DON’T SWERVE — HIT THE DEER _ White-tailed deer are the deadliest animals in North America. Every year an estimated 1.25 million deer-vehicle crashes result in about 150 human fatalities, more than 10,000 injuries, and insurance payouts approaching $4 billion. A few years ago a writer for Slate.com hung out with a Wisconsin state trooper for a day and came away with this advice: If there’s a deer in the road, hit it. The trooper explained: “Cars can be fixed or replaced. As long as no one’s tailgating you, hit the brakes. But if you can’t do that, then hit the deer.” Another trooper tip: “Adjust your headrest so it’s at the right height to prevent whiplash. You’d be surprised how many people just leave them shoved all the way down. Maintain your lights, brakes, and tires so you can see, be seen, and stop. Wear your seat belt, don’t tailgate, and slow down. And when you’re driving, drive. At deer crashes, and at a lot of other crashes, too, the number one excuse I hear is ‘I wasn’t paying attention.’”
TEENAGER TEXTS PART 1 _ (Part 2 on January 9) Comedian and author Tom Leighton collects texts sent to him by his teens. And he has his social media followers share the texts their teens have sent them. A few times a year Tom delivers a roundup up the latest teen texts.
• I tried a cologne at the store I want for Christmas. The brand is called Tester
• What are the peppermint sticks at Christmas called? Shaped like a cane?
• Can my Christmas present be ordering Chipotle right now?
• It seems like Thanksgiving is on Thursday a lot.
• Can I use a Christmas stamp to mail something in July?
• Did grandma have kids?
THIS IS THE MOST POPULAR DISNEY TATTOO _ Based on social media posts which include images, these are the top five Disney tattoos:
5. Lilo and Stitch
4. The Little Mermaid
3. Mickey Mouse
2. The Lion King
1. Alice in Wonderland
