This was a message sent to me today by correspondent Professor 17 who lives in Ontario, Canada:

-----Original Message-----
From: Professor 17
Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2004 11:45 AM
To:
Subject: If you have to stop do so to pee.

I am venturing into uncharted waters here. I would like to announce that I
am boycotting a state of the union. For those of you who care to read on I
would like to confirm that I am officially boycotting the state of OHIO.
Why? It is the only state that borders a lake that borders Ontario that
voted for George Bush. See link below:

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/electoral.college/index.html

From now to the date of the next election I hereby refuse to spend a single
dollar in Ohio and would encourage you to do the same.

When I drive to Florida this winter I will be sure to top up my tank of gas
in Michigan in hopes that I may drive right on thru the buckeye state. If
for some reason I am forced to stop the reason will be in the form of an
emergency. If I stop in Ohio, I will do so to pee, knowing that the local
taxpayers are paying a fee to cleanse my (out of state) urine into their
drinking water.

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo/oh.htm or
http://ohioline.osu.edu/aex-fact/0423.html

I know that some of you may be concerned about the effect a ban may have on
your favourite professional sports team. My question to you is why? Here
is a list of what Ohio has to offer:

Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati
Bengals, Columbus Blue Jackets, Cincinnati Reds

Trust me you won't be missing much. Please reference the rankings of
Cincinnati’s and Cleveland’s Pro Sports Teams at the following link:
http://espn.go.com/page2/s/cityrankings/2003.html

The wonderful people of Ohio also voted in favour of a constitutional
amendment banning gay marriage and civil unions
http://www.wcpo.com/news/2004/local/11/02/issue_one.html. It was already
illegal for christ sakes. That means that religious lunatics were so
worried about homosexuals getting married that they amended the constitution
just in case an uppity judge got forward thinkin. How in the hell was this
state deemed fit to house something like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

Please think of me and my cause and if you must stop do so to pee.

Regards,
17