Finally, a reason to stop panning Branson

Well, maybe not stop, but at least tone it down a tad... Around here, Branson—with all its kitschy glitz—is "the" entertainment place to be. Blech. Mostly, it's manufactured pap and country crap jazzed up with lotsa gimmicks and sizzle. Not a lot to appeal to me, in other words. But at last I have reason to reconsider getting the dry heaves or just hurling outright whenever someone mentions the "Wholesome Vegas of the Ozarks." "Welcome Home"—a weeklong tribute to Vietnam Vets. OK, even if the whole thing's just a marketing ploy for more plastic pap, someone's got a heart, somewhere, to have thought this was a good idea to begin with. So, I'm going to lay off Branson for a while. I promise: no more projectile vomit when someone mentions the place. Honest. The "Welcome Home" week earns the place that much respect.