New Jersey's Fault

This morning Gaithersburg, MD experienced an earthquake. The tremor measured slightly over 3 on the Richter scale. Seismologists attribute it to the Ramapo Fault, which runs through New Jersey.

Sure, blame New Jersey. From colonial times (Ben Franklin called it a barrel opened at both ends) to modern times (Andy Warhol claimed the state bird was a mosquito), New Jersey has gotten a bad rap.

The Ramapo, a band of the Lenape Tribe, inhabited northeastern New Jersey. Their namesakes include the Ramapo River, Ramapo Mountains and Ramapo State Park. Not every New Jersey Park ends with "& Ride."

The Pine Barrens have the nation's largest and purest watershed (17 trillion gallons). New Jersey has 127 miles of beautiful, sandy beaches. It grows delicious tomatoes, corn, blueberries, cranberries and grapes. Bramwell Welch founded his juice company in Vineland, NJ in 1869.

But nooooo..., as John Belushi would say. The Pine Barrens are known for the Jersey Devil, the beaches are thought to be littered with syringes and used condoms, many think the state produces nothing but gangsters and guidos.

Stereotypes are inaccurate perceptions created by small minds. So as I enjoy Taylor's pork roll and drink my cawfee, I got your fault - rightcheer! As ever - BB

"Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." - Finley Peter Dunne