NETTING, BETTING, MINIONS, MORONS, DUNKS, SKUNKS, DRUNKS, PUNKS … OH YEAH, AND BASEBALL
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016) — There will be pirates and princesses, walking tacos and other shoddy promotions. There will be fireworks and firewalls in the form of over-netting, tin heroes, and inedible hot dogs. There will be plenty of distraction for the Colleens and Darrens, living cheese balls on a diversion who can enjoy cheesecake on a stick.
THE PLANET can report a new challenge of idiocy. This one fleeces the suckers of $17 for the right to wolf down (1) a double-king bacon cheeseburger mounded with pulled pork and jalapenos, (2) a super-sized double helping of nachos, and (3) a 32-ounce soda without ice, all within 15 minutes. That’s right: The saps who try this life-threatening gimmick have to cough up $17 for the privilege of risking a heart attack. The call it a “triple play.” A better term might be a “suicide setup.”
There will be ear-splitting, unlistenable music squeezed into every available moment to better keep the yokels mentally sidetracked. Unsupervised, roving hordes of kids of all stripes will be on hand to scream, throw things, stand in your way, flip you off, and litter like crazy. If you look real good, there will be the occasional drug addict and gang-banger, bum and drifter, and, of course, lots of drunks, amusing themselves with wit that grows wittier with each additional brew.
There will be picnics, birthdays, and snotty campers. The ambience will have all the appeal of a a bolt of of lightning sneaking through your car window, swirling about the interior, before eventually splitting your brain. Not enough for you? Wait. They haven’t even started.
There will be an invasion of minions, morons, fireworks (staged stimulation for the simple-minded), yelping school kids glued to their smart phones, fireworks, the wild west, Christmas in June, Dory at 42 Wallaby Way (whatever that is), the mockery of art, road races, fireworks, franks and steins (get it? “ha ha”), dog day (complete with dog ends so you can go down to the bog and warm your feet), fried potatoes, fried fireworks, fried sandwiches, fried butter, fried dough, fried phone books, fried car seats, fried lard, fried PCBs, and fried Crisco, superheroes, Star Wars, Bar Wars, giveaways of low-end T-shirts and third-rate jerseys with lots of logos of businesses you don’t care to advertise, Halloween, carnivals, and olympics.
There will be rats and bats, mosquitos and flies, fog and damp, skunks and punks, mist and muck. Lakes will form when it rains, and when it doesn’t, the action will be delayed because of Ol’ Sol. They’ll pretend it’s an attraction.
Had enough? Thought so. There will be 28 occasions for this popular psychosis, a dumbed down version of bus or train tour, a whaling outing for those who can’t sit still for a moment. The main attraction will feature amateurs in a tin-cup league well behind in accomplishment of its Cape Cod big brother. Most of the lads will be from the lower levels of collegiate toil, nothing special, though they will be in uniform, and uniforms always make a lad look great.
Oh yeah, THE PLANET almost forgot.
There will be baseball, strictly as a side note.
As you know, baseball at this level of the barrel is not about baseball. The folks who attend do not intend, if you get our drift. Oh, a tiny handful will come to see this version of the once-Great American Pastime, wanting only the action on the diamond. But the other 98% will come for other reasons. If they’re adults, they are either harried parents frantic to keep their bored kids from more boredom, or they’re there for the alcohol. If they’re kids, they are on hand to run around and act obnoxiously.
And to think, there once was a Game.
In case you haven’t guessed, The Pittsfield Suns open their season 7 p.m. at Wahconah Park this Thursday.
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“Baseball is like church. Many attend, few understand.” — Leo Durocher
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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The Berkshire Eagle (aka Boring Broadsheet) had a nice write up about Rinaldo Del Gallo, III on Monday, May 30th, 2016. Rinaldo is running for Berkshire…State Senator in the spirit of anti-establishment, working class hero Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign.
There are several other candidates running for this state government legislative seat being vacated by Ben Downing. Democrats Andrea Harrington of Richmond, Adam Hinds of Pittsfield, and Republican Christine Canning of Lanesborough.
Former Governor Bill Weld is running for Vice President as a Libertarian candidate. Like Rinaldo, Bill Weld is running against the establishment. But unlike Rinaldo, Bill Weld is NOT a working class hero. Rather, Bill Weld is a wealthy blue blood trust fund multimillionaire who believes working class people are beneath his high place of class and privilege.
