Attention Animal Lovers, Part II

An online petition needs your attention. It is a plea to officials ordering the mandatory evacuation of New Orleans, demanding that they ensure that all animals are included in these actions.

To sign the petition, click here.

Keep Up the Good Work, C-U

This country’s outpouring of generosity toward the victims of Hurricane Katrina seemingly knows no bounds, and the good people of Champaign-Urbana are no exception. Here’s a look at what folks are doing around here to raise money:

– A bunch of bars downtown have united for a bar crawl Thursday night. (Somehow I think this is inappropriately appropriate, at least for the relief going to help the people of New Orleans, a city known for its ability to party.)

–One of the coolest stores around, Hot Diggity!, will be donating a portion of its sales during the entire month of September.

–Volunteers collected around $18,000 from fans at Memorial Stadium. Perhaps the stunning overtime football victory encouraged them to lighten their wallets, at least those who didn’t leave at halftime. Volunteers will be at Memorial Stadium again this Saturday, hoping to surpass last week’s tally.

–A bunch of local radio stations will be camped out on Wednesday (Sept. 7) in the parking lot of K’s Merchandise in Champaign accepting donations.

–The Champaign County Humane Society has links on its websites to animal rescue organizations, but no word if the shelter will be taking in any displaced animals. If anyone has any information on this, please post.

The Last Weekend of Summer

Another random list:

• Don’t forget that you will need to change the channel to catch that rerun of Lost on Wednesday night. The big ABC/NBC network switch happens on Monday. Noticed that WAND has a slick new set for its news broadcasts. My TiVo is confused already.

• Speaking of Lost, the first season DVD comes out on Monday. That’s great for people like me who made the series their summer show. Only problem is that there were so many episodes, they’ve had to skip a few. I want to go back and fill in the blanks so I’m ready for Sept. 21, when the series makes its debut for the second season. (Oh, and lbotp favorite Nip/Tuck returns on Sept. 20. That should be a fun week.)

• With no disrespect intended towards Urbana, we’re headed to the real Sweet Corn Festival this weekend — the National Sweet Corn Festival in Hoopeston.

• Anyone wanna guess how many people will actually show up to Memorial Stadium this weekend for Ron Zook’s big debut as our $1 million man? I heard earlier this week that the University was loathe to give out projected attendance figures — never a good sign. Bet all you University of Illinois employees will do your part to help out the cause with your two free tickets. Something tells me you won’t have much luck scalping them.

• Today’s DI story about Panera’s “disappearance” from campus is (unintentionally) hilarious. It also seems to imply that Panera moved from campus to the new mall-area location, although that store has been in the works for over a year. These people who run the place seem to have a new story every time they are interviewed. It’s quite silly — whatever happened to the notion that they were still looking for a campus location? Anyway, the closure of the John St. storefront was rumored since last year.
  

The Tipping Point

Just when you think everything’s gone to hell in the world, along comes a breath of fresh air.

I happened to be at the Espresso Royale near Windsor and Duncan this morning, getting a cold drink to start the day. Only, I wasn’t allowed to buy it. A casually dressed man, probably in his late 40s, came in and told everyone around who would listen that he would buy their drinks. That way, he said, he could break his $10 bill and have more money to tip the workers there.

The women behind the counter said this guy does stuff like that every morning, buying drinks for other people and giving them beyond generous tips. I didn’t get a good look at the guy behind his sunglasses, but whoever you are, thanks for brightening the day — and restoring a little bit of faith in humanity.