Jersey Resident here.
New York has more lawyers.
New Jersey has more toxic waste dumps.
Why?
We got first pick.
My dad used to work for the US General Accounting Office, and he worked on a project auditing the most toxic waste dumps in America. New Jersey (this was in 1988 or so) had twice as many dump sites as the next most toxic state. To give you an idea of the density we’re talking about here, the #2 state was California.
Having said that, I like Jersey. 
[QUOTE=What Exit?]
I forgot to comment on this.
It will not work. Eventually the people from Somerset, Union and Middlesex will crowd in on you. Rt. 78 will bring them.
Jim 
[/QUOTE]
Hunterdon, you say? Hmmm.
–Union County resident (be seeing you soon)
[QUOTE=VCO3]
That horrific, industrial corridor that you drive through to get to NYC is so overwhelmingly horrifying, ugly, and disgusting that it will continue to perpetuate the “New Jersey is the world’s toilet” idea as long as people drive past it.
[/QUOTE]
Toilet? You got it backwards. As you cringe at the stench of the refineries while driving by in your refinery-product-burning petrochemical material-laden automobile and gasp at the acres of mountains of containers in port while most of what you’re wearing, watching, talking into, is foreign-made, you fail to realize this is your modern life’s MOUTH. This is where it comes in. Don’t you like the taste?
[QUOTE=danceswithcats]
Without a doubt, north Jersey is a crapfest. Industry, Newark airport, enough traffic to make the average person insane, and plenty o’crime to go with.
.
[/QUOTE]
In particular I think somebody here once mentioned that the drive from Newark Airport into NYC goes past some of the most hideous “scenery” to be found anywhere, so many people bound for New York via EWR probably think the whole state must be like that.
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp]
My dad used to work for the US General Accounting Office, and he worked on a project auditing the most toxic waste dumps in America. New Jersey (this was in 1988 or so) had twice as many dump sites as the next most toxic state. To give you an idea of the density we’re talking about here, the #2 state was California.
Having said that, I like Jersey. 
[/QUOTE]
Superfund Sites can be found here: http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/nj.htm
NJ has 115 currently.
It took me a while but I found a state ranking. This appears to be 2004 data.
Rank State Number of Superfund Sites
1. NEW JERSEY 116
2. CALIFORNIA 98
3. PENNSYLVANIA 95
4. NEW YORK 93
5. MICHIGAN 69
6. FLORIDA 52
7. WASHINGTON 47
8. ILLINOIS 45
TEXAS 45
10. WISCONSIN 40
[QUOTE=WhyNot]
That’s because you can’t hear your own dialect. Yes, lots of people from Jersey do say it with a distinct dipthong and rhotacism (lack of, of course). You also say “glass of water” funny, but after 25 years, I’m still not sure how to write it in phonetics. “Joisey” is a bit exaggerated in spelling, but it’ll do.
(Don’t worry about it. I’m from Chicago(ish), and I’d argue 'till I was blue in the face that we don’t really say “sahsidge” for sausage. Then I’d say it myself and notice retroactively.)
[/QUOTE]
I’m also from Chicago(ish), but in my 4.5 years in Jersey, I’ve never really heard ‘Joisey,’ and I interact with people from all over the state (Rutgers, tSUoNJ - exit 9), including my wife. (Cue Tom Wiats: “Sing Sha La La La La…”)
Oh, and as for Hunterdon County, I went to a wedding in Stockton, and it is the ugliest place East (North?) of the Delaware.
Recently, we moved to Jersey City, and I wouldn’t trade it for Manhattan if you paid me.
From Fandango…
Phil: “You mooned my parents?”
Gardner: “They’re from New Jersey, Phil. They’ve seen butts before.”
“I sued Delta Airlines
'Cuz they sold me a ticket to New Jersey
I went there, and it sucked!”
– ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic, I’ll Sue Ya
I can’t speak to present day conditions, but many years ago I spent a few days in Franklin, up near Great Gorge, and it was delightful. Very scenic, pastoral, beautiful. We spent some time at Greenwood Lake and met some gorgeous young women, too.
I can also admit to getting lost in Newark once upon a time, a fate I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. (if I had one)
[QUOTE=Jamaika a jamaikaiaké]
Oh, and as for Hunterdon County, I went to a wedding in Stockton, and it is the ugliest place East (North?) of the Delaware.
