MADISON, Wis. — The time has come for the computers to be booted up, the pencils sharpened and the coffee percolated. That is right, Dunder Mifflin, everybody’s favorite Scranton paper branch is back in business. To the delight of many viewers, “The Office” returned last night from its Writers’ Guild Association strike-induced hiatus.

AUSTIN, Texas — An uncle sent me a Buddy Rich video and some drumsticks for my sixth birthday. After watching Buddy navigate his drum set like a racecar driver, I knew I wanted to emulate his greatness. As a Phil Collins concert would later confirm, I had to be a drummer.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — When Josh Rupp, an integrated strategic communications junior at the University of Kentucky, jokingly decided to submit a video for an online contest, he never imagined that a few weeks later he would be on his way to New York City for an appearance on “Total Request Live.”

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — With music blaring, feet stomping and hair flying, the University of Alabama’s hip-hop dance team, Riptide, practiced Monday night in Tuscaloosa before embarking on a 16-hour drive to New York City.

MADISON, Wis. — In a time when the Internet can provide almost anything a Web surfer desires, there is one phrase knocking many off their technological wave: “This video has been removed due to terms of use violation.”

DEKALB, Ill. — Dear “Dancing with the Stars,”

You’re the biggest waste of primetime airspace in the history of ever. First, you were on British TV. Fine, I get that you want to branch out, take new opportunities and flood our airwaves with crap.