8 ways New Jersey is just like the Star Wars Universe

We've all been paying a lot of attention to Star Wars this week (who hasn't?), with "The Force Awakens" hitting theaters.

But as we took a closer look at the universe of Star Wars, we couldn't help noticing a lot of it looked a little ... familiar. Are we absolutely sure that galaxy "far, far away" isn't just ... New Jersey?

For one thing, we've got a major AT&T campus here, in Bedminster. Are you really going to tell us this logo doesn't look familiar?

Our bars are frequently invaded by strange lifeforms that can't possibly be human.

And sometimes, like their Star Wars counterparts ...

... they just can't stay out of trouble.

But sometimes, they really make the connection work.

We're lead by a once-beloved political who's rarely seen in person.

In New Jersey, we've got plenty of fans of the Evil Empire.

Is it any wonder Yoda's not a fan?

Speaking of Yoda, he'd feel pretty at home in the Meadowlands.

Thanks to a 1964 discovery by Bell Labs scientists Arno Penzias and Robert A. Wilson in Holmdel Horn Antenna, we know what happened a long, long time ago. Their accidental discovery of a strange buzzing noise coming from certain parts of the sky turned out to be background radiation that provided evidence of the big bang (not the one after a super shot to the thermal exhaust port).

In Star Wars you can't carry a light saber anywhere unless you're a Jedi Knight. In NJ, you can't carry a firearm anywhere unless you're cop (well, unless you get a concealed carry permit that's about as rare as a vintage 1978 Han Solo action figure).

But we are a bit more permissive with our light sabers, here. This was filmed at Sung Moo Kendo Academy in Dumont and posted to YouTube in September:

And finally, to paraphrase our favorite Jedi Master: "Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to higher taxes."