DINA WINS THE FIRST ‘MICS AWARD’ … plus … THE SKUNKS ROBBED THE KAPANSKIS ONCE AGAIN, AND IT WASN’T PRETTY
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION MARCH 3-5, 2023) — This week, a PLANETEER suggested the implementation of a new award. THE PLANET took it up with our Board of Directors, and the proposal won unanimous approval.
Unlike Our Right Honorable Good Friends on the city council, our board is capable of understanding simple language and clear intent. It therefore can come to a decision without torturing the onlookers and making itself look all a-dunce.
The suggestion was the initiation of a new award — the Most Ignorant Council Statement (MICS) Award.
The newly minted MICS, though lacking in glorious prestige of the coveted Orbit Award, nonetheless has attached to it a rare distinction. To be singled out for being obtuse among such bowling-ball colleagues is an amazing accomplishment.
Now, THE PLANET announces the winner of our first MICS.
C’mon down, Dina “Climate Change” Lampiasi!
You go, girl!
You won the MICS!
———- ooo ———-
“Climate Change” wins for her late word on Tuesday night, following what passed for discussion over councilor Karen Kalinowski’s seemingly straightforward petition for a referendum on the fate of downtown’s bike lanes.
Here is what she said, word-for-word:
“There’s a possibility of returning to a situation of death. Somebody just died on West Street and we’re actually debating whether or not to have more people die on North Street. This is ridiculous.”
It sure is, Climate.
Nothing like using the unfortunate death of a pedestrian for cheap political purposes. As for the “more people [dying] on North Street,” could Climate Change be talking about gang violence and drug trafficking, you know, the “vibrant” bit?
———- ooo ———-
To try to reconstruct the whirlpool of obfuscation Tuesday night on the bike-lane petition would be like trying to reassemble the splattered brain matter of a Mafia crime boss after he took “two in the hat” while eating linguine in Paisano’s on 48th street.
And just as messy.
Four weeks ago, with councilors Maffuccio and Persip not present, somehow, the petition to put bike lanes to a people’s vote in November passed, 5-4. It then went to Pags, the city solicitor, to summarize the question for the ballot. Under council rules,
- The council votes to place a question on the ballot.
- The solicitor fashions the question into legal language, and
- The city clerk then arranges to place it before voters in November. The process is simple and straightforward.
Ah, but this is the Ship of Fools, the Second Coming of “Her Haw.”
The solicitor came back two weeks ago with language that asked “Yes” or “No” — Do voters want to restore North Street to two lanes of traffic going north-south instead of the present configuration?
Still simple …
… until, that is, Persip introduced the first wave of nausea, saying he didn’t understand what was going on, to which THE PLANET says, “Of course you didn’t. You weren’t present to hear the debate and cast your vote, and you obviously didn’t do your homework.” Kavey, Sherman, Conant, Marchetti, White, and Climate Change joined Persip, feigning fog in the brain. Basically, they said the initial 5-4 approval dealt with bike lanes, but the language the solicitor handed back only talked about traffic lanes.
To borrow from Gen. Buck Turgidson, “Mr. President, I’m beginning to smell a big, Commie rat!”
In the end, 7-3 (Kalinowski, Warren, Kronick), the brigands voted NOT to send the question to the city clerk to be placed on the ballot. They voted to table the matter, to bring it up at the next meeting on the legally questionable claim that it falls under “unfinished business.” At the next meeting, they will kill a people’s vote on the bike lanes once and for all.
As for the “unfinished business” argument, Ken Warren had his finest moment yet when he showed, verse and chapter, how the initial approval stood and could not legally be called “unfinished.” Legality, though, does not concern these outlaws in the majority.
The skunks pulled a fast one on Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski.
Remember in November.
———- ooo ———-
THE PLANET asked councilors Conant, Kronick, and Kalinowsky for their comments on Tuesday’s tumult. [ED. NOTE: We present comments verbatim to let the councilors and their words appear in all their purity].
CONANT
My thoughts on the matter have evolved as the proposed question has changed from its original content. The original question proposed to be placed on the ballet, was due you want bike lanes on North Street. Which I supported, as a straightforward question. Now the question has changed to remove bike lanes and return to a four-lane North Street. On top of that there will be the scheduled debate of a traffic order allowing the change to diagonal parking on North Street, which has overwhelming support of the business owners downtown, as diagonal parking will increase available parking space by 40%. Diagonal parking does not fit with a four lane North Street. If the questioned passed as written there would be no diagonal parking. We all know the lack of parking on North Street is an issue and supporting the local downtown business is a top priority of mine.
I believe with all the current changes that the question is far too complex with all the moving parts. I now think the questions of bike lanes, number of traffic lanes and style of parking are best decided by the council at this time.
SIR CHARLES
I would say that the confusion is artificial and a byproduct of an opposition working to undo a prior session’s vote and outcome. Three tactics presented with three debating points. 1): call it unfinished business and claim it needs to be reconsidered. 2) Focus on the discrepancy in the language and try to paralyze the execution. 3) Table to rescind. I commend Councilor Warren in his arguing the first point. That exchange is worth studying.
