The A2 Fuck You

[branchandroot]

I am increasingly amused by the development of the Great Illuminations War, in this city. I mean, initially they were pretty limited to about five blocks of Main St., and only slowly climbing up the cross-streets.

And then the city passed an anti-light-pollution mandate of “holiday displays can’t be up for more than 90 days” and the response of downtown appears to be along the lines of “Well, if you’re going to be that way about it…”

The illuminations this year reach east and west of Main for about five blocks on Huron, Liberty, and Washington. Liberty goes all the way up to State St. Almost the entire of downtown is now lit up, and about a third of the businesses have put up outside lights or water-fall strings on their front windows, which used to be fairly rare outside of Main itself.

It’s beautiful, and reconciles me considerably to the existence of Michigan Winter with its over-sixteen-hours-of-darkness. I’m just entertained by the extremely Midwest nature of this little contest.

Comments

[batrachian]

Malicious compliance. Love it.

[branchandroot]

It totally is. Just like my neighbor who has two /enormous/ pine trees that they keep lit year round (which is always lovely to come home to, in the dark). They've started turning the trees off... for one week. And then they have another 90 days! Technically.