VERSE OF THE BAMBINO AND ONE MORE … plus … THE COMMENT LINE IS OPEN ON ANY ISSUE
By DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS & COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEEKEND EDTION, APRIL 17-19, 2015) — There’s nothing for THE PLANET to clear the air, focus the mind, and calm to soul to more of reason’s logic than poetry. For this weekend, we invite you to enjoy the following piece from our pen.
Also, with your Comments, it’s all “on topic.” Feel free to post on whatever you wish.
And now, we present two of our verses.
VERSE OF THE BAMBINO
WALTZING IN REVERSE
You imagined my existence
Rather know it first hand.
True. You took a stand,
but did you love flowers?
Did you dance by the hour?
Did you sing? Did you have a lover?
Did she get a ring or run for cover?
When you stepped out,
Did it seem perverse
Like a film of a man
waltzing in reverse?
Your next move I can see as clear
As the night-vision of a cat seeing the dark.
Did you hear voices? Did you see, and if so,
was it only that you ran out of choices?
Alone. Serene.
“Stillborn, you mean.”
You cast a shadow, and within its shade
All turns silvery-white like the moon
bathing a landscape a cat sees at night.
Did you deal in color? Was the candle bright?
Did you know that a shadow must imply a light?
I wonder.
Did your mother have a premonition?
Did she see the kind of kid she would raise?
Was she happy? Did she repent?
Did she see her pain as heaven sent?
Did you finally find the place where God
Undresses? Do you assign to Allah or Jesus
Your rapt attention and comb your beautiful tresses?
The philosopher calls it a hasty generalization.
The theologian sees it as blind faith.
The soldier reports it a tactical error.
The child, swinging, knows it’s a laugh.
The actor thinks it’s a terror.
The logician terms it a gaffe.
He who is born to life must fall to life.
The sun comes up. Call inside the cat.
Now, my dear. What do you say to that?
——– 000 ——–
Have a great weekend, everybody.
When performing a waltz, the man takes the lead, leading with his left foot. The dance can become quite elogant when the woman mirrors the man as both spin to the left, floating across the dance floor in harmony with the music. Something is magical about it.
Waltzing in reverse…. would the woman take the lead? Spinning to the right?
Find it funny that Haddad car dealership is using a out of town General Contractor for there 5 million $ project.So much for buy in the Berkshire’s. I’m getting my next car from Huuuugggggeeeee!
And I believe he is another millionare that got a Pittsfield tax break on his East street dealership. Cuz obviously he really needed it more than other people and would have taken his business elsewhere if he did not get it.
heh heh
Yup, further proof that tax breaks for the rich do not stimulate the local economy, they only make the rich richer. Democrats are just as guilty of Republicans of catering to the wealthy. Just like the tax break for the proposed hotel on North St. will just go right into the owner’s pocket. But that’s OK as the hotel will provide all kinds of low paying, part time, seasonal, non benefit jobs.
I remember when he was trying for a million dollars from the GE funds to blow up a rock on his Pittsfield-Lenox Road site.
“Keep the Money in the Berkshires” George translates to ‘Keep Your Money’ not mine in the etc. All of his promotional adveretising is also provided by people ‘.from away’.
He’s also on the board of directors at the Boys Club and is a major player in that whole mess that they’ve created. He’s obviously looking out for the well-being of the community.
Almost as funny, is Supt. Of schools complaining about rising electric rates,then puts air conditioning in new Taconic.
Pittsfield politics is corrupt with high taxes, high spending, and insider local politicians who serve the special interests or Suits. There are more people on welfare in Pittsfield than have private sector jobs. I have a better chance winning the big lottery jackpot prize than finding a full time, living wage job in Pittsfield. In order to find a good job in Pittsfield, one has to be related to the low gene pool, multigenerational families called the Good Old Boys network. If one speaks out against the corruption in Pittsfield politics, then he or she will lose their job and may be blacklisted from future employment in Pittsfield. Even good men like the late Peter Bell lose their jobs in Pittsfield. While Pittsfield’s local economy shrinks in its never ending downward spiral, with thousands of population and job losses, Pittsfield politics continues to spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year. Pittsfield politics is heading towards financial insolvency and bankruptcy. In the interim, the corrupt Pittsfield politicians and the Suits are making out like bandits on the take, openly counting their loot at the expense of Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski.
