There are, it would seem, unbelievers:

If you would ask any schoolchild how many states there are in the United States, you will get the same answer: 50. Fifty states in the Union. It is simply an accepted "fact." If you would disagree with this supposed "fact," you would be branded insane or worse.

However, mounting evidence shows that there are in fact only 49 states in the US, and the "state" of Idaho is a baseless myth.

We have been trying to distribute and publish this information for over *two years*, but our scholarship has not been given any respect. We have been censored, vilified, ridiculed and spat upon by the "traditional" geographers and historians, but WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED!

All we ask is that the existence of the state of Idaho be debated, as every other historical and geographic "fact" can be debated. Time after time, our opponents have refused to debate us on the FACTS. This alone should tell you something about the people who support the "existence" of this "43rd state."

Please read the following evidence VERY CAREFULLY, and you will be astonished at the veracity of our cause.

I suppose my existence would count as "proof." Except that when I was first planning the move and before I publicized it, I briefly considered keeping my location undisclosed by using a fictitious name for the state (Deseret, the name the LDS gave for a proposed state that eventually became parts of OR, CA, NV, AZ, ID, UT, WY, CO, & NM), the name of a state proposed by the . I even created a map of sorts for the fictitious state, including Capital City (Salt Lake City, Utah), renamed universities and political structures, and so on. I figured that would be a bit much for a mostly true-blog so I never used it and have instead just declined to name the city in which I live. But creating a state sure was fun! Yes, I'm a nerd, what of it?

Anyway, point being, I made up Idaho for all you (except Eel) know.

[via Tristan]