March 17, 2012

  • A Logistical Nightmare

    Problem:
    We begin with four points, at 18:30 last evening. The points are labeled EAR, CodeNinja, Discord, and wobster109. At 18:30, all four points are in the Davenport dining hall. EAR has a card with access to JE. CodeNinja's accesses Morse, and wobster109's grants entrance to Davenport. EAR wants to walk as little as possible. All three cards can access the Zoo. At the end of the night, each card must be returned to its owner.

    EAR, CodeNinja, and Discord want to spend the evening playing board games in Davenport, but CodeNinja first needs to retrieve the board games from JE. Meanwhile, wobster109 wants to be in the Zoo from 19:20 to 21:00, and after that she wants to study from the Representation of Finite Groups text. However, wobster109's computer is broken, and the text is a .djvu file. Wobster109 cannot install the reader on the Zoo computers, and therefore has been studying from Discord's computer. At the end of the night, Discord, and wobster109 want to be in Davenport, but CodeNinja is leaving for Boston. EAR has an injured foot and is reluctant to climb to her third-floor room in JE without CodeNinja's help.

    Solution 1:
    EAR spends the night in Davenport, in wobster109's first-floor room. CodeNinja takes EAR's card and wobster109's card, and wobster109 takes CodeNinja's card. Now, CodeNinja can use EAR's card to get the board games and use wobster109's card to return to Davenport, while wobster109 can access the Zoo. Afterwards, wobster109 will return to Davenport, where cards will be returned. CodeNinja goes to Boston, and wobster109 studies on Discord's computer.

    However, a problem arises:
    Discord would like to study also and needs his computer. He prefers to study in the Zoo.

    Solution 2:
    Discord and wobster109 convert the Representation text to pdf, which wobster109 then emails to herself. Discord plans to join wobster109 in the Zoo after board games are played. Discord will call wobster109 to be let into the Zoo. Discord and wobster109 will stay in the Zoo until late. EAR takes wobster109's card and uses it to access Davenport until Discord and wobster109 return.

    But this causes a whole new conundrum:
    CodeNinja and wobster109 are not likely to meet again before CodeNinja leaves for Boston, and so cards cannot be re-exchanged.

    Now, it is 19:00. Discord, and wobster109 are in wobster109's room. EAR and CodeNinja are presumed to be in the Davenport common room. CodeNinja has EAR's card and wobster109's card, and wobster109 has CodeNinja's card. And then:

    wobster109: "I won't get back in time to return CodeNinja's card."
    Discord: "Then take your card."
    wobster109: "But EAR needs my card to get into the room afterwards."
    Discord: "Then take EAR's card."
    wobster109: "But CodeNinja needs EAR's card to get the board games from JE!"
    Discord: "Oh. . . " [sigh]
    wobster109: "Oh bother?"
    Discord: "There are too many constraints."

    So wobster109 runs off to consult EAR and CodeNinja.

    Solution 3:
    CodeNinja has already left to retrieve board games. Wobster109 waits until CodeNinja returns. CodeNinja reclaims his card, EAR takes wobster109's card, and wobster109 takes EAR's card. Discord packs his computer bag. After board games, EAR returns to wobster109's room, while Discord heads to the Zoo and calls wobster109 to be let in. Discord and wobster109 return late at night.

    Unforeseen problem: Discord and wobster109 are likely to return after EAR has gone to bed, and will have a hard time getting back into wobster109's room.

    Smaller problem: It is discovered after wobster109 leaves that she forgot to bring EAR something from the room.

    Small patch: Discord takes wobster109's card to return to her room where he fetches EAR's ibuprofen.

    And what happened after: Board games took much longer than anticipated. Board games are finished around 2:00, and by then, wobster109 is nearly ready to return. Discord decides to remain in Davenport. Wobster109 calls Discord to be let into Davenport. Cards are re-exchanged.