BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY NEW YEAR’S DAY, 2020) — As we close out the year and the decade, THE PLANET keeps it brief and confectionery. From all of us at this end to all of you on yours, Happy New Year. We hope you will continue to […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY DEC. 30, 2019) — THE PLANET closes the year by announcing the winner of our annual Orbit Award. There were many contenders and a few pretenders. After long and drafty deliberation, THE PLANET‘s Committee of the Whole and Hole has chosen POLICE REPORT. […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION DEC. 27-9, 2019) — Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the impeachment of President Donald Trump has been the aftermath, what we might call the anti-impeachment. THE PLANET begins this exploration in the most unlikeliest place, one that House Democrats have […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY CHRISTMAS DAY 2019) — And so this is Christmas … It is a season borne in hope, developed in possibility, and rounded in occurrence. Christmas brings everyone back again, circle like, to Christmases past which, incidentally, provides the thematic subtext of Dickens’ classic. […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY DEC. 23, 2019) — One of the lessons imparted to THE PLANET years ago by the redoubtable Peter Arlos of Pittsfield and the indomitable Mary Flynn of Stockbridge was always listen to your critics. They both knew that in public life, one would […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION DEC. 20-22, 2019) — Watching Pittsfield city council president Peter Marchetti preside over the group’s most recent hit-job (Tuesday 12/10), THE PLANET thought of a beached whale. Moby Dick? Well, half right. The disoriented gasping indicated a creature out of its […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY DEC. 18, 2019) — On Monday, THE PLANET presented a guest column related to the Impeachment of President Donald Trump. Today, our guest columnist is the President himself. We print here the full text of a letter he sent to House Speaker Nancy […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY DEC. 16, 2019) — When THE PLANET or anyone other analyst speaks of democracy’s erosion, we refer to a process of cheapening a political and governmental system going back generations and assuming its virulent beginning with the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt. FDR instituted […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION DEC. 13-5, 2019) — In case you haven’t heard, Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee filed two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. Committee chair Gerry Nadler and House speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke of the “solemnity of the moment.” Fittingly, […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY DEC. 11, 2019) — What in the name of Larry Bossidy is going on at Clapp Park? Or, as Casey Stengel said of his 1962 Mets, “Can’t anyone here play this game?” Parks are the toy box of the city. A healthy parks […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY DEC. 9, 2019) — The snowier it is, the more “behinder” Pittsfield gets. Parking and snow removal: Two fundamental services of city government that have now become Rubik’s Cube. You’d think by now the city would have figured out how to deliver these […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION DEC. 6-8, 2019) — They did it again. They did it to anyone who owns property in Pittsfield — a home, apartment building, business, or set of 1964 Topps Beatles trading cards. If you own it and you’re not one of […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY DEC. 4, 2019) — Just a reminder. Sir Tiberius Fruitjuice, our beloved chairman, has opened the nomination period for THE PLANET‘s coveted Orbit Award, the announcement of which takes place before year’s end. If you have one, let us know. Question: How does a […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY DEC. 2, 2019) — While THE PLANET waits for reader reports of snowplow screwups, let’s look at the Democrats vying for the chance to take on President Trump in 2020, then a word on the House impeachment proceedings. We’ve kept our tongue on […]
