XKCD Ruined My Life By Stick Apart in Stick Apart's Diary Tue Nov 13, 2007 at 03:06:41 PM EST Tags: XKCD, webcomics, random, random numbers, 4, 444, Finnish Rock Owns Powerviolence, lols, college, drugs (all tags)
	http://xkcd.com/221/ tragicomedy below (inb4 "Let them mount up upon themselves, if they cannot take a joke" & ihbt)

INTERNETS SRS BUSINESS " int getRandomNumber() {     return 4; //chosen by fair dice roll               //guaranteed to be random. } " Alt-text: "RFC 1149.5 specifies 4 as the standard IEEE-vetted random number." Ever since I read that comic, holy shit, finding instances of the number 4 in statistics, etc... "40% of voters blah blah" "4000 tons of blah blah" etc It almost appears completely arbitrary and, well, as if they had been like OK GUYS WE NEED A RANDOM REALLY BIG NUMBER HOW ABOUT 4something This coupled with transient triskaidekaphobia and basic math skills... :\ FREAKIN ME OUT, MAAAAAN Up there with "...at least 100 years ago"... The actual RFC 1149 is http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc1149.html "Network Working Group                                        D. Waitzman Request for Comments: 1149                                       BBN STC                                                             1 April 1990    A Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams on Avian Carriers Status of this Memo    This memo describes an experimental method for the encapsulation of    IP datagrams in avian carriers.  This specification is primarily    useful in Metropolitan Area Networks.  This is an experimental, not    recommended standard.  Distribution of this memo is unlimited. Overview and Rational    Avian carriers can provide high delay, low throughput, and low    altitude service.  The connection topology is limited to a single    point-to-point path for each carrier, used with standard carriers,    but many carriers can be used without significant interference with    each other, outside of early spring.  This is because of the 3D ether    space available to the carriers, in contrast to the 1D ether used by    IEEE802.3.  The carriers have an intrinsic collision avoidance    system, which increases availability.  Unlike some network    technologies, such as packet radio, communication is not limited to    line-of-sight distance.  Connection oriented service is available in    some cities, usually based upon a central hub topology. Frame Format    The IP datagram is printed, on a small scroll of paper, in    hexadecimal, with each octet separated by whitestuff and blackstuff.    The scroll of paper is wrapped around one leg of the avian carrier.    A band of duct tape is used to secure the datagram's edges.  The    bandwidth is limited to the leg length.  The MTU is variable, and    paradoxically, generally increases with increased carrier age.  A    typical MTU is 256 milligrams.  Some datagram padding may be needed.    Upon receipt, the duct tape is removed and the paper copy of the    datagram is optically scanned into a electronically transmittable    form. Discussion    Multiple types of service can be provided with a prioritized pecking    order.  An additional property is built-in worm detection and    eradication.  Because IP only guarantees best effort delivery, loss    of a carrier can be tolerated.  With time, the carriers are self-    regenerating.  While broadcasting is not specified, storms can cause    data loss.  There is persistent delivery retry, until the carrier    drops.  Audit trails are automatically generated, and can often be    found on logs and cable trays. Security Considerations    Security is not generally a problem in normal operation, but special    measures must be taken (such as data encryption) when avian carriers    are used in a tactical environment. Author's Address    David Waitzman    BBN Systems and Technologies Corporation    BBN Labs Division    10 Moulton Street    Cambridge, MA 02238    Phone: (617) 873-4323    EMail: dwaitzman@BBN.COM" LOL BIRDS Yeah, XKCD is good, (well, usually) but I think the random number generator joke was done much, much better by Scott Adams: http://www.virtualp.us/Dilbert-Oct_25_001.jpg Sometimes you smoke the pipe, and, well, sometimes, the pipe, it smokes you.

Poll

Best Random Number Dice Roll 20% 4 60% 9 20% 7 20% 5 20% 2 20% 1 20% 8 20% 6 20% 0 20% 3.14 40% ; (2,3) scratch = seed * 181 20% 23 20% 13013 20% WIPO 0% Votes: 5 Results | Other Polls

Related Links

http://xkc d.com/221/ ...at least 100 years ago http://www .faqs.org/rfcs/rfc1149.html XKCD Scott Adams http://www .virtualp.us/Dilbert-Oct_25_001.jpg Stick Apart's Diary