The number of tornadoes in 2008 is getting quite a bit of attention in mass media outlets.  It may rank among the most active years on record.  I have written a series of essays explaining what aspects of the near record number of tornadoes in 2008 are meaningful and how the record relates to climate change.  Part 1 explains that to say that it is a record year is not all that informative given the way tornadoes are counted.