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Fun Stuff => CHATTER => Topic started by: Carl-E on 11 Nov 2011, 13:29

Title: Random? Really?
Post by: Carl-E on 11 Nov 2011, 13:29
OK, this has officially become a hobby...

pwhodges (Paul) has a randomly served avatar, I think we all know that.  But there are times when the random image just lines up sooo  well with the post, that, even as a mathematician who understands machine-generated randomness, it makes me wonder...

I've shared a few of these gems in the past, but I had a couple more and thought I'd like tio put them in a localised spot.  Feel free to add to them...

Edit:  They're being trimmed, so they're hard to read.  I'll just link...


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6098/6334951315_fbc0cef16f_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6227/6334948973_eee621ddbf_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6225/6286851402_a75135be5a_b.jpg
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Barmymoo on 11 Nov 2011, 15:05
Haha that is great! I have noticed some good ones but never taken a screenshot, I'll start looking out for them.
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: idontunderstand on 14 Nov 2011, 08:29
I just thought he changed his avatar a lot.
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: valley_parade on 14 Nov 2011, 08:58
Oh man, I never thought about how many different post/av things Paul could have. Awesome.
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: pwhodges on 14 Nov 2011, 16:54
There are well over two dozen options, and the randomness is applied each time a browser requests it - so not only does it change each time, but that selection is also independent for each person; tell your browser to refresh, and it will change.  The implementation is only a couple of lines in the Apache configuration file, as there is a built-in function for the purpose!  When I fancy a new avi, I just add it to the list, which is now around three dozen (and there are a few others I have removed as well).  Because they all have to be the same type, and I happened to choose jpg not gif or png when I set it up, there can't be any dynamic ones - which is fine by me.  I do the same at PocketJury, but the list is smaller (for my own reasons).

Here, there are pictures of me at all ages, my pets at various times (five dogs and a horse), a house-sized graffito in Hackney (East London), some other photos I have taken, a couple of Jeph's doodles (cat, frog, and one from QC), Johann from Anders Loves Maria, Shinji from Evangelion, Kintaro Oe from Golden Boy, and (the largest number) Scott Pilgrim - not all from the books, some are from convention sketches.  It generally seems to be the Scott Pilgrim ones that are most directly expressive of a simple mood, which is why there are the largest number of them, and also why they seem to give most of the post/avi coincidences that are pleasing (Shinji works quite well, too).
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: LTK on 24 Nov 2011, 07:49
Here's another prime candidate. (http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii134/LaurensK90/rats.jpg)
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Carl-E on 24 Nov 2011, 10:17
My wife asked what I was laughing at. 


It would take too long to explain...
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: pwhodges on 05 Oct 2012, 09:08
Shinji agrees with me (http://cassland.org/images/ShinjiEarplugs.jpg)
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Carl-E on 04 Jan 2013, 15:12
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8354/8347870136_a2cc3b469b_c.jpg)


And a few I've been saving for a little while...


(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8372/8346826999_f997c85261_z.jpg)

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8330/8347883868_9e64b1a9fe_c.jpg)

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8505/8346824537_781df20757_z.jpg)
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Cambyses on 04 Jan 2013, 15:42
Wait, where is the Marigold mouse avatar image from?
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: pwhodges on 04 Jan 2013, 15:48
I guess you mean this (http://jephjacques.com/post/11660127526/dj-squeekz).
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Cambyses on 04 Jan 2013, 15:50
Ah, I see, it was a Skrillex mouse. Me and my dumb eyes.
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Patrick on 04 Jan 2013, 17:34
I don't believe you, Paul. I personally think you invented AI and are using it for lulz. How do you get it to play along so well?
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Carl-E on 05 Jan 2013, 09:03
That's the beauty of a finite random set in an infinite (well, large and open ended) system.  Someone, somewhere is getting the perfect avatar for any given post! 
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Carl-E on 05 Feb 2013, 21:12
Too good to pass up...



