BB-OWNED N.A. TRANSCRIPT THROWS REPORTER UNDER BUS WHEN SCHOOL OFFICIALS COMPLAIN TO MANAGEMENT ABOUT COVERAGE … LIKE BORING BROADSHEET, PAPER FAILS ITS READERS BY KISSING UP TO GOB

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BB-OWNED N.A. TRANSCRIPT THROWS REPORTER UNDER BUS WHEN SCHOOL OFFICIALS COMPLAIN TO MANAGEMENT ABOUT COVERAGE … LIKE BORING BROADSHEET, PAPER FAILS ITS READERS BY KISSING UP TO GOB

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, DATE, 2013) — Along with education, the greatest safeguard of democracy and civil liberty is a free and active press. In Pittsfield, the press is free. It is not active. The mainstream media, “led” by The Boring Broadsheet and followed lockstep by the non-existent […]

October 30, 2013 34 Comments

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AT-LARGE DEBATE /slash/ SNOOZEFEST: WHEN THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING TO HAPPEN IS SEEING JONATHAN LEVINE BACK ON HIS FEET … plus … WON’T SOMEONE IN OFFICE COME FORWARD AND HELP PASTOR IN KEEPING HOMELESS PEOPLE FROM FREEZING THIS WINTER, SINCE MAYOR BIANCHI WON’T?

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, OCT. 29, 2013) — The most significant moment in at-large debate-cum-slumber-party last night at BCC was the sighting of Jonathan Levine, stalwart publisher of The Pittsfield Gazette, recovering from a serious medical setback. That gives you an idea of the z-z-z-z-fest offered last night […]

October 29, 2013 20 Comments

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SUPRANOWICZ LEAVING CHAMBER: THERE’S THE BB ‘STORY’ AND THE PLANET’S, WHICH DOESN’T NEED THE QUOTE MARKS … plus … $75,000 to STUDY PARKING? ANOTHER TESTIMONY TO BIANCHI ADMINSTRATION FUTILITY AND A CITY THAT’S LOST ITS WAY

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, Monday, Oct. 28, 2013) — As usual, our readers were on to the news before anyone had a chance to break it. THE PLANET had word of Mike Supranowicz‘s departure from the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce before anyone else did. Not only that, but, […]

October 27, 2013 28 Comments

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LEFTOVERS FROM THE WARD 6 DEBATE … plus … LETTERS TO THE EDITOR COVERS TAX SCANDAL CLAIM, THE INDISCREET CHARM OF THE BB, HOW THE CITY IS LETTING PEOPLE ‘FREEZE TO DEATH’ and WHAT’S BEHIND SUPRANOWICZ MOVE TO HILLCREST

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, OCT. 25, 2013) — Leftovers from the Ward 6 debate: * Icing It — Joe Nichols and THE PLANET happened to walk into the studios at the same time. We found it fortuitous, since it allowed us an ice-breaking walk, going in. We met Joe’s […]

October 25, 2013 25 Comments

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KROL, NICHOLS BRING A GAME TO RIVETING TV DEBATE … DISAGREEMENTS SHARP, SOLUTIONS TO CITY’s WOES DIFFER … VIEWERS, VOTERS WELL-SERVED IN THE EXCHANGE

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, OCT. 24, 2013) — Coming off an extremely long day yesterday, THE PLANET dares to post some initial thoughts regarding last night’s Ward 6 debate between incumbent John Krol and challenger Joe Nichols. Yours Truly moderated from the PCTV studios live from 7 […]

October 23, 2013 27 Comments

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PLANET EXCLUSIVE: WE LEARN THE ‘SECRET’ FIGURE BEING USED FOR A NEW THS: $80 MILLION TO $100 MILLION … NO ONE KNOWS WHERE AND WHEN THIS FIGURE WAS DECIDED … SBNC FAILS TO GRILL CONSULTANT … PROJECT IS STARTING TO SMELL LIKE A WHITEWASH, WITH TAXPAYERS GETTING ABSOLUTELY CLOBBERED

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary ADD #1, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 23, 2013 — THE PLANET will keep yesterday’s post up for another day, because it’s so serious as we head into another precast election. The city is playing around with an $80 million to $100 million budget. No one knows or if they […]

October 22, 2013 19 Comments

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SCRAPPY SOX SHOW SERIOUS SPUNK, OR IS THAT ‘SERIES’ SPUNK? … SCHOOL SUPT. CONTINUES PPS ASSauLT ON TAXPAYERS WITH NEEDLESS APPOINTMENT … plus … SBNC, THE OPEN MEETING LAW, AND THS: HAS A SECRET DECISION BEEN MADE? REVIEW THE EVIDENCE AND DECIDE FOR YOURSELF

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, OCT. 21, 2013) — Now that the Boston Red Sox have extended the MLB season to its ultimate limit — The World Series — all other sports do not exist. The Patriots, Bruins, and Celtics, all within their seasons, will have to wait. […]

October 20, 2013 12 Comments

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UPDATE: SOX SOAR, MAYOR BORES … FOUR DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES CLOSE DOORS; MAYOR BIANCHI SILENT, ALTHOUGH HIS ‘CAMPAIGN’ MATERIAL TOUTS GREAT PROGRESS WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary ADD #1 FOS, FRIDAY, OCT. 18, 2013, LATE — THE PLANET caught the red-eye back east, and we are delighted at the discussion ignited here by our observations. That’s the purpose of this site: to share news and information, offer commentary, and invite your responses. It’s a testimony […]

