"A little about New Jersey or as some outsiders say New Joisey"

Paramus Post ^ | 02.19.06 | Mike Dennehy

[Coleus]

• If you live in or have ever lived in Jersey...you'll appreciate this...if not, you may be surprised!
• New Jersey is a peninsula.
• Highlands, New Jersey has the highest elevation along the entire eastern seaboard, from Maine to Florida.
• New Jersey is the only state where all of its counties are classified as metropolitan areas.
• New Jersey has more race horses than Kentucky.

• New Jersey has more Cubans in Union City (1 sq mi.) than Havana, Cuba.
• New Jersey has the densest system of highways and railroads in the US.
• New Jersey has the highest cost of living.
• New Jersey has the highest cost of auto insurance.
• New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation.
• New Jersey has the most diners in the world and is sometimes referred to as the "Diner Capital of the World."
• New Jersey is home to the original Mystery Pork Parts Club (no, not Spam): Taylor Ham or Pork Roll.
• Home to the less mysterious but the best Italian hot dogs and Italian sausage w/peppers and onions.
• North Jersey has the most shopping malls in one area in the world, with seven major shopping malls in a 25 square mile radius.
• New Jersey is home to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
• The Passaic River was the site of the first submarine ride by inventor John P. Holland.
• New Jersey has 50+ resort cities and towns; some of the nation's most famous: Asbury Park, Wildwood, Atlantic City, Seaside Heights, Long Branch, Cape May.
• New Jersey has the most stringent testing along our coastline for water quality control than any other seaboard state in the entire country.
• New Jersey is a leading technology and industrial state and is the largest chemical producing state in the nation when you include pharmaceuticals.
• Jersey tomatoes are known the world over as being the best you can buy.
• You haven't lived until you have eaten New Jersey sweet Corn.
• New Jersey is the world leader in blueberry and cranberry production (and here you thought Massachusetts?)
• Here's to New Jersey - the toast of the country! In 1642, the first brewery in America, opened in Hoboken.
• New Jersey rocks! The famous Les Paul invented the first solid body electric guitar in Mahwah, in 1940.
• New Jersey is a major seaport state with the largest seaport in the US, located in Elizabeth. Nearly 80 percent of what our nation imports comes through Elizabeth Seaport first.
• New Jersey is home to one of the nation's busiest airports (in Newark), Liberty International.
• George Washington slept here. Several important Revolutionary War battles were fought on New Jersey soil, led by General George Washington.
• The light bulb, phonograph (record player), and motion picture projector, were invented by Thomas Edison in his Menlo Park, NJ, aboratory.
• We also boast the first town ever lit by incandescent bulbs.
• The first seaplane was built in Keyport, NJ.
• The first airmail (to Chicago) was started from Keyport, NJ.
• The first phonograph records were made in Camden, NJ.
• New Jersey is home to the Miss America Pageant held in Atlantic City.
• The game Monopoly, played all over the world, named the streets on its playing board after the actual streets in Atlantic City.
• And, Atlantic City has the longest boardwalk in the world.
• Not to mention salt water taffy...
• New Jersey has the largest petroleum containment area outside of the Middle East countries.
• The first Indian reservation was in New Jersey, in the Watchung Mountains.
• New Jersey has the tallest water-tower in the world. Union, NJ!!!
• New Jersey had the first medical center, in Jersey City.
• The Pulaski SkyWay, from Jersey City to Newark, was the first skyway highway.
• NJ built the first tunnel under a river, the Hudson (Holland Tunnel).
• The first baseball game was played in Hoboken, NJ, which is also the birthplace of Frank Sinatra.
• The first intercollegiate football game was played in New Brunswick in 1889 (Rutgers College played Princeton).
• The first drive-in movie theater was opened in Camden, NJ, (but they're all gone now!).
• New Jersey is home to both of "NEW YORK'S" pro football teams!
• The first radio station and broadcast was in Paterson, NJ.
• The first FM radio broadcast was made from Alpine, NJ, by Maj. Thomas Armstrong.
• All New Jersey natives: Moe Septee, Al Attermann, Howard Attermann, Sal Martorano, Jack Nicholson, Robert Attermann, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Jason Alexander, Steve Rosenbaum, Queen Latifah, Susan Sarandon, Connie Francis, Sam Rosenfarb, Shaq, Judy Blume, Aaron Burr, Ruth Septee, Joan Robertson, Ken Kross, Dionne Warwick, Sarah Vaughn, Lt. Aar on Attermann, Budd Abbott, Lou Costello, Alan Ginsberg, Norman Mailer, Marilynn McCoo, Flip Wilson, Alexander Hamilton, Whitney Houston, Eddie Money, Lauren Sasha Attermann, Linda McElroy, Eileen Donnelly, Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson, Walt Whitman, Jerry Lewis, Tom Cruise, Joyce Kilmer, Bruce Willis, Caesar Romero, Lauryn Hill, Ice-T, Nick Adams, Nathan Lane, Sandra Dee, Danny DeVito, Richard Conti, Joe Pesci, Joe Piscopo, Robert Blake, John Forsythe, Meryl Streep, Loretta Swit, Norman Lloyd, Paul Simon, Jerry Herman, Gorden McCrae, Kevin Spacey, John Travolta, Phyllis Newman, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Eva Marie Saint, Elisabeth Shue, Zebulon Pike, Elisa Septee Lunzer, Neal Attermann, James Fennimore Cooper, Admiral Wm.Halsey,Jr., Dave Thomas (Wendy's), William Carlos Williams, Ray Liotta, Robert Wuhl, Bob Reyers, Paul Robeson, Ernie Kovacs, Joseph Macchia and, of course, Francis Albert Sinatra and "Uncle Floyd" Vivino, Kelly Ripa.
• Bob Meade adds: The Great Falls in Paterson, on the Passaic River, is the second highest waterfall on the East Coast of the US.

