PSoTD

I'm not really into defining people as good or evil, but from my standpoint, anyone who has the sheer disregard for humanity required to picket a funeral is evil. This just seems like a form of mental torture to me. Unfortunately, Central Pennsylvania is going to get dosed by the cancer of Kansas the next few days.

The Harrisburg Patriot News had a splashy article entitled the same on the front page of the newspaper Sunday...

Apparently rural Central Pennsylvania has a hefty sexual appetite, although it could be understandable if you didn't realize it when shopping in the local Home Depot. There's a stretch through Perry, Juniata and Snyder counties with 32 miles of sex along the highway : five adult bookstores, a strip club, a private club that caters to swingers and a massage parlor. It actually appears to have a bit of a sex tourism industry going on.

There's an attitude among some in the Cumberland and Dauphin county areas that looks a bit down on these counties, as backwoods or something. I've never thought along those lines - I like more rural areas anyways, and these counties have their charms. Perhaps Perry county will be seen more erotic, or exciting, or obscene with this news. Hard to say. Perhaps that highway drive becomes a whole lot more popular this year...

But not for long. The point of the Patriot's article seems to be that something should be done about these businesses. Otherwise, why not a string of articles about the number of fast food restaurants and gas stations and hotels on various stretches of highway in rural Pennsylvania? So what has put the bug in the Harrisburg Patriot News' ear about these businesses? Who is behind the push to put this article on the front page of the Patriot, and what outrage is expected from it?

My wife and I went to the Union Canal House last Saturday for dinner. It's been around in one manner or another since the late 1700s, as a tavern, an inn, and now as a restaurant and inn. Lots of interesting history about the place. First time we've gone, and I thought it deserved a recommendation here.

It's located just outside of Hershey, Pennsylvania in the sleepy town of Union Deposit. Don't blink too much or you'll drive right by the restaurant.

Their online menu does not do justice to the offerings available. Part of that is because they obviously can't list their various specials, but part of that is because they have a fantastic portobello mushroom appetizer that isn't even listed on their online menu. I've had portobello mushroom appetizers a lot of different ways, but this was different - and probably my favorite. It looked to be heavy on the tomatoes, but looks were deceiving - the combination of mushroom, tomato, spice and cheese was perfect.

We'll go back.