THE PLANET: AFFLICTING THE COMFORTABLE AND COMFORTING THE AFFLICTED ON A NEW SCHEDULE … plus … CHANGES ARE ON THE WAY TO REFLECT OUR GROWTH!! GOOD FOR YOU, OUR DEAR CYBERNAUTS
By DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, SATURDAY, OCT. 22, 2011) — This is THE PLANET’s 362nd post since we activated the site in September, 2010. It’s been a six-day-a-week blog, the liveliest and most significant media development in the Berkshires since that time. We thank our growing audience, even as we marvel at the power of the Internet to weave a quilt out of so many disparate elements — things and ideas, people and events.
NEW SCHEDULE, CHANGES ON THE WAY
Today, we announce our new schedule. Beginning after today, we generally shall not be posting on the weekend. A breaking story or some other matter might induce us to break the “rule,” but it shall only be the exception that proves it.
After today, we will publish Monday through Friday in the usual way. As this site grows, the management of it takes more time, and the extra day will allow for back-stage maintenance and also a relative breather for THE PLANET.
We will also give you a heads up on changes that will be immediately apparent when you access THE PLANET. That’s all we can say for now, but they will be improvements designed to keep this site the most rocking and rolling in Berkshire County, the intellectual king of all local media. Why and how can we say this?
— No one has ever brought you this much information, week after week, in county media history.
— No one has attempted a 1,200-word (average) column or blog on a daily basis.
— No one has been able to pull this off, until PLANET VALENTI opened its doors.
As Dizzy Dean once said, “It ain’t bragging if you can do it.”
OUR REASON FOR BEING: AFFLICT THE COMFORTABLE AND COMFORT THE AFFLICTED
The purpose of PLANET VALENTI isn’t to report the news, although we’ve scooped the Boring Broadsheet and other local media so many times on big stories that there ought to be a state law against it. Our purpose is to introduce ideas, spur deliberation, foment debate, and provoke discussion. We are and shall continue to be the Free Marketplace of Ideas envisioned by the Founding Fathers.
PLANET VALENTI takes on all comers and will provide a soapbox for all points of view. If you agree with us, we want to know why. If you disagree, be ready to have your position taken apart to see if it hold water. We love both friends and foes, for — as some public figures never realize with THE PLANET — we don’t take argumentation personally. They do, however, and think we are like them. Thank God we’re not.
We don’t push any ideology, back any political party, or seek any financial support. We are pure “as an azure sky in deepest summer” (Alex, in A Clockwork Orange). We are “unbought and unbossed.” No other journalistic media in Berkshire County can make that claim.
We encourage the comments of those who wish to advance discussion. We discourage those who want to come on and add nothing but stupidity. Both are identified by what they share. Calling people names doesn’t advance the discussion. Stating a position, revealing your premises, and supporting your conclusion with evidence enables you to assume the most important job in a democratic republic such as ours: that of CITIZEN. There is no higher position. The pols and the office holders work for us. WE are the boss. WE dictate to them. Folks, the power is there, if only you will grab it.
We shall continue to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted. We didn’t become an investigative journalist (in print, broadcast, and not cyberspace) to win friends but to influence the Public Discussion.
We shall remain The Voice of the Little Guy.
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AND SO WE HEAD INTO A WEEKEND OF MYSTERY AND ENCHANTMENT, SAYING,
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
We bow to the Planet and the new schedule, for that is all we have!
CYBERNAUTS???? Sounds good but posters should not be jack astronauts!!!!
Appreciate the Planet and all this site does for encouraging a real discussion of topics that matter such as pcbs, politics, coruption, etc. Thank you, Planet.
Weekends without the Planet we ( the people ) can take, but Monday -Fridays ( holidays excluded) we want you on that wall, we need you on that wall. We have other entertainment venues to keep us busy,
I don’t know I was a little disappointed when you decided to stop covering the steroid bust and haven’t heard anything about it since whatever happened with that?
Couple things:
As Ron K says, please keep The Planet going. We need you.
Also I agree with scott, can you please do a followup on the steroids bust? Big story you broke it and then it went away.
Keep up great work, Planet.
I enojy most about this website the analysis, no one does it better. My favorite story of late one that you broke locally: Cranwell stiffs staff out of $7 million in tips and gets caught. The BB whitewashed it and even then onlyhad it in because you embarrassed then into it. Crooks at Cranwell. I am one of the victims in the class action suit. Glad they got theirs.
