MENCKEN, the DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THANKS and GRATITUDE, and the MOGs WHO ARE RUINING IT ALL
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, NOV. 25, 2015) — If you are expecting a warm and gushy “These are the things I’m thankful for” column on this day before Thanksgiving, forget it. THE PLANET, you see, is reading a new biography on one of our journalistic heroes, H. L. Mencken, The Great One who wins our nomination as the greatest prose stylist of the 2oth century (we give Ambrose Bierce to the 19th).
Seriously? Will you be one of “these?”
“Thanks” extends outward for favors received. We prefer “gratitude,” a moral perspective directed inward at appreciation for one’s circumstances in life. THE PLANET can list a host of items, ranging from the insignificance of enjoying a cup of green tea to the consequence of plenty of food, shelter, clothing, and the other necessities of life. We won’t do that as a form of restraint and, Mencken style, for the sake of going against the grain. Ah, ever the contrarian. Treasures of the heart can in good conscience — during an era of social media that has made privacy obsolete —remain a private thing. There’s a certain stoicism in that attitude, a maturity, an “adult” mien, dear friends.
One Bad Deed Deserves Another
Thanksgiving used to be the last and only big holiday that the MOGs — the Merchants of Greed — had not managed to grasp in their mammonic clutches. No longer. You can’t have but noticed the many stores opening at midnight or earlier on Thanksgiving to start the Oklahoma Land Rush known as Black Friday. It wasn’t too long ago that stores remained closed on the Friday after Thanksgiving to allow workers and employees a chance to enjoy a long weekend and family. Then came the first MOG who got the idea of opening on Friday, usually in the late afternoon or early evening.
This graceless decision led to an endless game of one-upmanship. Stores began opening earlier and earlier. The loss-leaders sales meant to draw suckers inside shops became more blatant and starry-eyed. From Rachel Snodgrass yesterday in Scene from theodysseyonline.com: “We live in an era of efficiency. We’re constantly trying to save time, which makes us multitask, and run around from place to place, never really enjoying where we were to begin with. The calmest, most peaceful people I know are the ones who take the time to slow down and relax once in a while. Shopping is great, especially when it’s for people you love, but there’s no need to bust down doors, and trample people while you’re doing it.”
All You Need is Love
This being said, let THE PLANET extend a Happy Thanksgiving to all of our readers (and viewers), your family, friends, and loved ones. Feel free to share such greetings here. As we say at the end of every column, LOVE TO ALL.
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“I am grateful for who I am and what I have.” — Henry D. Thoreau.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
(and again) LOVE TO ALL.
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Tyer Talks a lot about collaborative discussion at the table with discussion and accountability as an end result, I think? Nothing of substance, no formal plan yet, other than to meet with department heads. The Criminal element will pray on our city for sure with the economic downturn and those criminals know who the new players are,.
Tyer is well meaning I’m sure but lacks the instinct for the jugular that it will take to get this city off the track leading straight to the deep end. God help us because the politicians ceratinly wont/
Dispatchers should be getting raises during the L T Administration.
Their are a ton of traffic violations that our PPD cannot keep of with, when they do catch violators speeding, passing, double lines is the latest craze and riding on the bumper, that’s a goody, fine them, if you give them a warning it doesn’t deter it one iota. Hot spots are South street going North, West street, that’s a dangerous zone, everyone coming and going to the college, east street, Merrill rd, terrible, dalton ave, crane ave. north street with pedestrian traffic not following walking laws, and west Housy, but west and south have been clearly the worst.
Lookk at Olorado Springs today.
What happened in Orlando Springs?
Sorry, Colorado…more shootings.
Obama says Syrian refugees pose no danger to American citizens. He wants as many as 650,000 of them here.
When the native American Indians were disgussing the Immigration of white Europeans to this country, one chief said “let them in” “lets teach them how to plant corn and hunt wild turkey and buffalo” “What possible harm can they do to us?”
nice story.
what tribe was he from? Fugawi?
To those out there that are down trodden, walking the streets, no hope, You Can, become the Mayor of Pittsfield, you can get a secretarial job and catapult into a 100g plus position with a four year deal, yes, get off the streets, get some typing and filing experience, it can happen, it did here!
Everyone here is sick of your sour grapes, Shelly. Maybe when you learn how to construct a coherent sentence you can start criticizing Linda Tyer’s qualifications.
Couldn’t agree more.
same here….
