GOOD NEWS FOR PLANET READERS: NEW & IMPROVED VERSION OF SITE DEBUTS MONDAY!
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION OCT. 25-7, 2019) — We have exciting news to share about THE PLANET. Our new and improved site will debut Monday.
Ten years ago, we started this website as a writing exercise to warm up for our day’s assignments. They were never meant to be published, but eventually we realized people might find these little gems interesting.
In building THE PLANET, we had countless models and designs from which to choose. We went for simple and easy. The biggest decision was whether to allow comments. We heard convincing arguments from both sides. After listening to everyone, we went with our core philosophy of free speech. Since Day 1 of a journalistic career, we have held special The Founders notion of a “marketplace of ideas.” Speech — written or spoken — should be free, bristly, and unbridled.
Free speech won out here, and it caught on. What we had to say and what you had in response won an audience. From daily hits in the single digits, we are now up to nearly five figures a column. Your comments are a big part.
The Eagle has banned comments. iBerkshires will often tell you “Comments for this article have been suspended” on hot topics the site’s masters don’t want discussed. It’s interesting, too, that the five main stories iBerkshire plugs on its home page almost always have a combined comment total between 0 and 5. Few are reading, and fewer are moved to comment. In contract, our stories often spur triple-digits in comments.
As for the new, we overhauled a 10-year-old tech platform and invested in design changes to make the site easier to access and read, across all devices including mobile. Those who access the site with smart phones will find a “mobile-friendly” PLANET. In short, the new PLANET will be more secure, more relevant, easier to use, more reader-responsive, and more available.
[ED. NOTE: Activating the changes may require taking THE PLANET down for a few hours. We will coordinate the transfer during a period of minimal activity so few readers will be inconvenienced.]
One change we won’t make is access. PLANET VALENTI will continue to be free of charge. We won’t try to bribe you into subscriptions or offer “premium content” for a cost. You get on anytime, from anywhere, and it won’t cost you a cent.
Actually, the majority of work will happen “backstage,” including the installation of an SSL certificate to make your browsing safer and more secure. We will also be adding a long-sought feature: the ability to “vote” on content with thumbs up or thumbs down both on the main feature and individual comments. There’s a lot of other technical stuff we leave to the experts. You’ll also notice ads. They will help pay the freight and enable more investment in THE PLANET to make it more convenient for you.
Our expansion reflects the continued growth of this site in audience, influence, and information. We deliver content NO ONE ELSE HAS OR CAN GET. No one has more contacts and sources than THE PLANET. Your comments and feedback are read by the key decision makers in the region — all the way to Boston. On this site, YOU matter. YOU are the star. The changes we have forthcoming reflect that.
Our audience makes this site what it is. Our capital investment is proof of that.
We thank you. And yes, Aunt Millie will keep the window open.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
———————————————————————————————–
“The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn” — Ralph Waldo Emerson.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. All users of this website — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else making use of its information, hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.
Dan,
Congratulations on your site update. Nicely done and thank you for doing this for the people who follow looking for a different outlet for the happenings going on. One thing I’m sure will never change is your determination to bring the facts of any given issue out so we can decide where we stand on the issue. Planet Friday, Just the facts ma’am!
Yup — THE PLANET and Jack Webb. Thanks J-2.
Dan, certainly a dynamic and vibrant new site. At least as flashy as Tyers campaign flyers, but with authentic , not doctored photos. It appears some comments have gone missing between the old version of this edition and the merge with the dynamic and vibrant one. Any chance they will get merged or should we re-post? Blare had a comment about Former ADA
that seems to be missing and Joe Pesci has a persnickety reply that is gone and J99 really walloped Jive as feeding at the public trough. Can’t find these now among the others.
Some comments may be lost in the transition, SAL. The move has gone smoothly, but there are always inevitable bugs to be Raided. This may be one of them. I’ll have me tech people explore. Thanks for the feedback.
Dan, here is the consecturive string from the old version, that were once part of this thread, in case you want to repost them, so they are on the record.
35.
Blare
October 25, 2019 at 9:54 pm #
Example # 1: Below is a proposed solution to the problem of kids doing stupid
things on the Internet, thanks to the third most powerful person during Capeless’s
reign as DA, Second Assistant DA Rob Kinzer. This guy worked under Capeless
for his entire career and used to speak to students at schools throughout the
county.
And yet, his view was that if kids DID mistakes, the best course of action was to
ruin their lives – permanently!
