A Lighter Moment About Randomness...

(This is funny, but you have to let me build it up with context...)

In elections, especially in election audits, we often have to produce random numbers that an observer can prove to themselves came from a true source of randomness. Obviously, this nixes computer-generated random numbers as one can't prove that they came from a true source of randomness (and often computer-generated random numbers are from pseudo-random number generation algorithms).

Arel Cordero, David Wagner and David Dill published a great paper a while back proposing the use of sets of 10-sided dice to produce decimal random numbers. Great paper.

In addition to dice, there are other random processes, such as using a tumbler with ten ping pong balls numbered from 0-9. The RAND corporation also publishes a book of random numbers, which you can buy: "A Million Random Digits with 100,000 Normal Deviates".

So, where's the funny in all of this? Check out the reviews on Amazon for the RAND book. They're drop-dead hilarious. My favorite is the first one:

A truly amazing genre-breaking work of art unlike any that has ever been or ever will. I was captivated from the moment I opened the cover until the extremely suspenseful moment I turned the last page. With that said, I was a little disappointed that 71602 was knocked off by 92937 just as the plot was unfolding, but the arrival of 96240 really got my blood pumping and I just couldn't put the book down from that moment on.

I am so glad that Amazon.com is offering the "Search Inside This Book" option for this book so that it can be enjoyed by countless other avid readers who otherwise may not have come across it. I wait, impatiently, for the audio CD version of this fine book.

Although this one is pretty funny too:

There are 10 kinds of people in this world: Those who understand binary digits and those who don't. The author of this book clearly falls into the latter category.

I will give the author some credit though, for capturing the 'riverrun', Joycean stream-of-conciousness in a new form. As other reviewers have commented, once you finish the book you want to start again at the beginning.

and one last one:

All erudite readers know that it reads much better in the original Klingon.