No, this isn’t my loving ode to Scott Baio and Willie Aames (that’s planned to run during the slow week between Christmas and New Years). Just a quick report that power dropped this afternoon in parts of South Austin. I squat near S. MoPac and 360 (not to be confused with the gentleman who will trade you jokes / work for your coinage), and our power cut out around 2:30. It was obviously more than just a building problem because the West-bound traffic careening downhill from 290 stuttered to a lights-on-flashing-red crawl. Not the best holiday cheer for the many would-be mall shoppers.

It proved an interesting opportunity to observe that the modern knowledge worker becomes about as useful as belly button lint when the power goes out. Our office quickly devolved into Lost-esque survivalist mode, with each drone battling internal demons while crafting shelter from our laptops and charting rescue plans on the whiteboard.

Thankfully service kicked on around 3:10 and we refrained from torturing the redneck guy. Maybe next time.