From a Berkshire Eagle Article in 2013:
As the head of the DA’s computer crime unit, which includes several state
troopers, Kinzer cited “kids, young adults, even adults who think it is a good idea
to take nude or semi-nude photos of themselves on their cellphones and send
them to other people via text message.”
10/26/2019 GOOD NEWS FOR PLANET READERS: NEW & IMPROVED VERSION OF SITE DEBUTS MONDAY! | Planet Valenti
planetvalenti.com/2019/10/good-news-for-planet-readers-new-improved-version-of-site-debuts-monday/#comments 19/23
Youngsters who are under 18 fail to realize that they have created and
manufactured child pornography, Kinzer warned a group of parents during an
informational session at Lenox Memorial Middle and High School this past week.
“When you send that text message, you have disseminated child pornography”
and when it is shared and shown to others, they are in possession of child
pornography, he pointed out.
“We do not have any exceptions in our law for kids who are really in love, for girls
who wanted to do it and for guys who promised they wouldn’t share it, or for two
kids who are dating,” Kinzer said. “A nude photo of [a minor’s] exposed genitalia
is child pornography.”
The prosecutor explained that he has spread the word at schools throughout
Berkshire County.
“I’m done telling what the law is,” Kinzer said. “When they start sharing photos
like this, we are going to start charging people with the manufacturing,
dissemination and possession of child pornography, and they’re going to go to
court.
“They’re going to face [prosecution], probably not jail time unless they’ve got bad
records. But that’s OK. They’ll just be put on probation and they’ll get to register
as a sex offender, and that’s a great box to check off on any job application,” he
continued. “You’re going to lose jobs and relationships, and you’ll spend the rest
of your life as a registered sex offender.”
Reply
JoePesci
October 26, 2019 at 7:11 am #
And your point is?
Reply
36.
Johnny Absurd
October 26, 2019 at 1:06 am #
So the superintendent is staying? Holding on to the paycheck while frantically
looking for a way out. At first he felt in his gut that it was time to move on. Then
when it did not work out he says Pittsfield is where he needs and wants to be.
Both statements cannot be true so is he as phony as all other politicians at city
hall? You decide. And ask yourself if a person this confused can effectively run a
school system anywhere?
Reply
Johnny99
October 26, 2019 at 7:17 am #
He’s an obese GOBSIG feeding at the taxpayer trough.
Oh wait, can’t call an obese person obese anymore, even though that’s the
correct medical term for a super fat person. Now it’s “he has obesity”, less
personal that way, like he’s not resonsible. The new progressive way, kinda
like a person is no longer a drug
addict but rather has a disorder, a substance abuse disorder.
This city has a spending disorder and new mayor should tell mccandles
contract ain’t getting renewed.
Thanks, SALLY.
Every time I see Peter White he’s texting. Look at the photo for example at The a Mayor debate at phs and the Morningside photo op,examples. Definitely has a app habit.
So the Mrs. & I attended Sat. Nite’s Taconic football game at BCC. First time at the beautiful new turf field & brand new bleachers – whoever coordinated that project did a great job. The out-of-town team decimated Taconic. What struck me the most was the absence of Taconic cheerleaders, band & supporters. The opposing team brought their cheerleaders and plenty of cheering fans. What gives? It appears that since Ron Lively left, there is little or no music program in the Pittsfield schools. I’ve attended the 4th of July parade & Fall Foliage parade, and the PHS & Taconic “bands” are anemic. I guess that after spending bazillions on “therapeutic” programs there is little money left for music!? And cheerleading programs? Disappointing given the size of the city and the size of the school budget!
And why is JIV’s decision to remain in the Pittsfield Public schools front page headline news? He has a contract to fulfill.
Congrats Dan on the new format! Thank you for providing this valuable news & information site! Well done!
Much appreciated, Mr. Fritz.
Congrats Dan, And nice looking Girlfriend. Incredible stat while watching Pats beat Cleveland. Pats have given up three touchdowns in over seven games and the defense has scored four, damn.
Is it true that Tyer has announced the opening of self service massage parlors in the downtown area? Very vibrant.
Tyer seemed angry and desperate once again tonight.
Tyers assault team is climbing all over the 411 threads. Her hit squad has resorted to a mob assault of nasty politics piling on with what looks like an act of desperation. For her to allow this says a lot about her inner self and the people she has surrounded herself with. Sad for Pittsfield but not surprising given what has happened to the city in the last four years.