That last line sez it all Jonathan. I never thought I would see our fine clean city literally be turned into a dump. Thank you mayor bianchi, council, school board, superntendent, sbnc, unions, etc etc.
Listen up all politically active bloggers on the Planet! Let’s make this weekend productive and start organizing candidates for the school committee. It is the school committee that is responsible for the ever increasing spending. Every member is connected in some way to the school department and they want more money for the schools. Recently, the School Committee and City Council passed a measure allowing the School Committee to override the Mayor’s budget allocation and bring their budget request directly to the council. The SC is unhappy with the new budget and SC member Pam Farron even publicly stated that the people are under taxed by $8 million so there is no justification for receiving less than they want. I predict the SC will pull this maneuver for the upcoming budget. I cannot run myself because the time conflicts with my job.
Pat and Dusty, I would love to support your candidacies. Just run on the platform that taxpayers need representation and you will win, hands down. Last election, there were only 7 candidates for 6 seats. This election, you’ll get paid $4 grand a year. What do you say?
Terry Kinnas tried that. They ate him alive just for trying to bring any sense of responsibility to the table. I am not happy with the way things are going but I am not going to step into that wood chipper.
Fair enough, Dusty
The SC is anti-taxpayer and naysayers are doomed. But, if we can field 6 candidates, then the taxpayers have a fighting chance.
But a slate would be different. Imagine of the new school board has four (majorioty) Terry Kinnases on it!!
Just remember, teachers get $4 million in raises this year because they need not only yearly “cost of living increases” but and actual percentage raise on top of that per contract. Its for the children you know. Meanwhile the union president, younger than most of us, drives around town in his new lexus. Poverty row is neigh!
These high income Pittsfield school people don’t even support the local economy. They go to the Holyoke mall or the malls in Albany because the Berkshire Mall isn’t high class enough for them. It’s not state of the art enough I guess. They go on fancy vacations during all the weeks they have off so spend most of their time when they’re not in school (which in a lot) out of the area. It’s the lower and middle class who is carrying the weight of all of their selfish decisions. They have the latest electronic gadgets and drive the top of the line vehicles. They don’t feel bad about what they are doing to PIttsfield taxpayers with their incessant demands!!
What’s ironic is School support of Trisha, after sending her kids out of town? Now that’s something.
Unfortunately our SC, for the most part, has been made up of former teachers, teachers currently working in other districts or have a direct involvement with schools. So, of course, their allegiance lies with the teachers and their union.
And then when some of these SC members run for CC, they bring their “school” agendas with them (i.e. Cotton, Amuso, Caccaco).
Taxpayers don’t have a chance.
Remember it was Cotton and SC chair K. Yon who succeeded in convincing our CC to vote so that they “could increase the school budget” if desired.
Spider, you are correct. The council approved the measure 7-4. In favor were Cotton, Krol, Clairmont, Lothrup, Caccamo, Simonelli and Connell. The 4 opposed were Morandi, Amuso, Mazzeo and Tully. This vote overrided the O&R recommendation to reject it.
http://www.iberkshires.com/story/47985/Pittsfield-Council-Accepts-School-Budget-Law-Denies-Hiring-Authority-Plan.html
Spider, would you consider running?
I have too many commitments, DL,some that take me out of town.
But speaking of elected offices, I heard that Donna Todd Rivers is considering running for some office.
I think she should run for City Clerk. She certainly has all the qualifications.
She worked for the city before as a Solicitor and Personnel Director. Would she be interested in returning? Does any one knows why she’s no longer there?
someone that has kids would be good to help get in the school comittee
Why don’t you run. I’m sure you can get at least 50 votes as long as they are not neighbors.
lol thanks larry. I would never look to neighbors for anything. I can’t run for school committee though.
