I’m not sure how I ended up on the New Jersey Office of Travel & Tourism’s mailing list.
Maybe they want me to write more Troubleshooter columns about their hotels. Or perhaps they’d like me to show some love to Garden State-based travel businesses such as Cendant or Hertz.
So yesterday this box shows up from Visit New Jersey — and even though I’m still disappointed that the state chose a silly new slogan (my preference was, “New Jersey: You got a problem with that?”) I have to say, it was one of the most creative press kits I’ve ever seen.
Among the items: A box of saltwater taffy, postcards from the Jersey shore, a replica of General George Washington’s plan of operations, and — drumroll please — a .69 caliber musket ball.
How did they know?
There isn’t a self-respecting travel writer who would be caught dead without a musket. We like to take them on all-expenses paid press trips to places like New Jersey and discharge them when publicists begin asking questions about our story angle.
“Angle?” we ask in our best Clint Eastwood voice. “I got your angle right here.”
Just kidding, folks. I only fire my musket in the privacy of my office.
Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.
Elliott is consumer advocate 
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