# File lib/glue/string.rb, line 190
        def self.random(max_length = 8, char_re = /[\w\d]/)
    # gmosx: this is a nice example of input parameter checking.
                # this is NOT a real time called method so we can add this
                # check. Congrats to the author.
                raise ArgumentError.new("char_re must be a regular expression!") unless char_re.is_a?(Regexp)
                
                string = ""

                while string.length < max_length
                                ch = rand(255).chr
                                string << ch if ch =~ char_re
                end

                return string
        end