OK, I need help here. W PA folks, or any PA folks.

[Curmudgeoness]

The statement of purpose in the "about this group" section of DU3 is: Enjoy a cheesesteak and a Tastykake. Discuss all things Pennsylvania.

Fine, if you are from Philly, but what about us orphans in the western part of the state? We have Pittsburgh and we have Erie over here. There has to be a more inclusive statement of purpose, and it is up to us to write one. Suggestions please? If not, you have no idea what I will come up with all by myself! And right this minute all I can come up with is Reyers Shoes---since people from Pittsburgh know that place, people from Cleveland know it. But a shoe store just ain't right!

[Bunny]

1. How about a Primanti's sammich with a ice-cold can of Arn City?

+

[Curmudgeoness]

2. Do they still make Arn City beer?

I never could stomach it. I was a Rolling Rock girl until they closed up shop and now I it is Yuengling.

So many things about PA have been floating in my head:

Amish, pierogies, The National Aviary, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Point State Park, Mount Washington inclines, Fallingwater, Punxsutawney Phil, wineries along Lake Erie, Cook Forest, the Poconos, Valley Forge, Presque Isle, Hershey, Conneaut Lake Park, Penn State, Liberty Bell.

And what about all the odd names: Schuylkill, Wilkes-Barre, Susquehanna, Punxsutawney.

Surely we can come up with a statement of purpose for the whole state that is fun and inclusive.

[Bunny]

3. I think they still make Iron City.

I could never stomach it either. :puke: I used to love Rolling Rock, especially in the pony bottles. :9

Some of those places you listed really bring back memories, especially Cook Forest. Our family owned a cabin along the Clarion River, and as an adult I had another camp by Marienville. It's truly gorgeous country up there. Speaking of funny names, don't forget Tidioute (titty-yoot) - makes me snicker every time. :D By the way, you misspelled Mt. Warshington. :P

But, back to your point - we should make a statement of purpose that is more inclusive. The only thing I'm coming up with is along the lines of the old Pennsyltucky joke. :shrug: I'll work on that.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. Oh god, you have me laughing.

I always stopped in Tidioute for a bite to eat just to say I was there. It seemed to be at just the right spot to stop when out and about. But if you cannot SAY the name of the place, it isn't as much fun. You are correct, I did forget the "r" in Warshington.

Pennsyltucky reminds me----I forgot Appalachia. And when I think of that, I think of Uniontown and Laurel Caverns. I was down in that area the first time I ever saw homes made of huge boxes painted with tar. So awful.

There really are great minds here at DU and I will see what others who are more clever than I am will come up with.

[happyslug]

12. Iron City changed its formula in the 1960s or early 1970s

Prior to the Change, if someone opened a can or bottle, you could smell it clear across the room. When the Change came, it was made more like Budweiser and lost its character. My father drank it for years under both formula, but did point out the change.

[mrmpa]

5. Duke beer is back, pretty good too!................

Eat 'N Park's strawberry pie. I'll think of more & be back to you.

[Curmudgeoness]

6. Good, really? Um, I'll stick with Yuengling.

Why did Duke beer remind me of accordians and polkas. Isn't the polka the official PA state dance?

Roll out the barrel, and we'll have a barrel of fun. Now THAT sounds more like a statement of purpose!

[femmocrat]

7. Love that one!

Yes, the Pennsylvania Polka is the state dance. And the old theme song of the Steelers, too, wasn't it?

The only thing I can think of is that old motto, "You've got a friend in Pennsylvania."

[happyslug]

13. Duke was a "light" beer, before light beers became popular

One observer stated had it survived another ten years, it could have found a whole new market, as the oldest light been in the US.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duquesne_Brewing_Company

[Divernan]

8. At risk of being Debbie Downer here, my purpose in posting on

the Pennsylvania forum is totally serious. I'm focused on minimizing the damage to, and potentially outright destruction of our state's environment and the health and education of its citizens by Corbett, his half-assed cabinet and Fracking Commission, and the Republican dominated state house and senate.

If I feel like kidding around about comfort foods or local beers, I can go to the lounge, or maybe post an occasional thread in the PA forum. To me, kidding around with the statement of purpose is diminishing the potential of the impact we can have on other Pennsylvanians, and on DUers from other states who face the same issues with GOP Governors, GOP dominated state legislatures, and fracking.

Attempting to put together a statement of purpose, I come up with this:

The purpose of the Pennsylvania forum is exposing the consequences of actions by the GOP Governor, his Cabinet and his Fracking Commission, along with the GOP controlled state legislature, upon the environment, health, safety and education of the Commonwealth and its citizens. The forum serves to educate fellow Pennsylvanians on these topics, as well as serve as a heads up to DUers from other states dominated by GOP Governors and Legislatures, and from those states being exploited and damaged by the oil and gas drilling industry.

[Curmudgeoness]

9. Although I know you are right and the group is serious,

I will agree that you are throwing a wet blanket on us. Actually, I was just picking up on Skinner's statement of purpose and moving with it, having a little fun while trying to get comments or suggestions for a true statement of purpose. Your suggestion should be considered, and I hope that there will be other input.

My reaction to your suggestion at first reading was---we hopefully will not be ruled by the GOP for long and I hate to put that (for now) fact in the purpose, which will probably be used for years to come. Let's see what other suggestions we can get and hopefully incorporate all comments into something coherent.

[Divernan]

10. No getting around that another 3.5 years of Corbett is a very wet blanket

not to mention at least 30 more years of fracking - because there's another shale level even deeper than Marcellus.

I haven't read Skinner's statement of purpose - I'll look for that.

I do enjoy Pittsburgh humor n'at, but my choice of reacting to the circumstances in Pennsylvania seem, subjectively of course, to me to be between despair and anger.

I look out my window and see a beautiful, green spring here - Penn's sylvan woods. Then I recall the devastated woods & countrysides I saw in "Gasland". If we can wrest political and governmental control back from the frackers, I'll be more than happy to joke and kid around.

[Curmudgeoness]

11. Despair and anger sure covers it.

But we can hope that the House and Senate can be turned around, at least one of them, sooner. A balance would help and I will not give up on that hope. Also, we are seeing some local governments fighting back against the frackers, and that is also something to work harder to support.

To see Skinner's statement, just look in my OP, it is short and sweet, and covers Philly well. I do agree that we should include Marcellus fracking. "Pennsylvania, where fracking meets some of the most beautiful scenery and clear streams you will ever see."

I am also in hog heaven about spring finally getting here and how beautiful this state is in late spring and summer. After that, I am ready to leave until May returns.