Gridlock on roads going West

The EBS has reported tons of angry, frightened and panicking people trying to drive away from the Zone.

[...]

People heading in?

According to the CBC, tons of people have been heading towards the Zone!

[...]

What's Really Going On?

I've been plugged into the news all day, but every service seems to have the same nothings to say. "We can't offer aid," "We are offering aid," and the same bulletin from the government that's been everywhere since this morning.

The situation that began on Monday the second in or around the capitol is serious, but not grim. People in the surrounding area should take preventive measures to ensure their own safety in the event of power or water failures. It is not known exactly what is occurring inside the ‘dead zone,’ but loss of utilities is likely.

To citizens further away, please do not head towards the ‘dead zone.’ Do your best to maintain normalcy as much as possible, and hopefully the situation will be resolved shortly.

To the world community, offers of aid are appreciated but not being accepted at this time: this is an internal issue and is being handled accordingly.

Efforts to quarantine the area are underway. Please do not interfere with military personnel in your area. Thank you.

I found this CBCNews article and even this EBSNews article with barely any information. Apparently the authorities are only accepting help from internal sources. We're too good for assistance from Europe I guess?

I'm confused about what's really going on. Nothing I've read has described the Zone in any detail (which, I suppose, is appropriate. Since they probably don't know either). But the implication that they're quarantining this area, that they're reacting potentially violently to what they don't understand at all is really concerning. I want to know more details before I block anyone from coming out or people from going in to help.

...

Can’t sleep. Worried about Jeremy. Worried about all my friends East of anywhere… I tried to be productive and now I’m just lying in bed. Did I have something interesting to say? Don’t remember… Tired…

Sleep Deprivation

I probably mention this a lot, but Organic Chemistry sucks.

Except when it doesn't.

East

I was reading on CBCNews and found this article. Kinda weird, right? A definite non-explanation for why I haven't heard from Jeremy since Sunday; nobody's heard anything from anybody.

Maybe I've seen too many zombie movies, but I can't help but imagine the obligatory scene where most everyone is 'infected' but out of sight, and the main dudeman wanders around totally oblivious. Even though the streets are empty, and everyone watching knows something's not right...

But that's probably just being dramatic. There's some explanation; maybe some physics students were being overzealous with experiments involving an EMP device. That might explain the lack of communication initially, anyway. Doesn't really speak to why nobody has come out. But it's not really my place to worry about it. I have other things to focus on: regardless of activities in the East, school hasn't been closed, so I've got to finish my Chemistry paper.

After the Show

Aha! Here's the first one he sent after he got added to his research group:

Excellent news my friend!! I was added to the research team of Doctor Blume! Apparently it's pretty rare to be added in the middle of an academic term, but one of his students dropped out and he said he needed a full team. I tried to find out a little more about what happened to the last guy, but everyone always changes the subject when I bring it up. I guess it's a sensitive subject? Maybe he was stealing glassware or something, haha..

Anyways, Doctor Blume told us not to discuss at length what we're working on, but I can trust you, right? You're not gonna post this on the Internet, right? [Sensitive data omitted because I'm such a nice friend...] ...

Anyway, when he does choose to be detailed it's too technical for me to decipher anyways.

Alone in the Booth pt. 2

Jeremy finally sent a message! But it's a little weird. Here's what his message said:

Got some not-so-great results back. Could mean a significant setback for the entire project. They might keep us in the lab for the next day or so, even, as a preventive countermeasure, which would suck... I'll let you know what's going on if I can, but it might not be possible to access a computer for awhile.

Yeah, now they're saying we need to stop and get off now. Uhm, later!

So... Not really sure what that's all about, but I'm choosing not to worry at present. It's not uncommon for him to be overly dramatic about his research, and this was a prime example of the vague hints he gives me. I'm about to walk home; maybe when I get back I'll try to find an older message.

Finishing the show with a nice mellow one, Hawkwind - Hurry On Sundown

Alone in the Booth

Jeremy hasn't sent me any update on his work at American University's Biotech program for over a week! I look forward to his notes, regardless of their brevity: it's interesting to get insight into what his team is working on, even if he can't share everything. He usually tells me, at least, how his diagnostic tests go... I think he gets bored waiting on results at all hours of the day and night (my own research participation would back that up. The lab is pretty lonely at four am). Anyway, that'd explain why I get his messages around when I'm heading to bed: he's probably sending them from the lab. At three in the morning.

My sister hasn't updated her blog in months! I guess she's busy with school and work, but doesn't she realize that her sole purpose in life is to entertain me while I'm doing my radio show? What else am I supposed to do up here in the booth but catch up on my friends' lives?

But it's all okay, because I get to listen to excellent music. Even if I'm lonely, I have Family to keep me company:



More as it happens.