Originally we voted 5/4 to reword the ballot question to one addressing the lane structure exclusively. Draft one specifically targeted bike lanes for removal. Final draft simply states we will return to 2 marked lanes to correct conflicts that happen when drivers in the left lane encounter turning vehicles on their right when making right hand turns. That draft had been approved and sent to Pagnotta simply to rewrite the required summary. As it had been approved by the Council, it is understood that it would be referred to the Clerk to be placed upon the ballot.
The lawyer correctly rewrote the ballot question, did not revise the summary which still stated, ‘Yes means no bike lanes’. Councilors used that discrepancy to call it’ unfinished business’. Demeter’ Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure instructs that unfinished business may be reviewed in the future and relevant votes be reconsidered. I pointed out that we use our own Council Rules and Orders and Demeters only where procedures are not addressed therein. Our rules and orders instructs that reconsideration can only be taken same session and only by the prevailing side. Thus concluded the first part of the debate. Subsequent opposition attempted to scuttle the referendum by claiming it was insufficiently worded to be placed on a ballot. I pointed out that we do not need a lawyer to summarize a one sentence question and we should change the summary at that time and then refer to the clerk.
The subsequent vote failed to refer it to the ballot. As I mentioned above, I cannot explain why the summary was not corrected per the Council’s revision, but I also consider the conflicting language to be tangential. The ballot question is the meat of the matter and settled; the summary can be corrected up to the day pressing the ballots.
Kalinowsky did not respond to our query.
You know the drill.
When the phone didn’t ring, THE PLANET knew it was her not getting back to us.
———- ooo ———-
Counting the habitually absent Tony Maffuccio, this has shaped up into a 7-4 council. Flip two seats from the Magnificent Seven come November, folks, and maybe — just maybe — We The People can gain control of their hijacked government.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
——————————————————————————–
“If you really want to screw somebody, wear a tie” — Sir Donald Turpentine, Knight of the Bath.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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Gov. Maura Healey’s $55 billion state budget proposal makes Mayor Linda Tyer’s $200 million Pickleball budget look like a bargain for the fictional Kapanski family. I wonder where all of the money goes, other than to Ukraine and oblivion. Pittsfield politics spending money on North Street falls into the oblivion category.
In this case JM, please follow the money..
Me and Jon were talking over a candlelight dinner about Trisha making prostitution not illegal. We both agree it’s ok but she needs to include a gay men’s spa or bathhouse to and be inclusive to all.
First, I went to A Mart and bought me some booze, cigars and cigarettes, and $50 scratch tickets. Second, I went to Luciforo’s Pot Kingdom on Dalton Avenue and bought me some of his finest pot products. Third, I went to the Happy Endings Massage Parlor and found it to be very pleasurable and stimulating. Fourth, I went to the cardroom, and I won a few thousands of dollars throwing the lucky dice. Fifth, I went to Cumby’s at 3am and talked to Barry about his ongoing lawsuit against Melissa Mazzeo. Sixth, Barry and I walked our route in the inner-city at 4am. Seventh, I stopped at one of the drug houses for some good stuff. Eight, put on my jet pack and flew over Silver Lake. Ninth, I parachuted into Clapp Park at dawn. Tenth, ran naked up and down North Street after I took a big shit on the sidewalk.
I can’t believe you forgot 11 when u wore a victorias secrets thong for the first time and 12 when we made love all nite after.
That the bike lanes were put on North Street in the first place is exhibit number 1 telling you all you need to know about Shittsfield’s governance. Whomever orchestrated that should be run outta town, forever. Lamepiasni is dummer than a box of rocks with zero common sense, as evidenced by such an ignorant statement. What an idiot! Grow a brain, Dina
Might need to have a runner-up for that MICS trophy or at least a couple of honorable mentions. There are at least two others who should get an A for effort because they sure seemed to want to win badly.
Anyone supporting DIE Ambassadors to the tune of 2,400 per year in extra income ought be run out of town too, and the same with any DIE nonsense. My God this city has gone down the shitter. Is there a WME award Dan, for Worst Mayor Ever, because like, Tyer makes Hathaway and Doyle look good?
Agree, it’s time for DIE to go away. People are slowly catching on. University of North Carolina has eliminated it at their college. Time for the City of Pittsfield and BCC to do the same.
I see the DEI to be now, generally, an issue for the City employees to debate as it is their proverbial circus.
However, I did one year ago argue that the phenomenon is a high ticket fad that companies and institutions will ultimately abandon for lack of value matched by unsustainable expenses. For the city with a finite income source: how to choose between water, public safety, education, and DEI?
Which ones can the public forego and not miss? This question may become real sooner as the real estate market adjusts to high mortgage rates and diminished demand driven by lack of credit, reduction of remote work, and the rising migration from the area.
With that bleak financial road ahead, you’re basically telling the Pittsfield taxpayers that the Cultural Competency Coach is do another round of ARPA money soon.
We know it’s through no fault of your own Sir Chaz. You do put up a good fight for the taxpayers, even though the deck is always stacked against you.
