[AlaskaErik]

Its formal name is the People's Republic of New Jersey.
The Second Amendment does not apply here in the PRNJ.

[Coleus]

I see the reporter mistakingly put Alexander Hamilton on the list of famous people born in NJ. He was born on Nevis in the British West Indies in 1755.

He was given the distinction of being the Founder of Paterson, NJ, who saw the potential of the Great Falls of Paterson, (2nd in volume to Niagara Falls) in being a force to power factories. Hamilton believed that the United States needed to reduce its dependence on foreign goods and should instead develop its own industries. The industries developed in Paterson were powered by the 77-foot high Great Falls of the Passaic, and a system of water raceways that harnessed the power of the falls. The district originally included dozens of mill buildings and other manufacturing structures associated with the textile industry and later, the firearms, silk, and railroad locomotive manufacturing industries. In the latter half of the 1800’s, silk production became the dominant industry and formed the basis of Paterson’s most prosperous period, earning it the nickname "Silk City." He was right.

[quantim]

Yeah, but you don't have Detroit. Quit braggin'. ;-)

[quantim]

Strange that 'pizza' is not mentioned.

[Cedar]

"Jersey tomatoes are known the world over as being the best you can buy."

Sorry, that's wrong. Mississippi tomatoes are the best.

[Young Werther]

BTW the first Intercollegiate football game was WON by Rutgers in 1869! How do I know. When I attended Rutgers there was a Historical Marker in front of the gym which stood on the ground where this epic battle was waged. Every Frosh had to know this fact!!!

Rutgers 6 Princeton 4

[Dashing Dasher]

Being from NJ, and now living in CA - I'd have to take umbrage to these items.

- 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.

Also, this is no longer true...

- New Jersey is home to the Miss America Pageant held in Atlantic City.


And this....

- You know that the state isn't all farmland.

ROFLMAO


And this....

- You don't think "What exit?" is very funny.

Truer words have NEVER been spoken. My response to this question is now, "Oh, how 1980"

[Calpernia]

Bump!

I love it!

:)

[Calpernia]

>>>You've had a boardwalk cheese steak and vinegar fries.

Hey! What about beer and pissers???

[Tired of Taxes]

Here's something left off the list:

NJ has the longest running rodeo in the U.S.:

http://www.cowtownrodeo.com/history_4.html

That one was a big surprise to me when I heard about it. I'd best most people put "New Jersey" and "shore" together in one thought, but not New Jersey and "rodeo". Found out later my grandfather's family owned and raised horses in that same town.

[exdem2000]

Excellent Post!!!

[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 :))

[RepubMommy]

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

[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...

[ShadowDancer]

New Jersey is the world leader in blueberry and cranberry production

I think the blueberry part belongs to Michigan.

[BluH2o]

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.

80% of our nation's imports transit thru Elizabeth Seaport? That's a stretch ... how about the Port of Seattle? Portland? Long Beach-LA? Baltimore? Charleston? Miami? Galveston?
NJ proponents are getting carried away with their grandiose claims.

[metesky]

Highlands, New Jersey has the highest elevation along the entire eastern seaboard, from Maine to Florida.

I guess Cadillac Mountain doesn't count, eh?

[Tatze]

New Jersey has the most diners in the world and is sometimes referred to as the "Diner Capital of the World."

I miss those diners. Waffle House can't hold a candle to a New Jersey diner!

[metesky]

New Jersey is the world leader in blueberry and cranberry production (and here you thought Massachusetts?)

649 million pounds
The forecast for U.S. cranberry production in 2005, up 5 percent from 2004. Wisconsin is expected to lead all states in the production of cranberries, with 367 million pounds, followed by Massachusetts (170 million). Oregon, New Jersey and Washington are also expected to have substantial production, ranging from 18 million to 52 million pounds. (Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service at <http://www.usda.gov/nass/>)