I like Rinaldo! He is very intelligent. When I lived in Pittsfield over one dozen years ago, I listened to Rinaldo’s ideas for Pittsfield politics. He was overshadowed by the one-two punch of WHEN and Jimmy Ruberto. But, many of Rinaldo’s predictions of Pittsfield’s doomed fate came true as time wore on into the future. Rinaldo saw the writing on the wall instead of buying into the WHEN and Jimmy Ruberto propaganda about Pittsfield politics.
News Article –
“Drop in jobs, income sparks interest in new master plan”
Last master plan completed in 2001
By Phil Demers, The Berkshire Eagle, May 30, 2016
DALTON – A 46 percent dip in town manufacturing jobs between 2000 and 2013 has contributed significantly to “quite a rise in poverty,” a $4,000 fall in annual per capita income and a 5 percent increase in unemployment.
That sobering data was detailed in a 157-page draft report that will help shape a new Dalton Master Plan, the first revision since 2001, in hopes of turning around the town’s economic slide.
“I was surprised by the increase in the poverty rate of families and individuals, which jumped from about 2 percent to 10 percent,” said Town Manager Kenneth Walto. “In 2000, Dalton was relatively more affluent than surrounding communities, but now is the least affluent, excluding Pittsfield. Median household income has actually declined over that time when adjusted for inflation.”
The report, which was presented during a recent public meeting, was compiled by the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission in consultation with a 14-member Town Hall Steering Committee. The $10,000 cost of the study came from grants and community development funding.
It is designed to facilitate the revision of the town’s master plan, a document that will guide Dalton’s general direction for the next 10 to 20 years.
“We’re trying to come up with a vision,” said commission planner Mark Maloy, “What we want to do is improve the life of residents, support the town’s base of small and large businesses and increase visitor traffic.”
Residents, too, are encouraged to participate. The final version of the report won’t be completed until early fall.
“It is open for public comment until the draft is complete and adopted by the Planning Board,” Walto said, and elements of the plan will start to be implemented “as soon as it’s done.”
Some of many recommendations in the report include encouraging business collaboration, dealing with vacant buildings and former mills, consideration of tax plans to encourage growth or job retention, rezoning certain town lands to make them developer-ready, support start-ups and technology companies with “flexible workplaces,” reach out to farmers, improve the cellular single in downtown, provide cheap broadband Internet and continue to invest in education.
Another issue: The Massachusetts Broadband Institute’s “Middle Mile” goes “right down Main Street, but it’s too expensive for businesses to connect to,” Maloy said.
Infrastructure repairs — including road, sewer and water — comprise a “major,” but very necessary, town expense, the report says.
“In my view, economic and demographic issues predominate as the population is aging, manufacturing jobs have declined significantly and there is not a lot of room physically for new growth,” Walto said.
Contact Phil Demers at 413-496-6214. pdemers@berkshireeagle.com @BE_PhilD on Twitter.
The Styrafoam Stallion announces officially today.
Time to go to a Town Manager form of government in Pittsfield
Dalton ma. Can’t afford to be Dalton anymore with almost no services left and taxes that just have no shot of going down.Pittsfield is headed down this path but could avoid the hard reality because of the waste in Pittsfield whereas Dalton does not waste one nickle.
I would love at budget time to magicly put them in charge of Pittsfield finances this year.The Dalton board is expected to be informed on how each dept works and how money is spent.
Mrs Behnke needs to be trained in Dalton on how to manage a budget.I think shadowing this budget director would only help her.Please Mrs Behnke call Dalton for advice, you need to do your job.Joe Curtis and Mrs Behnke need to GetTo Work.
Some people may be in their position for the explicit purpose of NOT doing their job. Excess budgets equals excess skimming possibilities. ” Oh gee, look how much extra we have in that account…whatever can we do with it? OH, I know. We can……..”
Great writeup DV. I stopped going to Suns game last year when my complaints about the blaring music and out of control kids were politely ignored. I also hate the netting they have around all the seats. I would rather play ball on the Deming sandlot when you go!!
I might be there too, bad knee and all.
Kids will be kids and I can more less deal with it but I’m with you on the ridiculous blaring music. That is the reason my wife and I quit going.
http://www.downtownpittsfield.com/business-directory/explore/wahconah-parkpittsfield-sons/
Great work being done ant Downtown inc. They have the Pittsfield Suns, listed as Pittsfield Sons. Click the above link.