Cultural Kleptocracy Coach
Out of 300 city and towns 271 of them are wealthier than Pittsfield.We are in the bottom 10 %.We add employees like we are rolling in cash.The catholic church has consolidated and Pittsfield has not.Stop giving money to keep the dream alive.I see 16 cars at the new biobuilding.Nobody is moving here.PHS has had 2 tournament games with no heat in the gym.The visiting teams came from New Bedford and North of Boston….There were 15 gas trucks there last week and the boilers are original to 1934.Please Pittsfield this is embarrassing. There is no parking and no lighting around the gym entrance.The kids at PHS are not getting fair treatment. Lets consolidate
I hope we can refurbish rather than get rid of PHS — it is such an iconic building. There is no greater symbol of the Pitt, except maybe the popcorn wagon.
It would be a mistake of the highest order to “get rid of” (as in demolish) PHS.
Yeah,but what about climate change?
Yes, very true. THE PLANET shall refer your question to the esteemed Ward 6 councilor.
Keep it but not for a school. Let the private sector turn it into condos and do not, for gods sake do not, give them tax breaks.
DEI pushers believe in quotas, not
qualifications…
Not quotas. But it’s strange matter.
Yes. That kind of forced social engineering ends up causing the opposite of what it ostensibly was supposed to correct. A complete waste of taxpayer money and a USDA Prime example of poor use of vital resources.
“That kind of forced social engineering ends up causing the opposite”
That thought reminds me of a comic exchange in Straight Man by Richard Russo. An arrogant professor, whose bodily proportions match a fire hydrant, explains how he had determined that his wife was needing his instruction to progress as a loving partner. As a college professor very accomplished in love, the professor feels qualified to provide the instruction, so he tried to perfect his wife by grading her. He assigned daily grades with strictly academic and practical lessons. He got results! Her grade rose upwards from ‘C’ and he felt she may actually reach his standard that he had accomplished for himself. Then, unexpectedly to him, she began to slide and ultimated flunked out and divorces him.
We shall see how grading employees on their friendliness shall make more happy unions on the floor. As a lapsed amateur scientist, I hypothesize that morale will rise for a season and then tank precipitously.
Related point, human resources best practices are leaning away from annual performance reviews, especially those ‘led’ by employees (self-criticism is self-destructive) and ‘Team’ language (“are you ‘in’ or ‘off’?”) as they promote cliques and anxiety.
Love that last paragraph. Those two practices can’t be dropped fast enough.
Yeah, ‘team’ rhetoric discriminates against introverts and project-guys who really don’t care what others are doing to impress management. These are the guys and gals management would like to celebrate but can’t because no one knows their names or what or what they do on the weekends, so they don’t accept them as part of their team.
Evaluations tend to reinforce the fact that the employee is both mortal and flawed. Both of these demoralize labor who don’t like to think about either and thus come to work strictly to escape them.
For annual evaluations, management is generally advised to downgrade exceptional or strong work because high marks risks encouraging the employee to slacken or not aspire to higher achievement. As a result, everyone on the floor is ‘For Hire.’
HR: INTERVIEWER TO APPLICANT: ‘tell me first what you’re hooked on. We’re no longer testing for drugs.’
Nowadays, it is hard and risky to hire new labor, so driving current employees off is no longer an HR strategy. As stated, the field of HR is growing wise.
The Struggles of HR as reflected in cold war marketing: Bathroom Bolsheviks
I wasn’t going to respond to your comment, but we certainly are living in strange times. I remember a time when a visit to my doctor for an ear infection did not inquire if I identify with the same sex I was assigned at birth, or if I feel like hurting myself, or if I’ve lost interest in the things I use to do. Of course, I brought all of this on myself for wanting an antibiotic for my ear infection.
“That kind of forced social engineering ends up causing the opposite”
That is often true, but it is not totally for naught, as it also accrues benefits for society, especially when it is implemented reasonably. The problem occurs when it is overdone, causing resentment in segments of the population.
It looks a lot like groveling. And the more that is laid out the more the hand will be out looking for more. The “debt” will never be paid.
DIE is set up so, that if YT objects to it from a financial and logical standpoint, instead of hearing a counterargument in support of it, all you get is……drumroll please, “you’re racist,” “you’re a bigot,” and “you’re (whatever cause is the current fad).”
It’s just left-wing, racist propaganda, plain and simple.
If not, as I asked last post, let OB publicly speak and show us what he and the DIE Office corrected that the Personnel Department have been doing wrong all of these years.
And whoever posted DIE’s talking points from their city website and told me to “research it.” Sure I will. It’s objectively written I’m sure.
Just like the “climate change” Snowjob report, authored by none other than Pittsfield’s Ricky Rumpus’ was.
The critical factor is how the DIE is cast.
George
Congratulations to our GOBSIG first MICS winner!! In a government known for its idiocy our reigning Dino!! was able to beat out all others for her stupidity!! At least she shed light on the importance of the said Bike Lanes to nowhere, the drunks stumbling out of her friends establishments need extra space to wander when finding their cars after their long drinking evenings.Don’t want to be run over stumbling in the dark looking for your cars. All I can say is way to go schmo!
Yes, SHIRL. She did have some tough competition.
North Street;
1) Remove the bike lanes
2) Install diagonal parking
3) One lane of thru traffic
Problem solved.
Message to the biking crowd – you are able to bike on any street with or without designated lanes.
Vote out Conant, Persnip, White, Lampiasi, Kavey at next election – they do not deserve to represent YOU the taxpayer.
