Hello everyone.. Please excuse the typos and hurried nature of this 
post, but I'm on a laptop connected to the Internet via a dialup 
connection, and power is running low!

I was at my PC at work yesterday when the power went out. My mate and 
brother work in the same building.. so we were all together again as 
we were on 9-11.

I helped evacuate my building.. toured the floors and made sure 
everything was secure. I tried to get access to information but 
couldn't find any battery operated radios/tvs.. so made do with 
rumors floating around. Most phone lines were out, but I did find one 
working and starting to make some phone calls. Turned out the power 
outage was widespread - Westham to Edminton as far as I could tell.

I had my Treamcast with me and decided to let my brother play it on 
the way home.. it's an 18+ mile drive through 90+ degree heat and 
humidity.. and I didn't want to him to have to suffer in bordom. We 
plugged the Treamcast into the cigarette lighter and and hey presto, 
gaming goodness for us all. My brother and I loaded up with water 
bottles and misc. supplies.. and we mounted the heavier stuff in the 
boot of the car. That made the long drive a lot easier for sure.

After everything was secured and locked down at work, we headed out 
and were mindful of assisting anyone who looked to need help. We 
found one couple.. a man and woman.. along the way.. The wife was 
hyperventilating and looked like she was about to pass out. She was 
unresponsive to questions.. so we quickly placed cosmic smash in the 
drive and booted it up. I drove around in search of paramedics.. 
which I did find about 1/2 mile ahead. Luckily the chilled visuals on 
this Sega rosso gem had worked their charm and the lady was feeling 
much better.

I directed the paramedics to the woman..  I gently weened her of the 
game as teh paramedics pumped her full of drugs. We stayed for 
another 10 mins as she demanded another go while they got her on a 
stretcher before gettign all worked up again when we took it from her 
(my brother wanted to play Rez).. If they had Treamcasts, they could 
have responded in the correct manor, as the woman was starting on 
some drug filled rage.. We then proceeded North towards our 
destination

We met up with a reporter on the Tower bridge.. he asked us about the 
Treamcast. This made the morning's Metro.. something like -
 "Dreamcasts in portablish console shocker!.."

I estimate we traveled with at least 1/2 million people on the way.. 
Lots of comments from people unable to play many sega classics on the 
move either offering to buy the Treamcast off us.. or wishing they 
had one.. or smiles and thumbs up.. the majority sentiment 
being "That's the way to go." and "Boy, Why did the dreamcast have to 
die?"

Even I was getting a little "jealous" of my brother.. wishing I could 
play F355 whist slowly driveing home.. so we're really gonna have to 
get that second Treamcast ASAP.. :-)

When we got home.. My brother had got onto the third disc of Shenmue, 
we traveled about for 3hrs..

My brother and I were exhausted. I was wearing a Sega t-Shirt and 
sonic slippers and felt fine. My brothers hands were sore.. swollen.. 
etc.. and his eyers were a bit stingy, but his gameing chi was 
overflowing.

So I'm here at my house.. no power yet.. but we've got reports of 
power being restored in other parts of london town as of 9pm GMT. 
Hopefully things will return to normal soon.. and I'll catch you all 
then.

I have some photos to post as well.. of PS2 looozers looking at it 
with envious eyes. I'll post them here when I can.

I hope everyone else is well and hope to hear your stories as well.

Did the Treamcast come in handy for anyone during this blackout?

Regards,

S. E. Garules

Hello everyone.. Please excuse the typos and hurried nature of this
post, but I'm on a laptop connected to the Internet via a dialup
connection, and power is running low!

I was at my PC at work yesterday when the power went out. My wife and
brother work in the same building.. so we were all together again as we
were on 9-11.

I helped evacuate my building.. toured the floors and made sure
everything was secure. I tried to get access to information but couldn't
find any battery operated radios/tvs.. so made do with rumors floating
around. Most phone lines were out, but I did find one working and
starting to make some phone calls. Turned out the power outage was
widespread - east coast as far as I could tell. I had pt's phone number
handy so gave him a ring.. he gave me a pretty good idea of our
situation from his west coast vantage point.

I had my Segway HT with me and decided to let Azeeza ride it home.. it's
an 8+ mile walk through 90+ degree heat and humidity.. and I didn't want
to put her through that. My brother and I loaded up with water bottles
and misc. supplies.. and we mounted the heavier stuff on the Seg's
handlebars (we put a backpack on top of the front bag and secured it
down.) That made the long walk a lot easier for sure.

After everything was secured and locked down at work, we headed out and
were mindful of assisting anyone who looked to need help. We found one
couple.. a man and woman.. along the way.. The wife was hyperventilating
and looked like she was about to pass out. She was unresponsive to
questions.. so we took some water and poured it over her face.. while my
brother began to fan her. I jumped on my Segway and sped ahead in search
of paramedics.. which I did find about 1/2 mile ahead.

I directed the paramedics to the woman.. If they had Segs, they could
have responded even sooner.. So I went a little slower while they ran
with their equipment to the woman. We stayed for another 10 mins while
they got her on a stretcher.. and then proceeded South towards out
destination - my folk's home in Brooklyn.

We met up with a reporter on the Manhattan bridge.. he asked us about
the Segway. This made the morning's Daily News.. something like - "Frank
Tropea lends his Segway to his wife Azeeza, as they made their 8 mile
trek home to Bay Ridge Brooklyn."

I estimate we traveled with at least 1/2 million people on the way..
Lots of comments from exhausted people either offering to buy the Segway
off us.. or wishing they had one.. or smiles and thumbs up.. the
majority sentiment being "That's the way to go." and "Boy, every New
Yorker should have one of those."

Even I was getting a little "jealous" of my wife.. wishing I could get
home a little faster.. so we're really gonna have to get that second Seg
ASAP.. :-)

When we got home.. she had 2 bars left of power.. (we didn't start with
a full charge).. traveled about 8+ miles..

My brother and I were exhausted. I was wearing new dress shoes and dress
clothes (had a big budget presentation earlier in the day) and my feet
were sore.. swollen.. etc.. My bro was tired as well.

So I'm here at my folks.. no power yet.. but we've got reports of power
being restored in other parts of the city as of 5PM EST. Hopefully
things will return to normal soon.. and I'll catch you all then.

I have some photos to post as well.. of Azeeza Segging amongst the
thousdands of NY'ers evacuating the city yesterday. I'll post them here
when I can.

I hope everyone else is well and hope to hear your stories as well.

Did the Seg come in handy for anyone during this blackout?

Regards,

Frank A. Tropea