The United States of Orange

Unity. It's a word we heard a lot during the presidential election and we're bound to hear it a lot more in the coming years. Hopefully, political rhetoric will become social reality in our nation.

Fortunately, we the people of the Orange Nation know what being united means. We came together as UT's greatest quarterback ever, Tee Martin, led the Vols to a 13-0 and undisputed, unchallengeable national championship in 1998. Today we are united in hope and enthusiasm as Lane Kiffin builds a football team worthy of leading these United States of Orange.

Let us dwell in unity by gazing up on this totally badass van operated by United Electric Company of Jacksonville. I spotted it this month (January, 2009) in the San Marco area of Jacksonville. It's high-vibrating hue cut through the mist of a gray, rainy day and drew me right to it. Seeing it brought cheer to an otherwise gloomy day.

Jeff

PS -- if you're wondering why the bottom image looks more like the light red of Florida, it's because I shot that image through the tinted window of my SUV. Rest assured the top image, with its mood-enhancing Volunteer Orange, is what it really looked like.