[/QUOTE]
It is a horrible horrible place, I agree. keep it up they’re buying it
[QUOTE=Beware of Doug]
Amazing, the breed standardization that’s taken place. Is there a Guido under 6’2" and 240, or do they just get bounced from the clubs? And do any of the women look Italian?
[/QUOTE]
The pictures are misleading. Most are actually only about average size. They just look bigger because all they work out is their pecs, arms and shoulders and hide the rest under a Puma track suit.
See I never understood that. I know a lot of people who live in JC and Hoboken who almost never go to Manhattan and it’s right there. Granted, if I just want to grab a drink or a bite to eat, I’d much rather get something local. But it’s mind boggling to me to live 15 minutes from NYC and never take advantage of it.
When my Dad announced we were moving to New Jersey, I imagine a we’d live in the ghetto surrounded by smokestacks. Street gangs would kick my ass on a daily basis.
I found this wasn’t quite the case.
I used to live in Exit 0 (Garden State Parkway).
[QUOTE=msmith537]
See I never understood that. I know a lot of people who live in JC and Hoboken who almost never go to Manhattan and it’s right there. Granted, if I just want to grab a drink or a bite to eat, I’d much rather get something local. But it’s mind boggling to me to live 15 minutes from NYC and never take advantage of it.
[/QUOTE]
Sorry, I wasn’t clear. I meant that I wouldn’t move to Manhattan. Of course I go to Manhattan.
I should like to add that the attitude you describe, however is not limited to Hudson county. There are plenty of people who live in or near interesting places and don’t get out and discover, even though the have the time to. For example, there are many who live in NYC and never see NJ
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase]
Because it’s not New York City.
And Connecticut can’t be seen from Manhattan, but the Jersey side is like a poor relative with its face scrunched up against the glass at a holiday dinner.
[/QUOTE]
Watching The Sopranos, I’ve noticed a running gag is that the NYC Mob guys tend to look down on the NJ Mob guys. Don’t know if that’s accurate in terms of real-life Mob politics.
“The Don does not wear shorts!”
[url=]This song, BTW, really ought to be NJ’s state song regardless of accuracy!
[QUOTE=Enola Straight]
Jersey Resident here.
New York has more lawyers.
New Jersey has more toxic waste dumps.
Why?
We got first pick.
[/QUOTE]
I went to college at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, which for some reason is known as “New Jersey’s Annex” even though I met a great deal more Longuylanders there. So I learned a lot of Jersey jokes.
What’s the difference between a New Jersey girl and garbage?
Garbage gets picked up once in a while!
Do you know the New Jersey alphabet?
Fuckin’ A, fuckin’ B, fuckin’ C . . .
I’ve also heard that the residents of the New Jersey Pine Barrens are a lot like the isolated, inbred hillbillies in Deliverance. Don’t know if that’s true, but I’ve read horror stories based on the thesis.
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton]
[BTW, really ought to be NJ’s state song regardless of accuracy!
[/QUOTE]
Bad link, what was the song?
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton]
I’ve also heard that the residents of the New Jersey [url=New Jersey Pine Barrens - Wikipedia]Pine Barrens](]This song,[/url) are a lot like the isolated, inbred hillbillies in Deliverance. Don’t know if that’s true, but I’ve read horror stories based on the thesis.
[/QUOTE]
Not true at all, but probably true 80 years ago. There was even a documented problem with severe inbreeding in the 1880s.
The Pineys were a strange culture. A mix of swamp rats that were illegally continuing the salt grass harvesting against British dictates and then Tories hiding out from the Rebels that were strongly represented in Monmouth county. Monmouth consisted of Monmouth and Ocean Counties back then. After the war, many Tories that actively supported the Brits were considered criminals and they and their families remained hidden in the Pine Barrens. The Pine Barrens were also home to a special type of pirate. They would put out signal lights to lure shipping onto rocky shoals and then steal the cargoes, kill the crew and burn the wreck. Many of the earliest Lighthouses and lifesaving stations were established along the Jersey shore to prevent these activities from continuing.
Today the Pineys might still be a little backwards but not very much at this point. The Pine Barrens are home to probably the best Blue Grass North of the Mason-Dixon line. The Albert Music Hall.
So, Brainglutton, don’t you think 4 straight posts is a little much, brain a little disorganized tonight?
Jim
[QUOTE=What Exit?]
Bad link, what was the song?
[/quote]
Sorry, try it now.
[QUOTE=What Exit?]
So, Brainglutton, don’t you think 4 straight posts is a little much, brain a little disorganized tonight?
[/QUOTE]
As always, as always . . .