Lenny we have the worst of the councilors identified. Now, how do we get rid of them?? If only everybody would vote we would take back our city in no time.In liue of that how else can we get rid of them? Don’t say the ballot box because the registered voters who don’t vote are the largest group in the city. This is why very poor candidates can win with such a small base voting for them.Tyer fits that category. All I can say is please please please please vote and get your relatives to the poles even if you have to drag them there. This might be the only way we can salvage an election for our candidates m
What does the City Charter say about sustained absences by a City Councilor?
How many North St. properties are owned by Deanna Ruffer’s companies?
Who was responsible for the existing bike lanes/one lane thru traffic on North St.?
It almost appears that the existing traffic configuration and parking meters were intentionally designed to drive retail off of North St.!
They want more red lights. Commerce is commerce.
I believe artificial insemination leave is ok.
An unnamed city councilor just got his 10 gallon donor pin from the clinic.
HOW Many?
The far left climate change nonsense took root in the Berkshires a long time ago. We are one of the first places in the country to fall down this rabbit hole of climate hysteria and with most people in Berkshire County on MassHealth, they will continue to go along with it because the voters won’t bite the hand that feeds them. It’s the same philosophy and tactics they are now spreading across the country. Keep the people dependent on big government and they will believe anything you tell them.
Comfort is the enemy of progress. Vote these current councilors out. Kavey,Persip,White,Lampylousy,Sloth,
As we have discussed before, climate change cannot be stopped, it can only be managed.
Yeah, Al Gore and John Kerry control the thermostat.
John Kerry is sure getting rich off of climate change.
Al Gore too. So many are just pushing climate change on the masses for their own financial benefit. A second Biden term would give Biden all the time he needs to bring the poor and middle class to their knees with one sacrifice after another all in the name of climate change. Most people on public transportation and crowded into skunk pot filled apartment buildings not to save the planet, but to make it easier for the far left to control the people and have them totally dependent on big government.
Pat, I think you should run for office.
Maybe if people still applied in person, there isn’t actually an employee shortage. Who controls the applicant process. Same goes for everything. We’ve been hijacked. Data goes to whom? The people who need a crisis in order to benefit themselves. Same as the votes, nobody has the explanation. Lost in space.
How do you have a party in Space?
You Planet.
Brilliantly-sculpted piece as usual, along with the helpful added North St. discussion. My take is pro- referendum, mindful of what the business owners want. They are in the best position to know what will cause an increase in foot traffic to their stores. I personally like the ‘pedestrian mall’ idea, but can’t say for sure whether that is the key to increased foot traffic.
Many thanks, MR. B. Yes, the merchants should have a huge say. This administration, however, has been missing in action with respect to the business community. As a consequence, many establishments come-and-go. Too many either can’t make a go of it downtown or, when they do, move elsewhere. Case in point: Rick Stohr’s jewelry store. They got there roots established on North Street, built up a successful enterprise, then moved. They are now on East Street, with lots of parking, and thriving. The bike lanes, the bizarre road markings, the toilet plungers, the parking situation, the bums and scum, the lack of a police presence, and so much more add up to deadsville downtown. Paul Rich, Steven Valenti, and HON are the outliers.
If Tyer can’t spend money she has no interest.
If it isn’t wasteful spending of taxpayers money she has no interest.
And I say let’s increase the number of outliers. Some of the best Berkshire meals I’ve had lately have been on North St.
Where did you dine?
I forgot the name. It’s where Besse-Clark used to be.
It’s the restaurant at Hotel on North.
The ‘go to’ pedestrian mall example that rises frequently on City Council is Church Steet, Burlington VT. My employer left that location, following an massive exodus of businesses. It is overrun with aggressive panhandlers who pursue shoppers from end to end. Those who use Burlington as an example should look for themselves first – it does not inspire confidence.
FREE PARKING Please
No argument there.
Good, hires based on merit and qualifications, now that would be progressive.
Frequenting a business, based on product, price and customer service. Not because the owners are minorities, gay or located downtown. More progress.
I have sought information and assistance from most departments (assessors, public works, IT, finance, Health, Traffic) – they take their work seriously, are helpful, and are very qualified. That’s the good news.
The problem is in bad governance and lost boundaries between the Council, the subcommittees, and the Executive.
I suspect we can attribute this problem to party structures in general – a rough topic in my mind – when there is a party style machine that drives both mayor and councilors as a single interest.
Scabies is not an infection, but an infestation. I really didn’t wake up with this though today. But then I made a cup of tea and opened this misery loves company site.
Actually, my first thought was “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Eliot
I don’t know where that came from because I pride myself on being an eternal pessimist. But every once in while my inner imp torments me a dose of optimism.
But then I make a cup of tea and open this misery loves company site and everything is back to normal. Even though a dozen or more crocuses popped through the snow today.
CITY
Focus on the crocuses.
I wondered what an inner imp would be doing inside you.
The Divine Edgar’s “Imp of the Perverse.”
That is a real imp. Absolutely a true tale.
Its congenital, and its neither a disease, a physical abnormality, nor a defect.
You may want to add Gogol to your library. I suggest Viy for starters.
I wonder what you’d be like on the Council podium. It could be force forGreat Good or Terror and Disaster, and I think we ought to find out which.