Bianchi didn’t have the Chutzpah and neither does Tyer,sorry. She will again raise taxes as high as possible Neil the state takes over, it’s inevitable.
Taxes are going to be raised. Thanks to ramming the Taconic High School through to fruition.
Where can they get some Chutzpah?
Shelly is correct though, the new Mayor has no agenda and the fools who voted for her should be embarrassed. Blight plus twenty seven new officers? A progressive government, that’s what she’s offered? Maybe Cr@ig can rejoin this blog and shed some light on the real problems here.
You really think Mr. Bianchi had a great agenda?
He did. Make sure he took care of himself and his friends, kept two secretary aboard to mind the office while he continue to work his second job.
and don’t forget a secretary (clerk) can’t run the city.
Politics is fair game 631255 and as a product of the P P S S i was just a number also,back in the day.
Time to lighten up after a nice holiday and no better way than to watch a football game. Ohio State is putting a “good licking” to Michigan before an audience of 112,000 folks. OSU qb is fantastic as is the selfish big mouth Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott who in last weeks loss was critical of his coach and team because he did not carry the ball as much as he loves to. He should have told the truth. His interest is winning the Heisman Trophy and he ‘s not going to if he carries “only” 12 times in a team loss.
I don’t know if Dan or Bill watched this game, and others who are good at this, but if they did I would be interested if their analysis is the same as mine. If they give the Heisman to Elliott they should cut the trophy in half and give the important half to the Ohio State line. These guys opened holes that were big enough for me- today – to be the star running back. Elliott will never be a good NFL running back. He’s not big, not that fast, and I don’t think he’s tough. It will be a farce if he is a pier 1 draft choice and receives millions for it.
The coach cost the team the game last week with his game plan.Elliot is a good running back.
Amanda
Elliott reminds me of a good college running back. He’ll never make it in the pros. Todays announcers made a big deal of his 60 yard run. Did you notice he was caught from behind though he was running full speed? He has good coordination and is shifty. Good for college but not for the pros. He’s not big and he’s not fast. He’s lucky he has a great offensive line blocking for him. And he’s lucky his coach did not bench him for his critical remarks carrying ball” only” 12 times last week. Humbug to this guy.
Chuck, Elliot is the real deal and do just fine in the NFL.
Chuck…Derrick Henry. Alabama..”..”)))! !$$$
Nota
Great choice. You may be right.
Which means BAMA wins it all.
Nota
Right on target, Nota.. Don’t bet against Saban.
CHUCK
Saban is the best coach in the college ranks. I completely agree with your remarks on Ez Elliott. He’s a better-than-average college back. For some reason, the media seems to love him. Great observation on his long run. He got caught from behind. Elliott’s remark last week about his work load settled it for me. That doesn’t bode well for his future. He doesn’t have the intangibles. No way should he go first round.
Rest In Peace, Jim Mooney
Re: Jim Mooney’s obituary article
“James Mooney, 84, remembered for contributions to Pittsfield, Boys & Girls Club”
By Phil Demers, The Berkshire Eagle, November 27, 2015
PITTSFIELD – Friends remembered James John Mooney as a city original — a Boys & Girls Club lifer who exemplified selfless living.
“We’re talking about a rare guy,” former Berkshire County Sheriff Carmen C. Massimiano Jr. said. Massimiano worked with Mooney at the sheriff’s office for decades.
“Pittsfield was extremely lucky to have him for as long as they had him,” he said. “I never met anybody who didn’t like and respect Jim Mooney. He had the trust of everybody who dealt with him.”
Mooney died in his sleep on Tuesday night after several years of physical decline. He was 84 years old.
Speaking for the Boys & Girls Club of The Berkshires, John C. Donna, former president of the club’s board of directors, said, “Anybody that knew him as part of the club is going to be deeply saddened by his passing.”
“I never met anyone like Jimmy,” Donna said. “He was an individual who came once in a lifetime, if at all.”
Mooney took his first position at the club in 1949 as its swim director. He went on to direct club programs and Camp Russell before taking the top spot as assistant superintendent (the position is now called executive director) in 1971.
There Mooney would remain until 1989, exercising his renowned talents for handling people of all sorts and dedicating his time to area youth.
Donna said Fred S. Fahey, Mooney’s predecessor as assistant superintendent, once chided Mooney for spending too much time at the club, and told him to go home.
“Word is, Jimmy went to the Capitol Theatre for about an hour before sneaking back into the club at a place where Fred wouldn’t find him,” Donna said.
