L.A. Times Site Goes Down After Earthquake Due to 'Heavy Volume'

Shortly after a magnitude-5.8 earthquake hit Los Angeles this afternoon, the L.A. Times Web site went down. Managing editor John Arthur explained in an (obviously dashed off given the circumstances) email to staff: "our website server is staggering because of heavy volume. the page actually has been updated and may load for soe people. keep refreshing."

We're talking to a few Times staffers via IM. Are people freaking out? "not so much on my floor. I was in the cafeteria and saw them filing out. they said it was 'standard,' that we had to [evacuate]. But I went back to my desk to get my cell, and everyone was here," one tapepd in. Another: "everyone is kinda joking now and getting back to work."

And now for the news!