I read Katie Graham's column and couldn't help but laugh as she basically ripped Pennsylvania apart. She does mention that New Jersey is considered a toxic dump, but fails to mention that that is a justified label. In 2000, Jersey had 113 hazardous waste sites, the most in the country. Considering how densely populated the state is, I'd be a little worried.

Philadelphia does have bad parts, but the historical sites and beauty far outweigh them. What's in Newark?

New Jersey does have fine academic institutions. We have more. Carnegie Mellon, Drexel, St. Joseph's, Temple, Penn, Pittsburgh, and, oh yeah, Penn State!

The sports part was hilarious. If New Jersey is so respectable, then why do the Jets and Giants identify themselves as from New York? She conveniently leaves out the fact that the Flyers currently have more points than the Devils and that the 76ers, the number one team in the NBA, regularly beat up on the hapless Nets.

Plus, who is she to rip on the Pirates, a team with a storied past, when New Jersey has never had a major league team? Pennsylvania is way better than the armpit of America.