10:30
The power is out. Apparently the construction workers putting up a building across the street did something bad. Georgia Power has advised that it will be about a half hour before power is restored. In the words of our receptionist who relayed the message "...but you know how that goes."

The handful of us with laptops are good until our batteries go down, so I've launched every program on the PC and turned the screen brightness up to max.

12:15
The network finally went down. UPS units on the web servers are only good for so long. This means I no longer have anything productive to do. It also means I'm typing this in Notepad and will be uploading it later.

12:45
Lights are back on. Still no cube power so nobody with desktops can do anything. No network means I'm still playing FreeCell.

1:05
The network lives! No cube power. Two hours remaining on my laptop battery.
Time for blogreading? Heh.

1:10
People keep coming by my cube staring at my laptop covetously. It is dangerous to be among a hundred nerds who are cut off from the internet. I keep getting visions of Lord of the Flies where I'm Piggy and they want my glasses.

(Continued in the Extended Entry)

1:15
I've been invited out for a smoke. I'm locking the laptop. If I don't post within 15 minutes please call the authorities and have them send Blackberrys.

1:25
The pen I placed on the mouse cord has been moved. The alpha nerd and two of his cronies hover like vultures. They make overtures of friendship. No thank you, sirs. I do not wish to play "Jenga". Now begone!

1:45
Most of the tribe has grown discouraged and many have left. The ones who remain prowl like sharks in the surf.

1:55
The power is back on! We're saved! It is curiously quiet now as the few remaining nerds clack merrily away at their keyboards, resubmerging into their digital worlds. The discordant peeps of the UPS units, like so many chicks in a rookery begging for masticated worms, have gone silent.

We have learned important things today. First, the elevators are on the generator so you won't get stuck in them if the power goes out. The call buttons no longer work but the command buttons inside them do. If you happen to find yourself in an elevator when the power goes out you can probably make some serious cash as an elevator operator because the lazy bastards here absolutely loathe stairs.

Secondly, there are three offices that retain power when the juice goes out.
Bring the microwaves out of the break room and install them in these offices so the life-sustaining flow of pop-corn can be maintained.

Lastly, the carry laws in Georgia must be examined carefully. Internet deprived nerds are not to be trifled with and some protection is in order.