My children and I always enjoyed the Suns games. While I worked for a baseball team for many years, and appreciate the dislike of the Disneyfication of the game, keeping score is a lost art and the pastime does not tell the story of baseball well. Tension, Tension, now pitching……
I hear the team you worked for was part of the Le Leche League
Two cents-What have you done to help the taxpayer lately?
GR, you got me. I have not done anything since I was forced to leave the community I love when industry left and my taxes soared, leaving little money to repair my bullet shattered windows. Your question of what have you done for taxpayers would be better posed to those who can actually do something about it- like the administration. How can the mayor in good conscience submit a budget that is over 6 million dollars more than FY16. She better also issue a reminder that the last person to leave the city must turn off the lights.
Two Cents–MR. G. feels your pain and he is at every CC Meeting trying to push the city to start caring more for the Taxpayers and less for thei own ambitions. Mr. G convinced the entire city political structure in the 80’s to scrap their plans for a 100 million dollar water filtration plant and was successful in building facilities which saved the taxpayers 0ver 80 million dollars. Today he is up against a wall with the present crop of idiots who run City Hall. He is a doer extraordinaire and has a plan to save tens upon tens of Millions of dollars at the sewer plant also. Lets see how many of these idiots who run city hall will follow suit of their predecessors in city hall who listened to the Wiz in the 80’s. Time will tell. Stay tuned
The decline continues. Just a matter of time until the collapse
Just another GOBSIG trying to hijack a legitimate thread.
SHH refers to a couple of posts that have been REDACTED. THE PLANET will do all we need to do to keep the discourse both honest (that is, legitimate) and accurate. This would exclude rants in ALL CAPS, of course.
Mr. Valenti-I hope you will keep your word. Others need to be heard on this site.Only when everyone is pulling in the same direction can we defeat those who hold public office who have no concern for the Taxpayer. Ther is so few of us trying to right a wrong situation that we must stick together. We will do whatever we can to promote your agendas which is vwer
Taxpayers don’t pay for the water and sewer. People that use the water and sewer pay for the water and sewer.
We didn’t know that.. We are stupid.. You look more and more ridiculous every passing day. The Taxpayer paid for the building of the plants and your water and sewer rates for the past 30 years were only 1/7th what they would have been if the Wiz didn’t rescue the city. Are you aware of that Mr. Know it All? Start studying up on the city’s history. You are an ill informed individual and every intelligent individual on this site knows it. TOPIXis the site for you.
I don’t think many pay for water and sewer who are not property owners….It is in essence a tax.
Interesting…I posted a reply to your comment Spare, but it was placed way upstream above.
Shakes-You are best described as being irrelevant. Please tell us what you did for the taxpayer latel?. Please be specific. BS is cheap. Lets hear some specifics from you.
Drum Corps Buffs- Google-TOP SECRET DRUM CORPS. See the greatest drum line on the face of the earth. You will agree.
I have gone to a couple of dozen minor league games at Waconah park over the last 50 years. Most were quite enjoyable. But now there are too many distractions having nothing to do with baseball. Almost impossible to enjoy the game if that is why you came in the first place. No desire to subject myself to that torture.
Aren’t they getting some kind of gravy from the city? Can the public use that public park? Can public person even go near the place without paying anymore?
Im told Mrs Behnke andJoeCurtis are bullying just the janitors….The bullying is illeagal and a bad example to the students in our education facilities. Insider says they bully Jake Mccandless because hes a teddybear and they dont like that hes a common sense, logical,thinker and employee abuse is not his style.Thay are demanding he change.DoesDalton need bullies in education.
I think Shakes’ point is that sewer and water are usage charges, not taxes. I agree Spare, it is like a tax…but it’s not a tax.
My question is, why does Mr. Gaetani keep changing his persona and coming back. I wish I knew him when he was lucid, but now I just sorta feel sorry for him. He seems gripped by some sort of manic depression that makes him alternately fawn over, then direct invective at Dan and other posters here. Sad.
