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From: Peter Flass <Peter_Flass@Yahoo.com>
Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada,comp.lang.fortran,comp.lang.pl1
Subject: Re: Why is Ada considered  "too specialized" for scientific use
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2010 17:51:56 -0400
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Date: 2010-04-23T17:51:56-04:00
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J. Clarke wrote:
> 
>> 4. Random number generation.
> 
> How were random numbers generated before computers? Did they not have 
> viable algorithms for the purpose?
>>

I think the "Chem Rubber Bible" has a table of random numbers you can 
use; just pick a spot to start.  OTOH, that begs the question of how 
they were generated in the first place.  I have visions of a roomful of 
people flipping coins.