Throughout the busy day today, THE PLANET shall try to check in periodically with thoughts, observations, what not, and all of the above.

THE PLANET, ELECTION DAY 2010: Biker jacket on, ready to kick down Danger's Door with our coverage on the air and in cyberspace. (C) 2010, pix by Jim Robbins. Location: Thornden Park, Syracuse, NY, 1977.

* Secretary of State Bill Galvin is expecting a large turnout, perhaps record breaking. As a minute sliver of evidence, when THE PLANET voted this morning at Stockbridge Town Hall, there was a line. Good to see: We’ve all heard about voter anger, but it’s more complex than mere anger. It’s also frustration, fear, exasperation, apathy (when activated, a most potent force), and a deep desire for change, as in ANYBODY BUT THEM BUMS THAT ARE IN THERE NOW. The latter may or may not be advisable as a selection strategy on Election Day, but it will be in play.

* This morning, the Boston Herald had a photo gallery of the candidates voting. They had about a half dozen pictures each of Deval Patrick and Charlie Baker casting their ballots. A modest question: Where the **** was Jill Stein? She’s on the ballot, she’s run a credible campaign, and yet she gets no coverage. The answer, of course, is that Stein started her day in The Berkshires and will be traveling across the state to get to the polls in time for here to vote in her hometown of Lexington.

* Today will be historic in Pittsfield IF 3rd Berkshire District voters reward the honesty of rising Mark Miller and punish the flaccid and sagging Chris “No Show” Speranzo. Spurs picked the wrong campaign to become Claude Rains, that is, The Invisible Man.

* Tune in tonight from 7:30 to 9 p.m. as THE PLANET sits in with Larry Kratka to co-anchor election night coverage on the Vox network in Berkshire County: WNAW North Adams, WBEC and WUPE in Pittsfield, and WSBS in Gt. Barrington. We shall, as always, “tell it like it is.”

* BACK AGAIN FOR A QUICKIE, 12:46 p.m. A ridiculously early trend statewide shows that if the election ended at noon, Charlie Baker would be your next governor. Ah, but there’s a long time to go … 8 p.m., exactly.

* If you have Facebook, read what Ward 2 city coulcilor (and Dem Loyalist) posted for his recommendations: Dems, straight across the line, in a classic slate vote. You’ll be curious how THE PLANET responded, essentially showing Pete that Facebook is a two-way medium. We know it’s a medium because it is neither rare nor well done.

* It’s one thing to be loyal. We respect that as one of the most endearing of personal traits. In politics, though, to be a Loyalist is to obey the Party Bosses from fear of getting bitch slapped. THE PLANET gets “how” someone could put themselves into “sell out” mode (they do it for the perceived rewards, that is, the fruits of insider politics), but we don’t get “why.” Why would someone do that to themselves? The answer, my political guru advises me, is the same. In some way large or small, a slate-supporting Party Loyalist (doesn’t matter which party) does it to line the pockets. Grease, baby, grease.

* At this point in his sad flameout, who, if anyone, is Chris Speranzo? What’s left after the crash? Anyone got a clue?

* LATER (5:33 ish)

Dialogue between a first time voter and a veteran voter:

VET VOTER: Come hither, my boy, and tell me what you see here?

1st TIMER: A fat foot caught in the mouth of a political snare!

They were voting in 3rd Berkshire District! Apologies to Blake (William, not Amanda)

* Several spies at various polling places report voting in Pittsfield brisk, in south county heavy, and in North Adams dead.

* Prediction: There’s going to be a shocker tonight.

* THE PLANET will be heading to Vox studios before long, trying to talk my stomach into some Vox pizza, the slices with the red pools on top!

* The Mark-Case-Racz race has proven the most competitive and the most interesting. The Miller-No Show race carries the most important, for it will tell us canary-in-the-mine style if there is hope for Pittsfield voters against insider politics. The Laugenour-Pignatelli race walked the highest ground.

MORE TO COME.