Dear Mr. Right Honorable Premier,

I’m writing to you today as a concerned voter from the city of Prince Albert. Well, not a “voter” exactly as I’ve always seen voting for squares, but I am ninety percent certain I’m registered to vote. I diligently check that register to vote box on my income tax return every year and also have a Saskatchewan Elections refrigerator magnet so I am almost positive that if an election where called I could in theory vote.

But I’m getting side tracked.

As an almost confirmed voter I am writing to you with a request. Not only am I potential voter but I am also a cartoonist. Currently I create two strips. The first one is Gary and Ted. It follows the adventures of Gary, an alien prince banished to Earth and his roommate/guide Ted. The other is the Zintel Wilderness Guide: Bears, which is simply a series of completely untrue facts about bears. Both strips currently run online at www.garyandted.com and www.bearfactoids.com respectively.

The problem I am having is that I cannot get any exposure through the local media. Any letters and e-mails I send are met only with silence. It seems that no one in the province wants to support the local cartooning arts.

So if you could use your provincial government endowed powers to declare a “Read James Zintel’s comic strips day” that would be a particularly awesome thing to do. And while I don’t want to tell you how to do your job, I think February 13 or 15 would make excellent dates for this as those who are alone on Valentine’s Day would have a pleasant feeling to distract them from the fact they are so very alone. You could be saving lives!

Your #1 Fan,

James Zintel

P.S. Another idea, a province run Thunderdome and/or Rollerball league.

There you have it. Ball’s in your court provincial elected officials! Make it happen.