BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY AUG. 1, 2018) — An example of our previous column on the shortcomings of the local daily newspaper could be found over the past weekend, when The Boring Broadsheet had on page one, above the fold, a puff piece with a headline blaring that […]
BY DN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY JULY 30, 2018) — And as the glorious summer takes the clubhouse turn, THE PLANET has to laugh at the “story” in The Boring Broadsheet polling readers about the Berkshire Mall. While it ignores significant news and presents such nonsensical fluff, The BB actually presents […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE-ESSEX, THE WEEKEND EDITION, JULY 27-29, 2018) — Late July on the farm delivers the fruits of labor, both literally and figuratively. For the first, we list the raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, honey, tomatoes, lemon balm, feeding plantains to the goats … ah, THE PLANET could go […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2018) — Once of anything is a fluke. Two is a pattern. Three a trend. When the proverbial “They,” in this case the board of that erstwhile great institution formerly known at the Berkshire Museum, brought in a new executive director, […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY JULY 23, 2018) — Andrea Harrington, who with Judith Knight is challenging heir-apparent Paul Caccaviello for Berkshire County District Attorney, has to decide, not soon but now, because time is running out: Does she want to be the next DA? If that answer […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION JULY 20-22, 2018) — When you operate a site such as this one, after a while the news comes to you. Each happening, civic joy or shame, crime, or subterfuge possesses a cast of characters. No matter how hidden, someone always […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY JULY 18, 2018) — Making sense of the stillborn race for District Attorney is rather like explaining Russia: No matter what you say about it is true. Even if it’s false, it will somehow be true. THE PLANET calls the race “stillborn” because it […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY JULY 16, 2018) — The events may be a cuppla-three weeks old, with Wifegate deserving of more attention on THE PLANET, but duty bids comment on an annual duo of delight that its perpetuators insist on continuing. Recently, the Dalton Lions Club hosted […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE-ESSEX, THURSDAY AND THE WEEKEND, JULY 12-15, 2018) — The blueberries on the farm are the biggest and sweetest they’ve been in years. It’s the pollination from the hives. The plantain and mint have been superb, and the first tomato tasted — in the words […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY JULY 9 & BEYOND, 2018) — As THE PLANET continues out summer hiatus (the bees are particularly needy at this time but the honey … oh, mercy … the honey is out of and around the world), we open up a new commentary […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FOURTH OF JULY ETC., 2018) — In honor of the 4th, THE PLANET will take and enjoy a brief hiatus. In Vegas, they call it “going dark.” Check back Monday to see if we’ve taken down the “Gone Fishin’” sign or if we’ve decided […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY JULY 2, 2018) — This is THE PLANET‘s 1,800th column since we began in late September-early October of 2010. We saved it for something, and someone, special. The week before last, THE PLANET was honored to accept an invitation from our Right Honorable Good Friend […]