Planet reruns are better than watching the stinky Jets.
What will all you BLOG HEADS due on weekends now? Maybe get a life?
Wow, Mr. Wade you might have heard that we can read blogs and respond via smart-phone, tablet, laptop etc. I would be willing to bet most of us I fact due have lives, wanting to stay connected and informed isn’t a bad thing. I thought the 80’s were great too Mr. Wade but I doubt your mullet will ever be back in fashion, like your desktop computer. Besides look at all the time you will have freed up not trolling the planet. Alas more time to spew your “enlighntment” on topic.
Posted via tablet while taking in some wonderful foilage, albeit voice to text check grammer.
Steve you’re a troll.
STVE WDE
Lighten up! Maybe if you spent more time making points we can take seriously you won’t be ridiculed for being a fool. Your jealousy of The Planet and its consumers is palpable. Palpable, you can look it up cuz you probably don’t know a word like this!!
Demitrius Not jealous just can’t believe there are people that think Valenti is the best. I personally think he’s [REDACTED BY AUTO-REDACT]. His ego is bigger than a house and his writeing is often cruel and childish., But he is still my good friend.
Steve W
If you think that of Valenti then don’t read his stuff. The rest of us appreciate his voice, one of reason and letting the information determine the comment, not like you, the name caller. Grow up.
This web site has provided the best coverage on the PCB mess. I live in ward 4. The group claiming to speak for the ward doesn’t speak for me. I support full river cleanup.
His blog entry after the election did come off a bit bitter but was def sarcastic. But it’s also like he was more pissed for the low voter turn out. I imagine it’s hard to separate your personal feelings from a written expression but he’s not bias overall.
Scott I just find it hard to believe that people actually drink Valenti’s kool aide. To make fun of peoples weight is just being ignorant. You can be sarcastic but he comes across as very imature. He says that he still can be friends with people but write mean things about them. I know my “good friends” would not be my friends if I wrote some of the things he writes. Also I find him to be a phoney when he lives in Stockbridge and makes fun of Pittsfield.
SW definitely fits the definition of a “site pest”. He’d be
better off over on Topix trading insults with the rest of them.
SW At least I use my name!
More like site truth teller.
Who is Steve Wade?
Im Dan Valenti’s worst nightmare. I Know he’s full of it and I call it like it is. You people can’t handle the truth!
And just so’s we are clear on definitions, the truth is what is reported in the Eagle, what comes from Mayor Ruberto’s lips, or what emanates from GE’s media office. Glad we got that all straightened out.
Not saying they say the truth. Just saying Dan writes just to stroke his ego and you Blog Heads follow like your in a crazy cult. Why write useing all of the insults? Whay if I made fun of Dans mental issues so why write about fat issues stick to topic not calling names.
Steve: I find it out to believe that you would have friends. Oh and we can handle the truth, and that is you make no sense or point what so ever. But Steve you have a nice day.
Steve, you are just basking in your little 15 minutes of fame that you get on this website. You’re a fool, that’s all, boiling with … i don’t know what, jealousy? bile? As Ray O put you in your place: what “truth” that of the BB? You are found out!!!!!!!!! (hee ha)
Yaz Just calling it as it is! No one said you would like it.
I’ve called Dan on a couple issues who cares he IS a good writer you can’t deny that and that’s why I read it. I don’t believe everything I read as truth. This site is way more entertaining and fun to read and engage in conversation then the bias Eagle or out of control topix.
Thanks, Scott.
Yaz, do you like Alburt Poohalls?
Steve
Every site or group of people have one just like you.
There are those of us that appreciate Dan Valenti, his views, his honesty, his angles on what is revelant and we especially appreciate this site.
You just don’t get it, so, you lash out, throw a few insults around, appear to question what is the truth and in general make those that do get it, want to just slap you.
Steve
Answer the question: Who is Steve Wade and where does your expertise come from? Give us a clue as to who you really are and perhaps we will take you more seriously.
DAVE
Well expressed. I’ve never claimed a copyright or patent on The Truth. The purpose of this site is to raise questions, probe possible answers, and share commentary based on as much data, reason, and facts as one can obtain. I share this information for others to digest, comment upon, add to, criticize, praise, pick apart — whatever THEIR data, reason, and facts take them. People like Steve make no contribution, make no arguments, because they have nothing to stay and no core from which they operate. Such folks hang by petards of their own construction.