It seems a machine which produces random numbers (0 or 1, a coin toss simulator) which has been running for years has been predicting world events (via Slashdot).

The random numbers show the expected distribution (about half each) for extended periods, and then before major historic events the machine produces unusually large numbers of one number.

These ran constantly, day in day out, generating millions of different pieces of data. Most of the time, the resulting graph on his computer looked more or less like a flat line.

But then on September 6, 1997, something quite extraordinary happened: the graph shot upwards, recording a sudden and massive shift in the number sequence as his machines around the world started reporting huge deviations from the norm. The day was of historic importance for another reason, too.

For it was the same day that an estimated one billion people around the world watched the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales at Westminster Abbey.

You could explain it away by stating that if you dig hard enough you could find a historic event to match any fluctuation. And have there been fluctuations with no explainable event to match?

Still, it's interesting to think that if enough people think the same thing at the same time it could effect the rules of randomness. It also fits in nicely with a little idea for a short story I've had on time travel and using random numbers to detect when time travelers have altered (or attempted to alter) reality. Fits disturbingly well actually...

Update: Well, it's rubbish of course ("i don't know what happened here"), but I still say they stole my idea. But what good is an idea that isn't written down?

New glasses on Saturday. They were ok until today when I have to try to work with the computer. They're "graded" so the top part is for looking distances and the bottom part is for reading. Somewhere in the middle is supposed to be for using the computer but it's making me sick...

Although that could be because I AM sick... I can actually see ok. Apparently they take a couple of weeks to get used to.

Happy birthday Mog.

If we get our butts in gear we'll spend this weekend blocking up puppy sized holes in the backyard and then shopping for a puppy.

Saw Sky Captain on Saturday. We were the only people in the cinema again. Hot tip, see not-very-popular films around lunch time. I really enjoyed Sky Captain. If only (but obviously not only) for watching how often it could get away with pretending to be Star Wars / Indiana Jones and get away with it. It was like watching a comic book.