Top of the directory
Short, hand-picked essays on the curious and useful corners of the web, and on how randomness really works, from shuffled decks to lottery draws.
Machines — how computers and cards make randomness
- How Random Number Generators Work
- Computers are built to be predictable, which makes randomness surprisingly hard. There are two broad ways round the problem: clever arithmetic and physical noise.
- Shuffling a Deck Properly, by Hand and by Computer
- A shuffle is a random number generator made of cardboard. Done badly, by hand or in code, it leaves patterns that a careful observer can exploit.
Chance — probability for everyday life
- The Gambler's Fallacy and Other Tricks of the Mind
- After five heads in a row, tails feels due. It is not. Understanding why is one of the most useful pieces of everyday probability.
- How Lottery Draws Stay Random
- A lottery is only trusted if nobody, including its operator, can steer the result. Ball machines and computer draws solve the same problem in different ways.
Small web — where to wander online
- A Short Guide to the Small Web
- Behind the big platforms there is still a web of personal sites, hand-built pages and odd hobby projects. Finding it takes a slightly different set of tools.
- Useful Corners of the Web Worth Knowing
- Some of the most useful places online are old, non-commercial and slightly unglamorous. A handful are worth bookmarking for life.