The comment below shows exactly the mindset of this SC:
“School Committee member Pamela Farron, however, thinks the committee should advocate for more. Even with the 3.5 percent increase, she said, the city is still more than $8 million below the Proposition 2 1/2 levy limit. “It just seems to me and it seems like we need to seek more,” she said”
Even the superintendent had to distance himself from that idiotic comment:
“McCandless, however, responded that “the ability of the city to pay isn’t in line with what the spread sheet says is the ability to tax.””
http://www.iberkshires.com/story/48916/Pittsfield-Schools-Call-For-3.5-percent-Increase-From-City.html
Does anyone know when the new fiscal year start?
You ran for city council and you don’t know she told the fiscal year starts? WOW!!!!!
You ran for city council and you don’t know when the fiscal year starts? WOW!!!!!
Jimmy, are things slow over on Topix?
Wow your still annoying people
At least she ran Jimmy Gee. What have you done? I don’t live in Pittsfield anymore, but the fiscal geniuses you have now spend like drunk sailors so why does it even matter when the fiscal year starts?
Jimmy Gee for city council! Is that what your offering?Maybe you will get 2 more votes than I did!
July 1.
New fiscal year begins 7/1.
She’ll fit right in.
Really looking for a candidate that has fiscal responsibility. Not concerned about a question about the start of the fiscal year. Everybody likes new stuff, but sometimes all you can afford is used.
I was only asking when it started for my own personal reason due to school budget. We don’t deserve used things especially when they are broken. New may be worth the extra effort and time.
We need fiscal conservatives on both the school committe and the city council. People with common sense and good judgment. Vote the incumbents OUT!
Couldn’t agree more, time for some new faces. Will not vote for anyone that has already been on the city council or is on the city council.
The Phrase for me this election will be DRIP Don’t Return Incumbent Politicians
Not a one getting my vote.
even if its for the Children
How about “Don’t retread on me”
OK,so run. All talk and no action here, as usual.
“I’m too busy” “I have other commitments” “I have young kids”
OK, whatever. You have time to bitch here but no time to do something constructive.
And especially, you (I mean most of you) complain that you have no influence on city politics, that it is all run by corrupt individuals. If you don’t get involved in a real way, then you really don’t know anything about it.
If you want a critical mass of people involved to make a change in city politics, get off your asses, take out papers, and run for office. Barring that, support someone that you think can make a difference.
When I gets to hi school, the leaky roof would interfear with my education. So I think we need a state of the art new hi school.
The goverment pays for my school lunches. My mom can only afford to feed me peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on wonder bread.
Mayor Beeyankee cares about me. He wants me to learn political correctness good.
It may be just a late April fools joke but the Eagles opinion column has an article about taxpayers and corporate greed. Is it a backhanded comment on Pittsfield? Are they themselves paying living wages for hard work or is their article only for other people and other places?
It just goes to show the unbelievable hypocrisy of the Berkshire Eagle. They are so in control of so many of the minds in this area that the know they can get away with a headline like that and nobody will pick up on it except those who still have a brain and can think for themselves. The BB doesn’t care about Pittsfield taxpayers getting taken advantage of by the Pittsfield public school system, it’s only outside corporate greed they are worried about. Greed that’s right under their nose doesn’t offend them. They really need to think locally. Yeah right like that’s going to happen!!!?!!
Where oh where have you gone? You use to fill all my potholes, you found another and oops you were gone. Has anyone seen our big pothole machine??????
My apologies to the Hee Haw gang
Where’s Morandi or Tully with potholes? Both wards look like a war zone. Driving through is like trying to avoid dynamite.
Have to agree here. The new snow tires I bought in December are trashed because I couldn’t, safely, avoid all the pot holes.
The person you need to complain to is Mayor Bianchi. He is the one you need to try to get in contact with by either emailing or calling. See the City of Pittsfield site online to get the info. It’s not the councilors you would complain to about this. I heard it on a local radio station yesterday. A councilor was on and he said everyone in the city thinks the councilors are the ones to complain about potholes, but it is the Mayor who is in charge of getting together with Bruce Collingwood and doing a MUCH BETTER job of getting the roads fixed. He is supposed to coordinate with the road maintenance people, but he isn’t doing it very well as you see how terrible the roads are right now. Don’t elect Bianchi again!!!! Add it to the growing list of things that this mayor is handling VERY BADLY.