I represent the Left Wing. Councilor Persip is a Right Winger. You’d be somewhere else.
I think you got your wings wrong Chuckie, Persip is so far left he is about to fall off the edge
No – I got it corrrect. This is the Real political science. Not the silly made up stuff on TV.
To clear the air, Marchetti sits on the center, and there is a Left wing and a Right Wing.
My adoption of the terms here is to emphasize that local government, as the essence of self-governance ought not imitate national themes. (Like many good ideas, it started as a joke.)
Persip represents the wings at the Hanger.
You probably should look for a good laxative
Get a hobby Cih…..But feel free to vent here.
That’s indeed the goal.
https://apnews.com/article/addiction-clinic-health-care-fraud-money-laundering-976b184e1b6bf5c06e2ff1a2960b355d
The decline on the retail scene downtown seems to have roots in the vacating of the upper floors by all the professionals who moved their offices to formerly residential areas such as Bartlett, Wendell, Elm and South St. Not only did the principal and staff leave North St but so did their clientele who came downtown to do their business. Those who came for a doctor, dentist or lawyer appointment would often stay for lunch or pick up a greeting card at Newberrys, window shop at England Brothers or just stroll the street because they already parked and it was convenient.
Great point. The zoning change led to a migration of professionals off of North Street and to the area you mention, near the courthouse. The the social services agencies moved in and took over. A loss on the tax rolls and for downtown merchants.
The owners of Bank Row sit on a gold mine, but there’s no reason it can’t spread north.
True, about Bank Row, and true that it can spread to North Street. That said, there IS a reason that it hasn’t yet and, if things stay the same, won’t anytime in the future. In two words, bad politics. They have killed the city. The long line, going back to the decision to move the BCC campus out of downtown and nearly out of the city, is worthy of a book-length treatment
True, and bad politics is notoriously difficult to fix. I hope we can succeed in fixing it, though.
Only people like you can fix it. Local government is the heart of ‘self-governance.’
Sorry, I have retired.
And a glorious state it is, Sir.
and many of those offices were converted to condos
Ya gotta ask yourself, who would like to have control of the transportation/aviation industry?
Be specific ~
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/southern_berkshires/great-barrington-walter-j-koladza-airport-berkshire-aviation-permit-noise-airplanes/article_7970f2d6-b863-11ed-9bfc-5793d3e9f49a.html
In 1885, what was a facsimile?
A facsimile could be an attested (notarized) hand-copy, a true photo copy w/ a camera (rare), or copies made with carbon paper. The latter was invented in the early 1800s and became popular with the advent of the typewriter last in that century.
A fax back then
https://youtu.be/NJGrlUXCZzc
We can talk about bike lanes pot holes and Scooters all day long. However please can anybody tell me what piece of economic development our State rep Senator or city leaders have brought to Pittsfield?
This is a Wasteland of drugs, crime and empty store fronts that is fact. No meaningful jobs and a work force of pajama wearing walkers. We can keep bashing the Current mayor and the next and things will continue to be the same year after year. Paul Mark and Adam Hinds get a big fat F same with our state Rep geez even a little fish to the area would be nice instead they champion other crap that changes nothing.
The Stooge gets just a phat.
Biggest loser recent political years was is J Lo. Now scuffling for shrubbery at the parks?
Whenever you mention loser in your poems please don’t forget Lou Markham. Mr. Coach.
the man, the myth, the jockstrap.
Smitty….He has brought nothing
True. I know so many people who want to move out of their Pittsfield neighborhood to another Pittsfield neighborhood because their current one is full of drugs. Trouble is that only the very wealthy neighborhoods are truly low drug areas. Not that some of the wealthy aren’t also taking drugs, but at least the dealers aren’t roaming the wealthy neighborhoods day and night delivering their poison.
The wealthy druggies get theirs from CVS and Walgreens.
Why does everything that Morales touches end up looking like a back alley abortion?
That is funny!
Resume
by Dorothy Parker
Razors pain you;
Rivers are damp;
Acids stain you;
And drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren’t lawful;
Nooses give;
Gas smells awful;
You might as well live.
“The brevity of life forbids us to entertain hopes of long duration.” – Horace
Satan: “The worst of it is that man is not merely mortal, he is unexpectedly mortal.”
Bulgakov – Master Margarita
I think that beats Horace hands down. Who gives a damned about living forever. NOBODY Great even felt the need to try.
“The brevity of life forbids us to entertain hopes of long duration. – Horace”
Such a pessimistic account.
I really don’t understand how those words add up to anything at all. It makes no sense to me. All he is saying is ‘life is short and then you die.’
What else did he say to make a name for himself?
That quote can also be used as a reason to live in (though not FOR) the moment.
Exactly.
“You, do not seek (it is a crime to know) the end which the gods have given to me and to you, Leuconoe, nor attempt the Babylonian numbers. How it is better to endure whatever will be! Whether Jupiter allotted many winters or a final one, which now weakens the Tyrrhenian Sea with placed against stones: be wise, may you strain wine and may you restrain long hope for a brief while. While we speak, envious time will have fled: seize the day, to the least extent possible trusting in the next one.”
“Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero.”
