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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
