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BULLETIN: FATAL SHOOTING IN PITTSFIELD … VENDETTA RISES OUT OF THE RANKS … CANDIDATE COMMENTS FOR THE WRECKORD

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (ADD 1 10/27 p.m. 3:30 p.m.) — THE PLANET received this from the office of Berkshire County D.A. Tim Shugrue: On Sunday, October 26th, at approximately 6:14 p.m., Pittsfield Police responded to the area of 17 Parker Street, Pittsfield for a report of a single motor vehicle […]

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BREAKING DOWN THE FED SHUTDOWN (IT’s AN AUTOPEN SPECIAL) … plus … LATE ELECTION THOUGHTS

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION OCT. 24-6, 2025) — As the federal government shutdown passes the three-week mark, THE PLANET is still wondering if anyone has noticed? We saw our first sign yesterday at the post office, when Taylor Swift showed up on the face of […]

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TWO PROGNOSTICATIONS: LUMPY WILL NOT RUN AGAIN FOR MAYOR & VOLTRON IS A GONER FOR UP NORTH

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE THE WEEKEND EDITION OCT. 17-9, 2025) — THE PLANET makes two predictions today: (1) Mayor Lumpy will not seek a second term as mayor (2) Council president Voltron will be the new manager for the town of Adams. The two events appear to be […]

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KINGS RALLY ANYTHING BUT GRASSROOTS, BUT THE BIG-BUX ROOTS WERE SHOWING … and … WE HEAR FROM SHIRL

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE MONDAY OCT. 20, 2025) — As THE PLANET has noted before, America hasn’t had a king since George III had to peel William Pitt’s potatoes. Try telling that to the protesters Saturday, who again campaigned against something that doesn’t exist. THE PLANET had to […]

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IT TOOK TRUMP TO GET IT DONE

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE WEDNESDAY OCT. 15, 2025) — THE PLANET shares this quote today, one that everyone should take as a lesson: “I really commend President Trump and his administration, as well as the Arab leaders in the region …” — Hillary Clinton. Trump not only brokered […]

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PLANET ENDORSES CIARA BATORY FOR SCHOOL COMMITTEE … plus … OTHER OBSERVATIONS

B DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE MONDAY OCT. 13, 2025) — With local “elections” on the brink, THE PLANET can give one piece of advice: Don’t vote. Refuse to participate in a hoax. If you don’t like that counsel, try this one: If you do vote, choose a newbie. The […]

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POLITICAL LAWN SIGNS: THE ELECTORAL INSULT CONTINUES

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION OCT. 10-12, 2025) — Every day, signs in front of me /* Signs. Political signs. This recurring plague is now blossoming in Bitchfield. It does every “election” cycle. THE PLANET, as readers probably know, places the word “election” within quotation marks […]

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WANT TO BE RICH? SAVE, TRACK, INVEST, AND THINK LONG TERM

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE MONDAY OCT. 6, 2025) — THE PLANET almost never gives financial advice except if asked, and we will offer our views. Recently, someone asked us to do just that. It got us to thinking and gave us feedstock for a column. My advice across […]

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POLITICAL RHETORIC OF THE EXTREMES MARKS A REVERSAL FOR HUMANITY

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION OCT. 3-5, 2025) — THE PLANET brings to mind an idle discussion we witnessed today, left and right talking AT and not TO each other. The details matter little. What struck us is the illogic we saw on display. Not only […]

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BEST CHOICE FOR THIS YEAR’S MUNI ‘ELECTION’–DON’T VOTE

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE WEDNESDAY OCT. 1, 2025) — While THE PLANET ponders how October came to be when yesterday we were in the early days of spring, we can share a profound insight prompted by one of our readers and correspondents. DON’T VOTE. Next month is November, […]

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PARAS ARE TEACHING … PAVE PROBLEM … THOSE UGLY SIGNS … BLACK COFFEE … BULLET CLOSE

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE THE WEEKEND EDITION SEPT. 26-8, 2025) — Sweepings from the cutting room floor. Tipsters: Here’s one THE PLANET received last week from a concerned citizen, who also happens to be a retired but still-plugged-in senior administrator: I have heard that paras are being placed […]

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OPEN MIND, DIALOGUE: THE REMEDY FOR RHETORICAL IGNORANCE AND CANCEL CULTURE

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE WEDNESDAY SEPT.  23, 2025) — Last week, THE PLANET had the pleasure of delivering an author talk in the guise of alter-ego, writer Dan Valenti. We changed in a nearby phone booth, spoke for an hour, took questions, then sold and signed books. We’ve […]

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NO KINGS IN AMERICA PT. 2

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE THE WEEKEND EDITION SEPT. 19-21, 2025) — THE PLANET reminds those who utter, carry, or believe in the catchphrase “No Kings in America” that this land has not had a king since we freed ourselves of King George III of England. Of course, since […]

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LEFTOVER THOUGHTS AFTER APPLE PICKING

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE WEDNESDAY SEPT. 17, 2025) — After apple picking, THE PLANET found a few cores on the ground. Curriculareckless — A quick look at the Bitchfield School Department’s “Curriculum & Learning” tab on its official website reserves a prominent two slots for “Cultural Competence” and […]

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“NO KINGS!” SLOGAL EPITOMIZES A COUNTRY, A CITY THAT’S LOST THE MIDDLE

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY SEPT. 15, 2025) — Rod Serling said it best: “There is a middle ground, between light and shadow, between science and superstition, between things and ideas. It lies between the pit of man’s fears and the summit of his knowledge.” That middle ground–in […]

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KIRK ASSASSINATION, POLARIZATION, AND THE ATTACK ON FREE SPEECH: WHAT ARE WE DOING?

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION SEPT. 12-14, 20250 — Prior to recent events, THE PLANET had never heard of Charlie Kirk. True. We don’t “follow” anyone on social media or YouTube, much less watch the endless political blather of talking heads, and so when we heard […]

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