Re: [Phys-l] Is the Poisson distribution appropriate to describe the bunched arrival of shoppers at the pay point?

[John Denker <jsd@av8n.com>]

I reckon the arrival of shoppers is approximately Poisson, in the
sense that Holstein cattle are approximately black.  That makes 
sense if you think the sun rises at unpredictable times, people 
get off work at unpredictable times, weekends arrive unpredictably, 
the Christmas shopping season arrives unpredictably, and shoppers 
would never avoid shopping at times when they expect (or observe)
the place to be crowded.