	71
9	18	44	76	20
19	8	50	54	3
52	74	66	24	13
83	11	70	2	57
94	66	67	82	100


is random within the bounds 1<x<100
(I helped save b3ta! lemony, Mon 19 Apr 2004, 19:50, archived)
# I can see a pattern there
(I helped save b3ta! djrich - Live from Houghton Regis too rass, Mon 19 Apr 2004, 19:54, archived)
# i mean as a sequence of numbers
not in terms of formatting :P
(I helped save b3ta! lemony, Mon 19 Apr 2004, 19:55, archived)
# There is no such thing as a series of random number generated by a computer
100% fact
(generalname, Mon 19 Apr 2004, 20:08, archived)
# that's why i didn't use one generated by a computer
it is calculated from atmospheric background radiation
(I helped save b3ta! lemony, Mon 19 Apr 2004, 20:11, archived)
# Interesting
My maths formula book (for A-level) has a table of random numbers. Always puts a smile on my face.
(generalname, Mon 19 Apr 2004, 20:15, archived)
# 99% of fact
(I helped save b3ta! slight yoinks!, Mon 19 Apr 2004, 20:17, archived)
# Depends what you mean by computer,
A finite state machine can't create a random number, but a modern computer often has non-deterministic devices attached to it such as the sound card which can generate random values.
(I helped save b3ta! JimM, Mon 19 Apr 2004, 20:24, archived)
# No - actually is isnt.
If it was truly random within the bounds of 1
(I helped save b3ta! newg rum n coke, Mon 19 Apr 2004, 21:41, archived)
# well there's that
and the fact that the pedantry was wrong
"random" as in "an arbitrary selection" or "a seemingly unconnected choice or decision" is an entirely acceptable use for the word.
/mathsdoctoratelinguisticspedant
(I helped save b3ta! Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Mon 19 Apr 2004, 19:52, archived)
# but this cartoon strip was highly unlikely
to be even remotely "random" instead it would be "wacky" possibly even "zany". no offense to devil duck as such but the the mashed 4 cell strips we see on here are pretty damn formulaeic (as a rule)
(I helped save b3ta! lemony, Mon 19 Apr 2004, 19:55, archived)
# fair enough
my pedantry energy is uncommonly low

(what if "andre" had turned into a marmoset in the final frame and said the words "holistic perpetrator conquest"?)
(I helped save b3ta! Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Mon 19 Apr 2004, 19:59, archived)
# then i would probably have preferred
unexpected or unusual

though psuedo-random might have been applicable
(I helped save b3ta! lemony, Mon 19 Apr 2004, 20:03, archived)
# while we're all being so pedantic....
...can you apply the word "both" to more than one object?

i.e. "I'll take both" and pick up all 3?
(pleasedeletemeplease, Mon 19 Apr 2004, 20:03, archived)
# not really ... sounds a bit odd
in french you use the equivalent of "all"
even when there's just two ... makes life (marginally) simpler
(I helped save b3ta! Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Mon 19 Apr 2004, 20:09, archived)