gone swimmin'

[Via the Nashville Post][1], I learned that various council members and city officials plan on swimming across the river to demonstrate its improved state and cleanliness:

The Cumberland once was once considered a septic tank with undertow. For a long time, the river’s only saving grace with the EPA was that – unlike the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland – it never caught fire. The Cumberland was only removed from the agency’s environmental hazard lists in 2002.

In order to change the perception of the river, city and environmental leaders are going to take the plunge and show that the Cumberland is on the rise. While we can brag that the fickle Blue Heron is now nesting on the banks of the river, apparently the sight of city leaders in Speedos will better drive home this message. (Note to Nashville TV stations: Please DO NOT broadcast this event in HD.)

If they really wanted to change the perception of the river, they might consider removing (or eliminating the need for) signs like these at riverfront:

[Mmmmm][2]

Just sayin’.