You know you're from Jersey when...

• You don't think of fruit when people mention "The Oranges."
• You know that it's called Great Adventure, not Six Flags.
• A good, quick breakfast is a hard roll with butter.
• You've known the way to Seaside Heights since you were seven.
• You've eaten at a diner, when you were stoned or drunk, at 3 A.M.
• You know that the state isn't one big oil refinery.
• At least three people in your family still love Bruce Springsteen, and you know the town Jon Bon Jovi is from.
• You know what a "jug handle" is.
• You know that WaWa is a convenience store.
• You know that the state isn't all farmland.
• You know that there are no "beaches" in New Jersey--there's the shore--and you don't go "to the shore," you go "down the shore." And when you are there, you're not "at the shore"; you are "down the shore."
• You know how to properly negotiate a circle.
• You knew that the last sentence had to do with driving.
• You know that this is the only "New" state that doesn't require "New" to identify it (try . . Mexico . . . York .! . Hampshire-- doesn't work, does it?).
• You know that a "White Castle" is the name of BOTH a fast food chain AND a fast food sandwich.
• You consider putting mayo on a corned beef sandwich a sacrilege.
• You don't think "What exit?" is very funny.
• You know that people from the 609 area code are "a little different."
• Yes they are!
• You know that no respectable New Jerseyan goes to Princeton--that's for out-of-staters.
• The Jets-Giants game has started fights at your school or localbar
• You live within 20 minutes of at least three different malls.
• You refer to all highways and interstates by their numbers.
• Every year you have at least one kid in your class named Tony.
• You know the location of every clip shown in the Sopranos opening credits.
• You've gotten on the wrong highway trying to get out of the mall.
• You know that people from North Jersey go to Seaside Heights, and people from Central Jersey go to Belmar, and people from South Jersey go to Wildwood. It can be no other way.
• You weren't raised in New Jersey--you were raised in either North Jersey, Central Jersey or South Jersey.
• You don't consider Newark or Camden to actually be part of the state.
• You remember the stores Korvette's, Two Guys, Rickel's, Channel, Bamberger's and Orbach's.
• You also remember Palisades Amusement Park and Olympic Park.
• You've had a boardwalk cheese steak and vinegar fries.
• You start planning for Memorial Day weekend in February.
• And finally . . .
• You've NEVER, EVER pumped your own gas. AMEN!

