In This Episode:

• 4 January 2009: Shutdown Bulletin #1

The news of the Domination of Eiler evacuation of South Lansing-Michigan is spreading. The neighborhood association suspected this was coming, but found out yesterday. The association is now figuring out what to do without that one additional volunteer to hold office, volunteers being scarce enough already. The Domination Guard engineering force will abandon the post of "Acting Secretary" but still hold the post of "web maintainer" even after leaving town - assuming the association doesn't just dissolve due to lack of volunteers.

The local Baptists have a more vigorous secretary than the neighborhood association has, and are already planning a closing ceremony. The Dominator hopes it will be in the boring old library with a bunch of books and maybe some pastries, not in the basement with a bunch of other people's kids and a potluck lunch.

People are already helpfully suggesting, "You could stay in South Lansing until you get a new job." Indeed it seems a good place to survive, assuming one has vigilant and well-armed neighbors to scare off the thieves. But they're not talking to an average unemployed person; they're talking to the Domination of Eiler, whose business model embraces mobility.

• Part of that model is to stow the household gear and be immediately ready to move anywhere - even the long-awaited goal of Alaska.
• Another part of that model will now be to hold out for a job which might pay more than in South Lansing. Admittedly the Dominator worked there for the price of a junior engineer, and lived like a king. Or more accurately, a Dominator. But still, it's satisfying for an engineer to cost more than a taxi ride per hour.
• And not even Baptists can argue with the concept of leaving town to visit one's sickly sister. Though she lives in Connecticut, this year everyplace in North Eilerania (the continent formerly known as North America) might be on the way to anywhere else. Gasoline is once again cheap enough, even if only briefly.

The Domination of Eiler's goal is, of course, world domination. 2009 could actually be an ideal year for this, due to the Domination's extensive preparation for exactly this situation. All hail the Domination - and glory to the One Maker who seems to be not undermining this plan.