1188- Good to hear from you Barry- Do not worry about the WIz. He is on top of everything. Do tell us one thing the WIz has said that is not 100% the truth.? The Wiz is a doer and you were a tal ker. IF I were you I would bet on the WIZ. The WIZ Is a city treasure and hasn’t posted on the planet in over six months but he is the topic of the day every day. Why do you think that is so? It is so because he is the best friend the taxpayer has ever had. Any questions Barry? THE Wiz doesn’t care about you or your ilk. The Wiz has established his reputation in this city and will go down in history as the champion extraordinaire of the taxpayer. How will you be remembered?
To the best of my knowledge Pittsfield has a tax collector not a rate collector. maybe they put on different color ball caps when they deal with various money….but who’s kidding who?
If it quacks like a duck………………………………………….
Grim Reaper,
First I will state for the record here I am asking simply as a question and a question of thought. Did the Wiz get compensation above and beyond what the typical rate payer pays for the services they utilize? (If the City saved millions the logical assumption would be that we each get lower rates for the service) If he profited in dollars then his motives are as questionable as any other leader of the City correct? What in term of dollars was he compensated? Both from the City of Pittsfield’s plant and any other plant that was garnered by the firm he worked for, that used the Cites plant as a model etc.? Has the Wiz, his firm or any other entity that used any information, patent or other techniques that were developed for the Cities plant compensated the city for such information and usage? Or as I asked earlier has he really done it for himself and his friends (GOBS) Gaetani’s ole boy system? He could have been a hero of the taxpayers and returned all profits and income above the median income of the time couldn’t he?
If the Wiz is truly interested in righting the ship so to speak, let me suggest a complete shift in leadership style. He should stop they tyrannical rants and demands and build a following the way the Planet and others have. Put a stream of some logical thoughts and belief’s out there for others to read and think about. Changing your name daily, writing in the third person or having others write for you is no longer even amusing to me at least. The disdain for your fellow citizens that you so claim you wish to lead is almost to the point of sickening.
Shakes and I may not agree on a lot of things in the political spectrum but hell maybe we do. I respect that he writes his thoughts in a meaningful manner with a bit of snark maybe, or tongue in cheek whatever at the time but I sense from him he generally cares about the City and more importantly its citizens. I just don’t get that vibe from you. Lead from a position of dignity and maturity and those that possess those traits will follow and you can build a coalition that has purpose. Lead with insults, slurs degradation and bullying tactics and you will only have the newest gang here in the City. The Bloods, The Crips, The Latin kings and now the Waters?
Good citizens of the planet brace yourself for what is to follow, I hope it can be a dialog,
Thank you, JP. Great post, full of wisdom, solid advice, and common sense.
A logical starting point here would be what Metcalf & Eddy were recommending for upgrades in the 80’s and what Krofta actually charged.
Joe Pinhaed- how do you think the Wiz feels with you and many more on this site who has thrown stones at him since he arrived on the scene? I will ask you –can you refute anything the WIz has ever said on this site? You can not. He doesn’t have to answer to you or anyone else. Any one who wants to read about what the Wiz did for this city need only go to the Eagle archives-1981-1985. iT IS all there. Valenti has consistently cast doubt on the Wiz not by what he has said but by what he hasn’t said. Do not play dumb-you have seen how many posts regarding the Wiz have been redacted. The Wiz pays the same water rates you and everyone else does. KROFTA ENG.CORP could have charged the city three times more than they did but they were not out to make a quick buck. T
Be sure to see your school Committee member Josh Cutler boozing it up regularly at the suns games.
Morningside school fell apart under the leadership of Joe ..Data…Curtis. so he grabbed his data machine and put it in a binder and ran for the hills of Mercer and begged for Mercey at Mercer for ruining a school only to have a good woman clean up the mess he made trying to impress his IDOL the otherJake. and this is a story of Two Jakes….and a wannabe Jake ,he is forevermore Jake Curtis and his protégé Jake Behnke along with the real Jakes Mccandless and Eberwien…….Jake Data Curtis and Jake Behnke are Superintendent s named Jake ….whos the best superintendent named Jake…..Do your job Jake ..
.these two Jakes will make a quarter of a million bucks
Can’t we all just get along.
MrG1188 brought up a good question on lack of “follow-ups” in the Eagle.
Which brings up my question…a story in today’s paper about a 87 yr. old woman who plowed into 4 people at a crosswalk in GT. Barrington. Authorities will not give her name pending her possible arraignment on serious charges.
Is this becoming a PC thing. Some names of people pending arraignment are printed (like the Pittsfield firefighter) and others (like this woman are not).
What gives?