Damn! I know at least two people from up in Marsh Crick. That is such a small area up there I almost guarantee you’d know them. I was only ever up in Marsh Crick once myself though. And I had some relatives on my gram’s side who lived there a long time ago (like about 100 years ago). I’ll message you the names maybe you’ll know them lol

No I grew up in a very small town (Lock Haven). Lived here in central Pa over 30 years. I’ve been in Harrisburg for the last 7 years. Seen bald eagle, 6-foot wingspan Turkey vultures up close, just regular old Turkey flocks up close, those big tall white herons, seagulls, all kinds of other random birds (hummingbirds, blue jays). Just never seen a Ruffed Grouse. Not once, ever.

Also random question: do ruffed grouse fly? Like a Robin would? Or are the more like Turkey - can fly short bouts?

Thanks again for the info!! Coolest birds I’ve ever seen besides Bald Eagles are large White Herons and also massive 6-foot wingspan Turkey Vultures down around in the Harrisburg area. I’ve also seen actual Turkey up close in and around Harrisburg too. But I have definitely never seen a Ruffed Grouse. Maybe I will see one someday!! I grew up near Lock Haven and I never once saw a Ruffed Grouse ever. They kinda do look like chickens!

Thanks for sharing. I’m almost 30, lived in rural central PA my whole life, gone for tons of walks and been out in nature quite a bit.

One million percent sure I have never seen or heard a Ruffed Grouse. Are they only in certain parts of PA??

I’ve lived in PA my entire life and I’ve never seen a ruffed grouse once. For real.

Also deer are reptiles, not amphibians. /s

State College has one of the most robust bus systems in the state. By ridership it is actually one of the best bus systems in the country. I am a city nerd and once compiled this data and I believe State College was something like #77 in the whole USA by total annual ridership. Though, these figures were all before covid. I have the data saved and can dig it up for you if you are interested.

State College, until the mid 1950’s, was a podunk, rural, nothingburger of a town. It was akin to what Mansfield, PA is today. It was a small farming crossroads that had a small land grant university which was mostly based on agricultural studies. My grandfather was born in 1939 and grew up in Pine Grove Mills and later State College, and he had said that Lock Haven was a much bigger city and a much bigger deal than State College was at the time, back then. State College was small.

Then, in 1953 Penn State College became Penn State University. PSU also had a University president who was then USA president Dwight D Eisenhower’s brother, Milton Eisenhower. The university started expanding their offerings, attracting large federal grants, expanding their sports program, and building up and modernizing the campus and facilities. State College’s downtown and surrounding areas began to flourish. There was even talk of renaming State College to McCallisterville, and other various names, since the college had become a full-fledged university.

The town began to grow rapidly in the 1970’s as the University continued rising to national prominence. The town gained even more traction when the University joined the Big Ten Conference in 1990. State College as a result continues to grow and densify today. It now has arguably the 3rd (or, definitely in the Top 5) best downtowns in the entire state of PA, behind only Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and only a couple of others, depending on your preferences/criteria.

TLDR: There was no real need for passenger rail service to State College, until much more recently. That is why it does not exist.

Also given the mountainous terrain, it would be hard to build a continuous rail service up into Nittany Valley. You would need a series of tunnels. Just look at how treacherous 322 (Seven Mountains pass towards Lewistown) and I-99 (between Altoona and Port Matilda) are. So the cost to build that infrastructure would be quite steep, no pun intended.

Amtrak is really helping Lancaster and Harrisburg a lot - both have Amtrak stations. It’s a shame State College isn’t in on the action, too. State College has come a long way, and I imagine it will continue to do well without rail service. I mean, look at how much the airport there has expanded. How much the state is pouring into finishing I-99 and upgrading 322, and building a new 99/80 interchange. State College is still a priority site for state and federal infrastructure, I would imagine.

It is not good. There was a huge warehouse built in York County that destroyed an entire forest. It is sad.

Is it common for people to use the word “Pry” instead of “Probably”?

Example(speaking kinda fast): I’m pry gonna go to the store later.

Is this a PA thing? Because I’ve lived here all my life and I know I do it, and I think I’ve heard other people do it. But it’s either so common I’ve forgotten how people say it. or I’m just weird and only I do it.

Looks more like where Reading is.

SC goes full urban to full rural so fast. I lived only 2 miles exactly from downtown and there were cows mooing outside my window at night.

Same can be said for any of PA’s small cities - Lancaster, Harrisburg, Reading, Allentown, Erie, Scranton. You can be in the woods or the middle of a cornfield within a couple miles of each downtown.

Ah, I don’t know how to break this to you, but uh, birds aren’t real.

Yeah I wonder did it mean something deeper like a hidden message? Or did they just put something random in the song? Still an amazing song nonetheless!!

Oh damn! TIL! Anyway, yeah that song always makes me nostalgic for the 1970s. Even though I was born in 1993. Has to be the most 70’s songs out there. I picture myself driving a convertible along the Pacific Highway in California, the year is 1977.

Goddamn it. Must be the alligator lizards in the air, again then.

What if a bird pees on you?

Looking at the photo of this sign, I just heard the intro to Anyway You Want It by Journey.

“Anyway you want it, that’s the way you neeeeed it. Anyway you waaaant it!”

Only someone with such a fragile ego would allow a trivial issue to affect official matters.

There will be no fun allowed. Those in power want us to live dull, bleak lives with no small enjoyments whatsoever.