To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time
Robert Herrick – 1591-1674
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today
Tomorrow will be dying.
I seriously doubt we’ll be reading anything penned, to date, by the poet laureate, Kronic, a year from now.
The truth is, Sir Charles, we ALL live forever (Cormac McCarthy).
We all live forever in one of two places. Your choice.
We have free will.
John 3:16
“All the time you spend tryin to get back what’s been took from you there’s more goin out the door. After a while you just try and get a tourniquet on it.”
No Country for Old Men
A pleasant thought, Bonner.
Reasonable arguments from Councilor Conant, and I would agree that the lanes should be designed through Traffic Commission. What he describes is the correct approach to street design. A plan is worked from start to finish with all elements resolved: bike lanes, vehicle lanes, parking, sidewalks from end to end of the street. This never happened. Instead of planning, North Street was ‘hacked’ and jerry-rigged. The Traffic Commission route had been avoided from the start and complaints from the public ignored; this is why the majority agreed to put it to a public vote. I maintain that we had voted to put the question on the ballot, and that votes binds and the last deliberation was immaterial.
I like the idea of putting it on the ballet too.
I still believe it was the idea of public input and not necessarily the subject matter that made the special interest penis burn. One referendum could lead the public to think their opinion was important and they might want to try it again. Did not matter what the subject was, any referendum would have been poison. The special interests, (read, “real city govt”), want their puppet council to have total control over all that goes on.
There are 7 councilors who are total boot lickers. How do they live with themselves?
Great observation, SNARK.
It’s ballot Charles,not ballet? Which is why the wording messed up the language the first time.
“The original question proposed to be placed on the ballet,”
I think it could be on both the ballot and the ballet. But who do you think I am anyway, a choreographer?
Pete White could supply a tutu
Auto correct w/ a pinky up. Fancy.
You are a mess. Ballot not ballet
jury-rigged not jerry-rigged as it would be jerry-built.
You are a laughingstock of malapropisms.
What an idiotic outburst. Way to go!
Need road directions to the top of the page?
Dan, I nominate this marvel for an honorable mention.
Dumpster. I’m leaving on a jet plane I don’t know what we’re doing here today…..oh Pete I hate to go. Peter Paul and Mary. Who by the way were here in the sixties and stayed at the old Pittsfield Hotel.
…give me Memphis Tennessee…
How bout Kansas City?
That pugnacious dumpster blimp is full of gas, and I’d bet that he floats too. How much more dumbed down does the Pittsfield shitty clowncil have to get before it bottoms out to his IQ.
The double-wide diva.
If his IQ hits 70 he should sell
Hey Berry
jerry-rigged
adjective
jer·ry-rigged ˈjer-ē-ˌrigd
Synonyms of jerry-rigged
: organized or constructed in a crude or improvised manner
a jerry-rigged plan
a jerry-rigged heating system—
For example: How about bike Lanes made-as-you-go with whatever junk you have in the back of your city pickup.
orange emergency cones placed to block driving lanes. They warn drivers their lane just ended and is now used for parking
plastic disposable plungers that don’t belong on roads.obscure and inscrutable symbols and colors on the pavement that have no meaning.That’s an image of jerry-rigged bike lanes. The guy isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer, so I get it, I should have drawn the picture too.
And this gem from the Berkshire Eagle…
“Students and families were surveyed on their use of Chromebooks for school activities this week, as a high damage and replacement rate prompts questions and budget concerns.”
Any chance Mr Kerwood could come up with a number of how much taxpayers have forked out for free student laptops in the last 5 years? NO NO NO…that number is not for public consumption thank you very much for asking though.
The Supt. reported $1 million lost through the Chromebooks program and he wants to know if the program should be continued??
Hell no!
No reason to provide each elementary student with a chromebook and internet access!
Provide chromebooks at the middle and high school levels only, IN CLASSROOMS and LIBRARIES only, not to be removed from the schools. Students needing to do homework on computer? Do it in the library under supervision, after school.
With 65% of the school population on public welfare, no wonder the computers are being “lost” & damaged. Students & parents don’t give a rip!
Spot on. My children were part of the first group of students receiving lab tops. That was 15+ years ago, they only used it for fun and games. Too bad it took this long to figure it out, Government whores.
Remember that. Wasn’t Amuso involved in that. Hmmmm
So does it look like anyone is really watching or caring about taxpayer dollars? Is the school committee a huge joke or what? Are they not really just part and parcel of the back room political cabal anyway?
Year after year, the school committee skates, left in the clutches of the “back room” boys and girls.
And the answers are – no, yes, and yes. What a disgrace this city government is to us Kapanskis. A million dollar loss in lost, stolen, thrown away, and broken computers and they do a survey about continuing. And us Kapanskis paid for free computers and free wifi. Run em all outta dodge! How many city employees got free laptops. I bet the answer is dozens.
There has been ZERO oversight on anything since Tyer took office. If anyone knows anything they are afraid to speak up. All the people charged with keeping an eye on our money are either afraid or complicit in its waste or evaporation.
The Petes, “don’t know nuttin”. Not my day to watch her.
He should don his kerwood derby.
Yes. The Kerwood Derby, Frostbite Falls equivalent of the Super Bowl.
I too recommend sucking eggs. It helps prevent ignorance and promotes brain development.
