June 11: You can blame this one on Mother Nature.

Setting - A lonely old diner, sometime in the distant future. Outside it rains. An old man sits alone at the bar. A young business traveler enters.

Youngster: Wow, it's really coming down out there. I had to pull off the road, let it pass.
Geezer: Ha, you think this is a story do ye. You've never seen a storm young'un. Let me tell ye about one of the greatest storms I ever did see...
Youngster: Actually, sir, I'd rather you di-
Geezer: It was back in the summer of, oh, I believe it was 'Ot 9. 'Twas a day like any other. Until the rains came. You could see it darkening in the distance. The horizon warned of a gale not often seen in these parts. And it delivered on its word. When the sirens sounded we knew it was a-comin' this way. But this had o'course happened before, so we worried not. But soon the sky became dark as the dead o' night. Right after we brought the dog safely into shelter the rains began. First a drizzle. Then a steady shower. And then a downpour. Sheets and sheets of water. And the wind. Lord Almighty, the wind! It howled louder than a pack o' wolves. The weatherman spoke of it ripping up 100 year old oak trees. Oh, how it blew!
Youngster: Wow, that sounds like quite a storm. Now I real-
Geezer: 'Twasn't 20 minutes later that the power did begin to flicker. Just on and off at first. But then the big one hit. No electricity at all. And meanwhile the storm raged. The rain fell. The wind blew. The Ranger game was canceled. But it didn't matter, for we were not destined to watch any more TV that night anyway. The electricity was gone, and it seemed as if it would never return. It did eventually, but it was over 6 hours later. 6 hours! 'Twas a boring night. Phones were dead. Computers inaccessible. Everything entertaining needed a plug! Perhaps the greatest travesty was that it prevented the posting of my question. My fan's tears fell like the rain outside. A sad day indeed! But, yes... that, son, was a storm.
Youngster: Hmm... What do you mean "posting of a question"?
Geezer: You are too nosy, sonny Jim. Can't an old man sit in peace? Go away!
Youngster: But you-
Geezer: You heard me! Skedaddle!
*Young business traveler goes to the other side of the diner*
Geezer: Dad blame young'uns, always buttin' inta other people's business. Probably uses chatspeak like the rest of 'em...