(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8504/8449964454_bc75284023_c.jpg)


I'd vote for you, Paul! 


We get to vote for dictator, right? 
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: snalin on 06 Feb 2013, 08:41
Sure! It's voting against the dictator that's not allowed.
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: pwhodges on 07 Mar 2013, 02:32
Got a nice match myself just now:

(http://cassland.org/images/What.png)
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Loki on 17 Apr 2013, 04:20
So, I don't know for how long it has been like this, but I just got this:

(http://i.imgur.com/D4aHCxZ.png)
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Carl-E on 18 Apr 2013, 06:30
In a conversation about pastry...

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8099/8659671357_9eea83ec68_c.jpg)


Something about that face just made this a forehead slapping "D'OH!" moment for me!
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: ankhtahr on 04 Sep 2013, 13:56
Sorry to dig this thread up, but the avatar I got in the photo thread today was fitting I think:

(http://halfur.de/pic/pwhodges.png)


:mrgreen:
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Carl-E on 05 Sep 2013, 07:32
And just in time!  I got this; 

(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3786/9677539183_40224125dd_c.jpg)


I shall call him twitchy. 

 :-D
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: pwhodges on 05 Sep 2013, 10:35
For those who don't recognise him, that's Naota Nandaba from the manga version of FLCL.
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Pilchard123 on 05 Sep 2013, 12:04
I shall call him twitchy. 

And he shall be mine, and he shall be my Twitchy. Come here Twitchy! Come here little Twitchy! Come here *babble*

*zap*

OW! Bad Twitchy!
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: pwhodges on 05 Sep 2013, 12:20
Careful - you don't want Naota to get annoyed:  (http://cassland.org/images/Avatars/Naota-11.jpg)
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Carl-E on 04 Oct 2013, 18:53
Too good to pass up...

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7303/10092870646_298d24a9d3_o.png)
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Sorflakne on 04 Oct 2013, 21:02
Quote
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6227/6334948973_eee621ddbf_b.jpg
Wait, what?  Padma is supposed to be Indian??
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Carl-E on 04 Oct 2013, 23:36
Yes, the name Padma is from the Sanskrit for "Lotus". 

It's also the name of a river in Bengal. 
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Sorflakne on 05 Oct 2013, 00:12
Hm, never woulda guessed...
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: pwhodges on 10 Nov 2013, 18:55
My response to the revelation of my part in the sound engineering of the QC film had Jeph's DJ image:

(http://cassland.org/images/QC/Sound.jpg)
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Carl-E on 11 Nov 2013, 05:01
So... you're a secret DJ rat, not a secret beetle? 
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: GarandMarine on 11 Nov 2013, 05:02
DJ Squeekz layin da beetz!

Be cooler if he was a secret DJ pony though
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Pilchard123 on 16 Dec 2013, 10:49
It appears that the avatar is no longer random! D:
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Barmymoo on 16 Dec 2013, 10:53
Still seems to be random to me, it's just mostly (entirely?) anime characters now.
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Pilchard123 on 16 Dec 2013, 10:58
So it is. Must have just been caching it for some reason.
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: pwhodges on 16 Dec 2013, 14:31
There are still more Scott Pilgrim than any other single character; then Shinji Ikari (Neon Genesis Evangelion); then a load of other anime characters (and Marten), and just a few random things, including a couple of pictures of me and photos by me.  As the total is now several hundred, any particular character may take a while to come up - and the randomness of the routine I use that's built into Apache is very suspect as well.

I have in mind to reduce the number of images to about 100-120, keeping all the characters (and there are a couple more to add), but less of each.
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Loki on 30 Dec 2013, 12:54
Oh this look of scorn:

(http://i39.tinypic.com/nxrfci.png)
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: pwhodges on 20 Jan 2014, 02:58
(http://cassland.org/images/QC/ASMonster.png)
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Carl-E on 22 Jan 2014, 09:28
How meta! 

