GO TO BED IRENE, YOU’RE GETTING SLEEPY … plus … IS BERKSHIRE LIFE LEAVING PITTSFIELD? EARLY IN ON THE PLANET!!
By DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary
ADD ONE, 8/31/11
As we said we would, THE PLANET sent out feelers to those who might be in the know on the persistent rumors that Berkshire Like will be pulling out of Pittsfield. We have heard back from one of our sources, who tells us:
It’s a false rumor. If I find out anymore information or can elaborate further I’ll drop you line. I’d like to remain off the record at this point, but I have it from a very good authority in whom I have the utmost confidence and trust that the rumor is false.
We will keep checking, but for now, that is the most definitive and authoritative statement than anyone can make. It comes from a well qualified source with intimate information about the company.
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(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, AUG. 31, 2011) — To finally put the matter of the non-starter Irene to bed, THE PLANET will say for the third time: No one, including this address, is saying that there wasn’t damage, loss of life, etc. Our point is that (a) we’ve seen much worse than this so-billed “once in a lifetime” event and (b) Irene failed to come close to the pre-announcements, the relentless flogging, the hysterical hype, and the otherwise hyperbolic predictions of the mainstream media.
Even when they knew it wasn’t a Hurricane 5, even when they knew it wasn’t a Hurricane 1, even when they knew it wasn’t a cyclone, and even when they knew it was downgraded to a tropical storm, they kept pushing it. They — The Weather Channel, many of the meteorologists, and anyone else who had a hot mic and bought into Armageddon — THEY were the ones who should apologize.
The rationalists among us give thanks for the reality of the situation. The storm fizzled out (again, compared to the hype). Call it God’s will, randomness, coincidence, or whatever, we were blessed. The ones who keep harping over THE PLANET’s common sense and reasonableness in the coverage of Irene act like they are disappointed the storm fizzled. Evidently, they wanted much more death, destruction, and disintegration.
We are not sorry for them, and we are not sorry they didn’t get what they wanted.
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Who Can Insure Berkshire Life?
Is Berkshire Life leaving? We first heard this rumor about three weeks ago. At first, it seemed nothing more than that. The buzz has persisted through the wires, however, and the talk won’t go away. This isn’t confirmation, of course, but there’s something brewing.
THE PLANET has made and is making inquiries into the situation, and as soon as we find our something, you will be the first to know. Don’t look for the story in the Boring Broadsheet, because it wouldn’t be interested in the enterprise journalism required to confirm or not.
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MORE LATER.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
No Dan Your the one who seems disapointed that there was not more damage. Just like you seem to take some perverse pleasure when something bad happens in Pittsfield. If something good happens then you down play it. But when something goes wrong you almost get giddy over it. OPEN THE WINDOW AUNT MILLIE ! DANS GONNA JUMP! LOVE TO ALL.
It isn’t like Dan is one of these azzclown, media types.
Exactly. There’s more truth here than you intend.
Regarding the storm, I have relatives over in Schoharie NY. The entire town was flooded up to 8 feet deep, countless people are homeless. The town is pulling itself back together all by itself. My relatives live on a hill just south of town and did not get flooded. They have opened their doors to any and all comers, providing shelter and whatever food they can find. Up in Vermont, the entire state is a disaster area. Dan, it’s time you just moved on. OK?
SW Do you really think The Planet cares about NY state? The Planet only cares about his blogg!
You’re right, I do care about this blog, but it’s not the only thing. Our readership numbers tell me that a lot of other care about it too!
As I have said, I am sorry for anyone who got hit by the storm. That’s what people either won’t accept or won’t believe, but SW, it’s true. Those who won’t accept that can choose to believe what they wish.
Lest we not forget hurricane Katrina…..There were many lessons learned during that tragedy, which was made much worse by a lack of preparedness by city, state and federal authorities and a lack of urgency and coverage by the media at the local level. While some of the Irene coverage and preparations by state and local authorities may have been a bit overzealous, it was effective in having an informed and ready citizenry. As a result, damage and fatalities were kept at a minimum. Dan always criticizes government and media for not caring enough and now he’s complaining that they cared too much. I guess, the only perfect Journalist is…Dan Valenti….The only one who knows what tragedy is…Dan Valenti. Until we all bow down and anoint Dan our savior, we can expect more ramblings from a unfulfilled man in search of validation.
TWO CENTS
No. I’m not saying state and local authorities were a bit overzealous. I’m just saying the hype and the result were not equal. Simple at that. As for the only perfect journalist, I must disqualify myself from offering a view. It might be considered, you know, biased.
Here it comes Dan thay are all turning on you this time it’s not just paranoia it’s real, like my mom always says “vanity comes before the fall” don’t try to spin it just admit it YOU ARE WRONG.
