static int 
get_random_num(int min, int max)
{
  // returns roughly uniform distribution. lowest number returned is min+1, and highest
  // number returned is max -1.
  //
  // NOTE: doesn't work well with small ranges -- so instead of get_random_num(-1,5), try
  //     get_random_num(-1,1000) % 5
  int the_num;
  
  do {
    the_num = min + (int)(((PerfGetCycleCount() & 65535) / 65535.0) * (max - min));
  } while ((the_num == min) || (the_num == max));
  return  the_num;
}