Random

The party shuffle feature in iTunes is supposed to create a random playlist of songs. Oh yeah? Then how come, out of 6,435 songs, it manages to choose the exact same song performed by two different bands one after the other?

Sick Of Goodbyes in the iTunes Party Shuffle list

Update: The question is rhetorical. The fact that coincidences like this occur is in fact proof that the shuffling is truly random. If there were no coincidences, that would be suspicious. The Cederholm-Fugazi effect is another example. It’s just that, as Daniel Gilbert says, we notice things that are memorable and filter out the vast majority.

Have you published a response to this? :

Previously on this day

15 years ago I wrote Feline frustrations

I upgraded to Tiger a little while back. Frankly, I’m a little underwhelmed.

17 years ago I wrote Wireless Wonderland

Well, my stint as compère at Silicon Beach is over.

17 years ago I wrote Cute

I was just emailing with Dave Phelan about tonight’s Silicon Beach event. I told him I’d probably be able to recognise him from his webcam pic and asked him to give me a wave.

17 years ago I wrote Silicon Beach

Apparently, I’m going to be the compère for tonight’s Silicon Beach event at the Sumo Bar on Middle Street.

17 years ago I wrote Hercubush

Satire: Keeness and severity of remark; caustic exposure to reprobation; trenchant wit; sarcasm.

17 years ago I wrote Ah, Venice

Richard’s pictures of Venice are giving me really itchy feet.

18 years ago I wrote What's on in Brighton

If anybody in Brighton is looking for a good evening’s entertainment tonight, head on over to the Hanbury Ballroom.