[exdem2000]

Excellent Post!!!

[Cedar]

Ah, but you never tasted my grandmother's tomatoes!

:)

[annie laurie]

I was a little skeptical about the "largest port" claim. I've always heard that Los Angeles-Long Beach was the largest.

A quick search turned up:

Speech by U.S. Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection

So, I'm quite curious about the source of the "largest seaport" claim in this article ;-) Otherwise, an interesting list (even though I'm not from Jersey :))

[Coleus]

He may have a couple of facts wrong, as you know he is a reporter. I know that he did get alexander hamilton wrong so I'm sure there might be a couple more. Most of the list is Very Accurate. NJ is accomplished and was home to many accomplished people. The world is much better because of NJ and the people who were born, educated and lived here.

[annie laurie]

Yep, it was quite a good list!

Each state has its own unique and interesting history. We do live in a marvelous country! :)

[hondo1951]

Christopher and Pauly took the russian to "The Pine Barrons"

[Cagey]

Great thread, Coleus.

Have you read "Weird New Jersey" yet?

[RepubMommy]

What? No mention of knowing full well that "gravy" is the red stuff you serve at Sunday dinner?

[RepubMommy]

Just read your profile, love it!

[Calpernia]

bump

bump

bump!

[Cagey]

That's news to me. I just got my firearms ID and handgun permits, and I live just a few miles from a highly acclaimed shooting range.

You're fairly new to owning firearms in New Jersey but it won't take long to see just how incredibly anti 2nd amendment the state is.

Your chances of getting a carry permit is as close to zero as it can get.

To get to that "highly acclaimed shooting range" you have to secure your arms in locked containers and keep the ammunition in a separate locked container.

New Jersey law restricts the ownership of certain semi-automatic and other firearms based upon their military appearance.

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and the Million Mom March give New Jersey an A- rating so that tells you how much New Jersey cares about the 2nd Amendment. There are plenty in New Jersey's government that would love to see an A+ rating.

If you'd like to go buy a World War II M-1 Carbine, forget it. It's banned in New Jersey.

I hope you've joined the NRA and any organizations your shooting range might suggest. It's one hell of an uphill battle in New Jersey. Good luck.

[NewJerseyJoe]

>> Your chances of getting a carry permit is as close to zero as it can get.

I wasn't trying to get one. If the sh*t hits the fan in our society, I suspect that "right to carry" is going to become a meaningless term in very short order. It will be replaced by "law of the jungle," for which I am quite prepared.

>> To get to that "highly acclaimed shooting range" you have to secure your arms in locked containers and keep the ammunition in a separate locked container.

As opposed to having loose shells/bullets roll around in the car, or having the gun slide across the seat and get banged up every time I make a turn? I don't understand why you consider this such an inconvenience. Law or not, I still would keep my stuff secured in a protective container or case during transit. Makes everything easier to carry, too.

>> New Jersey law restricts the ownership of certain semi-automatic and other firearms based upon their military appearance.

Then I'll buy something else. I would rather have one or two non-military-looking semi-auto weapons, with which I am comfortable and highly proficient, than a bunch of auto or semi-auto weapons that I bought simply because they looked cool.

>> There are plenty in New Jersey's government that would love to see an A+ rating.

Agreed. That's why I'm joining the fight, preaching the good word to the misinformed, and putting some of my dollars behind the effort.

>> If you'd like to go buy a World War II M-1 Carbine, forget it.

I have no desire to buy one. Consider it forgotten.

>> I hope you've joined the NRA and any organizations your shooting range might suggest.