& Climate change
Humpty was an Egg Head, but he was on the fence.
You need to Know. In order to Know.
Suck more eggs
Toast a loaf and scramble a dozen. Do it with your hole family.
suck eggs with intentional purpose.
You’ll be better for it.
Succccckkkk it !!!
~ Humpty Dumpty
**if allergic to albumin do net eat albumin.
Wernicke’s aphasia.
No, I failed high school English.
I failed English several times actually. Now I just speak my own language. The positive is that I can go to the food shelf and receive a pantry box from my English teacher, I’m not hungry though, just anti-dentite.
Maybe you have a malapropism. Dr. QuickTake sells prosthetics, unlicensed but safe enough, for that condition.
Your English is impeccable – you just like riding off the rails. ANTI-DENTITES OF THE WORLD UNITE! You have nothing to lose but your teeth!
Ha!
I have learned to Transcend Dental Medication.
Frank Zappa has a song about that I think. Dental floss?
May the mayor suck an ostrich egg!
She could probably lay one. Has had her mayoral head in the sand for seven years.
Wasting weeks, months, years arguing about bike lanes and electric scooters is a great way to distract from the real issue: North Street is Dead.
Great comment above about the second floor offices and businesses that went elsewhere. The people left, the stores and restaurants left, there’s not much left.
It doesn’t matter if North Street is one, two or four lanes. It is dead. In the past 20 years, no one focused on real revitalization, only lipstick on a pig. They planted some trees, bumped out the curbs, and redesigned traffic.
They gave Allegrone all kinds of money to develop the Candle Lanes building and yet it just sits there, covered in graffiti and littered with bum debris in the doorways.
If you want to identify a real turning point in the demise in North Street, it was the building of the Inter-modal center. Prior to that, there was a bus stop on every block, people coming and going at all intersections. Hasn’t been the same since.
This is where I was born and raised, I left at 18 because I saw no hope, no opportunity for growth. Having now returned to live my 8th decade I feel differently – I now see opportunity for growth and positive development. I think a positive attitude is key, and I, unlike Horace, believe that ‘hope springs eternal.’
and sometimes when we get into our octogenarian years we do not see things as clearly as in our youth. If there really existed, any opportunity, it is and has been squandered by the grifters who take care of themselves while at the same time trampling any hope for others.
It’s just the opposite – the youngsters have energy and idealism while the oldsters have wisdom but no stamina.
Young: Hopeless idealism that won’t last in the alleged “real world, BUT lots of enthusiasm and energy.
Old: Stamina diminished but idealism turned into wisdom by life-induced cynicism. (HINT: Look up the original Cynics, of the Ancient Greek philosophy).
I agree. North Street needs stores…lots or them. Not pot shops or pizza joints. Diversity in stores is what is needed. The bike lanes don’t help the situation though because even if we did finally get new retail on North Street, people hate the bike lanes, but stores are desperately needed.
Where was everybody including business owners when they put this bike menagerie in. The designer is no more of a designer than I am and I know nothing about design
The bike lanes were a bad idea amateurishly implemented.
Even the Eagle agreed with that. But at the same time they do not want the public to express their opinion by voting on it through a referendum. WHY? Because that is what we elected the mayor and city council for. (the same ones that fucked it up in the first place)
“you don’t have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind blows”
Bob Dylan
North St needs people to come downtown for reasons other than shopping. Retail establishments will always follow any group that has a critical mass. Thus the explosion of retail in San Francisco shortly after the Forty Niners arrived, skid road logging camps followed by various entrepreneurs and shopping centers built following the suburban migration. If you build it they may not come. Anyone remember the Berkshire Mall?
Lenox has free parking Stockbridge has free parking…..hello
I’m trying to save gas money so I generally stay in Pittsfield. Besides, Lenox and Stockbridge stores are usually very expensive.
We need a store that sells a decent roast beef sandwich, a multi-floor dept store with an elevator and escalator, a couple 5+10s, a couple of upscale clothing stores, an ice cream fountain, a couple news shops with papers & coins in front, a music store and a smattering of snack shops.
There is not 1 individual I would purchase roast beef from in the entire radius. High moisture content.
The deli clerk is also a cyclists & count me out.
Not to mention the Mad Cow disease epidemic or rat infestations. But if you don’t look you won’t see them.
Speaking of beef sandwiches, I wonder if the third time will be a charm for Xavier Jones,? He and Warren Dews Jr. and Dully Saimbert, are opening BiggDaddy’s Philly Steak House on the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art’s
campus in NA in April.
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/business/bigg-daddys-philly-cheesesteak-north-adams-mass-moca-food/article_73bfda42-b911-11ed-a2b7-2b527074c881.html
Will a cigarbershop be included?
Of course!
Allegrone/Alander/BRPC/VIM/CHP/BHS /BTG/ PILLOW/Windrush/Air B&B/ Ski/ bike/trails …. RSYP, you’ll see it’s 5° of separation on everything that happens. Berkshire Taconic Hathaway…. restaurants. All the same coup.
Well, if I were one of the more well to do who have moved into the many condos that have been built on the upper floors of once abandoned buildings on North street, I sure would love to have the city shut down North streets through traffic and set up diagonal parking for my own personal convenience. I may even go so far as to try to influence politicians to make it happen.
