All 50 States, Ranked and Filed.
It’s tough coming up with poll ideas that will actually get people interested enough to vote. Can I get a little help here? Email your suggestions to reviews@burnsidewriterscollective.com.
We had plenty of responses to the 50 States poll, though. I regret to inform you California has been crowned number one, but it had its detractors, like James Gamble, who said, “Everything costs more. Plus, it smells like mushrooms and everyone looks like they want to hurt me. And they elected a guy who once played a pregnant man.”
Burnside readers also enjoy warmer climes, with Florida coming in second. Oregon, thankfully, comes in right behind. The biggest surprise was how many people loved Kansas. Kansas! We feel bad about ranking it last, so we thought we’d show a beautiful picture of somewhere in North Dakota. Enjoy!
Thanks, as always, to everyone who voted. Our next poll? We’re going back to the basis of our first poll. We want you to rank the Radiohead albums in order, from best to worst. Send your list here.
1. California
2. Florida
3. Oregon
4. North Carolina - “Mountains, the coast, fall foliage, quaint small towns, liberals and conservatives, southern hospitality…what’s not to love. Asheville may be one of the coolest towns in the world.”
5. Colorado
6. Texas - “Whenever I travel internationally and someone asks where I am from, I never say that I’m American - I tell them I’m a Texan. Their faces light up and they make pistols with their hands and yell, “Cowboy! Pow! Pow!”
7. New York
8. Tennessee
9. Washington
10. Massachusets
11. Utah - “Hot BYU co-eds - UTAHSOME!”
12. Georgia
13. Pennsylvania - “If I were a state, I would want Pennsylvania to be my friend. I don’t know why, but it seems like one of the “cool states.” It knows what it is.”
14. Vermont
15. Illinois
16. Kansas - “I must qualify this by saying that Kansas is only a great state if your car’s alignment is not off.”
17. Maine
18. Arizona
19. South Carolina
20. Idaho
21. Alaska
22. Kentucky
23. Alabama - “The once and futuere capital of the confedarcy. Oops did I typte that?” (sic)
24. Wisconsin
25. Oklahoma
26. West Virginia
27. Montana
28. Arkansas
29. Ohio
30. Minnesota
31. Mississippi
32. Michigan
33. Maryland
34. Indiana
35. Nevada - “What every country needs - a moral black hole. Yea! Bring the kids!”
36. New Mexico
37. South Dakota
38. Hawaii
39. Louisiana
40. Wyoming
41. Virginia
42. New Hampshire
43. Missouri
44. Connecticut
45. Delaware
46. Iowa
47. Rhode Island
48. Nebraska
49. New Jersey - “Some Garden state this is. I see no reason whatsoever to get excited about New Jersey.”
50. North Dakota - “Remember all that pretentious crap about changing their name to just “Dakota” to sound less cold? Yeah, we haven’t forgotten…’Dakota.’”
Posted on December 1, 2006 12:00 AM
Comments
I demand a recount!! Ohio comes in as number 7 and 29, while New York doesn't place at all?? Plus, New Jersey should be way higher up on the list. Come on, people -- it's all about the malls, the diners, the shore, Bon Jovi....
Posted by: Stephanie Nikolopoulos | December 1, 2006 7:37 AM
Did I really spell type typte? And if so, couldn't you have just corrected it and not used the (sic)? Or are you trying to make a statement about the educational system in Alabama?
Oh, and you left Denver off the list.
Posted by: Chad Gibbs | December 1, 2006 12:07 PM
Kentucky got ripped off..How in the world can it finish behind Kansas, Idaho, and Alaska? C'MON!
P.S. I think Ohio cheated...
Posted by: Zach Ferguson | December 1, 2006 2:39 PM
Ohio should be last as well as second-to last.
Posted by: Jayson | December 1, 2006 2:47 PM
Good call putting NC (my home state) so high on the list. It is a very underrated state. I was surprised to find Florida at #2, though. What has it got going for it besides the beach?
Posted by: John Adams | December 1, 2006 6:29 PM
Iowa #46?! I got news for you, BWC! The great state of Iowa is not only the proud birthplace of Herbert Hoover, Donna Reed, William Buffalo Bill Cody, and yours truly, but has also provided the fertile breeding ground for countless agricultural soy bean technologies which have- oh you're right. Dang it!
Posted by: Aaron Donley | December 1, 2006 8:49 PM
Since when did Sufjan Stevens take over BWC?
Posted by: steve | December 3, 2006 9:23 PM
I want to meet whomever left the comment about BYU co-eds being UTAHSOME and beg him/her to invite me out to that state. Anything to get away from the hoochie shorts that pervade Houston....
Posted by: Adam P. Newton | December 4, 2006 9:46 AM
Hey... Lay off Alabama. It's a great state. I love it here. Come see it for yourself.
Posted by: Adam | December 4, 2006 10:09 AM
Adam, what part of Alabama do you live in? I live in Mobile. It is like New Orleans if Ned Flanders were in charge..
Posted by: Chad Gibbs | December 4, 2006 1:03 PM
To all those who mentioned Ohio was on the list twice:
My apologies...I thought you were all confused, but it turns out I made a mistake. Relish that fact.
New York is now #7.
Jordan
Posted by: Jordan Green | December 4, 2006 5:03 PM
I feel the Texas person... Whenever we Michigan folks travel abroad, we stick up our hands, too. I think it just annoys people, though.
Posted by: James Gamble | December 4, 2006 6:43 PM
Is it just coincidence that Ohio beat Michigan by 3 on here too?
Posted by: Danny Jones | December 4, 2006 8:48 PM
I don't think so, Danny. I don't think so.
Jordan
Posted by: Jordan Green | December 4, 2006 10:26 PM
"You left Denver off the list." - 2nd Comment.
Seriously?!
I am surprised that Hawaii was so low on the list though.
Posted by: Brody | December 7, 2006 5:41 AM
seriously. indiana at #34? i think not, my friend. i've compiled a small list of celebrities from indiana:
* Shelley Long
* Axl Rose
* David Letterman
* Marc Summers
* Jimmy Hoffa
* John Dillinger
* David Lee Roth
* Dan Quayle
* Shannon Hoon
* John Mellencamp
* Janet Jackson
* Michael Jackson
* LaToya Jackson
* Jermaine Jackson
* Tito Jackson
* All of other Jacksons
you've got to admit, it's a pretty impressive list. marc summers of double dare fame? tito jackson? john mellencamp?
i'm just saying. we at least deserve #33. no offense, maryland.
Posted by: thelongbrake | December 7, 2006 6:31 AM
Of course I'm serious. Denver has the Broncos, the Nuggets, the Rockies, and a bunch of other crap. What more could a state want, apart from statehood?
Posted by: Chad Gibbs | December 7, 2006 4:07 PM
I think that Indiana list just shows how cracked up Indianans are. The Jacksons? A guy who encouraged kids to play with green slime just to win some toys? DLR? Axel & Chinese Democracy? Jimmy Hoffa? DAN QUAYLE?!?!?
Next thing you'll be telling us that you think that Indianans deserve a 3rd seat in the US Senate to account for your greatness. Silliness....
Posted by: Adam P. Newton | December 8, 2006 10:39 AM
Since when is cold a bad thing! We aren't causing the global warming. Oh, ya we don't have to list Jimmy Hoffa as a celebrity either!
Posted by: Lenny VanBuskirk | December 17, 2006 11:22 AM