test.js

$(document).ready(function() {
    var $children = $("#tag_cloud").children("a")
    console.log($children)
    var $color_list = ['red', 'blue', 'yellow', 'green']
    for (i = 1; i < $children.length - 1; i++) {
        var $random_color = $color_list[Math.floor(Math.random()*$color_list.length)];
        $children[i].css("color", $random_color)
    }
    console.log(red);
});