On Wednesday, January 22, 2003, 4:59:46 PM, Phil wrote:

>>You may know this already, but rand() doesn't output random numbers, it
>>just outputs a sequence of numbers which is *statistically* random.

> Right, pseudo-random.  Isn't there a VonNeumann quote where he says 
> something like "those who try to generate randomness using deterministic 
> means are seriously deluded..."  (or some such)


Here it is, cited in the Perl Cookbook.  It's a classic!

  Anyone who considers arithmetical methods of producing
  random digits is, of course, in a state of sin.

                 -- John von Neumann (1951)