You.are correct. The council has NO, ZERO, ZIP, NADA control over ANY of the day to day operations of the City. We are merely the legislative branch of the government.
If you are happy with the operations, please give Mayor Bianchi credit where credit is due.
If you are disgusted with the state of our roads, use of your taxpayer dollars on 100 North Street, then you should blame the Mayor.
It is that simple.
Barry
Most of us know Exactly who is to blame. The Pathetic poor excuse for a Leader… and his imbisal Commissioner.
Agree Barry, but when you have a chance to make a moral statement you all fold. I understand you and your fellow councilors agreed with the new school. But didn’t you think the taxpayers deserved a vote in the process. Really think you people are out of touch with the people. You are better suited for numbers. Good luck with your business, wish you the best.
To B. Clairmon
Nice cop-out
To B. Clairmont
Nice cop-out
The pot hole machine was a bargin. Look at all the money the city is saving by not using it.
Those involved in that purchase/money grab have already made off with that money. We have to move on to new money grabs. New economic engines. That thing is a rust bucket anyway. There is no money to maintain the thing and that’s not how Pittsfield does things.
I think we should all be trying to sign a petition to reverse this horrible school decision. Who wants to coordinate this with me? Only 20% of registered voters need to sign to reverse this new school decision.
I’m in.
Sounds good. If we could get 10 people and each one could get 100 signatures or even more people and then each person would need to get even less signatures, we could get this done. Who else in on board for this? There is only 30 days from the time this vote was taken to get this done. So May 15th would be the deadline.
Any one knows how many register voters?
There are about 28,000 registered voters in the city. So about 5600 or thereabout signatures would be required to reverse this decision.
So you will personally write a petition, take out the papers, and recruit volunteers to collect signatures?
Great! I look forward to seeing all the signature collectors outside every grocery and department store beginning Tuesday.
Oh, you just want to inspire someone else to actually do it? Good luck.
I work full time Monday to Friday and have a disabled person at home, but this is what these people in the city count on which is that nobody will do anything about their decisions. They know people especially the ones most hurt by this decision are so busy having to work hard for a living that they let all of their misdeeds go unpunished. If only a vote was allowed for the whole city, I could have lived with that even if we lost the vote, but that’s not what happened. This just feels wrong the way it was handled and of course I’m unhappy with the decision which is terrible for the taxpayers.
You are correct, without the assistance I couldn’t do it myself. Guess this means the bad guys will keep on winning which is what they count on.
People need jobs and living wage incomes. Pittsfield is on welfare. 2/3rd’s of Pittsfield’s students receive free lunches. You can present all of the spreadsheets and economic development plans you want, but if everyone is on welfare instead of working living wage jobs, then your tax base is going to shrink smaller and smaller every forthcoming year. Pittsfield politics does not make financial sense. Taxes and spending keep increasing, while the tax base keeps decreasing. No one cares about the working poor or senior citizens on fixed and diminishing incomes. Pittsfield politics just keeps on taxing and spending every year. I wonder how much money Pittsfield will spend in FY2016, beginning in less than 2.5 months? I wonder how much debt, including OPEB unfunded liabilities, Pittsfield will have next fiscal year? If everyone either works for the city/school district or is on welfare, then Pittsfield is going to file for bankruptcy in the near future. Pittsfield has already been in state government receivership, which forced Pittsfield to raise its taxes while the state cut its funding for cities and towns. GE left town long ago. K B Toys went bankrupt, too. Pittsfield is in a downward spriral. Pittsfield politicians are totally corrupt. I do not know what the answer is for Pittsfield!
Not only that Jonathan but what type of home environment are children living in? All the money in the world thrown at the school system isn’t going to help if the child is unable to study and do his homework at night because of a noisy stress filled household. Too many kids all fighting, parents stressed out over lack of money, maybe alcohol or drug abuse in the home. These are the kinds of home environments kids are growing up in here in Pittsfield. With 75% of the kids in the city in poverty, these issues need to be addressed. By continually raising taxes and fees and overall prices in the city, we all piling on the stress and struggle for these financially strapped families.