Not since the invention of the Hershe bar have we seen anybody that says wow those Bike Lanes on North St were a great idea ! Will be fun to see the administration squirm their way out of 80 to 20 defeat of the question, if it ever get to the voters.
Which is why, RK, they shall kill the initiative at their next meeting. Bet the house on it. Bike lanes make sense where there are bikers, especially. non-recreational bikers. They make NO sense for a downtown and a city with so many other more important needs. It’s an irony: The local politicians say they want people to participate in the their government, but when they do, such as the bike-lane question, they crush it with parliamentary iron fists. That tendency traces back to the Civic Authority, Pittsfield’s civil war.
Like we bet the house on Philly beating Mahomes.
Good thing you didn’t park your car in Philly that night.
Anyway, the Chiefs stole the game! Fraud through and through; referee official crime fixed the game.
The En Eff El is trying to fix it for Mahomes to be this generation’s Tom Brady. Good luck with that. And the whole ankle drama. Give me a break. Just before half, his team trailing and the Iggs on the move, PM aggravates the ankle, heads to the sideline, and puts on the histrionics. Then in the second half, he’s now the new Roger Staubach. Miracle cure. Many don’t buy it, including this address.
He faked It?
If he was faking an injury and it befuddled the Eagles, more power to him. That is on the Eagles if it threw them off their game. Psyching out an opponent is a big part of sports.
I saw it as pass interference before they called it.
Is Krol on the record for or against the referendum or is he ducking for cover?
Pittsfield Tonight should ask him about that. Krol has been on his show and could’ve asked him over the breakfast they had also. Maybe PTN will get around to it at some point?
Great Q. I’ll ask him.
It’s time to get over the bike lanes. Regardless what you may think, they are needed. And we are going to continue seeing them pop up all over, not just in Pittsfield. The problem is Pittsfield residents are terribly afraid of change and progress.
If people claim to avoid downtown because they don’t like the bike lanes, it’s their own loss, not to mention foolish and immature. My guess is they were never going to North St to begin with.
TONY B
THE PLANET agrees with your last sentence, which begs the question: Why weren’t/aren’t they going to North Street to begin with?
Climate change…..just sayin….
It’s everything, everywhere
I’d say about 5% of my posts get dropped, and 30% get placed out of order.
The Blighties. Tie between. White Terrace and Hess Forest.
Dan, pothole season is upon us. Could The Planet run a weekly award for Pittsfield roads largest crater(s)? Drivers could nominate their least favorite/deepest/widest road cavities for consideration and tally the votes.
Maybe call it the Flat Tyer terrible trench award , with the runner up getting the Ricky Rumpus ravenous ravine award.
I would vote in the affirmative for at least a Ricky Rumpus award to add to the Planets ever growing list.
I’d suggest the Rickey Rump-ASS Award. The acronym being: Asphalt Substandard Supervision (ASS), for Pittsfield’s annual Pothole Slalom. Not to mention the Scohol Zone fiasco.
Flat’s “diverse administration” just create their own “dubiously named after” Planet awards.
“climate changers,” LGFUKME+, “looks like me,” Cultural Competency Coach, and on…..
Too phunny, MARK! The ASS Award. We’ll take it to the board.
Great idea. Please keep in mind though that this mayor can tie his hands as to what he can and cannot do. He may be her designated doormat.
Can we consider also, an award if the mayor allows trash to build up all over the roadways this year like she has in the last couple of years? I am thinking something along the lines of the Tyer City Pig Sty award, awarded to cities who just don’t give a shit.
How about The Vinny….. ( cold patch award)
Stooge and the Seven Dwarfs.
Real Awards in Sports,..Greatest of All Time…..
Basketball…Michael Jordan
Football…Tom Brady
Baseball…Babe Ruth…
Hockey…Wayne Gretzky
Soccer…Pele
Tennis…Serena Williams
Tennis Mens…Novak Djokovic
Mens Swimming …Michael Phelps
Swimming…Katie Ledecky
Rugby…Richie McCaw
Wrestling…Bruno Sammartino
Billiards…Efren Reyes
Billiards…Allison Fisher
Golf…Tiger Woods
Car Racing..Mario Andretti…Richard Petty
Thoroughbred…Secretaria
Parcheesi …Pete White
Par Cheezy Pete.
You call that wrestling? Kayfabe!
Agree or disagree with these with these names – all top athletes – Splendid certainly knows his athletic history. Agree or not, great picks.
Chuck,thank You!! I’d add Sugar Ray Robinson for boxing..
Yes. Sugar Ray. Also Russell for basketball. I like your choice of Ruth over Cobb for baseball. Hockey, Orr … Football, Brady. Golf, Nicklaus.
Pocket pool?
Don’t know but the General might have a idea….
FOX also lies about the pillow guys pillows.Dont buy them.Walmart sells an 8 dollar pillow that works great.They are from unwoke CHINER so you guys might like them.Why does FOX seem like pharmacy TV or Senior television
https://babylonbee.com/video/pfizer-unable-to-finish-press-conference-as-spokespeople-keep-collapsing
“…the moment that confidence goes, the empire is doomed…”
— Rich Cohen