so jersey bridge and tunnels have their own blog now, called Boro6 referring to the idea that New Jersey is simply another borough of Manhattan. While I love the idea, and will add it to my list of links; I hate the name, cause jersey is so much more than a state in the shadow of New York. It helps continue the stereotype that Jersey smells from those who have only been to Newark Airport.
I was born and raised in central New Jersey, and I spent alot of my early years as a bridge and tunnel freak. Then I moved to the city for college, where I've been living for 5 years now, and I have become a "Bennie." "Bennies" are the worse form of life. They comes to jersey only for the Beaches and clogs up its highways. They return to the city, with a sea of destruction in its wake; not remembering the beaches, but remembering the smell of Newark. Where is the site knocking the Bennies, why must Jersey always get the short end?
Boro6, once I got past the name, already has a couple of good pieces. One of them is on FM 106.3, this great modern rock station that existed for years. It was the thing I missed the most when I moved away from Jersey. I would long to hear Common Threads, their Sunday Morning acoustic block that was the perfect way to wake up from a hangover. Their DJs were mediocre, except Matt Pinfield (MTV VJ who got his start at 106.3), but the music wasn't and they played things the big guys in NY wouldn't play.
Then, they were put under new management, and everything changed. All of a sudden, the was no DJs for the weekend, the station was on autoplay, and when the DJs came back on monday, it wasn't the same. No longer was it "Modern Rock for the Jersey Shore" it was "You've reached the "G" Spot." They were playing Jersey natives Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen, and main streams like Alanis. I'm not arguing the quality of these artists, however they weren't the "modern music" they used to play. It ripped through my heart. All the programing changed, and people were angry. It was a very tough time because there is nothing else like it for those who like rock, but not in the mainstream.
Slowly, wether it was learned on their own, or a swarm of angry listeners, they are returning to their old format. Common Threads has been back for awhile now, and I sorely miss it when I'm not in Jersey on the weekends. Thankfully I have moved out of Boro1, and into Boro2 (Brooklyn) and I am able to tune into 106.3 from my apartment, and enjoy it in all its splendor. Nothing in New York compares to it.
/rant off