Barry, I believe I read something about the mayor hiring a consultant to come up with a plan to fix the roads. Do you know if this plan is progressing and at what stage it might be at? The roads are deplorable and a disgrace. I would ask the mayor myself but doubt if he talks to commoners. And I doubt Melissa would allow such questions at her open mike session.
this blog seems to be the only wormhole through which information can seep through
A consultant for what? Wouldn’t a plan be part of the jobs that Mr. Collingswood and Mr. Swail have?
People also have to remember that the people making the decisions for the majority of people in Pittsfield is this school committee made up mostly if not all women. These women live in two high earner households. They can’t relate at all or understand the situation of people who are struggling to get by financially. Their whole thing is to promote the school. They are one track minded. They don’t take in the big picture. This is why it is crucial to have people on this committee who can relate to the average person not the high earners of the school department. I wish I could run for this committee, but right now am unable to do so. You saw what they did to Mr. Kinnas when he attempted to bring some common sense to the committee. They mob attacked him and got rid of him. We need many more fiscally conservative people on the school committee or they shouldn’t be elected. The group of people on this Pittsfield school committee right now like Kathleen Amuso are totally out of touch with the average person. I believe Kathleen has a high paying job at BMC.
Barry, if city councillors are “merely the legislative branch of the government” then all councillors should be at large and ward representation eliminated. I believe Phil Massery floated that idea about 12 years ago.
Ward councillors are legislators but also are advocates for their wards and should keep pushing to solve ward problems (which includes street repair). In the old days this worked fine but maybe not so well today.
Note to Chris Connell: East New Lenox Road is still terrible.
Note to motorists: stay off of East New Lenox Road use Holmes Road instead but don’t speed!
WBEC mercifully took Massery off the air.All at large would favor greatly the well heeled and control of the city would go to wards 3 & 4 because they turn out to vote. Since the candidates would have to spend 3 to 4 times the money to campaign city wide us folks in ward 2 would most likely be denied the genius of men like Morandi. Its going to be difficult enough for him come November as this young Mike Merriam who has taken out papers appears to be his intellectual equal.
I believe people are concerned that they were not given the opportunity to vote on Taconic. And Morandi was one of those who denied that vote.
As good as he might have been in past votes, this could be his doom, as with the others who voted for it.
Personally, I just wanted a vote like I had with the Civic Authority, etc. Win some…..lose some!
I am going with all new people!
Note to Chuck Vincelette. Chuck, I have copied you on all the emails I have sent to the mayor and highway department. I have even asked to head a crew to work on the potholes myself. Have YOU submitted an e-gov request which ALL residents are asked to do for the road work? If not, I would suggest that you take a more active part in helping your city by doing so as many others in the city have done.
To quote JFK: ask not what you country (city) can do for you, ask what you can do for your country(city) .
Wanted new Ward4 city councillor. Anyone please , anyone.
To qoute Ted Kennedy ” I’ll have another”.
Unfortunately, Chuck, that is what this Council’s role has been reduced to, in my opinion.
Barry
Terry Kinnas put a real scare into the Pittsfield School Committee. They are not going to allow anyone like that who might expose or vote against waste to get elected. They have their own people that they push forward and guide and support through the process. It is a connected only club of people who’s compliance on votes is known ahead of time.
Or it surely looks that way.
The more I hear about these Pittsfield school people, the more they just sound really bad, almost evil. How did this city ever allow these people to get this much power? Because, make no mistake, this is all about power. They have it and are using it to get what they want, and the rest of the city can take a hike. This really seems to be their attitude.
Good point Chuck. Never, ever, since Ray Crow, have not gone to the Mayor’ instead of my Councilor, first concerning road conditions.
On the news another brush fire due to cigarette smoking. Why doesn’t this state make a cigarette butt littering law?
Williamsburg va
Who would like a $4,000 stipend for doing nothing? There are only 5 out of 6 people who have taken out papers for the SC. It’s easy money…
Wow! Kind of touchy Chris! I guess if you mess with a bull you sometimes get the horns.
Chuck he couldn’t carry your lunch box. Ward 4 needs you back.