October 16, 2013 74 Comments

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HOW “NOT” TO BE A BOSTON FAN … GREAT DAY OF TWIN MIRACLE ENDINGS NOT FOR THE EARLYOUT BIRDS … plus … TEASER HINTS AT (HERE WE GO AGAIN!) MORE ALLEGED LAW BREAKING FROM OFFICIALS IN PITTSFIELD

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, OCT. 15, 2013) — Boston sports Sunday deserved the superlatives deliriously thrown its way by fans, media, and nation. First up at Gillette Stadium, Tom Brady and his depleted but stalwart B-men pulled off one of the most miraculous 4th quarter comebacks in […]

October 14, 2013 18 Comments

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PLANET EXCLUSIVE!! SHOCKING DATA FROM PPS SHOW THAT MORE THAN HALF OF PUPILS ARE ‘LOW INCOME’ … DIRE NUMBERS, RAMPANT POVERTY REFUTE BIANCHI’S CAMPAI(G)N LIES ABOUT ECONOMIC ‘PROGRESS’

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, Oct. 14, 2013) — The recent announcement of the closing of four businesses in downtown Pittsfield surprised no one, except maybe Mayor Dan Bianchi and his motley collection of lackeys and apologists, who are telling us in what passes for “Campaign” 2013 of […]

October 13, 2013 21 Comments

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AFTER BACK AND FORTHS, NICHOLS AGREES TO PLANET’S TERMS ON WARD 6 DEBATE WITH KROL … EVENT WILL RUN LIVE (LATER ON TAPE) OCT. 23, 7 p.m. ON PCTV … plus … THE SATISFYING SEQUEL TO THE ADVENTURES OF FRANK ‘FREE HOUSE’ COTE

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, OCT. 11, 2013) — Debating debates is not for debate. There is, in fact, no debating the following facts: a.) The West Side Steering Committee has in the past hosted debates, and it considered doing so for the Ward 6 contest between John […]

October 10, 2013 30 Comments

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FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: PLANET RECOMMENDS VOTING DOWN PROPOSED CHARTER REVISION … plus … WARD 6 DEBATE SLATED FOR OCT. 23, KROL vs. NICHOLS (uh, maybe) …KROL ACCEPTS WITHOUT CONDITIONS, BUT NICHOLS IS PLAYING HARD TO GET

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, OCT. 10, 2013) — The campaign trail is funny. It can bring out the best in some, the worst in others. It rarely performs in neutral. In Pittsfield, there is what one may term a “sleepy” ballot. The mayor’s “race” features — though trust […]

October 10, 2013 24 Comments

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WHAT’S IN A NAME, PT. II: WHILE THE GOVERNMENT CRUMBLES, PRESIDENT ‘O’ WEIGHS IN ON THE ‘REDSKINS’ MATTER … plus … BIANCHI’s DUBIOUS LISTING OF GOALS ON CITY WEBSITE AN EXERCISE IN NADA, BESIDES LIKELY BEING ILLEGAL

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 9, 2013) — With the government in shutdown mode and a debt-ceiling confrontation looming, it’s heartening to see our great commander-in-chief taking on a vital issue, one on which the fate of the republic swings in the balance. THE PLANET here speaks of […]

October 8, 2013 8 Comments

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YOU THINK THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IS BAD? WAIT TILL YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS IF THE U.S. DEFAULTS ON ITS DEBT OBLIGATIONS (COULD HAPPEN ON OCT. 17)

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, OCT. 8, 2013) — The so-called shutdown of the U.S. government has a week or more under its belt, and no one’s noticing. That’s because the government is so lousy at what it’s supposed to be doing (provide for the national defense and […]

October 7, 2013 13 Comments

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WHAT WAS ONCE A GAME HAS DESCENDED INTO A MONEY-GRUBBING FARCE, BUT HIRSUTE SOX HELP RESTORE SOME LOST PERSPECTIVE

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary _____________________________________________ CATCH THE PLANET TODAY, ON PCTV, LIVE, ON “GOOD MORNING, PITTSFIELD” WITH GUEST HOST JIM CAMPAGNA ——————————– (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, OCT. 7, 2013) — It was just another boring day in Major League Baseball this past weekend: there were the playoffs, which have become […]

October 6, 2013 20 Comments

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QUICK HITS AND HOT LIX: MAYOR PHOTO-OP STRIKES AGAIN … ‘DAN VALENTI’ CHALLENGES A RUNNING-SCARED BIANCHI TO DEBATES … WHAT DO WOMEN WANT? … ANOTHER BIG POLITICAL ‘OCTOBER SURPRISE’ COMING … NEW GRAFFITI TARGET ‘INFINITE DANCE’ DUE IN COMMON … SCHOOLS REPORT GREAT ‘PROGRESS’ (YEAH, RIGHT) … plus … GET WELL SOON, JONATHAN LEVINE

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, OCT. 4, 2013) — Time once again, boys and girls, for THE PLANET‘s famous Quick Hits and Hot Lix, wherein we feature a blitzkrieg of topics and commentaries. MAYOR PHOTO-OP STRIKES AGAIN — The Boring Broadsheet yesterday “treated” readers to a photograph of […]

October 3, 2013 33 Comments

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