Re: Atmospheric mechanics and thermodynamics

Posted by Arlo Barnes on Sep 24, 2013; 6:24pm
URL: http://friam.383.s1.nabble.com/Atmospheric-mechanics-and-thermodynamics-tp7583222p7583867.html

In this case, I think the conceit was that the computer found the *strong correlation* between tornado damage reports and trailer parks (since that is where the threshold for damage is lower than conventional homes).

Populated areas might have been defined for the computer as 'areas with a population density above a certain threshold' to eliminate the extra load of having the computer calculate a path that also avoids that one hermit out in the middle of nowhere, the programmers being concerned mostly with cities and suburbs. The computer's solution? Eliminate "populated areas" by spreading the local population out evenly over the ground, using RV trailers as the method by which such widespread housing could be comparatively quickly/easily/cheaply established. Boom - problem solved!
That might be overanalyzing the humour, though. :P
-Arlo James Barnes

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