Many Boys & Girls Club alumni remembered the scary stories Mooney would tell by the fire during nights at Camp Russell. Donna said he couldn’t put a number to how many people approached him over the years to recall Mooney’s creepy telling of a story called “The Green Hand.”
In his work, Mooney’s message, and what he sought to teach children, was to “act for the benefit of others,” Donna said.
“He was endearing, personable, amiable — he did so much for the club and for numbers of community organizations,” Donna said. “I consider him my mentor, and so do many others.”
Mooney also ran a tight ship, Donna added. “He could spot trouble across the room, always once step ahead. He had a terrific savvy for human nature. He could figure out what people were thinking and knew how to react.”
Massimiano added, “He knew how to handle people, and the staff loved him. He held people accountable and knew how to delegate.”
In his other role with the Sheriff’s Department, Mooney served in the post of special sheriff, at one point serving as interim county sheriff before Massimiano took office and also managing the Berkshire County Jail & House of Correction for four months.
“He was an exceptional man in every area,” Massimiano said.
Up until very recently, Mooney was a continual presence at the club, leaving his Richmond home early on Fridays and sometimes multiple days per week to again walk the halls, visit the people there.
In a Congressional 1989 address upon Mooney’s retirement at age 58, Pittsfield native and U.S. Rep. Silvio O. Conte lauded Mooney as a champion of the city and of the club and said, “Always sensitive but demanding and tough when necessary, Jim has built an environment and institution which will survive after him.”
Contact Phil Demers at 413-496-6214. pdemers@berkshireeagle.com @BE_PhilD on Twitter.
Jim Mooney was the best of the best, rest in peace Superintendent.
Chucky G, remember the only ever 2 time Heisman winner Archie Griffin, another Buckeye? Not much of a pro career. EE not even close to him.
Mark, I remember Griffin. Great college career and mediocre as a pro. Agree with you, as a running back Elliott is inferior to Griffin. What I remember most about Griffin’s era is OSU’s coach, Woody Hayes .He was demanding, volatile, respected by his players. He made certain his players went to class and received an education. I know he went a little nutty at the end but I’ll give him a pass for that..Until the day he died he was loved and respected by players and fans. Something Urban Meyer will never get because he doesn’t deserve it. Can you imagine Elliott, with a national audience, finding fault with play calling of Woody Hayes? Elliott would have been on the bench and maybe off the team.
Chuck, another phony is Coaxh Rex Ryan.
Right on, Miss Vito. You got that right.
Chuck, how about Miami Quarterback Tannehill 4 yrs 77 million dollar contract?
Dilly, These guys can thank their lucky star television contracts entered their world. And a bottle of water at a game costs us $6.00.This can’t continue.
Dilly and Chuck, and also remember the NFL, which profits millions of dollars each year, pays no taxes. And the federal gov’t actually pays them large sums to do all those military tributes you see. Another example of hard working middle class folks being ripped off again.
Another stiff Dally… It’s the year of the stiff.
True enough SOL and Shelly, and we’re the stiffs. Best deal in town is our local teams. Last summers legion team was great and the Suns are very good. Our high school football is very good . Many of our kids are playing college ball now.
I wish the people in Pittsfield cared about more than just sports
Lighten up World’s Foermost Authority, you must know they do.
Sports and the Kardashians and their ilk have seriously impacted the minds of way too many people. This is why special interest groups are capable of wining any and all elections. I know some people who live for sports and have no idea who their elected officials are or care to know. The dumbing down of the population. Sports have definitely played a major role. Just look what Mr. Garavaltis’s post created on this day’s post. I like sports also but keep it in perspective. Come to think of it..Mr. Garavaltis..I dont think I have seen you post on any other topic other than sports but I may be wrong. Do you follow news or are you strictly a sports buff. Were you not some kind of an elected official in Pittsfield? I seem to recognize your name from somewhere else other than this blog.
Ashley, You would be surprised the number of non-sports topics I have posted. Some pertinent to drugs, North Street, economic development, parks, squandering money, to name a few things. Search past postings.
Whether playing, watching, or talking about it, sports is a healthy outlet for all of us. The ancients taught us that. A healthy and good life is a combination of exercising the brain and body. They called it scholastic and gymnasium.
I do follow the news, I have been an elected and appointed official, and I do like sports. It’s great for our kids, and adults encourage youngsters to participate.