Snow and lightning.

It's pouring snow here in Madison, Wisconsin, and I'm worrying about holding class this afternoon. Every time I turn to look out the window, it's snowing harder. And now, just then, lightning flashes. Thunder. Crazy weather!

I'm most worried that all the junk I put out by the curb last night is not going to be seen and therefore not picked up. I went out there with a broom to try to sweep the snow off the lower lying junk items that were most in danger of getting swallowed up by the white. I'll need to re-sweep soon enough.

Should I cancel my 1:20 class today? Never once in the 20 years I've been teaching up here in the north have I cancelled a class for snow. I'm sending out a message to my class email list, asking the students what we ought to do. There's all this snow. But there's also the Independent and Adequate State Ground Doctrine.

UPDATE: I did send out an email, at 9:20 am, cancelling my afternoon class. Lest you think I'm a slacker, the University later cancelled all classes, saying: "Cancellation of classes is a move rarely used at the university. The last time classes were cancelled was in December 1990, when more than 17 inches of snow fell in a 24-hour period."