Is this a Jimmy the Greek moment?
10-to-1 it isn’t.
One danger in all this is that the next time a tornado or big storm is predicted Dan’s believers will blow it off and be out on Stockbridge bowl in their canoes.
And the results of that folly WILL be in the BB.
I might even read the paper in that event!
Whatsamatta, Dan, Buddy-boy not pay you enough to keep your lackey covering the Clownials? Or PIttsfield just not winning if the opponents show up?
JT 50 cents on the dollar.
Berrt’n nuttin’, right?
Josh Cutler went back to law school at UMass. Second year. In 10 years, he will be mayor of Pittsfield.
Yeah, I don’t expect him to amount to much either.
yeah, not a big shot like you, and rpi grad who’s the coffee boy at a social service agency in pittsfield, probably making 20K a year.
Maybe you should learn how not to whiz on yourself.
says more about you than him.
We all agree, the BB is crap!
On that, there is unanimous consent. Thanks, Beez.
Only Dan covers the non-story of the ridiculous rumor that Berkshire Life is leaving. Dan has it all over the Beagle.
After three days of this “Irene was a bust” can we please, please move on?
In this season of elections I’m sure there must be something more important to discuss.
How about the wards that are going to have incumbants automatically put back into their comfy seats in the council, even though they don’t deserve them.
How about the deals of Community Development Office. I’m still reeling over the cost of planters, and Deanna’s indignation about being questioned and snapping that no one is supposed to know those figures. Wonder what else is going on there. Silk Mill?
How about the drug trade/gang wannabes which seem to have gotten worse over the summer. (Dark North Street sure helped that.)
How about the ‘incident’ at Pitt Park a couple weekends ago that was never reported on in the Berk. Eagle, but was the real reason Lanesboro and Dalton police were in Pittsfield (not the 2nd street fiasco the BB reported on).
How about _______________ (fill in the blank).
Discuss!
DEE
We’ll do our best. But you know, when we start reporting on Pittsfield, the harpies say: There he goes, making a living off of being negative. Thanks for the reminder, though!
Irene did not live up to the hype that the weather channel would have had us believe does not mean that there was no storm or storm damage. Does that mean we don’t feel for those that have suffered across the path no. Does that mean I or anyone else wished for more damage? No. Does it mean that the weather channel should be held accountable for not releasing information that it had in its procession at a time of a declared state of emergency should go with out account? No the weather channel uses resources paid for by the citizens just so we can get accurate up to date information. If we stand for the propaganda pushed down our throats during a storm what will be pushed next? Are you not the least bit concerned that the weather channel withheld factual information from the public it serves via the airwaves? If say Fox news withheld info or hyped up something the very people on this blog would be screaming from the rooftops.
Thank God the storm wasn’t as bad as it could have been and thank god rational people can evaluate the storm the pre-storm hype. And to bad it cant be discussed, examined and debated like adults.
What information did the Weather Channel withhold and how do you know? I’m more worried that people think weather reporting is “propaganda.”
JEFF
This proves you don’t actually read or can’t read. That information was clearly stated in my second report on Irene. The Weather Channel deliberately withheld information after the storm had been downgraded from H3 to H3/tropical storm, according to Forbes.com. Forbes reported that TWC left up and kept repeating the the alarmist H5 forecast longer than they needed? Why? To drive up ad rates to record levels, because people tune in when they think the End of the World is coming. Joe P apparently reads much better than you do.
Dan, your scribblings aren’t worth very close attention. At the time of Michaels’s column, Irene was a Cat 2 Hurricane with 100 mph winds (http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/at201109.asp).
It’s not clear to me what the “cyclone” distinction means.
Hurricane Irene was never a Category 5 (or even Cat 4) storm.
Do you understand that all the damage in new York and vemont happened after this storm was down graded to a tropical storm. This storm was almost as dangerous as you Dan lemmings are.
Hurricane Irene will most likely prove to be one of the 10 costliest catastrophes in the nation’s history
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/31/us/31floods.html?_r=3&hp
No one’s disputing there was lots of damage. We’re just disputing the reportage leading up to the event: They promised the End of the World. We got rain and wind. The mainstream media has a vested interest in commercializing the weather. That cannot be disputed.
I don’t think anyone expected it to still be a hurricane when it reached the Berkshires, Dan. And because of the size, the water was going to be problematic regardless of the wind speed. They promised once-in-a-lifetime, and in Vermont it’s being compared to a flood from 1927 – my dad lived his whole life between those two events.
JT you may be the one of the only voices of reason in this whole foolish exercise. I trust when Dan finally snaps you won’t follow him and drink the koolaid.