Public Service Engineering:

Some days it just doesn't pay to get out of the virtual-reality tank. The audio streaming server had keeled over, extruding a pathetic silicone tongue, gone at the tender age of four. And the calendar software suffered a seizure--which I was able to cure--just before deleting the entire event database. So I was pacing short circles in the parking lot, muttering to myself and gesticulating, when I saw Joel, our production manager, messing with heavy equipment on his tailgate. Having nothing better to do, other than commit seppuku, I offered him a hand. But no, actually, he was jury-rigging a soundboard, a CD deck, and a set of PA speakers to run off the truck's cigarette lighter. The NCPR softball team was facing their bitter faculty rivals, and he wanted to be able to play a walk-on theme for each of our players as they stepped onto the field. The Ivory Tower Nine would discorporate with envy.