Many moons ago I was talking with a friend of mine, from Tennessee. Being as how he was a Southerner, I asked him to verify something I'd read, where natives of Missouri pronounce the name "Missou-rah", whereas the rest of us go with "Missou-ree". He said "It's pronounced 'Misery'". Somehow I thought that was wonderful and am happy to see intra-regional rivalries die hard.

No offense to any Missourianians. Any state that produced Mark Twain has nothing to worry about. I once spent a couple of days in Springfield, Missouri; I believe it was either the summer before or after sixth grade. Anyway I saw the Mississippi and ate catfish that reached out from its afterlife to attempt to choke me with its bones.