Rain, Rain, Go Away

I almost got struck by lightning today. I was walking down Green St. at the outset of today’s storm, when all the hairs on my body began to stand on end. Then, POW!, lightning hit something on the block (not sure exactly where it arced to). It was bright and sudden, and I had a definite flashback to being hit with IEDs in Iraq.

I walked a little faster the rest of the way home.

In other news, tomorrow is “Unofficial”, the not-quite-St.-Pat’s celebration held annually here in Chambana and heavily sponsored by the campus bars. Unfortunatly, Chancellor Hermann, as part of his continued crusade against anything that might make UIUC at all unique from the next politically correct institution of higher “education” (see the Anti-Chief ruling), has spearheaded an effort to stop Unofficial. He even seems to think he has the authority to do so.

Lobbying on his part and on the part of other Uni bigwigs has lead the Champaign city council to pass what I consider to be ill-considered, if not downright illegal, laws, giving the Mayor a sort of “emergency powers”. It has been mandated that bars are not allowed to sell shots or pitchers tomorrow. None. Explain to me again how it’s the business of the local goverment what perfectly legal beverages are sold at these establishments.

I wasn’t even planning to celebrate Unofficial this year, but now I’m going to make a point of getting a little tipsy.