I heard a report on the TV news recently about Tennessee being part of tornado alley. They were saying that technically, it's not. But realistically it probably should be. (That report also has some interesting Tennessee tornado facts in it.)

And here's a video report from another local TV station about Tennessee being in 'the new tornado alley'. They also say in a related report that Tennesseans are living in the NEW tornado alley.

So I dug around a little to try and find some stats about Tennessee tornadoes...

Sound appetizing to you?

I'm just checking...

Which Nashville news channel do you prefer to watch on TV in the mornings? (And for that matter... in the afternoons and evenings, too.)

I guess I have some issues with how the news is covered on local television stations. Check out my favorite (and least favorite) Nashville news channels...

I've been tagged by jvanover at Our Life Together.

I've never actually done one of these "tagging" meme things before. But I like this one. It's a good way to put a face with the person who writes a particular blog.

So for starters, that's me on the right (...the far right). On the left is my mom.

Okay, so it was 1995, and we were high on Florida sunshine and ocean air at the time. I can't think of a better explanation for why we might have felt compelled to actually let them "photograph" us like this. It was at Universal Studios in Orlando, and obviously all that is real are the faces.

Listen to Bud Light's Real Men of Genius "Mr. Centerfold Picture Retoucher":

Here's the real me in photographs...

I heard this on The Weather Channel on TV this morning...

Because of the current drought in Tennessee, the "special spring" that provides water for Jack Daniels Whiskey isn't producing much water lately.

Those who have toured the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee know about that one spring that serves as the primary source of water used to make all Jack Daniels Whiskey.

According to the National Motorists Association, the top 10 cities with speed traps are:

1. Detroit, Michigan suburbs
2. Colorado Springs, Colorado
3. Houston, Texas
4. Orlando, Florida
5. Nashville, Tennessee
6. Ann Arbor, Michigan
7. Albuquerque, New Mexico
8. Washington, D.C.
9. Denver, Colorado
10. Virginia Beach, Virginia

48% of Tennesseans polled say that they have knowingly thrown trash on the street. 1 in 5 say they do this on a regular basis."

Source

The Keep Tennessee Beautiful group and Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) recently launched StopLitter -- a new Tennessee Litter Prevention Campaign to provide education and awareness to Tennesseans.

Why Should You Care About Litter? Let Us Count The Ways:

$11,000,000. Yes, you read those zeros right. That's $11 million tax payer dollars our state spends picking up the trash Tennesseans throw down on the ground. That doesn't even count what your city pays to pick up litter in the incorporated areas.

12,000,000 miles are driven each year picking up litter in our state. Think about all the gas that is needed to fuel trucks for litter pick up.

18% of all littered items end up in our streams and waterways as pollution. That means litter in our state travels to other states and eventually ends up in the ocean.

A $1500 fine and 6 months of litter duty. That's what a second conviction for littering can land you. A first conviction in Tennessee will cost you $500 and 40 hours of community service picking up litter.