(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3832/12088969656_603aa64974_o.png)

(fixed link)
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: GarandMarine on 22 Jan 2014, 11:04
Broken link Carl
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Carl-E on 23 Jan 2014, 02:02
Oops!  thanks, Paul! 
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: bainidhe_dub on 06 Apr 2014, 08:58
Paul is looking a little burnt out..
(http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b291/bainidhedub/paul_zps8074f282.png)
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: pwhodges on 06 Apr 2014, 09:29
And that character is a cook - but I guess you knew that.
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: bainidhe_dub on 06 Apr 2014, 09:55
I didn't!  :laugh:
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: pwhodges on 06 Apr 2014, 10:26
Akito Tenkawa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Martian_Successor_Nadesico_characters) (more (http://nadesico.wikia.com/wiki/Akito_Tenkawa)).
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Detachable Felix on 06 Apr 2014, 18:47
This thread is epic, but it poses the question: Am I the only one who uses the *light* theme here?
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: jwhouk on 06 Apr 2014, 19:22
No. I use QC-light. I hate light on dark backgrounds.
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: pwhodges on 07 Apr 2014, 00:20
It's hard to tell from the figures the forum software gives me, but they suggest that 4% of active users have selected the light theme, and 2% have selected the old theme.
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Akima on 07 Apr 2014, 00:59
I use QC-light too.
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Method of Madness on 07 Apr 2014, 05:10
As do I! I almost never use another computer other than mine where I'm always logged on or Tapatalk on my phone, so on the rare occasion I do and see the standard theme before logging in I get thrown off for a second.
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: snalin on 07 Apr 2014, 09:28
The darker the background, the better. I don't need the screen to be a glaring window of super-brightness when I'm looking at it 10+ hours each day. QC light is horrendously bright.

Programmers get this - all kinds of text editors and terminals all come with white text on black backgrounds as standard or as an easy-to-find alternative. Office applications, on the other hand, insist on representing what the page will look like printed, and is a horrible, white wall of light. Dear office, I don't give a shit about how it looks like printed, I haven't printed a thing for five years, please stop!
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Barmymoo on 07 Apr 2014, 09:52
Get F.lux.
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: pwhodges on 08 Apr 2014, 06:27
Oh! the embarrassment:
(http://cassland.org/images/QC/OopsPWH.jpg)

The random magic works on another forum too: (That forum died)
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Pilchard123 on 19 Jun 2014, 14:28
(http://i.imgur.com/7DDQIIn.png)
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Carl-E on 17 Sep 2014, 16:27
Something about this one - I labeled it "demotivational" in my folder, but it's such a truism delivered with such force of attitude that - I don't know - it's a weird mix of reassurance and terror.   I just felt like it needed to be commemorated. 

(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3868/15085820119_e14fecc25a_o.png)
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Detachable Felix on 18 Sep 2014, 16:00
See, it took on a much more light-hearted look to me:
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t34.0-12/10603115_10204292957261213_1421502433_n.jpg?oh=3a9c9dd613bb21583cbc586fd32bf9c2&oe=541DF45C&__gda__=1411172017_c996fe308a7f104384e1868d47f4d758)
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Carl-E on 10 Feb 2015, 17:52
Been a while, but I couldn't resist...

(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8571/16496142602_0bb11e52d2_b.jpg)


Surely you knew it was a possibility, Paul! 

(His avatar is Shinji...)
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: SubaruStephen on 11 Feb 2015, 21:13
Makes me wonder who's on the other end of the line. :-D

(http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd334/DMCdriver/imagejpg1_zps0a42f670.jpg)
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: Masterpiece on 26 Feb 2015, 18:05
From the selfie thread: (https://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,30048.msg1306813.html#msg1306813)

(http://i.imgur.com/WPETHGR.png)
Title: Re: Random? Really?
Post by: pwhodges on 29 Apr 2020, 04:02
Although there are less avis in my rotation these days, nice coincidences can still happen:

(https://cassland.org/images/QC/glasses.jpg)