Yes, this range "is the official NRA State Association in New Jersey" -- direct quote from the website (http://www.anjrpc.org/mission.htm). I do plan on joining.

[Cagey]

I have no desire to buy one. Consider it forgotten.

But what if I, or a friend of yours, wants to? In almost every other state in this country we could. New Jersey? Nope.

You have to think of the 2nd Amendment as part of the Constitution for all Americans not just for what interests, or does not interest, you.

And, I want to be able to carry a handgun now, not when all hell breaks loose. Thirty six other states have that right and I want it too.

Again, good luck at that range. I lived in Sussex County at one time and it's one of the rare counties in New Jersey that does support the 2nd Amendment.

[Coleus]

it's no wonder, check out the author's surname.

[firebrand]

Where the largest city has a mayor who is also a state senator.

Hey, see Street Fight, the documentary about Sharpe James and Cory Booker. I just saw it. You must see it. Election coming up in May 2006--same two guys as fought it out in 2002. Movie never mentions the word Italian. LOL

[Clemenza]

1. You are at least one of your neighbors on each side of you has a vowel at the end of their name.* *Does not apply in Paterson, Newark, and East Orange.

2. You know what a Hoagie is, and you NEVER call it a sub or grinder.

3. You've ever had a 20 minute debate over what is the best pizza in your town.

4. You know the difference between a Bennie and Piney.

5. In the 1980s, at least one of your family drove a Trans-Am and all the women in your family teased their hair into fenceposts.

6. You know that the best view of "the city" is from Jersey City, NOT the SI Ferry.

7. One of your grandparents got a job from Frank Hague or Hugh Addonizio.

8. You drank Tuscan milk.

9. You know how to get to the shore via Route 1 and 9, rather than via the Turnpike like all of those Noo Yawkers.

10. You talk about how much you hate New Yorkers, even though your parents were from Brooklyn.

11. You know more Jews or Hindus than Baptists.

12. You know where "Brick City", "The Hollow", and "The Manor" are.

13. You have seen a play at the Paper Mill playhouse.

14. Its either Rutts or Hot Grill. Jimmy Buff's is for posers, and Dicky Dees don't make it like they used to.

15. You whine about liberals yet vote Democratic anyway.

16. You earn over $100,000 a year, but still can only afford a fixer upper along I-70 or the Turnpike.

17. You think folks from North Jersey are snobs or thugs (if you are from South Jersey), while you think folks in South Jersey are retards from Philly (if you are from North Jersey).

18. You can't decide if Central Jersey begins at Great Adventure or Cranbury.

19. You believe the movie Clerks is a documentary.

20. You believe the movie The Toxic Avenger is a documentary (especially if you live in Linden or Pennsauken).

21. The center of your life is the Paramus Park Mall or the Short Hills Mall, depending on whether you are a hardcore Jerseyite or a wannabe Manhattanite.

22. You think Brett Schundler is an extremist, but Jon Corzine and Jim McGreevey are "mainstream."

23. You know that Manor Moms put out when their husbands are away.

24. You think that "Pennsy" is a foreign country.

25. You believe that you cannot go to heaven or hell without stopping at the Vince Lombardi rest station.

I could go on...

[Cagey]

Very good, Clemenza.


However, I have to take exception with your "You know what a Hoagie is, and you NEVER call it a sub or grinder." North of Long Beach Island, everyone calls them "Subs". Jersey Mike's Subs, which was started in Point Pleasant, being the most famous and arguably the best. You can't go into any of their shops and ask for a Hoagie. They'll throw you out.

[ShadowDancer]

New Jersey is the world leader in blueberry and cranberry production

I think the blueberry part belongs to Michigan.

[Calpernia]

Ah no! I'm North of LBI. They are Hoogies. And you get a real hoogie from Ray's or Vinny's and not from Jersey Mike's! :))

[Malsua]

I live just a few miles from a highly acclaimed shooting range.

Heh, so do I. Guess we're neighbors :). I hear how busy it is on Sundays, specially since it's only a ridge or two over.